Craft: Provincial.

TRIUMPH LODGE , No . 1061 . THE installation of Brother Towler as Worshipful Master took place on Thursday , 9 th ult ., at the Market Hotel , Lytham , the ceremony being performed by Bco . A . Hall P . M . D . C .

JOPPA LODGE , No . 1114 . ON Wedneday , 15 th ult ., the members assembled in the Lodge Room , Corn Hall , Fakenham , when the installation of Bro . Edgar Smith , of Ryburgh , as W . M . for the ensuing year took place . The ceremony was most efficiently performed by P . M . Bro . A . Goddard , the D . P . G . M . Bro . Hamon le Strange being present .

After the banquet , in response to the toast of the Masonic Charities , the sum of £ 8 13 s was collected in the room .

OAKWOOD LODGE , No . 1126 . ON the 18 th ult , at the National Schools , Romiley , Bros . Emmanuel Clough W . M ., Henry Greenhalgh S . W ., Harry White J . W ., Wm . F . Brownrigg Treas ., Henry Woodall Sec . The meeting being the St . John's Festival , the Brethren assembled at

3 . 30 , and the Lodge being duly opened , they prepared to instal Bro . Henry Greenhalgh S . W ., Bro . Emmanuel Clough acting as Installing Master , with Bro . John Wm . Leathley P . M . D . C . C . R . as Director of Ceremonies , and assisted by tbe Past Masters and several Provincial Officers .

After the installation ceremony Bro . Henry Greenhalgh invested his Officers - . —Bro . E . Clough I . P . M ., Harry White S . W ., William Henry Roos J . W ., Rev . Herbert Moore M . A . Chaplain , Wm . F . Brownrigg P . M . Treas .,

E . Clough I . P . M . Sec , Thomas Henry Margison S . D ., James Rosser J . D ., John Wm . Leathley P . M . D . C C . R ., E . J . Greenhalgh Organist , Thomas M . Draper I . G ., Alfred Baines , Alfred Leah , and Robert Paterson Stewards , Joseph Whallev Assist . Sec , John Clarke Tyler .

After the Officers had been invested hearty good wishes were expressed by a number of visitors present , too numerous to mention . Bro . E . Clough I . P . M . Sec . proposed , and John "Wm . Leathley P . M . D . C . C . R . seconded , two joining members . The Lodge was then closed in the usual form .

The Brethren adjourned to the Romiley Arms Hotel , where a sumptuous banquet had been prepared by Bro . Hough , the proprietor . Afterwards the Brethren joined the festive board , where the usual toasts were given , and a grand programme gone through under the direction of Bro . E . J . Greenhalgh Organist , who performed his part in his usual brilliant style .

During the evening the Brethren expressed their appreciation of the creditable manner in which the ceremonies had been performed b y Bros . J . W . Leathley , E . Clough , J . Mitchell , John Brine , and W . F . Brownrigg Past Masters .

Bro . J . Mitchell P . M ., being the oldest Past Master of the Lodge present , was deputed to present to Bro . E . Clough I . P . M . a Past Master ' s jewel as a reward for the services rendered by him during his year of office . The proceedings were brought to a close at 10 o'clock , as the majority of the members had to leave by train .

DEVON LODGE , No . 1138 . ON Tuesday , 14 th ult ., the installation took place at Newton Abbot , when Bro . R . Hambly jun . was ably installed W . M . by his father , a member of the St . Maurice Lodge , Plympton , and P . P . G . S . Works .

ST . JOHN LODGE , No . 1247 . THE annual meeting was held at the Freemasons' Hall , Plymouth , on Thursday , 16 th ult ., when Bro . J . Bishop was installed W . M . by Bros . H . T . C . Tucker , Major Tracey P . P . G . S . W ., H . J . Barter , and W . H . Mayne , all Past Masters of 1247 .

ALDERSHOT CAMP LODGE , No . 1331 . THE members held their annual installation on Wednesday , 15 th ult ., at the Masonic Hall , Imperial Hotel , Aldershot , when Bro . D . Wilkin was installed by Bro . Taylor P . M .

LINDSAY LODGE , No . 1335 . THE installation took place at the Masonio Hall , King Street , Wigan , when Bro . E . Hodkinson Monks was installed as Worshipful Master by Bro . J . D . Murray P . G . Treas . Eng .

DUKE OF LANCASTER LODGE , No . 1353 . THE members , after the usual business of the Lodge on Wednesday , 15 th ult ., adjourned to the King ' s Arms Hotel , Lancaster , for the anniversary banquet of St . John the Evangelist , under the presidency of Bro G . Jackson W . M . J

CONCORD LODGE , No . 1534 . THE regular meeting was held at Prestwich , on the 16 th ult , Bro . Edwin S . Done W . M . There was a good attendance , the Brethren being attracted probably by the fact that the name of Mr . Thomas Lindon Whyatt ,

a popular Manchester comedian , had been announced for initiation . The ceremony was undertaken by Bro . Wm . B . Midgley I . P . M ., he being assisted by Bro . J . Walkden P . M ., and the principal Officers , the former giving the address , while Bro . Fawsett J . W , presented and explained the working tools , and Bro . Maxwell S . W . delivered the antient charge .

Following this " was the passing to the degree of F . C of Bro . James D . Ramage , the ceremony being performed by the W . M . In this instance the address was given by Bro . John Wardle P . M . Secretary , thc working tools being presented by the J . W .

ALBERT VICTOR LODGE , No . 1773 . THE regular meeting was held at the Town Hall , Pendleton , on Friday , the 17 th ult ., Brother Jas . Clough W . M . There were also present : — Bros . W . Mosley I . P . M ., Thos . M . Brown S . W ., Wm . Lambert J . W ., Rev . J .

Craft: Provincial.

Preston Chaplain , F . Townson P . M . Treas ., W . T . Blease Secretary , W . Allen Smith S . D ., W . Woodeson J . D ., G . L . Hardcastle Organist ; Past Masters J . Harrop P . P . G . D . D . C , Thos . Kay , E . Winterbottom , Ewd . Holland , Thos . Sefton , Thos . Threlfall , Ed . Roberts 1459 ; Bros . J . H . Burton , J . Harwood , J . Handley , J . Hudson , W . Robinson .

As there was no business of great importance , the Lodge was closed at an early hour , and a long evening of enjoyment followed . Bros . Hardcastle and Preston favoured the audience with solos upon the pianoforte , Bros . Burton and Harrop sang , while Bros . Blease , Hudson , and Roberts indulged in sketches , pathetic , quasi-humourous , and German respectively .

The W . M . proposed the health of the I . P . M ., saying that he had been a model Master . He also took the opportunity of offering his most sincere congratulations upon the recent marriage of Bro . Mosley's daughter , wishing the happy couple every prosperity in life . Bro . Mosley , in responding , said he did so with pleasure . The kind words just expressed showed him that he had many friends in the Lodge . In reverting to his year of office , he stated that ho had been loyally supported

from the Stewards upwards . He dilated upon the filial devotion which his daughter had always evinced at home , and said that her marriage had been to himself and wife a great wrench . He only hoped that her husband would be able to appreciate the characteristic . Referring to the social gathering to be held in connection with the Lodge the following Wednesday , he hoped all the Brethren would make it convenient to attend , and that the function would be a great success .

During the evening the W . M . allowed a short period for ( as he expressed it ) intellectual conversation , and various topics were initiated by Brother Threlfall , Smith , Hudson , and others , the time passing very pleasantly away .

LUMLEY LODGE , No . 1893 . THIS Lodge celebrated the festival of St . John on Tuesday , 21 st ult ., when Bro . G . J . Crofts was installed as Worshipful Master , and afterwards appointed his Officers .

MINNEHAHA MINSTREL LODGE , No . 2363 . THE regular meeting was held at the Victoria Hotel , Manchester , on Monday , the attendance book being signed by the following Brethren : Henrv Nail P . M . P . G . Treas . W . L . W . M ., C . H . Beever I . P . M ., Fred Hilton P . M . P . P . G . D . C . S . W ., E . A . Smith J . W ., Joseph Hilton Treas ., M , Thomas P . M . P . P . G . D . Sec , Thomas Hamnett S . D ., Sam Luke J . D ., S . H . Stubbs

I . G ., F . W . Wollaston P . M . P . G . A . D . C . Chap ., Seth Wrigley P . M . D . C , W . H . Worsley Org ., F . Todd , H . Bowes , and W . F . Dearden Stewards , W . A . Brabner P . M ., J . C Wood P . M ., Edward Roberts P . M ., C H . Normanton P . M ., W . Thomas Watts , Edward Parnell , and Samuel K . Walls . Visitor : —Bro . S . A . Whatham 1075 .

A ballot , which was successful , was taken for Bro . Charles Mercer , who was desirous of re-joining the Lodge . Following this was the passing of Dr . William Kay Walls , the ceremony being performed by the W . M . After the close of business , the Brethren adjourned to meet their lady friends , who had been invited to participate in a substantial dinner , which had been laid in the excellent manner for which the management of the hotel is noted .

Various speeches were indulged in , some of them of a very humourous character , after which the company proceeded to the Lodge Room , which , in the meantime , had been converted into a very handsome drawing room . A couple of hours were spent in a delightful manner , songs , recitations , and

musical sketches being contributed by Mrs . W . H . Worsley , Mrs . W . T . Watts , the Misses Harrop , Bros . Todd , Muir , Worsley , Brabner , Hamnett , Luke , and Beever , the latter providing a treat of an exceptional character on the " fairy bells . " Those taking part in tho social meeting numbered upwards of fifty .

EBBISHAM LODGE , No . 2422 . . A T Epsom , on Monday , 13 th ult ., Bro . C . P . King S . W . was installed J \ . W . M . for the ensuing vear , the installation being performed by Bro . P . M . Andrews P . G-S . W . M . 1892 .

THE first part of Messrs . Cassell ' s new and revised edition of their " History of England " is certainly a marvel of cheapness , and at the same time an exemplification of what is possible in the direction of printing under modern conditions . When we hear of opposition being offered by workingmen engaged in the different branches of printing to the introduction of improved machinery , and its trades unionism buckling on armour and heavily taxing itself in the absurd endeavour to put a drag on the invention

and development of labour saving devices such a work as that under notice comes as opportune evidence of the advantages that modern machinery have conferred upon the present generation , and the great benefits the world at large may derive from the skill that has been , and is now , devoted to the cheapening of production in this direction . Messrs . Cassell's History consists of 96 pages of letter press and illustrations , on really good paper , and turned

out in a style that is highly creditable to the famous house from which it emanates , and when it is remembered that the whole is sold at a price that a very few years back would not have purchased the paper alone , irrespective of labour , cost of distribution , & c , it is not necessary to say much more in support of the contention that machinery is a great benefactor of the age .

AN interesting and highly successful competition was lately started in connection with "Little Folks" magazine . Prizes were offered for the best imaginative drawing of " The editor of Little Folks , " and some of the results , together with a portrait of the editor ( from a photograph—and quite as curious as any of the specimens sent in by competitors ) will be reproduced in the February number of the magazine .

THE Board of Trade having , at the request of the Royal National Life-Boat Institution , held an Official Inquiry into the circumstances attending the Kingstown life-boat disaster , which took place on Christmas Eve and resulted in the loss of fifteen lives , have now issued the report of their Inspecting Officers , who find , forming the best judgment they can , under the circumstances , ' that the cause of casuality was the failure of the life-boat to right herself , owing to injuries sustained by the end air-chambers , or one of them , upon her being capsized . "