Provincial.

performed by Bro . H . J . Wright P . M . 936 , in the presence of a large gathering of Visiting Brethren . All the business having been transacted , the Brethren adjourned to a banquet , provided by Mr . Sewell , the new proprietor of the Hotel .

o o o CARADOC LODGE , No . 1674 . A LARGE and representative gathering took place on Monday , 15 th ult ., at the new Lodge Rooms , Market Street , Rhyl , to take part in the installation of Bro . Hugh Roberts S . W ., the first to take place in the new Lodge rooms . These rooms were opened on the 21 st of May last , when there was a representative gathering of Brethren from this and the

neighbouring Provinces of Cheshire , Lancashire and Yorkshire . The Lodge room is large and airy and one of the most comfortable and richly decorated in the Province , the ceiling being divided into three panels , each panel having emblematic corners and centres in silver and gold , relieved with delicate tints on a rich ivory

creampainted ground . The walls are painted a light salmon tint , with sky blue frieze , two feet deep , relieved with a darker blue Grecian key and double square medallions , painted in four different shades of cinnamon tints , with decorative emblems worked in gold . Hanging from this is a heavy gold swag silver ribbon , attached to

which are several emblems worked in gold , immediately over the situations of tho several Officers , one in particular being most striking , that at rear of the Master ' s chair . A pendent crest of the Lodge , surmounted by the fitting emblem , above which are clouds worked into the frieze , has a pretty effect .

Tho ceremony of Installation was very ably and impressively conducted throughout by Bro . Jno . H . Ellis I . P . M . After the business of the Lodge , the newly installed Master presented Bro . J . Duncan Miller the retiring W . M . with a very handsome P . M . ' s jewel , bearing the crest of the Lodge .

The installation banquet was at the Westminster Hotel , the W . M . presiding . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts wero honoured . 0 0 0

ELEANOR CROSS LODGE , No . 1764 . THE Annual festival took place at the Masonic Hall , Northampton , on Tuesday , 15 th ult . The chief feature of the festival was the Installation of Bro . Harry Hodges P . P . G . Swd . B . S . W . as W . M . for the year . The popularity of Bro . Hodges throughout the Fraternity led to a large attendance of Brethren , over whom the retiring W . M . Bro . Harry Manfield Prov . G . J . D .

presided , and installed his successor , with an accuracy and impressiveness which was the theme of the highest commendation . After the initiation of two members , the Worshipful Master , on behalf of the Lodge , presented Bro . Manfield with a Past Master's jewel , remarking as he did so that he had proved himself thoroughly worthy of it , and it was the hope of them all that he might live many years to wear it .

Bro . Manfield thanked the W . M . and Brethren for the presentation made him , and said as long as he lived he should remember with pleasure the happy year of office through which he had passed .

The newly-elected W . M . and tho retiring Worshipful Master made useful presentations to the Lodge , for which they were heartily thanked . The W . M . next referred to the loss the Province of Norths , and Hunts , had suffered by the death of their Deputy Grand Master

Bro . Butler Wilkins . He felt sure they all regretted the death of so active a worker among them , and that they also deeply sympathised with his family in their bereavement . He proposed that a letter of condolence be sent from the Lodge to the family of their deceased Brother , and that it be entered upon the minutes .

Bro . Manfield seconded the proposition . The loss they had sustained , he said , was very great , and he felt sure they all regretted it personally as well as Masonically . He thought he was speaking tho voice of the whole of the Brethren when he said they had suffered a loss which it would take a long time to repair , and also that they most heartily sympathised with the family deceased had left behind him , and to whom he was so deeply attached .

The vote was carried unanimously , and Lodge was closed in due form .

The banquet subsequently held was provided by Brother W . F . Tipler , of the Guildhall Restaurant , in his customary excellent style .

o o o ALBERT VICTOR LODGE , No . 1773 . THE regular meeting was hold at the Pendleton Town Hall , on Friday , 19 th ult ., the following being present : —Bros . Thos . T . Sefton W . M ., Thos . Threlfall I . P . M ., W . Mosley SAV ., James Clough J . W ., Samuel Statham P . M . P . P . G . T ., F . Townson P . M .

Treas ., J . Clarkson Sec , W . Hardcastle P . M . P . P . G . D . C , W . T . Blease I . G ., W . Allen Smith , W . Woodeson Stewards , Ed . Holland , J . Harrop , Thos . Kay , R . Duxbury , E . Winterbottom , J . L . Smith Past Masters , Aid . Rich . Mottram , Ed . Roberts P . M . ( FREEMASON ' S CHBONICLE ) , John Harwood , J . S . Kitchen , A . H . Sellers , Richard

Hilton , Tom Bradbury , W . Bransby , P . B . Hayden . Visitors : — Bros . W . W . Siddall W . M . 1993 , Rev . J . A . Pattinson 730 , Wm . Haigh 1283 , R . Knight 1496 , J . J . Reed 1534 , Jas . Preston 1061 , E . L . Littler P . M . P . P . G . P . 1730 , J . Bowers P . M . 1730 , W . Bowers 1730 , G . Hargreaves 1993 , P . Jones 2216 .

The minutes of the regular meeting having been read and confirmed , Bro . A . H . Sellers was raised to the sublime degree by Bro . Sefton , in that careful manner which always distinguishes his work . The election of the W . M . for the ensuing year then took place , and resulted in the unanimous selection of Bro . William Mosley

Provincial.

S . W . During the evening there were two propositions , and the candidates will accordingly be balloted for at a future meeting . At the festive board which followed , Loyal and Masonic toasts were honoured , that of the newly-raised Brother being proposed by Bro . Townson P . M ., who said that he hoped Bro . Sellars would find Freemasonry all he had anticipated . Many people outside tho

Cruft wondered what it was , having an idea that some of its principles were brotherly love , relief and truth , which did not altogether satisfy them , and they wanted to know more . Brother Sellers , however , had now solved the question as to what it was , and he hoped the impression made upon him would be of a lasting character .

Bro . Sellers , in response , said he thanked them sincerely for tho Brotherly and hearty way in which they had drunk his health . He was greatly relieved to know he had got quite through , yet was not disappointed with the conception he had originally formed of Freemasonry , be was desirous o : becoming a true Brother , and hoped the Great Architect of the Universe would assist him in his endeavour to attain that end .

Bro . Statham , in proposing that of the Visitors , said that the Lodge had been honoured in many ways : they were now honoured by events foreshadowed , and ho warmly congratulated Brother Aid . Richard Mottram upon having been selected as the Mayor-elect of Salford , and presumed that before their next meeting he would be

duly installed m that high and responsible position . Ho was proud to acknowledge the presence of clergymen amongst them , as it graced their assemblies , and indicated that there was nothing in Masonry to be ashamed of . Its members never claimed that it was a religion , but it was the handmaid of religion .

In responding for the Visitors , Bro . the Rev . J . A . Pattinson said he had thought his circle of life in Manchester had been complete , but after his visit here he found it had not been so . The Rev . gentleman spoke of the very excellent ceremony which had been performed , and before closing his remarks reverted to the title of the Lodge , and the prince from whose name it had been derived .

He recollected Princo Albert Victor as an undergraduate at Cambridge University , and spoke of his life and surroundings as being of the most exemplary character , and above all suspicion . Indeed he was such a fine example of what a Christain gentleman ought to be , that ho sincerely hoped every Brother of the Lodge which bore his name would copy him .

In answer to the toast of the W . M .-elect , proposed by Brother Sefton W . M ., Bro . Mosley said that it had always been his aim to reach the chair of King Solomon , and qualify himself for the nosition . The Brethren had been verv kind in their accentance of

his name that evening , and he hoped he should realise their expectations by discharging the duties which would be imposed upon him with a zeal and faithfulness which might be acceptable to them . The musical portion of the proceedings were contributed to by Bros . Clarkson , Walter Bowers , W . Allen Smith , and P . Jones .

o o o ANDERIDA LODGE , No . 2434 . THE Annual Installation meeting was held at the Queen's Hotol , Eastbourne , on Wednesday , 17 th ult ., under the presidency of Bro . W . E . Morrison , in the absence of the retiring W . M . ( Bro . Harry Sutton ) through indisposition . The Lodge was reported to be in a good financial position with a roll of about sixty members . Bro . J . H . Wright was installed as Master for tho ensuing year by Bro . Morrison .

V W V ST . MICHAEL'S LODGE , No . 2487 . THE anniversary was celebrated at the Assembly Room , Crown Hotel , Stone , on Monday , 8 th ult ., when Bro . F . Brandon P . P . G . R . was installed as W . M . for the ensuing year , in the presence of Colonel Bindley D . P . G . M ., and about fifty other Brethren .

The Lodge having been opened , Col . Bindley , accompanied by other Provincial Officers , entered , and the D . P . G . M . was masonically greeted . He said it gave him great pleasure to visit the youngest Lodge in the Province , and to find in the first year of its existence it had made such great progress . He expressed a hope that the Lodge might continue to prosper .

The Installation ceremony was performed by Bro . J . M . Wood P . P . G . R . the retiring W . M ., who was assisted by Brother J . T . Howson 418 P . P . G . S . B ., and Bro . David Jones 418 P . P . G . Steward .

After the Installation , Brother Wood was highly complimented upon the way in which he had managed the affairs of the Lodge since it was consecrated , and he was presented with a Fast Master ' s jewel . The business of the Lodge having been disposed of the Brethren sat down to an excellent banquet , Bro . Brandon presiding . The usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were proposed , special allusion

being made to the satisfaction felt at the fact that the Earl of Dartmouth had accepted the office of Prov . G . M . Col . Bindley , as Grand Deacon , responded for the Officers of Grand Lodge , and as D . P . G . M . for the Officers of the P . G . Lodge . In the course of his remarks he intimated that he was sure when he made his report of what he had seen and learnt that day at St . Michael ' s , the P . G . M . would be highly gratified .

The health of the W . M . was drunk with much heartiness , and Bro . Brandon , in the course of his response , said he should not have taken the position he had done if he had not seen the benefits Freemasonry had conferred upon many . Masonry was , in fact ,

charity ; and it meant that those who were Masons wished to do good to others—to assist those who were not able to help themselves . He should do the best he could to maintain the honour of Freemasonry and the dignity of the Lodge . His remarks were much applauded .