Provincial.

In the course of the evening Bro . Henry Matthews P . M . P . P . S . of W . presented to Bro . G . W . Makin I . P . M ., on behalf of the Lodge , a handsome Past Master ' s jewel as a mark of esteem , and in recognition of his very valuable services during the past year .

o o o WAVERLEY LODGE , No . 1322 . THE Annual meeting and Festival of St . John took place at the Queen's Arms Hotel , George Street , Ashton-uuder-Lyne , on Thursday , the 25 th ult . There were presont Bros . J . Riley W . M ., Albert Sumner S . W ., Walter Newton P . M . P . P . J . G . D . Treasurer , W . Rawlinson S . D ., Samuel Grundy J . D ., Enos Andrew P . M . ± ± i

P . P . G . Org ., V . Uirtcby Hi ., Walter Jiastwooa -. M . -.-. Lr . s . sec , J . Mercer Jones P . M ., John Smith P . M . P . P . J . G . D ., Wright Wood P . M ., Alfred Cooper , Geo . Wesham Davies S . W . W . M .-elect 1459 , W . Warren P . M ., John Miller P . M ., James E . Wilde , James Travis , R . Wood , S . Kirk , Ed . Hodgkiss , Geo . E . Parry , Henry Stockton , William Garside , M . Newman .

Visitors : —Bros . John Chadwick P . G . Swd . B . Prov . G . Sec , Chas . Warden W . M . 361 , Samuel Newton W . M . 430 S . W . 300 , J . Dearden W . M . 830 , G . H . Farrar W . M . 1218 , Elias Wild W . M . 1408 , Alfred D . Rayner S . W . 268 , W . L . Higson S . W . 324 , E . L . Holland I . G . 268 , Peter McRamee I . G . 1088 , John Hulme I . P . M . 2156 , Thos . Potter P . M . P . P . G . D . D . C 300 , John Bottomley P . M . 324 , Geo . Wagstaff P . M . 1088 , Wm . Bee P . M . 1459 , Ed . Roberts P . M . 1459 , A . B . Wilkinson P . M . 2322 , John Andrew 300 .

The Lodge having been regularly opened by Bro . J . M . Jones , Bro . Walter Eastwood Sec . read the summons , the minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed , and in due course Brother Albert Sumner S . W . W . M .-elect was presented by Bro . Riley W . M . to receive the benefits of installation .

Bro . John Chadwick Prov . G . Sec . questioned him upon the fifteen antient Constitutional Charges , to which he gave a ready acquiescence , and shortly afterwards a Board of Installed Masters was formed , Bro . Jones Installing Master being assisted in the ceremony by Past Masters Walter Newton , J . Smith and Walter Eastwood .

A capital banquet had been provided , to which the Brethren sat down at an early hour . During the progress of dinner , Brother Chadwick took the opportunity of addressing a few words to those present , explaining that as his train went away shortly , he was

obliged to claim their indulgence . He commended the work of the day , which , he explained , differed somewhat from what he had been accustomed to , and concluded by saying that he was very glad to see his old friend Walter Eastwood in harness as Secretary and doing good work .

At the festive board , Loyal and Masonic toasts were submitted and honoured . Bro . Riley I . P . M . proposed the health of the W . M ., saying that from what he knew of Bro . Sumner he would do his duty in the chair equally as well as it could be performed by any member of the Lodge . Bro . Sumner was young yet , but he had reached the height of his ambition . He hoped he would leave the position as he had found it .

Bro . Albert Sumner W . M . said that he was peculiarly placed , as he did not know what to say in answer to the many kind things which had been uttered about him . At any rate he could thank Bro . Riley for the manner in which he had proposed his health , and also the Brethen for their enthusiastic reception of it . His aim throughout the year would be to perform his duties strictly and impartially .

Bro . Wright Wood proposed the health of the Installing Masters , saying all would agree with him that it was an important toast , and he regretted that , not being an adept in the beautiful ceremonials , he was not qualified to do justice to such toast . His old and esteemed friend Bro . Jones had looked forward with a great amount of trepidation , and had displayed no little anxiety in being

faultless that day , and he deserved to have acquitted himself perfectly . Just as Bro . Jones had been successful , so had Brother Newton , and his explanation of the Working Tools belonging to the various degrees was splendid . From Bro . Smith they expected nothing but was well done , and they invariably got their desire .

Their Secretary ' s work spoke for itself , and he was sure that they would all go away from that meeting with the impression that no one had acquitted himself better than Bro . Eastwood . Bro . Wood spoke enthusiastically of the whole of the ceremony of Installation and at the conclusion of his remarks there was a rapturous burst of applause .

In reply , Bro . Jones said that he hardly deserved one single tithe of the eulogy which had been heaped upon him , and he regretted that he had not been enabled to perform the ceremony with greater effect . In his work , however , he had received valuable

assistance from his coadjutors , who had all acquitted themselves admirably . He praised Bro . Secretary Eastwood , as having especially shone , and hoped that in the future all who assisted might continue to shine as bright luminaries , so that the ceremony might give unqualified satisfaction .

Bro . Newton expressed himself as pleased to learn that the portion he had taken in the ceremony had met with their approval . For years he had been willing to perform a very active park , hut there wero now rising Officers who were capable of taking their share , and he had no doubt that they would do so when called

upon . Bro . Smith thanked the Brethren for their enthusiasm , and said that if anything which he had done had met with their approval he felt perfectly satisfied , and he would be glad at any time to do his best for them .

Bro . Eastwood also thanked them for the cordiality with which the toast of the Installing Masters had been received , saying that personally he had done his best , and if it had pleased those who had been present that day , this fact more than recouped him . Other toasts followed , which were pleasantly relieved by a

Provincial.

selection of songs , recitations , & c , rendered by Bros . Roberts P . M ., Hulme P . M . ( who gave operatic selections on the violin ) , Cuthbert Blacow , Cooper , and Ogden . Bro . Enos Andrew P . M . presided » t the pianoforte . o o 0

WYCOMBE LODGE , No . 1501 . THE Installation meeting took place at the South Bucks Auction Mart , Wycombe , on the 25 th ult . Among the Visitors present were the Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Bucks . ( Bro . Rev . J . S . Brownrigg ) , J . Terry P . G . S . B . Sec . R . M . B . I ., J . M . McLeod P . P . S . G . W . Derby . Sec . R . M . I . Bi (& o . The report of the Audit Committee was read and adopted , there

being a substantial balance in hand . Bro . J . Bliss was installed W . M . for the ensuing year by Bro . F . Johncock I . P . M . P . P . G . O . The W . M . presented to Bro . F . Johncock the I . P . M ., on behalf of the Lodge , a handsome P . M's . jewel in recognition of his valuable and efficient services during his year of office .

At the conclusion of the business the banquet , under the presidency of the newly-elected W . M ., was held , the room having been very elaborately decorated for the occasion . 0 0 0

CONCORD LODGE , No . 1534 . THE Annual meeting and Festival of St . John took place at the Lodge Rooms , Chester Bank , Prestwich , on Thursday , 18 th ult ., Bro . W . H . Norton W . M . After the confirmation of minutes , Mr . Frederick Stephenson , Prestwich , was balloted for and initiated , this ceremony being followed by the Installation into the chair of Bro . Wm . B . Midgley S . W . Bro . Norton performed the ceremony , assisted by Bros . R . Hothersall P . P . G . D . D . C , John Walkden , E . P . Mead and Allan Mercer .

Lodge business over , the Brethren sat down to a most excellent banquet , the dinner being cooked on the premises under the immediate supervision of Mrs . Wardle , a lady who , at every Masonic function in connection with the Lodge , evinces the warmest possible interest , and who is thoroughly deserving of this slight recognition of her untiring labours .

Loyal and Masonic toasts were honoured in the usual enthusiastic manner , that of the newly-installed W . M . being proposed by Bro . Norton I . P . M ., who said of Bro . Midgley that all who knew him in connection with his Lodge must admit that he had performed his duties excellently well . With a wonderful capacity

for work , he had gradually brought himself into an honoured position . He knew by heart every ceremony and every Charge , and could explain all the Working Tools , and he had no hesitation in saying that the subject of his remarks would hand down to his successor the records of the Lodge in a pure and unsullied condition .

Bro . Midgley W . M . acknowledged in suitable terms the eulogiums which had been passed upon him , and took the opportunity of presenting to the I . P . M ., on behalf of the Lodge , a handsome Past Master's jewel as a token of the esteem in which he was held by the Brethren , hoping at the same time that the recipient would live long to wear it .

Bro . Walkden proposed the health of the newly-initiated Brother , saying that although he was suffering under a heavy domestic affliction yet he had put forth an effort to be present that evening for the purpose of performing a pleasing duty towards Brother Stephenson , who , in the first instance , he had proposed as a candidate , feeling sure that he would prove a true and trusty Brother , and one who , although unostentatious in his manner , would commend himself to them .

In reply , Bro . Stephenson said that although desiring for some time past to become a Mason , he had refrained from making the attempt until he had felt himself thoroughly justified in his action , and divested of pecuniary motives . His desire to join the Craft was induced by what he had learned of the unity and Brotherly

friendship existing amongst its members . He had also heard of their many acts of philanthropy , and it often struck him that he would like to join such a body of men . In conclusion he hoped that he would prove worthy of the distinction which had been conferred upon him .

The proceedings were enlivened by songs , & c , given by variouH Brethren .

Besides those mentioned above , there were present at the Lodge and banquet , Brothers E . S , Done J . W ., John W . Thompson P . P . G . Std . B . Treasurer , John Wardle P . M . Secy ., E . W . Maxwell S . D ., R . J . Bennett P . M ., Ed . Hilton P . M ., W . W . Briggs P . M ., Edward Roberts P . M . ( FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE ) , J . E . Lightbown . Visitors : —Bros . W . Pearson W . M . 1345 , Rev . F . W . Mentha Chap . 1357 , Wm . Moulton S . D . 654 , Thos . Nesbitt Treas . 1055 , Councl .

Samuel Mills P . M . 1077 , Richard Simister P . M . 163 , J . Pollitt P . M ., and others . o o o HOMFRAY LODGE , No . 1562 .

rilHE Installation of Bro . B . Williams , Blaina , as Worshipful _ 1 _ Master took place on Thursday , 18 th ult ., at Risca . Bro . Col . Lyne Provincial Grand Master , and Lieut-Col . Lyne Deputy Provincial Grand Master were present . A banquet was afterwards held in the Public Hall . o o o

HARTISMERE LODGE , No . 1863 . THE Installation of Bro . C W . Harper S . W . as Worshipful Master took place at the White Lion Hotel , Eye , on Wednesday , 17 th ult . The Installation ceremony was impressively