Provincial.

DE GREY AND RIPON LODGE , No . 1161 . THE regular meeting was held at the Freemasons' Hall , Manchester , on Wednesday , 18 th ult ., Bro . Eugene Loebell W . M . There were also present : —Bros . J . Ellwood S . W ., 0 . T . Vlies J . W ., J . Irlam Treasurer , J .

Schofield Sec , H . M . Massingham J . D ., Jas . Porteous I . G ., J . M . Moss P . M . Org ., W . Cockerham Std ., J . A . R . Ashworth P . M ., Robt . Dottie P . M . Acting J . W ., J . T . C Blackie , J . D . Cameron , S . Collinge , Sam Lord , M . De Gairos , Edwd . Roberts P . M . 1459 , Wm . Stoddait , and four Visitors .

As there was a very large amount of business to be transacted , the Brethren met at an early hour . An Initiation was expected , but the candidate did not put in an appearance . Bro . Blackie was passed , Brother Loebell W . M . performing the ceremony in a very careful manner . Following this was tho Raising of Bros . Lord and De Gairos , these ceremonies being undertaken by Bro . Moss P . M .

Other business was transacted , after which the Lodge was closed , and the Brethren adjourned to tho festive board . Loyal and Masonic toasts were given and responded to , the speeches being varied by musical contributions from Bros . Cockerham , Schofield , Vlies , Roberts , and others .

The W . M . proposed the health of the newly-passed , and Bro . Ashworth proposed that of the newly-raised Brethren , to which Bros . Blackie , Lord , and De Gairos responded in appropriate terms . By request of the W . M . Bro . Dottie P . M . proceeded to perform a very

graceful act , which was that of presenting to Bro . Moss P . M . Org ., on behalf of the Lodge , a gold jewel , iu recognition of many years services rendered to the Lodge . Bro . Dottie , whilst explaining that the jowel waa small , yet characterised it as a very handsome ono , which carried with it the best wishes of the Lodge . It bore the following inscription : — "

Presented by tho Brethren of the Do Grey and Ripon Lodge , 1161 , to BRO . J . M . MOSS P . M . as Hon . Sec . for five years . Bro . Moss , in responding , said the Brethren must excuse him if he did

not say much on the present occasion , as the presentation was something not anticipated and not looked forward to . During his membership of the Lodge he had had several strong ties connecting him with it , but the incident of that night appeared to be tho cementing stone . He felt too full to express himself adequately , but thanked them for thoir kindness with all his heart . Other toasts , including that of the W . M ., followed .

TORBAY LODGE , No . 1358 . ON Tuesday , 24 th ult ., the annual meeting was held at Paignton , when Bro . Rev . A . H . M . Hore was installed as Master for the year , by Bro . C . Eromett , assisted by a strong board of installed Masters . At the close of business the annual banquet was served , and the usual toasts were honoured .

CONCORD LODGE , No . 1534 . THE regular meeting was held at the Lodge House , Prestwich , on Thursday , the 19 th ult ., Bro . William B . Midgley W . M . There was a good attendance , in anticipation , perhaps , of its being election night , the following visitors being also present - . —Bros . George H . Scott J . D . 581 , James Henrv Walker 361 , and R . VV . Nuttall 163 .

After the reading and confirmation of minutes , Bros . John B . Midgley , George H . Nield , and Ashton Whitworth were raised to the sublime degree f M . M ., the ceremonies being performed by the W . M ., Bro . S . F . Simons

P . M ., and Bro . W . W . Briggs P . M . respectively . In the election of Officers which succeeded Bro . Edwin E . Done S . W . received the unanimous support of the Brethren for the office of W . M ., and his installation into the chair of K . S . will follow in due course .

ALBERT VICTOR LODGE , No . 1773 . THE regular meeting was held at the Pendleton Town Hall , on Friday , the 20 th ult ., Bro . William Mosley W . M . After the reading and confirmation of minutes , Mr . Harry Turner , Salford , was balloted for and regularly initiated by the W . M .

At the festive board which followed , Loyal and Masonic toasts were honoured , the proceedings being enlivened , not only by songs and recitations given by Bros . Harwood , Burton , Hardcastle , and Roberts P . M ., but by the presence of His Worship the Mayor of Salford ( Brother Alderman Richard Mottram ) .

In proposing the health of the Worshipful Master , which he did in very felicitous terms , tho Mayor explained that he had recently left a meeting where he had had other important toasts to propose , one being that of Her Majesty the Queen . Tho occasion was the anniversary of the battle of the Alma , which had been celebrated tbat day by a dinner at Belle Vue Gardens

to the Crimean veterans who resided in the neighbourhood of Manchester . After an inspection on the Infirmary flags by the Lord Mayor of Manchester ( Mr . Alderman Lloyd ) and others , a procession had been formed , and the men , who wore their medals and decorations , were conveyed to the gardens

wnere dinner was served , Bro . Alderman Mottram presiding . After the health of the Queen had been heartily given and loyally received , Bro . Mottram announced to the veterans that a telegram had been sent couched in the following terms : —

Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen , Balmoral . Two hundred and fifty old Crimean veterans assembled at dinner on the anniversary of the battle of tho Alma , desire to express to your most gracious Majesty their loyal feelings of respect and devotion , and hope that your Majesty may long be spared to reign over your loving subjects .

THE MAYOR OF SALFORD , Chairman . Whilst in the Lodge Room a telegram , which was a reply to the one forwarded irom iielle Vue , had been handed to him , and his Worship , anticipating the newspa pers of the following day , read the message to the Brethren , as

Mayor of Salford , Town Hall , Salford . a m ° ra 1 ' ™; i P , J ' ' y thanks you and the company assembled with you for loyal ana kind telegram . EDWARD .

Provincial.

JOSIAH WEDGWOOD LODGE , No . 2214 . ON Thursday , 26 th ult ., at Etruria , the members and a number of visitors assembled for the purpose of witnessing the installation of Bro . G . L . Birch as W . M . for the ensuing year . There were about sixty present . The ceremony was ably performed by Bro . Louis A . Taylor the retiring VV . M ., assisted by Bros . J . White P . M ., Richard Tooth P . P . G . R ., aiidE . B . Jackson P . P . G . J . D .

Bro . Lonis Taylor was presented with a handsome Past Master ' s jewel as an acknowledgment of the efficient manner in which he had discharged the duties of W . M . for the past two years . After tho business , the Brethren adjourned to tho Town Hall , Hanley , whero a sumptuous banquet was provided by Mrs . Barlow , of the Victoria Hotel . After dinner tho Loyal toasts and thoso which are intended to honour the rulers of the Craft were proposed by the W . M ., Bros . Jackson , White , and Fenton .

Bros . F . Mountford 460 P . P . G . S . D . and W . H . Bomber 637 P . G . S . D . responded for the Provincial Officers . Bro . Taylor proposed the health of the W . M ., whioh was drunk most heartily . Bro . Birch , in responding , said the time he had been a Mason had been

one of the happiest periods of his life . He had not joined the Craft from mercenary motives , nor with the expectation of pecuniary benefit , though he know , if necessity should arise , brotherly sympathy and help would be rendered . Ho thon spoke of the desirableness of strengthening the Staffordshire Masonic Charities , over which they could have more control than they had in respect of the three central institutions in London .

Bro . Jackson proposed the Masonic Charities , and Bro . Tooth responded , both of them giving expression to similar views to thoso of the W . M . as to the desirableness of extending the Staffordshire Charities . Bro . E . J . Hammersley ( Mayor of Hanley ) , in proposing the Visitors , touched on the samo subject , and made some interesting remarks as to the pains and penalties to which Freemasons were liable under a very old Act of Parliament in the event oi the Secretary omitting to send returns of the membership periodically to the Clerk of the Peace .

Bros . J . Ingamells 460 P . P . G . J . D ., Mason P . M . 98 , and E . Harding 637 responded . The health of the retiring W . M ., the Officers of the Lodge , and the Tyler ' s toast followed . The speeches dn the occasion were for tho most part very brief , in order that full advantage might bo taken of the musical arrangements . Bro . F .

Mountford presided at the pianoforte , and a glee party , consisting of Bros . T . Bearne , W . H . Mitchell , W . Nixon , T . Lockett , and M . Nuttall , sang splendidly a number of glees and songs , which they had carefully rehearsed , and their admirable singing was most enjoyable . Bro . Mountford and Bro . Warne also sang , and Bro . T . Lockett played with great skill a violin solo . The glee singers are all members of the Josiah Wedgwood Lodge . The whole musical arrangements were most creditable to all concerned .

LORD CHARLES BERESFORD LODGE , No . 2404 .

THE annual festival was celebrated by the Brethren in the handsome Lodge Room at the Sun Hotel , Chatham , on 25 th ult ., and waa attended , in addition to the members of the Lodge , hy a number of distinguished Provincial Grand Officers . The Lord Charles Beresford is what is known as a Service Lodge—of whioh there are very few in existence—being composed chiefly of representatives of the Royal Navy and Army , says the " Rochester Journal . "

The Worshipful Master elected for the year was Bro . H . J . T . Browne , who was duly installed in the chair of K . S . by Bro . F . Powell Past Grand Officer of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight , there being also another Grand Officer from that Province—Bro . A . F . St . Clair P . P . G . R ., flag-captain at the Nore , present .

A pleasing feature of the proceedings was the presentation of a valuable Past Master ' s jewel to the retiring W . M . Bro . H . Monsley , who had travelled up from Bristol to be present at the installation of his successor . Another pleasing episode was the unfolding of the very handsome silken banner , the property of the Lodge , which appropriately has the Beresford Arms . This was duly dedicated to Freemasonry by the Provincial Grand Chaplain of Kent the Rev . A . Jackson , M . A ., of Gravesend .

The musical portion of the festival proceedings was given , for the first time at an installation , on a handsome American organ , the gift to the Lodge of Bro . Major E . Barrington Stephens . On a brass plate in front of the instrument is the following inscription : —

Presented by W . BRO . E . B . STEPHENS P . M . 1174 , to Lodge 2404 , on his leaving the locality , as a memento of many pleasant meetings during the period he held the office of Organist , 1892-5 . June 1895 .

At the annual banquet which followed , Bro . Browne presided , and gave the accustomed Masonic and other toasts . During dinner a portion of tho Royal Marine band performed a choice selection of music , while at intervals during the evening glees and songs wore given by Messrs . Voysey , Oldroyd , Holliday and Fearnley , who contributed materially to the evening's entertainment . It may be added that the Lord Charles Beresford Lodge is in a flourishing condition , and is a valuable helper in its support of the great Masonic charities .

ECCLESBURNE LODGE , No . 2425 . THE third anniversary was held on Monday , 23 rd ult ., at the Boys Schoolroom , Duffield , when Bro . W . Shoobert S . W . was installed by Bro . W . Thomas Cox P . M . P . P . S . G . W ., assisted by Bro . Dr . Hoskyns P . M . P . P . S . G . W .

An adjournment was subsequently made to the White Hart Hotel , where a banquet had been provided for tho Lodge by Host Flanders . Aftor dinner , the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were honoured .

BRADSTOW LODGE , No . 2448 . THE annual meeting was hold at thc Masonic Temple , Alexandra Road , Broadstairs , on Wednesday , 25 th ult ., when Bro . Walter Cowell J . W . was installed as W . M . according to ancient custom , the Installation

ceremony being very ably performed by Bro . Edgar H . White P . M . of the Lodge . The Worshipful Master appointed the following Brethren as his Officers