Meetings In The Provinces.

Brethren : —Provincial Grand Officers , Rev . F . Haslock , H . C . Borradaile , F . W . Pelling , J . C Wingrove , J . Howell , and Chas Cobham ; Bros . R . Atkins P . M ., W . Harvey W . M . 174 , E . 0 . Paine 77 ( Deputy Mayor of Gravesend ) , F . W . Manian 2489 , H . Hyde 1227 , A . Davis 223 , J . Mallinson , F . R . Macartney 77 , Charles Butler 2489 , G . Cunningham , W . Scriven , and many others .

The Lodge having been opened , the first business was to ballot for the following five candidates , viz ., Messrs . B . D . Borradaile , H . N . Fryer , J . W . Barefoot , A . C . James , and E . J . Smith . This proved unanimous , and the last four gentlemen being in attendance , they were admitted and regularly initiated into Freemasonry by the W . M .

The Lodge was opened in the second degree , when Bro . H . H . Slater , a candidate for raising , proved his proficiency as a Craftsman , was entrusted and retired . The Lodge was opened in the third degree , when Bro . Slater was received as a Master Mason , and took his place in the Lodge . This ceremony was also excellently rendered by Bro . Westwood .

The Lodge was then resumed to the first degree , when , by permission of the W . M ., Bro . P . M . Borradaile took the chair and initiated his son , Mr . B . D . Borradaile , into the mysteries of the Craft . Bro . Westwood afterwards resumed the chair , and closed the Lodge in due form . The Brethren then adjourned to supper , and a pleasant evening was spent .

Brother Westwood was congratulated upon the satisfactory state of the Lodge , and the admirable manner in which he rendered the ceremonies . It was unprecedented in the history of the Lodge to have five initiates at one meeting ; and three of those were sons of Masons .

The b ill to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Lodge took place on Wednesday , at the Masonic Hall , with remarkable success . The hall was prettily decorated with flags and flowers , and the clothing of the Brethren formed au agreeable contrast to the charming dresses of the ladies . The guests wero received upon arrival by the Worshipful Master and Mrs . Westwood , while the Officers ably assisted their efforts in promoting the comfort

and pleasure of those present . Dancing commenced about nine o ' clock to the enlivening strains of Watson ' s string band , and was continued almost without intermission till midnight , when supper was served . A few congratulatory speeches were made , after which the company returned to the ball room , when dancing was resumed with renewed vigour . It was voted by all that the function had been most enjoyable and worthy the occasion .

One of the features of the meeting was the special invitation card designed by Bro . Cobham P . M . P . Z . P . G . S . W . Durham , which will doubtless be kept as an interesting souvenir of the occasion . It is highly artistic , and gives in brief the history of the Lodge .

OLICANA LODGE , No . 1522 . ON Tuesday , 28 th ult ., the Brethren celebrated the festival of St . John the Evangelist , in the presence of a large gathering of local and visiting Brethren , at Ilkley . Bro . J . Gaunt P . P . G . D . formally presented Bro . Thomas Johnstone for the benefit of installation , the ceremony being impressively performed by Bro . A . Holmes the retiring Master , assisted by Bro . Bates P . M .

After the banquet Bro . Matthewman Prov . Grand Assistant Secretary spoke on behalf of the charities , as did also Bros . Dr . Bates and W . Whitaker .

ST . CECILIA LODGE , No . 1636 . THE annual installation was held at the Royal Pavilion , Brighton , on Tuesday , 28 th ult ., when Bro . Colonel H . Tester , V . D ., was installed W . M . by the retiring W . M . Bro . E . Mitchell . The W . M ., on behalf of the Lodge , presented Bro . E . Mitchell with a Past Master ' s jewel , in appreciation of the able manner in which he had carried out the duties of his office during the past year .

The Brethren then adjourned to the banqueting room , the company numbering about 150 , among them the Deputy Prov . Grand Master Bro . the Right Hon . Sir W . T . Marriott , Q . C , Senior Grand Deacon , who , in responding to the toast of the Provincial Grand Officers , said it was an easy task to return thanks for H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught , for he was a popular man in every sphere of life—one who had many friends and no

enemy . The Duke had many duties to perform , and gave all the time he could spare to the promotion of Freemasonry in Sussex . He , himself , was a busy man , and owing to an engagement in the Law Courts which detained him until four o ' clock that afternoon , he had not been able to reach Brighton in time to witness the working of the Lodge . He had , however , heard that

Bro . E . Mitchell I . P . M . had performed tho installation ceremony admirably , and that Bro . Tester , who had been initiated into Freemasonry so far back as 1853 , had acquitted himself in an ablo manner on taking the chair . Congratulating the W . M . on his appointment , he expressed the hope that he would be spared and privileged to visit the St . Cecilia Lodge on many future

. Colonel Tester was enthusiastically received in rising to respond to the toast of W . M . Thanking Bro . Mitchell for the kind and graceful manner in which he had proposed the toast , and the Brethren for the hearty manner iu which they had received it , he said he had lived a busy life since he was twelve years of age , and though initiated into Freemasonry in 1853 , did not

take an active part in its work until 1880 , when he had command of tbo Sussex Brigade of Volunteers forming the guard of honour on the occasion of the visit of H . R . H . tho Prince of Wales to instal H . R . H . tbe Duke of Connaught as Prov . Grand Master of Sussex . He then joined the St . Cecilia Lodge , but had no thought of taking office until , at the instance of Bro . J . Sayers W . M ., and by the courtesy of several of the Officers eligible

for promotion , he , in 1894 , accepted the post of J . W ., and served last year as S . W . The Lodge had been pleased to confer its highest honour upon him in appointing him W . M ., and he was pleased to accept that office because of the high value he placed upon the principles of the Graft . The Lodge was noted for its good fellowship and for its harmony in music ; and one of the Brethren Bro . E . Broadbridge P . M . had composed an excellent Service , which was adopted by the Lodge . The Lodge possessed but one father , and

he , paradoxical as it might seem , was Bro . Kuhe . Bro . Kuhe laid the first stone in the Lodge in 1877 , and , year by year , additional stones had been laid by succeeding Worshipful Masters , until the Lodge now presented a pillar of good fellowship , worthy of being associated with the sister Lodges in the Province . Expressing his gratitude to the large company for their attendance and kindly greeting , he said it would be his earnest endeavour to follow the good example of his predecessors , and to increase the prestige and dignity of the Lodge .

Meetings In The Provinces.

GRENVILLE LODGE , No . 1787 . rTIHE annual installation took place in the Masonic Hall , Buckingham , on _ L Tuesday , 21 st ult . This was preceded by another interesting event , the unveiling of a

handsome enlarged carbon portrait of the late Bro . J . Marshall P . M . P . P . G . J . W ., the ceremony being performed by the Provincial Grand Master of Bucks Bro . Lord Addington , who , in doing so , paid a graceful tribute to the many good qualities of the deceased Brother .

The installation of Bro . A . Mitchell as W . M . was performed by Bro . the Rev . W . Miles Myres I . P . M . in a most impressive manner .

ST . HILDA LODGE , No . 1887 . THE members held a banquet at the Lamb Hotel , Wallingford , on the 16 th ult ., Bro . Farrar the Chaplain of the Lodge , who is leaving for Chester , being the guest of the evening , and being presented with a Chaplain ' s jewel in acknowledgment of his services to the Lodge .

BLACKWATER LODGE , No . 1977 . ri ^ HE annual supper was held at the Blue Boar Hotel , Maldon , on I Monday , 27 th ult . The Worshipful Master Bro . O'Neill presided over a company numbering about forty . During the evening Bro . T . J . Railing P . A . G . D . C . Eng . Prov . G . Sec . rose

and proposed in felicitous terms the health of the I . P . M . Bro . Geo . Eustace , and in the name of the members of the Lodge presented him with a handsome Past Master ' s jewel , which had been subscribed by the members of the Lodge .

BROWNLOW LODGE , No . 2131 . THE annual installation took place at the Town Hall , Ellesmere , on Thursday , 23 rd ult ., when Bro . H . R . Giles P . M . P . P . G . Reg . was for the second time installed as Worshipful Master .

M 1 STLEY LODGE , No . 2339 . THE anniversary meeting was held at the White Hart Hotel , Manningtree , on Thursday , 30 th ult ., when there was an exceptionally large gathering of Brethren , in support of Bro . J . Thomas Taylor upon his installation as

Worshipful Master for the ensuing year . In the absence of Bro . Sir W . N . Abdy , Bart ., who , through indisposition was unable to fulfil his engagement to conduct the ceremony of installation , the function was ably performed by Bro . C . E . Garrard .

After the banquet , and in responding for the Grand Officers , Bro . Railing referred to a remark of the Worshipful Master in proposing the toast as to the large number of Lodges consecrated during the last few years , and which

he attributed to the influence of the Prince of Wales m Masonry . They saw locally , and with a wider sense , that Masonry was becoming a great influence in the country—an influence for good—and if it were not for such good leaders they would not have such good followers .

Bro . Bendall , in proposing the toast of the Prov . Grand Master and the Provincial Grand Officers present and past , expressed the hope that ere long the Mistley Lodge would be graced with the presence of the Provincial Grand Master ; and with regard to the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , he was sure that every member of the Lodge enjoyed witnessing the work he performed when he visited them .

HILBRE LODGE , No . 2375 . AT the annual installation meeting , at the Royal Hotel , Hoylake , Bro . J . G . Holmes was placed in the chair , a large number of members and visiting Brethren being present . The installation ceremony was conducted in a most impressive manner by Bro . Thos . A . Jackson W . M ., who during his year of office has won golden opinions from his Brethren .

After this ceremony the newly-installed Worshipful Master presented Bro . Jackson with a beautiful Past Master ' s jewel , and in eloquent terms spoke of the excellent manner in which he had ruled the Lodge during the past year .

HEDWORTH LODGE , No . 2418 . ON the 29 th ult . the annual meeting was held at tho Freemasons' Hall , South Shields , when there was a large attendance of members and visiting Brethren , under the presidency of Bro . C . R . Toomer W . M . Bro . Ralph Watson Graham W . M .-elect was presented for installation

by Bro . Moffet D . C , and the ceremony was very ably performed by Bro . C . R . Toomer , who was presented with a handsome Past Master ' s jewel , on behalf of the Lodge , as a mark of the esteem of the Brethren , and appreciation of his past services .

ST . ANDREW LODGE , No . 2541 . THE installation meeting of this Lodge , which was consecrated last year by Sir Michael Hicks-Beach , was held on Saturday , 1 st inst ., at the Masonic Hall , Avonmouth , which was well filled .

The W . M . Bro . J . L . Bretherton P . P . S . G . D . presided , and installed his successor , Bro . Charles Holtom S . W ., being assisted in the ceremony by Bros . R . P . Sumner Prov . S . G . W . and J . Bruton Prov . G . Treas ., in addition to members of tbe Lodge .

The D . P . G . M . Bro . R . V . Vassar-Smith was prevented from attending by a severe cold , but the visitors included Bro . M . Tennant P . A . G . D . O . Eng . D . P . G . M . South Wales E . D .. & c .

The Brethren subsequently dined together vory enjoyably at tho Royal Hotel , and there wore many congratulations upon tho success which had attended the first year of the youngest Lodge in the Gloucestershire Province , the new W . M . having been one of its most active founders .

The Brethren of the Pennant Lodge , No . 1992 , Cardiff , intend holding their annual ball on Wednesday , 12 th inst ., for the benefit of the Charity Fund of the Lodge .