Provincial.

Amongst those present at thc Lodge , and festive board which followed , were Bros . Councillor William Birkbeck W . M ., Robert Lingard S . W ., J . Chalmers J . W ., James Simister Secretary , J . H .

Fitzsimmons J . D ., E . Edmondson Org ., George Parker I . P . M ., G . Higham P . M . P . P . G . D . D . C , R . Arrnitage P . M ., Jos . Selby P . M ., H . Timnaley P . M ., and J . Goldsmith P . M . Visitors : Bros . Wm . Loose W . M . 645 , W . D . Holbrook 1375 . o o o

PENTANGLE LODGE , No . 1174 . rpHE Annual Festival was held on Tuesday , 22 nd ult ., at thc Sun X Hotel , Chatham . This Lodge is known as one of the very few Service Lodges , its membership being composed chiefly of the officers of the navy and army . Its Charter of Constitution dates from 1867 , since which it has exhibited a roll of distinguished

members connected with the two services and the civil service . The new Master of tho Lodge is Major E . B . Stephens , Royal Marines , who was installed as Worshipful Master by Bro . F . W . H . Penfold the Immediate Past Master , in a veiy able manner .

The new Worshipful Master having been inducted to the chair of King Solomon with tho accustomed solemn rites appointed his Officers . The business of the Lodge being terminated , the Brethren ,

under the presidency of the W . M . partook of the annual banquet , which was excellently served by Bro . Spurrier , when the usual Masonic toasts , & c , wore honoured . During dinner a portion of tho Royal Engineer band played an admirable selection of music . o O 0

LODGE OF TRUTH , No . 1458 . WE are glad to see this Lodge continues to make steady and satisfactory progress , and that the meeting held at tho Wheat Sheaf , Manchester , on Saturday last , was quite as successful as many of its predecessors which have been reported in our columns . In the first instance Mr . Chas . V . Bretherton , who had been balloted for upon the last Lodge night , now presented himself

for Initiation , and thc ceremony was performed by Bro . Hamlet Lowe Burgess W . M ., who was assisted by Bro . Alfred Hebden P . M . P . P . G . D . D . C . D . of Cers . This was followed by the passing of Bro . Edward Jackson by Bro . T . H . Hall P . M . Secretary . Bro . W . H . Worsley J . W . presented and explained tho working tools in each degree .

The whole pi the work was done in that characteristically excellent manner which we have referred to upon many previous

. Before the Lodge was closed , the name of another candidate for Initiation was handed in , and as thero is other work of this description still in hand , it was announced that it would be necessary to hold an Emergency Meeting on Saturday , the 30 th inst .

Tho usual festive board followed , when Loyal and Masonic toasts were submitted . Amongst those present we noticed Bros . E . M . Shepherd S . W ., Robert Caldwell P . M . P . P . G . S . B ., Buckley Carr P . M ., Davies P . M ., A . B . Taylor , Cooper , Dean , Muller , Parkin , Hellewell , and Hogg . Visitor : Bro . W . J . Melling P . M . 986 and 2185 .

The annual picnic in connection with the Lodge will be held on Saturday , 14 th July , the place selected being Windermere .

o o o PRUDENCE LODGE , No . 1550 . AT a meeting held at thc Freemasons' Hall , Plymouth , on Saturday evening , Bro . E . Budge W . M . presiding , Bro . H . T . Robins , of Yeaknpton , the Senior Warden , was unanimously elected W . M . for the ensuing year . Bro . Robins , who is a comparatively young Mason , has made such progress in the Art that he has

reached the Master ' s chair within about five years of his having joined the Order . He is exceedingly popular among the Brethren , and was heartily congratulated on Saturday night on the position to which he has attained . Bros . C . Philp as Treasurer , J . G . Kevern as Representative of the Lodge on the Committee of Petitions , C . Mutten as Charity Steward , and W . H . Phillips as Tyler , were all unanimously re-elected , and thanked for their past

services . It was decided to hold the usual summer outing , and a Committee was appointed to make the necessary arrangements . After the Lodge had been closed the Brethren adjourned to the dining room , where they partook of refreshments , and in the course of the proceedings Bro . Budge took occasion to thank the Officers of the Lodge for the valuable assistance they had given him during

his year of office , whereby his duties had been made both light and pleasant . He especially thanked Bro . S . Jew , a venerable Freemason , who had just reached his seventy-eighth year , and who , although not a member of the Lodge , had regularly attended its meetings , and assisted him in discharging the duties of Chaplain . Bro . Jew ' s enthusiasm for Freemasonry was an example to all younger Masons , and he hoped they would havo the pleasure of seeing him with them for many years to come .

Bro . Jew , whose health was very cordially drunk , feelingly acknowledged the toast , remarking that he was a member of seven Lodges , thc meetings of which he regularly attended , aud that Freemasonry was his veiy existence . The health of thc W . M ., proposed by Bro . Robins , was drunk with much enthusiasm , and Bro . Budge was congratulated on the manner in which he had discharged the duties of Worshipful Master .

The installation of Bro . Robins will take place on 7 th July , when it is expected there will be a very large atttendance of Brethren .

Provincial.

ELLIOT LODGE , No . 1567 . rriHE regular meeting was held on Saturday , 2 nd inst ., at the I Railway Hotel , Feltham , under the presidency of Bro . J . Mason W . M ., who was supported by W . Booker S . W ., J . Nichols J . W ., Pearson P . M . Treas ., J . Bird P . M . Sec , Carpenter S . D .,

Sawworth J . D ., Dillon I . G ., Wildoro D . C . There were also present Bros . Bovis , Taylor , Bird , Pearson and Brown Past Masters ; Bros . Longdown , Tomblin , Cook , Weedon , Calley , Randle , Arkel , Pardoe , & c , together with the following Visitors : A Chapman 834 , Webster 704 , Kemp 1733 , & c

Bro . H . J . Calley was regularly prepared and afterwards passed to the second degree , the ability of Bro . John Mason as an exponent of Masonic ritual adding much to the impressiveness and general excellence of the work . An adjournment was subsequently made to dinner , which was

excellent both in quality and quantity , and reflected the highest credit on Bro . Harris , the host of the Hotel . The W . M . presided , and under his genial guidance a very happy evening was spent , somo excellent singing by the Brethren ¦ adding to the general enjoyment . o o o

ST . GILES LODGE , No . 1587 . 11 HE festival of St . John was celebrated at the Savings Bank , Cheadle , on Tuesday , the 22 nd ult ., among those present being Lieutenant-Colonel A . J . Bindley D . P . G . M . Staffordshire and S . G . D . of England , Major G . W . Walker Prov . G . Sec , M .

Barker President Staffordshire Masonic Charitable Association . Bro . T . B . Cull P . M . P . P . G . P . was installed Worshipful Master of the Lodge for the second time , the ceremony of installation being performed by Bro . E . Welsh P . M . P . P . G . S .

After the ceremony tho Brethren adjourned to the Wheat Sheaf Hotel , where they partook of an excellent repast provided by Mrs . Hammond , the hostess , after which tho usual toasts wero honoured . o o o

CARADOC LODGE , No . 1674 . ON Monday , 21 st ult ., tho members opened their new premises in Market Street , Rhyl . The room occupies the second storey in the Rhyl and County Club . It is admirably adapted for its present purposes , aud has been beautifully decorated for the Masonic home at Rhyl . At the opening Bro . Jno . Duncan Miller W . M . presided , and was well supported by members and visitors .

A banquet was afterwards held at the Westminster Hotel , to celebrate the event , when the usual Masonic and other toasts wore given and responded to . ' o o o

MEDWAY LODGE , No . 1678 . THE Installation meeting took place on Tuesday , 22 nd ult ., at Tonbridge , when Bro . A . A . T . Avard was installed as W . M . by Bro . Millidge the I . P . M ., to whom a valuable jewel was presented in recognition of his services during thc past year . Bro . Abrey was elected charity representative , and thc new Officers were invested . The customary banquet subsequently followed at the Rose and Crown Hotel .

Joan Of Arc.

JOAN OF ARC .

EVERY party and shade of opinion in France seems resolved to put in its claim for a share in Joan of Arc , and to celebrate a Joan of Arc Festival of its own . It appears that several Freemasons Lodges have expressed some indignation at the " expropriation" of the national French heroine by the Pope and his French bishops . Hence upon Wednesday , which is tho

anniversary of the burning of Joan at the stake on 30 th May 1431 , in the presence of the Bishop of Beauvais , the authorities of the Inquisition , and a crowd of approving ecclesiastics , they intend to perform a kind of service of " expiation" of a very different

character to that in the expiatory church on Montmartre . The members of these Lodges will march in procession to the Place de Pyramides , and deposit a wreath and a dedicatory inscription at the foot of the statue of the Maid of Domremy . The inscription has already been composed , and runs as follows : —

" A Jeanne d'Arc , Heretique et relapse , Abandotmee de la Royaute , Bruleo par l'Eglise . " ( " To Joan of Arc , relapsed Heretic , abandoned by Royalty , burnt

by the Church . " ) The sting of the inscription lies in its truth . But we imagine that some attempt will be mado to hinder tho proposed counterdemonstration . — " Echo , " 29 th May .

Thc Directors of Spiers and Pond , Limited , notify that thc Transfer Books will be closed from the 18 th inst . to thc 30 th inst ., both inclusive , for the purpose of preparing the Interest Warrants , on the 5 per cent . First Mortgage Debentures , thc 5 per cent . "A" Mortgage Debenture Stock , and the . 5 per cent . "B " Debenture Stock , thc 5 per cent . Debenture Stock , and the 4 per cent . " C " Debenture Stock of the Company . The Warrants will be posted on the evening of the 30 th inst .