Provincial.

love and fraternal feeling . The W . M . was possessed of great energy , and those exellent traits which had marked his career in the past would , he was sure , be more prominently displayed in the future . He cordially wished him a happy and prosperous year . Bro . W . E . Nash , on rising to respond , was received with enthusiasm . Thanking the Brethren for their hearty reception of the toast he said he felt honoured by the record attendance of Brethren that evening . He did not

profess to be able to equal the work shown by Bro . Bungard , but he would endeavour to imitate him in maintaining the prosperity and happiness of the Lodge . , He had been able to organise outings and balls on behalf of the members , and had already arranged for an outing in June , and for the annual ball next January . Supported by the Officers and Brethren he was hopeful of success , and would do his utmost to maintain the high character of the Lodge and the happiness of the Brethren .

ST . DAVID LODGE , No . 679 . ON Thursday , 3 rd inst ., the annual meeting was held at the Masonic Hall , Aberdare . The hall has been recently renovated at a considerable expense , and the Lodge room is now acknowledged to be one of the finest in South Wales . There was a large attendance of members and visiting Brethren .

The Lodge was opened by the W . M . Bro . James Thorney . Bro . W . D . Phillips S . W . was promoted to W . M ., the installation ceremony being most impressively performed by his father , Bro . Thomas Phillips P . M . P . P . G . S . Bro . James Thorney I . P . M . was presented with a Past Master ' s jewel , and Bro . C . Botting P . M . was presented with a portrait , for his services to the Lodge .

A banquet was afterwards held at the Constitutional Hall , presided over by the W . M . Bro . W . D . Phillips .

PANMURE LODGE , No . 723 . IF a man ' s popularity is to be judged by the efforts his friends make to rally round him on public occasions then Bro . John Jenkins Kennett must be one of the most popular of men in the Masonic world of Aldershot .

says the " Aldershot News , " for troops of friends came in from all quarters to do him honour . London , Dover , Dublin , Portsmouth , Guildford , Farnham , Camberley , and many othor places sent representatives for this purpose on Tuesday , Sth ult ., the day appointed for his installation as Worshipful Master .

On the arrival of the Grand Lodge Officers , who entered together , they were duly saluted by the Brethren . Bro . R . Eve P . M . received the gavel , and proceeded with the installation ceremony . The new Officers were then appointed for the coming year , although as vacancies rarely occur in the Panmure Lodge the only new blood was an additional Steward , Bro . J . Meiklejohn , all the old Officers going up a step in rank .

At the banquet which followed , the usual Masonic toasts were honoured , Bro . Eve being particularly strong and eloquent with reference to the Charities . A large sum is required this year , and the right course is being taken to obtain it . H . R . H . the Grand Master has promised to preside some time in May , and many Stewards are already in the field , the two members

of Panmure being Bros . J . B . Jaye and J . J . Kennett , who are just the right members for this important service . In responding to the toast of his health the W . M . said that from the very first day of becoming a member of the Craft he had set before himself the Master ' s chair as the goal of his ambition , and he described his position , appropriately enough , as being a proud one .

ERME LODGE , No . 1091 . THE annual meeting was held at the Freemasons' Hall , Ivybridge , on V / ednesday , 2 nd inst ., when Bro . B . Henley was installed as Worshipful Master . It was unanimously agreed to present a Past Master ' s jewel to Bro . P . Luscombe , in recognition of the services he has rendered to the Lodge during

the past year , as its Worshipful Master . Subsequently the Brethren , together with the members of the Hawfcon Mark Lodge , adjourned to the London Hotel , where they were joined by several ladies , and an excellent banquet was partaken of , at which Bro . Henley W . M . of the Craft Lodge presided .

The Loyal toasts having been honoured , Bro . Coyte S . W . gave the Master Bro . Henley , remarking that in their newly-appointed presiding Officer they had an excellent comrade and an ardent Freemason . Bro . Henley , responding , stated that the day was a red letter one in his life . He referred to the fact that it had always been his ambition to preside

over a Lodge , and he felt grateful to the members of Lodge Erme for unanimously casting their vote in his favour . He expressed his indebtedness to the Past Masters for so admirably carrying out the installation ceremony , craved the assistance of his Officers , and thanked the Ladies for their presence at the banqueting hall .

ALBERT EDWARD LODGE , No . 1780 . : * THE " installation season " in Southampton was brought to a close on Tuesday , 1 st inst ., when there was a large gathering of Brethren of this Lodge at the Masonic Hall , on the occasion of the accession to the chair of the Lodge for the ensuing year of Bro . E . W . Drysdall S . W . The installation ceremony was excellently performed b y Bro . R . Prowse W . M . in the presence of a large Board of Installed Masters .

In proposing a vote of thanks to the Installing Master for his services that day and in the chair during the year , the W . M . presented to Bro . Prowse a Diamond Jubilee jewel , subscribed for by the Officers who had served under him , and a Past Master ' s jewel from the Lodge ; a P . M . 's apron was also presented him on behalf of the Brethren whom he had initiated during his year of office .

The I . P . M . expressed suitable acknowledgments of these interesting gifts , and other business having been transacted , tho Lodge was closed in ancient form , and the Brethren adjourned to the annual banquet , the large party being admirably catered for by Bro . Biggs . The W . M . presided , and was heartily congratulated by the Brethren who responded on behalf of tho Visitors . Tho . usual Masonic toasts were honoured , and an excellent programme of music and song was contribued by Bros . Coulan , Smith , and Billett , Bro . Crocker presiding at the piano .

Provincial.

MINNEHAHA MINSTREL LODGE , No . 2363 . THE regular meeting was held at the Victoria Hotel , Manchester , on Monday , 24 th ult ., Bro . Edwyn A . Smith W . M ., when there was a good attendance . Bro . Maurice J . Langdon was raised to the sublime degree of M . M ., alter which the Brethren adjourned to meet their lady friends , the Lodge room in the meantime being tastefully arranged for their reception . A very pleasant social evening followed .

o o o QUEEN VICTORIA LODGE , No . 2655 . ON Wednesday , 2 nd inst ., a meeting was held at the Trelawney Hall , St . Budeaux , under the presidency of Major G . J . Shanks W . M ., the attendance including a large number of visitors . Bro . Edwin Fage S . W . was elected Worshipful Master , and the W . M ., in congratulating him , trusted his year of office would prove a successful and prosperous one . .

Bro . Edwin Fage suitably responded , and in the course of his remarks expressed tbe hope that before his term of Office expired the Lodge would be meeting in a building of their own . He assured the Brethren that no effort would be wanting on his part to carry out the duties to the satisfaction of the Lodge . An emergency meeting is to be held on the 30 th inst ., and on the 6 th of April the installation will take place .

The annual ball of the Friars Lodge , No . 1349 , took place at the Trocadero Restaurant , Piccadilly Circus , W ., on the 10 th ult ., when upwards of 150 members and friends were present . Dancing was commenced at 8 o ' clock , in . the

Lmpire Hall , supper being served at eleven o clock , in Messrs . Lyons' well known style . The entertainment was kept up until 4 a . m ., a most enjoyable time being spent by all who were present .. The arrangements were in the hands of Bro . Isaac Davis , and proved in every way satisfactory .

The Humours Of Advertising.

THE HUMOURS OF ADVERTISING .

( Continued from page 72 ) . . IN the " Monthly Mirror " ( June 1800 ) appeared the following : — " Theatre , Manchester . A Mr . Lee-Sugg has been with an entertainment , as he called ifc , of recitation , songs , and ventriloquism . We notice the circumstance merely to expose the impudence and blasphemy of this miserable stroller . In his bills he called ventriloquism ' a wonderful power , that never can be learnt , but might be given by the King of Kings , ' and asserts that ' the Lord hath given unto him this great talent , and the devil cannot take it from him . ' " Present entertainers please note .

Here is an advertisement which was posted up at North Shields : — " Whereas several idle and disorderly persons have lately made a practice of riding on an ass belonging to Mr . —; now , lest any accident should happen , he takes this method of informing the public that he has determined to shoot the said ass , and cautions any person who may be riding on it at the same time to take care of himself , lest by some unfortunate mistake he should shoot the wrong one . "

The above reminds me of a very peculiarly worded notice whioh I saw some few years ago at the entrance to a park near Dolgelly , North Wales : " Rhybudd ( notice ) . Any one who will trespass upon these grounds , shall be prosecuted with the utmost rigour of the law . " A Cardiff evening paper of March 1890 , announced as follows : — " For Sale . Miscellaneous . Beauty Comro Pony , 4 years for you . Trap and Tacklings speended enwhere ; was sell them for 17 £ ; ' wery sheep . —Ply Mr . Davies , Cufc-hair and Shave Shop , Caerphilly , Morganshire , Wales , Endland . "

The following lines , according to a writer in " Notes and Queries " ( 1873 ) , are taken from " Specimens of the Yorkshire Dialect , & c , " printed at Otley ( London , Dean and Son ) without date : — " ' Tis to gie notidge , that Joanie Pickersgill yeats yewn to neit , fco moarn at moarn , an to moarn at neit , an nea langer as lang as storm hods , cause he can get na male eldia . " The

interpretation of this is that the bellman of Ripon gives notice that John Pickersgill ( the baker ) , heats his oven to-night , to-morrow morning , and tomorrow night , and no longer , as long as the snowstorm lasts , because he cannot get any more firewood . A London tradesman thus advertised his change of address : —

" I . Fell from Ludgate Hill . " Amongst the obituary notices in a weekly paper ( says " Chamber ' s Journal . " ) , there appeared the name of a certain publican with fche following eulogium appended to it : — "He was greatly esteemed for his strict probity and steady conduct through life , he having been a subscriber fco the " Sunday Times " from its first number . " This is a worthy pendant to Miss Hawkins ' s story of the undertaker writing to the Corporation of London , " 1 am desired to inform the Court of Aldermen , Mr . Alderman Gill died last night by order of Mrs . Gill . "

Evidently the author of the following advertisement had an eye to business . It is from a Spanish paper : — "This morning our Saviour summoned away the jeweller Siebald Illmaga , from his shop to another and a better world . The undersigned , his widow , will weep upon his tomb , as will also his two daughters , Hilda and Emma , the former of whom is married ,

and the latter is open to an offer . Tbe funeral will take place to-morrow . — His disconsolate widow , Veronique Illmaga . P . S . This bereavement will not interrupt our business , which will bo carried on as usual , only our place of business will be removed from No . 3 Tesside Teisnturiers to No . 4 Rue de Missionaire , as our grasping landlord has raised our rent . "

That was a curious coincidence which occurred on the day the late Mr . ' Justice Gave was being buried , at Woodmausterne ( end of 1897 ) . An advertisement appeared in the local papers announcing that there would be sold at the Mauor House , Woodmansterne , some valuable stock , the property of Mr . Jusfcic Cave , " who is quitting . " Unfortunately he was quitting , but in a different manner to that indicated by the advertisement . The following is copied from a number of the " John Bull , " published