Provincial.

Thero was a large attendance of members of St . Cuthbert's Lodgo , as well as a large number of visiting Brethren from neighbouring Lodges . The ceremonv of installation was impressively performed by Bro . Lieut .-

Col . the Hon . W . T . Orde-Powlett P . G . W . England and Deputy Prov . Graud Master N . and E . Yorkshire . At the close of the ceremony the newlyinstalled W . M . invested his Officers .

The installation banquet was subsequently held at Bowman ' s Hotel The usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were honoured .

PORTLAND LODGE , No . 637 . THE annual festival and installation took place on Thursday , 3 rd inst . Ttye Brethren and Visitors , to the number of about seventy , assembled at the Town Hall , Stoke-on-Trent , when Bro . Eli Alsop was installed .

The Brethren afterwards adjourned to tho Copeland Arms Hotol , where an excellent banquet was partaken of , served in the usual satisfactory style of that well-known establishment .

ST . JOHN'S LODGE , No . 761 . ON Thursday , 3 rd inst ., tho annual festival was hold in the Drill Hall , Duraley , which had been lent for the purpose by Brother Captain Wenden .

The year just concluded has been a very successful period to the St John ' s Lodge , seven new members having been initiated under the master ship of Bro . Thomas Vr ' ney P . G . S .

The Master-elect was Bro . Dr . A . J . Campbell , who was installed in the chair by Bro . H . Blandford P . M . P . P . G . P ., supported by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master Bro . R . V . Vassar Smith , assisted by Past Masters Francillon , General Vizard , Viney , and Small . After the installation ceremony the usual banquet was held at the Old Bell Hotel .

BENEVOLENCE LODGE , No . 1168 . THE annual meeting took place at the Digby Hotel , Sherborne , on Tuesday , 1 st inst ., when Bro . W . G . Pragnell was installed W . M .

UNITY LODGE , No . 1332 . THE annual meeting was held at Crediton , on tho 1 st inst ., Bro . J . Rowe being installed as W . M . After the business of the Lodgo meeting a banquet took placo at the Ship Hotel .

LIBERTY OF HAVERING LODGE , No 1437 . THE installation meeting was held on Thursday , 26 th ult ., at the Urban Council Offices , Romford , when there was a numerous attendance of members and visiting Brethren , including Bro . T . J . Railing Prov . G . Sec . Bro . J . W . Armour , of Brentwood , was installed as W . M ., and proceeded to invest his Officers .

The Brethren afterwards adjourned to the Golden Lion , where an excellent banquet was served by Mr . and Mrs . P . Reynolds . A Past Master ' s jewel was presented to Bro . Child in recognition of the

marked ability he has displayed during his year of offico . The sum of one guinea was voted to the Cottage Hospital , which was further augmented by the proceeds of the " brokencolumn , " amounting to about £ 2 . o o o

SIR WATKIN LODGE , No . 1477 . THE annual investiture of Officers took place on Monday , at Mold , when Bro . W . B . Rowdon was installed as W . M . The Brethren partook of a banquet at the Black Lion Hotel . Tho after proceedings were devoid of much of the festival character for which this

Lodge has in previous years been so distinguished , on account of the Lodge being iu mourning for two prominent members—Bros . J . Salmon and W . Corbett—who wero present at the last installation , but who have since passed away . No invitations were in consequence issued to outside Lodges this year .

ELLIOT LODGE , No . 1567 , A MEETING of this Lodge was held at the Railway Hotel , Feltham , ou Saturday , 5 th October , Bros . Nicholls W . M ., Pardoe P . M . acting S . W ., Harry Willsnier acting J . W ., W . T . Dillon S . D ., Ditchman J . D ., Wildbore I . G ., T . I . Bird P . M . Secretary , John Mason P . M . Treasurer , and Bros . J .

Pearson P . M ., A . Bevis P . M . Butterton , King , Howard , Wyatt , Fenn , Fagan , Cook , Weedon , Langdon , Hume , Winter ( Chaplain ) , Calley , Millin , Tilley , and others . Bro . Tilley was passed to tho degree of a Fellow Craft . Bro . T . I . Bird P . M . P . Grand Sword Bearer Middlx ., was unanimously elected W . M . for the second time ; Bro . John Mason P . M . P . Grand Deacon Middlx . Treasurer ; Bros . Howard , Winter , aud Wyatt to serve on the Audit

Committee ; and Bro . J . Edmonds as Tyler . Mr . E . H . Keighley was proposed as a candidate for initiation at the next meeting , to be held in November , by Brothers A . Wyatt and H . Willsnier .

STRANTON LODGE , No . 1862 . ON the 2 nd inst . Bro . Gerald Barker was installed W . M . at West Hartlepool , the ceremony being performed by Bro . G . L . Woolley I . P . M . A banquet was subsequently served at thc Masonic Hall .

OSBORN LODGE , No . 2169 . AT thc meeting held on Thursday , 3 rd , Bro . G . W . Ball was unanimously elected as W . M . for the ensuing year . His installation will take place on Thursday , 7 th November , at East Cowes . Bro . G . Groves served the office of W . M . so much to the satisfaction of the Brethren during the past twelve months that they voted him a Past Master ' s jewel in token thpreot .

Provincial.

WARNER LODGE , No . 2256 . rrUIE seventh annual meeting of this Lodge took place on Tuesday , at the 1 K . jyal Forest Hotel , Cuingford , when the W . M . Bro . William Shurmur Past Provincial Grand Treasurer of Essex presided , being supported by his Officers and the following distinguished Visitors : Bros . F . A . Philbrick

Grand Registrar Deputy I ' . G . M . Kssex , E . 11 . Bailey P . P . J . G . W ., H . Ffrench Bromhead P . P . G . S . of \ V „ James Speller P . P . J . G . D ., James Pinder P . P . G . T ., Nathaniel Fortescue P . G . T ., Walter Latta P . P . G . O ., Henry H . Finch P . M ., J . J . Briginshaw P . M ., Clement Spurgeon W . M .-elect 2501 , Henry J . Draw W . M . 2318 , Orlton Cooper P . M . 211 , John H . Ellis 212 , J . J . Gordon 969 , J . French 212 , Edward Chubb 2029 , and R . Evans 969 .

The Lodge having been formed , and the minutes of the last meeting confirmed , the report of the Audit Committee was presented and accepted . Bro . John Mason , being a candidate fco be raised to the sublime degree , proved his proficiency as a Craftsman , and was afterwards admitted as a Mastor Mason , the impressive ceremony being beautifully rendered by Bro . Shurmur .

The next business was the installation of the new Master , and Bro . William Alexander Finch haviug beeu regularly elected to that office at the previous meeting , was brought before tha Lodge and signified his assent to tho ancient charges and regulations . A Board of Installed Masters was then constituted , and Bro . Finch was placed in tho chair by his predecessor according to the usual custom .

The new Master appointed aud invested his Officers as follow : —G . W . Long S . W ., C . G . Cutchoy P . M . P . Z . J . W ., Rov . Matthew Rees P . P . G . C . Chaplain , T . Scoresby-Jackson P . P . S . G . D . Treasurer , Richard Kershaw P . P . G . D . Secretary . Frederick Taylor S . D ., W . B . Whittingham J . D ., George Brown I . G ., Arthur Holmes D . C , Walter Latta Organist , James Bird and Thomas Armstrong Stewards , and John Ives P . M Tyler .

Bro . William Shurmur then delivered the usual addresses , and at their termination was loudly applauded by the Brethren . It is always a Masonic treat to hear Bro . Shurmur recite the ritual , and on this occasion he surpassed himself . Bro . W . A . Finch W . M . was elected as a representative of the Lodge to serve on the Essex Charity Committee . A candidate for initiation at the next meeting was proposed , aud owing to unavoidable circumstances four resignations were received .

The new Master was congratulated by the Visiting Brethren , and after the Lodge had been closed the company adjourned to the Banquet HaU , where an excellent repast was served . A very pleasant evening followed , during which a handsome Past Master ' s jowel was presented to Bro . Shurmur for his services .

Special mention should be made of the admirable musical arrangements of Bro . Walter Latta , not only during the evening , but in the Lodge itself . There can be no doubt that appropriate music while a ceremony is being performed materially assists the ritual , and increases the interest of the Brethren . Of course an intelligent conception of the ceremonies is requisite ,

and Bro . Latta has evidently studied them very carefully . The music rn the third degree was peculiarly impressive , whilst that during the investiture was of a bright and joyous character . After dinner Bro . Latta introduced his daughter , who favoured the Brethren with somo pretty ballads , which were sung with much feeling and artistic merit .

Bro . William Alexander Finch the new Master of the Lodge is a very young Mason to reach the exalted position he now occupies , having been born in London , in the year 1866 . Ho was initiated in the Warner Lodge , being one of its first candidates ; but his diligent attendance at the Lodge of Instruction , together with the manner in which he has filled the subordinate Offices , gives fair promise that the Lodge will lose none of its lustre while under his direction .

BARRY LODGE , No . 2357 . 11 HE annual installation was hold on Wednesday , 25 th ult ., at the Masonic Rooms , Royal Hotel , Cadoxton-Barry . Bro . Dr . E . Treharne S . W . was installed as Worshipful Master for the ensuing year , the installing Master being Bro . Dr . W . Lloyd Edwards I . P . M ., who was presented with a Past Master ' s jewel .

Brother Dr . Treharne , the new Worshipful Master , is one of tho principal public men in the Barry district . He is County Councillor for the division of Cadoxton , Member of tho Barry Urban District Council and School Board , and Chairman of thc Barry and Cadoxton Conservative Association and of the Barry Dock Conservative Club and Institute , Seo .

MINNEHAHA MINSTREL LODGE , No . 2363 . THE regular meeting was held at the Victoria Hotel , Manchester , on Monday , the 23 rd ult ., Bro . Cyril H . Beever W . M . There were also present : —Bros . C . Harrop S . W ., Henry Nail P . M . Prov . Grand Treas . ( West

Lanes . ) J . W ., M . Thomas P . M . P . P . G . D . Sec , Fred Hilton P . M . P . P . G . D . C . S . D ., Thomas Hamuett J . D ., Sam Luke I . G ., F . W . Wollaston P . M . P . G . A . D . C Chap ., Seth Wrigley P . M . D . C , Edwyn A . Smith Organist , S . H . Stubbs Std .. Thos . Black P . M . P . P . G . D ., J . C . Wood P . M ., Edward Roberts P . M . 1459 , A . J . Schofield , W . Tbos . Watts , H . Bowes , Samuel L . Watts , F . Todd , A . J . Holt .

Visitors : —Bros . Alex . Come P . M . 2119 Treas . District Grand Lodge Queensland , Treas . District Grand Chapter Queensland P . Z ., Stanley Baldwin P . M . 280 560 P . P . G R . Worcestershire , W . H . Bibbv P . M . 993 , W . Harold Radford W . M . 62 , T . A . Galloway Wilson W . M . 633 , G . Douglas Wicks 993 , Thos . Morvell 1052 .

Following tho reading nnd confirmation of minutes was tho reading of an Antient Charge by Bro . Wollaston Chaplain , which in turn was followed by the balloting for and initiation of Messrs . Herbert Ballantyne Muir , Insurance Secretary , Manchester , and Edward Parnell , Salesman , Levenshulme .

The first ceremony was performed by the W . M ., and the second by Bro . Wrigley P . M ., the Working Tools being presented and explained by Brother Harrop S . VV ., and the Charge delivered by Bro . Nail J . W . Reference was made to the fact that Bro . Nail had recently attained Provincial rank in West Lancashire , and he was congratulated thereon .

Being the penultimate meeting of the financial year , the election of Officers took place , and as Brother Harrop S . W . ( for reasons which he explained ) desired to retire , Bro . Nail J . W . was chosen as W . M .-elect , and he will be duly installed into tbe chair of K . S . at the forthcoming meeting . The usual festive board followed , Loyal and Masonic toasts being relieved by songs , Ac , rendered by various Brethren , with the result that a pleasant evening was spent .