Provincial.

Bro . P . M . Davies proposed the health of the W . M ., and referred to his career in the Lodge , and the various Offices he had held with credit to himself and the Lodge . He did not hesitate to predict that the W . M . would fill the position in a manner that would reflect further credit upon both . The W . M . very ably responded , and said tbe ship was well manned , and

he had every confidence that by mutual efforts the prestige of the Ashbury Lodge would be maintained . Already he had before him a considerable amount of work , but with the assistance ofthe Past Masters , which had never been withheld , and he was sure would not be during his year of office , he accepted the position with some confidence that all would go well . to the

Not the least pleasing part of the Master ' s duty was now present I . P . M . Bro . Townley Trotter , in the name of tho Lodge , a Past Master ' s jewel for services rendered as W . M . during the year just ended . That he had done his work well had already been testified by the D . P . G . M ., and the Brethren knew that all he had undertaken he had faithfully performed . The jewel was inscribed :

Presented by the Brethren to BEO . P . M . J . TOWNBEY TROTTER , for services rendered as W . M . of the Ashbury Lodge , 1459 . —1897-8 . 17 th November 1898 . Bro . Trotter thanked the Brethren for the handsome jewel presented , and suitably responded to the toast of his health . The proceedings were enlivened by songs , recitations , & c , by Bros . Bentley , Wilkinson , Cooper , Beastow , and others .

CENTURION LODGE , No . 2322 . r *| "VHE annual meeting and festival of St . John took place at the Victoria J _ Hotel , Manchester , on Monday , 5 th inst . There were an excellent attendance of members and visitors , the latter numbering nearly thirty .

The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed , Brother Surgeon Captain J . J . Kent Fairclougb S . W . was duly installed into the chair of K . S ., the Installing Officers being Bros . Major T . W . Ashworth W . M ., Major Geo . Kershaw I . P . M . S . W ., Col . H . J . Robinson P . P . G . R . J . W ., and Col . Henry L . Rocca P . P . G . J . D . I . G .

The various addresses were given as follow : that to the W . M . by Col . J . Howarth Clark , J . P ., P . P . G . S . D . Treasurer , that to the Wardens by Bro . Rocca , and that to the Brethren generally by Bro . Major W . H . Hopkins P . P . G . D . C , the latter acting very efficiently as D . C The Officers for the forthcoming year are : Bros , the Rev . J . W . Challenor

P . P . G . C . S . W ., Capt . Peter Nightingale J . W ., Rev . E . Bigoe-Bagot P . M P . P . G . C . Chaplain , Lt .-Col . J . Howarth Clark P . M . Treasurer , Major F . Pratt P . M . Secretary , Capt . G . W . Heys S . D ., Lt .-Col . H . B . Moss J . D ., Major W . H . Hopkins P . M . D . C , Lieut . J . T . Smith I . G ., Captain H . S . Hardy Organist , Captain J . E . R . Hall Steward , Surgeon-Lieut . Nesfield Steward .

Bro . Major John Heap P . M . P . P . S . G . D . was re-elected Charity Representative . Before the Lodge was closed the name of Mr . Alio Phillips , Lieutenant of the Manchester Medical Staff Corps , was submitted to the Lodge , and being favourably received that gentleman will probably be balloted for and initiated at the next meeting of the Lodge , to be held on Oth February .

A sumptuous banquet followed these proceedings , and a very pleasant evening was spent . Among those present we noticed Bros . Major G . H . Bates , Major W . Humphries , Major W . C Hall , Capt . F . J . Bentley , Capt . S . Brown , Capt . T . Parker jun ., Capt . A . Wall .

Visitors : —Bros . W . H . Norton P . M . 1534 P . P . G . R ., J . Wildgoose P . M . 163 P . P . G . D ., W . Alcock P . M . 192 1012 Prov . Grand Treas ., J . E . Steward P . M . 336 P . P . G . D . Ches ., Thos . Nesbitt W . M . 1055 , Thos ' . Hamnett W . M . 2363 , G . D . Brookes I . P . M . 1 C 09 , E . Faulkner P . M . 2231 , R . Butterworth P . M . 1476 2320 , G . S . Leresche S . W . 62 , and others .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

CHAPTER OF RECTITUDE , No . 581 . A MEETING took place at the Mosley Hotel , Manchester , on Thursday , . 1 st inst ., Comp . J . C . Wilson M . E . Z ., there being a very good attendance . , - The minutes having been read and confirmed a successful ballot was taken for Brother Albert Faber , Bee Hive Inn , Portland Street , Manchester , Prince Leopold Lod ge * No . 1588 , who was afterwards exalted into Royal Aroh

Masonry by the First Principal . Comp . Fletcher Armstrong , assisted by Comps . W . J . Melling P . Z . P . P . G . A . D . C . and A . Hibbert 935 ( as D . C . ) proceeded to instal Comps . Robt . Rudman as First Principal , Wm . Goodman as Second , and T . C Lilley as Third . The work was well done throughout , and , at the banquet which followed , very high encomiums were passed upon Gompsi Armstrong , Melling , and Hibbert , who suitably responded .

DUKE OF FIFE CHAPTER , No . 2345 . THE usual meeting was held at Anderton ' s Hotel , on Wednesday , 7 th inst ., when there were present : —Comps . W . G . Boswell , M . R . C . V S ., G . O . V . C , M . E . Z ., S . G . Bonner H ., 0 . Woods S . E ., A . Robertson Treas ., C . J . Fitch P . Soj ., J . Smith 1 st A . Soj ., F . W . Sinclair 2 nd A . Soj ., F . Beckwith and G . Taylor Stewards , C . Patrick P . Z . Janitor .

The business being ended the Companions dined under the presidency of the M . E . Z ., who referred most feelingly to the death of the Pro G . Z . the Earl of Lathom when speaking of the Grand Officers . Comp . G . Wood S . E . proposed the M . E . Z . in felicitous terms , to which Comp . Boswell suitably responded . Comp , J . Smith recited a stirring ballad , which was well received .

" THE THBEE MUSKETEERS , " which has been so phenomenally successful at the Globe Theatre , will be transferred in its entirety to the Garrick Theatre on Thursday evening next , 22 nd inst ., " Brother Officers" being withdrawn on the 21 st , to make room for same .

Holiday Arrangements.

HOLIDAY ARRANGEMENTS .

REDUCED RATES FOR CHRISTMAS PARCELS . IN connection with the Christmas and New Year traffic the Midland Railway Company will make special arrangements for the collection , quick transit , and prompt delivery of Christmas parcels in all the chief towns on their system , and for their conveyance at the reduced rates . Through vans will be attached to the principal express and mail trains to accommodate the exceptional parcels traffic concomitant upon tbo Christmas

season and which , in view of the recent reduction in the rates , applicable to both English and Scotch towns ( now in some cases less , and in no instance higher than the Parcels Post rates ) will no doubt be much heavier than usual . As a timely reminder to , many sending parcels at the " Owner ' s risk " rates , such as game , poultry , tobacco , cakes , cheese , & c , the Midland Company announce that the minima as to weight , formerly applied to this class of traffic , has been abolished as from 1 st December , and the charges are now based upon the actual weight of tbe packages .

LONDON AND NORTH WESTERN RAILWAY . THIS Company announce that the ticket offices at Euston , Broad Street , Kensington , and Willesden Junction will be open throughout the day , from Thursday , 15 th , to Saturday , 24 th December inclusive , so that Passengers wishing to obtain tickets for any destination on the London and North Western Railway can do so at any time of the day prior to the starting of the trains .

Tickets , dated to suit the convenience of Passengers , can also be obtained at any time ( Sundays and Bank Holidays excepted ) at the Town Receiving Offices of the Company . The following special arrangements will be made in connection with the London and North Western Passenger trains during the holidays : —On Thursday , Friday and Saturday , 22 hd , 23 rd , and 24 th December , a special train will leave Euston at 11 * 55 a . m . for Birmingham and Wolverhampton , calling at Coventry and Stechford only .

On Friday and Saturday , 23 rd and 24 th , a special express tram will leave Brimingham at 11 . 45 a . m . for Euston , calling at Coventry , Bletchley , and Willesden only . The 2 . 10 p . m ., Birmingham to London , will be divided ; the first portion leaving at 2 . 0 p . m ., calling at Coventry , Northampton , and Willesden only , and arriving London 4 . 35 p . m . ; the second portion leaving at the usual time—2 . 10 p . m . —and calling at Coventry , Northampton , Bletchley , and Willesden , and arriving London 4 . 50 p . m .

A special express train will leave Birmingham at 4 . 8 p . m ., conveying Passengers for Coventry , Rugby , Northampton , Peterboro ' , and Harwich , instead of 4 . 0 p . m , express from Birmingham doing so . On Saturday , 24 th , the 4 . 30 p . m ., Euston to Birmingham , will be divided . The first ¦ portion , which will run Express to Birmingham ( calling at Northampton and Coventry only ) , will leave Euston at 4 . 25 p . m ., and be due

Birmingham at 6 . 55 p . m . The second portion of the tram will leave Euston at 4 . 30 p . m ., as usual , and convey Passengers for Northampton , Market Harboro ' , Melton Mowbray , Wellingboro ' , Coventry , Birmingham , Walsall , Dudley , and Wolverhampton . The 12 0 night train from London due at Warrington at 5 . 26 a . m . on Sunday ( Christmas Day ) , 25 th , will be extended from Warrington to Kendal and Carlisle as on week-days .

On Christmas Day the Trains will run as on ordinary Sundays , with the following exceptions : The 3 . 30 a . m ., Shewsbury to Hereford ( in connection with the 10 . 0 p . m . from Euston on Saturday night , 24 th December , will be extended to Abergavenny ( Brecon Road ) , Merthyr , and Cardiff ( via M . T . & A . Line ) . The train will leave Hereford at 5 . 15 a . m ., and will call at the following Stations : —Abergavenny Junction , Abergavenny , Govilon , Gilwern , Clydach , Brynmawr , Beaufort , Trevil , Nantybwch , Rhymney Bridge , Dowlais ,

Cefn , arriving Merthyr 8 . 48 a . m . This train will run in connection with the Rhymney Co . ' s train which leaves Rhymney Bridge for Cardiff at 8 . 50 a . m . A special train will leave Craven Arms at 5 . 0 a . m . for Swansea ( after arrival of the 3 . 30 a . m . mail from Shrewsbury ) in connection with the train leaving Euston at 10 . 0 p . m . on Saturday night , 24 th . This train will call at all

stations up to and including Llandovery , also at all stations between Llandovery and Swansea , except the following : Glanrhyd , Talley Road , Ffairfach , Derwydd Road , Llandebie , and Tirydail . The mail train due to leave Shrewsbury for Welshpool and Aberystwyth at 3 . 40 a . m ., in connection with the 10 . 0 p . m . from London ( December 24 th ) , will run as on week-days with connections to the Cambrian Line .

On Monday ( Bank Holiday ) , 26 th , the 2 . 10 p . m ., Birmingham to Euston , will call at Rugby and join there the 12 . 0 noon express from Liverpool , which is due Euston at 5 . 15 p . m . Tho 4 . 30 p . m ., Euston to Birmingham and Wolverhampton , will not run . Passengers for Northampton and stations between Rugby and Wolverhampton served by this train will travel by the 5 . 0 or 5 . 35 p . m . from Euston ; and those from Market Harboro ' , Melton Mowbray , Nottingham , & c , by the 3 . 0 p . m ., from Euston . The following trains will

also be discontinued on this date : —8 . 0 a . m ., Liverpool to London ; 8 . 10 a . m . from Wolverhampton , and 8 . 45 a . m ., Birmingham to London ; 5 . 30 p . m ., London to Liverpool , Manchester , and Fleetwood . Numerous trains in the neighbourhood of important Cities and Towns will not be run on Bank Holiday , particulars of which will be announced locally .

The Dining , & c , Cars on the following trains will not be run on this date : —6 , 55 a . m . from Wolverhampton and 7 . 30 a . m . from Birmingham to London j 7 . 40 a . m ., Crewe to London : 8 . 30 a . m ., Manchester to London ; 6 . 30 p . m ., London to Crewe ; 7 . 0 p . m ., London to Birmingham and Wolverhampton . The Dining Saloons and the Breakfast and Luncheon Saloons on all other trains will run as usual .

The through carriages will not run between London and the following Towns : —Birkenhead ( except on the 12 . 15 noon from London ) , Blackburn , Bolton , Carmarthen , Knutsford , Llanidloes , Melton Mowbray , Rochdale , Southport , Swansea , Walsall , Warwick , Welshpool ( on 4 . 15 p . m . from Euston ) . The through carriages between Birmingham and Victoria ( L . B . & S . C ) , Birmingham und Swansea , Central Wales , and Llandudno , will also be discontinued .

The through carriages between Willesden Junction and Dover , and Willesden Junction and Queenboro' , via Heine Hill and L . C . & D . Railway , will run as usual .

The Comp . my also announce cheap excursions for the Christmas Holidays on 23 rd December to Ireland and Carlisle and Scotland , and on 24 th December to Coventry , Leamington , Kenilworth , Warwick , Birmingham , Wolverhampton , Dudley , Walsall , Nuneaton , Leicester , Stafford , Orewe , Liverpool , Warrington , Wigan , Preston , Lancaster , the English Lake District ,