Panmure Lodge, No. 720.

ceptor ; also Bros . Smyth , Catling , S . Clark , Jones , Christian , Webb , Dallas . After preliminaries , the ceremony of raising was rehearsed . Bro . T . Clark candidate , the W . M . g iving the Traditional History . Bro . Webb worked the first section of the lecture , assisted by the brethren . Tbe Lodge was resumed to the first degree , and Bro . Edwards was elected W . M . for the ensuing week .

William Preston Lodge of Instruction , No . 766 . —Held at the Jacob ' s Well , George-street , Manchester-square , W . A very numerously attended meeting of the members of the above Lodge was held on Tuesday , the 9 th inst ., for the purpose of hearing a reading , by Bro . James Stevens , Explanatory of the Ceremony of the First Degree . Bro . Coop , the Preceptor , who occupied the chair , in

introducing the lecturer , said he had had the pleasure of meeting Brother Stevens under very different circumstances , on a recent occasion ; he referred to the Volunteer Review , at Portsmouth , and he felt sure that the hearty , zealous , and able manner in which Brother Stevens bad gone through the fatigue of that day , proved hia heart was in his work , and he having volunteered to give his reading

he felt sure hia heart was equally in his work in connection with Masonry , and it wonld afford the brethren much pleasure and instruction to listen to him . Bro . Stevens thanked the brethren for the honour tbey had done him in meeting him at their Lodge , and in a powerful introduction of his subject explained bis motives for advocating what he considered of vital importance to the best in .

tereBts of pure Masonry j he believed that " uniformity of ritual ' was a subject that should command their very earnest consideration ; he could foresee grave dangers arising in the future from the un . satisfactory condition of their present system , or rather want of system . He had been to a great number of Lodges during the twenty-six years he had been oonnected with the Craft , both in

London and in the Provinces , and he had been astonished at the great diversity , not only of ritual , but also in the way in whioh the various ceremonies were worked in different parts of the country . He de . precated any individuality in respect of the various modes , and contended that there should be one universal working of the ceremonies and wording of the ritual—approved and sanctioned by G .

Lodgewhich should be the one standard and recognised authority . Nothing could be more a matter of regret to the true and earnest worker than the diversity of opinion which prevailed on this subject . He had frequently been grieved to hear in the various Lodges which he had visited that tbe work was Bro . Brown's , Bro . Jones ' s , or Bro . Robin . Bon ' s working ; there was really a wide distinction between them .

He trusted that he might never hear such a thing mentioned in any Lodge as Bro . Stevens ' s working;—he had no working . But he did work for , and did think and contend , that in the present day , when the profession of Masonry was so extended , and numerically speaking , the Craft was becoming of such gigantic proportions ; while printed rituals were spreading so rapidly , each more or less erroneous ,

it was on all sides absolutely necessary thafc Grand Lodge should take the matter in hand , and , after due consideration , issue a revised edition or compilation of , and from the various rituals , and stamp such edition with the supreme authority of their approval . He fore-Baw the time—unless something of this kind was done—when the Craft would split up into various bodies , each under some particular

working , and become—instead of stronger , in consequence of its everincreasing number—weaker and weaker , because of its schismatical disruptions . After Borne questions had been asked by the brethren and answered , Bro , Stevens commenced his able and exhaustive digest of the ceremony of the first degree , dwelling particularly on the virtues of punctuality and the proper respect shown thereby from

the brethren to the W . Master and his Wardens . He urged thafc eaoh Officer should be acquainted with his duties in every minute particular , and also with the duties of each of his co-workers , 80 that shonld an Officer be unavoidably absent , the dignity of the Lodge should not suffer by their ignorance . He dwelt particularly on the subject of the eligibility of every candidate for initiation , and

cautioned the brethren never to introduce an initiate whose ante , cedents were uot sufficiently known to them , so thafc they might vouch for tbe candidate's position and character ; nor yet to second the proposition of a brother to whom they were personally unknown . If this rule were more carefully attended to it would conduce to the avoidance of that unpleasant

scandal to which some have been subjected through a disregard of this most necessary precaution . Bro . Stevens then quoted from various authors , whose labours have during the last century assisted the Masonic student in arriving at a proper derivation of some of the quaint words used in the ritual , especially those which , according to the orthography of the present day , seem to have no common ,

sensible , or dictionary meaning . The several parts of tbe ceremony were reviewed and explained by Bro . Stevens in a very able manner , and at the end of his reading sundry points were discussed by tho brethren , and a hearty and cordial vote of thanks was proposed and carried to Bro . Stevens , amid much applauso . Several new

members were elected , and it was proposed and carried that Brother James Stevens be elected tho first , and as yet , the only honorary member of the William Preston Lodge of Instrnction . Bro . Stevens briefly returned thanks , when Lodge was closed in due form amid perfect harmony .

Friday , 12 th May . —Present—Bros . T . A . Smith W . M ., G . Tribble S . W ., Wilson J . W ., C . Bellerby S . D ., A . Chambers J . D ., H . Heck I . G ., G . Coop Preceptor , H . Moore Secretary ; also Dairy , A . Jones , W . Heath , Halley , & c . Lodge was opened in due form . The minutes of the last Lodge meeting were read , confirmed , and signed by the

"W . M . The Preceptor worked the first section of the leoture . The W . M . rehearsed the ceremony of initiation , Bro . Heath being the oandidate . Bro . A . Jones gave the charge in the first degree , in his usual perfect style . Bro . Tribble was elected W . M . for the ensuing week .

Lodge Of Union , No . 1101 . —An emergency meeting waa held on Tuesday , 16 th May , at the Masonio Hall , Reading . Bros . R . C . Mount W . M ., F . J . Ferguson S . W ., S . Bradley P . M . acting J . W ., M . J . Withers Sec , A . W . Parry S . D ., F . Blackwell I . G . acting J . D ., J . W . Martin acting M . C , H . G . Armstrong Steward , C . G . Butler acting I . G ., W . Hemmings Tyler ; P . M . ' s Bros . J . Morris , R . Bradley

Prov . G . Secretary ; Bros . Sherwood , Dodd , Rayner , G . Webb , Walters , Hawkes ; Visitor—Bro . W . P . Ivey P . M . and Seo . 1101 . The Lodge was opened . Mr . J . C . B . Tirbutt , who was elected at the last regular Lodge , was initiated into Freemasonry by the W . M ., in his usual correct manner . The charge was given by the acting I . P . M , Bro . R . Bradley , whose erudition in the Province is proverbial . This

being all the business on the notice paper , the Lodge was closed according to anoient form . We congratulate Bro . Mount on adhering strictly to the Book of Constitutions as regards emergenoy meetings ; many Lodges have the minutes read and confirmed ; this is out of order . We also congratulate the Lodge on its having secured a

musical brother , who will doubtless greatly add to the beauty of the ceremonies by presiding at the instrument , and directing the vocal parts . The Provincial Grand Secretary announced that the next Provincial Grand Lodge will be held iu Reading , on Monday , the 19 th June .

St . John Of Wapping Lodge , No . 1306 . —The regular and final meeting of the season was held at the Lodge's quarters , The Moorgate Tavern , 15 Finsbury . pavement , on Wednesday evening , 10 th instant , when the following brethren assembled : —Bros . Wooding W . M ., Horsley S . W ., Tyer J . W ., Beck P . M . Treasurer , Clements Secretary , Couture S . D ., Holdom J . D ., Sommers M . C , Twinn I . G .,

Magrath I . P . M ., Veal and Dawson P . M . 's ; also Bros . Carrociero , Osley , Wise , Hansmaun , Oppenheim , Morris , Green , and McDougall ; Visitor , Bro . Sherwin Organist Capper Lodge 1076 . Lodge opened in due form , and the minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed . The members then proceeded to ballot for Mr . Marlow , result proving unanimously in his favour . The candidate , however ]

waa not present ; the initiation ceremony was therefore deferred . Bros . Green and Oppenheim , candidates for passing , were interrogated and entrusted j Lodge being then advanced , the candidates were duly passed to the degree of Fellow Craft . Lodge subsequently closed to first degree , when it was proposed and seconded that the usual summer banquet of the Lodge should take place at a time to be fixed

hereafter . A committee was accordingly formed for the purpose of carrying out the necessary preliminaries , and it was decided to hold a meeting , to make arrangements , in the Lodge room on . Wednesday , 24 th instant , at 7 . 30 . Any brother not being present at the regular meeting on 10 th instant , will please accept this as an invite to

attend . It was further proposed and seconded that an entry be recorded on the minutes of tbe Lodge expressive of its horror at the late atrocious assassinations in Ireland , and especially its sympathy with the relatives of our late Bro . Lord Frederick Cavendish . A can . didate having been proposed , the Lodge olosed and adjourned till 11 th October ensuing .

"Wanderers' Lodge of Instruction , No . 1604 . —The members of this successful Lodge held their Inauguration Banquet on Wednesday , the 10 th instant , Bro . F . J . Wray P . M . 1604 occupying the chair ; Bro . George Boulton P . M . 1604 Vice . The repast , which was served in most excellent style , reflected great credit on the host , Bro . Harris . The cloth being cleared , the Chairman gave as iiTBt toast tbe Queen and the Craft , followed by thafc of the Most

Worshipful Grand Master His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and the rest of the Grand Officers . The next was the toasfc of the

evening—the Wanderers' Lodge of Instruction , coupled with the name of Bro . Wray Preceptor . Bro . Ascotfc P . M . 733 , in proposing this toast , spoke at length of Bro . Wray ' s qualities aa a Mason , and of what he had done in contributing to the success of the Lodge , which through his exertions was second to none ; he ( Bro . Ascott ) nerer

saw better working in any Lodge of Instrnction . He congratulated the members on having such a Preceptor as Bro . Wray . In thanking Bro . Ascotfc For his very enlogisfcio speech , and the brethren for the hearty manner in which they had received the toast , Bro . Wray said it eave him great pleasure to have this opportunity of expressing

how gratified he was at the great success which had crowned his efforts to establish a Lodge of Instruction for the benefit of the Wanderers' Lodge in particular , and of the Craft in general . The large attendance at the Lodge meetings , and the attention paid by the brethren to its working , were ample proof of its popularity . « had beeu his aim during the past year to carry out the work for

in the strictest possible manner , and he thanked the brethren the kind way in which they had supported him in attaining that object ; he hoped that at the close of another year be mig ht still be amongst tbem , and thafc he should hold the same p lace in their esteem . Nothing should be wanting on his part to secure that eud ; he was quite certain of the continued support of his many

friends of the past year . The Chairman next gave the health or » = Treasurer and Secretary—Bro . T . W . Harri 3 1604 , and Bro . George Musson 1601 . Bro . Harr ' i 3 , in responding , said it was always : ft pleasing duty to him to do all that lay iu his power to make tbe brethren comfortable , and also to hold the cash ; he trustea ho would have that honour for many years to come . If they w f a onlv satisfied , ho was more than so , and thanked them for drinking

luVhcaltb . Bro . Mnsson thanked them for coupling his name wu . the toast , and thought , after the able speeches of the last tw brethren , there was little left for him to say , but he felt it was cm or ( he best things that had befallen him when he was initiated fcbo Wanderers' Lodge ; be was prond to hold the P osltl ° Secretary to the Lodgo of Instruction . As tho brethren had sb ° w ^ by re-electing him , he had given satisfaction during the P asfc ye ?'' trusted to continue the same during the present . The 1 ^ ^ ° u vice-Chairruau was received in a most cordial manner , Bro . >