Provincial.

YARBOROUGH LODGE , No . 422 . THE Brethren assembled at the Masonic Hall , Gainsborough , on Monday , 2 nd inst ., and elected Bro . the Eev . C . E . Laing , vicar of St . John ' s ,

Gainsborough , as Worshipful Master . Bro . F . J . Sowby was elected Treasurer , Bro . George Scotland Tyler , and Bros . Hanson and Adlard Auditors .

CLIFTON LODGE , No . 703 . ON Thursday , 5 th inst ., at Blackpool , the installation took place of Bro . E . Taylor S . W . as W . M ., Bro . E . Wolstenholme performing the ceremony . An . excellent dinner was afterwards sat down to , and a long toast list duly honoured .

WINDSOR CASTLE LODGE , No . 771 . THE quaint and handsome little temple in Church Street , Windsor , was full to overflowing on Tuesday , 10 th inst ., when several Joining Members were elected , and two well-known gentlemen were initiated into the mysteries , viz .,: Mr . Edward Barry , eldest son of Bro . F . T . Barry , M . P . ( who was also present as a guest of tho Lodge ) , and Mr , Councillor G . Mitchell . Under the presidency of the Worshipful Master Bro . F . Hunt , of Egham ,

a well-served supper afterwards took place at the White Hart Hotel , and altogether a most successful and enjoyable evening was spent . At the January meeting the Lodge will elect tho W . M . for the year ensuing . Several names are down as candidates for initiation , and a busy time is expected .

PILGRIMS LODGE , No . 772 . THE celebration of tho Festival of St . John was held in the Masonic Booms , Glastonbury , on Thursday , 12 th inst ., when Bro . W . G . Cozens S . W . and W . M .-elect was installed into the chair by Brother E . C . Else D . P . G . M ., assisted by Bro . Dr . Bright P . M . P . P . G . S . Ws ., and Major G . H . Newington Bridges P . M . P . P . J . D . At the conclusion of the ceremony of installation a presentation of a handsome set of jewels was made by the D . P . G . M . to the late Treasurer Bro . Dr . Bright P . M . The case containing the jewels bore tho inscription * . —

Presented to W . BRO . BRIGHT P . P . G . S . of W ., Somt ., by members of the Pilgrims Lodge , in recognition of twenty years' service as Treasurer . At the usual banquet , at the "Olde Pilgrims Inne , " the W . M . was supported by a goodly number of Brethren from various Lodges in the Province .

DE GREY AND RIPON LODGE , No . 837 . THE annual meeting was held at the Town Hall , Eipon , when the ceremony of installing Bro . Dr . S . Jacob P . M . P . P . G . Organist as W . M . for the ensuing year was performed by Bro . E . Wilkinson P . M . The annual banquet was afterwards held at the Unicorn Hotol .

LODGE OF LOYALTY , No . 897 . ON Wednesday , llth inst ., at the Masonic Eooms , Hall Street , St . Helens , Bro . John Turton S . W . was installed Worshipful Master by the retiring Master Bro . Weather-It . The members and Visitors afterwards adjourned to the Fleece Hotel , where the installation banquet was served .

THREE GRAND PRINCIPLES LODGE , No . 967 . ON Tuesday , 10 th iust ., the regular meeting was held at Penryn , when among other business the following were elected to office for tho ensuing year : Bros . Harry Hill as W . M ., T . Gill Treasurer , Dawe Tyler . The celebration of the Festival of St . John was arranged for the second Tuesday of the new year .

TRAFALGAR LODGE , No . 971 . THE festival of St . John was celebrated at Batley , on the 5 th inst ., when Bro . G . A . Wilks was installed as Master . The ceremony was followed by a banquet , at which several Visiting Brethren wore present from the Cleckheaton , Scarborough , and Nelson of the wile Lodges . The usual toasts were honoured .

ST . THOMAS LODGE , No . 992 . THE anniversary of this Lodge was celebrated at the Griffin Hotel , Lower Broughton , on Wednesday , 4 th inst ., the installation of Brother W . Martin S . W . as Worshipful Master being honoured , amongst other

distinguished Brethren , by the presence of Bros . J . J . Meakin P . M . P . P . G . W ., A . Middleton P . M . 645 P . S . G . D ., Thos . Southern P . M . P . P . G . D . C , Thomas Pike P . M . 852 P . P . G . Std . B ., C . Turner P . M . 1011 P . P . G . A . D . C , E . Williams P . M . 325 P . P . G . S . of W ., and others .

The first business was that of admitting Bro . Holmes , Harmony Lodge , 935 as a joining member , and of afterwards initiating Mr . W . J . Smith , this ceremony being ably perfoimed by Bro . T . M . Johnson W . M . A Masters' Board was then formed , as follows : —Bros . T . M . Johnson Installing W . M ., W . Hawkins as S . W ., W . H . Southern as J . W ., and H . Y . Eutter as I . G .

Bro . H . Fisher , acting as Installing Deacon , then presented Brother W . Martin to receive the benefits of installation . The Working Tools in each degree were presented bv Bro . Hawkins . The investiture of Officers was

undertaken by Bro . Millward , on bohalf of Bro . Hancock , as follows : Bros . A . B . Wightnian S . W ., J . Mumby J . W ., J . Hancock P . M . P . P . G . S . B . Treas ., J . Millward P . M . P . G . S . oi W . Sec , H . Y . Butter P . M . D . C , J . J . Millsom S . D ., A . Collins J . D ., H . Ta ; or I . G ., G . Owen Org ., A . G . Thompson ,

Provincial.

F . D . Dean , D . A . Osborne , H . Mason , W . Mann , J . Gilmour Stewards , and J . Johnson P . M . Tyler . The concluding offices were well carried out by Bros . Millward and S . Moore , aud altogether the ceremony bore traces of careful preparation and was ably done .

Afterwards the Brethren , to the number of sixty upwards , sat down to an excellent banquet admirably served by Brother W . Oilier P . M . P . G . A . P . After the usual Loyal toasts Brother T . M . Johnson gave that of the Worshipful Master , saying the Lodge had now for a number of years made

steady progress , and had shown a remarkable amount of unanimity and good feeling . Ho felt sure that in Bro . Martin they would have a Master fully alive to the traditions , and a worthy successor in every way to the array of Past Masters who had occupied that position in the Lodge .

Bro . Martin , in reply , thanked the Brethren for their kind reception of his name , and hoped that the zeal of the old Past Masters of St . Thomas Lodge would incite him to use every endeavour to justify the Brethren's choice of himself as their present ruler . Ho hoped by emulating their worthy examples to the fullest extent to ensure the continued harmony and prosperity of tho Lodge .

Bro . Fisher then said he had to ask Bro . Hancock to accept as a small token of esteem and gratitude for work which should not be allowed to go unrequited , a portrait of himself ( Bro . Hancock ) . He alluded to the twentyseven years of membership during which Brother Hancock had endeared

himself to every Brother , and to his worthy fulfilment of the post of Treasurer for the last eight years . Ho hope ;! the portrait would be as an heirloom in his family to show succeeding generations the esteem and affection they had always felt towards him .

Bro . Hancock , deeply moved , thanked Bro . Fisher for his kind remarks , and the Brethren generally for their kind sentiments towards him , commending strongly the continuation of harmonious working of tho Brethren as their only sure guide to continued prosperity . Bro . J . J . Meakin then presented Brother T . M . Johnson with a Past

Master ' s jewel in solid gold , suitably inscribed , at the same time remarking that ho hoped this mark of respect on behalf of the Lodge would serve always to remind Brother Johnson of the happy year of office which he had just closed with snch distinction . Bro . Johnson acknowledged the testimonial in appropriate terms .

Brother Meakin , in giving the toast of tho Masonic Charities , spoke eulogistically of the position hold by the Lodgo in the East Lancashire Charities in particular ; after which , with several speeches from the Visiting Brethren and others , the evening was brought to a conclusion . Several songs and recitations wore contributed during the course of the

entertainment , by Bros . Beardmore , Turner , Taylor , Bradbury , and others , Bro . H . Mason acting as accompanist . Amongst the many Visitors besides those named above were Bros . E . B . Eobinson W . M . 852 , W . F . Farrington P . M . 1633 , A . Hibbert W . M . 325 , J . Eobinson P . M . 1219 , H . Eichardson W . M . 935 , J . W . Hallam W . M . 1055 , W . Baron W . M . 1219 , E . S . Done W . M . 1534 , J . Clough W . M . 1773 , & c .

ROYAL EDWARD LODGE , No . 1088 . THE annual festival of St . John the Evangelist was held on the llth inst ., at the Masonic Eooms , Market Street , Stalybridge . Bro . Charles Arthur Wood was installed as W . M . by Bro . G . Wagstaff P . M . P . P . G . S .

At the close of the ceremonies the Brethren and Visitors adjourned to the Boar ' s Head Hotel , and partook of a sumptuous banquet , after which the Brethren again adjourned to the Masonic Eooms , where the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were given and responded to .

ST . JOHN LODGE , No . 1247 . THE regular meeting was held on Thursday , 12 th inst ., at the Masonic Hall , Princess Square , Plymouth , when the Officers were elected for the year , the choice falling upon Bros . J . Bishop as W . M ., J . E . Lord Treasurer and Eepresentative on Committee of Petitions , H . J . Barter Charity Steward , and W . H . Phillips Tyler , the three latter being re-elected .

NORMAN LODGE , No . 1334 . A MEETING was held at the Masonic Hall , Old Elvet , Durham , on Wednesday , 16 th inst ., when there was a large attendance of members of the Lodge in addition to Visiting Brethren , After the transaction of ordinary business , the Lodge proceeded to the

election of Worshipful Master for the ensuing year . Brother Colonel 0 . Eowlandson P . M . P . P . G . S . W . was elected . Bro . Councillor W . Gray P . M . P . P . G . St . B . was elected Treasurer , and Bro . Councillor James Seyburn J . W ., and J . A . M . Scobie Auditors . At the conclusion of tho business the members sat down to an excellent repast .

THE annual " social" in connection with the Lodge was held at Brother Forster's Central Hotel , Widnes , on Thursday , 12 th . The gathering was limited to Brethren of the Lodge and their families , and numbered about ninety . The guests were received by the W . M . Bro . Thomas Minton and

EQUITY LODGE , No . 1384 .

Mrs . Minton . A most enjoyable evening was spent , consisting of dancing , interspersed with singing and miscellaneous entertainments given by Professor Brother Wyman , Professor St . Clair , ancl Mr . Lofthouse .

The catering was carried out by Bro . G . A . Forster , who placed the whole of the hotel , except the ground floor , at the disposal of those present , and great praise is due to him and Mrs . Forster for the excellent arrangements they had made for the comfort and enjoyment of everyone .

FALCON LODGE , No . 1416 . THE installation of Brother F . C . Eudd took place at the Masonic Hall Thirsk , on Thursday , 12 th inst . There was a good attendance . The ceremony was perfoimed by Brother T . B . Whytehead P . G . S . B . England P . P . S . G . W . After the ceremony a banquet was held at Bro . Hall ' s , the Fleece Hotel , when thc usual toasts were honoured .