Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

BENEVOLENT LODGE , No . 446 . ON Thursday , 7 th inst ., the fifty-eighth anniversary of tho Lodge was held at the Vicars Hall , Wells , when there was a numerous attendance of

Brethren . The W . M . Bro . Robert Norton P . G . W . performed , in an able and impressive manner , the ceremony of installing his successor Bro . John Coates as W . M . for the ensuing year .

The Prov . G . M . Viscount Dungarvan was prevented from attending , by serious indisposition . At the conclusion of the business of the Lodge , the Brethren dined together at the Swan Hotel , under the presidency of the W . M .

PORTSMOUTH LODGE , No . 487 . THE Provincial Grand Master of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Bro . W . W . Beach , M : P ., and the Provincial Grand Officers attended the meeting of this Lodge held in the Masonic Hall , Portsmouth , on the 14 th inst ., when Bro . John Brickwood P . M . P . P . G . J . D . was , for the second year in succession , installed as Worshipful Master , the ceremony being performed by the Provincial Grand Master .

After the close of the Lodge the Brethren assembled ^ in the dining hall , where a banquet was served . Bro . Brickwood presided , and the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were honoured . Bro . R . Eve P . G . Treasurer England responded for Grand Lodge , and

referred to the prominent part taken in the proceedings of Grand Lodge by the Hampshire Brethren , especially by their Provincial Grand Master , who was selected to preside over the meetings of Grand Lodge more frequently than any other member of that body .

O O o COMBERMERE LODGE , No . 605 . riIHE annual installation took place on Thursday , 21 st inst ., at the Music X Hall , Claughton Road , Birkenhead . Thore was an unusually large gathering of members and influential visitors , both of Lancashire and

Cheshire , Bro . Robert W . Thompson the W . M . presiding . The new W . M . Bro . J . H . Jackson was duly installed as Worshipful Master for the ensuing year , and afterwards invested his Officors . The Installation ceremony was most impressively performed by Brother John Frazer P . M .

The Mayor , Bro . Alderman T . Shaw P . M ., in a few chosen words proposed a vote of condolence to the relatives of Bro . Sillitoe , who had been Treasurer for a number of years of the Combermere Lodge , and this being put , was carried in the usual way . Bro . T . G . Grant P . M ., on behalf of the Lodge , then presented Bro . R . W . Thompson with a Past Master ' s jewel , for which ho returned thanks .

HOLMESDALE LODGE , No . 874 . THE annual meeting and banquet were held on Wednesday , 20 th inst ., the former at the Masonic Room , and the latter at the Kentish Hotel , Tunbridge Wells . There were a large number of Brethren present , supporting Bro . E . Oliver W . M . After the customary formal business Bro . W . Roper was impressively installed by the outgoing Master , and then the newly-elected W . M . invested his Officers .

After the Lodge business had been transacted an adjournment was made to the Kentish Hotel , and after dinner the customary toast list was carried out . Brother Oliver gave the W . M ., in congratulatory terms , expressing his conviction that he would well and honourably fulfil the high duties of his office , and thus follow the example set by his worthy father , who was W . M . in 1871 .

The W . M ., who was cordially received , expressed his earnest desire to follow in the steps of his predecessors , so as to uphold tho dignity and honour of Masonry , and the Holmesdale Lodge . He concluded by proposing the Installing Master and Past Masters , alluding to the very efficient manner in which Bro . Oliver had performed his work . Bro . Elers was the father of the Lodge , having been one of the founders in 1862 , and had initiated his ( the speaker ' s ) father .

Bro . Oliver , in responding , alluded to his pleasant year of office , expressed his indebtedness to the Past Masters for their assistance , and mentioned that no less than twelve of them had been present at the initiation of Brother the Rev . A . T . Scott , a record attendance in this respect . Bro . Elers , who also responded , referring to the W . M . 's remarks , congratulated the Lodge on its flourishing condition , and said that Major Lutwidge was his first initiate .

EGERTON LODGE , No . 1030 . THE regular meeting was held at the George Hotel , Heaton Norris , on Monday , the 18 th inst ., Bro . George Ben Goodfellow W . M . There were also present Bros . Hy . Smith S . W ., Abm . Pemberton P . M . P . P . G . D . C Treas ., Jas . W . Abbott P . M . P . P . G . D . C . D . C , E . Lingard P . M . P P . G . W Walter H . Vaughan P . M . P . P . G . R ., Geo . L . Vaughan P . M ., Edward Roberts P . M . 1459 , H . T . Fisher , T . B . Brooks , Geo . Ed . Wright . Visitor -. —Bro . W . Fielding 44 .

Being no important work in connection with the Lodge , an early adjournment to the festive board was made . Here the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were gone through ; Bro . Capt . Lingard proposing the health of the W . M ., at the same time commending Bro . Goodfellow upon having attained the position of Master . The speaker regretted that the first portion of his term of office had not been prolific of workbut he attributed this fact

, to the prevailing bad trade , which was beyond their power to remedy . The W . M . responded , thanking Bro . Lingard for his references to himself , and said he anticipated that ere long there would be work for himself and Officers to perform , and he hoped the latter would attend regularly ; he had made up his mind to try and do so , even after the completion of his term of office .

• i . LlD 8 proposed the health of Bro . Abm . Pemberton P . M ., and wished him many happy returns of this his birthday , to which toast Brother Pemberton very humorously replied .

Provincial.

The proceedings were varied by songs , recitations , & o ., given by Brothers Brooks , Roberts , Smith and Wright . Bro . Fielding presided at the piano .

PEMBROKE LODGE , No . 1299 . THIS Lodge held its annual meeting at Liverpool , on the 21 st inst ., when Bro . W . Coulthard was installed by Bro . S . Haden Jones . During the evening a P . M . 's jewel , accompanied by a handsome set of table ornaments , was presented to the retiring W . M . with regalia ol his office . A good musical programme was provided under the direction of Bro . H , Round jun .

PRINCE LEOPOLD LODGE , No . 1588 . THE annual meeting was held at the Masonic Hall , Stretford , on Wednesday , the 13 th inst ., Bro . M . B . Salt W . M . The principal business was that of installing into the chair of K . S . Bro . W . Toombs S . W . The Board of Installod Masters consisted of twenty Past Masters and Provincial Officers , tho following occupying the chairs , Bros . W . Boden W . M ., William Amery S . W . and W . H . Wakefield J . W .

Bro . Toombs having been presented by Bro . Salt , he was regularly installed into the chair by Bro . Bodon , the latter being assisted by Bros . C Cooper P . P . G . P ., and William Cole . Tho Officers for 1895-6 are : —Bros . M . B . Salt I . P . M ., G . Bell S . W ., C II . Prax J . W ., W . Boden P . M . Treasurer , H . Crosby P . M . P . P . G . P , Secretary , R . H . Ibbotson S . D ., W . Harrison J . D ., H . A . Owlos D . C , C J . Hall Organist , H . Grange I . G ., A . Byrom , G . A . Pennington , F . G . Floyd and G . Lumb Stewards , W . Amery Charity Representative .

The ceremony of Installation over , the Brethren adjourned , afterwards proceeding by train to Manchester , a banquet having been provided at the Clarence Hotel , Piccadilly . Loyal and Masonic toasts were honoured , these being sandwiched by

some very excellent songs , & e ., rendered by Bros . Harrison J . D ., John Allin 1496 , Wood , and E . Roborts P . M . 1459 . Very high praise is due to Bro . G . A . Pennington for his musicianly treatment of the violin solos " Fantasia Faust , " and "Fantasia Passio nate a Vieuxtemps , " which were received with acclamation .

The health of the newly-invested Worshipful Master was proposed by Bro . Salt I . P . M ., and elicted an able response . Bro . Toombs , in the course of his remarks , made especial reference to the good work done by the Prince Leopold Lodge in the matter of charity , adding that for some years past ten guineas had been contributed as a means of endowing the following Offices , viz ., W . M ., S . W ., J . W ., I . P . M ., Treas ., Sec .,

two Deacons , I . G . and D . C He also referred to the financial position of the Lodgo , which was of a highly satisfactory character , the members having been enabled to liquidate a large debt which stood against it . They had been successful in initiating candidates of good sound principles , and he would make it a strong point to maintain this standard . Personally he was

willing to devote whatever time he could spare , and whatever ability he possessed , so that the Lodge might reach that perfection which it was the duty of every W . M . to strive to . Bro . Toombs afterwards proposed the health of his predecessor , and took the opportunity of presenting to him , on behalf of the Lodge , a beautiful gold jewel , which bore the following inscription : —

Presented by the Brethren of Prince Leopold Lodgo , 1588 , to BEO . M . B . SALT P . M . in appreciation of his services as W . M . during his year of office , 1894-5 .

Bro . Salt said , in reply , he could not boast of having done much during his term of office , but what work he had attempted had been performed in the interests of , and for the benefit of the Lodge ; he sincerely hoped he might be spared for many years to take a further share in promoting its prosperity .

The toast of the Installing Master , proposed by Bro . Toombs , contained a kindly reference to the ceremony of that day , the W . M . giving a very excellent meed of praise to Bro . Boden , for the careful , painstaking manner in which he had acquitted himself , and when the toast was submitted it was received with a hearty and spontaneous outburst of enthusiasm .

Bro . Boden , in reply , said that being Treasurer of tho Lodge he would 'dwell more particularly upon its financial position . He gave some very interesting details , and also referred to tho warm support which had been tendered by the Brethren , concluding a very pungent statement of facts and figures by hoping earnestly that the interest hitherto evinced by the members would not diminish .

LIVERPOOL DRAMATIC LODGE , No . 1609 . THIS Lodge , which lias been in existence for nearly twenty years , hag always held a well-established reputation , says thu "Liverpool Mercury , " for its works of charity and the thoroughly representative character of its members , embracing as it does Brethren who are prominently identified with the drama , music , medicine , literature , and the fine arts .

The meeting at the Masonic Hall , Liverpool , on the 26 th , was especially interesting , as the assembly represented in a large measure all the professions above named . The gathering numbered about sixty . Bro . Henry Heard being in his place as W . M . The general attendance of members and visitors included several artistes of note , the whole of the proceedings affording excellent evidence of the harmony and efficiency which mark the career of No . 1609 .

The ceremonies of the afternoon , admirably performed by the W . M . and P . M . Round , assisted by the efficient stall of Officers , included the admission and advancement of several well-known local actors and painters . Before the close of the business a substantial sum was voted in aid of sorrowing relatives of a deceased Masonic musician . An interesting after dinner programme was given by several musical and dramatic Brethren .

CROOK LODGE , No . 2019 . ON the 27 th inst ., the Brethren met at the Freemasons' Hall , Crook , for the purpose of installing Bro . W . T . Wanless J . W ., of Whitton-le-Wear , as Worshipful Master for the year . At the conclusion of tho ordinary business the W . M .-elect was presented # , nd duly installed in the chair of K . S ., according to ancient custom , the