Provincial Meetings.

LYMINGTON . New Forest Lodge ( No . 319 ) . —There was ¦ 1 numerous attendance of the brethren of this lodge at J | ieir monthly meeting on Tuesday , the ioth inst ., the St . John ' s day of the lodge . The meeting was held in the iod ° -e room , Bugle Hotel , High-street . In addition there were many visitors from the Albert Edward , William of

Wy keham , and Derwent Lodges . Bro . J . Slater , W . M ., performed the ceremonies impressively . At their conclusion the brethren were called off , and did not re-assemble until three p . m ., when Bro . H . Pearse , S . W ., was duly installed as W . M- tor the ensuing year , the ceremony of installation being performed by Bro . the Rev . E . H . Elers , P . M ., and P . P . G . Chap ., the Installing Board including the following

Past Masters : Bros . W . Le Roy , H . Masters , S . Dore , J . C . Bui'bage , J . Slater , W . S . Grinyer , and Foster and A ^ ar , 17 S 0 . The new W . M . appointed and invested his ufficers as follows : Bros . J . Slater , I . P . M . ; A . S . C . Harrison , S . W . ; A . Best , J . W . ; G . T . Golden , S . D . ; E . R . Jackman , J . D . ; Hayball , I . G . ; Cherrett , D . C . and Or" -. ; Moth and Jolliffe , Stwds . ; and Bailey , Tyler . Bros . H . Doman , P . ' M ., and W . Le Roy ' , P . M ., were

reappointed Treasurer and Secretary respectively , and it was decided to present the latter at the next meeting with a jewel in gold as a slight mark of the brethren's appreciation of his services . Bro . Elers was heartily thanked for his impressive delivery of the installation ceremony . The accounts for the past year showed that the lodge was in a

very prosperous condition . At the conclusion of the business the brethren dined together . During the proceedings , " Hearty good wishes" were expressed towards Bro . Pearse that his year of office might be a p leasant and successful one . The retiring W . M ., Bro . Slater , was presented with a Past Master ' s jewel in gold in recognition of his services .

MALDON . Blackwater Lodge ( No . 1977 ) . —The annual installation and banquet of this lodge took place on Monday , the 9 th inst . The brethren assembled in the lodge room , at the Blue Boar Hotel , under the presidency of the W . M ., Bro . M . W . Meade . The ceremony of installing the new W . M ., Dro . W . Rudrum , S . W ., was impressively performed by Bro . Arthur Barritt , I . P . M . of the sister lodge , No . 1024 ,

P . P . A . G . Sec , Bro . F . G . Green , P . M . 1024 , P . P . S . G . W ., acting as D . C . After the lodge had been closed , the brethren and visitors , to the number of 28 , sat down to an excellent banquet , under the presidency of the W . M . During the evening Bro . Arthur Barritt gave one of his well-known recitations , and was loudly applauded . Bros . S . H . Ellis , S . Shawyer , Rush , Hunt , Clifford , and Davis contributed to the harmony of the evening .

PLUMSTEAD . United Military Lodge ( No . 1536 ) . —The opening meeting of the above lodge for the winter session took place on Friday , the 13 th inst ., at Freemasons' Hall , Mount Pleasant . Bro . W . Seager , W . M ., occupied the chair , supported by the following officers and brethren Bros . Capt . G . Spinks , P . M ., P . P . G . Std . Br . ; G .

Kenneday , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B . ; W . Moulds , P . M . ; R . Gooding , P . M . ; Lieut . T . Cooper , I . P . M . ; J . Gee , Treas . ; A . Ware , Sec . ; W . J . Wheeler , S . D . ; W . Sale-Edwards , J . D . ; Col . Vansittart , I . G . ; H . Fowler and E . W . Sinnett , Stewards ; C J olly , P . M . ( Hon . ) , P . M . and Sec . 1437 , and P . M . and Sec . 21 S 4 ; J . M . Bett , H . Perry , and W . Mallet , of 6 97 ; J . J . Hunt , 2195 ; W . Patterson , 225 ; and a

number of the brethren of the lodge . The lodge having been duly opened , and the minutes of the previous meeting confirmed , the ballot was taken for Quartermaster-Sergeant J . H . Fraser , and proving unanimous , that gentleman was duly initiated . Bro . Jarvis was

then passed , both ceremonies being admirably " performed by the W . M . A notice of motion of Bro . Spinks , by which sergeants of the Volunteer forces may become members , was then considered , and approved of . Several applications for the Charities were then read , after which the lodge was closed .

At refreshments , the usual Grand and Provincial Grand Lodge and personal toasts were honoured ; but as the lodge was in mourning for Bro . Murdoch , late S . W ., there was no singing .

STOCKPORT . Concord Lodge ( No . 323 ) . —The regular meeting of this lodge . was held at the Florist Hotel , Shaw Heath , on Wednesday , the nth inst ., tinder peculiarly interesting circumstances , the occasion being to celebrate the event of the lodge becoming a patron of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons . The noble

event caused a large and influential gathering of members and visitors , including Bros . John Smith , W . M . ; James Breen , I . P . M . ; W . Merrison , S . W . ; J . O . Wylde , J . W . ; ; - Pritchard , P . M ., Treas . ; Thos . Brookes , P . M ., P . P . A-G . D . C , Sec ; E . Stevens , S . D . ; A . Horton , J . D . ; J . Newton , I . G . ; S . Lowe , P . M . ; T . Whalley , P . M . ; J . \\ nott , P . M . ; G . Boothby , P . M . ; John Slack , P . M . ; C . Atkinson , P . M . ; J . K . Green , P . M . ; Jos . Slack , P . M .,

J , - , -G-D . ; Chas . D . Cheetham , E . Edmondson , J . Wood , W . Walmsley , D . C ; J . Broadhurst , W . Johnson , W . Wood , 1 . Roberts , E . Taylor , James Penny , and J . D . fcam . Visitors : Bros . ] . Berresford , P . M . 104 , P . P . S . ^• L | . ; Charles Booth , P . M . 2 S 7 , P . P . S . G . D . ; W . Booth , » -M . 104 , P . P . G . D . C ; James Cookson , P . M . 1030 , P . G . steward ; T . W . Weathered , 365 ( New York ); C Clark-^ n , W . M . 104 ; G . Gaskell . S . W . IOJ .: loseoh Hollinoworth

, W . M . 75 S ; George McClelland , I . P . M . 2 S 7 ; A . aylor , P . M . 2 S 7 ; H . H . Royle , W . M . 322 ; W . Loose , atVn ^ m S s P & S &> 314 ( Belfast ); G . W . Cookson , 1030 ; n .,,, u s- Smith , P . M . 1134 . lhe lod ge was opened by Bro . John Smith , W . M ., who tesided the whole of the evening . The minutes of the 710 1 , meeting were read and confirmed . The ballot as taken for Mr . E . Sham , which moved favourable . Thp

a I "'" ?? announcement was listened to with great pleasure iu unbounded interest by the large assemblage : " That l ) m L * ? f Concord , No . 323 , had become a Patron in Aw ? v y '" the Ro >' al Masonic Benevolent Institution for Anrl masons ' )' contributing the sum of 100 guineas . " p v a v ° te of thanks was accorded to Bro . Thomas Brookes , in ' Hi " ' u lndefatigable exertions he had made , and who , Suine % P eriod of 'ess than six months , had raised 150 the m ' 1 verv handsome amount was entirely from sucha -v 5 f the Concord Lod ff > and had placed them in n en viable position , which , witlwo guineas , entitles them

Provincial Meetings.

to i 54 votesinthe Charity , which wasa noble accomplishment . This was naturally heartily supported , more especially by the large number of visitors present . Bro . Thomas Brookes , in reply , deprecated so very much honour being showered upon him personally . It was quite true that he had originated the idea , but had he not had the very generous band of brethren in the lodge to work with ,

and without their noble and spontaneous responses he himself could not have done it . The credit was due to the whole members of the lodge , as 41 out of a total of 44 had subscribed to this fund , and when it was remembered that onlysix months ago there were voluntary contributions to a considerable amount to make up the previous 50 guineas , he was sure the visitors would see that it was the members of

the lodge , and not he , who had accomplished the object with which he had set out . 'This was true " Masonic Charity , " nothing done for personal laudation , but large and small subscriptions were blended in the one object in the united name of the lodge . The lodge now possessed 154 votes for this Charity ; nor had the members confined its benevolence to this alone , but stood high in the other , both local and

general , Masonic Charities , and though the lodge was not numerous , he believed the position it now had attained was unique , and the lodge remembered it was only fulfilling the principles at the very foundation of Masonry . After all business had been transacted , the lodge was closed .

We believe , according to the last report , there are only three private lodges that have qualified as patrons , and those have divided the money between the Aged Freemasons and Widow of Freemasons . Thus the Lodge of Concord , No . 323 , stands in that proud position of being- the first private lodge that has qualified as a patron direct to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution .

TORQUAY . Jordan Lodge ( No . 1402 ) . —The annual installation meeting and festival of this lodge took place in the Masonic Hall , on Tuesday , the ioth inst ., before a large and brilliant array of visitors and brethren , amongst whom were Bros . Nicholas Hopson , P . J . G . W . New South Wales ; W . Wakeham , P . M . 32 S , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; Jos . Grant ,

P . M . 32 S ; G . Barry , P . M . 24 S , P . P . G . P . ; F . A . Dawson , P . M . and Chap . 797 ; John Wheaton , W . M . 24 S ; John J . James , S . W . 24 S ; James Spark , J . W . 24 S ; P . H . Benson , W . M . 797 ; H . G . Way , S . W . 797 ; H . Medway , J . W . 797 ; L . J . Long , U 25 ; C . Clarke , D . C . 328 ; F . J . W . Crowe , S . D . and Org . 21 S 9 ; W . Thomas , 1 S 9 ; G . Burt , 32 S ; J . H . Morgan , W . M . ; T . H . Wills , S . W . and W . M .

elect ; J . W . McKellar , J . W . ; T . ] . Crossman , S . D . ; 1 . Taylor , J . D . ; S . Wills , I . G . ; W . Hersey , D . C . ; G . West and W . Winget , Stewards ; "T . Prust , I . P . M . ; Jno . Dodge , P . M ., P . P . G . T ., Treas . ; J . Chapman , P . M ., P . P . G . D ., Chap . ; Jno . Lane , P . M ., P . P . G . R . ; J . E . Newton , Tyier ; W . H . Snell , C . H . J . S . Hill , E . Henley , W . H . Rowland , W . Hill , J . F . Hardiman , R . Faulkner , W .

Nosworthy , E . J . Pratt , and R . Pickard . The lodge being duly opened , a distinguished visiting brother ( Bro . N . Hopson , P . J . G . W . of New South Wales ) was received with the honours due to his rank . The minutes of the last regular lodge were read and confirmed . The chair was then occupied by the Installing Master , Bro . Jno . Lane , and the W . M . elect , Bro . T . IT . Wills ,

presented , to receive at Ins hands the benefit of installation , the better to enable him to discharge the duties of his high office , the ceremony being performed by Bro . Lane in his usual eloquent and able manner . The newly-installed W . M . then appointed and invested his officers for the ensuing year as follows : Bros . T . H . Morgan , I . P . M . ; J . W . McKellar , S . W . ; John Taylor , J . W .

T . Prust , P . M ., Chap . ; Jno . Dodge , P . M ., P . P . G . T ., Treas . ; Jno . Chapman , P . M ., P . P . G . D ., Sec ; T . ) . Crossman , S . D . ; S . Wills , J . D . ; W . Winget , D . C . ; T . Brooks , Org . ; W . Hersey , I . G . ; G . West and J . R . Risdon , Stwds . ; and J . E . Newton , Tyler . The Treasurer ' s balance sheet for the year ending August 31 st , was presented and passed , the items of which showed the sound financial ability of the courteous and genial

Treasurer , who , while not omitting to carefully guard the treasury had used his key in opening the coffers to maintain " that distinguishing characteristic— ' Charity' "in a liberal manner , and still leave a considerable balance to carry forward to the new year . Bro . Jno . La , ne was re-elected Charity Steward and Representative on the Committee of Petitions . Great

satisfaction was expressed by the brethren at the appointment and investiture of our esteemed brother , John Chapman , founder and oldest P . M . of the lodge , as Secretary , upon whose motion a unanimous vote of thanks was passed to Bro . F . S . Hex , P . M ., for his services as late Secretary for a period of six years . A letter was also read from Bro . R . F . Gould , P . G . D . England , the distinguished historian ,

and honorary member of the lodge , tendering- his "Good wishes , " and regretting his not being able to be present . Bro . J . Taylor , J . W ., the Librarian , announced the receipt of the following valuable books as gifts to the library : From Bro . W . J . Hughan— "The Constitutions of 17 S 4 , with the plate by Bartolozzi , " two Calendars for the Provinces of Middlesex and of Nottinghamshire for iSSS ; from Bro .

Thomas Prust— "The Yorkshire Lodges , " by J . Ramsden Riley , "The Masonic Monthly , 1 SS 2 , " "Sandoval , or the Freemason , " a Spanish tale , in three volumes , "The Freemasons' Quarterly Review " for 1 S 34 and 1 S 35 ; from Bro . J . W . Beer— "Freemasonry ; its two Great Doctrines , & c , " by Bro . C . J . Paton , " Freemasonry ; its Symbolism , & c , " by Bro . C . J . Paton ; from Bro . T . J .

Crossman"The Spirit of Masonry , " by W . Hutchinson ; a new edition by the Rev . G . Oliver , D . D . The thanks of the lodge were accorded to the brethren , the Librarian stating there were now a hundred volumes in the library , many of them very valuable work's . Several matters of general business then occupied the attention of the lodge , and " Hearty good wishes " having

been given by the visiting brethren , the lodge was closed . The annual banquet was served at the Royal Hotel by Bro . Griffin . The toasts of "The Oueen and Craft , " " IT . R . IT . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., " and "The Pro CM ., Dep . CM ., and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and

Past , " were given by the W . M ., and received with musical honours . The W . M . also gave "The P . G . M . and the Officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge , Present and Past , " which was responded to by Bros . Chapman , Dodge , Lane , and Wakeham . The toast of the evening was then given by Bro . Jno .

Provincial Meetings.

Chapman—that of "The Newly-Installed W . M . "—in an eloquent , able , and appropriate speech , in the course of which he hoped the W . M . would have a successful year of office in the best possible sense of the meaning of the word "Success . " In his reply the W . M . dwelt upon the condition of Masonry in the province generally , and the position occupied

by the Jordan Lodge in particular , and , in accordance with a precedent recently established in the lodge , he handed a cheque for live guineas to the Charity Steward as a donation to one of the great Masonic Charities . 'The other toasts given , and suitably responded to , were " The Installing Master , " " The Visitors , ' ; " The Officers of the Lodge , " and "Success to the Charities , " this latter

being- responded to by Bro . Lane , as Charity Steward , who , in a statistical speech of some length , pointed out the immense work the great Charities , as well as the Provincial Charities , were doing-, the lodge and its members beingwell to the front , having in all some 250 votes in the various Institutions .

The usual collection on behalf of the Devon Masonic Educational Fund was taken up . Songs were contributed during the eveningby Bros . Lane , Wakeham , Crowe , Medway , Pratt , S . Wills , and others . The Tyler ' s toast concluded a pleasant and sociable evening .

THORNE . St . Nicholas Lodge ( No . 2259 ) . — The monthly meeting of this lodge was held on Wednesday , the nth inst ., at the Peace Hall . Bro . A . L . Peace , W . M ., presided for the first time after his installation , and the following- officers were present : Bros . J . H . Bletcher , S . W . ; S . H . C . Ashlin , J . W . ; J . Constable , Sec . ; G . Kenyon , J . D . ; Dr . W . Martin , i . C ; A . Goodhind , Org . ; IT .

T . Gardiner , P . P . G . D . C ; H . J . F . Young , W . Pickering , Stwd . ; R . W . Brunyre , \ V . Chamberlain , I . P . M . 14 S 2 ; and G . Mason , P . M . 14 S 2 . Bro . Rev . J . G . Littleu-ood , was raised to the Degree of M . M ., the whole ceremony being most ably performed by the W . M ., and he was afterwards invested as Chaplain of the lodg-e . Subsequently the brethren sat down to a supper , when a most agreeable evening was spent .

WHIT STABLE . GraystOne Lodge ( No . 1915 ) . —The installation meeting of this lodge was held on Thursday , the 12 th inst ., at the Foresters' Hall , when there were present Bros . Sibert Saunders , W . M . ; Thos . W . Porter , S . W . ; John Wood , J . W . ; Rev . H . M . Maugham , P . M ., P . G . Chap ., Chap . ; E . G . Walthew , Sec ; F . T . Browning , S . D . ;

W . B . London , J . D . ; A . W . Southwell , D . C ; Bruce Lightfoot , I . G . ; Alt " . Harrison and Mark Kemp , Stwds . ; W . Gammon / Tyler ; J . T . Reeves , P . M ., P . P . A . G . D . C ; W . H . Brand , P . M ., Treas . 1524 ; G . Barton , P . M ., P . P . G . D . C . ; ^ J . Terry , P . M ., P . G . S . B . Eng . ; Thos . Seager , Harry G . Bines , Sydney Brown , J . T . Laver , J . R . Daniels , John T . Morrison , C . M . Driffield , Ernest Kemp ,

and R . T . Wheeler . Visitors : Bros . Jos . Plant , P . M . 31 , P . G . Org . ; G . W . Speth , P . M ., Sec . 2076 ; H . Letts , J . D . 31 ; Stapleton Payne , P . M . 133 ; W . Curtis , S 72 ; T . M . Benton , P . M . 52 and 2099 ; R . Blake , P . M . 972 , P . P . A . G . D . C ; E . Cockersell , P . M ., Sec . 1449 ; F . Nicholls , P . M . 1050 ; J . S . White , W . M . 2099 ; M . S . Gill , 1209 ; Albert Pilcher , S . W . 972 ; W . J . Jennings , 972 ; Geo . Pope , 1449 ; W . T . Benfield , 1571 ; and Geo .

H . Delasans , 1449 . The lodge was opened , and the minutes of the last lodge were read and confirmed . On the invitation of the W . M ., Bro . Barton acted as I . P . M . ; Bro . White , as S . W . ; Bro . F . Nicholls , as J . W . ; and Bro . J . T . Reeves , as D . C . The W . M . elect was then presented by Bro . J . T . Reeves , and was most impressively installed by

the retiring W . M ., Bro . Saunders . The VV . M . then invested his officers as follows : Bros . Walthew , S . W . ; F . Browning , J . W . ; Rev . H . M . Maugham , M . A ., P . G . Chap ., Chap . ; Anderson , Treas . ; Wood , Sec ; London , S . D . ; Southwell , J . D . ; Lightfoot , D . C ; Harrison , I . G . ; Mark Kemp and Driffield , Stwds . ; and Gammon , Tyler . Bro . Walthew was , by acclamation , chosen to be the delegate to the Provincial Grand Charity

Committee , and also as Almoner . A worthy candidate having been proposed for initiation , several letters excusing non-attendance were announced as received from the Provincial Grand Master and other brethren , and " Hearty good wishes" being given by the representatives of Grand Lodge , Provincial Grand Lodge , and other lodges , the lodge was closed , and , adjourning to the Assembly Rooms , the brethren partook of the banquet which was provided by Bro . Gurr .

Afterwards followed the usual toasts , both loyal and Masonic , interspersed with songs , & c , and altogether a very pleasant evening was spent .

Royal Arch.

Royal Arch .

provincial / liieettngs . CROYDON . Mozart Chapter ( No . 1929 ) . —This chapter met at the Greyhound Hotel on the 16 th inst . Among those present were Comps . Capt . T . C Walls , P . / .., S . E ., acting M . E . Z . ; E . J . Hoare , H . ; H . H . Shirley , M . A ., P . P . A . G . S ., J . ; H . J . Lardner , P . Z ., P . P . G . Std . Br ., Treas . ;

r . Weiss , S . N . ; Lane , Janitor ; and others . The minutes of the previous convocation were read and confirmed . Apologies for non-attendance were received from Comps . R . P . Thomas , M . E . Z . ; Dr . E . M . Lott , P . Z ., P . G . Org . ; and others . The chapter was then closed , and adjourned till May , 1 S 90 . The usual banquet followed .

HAMPTON . Lebanon Chapter ( No . 1326 ) . —The installation convocation of this chapter was held at the Red Lion Hotel , on the 7 th inst ., when there were present Comps . J . W . Ockenden , M . E . Z . ; J . Hartley , H . ; H . Hooper , J . ; G . R . Langley , Scribe E . ; R . F . Potter , Scribe N . ;

W . Kite , 2 nd A . S . ; J . T . Briggs , P . Z ., P . P . G . P . S . Middx . ; J . J . Marsh , P . Z ., P . P . A . G . D . C . Middx . ; W . IT . Lee , P . Z ., Prov . G . Scribe E . Middx . ; J . Bott , G . Reynolds , A . Blenkarn , and G . Harrison , as J . Visitors : Comps . F . C . Austin , 1 793 , Prov . A . G . D . C ; and J . F . Haskins , Org . 19 .