Untitled Article

He then asked th & Brethren assembled to give a warm and hearty greeting to the health of his excellent friend , Bro . T . A . Ward , the D . G . M . of the province , whose services to Masonry in general and the Watford Lodge in particular were so widely known , and who was always ready to fill any office in which he could be useful . The D . G . M ., in acknowledgment , said he was much gratified , in seeing his old friend that day presiding over the Lodge , and hoped that the high

prestige of No . 580 would ever be maintained . The year had begun well ; for himself he could say , that nothing but unavoidable duties would prevent his attendance and services . The healths of Bros . Francis , D . Prov . G . M . of Surrey ; their Excellent Treasurer , Burehell-Herne ; the indefatigable Secretary , Sedgwick ; the newly-initiated Brother , & c , were duly honoured , and the Brethren separated at the close of a most pleasant day , Bro . How , Prov , GJ ) . C , was the only visitor .

ISLE OF WIGHT . The Prov . G . M . has been making a tour of his province , and visiting the various Lodges . He was at Ryde on the 11 th , Tentnor on the 12 th , Newport the 13 th , and Cowes the 14 th of March . At Byde the first lecture was worked in sections , and the R . W . G . M . highly complimented the Brethren on the

excellence of their Masonic information and admirable working . Ceremonies and lectures were also ably worked at the other places . It would be well for the interests of Freemasonry if other Prov . G . Ms , would follow the excellent example of Bro . Fleming , as we should then get a little nearer to uniformity in the working than at present exists . As a province this island stands A 1 .

KENT . Gravesenb . —Lodge of Freedom ( No . 91 ) . —The usual monthly meeting of this Lodge took place at Bro . Wates ' s Hotel on Monday , April 21 st , when a large number of the Brethren attended . After the Lodge was opened by the W . M . Bro . Spencer , with solemn prayer , he initiated into the mysteries of the Craft Mr . Everest and Mr . Evans , in his usual excellent style , and afterwards passed

to the Fellow Craft s Degree Bro . J . J . Everest . The Lodge being resumed to the 1 st Degree , the Brethren were much delighted by the W . M . delivering the Charge ( too seldom done in Lodges ) to the newly initiated , which he did in a most impressive manner . The Lodge being closed , the Brethren proceeded to the banquet provided for them by the worthy host ; and after the usual toasts had been responded to , the Brethren separated at rather a late hour .

Sheerness . —A dam ' s Lodge and Chapter ( No . 184 ) . —We hear this Lodge and Chapter are in a most prosperous state , through the indefatigable exertions of Bro . Dr . Keddell , and other great lights of that town . At the meeting of the Chapter on the 14 th ult ., Bro . Captain Bradshaw , Boyal Artillery , and another Brother , were exalted into this Sublime Degree in a most able and . efficient

manner . LANCASHIRE . Blackburn . —Lodge of Fidelity ( No . 336 ) . —The regular monthly meeting of this Lodge was held on Friday evening , March 28 th . There was a good attendance of members and visitors , including , amongst the latter , the Rev . Bros . Nicholson , B . J ) ., Prov . G . Chap ., Grand Lodge , and Brock Hollinshead , Prov . G . Beg ., Grand Lodge , P . M ., No . 336 ( as a deputation on the subject of the appointment of

Prov . G . M . ); and the Kev . Bros . Hartley , M . A ., P . M ., No . 434 ; Badcliffe , S . W ., No . 434 ; and Backhouse , S . W ., No . 432 , & c . After the Lodge had been opened in due form in the 3 rd Degree , Bro . Ohatburn was raised to the Sublime Degree of M . M . by Bro . Collinson , P . M ., in a most impressive manner , assisted by Bros .

Whewell and Wrn . Harrison , as Ws ., and Sheppard as S . D . The Lodge afterwards proceeded to transact several matters of business , the principal items of which were the voting of a weekly allowance to the Tyler ( who is in indigent circumstances through bad health ) and ten guineas as a donation to one of the Masonic charities . Two gentlemen were proposed and seconded as candidates for admission to the Craft . The members then considered a communication