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No . 706 , by P . M . Henry Bell ; Lodge No . 793 , by P . M . Davis ; Lodge No . 57 , by W . M . elect , Bro . J . M . Winn , who was highly applauded for his pithy speech . After some more complimentary toasts , ic the present Officers " was proposed by P . M ., J . B . Barker , with great applause , and responded to in a very humorous speech by Bro . A . Davis , S . W ., and by all the officers .

Newcastle-upo ^ -Tyne . —Newcastle-upon-Tyne Lodge ( No . 24 ) . —At a meeting of this Lodge , on 3 rd of April , Bro . Wm . Johnston , P . M ., in the chair , Bros . John Barker , P . M ., as S . W ., George Weatherhead , P . M ., as J . W ., and other Officers and Brethren of the Lodge . After the Lodge was opened , the W . M . stated that the pleasure he felt in taking the chair after such a lapse of time since he had had the honour of so doing , was mingled with sorrow at the occasion which had induced him to accede to the solicitations of some of the other P . Ms .,

and come among them . The pain he felt was owing to the immediate P . M ., Bro . Wm . Johnson , having been called to the Lodge above ; the regret he felt , for such a loss to Masonry in this district , and this Lodge in particular , ; was great , as from the earliest days of Bro . P . M . Johnson ' s admission into the mysteries , his zeal and attention to all the branches and degrees of our art were unbounded , and his labours for the benefit of the Lodges with which he was connected untiring , and , therefore , the Brethren who must equally feel his loss , could account easily for the pain he felt . Bro . P . M . Barker then rose , and , in a most feeling

speech , paid a gratelul compliment to the memory of his friend and Bro . P . M . Johnson , who gave him , during the time they were connected together as members of this Lodge , every assistance and support towards the resuscitation of Lodge No . 24 . The P . M . added , that had it not been for such hearty co-operation on the part of his departed Brother , the Lodge would not now hold its present proud position . Bro , P . M . Barker , after adding a few more words , proposed the following resolutions , viz . — " That since our last meeting , it having pleased the G . A . O . T . U . to summon to the Grand Lodge above our dearly-beloved Bro . P . M . Wm . Johnson , though in the prime of life , full of honours , the Brethren of this Lodge desire to express their mark of respect to their departed Brother for his

general Masonic attainments and his particular services to this Lodge , which at this present moment owes more to him than to any other of its members , for his untiring attention to all its interests : that this Lodge go into mourning for P . M . Wm . Johnson to the end of the present year . The Brethren thus express this their last tribute of sympathy to the departed worth of their beloved P . M ., and as a memento to their successors of the grateful sense entertained by them of his services to this Lodge . —That these resolutions be entered on the minutes of the

Lodge , and a copy be forwarded to Mrs . Johnson and her children , in sympathy and condolement for their heavy bereavement , hoping that the children will emulate the good qualities of their late father . "—Bro . P . M . John Hopper very heartily seconded the motion , and testified to the obligations he owed to Bro . P . M . William Johnson , not least among them that of receiving the Masonic light from him . The resolutions having been put from the chair , were unanimously adopted . Bro . P . M . Barker , in reply to a Brother , stated , that at the first

meeting of the Finance Committee he intended to propose a sum of money from the Lodge funds for the widow and children of P . M . Johnson , who by his untimely death had been left unprovided for . The other business of the evening was an initiation and a passing , after which the Lodge was closed in harmony .

Newcastle . —Northern Counties Lodge ( No . 586 ) . —On Wednesday , April 23 , the Brethren of this Lodge assembled in the Freemasons' Hall , lor the installation of Bro . William Berkley , Prov . G . Sec . of Northumberland , the W . M . elect . The ceremony of installation was ably and impressively performed by Bro . William Dalziel , Prov . G . P . C . of the Province , the immediate P . M . Seldom has an installation been witnessed with more pleasurable sensations ; as this was the second time the Brethren had evinced their respect for Bro . Berkley , for eight years before he had been their W . M . The installation ceremony having been concluded , the W . M ! . proceeded to appoint , and invest with their insignia of office , the following Brethren , viz : —Bros . J . T . M . Harrison , S . W . ; J . W . Fen wick , J . W . ; William Punshon , Treas . : George Hardcy , Sec . ; William Pines , S . I ) . ;