Metropolitan.

send a Steward for the forthcoming festival of the Royal Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and their Widows , when the claims of the charity were admitted , but the invitation declined for the present , as the lodge is but young . The brethren were then called off to refreshment , the AV . M . being supported by , in addition to the officers of the lodge , Bro . Stephen B . AVilson , P . M ., P . G . D . ; Bro . Capt . Gregory , P . M ., P . G . D . ; Bros . Lieuts . Eraser and Bridges , & c , with Bro . J . Bazalgette , P . M ., & c , as visitor . The brethren having been recalled to labour , the lodge was closed with solemn prayer . The next meeting is on the fourth Monday of the present month .

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

BERKS AND BUCKS . PBOVINCIAL GBAHD LODGE . The Provincial Grand Lodge of this Masonic province was held in the Town Hall of the Royal borough of AVindsor on Tuesday last , the 28 th inst . The province being without a Provincial Grand Masterowing

, to the resignation of that dignity some time hack by our Bro . the Most Noble the Marquis of Downshire , is in charge of the Grand Registrar , the R . AV . Bro ASaeas Mclntyre , who deemed it to be his duty no longer to allow such an extensive province to remain without the Provincial Grand Lodge assembling and assisting in the government ofthe Craft in those two important counties .

_ The hour for meeting -was high twelve , and shortly after that time the various brethren had arrived : —The R . AV . Bro . Mclntyre , G . Reg . ; and the following members of the various lodges in the province ; the Etonian Lodge ( No . 252 ) , G . AV Powell , AV . M . ; J . Strange , S . W .- ; AV . Johnson , J . AV . ; R . Whitaker , S . D . ; R . H . Gibbons , J . D . ; J . AV . Aeng , I . G . ; J . Sharp , P . M . ; J . S . Pullen , P . M . and Sec ; G . Stacey , P . M ., Org . and P . Prov . G . Reg . Berkswith BrosEGSnowball

, . ; . . . , A . AVheeler , H . Johnford , Louis M . Schroeder , R . Bridgwater , G . M . Buckley , J . II . Tilly , jun ., T . Edgington , J . H . Cobbett , AV . Nicholls , jun ., A . C . Snuggs , and J . F . Brudenall . The Lodge of Union ( No . 597 ) , Reading : —Bros . B . Fia , S . AV . ; A . G . AVilliams , J . AV ., P . Prov . G . Steward ; A . Seltar , S . D . ; AV . P . Ivey , Dir . of Cers . ; J . Leaver , P . M . and Sec ; II . E . Jordan , P . M ., P . Prov . G . Reg . Bucks , and Berks . ; the Rev . A . Roberts ,

P . Prov . G . Chap . ; H . Cave , P . M ., P . Prov , G . Treas . ; AA . AVeedon P . M ., P . Prov . G . S . ; and Bros . C . Smith , J . T . Blowers , S . Gothage AV . H . Ferguson , G . Pontin , AV . Brown , A . Higgins , and J . Rose . The Loyal Berkshire Lodge of Hope ( No . 839 ) Newbury : Bros . W . AV . King , AV . M . ; G . Boyle , J . W . ; T . Dillar , P . M . ; AV . H . Cave , P . Prov . Assfc . G . D . C . ; and II . E . Astley , P . Prov . S . G . AV Berks and Bucks . —The Buckingham Lodge ( No . 861 )

Aylesbury—Bros . Geo . States , P . M ., 166 , S . AA ., 202 , S . D ., 861 , and Prov . G . Standard-bearer , Bucks and Berks ; the Rev . James Cooper Farmborongh , P . M ., P . Prov . G . Chaplain ; C . Horwood , P . M . ; and the Rev . J . C . AVlmrtnn , P . M ., Prov . G . Chaplain — The Castle Lodge ( No . 1073 ) AVindsor , Bros . R . Little , AV . M . ; H . Taylor , S . AV . ; Captain AV . J . Farrar , J . AV . ; C . S . Vonles , S . D . ; AA . Goddard , J . D . ; H . Dempster , I . G . ; J . AViggington , P . M ., P . Prov . G . S . AA . ; the B . AV . D . Gooch , Past Grand

Sword-Officc . Name . D . Prov . G . M Bro . Jas . E . McConnell , P . M Pi-ov . G . S . W . ; „ \ y . AVeedon , P . M = > G . J . AV „ R . Little , AV . M „ G . Chaplain „ Rev . J . C . Wharton „ G . Treasurer „ Caleb Holden , P . M „ G . Registrar „ T . Horwood , P . M GSecretary JLDcvereuxPM

,, . „ . . , . ,, G . Senior Deacon „ Captain Farrer , J . AV „ G . Junior Deacon „ G . II . Powell , AV . M „ G . Superintendent of AVorks , „ J . B . Clacey , P . M „ G . Director of Ceremonies ... „ J . AVilliams , AOI „ G . Assistant Dir . of Cers , T . Dyson » G . Sword Bearer ., H . Howard Hodges „ G . Organist „ C . Vcnahles . -, G . Standard Bearer „ Geo . S . States , P . M

„ G . Pursuivant „ J . Leaver , P . M . ( re-invested ) „ 1 st G . Steward „ E . A . Layton „ 2 nd G . Steward „ AV . Sim „ 3 rd G . Steward „ ' J . AA . Shackel „ 4 th G . Steward „ Spagnoletti > , 5 th G . Steward „ Ilibherd „ 6 th G . Steward „ Holmes ,, G . Tyler „ Nowclls .. .

bearer , and D . Prov . G . M . AVuts : J . L . Devereux , P . M ., and Prov . G . Sec . Berks and Bucks ; C . Holden , P . M ., and Bros . AV . J . Claydon , H . AVhitehouse , C . Holmes , R . Martin , J . Pyecroft , J . H . Cooper , F . Marriott , Thos . George , AV . Jones , F . Copeland and C . E . Spagnolett . St . John ' s Lodge ( No . 1097 ) , Maidenhead , Bros . H . H . Hodges , J . D . and Sec . ; and J . Pentland , Tyler . ScientificLodge ( No . 1142 ) Stony-Stratford , W . Smith , C . E ., AV . M . ; Rev . R . N . Russell , J . AV . ; AA . AVard , Sec . ;

James E . McConnell , P . M . ; and Bros . Dr . Newton , G . Tierney , R . AV . Hicks , and F . T . Neighbour . The visitors on the occasion were the R . W . Bro . John Havers , J . G . AV . of England ; R . Spencer , P . M ., Grand Steward ; AV . AVatson , P . M . and Sec . Grand Steward's Lodge ; Frederick Binckes , P . M . 11 and Sec . to the Masonic School for Boys ; Matthew Cooke , Sec . 23 , 1107 , 1109 , and S . AV . 29 ; G . Case , 86 ; G . T . Gape , 645 ; AV . Piatt , P . M . 168 ; Bro . Walker ; R . J . SimpsonP . M . 128 P . Prov .

, , G . S . AV . Durham ; F . AV . Levander , 961 ; C . Rowland , P . M . and Treas . 1090 ; and J . Pearl , Lodge of Hiram , Australia . On the arrival of the various brethren , the R . AV . Bro . Mclntyre desired that time should be as closely observed as possible . The brethren having clothed in the ante-room , assembled in the Town Hall , and after due notice of the approach of the Acting R . W . Prov . G . M . had been given , the past and present Grand Officers escorted the R . AV . Prov . G . M .

into the Town Hall , where he was warmly received . Bro . Mclntyre , as R . AV . Prov . G . M ., assumed his place in the E . with Bro . — as his S . G . W ., and J . L . Devereux , J . G . AV . The Prov . G . Lodge was then opened , and prayer offered by the Rev . Bro . J . C . Farmhorough , P . M . 861 and Grand Chaplain ; after which the Acting Prov . G . M . called upon Bro . Devereux to read the M . AV . G . M . tbe Earl of Zetland's authority to Bro .. Mclntyre to act ad interim , by virtue of his office of Gr . Reg ., as R . AV . Prov . G . M . of Bucks and Berks and other vacant

provinces . The GEASD REG . said , as no Provincial Grand Lodge had been held since 1859 , and the minute book had only just been received , there was no business before them to need confirmation . Their Bro . Cave having resigned his office of G . Treas . to him , the Prov . G . M ., personally , they were called upon to elect a Frov . G . Treas ., upon which Bro . Caleb Holden , P . M . of the Castle Lodge , was unanimously elected to that office , and the

Prov . G . M ., calling him forward , invested him with his collar of office , remarking that he had no doubt he would do as he had hitherto done , and give much satisfaction . The PEOV . G . M . then called upon Bro . J . E . McConnell , P . M . of the Scientific Lodge ( No . 1172 ) , appointing and investing him D . Prov . G . M . ofthe province of Bucksand Berks . ( Applause . ) He ( the Prov . G . M . ) had also extreme pleasure in investing Bro . Devereux as Prov . G . Sec . ( Applause , which lasted some time . ) ,

His great care and assiduity ( had lightened the Prov . G . M . ' s labours , and enabled them to come together that day with some definite views of what they ought to do . The following list shows the division of Provincial Grand honours , and how they have been apportioned to residents in the province . Some one or more of these appointments had been offered to the Newbury Lodge , but they had declined , stating that they did not care to accept office " until the Provincial Grand Lodge was settled on a sure basis , " thereby withholding their assistance from the good work when most desirable .

Address . Lodge . Ho . AVolverton Scientific 1172 Reading Union 597 AVindsor Castle 1073 Aylesbury Buckingham 861 AVindsor Castle 1073 Aylesbury Buckingham 861 AVindsor Castle 1073

Eton Castle , 1073 AVindsor Etonian 252 Reading Union 597 Aylesbury Buckingham 861 Windsor Castle 1073 Maidenhead St . John ' s 1097 Maidenhead St . John ' s 1097 Marlow Buckingham 861

Reading Union 597 Slough Castle 1073 AVindsor Castle 1073 Maidenhead St . John ' s ' . 1097 Slough Castle 1073 Reading Union 597 AVindsor Castle 1073 AVindsor „ , ra- Castle 1073