Provincial.

Prov . S . G . D . ; F . G . Fardell , Christ Church , Prov . J . G . D . ; AA ilkinson , Prov . G . Supt . of AVorks ; F . AV . A . Bowyer , Christ Church , and E . Hester , AVadham , Prov . G . Dirs . of Cers . ; Osivald Thompson , Exeter College , Prov . G . SAvordB . ; AV . Hobbs , Prov . G . Asst . Sec ; Dr . Elvey , Prov . G . Org . ; J . Bassom , Prov . G . Purs . ; C . J . Vincent , G . Taunton , Dr . Griffin , H . C . Risley Blair , E . C . S . Thompson , Trinity College , Prov . G . SteAvards ; Hodges , Prov . G . Asst . Tyler .

The following subscriptions were voted to the undermentioned charities : —JIasonic Boys School , , £ 5 5 s . ; JIasonic Girls School , £ 2 2 s . ; Annuity Fund , £ »; AVidows Fund , £ 2 ; Radcliffe Infirmary , £ o 3 s . ; Jtedical Dispensary , £ -2 2 s . ; Blue Coat School , £ 1 Is . ; Anti-Jfendicity Society , £ 1 . In the evening the annual banquet took place , when about sixty of the brethren ivere jiresent . The Pro A ' . G . JI . presided , and ivas supported by Bros . Alderman SiersD . PI-OA ' . G . JI . Col . BurltonProv . G . JI . of

p , ; , Bengal ; Elisha Cooke , from the United States ; Bristow-, AAR . JI . of the AVorcester Lodge ; Havers , AV . JI . of the Cherwell Lodge , Banbury ; Faber , AV . JI . of the Apollo Lodge ; Bevers . AA ' . JL of the Alfred Lodge ; AV . Thompson , J . AA yatt , E . Owen , J . Martin , E . T . Hester , J . B . Looker , Cooke , Alseount Adair and T . JI . Talbot , Christ Church , Blakiston , St . John ' s College , P . JIs . ; the Proviucial officers , aud members of the Alfred , Apollo , Chenvell , and Churchill Lodges . The dinner ivas served ii la Russe , and AA'as conducted in a manner

which reflected the greatest credit on Bro . AV . Thompson , P . JI ., to Ai'hom the entire arrangements AA-ere confided . The pleasures of the evening AA-ere greatly enhanced by an excellent baud , organized by the Bros . Slapoftski , Avhose performances elicited much applause . The German and Hungarian songs , sung by Slapoftski and accompanied by the band , afforded great delight . The addresses of the Prov . Grand Master , of Bros . Spiers , Burlton , Cooke , Faber , Havers , and others Avere eloquent and appropriate , and the proceedings altogether ivere of a most interesting and social character .

Knights Templar.

KNIGHTS TEMPLAR .

OXFORD . —Encampment of Cectir de Lion . —This Encampment held a regular meeting at the JIasonic Hall on the 21 st ult . for the purpose of giving the order of Knighthood and installing the officers for the ensuing year . T , he Encampment was opened at four o ' clock , P . M ., Sir Knight Thomas Joy , E . C , in the chair , supported by Sir Knights Henry Atkins Bowyer , Prov . G . Com . ; R . J . Spiers , P . E . Com . ; Col . Burlton . P . Prov . G . M . for Bengal , India ; and Elisha D . Cooke , of Kentucky , U . S . The

minutes of the last Encampment having been read and confirmed , Comps . Viscount PoAvevscourt and A . G . Holmes were introduced and duly installed as Knights Templar . Sir Knight Joy then vacated his chair and ivas succeeded by Sir Knight Spiers , who proceeded to install the officers elect for the ensuing year , the principal of ivhom stand ai follows : Rev . Richard AV . Norman , E . G . ; Thos . Joy , G . S . B . Past K . Com . ; R . J . Spiers , Treas . ; Rev . C . JI . Style , P . G . Capt ., Prelate ; Theodore Mansel TalbotGDof CFirst Capt . Arthur J . Blakiston

, .. , ; , P . G . D . of C , Second Capt . ; AA ' . Oswell Thompson , P . G . Herald , Expert ; Sir George Maepherson Grant , Bar / ., Registrar ; Viscount Poiverscourfc , Herald . After the installation a few private matters were disposed of , and the Encampment was closed in solemn form . At half-past five o ' clock the Knights reassembled , and upivards of twenty sat down to a very excellent dinner . Dinner over , the usual toasts were received and responded to , while many very good songs contributed much to the pleasure of the evening . In proposing the health of the visitors

, the E . Com . reminded the Knights that it was like uniting the hemispheres , the far east and ivest being represented in the persons of Sir Knights Burlton and Cooke , and called upon the Knights to fill a bumper to their visiting brethren . The evening passed aivay very pleasantly , and the Knights separated at an early hour .

America.

AMERICA .

AMERICAN ITEMS . UNIFORMITY OF AVORKINO . —The following is from the correspondence in the proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Virginia : — " AA e have read with much interest , and refer to your consideration , the proceedings of a convention of Jlasons , held at Chicago , Illinois , on the 13 th and 14 th of September last , for the purpose oi forming a JIasonic Congress . The Grand Lodge of Virginia is , and ever has been , opposed to

the institution of a General Grand Lodge of the United States ; but there is such a want of uniformity in work and language , and such a diversity of legislation on important questions of Masonic Law and usage , that the best interests of Masonry require that some plan should be devised by which the various Grand Lodges should have a uniformity of work , language , laws , and usages . There are now thirty-six Grand Lodges in the United States ( a majority of all the Grand Lodges of the world ) all of Avhom are now workingivith slight exceptionsunder the

, , , York rite of work and kill's . These variations , though apparently slight , are often the source of annoyance in many ways , to remedy which ive would venture to suggest the expediency of a convention of the Grand Lodges of tho United States , Avhose duty it shall be to perfect a uniform system of work aud jurisprudence , strictly and emphatically confined to

America.

the terms prescribed in the Jlasons' Constitutions , published by the Grand Lodge of England in 1738 . JIASONIC JURISDICTION . —From the correspondence iu the proceedings ofthe Grand Lodge of Virginia , wo extract the following piece of intelligence , which we believe will bo news to the great majority of even the active members of Grand Lodge : — " Jlaine ( U . S . ) is engaged in a controversy with the Grand Lodge of Englandin consequence of the

, initiation by Union Lodge , No . 866 , Neiv Brunswick , of citizens of the United States , residing within the jurisdiction of Sfc . Croix Lodge , No . 46 , Jlaine , in which the M . W . Earl of Zetland , Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of England , claims the right of initiation in jurisdictions under the control of other Grand Lodges , against ivhich AA-B most earnestly protest . "

The Week.

THE WEEK .

THE COURT . —Her JIajesty with her family have enjoyed complete privacy at Osborne in the beginning of the Aveek , the only visitors being the Duchess of Kent , and the Prince and Princess Leiningen ; the Prince of AA ' ales ivent back to Oxford on Friday . It has been determined , in order to give greater importance to the visit of the Prince to Canada , that he shall be attended by a secretary of state , and by her Majesty ' s first great officer of the household , Lord St . Germans . The Spectator says : —There is a rumour abroad about the forthcoming matrimonial

alliance of the heir apparent to the British throne with a Princess of Prussia . German newspapers , solemn always and full of erudition , inform us that all the particulars of this union have long been determined—arranged , in fact , afc the time of the nuptials of our Princess Royal ivith young Prince Frederick AA'illiaui of Prussia . Ib was then settled , Ave are given to understand , that there should be a double marriage betiveen the royal families of Great Britain and Hoheuzollern ; such double marriage as ivas seriously contemplated a century ago by the

then monai-chs of England and Prussia , but unfortunately broken off at the eleventh hour , to the great grief of a certain Crown Prince Frederick , no less than of his latest British biographer . On Tuesday the Queen , the Prince Consort , the Princess Alice , the Princesses Helena aud Louise , and Prince Arthur , went to AAliippinghaui , at eleven o ' clock , to lay the first stons of the neiv church ; the ceremony was almost private , scarcely any one being present beyond the royal circle . Her Majesty ivill most likely return from Osborne at the end of the present week ; and has announced that she ivill hold an investiture of the most honourable order of the Bath on Jlonday , the llth June .

GENERAL HOME NEWS . —A Conservative banquet will soon be held , afc which a large number of peers and commoners have already announced their intention to attend ; the Earl of Shrewsbury and Talbot is to preside . Her JIajesty has granted a conge d ' elire for the election of the present Bishop of Carlisle ( Dr . Villiers ) to the see of Durham , vacant by the translation of Dr . Lougley to the Archbishopric of York . The Weekly Register of Saturday , announces additional subscriptions to the Papal Fundincluding 300 / . from the Duke of Norfolk 1001 from Lord

, , . Stourton , & c . The same paper states thafc the Roman Catholic diocese of Liverpool has forwarded to Rome ' 7 , 220 / . The total number of deaths registered iu London in the week that ended last Saturday , was 1 , 087 , and nearly the same as that of the previous week . For the ten years 1850-59 , the average number of deaths in the weeks corresponding with last week is found , after correction for increase of population , to be 1 , 133 . Last week the births of 842 boys , and 838 girls , in all 1680 children

, , were registered in London . In the ten corresponding weeks of the years 1850-59 the average number was 1 , 606 . ¦ The agitation amongst the servants of the Post-office is far from subsiding . On Jlonday evening two meetings of a private character were held in rooms of the Post'offiee . A resolution was passed to the effect that parliamentary interest should be solicited in the eA'enfc of the commission not meeting their claims . Prompt and vigorous measures were taken by the churchwardens of St . George ' s-in-the-East on Sunday

night for the repression of the riotous proceedings ivhich have so long prevailed there . The gates were thrown open as usual at about tiventy minutes before seven o ' clock , when every boy and girl ivho had the appearance of a rioter—boys and girls having been the principal disturbers of the sendees—was refused admission . AA'hen the Rev . F . G .

Lee entered the reading desk he was assailed with a loud howl , which AA'as kept up at intervals during the prayers . The sermon AA'as preached by the Rev . A . S . Careiv Blacker , B . A . There was considerable disturbance during the sermon and at the close of the service . OuTuesclay morning , betw-eeii seven and eight o ' clock , a fire took place at Dockhead . The premises iu which the disaster commenced were in the tenure of Jlr . A . Mynne , a hop merchant , and Jlr . AA . C . Jlurrell , a hay and straw merchant , situate in Butler ' s-place , Dockhead , Horselydow-n . Some

thousand pounds' worth of hops ivere stored in the warehouse of Jlr . Jfynne , Avhile many hundred tons of hay , clover , and straw stood in the stores of Jlr . Jlurrell . The firemen , after several hours' hard labour , succeeded in putting the fire out . The total loss will amount to some thousand pounds . -The AVhitsuiitide holidays have gone off unpropitiously enough . In place of the mild , genial weather AA'hich belongs to this season of the year , AA'e have had a terrific gale of wind , and a considerable amount of rain . No doubt this had the effect of diminishing the number of pleasure seekers , but not , we imagine , to any material extent ; for if there be one thing more than another ivhich is