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was elected treas . Bro . Watson , P . M ., P . G . S ., then proposed , and Bro . Berger , S . AV ., seconded , and it was carried unanimously , that a gold P . M . ' s jewel should be presented to the retiring W . M ., Bro . C . Gamnon . The lodge was then closed , and the brethren then sat down to a very reclierclie banquet provided in Bro . Skindle's best style . The usual toasts were given and responded to . Bro . Norfolk , in a very eloquent speech , returned thanks on being newly initiated . Bro . Watson , P . M .,

proposed the health of the W . M . in very eloquent terms , which was responded to in his usual happy and genial manner . The W . M . then rose to propose the health of the W . M . elect , Bro . Berger , and remarked that the brethren could not have made a more judicious selection . His perfect working was well known , and he was sure , on his attaining the chair , he would reflect credit on the St . John ' s Lodge . Bro . Berger briefly , but to the purpose , returned thanks . The visitors were Bros . Yalden , Universal , No . 181 , and Allonder , W . M ., 145 . After a very agreeable evening the brethren returned to town early .

CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORELAND . CARLISLE . —Union Lodge ( No . 310 ) . —On Monday , the 20 th ult ., circulars were issued to the members of the above lodge that resided within hailing distance , to meet at 8 p . m . on the following ( Tuesday ) night , for the express purpose of giving a reception to Bro . Joseph Gordon , who had come to his native townthe city of Carlislefrom Frankfort-on-the-Mainewhere

, , , he held an appointment as resident engineer for the sewage department . At the appointed time the following members put in their appearance , viz .: Bros . J . Iredale , P . M ., P . S . D ., Prov . G . M . ; F . W . Havward , P . M ., P . Z ., P . Prov ., S . G . W . ; G . G . Hayward , P . M ., P . Prov . G . S . B . ; W . Murray , P . M ., P . Prov . G . Assist . Sec ; T . Blacklock , P . M ., P . Z ., P . Prov . G . S . D . ; A . WoodhouseP . M . 412 See . 310 & 1220 ; J . GibsonS . D . ; J .

, , , , Atkinson , J . D . ; W . Court , I . G . & Treas . ; R . Metcalfe , G . T . Clark , A . Taylor , B . Slee , W . Robson , Sergeant-Major G . Murray , Armoury-Serg . G . Roberts , Colour-Serg . T . E . Haddon , Serg . J . H . Burne , and Lance-Serg . G . J . Weatherall , all of the 40 th Regt ., and visiting Bro . C . Dove , 200 , Scarborough . At the desire of several brethren the meeting was held in the refreshment-room , when Bro . W . Johnston , W . M ., Prov . G . Sec ,

presided , supported on his right and left by Bros . Joseph Gordon and J . Slack . P . M ., P . Prov . G . J . D ., respectively . After all tho "brethren had been supplied with the needful for the inner man , the proceedings commenced with a song by Bro . J . Atkinson , "Say not that woman ' s love is bought . " Then followed toasts of " The Queen , " " P . G . M . the Prince of Wales , the Princess of Wales , and the rest of the Royal Family . " Bro . P . W , Hayward then proposed a toast to the health and prosperity of " The M . W . G . M . the Earl of Zetland , " and said that he had not

the pleasure of knowing his lordship personally , but , from what he had heard and seen of the G . Master at the laying of the foundation stone of the Royal Albert Asylum , at Lancaster , he ( Bro . Hayward ) had no doubt but that he was a good man and a good Mason , and perhaps , in the course of time , he would retire and allow his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales to be the M . W . G . M . Song , by W . Johnston , " The grasp of an honest man , " after which the Royal salute of 21 guns was given . Bro .

Iredale next proposed "The health of the R . W . Prov . G . M . Lord Kenlis , " and said that he believed his lordship was the right man in the right place ; for , although his lordship did not visit each lodge , as might have been expected , yet he honoured the Prov . G . Lodges with bis presence , and worked with a zeal that won him tho approbation of all the members of the province , but he ( Bro . Iredale ) hoped the day would come when each lodge would he graced by the R . W . Prov . G . M . of this province . Sonarb

, y Bro . A . Taylor , "Erin ' s Isle . " "The health of the D . Prov . G . M . Bro . Whitwell , and the rest of the Prov . Graud Officers , by Bro . F . W . Hayward at length , and duly responded to by Bro . W . Johnston , the only Prov . G . Officer present , who afterwards sang , " The Heart and the Hand . " Bro . F . W . Hayward , in rising to propose the toast of the evening , said that he had heardwith sorrow that Bro . Gordon's visit to Carlisle was caused through ill health ; butafter tho few week ' s stay in and around

, " Merrie Carlisle , " he was sure that the bracing air and tho sweet smiles of friends of canny Cumberland bad done a deal towards restoring it , for he felt glad he could congratulate him on on looking so well . He was sure the members of the lodge were glad to see him once more among them , as the present company testified . He ( Bro . H . ) therefore hoped that all present would duly respond to the toast with a bumper

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and musical honours , i . e ., " The Health and Prosperity of Bro . and Mrs . Joseph Gordon . " Song , hy Bro . J . Slack , " Her smiles haunt me still . Bro . J . Gordon ( who was received with loud applause ) rose to return thanks on behalf of himself and Mrs . Gordon , and if his better half only knew then how her health had been drank she would have been ambitious to return her sincere thanks for the honour conferred ; but in consequence of her absencehe thanked the brethren from the bottom of his

, heart for tho toast drank , and also to Bro . J . Slack for singinothe beautiful song , which brought to his memory the sweet smiles that she had so often conferred on him . In regard to himself , he had little to say . He was sorry that he was not so well up in Masonry as he would have liked , and had it not been so late he would have been pleased to have had the questions for tha three degreesas well as the sectionsput to him . He felt proud

, , to see so many " red coats " in the lodge , for it brought to his mind the Prussian soldiers in Frankfort , for when the men were off drill they were quite a slovenly lot ; but when on duty he thought they were quite equal to the British army . It pleased him very much the other day when he saw several members of the 40 th Regiment walking through the streets of Carlisle , and more especially so now that he saw , and had the

honour of shaking hands with , so many brother sergeants of the aforenamed regiment . He bad great pleasure in saying that in Frankfort , there were six lodges , some of them working under the E . C . He had visited nearly all of them , and he found they worked with that love and harmony that should always characterise the Freemason . Once more he thanked the brethren for the toast drankand also the manner it was responded toand

, , before ho sat down he wished to drink " The health and prosperity of the Union Lodgo , No . 310 , " to which all present duly responded . Song , by Bro . J . Netlale , "Burns' farewell . " Before the meeting closed several short speeches were made to members , and the Tyler ' s toast , " The trade and commerce of Carlisle" brought tho evening to a close at a late hour , and all parted in harmony .

ESSEX . WALTHAM-CROSS . —GresJiam Lodge ( No . 869 ) . —This lodge held the last regular meeting on Saturday , the 11 th ult ., at the Four Swans , Waltham-cross , the W . M ., Bro . Walter Gompertz , in the chair . The minutes of the former lodge were read and confirmed . Bros . Tucker and Lines having answered the usual questions in a satisfactory mannerretiredand on their

re-, , admission were raised to the sublime degree of Master Masons . Several gentlemen were proposed for initiation at tho next meeting in May next , and tho W . M . informed the brethren that one of the former was his son , who would , on that occasion , be 20 years of age , and ho intended to apply for a dispensation in order that he himself might initiate him . The lodge was then closed in due form ancl with solemn prayer until May next .

South Africa.

SOUTH AFRICA .

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE . MEETING OP PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE . The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of the Netherlands was held in the Temple of the Lodge de Goede Hoop on Saturday , the 13 th August . The attendance of visitors was not numerous , nor were all the delegates of the various country lodges in their places .

The lodge was opened by the Provincial Grand Master , Bro . D . G . van Breda , and after the various powers of the delegates had been handed in , a deputation waited on the Deputy Grand Master National , Bro . Sir C . J . Brand , to invite his attendance at the meeting . On entering the lodge , he took his appointed seat , and opened the proceedings by congratulating the brethren present on the progress that Masonry had made during the

past year , not only in this city , but throughout the length and breadth of the colony . He also read a letter received from the Grand East of Portugal , expressing their pleasure at the cordiality existing between the two Easts ; and another from , the Grand East of Holland , confirming the appointment of Bro . Chevalier du Prat as representative of the East of Portugal at the Cape , and congratulating the lodge and the fraternity in general on the good feeling existing between the various Masonic lodges in the colony . He afterwards gave a very interesting account of his visits to the various lodges under his