Provincial.

The appointment and investiture of the various Prov . G . officers for the ensuing year was then proceeded with as under : — Bro . Sir H . "Williamson Prov . D . G . M . „ William Charles AA ' ard-Jackson ... Prov . S . G-W . „ , B . Levy Prov . J . G . AV . . „ Rev . G . Batman Prov . G . Chap . „ Rev . J . Cnndill Prov . G . Treas .

. „ AV . AV . Bruiiton Prov . G . Reg . „ AA . H . Ciookes Prov . G . See . „ T . Nelson Prow S . G . D . „ AVhinham Prov . J . G . D . „ Crook Pr . G . Supt . ofAATcs . „ AV . Best Pr . G . Dir . of Cers . „ P . P . Jewson Prov . G . Org . „ Lawson Prov . G . Swd . Br . „ Sivewright Prov . G-Purst . ., Laws Prov . G . Tyler .

'The Stewards for the year ivere appointed as under : —Bros ¦ Cooke , AV- Scott , JR . Hail , Jas . Morrell , M . Grey , and G . Ellis . Some admirable remarks fell from the lips of the Prov . G . JI . relative to the admission of candidates to the mysteries and privileges of Freemasonry . He intreated the brethren to remember that tbe right to black-ball was a right to be used and not abused , and under no circumstance should respectable members of societbe refused admission to the Order without

y very good grounds indeed for their rejection . Where it ivas found that members black-balled from mere pique and personal malice it ivas quite clear that such members of the Order but little understood and very imperfectly practised the great principles -of Freemasonry . The address of the Prov . G . Master was listened to with great attention , and received with hearty applause .

In reading the minutes of the last Provincial Grand Lodge meeting , the Proi \ G , Secretary gave at length the address of the Prov . G . Master on that occasion , in which he advised the brethren that , in introducing candidates into Masonry , they should remember that respectability , and not numbers , was the object to be aimed at . In seaport towns this was not sufficiently considered , and he deemed it his duty to draw their attention to it .

In confirming the minutes containing this interesting and valuable address the Prov . Grand Lodge again testified its warm approbation of the same . After the close of the lodge a banquet was prepared at Bro . Gallon ' s , Eoyal Hotel , where : i large number of the brethren met , including the majority of the newly-initiated officers , and of tbe distinguished visitors before named , and Bro . Binckes , . Secretary of the JIasonie School for BoysLondon . As this was

, . possibly the first occasion on ivhieh so large a number of Freemasons was called together in AA'est Hartlepool , some excitement prevailed in the town , especially as it was rumoured that Earl 'Vane and the Earl of Zetland were likely to be present—a rumour that proved , however , to be untrue . A sumptuous banquet , ' comprising every delicacy of the season , was provided at Bro . Gallon's , the Royal Hotel , but , as onl

y 100 were expected , and about 150 presented themselves , there ivas considerable difficulty in catering for the increased number , and many brethren ivere but il ! provided for . Whether mine host was to blame , or the Prov . G . Secretary , or both , or neither , we have no wish to inquire , but , on behalf ol the Freemasons of the province , Ave must express a hope that the dinner arrangements of Provincial Grand Lodge may be

better attended toon future occasions . On the removal of the cloth , the Prov . G . JI . proposed "The Queen , " wliich was given ivith due loyalty . "The Most AA orshipful Grand JIaster" was next proposed , and duly honoured . Bro . Dodds proposed "The Deputy Grand JIaster , the Earl de Grey and Ripon , and tbe Grand Officers of England , " coupled with the name of Bro . C . J . Banister , ivho responded in characteristic terms . "The Deputy Provincial Grand Jlaster" was next

proposed , and responded to in the hearty style which characterises the speeches of Bro . Sir Hedworth AA'illiamson . The toast of "The Provincial Grand Master" was received with accustomed enthusiasm . "The present Grand Officers" was ably responded to by Bro . AV . C . AVard-Jackson , P . S . G . W ., aud the rest ol the Masonic toasts then followed in their accustomed order . Bros . AVhinkham and Emra Holmes assisted with thenvocal abilities , and the brethren separated at an early hour . AVe believe it is the intention of the Prov . G . JI . to bold the next Provincial Grand Lodge at Gateshead .

AA e bad almost forgotten to state that tbe toast of " The Three Great JIasonie Charities " was coupled with tbe name of Bro . Binckes , Secretary to the Boys' School , ivho replied at some length and with great eloquence in an appeal to tbe brethren on the part of the great Charity which he more immediately represented . He informed the brethren that he had great pleasure in stating that Bro . AA'ard-Jackson had kindly consented to act as Steward for tbe province at the next festival for that Charity in March , 1 SGS , a statement which called forth hearty applause .

LANCASHIRE ( AVEST ) . AVABKnrGTOtf . — Lodge of LigUs ( No . 148 ) . —The regular monthly meeting of this flourishing lodge was held at the Masonic . Rooms , Sankey-street , on Monday , the 2 Sth ult . The AV . JI ., Bro . Robert Stevenson , was supported by Bros . Horatio Syredas S . W . ; David FinneyJ . AV . ; H . B . WhiteP . M . and

, , , , Prov . Assist . G . Dir . of Cers . ; John Bowes , P . M ., P . Prov . G . Dir . of Cers ., and Prov . G . Reg . Cumberland and AA ' estmoreland ; Joseph JIaxfield , P . M . ; JR . G . Stringer , P . M . ; John Pilling , P . M . ; AV . JIossop , S . D- ; AA " . Richardson , J . D . ; James Jackson , I . G . ; John AVilson , A . H . Beckett , Rev . H . P . Stedman , John Laithivaite , Dr . Cooper , Thomas Jones , AV . AA ood , T . Domville , Robert Richardson , Thomas Morris , j . ___ . Goodreid , Captain

Reynolds , A . Waring , AV . S . Hawkins , B . P . Coxon , C . E ., Alderman Hepherd , J . G . Hughes , John Pierpoinfc , Robert Gibbons , Jabez Plinston , George Blackhursfc , P . Pearse , John Pilling , jun ., Dr . Pennington , Peter Jones , AVilliam Bryce , James Johnson , Tyler . Visitors : —Bros . John Longworth , P . M . 78 ; Joseph Robinson , 1 , 134 ; D . Carroll , 941 ; and D . Stibber , 73 S . C . The lodge ivas opened in solemn form , and the minutes

read and confirmed . Tbe ballot ivas then taken for a joining member , and for Messrs . Peter Jones and AVilliam Bryce as candidates for initiation . The ballot being favourable , and the gentlemen being present , they were initiated . Tbe lodge ivas opened in tbe second degree , when Bro . the Rev . H . P . Stedman sought advancement , and , having proved his claim , ivas entrusted and retired . The lodge was opened in the third degree , Bro . Stedman admitted and raised by tbe W . JI ., assisted by Bro . H .

B . AVhite . The lodge was closed down to the first degree , when tivo propositions were made and some routine business transacted . The lodge was finally closed soon after nine o ' clock and the brethren separated in harmony .

NORTHUMBERLAND . PBOVISOIAL GEAND LODGE . On Friday , the 25 th ult ., the Provincial Grand Lodge of Northumberland held their annual communication at the ancient town of Alnwick , the interest of the occasion being considerably enhanced by the consecration ol a new lodge at the same time , called the Alnwick LodgeNo . 1167 .

, , A considerable number of the brethren attended from Newcastle , Berwick , and other parts of tbe province , with a fair attendance of Prov . G . Officers . Bro . the Rev . Edward Chaloner Ogle , Prov . G . JI ., presided , supported by Bros . M . L . Jobling , D . Prov . G . M . ; J . Twinsell , Prov . S . G . W . ; A . Clapham , Prov . J . G . AV . ; T . Anderson , Prov . G . Treas . ; Robert Smaill , Prov . G . Reg . ; B . J . Thompson , Prov . G . S . ; T , Smith , Prov . G . S . D . ;

Davidson , Prov . G . J . D . ; & c The minutes of the previous Provincial Grand Lodge meeting were read and confirmed , when the cousecration of the Alnwick Lodge , No . 1 , 107 was commenced , by the Prov . G . JI . calling upon the Prov . G . Sec . to read the warrant from the M . W . tbe Grand JIaster of England , after which the beautiful ceremony of consecration was impressively performed by the various officers into whose hands the various duties AVETO entrusted ,

the onerous duties of Dir . of Cers . being accurately performed by Bro . E . T > . Davis , P . Prov . S . G . AV ., and the various anthems and other music appropriate to tbe occasion being ably sung by a few ol the musical members of De Loraine Lodge , under the direction of Bro . Stokoe , S . W . In the usual course Bro . Braithwaite , P . JI ., was inducted as the first AV . JI . of the new lodge , and then proceeded to appoint bis officersamongst whom were Bros . HeatleyS . W . ; Blair

, , , J . AV . ; Gray , Sec , & c . After tbe consecration was concluded , tho usual business of Provincial Grand Lodge ivas proceeded with , and the Prov . G . JI . expressed his delight and gratification at the continued prosperity of the various lodges under his jurisdiction .