Provincial.

time after its erection , a brother , who had shares of the value of £ 200 , presented them to the lodge—an example followed by all the rest . Such a course here would be a noble one , thus rendering the Temple the property of the lodges , rather than of individuals , and limiting the interests iu it in one sense , while in another sense the interest would be extended . I have in my hand u copy of an admirable essay on the " Mysteries and trve objects of Freemasonry , " published in French in 1771 . It

appeared so beantiful to an esteemed friend and brother , who aceidently met with it , that he has recently published im English translation of it . I had selected several short passages to read to you ; but not to detain you too long , I will content myself with one : — " The aim of the Masonic mysteries is to refresh the mind , to preserve harmony , and to form the heart . The allegory of this society is ingenious and well sustained . It is proposed to build a Temple , and it is the Temple of Virtue

that is to be erected . " As of the moral , so of the visible building . It will be a bond of union among Masons . The possession of such a hall as that we contemplate will raise the social status of the fraternity ; and while the outside world regards it as a model of beauty and stability , Masons will view it as the abode of virtue and of charity , as a centre of love and harmony , Wishing all success to the project , I propose as a toast "The Board of Management . " Bro . E . D . LB COUI ' EUE returned thanks for the compliment paid to tho Board , and trusted that the anticipation formed would he fully justified by the result . He commented on the

suggestion of the previous speaker relative to the concentration of shares as the property of the lodges , entertaining the opinion that there might be some difficulty in the matter . Ho hoped that at the expiration of the term of office , they would receive as their reward , " Well done , good and faithfnl stewards . " The PROV . G . M ., in a few words expressive of the great interest he felt in the prosperity of the lodges under his rule , proposed "The various Masonic Lodges and their respective

Masters , " which was briefly responded to by Bro . C . Johnson , W . M . of the Royal Sussex Lodge . An extra toast was offered by Bro . Du Jardin , in honour of Bro . B . Watts , one of the oldest Masons in Jersey , the donor of the silver trowel , which the venerable brother acknowledged in suitable terms . The proceedings of the evening terminated soon after nine o'clock , when the brethren separated , with a conviction that

a good work had been begun under most favourable auspices , and hope that | the complete exemption from all accident and confusion during the day , might be continued to the completion of the Temple . An interesting fact , communicated to tho to the writer by the Rev . Bro . Hanan , minister of the synagogue at St . Heller , may be mentioned , namely , that Wednesday , December 17 th , on which the first stone of the Temple was laid , was the anniversary of the re-consecration of the Temple at Jerusalem , by Judas Maccabeeus , after its pollution by the Gentiles , 2003 years ago .

CORNWALL . TKPBO . —JPbceiiix Lodge ( fZo . 4 , 15 ) . —On the 27 th of December the Master and officers met at the Lodge Room , High Cross , for the very interesting purpose of presenting a Junior Warden ' s jewel to Bro . T . Hingston Harvey , si highly-esteemed brother , who will shortly leave his native country for an eastern clime . The W . M . suitably addressed the recipient , and invested him

with the jewel , on which was engraved the following : — " Phoenix Lodge , No . 415 , Truro . Presented to Bro . Hingston Harvey , J . W ., by the officers and brethren of his lodge , with all fraternal regards . * Audi , vide , tace . ' December 27 , 1862 . "

CHESHIRE . BIRKENHEAD . —Mersey Lodge ( No . 701 ) . —Wednesday , the 10 th of December , is a day which will be long remembered by tho members of this lodge . It Was arranged that a special meeting should be held in the Masonic Chamber , for the purpose of raising a candidate to the degree of M . M ., and Bro . Lambert , P . M . 845 and 8 S 9 , and P . Prov . S . G . D . of East Lancashire

, Was invited to attend and deliver the Ancient York Lecture . To this he kindly acceded . Preparations were accordingly made , the room was repainted and decorated , and brethren from all the surrounding towns assembled to the

number of sixty . The lodge was formerly hell at the Angel Hotel . ; but many of the brethren feeling that it was necessary to remove to private rooms , a committee was formed to arrange for removal . After many inquiries , it was determined to take a suite of rooms—No . 1 , Hamilton square , immediately opposite the residence of 3 . Laird , Esq ., M . P . for the borough of Birkenhead . Among those present were : —Bros . Lambert , P . Prov . GDEast LancashireJohn HarrisonW . M . 1023 ; . Tames

Ger-.. ; , rard , P . M . 1023 ; James Wansborough , SS 9 ; J . II . Gibson , 815 ; J . P . Piatt , P . M . 7 S 2 ; J . B . Kignott , W . M . 7 S 2 ; William BnUey , P . M ., 7 S 2 ; J . Baxendale , S , W . S-15 ; E . Slee , 1125 : Noah Beamish , U . S . ; W . Strong , 810 ; W . Wilton , 259 ; J . Johnson , 291 . The lodge having been opened in the first aud second degrees , and the usual examination as to proficiency having been proved satisfactory , the lodge was opened in the third

degree , and Bro . J . J . Foster duly raised by Bro . Meaeock , W . M . Bro . Lambert then commenced his lecture , referring to tho burial place of the C . A ., ornaments , day of atonement , High Priest , Ark of the Covenant , Shekinhah , and other interesting-points which cannot well appear in print ; concluding with an elaborate dissertation on . Masonry as connected , with the Promises . The lecture occupied abaut an hour and a half in delivery , and was received with wrapt attention by all

the brethren present . At the close of the lodge ; tea and coffee were provided , and a few creature comforts to follow , and the brethren ( many of whom had to proceed by railway ) retired at an early hour .

DEVON . PLYMOUTH . —Lodge Charily ( So . 270 ) . —At a recent meeting of this lodge , the Worshipful the Mayor of Plymouth , Bro . Berry , was duly installed as Master of the above lodge for the year ensuing . After appointing the officers , the brethren adjourned to the Globe Hotel , where a most sumptuous spread awaited them .

DEYOOTORT . —Lodge Pidelity ( No . 2 S 0 ) . —The brethren of So . 2 S 0 assembled at their lodge room , Chapel-street , on the evening of the 18 th of December for the purpose of electing a trusty brother to preside over them for twelve months . The choice was unanimously in favour of Bro . Johns , S . \ Y ., who was thereupon installed in the chair by the W . Bro . C'las-. ' , P . M . * Oa the conclusion of the ceremony , Bro . Johns , W . M , appointed Bro . Linde as S . W . and Bro . Mead J . W . The banquet will take

place at an early date . STOREHOUSE . —Lodge Fortitude ( No . 122 ) . —The meeting for the installation of the W . M . was held on the evening-of the 23 rd ultimo . The recipient of the honour of the master's collar for the year 1883 is iiro . Rorlda , late J . W ., a most ' ' able and expert Mason , " and one who has distinguished himself on very many occasions in a manner most generous . The officers chosen by him are allot' a . class likely to reflect credit on his choice—Bros . Tbuell , S . W .,- Ulhnan , J . W . ; Stoueman , S . D . ; Elliott , J . D . ; Ha :. - , elwood , I . G .

MONMOUTHSHIRE . We copy the following , from the Momnoiillinli-ire Merlin , of December 26 , 1862 : —The anticipations formed by the Freemasons as to tho result of their "Christmas Tree , " in aid of the Lancashire Relief Fund , have , we are much pleased to find , been abundantly realised . In all the rites and ceremonies of the fraternity , Charity holds a justly-prominent position , and

that they are not insensible to her Divine teachings the brethren in . this town have clearly demonstrated , by their noble response , to an appeal directed specially to them in behalf of the sufferingand the distressed . Their generous offering in alleviation of the wants ol the needy indicates a compassionate and benevolent feeling ; and those who co-operated , in the good work will , doubtless , have met with an ample recompense in tho consciousness that while they themselves were permitted to participate

in the social amenities , and be refreshed by the genial influences , of this festive season , they had not been unmindful of those who , from Providential dealings , were debarred the enjoyment of like privileges . The project was , indeed , in every way highly successful , as all witnessed its full development ' in the Town Hall , on Tuesday evening last , could have seen almost by a glance . On entering the room , the scene which greeted the