Provincial.

beholders eye was of the most animated description . The company , including a large number of ladies—with what praiseworthy object do we not find the ladies associated ?—seemed , all intent upon business ; to look and admire only—we say only , for pgrforce they must have admired—seemed never to enter their minds ; and hence the competition for the various lots put up was unremittingly brisk , the salesmen were fully emloyedand no siof flagging was visible until the whole of

p , gn the freely contributed stock was disposed of . There were three trees — one indeed a " monster "—adorned with small Masonic silk flags made expressly for the occasion , and loaded with various articles both useful arid ornamental , such as wool and paper mats , dolls , hats , caps , gloves , boots , shoes , slippers , fancy baskets of flowers , engravings , penknives , pipes , books , and other fancy articles " too numerous to mention . " Amongst

other things on the tables at the foot of the trees , we noticed hares , pheasants , partridges , wild ducks , rabbits , turkeys , geese , ducks , fowls , a splendid basket of vegetables , bread , cheese , a barrel of oysters , beef , a tongue , fruit , bags of flour , preserved meats and pickles . The room was tastefully dressed with flags , evergreens , holly and misletoe , & c . The decorative committee are deserving of the highest praise for the very

efficient maimer in which they carried out the onerous duties which had fallen to their lot to perform . The number of persons present was upwards of 450 . Shortly after six o ' clock Dr . Morgan ( the amateur auctioneer ) commenced the proceedings by reading from the platform the conditions of sale . The worthy M . D ., however , soon resigned his post to the practised hands of a professional , another auctioneer taking up his

position at the other end of the room , and , as above intimated , a very brisk competition was kept up till half-past ten , when everything was cleared . Amongst the number of presents that arrived too late for ' the auction were a shirt and silk pocket handkerchief belonging to the wardrobe of his late Majesty George IV ., and the same were disposed of by way of chance on the following evening . We are requested bthe committee to return their sincere thanks to those

y parties who so very liberally contributed the various articles , and to the public generally for their kind support , and also to state that the amount realised , after paying all expenses , is - , £ 50 16 s . 6 d ., which will be immediately forwarded to the Central Relief Committee . We may express a hope that the brethren in other towns will "go and do likewise . " [ We believe we are correct in stating that the above idea originated with

the worthy secretary of the Silurian Lodge . Bro . William Williams , who mentioned the plan to a few brethren , viz ., Bros . Pickford , W . W . Morgan , Middleton , aud Hancorn , who readily entered into the spirit of the affair , and the result is shown above . We understand Bro . Constantine William De Bernardy , P . M ., of lodges 12 , 11 , andl 69 , andP . D . Prov . G . M . for Monmouth , has been unanimously elected W . M . of the Silurian Lodge ,

25 b . 693 , for the ensuing year . The installation takes place at the Masonic Hall , Great Dock-street , Newport , on Friday , the 15 th of January , at two p . m ., when the present V . W . the D . Prov . G . M . for that province , Bro . Rolls ; the Prov . G . chaplain , Bro . Roberts ; and other distinguished Masons , will attend , and a brilliant meeting is expected . The banquet will , we hear , be field the same evening at five o ' clock sharp , at the King's Head Hotel , and there will be

A duel amang them taking notes , Aud faith we ' 11 prent 'em . Bro . John Laybourue , of the Isea Foundry , has also been elected W . M . of the Isca Lodge , No . 983 , for the next year , and was to ho installed yesterday , the 2 nd of January . ] NORTHUMBERLAND .

NEWCASTlE-oy-Ti'XE , —Neiocastle-on-Tyne Lodge ( No . 21 ) . — Saturday , December 27 th , being St . John's Day , the lodge was opened at the Freemasons' Hall , Blacket-street , for the purpose of installing the new W . M ., by Bro . Loades , W . M ., assisted by Bro . W . J . Harding , S . W . ; Bro . Roberts , J . W . ; Bro . Rev . S . Atkinson , Chaplain ; and the rest of the officers of the lodge . The lodwas opened to the F . C . degreeand Bro . W . J .

Harge , ding , W . M . elect , was presented by Bro . Lambton , W . M . of 586 , to Bro . A . Gillespie , Prov . J . G . W ., for the benefit of installation , which was performed with great care , and in the presence of a board of installed Masters , he was placed into the chair of K . S ., according to ancient custom . After being proclaimed and saluted in each degree , the following officers were appointed and

invested -. —Bros . A . M . Loades , P . M . ; Thomas Roberts , S . W . ; 11 . Hopper , J . W . ; Rev . S . Atkinson , Chaplain ; A . Clapbam , Treas . ; Swithenhawk , Sec .-, John . Brodie , S . D . ; T . Harrison , J . D . ; W . W . Blakey , I . G . ; T . J . Strachan and W . T . McCree , Stewards ; A . S . Trotter , Tyler ; and C . J . Banister , Dir . of Cers . The lodge was then closed . The banquet was held on Monday , the 29 th , jointly with Lodge 793 , at the Turk ' s Head Hotel . The chair was taken bBro . W . HardingLodge No . 21 . On his right

y , , Bro . Smailes , W . M . of Lodge 793 ; also , Bros . Winter , P . M . ; Legg , P . M . ; Lambton , W . M , 586 ; C . J . Banister , P . M . ; H . G . Lndwig , P . M . 586 ; on the left of the chair , Bros . Loades , P . M . 2 Ai ; Clapbam , P . M . ; Bvedie , Ward ; Hopper , J . W . 21 ; McCree , Stokoe ; Smailes , P . J . W . Lodge 23 , California ; Roberts , S . W . 24 ; Baylis , S . W . 793 ; Blakey ; Smith , 793 ; Thompson , W . M . 706 J . SymingtonP . M . -. E . D . DaviesP . M . & c . After

; , , the banquet , which was served up in Bro . Brodie ' s very best style , the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given and received . The health of the W . M . of Lodge 34 was proposed by Bro . Winter , P . M . of 793 , and responded to in a very neat speech . Bro . Loades , P . M ., proposed the health of the W . M . of Lodge 793 . The W . M . of each , lodge proposed the P . M . ' s of their sister lodges . Bro . Lambton proposed the Officers of Lodge 24 ,

and Bro . Smith the Officers of Lodge 793 , which were all duly responded to . Bro . B . D . Davies returned thanks for the Prov . G . Officers of Durham . The W . M . proposed success to the Masonic Charities . Bro . C . J . Banister returned thanks , and impressed on the brethren the importance of supporting them , and also to support their steward for the Royal Benevolent Institution this year , and concluded with a most earnest address on

behalf of all the Masonic Charities . WORCESTERSHIRE . WOECESi'EE . —Worcester Lodge ( No . 319 ) . —On Tuesday , the 30 th ult ., Bro . Alfred Powell was installed Worshipful Master of this lodge . We learn that both the Worcester lodges will unite in paying a tribute of affectionate esteem to the memory of

their late lamented brother , Joseph Bennett . It is intended to place a mural monument to the deceased iu his parish church , the expense of which will he defrayed by a joint subscription of the two lodges .

Scotland.

SCOTLAND .

MOTHER KILWINNING AND THE FESTIVAL OF ST . THOMAS . " Bach time we meet we're brothers a ' , And every worthy guest—For here we to the level fa 'E ' en kings are like the rest . These may be great in church and state

Or any other sphere—The poor , the rich , the worldly groat Are on a level here . " Twice , consecutively , have circumstances , under the immediate control of the G . A . O . T . U ., conspired to render impossible the attendance of the Master at the meeting of the Mother Lodge for the celebration of the festival of their tutelar saint ;

and as often were the deep feelings of sympathy manifested by the Craftsmen of the province for their afflicted brother . This year , however , ou the return of St . Thomas's-day , December 21 , the sound of the Master's gavel rang joyously through the halls of the grand old centre of Scottish Masonry , as in person Bro . Sir James Ferguson unveiled the P . of B ., and at high twelve invested the H . A . of Mother Kilwinning with full power to call her sons from labour to refreshment . Around the emblem of

lig ht in the E . were grouped the following well-known brethren , viz ., Hugh Conn , Rev . Dr . Campbell , James Hendrie , John Whinton , Robert Wylie , Rev . Robert Murray , D . Murray Lyon , Alexander Hepburn , James Dickie , Procurator-Fiscal Irvine ; John Kerr , H . M . 's Inspector of Schools ; J . V . Boyd , Irvine ; R . Brown , sen ., Busby , - D . C . Love , of Ardrossan ; J . Coplaud , & c .

Bro . Meikle held the W ., and Bro . Carruthers ruled in the S , the northern parts of the lodge being appropriated to those visitors whose position ou the roll of the Grand Lodge entitled them to that distinction . The deputations were these : —Kil-