Provincial.

been re-elected . Lodge Ai-as opened at tAvo p . m ., m ancient form , and ivith solemn prayer , and the worthy and AVorshipful Master then proceeded to invest the brethren whom he wished to honour with the collars and insignias of office . The following AA-ere thus advanced , Bros . B . Huntley , to be S . AV . ; D . Cunningham , J-AV . ; G . Moore , D . C . ; j . Emra Holmes , Sec . ; Nathan , S . D . ; Lindhardt , J . D . ; BrOAA-n and Hart , SteAvards ; Hammerbom , also specially appointed I . P . M ., or deputy to the

W . M . Bros . Armstrong , P . M ., who had been re-elected as Treasurer , and Mowbray , Tyler , for the ensuing year , were also duly invested . There were present a goodly number of visitors , amongst Avhom AA-ere Bros . Hotham , P . M ., Knt-Templar , M . AA . S . Rose Croix , & c , J . Sutcliffe , AV . M . 1066 , and several other officers and members of 1066 . After Bro . Hammerbom had delivered the address , which' was " given ivith an earnest gravity and impressiveness worthy of the theme

, and some business of little moment had been transacted , lodge Avas closed in due form , and the brethren proceeded to the King's Head , where a banquet was served calculated to satisfy the demands of fche greatest epicure . There Avas a considerable addition in number at the festive board , Ai-hich was furnished with all the delicacies of the season . AA'hen the cloth Avas removed the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given and responded towith a vigour and heartiness calculated to astonish

, the unenlightened Avorld , as to the lungs and loyalty of the Free and Accepted Masons . Several of the brethren enlivened their friends with vocal melodies , oftener in the sentimental than the Bacchanalian vein , both of course equally well received , and a pleasant evening ivas the result , closing as it had begun , in harmony .

DAKLINGTON . —Restoration Lodge ( No . 12 S . )—On Thursday last , 29 th December , this flourishing lodge , as usual , celebrated the festival of St . John , Evangelist , by the installation of W . M ., and officers forthe ensuing year . The . brother chosen to fill the office of Alaster for the year 1 S 62 , has certainly had that honour conferred upon him on account of merit and ability ; for be is one ofthe most zealous and able members the lodge can boast of , and Avill , no doubt , perform the duties of his high and

important station with honour to himself and usefulness to his lodje . The lodge was opened in the ToAvn Hall , at 2 . 30 p . m ., by Bro . H . A . Hammerbom , P . M . 12 S , and 774 , P . Prov . G . D . C . AVIIO , in the absence of Bro . Benson , the AV . M ., conducted the Avhole business of the day . Among the brethren present AA-B observed the rolloiving : —Bros . LeA ' . R . J . Simpson , P . M ., 128 , P . Prov . G . S . W ., Chaplain ; G . J . Wilson , P . M ., 128 , P . Prov . G . J . AV ., Treasurer ; C . J . Banister , P . AI ., 56 , P . Prov . G . J . D . ;

T . F . Mac Nay , AV . M ., 1114 , P . Prov . G . S . Wks . ; J . E . Mac Nay , S . AV ., ( W . M . elect );—Marshall , J . AV . ;—Senior Secretary ; Allison , I . G . ; Carlton , ' Turner , AA righson , Thomas Smith , Sergeant-Major AA'ells , Nightingale , Gargett , & c . The lodge having been opened in the first degree , the minutes AA-ere confirmed and the Treasurer ' s account read and approved ; after which the acting AV . M . proceeded to initiate into the mysteries of the Order , Mr . William Hird , a native of Darlington , but noAv resident at Paris , Avho , at a previous lodge , had been

ballotted for , and accepted as a fit aiAd proper person to be made a Mason . Having completed this ceremony , and given the usual charge , Bro . J . E . Mac Nay , the AV . M . elect ., AAMS presented to the AA . M ., for the benefit of installation . The Board of Installed Masters Avas opened , and Bro . J . E . Mac Nay AAMS duly installed a ruler in the Craft , and AV . M . of Restoration Lodge . The brethren were then admitted , Bro . Hammerbomthe Installing Master proclaimed the AA . M . in the

, several degrees , and addressed him on the importance of his office , and his responsibility for the proper discharge of his duties . The AA . M . then appointed and invested the folloiving officers , viz : —Bros . Benson , P . AI . ; Marshall , S . W . ; E . AValdy , J . AV . ; Wilson , P . AI ., Treasurer ; Rev . R . J . Simpson , P . M ., Chaplain ; Robinson , Secretary ; F . Harker , S . D . ; Geo . Allison , junior , J . D . ; Garthwaite , P . M ., M . C . ; Makepeace , I . G . ;

Gargett , Tyler . The Installing Master then addressed the brethren on their duties , and the merits and precepts of Freemasonry , after ivhich Bro . Marshall proposed tAvo gentlemen as candidates for admission into the Order , to be ballotted for next regular lodge night . The lodge Avas then closed down to refreshment . The banquet Avas held at the King ' s Head Hotel , Avhere everything AA-as served in Bro . Turner's superior style . the AvithdraAval

On of the cloth , and after the usual loyal and Masonic toasts had been gone through , Bro . Banister , as a steAvard for the Boys' and Girls' schools , advocated these charities in eloquent terms , requesting the brethren to give

freely and ungrudgingly to these valuable institutions . Being pressed for time , having to proceed to NeAvcastle by the train , he left the matter in the hands of the excellent Chaplain of the lodge , who in his usual able and impressive manner successfully completed his task . AA hat the collection amounted to Ave cannot say , bufc feel sure that , whatever tire amount might be , ifc Avas freely given . Thc rest ofthe evening was spent in harmony and brotherly love , and the brethren separated at an early hour , highly delighted ivith each other . -

GLOUCESTERSHIRE . Cu-ELTESTLi . yt . ~ Fomidation Lodge ( So . 97 ) . —This ancient lodge celebrated the Festival of St . John , on the 27 th ult ., at the Masonic Hall . Bro . T . J . Cottle , AV . AI . and A . W . Gabb , W . M . elect . The lodge AA-as opened in the first degree , and the minutes of the last lodge read aud confirmed , Avhen the AA . M . ' took the opportunitof presenting elegant jeivels to BrosTA

y . . . Southwood , P . M . and Chap . ; and George Atkins , P . M . and Steward , in token of the esteem and regard of the brethren , ivhich were acknowledged in very feeling terms by each of them . The lodge Avas then opened in the second degree , when the ceremony of installation AA-as performed by Bro . Amos Sleed , P . M . 97 , P . Prov . G . S . B ., Gloucestershire , and AV . AI . 1141 , in his usual able and efficient manner . The lodge having

been closed in the second degree , the neAA-ly- ' mstalled AV . M . proceeded to initiate Mr . Edwin AVilliams into Freemasonry . The ceremony was gone through in a manner clearly showing that the W . % L ivould " reflect honour on their choice . " The meeting AA-as an unusually large one , being attended by many members of other lodges in the provinceparticularlfrom the Royal Gloucestershire Lod

, y ge ( No . 1141 . ) This lodge has , as its number indicates , only lately been formed in the City of Gloucester , and already has enrolled most of the leading merchants and professional men in the city , as well as many others , and promises to be a first-class lodge . It has received much assistance from some of the brethren of the Foundation Lod ge . The meeting passed off in the greatest harmony and brotherly love .

NORTHUMBERLAND . NEWCASTLE . —2 veiccastle-on-Tgne Lodge ( No . 2-1 ) . —Thursday December 27 th , being the regular day appointed for the installation of the neivly elected AV . AI ., Bro . Albert AV . Londes , S . AV ., the Lodge Avas opened in form by the W . AI ., Bro . Alfred Legge , assisted by several ProA ' . Grand Officers of Northumberland and DurhamP . M . s and brethren of thisand other neihbouring lod

, g ges , among whom we noticed Bros . E . D . Davies , P . Prov . S . G . AV ; AndreAV Gillespie , Prov . G . Reg . ; J . Barker . Prov . G . Treas . ; H . Hotham , P . Piw . J . G . W . ; Rev . Samuel Atkinson , Prov . G . Chap ., all of Northumberland ; Bro . Claphan , P . Prov . S . G . D . ; C . J . Banister , P . Prov . S . G . D . Durham ; Bro . Bryder , P . M . 56 ; Sj'mmington , W . M . 919 ; Robt . King , P . AI . 919 ; T . Anderson , AV . M . 793 . The ceremony of installation Avas most solemnl

y and ably performed by P . M . Andmv Gillespie . After the W . M . elect had been placed in the chair of K . S ., duly saluted , and proclaimed in the various degrees , he proceeded " to install the officers appointed and elected for the ensuing year : Bro . Alfred Legge , P . AI . ; Rev . Samuel Atkinson , Chap . ; AT . J . Harding , S . AV . and Treas . ; T . Roberts , J . AV . ; R . Hopper , Sec ; H . Hotham , Dir . of Ceremonies ; G . E . Swithenbank , S . D . ; John

Brodie , J . D . ; C . J . Banister , P . AI ., I . G . ; J . S . Trotter , Tyler ; J . Bagnall , S . S . ; AA . Blackie , J . S . As customary , the joint festival of lodges 24 and 793 Avas held , after the installation , at Bro . Bull ' s , the Neville Hotel , tiie chair being taken by Bro . Londes , AV . M . 24 , supported on his right by the P . M . above named , and a good muster of brethren . But the meeting Avas not so large as usual , OAving to the AV . M . elect , Bro . T . B .

Winter , of Lodge 793 , not having been installed as usual before the festival , and he and several members of the DeLoraine Lodge nofc being present through the serious illness of that Avorthy brother . NotliAvithstanding this drawback the festival went off Avell , and justice AAMS done to the ample and good cheer provided by the host of the NeA'ille . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts Avere proposed and responded to" The Health

, of her Majesty , " being drunk in solemn silence , in consequence of the sad bereavement which has fallen on the Royal Family , and the country . The evening was spent in a harmonious manner , and the brethren retired in very good time , to rejoin their family circles at this festive season .