Provincial.

this lodge , " was presented by ] P . M . Bro . H . Hotham to the Installing Master , P . M . Bro . C , J . Banister , who administered the ceremony with his usual earnestness . The following officers were appointed : —Bros . Geo . Lambton , S . AA . ; S . Donkin , J . AA . ; P . M . AVilliam Puncheon , Treas . ; J . B . Yanson , Sec . ; J . D . G . King , S . D . ; Thomas Oliver , J . D . ; C . A . Breyen , I . G . ; J . S . Trotter , Tyler . The rest of the business over , the loclge was closed . The banquet was held at the Queen's Head Hotel , presided over by the AVM ., Bro .

H . G . Ludwig : on his right were P . Ms . Bros . Puncheon , J . Barker , Gillespie , Sancter , John Hopper , and C . J . Banister ; on the left , P . Ms . Bros-. B . B . Brown , Harrison , Challoner , AA m . Berkley , Hoyle , Miller , and about twenty other brethren . All the loyal and Masonic toasts were given and responded to in a truly Masonic spirit , and a truly harmonious evening was spent , being enlivened by several musical brethren . Newcastle Lodof Instruction ( working" under the sanction

ge -of Lodge No . 24 ) . —This loclge was opened by the AA . M ., Bro . Anthony Clapham , assisted by the officers in rotation . The first member arriving acts as I . G . Bro . P . M . Charles J . Banister being elected Lecture Master , gave an explanation of the tracing board in the first degree , which was listened to very attentively . Tlie "brethren of this lodge are now very numerous , and propose establishing a library with their funds , as they have many presentations

ready to be sent in , so soon as it is established . A discussion was courted , in which P . Ms . Bros . Gillespie , John Barker , S . Bell , H . Hotham , A . Clapham , John Dobson , AVm . Bryden , AA . Sancter , Bros . Robinson , Heaword , Symington , Read , Stout , & c , joined , and it was arranged that full particulars should be obtained by the committee ancl reported to tho lodge at the second meeting , or ou the 28 th May . —There are now upwards of eighty members in this Lodge of Instruction , which is working well .

SOMERSETSHIRE . HIG-HBRIDG-E . —Rural Philanthropic Lodge ( No . 367 ) . —This flourishing loclge held its usual monthly meeting on Friday , April 19 th , in the elegant lodge room , built expressly for it , and attached to the Railway Hotel , Highbridge . —After the minutes of the previous lodge had been read and confirmed , and some other business disposed of , the AVM ., Bro . Joseph Duke , on behalf of himself ,

his officers , and brethren of his lodge , presented an address of congratulation to their indefatigable P . M . and Secretary , Capt . H . Bridges , on his appointment to the high and honourable position of D . Prov . G . M . of tbe important province of Somerset , and also on his recently receiving Her Majesty's commission as captain of a company of A ohmteer Riflemen . The address was handsomely engrossed on vellumto which was attached the seal of the lod

, ge , and a copy of it ordered to be entered ou the minutes . Bro . Capt . Henry Bridges thanked the AA . M . and members in warm terms for this renewed mark of their esteem , and assured them that be would still continue to do his utmost to promote the welfare of this loilg-e . and of the Craft generally . The lodge having been closed in due form , the brethren retired to the dining room , where an excellent banquet was provided , and done ample justice to .

STAFFORDSHIRE . HAXLEY . —Meniuria Lodge ( No . 606 ) . —This lodge met on Tuesday evening , the 26 th March ( being' the Tuesday nearest the full moon ) at the Saracen's Head Hotel , Bro . AA . Large , AA ' . M ., presiding , being supported by Bros . J . S . Crapper , S . AA ., G . Bradford , J . W . There was a large attendance of brethren . The lodge having been opened with prayer , and the summons calling the lodge , aud the minutes being read and confirmedtbe lod was

, ge respectively raised to the third degree , when Bro . Maygcr was raised to the sublime degree of a M .. A 1 . The lodge was then successively lowered to tho first degree , when tho AV . M . called upon the auditors , Bros . A . M . Dix and " , ! . M . Peake , to read the accounts for the past year , which showed a balance m tbe hands of the treasurer of the sum of £ 76 19 * . This lodge contributed to the Grand Bodge during the past year the sum of £ 10 ! L ., and to the '

Prov . Grand Lodge £ 5 10 s . Gd . The AV . M . congratuluteu the auditors in producing so satisfactory a statement of accounts . It was unanimously resolved that Tin ; MASOXIC Mmnoi : be taken in connection with the lodge , which should be at the disposal for perusal by the brethren . The lodge was then closed according to ancient custom , aud the brethren adjourned from labour to refreshment , provided by Bro . Swift in his usual good style , and the brethren spent an agreeable evening .

YORKSHIRE . DOXCASTEH . —St . George's Lodge ( No . 20 S ) . —The annual meeting for the installation of AV . M . " was held in the Town Hall , on Friday last . The suffrages of the brethren having on the previous

Provincial.

lodge night fallen on Bro . John Lester , that gentleman w accordingly installed in a very able and impressive manner by Br Sherwin , of Sheffield . The board of installed masters being close the newly installed AV . M . was saluted in the usual manner i the inferior degrees , and was then called away by a pressing emo gency . The lodge being now in the first degree , the chair wa taken by Bro . George Brooke , P . M ., the Hon . Secretary , who pro

ceeded to initiate a candidate for Freemasonry , according-to neien custom , being assisted by Bros . Morris and Rigby . The officers , having been appointed for the year , were invested by the AA ' . M . as follows : —Bro . Theormilus Smith , S . AV . ; Bro . AVright , J . AV . ; Bro . AVebb , Treasurer ; Bro . Brooke , Hon . Secretary ; Bro . Acaster , S . D . ; Bro . Bentley , J . D . ; Bros . Smith and Hirst , Inner Guard and Tyler . The business of the loclge having terminated , the brethren partook of a most sumptuous banquet , provided at the AA ' ool Pack Hotel , by Mr . ancl Mrs . Pilley , and a very happy and social evening was spent .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER . The Quarterly Convocation of Grand Chapter was held in tho Temple on AVednesday last , Comp . Hall , G .. ! ., presiding us M . K . Z . Comp . AA . H . White , P . S . E ., as H . j and Comp . Perkins , P . Soj ., a J . There were also present , Comp . Evans , N ; AV . (! . Clarke , E . ; RoxburghReg . BridgesDir . Cers . ; Potter . P . Soj . ; Le Vcauancl

, ; , , J . Smith , Asst . Sojs . ; and various Past Grand Officers , including Compt . Havers , PattisoiijiPatten , Bradford , Gole , Symonds , AVilson , Savage , & c ., in addition to a large attendance of the companions of private chapters . The chapter havingheen opened , the acting Z . announced that as Comp . the Earl de Grey and Ripon had been appointed D . G . M . of Craft Masonryhe became ex-oflicio Grand H . and as he had no

, , yet filled any Principal's chair , it would be necessary to install him in each of the Chairs . The noble Earl was then introduced , and duly installed . The noble Earl having taken the chair , and been saluted , Comp . Hall was re-appointed G . J ., and the following Comps ., or such as were present , invested with the insignia of office .-

—Comp . Havers Scribe N . „ AV . G . Clarke Scribe E . „ Novelli P . Soj . „ Rev . Dr . Senior ) , , c , . " -ii- -i t- > Asst . sou „ Melntire J ¦' „ Tomkins Treas . „ Roxburgh Reg . Gregory S . B .

„ „ Symonds Standard Bearer . „ Pullen D . C . The following report was then presented from the Committee of G eneral Purposes : — The Committee of General Purposes beg to report that they hav c examined the accounts from the lOth January to the 17 th April , 1861 , which they find to be as follows : —

Balance 10 th January , 1 S 01 ... £ 215 13 3 Subsequent Receipts 193 1 ( 5 0 409 9 Disbursements 116 S S Leaving a Balance of £ 293 1 1 which balance is in the hands of Messrs . AVillisPercival & Co .,

, bankers of the Grand Treasurer . The Committee have also to report that some cases have come to their knowledge where brethren have been exalted as Royal Arch Masons in contravention of Article 20 ( page IU ) of the Regulations , which requires that a Brother shall have been at lca .-tTwelve mouths : i Master Mason before he can receive this degree ; aud they therefore wish to caution the Principals of all chapters to be very careful

to ascertain that brethren seeking admission into the Order arc duly qualified , as any infringement of the laws will lie strictl y punished . The committee beg to append a list of chapters that have for several years neglected to make the prescribed returns to the Grand Chapter . They have separated the list into two classes . The chapters in Schedule A were duly summoned to show cause at the last Quarterly Convocation why they should not be erased . 'Of these , some have made no reply to the summons , and others are stated to be extinct . The committee recommend that these chapters