Provincial.

willingly awl heartily contributed , at an early hour all retired , having passed a f . Mv hours in that love and harmony Avhich ever distinguishes our ancient Order . irAiwr . l'Pom-,. —8 ( . Helen ' * Lodge ( No . 774 . )—On Thursday last , December 30 th , tiro celebration of the festival of St . John the Evangelist , took place iu the Masonic HaU "f the above Lodgo . There AA-as a very full attendance of members , and seA-eral visitors from neighbouring Lodges . Bro . AA . J . Hodgson , the Master elect , w-as duly installed and proclaimed by Bro . Hammarborn , the installing P . M . The AV . AI . then appointed the folloiving officers ; Bro . Geo . Moorethe retiring Master

, , P . M . ; Pro . Hammarborn , P . AI ., See . ; Bro . Armstrong , S . W . ; Bro . James Groves , J . AV . ; Bro . Tate , Treas . ; Bro . S . E . Clark , S . D . ; Bro . AVm . Todd , J . D . ; Bro . Gallon , I . G . ; aud Bro . Jas . Mowbray , Tyler . The Brethren then adjourned to banquet . After the usual loyal toasts the AV . M ., on behalf of the Lodge , presented the tivo Past Masters , Bros . Moore and Hammavbom , each with au elegant and valuable P . M ' s . jewel , as a testimony of tho fraternal respect and esteem of their bretlircn , at the same time calling their attention to tire fact that Bro . Hammarbom hadon the previous eveningbeen presented ivith an equally handsome

, , P . M ' s . jeivel by the Brethren of the Restoration Lodge , No . 128 , Darlington , his mother' Lodgo , of ivhich he is also a P . M . The three jeivels ivere then handed round for the inspection of the Brethren , many of whom ivere heard to express a Avish that they might some time be found worthy of a similar token of respect . The remainder of the evening ivas spent in that agreeable and harmonious manner so peculiar to tho Craft .

ESSEX . APPOINTMENTS . — £ «*/« . — . Holiday , January 10 th , Star in tho East ( 98 o ) , Private . Rooms , Harwich , at 7 ; AA ' ednesday , 12 th , United ( 998 ) , George Hotel , Colchester , at 7 ; Thursday , 13 th , Good Fellowship ( 343 ) , AVhite Hart Tavern , Chelmsford , at 7 . COLCHESTER . —United Lodge ( No . 998 ) . —Monday , the 27 th ult ., being the festival of St . John , the patron saint of tho Masonic Brotherhood , this Lodge held its second annual meeting , for the installation of AVorshipful Master and for the appointment of officers for the ensuing year . Owing to the removal from this garrison to

a more important post at Ceylon of its AV . M . for the second year , Lieut .-Col . Maydwull , and the absence , from a similar cause , of the S . AV ., Capt . Barney , the duties ofthe Master ' s chair have for some time past devolved upon the J . AV ., Capt . Francis Pender , Sth Fusiliers ; and by the unanimous choice of the Lodge , at its last monthly meeting , he Avas formally elected to that dignity . The ceremony of installation ivas ably performed by Bro . Forbes , P . M ., and P . Prov . G . J . AV . ; after Avliioli the AV . AI . proceeded to appoint and invest the folloiving officers : —Bro . Anderson , S . AV . ; Bro . Eoivcll , J . AV . ; Bro . H . Joslin , S . D ., and Sec . ; Bro . Voltaire

AVhite , J . D ., * and Treas . ; Bro . Capt . Quick , I . G . ; Bro . Earley , Tyler . At five o ' clock an elegant banquet ivas served in the Lodge room , at the George Hotel . The neivly installed AVorshipful Master of course presided , supported by Bro . 0 . S . Given , W . M . of the Harwich Lodge and Bro . AVm . Meadoivcroft , AV . M . of the Bri glitlingsca Lodge . There ivere also present tho officers of the Lodge already named , ivith Bro . Forbes , the late Secretary , and other members ; and several vsitors , chiefly from tho Angel Lodge , No . 59 , including Bros . H . Miller , AV . WilliamsQnilfcermess-master to the second battalionHodgesGraverand Railing

, , , , , . The health of her Majesty the Queen , the Prince Consort , the Prince of AVales , & c . laving been drunk Avith loyal respect , the Earl of Zetland and Lord Panmure , wore duly toasted , Avith Masonie honours , as Grand Master and Deputy Grand ' Blaster for England ; folloAved by the health of Bro . Robert Bagshaiv , M . P ., Provincial Grand Master for Essex . Bro . Forbes , as the oldest member present of the United Lodge , claimed tho privilege of proposing " the health of the AVorshipful Master" congratulating thc Lod his acceptance of the officeand expressing

, ge upon , ' u ' s belief that Captain Ponder would rule his Lodge ivell , and ivould have the hearty support of the officers and members generally . The AV . M . returned thanks for the compliment , and expressed his anxious desire to do his duty to the Lodge and to the Craft in general . Thc AVAL proposed "Tlie health of the A isitors , particularly tho Masters of thc Harwich and Brightlingsea Lodges ; " ivhich AA'as ' suitabl y acknowledged by Bro . Owen . The nest toast from the chair ivas "The