Provincial.

prepared by Bro . Cliilcott , when a every pleasant evening was spent , enlivened by some excellent singing by Bros . Pern , Wyndham , Taylor , Stevens and others . LANCASHIRE ( WEST ) . PRESTOS '— Concord Lodge ( No . 34-3 . )—This lodge met on

. Monday the 22 nd ult . at 7 o'clock , at the King's Arms Hotel , Bro . Pritt , AV . M . occupying his position iu the E ., Bro . Porter in the AV ., Banning in tbe S „ Steib ( W . M . 113 ) us S . D ., Poole , J . D ., Laverty , I . G ., Thos . Robinson , Tyler . A goodly number of members and visitors were present , amongst whom were—Bros . John J . Myres , ( Mayor of Preston , ) P . M ., Brown , P . M ., RRobinsonP . M . Quaile , P . M ., SmithP . M . ; aud visitors A .

. , , , Mc Carter , P . M ., 113 ; Ncwitt , 113 ; Dr . Haldam , 314 ; T . Miles , 995 , and Gibson , 995 . The lodge was opened in due and solemn form hy the AV . M ., and the minutes read and confirmed . Two candidates were then initiated into the mysteries ofthe order in a most satisfactory manner by the AV . M . Bro . Banning , J . AA . in accordance with a notice on the summons , moved that the future meetings of this lodge be held ou the 3 rd

Thursday of the month , which was seconded b y Bro . Porter , S . W ., and carried . Several propositions having beeu made the lodge was closed in ancient form ; more than 30 of the brethren sat down to au excellent supper , and spent an hour in mutual encouragement aud fraternal gratulations , so that all seemed ready to say " happy have we met , happy do we part , hoping happily to meet again . "

SUSSEX . BRIGHTON . Royal Clarence Lodge ( No . 271 ) . One of the largest gatherings of the Craft assembled at the Royal Pavilion , in what have now become to be known as " The Masonic Rooms , " on Friday , the 19 th ult ., upon the occasion of

the installation as W . M . of the Royal Clarence Lodge ( No . 271 ) , of Lord Pelham , M . P . for the ancient town of Lewes , and eldest non of the Earl of Chichester , Lord-Lieuteuant of Sussex . Lord Pelham is also the R . W . Prov . G . Master of Sussex .

The lodge was opened at half-past four , and the room , for the first time , proved insufficient for the seating of the members of 271 , aud the visitors from other lodges , desirous of testifying hy their presence their appreciation of his lordship as a private individual and a genuine Mason . Bro . Gavin E . Pocock , W . M ., opened the lodge , initiated into the mysteries of the Craft , E . J . Reed , C . B ., tbe Constructor to the Royal Navy , passed Bro . R . NeedhamofH . M . S . Scorpionand inducted Bro . Lord Pelham

, . , into the chair , who was accordingly saluted . The ceremonies were most ably carried through by Bro . G . E . Pocock , P . M ., whose thorough knowledge of the important and intricate duties , combined with his impressive manner , elicited tbe warmest approval of the brethren present . Bro . Lord Pelham , invested as his ollicers for the ensuing yearthe following brethren : —Bros . Dr . BeardS . W . ; C . J .

, , Pocock , J . W . ; Eden , Sec ; James Coniy , Treas . ; J . Griffith , Chap . ; Rogers , S . D . ; E . Bright , J . D . ; Ma ' yall , Org . ; C . Corder , Dir . of Cers . ; Loveday , I . G . ; Awcock . Tyler . The first act of his lordship was a most graceful one—that of presenting upon behalf of the brethren P . M . jewels to those who had filled such

office in this lodge . The first called tor that purpose , and warmly greeted , was a veteran brother and father of the lodge , Bro . James Conly , who acted in 1832 . The other brethren equally honoured were Bros . E . J . Furnor ( D . G . M . of Sussex ) , G . E . Pocock ( Prov . G . Sec . of Sussex ) , Langtry , Lowdell , AV . A . Stuckey , 11 . Smithers , H . A ' errall , W . Verrall , J . Scott , J . Fabian , P . R . AVilkinson , G . Tatham . E . F . Scott , C . J . Corder , KuheG . AV . KingJ . DixonR . Bramwelland W . Adams . The

, , , , jewels were made by Bro . Kenning , of Little Britain , London , and gave general satisfaction . Tbe following sums were voted : —Freemasons' Boys' and Girls' Schools , £ 5 5 s . each ; Aged Freemasons and Widows , _ £ 2 2 s . each : Sussex County Hospital , £ 5 5 s . ; L ying-in In-titution , £ 1 Is . ; Earlswood Asylum , £ ' S 3 s . ; Brighton Dispensary , £ 3 3 s . The lodge being closed , the brethren adjourned to the

banqueting room , where a repast was prepared b y Bro . Albert Cowley . Nearly one hundred brethren sat down to the banquet , whicli on this occasion was served in the banqueting room of the Royal Pavilion . Among the brethren present were Bro . Lord Pevensey , and many officers and members of the various

occasions of his deputy the Earl de Grey and Ripon . W . Bro . E . J . Furnor , Deputy Grand Master of Sussex , proposed the "RAV . the Grand Master of Sussex , " stating that this toast was usually given by the W . M . of a lodge , but upou this occasion it fell to his lot , as their AV . M . could not discharge that duty . The esteemed brother dwelt upon the important acquisition to Freemasonry iu the provinces by his lordship accepting , from Earl Zetland , the honourable office of Prov .

Grand Master , for although holding such a high appointment , he did not hesitate to accept the office of AV . M . to a private lodge , thus evincing a great desire to make himself conversant with every department of the Craft . Bro . Furner likewise referred to Lord Polbam ' s many private amiable qualities , and to his great desire to cultivate acquaintance with all the brethren . His lordship feelingly and eloquently acknowledged the

compliment paid him , and expressed his hope that though young in years , and young in office , he might retain their kind regard , aud in conclusion proposed " The W ., the Dep . G . M . of Sussex , " as au able assistant , iu whom existeil tue true spirit of Freemasonry , and to whom all were attached . Bro . Furner , in . his usual happy , friendly manner , acknowledged the toast .

Bro . G . E . Pocock then proposed the health of " Tiie W . M ., " alluding to the excellent manner in which his lordship had performed his work and presidency that evening , which the members of the Royal Clareuce Lodge highly esteemed . The present was not the only occasion of the l ' rov . G . M . acting as W . M ., two former Dukes of Richmond having likewise honoured them . The brethren had bestowed upon their Prov . Grand

Master the highest honour which they can give , being fully convinced that "he will give a bright example to all men and Masons of mural and religions rectitude , " and in return they will scrupulously tender to him the homage and respect due to the high ollice , as well as their truly fraternal affection and goodwill , ' for to walk sovereign in the hearts and affections of onr fellow men is far more grateful to a generous and benevolent mind than to rule over their lives and fortunes . "

lodges in Sussex . Letters were received from Bros . Dobie , Prov . G . M . Surrey ; Hall , Prov . G . M . Cambridge ; Havers , John G . Dodson , M . J ? ., expressing regret at inability to attend . W e are glad to record the fact that since Lord Pelham has been Grand Alaster of Sussex , he has given every satisfaction hy his attention to his Alasonic functions . The banquet endedthe W . AI . evoked a hearty response to

, the toast of "The Queen and the Craft , " he said , tiie first toast which 1 have the honour to propose to you is the health of that gracious lady whose name is ever first on the lips and in the hearts of every loyal assemblage of Englishmen , and never earlier ou the lips , or deeper in the hearts of any , than of the loyal assembly 1 have now the proud satisfaction of addressing . The reigns of our female sovereigns have been the brihtest

g pages ot our history , but if ( which God forbid ) her Majesty's reign were to terminate this day , it would favourably compare , whether we look to the arts of peace or the glories of war , with that of Elizabeth or of Anne . Long may she continue to occupy lhe throne she has adorned with her virtues , and for many a long year may her children and grandchildren endeavour to repay to the people of these islands that fond affection ,

which they have lavished on the person and ollice of her Majesty . His lordship then gave the health of " The Earl of Zetland , the M . W . Grand Master of England , " remarking that this toast required no comment from him for that , whether they looked at the requirements of the high ollice of the Grand Master , and at the way those requirements had been fulfilled ; or

on the other hand , at the goodness , gentleness , and dignity of character with which Lord Zetland had adorned the Craft , the health of that nobleman was well entitled to the enthusiastic reception it ever received . Lord Pelham then gave " The Earl Do Grey and Ripon , Dep . G-. M . of England , and tho Officers of Grand Lodge , past and present , " alluding to the twenty-live years' presidency of the veteran Earl Zetland , his great service to , and eai nestness in the cause of Frcomasunry , and the very able assistance upon all

The W . AI ., in reply , thanked the brethren most heartily . It would always give him very great pleasure to use his best endeavours for the good of Freemasonry in Sussex . In assuming the office of AV . M . of this lodge he felt considerable diffidence in succeeding so many zealous predecessors , but he was much encouraged by the character of the officers he had secured to