Provincial.

£ 1000 a year during tbe last ten years , and liberal sums had been taken from it for worthy , but distressed brethren , who applied for relief . Then why not give some of it to the charities ? He ( Bro . Sherry ) thought Bro . Stebbing entertained erroneous notions on the matter , when he proposed in some measure to stop supplies from the Benevolent Fund until it reached £ 100 , 000 . Bro . Stebbing could not have maturely considered the question , but expressed an inion on the spur of the moment ; for ifas be saysat some

op , , future time there will be a greater number of claimants , by the same rule , there will be a great number of members added to the Order , which would increase the funds . He ( Bro . Sherry ) did not agree with the doctrine that they ought to accumulate very large funds for future generations , whilst the money was wanted to increase the number of annuitants on tbe Aged Institution . In the Boys ' School only seven out of fourteen candidates could be elected in Aprilfor want of means ; surely it could not be riht to hoard up

, g the money for Freemasons yet unborn , whilst in our own time so many were in want . He hoped Bro . J . Smith would again try the question in Grand Lodge , when he thought it very likely the decision lately come to might be reversed . —In accordance with a Notice of Motion duly given , Bro . AV . BIGGS , P . M ., then proposed , "That , as a slight acknowledgment of the valuable services rendered to the Lodge of ( Economy bv Bro , J . Rankin Stebbing , P . Prov . G . S . AV . of the Province , the thanks of

the brethren be recorded on tbe minutes , and that be be elected an honorary member of the lodge . " Bro . Biggs said , he hacl very great pleasure in proposing this motion . He regarded the position of honorary member as a privilege which Bro . Stebbing woulcl estimate as tbe highest honour and compliment they eould convey ; and it was only on rare occasions of high services or labours done that the honour was generally bestowed . ( Hear . ) Bro . Stebbing had rendered them very great service from time to time , and

especially lately , when they set about establishing their claim to hold a Centenary Festival . A deputation was appointed to go to London , and ascertain bow the lodge stood on the books of Grand Lodge . Considerable labour ancl application bad been necessai-y , in consequence of a peculiar difficulty which had arisen . The original warrant of the Lodge of ( Economy appeared to have been accidentally destroyed in a fire which occurred in the city , and a renewal of the warrant was granted in 1801 . No books or documents being forthcoming in reference to the lodge , from 1761 to 1801 , the difficulty -was to afford satisfactory proof of tbe

connection between the lodge ancl Grancl Lodge during that interval ; "but the lodge having nothing more than the renewed warrant itself to show this , they could not at first succeed in establishing their claim . Their representatives came back from London chapfallen , and almost gave up their hopes as lost . Bro . Stebbing , in that . difficulty , had come to their rescue ; arming himself ivith a copy of tbe renewed warrant , ancl such evidence as he could raise on the emergency , he went up to the Board of General Purposes , and

specially argued their claims ancl their rights . It was then that the zeal , talent , and ability which Bro . Stebbing displayed ou their behalf became so effective , and he succeeded in establishing for them that which they had failed in establishing themselves . ( Hear . ) The Board acknowledged the lodge ' s claim by an unanimous vote , and the celebration of their Centenary Festival had duly followed , with that prominent success they all now so well knew and appreciated . He ( Bro . Biggs ) and others had thought it

consistent that they should confer on Bro . Stebbing some mark of their gratitude and esteem , ancl the proposition of electing him an honorary member of the lodge was accepted as a suitable way of expressing their feelings . He had no occasion to speak of Bro . Stebbing ' s Masonic character ; it was well-known bow high in estimation he stood at Grand Lodge , and elsewhere in the Masonic world . He was confident that Bro . Stebbing would receive the proposed compliment with pleasure ancl satisfactionand he

there-, fore called upon the lodge to show their grateful feelings by passing the resolution before tbem . ( Hear ancl applause . )—Bro . SHERRY seconded tbe motion . He knew that Bro . Stebbing bad done a great deal of work for them ; ancl had it not been for him , they would never have satisfactorily established the date of the original warrant of their lodge . By the zeal and ability of Bro . Stebbing only had they secured that honourable distinction they now enjoyed . —A conversation then occurred , in the cause of which Bro . Jacob

doubted whether the intended honour woulcl be sufficient to meet the merits of the case , looking upon the presentation of an honorary membership as an empty honour , and suggested an adjournment of the motion until the next meeting . —Bro . SMITH said they knew , from Bro . Stebbing ' s own lips , that an honorary membership would be received as the greatest honour they could confer upon him . This statement made the lodge perfectly unanimous on the point , ancl the motion was carried by acclamation . —Bro . DURANT , senior P . M ., then moved the following special resolution , as prepared by Bro . Smith : — " That the brethren of tbe Lodge of ( Economy , No . 90 , Winchester , deenly regret the removal , by death , of

their much respected and highly-valued Brother , AA'illiam Cowen , P . M . That the lodge is under the greatest obligation to the departed brother for his unwearied exertions on behalf of the Craft , ancl more particularly for the care and attention with which he discharged the laborious and responsible duties of Secretary of the lodge during the long period of eighteen years . That Bro . Cowen ' s zeal in behalf of the interests

of the lodge , bis spotless character and unblemished integrity , his meek and unobtrusive behaviour , and his distinguished excellence in all Masonic virtues , will ever render his memory dear to every brother in the lodge . That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the widow of Bro . Cowen , to whom the brethren tender the expression of their warmest sympathy . " —The resolution was seconded by Bro . NAISH , P . M ., who remarked that he had formally years watched tbe conduct of Bro . Cowen with leasure and

p satisfaction , ancl most true was it of their lost brother , that nothing defamatory could be said of him . —Bro . EVERITT , P . M ., supported tbe resolution , ancl observed that the deceased was a most kindhearted , simple , and good man , and one from whom he bad often received excellent advice . He was sure the widow of Bro . Cowen would receive such an expression of opinion from the lodge with the greatest satisfaction . The resolution was carried without a division . —The W . M then appointed and formally invested Bro . H .

Huggins as Secretary of the lodge , in the room of Bro . Cowen , deceased . The lodge closed at an early hour , after the whole of the business bad been transacted ; the brethren shortly afterwards re-assembled at their quarterly banquet , and passed a few hours iu that happy conviviality peculiar to the ancient fraternity .

LANCASHIRE ( EAST ) . BURY . —Lodge of Relief ( No . 850 ) . —The monthly gathering of this ancient and well-conducted lodge met for the execution of business , and the good of Freemasonry , at their lodge room , Hare and Hounds , on Thursday evening , the 28 th inst . ; when Mr . Robert Barlow and Mr . John Hamer were balloted for , and admitted into the light of Masonry ; Bros . Thomas Mitchell , crafted , and Samuel Jackson raised to the degree of M . M . Ihe arduous

task of making , raising , and crafting devolved on , and was effectively rendered by , our veteran Bros . Redfern and Binns . Upwards of thirty members of Lodge 50 , and half a dozen visiting brethren , were present , who appeared highly pleased with tbe proceedings . After labour came refreshment , in tbe form of a good dinner ; but , it being the eve of Good Friday , tbe mental recreations turned out Lenten entertainment .

MIDDLESEX . UXBRIDGE . —Royal Union Lodge ( No . 533 . ) . —This flourishing lodge held a meeting on Good Friday , at the Chequers Hotel , Uxbridge . The trains from London running as on Sundays , induced many brethren to take advantage of the quaint invitation issued hy Bro . Newall , the W . M ., and leave Paddington at ten o'clock . On arriving at Uxbridge , the brethren repaired to some of

the prettiest walks about the town , and thoroughly enjoyed their clay out , Bro . Claisen , in one direction , making some very good rifle practice . Luncheon was provided at one o ' clock , and , to use an old term , which appeared not to have lost any of its significance , after the return of many , they each did good suit and service , being " as hungry as hunters . " Lodge was opened at three o'clock , a reinforcement of . brethren having just arrived by the only other train , and the business consisted in

adopting the revised by-laws , raising Bros . Pilcber , Line , ancl Brown ; passing Bros . Wesley , Carter , Hawkins , Knapps , and Browning ; and initiating Mr . Charles Herring and Mr . James Henry Gaball , the printer of this MAGAZINE . —All the foregoing work was speedily , steadily , and admirably performed by the W . M ., who , in addition , presented a jewel to the immediate P . M ., accompanying the same with some very complimentary aud happy remarks . The jewel bore the following

inscription : — " Presented by the Royal Union Lodge ( No . 530 ) to Past Master Bro . Alfred Pratt , in commemoration of the fact that he resuscitated the lodge and discharged the duties of AV . M . during the year 1860 , right heartily . " The success attending the lodge will be readily inferred from the fact that , in the course of the clay , no less than seven distinguished working Masons gave in their names as joining members . The proper business being concluded the lodge was called off and proceeded to dinner , when the following visitors took "

their places , viz .: —Bros . M . Levinson , P . M . 19 ; Le " Gassick , P . M . 25 ; Artus , P . M . 10 ; Looser and Isaacs , 53 ; Piatt , W . M . 168 ; Simpson , S . AA ., and Sedgwick , Sec . 211 ; Carpenter and Queely , P . Ms . 219 ; Cowdry , S . AV . 276 ; Gawthrop , P . M . 291 ; Barnshaw , W . M ., and Copus , P . M . 752 ; Browning , 985 ; Durham , Gibson , Stewart , and Temple , 1051 ; Rowland , " S . W . and Treas ., 1090 , & c . After dinner the W . M ., Bro . Newall , gave "The Queen and the Craft , " well knowing , as he said , it always was received in every Freemasons' Lodge witha loyal aud hearty response . Next came the toast of "The M . W . G . M . the E . ir ! of Zetland , " who , the W . M ., had