Provincial.

and hoped that the lodge would prosper under his presidency . — Bro . BLACKLOCK thanked tbe Chairman for his kind wishes , and promised to discharge the duties of the office to which his hrethren had promoted him to the utmost of his ability . He said it was very remarkable that , for the last two successive lodge meetings , they had initiated three brethren ; on the previous one , Captain Rowland Farrar and his two brothers ; and , that night , the Messrs . Saul . He thought there was not another

lodge in the province that could say the same thing ; ancl begged to thank the brethren most gratefully for the honour they had conferred upon him .- —Bro . HAYWARD proposed the health of the Chairman , and alluded to the very able manner in which he had presided over the proceedings . His worth as a man ancl his ability as a Mason , hy which they hope hereafter to be benefitted . —Bro . BANNISTER thanked them for their kind manifestationsand as he was now a member of the lodhe

, ge , would endeavour to he with them as frequently as it was possible , and be happy to impart instruction as best he could . He also called their attention to some particular points in Masonry which ought to be strictly enforced , and carefully attended to . "The four old brethren who had preserved the lodge in its adversity" were next given , and were severally praised for their devotion in keeping the Union Lodge ( No . 382 ) in a creditable manner with the Grand Lodof Englandand the

ge , subscriptions to all the Charities in good repute . This , and the other toasts met with earnest , hearty , ancl cheering response . The intervals were enlivened by the vocal powers of several of the brethren , and the members separated at a reasonable hour , after having spent an evening both instructive ancl entertaining .

DEVON . DEVONPORT . —Lodge Friendship ( No 238 ) . —The brethren of this lodge assembled on the evening of the 27 th ult ., for the allimportant purpose of electing a W . M ., Treas ., and Tyler for the ensuing year . The choice of the members was unanimously in favour of Bro . Crocker , the present S . W . Another year of office was conferred on the one who has for so many years held the

important post of Treasurer , Bro . Copplestone . It was decided to hold the lodge for installing the AV . M . and officers on the 29 th inst ., and the banquet for the festival of St . John , on the last clay of thepresent month , at the Royal Hotel . During the evening Bros . Bine and Price were raised to the sublime degree of M . M . Bro . Mark Banin passed to the second degree , ancl Messrs . Bickett ancl Andrew Banin , were duly received into the ancient and honourable fraternity . AVe are very pleased to find that in

connection with No . 238 , there has been recently established a Lodge of Instruction , which meets on the 2 nd AVednesday in each month . AVe hope the brethren will not fail to appreciate this inestimable means of Masonic instruction . HAMPSHIRE . PORTSMOUTH . —Portsmouth Lodge ( No . 717 ) . —At a meeting

of the lodges in this district convened hy the W . M . of No . 717 , it was agreed to present Bro . Bannister , P . M ., P . Z ., ancl Prov . G . S . B ., Hants , with a testimonial , as a slight mark of their respect for his attention and zeal for Masonry for a series of years , and at the regular meeting of the Portsmouth , ( No . 717 ) held at the Masonic Hall , Portsmouth , on the 9 th October , 1862 , there was a large gathering of brethren of the neighbourhood amounting to sixty . It was on this occasion that the testimonial

was presented to Bro . Bannister , for his valuable Masonic services . It consisted of a silver purse containing 50 sovereigns , the purse bearing the following inscription : "This purse with 50 sovereigns was presented to Bro * Bannister , P . M ., as an acknowledgment of his devotion to the interests of the Craft , for a period of more than 4-2 years , -by the hrethren of the Province of Hants , October , 9 th 1862 . " Bro . E . Gait , W . M . ancl P . M ., in presenting the samespoke in flattering terms of the services

, rendered by Bro . Bannister , during his Masonic career , ivhich the R . W . Prov . G . M . for Hants , Admiral Sir Lucius Curtis , Bart . C . B ., and Bro . Rankin Stebbing , P . M . and Vice President Board of General Purposes , corroborated . Bro . Bannister received the present in the same spirit that it was offered , not so much for its intrinsic value as testifying the respect in which he is held hythe brethren of the province generally . —Bro . BAI < NISTER replied

as follows : —AV . Sir , present and past officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge , and W . M . 's , officers , and brethren of the respective lodges , who have this evening conferred the most distinguished mark that could possibly he shown to me , not only

Provincial.

hy your kindness and esteem , but also for the truly gratifyinomanner you have carried out the same by your presence this evening , the most important period of my Masonic career , 1 do not think it would be prudent to occupy your time in speaking of the principles of our Order . I do , therefore , trust , and that most sincerely , if I can impress it on your minds , and instill it in your hearts , that I am duly sensible and deeply grateful for the great manifestation you have shown of my Masonic

conduct , and the truly brotherly manner accompanied with such kind expressions towards me , ivhich I am sure will cheer me in the decline of life , and continue as long as it shall please the Great Architect of the Universe to spare me . Such is the desire of my heart , to be very thankful to you , wishing you to receive as it were the overflowings of a truly grateful heart , as any words I can make use of would fall far short . I will , however , attempt to do so by thanking the W . M ., officers , and .

hrethren of the various lodges who have shown so much respect towards me , to the committee and Hon . Sec , who have displayed in such a particular manner their good feelings towards me , but there is another cause of thankfulness in having the great gratification of the presence of the R . AA . Grand Master of the province , and also the officers and brethren of so many lodges in the province . My brethren , I may well say that . this is the proudest and happiest day of life . I have one more duty to perform ,

my and that is , to thank the AV . M . for the warm feeling he has shown to me in the presentation , accompanied with such remarks on my Masonic career . In conclusion , may the Great Architect of the Universe bless and protect you all , and that you may all arrive at a greater age than the one now addressing you is my sincere wish . Again , God bless you all .

LANCASHIRE ( WEST ) . GARSTON . —Lodge of Harmony ( No . 267 ) . —The lodge was opened at the AA ellington Hotel , Garston , on December 1 st , by P . M . Bro . Edward Pierpoint as W . M ., assisted by the officers of the lodge . The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed . Bro . Casson , W . M . of 846 , raised three brethren to the M . M . ' s degree , assisted by Bro . John Pepper , Prov . G . Dir . of Cers ., and Bro . C . J . Banister , Prov . G . Dir . of Cers . The

lodge being closed to the first degree , Bro . Banister brought forward his motion that the lodge subscribe £ 5 to the fund now being raised by this province for the relief of the distressed operatives , seconded by the S . AV ., ancl carried unanimously . Bro . C . J . Banister informed the brethren that as no brother of this province had come forward to aet as a Steward for the Royal Benevolent Institution at the Festival in January next , which he much regrettedhe had iven his name in to the

, g secretary of that laudable institution , and trusted that the brethren would not forget that this province hacl another candidate for the Annuity Fund , and assist him in obtaining subscriptions . Business over , the lodge was closed in solemn form . At refreshment the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given and responded to . Bro . Pepper returned thanks for himself ancl visitors , viz ., Bros . Hughes , 245 ; Gender , 310 ; Hampton , Hodgson , Talby , South , 864 , & c .

Scotland.

SCOTLAND .

MAYBOLE ST . JOHN ( NO . 11 ) . —At a meeting of this lodge held a few clays ago , Bro . Lindsay Mackersy , Esq ., AV . S ., Edinburgh , was appointed their Proxy Master . AA e congratulate the brethren of No . 11 upon the wisdom of their choice ; for in Bro . Mackersy they will have an efficient representative in the Grand Lodge , and one whose high Masonic position will redound to the credit of his constituents . Bro . Mackersy has also , we understand , been recently appointed representative in the Grand Lodge of Scotland from the sister Grand Loelge of Canada .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE . CAPE TOWN . —British Chapiter ( No . 419 ) . —A convocation of this chapter was held on Monday , October 6 th , when Comps . M . T .. King was installed a Principal Chief Z . ; J . S . Rowe , H . ; J . Calf , J . ; Biden , as Scribe N . ; : Bushell , Scribe E . ; and