Provincial.

had cost nearly , if not quite , with recent additions , £ 15 , 000 , a balance of £ 8500 to its advantage , compared to the Boys ' . The Royal Benevolent Institution had very nice accommodation for thirty-four inmates . The Boys' School , also , had the smallest amount of funded stock , as the following figures ivould show : — Boys' School , £ 13 , 300 ; Girls' School , £ 15 , 700 ; and Royal Benevolent Institution , £ 21 , 000—the Boys' being £ 2400 less than the Girls'and £ 8700 less than the BenevolentIn the

, . Boys' School also was administered the smallest amount of benefit . Tbe inmates of the Boys' School were 72 in number ; those of the Girls' SO , and in the latter had been completed alterations so as to accommodate 100 , and at the next election it would take in five more , making the number 85 . The Royal Benevolent Institution relieved aged of both sexes to the number of 135 . These fi showed that the Boys' School

gures was the weakest , and therefore needed more support to bring it up to the level of the others . The demands upon the Boys ' School were comparatively greater and more increasing ; for instance , in April there were three vacancies and 24 candidates , whilst in the Girls' School there were 10 vacancies and the same number ( 24 ) candidates . The Eoyal Benevolent list had not yet closed . There was another fundknown as "The

, Benevolent , " and he could not see why Grand Lodge should not contribute to the other Charities from that large invested capital . Bro . Sherry concluded by saying he thought he had conveyed quite argument enough to secure what he wished to obtain for the Boys' School . ( Hear and cheers . ) Bro . HIGGS , S . W . of No . 90 , and one of the vice-chairmen at the the banquet , proposed "The Health of the P . M . ' s of the

Lodge , " coupling with the toast the name of Bro . Naish . ( Hear . ) They were all very much indebted to the P . M . 's , ivithout whose assistance and instruction they ivould not go on so comfortably , and they had been universally kind ancl attentive to the less experienced brethren . The toast having been lovingly drank , Bro . J . NAISH , P . M ., said his constant object was to assist in every way he possibly could when applied to , and the brethren

ivould bear him out that if he could do any good in the Lodge of Economy , or any other lodge , he was very glad to come forward , either with his mite or by his personal attendance . Bro . Naish then proceeded to touch upon some observations that had fallen during the evening upon the interior expensed of the loclges of Masonry . He could not agree with the remarks advanced by a brother about the cost of refreshment . It must be recollected that they must eat to live ( cheers ); but while

feasting in a moderate degree , they need not forget those in want ; and while he lived , he hoped to do his share in relieving the poor ancl distressed . ( Hear . ) No proper object of commisseration had ever appealed or been made known to him in vain , and he believed the same might be said of every other P . M . of No . 90 . He had to thank Bro . Higgs and the company for the way in ivhich the P . M . ' s had been spoken of and their names receivedand he was much obliged to alland his colleagues

, , also , for the kind compliment so handsomely conveyed . Bro . BIGGS advanced some further valuable observations bearing upon the virtue of supporting the Charities , and gave some interesting details of the private charitable regulations appertaining to the lodge of which he had lately been made the head .

Ihe length to which our report has run is a sufficient reason for adding no further detail of the proceedings of this exceedingly happy and enthusiastic meeting ; suffice it to say that many more toasts were proposed , and many further excellent speeches delivered during the evening , and there were frequent interventions of sweet harmony , for which the company were mainly indebted to 3 ros . C . Wadham Wyndham , and Biggs . It was a very advanced hour before the happy party entirely

separated , and few if any will fail to look back with fond memory to the heightened pleasures ivhich they experienced this evening with the members and friends of old No . 90 . It is scarcely necessary to observe that to the liberal arrangements of their worthy host , Bro . Sherry , very much of the success of this gathering is to be attributed . As to the banquet it was truly exquisite ; and nothing could be more satisfactory to the members and the guests than the completeness of the whole affair .

NOETHUMBEELAND . NEWCASTLE . —Northumberland Lodge ( No . 985 ) . —At seven o ' clock on the 3 rd inst . this lodge was opened , at the Assembly Rooms , Westgate-street , Newcastle-on-Tyne , by Bro . Popplewell , W . M ., assisted by Bros . J . D . Scott , P . M . ; H . G . Ludwig as S . W .,

A . Gillispie , Sec . ; Bros . Challoner , Johnstone , C . D . Davies , Sane ter , Crawford , P . M . 's ; L . M . Cockcroft , J . W . ; C . J . Banister , Brinton , 56 , E . Watkin , 24 , and a full attendance of members . The minutes of the last meeting and the lodges of emergencies were severally read and confirmed . Mr . Josh . A . Grainger was initiated into the mysteries of the order by Bro . Crawford , P . M . Bro . Dodd was also passed to the F . C . degree by Bro . Crawford , Bro . E . D . Davies , P . M ., acting as Deacon in both degrees .

Bros . J . R . Thompson , C . T . N . Mather , Edtv . Mather , E . Plummer , aud W . Daggett were examined , and each proved themselves proficient in the former degrees . They were each severally raised to the sublime degree of M . M ., by . Bro . E . D . Davies , P . M ., P . Prov . G . S . W . Northumberland and Durham , in his usual correct and impressive manner . Bro . C . J . Banister , P . Prov . G . P . Northumberland , P . Prov . G . S . D . Durham , acted as Deacon to each candidate . The lodge was closed clown

in each degree , and several propositions for the benefit of this lodge were made , and the lodge closed in due form and with solemn prayer . Northern Counties Lodge ( No . 586 ) . —Monday , the 2 nd inst ., being the regular monthly meeting night , the lodge was opened by Bro . Saneter , P . M . as W . M ., assisted by Bro . C . J . Banister as P . M ., and the officers of the lodge . . The minutes of last lodge were read and confirmed , Messrs . Eeed and Everett being

unanimously elected , were properly prepared and presented to the W . M ., who severally initiated both into the mysteries of the Order in his usual impressive manner . Visitors : Eev . Geo . Thompson , P . G . Chap , of Scotland ; Bros . Tillman , Prov . G . Supt , of Works , 111 ; C . J . Banister , P . Prov . G . S . D . Durham ; Cockcroft , 385 ; E . Mather , 915 ; Hallfreight , Hopper , 24 ; W . Morron , P . M . 56 ; A . M . Loade , P . M . 24 ; Thompson , W . M . 706 ; Bell 793 ; Miller 14 ; Probert 111 ; Liddell 111 ; Nicholson ,

, , , , 56 , & c . Business over , the lodge was closed . At refreshment the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given and responded to , also the W . M ., P . M . ' s , Newly Initiated , and Visitors . This toast was responded to by Bro . the Eev . G . Thompson in a truly Masonic spirit , and , gave the brethren excellent advice . The newly initiated proving themselves to be excellent singers ; recitations were given , and a truly happy evening spent in this Masonic Hall .

SUSSEX . LEWES . —South Saxon Lodge ( No . 390 ) . —On Wednesday , the 21 st January , this lodge met in their Masonic Hall , High-street , when the W . M ., Bro . Hearn , proceeded to open the lodge and raise three brethren to the degree of M . M ., and one to the F . C , and the respected Chief Constable ( Col . Mackay ) , of East Sussex Constabulary , was duly initiated ; also there was seven

propositions for next lodge . Bro . Little , Chap , and Sec , then stepped to the pedestal , and placed a P . M . 's jewel on the breast of tho W . M ., he having accepted the office for the second year , and said he knew of no brother more zealous in his Masonic duties than the W . M ., for the answers he had seen from those members who had subscribed for the jewel , was very flattering to him , as well as the W . M . The lodge now consists of forty memhers , and being closed , retired to Bro . Wingham's for refreshment , at which

Bro . Wingham was most attentive to the wants of the brethren . The cloth being removed , the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were freely given and responded to by the brethren , and a very pleasant evening was spent , truly Masonic .

YOEKSHIRE ( WEST . ) BOTHERIIAM . — Phoenix Lodge ( No . 1206 ) . —The annual meeting of this lodge , for the installation of W . M ., took place on Tuesdaj- last . The suffrages of the brethren , at the previous meeting , having resulted in the election of Bro . John Oxley , the Junior Warden , he . was ably installed by the retiring Master , Bro . Webster . Bro . " Oxley then appointed and invested

the following as his officers : —Bros . Philips . P . M . 127 , S . W . ; Parrer , J . W . ; . 1 . Shaw , Sec . ; Goatley and S . Smith , Deacons ; W . Smith , I . G . ; and invested Bro . Waring , who had been reelected Treasurer , and Bro . T . Chester , Tyler . A cordial vote of thanks was proposed by Bro . Masterton , and seconded by Bro . W . White , P . M ., to Bro . Webster for his able working and conduct of the lodge , and his courtesy to the brethren during his year of office , ivhich , as will be remembered by our readers , is the first of this lodge's existence . . Thanks were also tendered to the . Past Master ' s , who had attended the meeting from Sheffield and Doncaster . We are glad to find that the hopes