Provincial.

of the brethren , the meeting was not so fully attended as is usually the case . The R . AV . D . PEOV . M . addressed the brethren , congratulating them on the prospects of the province , their funds being in every way satisfactory , and their lodges increasing in numbers . They had that clay voted an additional thirty guineas to the different Masonic Institutions , which he hoped would be the minimum sum they would have annuallto dispose of towards their excellent

y Charities . He was greatly pleased to find that last year two of the brethren had taken the office of Stewards—Bro . Col . Goddard , P . Prov . S . G . AV ., for the Girls' , and Bro . Hodgkisson for the Boys ' , to both of whom the thanks of the province were clue ; ancl he hoped that every year they would furnish one or more stewards to each of the Charities , lie very much regretted the absence of the R . AV . Prov . G . M ., Lord Metliuen , that day , a feeling he was sure in which all participated ; but as his Lordship was still in

Scotland , that distance would be a sufficient excuse for his nonappearance amongst them . He then proceeded to invest the following brethren with their respective collars as Prov . G . Officers , for the ensuing year : —

Bro . Jos . Burt S . G . AA ' . „ AVillm . Biggs J . G . AA ' . „ J . Sheppard G . Treas . „ Rev . — Echalez G . Chap . „ G . Marshall G . Reg . „ W . F . Gooch ( P . P . G . S . AV . ) ... G . Sec . „ H . C . Levander , B . A S . G . D . —Payne J . G . D .

„ „ J . Chandler G . Sup . of AVorks „ CCardell G . Div . of Cers . „ —Broking G . S . B . „ Rev . — Jenkins , A . M . G . S . „ Lane , Noyes , and Wilmott ... Stewards . The R . AV . Prov . G . M . then called on Bro . Biggs , G . J . AV ., to bring forward his motion of which he had given notice .

Bro . BIGGS then stated that his object in bringing it forward was to give encouragement to the different brethren in the province to take on themselves the office of Steward to one or other of the Charities . Many brethren who were desirous of fulfilling that position were deterred by the fear of not getting a good list for presentation , but the adoption of the resolution would give him a heading to his list which would be a stimulus to start with . He did not take the originality of the motion to himself , as it was but

a copy of that brought forward by his friend , Bro . J . R . Stebbing , in the province of Hampshire . He therefore begged to move , " That if a subseiibing member of any lodge in the province shall accept the office of Steward to any of the Masonic Charities , the Grand Treasurer be authorised to pay over to the Steward of the Charity of which the brother is Steward , and through him , the sum of ten guineas , in the name of the Grand Lodge of the province ; " which having been duly seconded bBro . JFirmin

y , P . Prov . G . Reg ., was carried nem . con . The Prov . Grand Lodge business having closed in form , the brethren adjourned to the banquet , which took place at five o ' clock . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts ivere given and responded to , and the brethren separated , after spending a truly delightful evening , under the able presidency of their highly-esteemed D . Prov . G . M ., Bro . Gooch .

YORKSHIRE ( WEST ) . BATLEY CAEE , DEWSBUEY— St . John's Lodge ( No . 1129 ) . —The regular meeting of this lodge was held in the lodge room on Monday evening , the 2 Gth ult . Owing to the absence " ot the AA ' . M . the R . AV . Bro . Dr . Fearnley , D . P . G . M ., presided . The minutes of last lodge meeting were read and coutivmed , whoa Bro . AVilliam Richardson was raised to the sublime degree of a M . M . The ballot ivas then taken for Mr . William TUackrah , and he was accepted and initiated accordingly . Tiie lodge was then closed in clue form , when the brethren retired to their respective homes .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

NORTHUMBERLAND . NEWCASTLE . —Horthumberlaiul and Beraich-on-Tweed Lodge was held afc the Masonic Hall , Newgate-street , on August 2 Sth . In the absence of the R . AV . M ., Bro . H . Hotham , the chair was taken by P . M . Septimus Bell , assisted by Bro . H . G . Lndwig , S . AV ., Bro . A Gillespie , J . AA ' ., and a fair muster of brethren , considering that so many are away at the sea side , "the three candidates included , " who should have been present . The lodge was closed in form at 8 o ' clock .

Knights Templar.

KNIGHTS TEMPLAR .

LANCASHIRE . PROVINCIAL GEAND CONCLAVE . A Provincial Grand Conclave of I-iancashiro was held on Friday the 23 rd August , at the rooms of the Jerusalem Encampment , Cross-street , Manchester , at one O ' clock . In the absence , through illness , of Sir Knt . Colonel Vernon , Deputy Graud Commander of England , from whom a letter of apology was read , the V . E . Sir

Knt . Albert Hudson Royds , was duly installed Provincial Grand Commander of Lancashire , by- the Very Bint . Prov . Grand Commander of Cheshire , Bro . AVilliam Courtenay Cruttenden . The principal business afterwards was the appointment of officers , and the presentation to the Prov . Grand Conclave , by Mrs . Dawes , of the private Banner , and the Abacus , or Baton of Office , which formerly belonged to our late esteemed Prov . Grand Commander . After the closing of the Provincial Grand Conclave the Knights adjourned to an excellent banquet at the Palatine Hotel , and a most agreeable evening was spent .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . HENRY PELLY HINDE AA'as , the eldest son of the late John Hincle , Esq ., and born Dec . 10-, 1815 . He died on his passage home from India , in March , at the age of 45 years . He was educated as a solicitor , and passed his examination with distinction ; and afterwards went to the bar . His attainments as a sound lawyer were of a very high class , but he obtained no practice . He was very assiduous as a reporter for

the Law Times and other professional publications , and compiled several works , one being on the subject of Bills of Exchange , a subject to which he had been led by his eminent master , Mr . Justice Byles . After going to the Crimea in a non-professional capacity and practising for a short time in the English Consular Court at Constantinople , about four years ago he proceeded to Calcutta , and was making progress in practice when ill-health compelled him to return home . He was a member of the Hengist Guilda small

, literary society , formed by Bro . Hyde Clarke , Edwin Clarke , Spencer Herapath , and other brethren . While in the East he wasinnocently initiated in one of the late spurious Smyrna lodges , but was , we believe , regularised in India . Had Bro . Hinde lived hewould have doubtless become a distinguished ornament of his profession , for he was devoted to the attainment of legal knowledge .

Notes On Music And The Drama.

NOTES ON MUSIC AND THE DRAMA .

! The Birmingham people had fine weather , if not original ; music , for their festival . The town was very gay , ancl and the listeners curious and excited . In the absence of any new feature calling for musical remark , we have only to record the fact of a Musical Festival having been held , and successfully . A new Opera Company is to open at Drury-lane Theatre in the middle of the month , under tho direction of Dr . Pech . Ifc is to be

hoped he will be more successful on this than he was on the last occasion of his management . The Athenceum asks what living concert-goes knows anything of " Clementi ' s Duetts for two Pianofortes ? AVhat amateur is there who would not desire to make their acquaintance ?—A republication of them by Breitkopf and Hiirtel , Leipsic , is announced in the German papers . The Critic mentions that a change has taken lace in the famous

p house of Cramer and Co . Mr . Chappell , who has been connected with the firm for nearly sixteen years , goes out , ancl Mr . AA ' ood , of Edinburgh , succeeds him . Mr . Robert Cocks , the music publieher , has built and endowed ten almshouses at Old Buckenham , Norfolk . The houses have been just completed and tenanted . Each consiste of a sitting-room , bedroom , wash-house , coal house , and other conveniences , rnd each

inmate receives two shillings a week , and a ton of coals yearly . AVe ( Era ) understand that Madame Goldschmidt has madearrangements for an autumnal tour , accompanied by an efficient party of vocalists , including our great English tenor , Mr . Sims Reeves . Mr . AVooclin , the Proteus of entertainers—A man so various that he seems to be

Not one , but all mankind ' s epitomeis giving his multiform and polylogical entertainment iu the southwestern counties . The Prussian theatres ( says the Literary Gazette ) are commenc-