Craft Masonry.

After the oration , which was loudly applauded at its conclusion , an anthem was finely sung by the musical brethren and the dedication prayer with its appropriate accompaniments succeeded . The scripture portions were then read , the lodge board uncovered , and the elements of consecration carried thrice round fhe lodge , solemn music being played during the procession . The lodge having been consecrated according to the usages of our forefathers , another anthem was sung , prayer ,

offered up , and the lodge was then declared duly dedicated and cinstituted , the anthem "Glory to God in the highest , " terminating the consecration . The lodge having heen resumed to the second degree , the A ' ory AA'orshipful Grand Secretary presented the AV . M . elect , Bro . James Terry , and expressed his gratification that the brethren of the Highgate Lodge had elected so worthy and distinguished a brother as their first AA . M . Under his guidance it was impossible but that the

above lodge would prosper . Bro . Terry being already an installed master , the ceremony of installation was therefore much shortened , and he was placed in the chair with " maimed rites . " Having been saluted in his new office , his first act- was to close down tho lodge to tho second degree , and afterwards to the first ; after which he appointed his officers : —Bros . G . A . GarrettAA ' . M . 704 S . AV . ; Jesse OwensJ . AV . ;

BartonSec-, , , , retary ; John Amor , S . D . ; J . H . Sadler , J . D . ; Cozens , I . G . ; and Goddard , Tyler . A vote of thanks and the honorary membership of the lodge were voted by acclamation to Bro . Marsh for his services on that occasion , which that brother weH deserved for the dignified , impressive , and altogether beautiful

manner in which he had for the first time iu his life discharged the duty of consecrating officer . Bro . Marsh very feelingly and eloquently expressed his thanks , and stated that that day was one of pride and pleasure to him in being permitted to instal a very dear friend into the master ' s chair ; but for that gratification he would never have undertaken the task , which to him was one of the greatest trials to his nerves that he had ever experienced in a somewhat lengthened career of public speaking .

The honorary membership of the lodgo was also presented to and acknowledged by the Grand Secretary ; after which tho 1 jd ge was closed until Monday , the 13 th November . A splendid banquet was afterwards served , and the newly installed AA .. Al . being possessed of all qualities requisite for the management of a feast as well as for the working of a lodge , a very delightful evening was the result . The usual loyal aud masonic toasts were proposed and heartilresponded to trio lee

y ; song , , g , recitation , and jest passed merrily round until neavly eleven o ' clock , -when the tyler's toast was given , and the brethren separated . The musical arrangements throughout the evening were conducted hy Bros . Limpus , of No . S , Hubbard and McDavitt , of No . 813 , and gave great delight to all assembled . The consecration music was the best we ever heard . Anioncst the brethren presentbesides those alreadmentionedwere C

, y , . B . Payne , G . T .. P . M ., 27 ; Laing , P . M ., 45 ; AV . Alexander , P . M ., 167 ; J . Kew , AV . M ., 179 ; Angel , 182 ; C . J . Hill , 193 ; Cutbush , 231 ; Boys , S . D ., 704 ; D . Fitzpatrick , 704 ; H . Hordman , P . iAf ,, 754 ; R . Leach , P . M ., 861 ; AA * . Smeed , P . M .. 946 ; Catchpole , 1 , 287 ; and E . AVest , AV . M ., 1 , 327 , P . G . S . D ., Herts .

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

LANCASHIRE ( AVEST ) . By command of Sir T . E . Fermor-Hesketh , Bart ., M . P ., R . W . Prov . G . M . of the western division of the county of Lancaster , a Provincial Grand Lodge of that , division was held on Thursday at the Adelphi Hotel , where there was one of the most numerous gatherings of brethren which have taken place for many years . It was highly creditable to the brethren that the whole of the 5

G lodges within the province were represented with three exceptions . The total attendance amounted to nearly 250 , and in some cases individual lodges ware represented by about 20 brethren . Amongst the Provincial Grand Officers present were the following : —Bros . Sir Thomas George Fermor-Hesketh , Bart ., M . P ., R . AV . Prov . G . M . ; Lord Skelmersdale , AV . D . Prov . G . M . ; Hon .

P . A . Stanley , AV . S . G . AA . ; Brabner , as J . G . AV . ; Hamer , P . G . S . ! AVhite , P . G . J . D . ; Aipass , Prov . G . Sec . ; AVylie , Prov . G . Reg ., Ibbs , Prov . G . S . B . ; Pickering , Prov . G . Pur . ; Robert AA ylie ! Prov . G . Dir . of Cers . ; Broadbridge , Rowson , Fowler , Johnson ,

and Sharrock , Stewards ; Busher , P . G . . B . of Eng . ; Moore : G . S . B . ot Eng ; Mett , P . Prcv . G . S . B . ; Bowes , _ P . Prov . R . Cumberland and AVestmoreland ; Baker , P . G . T . of E . L . ; Mawdesley , P . Prov . G . R . ; Armstrong . P . Prov . J . G . D .. Laidlaw , P . Prov . Super , of AVorks ; and Sherlock , P . Prov , G . R . About three o ' clock the Craft Lodge was opened ,

Bros . Stoddart , No . 33 , beiug the AV . M . ; Richardson 148 , S . AV . ; James , 203 , J . AV . ; R . Jones , 220 , S . D . ; Baker , 241 J . D . After the lapse of some time , the Provincial Grand Officers entered the lodge room , and were received in due form , and with appropriate music . The tnrone was then taken by the Prov . G . M ., who proceeded at once to open his lodge with proper ceremonial and solemn prayer . " Behold how good" ( an

anthem of rare merit by Bro . J . Slieaf , P . G . O ., and well adapted for Masonic and other purposes , as it is arranged for male voices ) , was uext sung by Bros . Haswell , Busfield , Evans J . Jones , and T . J . Hughes , after which the busiuess of Grand Lodge was proceeded with . Tho R . AV . Prov . G . M . invested the following Grand Officers for the ensuing year : — Bro . tho Right Hon . Lord Skelmersdale AV . D . Prov . G . Master .

Bro . the Hon . F . Stanley ... Prov . G . S . AV . „ T . AVilson Prov . G . J . AA . „ Rev . J . F . Goggin ... Prov . G . Chaplain . „ Thomas AA ylie . ... ... Prov . G . Registrar . „ H . S . Aipass Prov . G . Secretary . „ Robert AA ylie Prov . S . G . Deacon . ., James Pickering ... Prov . J . G . Deacon . „ B . AV . Rowson Prov . G . Supt . of AVorks .

„ G . Broadbridge ., ... Prov . G . Dir . of Cers . „ J . AA . J . Fowler ... Prov . G . Assist . Dir . of Cers . ., R Sharrock Prov . G . Sword-Bearer . „ J . Skeaf Prov . G . Organist .

„ J . Boxendale ... ... Prov . G . Pursuivant . ., Dr . Mercer Johnson - ... Prov . G . Steward . „ R . Robinson Prov . G . ,. „ J . AV . Baker Prov . G . „ ., G . De La Perello ... Prov . G . „ „ AV . Doyle Prov . G . „ „ J . Cocker Prov . G ^ „ AA . Ball Prov . G . ' Tyler .

„ „ P . Ball Prov . Assistant G . Tyler . The P . G . Sec . ( Bro . Aipass ) read the annual report , in wichh he congratulated the brethren on tbo progress and prosperity of freemasonry in the province during the past year , which had been very satisfactory . The report was unanimously confirmed . Lord Skelmersdale , iu accordance with his previous expressed

intention , formally presented a set of very handsome silver consecration vessels , designed by Bro . AVylie , and executed by Messrs . Elkington . Cordial thanks , on the motion of Bro . T . AA ylie , seconded hy Bro . A . C . Mott , were given to his lordship for the generous gift . The Grand Lodge was resolved into a court of governors of the AA est Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution , when Bro . A . C . MottP . Prov . S . G . D . and P . Prov . G . S . N .

Hon-, , , Sec ., read the minutes ot tbe meetings during the year , and presented the report . After the transaction of some further business , the Provincial Grand Lodge was resumed , and afterwards closed in proper form . In tho evening about 130 brethren sat down to a very excellent banquet in the large hall of the Adelphi Hotel , under the

presidency of the R-AA . Prov . G . M ., who was supported on eitherside by a large body of the Grand Officers . The banquet was abundant and admirably served , reflecting great credit upon the manager and the Prov . Grand Stewards . During tile evening the usual loyal and Masonic toasts wero given and responded to . The pleasures of the evening was greatly heightened by the musical contributions of Bros . Haswell , Busfield , Evans , D . Jones , P . M ., and . 1 . Jones , T . J . Hughes , and Armstrong , P . G . T . the accomnaniemeuts being admirably played by Bro . J . Skeaf P . G . O .

LEICESTERSHIRE . LEICESTEE . —John of Gaunt Lodge ( No . 523 ) . —The first regular meeting of the season was held on Thursday , 21 st ult . The lodge was opened by Bro . W . Sculthorpe , AV . M ., who Avas