Provincial.

books of the Britannia Lodge , ivhich he was happy to say were perfect from the formation of the lodge in 1765 to the present time , he found the Phcenix Lodge occasionally referred to ; the first mention of it was as follows : — "Friday , 22 nd July , 1 S 0 S . —Memorandum . —Afc fche request of Bro . AVilkinson and other brothers of Rotherham ancl its vicinity , for a few of the brothers of the Britannia Loclge to open , or assist them in opening the Phcenix Lodge at

Rotherham ( late of AVorksop ) . Bros . Rowley , Heathcote , Galllniore , ancl Fox , attended afc Bro . Carnelly's , fche Crown , in Rotherham , AA'here the said lodge was opened by Rowley , W . M . ; Heathcote , S . W ., and Gallimore , J . W . ; and after modernizing , Bros . Dixon , Carnelly , Holdsworth , ancl Flint , proceeded to instal Bros . AVilkinson as AV . M . ; Lockivood , S . AV . ; Carnelly , J . AV . ; Crofts , Sec . ; Flint , Treas . ; Holdsworth , Sr . St . ; and Grlossop , Jr . St . They then proceeded to fix the regular lodge nihts to

g be held on the Monday evenings nearest full moon ; after which two lectures were given on the first and second degrees by Bro . Rowley , and the lodge was closed in due form . The last notice of it was on the 10 th March , 1841 , when " Bro . Eadon was requested to confer with Mr . G . Latham , to treat with Bro . Hudson , of the late Phcenix Lodge , Rotherham , for the property of the said loclge , to be deposited in the archives of the Britannia Loclgeas heBro . Hudsonwas about to leave

, , , the house in which the lodge was held , ancl was in possession of the saicl property . " It therefore appeared that the Phoenix Lodge had originally been held in Worksop , and had been transferred to Rotherham in 1808 , where ifc had probably continued to exist till 1841 , a period of about 33 years . Having noiv commenced a new existence under the command of such

au excellent and indefatigable Mason as Bro . Webster , aided by several other zealous brethren , he trusted the lodge would continue in existence for many centuries . The AV . M . then appointed and invested his officers , viz .: — -Bros . R . Waterhouse , S . W . ; J . Oxley , J . W . ; J . A \ aring , Treas . ; F . AValker , Sec . ; E . Farran , S . D . ; S . Smith , J . D . ; j . K . Turner , I . G . ; A . Hirst , Steward ; and J . Gouldthorp , Tyler . The W . M . addressed each on the duties and responsibilities of his office , and afterwards the

brethren generally , on the necessity of obedience to those in authority , and the advantages of uniting together to further the interest of the Craft , and to make each other happy . A very agreeable evening was closed by an ample banquet , which did great credit to the host . The brethren separated afc an early hour , after honouring the usual Masonic toasts , and felicitating each other on the happy and auspicious commencement of the Phcenix Loclge .

Channel Islands.

CHANNEL ISLANDS .

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE . ADDRESS OE CONDOLENCE TO THE QUEEN . On Tuesday , Jan . 28 , a Provincial Grand Loclge ivas held at the Masonic Hall , Museum-street , Jersey , for the purpose of voting an Address of Condolence to Her Majesty , on the melancholy occasion of the dec-ease of H-R . H . the Prince Consort ; also to nominate the Provincial Grand Officersto elect a Provincial

, Grand Treasurer for the ensuing year , and for other general purposes . The Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master , J . J . Hammond , occupied the throne , and was supported by the V . W . D . Prov . G . M . Bro . Robert Cross ; Lord Graves , D . Prov . G . M ., for Devonshire ; Bros . David Miller , Edivard Ainsley , Matthew Gallichan , Samuel Hayes , and other P . Prov . G . AVardens of this Province , ancl by a numerous assemblage of P . Prov . G . Officers ,

AV . Masters , ancl Wardens of the sei * eral lodges in . this Island . The minutes of the previous meeting having been read ancl confirmed , the following address , moved by the R . AV . Prov . G . Master , and seconded by the D . Prov . G . Master , was adopted unanimously : — To the Queen ' s Most Excellent Majesty .

MAY IT PLEASE TOUR MAJESTY . —The Provincial Grand Master , the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , the Grand Wardens , and members of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Jersey , beg most humbly ancl respectfully to tender to Your Majesty their earnest expression . of the deep grief ancl . sympathy with which they have learnt Your Majesty's great bereavement and heavy tribulation ; and to be allowed to submit to Your Majesty their unfei gned love and veneration for the memory of a Prince ,

Channel Islands.

whose life has been devoted to the welfare and the prosperity of the nation , and whose virtues have so justly entitled him to the grateful remembrance of every one of Your Majesty ' s loval subjects . May the blessing of the Great Architect of the Universe rest on Your Majesty , on His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , and on the other Members of tho Eoyal Family ; and we shall ever pray & e .

, ( Signed ) J . J . HAMMOND , Prov . G . M . P . VV . BENTHAM , Prov . G . S . AA . CHAS . JOHNSON , Prov . G . J . AV . F . A . GODFBAY , Prov . G . Sec . The Prov . Grand Master then proceeded to nominate and invest his Prov . Grand Officers , as follows : — V . W . Bro . P . W . Benhani , Prov . G . S . AV . ; Charles Johnson , Prov . G . J . AV . ; J . N . AVestaway ( Advocate ) , Prov . G . Reg . ; F . A .

Godfray , Prov . G . Sec . ; Thomas Kitchener , Prov . G . S . D . ; Capt . Lamb , Prov . G . J . D . ; Philip Bichard , Prov . G . S . B . ; AV . F . Bridgman , Prov . G . Org . ; Fred . Aubin , Prov . G . Purst . ; H . L . Manuel , Prov . G . Dir . Cers . ; J . Gabourel , A . Prov . G . Dir . Cers . ; Thomas Gallichan , Prov . G . Supt . AVorks ; and Bros . Mist , Leigh , Mannian , Hunter , and AVoodey , Prov . G . Stewards . After which , the V . AV . Bro . J . T . Dujardin , Treas ., ivas again proposed to fill that officeas also the W . Bro . J . Gibaut (

Advo-, cate ) ; when Bio . DUJARDIN stated that having had the honour of holding that situation for a number of years , and seeing a particular friend of his in election , he freely and voluntarily resigned his pretensions in his favour ; in consequence of which Bro . Gibaufc was unanimously elected , and was then invested by the R . AV . Prov . G . M ., amid the congratulations and applause of all the brothers assembled . The following brethren were afterwards appointed to serve

onthe local board for general purposes : — Matt . Gallichan , P . M ., 722 ; Cornelius Doualdson , P . M ., 302 ; .-Philip Lo Cras , P . M ., 860 ; Edw . Ainsley , P . M ., 302 ; Charles ; Kingsnorth , W . M . 306 ; and Philip Baudains , AV . M . 860 . After the disposal of some routine business , the lodge was » closed in due form , ivith solemn prayer .

Scotland.

SCOTLAND .

LODGE ATHOLE ( No . 413 ) . —On Tuesday evening , Jan . 2 Sthj , the members of this lodge enjoyed a treat of no ordinary kind , in the shape of a lecture by their Senior AA arden , John Schaw , being tbe third of the Avinter series . The subject chosen by Bro . Schaw , viz ., " Snuffing , " occasioned no end of conjecture as to the nature of the remarks thafc ivould be offered pro or conand although it was shrewdlexpected that the lecturer

, y , true to his allegience as a " disciple of Taddy , " Avould endeavour to place the character of the "institution" in a favourable light , yet his audience were scarcely prepared to hear the masterly defence and vindication from all the vituperations of public opinion which it has been the fate , hitherto , of this " nasal infirmity" to receive . The lecturer commenced with a violent diatribe against ivhat " popular fallacy" has set down

as the kindred vice , smoking , and denied there Avas any single point of resemblance or comparison between the two , assertin ° y that their association was only calculated to invest the character of smoking with an air of respectability to ivhich it was by no means entitled ; ancl , passing on to fche subject proper , placed snuffing , divested of all its disreptuable associates , in the highest scale of social observances . The lecture , although not

quite free from the little crudities almost inseparable from a first essay , was of considerable literary merit , sparkling throughout ivith a well-sustained fire of wit and quaint humour , with here and there flashes af eloquence which would have reflected ' no discredit on a practised orator . Ifc would perhaps be invidious to make any selection of what we considered the best passages , and the following , taken at random , may illustrate the general tenour of the lecture as well as any single passage

coulcl do . Speaking of snuffers , and their intellectual , moral , and social qualities , it says , "Their countenance is an index of refreshing mirth ancl subtle thought , their wit sparkles brightest , their earnestness is the most pure , their counsels the most trustworthy , ancl their merry laugh and unfeigned admiration the most grateful tribute to your efforts in the art of pleasing . The snuff-box circulates , creaking on its hinges like the merry chirp of the cricket , the dust is inhaled , the moments fly , care is forgotten , and happiness is complete . The