Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

BEDFORDSHIRE . BEDFORD . —Stuart Lodge ( No . 540 ) . —This flourishing lodge celebrated its nineteenth anniversary on AVedncsday , the 28 th ult ., AA-hen Bro . John Sergeant ivas duly installed Worshipful Master by Bro . Nash , P . M ., ivho for the second time is mayor of Bedford . Previously to the installation the retiring W . M , Bro . Fisher , raised a brother to the sublime degree of Master Masonin a manner which elicited the admiration of all present

, , the beautiful performance of Bro . Cookson upon the organ during the ceremony contributing in no slight degree to the solemnity of the occasion . The report of the audit committee , which AA * as read by the secretary , shoAved a highly prosperous state of the finances of the lodge . Anions the visitors ivere Bros . Lieut .-Col . Stuart , M . P ., Prov . S G . W . ; the Rev . R . P . Bent , Prov . Grand Chap , for Nolfolk ; Thompson , P . M . 803 ; Hooper , P . M . 803 ; Campion , P . M . 697 , and Burnett 803 . A

splendid banquet was provided by Bro . Wicks , to which forty brethren sat doivn . The usual Masonic toasts ivere given , and appropriately responded to , and tbe convivial harmony was protracted to high tivelve .

¦ CHESHIRE . CHESTER . —Lodge of Independence ( No . 721 ) . —The regular monthly meeting of this lodge ivas held at Bro . Tasker's , Bars Hotel , on Tuesday , the 27 th ult ., Avhen there Avere present Bros . W . R . Bainbridge , W . M . ; Venables Williams , S . W . ; W . Brown , J . W . ; J . Gerrard , P . M ., Treas . ; E . Tibbitts , Sec . ; H . Alsop , S . D . ; W . B . A . Bainbridge , I . G . ; W . Brisland , Tyler ; W . Ellis

, E . Tasker , J . S . Brereton , Booth Mason , W . M . Richmond , J . Smith , F . Green , P . Jeffrey . Visitors , Bros . A . Seath , 914 , and G . W . Crook , 216 . The minutes of the last regular lodge having been read , a ballot Avas taken for Messrs . R . C . Smith , J . ConAvay Davies , R . W . Worrall , J . Jones , and D . Thomas , all of ivhom ivere unanimously elected , and afterivards initiated into Freemasonry ; the Avhole of the Avorking being done by the W . M . In his usual impressive and able styleBroWR

, . . . . Bainbridge , AV . M ., having presented the lodge with a handsome seal , Bro . E . Tibbits proposed , and Bro . J . Gerrard seconded , " That a vote of thanks should be given him , and the same be recorded in the minute book . " Bro . E . Tibbits having proposed a gentleman as a candidate for initiation , the lodge Avas closed doAvn and adjonrned , and the brethren retired for refreshment .

CORNWALL . CONSECRATION OE THE CAREAV LODGE ( NO . 1136 ) AT TORPOINT . Freemasonry continues to flourish in this province and the sister province of Devon . Our number for this week contains the reports of the consecration of a ne-v lodge iu each of the provinces , celebrated with full Masonic honours last Aveek . The

consecration of the Devon Lod ge ( No . 113 S ) on the 30 th ult ., a report of Avhich will be found on another page , ivas folloived the next day by the consecration at Torpoint , Cornivall , of the Carew Lodge ( No . 113 G ) . The procession of the brethren having been formed in the grounds attached to the residence of Bro . Major Brine , R . E ., the W . M . designate of the IICAV lodge , and having entered the new lodge roomwhich was very beautifullarrangedthe Provincial

, y , Grand Master , Bro . Aug . Smith , ascended the throne , and Ave observed on tho dais , supporting the Prov . G . M . ' s right , Bros . J . Roseorla , I ) . Prov . G . M . ; the Re- * . J . Huyshe , M . A ., Prov . G . M . of Devon ; AV . Denis Moore , D . Prov . G . M . of Devon ; L . P . Metham , S . G . W . of Devon : R . Rodda , P . Prov . G . Reg . ; and the Right Hon . Lord Eliot ; and on the left Bros , the Rev . J . Bannister ( incumbent of St . Day ) , and Prov . G . Chap , of Cornwall

; Rev . F . H . A . Wright ( vicar of Stithians ) , and D . Prov . G . Chap , of Cornwall ; Rev . R . Bowden ( rector of Stoke Gabriel ) : R . R . Rodd , P . Prov . G . Reg . of Devon . The Senior Warden ' s chair was filled by Bro . Colonel Peard , Prov . S . G . W . of CoriiAvall ; the Junior Warden ' s chair by Bro . R . Rogers , D . Prov . G . M . of Corn Avail , and the ceremonies Avere ably directed by Bro . S . HarveyProvGPurstof CornwallThere

, . . . . were also present Bros . W . M . Tweedy , Prov . G . Treas . of Cornwall ; E . D . Anterton , W . M . 331 , Phcenix Lodge ; E . T . Carlvon , Prov . G . Sec . Cornwall ; M . 0 . Mayne , Assist , Sec . Cornwall ; E . H . Hawke , jun ., P . JI „ p . G . Sec : H . J . Ferguson , Phcenix Lodge , No . 331 ; G . Kersivill , Prov . G . Sec , W . M . 970 ; T . Jones ,

Prov . G . Sec . 75 ; T . S . Bayly , J . W . 189 ; T . E . Lanyou , 331 ; Durrani , 189 ; C . Trotter , W . Cox , E . Butch : rs , aud Radford . The Provincial Grand Lodge ivas opened in due form , after AA'hich the Careiv Lodge Avas opened in the three degrees by Bro . Major Brine , S . E ., the W . M . designate , Avho then announced to the Prov . G . Master , that the lodge desired to be duly constituted and consecrated in ancient form . The Prov . G . M . desired the Secretary to read the warrant from the M . W . the Grand

Master of England , which having been clone , the Prov . G . M . called upon the brethren of the neiv lodge to signify their assent to the officers named in the warrant . The following oration in honour of Masonry was then delivered by The Rev . " J . BANNISTER , Prov . G . Chap .: Worshipful Master and Brethren , —I must express to you the great diffidence with Avhich I appear before yon on this occasionbeing but a young

, Mason ; but I feel , at the same time , honoured at being selected by the Right Worshipful Bro . Smith to perform this duty , as Provincial Grand Chaplain for the year , although I had rather that the duly had been taken by the senior Chaplain , Past Master Bro . Wright . One of the most excellent characteristics of this noble and distinguished Order is the attention Avhich is more particularly directed to obedience of orders received , and I am prepared to do as directedtrusting to your good will and

, pardon to any offence Avhich I may give . I must congratulate the members of this lodge—No . 1136—on the ceremony Avhich has completed the formation of the Careiv Lodge by the consecration which has IIOAV been completed . The custom of setting apart or consecrating for holy purposes of buildings of worship has been practised from the most remote antiquity . Solomon dedicated the Temple of Jerusalem , and the same ground had been consecrated previously by the sacrifice that King David .

offered when he inadvertently numbered the people , and before that by Abraham Avhen , being prepared to offer his son Isaac tbe lamb Avas substituted in his place . Our churches are consecrated by holy ceremonies , and in the most ancient times the sites of our churches were consecrated by holy men , whose names , although they appear as Cornish saints , are not acknoAVledgecl in the Romish Church , or admitted into her calendar . I congratulate this newly-constituted lodge on having chosen , and

being associated ivith , so distinguished a name as that of Carew , and I Avish that , as it is enjoined upon us Masons , you will dedicate yourselves to such pursuits as may make you at once respectable in Avhatever rank of life you may be , useful to mankind , and an ornament to society , and more particularly to study such liberal arts and the sciences as may be Avithin your attainment . I hope , as it is called the Care-v Lodge , that there may spring up a will to folloivthough at a humble distancein

, , the steps of the great , learned , and accomplished CareiA * , the first historian of Cornwall . —The remainder of the oration was composed of an elaborate and explicit account of the different Masonic mysteries . The PROA * . G . MASTER then pledged the Worshipful Master , Major Brine , and the officers , to obey the constitution , & e ., and declared Careiv Lodge ( No . 1136 ) to be a regular and duly constituted lodge . The ceremony of consecration ivas then

proceeded Avith in accordance ivith the ancient forms used on such occasions . The brethren , ivho numbered 153 , then separated , and about sixty aftenvards sat down to a banquet of the most recherche description , which did credit to the catering of Bro . HaAvton , of the Crown Hotel , Devonport . After the cloth was removed , the usual loyal toasts were proposed and heartily responded to , and also the Masonic toasts , which Avere responded to , amongst others , by Bros . A . Smith , Prov . G . M . ; Lord Eliot , Huyshe , Prov . G . M . Devon ; Major Brine , & c ,

CUMBERLAND . CARLISLE . —Union Lodge ( No . 310 ) . —A regular meeting of this lodge was held on Tuesday evening , the 27 th ult ., at the Freemasons' Hall . The chair Avas occupied by Bro . the Rev . W . Cockett , W . M ., P . Prov . G . Chap ., sapporte ' d by Bros . G . G . Hayward , Prov . G . Steward , as S . W . ; J . Slack , J . W . ; G . T . Clark , See . ; W . II . Pulford as S . D . ; G . Murchie as J . D . ; W Inviu and SomervilleStewards Woodhouse

G . , ; A . , I . G : ; J . Barnes , Tyler . The lodge Avas opened according to ancient custom , the minutes Avere read and confirmed , and the lodge Avas then opened in the second degree , Avhen Bro . R . Metealf , being a candidate to be raised , ivas tested , intrusted , retired , and again admitted ; and the lodge liaving been opened in the third degree , he Avas raised to the sublime degree of M . M . by Bro . F . W . Hayward , P . M . and Dir . of Cers ., Prov . S . G . W ., in a manner