United Grand Lodge.

THE ASYLUM . Bro . GEORGE BARRETT then moved that £ 50 per annum be voted sont of the Fund of General Purposes to supply coals to the inmates of the Masonic Asylum at Croydon . He said that there were at present in the asylum twenty-seven inmates , some of whom had also wives to support upon their small annuities . He hoped that he ivould not have again to make this appeal to Grand Lodge , but that they would make the grant to supply these poor people with . an article so necessary to their comfort as coals . Bro . GALE seconded the motion , which was , after some discussion , agreed to by a considerable majority .

BRO . WILLIAM ll'ATSON . Bro . JOHN SAVAGE , P . G . D ., then moved , ¦ " That the sum of £ 200 be contributed from the Fund of General Purposes towards purchasing an Annuity of £ 20 for Bro . William AVatson , of the Grand Stewards' Lodge , P . M . of the Robert Burns Lodge , No . 25 , & c , in recognition of the valuable services he has rendered in disseminating the principles and tenets of the Craftand of bis untiring zeal in having devoted so large a

, portion of his time in promulgating the ceremonies and lectures of the Order during a Masonic career of more than twenty years . " He said that , as short speeches were the order of the night , he . should compress within as brief a space as possible all he had to say in reference to the subject of his motion . The name of Bro . Watson was so well known in tbe Craft that it was unnecessary for him to go into details in reference to him , in asking to make this

vote in recognition of his worth , and tbe high estimation in which they held him on account of tiie services he had rendered the Craft . He believed that the form in which he had put his motion would be peculiarly acceptable to Bro . AVatson . Bro . Watson had been for tbe last twenty-three years a Mason , having been initiated iu 1839 in Lodge 25 , the Robert Burns Lodge . [ This is a mistake on the part of Bro . Savage , as Bro . AVatson was initiated in the Albion LodgeNo . 9 but almost immediatel

, , y afterwards joined the Robert Burns . ] At tbe time Bro . AVatson joined the Robert Burns Lodge its members wore confined to a few officers , but lie having taken a delight in the principles of the Order , introduced into it a large number of brethren—so many that , by his exertions , it became one of the largest lodges in the Craft , containing , for the last ten or fifteen years , on an average ,

upwards of 100 members , and now having 140 ; so that the fees paid to Grand Lodge amounted to nearly £ 500 , for which they might say they were indebted to thc exertions of Bro . Watson , when his circumstances had been better than they were at present . He therefore hoped they would now agree to the vote . Bro . Watson had at all times been ready to afford instruction to young Masons , and his door was never shut upon them ; for , as he was generous to a fault , he carried out his instructions in a hospitable

spirit . He had also resuscitated the Globe Lodge , and thus prevented a red apron lodge foiling into abeyance , ivhich would have derogated from the honour in which that lodge was held , and the privilege lost . In conclusion , he would mention that he had , as tenant of the tavern , paid them for some years £ 300 per annum more than was paid by the present proprietors ; in fact , he bad held it from them at a rack rent , and to that was , in a great measure , to be attributed the necessity for the present motion .

Bro . JOSEPH SMITH , in seconding the motion , stated , that as long as he had known Bro . Watson , he had ever heen at the beck and call of those who might require his Masonic assistance . If there were any brethren who were technically opposed to the resolution , lie hoped they would be influenced by its spirit , and individuall y subscribe to the AVatson Fund , of which be was treasurer . Bro , SAHGOOD opposed the resolution , as it was an admixture of two objectsivhich ought to be kept distinct—namela testimonial

, y , for distinguished services , and at the same time a charitable grant . The M . W . having put the motion , it was carried by a majority of 100 to 62 . The announcement of the division was received with loud applause . There being no further business , Grand Lodge was closed in ample form , and adjourned .

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

BERKS AND BUCKS . NEWBURY . —Loyal BerJcshire Lodge of Hope ( No . 839 ) . —This lodge met on Friday , the 1 st inst ., it being the last meeting- of the season . Bro . Capt . Arthur Mainwaring was duly examined as to progress he had made in the science , whicli , being satisfactory , he ivas passed to the degree of F . C , the ceremony being performed by the AV . M ., Bro . T . Deller , in the most able manner . Bro . E . S . Cossens drew the attention of the lodge to the contemplated annuity for the benefit of Bro . W . AVatson , P . M ., 23 , & c , who had upon several occasions rendered very valuable assistance to this

lodge , by installing several of the AV . Ms ., and affording information upon every occasion he had been applied to , and proposed that the sum of two guineas should be paid out of the lodge funds in aid of so laudable an object ; this was seconded by Bro . AV . AA . King and carried unanimously . Bro . E . S . Cossens resigned the offices of Secretary and Almoner , which he had held for nearly six years , that the privileges annexed to those appointments might bo enjoyed by some other member of tho lodge . The next

meeting of the lodge will be on the 1 st Friday in the month of October next ( emergencies excepted ) . STONY STHATEORD . —Scientific Lodge ( No . 1142 ) . —The second meeting was held on Saturday , March 2 nd , in the National School Rooms , Bro . J . E . M'Connell , AV . M ., attended by bis Wardens , Bros . AV . Smith and D . Stevenson , Bros . How , James Stevenson , Cox , AA atson , and others . The Rev . Bro . R . N . Russell , M . A ., was

passed to the second degree , and Messrs . William AVebber , Henry Anderson , and William Adamson , initiated . Bro . Charles Bennett , P . M . ( No . 25 ) , was received as a joining member . Some propositions for new members were offered , and after tbe disposal of sundry routine business the lodge was closed . The brethren then adjourned to the Cock Hotel , where they gathered at the social board , at which Bro . Smith , S . W ., presided in the unavoidable absence of the AA ' . M ., whose official avocations called him away .

DURHAM . GATESHEAD . —Borouyh Lodge ( No . 614 ) . —The regular meeting of this lodge was held at the Grey Horse Inn , Gateshead , on Monday , the 18 th ult ,, when Bro . Andrew Gillespie , P . M . of Lodge No . 24 , was duly installed AA . M . for the ensuing year by Bro . E . D . Davis , P . Prov . J . G . W ., in a most impressive manner ; after ivhich the newly installed Master appointed the following brethren as officers : — Bros . F . H . Wegergang , P . M . ; AV . Scott , jun ., S . AV . and Treas . ;

Thomas Miller , Jun ., J . W . ; E . E . Biesterfeld , Sec ; A . F . Rosenberg , S . D . ; S . ' E . Voigt , J . D . ; Thomas Wraeth , I . G . ; George Lambton , S . ; and A . Dickson , Tyler . The brethren having adjourned to dinner , the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given and responded to . The meeting was honoured by the presence of several distinguished Masons , including Bros . E . D . Davis , John Barker , . 1 . S . Challoner , H . Holhard , and other members ofthe provinces of Durham and Northumberland , and the proceedings were characterised by the utmost harmony and good fellowship .

HAMPSHIRE . SOUTHAMPTON . —Lodge of Peace and Harmony ( No . 462 ) . — Presentation to the late Secretary . —A goodly meeting of the brethren took place on Wednesday , February 20 , the W . M ., Bro . . 1 . R . AA eston , ex-sheriff , in the chair , when Bro . T . AA ebb , P . M ., addressed the lodge , and stated that , although the members had with great cordiality carried unanimously a vote of thanks , to be ivi-ittcii on vellum , and presented to Bro . Henry Clarke , yet there

had existed so general a feeling to pay some further compliment to the worthy brother , that be had been the unworthy recipient of an almost spontaneous subscription , with which he had purchased the elegant silver cup he had now the pleasure of exhibiting , and he asked the AA . M . to allow him to send the subscription and present the silver cup in open lodge to Bro . Henry Clarice ( through Bro . Treasurer P . M . Rankin Stebbing , Bro . Clarke having permanentlleft Southampton ) and to say with hearty good wishes

y , for himself and the lodge , and perfect union of esteem and regard , that he hoped Bro . Clarke would long live to view that cup as a token of the estimation in which he had been held in that lodge , and in the town of Southampton , a wish that was warmly cheered by the brethren . Bro . Stebbing said , in the absence of Bro . Clarke , he had great pleasure in accepting the beautiful present in his name , ' and he would transmit the same to him with great care . He concurred in the eloquent remarks of Bro . Webb , and whilst he

considered the testimonial a due acknowledgment of Bro . Clarke ' s valuable services as Secretary of the lodge , it also marked the gratification of the brethren that the worthy Secretary's conduct as a neighbour and a citiv . en was also characterised V > y lvoiioni- and integrity . A communication was read from Bro . Crew , asking for the name of a Brother to serve the office of Steward of the Girls ' School for the ensuing year , and no one acceding to the request at the above meeting , Bro . Rankin Stebbing has since agreed to represent tbe lodge as Steward on the occasion .

KENT . DOVER . — Lodge of Peace and Harmony ( No . 235 . )—The monthly meeting of this lodge was held on Monday evening , March 4 , at the Royal Oak Inn , Dover . Bro . Cox , AA ' . M ., presided , attended by several of his ollicers and P . Ms ., among whom were Bros . Holmell , P . Prov . G . J . W ., Canada AA ' est , P . M . ; Boy ton and Duke , P . M ' s . ; Olifent , S . AV . ; Adamson , S . AV . ; A anderlYn , P . Prov . G . S . B . of Kent , Treas . ; Gardner , P . M ., Sec . ; Briggs , J . D . ; AVard , I . G . ; and Knight , Tyler , and nearly forty of the brethren . The lodge was