Provincial.

duty of J . W . being taken by Bro . Philip Binet . The minutes of May 2-lth , June 7 th , and June ISth , were read and confirmed . The Secretary then announced the names of five gentlemen for initiation at seven days' notice—Jean de la Marc , Gustavo Auguste Neel , George te Boulauger , Thomas Dorey , John George Deveulle . The ballot was taken , and was followed by the ceremony of initiation , administered to all but the first , who was unable to be present . The Lodge was then opened in the second degree , for the purpose of passing Pro . Philip

Edward le Sueur . At the conclusion of this ceremony , the ballot was taken for the admission , as a joining member , of Bro . Peagam , ( a P . M . of the Royal Sussex Lodge , No . 722 , from which lie had retired ) , ancl this proved unanimous in his favour . Bro . Louis Poisson , of the Justice Lodge ( under the Irish warrant ) , was proposed as a joining member , and the names of several other gentlemen were entered for future initiation , if found ivorthy . Brothers Ratier and Manuel , members of the Committee for the erection of the Masonic Temple , read

several important communications on the subject . After a protracted sitting , the Lodge was closed with the usual ceremonies , and the Brethren , in number about sixty , repaired to the banqueting-room , not to partake of sumptuous fare—for such is not the lot of those who seek a suitable and handsome location worthy of Freemasonry—but merely for light refreshments and social intercourse . On this occasion several interesting addresses were delivered , and we regret to notice au attempt on the part of a visitor to throw in the apple of discord , whicli , however , was speedily suppressed . —[ H . II . ]

CUMBERLAND . CARLISLE .- — Union Lodge ( No . 089 ) . —This Lodge met on Tuesday , at the King ' s Head , to pass J 3 ro . Armstrong to the second degree ; in the absence of the AV . M . the degree was conferred by Bro . Hawood , the S . W ., in the presence of three P . Ms , of the Lodge and the other members . Bro . C . J . Banister , P . M ., expressed himself well pleased with the improvement of the working of the brethren , and offered his services as preceptor , which were gratefully accepted . The brethren and visitors dined together and spent a happy evening , and there is good hope that the Carlisle Lodge will soon become what it ivas twenty vears back .

DEVONSHIRE . ^ SmxKiwusE . —Zodffe of Sincerity ( No . 22-1 ) . —This Lodge mot at St . George ' s Hall , Stonehouse , on the festival of St . John ' s , June 24 th , for the purpose of installing Bro . 11 . Rodd , S . AA \ , the AV . M . elect ; Bro . Lord A alletort , the AV . M ., being detained in Loudon by his parliamentary duties , deputed the work to P . Ms . Hunt and Hancock , who divided the labour between them . Upon being installed in the chair , the AA ' . M installed the following Officers for tlie year : —Bro . Lord Graves , S . AV . ;

Bro . Knocking , J . AV . ; Bro . Ridley , S . D . ; Bro . Rio , J . D . ; Bro . Tripe , P . M ., Treasurer ; Bro . Speuce Bate , Secretary ; Bro . AValker , I . G . ; Bros . Hughes and Howe , Stewards ; Bro . Rogers , P . M ., Tyler . After it had determined that a letter of sympathy and condolence should be forwarded to the widow of the late Bro . Rowe , P . M ., P . Prov . G . O ., P . Prov . D . C , the J . AV . announced that the hour of refreshment was at hand . The Loclge accordingly adjourned to the banquet , the AV . M . presiding . After the cloth was removed and the Loclge properly tyled , the usual Masonic toasts were proposed and severally responded to . The Lodge was finally closed in peace aud harmony at a quarter before ten o ' clock .

DURHAM . GATESHEAD . —Lodge of Industry ] ( So . 05 ) . — At the regular monthly meeting , the brethren assembled at the Grey Horse Inn , on Monday evening , June 27 th , ancl the Lodge was opened by the AV . M ., Bro . C . J . Banister , and his Officers , assisted by Bro . R . J . Banning , as S . AV ., that Officer being unable to attend . After the minutes of last meeting were confirmed , the ballot was taken for Mr . G . Green , jun ., Mr . T . C . EmmersonMr . Isaac Barkerand in each case declared unanimous

, , , Mr . AVm . Green , being proposed by note , at seven days' notice , was also balloted for and unanimously elected ; being all present thoy ivere each severally initiated into the Order by the AV . M . with his usual earnestness . Bros . Backhaul and Robinson , wishing to take the second degree , were duly passed , the AV . M . expressing himself well pleased at their attention to the duty of the Order . The AV . M . was assisted by 1 . Ms . Hotham , S . Bell , Gillies , Franklin , and Clapham . The AV . M . gave notice of motion that next monthly meeting he would that the

propose funds of the Lodge should be laid aside to form a building fund . The business completed , the Loclge was closed and the brethren adjourned to refreshment . A'isitors present—Bros . J . B . Browning , Geo . Rochester , AV . Scott , S . Cohen , and a full attendance of the members . The usual loyal ancl Masonic toasts were given and responded to , and the harmony of the evening was much increased by the excellent songs of Bros , Kimpster , Backhaul , AVm . Green , & c .

HAMPSHIRE . AVlxcilESTEn . —Lodge of ( JCconoiny ( No . 90 ) . —The monthly meeting of this Lodge took place at the Masonic Hall , adjoining the Black Swan Hotel , ou the evening of AVednesday . the 29 thult . In the absence of the AV . M . ( Bro . Hasleham ) and the " immediate PAL ; Bro . C . Sherry , as tlie senior P . M . in attendance , took the chair . There were also present , Bros . J . Carter , S . AV ., pro . tcm . ; H . Newman , J . W ., pro . lent ., and Bros . Diuvmt , P . M , ; ii . Eyeritt , P . M . ; W . C'owen , P . M ., ancl a number oi

other brethren . The first business transacted was , the balloting for a brother as a joining member of the Lodge , Bro . T . AV . Fleming , Prov . G . M . of tho Isle of AAlght . The vote was unanimously favourable . Bro . Sherry then s-. vid ho had received a letter from Bro . Stebbing , announcing that the annual Provincial Grand Lodge of Hampshire would be held at Southampton , ou Tuesday , the 19 th of July , and he ( Bro . Sherry ) hoped all ivould strain a point to go down and support the Prov . G . M . on tho occasion . BroSherry then said"Since our last Lodge meeting

. , , the Grand Lodge of England have assembled to elect the Board of General Purposes , the ministers of the Craft , to conduct the affairs for the ensuing year . At our last meeting , the regular business paper from Grand Lodge was presented here , accompanied by a printed form , being a copy of a letter from Bro . Roxburgh , G . Reg ., to Bro . Gray Clarke , G . Sec , complaining of Bro . AVhitmore's motion . This was a matter which took us rather by surprise . The cause of complaint had been the proceedings of the Grand Registrar of Englandwho had taken upon

, himself ( contrary to the usual custom ) to summon a party of Grand Officers and others , to his private residence or chambers , for the purpose of selecting a number of brethren for recommendation to Grand Lodge , as those to conduct affairs as ministers of Masonry for the next year . He believed the Grand Registrar had owed in judgment only , and that he was not aware at the time , that he was arrogating to himself the selection of men for such important purposes as conducting the affairs of the whole body of Masons . He had no doubt the Grand Registrar

had acted with the purest motives , and that it had been a mistake , not thinking of the consequences it would entail upon him . But the Grand Registrar could not be allowed to think and act for us . If so , it would be like selecting Her Majesty's ministers for conducting the affairs of the nation entirely aud exclusively from London members of parliament , without including any representatives from the provinces . Indeed , it appears that the list of names selected at the Grand Registrar ' s meeting was exclusively chosen from London Lodges . All members of Grand Lodge

in the provinces were summoned to attend when the Board of General Purposes were to be elected , and to give their votes in accordance with their own views . But it must be recollected that some oi' these provincial members had three or four hundred miles to travel if they did attend , and therefore the necessary expenses were so great that they could not

do so , though some from shorter distances did attend . Many lived at a much greater distance from London than himself . He had managed generally to attend of late years , and had given his votes as he conceived for the best interests of Masonry ; but not one tenth of the provincial members did or could attend , in consequence of the inconvenience he hail already mentioned . AA'hat was the use , then , of the provincial members being summoned to London nominally for the inn-pose of electing the officers of the Board of General Purposes , and other such important

business ; and then those few who did attend to find when they got there , that the business had been pre-arranged . All members of Grand Loclge in the provinces ( and those in London too ) should , in his opinion , have the privilege of voting by proxy . Then there would be a chance of some provincial brethren being taken into the Board of General Purposes . He believed there were as good men in the provinces as there were in London , and men quite as experienced in Masonry . At the same time , he wished it to he understood that he had little fault to find

with the London brethren , for he believed there were very good men among them , and he was ready to admit that the officers selected were Masons fully capable of properly conducting Lodge affairs . It was not the brethren personally he objected to , but the system under which they were nominated for office . It was with these feelings he had seconded the motion of Bro . AVhitmore at the late Grand Lodge meeting , which motion was , in Bro . AVhitmore ' s absence , brought forward by Bro . Binckes . Tho facts were—Bro . Whitmore had given notice of a motion expressing regret that the Grand Registrar should have originated a movement contrary to the rules of Masonry . Upon that Bro . Roxburgh

conceived himself unjustly attacked , and submitted to Grand Lodge that such attack became a " breach of privilege . " Bro . Binckes ( who himself is a most stricis disciplinarian ) , in the unavoidable absence of Bro . AA'hitmore , took up the subject , and spoke at considerable length , and it was apparent the whole of Grand Lodge was with him as he proceeded . He ( Bro . Sherry ) took upon himself to second the motion . Since then some remarks upon the discussion had appeared in the Magazine , in ivhich reference had been made to himself . He therefore

wished to explain the reasons wh y he had supported Bro . Binckes . He considered it was quite clear that Bro . Roxburgh had no right to summon a party to his own residence to nominate officers , unless he summoned an equal if not larger number of provincial brethren also ; as it was well known the provincial members were by far the most numerous . The metropolitan district took in thoso Lodges only within ten miles of London ; and the effect was that six or seven hundred provincial Lodges were , to a certain extent , shut out from expressing their

opinion on the elections . Bro . Stebbing , the only provincial Mason put in nomination , had polled only forty-two votes , from causes he had already explained ; and this showed the unjustness of the present mode of proceedings . There was not a better Mason in England than Bro , Stebbing , and why should such brethren be excluded ? AVere the system different , and had voting by proxy been introduced , he was sure Bro . Stebbing would have been elected . The view he was led to take of the matter was , that the London brethren were determined to keep the management ofthe affairs of Grand Lodge in their own hands , those in the provinces being excluded from all else but paying to the funds ; ancl