The Masonic Mirror.

The following letter , which had been circulated amongst thc members of thc Order iu the province , was then read : — " Humberstone Road , Leicester . Jan . ' 21 st , I 860 . "DEAR Sin AND BROTHER , —A desire has long been felt by many members of tbe Order , that the brethren of the province should procure ut th _ earliest period practicable , a portrait , painted by a good artist , of Bro . the Bight lion . Earl HOAA-C , G . C . IL , which , whilst it would be the moans of paying a well dosei'A'cd tribute of respect to a nobleman who

, lor upwards of thirty years , has ever evinced the greatest zeal and liberality in promoting the cause of Freemasonry in this , his native county , should also bo creditable to the fraternity as a , work of art . '' This desire was especially evinced throe years ago , on his lordship ' s installation in the important office of Proi' . Grand Master ; but the design ivas prevented being then entertained by an obstacle which existed , iu thc fact that , there AA-HS no edifice common to all the brethren of the province iu which to deposit such a picture .

"The erection of the Freemasons' Hall iu'this toivn , a building dedicated solel y to Masonic purposes , has now , however , removed that obstacle , whilst the munificent support which the Prov . Grand Master has _ given towards the erection and decoration of that edifice , iu contributing not less than £ 15 ( 3 , has created still stronger claims on the gratitude of the Craft .

' reeling assured that every Mason in the province will be proud of an opportunity of doing honour to one so universally respected as our beloved Chief , and that thus , by a moderate subscription individually , a sulficient sum may readily be raised for satisfactorily carrying out the design , I beg to inform you that it is my intention at the meeting of the Prov . Grand Lodge , on the 31 st instant , to propose that a subscription bo HOAV entered into for this purpose . "Should you be unable to attend , I shall feel obliged by your informing mo whether you approve of thc scheme , and are willing to subscribe to the fund .

"' I am , clear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , " AVILLIAM KELLY , I ) . Prov . G . M . " The suggestion made by the Deputy Prov . Grand Master , and thc best means of carrying it into effect , having been fully discussed , and several letters having been read from brethren who wore unavoidably absent , cordially approving of the scheme , and intimating their readiness to contribute subscriptions , It AVIIS proposed by Bro . Kelly , I ) . Prov . 031 ' ., seconded by Bro .

Goodyer , Prov . S . G . AV ., supported by Bro . Hardy , P . Prov . S . G . AV , and carried unanimously : —• " That , in the opinion of this Prov . Grand Lodge , the gratitude of the Craft is , in the highest degree , clue to Bro . the Eight Hon . the Earl Howe , G . C . IL , for the zeal which , during a period of . nearly forty years , ho has ever CA'inced in promoting the cause of Ereemasonry in this his native county , ancl for his liberal

contributions in aid of thc erection and decoration of the Leicestershire ¦ ' ; Freemasons' Hall ; that as a slight testimony of the affectionate regard ancl the high esteem in which he is held by the fraternity , his lordship is requested to sit for his portrait as Prov . Grand Grand Master , to be placed in the Freemasons' Hall ; and that a . subscri ption be UOAV opened amongst the brethren to defray thc necessary expenses . " It ivas also proposed bthe DeputProv . Grand Masterseconded b

y y , y Bro . Craw lord , P . Prov . S . G . AV ., and carried unanimously : — " That a committee bo appointed to carry out the necessary arrancements , consisting of the Deputy Prov . Grand Master , the Grand AVardens ( Bros . Goodyer and Mainniatt ) , the Grand Treasurer and Grand Secretary ( Bros . . Underwood and Morris ) , together with the AVorshipful Master and Senior AVarden of each of the private Lodges in the province ; and that the Secretaries of the Lodges be requested to collect subscriptions and pay them to the

Prov . Grand Treasurer , ivho is hereby requested to act as treasurer to the committee . " _ It AA- as further proposed by Bro . Hardy , P . Prov . S . G . AV , seconded by Bro . Underwood , Prov . G . Trea , , ancl curried unanimously : — " That thc committee , on ascertaining the amount at their disposal , be requested to consider who would be the best artist to bo employed , and report their opinion to a future meeting of the Prov . Grand Lodge . " It having beeu arranged that the committee should complete their labours with all possible despatch , thc Prov . Grand Lodge was then closed in form , and with solemn prayer .

LwciiSTim . —St . John ' s Lodge ( No . 348 ) . —A monthly meeting of this Lod ge AA'as held at the Freemasons' Hall on AVeclnesday , the 1 st instant , when Bro . Alfred Cunimings , the ncAi'ly installed AVorshipful Master ' presided for the first time . The folloiving brethren were present ¦ — tvelly , D . Prov . G . M . ; AA ' mdram , P . M . ; Underwood , P . M . ; Morris , P . M Gill , P . M . aud Sec , ; Nedhaiii , S . AV . ; Dr . Sloanc . J . AV . ; Denton , S . D . \ Mams , J . D . ; Jackson , I . G . ; and Bros . Brewin , S . AV ., and Bethrey , of the John of Gaunt Lod No 7 l 5 ( jThc Lod having been opened in

ge , . . ge the first degree , the minutes of the last Lodge were read and confirmed , Wer whicli the Lodge was opened to the third and closed down to the first degree , the candidate for passing not being in attendance . Bros . IJontoii , Man-is , and Jackson ivere appointed to act in conjunction ivith i lirce brethren nominated by the John of Gaunt Lodge , as thc Library Committee . It AVIIS arranged that thc second Masonic Ball of the season

The Masonic Mirror.

should take place . iii the Hall on Tuesday , the 14 th instant . The Lodge having been closed , the brethren adjourned to refreshment . MIDDLESEX . UxiiiilixiE . —lloyal Union Lodge ( No . 536 ) . —Thc members of this Lodge met on Wednesday , January llth , at the King ' s Arms Hotel , for the installation of the WM . elect , and other business . The Lodge was opened by Bro . Wright , AV . M ., who resigned the chair to Bro . Henry ¦

Mnggeridge , P . M .,, No . 227 , aud Bro . Alfred Pratt was presented and duly installed , and saluted and proclaimed in the accustomed manner . The AV . M . then appointed and invested as his officers , Bros . James B . . Newall , S . AV . ; AVilliam Smith , J . AV . ; AA eedon , P . M ., Sec .

NORFOLK . NORWICH . —Lodge of Perseverance ( No . 258 ) . —Thc members of this Lodge entertained their late AA ' orshipful Master , Bro . Jas . DaAA'barn , last Thursday , February 2 , at a banquet at the Rampant Horse Hotel . It was atteuded by thirty brethren , including visitors from other Lodges in the city , Nos . 60 and 110 . The chair , in the absence ( through illness ) of the present AA'orshipful Master , Bro . E . Hyanis , was j filled

by Bro . Wicks , P . M ., ivho , after the usual masonic toasts had been drunk , proposed "The Health of Bro . Dawbarn , " ancl eulogised the exemplary way in which he had discharged his duties as W . M . during the past year , aud his zealous exertions for thc prosperity of the Lodge . Bro . AVicks then presented Bro . Dawbarn , in behalf of the present AA ' . M ., and tho officers and members of the Lodge , with a handsome Past Master ' s jeivel , as a token of the great regard and respect entertained for him by the brethren . The toast was drunk with the greatest

cordiality , and honoured in ancient masonic form . Bro . Daivbarn thanked the brethren for the compliment paid to him in giving him a banquet at the close of his year of office , aud for the additional and unexpected honour in presenting him with a permanent mark of . their regard in the shape of the jeivel AA'hich Bro . Wicks hud pinned upon his breast , and which he ( Bro , Dawbarn ) should ahvays wear with a proud ancl grateful recollection of his brethren of No . 258 . ¦ Bro . 1 . aAvbarn then , proposed " Better health to our AA ' . M . Bro . E . Hyanis , "

and expressed the general regret felt by the brethren at Bro . Hyanis' ,. involuntary absence , and the unfortunate cause of it . Bro . Hyains ' s health wis I ' eceh'cd in the most cordial maimer , and -with the usual honours . Among the other toasts were " The Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Cabbell , " which was acknoAvlcdged by Bro . Banvell , Prov . G . Treasurer ; "The Brethren of Lodge No . 60 , " responded to by Bro . E . S . Bignold , S . AV . ; and . "The Brethren of Lodge No . 110 , " to which Bro . Ellis , J . AA ' ., replied . The dinner was provided by Mrs . Louth , and the evening AA-as spent in a very pleasant aud thoroughly masonic manner .

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE . NORTHAMPTON . —Pomfrei Lodge ( No . -163 ) . —This Lodge assembled ou Thursday last , the 2 nd instant , at the George Hotel , under thc presidency of Bro . M . Eastern Jones , the newly installed AA ' . M . Tho business of tho evening being somewhat curtailed in consequence of the absence of a gentleman who was about to be initiated . Bro . Levey , P . M ., of the Lodge of Antiquity , delivered , in a very able manner , a lecture on the tracing board . After the lecture was concluded , Mr . Lewis Robert Poole and Mr . John Boddiugtou were proposed as lit and proper persons to be initiated into the mysteries of the Craft .

SOMERSETSHIRE . HiCiimRinu E . —Rural Philanthropic Lodge ( No . 367 ) . —A Lodge of emergency was held at thc Railway Hotel , Highbridge , on Friday , the Srd inst ., in accordance with a requisition-signed by Bros . J . Burnett , and J . E . Poole , for the purpose of balloting for and initiating AA'illiam John Evered Poole , Esq ., lieutenant in her Majesty ' s 60 th Royal Rifles , Bro . Henry Bridges , P . M ., and Sec , presiding iu the absence of thc AA ' . M ., Bro . AA' . Harwoodwho is still indisposed . The ballot being

, taken and approved , AV . J . E . Poole , Esq ., was initiated into thc Order . Bro . J . Doel was passed to the degree of Fellow Craft ; and Bro . J . D . Jarmau was raised to the sublime degree of a Master Alason . One candidate was proposed for initiation at the next Lodge meeting . Thc Lodge was then closed iu form , and the brethren , numbering tiventyseven , adjourned to refreshment ; the evening was spent in a very agreeable manner , and the brethren separated at an early hour .

Canada.

CANADA .

ST . JOHN'S DAY AT HASTINGS , CANADA ( AVEST ) . Tin-: Grand Alaster of Canada ivas received on the evening of tho 26 th December , by a large concourse of the leading Alasons of Belleville , ivho escorted him , accompanied by R . AV . Bro . Thomas B . Harris , of Hamilton , Grand Secretary , and V . AV . Bro . Stedman B . Campbell , of Toronto , Senior Grand Deacon , to the residence of the D . D . Grand 31 aster , AAIIO entertained these gentlemen during their stay .

On the morning of the 27 th , the brethren , one hundred and fifty members in number , proceeded in procession to St . Thomas ' s church , kindly granted for their use by the Rev . John Grier , A . M ., who road the beautiful and sublime service of the church of England , assisted by the Rev . G . A . Anderson , and followed by a sermon from the District Grand