Provincial.

Banning , P . Prov . G . J . W . The AV . JI . appointed the following as iiis officers for the ensuing year ;—Bros . J ) r . 11 . J . Banning , l . P . JI . ; W . L . JIcKenzie , S . W . ; R . Reid , J . W . ; J . H . Thompson , Treas . ; R . F . Cook , Sec . ; W . Garbutt , S . D . ; W . Burroughs , J . D . ; J . Potts , I . G . ; C . Bass , S . S . ; G . Douglas , J . S . j and Robert Watson , Org . Afterwards about fifty of the brethren sat down to an excellent dinner , anil after tbe usual loyal and JIasonic toasts had been given and responded to , the evening was sneiit in a most harmonious maimer .

LEICESTERSHIRE . LEICESTER . —St . John's Zodge ( No . 279 . )—The regular monthly meeting of this lodge was held at the Freemasons ' Hall , on Wednesday , the 1 st inst ., when , in addition to the W . JI ., Bro . Kelly , D . Prov . G . M ., there were present Bros . Pettifor , P . JI . ; Weare , P . JI ., and Treas ; Gosling , S . W . ; Stanley , J . W . ; StrettonSec . ThorpeSDBurtonI . G . ; Langham

, ; , .. ; , , and Bembrida-e , Tylers . Visitors . —Bros . Brewin , P . JI . ; W . B . Smith , P . M . ; Barfoot , S . W . ; Toller , J . W . ; Sculthorpe , Sec . ; and J . C . Clarke , J . D ., of the John of Gaunt Loilge ( No . 523 ); and L . L . Atwood , of Garden City Lodge , Chicago , Illinois , U . S . Tbe lodge having been opened in the first degree , and the minutes duly confirmed , Bro . Edwin J . Crow was passed , through a highly satisfactory examination as an E . A ., after

which he retired . The lodge having been opened in the second degree , he was passed a F . C ., and on his again returning to the lodge , the W . M . gave the lecture on the tracing board of that degree . Two other candidates for passing and raising not being present , the F . C . ' s lodge was closed . A brother having been proposed as a joining member , and there being no further business , the lod was closed in harmonyand the brethren

adge , journed to refreshment and spent an hour or two very pleasantly ; the excellent singing of several of the brethren , and the admirable performance of Bro . Crow ou the piano , greatly conducing to that result ; nor were the usual loyal and JIasonic toasts forgotten , including those of the P . G . ' JI ., Earl Howe , and his deputy the W . JI ., both of which were most warmly received .

NORTHUMBERLAND . NEWCASTEE-oy-TvjJE . —De Zorahie Lodge ( No . 541 . )—On Friday evening , the 20 th ult ., the usual monthly meeting of this lodge was held which , for attendance of ollicers and members and also visitors was unsurpassed in its history . Upwards of fifty brethren assembled under the gavel of tlle AVJI ., Bro . John Stokoe , including the following visitors : —Bros . FoulshamW . M . 24 RobsonW . JI . 431

, ; , , ; Saniter , W . JI ., 406 ; Anderson , Strachan , Winter , B . Smailc , R . Smailc , Ludivig , & c , P . M . ' s . Bro . J . J . Bell was passed to the F . C . degree ; Bro . P . 0 . Smith was examined and afterwards raised to the sublime degree of 51 . 51 . by the W . JI . The exceeding beauty of this degree was much enhanced , and its solemn nature impressively shown to the candidates hy the performance of the music appropriate to the degreewhich latel

, y appeared in the pages of the FKEEJIASOXS' JIAGAZIME , to which additions were made by the W . JI . Lodge de Loraino is fortunate in possessing amongst its members , brethren of high musical attainments who are always willing even at considerable inconvenience to themselves , to lend their aid in bringing out the beauties of our ceremonials by the aid of appropriate music . The music on this occasion was faultless and reflected great

credit upon the performers , Bros . Penman , Hiiidbaugh , Donnison , and Watson . Bro . Watson also presiding at the harmonium . The degrees were carefully given by the W . JI . Before closing three gentlemen were proposed for initiation . At refreshment toast , song , and glee followed each other in quick succession , and at no Masonic meeting could there be displayed more ol that truly fraternal feeling which obtains so much and so peculiarity to our Order .

Channel Islands.

CHANNEL ISLANDS .

JERSEY . ( Translated from the French , in which language ihe lodge is worked , tig Ilro . Dr . Hopkins , F . 3 L , ifc . ) LODGE LA CESAEEE ( NO . 500 ) . The ordinary monthly meeting of this lodge was held at the 5 Iasonic Temple on the 26 th ult . At seven p . m . the lodge was opened by Bro . J . Durell , W . JI ., assisted by Bros . A .

Channel Islands.

Viel , S . W .: J . G . Renouf , J . W . ; A . Schmitt , P . JI . and Sec . ; J . T , Du Jard ' ii ) , P . M . ; C . J . Hoeqmml , P . JI . ; J . Oatley , P . S . W ., as I . G . ; P . Ouless , P . Starck , J . Blampied , and twenty-four other members . As visitors there were present Bros . W . H . Long , W . JI . 95 S ; F . G . Duchemin , and ten others . After the reading ami confirmation ofthe minutes of the previous meetingthe lodwas opened in the second degree . The

, ge W . JI . announced that Bros . J . Romeril , G . Romeril , and G . JIarie were candidates for the rank of 51 . III ., and called upon them to present themselves for examination . This having been concluded in a manner which was perfectly satisfactory , they were entrusted with the test of merit and dismissed for

preparation . The lodge having been opened in the 3 rd degree , they were re-admitted , and duly raised to that sublime degree . Tlie lodge was resumed in the 2 nd and afterwards in the 1 st degree . Mr . A . J . Blampied , who had been ballotted for at the previous meeting , was then announced as a candidate for initiation , and after having complied with the usual preliminary forms , was regularly admitted to a participation iu tbe mysteries of the Order bv the W . JI ,, aud stated his desire to become a

subscribing member ot the lodge . By permission of the W . M ., the Secretary then delivered the following special address to the newly initiated brother , the more fully to impress on his mind the object , tendency , and importance of the JIasonic institution . " Dear Bro . A . J . Blampied , now my adopted son in Jlasonry : —With sincere pleasure the Cesaree Lodgo offers you a cordial welcome into its bosomand regards your reception among ns

, as a truly fraternal festival . Your ardent longings for membership of our institution , which your respected father has expressed to us , have now just been realised . But while you have obtained a claim to the ' honourable title of Freemason , you must be made aware that it is not an empty or insignificant one , but that it entails the performance of new duties on your part . ^ I say , therefore , that it is a title which ought to indicate in him who

bears it a loyal , free , and tolerant spirit , a noble heart , accessible to all . the misfortunes , all the sufferings , of the less happy and prosperous of his neighbours . Believe , then , my bear brother , that deep feeling fills our minds at all times when we assist at that baptism , which extends the circle of our great JIasonic family , by adding to it upright and sincere members , and giving them admission and participation iu that admirable form of religious

obligation which we call Freemasonry . Your initiation , in fact , has for us ineffable charms , which are in this case not only of a general nature , but distinct , individual , and personal . The intimate union existing between your worthy father and tins lodge , renders the ceremony now completed more than interesting , aye , especially solemn . He on whom you may henceforth confer an additional titlebdesignating him bthe affectionate

, y y name of brother , has thoroughly prepared you to receive JIasonic light , both by example in his own conduct , which is worthy of our admiration , and by the means which he has used to enable you to receive a sound and solid education . We thank him for these benefits conferred upon you , and wo exclaim with all the force of our minds and voices , all honour to such a

father . Yes , dear brother , wo feel ourselves united by the fraternal ties of a universal institution by a common symbolism , the general bond which is that of all Jlasons , wheresoever scattered over the surface of the globe . Y et our union here , within the precincts of this consecrated edifice , presents each one of us to the others assembled together in a more intimate relation ; here not onlour symbols but our hearts and wills indissolubly

y cement us together as one compact whole . The first condition that is required in a Freemason is intelligence , because our Order demands not soldiers who blindly obey when they hear the word " March , " who rush on to the attack when they receive the command " strike . " On the contray , all its adherents have au individual mission to fulfil , which , however , they are urged to understand , and to determine to devote

themselves to it . In them it is not sought to develope a spirit of fanaticism , but a feeling of duty , founded on reason , enlightened and free from all superstition and prejudice . The second condition to be enforced is uprightness . Freemasonry seeks no triumph purchased by unlawful means . Persistent uprig htness in private actions , as well as in public life , such is our invariable rule on all occasions and under all circumstances . The third condition whii . li is requisite to constitute a good