Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

BERKSHIRE . NEWBUKV . —Loyal Berkshire Lodge of Hope ( No . 839 ) . —This nourishing Lodgo held its annual meeting at the Three Tuns , Newbury , on Friday , January 7 th , tho AV . M ., Bro . Astley , presiding . The minutes of the preceding Lodge having been read and confirmed , Bro . Farrow was examined as to his progress in the art , and having answered the necessary questions , was raised to tho degree of M . M . The WMthen initiated CaptA ernonof Hartingdon Houseand his sonDouglas

.. . , , , Vernon , Mr . T . Parr and Dr . Palmer , in a very efficient manner . Bro . AA . AVatson then took the chair and installed Bro . W . S . Cave for . the ensuing year , who appointed his officers as ; follows : — Bros . Marr . S . AV . ; Dollar , J . AV . ; Cossens Sec ; King , S . D . ; Hall , J . D . ; Sommerset , I . G . There were present as visitors , Bros . Jordan , from Beading , and AA atson from London . All business being ended , the Brethren sat clown to an excellent dinner , provided by Bro . Cossens . The usual loyal and appropriate toasts were iven by the AY . M . Bro . Jordanwho returned

g , , thanks for the visitors , and congratulated the Lodge on its efficient working and its prosperity as evinced by the initiation of four distinguished gentlemen of the county on that day . Bro . Capt . Vernon in returning thanks for the initiates , stated that he now appeared in a new character in returning thanks for members of a society whose motto was peace and universal benevolence ; hitherto it had been bis frequent lot to return thanks for his brother officers iu arms , or colleagues in politicsbut he had far greater pleasure in thanking them for the kind way in

, which he and his brother initiates hacl been received , and for the excellent precepts which hacl been , inculcated by the AA . M . in the beautiful ceremonies of the day . He had often heard mueh good of Freemasonry , particularly as ameliorating tho evils of war ; one instance he knew of his personal knowledge . During the war in Calabria , when Murat was general of the Freuch army , an officer of the 21 st Fusiliers was taken prisoner when ou boat service . He was brought before Murat surrounded by his staff ; knowing the French general to be a Masonhe made a

, sign , which was acknowledged ; Murat ordered his staff to retire , and having proved the officer a Mason , he gave orders that he should be exchanged as soon as possible , though he previously ordered that no British officer should receive that privilege . The Brethren retired at an early hour , much pleased , having spent a happy evening .

BEISTOL . ArroiNTHENTS . —Lodges . —AA'eduesday , January 19 th , Colston ( 886 ) , Freemasons' Hull , at 7 ; Instruction . —Friday 21 st , ditto , at 7 \ . CAMBBIDGESHIBE . PROVINCIAL GKAKD LODGE . On Monday lastthe 10 th iustantthe annual convocation of the Provincial

, , Grand Lodge of Cambridgeshire was held at the Lion Hotel ,: Cambridge , under the presidency of the E . AA . Bro . Hall , Prov . G . M ,, assisted by the Grand Officers of the province . The Prov . Grancl Lodge having been opened in ample form , and tho minutes of the last convocation having been read and confirmed , The R . AV . the Prov . Grand Master said , that he had this year convened the Grand Lodge of his province at au earlier period than usual , because ho was

unwilling that they should be delayed in expressing- a strong feeling of confidence in the integrity of the M . AV . the Earl of Zetland , tho Grand Master of England , and of reprobation of the calumnious attacks ivhich had been made upon him . ( Hear , hear ) . He was rejoiced on looking at the notice paper , to find that such a