Provincial.

regular night of Lodge meetings . The Lodge was honoured with the attendance of Charles Ewens Deacon , Esq ., the Deputy Grand Master of tho province , and who is one of tho members , and with the visit of the worshipful the mayor of Southampton , Frederick Perkins , Esq ., and his chaplain , the Rev . Bro . Geo . Bradshaw , M . A ., as well as the AV . Masters of Lodges Nos . i 62 and 555 , Bros . G . AA . Clarke and Geo . Lungley .

KENT . HYTHE . — Prince Edwin's lodge ( No . 117 ) . —This Lodge met on May 2 nd , Bro . E . Ashdowu , AA . M ., in the chair , assisted by his officers aud the brethren of the Lodge . Tho Lodge being opened , Bro . Holwell AValsh , Lieut . 2 nd AA'est India Regiment , was , after due examination , passed to the second degree , aud Mr . Andrew Steinmetz , of St . John ' s AVood , London , at present at the School of Musketry , was regularly initiated into tho antient mysteries . After disposing of the votes for

the candidates for the Benevolent Fund , the Lodge was duly closed , aud adjourned until the next month . There were also present as visitors on this occasion , Bros . F . S . Honnies , No . 753 ; Capt . A . AA alker , of tho Caiinongate Kilwinning ; H . Pollock , No . 2 S , and L . A . Heickman , No . 321 , ol tho Irish Constitution .

ASHi- 'OED . —Invicta , Lodge ( No . 1011 ) . —This Lodge met on May 1 th . Present—Bro . AVm . Sheppard , AV . M ., in the chair ; Bros . B . K . Thorpe , S . W . ; T . Hallawes , P . Prov . G . AA ^ ., as J . AV . ; B . Thorpe , P . M ., Prov . G . Registrar ; J . S . Easter , Sec ; Springett , S . D . ; Maund , J . D . ; G . AV . Greenhill , I . G . ; Collins , Tyler . Bros . R . C . May , R . Mansell , Win . Loud , J . AVarringtou , Robinson , De Mierre , and J . Adamson . The Lodge being opened , Bro , A . Kiugsuorth was examined and passed to tho second degree bBro . B . ThorpeP . M . The brethren then balloted

y , for Mr . John Clowes Bayley , of Barnsbury Park , London , as a candidate , which proving unanimous , he was regularly initiated iu the degree of E . A . by the AV . M ., the charge being given by Bro . J . S . Easter in his usual impressive manner . The Lodge being closed , the brethren retired to refreshment , and passed a very pleasant Masonic evening-.

LEICESTERSHIRE . LEICESTER . —St . John ' s Lodge ( No . 318 ) . —The last mooting of this Lodge , prior to the summer recess , was held at the Freemasons' Hall , Leicester , on Wednesday , the 2 nd instant , under the presidency of the Worshipful Master , Bro . Cuimnings . The Past Masters mustered iu great force , there beiug no less than ten present : —Bros . Kell y , D . Prov . G . M ., Crawford , Pettifor , Gibson , AVindram , Underwood , Gill , Morris , Kinder , and Holland . The following brethren wero also present : —

Nedham , S . AV . ; Dr . Sloane , J . AV . ; Marris , S . D . ; Denton , 3 . V . ; Jack-. ' , ou , I . G . ; and Clarke . Visitors : Bros . Clephan , P . M . ; Sheppard , J . W . ; Lloyd and Bithrey , of the John of Gaunt Lodge , No . 7 ( 30 . The Lodge having been opened in tho first degree and the minutes of the former meeting read and confirmed , a Fellow Craft's Lodge was opened , and Bro . Leonard A . Clarke being called to the pedestal , was examined as to his proficiency iu that degree ; after which the Lodge was opeucd iu tho third degree , and he was raised to the degree of M . M . Tho Lodge

having been lowered to the first degree , the D . Prov . G . M . was added t- ; i the library committee , aud a sum of three pounds was voted from the Lodge funds for the purchase of books during the present year at the discretion of tho committee ; it was suggested that a moderate grant should bo regularly made by the two local Lodges every year for the same object . Tho D . Prov . G . M . stated that in perusing the old minute books of tho Lodge he had met with several notices of the initiation of the Reverend Samuel Oliver , father to the learned brother , Dr . Geo . Oliver , tho writer on Masonry , aud of the active interest which that brother had taken in the Lodge during his residence iu the county at the close of tho last century . He expressed an opinion that as the

Lodge could thus indirectly claim some connection with the learned brother who had so distinguished himself as a Masonic writer , it would confer honour on tho Lodge , aud bo at the same time a graceful compliment , to elect Bro . Oliver an honorary member . He therefore made a proposition to that effect , which was seconded by Bro . Crawford , P . M ., and received with warm acclamations by the brethren . Some financial business having been disposed of , the Lodge was closed until the first AVednesday in September , and the brethren adjourned to refreshment .

The musical members of the two local Lodges have just formed themselves into an amateur glee society , under the able directorship of Bro . Gill , and after supper thuy delighted the brethren by singing several pieces very efficiently . AVhilst the Lodge was at work a report was made that a visiting ( brother from tho United States requested admission , and one of the Past Masters was deputed to examine him . The P . M . shortly afterwards returned to the Lodge and reported that he could make little out of the applicant as to his qualifications , except that he certificate bLod

possessed a , granted y ge " King , " at New York , to Bro . H . Clinton Page , the name of the visitor . The D . Prov . G . M ., and two other P . Ms , retired to the ante-room , and a further examination of the visitor took place , when the answers he gave were of an extremely vague character , for instance , in reply to a question as to the situation of the J . AA . in the Lodge , he answered "in the east , in front of the AA . M ., " with several others equally inaccurate . He excused himself on aeco unt of his bad memory , but stated that he had very recently visited

Lod ges at Hull , Manchester , and elsewhere , and had seen the various cere monies performed , but could not recollect the details . The interview ended in the examiners courteously but firmly informing him , that , a s he was wholly unknown , and could not prove himself to be a Mason ,

Provincial.

he must himself see the impossibility of their vouching for him at the door of tho Lodge , He fully admitted this and departed . NORTHAMPTONSHIRE . PETERBOROUGH . —^ . Peter ' s Lodge ( No . 646 ) . —A meeting of this Lodge was held on Thursday , May 3 rd ; the Lodge being duly opened , the minutes were read and confirmed . Bro . Dr . Porter , the W . M ., suggested , with reference to the proposition on the minutes for the

Lodge of Instruction , that the same be postponed until the winter months , which , considering the lateness of the season , was adopted . Bro . Corley was balloted for , and accepted as a joining member . Bros . Hopkinson , Redfern , and Owles were passed to the second degree , and Bro . Swallow raised to tho third degree . This having concluded the business of the evening , the Lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to refreshment . SOMERSETSHIRE .

HIOHBMDGE . — -Rural Philanthropic Lodge ( No . 367 ) . — This Lodge held its monthly meeting on Friday , the 1 th instant , at the Railway Hotel Masonic Room , Highbridge , tho AA \ M ., Bro . William Harwood , not being convalescent , requested Bro . Henry Bridges , P . M ., G . S . B ., to preside . Bro . C . J . B . Mais , late of the Royal Sussex Lodge , No . 221 , Bristol , was balloted for as a joining member and unanimously elected . Messrs . R . Smith , J . B . Marwood , J . Smith , and R . S . Fisher , were balloted forand being dulelected were initiated into the order of

Free-, y masonry and received the charge from Bro . Bridges , who delivered it in his usual impressive manner . Bros . AA . Mole and R . Pople having been examined aud found duly qualified , were passed to the degree of Fellow Craft . Bro . S . A . Heal having been examined and found duly qualified , was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason . The Lodge was then closed , and the brethren , numbering thirty-four , adjourned for refreshment , after which the evening was spent in a most agreeable manner , and tho brethren separated at their usual early hour .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

PROA 1 NCTAL CHAPTER . GIBRALTAR . — Calpean Chapter ( No . 315 ) . —At a convocation lioldeu on Friday , April 27 th , present Comps . Swain , M . E . Z . ; Ingram , H . ; Ellison , as J . ; Wilkinson , as S . E . ; Irwin , as S . N . ; Francis , as P . S . ; liiera , J . O'liara , Diinond , Thompson , aud others . Bro . 11 . Jackman , S . AV , Inhabitants' Lodge , No . 178 , and Bro . G . Bowden , S . D ., Nos . 17 S and 315 , were duly exalted to this supreme degree . Tho M . E . Z . then informed the Companions that since last meeting Comp . McKittrick ,

P . S ., had been suddenly ordered to join the expeditionary force iu China , and on the eve of his departure had deposited with him a magnificent copy of the Holy Law , as a parting gift to the Calpcan Chapter , No . 315 . Hereupon it was unanimously voted that this be noted ou the minutes , and a letter of thanks be written on behalf of the Chapter to Comp . McKittrick . Sundry minor propositions having been made , and Comp . Major F . D . Middleton , A . D . C ., of Chapter of Harmony , No . Oil , at Cawnporeproposed as a joining memberthe Chapter was closed in

, , solemn form . AVATFORD . — Watford Chapter ( No . 5 S 0 ) . —Tho annual convocation for the election of officers was held on Monday , May 7 th , in the Freemasons' Hall , AVatford , E . Comp . George Francis , as Z . ; E . Comp . AA . S . Tootell , II . ; E . Comp . H . 11 . Burchell Heme , J ., and several other Companions were present . Bro . Frederick Polhill Turner , of tho Stuart Lod No 787 was exalted into this degreeComp . How

ge , . , supreme , acting as P . S . This being the convocation for electing the officers , the result of the ballot was as follows : —Comps . AV . S . Tootell , M . E . Z . ; H . H . B . Heme , H . ; C . H . Finch , J . ; Thomas Rogers , Treas . ; ' John Goodyear , Scribe E . ; C . Humbert , N . ; 0 . Davy , P . S . ; T . Thomas , Janitor . The Chapter was then closed , the next meeting being on the 21 th September .

Knights Templar.

KNIGHTS TEMPLAR .

PROVINCIAL ENCAMPMENT GIBRALTAR . —Cidpc Encampment . —A meeting of this Encampment took place on Tuesday , April 2-fth , present Sir Knts . AVilliams , E . C . ; Ingram , First Captain ; Black , Second Captain ; Swain , Registrar ; Wilkinson , Expert ; R . O'Hara and Pears , Standard Bearers ; Gorham , Captain of Lines ; Hood , Bruee , and others . The Encampment having been opened in due form , by the E . G ., Comp . Major F . D . Middleton , A . D . C ., of the Chapter of Harmony , meeting at Cawnpore , was unanimously elected and regularly installed a Knight Companion of the Order .

Ireland.

IRELAND .

CORK . SKIBBEREEN . —Skibbcreen Lodge ( No . 15 ) . —A correspondent writes : — " 1 have the pleasing task of chronicling the return of the beloved AV . M ., Bro . D . Hadclen , M . D ., to his post of honour , after an absence of three months , owing to a severe and dangerous illness , The absence of any