Provincial.

to appoint and invest his officers for the ensuing year , viz .: — Bros . AA . Dodd , S . AA * . ; AV . James , S . AV . ; Thomas AVearinsr , Hon . Sec . ; Rev . H . Ware , S . D . ; Rev . K . C . Garnett , J . D . ; T . Anderson , Tyler . Some routine business having been concluded , the lodge was closed and the brethren adjourned to the banquet , which was served up at the Royal Hotel , in Mr . and Mrs . Dawson ' s best style . The chair was occupied by the AA . M ., who was supported by all the brethren present at the lod . After the

ge ¦ cloth was withdrawn , the ordinary loyal and Masonic toasts were . proposed and responded to . Bro . Bowes proposed " The M . AV . G . M ., the R . AV . D . G . M ., " and the Grand Lodge of England , " and referred in appropriate terms to tho G . M . and the "Zetland Commemoration Fund , " to which the Underley Lodge had so handsomely contributed that day . Earl De Grey and Ripon , the speaker said was an lished Masonand ever ready to

accomp , help forward any good work . Such being the heads of the 'Grand Lodge , it was not difficult to judge the character of the subordinate officers . They were favoured that evening with "the presence of a P . G . Officer , a brother to whom the Province of Cumberland and AA'estmoreland owed an everlasting- debt of

gratitude . He referred to Bro . Busher , P . G . S . B . of England . It mattered not what Bro . Busher took in hand , it was sure to prosper , and this had been eminently the case as regarded Freemasonry in that province . Bro . Busher responded at some length , and refened to sets of the Grand Lodge from the G . M . downwards , and said that he was sure every member wished to promote the best interests of the Craft . As to the personal allusions which BroBowes had made to himselfhe could

onl-. , y say that he had simply done his duty , and he trusted that while < he ^ lived he should continue ti do the same . Masonry had certainly made great progress in their province , and was still continuing to do so , and he hoped that he should never be found wanting when his assistance was needed . The AA . M ., in responding to his health , said that he felt a very deep interest in Masonry , and that , having launched the bark at Kirkby , he has ibeeu and

was most anxious that its progress should be steady and real . Himself and his AVardens went to some trouble to bring the Crafc to their own doors , and they had been successful in their endeavours . The spirit that had animated the Underley lodge from the first was still manifest , and he did not doubt , that such being the case , his year of office would be both ¦ successful and pleasant . Bro . Banning proposed "The P . M . ' s , AVardens

, and Officers of No . 1074 , " which was responded to by Bros . Braithwaite , AY . Do . ld , and AV . James . Bro . AV . Dodd , S . AV ., proposed "The Masonic Charities , " and in doing so gave utterance to some vahnble , because practical , suggestions on the subject . Bro . Busher responded in a lengthy aud eloquent speech . He pleaded especially and very forcibly for the Boys ' School , detailing the wants of that excellent institution , and

we were very gl-id to witness the ready response that was made to the claims so ably set forth . The Tyler ' s tcast having been drunk , a very pleasant day was brought to an agreeable tormina-ion , and thereby the ' Festival of St . John the Evangelist , 1869 , will not be soon forgotten by the Underley Lo . lge . AVe inust , however , not omit to mention that the AA . AI . aud brethren wish to express their obligations to Bro . Jesse Banning for his yahuble services on tbe harmonium in tbe lodge , and the piano in the banquetting-room , as well as for his vocal assistance .

DEA 0 NSHIRE . TOTNES — Pleiades Lodge , ( No . 710 ) . —The monthly meeting -w-as held at the Masonic Rooms , on Thursday , 2 St ! i ult , and soon after 5 p . m . the lodge was opened by Bro . George Heath , W . M ., assisted b y Bros . Dr . Hopkins acting as I . P . M . ; Pridham , S . AV . ; Cuming , J . AV . ; Nine-, S . D . ; Stafford , J . D . acting as I . G . ; Watson , Treas . acting as Sec . Bros . Northam and Sliopland , who were initiated in November lastreceived the charge the

, on 1 st degree and the lecture on the first Tracing Board , for which there had not been time at the previous meeting , and which at the request of the AV . M . were given by Bro . Dr . Hopkins . These having been concluded , the AV . M . examined the candidates as to their knowledge of the first degree and entrusted them , after which they retired for preparation . The lodge was opened in the second degree . BroDrHopkins then took the chairand

. . , on their return duly passed the candidates to the second degree , after wliich he gave them the charge appertaining to it and the explanation of the second Tracing Board . The AA . AI . having again taken his chair , the lodge was resumed in the first degree . The secretary not having arrived , the treasurer read the minutes of the previous lodge , which were duly confirmed . A ballot was taken for the admission of Bro . Joseph Earle and also of Bro .

Seacombe as joining members , which in both cases proved unanimously in favour . In accordance with a notice given by Bro , Pridham at the November meeting , he brought forward a proposition for the purchase of four copies of the Craft Lodge Music prepared by Bros . C . Johnson and Dr . Hopkins , and published In book form by tho proprietor of the F REEMASONS' MAGAZINE , it was seconded by Bro . AVatson , P . M . and carried , though an amendment was proposed that at first only one copy should be

obtained , some alterations in the by-laws were brought forward by Bro . Niner , S . D . and seconded by Bro . Dr . Hopkins , for discussion at the next meeting , tbe object thereof being to define more clearly the manner in which the ballot for AV . M . shall be taken at the annual election , and to make some changes iu regard to the Audit Committee . The Tyler ' s bill for tho last year was ordered to be paid . A circular from' the Prov . G , M . having

been read , soliciting pecuniary help towards the fund now being raised for the purchase of a Masonic Life Boat , Bro . Dr . Hopkins gave notice of his intention at the next meeting to propose a grant of £ 2 2 s . towards this object , which was seconded hy Bro . Pridham , S . AV . Another circular having been read in reference to the Zetland Commemoration Fund , the AV . M . proposed , and Bro . Bartlett , P . G . A . D . C . seconded a donation of £ 1 Is ., to be considered at the meeting in February . No other business

offering , the lodge was closed at half-past 7 . TEIGNHOTJTH . —Benevolent Lodge ( No . 303 ) . —The first meeting under the new AV . M . and his officers was held on Monday , the 1 st inst ., at the Masonic Hall . The lodge was opened at 7 . 30 p . m . by Bro . H . M .. Burtlett , AV . M ., assisted by Bros . Capt . AValrond , P . G . J . AV . and I . P . M . ; Burden , S . AV . ; Hallett , J . AA . ; Coles , S . D . ; Taylor , J . D . ; Toms , I . G . ; Richards , Steward ;

Haggerly . Tyler . There were also present—Bros . Dr . Hopkins , P . Prov . G . S . AV , P . AI ., & c . ; and A . Niner , S . D . 710 . _ Owing to the absence of the Secretary , the reading of the minutes and their confirmation was necessarily postponed . A ballot was taken for Mr . Thomas Morris as a candidate for initiation , which was unanimous in his favour , but as he was unavoidably detained by business , the ceremony was deferred . Mr . Thomas Newman , who had been previously admitted by ballot , having

complied with the usual preliminaries , was introduced properly prepared , and , considering that it was tho first time that the chair was filled hy the new AA . M ., very creditably initiated into the order . The latter part of the ceremony was conducted by Bro . Dr . Hopkins , who had been specially invited over to render assistance . He also subsequently delivered the customary charge , and gave the lecture on the first tracing-board . As in the absence of the Secretarythe J . D . took the place at his

, table , by the request of the AV . M ., Bro . Niner very ably performed the duties of his office , one on whose exactitude . the efficiency of the ceremony so much depends . It may be added that all the officers appeared well prepared , and that the proceedings generally afforded indications of a successful year . Discussions took place on several matters , such as applications for pecuniary aid to the charities , the introduction of gas into the Masonic rooms ; but it was very properly considered

thathow-, ever d- sirable , nothing could be dine at present , until tho discharge of all liabilities in connection with the erection of the hall only recently consecrated . Two gentlemen were proposed for ballot and initiation at the next meeting . The lodge was closed at 9 . 30 p . m . By invitation of the W . M . the brethren adjourned to the Queen ' s Hotel to partake of refreshment , and a very pleasant and profitable social evening was spent .

DORSETSHIRE . BotfRTON . —Lodge of Science , ( No . 437 ) . —The annual meeting of this lodge was held on Thursday , 28 th ult ., when the installation of the AV . M . elect , Bro . J . J . Luce , M . D ., took place . The interesting eoremonv was ably and efficiently performed by Bro . G . AV . Parfitt , P . M . 876 , P . Prov . G . Supt . of AVorks of Somerset . The AV . M . appointed his ollicers for the ensuing year as follows "; Bros . J . Edwards , S . AV . ; T . Sherring , J . AV . ; Atwell , P . AI . Treas ! :

G . Russel , Sec . ; T . Matthews , S . D . ; Frapwell , J . D . ; J . Fry , I . G . ; R , G . Hayter , Org . ; I . Young , Tyler . Bro . Hayter ably presided at the organ . At the close of the ceremony the brethren adjourned to the banquet , which was served by Bro . Meaden in a highly satisfactory manner . The AA . M . Dr . Luce presided , and was supported by the Installing Master , Bros . Parfitt , T . E . S . Jelley , P . M . 976 , P . Prov . G . D . ; Soppitt , AA . M . 472 , P . Prov . G . S . AVorks ; J . AV . Parfitt , AAUI . 976 ; Moyle , Goldshorough , Hare , Miles , Wills , and other visitors . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given and heartily responded to , and a very harmonious evening was spent .