Provincial.

DURHAM . DURHAM . —Ilarqitis of Granby Lodge , ( No . 124 ) . —The regular meeting of this lodge was held on Tuesday evening , the 2 nd inst ., at the Freemasons' Hall , Old Elvet . The lodge was opened in due form . Bro . C . Rowlandson , AV . M . presided supported by several P . AI . 's , and the usual officers of the lodge . After the minutes of the last general lodge had been read and confirmedthe ballot was taken for Mr . E . Hefl'erinan of S -

, penny moor , arid Mr . William Fairbah-n Hall , both of whom were declared to be duly elected . Tho candidates along with Mr . Thomas Robson who was duly elected at the previous general lodge , were severally introduced and initiated . Bro . AV . Coxon being a candidate for the honours of the M . M . degree and having in a satisfactory manner shewn his proficiency was regularly entrusted and then withdrew . The

lodge being opened in the third degree he was re-admitted and raised according to ancient custom . The lodge was then closed down to the E A . degree when business of a private nature was considered and disposed of , after which it was cksed in proper form . [ It has been suggested that the necessity for greater punctuality in the assembly of the officers , is not fully understood in this lodge . —ED . _ F . 1 T . " ]

BISHOP AUCKLAND . — Wear Valley Lodge ( No . 1121 ) . —A lodge of emergency was held on Friday , the 5 th inst ., to initiate Edward Buncombe Shafio , Esq ., of Brancepeth Rectory , and Lieut .-Col . A \ ood , of Howlish Hall , near Bishop Auckland . The officers present—Bros . George Canney , Prov . G . J . AA ., AA . M . ; the Rev . G . P , AVilkinson , Prov . G . Chap ,, S . AV . ; George Stillman , J . AA . ; the Rev . J . D . Mason , Chap . ; AA m . Pawson , Sec ; W . Canney , S . D . ; John AVyhl , J . D . ; J . Robson , I . G . ; and

Moore , P . G . Steward , acted as Tyler . The lodge having been opened iu the first degree , the ballot was taken , and found unanimous . Mr . Shalto and Colonel AA ood were then introduced and ably and impressively initiated by the AA . M . Bro . John AA ' yld gave tbe lecture on the first tracing-board , and the AV . M . gave the charge altei initiation . The lodge was then closed in due form . This young and flourishing lodge ( not yet three years old ) already numbers 76 members , and has lost ei ght by death since it was established .

KENT . DARTEORD . —Lodge of Emulation ( No . 299 ) . —The regular monthly meeting of this excellent working ledge was held on Tuesday , the 26 th ult ., under the presidency of Bro . G . AV . C . Bonner , AV . M ., and was well attended . The lodge was opened and the minutes of tlie previous meeting were read and confirmed . A ballot having been taking for Air . G . F . 0 . Green , it

proved unanimous , and he was regularly initiated by the AA . M . in bis usual very able and impressive manner . Some other business was disposed of , and the lodge was closed with solemn prayer . The brethren then proceeded to an excellent banquet , served in Bro . Bray's best style , which gave general satisfaction . On the removal of the cloth , the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given , and some excellent speeches made . In addition to

a large majority of the brethren of the lodge , there were present as visitors , Bros . Blakev , P . M . Pentagle , 1 , 174 , P . Prov . Assist . Dir . of Cers . ; Burfield . ' W . M . 20 ; T . Pottinger , P . AI . Freedom , 77 ; C . Relph , AV . M . Joppa , 188 ; F . Green , 1 , 174 & c . The Tyler ' s toast brought a very pleasant evening to a close . DOVER . — Corinthian Lodge ( No . 1 , 208 ) . —This flourishing lodge held its monthly meeting at the Royal Hotel , on Monday ,

the 18 th ult ., about thirty brethren being present , including the AV . M . Lodge No . 199 , Bro . A . Ayers . The officers present were , Bros . G , Adamson , P . M ., AVAL ; P . Thomson , P . M ., S-A \ . ; E . AV . C . Laforest , J . AA . ; Popkiss , Treas . ; Barton , Sec . pro tern ., in the absence of Bro . It . N . Marsh ; Faho , officiating as S . D ., vice Bro . Neal , absent ; Tyler , J . D . ; Prottle , I . G . ; Rose , Tyler . The lodge was opened iu due form at half-past six p . m ., and the minutes of the last lodge were read and confirmed . The

lodge was then opened in the second degree . Bro . Barwick having answered the usual questions satisfactorily , the lodge was opened in the third degree and Bro . Barwick was raised to the sublime degree . The AV . M . then resumed the lodge to the first degree . Bro . Newing having answered the usual questions satisfactorily , the lodge was opened in the second degree , and Bro . Newing was passed F . C . This being the day for the election of AV . M ., after the by-laws had been read the brethren proceeded to ballot , when Bro . E . W . C . Laforest was unanimously elected AV . M . for the ensuing year . Bro . Laforest acknowledged , in suitable terms , the high honour conferred . Bro .

Adamson , P . AI ., was duly elected Treas ., and Bro . Rose was re-appointed Tyler . Bro . Adamson brought to the notice of the brethren the Masonic Lifeboat Fund . Bro . Laforest proposed the sum of one guinea should be given from the lodge funds . Bro . Popkiss seconded , and the motion was carried unanimously . Bio . Adamson brought to the notice of the brethren the Zetland testimonial . Bro . Faho proposed the sum of one guinea be given from the ledge funds . Bro . Smeeth

seconded , and it was carried unanimously . Nothing further being proposed for tho gocd of Freemasoury , the lodge was closed iu perfect harmony at nine o'cluck . The brethren then adjourned to refreshment ; the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given and duly responded to . Several excellent songs enlivened the harmony of the evening and the brethren parted inthat true Masonic spirit which has always characterised the

Corinthian Lodge . LEICESTERSHIRE . LEICESTER . —St . John's Lodoe ( No . 279 ) . —The first meeting

of this lodge under the second year of the Mastership of the 1 ) . Prov . G . M ., Bro . Kelly , was held at the Freemasons' Hall , on AVednesday , the 3 rd inst ., and was attended by an unusually large number of brethren . The lodge was opened by the P . M . punctually at seven p . m ., when among the members present were P . M . ' s Pettifor , P . Prov . S . G . AA . ; Buck , M . D . ; Kinder , P . Prov . J . G . AV . ; C . Morris , P . Prov . G . J . W . and V , G . Sec ; AV . AA eareP . Prov . G . D . and Treas . ; and AV . E . Stainton

Stan-, ley , S . AV . ; C . Streton ( P . Prov . G . Reg . ) , J . AV . ; E . J . Crowe ,. Sec . ; Thorpe , S . D . ; Burton , J . D . ; Hart , I . G . ; and many others . VUitors—Bros . J . F . Klein , P . M . 21 , G . Steward ' s-Lodge ; J . M . McAllister , 21 aud 30 , Scotland ; and Dull ; AV . M . ; Tollor , S . AV . ; Buzzard , J . AA . ; A \ . Johnson , P . M . ; Bethrev , P . Prov . G . Org . ; Charles Johnson , P . M ., Prov . G . Org ., and P . Prov . G . S . AV . Jersey ; SculthorpeSec . ; Partrid J . D .

, ge , Sargeant , I . G . ; AVardle , Challis , Richardson , and Baines , of the John of Gaunt , 523 . The minutes of the last meeting having been read and confirmed , a ballot was taken fur Mr . James Astill , of Anstey , and Mr . Richard AVm . Widdowson , of Leicester , who was duly elected . Bros . J . VA right Smith , S . Jacobs , and A . Palmer , having previously undergone a sat s !' actory examination , wu-e then passed F . C . 's . The lodge having been

again closed down to the first degree , Mr . Wm . Henry Pegg ( who was elected at the previous meeting ) and Air . Richard Wm . AViddowson were duly initiated into onr mysteries . The AA . M . read a letter which he had received from the P . G . M ., Earl Howe , in reply to address of congratulation to his Lordship and Lady Howe on the marriage of their daughter , the Lady Alary Curzon , which had been adopted at the last meeting . His-lordship wrote : — "Jlay I request you to convey qo .

our brethren what I must try to express to yourself , i . e ., tho deep sense Lady Howe and I entertain of the kindness and good ' feeling which prompted you to remember the event that brought us so much happiness , when you assembled for matters of higher impnrlanre . 1 shall convey your good wishes to my daughter aud Lord Hamilton , who , 1 am happy to say , is also a niember of our Craft . " The letter was ordered to be entered on the minutes . The AV . M . stated that learning that Lord Hamilton

is a Alason , he at once wrote to Lord Howe to inquire whether it would he acceptable to his lordship ' s son-in-law , and also to ' his son , Colonel Leicester Smyth ( better known to the brethren by his famil y name of Leicester Curzon ) , to be elected honorary members of bis lordship's old lodge ; and that Lord Howe , in reply , stated that he " could not duubtfor an instant that they would feel the full force of the compliment , and be much

gratified at being made honorary members of St . John ' s Lodge . " He ( the AA . AI . ) had , therefore , great pleasure in moving that Bro . the Most Noble the Marquis of Hamilton , M . P ., and Bro . Col . the Hon . Leicester Smyth , C . B ., Knight of the Legion of Honour , & c , lo elected honorary members of the lodge . This was seconded by Bro . Pettifor , P . M ., and due notice having been given in the summons , a ballot was taken , which was , of

course , unanimous in their favour . A resolution was also unanimously adopted , expressive of the regret of the brethren at the lamented decease , after a long illness , of Bro . John Holland , for many years a member and a P . M ., and formerly an active officer of the lodge , and a P . Prov . S . G . AA " . of the province , whose integrity of character and cheerful amiability of disposition had gained the respect and esteem of tho brethren , who desired , by this entry on their minutes , to record their regret at his loss , and , at tho same time , to offer to tbe widow and family of the