Provincial.

inent to labour , the lodge was closed in clue form with solemn prayer . AA' e are pleased to see that the present year promises to be a prosperous one for St . Helen's Lodge , not only as regards mere numbers , but more particularly as regards the acquisition of good working Masons . BATLEI- CAKE , DEIVSIUJEI- . —St . John's Lodge ( No . 1129 ) . —The regular meeting of this lodge was held in the Lodge-room , Saw Innou Mondaythe 4 th instant . Bro . R . R . NelsonProv . G . Sec

, , , , W . M ., presided ; Bro . Abraham AA'ilson , S . AA ' . ; Bro . John AA'ilson , as J . AV . ; ancl the other officers and members of tbe lodge were present . The business being concluded , tbe brethren adjourned to refreshment , the AA ' . M ., presiding at the festive board ; the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given ancl received in a truly Masonic spirit , when the brethren left for tbeii homes , feeling assured that a Freemason's Lodge is the most moral institution in existence .

Channel Islands.

CHANNEL ISLANDS .

JERSEY . The following circular was recently sent to every resident member -of the Craft at present attached to a lodge : —• "St . Helier , April 1 st , 1861 . "SIE AND BEOTHEE , — -You are earnestly solicited to meet the brethren at Lapomme d'Or Hotel , on AVednesday , tbe 3 rd inst ., at seven o'clock p . m . to take into consideration a lan which will be

, p laid before the meeting for the purchase of a piece of ground , ancl the erection of a Masonic Hall thereon , by means of shares ; as it is very desirable that the ancient society of Free ancl Accepted Masons should possess a respectable ancl comfortable building , wholly devoted to Masonic purposes .

" By request of many brethren , fraternally yours , "A . SCHMITT , P . M . 860 . " In compliance with the preceding summons , upwards of fifty of the brethren assembled , when Bro . Schmitt proposed , and Bro . Hocquard seconded , that the chair be taken by Bro . H . L . Manuel , which was carried by acclamation . Bno . Sciurin read a letter from Bro . Thomas Saumarez , E . U ., expressive of great regret

at his unavoidable absence , owing to a sudden ancl unexpected call to the exercise of his profession in a distant quarter of the world ; expressive of bis hearty concurrence in the object of the meeting , in which he had hoped to be able to take an active part ; assuring the brethren that his heart was with them , and that his interest in the undertaking undiminished ; and finally stating his hope that be may be able to return to participate in the satisfaction of having a suitable edifice for the performance of Masonic duties and

ceremonies , with extended means of carrying out the noble principles of the Order . Bno . Manuel , the Chairman , then read the above circular . He could have wished that bis place were filled by a Master or Past Master of a lodge ; nevertheless he felt tbe compliment that had been paid to him . He was glad to see around him so many brethren obedient to call , ancl ready to sympathise in the object proposed . It hacl long been a reproach to the Craft in Jersey , that it possessed no permanent temple duly consecrated , dedicated , ancl set apart for the performance of their rites , which , in a moral point of view , were not less important than the objects

sought by the various religious bodies of different sects and creeds , all of which hacl their settled places of worship . The Freemasons of Jersey had assembled at one time in a tavern , at another in a private room , ancl to-morrow they might be wanderers without a location . The desire to put an end to so anomalous and unenviable a position bad long existed , and several attempts had been made to obviate it , especially by Lodge La Cesaree . About two years ago the sum of nearly £ 200 had been raised with this objectas the

, nucleus of the necessary funds , ivhich amount was still in hand , and available for the promotion of the design . The project had , however , failed in being brought to completion . Since that time another plan had been proposed , and measures had been taken for carrying it out , but this hacl likewise proved abortive . He believed that the earnest wish of the members of La Cesaree was now shared by all the lodgesand be presumed that the present united meeting

, , attended by representatives from each , was called for the purpose of giving tangible form to a settled opinion . The definite question to be determined on this occasion were—how , when , ancl where , the temple should be built . Bro . HOCQIJAED proposed and Bro . PEAOAM seconded the following proposition : — "That , in the opinion of this meeting , it is urgently desirable that a piece of ground should be purchased , for

the purpose of constructing a respectable and suitable Masonic Hall thereon , by means of shares of £ 5 each . " Bro . DIXON LE COXTEUH , at the request of Bro . Goupillot , mentioned another plan for rising the requisite funds , which by some

was considered preferable , inasmuch as it avoided the necessity of collecting a large sum of money , and coulcl be carried out under the Jersey laws , though impossible elsewhere . It was that which ivas generally followed in the erection of chapels for public worship in the island , ancl consisted in the issue of £ 1 notes , ultimate payment for which was secured by the building . Under such an arrangement it was calculated that the temple might be free in about twelve years , with a very limited expenditure in the first instance .

Bro . BINET was adverse to this proposition for three reasons ; first , because the shareholders , having a pecuniary liability , would feel a greater interest in the building , all being Freemasons , than fchey could do otherwise ; secondly , because it would necessary to appoint a person to change tbe notes , who must have a commission , and thus useless expense would be incurred ; and thirdly , because the notes must ultimately be paid off , in which difficulties might possibly arise ; the building miht in consequence slip out of their

g hands , ancl all the time , labour , and anxiety be irrevocably lost . For these reasons he preferred the formation of a company , with shares of £ 5 each . Bro . LE StfEUE thought that , before passing the resolution , the meeting ought to be informed of the result of the negociation for the chapel in Grove-place . The C-HAIEMAN explained thatas that was undertaken bLodge

, y La Cesaree on its own responsibility , the decision could not affect the present scheme proposed to be effected by a union of all the lodges . He was , however , willing to state the details briefly , which it is not necessary to report , beyond the fact that unexpected circumstances in the position of the existing proprietors had intervened , from which considerable difficulties arose , of a nature to prevent , or at least greatly delay a successful issue . The resolution was

then passed unanimously . Bro . GALLICIIAN stated that , at the request of some of the promoters of the measure in band , he bad examined and measured several plots of ground which were considered eligible . Of these , two were deemed , especially appropriate , one belonging to Mr . Bryant , in Bath-street , ancl the other the property of Mr . Brown ,

between the Stopford ancl Oxford-roads . The former was preferable , as in a more central situation , but measured only 70 ft . by 40 ft ., which he considered too limited to meet all the requirements . The latter was a little more distant from the present centre of the town , but possessed other advantages , especially thafc of having entrances from two roads , and that of being in the midst of houses of a higher class ; its dimensions were 200 ft . by 180 ft . The price of tbe two was nearly the samenamelyabout £ 300 .

, , Bro . GAELICHANpiroposedand Bio . DUNELL seconded thefollowing proposition : — " That the piece of ground belonging to Mr . Daniel Brown , situated along the Oxford and Stopford-roads , be purchased , provided the amount of purchase money do not exceed sixteen quarters . " After a short discussion it was carried unanimously . Bro . Dr . HOPKINS proposed , ancl Bro . F . MAEET seconded , "That , to carry out the above resolutions , a Provisional Committee be

appointed , consisting of Bros . Charles J . Hocquard , H . L . Manuel , Geo . A'ickery , Thos . Gallichan , Philip Le Sueur , Thos . C . Le Gros , Thos . Dorey , John Thomas Du Jardin , John Durell , and the Masters of tho different local lodges , with power to add to their number , five being a quorum . " After a short discussion and one or two alterations , it was carried unanimously . It was proposed by Bro . DIXON LE COUTEITE , seconded by Bro . Dr . HOPKINS , ancl carried , " That the Committee be hereby empowered , in the name of the shareholders , to purchase the plot of

land selected by the brethren ; to cause a draught of the intended building to be prepared , with its approximate cost ; to draw up rules , as well as to take all other necessary measures for the carrying out of the projected scheme ; and when all arrangements shall have been completed , to convene a general meeting of brother shareholders , and to receive their instructions . " Proposed by Bro . Du JABDIN , seconded by Bro . DONALDSON , and carried" That the brethren who may not feel inclined to become

, purchasers of shares in the projected hall be nevertheless invited to give it all their moral influence and support . " Bro . BINET proposed , Bro . GEIJIMOND seconded , and it was carried , " That Bro . Dixon Le Couteur be appointed Secretary . " Bro . SCHMITT proposed , Bro . HOCQUARD seconded , and it was carried , " That the AA ' orshipful Masters of the respective lodges iu the province be invited to hold meetings of their members , for the

purpose of ascertaining the amount of shares which the lodges as such , or their respective members in their individual capacity , intend to take . " A list was then made of the brethren who desired to become shareholders , when thirty-three names were put clown out of fifty who were present , the rest merely expressing a wish for time to consider the matter . A statement of the number of shares to be taken by each was deferred . Bro . HOCQUAED proposed , and Bro . Dr . HOPKINS seconded a