Provincial.

LANCASHIRE ( WEST ) . MANCHESTER —{ Affability Lodge , N o . 317 ) . —The St . John ' s Festival meeting , held on Jan . 2 nd , was very well attended . Previous to tho banquet the installation of the W . M ., Bro . Sydney Henson , took place , and the following officers for the year were appointed , the ceremony of investiture being performed bBro . HinePMassisted bBroBaldwinPM

y , .., y . , .., 7 G , & c .: Bros . J . A . Eastwood , S . W . ; J . Laxton , J . W . ; J . B . Webb , Sec . ; Samuel Tit-mas , Treas . ; John Bladon , S . D ; S . S . Fox , J . D . ; John Phillips , I . G . ; A . T . Coop , Registrar ; Walmsley , Dir . of Cers . ; Collard , Organist . At the banquet the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given ancl responded to , and the evening was enlivened by the performances of an excellent glee party , under tbe direction of Bro . Dumville . The first

¦ meeting under the direction of the new W . M . , Bro . Sydney Henson , was held on Feb . 6 , when , in addition to the ordinary monthly business , Bro . A . J . Johnson , jun ., P . M ., presented the Teport of the Benevolent Fund Committee , wherein it was recommended that the lodge should establish a permanent benevolent fund for the use of brethren in distress , more particularlthose brethren who have been members of this

y may lodge . The further consideration of the subject was postponed . The balance-sheet for the past year was presented , ancl -received the sanction of the lodge . The second lodge meeting ¦ called upon the authority of Bro . Sydney Henson , W . M ., was held on Thursday last , March G . There was nothing of special interest to report beyond the fact that it is intended to hold a soiree after the ordinary business the next lodniht in

on ge g April ; and that among the visitors who honoured the lodge with their company , the brethren of Affability had the pleasure -of welcoming Bro . Smith , P . G . Steward of the Grand Lodge of England , and P . M . of several lodges . As an indication of the estimation in which Freemasonry is held in this district , I may mention that there were three new propositions for initiation .

LEICESTERSHIRE . LEICESTER . —St . John ' s Lodge ( No . 279 ) . —This lodgo held its regular monthly meeting at the Freemasons' Hall , on Wednesday , the < lth inst ., under the presidency of Bro . W . Kelly , W . M ., D . Prov . G . M ., the following officers being present : — Bros . Leonard A . Clarke , I . P . M . ; W . Weare , P . M . and Treas . ; Edwin GoslingS . W-EWSStanleyJWCStretton '

, ; . . . , -. ; . Sec ; T . Thorpe , S . D . ; 0 . Burton , I . G ,, and others . Visitors : —Bros . Brewin , P . Prov . S . G . W ., P . M . ; Toller , J . W . ; Sculthorpe , Sec . ; J . C . Clarke , S . D . ; Bithrey and Partridge , John of Gaunt Lodge ( No . 523 ) . The lodge having been opened and the minutes of the previous - meeting having been read and confirmed , a ballot was taken for Mr . Edwin John Crow , which was unanimous in his favour , and being in attendance he was initiated into the Order

, after which the W . M . gave the lecture on the tracing board , and the charge . There being no further business tho lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to refreshment .

Scotland.

SCOTLAND .

GLASGOW . GLASGOW . —Thistle and Rose Lod ge ( No . 73 ) . —The 110 th anniversary of this lodge was celebrated with great eclat in the 'Tontine Hotel , Glasgow , on tbe 27 th ult . The chair was occupied by Bro . MaeRobert , tbe respected R . W . M . of the lod ge , supported by Bros . Lieut .-Col . Campbell , of Blythswood , Prov . G . M . for Renfrewshire EastAlexander StrathernSheriff

; , - Substitute of Lanarkshire , senior member of the Thistle and Rose Lodge ; aud other eminent brethren in this and neighbouring provinces . Alter a plentiful repast the Chairman congratulated the brethren on the success of their present festival , and in boing honoured by the presence of so many distinguished brethren , who , in the midst of their numerous engagements , were ever foremost in advancing the cause of Freemasonry in the west of Scotland

. He concluded by proposing the toast of "The Qnoen and Craft , " which was received in true Masonic style . The next toast was " The Three Grand Lodges of England , Ireland , and Scotland , " and was replied to by Bro . Lieut-Col . Campbell . Bro . Sheriff' Strathern , in proposing the next toast— " The Army , Navy , and Volunteers "—took occasion to remark that while the army and navy were ever ready at their posts to protect the interests and guard the honour of their

Scotland.

country , there was one branch of the service—a bantling of some seven years' growth , which had now assumed the most gigantic proportions , and which , although as yet untried in tbe in the sterner realities of war , would , he was sure , whenever called upon , display those faculties which must ever be dominant in an educated body of men such as the volunteers . The toast was replied to by Bro . Lieut .-Col . Campbell . Other toasts

followed , and were duly honoured ; and , an assembly kept up to an early hour , auspiciously terminated the festive proceedings . [ A melancholy interest is attached to this reunion , in consequence of the sudden death of Bro . Sheriff Strathern , on the afternoon of Sunday , tbe 1 st inst ., from a shock of apoplexy , with which he was seized on the 2 Sth ult . ( the day after the festival above referred to ) and which so completely prostrated

, him that he gradually sank until he expired about half-past 3 on Sunday afternoon last . In the obituary notice on another page we give a sketch of the career of the esteemed and distinguished brother who has just been removed from amongst us , " without warning and without an hour to say farewell . "ED ., P . M . ]

Channel Islands.

CHANNEL ISLANDS .

JERSEY . LODGE LA CESARRE ( NO . 5 D 0 ) . At the regular meeting , held in the Masonic Temple , on Dec . 26 th , 1867 , the lodge was opened in the 1 st degree by Bro . John Durell , W . M ., assisted by Bros . A . Viol , S . W . ; G . Renouf , J . W . ; A . Schmitt , P . M . and Sec ; J . T . Dn Jardin , P . M . ; H . L . ManuelP . M . ; Ph . BinetP . M . ; Le Goupillot ,

, , Treas . ; J . Oatley Pasts , W . and I . G . ; and about thirty other members . After the confirmation of the minutes , Bro . Manuel laid before the meeting a statement in reference to the efforts to raise a sum of money , under the title of " The Exploration Fund of Palestine , " which is under the patronage of her Majestthe Queenits object being to supply moans for

y , researches among the Holy Places . This important task has been committed to Captain Warren , of the Engineers , who , by aid ' of the funds placed ac his disposal , has already obtained important results at Jerusalem . However , it is to be feared , continued Bro . Manuel , that these works , which are especially interesting to Freemasons , may be interrupted for want of pecuniary means to carry them on . This skilfultalentedand

, , devoted investigator has lately made an appeal to all generous hearts , earnestly entreating them to afford him help , in order that he may bring to a favourable result tbe laborious enterprise , which must in the highest degree interest the Christian world in general , but more particularly those who belong to the Masonic Institution , whieh has reason to be proud of its

connection with the ancient brethren who assisted in the construction of the Temple of King Solomon . Consequently they have a legitimate and laudable desire to know whether discoveries can be made as to remains connected with the time-honoured Craft which may be covered beneath the ruins . Finally , Bro . Manuel proposed thafc a grant of three guineas be made from the funds of the lodge for the promotion of the object . Bro . Du Jardin seconded the proposition , and adduced in its

support numerous arguments as lucid in expression as they were serious in import . The Secretary also spoke in its favour , clearly demonstrating , by solid proofs drawn from history , that the undertaking musfc in every point of view interest all who possess the least regard for archceology , a science which is now daily receiving development and revealing to us mysteries which have lain revealed from periods the most remote .

The W . M . and other brethren expressed opinions in accordance with those of the proposer , urging the satisfaction which the members would derive , by the contribution of their mite , from having assisted the efforts of noble and enterprising men , whose object it is to add to the stock of human knowledge . On being put to the vote , the resolution was carried unanimously .

No other business offered except the proposition of two gentlemen for initiation at the next meeting . The first meeting of the new year was held on Jan . 30 . The lodge was opened in the lsb degree by Bro . Durell , W . M . assisted by Bros . Viel , S . W . ; G . Renouf , J . W . ; A . Schmitt ,