Provincial.

Prov . G . M ., naturally caused deep regret among the hrethren , who unanimously resolved that tho W . M . ' s and Wardens of all -the lodges in the Province should , through the D . Prov . G . M ., earnestly request his Lordship to reconsider ancl relinquish his intention of retiring , on the understanding- that the IX Prov . G . M . should relieve him of all the more onerous duties of the office . With this request Lord Howe most kindly complied , but , unfortunatelywas soon afterwards attacked by the long

, and dangerous illness from which he is only now recovering . These minutes having been confirmed , the D . Prov . G . M . rose , and , after a few prefatory remarks , in which he stated that knowing how greatly the Prov . G . M . disliked to hear his own praises rehearsed , he should abstain from doing so , and to do -which would be , indeed , an unnecessary act in any assembly of Leicestershire men , and especially of Leicestershire Masons ,

moved the following resolution : — "That the brethren of this Provincial Grand Lodge are happy to avail themselves of this , the earliest opportunity , of tendering to their beloved and revered Provincial Grand Master , in person , their heartfelt congratulations on his recovery from his long and dangerous illness , during which he had the deep sympathy of every member of the Craft , and they desire at the same time personally to express

to his lordship , in once mora hailing with joy his presence amongst them , their deep sense of gratitude for his kind and truly Masonic conduct in consenting , at the earnest request of all the lodges in the province , to continue to hold office as their Provincial Grand Master , the duties of which ho has so long and zealously discharged to the great benefit of the Order ,- and they fervently pray that the valuable life of their beloved chief

¦ may be preserved for many , many years . " Tliis was seconded by Bro . Major Brewin , Prov . G . Treas ., and was unanimously passed amidst the hearty applause of the assembly . The Prov . G . Master , who was visibly affected , after intimating that he would defer his remarks until the conclusion of the business , proceeded to make tho following appointments of

officers of the Prov . G . Lodge for the ensuing year , and invested those who were present with the collar and badge of oflice : — Bros . George II . Hodges , IV . iU 523 , S . G . W . ¦ IV . Carriefc Crofts , "\ V . M . 779 , J . G . W . ; Rev . S . Smith , D . E ., 779 , and W . Kay

Robinson , S . W . 1 , 130 , G . Chaps . ; Major Brewin , W . M . 1 , 007 , G . Treas . ; Joseph Barratt Jacques , 279 , G . Res . ; Charles Morris , P . M . 279 , G . Sec . ; Leonard A . Clarke , ' W . M . 279 , S . G . D .: John E . Hodges , late J . W . 523 , J . G . D . ; Robert Winter Johnson , Sec . 1 , 130 , G . Supt . of Works ; Alex . M . Duff . P . M . 523 , G . Dir . of Cers . ; W . Robotham , S . D . 1 , 007 , Assist , ditto ; Capt . W . Hartopp , 1 , 130 , G . Sword Hearer : Edward F . MammattJ . W . 779 G . Org . ; Edwin Gosling . 1 . 1 ) . 279 G . Pm-st . ;

, , , , James Ogden , B . A ., J . W . 1 , 007 , G . Standard Bearer ; Thomas Thorpe , I . G . 279 , William Barfoot . S . W . 523 , George Toller , jun ., J . W- 523 , John Beard , S . W . 779 , Joseph Brunt , I . G . 1 . 007 , and Henry Douglas , S . D . 1 , 130 , G . Stewards ; Charles Bembi-idge , 279 , G . Tyler . Bro . Major Brewin , Prov . G . Treas ., then read his statement of the receipts and expenditure on Prov . G . Lodaccountafter

ge , which he was unanimously re-elected to oflice on the nomination of the Prov . G . Master , seconded by the D . Prov . G . Master . The reports from the W . M . ' s of lodges were then presented and read , showing all the lod ges to bo in an increasing and prosperous state , except the mother lodge of the province , the "Knights of Malta Lodge , 50 , Hinckley , which , it appeared , had not mot during the year . The Prov . * G . M . expressed his great

regret at the present position of this ancient lodge , in the resuscitation of which , some years ago , ho had taken great personal interest , and expressed an earnest hope that the members would bestir themselves and remove the stigma whieh now rested upon them ; otherwise he feared tho wan-ant would have to he recalled . A report was received from the committee of the Freemasons '

Hall , Leicester , ancl Bros . Pettifor and Millican were appointed to represent the Prov . G . Locigo in the committee with ' the e . vofficio members - The routine business being completed , Iiro . Lord Howe rose , and , in warm term ? , thanked tho brethren for their resolution congratulating him on his recovery from his long illness . He said that lie was truly proud of the oflice he hael long held as

the Provincial Grand Master of the Freemasons of his native county , that it was ft position which any one might bo proud to occupy , and that it was solely from feeling that he was ¦ unable from his state of health to perform his duties in person , as he had previously done ( although he knew that his place

would be well supplied by his good friend the Deputy Pro vincial Grand Master ) , that he was prompted some time ago to desire to retire from office . That course he had formerly taken , when , on the same ground , he relinquished his position of Deputy Grand Master of England , and , at a later period , the Provincial Grand Mastership of Warwickshire . In nowremaining at their head , under these circumstances , the brethren must pardon all shortcomings in tile discharge of his

duties . The noble brother concluded by expressing his deep regret that he was compelled to deprive himself of the pleasure of dining with the brethren , his medical attendant having only given him permission to attend the meeting to-day on that condition ; he must , therefore , reluctantly bid them good-bye , trusting that they would enjoy themselves as much as lie should have enjoyed being with them , had his bodily health permitted .

Tho Prov . G . M . then proceeded to close the Provincial Grand Lodge , and retired amidst the warm greetings of the assembly . The brethren thon adjourned to the Queen ' s Head Hotel , ancl sat down to an elegant banquet , under tho presidency of Bro . Kelly , the D . Prov . G . M . The dinner , to whieh Lord Howe , as usual , had contributed a bountiful supply of venison and together with some remarkably fine grapes and

game , other fruit , was served in Bro . Love ' s well-known excellent style . Tbe only drawback was the enforced absence of the Prov . G . M ., whose better health was proposed , in fitting terms of eulogy , by tho D . Prov . G . M ., and was most warmly received by tho brethren with Masonic and afterwards with musical honours . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts wore duly given ancl responded to , that of "The Deputy Provincial Grand

Master" being proposed by Bro . II . Etherington Smith , P . Prov . G . W ., and suitably acknowledged . The brethren separated at an early hour , highly pleased with the proceedings of tho day .

MONMOUTHSHIRE . NEWToni . —Silurian Lodge ( No . 471 ) . —Tho members having enjoyed their usual three month ' s holiday resumed business on AVednesday , 4 th inst ., and n goodly number ivere in attendance . Tbe W . M ., Bro . Bartholomew Thomas presiding ; and amongst the brethren present we perceived one from Bombay , one from Hamburgone from New Yorkone from Bristoland one from

, , , Merthyr , besides several of the new members . The business was for passing and raising candidates in the second and third degrees , and tlie lodge being opened in due form . Bros . Fothergill and Rafbrel were passed to the degree of F . C . having been first examined in open lodge as to the progress each had made as E . A . F . M . The lodge was afterwards opened in the third degree when Bro . Northcot was raised to the sublime degree of a

M . M . he having been als i examined in open lodge as to the progress he had made as a F . C . Freemason . Both ceremonies were very ably performed by the W . M ., who was supported by H . Heilyer , ' P . M .: R . B . Evans , and J . Griffiths . Tho lodge was then closed down , and after giving instructions to the Secretary to place the name of Mr . Fornacon on the next circular for initiation , and Bro . Grice being proposed as a subscribing member , the lodge was duly closed at a quarter past nine .

YORKSHIRE ( NORTH AND EAST ) . SCATJTIOROI 7 GK . —Old Glohe Lodge ( No . 200 ) . —The brethren of this lodge held their usual monthly meeting on the third Wednesday in August , when there was a small attendance of the members in consequence of the immense pressure of business at this gay season in Scarborough . At the appointed time , Bro . Henry A . WilliamsonW . M .. assisted by Bro . James Frederick

, Spurr , P . M . ; Henry C . Martin , P . M ., Hon Sec ; J . Hargraves , ancl It . H . Peacock , as Wardens , and the other officers opened the lodge in the first degree , when the minutes were read ancl confirmed . The lodge was then opened in the second and third decrees , when the following visiting brethren , after strict examination , were admitted to see the ceremonial of a passing and two raisings , viz ., Bros . W . Stobbard , P . M . 621 ; A . Harmond ,

P . M . S 12 ; J . Lavcock , W . M . 1 , 018 : A . Green , 302 ; H . Hardy , P . M . 581 ; J . D . Sugclen , 302 ; G . Stilman 1 , 121 ; J . Potter , 277 ; W . Hinds , 1 , 121 , & c . Bro . Shepperd was duly passed to tbe degree of F . C ., and in tiie Master Mason's lodge , Bros . Grover and Walshaw , who had also given proof of the pi-ogress they had made in Masonry , were raised to the sublime degree of M . M . The lodge was then closed in the several degrees according to ancient custom , after which all tho visitors accepted the W . M . ' s invitation to join the members at the banquet , at which