Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

CHESHIRE . CHESTER . —Lodge of Independence ( No . 721 ) . —The regular monthly meeting of this lodge was held on Tuesday the 28 th ult ., at four o'clock , for the installation of Bro . W . B . A . Bainbridge , S . AV ., P . S . 721 , P . G . S ., the W . M . elect . The following brethren were present , viz .: —Bros . A " . \ A illiams . AA ' . M . ; J . '

Gerrard , P . M . and Treas ., Prov . J . G . D .: W . R . Bainbridge , P . M . and J . 721 ; G . Tibbits . P . AI . 721 ; J . P . Piatt , P . M . and P . Z . 537 , P . Prov . G . D . ; AA . Bullev , P . M . and P . Z . 537 , P . Prov . G . D . ; T . Piatt . P . M . and P . Z . 537 , P . Prov . G . D . ; H . B . Hignett , P . M . and Z . 537 , P . Prov . G . D .: C . Leedham , P . M . and P . Z . 220 and 249 ; J . E . AVilliams , AV . M . 425 ; E . Tibbets , Sec . 721 E . 721 Prov . G . S . ; H . AUsopJ . AV . 721 Prov . G . S .

, , , , ; J . Salmon , 425 , Prov . G . S .: J . Huxlev , 425 , Prov . G . S . ; J . Colliuson , S . AA . 667 ; H . Barclay , Dir . of Cers . 537 ; L . Gilbert , 293 ; E . AVebster , 425 ; W . AVood , AA . Savage , and T . Dumville , from 148 ; H . Vinson , 683 : T . Davies , M . D ., S . D . 721 ; W . Brown ; R . AVorrall , I . G . ; AV . AV . Richmond , Org . ; Robinson , P . M . and Tyler ; D . Thomas , J . Dennis , T . Kellet , J . McEvoy , J . C . Davies , M . D ., H . Hobgen , and several others . The

minutes of last meeting wera read aud confirmed . Letters of apology were received from Bros . Lord R . Grosvenor , M . P . P . M . 721 , P . G . W . of England ; J . Hamer , Prov . G . Treas . West Lancashire ; AA " . Butler , P . Prov . G . D ., aud also from Bro . the Right Hon . Lord de Tabley , Prov . G . M ., who has promised to visit the lodge at an early period . The business of the evening was then proceeded with by Bro . AV . B . A . Bainbridge beiu ° - Piatt

presented to Bro . J . P . , the Installing Master . The charges having been read and assented to , the lodge was opened up to tho third degree , when a board of Installed Masters was formed , consisting of eleven Past Masters . The brethren havinobeen admitted , and the new Master announced and saluted in the manner conformable to ancient custom , Bro . Bainbrido-e invested his officers as follows : —Bros . Elwood TibbetsProv

, G . S ., S . W . ; R . Worrall , J . W . ; J . Gerrard , P . M ., Prov . J . G . lX as Treas . ; H . Allsop , Prov . G . S ., Sec ; J . McEvoy , S . D . ; T . Kelles , J . D . ; D . Thomas , I . G . ; AV . M . Richmond , Org . ; J . Dennis , Steward , each brother receiving their charge from Bro , J . P , Piatt , after which the lodge was closed down to the first

degree , and the brethren adjourned to the banquet . The AV . M . commenced the proceedings , after grace had been said , by proposing "The Health of Her Majesty the Queen and the Craft , " which as usual was received right loyally , not only from patriotism , but also from the connection our beloved Queen has with the Craft . Solo and chorus— "God save the Queen , " ( Masonic version ) . The next toast was " The Prince of AVales and the rest of the Royal Famil" " God bless the Prince of

y . Wales , " by Bro . McEvoy . The A \ . M . then gave " The Most Worshipful the Grand Master the Earl of Zetland and the Grand Lodge of England , " which was duly honoured . " Sou ° - by Bro . AA orrall , " Act on the square . " The W . M . next pro " posed " The Right AA'orshipful the Provincial Grand Master , the Lord de Tabley , his Deputy , Alseount Combermere and the Provincial Oflicerspast and present" Honours bv

, . . Song Bro . Wood , " Simon the cellarer . " Bro . J . Gerrard , Prov . j ' G . D ., returned thanks on behalf of the Provincial Grand Lodo-e at considerable length . The AA ' . M . then proposed "The Rio-lit AVorshipful Provincial Grand Masters for the neighbouriii" - provinces . " Honours . Song by Bro . Savage . Bro . C . Leedham P . M ., P . Z ., 220 , 249 , responded on behalf of AVest Lancashire ; Bro . Virison 683 on behalf of AVales . Bro . JPPiattP-M !

, , . . , and P . Z ., P . Prov . G . D ., in eloquent terms , proposed "The Health of the AVorshipful Master 721 , Bro . AV . B . A . Bainuridge , " Bro . Gerrard rendering a ea ' pital song . Bro . Bainbridge , jun ., in responding , sincerely thanked Bro . Piatt for his kindness in proposing health , and also the brethren for the flatteriu" - manner in which they had received it , assuring them that it would be his earnest endeavours to promote the welfare of the

lodgo , and to obtain at the expiration of the year , by the assistance of his officers , the satisfaction of the brethren , and concluded by proposing " The Installing Masters , Bros . Piatt and Bulley , " thanking them for their valuable assistance , and continued co-operation for the further success of the Lod ° -e of Independence . Song by Bro . AVorrall , "There is a Craft . " Bro . Piatt thanked the AV . M . for proposing the Installing Masters , and expressed the pleasure they derived in visiting 721 upon all occasions . The W . M . proposed "The Visitors , " thank , ing them for their kind attendance upon his installation , aud

stating that it was by visiting various lodges we were imbued with the principles of the Craft , by meeting with that fraternal feeling which was , he might say , universal , and enabled us to perfect our duties in the lodge ; he therefore gave them " The Visitors , " coupling the name of Bro . AA ' ood , of the Lodge of Lignts , AA ' arrington . Bro . AA oods appropriatelv replied . Sons :, by Bro . Barclay . The AA' . M . then gave " The AVorshipful MasterOfficersand Brethren of the Cestrian Lod ( No 425 ) "

, , ge . aud * trusted that the harmony existing between the two lodges might never be disturbed , to which Bro . Williams , WM , replied , concurring with Bro . Bainbridge in the wishes he had expressed . Bro . Worrall favouring the brethren with a song . The next toast the AV . M . proposed was "The Cheshire Masonic Educational Institution , " to which Bro . H . B . Hignett , P . Prov . G . D ., co-Sec . with Bro . Piattsuitabl liedand stated that they

, y rep , were deeply indebted to 721 for the interest it had taken in the promotion and support of that charity , and wished that every lodge iu the province would follow its example . Brs . Savage kindly giving a song . The AA ' . M . said the next duty that fell to him , ; was to propose "The Health of the Past Masters , " which gave him great pleasure , and he was glad to see amongst them one of their oldest P . M . 'sBro . G . Tibbetsto which that

, , brother , replied , thanking the AA' . M . and the brethren for their acceptance of the toast . Song by Bro . AVood . The W . M . proposed " The Officers , " thanking them for accepting office under him . Bro . Elwood Tibbits , S . W ., in responding to the toast , thanked the W . M . sincerely for the kind manner iu which he had proposed it , and assured him nothing should be wanting on his part to make him regret having placed him in the proud position

of S . AA . of the Lodge of Independence . Having now commenced a new year of Masonic duties , he hoped we should all vie with each other in fulfilling those duties not only with credit to the lodge to which he belonged , but to the Craft in general , but Masonry ought not to end here , we ought not to cast off our grand Masonic principles with our aprons . Those principles should shine forth brilliantly in our business engagements , our domestic dutiesour day lifefor bthose meansand

, every ; y , those means only , can the outside world see that Freeinasonry is not an empty name . The S . W . went on to urge the brother to be very cautious in enquiring into the character of candidates they proposed for initiation , and concluded by promising to do his utmost to render the AA' . M . every assistance in his power during his year of office . Bro . AVorrall , J . W ., after what had been said by the S . W ., felt he had nothing to give expression

to but simply to indorse all that Bro . Tibbits had mentioned . Bro . D . Thomas , I . G ., on behalf of the subordinate officers , thanked the AA ' . M . for their positions , and affirmed they would do all they could for the benefit of the lodge . Song by Bro . Savage . " The Host and Hostess " having been given , and the thanks of the W . M . for the comforts provided , Bro . Tasker , in reply , returned thanks , and was very glad to see the AV . M . so well supportedand that it was their constant wish to give

, satisfaction . Bro . Robinson , the Tyler , then gave the final toast * ' To all poor and distressed Masons , " in aid of whom it is customary at every meeting of this lodge to make a collection . The brethren having been called from refreshment to labour , the lodge was closed , after one of the most successful meetings it has had , many of the brethren contributing some excellent harmony during the evening .

DEVONSHIRE . TOTSTES . —Pleiades Lodge ( No . 710 . )—Tho monthly meeting was held at the Masonic Hall , on Thursday , the 6 th . The lodge was opened at half-past four , by Bro . J . Heath , AV . M ., assisted by Bros . Dr . Hopkins , acting as I . P . M . ; Wherry , acting as S . AV . ; and Oldrey , J . W . The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed , and also the report of the andit committee . ' Several candidates for the second and third degrees

were expected , but they failed to attend . Notice having been given by the J . AA' . of a motion for the introduction of Masonic chants during the ceremonies , it was withdrawn in consequence of a communication from the Prov . G . M ., who had been consulted on the subject by the AA' . M ., expressive of disapproval of such introduction . Although all agreed that submission must of course be made to such an authority , some discussion took place , in the course of which the acting I . P . M . mentionedthat

, in other provinces a different opinion prevailed , and suggested that ou the same grounds it must be equally undesirable for the harmonium to be used . Bro . Dr . Hopkins proposed some alterations in the by-laws , with a view to determine the exact method of taking the ballot at the election of a AA . M ,, as on