Provincial.

Bro . CHAEEES W . ELKINGTON said : Lady Leigh , I have the pleasure to introduce to you a deputation from the Freemasons of Warwickshire , consisting of the present and past the request thafc our record of esteem for our leader in the path of brotherly love , relief , and truth , should be crowned by the favour of your Ladyship's acceptance . That the God of Mercy and Truth may ever bless you and yours , that the prayers of the widow and the orphan may be heard on your behalf , and that

the portrait now presented may descend to a long line of posterity , heirs to those virtues which so eminently distinguish the present owner of the illustrious name of Leigh , is the fervent and sincere prayer of the Freemasons of AVarwickshire . ( Applause . ) I have now the pleasure , in the name of the Freemasons of Warwickshire , to ask your Ladyship's acceptance of that portrait . I know I need not assure you that the task which now devolves upon me as D . Prov . G . M . is one I highly

honour , it is the most gratifying task in my long career of Freemasonry , that in the name of such a body of Masons I have to ask your Ladyship's acceptance of this portrait . Each word in that address is fully reciprocated by every brother who is hero to-day , and not only so , hut hy every brother in the province of Warwickshire . Our prayer is that you may long live to possess the original of the portrait , and may have the opportunity of comparing the portrait with the original , and

the original with the portrait , for many many years to come . " ( Applause . ) Bro . ELKIXGTOX - then formally made the presentation . Lord LEIGH said , in reply : Deputy Provincial Grand Master

and brethren , I am desired by Lady Leigh to read you the following observations which she wishes to make , and liaving done so , I desire to say one word my own self . His Lordship then read the following reply : — " Gentlemen , —It is impossible for me to express to you as fully as I could wish , my sense of the kindness which has prompted you to offer me a valuable present , or for the kindly appreciation of my feelings which suggested to you that a

portrait of Lord Leigh would be the most acceptable form in which such a gift could be presented . You are pleased to refer in terms of personal congratulation to the collections made among your body under Lord Leigh ' s presidency for the various excellent Masonic Charities in the country , bufc I cannot allow your observations to pass without telling you how fully I am aware thafc it is to the liberality of yourselves , and to the generous cordiality with which you seconded the wishes of

your Grand Master , that I shall have the gratification of connecting this portrait with a circumstance so honourable to your province . Gentlemen , I accept this beautiful portrait from you with cordial thanks , and you may believe me when I say that ifc will have a . triple value in my eyes , not only as an excellent work of art , and as an admirable likeness of my husband , bufc as a memorial of the esteem in which you hold Lord Leigh , and of your generous feelings towards myself ; and I am sure that it will be scarcely less valued hy my children , and by their children after them , not only on the former ground , but as a proof of the kindly feeling subsisting between the Freemasons of Warwickshire and the former head of their house . "

Having read her ladyship's reply , Lord Leigh continued : —And now , brethren , allow ine on my own behalf to express the overwhelming gratitude I feel , not only for your kindness to myself , but for your kindness to one who is dearer to me than anythingin this world . ( Hear , hear . ) 1 appreciate your kindness more than I can say , and the delicate manner in which you have expressed it , by making your presentation to one , so dear to myself ) adds one more to the many acts of kindness that I have

received at your hands . Brother Elkington , you have alluded to the support I have given to the Masonic charity , and I can only say that if it had not been for the noble support of yourself and the brethren of the province , the large contributions of which you have spoken would never have been realised . It is to you , brethren , that I owe a deep debt of gratitude for the for the noble aid you have given me . Ever since I have been connected with you—which is during the last ten years of my

life—my connection with you has been a source of great gratification to myself , and I can only hope that that connection which has so long subsisted between us may continue to subsist for many years to come . ( Applause . ) I am not , brethren , able to express half that I wish to express , but I am sure you know me well enough to know that I do i ' eel most deeply the kindness you have shown me and my family this clay . Brethren , I thank- you from the bottom of my heart . ( Applause . ) Bro . Dr . BEEI FIETCHEE , P . D . G . M ., then , on behalf of his

brethren , asked Lady Leigh ' s permission to have the portrait engraved , and , on behalf of Sir John Watson Gordon , to have it exhibited in the National Gallery ; both of which requests were granted . The proceedings then closed , and the members of the Birmingham lodges returned home by the train which reaches Birmingham at 6 . 15 p . m .

YORKSHIRE ( WEST ) . LEEDS . —INAUGUEATIOX OE TUB XEW MASONIC HALE . It is wifch great pleasure we inform the Craft that the brethren in AVest Yorkshire are gradually removing their lodges from hotels into private rooms . The three Leeds lodges are now located in rooms of their own . The inauguration of those belonging to the Alfred Lodge ( Xo . 3 Si ) , took place last weekwhich the brethren resolved to celebrate with a Masonic

, banquet , and an entertainment to the ladies , sfcvled "An Evening at the Lodge . " A short time ago a committee was appointed to secure eligible premises , which they succeeded in doing , in a convenient situation in Albion-street , opposite the Stock Exchange . After having obtained a lease of them for seven years , a subscription was entered into by the brethren for raising a fund for the

purpose of making the necessary alterations ; the appeal was most liberally responded to , and Bro . E . W . Shaw , having prepared plans for a lodge room , in the Gothic style , the work was commenced and pushed forward with energy and completed , to such an extent , that the lodge was formally opened on Xovember 4 th , by and in the presence of the following officers and brethren , viz ., Bros . S . Freeman , AV . AI . ; Frederick Blackburn

, S . W . ; S . Faviell , J . AV . ; Rhodes Dawson , P . M . as S . D . ; J . Steal , J . D . ; R . Harrison , P . M . as Sec . ; J . Whitham , I . G . ; Rev . Dr . Senior , P . G . Chaplain of England , and P . Prov . S . G . W ., West Yorkshire ; Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , M . A ., P . Prov . S . G . W . of AVest Yorkshire , and P . Prov . G . Chaplain of Durham ; L . Hicks , P . Prov . G . J . W . ; Thomas Eagland , P . Prov . G . Reg . ; AV . Dixon , Prov . G . Treas . ; B . C . Bennett , P . Prov . G . Pmst . ; J . Hargraves , P . Prov . G . Sec ; and a numerous assemblage of brethren .

After the lodge had been opened in the first degree , the AV . M . called upon Bro . E . W . Shaw , to present the various offerings made to the lodge , wliich he accordingly did with a few appropriate words . The offerings consist of afivst-class harmonium for the lodge , and a semi-grand pianoforte by Collard and Collard , for the refectory , presented b y various members of the lodge . Anembroidered crimson velvet covering for the Master'pedestal

s . The border consists of quatrefoils , surmounted with equilateral triangles , the pentalpha and the double equilateral triangle in circles , finished with fleur de lis . This offering was made by Mrs . Whitham , of Burley , the wife of the Inner Guard . Embroidered velvet coverings for the altar pedestal , consisting of a crimson one , underneath which is a purple one , covering another of a pale blue colour , edged with lace , which contrasts remarkablwell with the

y colouring of the pedestal beneath . This elegant present was worked and offered by Miss Blackburne , the sister of the Senior AVarden . A circular faldstool of Craft blue , with a crimson and purple vaudyked ; in the centre an equilateral triangle in gold coloured silk , the bottom and side covered with Craft coloured velvet . This sumptuous cushion was presented hy Mrs . Southwell , the wife of Southwell

Bro . , a respected member of the lodge . A square cushion of Craft blue wool work , with a circle of crimson and purple , vandyked , in the centre is a beautiful pentalpha worked in gold coloured silk , in the spandrils are suitable ornaments in ; purple . This chaste cushion was worked by a young lady ( Miss Freemen ) , the eldest daughter of the respected WM An elegant pair of blue slippers wifch the pental pha on the front , and edged with crimson velvet , worked aud presented bv Mrs . Southwell . L J

The W . M . accepted the various gifts with pleasure , and proposed that the thanks of the lodge be sent to the respective donors . The arrival of the R . AV . D . Prov . G . M . Dr . Fearnley at the portals of the lodge , having been announced , the Prov . G . Officers left to receive him . A procession was formed , and when the Prov . G . M . entered the lodge , the brethren received him with acclamation . Bro . Clarke , having proved his efficiency as a F . C . was dul y raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason , in a most impres " - sive manner . He was received by the W . M . who gave the O . B .