Provincial.

he ruled with so much honour to himself , and with so much delight and satisfaction to tho brethren , but in every part of the kingdom where Freemasonry was known , and most cheerfully had he employed those talents for the benefit of their excellent institution . Gifted with a pleasing voice , a ready utterance , and effective elocution , as well as felicity of illustration only equalled by few , they found in him an able advocate and a zealous defender of their ancient princiles

whenp ever they were assailed by the evil aspersions of the " cowan . " ( Cheers . ) In fact he was a gem in the diadem of Masonry , and was well worthy the high encomiums which the Very High and Eminent Deputy G . M . of the Masonic Knights Templars passed on him in Grand Conclave on the 11 th day of December last . Speaking of tho success of the Order of * Knights Templars , and giving a meed of praise to several deserving Sir Knihts

g , Col . Vernon said , " To no one were they move indebted than to their estimable and beloved Senior Provincial Grand Commander , the Eev . Sir Knt . Huyshe , not only for his interest in Masonic Templary , but for the eloquence with which he spoke to every heart . The Grand Conclave ought to be proud of having such a Grand Commander , and thank , him for his efforts . " ( Cheers . ) This eulogy was received ivith . rapturous applause by

a hundred Sir Knights present . ( Cheers . ) Stainless in character and reputation , honoured by thousands beyond the pale of their royal Order , whose rites and ceremonies , great charitable institutions , and general interests it had been the object of his solicitude ever to promote , he lived embalmed in the heart of every good Mason , arid he ( Bro . Rodd i ) hoped and prayed that they should live to see him in their assemblies for many years yet to come . They miht rest assuredwhenever it should lease the

g , p Grand Architect of the Universe to summon him from this sublunary lodge to the Grand Lodge above , this province would lose a gem of priceless worth ( cheers ) , aud he would go down to the gave followed by the profound ' regret , the heartfelt admiration , and the ardent respect of all who knew bim . ( Applause . ) One word more , and he had done . Let them say nf him

"Cherished within our hearts thy name shall dwell , Urging us onward in our heart sublime To deeds of greatness like some p >_ ent spell That leaves its impress on the path of time . Would that we each could imitate thy zeal , That fervent ardour of fraternal love That binds the Mason to his brother's weal , And links his hopes with holier joys above ,

And bids his heavenward aim , its full fruition prove . " Assist me % n to drink to " The Healthof the R . W . D . Prov . G . M ., the Rev . John Huyshe , ALA ., First Grand Chaplain of the United Grand Lodge of England . " The toast was received with loud applause , and drunk with great enthusiasm . Bro . ROWE , P . M . and Sec , then proposed " The Health of the Worshipful Master" and said that Lodge Fortitude had been

, favoured with a succession of excellent Masters , and he thought that on no previous occasion were they happier in their selection than on the present . He then spoke highly of the working abilities of the W . M ., Thuell , and of the attention that he had given to the duties of all the offices through which he had nassed .

This toast was properly acknowledged by the W . MASTER , who concluded by proposing " The Health of the Immediate Past Master , " in which he highly eulogised Bro . Rodda for tho admirable manner in which he had carried out tho duties of the chair during the past year . The-toast was enthusiastically received . Bro . RODD . A , P . M ., having appropriately replied , the toast of " The Senior and Junior Wardens" was iven in very suitable

g terms by Bro . Chapman , P . M . and Treas ., and was duly responded to by those officers . Bro . KILLISGLY , P . M ., then proposed "The Treasurer , " which was acknowledged by Bro . CHAPJIAX . Bro . NETTLETOX , P . M ., then rose , with the permission of the W . M ., to propose "The Health of their excellent Secretary , Bro . James RoweP . M . and P . Prov . G . Tler" a toast which

, y , he was sure would bo received with the warmest acclamation . ( Loud cheers . ) He happened to be one of the seven who resuscitated the lodge fourteen years since . He remembered that Bro . Rowe said that ho would do all ho possibly could to bring the lodge into repute , and most justly had he performed that promise . In him they had had one of the best Secretaries that the Order could boast of , and it gave him the greatest

satisfaction to pin to his bosom a gold Centenary Jewel , which his brethren had subscribed for , asking his acceptance of it from them as a small token of their estimation of his worth . ( Loud applause . ) Bro . ROWE , in reply , expressed the pride he should feel in wearing the jewel . He said it was true that he had devoted his energies and attention to the welfare of the lodge . It had always been dear to him from associating with many old and

valued friends and brethren , and he was proud of it , when he saw it so favourably contrasted with others . In the course of his speech , he referred to the figure of Fortitude on the centenary jewel , and said there was a peculiar value attached to it , which the brethren , generally , were not aware of , arising from its being the favourite seal of the great Lord Nelson . This was proved in a letter written by one of the officers who served with

Lord Nelson , who , in a letter to a friend ( which Bro . Rowe read ) , said , "I have endeavoured to procure you some little relic of Nelson . It occurred to me to get the impression of the seal worn by that great man in Sir John Jervis's action , on the 14 th February , 1790 , when he so gallantly boarded the San Josef , of 120 guns , it represents the figure of ' Fortitude . ' " Bro . Rowe concluded by saying- that ho should wear the jewel as a lasting monitor , not to retrograde , but to advance . A number of other toasts were proposed and drunk , afteii which the lodge was clo . ed , the brethren separating at an early hour , after having spent a very happy festival .

DURHAM . HARTLEPOOL . —St . Helen ' s Lodge ( No . 774 ) . —The brethren of this lodge assembled at the Masonic Hall , on Thursday , the 7 th inst-., for tho purpose of assisting at tho installation of Bro . James Groves , the W . M . elect , who had been chosen for the third time for the important office in the Craft which he now holds . Bro . George Moore , P . M ., officiated on the occasion ,

and duly installed the W . M ., who then proceeded to appoint and invest the following as his officers for the ensuing year : — Bros . R . 15 . Huntley , I . P . M ., and Treas . ; Emra Holmes , S . W . ; Robert Inglis , J . W . ; W . Donald , Sec ; W . J . Sivewright , S . D . ; A . Nathan , J . D . ; Hill , I . G . ; W . Mowbray , Tyler ; W . Brown , and Stockell , Stewards ; and S . Armstrong , Dir . of Cers . The banquet , in celebration of St . John the Evangelist , was afterwards held at the King's Head Hotelwhen about 20 of the

, brethren sat down to a repast , which , it is sufficient to say , was served up in Mr . Smith's very best style . Tho cloth haviug been drawn , the Chairman proposed the usual loyal and Masonic toasts , which were responded to with all that cordiality so eminently characteristic of the Craft . Amongst the principal toasts were " The Health and Prosperity of the St . Helen's Loclcre , " proposed by Bro . Rank , W . M ., of No . 1066 ; "The Harbour of

Refuge Lodge , " proposed by Bro . Holmes , S . W ., responded to by Bro . George Kirk ; "The Present Officers , " to which Dr . Inglis , J . W ., replied ; " The Visitors , " coupled with the name of Bro . T . J . Cackett , who briefly acknowledged the toast ; and

" Our Absent Brethren , " proposed by the W . M ., who alluded in terms of kindly remembrance to Bro . Cunningham , and to Bro . John Sutcliffe , the late W . M ., and founder of the Harbour of Refuge Lodge . The brethren broke up at a comparatively early hour , after having spent the evening , which had been enlivened by songs and recitations in that harmony and good fellowship which ever distinguishes the fraternity . StrafDERLAXD . —St . John's Lodge ( No . SO ) . —The brethren ,

met to celebrate the Festival of St . John , on Tuesday , January 5 th , 1864 , at the Queen's Hotel , Fawcett-street . About fifty sat down to a splendid banquet , served in a style tbat reflected great credit on the host , Bro . G . Shiel . The lodge felt honoured by the presence of Bro . Henry Fenwick , M . P . and D . Prov . G . M ., who took the right of the W . M ., Bro . A . Shilling , who occupied the chair . At the head of the table sat a numerous array of P . M . 'swhose names we must not omit to mention

, , viz .: —Bros . W . H . Crookes , Prov . G . S . ; J . Crosby , M . Douglas , A . Hislop , T . Elwen , and D . Clark . The Immediate P . M ., Bro . John Graham , being unavoidably absent , the W . M . had the able support of Bro . It . Saugster , S . W ., who filled the vice-chair on the occasion . Full justice having been done to the more substantial viands , the toasts went round in rapid ancl pleasing succession . Due honour was given to the Grand and

Provincial Officers , but the toast of the evening was "The Health of Bro . Henry Fenwick , D . Prov . G . M . " Tho toast was given by the W . M ., who , with well-merited compliment pointed to the able manner in which the D . Prov . G . M . per-