Provincial.

received the congratulations of the brethren ancl the usual salutes , the W . M . appointed his officers as follows : —Bros . Palmer , S . W . ; Fabian , J . W . ; Weeks , P . M ., Treas . ; Hillman , Sec ; Forbes , Dir . of Cers . ; Triggs , S . D . ; Reynolds , J . l ) . ; Wcnham , I . G . ; V 0 ke , Steward ; Blackmore , Tyler . The W . M . immediately commenced his work , and in an admirable manner initiated a gentleman into the secrets and mysteries of ancient

Freemasonry . The lodge was then re-opened in the second and third degrees , and Bro . Richards Avas raised to the snhlime degree of a M . M . The lodge was soon afterwards closed , and the brethren adjourned to a sumptuous banquet , provided hy Bro . Simpson . On the removal of the cloth , the usual loyal and Masonic toasts was given hy the W . M ., and heartily responded to . l ? ro . Stcbbing , in a most eloquent speech , proposed the Masonic Charities , which was responded to hy Bros . Ford

ancl Emery . Bro . Hillman , I . P . M ., proposed the health of the W . M ., which elicited the most cordial greeting . The toasts were then interspersed with some capital singing . The Tyler's toast was given and a very happy meeting brought to a close about eleven o'clock . Visiting brethren : —Bros . Colonel Greenlaw , P . S . G . W . Enshuul ; . 1 . Kankin Stabbing , W . M . 7 ( 5 , S . G . I ) . EnMnndj II . Ford , P . M . 4-87 . P . Prov . G . W . Hants : K . BannisterP . M . -1-S 7 P . Prov . S . B . Hants ; W . A . WolfeP . M .

, , , 312 , P . Prov . G . l ) . Hants j M . Frost , P . M . -187 , P . Prov . Supt . of Works Hants ; E . Emery , W . M . 92 S , P . Prov . G . Dir . of Cers . Hants : . T . Baker , W . M . 4 S 7 ; J . Hill , 903 ; J . Bradbear , ' 187 , P . G . Org . ; B . Carter , Sec . 903 ; F . Faulkner , 92 S ; It . Thorpe , 3 S ; J . Rattenbury , 487 ; G . Spratt , 903 ; & c .

LANCASHIRE ( EAST ) . Buivs :. — Consecration of the Prince of Wales Lodge ( No . 1 , 012 ) . —On Thursday , the 23 rd ult ., the above lodge was consecrated in the Town Hall , Bury , bytheV . W . Prov . G . M . of East Lancashire , Stephen Blair , assisted by Bros , the Rev . . J . L . Figgins , Prov . G . Chap . ; Rev . Phillips , P . Prov . G . Chap . ; Lawrence NewallP . Prov . S . G . AV ; John TunnahProv . G .

, , Sec . ; Wright , Mitcliol , and several Provincial ancl Past Provincial Officers and other brethren . The ceremony was performed in a true Masonic manner , the musical responses being a great acquisition , by Bros . Wrigloy , of Rochdale ; Edmomlson , of Stockport ; and Cooper , of Manchester ; Aspinwall , Prov . G . Org ., presiding . The W . M . Bro . Herbert Roby Harris , P . M ., being duly installed as First Master , he then appointed Bros .

Nicholas Milne , S . W . ; Edward Bland , J . W . ; John Moiling Wike , S . I ) . ; Lawrence Booth , J . D . ; and Henry Maiden , P . M ., as Sec . The brethren then elected unanimously Bro . Josh . Handley , P . M ., as Treasurer for the ensuing year . The proceedings terminated at four p . m . The brethren then retired to the Derby Hotel , where a sumptuous banquet awaited them at 4 . 30 , when , with the assistance of Bro . Shellard , the Prov . G . Dir . of Cers ., a most convivial evening was spent by all the members present .

DEDICATION or THE SPIRE or WALSDEN CHURCH , SEAU TODMOBDEN . Before we proceed to notice the circumstances attending the dedication of the spire , a glance at the history , and some description of Walsden church , will not he unacceptable to a numerous section of our readers . The hamlet of Walsden was formed into a parish under the

late Sir Robert 'Peel's Church Building Acts , and endowed with £ 150 a year . The foundation stone of the church was laid the yt ' . i of July , 181-0 , by the late John Crossley , Esq ., of j Scaitcliffe , who was the donor of the ground for the church and churchyard , as well as it contributor of £ 1 , 000 and the stono towards the erection of the building . The Church was consecrated on the 7 th of August , 184-8 , by the present Bishop of Manchesterwhoit is saidpreached his first consecration

, , , sermon on that occasion . It is dedicated to St . Peter , and consists of a chancel , nave , north and south aisles , with open roof , is of the early English or decorated style of architecture , ancl calculated to seat 650 ; the architect was the late Mr . Clias . Child , of Halifax ; it is highly ornamented inside and out . The Rev . George Dowty made great exertions within and without the parish in procuring subscriptions to provide a clmveh in

Walsden which should be creditable for arrangement and beauty , — and it is one of the first instances in our part of the country of a return to a correct style of church architecture ; the probable cost of the church lias been about £ 4 , 000 . Mr .

Shaw , of Sacldleworth , made the principal part of the furniture , which is all of richly carved black oak . In the chancel is a handsome carved prayer desk , the gift of the late Robert Matthews , Esq ., who died recently at Sydenham ; it has an inscription cut in church characters at the base , " In memory of Ruth Matthews , who died Nov . 20 ., mdecexlvii . " Carved stalls for the family of the late John Crossley , of Scaitcliffe , Jas . Taylor , Esq ., of Todmorden-liall , and a stall for the clergyman ,

are also , within the chancel . A very handsomely cawed altarwith reredos in panels carved and gilt , and inscription in church text on the altar part , " To the honour of God , D . D . William and Mary Hepworth , of Poutet ' ract , mdeccxlviii . "—evidences tho feelhig- of one of the female branch of the Crossley family towards Walsden and its church { this lady was interred in February last at Walsden church . There are also a credence tablecoronatwo candelabrabesides sedillia ancl desks for

, , , cpistlcr and gospelev . The door leading from the chancel to the vestry-room is also carved with tha names and arms of Taylor , of Todmorden-hall , Crossley , of Scaitcliffe , and Maude , of ' Wakefield—the Inst , as being a non-resident munificently contributed to the church . The communion plate is the gift of the late Mrs . Ann Taylor , of Todmorden-hall . The pulpitis supported hy a carved column resting on a stone plinth , with spreading capital joining the moulding at the base of the pulpit ;

on this moulding is cut , in old English letters , " How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth glad tidings , " ancl on the corresponding moulding at top the Latin inscription— " Nisicruce domine nostri Jesu Christi lion gioriari " —1 glory not save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ ;

vertical mouldings divide it into six panels , and it has an open entrance ; the panels are carved , having bands across each ; the following inscriptions are on these bands : — " laudate domine , " praise ye the Lord ; " in domino confido , " 1 trust in the Lord ; "Justus cs domine , " righteous art Thou , O Lord ; " cantate domino , " sing ye to the Lord ; " eripc domine , " deliver me O , Lord ; "domine clamavi , " I have spoken out , 0 Lord . Ahold carved cornice is the finishing member of the pulit . The

p lecturn or reading-desk is an eagle with wings outspread placed upon a stalk of varied carving . It was presented to the church hy the late James Deavden , Esq ., Lord of the Manor of Rochdale . An elaborately worked font of Caen stone is opposite the north entrance to the church ; the cover to which is of carved oak exceedingly rich , and ' it is set forth upon it to be " The gift of Mrs . Maria Beswick , widow of the late Halliwell

Beswick , of Pikehouse , Esq . " The font is octagonal , ancl largo enough for the immersion of an infant ; the divisions on the font are occupied by shields , monograms , and the keys of St . Peter sculptured on the stone alternately ; an engraved brass plate conveys , that " To the glory and for the service of Almighty God , this font is the humble offering of St . Peter's Parish Church Sunday Schools . Feast of St . Peter , mdeccxlviii . " It may be said to complete the furniture of the church . The

organ was built by Mr . XV . Holt , formerly of Bradford , now of Leeds , and is without- doubt the handsomest as well as the most superior instrument in the neighbourhood . Its cost was £ 300 . It is dedicated to the memory of the late Duke of Wellington , and was inaugurated July 8 th , 1853 . The Rev . Geo . Dowty resigned Nov . 1854 ; the Rev . Henry Clere was then appointed incumbent . He became non-resident from ill-health in the

year 1 S 59 , and has been non-resident ever since . His place is supplied by the Rev . XV . Holmes Orr , an active locum lenens who is indefatigable in matters relating to the welfare of the parish and parishioners . On the occasion of the foundationstone being laid , as well as when the church was consecrated and the organ inaugurated , there were Masonic precessions ; and on the last occasion the brethren appeared not only in Craft but in Royal Arch and Kniht Templar clothing and

regaliasancg , tioned hy the presence of Stephen Blair , Prov . G . Supt ., and Sir Knt . A . H . Royds , the present Prov . G . Cummandeiy . ind several past and present G . Officers and brethren , companions and Sir Knts ., of this ancl the adjoining provinces . In the tower there is a Masonic window of two lights , upon which are shields and Masonic emblems , including the interlaced triangle , with trile tau in the centre & c . ; inscrition — "All glory to

p , p the Most High , " and " audi vide lace . " Among the names of the donors stand first that of the Earl of Ellcsmere , Prov . G . M . ; then follow those of Matthew Dawes , Prov . S . G . W . ; Geo . Dowty , Clerk , Prov . G . Chap . ; Stephen Blair , D . Prov . G . M . ; John Crossley , P . D . Prov . G . M ' . ; Wm . Edward Royds , Prov . S . G . W . On the outside of the tower , on one side of the entrance , is sculptured the jewel of the Prov . G . Chap ., and