Provincial.

J . W . ; J . Rami , Treas ., and about twenty-five others . Tho visitors present were : Bros . G . Ratcliffe , S . AV . and Sec . Nos . 840 , 979 , 993 , and J . J . G . Strong , No . 1 , 121 . The minutes of the previous lodge having been read and duly confirmed , the ballot was taken for Messrs . G . P . Reed , W . C . Allan and AV . Turner , all of whom were declared to be duly elected . The

candidates being in attendance , were regularly introduced and initiated into the mysteries restricted to the first degree . Bro . C . Millwood was a candidate for the honours of the M . M . degree , and having complied with the requisite preliminary he was raised in due form . The lodge was then closed in the several degrees , remaining open in the first , when certain propositions having been made , the lodge was formally closed , and tho brethren adjourned for a short time to refreshment . An

emergency lodge was held on Tuesday evening last , the 12 th inst ., for the purpose of considering an offer made by a tradesman in the town , to purchase the Masonic Hall by private contract , the brethren being about to quit the same , for a more commodious hall which is now nearly ready for their reception . After the offer had been well considered , it was eventually decided to accept the same , and the legal adviser to the trustees , was intrusted to facilitate the completion of the purchase , with as little delay as possible .

LANCASHIRE ( EAST ) . HULME , MANCHESTER Blair Lodge ( No . 815 ) . —On the 8 th inst ., this lodge held the festival of St , John the Evangelist . Bro . James Bedford , was installed by the I . P . M ., as AV . M . foi the ensuing Masonic year . Afterwards a banquet was held , at which were present of the Prov . G . Lodge of East Lancashire —Bros . Hine , P . Prov . S . G . AV . ; VVike , Prov . S . G . AV . ; Figgins ,

P . Prov . G . Chap . ; Kennedy , Prov . G . Treas . ; T . Dill , Prov . G . Pnrst . ; and Bro . Binckes , P . M ., the able Secretary of the Boys' School , London . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given . The I . P . M . was presented with a P . M . jewel by tho newly installed AV . M ., in the name of the officers of the lodge , and in recognition of the many valuable services rendered to the Blair Lodge . Able speeches were made by Bros . AVike , Hine , and Binckes , drawing attention to the Masonic Charities av . d tho good they were doing . The brethren separated in peace and harmony , after an agreeable evening .

LANCASHIRE ( AVEST ) . LANCASTER . —Rowley Lodge ( No- 1 , 051 ) . —The regular meeting of this lodge was held at the Masonic Rooms , AtheniBiun , on Monday , tlie 4 th inst . The chair was occupied by the I . P . M ., Bro . Dr . Moore , Prov . G . Supt . of Works ; Bro . Hall being S . W ., and Bro . J . Hatch , 281 , J . W . j Bros . J . Ingal , 281 , as S . D . ; Broadhurst , J . D . ; Taylor , I . G . ; AA atson , Tyler ; Coulan ,

H . A . ; and Bro . Dr . de Altre . The lodge was opened and general business transacted , and Bro . Coula . i , E . A ., having been found worthy , was passed to the degree of F . C . by the acting AA' . M ., the working tools of the degree being presented by the S . AA . Bro . Dr . Moore announced that he had accepted the office of Steward to the Charity for Aged Freemasons and their AVidows . Their being no further work before the lodge , it was closed in the usual manner .

LIVERPOOL . Provincial Grand Lodge of the Western Division . The annual provincial grand lodge of the western division of Lancashire was held on the 5 th inst . at the Adclphi Hotel , when upwards of 200 brethren assembled . The provincial grand officers present were—Bros . Sir Thomas G . Fermor-Hesketh , Bart . M . P . R . W . Prov . G . M . ; the Hon . F . AStanleyMP

, , . , .., S . G . W . ; 11 . S . Alpass , G . Sec ; T . Wylio , G . Reg . ; C . Sherlock , P . P . G . Reg . ; A . C . Mott , S . G . D . ; II . G . Vernon , M . A ., G . Chaplain ; T . Armstrong , J . G . D . ; AV . Laidlaw , P . G . S . ; J . AV . J . Fowler , G . S . B . ; J . Skeaf , G . O . ; H . Bulley , P . J . G . AV . Cheshire ; J . P . Piatt , P . P . J . G . AV , Cheshire ; R . Wylie , P . G . A . O . D ., of C ; Marsh , P . G . P . ; G . AA . Broadbridge , P . G . S . ; B . W . Rowson P . G . S . ; Joseph Mawdeslev , P . P . G . Reg . ; J . Molineux , P . P . G . O . ; AVhite

S . , P . G . S . B . ; C . J . Banister , P . G . S . B ., of England ; F . Binckes , P . G . S ., Sec . Boys'School ; John Bowes , P . P . G . Reg ., Cumberland and AA astmorelaiid ; James Hamer , P . G . Treas . All the lodges in the province were represented with four exceptions , and in some instances the individual lodge attendance was very numerous . The P ^ ov . G . Lodge having been opened , the G . Sec , read the minutes of the previous annual Provincial Grand Lodge held at

AA igan , and the special Prov . G . Lodge meeting held at Ruilbrd on the occasion of the laying of the foundation stone of St . Mary ' s Church . He also announced that letters of apology for non-attendance bad been received from Bros . Lord Skelmersdale , Lord de Tabley , Schneider , and several other brethren in the province—BroHamerP . G . Treas . presented his accounts ,

. . , , and in receiving them the R . W . Prov . G . M . said tho financial statement appeared to bo very satisfactory , and they had been properly audited . The accounts showed that there was a balance at the " bank of £ 820 2 s . 5 d ., and £ 117 3 s . lOd . remained in hand . —The financial statement was adopted . —Bro . Hamer . who has held tho office for nine years , was elected Prov . G . Treas . for the ensuing year , and in acknowledging the renewed

compliment Bro . Hamer signified his intention of resigning at the close of the current year . —The following brethren were then appointed provincial Grand Officers for the ensuing year : —Bro . the Right Hon . Lord Skelmersdale , D . Prov . G . M .: Bros , the Hon . F . A . Stanley , M . P ., Prov . S . G . AV . ; Schneider , Prov . G . J . AV . ; Vernor , Prov . G . Chaplain ; AVylie , Prov . G . Reg . ; H . S . ABpass , Prov . GSecACMottProvSGDH . B . WhiteProv . J . G . D . ;

. ; . . , . ... ; , Dr . Moore , Prov . G . Supt , of AVorks ; R . Wylie , Prov . G . D . C . ; Marsh , Prov . G . Assist D . C . ; S . AVhite , P . G . S . B . ; J ; Skeaf , Prov . G . O . ; Laidlaw , P . G . Purs . ; AVearing , Pickering , Broadbridge , Ibbs , Rowson , and Fowler , Prov . G . Stewards . Bros . Peter Ball was unanimously re-elected G . Tyler , and W . H . Ball Assist . G . Tyler . —A number of applications for relief of distressed masons were submittedand votes of money wei-e made to each

, of the applicants . —The G . Sec . reported that warrants for the consecration pf three new lodges had been issued during the year , and congratulated the brethren upon the continued harmony and progress which the different lodges had exhibited . — Bro . Wylie moved that the sum of ten guineas should be voted from the fund of benevolence to the annuitant fund of the aged

freemasons aud widows of masons , and that the vote should be made in the name of S . G . AV . This proposition was unanimously agreed to . —Tlie Prov . G . Lodge was then resolved into the court of governors of the West Lancashire Masonic Institution , when Bro . A . C . Mott read the minutes of the general and other committee meetings held during the year which were unanimously adopted . The other proceedings of the court were merely of a formal character , the officers of the past year being unanimously

reappointed . After the Prov . G . Lodge had been again resumed , Bro . Binckes made a statement as to the condition and prospects of the boys' school , On tho motion of Bro . Banister , seconded by Bro . Young-husband , 100 guineas were voted from the fund ot benevolence for the benefit of the institution , and it was agreed that the gift should be made in the names of the Prov . S . G . W . and the Prov . J . G . VV . After Bro . Binckes had acknowledged tho handsome and spontaneous donationthe Prov . G .

, Lodge was closed in due form . It should bo mentioned that Bros . Haswcll , Wilson , ' 1 ' . Armstrong , and T . J . Hughes kindly gave their services as musical brethren . Bro . Skeaf , Prov . G . O ., not only played the accompaniments , but also furnished a uew anthem ( bis own composition ) , called " Behold how good and pleasant , " which is marked by a fine flowing harmony and most artistic arrangement , and will doubtless attain no means

popularity . The brethren afterwards banquetted at the Adelphi Hotel , when Bro . Sir T . G . Fermoi-IIesketb , Bart ., M . P ., R . W . P . G . M ., _ presided . The list embraced 15 toasts , which were proposed in au efficient manner and cordially responded to . In the course of the evening the Prov . G . M . announced that be would hold his next annual meeting at Southport . A well-selected programme of music was performed by the above-named musical brethren , and the brethren separated after spending a most pleasant evening .

LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND . LEICESTER . —Stf . John ' s Lodge ( No . 279 . )—The usual monthly meeting of this lodge was held at the Freemasons' Hall on AVednesday , the 0 th inst ., the AV . M ., Bro . Kelly , D . Prov . G . M ., in the chair , and all the officers except the treasurer ( who was absent owing to a family bereavement ) , and the J . D . being in their places . Several visitors from the sister lodge ( No . 523 ) were presentincluding the AV . M . Bro . TollerP . G . Reg . and .

, , , , the Rev . Bro . H . E . Von Stunner , of Worcester . The list of business included an initiation , a passing , and two raisings , but , one only of these candidates was present—Bro . Roper—who having passed a satisfactory examination as a F . C , was duly raised to the third degree . A vote of condolence was passed to Bro . Weare , P . M ., and Treas . of the lodge , on the decease of