Provincial.

( Bro . Dorling ) , now made this appeal on behalf of his four orphan children under ten years of age . He hoiied to get one of them into the Girls' School in May , and he should bo very happy to receive any proxies on her behalf . ( Hear , hear . ) Bro . HALL hoped tho appeal of Bro . Dorling would not be in vain . The brethren of Suffolk had on previous occasions rendered them assistance , and he hoped the brethren of Essex would not forget to do the same . He thought they had had been very

successful in their Masonic Charities . ( Hear , hear . ) Bro . PETER MATTHEWS said he never allowed the toast of the Masonic Charities to pass without rising to respond to it . He was one of the officers connected with the schools , and therefore knew all about them . Let thorn do as he did—visit them—and see for themselves how they were conducted , and he felt sure they would come away satisfied and delighted with the

arrangements . He did not believe there were boarding ] schools where the children were treated better or more happier . ( Hear , hear . ) They were adding to the school , and he doubted not but that in a short time they would have 100 girls under that hospitable roof . They knew not how soon death might call them away . Many wero in prosperity now , but soon circumstances might create great and important changes . They knew of cases where medical men held a high position in life , but on whose removal

by death it has been found that nothing has been secured to support their families . ( Hear , hear . ) No provision had been made for them , aud the only alternative was to apply to brother Masons for assistance . In their school they would see boys clothed , educated , and made fit for commercial pursuits . A clergyman , a M . A ., superintends their education , whilst his lady attends to the other departments . He only hoped his brother Masons would render these schools all tho support they could . If only

sixpence a week were subscribed it would pay the guinea a year and leave something to spare . Lot them look at the aged Masons and the old women . He was sure they would not forget them in their old age . ( Hear , hear . ) Iu thinking of Lancashire let them not forget those who were connected with them in Masonry . ( Applause . ) In the caso alluded to by Bro . Dorling , the orphans were girls , ancl it was their duty to see they were taken care of . ( Cheers . ) Had they been boys they might

have pushed them on tho world , but as girls they were bound to protect them . ( Hear , hear , and applause . ) Much good had been already effected by these Charities . There had not been one girl connected with the school but who had been a credit to her family and to the institution to which she had been attached . On the part of the Masonic Charities he begged to thank them . ( Applause . ) This closed the list of toasts .

On no occasion do we remember to have seen a more genial feeling existing , oragreater desire evinced amongst tho brethren of various lodges to make each other happy . HERTFORDSHIRE . BEiiKiiAjrpsi'EAD . —Ber / chanijislead Lodge ( No . 742 ) . —The

installation meeting of this lodge was held on AA ' cdnesday , January 7 th , at the Kings Arms Hotel , in the ancient town of Berkhampstead . The lodge was opened by Bro . J . Burton , AA . M ., assisted by his AVardens , Bros . Lambert , and J . B . Newall , fbe .-ie Wmg also pvesont Bros . J . E . Lane , H . G . Lane , J . Johnson , and Dr . F . Barringer , P . M . ' s , AA . Lumley , J . Gurton . S . How , and It . 13 . Lumley , visitors . The minutes of the lodgo

held in October wero read and confirmed . The minutes of the meeting in July , which stood over from tho last lodge , were then read and'a long discussion followed thereon , which resulted in a resolution " that being informal they be not confirmed . " The effect of this resolution is to ignore the assumed membership of Bro . C . J . Nicholson , tho brother alluded to in the "Stars and Garters" correspondence . Bro . Burton then requested Bro . J . How to take the chair , and presenting Bro . George

Lambert , the W . M . elect , that worthy brother was duly installed into the chair , and proclaimed and saluted in the several degrees . The AA . M . appointed and invested as his officers the following brethren : —Bros . J . B . Newall , S . W . ; W . Lumley , J . AV . ; H . G . Lane , See . ; J . Gurton , S . D . Bro . J . E . Lane , P . M ., who had been elected Treasurer , and Thomas , Tyler , were also invested . All business being ended , the lodge was closed in peace , harmony and brotherly love , ancl adjourned to the banquet , which gave the greatest amount of satisfaction to all present .

LANCASHIRE ( EAST ) . ROCHDALE . —Lodge of Harmony ( No . 375 ) . — The annual festival of this lodge was held on AA ' cdnesday the 7 th inst . in the Masonic Rooms , Ann Street . The brethren assembled at three o ' clock , and were soon after agreeably surprised hy Bro . AV . Roberts , P . Prov . G . purst ., presenting three new pedestals from a brother who desired to remain incog . and a portrait in oil of

, the retiring W . M ., Bro . John Knight , the artist being Bro . Waugh . The ceremony of installing Bro . James Stott , as W . M ., was then gone through , the officiating officers being Bro . John Batty Lambert , P . Prov . G . S . D ., E . L ., aud P . Prov . G . C . W . L . ; and Bro . John Lord , Prov . G . Standard Bearer , E . L . The AV . M . appointed the following as his officers : —Bros , J . AVhite , S . AV . ; Edward Chadwick , J . AV . ; AVilliam Ashworth , S . D . ; George

Brown , J . D , ; William Roberts , Treasurer ; Joseph Standing , Secretary ; John Handley , lip-. ; Richard Pickering , Dir . of Cars . ; and Steward Edmund AA ' rigley , C . ; John Ashworth , G . O . A very neat silver inkstand was then presented , in the name of the lodge , to the Past Sec , Bro . AV . XI . Prince , by Bro . Lambert , who is a P . M . of the lodge . The stand hears the following inscription .- ~— " Presented by the Masonic Lodge of

Harmony , No . 375 , Rochdale , to Bro . W . 11 . Prince , as a slight acknowledgment of his services as Secretary , January 7 th , 1863 . " The brethren subsequently partook of a sumptuous baaquet , which had been prepared by Mrs . Land , of the Botanist Inn .

LANCASHIRE ( AA EST . ) LIVEKT-OOL . —St . John's Lodge ( No . 971 ) . —This lodge was opened at 81 , Duke-street , on Jan . 7 th , by Bro . Thornton , P . M . in the absence of the AA . M ., assisted by the officers of the lodge . The minutes of the last regular lodge were read and confirmed . One candidate was initiated by the acting AV . M ., the J . AV . explaining the working tools and the S . AA . giving the charge * . Two candidates were passed to the Fellow Craft degree hy

the W . M . The working tools were explained by P . M ., Bro . C . J . Banister , Prov . G . Dir . of Cers ., and a charge delivered by him . A number of visitors were present : Bros . Ellis , P . M . 245 , Jackson , P . M . 815 , & c . Bro . Banister advocated the cause of the Royal Benevolent Institution and obtained several subscribers . Four candidates were proposed for initiation . Business of the lodge over it was closed in solemn form . GABS-TON . —Lodge of Harmony ( No . 267 ) . —The regular

monthly meeting of this lodgo was opened , at the Wellington Hotel , January 5 th , by P . M . Bro . James Hamer , Prov . G . Treas ., as AV . M ., assisted by the officers of the lodge . The minutes of the last meeting were read ancl confirmed . The lodge was visited by Bros . Ellis , P . M . 24-5 , Jackson , P . M . 845 , Thomas Hovell , of Lodge 23 , Ireland . Business of the lodge over it was closed in form and with prayer . At refreshment the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were proposed by Bro . James Hamer ,

and duly responded to . Bro . C . J . Banister Prov . G . Dir . of Cers ., returned thanks for the Provincial Grand Officers , aud introduced his list for the Royal Benevolent Institution , and obtained several subscribers , but in consequence of the dis-. tress iu this district and the calls on the lodge no amount was voted irom the general funds of the lodge this year . Bros . Ellis , P . M ., and Jackson , returned thanks for the visitors , Bro . Edward Piorpoint for the P . M . 's of the lodge , Bro . Charles Ludliam , S . W ., for the officers . The evening was spent iu love and harmony , which is always the case at the meetings of this lodge , and the brethren for Lira-pool loft the hotel in a siiecial omnibus for town .

Eoiir . —Alliance Lodge ( Xo . 565 ) . —The brethren of this lodge held their annual meeting on A ' v ' ednesday , the 7 th inst ., at Bro . Houlston's , Stanley Arms Hotel , when upwards of fifty brethren were present . The lodge was opened by the AV . M ., Bro . Urmson , to the F . C . degree , when Bro . AA'inkeep , the W . M . elect , was presented by P . M . Bro . J . C . Banister , Prov . G . Dir . of Cers . for the benefit of installation ; all the usual and necessary forms having been complied with , n board of installed

Masters was duly and properly opened by P . M . Bro . J . Pepper , Prov . G . Dir . of Cers . The AA . M . elect was admitted , and he was duly installed in the chair- of K . S ., proclaimed , and saluted in the usual way . The AV . M . then appointed ancl invested his officers , ancl the various charges were given by the installing Master . This lodge without exception , is one of the most prosperous and harmonious in the province , and its working second to none . To the Treasurer , Bro . Yeatiuan , is clue tiie best thanks of tbe brethren , for his