Provincial.

drink in a bumper to his health . AA'ith that he wished to hand the sum to the AA ' . M ., and before the brethren parted be ( Bro . F . ) begged to sing a parting song called "Burns's Farewell , " after which , all standing , Bro . Johnston sang the air of the Anthem , " God Save the Queen . " All the visiting brethren parted iu high glee in having honoured the installation of Bro . Arthur AVoodhouse , AV . M . 412 , Steward 310 , P . G . S . and Treasurer to the , " Masonic Life-boat Fund , " all arriving safe at Carlisle iu the small hours of the followingmorning .

CARLISLE . — Castle Union Lodge ( No . 310 ) . —Installation of W . M . —On Tuesday , the 17 th ult ., the brethren of this lodge celebrated their annual Festival of St . John . After initiating J . M . Harrison and Colour-Sergeant Ford , Bro . John Slack jun ., was installed Worshipful Master for the ensuing year , by Bro . C . J . Bannister , P . G . S . B . G . L . E ., the choice having been made by ballot on tbe previous evening . The new Master appointed his officers follows—WJohnsonSAVGSom

as : . , .. ; . - ruerville , J . AA . ; George Clarke , S . D . ; John Gibson , J . D . ; J . Atkinson , I . G . ; G . Murchie , reappointed Sec . ; AV . Court , reappointed Treas . ; Johu Barnes , reappointed Tyler ; M oodhouse , Steward .

DEA 0 NSHIRE . TOTXES . —Pleiades Lodge ( No . 710 . —The very bad state of the weather greatly interfered with the attendance of tho monthly meeting on Thursday tbe 9 th inst ., only a limited number of members being present at 6 p . m ., the . hour named in the summonses . Among the absentees was Bro . Johu Heath , W . M . whose business avocations bad called him to a distance

, , but he had provided for the emergency by requesting Bro . Dr . Hopkins , P . M ., & c , to take the management of the lodge for the evening , by whom it was opened punctually at the ' time named in the summons . The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed . A ballot was taken for Mr . James Simmons , of Torquay , as a candidate for initiation , which , after ample testimony bad been given on his behalfproved

unani-, mous in his favour . A second ballot was taken for Bro . John Adams , of the Huyshe Lodge , 1099 , as a joining member , which met with a similar result . Bro . Joseph Chenall was examined as to bis proficiency in the first degree , and having answered in a very creditable manner , was intrusted and dismissed for preparation . The lodge was opened in the second degree , after

which tbe candidate was again introduced , properly prepared , and passed to tbe rank of Fellow Craft by tbe acting W . M ., who also gave him tbe charge appertaining to it . The lodge was resumed in tbe 1 st degree . Bro . Lord Donoughmore now entered tbe lodge , accompanied by tbe AV . M ., to whcuv Bro . Dr . Hopkins offered to resign his chair , but being urged to complete the ceremonies of the evening , he consented to do so . Mr . James Simmons was then admittedproperly preparedand

, , was duly initiated as an entered apprentice Freemason , afterwards receiving the customary charge from the acting \ A . M ., at whose request Bro . Heath now assumed the direction of the , lodge . Bro . Dr . Hopkins took the chair of I . P . M ., and introduced the question of musical accompaniments to the ceremonies , for which he offered to provide the means . After some discussionBro . OldreyJ . AA . notice of a motion on the subject

, , , gave for the next meeting . It was determined to purchase a set ' of book markers for the lodge Bible , containing the appropriate ' places at which it may be opened for the several ceremonies , illustrated ] by Masonic diagrams . The : lodge was closed at 8 . S 0 p . m ., and tbe brethren adjourned to spend an hour together during refreshment , separating at 9 . 30 p . m .

NEWIOK ABBOTI . —Devon Lodge ( No . 1 , 138 . )—Tbe chief meeting of the year was held on Tuesdav , 7 th inst ., at the rooms in the Queen ' s Hotel . At half an hour after noon the lodge ivas opened iu tbe first degree , by Bro . Capt . Bewes , W . M ., assisted by Bros . Major Yates , I . P . M . ; Humberstone , S . AA . ; Lamble , J . W . The only visitor present was Bro . Dr . Hopkins , P . M . 43 and 958 , and P . Prov . S . G . AV . for Wanvickshire . The minutes of the previous meeting having been read

and confirmed , the lodge was opened in the second degree . Bro . Dr . Hopkins as Installing Master then took the chair . Bro . Bewes having been elected as AA . M . for a second year , was presented by Bro . Yates , P . M ., and after the usual preliminaries took the necessary obligation of AA . M . elect . The lodge was opened in the third degree . He was then duly re-installed in his chair , and the appointed salutations , processions , and

proclamations took place . Tiie AV . M . nominated and invested his ofiicers as follows : —Bros . Yates , I . P . M . ; Lamble , S . AV . ; Stooke , J . AV . ; Rev . Johns , Chap . ,- Cull , Treas . ; G . H . Poulton , Sec . ; Browne , Org . ; AVm . Poulton , S . D . ; Rees , J . D . ; Major , I . G . ; AVeekes , Tyler . The Installing Master concluded the ceremony by delivering the several charges to tbe AA . M ., the AA ' ardens , and the members of tbe lodge . On the proposition of Bro . Humberstone , seconded by the W . M ., a vote of thanks was passed

byacclamation to Bro . Dr . Hopkins , for having visited Newton in order to discharge the principal duty of the clay , as well as for tbe efficient and impressive manner in which lie had conducted tbe ceremony of installation . The Secretary was directed to enter this ' on the minutes . The Installing Master of course acknowledged the compliment . Tho W . M . presented the report of the audit committee , which was received and adopted , after some suggestions and discussion thereupon as to the best means

of raising money to meet the extraordinary expenses incurred in the erection of a place exclusively devoted to the service of the ' , Craft . An announcement was made that the next meeting of the lodge will probably be held iu the new Masonic Temple , which has very nearly reached completion , and seems well adapted for the purpose for which it is designed , comprising a lodge room 45 ft . long , 22 ft . wide , and 25 ft . high , and other

necessary arrangements . The lodge was closed at about two o ' clock . An hour later the brethren again met at the Commercial Hotel to partake of the annual banquet , which was admirably served by Bro . Swann . Tbe \ A . M . of course presided , supported on bis right and left by Bros . Dr . Hopkins , and Capt . AA alrond , AA \ M . 303 , and P . G . D . The after dinner proceedings were of the ordinary complimentary chaiacter , and not of sufficient importance to deserve particular record . The AA . M . left bis chair at six p . m ., accompanied by many of the brethren ,

DURHAM . BISHOP AUCKLAND . — Wear Valley Lodge ( No . 1121 . ) . —Tbe usual monthly meeting of this young and flourishing loelge was held on Friday , tbe 10 th inst ., and numerously attended , the business being to instal the AA . M . elect , to receive the Treasurer ' s report , ancl afterwards to celebrate tbe festival of St . John the EvangelistAmongst the visiting brethren noticed Bros

. we . John Fawcett , R . AA . Prov . G . M . of Durham ; B . Lew , P . M . 97 , P . Prov . G . Dir . of Cers . ancl Prov . G . J . AA . ; Bngnall , P . M . 124 , and P . Prov . G . Reg i Ralm , P . M . 97 ; R . D . Ward , P . M . 173 ; tbe Rev . J . B . Butcher 95 , Irish C . ; T . AV . Hearon , Prov . S . AA . 124 , and others . The minutes of the last regular lodge and a lodge of emergency , held on the 27 th ult ., having been read and confirmedBro . George CanneyM . D . who has for

, , , some time been S . W ., ruling the lodge in consequence of the death of the first AA . M ., during his year of office was duly installed AA . M ., according to ancient usage , the R . AA . Prov . G . M . acting as the installing officer , Bros . Ralm , S . AV ., and Levy , J . AV . After the installation , the Treasurer ' s accounts were read , which showed that since the lodge was consecrated in August 1866 ,

there had been forty-three installations , twenty-three joining members , and three members had died , leaving sixty-three on the books ; the income from subscriptions had been nearly £ 30 , and there bad been several valuable presentations to tbe lodge , by . Bnos . Proud , Stillman , Davison , and others . The accounts were / passed unanimously . The AA . M . then appointed his officers for t / ne ensuing year , viz .: ' Bros , the Rev . G . P . Wilkinson , S . W . ; John Proud , J . W . ; the Rev . Edward Healy . Chap . ; George

Stillman ( elected by the lodge ) Treas . ; John Wyid , Sec . ; II . Kilbura , S . D . ; J . J . Leigh , J . D . ; Pawson , I . G . ; aud Hymen and Dawson , Stewards . The lodge having been closed in form tbe brethren proceeded to the house of Bro . Labron , the Commercial Hotel , to celebrate the festival of St . John the Evangelist , when upwards of forty sat down to an excellent dinner . Tbe chair was taken by the AA . M ., supported by the R . AVProv . G . M . and other distinguished visitors on bis riht and

, g left , tbe side tables being presided over by Bro . Proud , J . AV , and Bro . Stillman Treasurer . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were drank with enthusiasm , and a very pleasant evening enlivened by some excellent singing was spent . The proceedings terminated about eleven p . m .

ESSEX . COLCHESTER . — United Lodge ( No . 697 . )—The usual monthly meeting of this lodge was held on A \ ednesday , the Sth inst ., iu the George Hotel , at seven o ' clock p . m . Bro . C . Carnegie , I . P . M ., took the chair of K . S ., assisted by Bros . AVolverson ,