Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

ESSEX . BRIGHTLINGSEA . —ioctye of Hope ( No . 433 ) . —A lodge of emergency was held on Tuesday , the 7 th inst ., for tbe purpose of passing Bro . Thomas G . Wellum to the second degree . Among those present were Bros . Blyth , P . M ., as W . M . ; G . Riches , S . W . ; York , J . W . ; Francies , S . D . ; Bragg , J . D . ; Mintev . I . G . ; Wiseman , Hon . Sec . ; Harmer , Tyler ; " J . Salmons , Rodger , Angierand John Wellum . Alsitor—Bro . Stammersof the

, , Angle Lodge ( No . 51 ) , Colchester . The lodge was opened in the first degree , when Bro . Wellum answered the probationary questions and retired . Dnringhis absence tbe lodge was opened in the second degree , and Bro . Wellum passed to the degree of F . C . by Bro . Blyth , P . M . The . lodge was then closed ' in the second and first degrees , and the brethren separated .

KENT . ASHEORD . —Invicta Lodge ( So . 709 ) . —At the monthly meeting of this lodge on Friday , the 3 rd inst ., Bro . W . Greenhill , I . P . M ., presided , Bro . Dr . Maund , the W . M ., being unavoidably absent . There was a good muster of the brethren , and several visitors from the Lodge of Freedom , Faversham . Bro . J . S . Eastes , P . M ., gave an elaborate explanation of tbe tracing board of the first degree . Bro . It . C . Mansell was unanimously elected "W . M . for the ensuing year , and Mr . George Simmouds , of East Packhatn , was proposed as a candidate for initiation .

LANCASHIRE ( WEST . ) PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE AND CENTENARV FESTIVAL OF THE LODGE OE LIGHTS ( XO . 14 S ) , WARRINGTON . The Order of "Free and Accepted Masons" is of ancient establishment in Warrington . Elias Ashmole , tbe author of the well-known " History of the Order of the Garter , " and founder of the Ashmolean Museumat Oxfordthus writes in

, , bis diary : — " 1 G 16 , October 16 , 4 hours 30 minutes , p . m . —I was mads a Free Mason at Warrington , in Lancashire , with Colonel Henry Mainwaring , of Cheshire . The names of those that were then at the lodge—Mr . Richard Penketh , Warden ; Mr . James Collier , Mr . Richard Sankey , Henry Littler , John Ellam , Richard Ellam , and Hugh Brewer . " it will thus be seen that the Order was flourishing in the " good old town "

220 years since . It would appear , however , that the ancient records are lost , and that its history cannot now be connectively traced further back than November Sth , 1765 . Wednesday , the Sth inst ., being the centenary of the lodge , it was decided to celebrate it with a procession , banquet , and a grand miscellaneous concert . The whole arrangements were deputed by the W . M . Bro . Gilbert GreenallM . P .. Prov . S . G . W .

, , , and brethren to Bros . H . B . White , P . M ., Prov . G . Steward ; John Bowes , P . M ., Prov . G . Dir . of Govs . ; William Smith , J . W . 148 ; John Pierpoint , S . D ., and Dr . Pennington ; and right well they discharged their duty , fo honour the occasion , the Prov . G . Master , Sir TIIOF . G . Hesketh , Earl ., If . P ., summoned a

special meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge for half-past eleven a . m ., at the Public Hail , Warrington . The Craft lodge was opened in the three degrees by the W . M . 's of the senior lodges present , and then closed down to allow of the admission of E . A . P . ' s . The following Prov . G . officers entered the lodge room in procession , to appropriate music ou the large organ , Bro . Sanders , Prov " . G . Org ., presiding , viz . —Bros . Sir Thos . G . HeskethBart . Prov . G . M . ; Gilbert GreenallM . P . WM .

, , , , 1-18 , Prov . S . G . W . ; Lieut .-Col . Birchall , Prov . J . G . W . ; Rtv . H . G . Vernon , Prov . G . Chap . ; Rev . F . Terry , Prov . G . Chap . Cheshire ; Rev . J . W . Ncwall Tanner , P . Prov . G . Chap . ; Rev . A . A . O'Neill , P . Prov . G . Chap . ; Wylie , Prov . G . Reg . ; Mawdesley , Prov . G . Sec ; Dr . Altham , ' Prov . S . G . D . ; Shaw Thewlis , P . M . 148 , P . Prov . S . G . D . ( Mayor of Warrington ); YounghusbandProv . . T . G . D . ; Jas . BillingeP . Prov . G . D .-

, , , Allpass , P . I'rov . Sword Bearer ; H . Armstrong , P . G . Supt . of "Works ; J . Allender , P . Prov . Dir . of Cers . ; Haddock , P . Prov . G . Supt . of Works ; James Hamer , Prov . G . Treas . ; Capt . Mott , Prov . G . Sword Beaver ; Sanders , P . G . Org . -, Mol ' meux , P . Prov . G . Org . ; Rev . F . Terry , Prov . G . Chnp . Cheshire ; Tanner , P . Prov . G . Chap ., Cheshire ; Thos . Armstrong , Prov . G . Purst . ; Capt . Hansbrow , Prov . G . Std . Bearer ; S . White , H . B . White ,

K . Wylie , and N . II . Beazley , Prov . G . Stewards . Among visiting Provincial officers were . Bros . George Cornwall Legh , M . P ., P . G . W . of England , I ' rov . S . G . W . of Cheshire ; Rev . B . Lowther , Prov . G . Supt . of Works ; Edward Barlow , P . Prov .

G . Treas . East Lancashire ; John Bowes , Prov . G . Dir . of Cers . Cumberland and Westmoreland ; Joseph Martin , P . Prov . G . Treas ., & c . The R . W . the Prov . G . Master having taken the chair , tho Provincial Grand Lodge was opened in form and with solemn prayer , and the singing , by the choir , of Dr . Clarke Whitfield ' s anthem , "Behold how good aud joyful . " The Prov . G . SEC . then read the minutes of the Provincial

Grand Lodge , held at Preston on the 3 rd Oct . last , whicli were duly submitted and confiraied ; after which Bro . Greenall was called to the dais , and invested with the collar and jewel of the office of Prov . S . G . W ., to which he was appointed at the previous meeting , and Bro . Sanders was invested with the collar of Prov . G . Org . Letters of apology , regretting their inability to attend , were

read from Jiros , R . Towniey Parker , D . Prov . G . M ., and Bannister , P . G . S . B ., the former owing to a domestic bereavement , and the latter from illness . A petition from the widow of a member of Lodge S 97 having been read and duly supported , the sum of £ p was voted to the petitioner . The following addresses of condolence having been read by the Prov . G . Sec , were approved and ordered to be presented ,

.: — To the Right Honourable the Earl of Zetland , K . T ., & c , Most Worshipful the Grand Master of England . May ib please youv Lordship , —We , the Grand Master , Wardens , and officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge of West Lancashire , beg to offer you our heartfelt sympathy and condolence on the loss you have sustained by the death of your amiable and esteemed ladythe late Countess of Zetland .

, Connected as your lordship has been for so many years with Freemasonry , and evincing the great interest you have done in its welfare , the brethren of this province , and more particularly the officers of Provincial Grand Lodge , cannot but share in the deep grief your lordship must suffer in your sad and painful bereavement , and most fervently pray that it may please the Great Architect of the Universe to bestowon you the healing

balm of consolation , and mercifully support you through your sad affliction . On behalf of the Provincial Grand Lodge of West Lancashire , THOMAS GEORGE HESKETH , Prov . G . M . GILBERT GREENALL , Prov . S . G . W . THOMAS BIRCHALLProv . J . G . W .

, Jos . Mawdesley , Prov . Grand Secretary . To Mrs . Starkie , relict of Le Gendre Nicholas Starkie , Esq ., of Huntroyde , late R . W . Prov . Grand Master of West Lancashire : — Madam , —We the Grand Master , Wardens , and officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge of West Lancashire , beg to offer you our heartfelt sympathy ami condolence in the bereavement

you have sustained by the death of your excellent husband , our much beloved and highly esteemed Provincial Grand Master , the late Le Gendre Nicholas Starkie , Esq ., who for a period of thirty-nine years ruled over this province , and who , by his uprightness , strict integrity , and urbanity , coupled with his zeal for Freemasonry , and liberal support of tho various Masonic Charities , has made us deeply sensible that in his death we sustain a severe loss . We would fain hope that the sorrow of

yourself and family may in some degree be alleviated by the knowledge that the brethren of this province share in the deep regret which must follow the death of so good a man and so eminent a ruler of the Craft , and most earnestly pray that the all-wise and great Disposer of events will bestow on yon the balm of consolation , and mercifully comfort and support you through your sad trial .

On behalf of the Provincial Grand Lodge of West Lancashire , THOMAS GEORGE HESKETH , Prov . G . M . GILBERT GREENALL , Prov . S . G . W . THOMAS BIRCHALL , Prov . J . G . W . Jos . Mawdesey , Prov . G . Secretary . Ou the motion of the R . W . Prov . G . M ., seconded by Bro . resolved that

Beazley , Prov . G . Steward , it was unanimously , in consideration of the valuable services rendered by Bro . Mawdesley iu connection with the Masonic Educational Institution of this province he be elected to the rank of P . Prov . S . G . W . ; after which Bro . Mawdesley was duly invested by the B .. V , Prov . G . M . Deputations from Lodges No . SG , Prescot , and No . 14 S , \\ ar