Provincial.

J . | 9 , and Finch , AA ' . JI ., G 21 , for their attendance and valuable assistance on this occasion ; also to Bro . H . D . Reynolds , late Sec , forthe efficient manner in which he performed his duties as first Sec of this lodsre , and to Bro . Hayivard , P . JL , as the first AA ' . JI ., and AVIIO AVUS elected an lion , member . A gentleman ivas then proposed as a candidate for initiation , and a Bro . as a joining member , aud the lodge closed . Tho brethren next proceeded to the banquet , AA-hich was got up by Bro . Cooke , of the AA'almer Castle Hotel , to whom

great praise is due . At the banquet the loyal and usual JIasonic toasts were proposed , and a very handsome gold watch and chain were presented to Bro . Hayward , with the folloAving inscription : — " Presented to Bro . E . C . Hayivard , by the members of the AA'ellington Lodge , Deal , 10 S 6 , as a small token of their esteem and fraternal regard for his untiring energies as the first AA ' . JI . of the lodge , 10 th January , 1 SG 1 . " A petition was signed to Grand Chapter for a chapter to be attached to this lodge . This lodge , which was opened on the ISth of June , 1859 , is in a very prosperous condition . It has already initiated about twenty candidates , and numbers nearly fifty subscribing members .

MONMOUTHSHIRE . NEAVPOBT . —Isca Lodge ( No . 983 ) . —The annual meeting of this lodge and the festival of St . John ivas held at the JIasonic Hall , Dock-street , on Thursday , the 3 rd inst ., to install the AA ' . JI . elect , Bro . jRobert James Cathcart . The ceremony AVUS performed by Bro . Henry Bridges , G . S . B . and P . JI ., in his usual impressive manner , after which the AV . JL invested the following brethren as officers for the year ensuing , viz .: —II . J . Groves , S . AV . ; J .

Laybourn , J . AA ' . and Sec . ; R , Laybourn , Treas . ; C . Simpson , S . D . ; S . G . Homfray , J . D . ; AV . Burton , I . G ., and AA' . Jl'Fee , Tyler . The brethren then adjourned to the Westgate Hotel to the banquet , in perfect harmony .

NORFOLK . NonwiciT . —Social Lodge ( No . 110 ) . —Bro . J . D . Ellis , unanimously elected AA ' . JI . of this lodge , ivhich meets at the Eoyal Hotel , ivas installed on Tuesday se'nnight by Bro . A . F . Jlorgan , the late master , ivho performed the ceremony in a very impressive manner . The AA ' . JI . appointed the following brethren as his officers : —Bros . G . E . Simpson , S . AA ' . ; C . Nursey , J . AA ' . ; AA' . Smith , S . D . ; F . T . Keith , J . D ., and T . Culley , I . G . * The sum of

£ 5 was voted to the fund for the relief of the Nonvich poor ; ¦ £ o 5 s . to other local charities , and the usual annual subscriptions of t 63 3 s . each to the JIasonic Boys' and Girls' Schools . Bro . J . JIarshall ivas re-appointed Sec , with thanks to him for his past services . About fifty brethren sat down to a sumptuous supper , at which the AA ' . JI ., Bro . Ellis , presided . " The Health of the lute AA ' . JI ., Bro . Morgan , Prov . G . J . AV ., " who filled the chair in a most able manner , w-as very cordially drunk , and the brethren spent a

most agreeable evening . ' Union Lodge ( No . GO ) . —The installation of Bro . E . S . Bignold , unanimously elected AV . JI . of this lodge for the year 1861 , took place on Thursday evening , the ISth inst ., at the lodge-room at the Norfolk Hotel , about forty brethren being present , a large proportion of Avhom were visitors . Bro . AA' . Leedes Fox , Prov . Grand Secretary , officiated as Installing JIaster , a circumstance which added considerably to tbe interest of the evening's proceedings , from Bro . Fox ' s ivell-knOAVii proficiency in every department of Craft Masonry ,

It is needless to say that the ceremony Avas performed in a perfect and admirable manner , which AVUS very edifying to those of the brethren present , on whom a similar duty may hereafter devolve . Bro . Bignold appointed Bro . AA ' . S . Boulton ( late J . AA ' . ) as his S . AA' . ; Bro . 0 . Back , . 1 . AA ' . ; Bro . the Hon . F . Walpole , S . D . ; Bro . N . H . Caley , J . D . ; and Bro . David Gervice , I . G . After the investment of the neiv officers , the lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned from labour to refreshment They partook of an excellent

. supper , which ivas followed by the usual Alasonic toasts , Bro . Bisrnold discharging the duties of president with great spirit and " JOHtiomie . The brethren spent a very pleasant evening , the conviviality being prologed to a mature hour . AVe congratulate the members of [ Lodge GO on tbe accession to the chair of a brother so well qualified in every respect as Bro . Bignold to conduct the working of the lodge , and to extend its influence ; for we are glad to hear that it lates

contemp an enlargement of its numbers , ivhich have for a long time been rather limited . There can be no fear , looking to the social position and character of the present members , that any accession will at all tend to lower the standard of qualification which has hitherto been , in a strictly JIasonic spirit , exacted in candidates for admission , and which has contributed to render the lod one of the most agreeable lod brother could cither

ge ges a belongto or visit . If Lodge GO has been hitherto ( as ive have heard it hinted ) a little " exclusive , " the error has been on the right i G ' f ¥ asom'y is essentially exclusive , in a certain sense , and " ive do not hold thafc JJie prosperity of a particular lodge , or of the

Craft generally , is to be tested by a numerical criterion , which may be swelled by indiscriminate admissions . Tlie Union Lodge has uot affiliated so many members as other lodges ; but it has maintained a certain prestige through the individual influence and worth of its members , and the thoroughly Masonic character of their meetings , which have been genuine social parties . Still , the infusion of a little neiv blood will invigorate this good old lodge , and under the auspices of Bro . Bignoldwho is ivell up to his duties

, , and ivith the assistance of diligent and zealous officers , we may hope to see the working of Lodge GO such as it ought to he , and that in this respect , as ivell as others , is AA'ill assume its proper rank amongst the lodges of Norfolk . NOKPOLK . —Cabbell Lodge ( 1109 ) . —Bro . G . AV . Minns , late S . AV ., has been unanimously erected AA ' . M . of the Cabbell Lodge .

STAFFORDSHIRE . AA ' oLi'EKn . oirioir . —Lodge of St . Peter ( No . 607 ) . —The Installation meeting of this lodge took place at the Star and Garter Hotel , on January 3 , 1861 , Bro . Betts , AA' . JL , in the chair , supported by Bro . T . AA' . Cooper , S . AV ., and Bro . G . Turton , J . AV ., and other officers in their proper places . There was a fair attendance of brethren and visitors . The lodge was punctually opened at three , and the usual business proceeded with . Jlr . Geo . Pratt was

balloted for as a candidate ; the result being unanimously favourable , he was a / terwards regularly initiated into Freemasonry , and the lecture in the first degree given him . This being the period for the Treasurer , Bro . King , P . JL , to produce his accounts and statement of the pecuniary affairs of the lodge for the past tivelA-e months , he rose and explained tho same to the brethren , who were exceedingly gratified to find so large a balance to tho credit of thelodgo . The accounts had been examined and audited by a

committee , and found perfectly correct . The R . AA ' . Prov . G . M . also expressed his approval of the careful manner in which the Treasurer had performed his office , and congratulated the brethren upon the very satisfactory and prosperous condition of the lodge . He also expressed his cordial appreciation of the correct manner- in which the officers had performed their duties , and encouraged the brethren to continue to carry out their principle of only initiating such candidates as would be likely to reflect honour upon the

lodge . Bro . Dr . Gough , P . M . 769 , officiated as Installing Master , and performed the ceremony in his usually effective manner , assisted by the R . AV . ' Prov . G . JI ., and other P . Jf . s . The AV . Meleet AVUS Bro . Edwin Haselor , who , having been installed , and " done his fealty , " proceeded to the appointment of his officers for the ensuing year . The same being performed , together with other important business , the lodge was duly closed with solemn prayer .. The brethren , at 5 o'clock , adjourned to the banquet . After justice had been done to the various good things provided , and the cloth removed , the AV . JI . proposed the toast of "The Queen and the-Craft , " observing that any attempt of his to dilate upon the

virtuesof our beloved Sovereign would be like attempting to " gild refined , gold , " or to " paint the lily white . "—The toast was duly honoured ; likewise the succeeding one of " H . R . H . Prince Albert , and the rest of the Royal Family . " — " The JI . AV . G . JI . of England , the Earl of Zetland , " was the next toast , and it AA-HS also duly honoured . —Then " The Healths of the R . AA ' . D . G . JL , the JIarquis of Dalhousie , and other Officers" ofthe Grand Lodge , to which the R . AA ' , Prov . G . JI . of this county , Bro . Col . A'ernon , responded . —

The next toast from the chair was that of R . AA' . Prov . G . JI ., Bro . Col . A ' ernon , which was received , as his name invariably is , with enthusiasm . He responded to it suitably , and in his speech adverted ( we speak from recollection ) to the great , though cheerfully performed , demands the provincial duties made upon his time , having upivards of twenty lodges to attend in Staffordshire , to saynothing of Royal Arch Chapters and i-nrious other engagementsthe duties of Colonel of the 4 th Battalion of Staffordshire A '

olunteer Rifles—his duties as County Magistrate , and his ties and home affections , ivhich could irot he forgotten . The toast of the evening then succeeded , proposed impressively by the R . AV . P . G . JL , viz ., —that of the new AA' . JI ; and Bro . A ' ernon again alluded to the increasing prosperity of St . Peter ' s Lodge . —The AA' . JI ., Bro * Haselor , in reply , said , R . AA ' . Sir , Officers , and Brethren , I thank you for the honour you have done me in appointing me JIaster of this lodge , and I do hope my poor abilities will , ivith the strictest

attention to the demands of the office , enable mo to perform those duties in a manner that ivill prove beneficial to the prosperity and welfare of St . Peter's Lodge , and I hope with some little good to Freemasonry in general . Should I fail in achieving this much , I assure you that my shortcomings must he attributed to the want of power and ability , and not to a careless indifference to the well-Avorking , prosperity , and respectability of the lodge . To ensure that well-working I must ask for the cordial co-operation of the officers , for without that all ivill go wrong . I do not doubt that I shall have it , as I knoAv them to be good Jlasons , zealous and sincere in their intentions , and I trust as time revoh-es to see them