Provincial.

York , and from a Roman column found in a villa at Acton Scott f and , in proof ot the continuous activity of the JIasonic fraternity during the medueval ages and down to the present time , he showed a , splendid collection of marks obtained from buildings erected bv our ancient brethren in Sweden , Denmark , Hnngarv , France , Germany , Malta , England , Ireland , Scotland , and AA'ales , ' and from the magnificent Taj at Agra , the fortress of Allahabad , the Temple ot Giv / the vjates

nee , of Somnauth , the Cave of Elephanta , excavated in the ninth century , and from a bridge erected on the Lime Valley Railway last year , thus showing that for a period of more than -1000 years tins system of marks had been practised . Bro . bhaiv gave very lucid explanations of many JIasonic customs , and described the three different kinds of marks , viz .. the irregular or olind ones for A pprentices ; regular ones for skilled Fellowcrafts or Mark andtho

men ; official marks used by the AVardens or Overseers . He also contrauictcd the notion that the beautiful pillar in Rosslyn Chapel was executed by an apprentice , who w-as aftenvards killed , > y ins mas t er m a fit of jealousv . The Fellowcraffc marks found on die pillar ailly proved it to have boon carved and worked by Fcllowcra . tsnien ; and the figlu- es 011 t ] le architrave representing the master and apprentice , the latter with a wound on his forehead , simplrefer to

y a legend in the third degree , with which all Master Jlasons are familiar . RTO . g . , v aUo ciass ;( ied the miu . ; nto the symbolic , such as tr . e equilateral triangle , square , circle , Sec . ; the representative , such as the square and compasses , trowels , arrows , harpoons keys , & c . ; and the initial and arbitrarv marks ; and gave full explanations of their various meanings . " Throughout the Avhole lectureAvhieh was a most admirable and contained

, one , a vast amount of interesting matter , * Bro . Shaw was listened to with the greatest attention , and at its close a very cordial vote of thanks was given to him for his kindness in visiting the Britannia Lo < tge _ and drawing the attention of the brethren to so truly JIasonic a subject . The lod ge was then closed , and the brethren retired to refreshment .

Channel Islands.

CHANNEL ISLANDS .

Irt'EnxSET . —Hammond Zod ge ( So . 829 ) . —The brethren of this lodge assembled at their Masonic Hall on Monday , the 7 th , tor the purpose of installing their AV . AI . for the ensuing year . The event caused more than usual interest in consequence 5 f the R . AA ' . xr nw i' S f TE . ' wi * h his Deputy ?™ - G . M ., Bro . the Rev . H . O . Woods , and Prov . Grand Officers having signified their intention of being present . The lod ivas at five when

ge opened p . m ., Bro . Rowe was re-installed AA ' . M . by the R . AV . Prov . G . JI ., Bro . Hammond ( from whom the lod ge takes its name ) , in the presence rfthu ^ n Past Masters nnd » verv full attendance of brethren , who felt highly complimented b y his kindly performing the cercmo ! - f }} ° W . M . then appointed his officers as follows : —AA ' . AA'ilcocks

, S . AV- J Cole J . AA ' . ; Jfartin , S . D . ; T . Guilbert , J . D . ; J . uarianu r . u J . no brethren , on the conclusion of JIasonic business , adjourned to the banquet , and amongst those present iva ooo i \ n ' » ° ""?« . W . M ., 99 , P . Prov . S . G . AV . ; AA ' akly , AV . JL , 200 ; Dr . Gollenett , p . Jl ., Prov . a s Hatcllhlso p . tf Prov . ftewf ' Rer VUts ' oT G' SGC' ; C 0 ° ^ ' " - ' ' " « ri , » TT * n ? '' e I , 0 u tlle re " > ° val of tlie cloth the AA' . JI . a-ave lie Health of the Queen and the Craft" dwelling largel her

, y on torv " tb f T ' " ° " y aS the Sovereign of s ° u 0 h Vst terrinn L r - i SUn T : cv ' set on her ini S ' " tat * l * o M to her lev elf fn H T ' ? \ > ' 1 , er CXiU "l aS ° motllC 1 ' ' » vin endeared n , f Thw T a 11 hcr sub . ie , 'ts ' from the Pew to the peasaiuv-Ihe AA ' . M prefaced the next toast by calling attention to U 1 andUld ^ ed inth late visit " of the Roial

1 irnir ^ , b ' , - c - ™ 2 % ?? 1 h 0 P ed evo l 0 "S that not only the Piince of AA ' ales , but IZll r Tr + T' r ,, ld folW tlle e «"" l ? le of their late great uncle and G . AI . the Dnl-n nr a in- j . i i , „„ , „! , „ ,. <• i , „ + i J , e ol & llssex , hy enrolling themselves as members j lie , therefore ^ m << TI , „ TT vii c u i > n t . „„ A + i , „ ' , i „( , i ,, ' Save Ihe Health ot the Prince Consort ana the rest ot the Rovil TT .. n , ; i " « r „ i TT m / . n n- i . Hon tl , n "irii'PAr n ' \ f ' ' » nily . "— " The Health of the Right clini , ' . S > f ? Kavl of ZotI ' « "l" next followed from the S ' n "' ° p 0 tllat ifc "" . Y Pkase the G . A . O . T . U . to 10 C that tlle Craft 1

ceive ttnrfr ^ r , ° ' " >« y ™ S ro " haiin . L in- h f advice 11 IKl ^ Pericnce , the ftet of his S ? n ™ nf nf if ° G ; ' thC laSt seventeon ™ ra bei ^ ' a sfnuent proof of the lng-h estimation in Avhich he was held bv fo \ w « Wf-f " l ™ i ^ " The « -W - D-G-M . and Grand Ofiicers" next o lowed , after wlueh the AV . JI . saidthe next toast he had to nro-Seci-T ^ -t ^ - C ; U 11 Gnfrei' h 0 , nc ' ' ' itmw ° » that called that S nni " tl 0 n ° U tho Present occasion , inasmuch as they had nerso vfl 1 , al , 10 ;' tllom towards whom every brother felt a pe ^ ona ^ eg ar ( l and a hi gh appreciation of his Masonic ivorth ; it

was their R . AA ' . Prov . G . JI ., Bro . Hammond , who had honoured them with his presence that evening , and ivho had himself performed the duties of Installing JIaster . Ho could assure that R . AA' . brother that , in stating his OAVU , he expressed the feeling of every brother of the lodge to ivhich be belonged—tho lodge that graced his name—that although this Avas the first occasion since he joined the lodge of seeing that distinguished brother amongst' themhis name ivas never mentionedor his health drankbut

, , , with that respect and enthusiasm that should always be accorded to their provincial chief . He hoped that what he had seen of their working that night had met ivith his approbation , and such as ivould induce him to repeat his visit at no distant period ; their most anxious wish being to see him amongst them as often as the distance and passage from Jersey would alloiv . —The R . AA ' . Pitov . G . JI . thanked the AV . JI . for his kindness in proposing , and the brethren

for the manner in ivhich they had drank his health , and could assure them , ivith feelings Avhich emanated from his heart , the pleasure he felt on meeting them on the present occasion : that it was only the distance and the sea passage ivhich prevented his more frequent attendance amongst them , for he always entertained a great partiality for Guernsey , and hoped some day to reside amongst them . This feeling ivas materially strengthened by the fact of his hter

daug having married a Guernsey gentleman , and , of course , hisaifections were centered there ; but he felt pleased to take this opportunity of personally thanking his D . Prov . G . JI . for the care and attention he had bestoived on the JIasonic requirements of this part of his province . Separated as they ivere geographically , it required a deputy of energy , ability , firmness , and perseverance . Such a onehe was proud to they possessedand he

, say , , felt sure that he was beloved amongst them ; lie therefore wished that every happiness and blessing might descend on each member , their wives , children , and all that AVUS connected ivith them —The AA ' . JI . then gave " the AV . D . Prov . G . JI ., " the Rev . H . O . AA'oods , as a most distinguished , well-kiiOAvn bro . JIason , and one they always looked up to with honour , respect , and loyalty . In fact , he always felt it a privilege to propose such a . toast , but he

exceedingly regretted that his health had not of late been such as they could have wished ; and it AAMS with the heartfelt wish and prayer ofthe brethren that one so dearly beloved might be speedily restored to his usual health and spirits . —The D . PEOV . G . JI . felt a difficulty of responding , not from any want of feeling , but more from the great kindness he had ever found the brethren expressed toivards him . " In fact ( said that distinguished brother , taking a splendid presentation jeivel from his breast ) I

, were wanting proof of the sincerity of the kindly feeling of the brethren of this island , this ivould amply suffice ; " and he trusted the same kindly feeling of one towards another would ever continue . —The R . AA ' . PEOV . G . JI . felt the greatest pleasure in proposing the next toast , feeling sure it would be hailed with equal delight both by visitors and members . The fact ofthe AA ' . JI . liaving been re-installed was a sufficient proof of the high estimation in which he was held b

y tho brethren . His kindness of disposition , urbanity of manners ,, but , above all , his attention to the requirements of the brethren ' , and the working his lodge , had placed him high amongst them as " an ornament to the Craft , and credit to their lodge . —The AA' . JI . felt the greatest difficulty in finding words to express his feelings for the very handsome and flattering manner in AA-hich his health had been proposed by the R . AV . Prov . G . JI . ; but his first election to the chair having taken place during his absence from the lodge in consequence of a severe illness , he felt he should

be wanting in gratitude to them for the confidence placed iu him if he did not strive to his utmost , for the comfort of the brethren and the prosperity of the Hammond Lodge ; he felt highly gratified that his efforts had so farmettheirapprovalthathe had been re-elected their AA' . JI ., aud he could assure them that , assisted by the ofiicers and Past JIasters of the lodge , his utmost exertions should still be exercised for their comfort , and with grateful feelings he begged to thank them all for the assistancegiven him in the pastand to solicit a

, continuation of it in the present year . —Bro . HUTCIIIKSOX sa . iv one amongst them whom he had the pleasure of recognising ivhen ho visited the Grand Lodge of England ; he did not then knoiv that brother ' s name ; but seeing him most amongst them , he had the greatest pleasure in proposing the health of Bro . Bisgs , Prov . Grand Reg . of AA'iltshire . —Bro . BIGGS begged to thank the brethren for the very kind manner in ivhich his health had been and drank

proposed , and he could assure them that he always experienced the greatest pleasure in visiting their lodge , which he did noiv for the fourth time ; it had been a source of great gratification to hini to see his friend , Bro . Row-e , elected for the second year to office , it being the highest compliment the lodge could bestow on any of its members , because , according to the Book of Constitutions , no brother could serve a longer period . He felfc great pleasure in seeing the impressive and correct working of the lodge under Bro . Roive ; but it ivas not only in the Avorking of a lodge that JIasonry consisted ; there were a thousand ivays in ivhich , apart from pecuniary