Provincial.

the whole of tbe company sat down to a cold collation , including the rarities and dainties of the season . The health of Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen was proposed and duly honoured , and also that of the ladies . Dancing was resumed and kept up with great spirit until two in tho morning , when the company separated , highly delighted with their evening's enjoyment . The brethren were honoured on the occasion with

the presence of Bro . M . Rhodes , A \ . M ., and Bro . H . 0 . Mawson , P . M ., of the Lodge of Hope . —On Monday evening last , before the decorations were removed , the W . AI . allowed the use of the rooms for a juvenile party , consisting of tbe children of the married brethren , who were invited by the AV . M . ' s lady . The young folks , after partaking of tea , enjoyed themselves thoroughly for several hours with dancing and various juvenile games , under the superintendence of several of the brethren and their ladies .

Knights Templar.

KNIGHTS TEMPLAR .

GRAND CONCLAVE . On Friday , the llth of the present month , the Grand Conclave of the Royal , Exalted , Religious , and Military Order of Masonic Knights Templar , Knights Hospitallers of S . John of Jerusalem , Palestine , Rhodes , and Malta , held its bi-annual meeting at the New Hall of " The Masonic Union Company " ( Limited ) , No . 14 , Bedford-row .

Before entering upon the business of tbe day , some few succinct remarks on the building and the objects of the promoters of the company , may not be deemed out of place here . The house , situated on the East side of Bedford-row , is that which , for many years , was the residence of the late John Abernetby , and Thomas Hood described it as " You will be sure to

know it , by the two hlue pill—ars at the door . " It is a fine old roomy mansion , and has been leased to " The Masonic Union Company , " in accordance with the invariable custom observed on the Doughty estate , for twenty-one years . The company is a "limited" one , under the provisions of what is known as the Companies' Act , and has been duly registered , and

every stipulation required by the act having been strictly complied with . The capital is fixed at £ 5000 , in 1000 shares of £ 5 each , more than one-half of which have already been applied for ; and jit is not contemplated to call up the whole of the capital . Part of the plan is to organise a club , in connection

with the company , to be confined to Freemasons only , tho subscription proposed being two guineas for London brethren , and one guinea per annum for country brethren . It is confidently expected by the promoters that the whole , or major part of the Chapters , Encampments , and Lodges , attached to the various Orders and degrees meeting in the metropolis , separate from the

Grand Lodge , will avail themselves of the accommodation so long demanded , and no . v , at length , supplied by " The Masonic Union Company , " although a threat has been held forth " that all those who take any part whatever in the scheme , are to be excommunicated from Craft Freemasonry , " a proceeding adding insult to injury , when it will be in the remembrance of every

one that those who ignominiously drove the brethren forth to seek a home on the wide wide world , now that it has been effected , threaten them with the pains and penalties of being treated as schismatics , because they have been able to help themselves to the accommodation denied them on their own property . The patrons of the undertaking are Sir Knt . W

Stuart , M . E . and S . G . M ., K . T . ; Colonel Vernon , V . II . and E . D . G . M ., K . T . ; Lieufc .-Colonel Henry Clerk , S . G . I . G . xxxiii "; Viscount Holmesdale , M . P . ; and Lord Londesborougb . The Provisional Directors , Sir Knts . J . H . Law , D . H . Stone , Capt . Boylo , 30 ° ; W . J . Meyinott , John Smith , E . S . Still well , and Philip Hathaway , Esq . The Architect , Sir Knt . AV . H . Spratt ;

Honorary Solicitor , Sir Knt . AV . J , Meyinott ; and Secretary , Sir Knt . Frederick Binckes , 18 ° . The lower portion of the bouse , o . i that part of it occupied by " The Masonic Union Company , " comprises kitchens and cellarage of ample accommodation , with all the requisite appliances for a perfect cuisine ; and the management of this department has been entrusted to an experienced caterer , so that the festive

board is not likely to be inferior to any establishment , however celebrated for its perfection . The club-room , on the ground floor , looks out into Bedfordrow : it is an elegantly furnished and handsomely decorated room with a bronze chandelier , which originally cost one hundred pounds . From this there is a door leading to the board room ,

furnished en suite ; and from this latter there is a small room , which can be used as a private one for the Grand Master or head of the rite meeting there , and opening into the larger ante-room . But , coming out of the club-room , and passing tbe door of the board-room , in the passage from the entrance hall there is : t waiting room for persons who may have business there without

being Freemasons . The Grand Vice-Chancellor and the Secretary have an office at tbe end of the waiting room . Passing by this latter room is the vestibule , with three steps ; and over the arch are two stained glass windows with figures , inscribed , Sanctns Lodovicus and Sanctns Georgius . On the right of the landing are lavatories and other conveniences . Descending four steps

more there is an ante-chamber to the ball , which can be divided , if too large , into two rooms , one small , the other large , with separate entrances to the hall in the north-west and southwest . These ante-rooms are commodious , well lighted , and ventilated , and will make a very convenient lodge and diningroom when the hall is not required . The hall itself , which , with the ante-rooms , have been built by tbe company , is situated due

east and west . Its dimensions are 50 feet in length , 34 in breadth , and 25 in height . It is lit from the roof , which has an elliptic ceiling divided into 25 panels , or compartments , and three brass stars for gas depend from it , on either side . There is a raised dais , of one step , on the east , north , and south sides , and in the east is the throne , on three steps , with a circular sweep in front , the throne

being a Masonic carved solid o . ik set of three stallsthe centre of which was occupied by the Grand Master , having , in that on his right , the D . G . M ., and on the left , the G . Prelate , as his supporters , on the opening day . Up to the angle of the wall are five stalls ( the canopies of all but one , which was to show the effect are ready , but were not fixed ) ,

and down either side to the west end are twenty-one more . In the west is a musicians' gallery , very handsomely fronted with oak . The decorations , at present finished , are an allegorical painting , in one of the centre compartments of the ceiling . In the panel over the throne are the arms of the M . E . and S . G . M . ; on the right , lower down , those of the Duke of Sussex ;

and on the left those of Colonel Tynte ( both G . M . 's of the Order ) ; while at the west end are those of Colonel Vernon , D . G . M ., these four forming the extreme ends of the limbs of a passion cross . There are five stained glass windows : the one over the throne has the Knights Templar arms , with the triple cross of Salem , aud at the foot the two Templars on one

horse and the star of the Order of Malta . That on the left of the throne , looking from the west , is the double-headed eagle of the Ancient and Accepted Rite , with its mottoes . The other on the right is the Mark jewel , with its legend . Over tbe throne , and under the canopy , there is a transparency of the triple cross of Salem . At the west end , over the north door , the two Knights Templar on one horse is repeated , and above the south door is a Templar's shield and banners . Roun