Provincial.

would belong soared to wear them . Tha clothing consisted of a full Dress Suit of a Prov . J . G . Deacon of the Province , manufactured by Bro . W . II . Wnghori ) , London ; and a Prov . J . G . D . Jewel , and a P . M . ' s Jewel , supplied by Bro . F . Law , Edinburgh . The Jewels were inscribed as follows : — "Presented , together with Provincial Grand Dress Clothing , to Brother George White , P . M ., Prov . J . G . D ., Durham , by tlie brethren of St . Hilda's Lodge , No . 2-10 , South Shields , in testimony of their

esteem , and in appreciation of his exertions for the welfare of the Lodge , May 8 th , 1871 . " Bro . Ditchburn had much pleasure in presenting , on behalf of the brethren of that lodge , a beautiful gold brooch to Mrs . White , wife of Bro . White , P . M . If women were not to be admitted into lodges of Freemasonry , they were highly thought of by Freemasons . He trusted that Bro . White would convey to bis good lady the kind wishes of tbe brethren , and hoped that she would be long spared to wear and

enjoy the present . Bro . Ditchburn then requested Bro . White to accept the brooch on behalf of Mrs . White . Bro . White said on an occasion like that he felt it very difficult to express his feelings , as be certainly felt their kindness move than be could express . The beautiful clothing and jewels presented to him was a proof of tlieir brotheily love , and their gift to him that night he should value to the last day of bis life , not for their worth in money , but as a . proof of their brotherly love and affection , which he would esteem highly . He had been a Freemason

for nearly ten years , aud during that time be had filled every office in the lodge except one . Last year the brethren had kindly elected him as W . M ., and he hoped and trusted that St . Hilda ' s Lodge would always be prosperous , for being his mother lodge be bad a son ' s affection for it , and anything that he could do for its benefit he would do cheerfully . He had again to thank them for the gift , which he would highly prize as long as he lived , and afterwards band it down as an heirloom to his family . He had

also to thank them for tlie kindness expressed to his wife , and likewise for the present mado to her . It had been his wife who bad been the means of his becoming a Freemason . It was an institution in which she took much interest , and trusted that it might have every success . The Brooch had the following inscription : — " Presented to Mrs . White by the members of St . Hilda's Lodge , South Shields , May Sth , 1871 . " The whole of the articles were greatly admired by the brethren . At the

conclusion of the presentation the brethren partook of refreshment , At intervals during the evening a choice selection of music was given by Bros . Mason , G . D . Hall , Buckhind , Mellor , Ashcy , Lumley , Bradley , Sawyers , & c , the two farmer gentlemen presiding at the harmonium . Wo may add the music performed and sung by the musical brethren was that supplied by the Publishers of " The Freemasons' Magazine . " revised " and arranged hy Bro , Hopkins , and elicited tlie marked admiration of the brethren assembled .

LANCASHIRE ( NORTH AND EAST . ) MANCHESTER . —Shakespere Lodge , ( No . 1 , 009 . )—The Festival of St . John was celebrated in connection with this lodge on Monday , May 1 st , at the Freemasons' Hail , about fifty members and visitors being present . The lodge was opened in ancient form and solemn prayer at 4 . 30 p . m ., by the Worshipful Master , Bro . thc Rev . S . T . B . Bnulshaw , M . A . The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmedand tbe

, Treasurer ' s balance sheet for the past year submitted and passed , Bro . C . E . Austin , S . W . and W . M . elect , was presented by Bro . Past Master Shetland , P . G . D . C ., and duly installed in the chair of K . S ., by tho Worshipful Master , assisted by Bros . Past Massers Petty , Coates and Birch . The ceremony was performed in the most complete and impressive manner . Having been saluted by the brethren in tbe several degrees , the newly installed

W . M . appointed tbe following brethren as bis officers , who were invested and addressed by Bros . Coates and Birch . Bros . S . T . B . Bradshaw , I . P . M . ; W . H . Pratt , S . W . ; Thos . Biddolph , J . W . ; Rev . W . Marshall , M . A ., Chap . ; Alfred Nicholl ? , Treas . ; Frederic Heptor Scott , Sec ; Pettit , S . D . Thos . Brown , J . D . ; Austin Sbellard , D . C ; B . H . Downs , Org . ; Caston EdmondsI . G . RLMestayerJosHHewitt

, ; . . , . . , Anthony Marshall , and George Macbeth , Stewards ; and Jos . Alcock , Tyler . Two candidates were proposed for initiation . Hearty good wishes having been expressed by the visiting brethren , the lodge was closed in peace and harmony , at 6 . 30 p . m . The whole of the brethren tben adjourned totbebanquetng-room for dinner , after the conclusion of which the

Worshipful Master proposed , in succession , "The Queen , " and "H . R . H . The Prince of Wales , P . G . M ., the Princess of Wales , and all tho Royal Family . " He tben proposed " The Most Worshipful Grand Master the Earl de Grey and Ripon ; the Right Worshipful Deputy Grand Master the Earl of Carnarvon , and the rest of the Grand Officers , " remarking that tbe Grand Master was well known to all of them by repute , not only as a Masou but as a prominent public man ; and the Deputy Grand Master they

were personally acquainted with , having recently had an opportunity of estimating his great qualities , and of welcoming him to Manchester on the occasion of the installation of the Provincial Grand Master of East Lancashire . The Immediate Past Master proposed "Tbe Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master of East Lancashire , Lieut . Col . le Gendre N . Starkie ;" and in doing so , stated that he had received a letter from tbe R . W . Prov . G . M ., expressive of regret that a pressing engagement ,

in connection with his promotion to a higher grade in tbe Militia , prevented the possibility of his being present , otherwise he would have bad great pleasure in paying his respects to the Siakespere Lodge , This tiast in common with tbe preceding one was received with the usual honors aud the greatest enthusiasm . The Senior Warden then proposed in a speech of some length , " The Worshipful Deputy Provincial Grand Master of East Lancashire , Bro . W . B . omaine Callender , jun ., and the

rest of the Provincial Grand Officers ; " referring to the high character aud eminent qualities of the W . D . Prov . G . M ., and to the universal esteem and regard in which he is held throughout the province and elsewhere ; the toast was received with great applause , aud the customary honours , and was responded to ort behalf of tho Provincial Grand Officers , by Bro . Captain McDowell Smith , P . Prov . G . Treas . The Immediate Past Master then submitted the great toast of the evening" The Immortal

, Memory of Shaksepere , " in an oration of wonderful power and eloquence , which held the brethren entranced for about thirty minutes ,- the toast was drunk in solemn silence . Bro . C . H . Coates , P . M ., proposed the health of the W . M ., Bro . C . E . Austin , in the following terms : — "Worshipful Master , Visiting Brethren , aud the Brethren of the Shakespere Lodge . " If to essayto speak on any subject after the eloquent flood of oratory to which

we have all just listened , if to attempt a theme following closely upon that of " The immortal memory of Shakespere " constituted any claim to your forbearance and sympathy , I pray you pity the sorrows of a poor Past Master . I claim your pity only t ' or myself , the subject to which I desire to call your attention needs no apology . When we were gathered around this table after our last lodge meeting our Immediate Past Master propounded a new theory iu nature , viz ., that the sun can and does

sometimes reverse its ordinary course , and rising in the west sees quietly in the east , and brethren this theory holds good once a year in every Masonic lodge . We look to tlie West for the sun that is to shine ; even while we east lingering and regretful glances towards the East where the shadows are last falling upon tho hero of the immediate past . To night , however , nature proclaims herself after her original fashion , and we , her worshippersall turn our eyes eastwardsand with joy and elation

be-, , hold the rising suu ! Yes , brethren , this day a " new light" hasdawned upon the Shakespere Lodge , and by that light may we travel on in undisturbed and increasing prosperity during tbe coming year . Three hundred andjjseven years ago Will Shakespere first saw the light in tbe quiet hamlet of Stratford-on-Avon . Seven years ago the " Shakespere Lodge" was constituted , a humble yet aspiring representative of a great and glorious name . Ours is not that " vaulting ambition which overleaps itself" but

, even as tbe name and fame of Shakespere is now well recognised in every land and nation where the Anglo-Saxon tongue is known and spoken ; aye , and beyond these limits also ; so our desire is that in Masonry the " Shakespere Lodge " shall achieve and maintain a reputation worthy of the name we have adopted . Seven years our lodge has had an existence , six Masters have passed the chair aud in the person of the seventh , -whose installation wo are here to celebratewe have for the first time to rule

, over us one who was himself initiated within the lodge , and has steadily progressed through the several degrees which intervene between the Entered Apprentice and the exalted position of AVorshipful Master . Many of us who are here were born or have at sometime lived in one or other of those old and proud freecities whose glories are even yet not obliterated , and all of us know full well how fines and penalties were in times past readily borne , or terms of servitude entered into in order to achieve the-