Provincial.

LEICESTERSHIRE . AsnBY-DE-LA-ZoTJCii . —Ferrers and Ivanhoe Lodge ( No . 779 ) . —The annual festival of this lodge was held at the Town Hall , on Tuesday , the 9 th inst ., when among those present were Bros . Kelly , D . Prov . G . M . ; Rev . John Denton , H . E . Smith , G . F . Brown , and S . Love , P . M ' s . ; Uev . S . Smith , D . I ) ., AA . M . elect ; IsonSnelson , Alcock , FaulknerCockinand others . Visitors

, , , , Bros . John Repton , P . M ., and Prov . S . G . D . of Staffordshire ; John Hunter and R . R . Bellamy , of the Abbey Lodge , 624 , Burton-on-Trent ; Henry Gamble , 279 , Leicester ; and some others . Letters were received from the W . M . ( Bro . Crofts ) , and from the J . A \ . ( Bro . Monmouth ) , apologising for thenabsence on account of professional engagements . The chair was taken by the Rev . Bro . Dentonand Bros . H . Etherington

, Smith and Love officiated as the wardens . The lodge having been opened and the minutes of the last regular lodge and of a lodge of emergency read and confirmed , Bro . Denton surrendered the gavel to the D . Prov . G . M ' ., who opened the lodge in the second degree , and installed the Rev . Dr . Smith in the chair of K . S ., after which he was duly proclaimed and saluted in the several degrees . The following brethren were then

appointed and invested as the officers for the ensuing year : — E . F . Monmouth , S . W . ; E . Ison , J . W . ; S . Love , P . M . Treas . ; Rev . J . Denton , P . M ., Sec ; J . H . Garnar , S . D . ; Stokes , J . D . ; Alcock , I . G . ; Canner , Tyler . The business of the day being completed the brethren adjourned to the Queen's Head Hotel , and partook of an elegant banquet served in Bro . Love's wellknown excellent style . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given from the chair in a very eloquent and truly felicitous manner . A few hours having thus been spent very pleasantly the brethren finally separated at an early hour .

NORTH WALES AND SHROPSHIRE . LLANDUDNO . Lodge of St . Tudno ( No . 755 ) . This lodge assembled on the 4 th ult . Thero were present : — V . AV . Bros . Fourdrinier , P . Prov . G . W ., W . M . ; AV . Bulkeley Hughes , M . P ., Prov . S . W ., as S . AV . ; T . W . J . Goldsbro' , P . Prov . S . G . W . as J . W . ; T . C . RodenP . Prov . S . G . AV . as P . M . Bros .

, , , ; Dudley Watkins , Griffiths ( Tydain ) , Charles Darbishire , Charles Daniel Good ) , Roberts , Wallace , Faulkner , Barratt , & c . Lodge being opened , Bros . Wallace and Barratt were passed to the second degree . Bro . Gooch having proved himself qualified , was raised to the third degree . Alter which , Bro . Goldsbro , ' addressing the lodge , said : —Brethren , of course , you are all well aware that our dear and Very Worshipful

Bro . AVilliam Bulkeley Hughes , in his position as the honourable member for Caernarvon , as a member of our most truly loyal Order , and as a member of tbe committee of reception of-their Eoyal Highnesses the Prince and Piineess of AVales at Caernarvon , was unable ( equally with our R . W . Provincial Grand Master ) to be present at the last meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge . Having , myself , attended that meeting , I had the honour and gratification of humbly representing and of being invested on his behalf witli the insignia of the high and distinguished offiee of Senior Grand Warden of this province .

I do consider that the members of this important lodge , and of the Craft generally in this province , have great cause for selfgratulation that this , the highest honour , should have been conferred by the R . W . Provincial Grand Master upon so truly and good , and esteemed a man and Mason . Bro . Goldsbro , ' in the name of the R . AV . Provincial Grand Master , then invested the V . W . Bro . Bulkeley Hughes with the collar and jewel of the Prov . S . G . AV . at the same time wishing him healthhappiness

, , , and long life . The V . W . Bro . Bulkeley Hughes having replied , with much feeling and eloquence , The W . Master moved that the thanks of this lodgo be given to the V . W . Bro . Bulkeley Hughes for the very active and energetic part he had taken in the reception of the Prince aud Princess of AVales at Caernarvon , and especially in having allowed the three

very handsome chairs he had had made for presentation to the lodge of St . Tudno , to be conveyed to Caernarvon , to be used as the state chairs on the occasion . The proposition of the AV . Master was seconded b y Bro . Roden and carried unanimously . V . W . Bro . Bulkeley Hughes : Being on the reception committee of the Prince of Wales , we were at a loss to know from what quarter to get fitting chairs , and the thought occurred to -me that I should not incur very great opprobium from the

members of this lodge , if I took that step . I wrote to my good friend , Bro . Or . Roden , who , with that alacrity which is always his wont , immediately attended to my request , and I was truly glad te see the chairs arrived . Had we not had them , I do not know what we should have done to place their Royal Highnesses in fitting seats on this happy occasion of their visit to Caernarvon . Iliad prepared also appropriate cushions ; these , also

, I trust you will accept , and allow them to be an appendage to the chairs . The lodge was then closed , and the brethren partook of a banquet , at which the W . M . presided . After the banquet , The W . Master said : The first toast I propose is " The Health of the Queen" and I hope I may be pardoned for saying one

, word in reference to recent event . It is a matter of great satisfaction to all of us as members of the Craft , that we have united in an address of congratulation to her Majesty on the escape of her son from the hand of an assassin . It is quite out of my power to express the feelings of detestation for tho wretch who attempted to commit such a senseless crime as the taking the life of that young man . It could have effected no political

change in the Government . It was a most insensate attempt , and we rejoice at his happy escape . National Anthem—Solo by Bro . Dadley AVatkins , who appropriately introduced the following lines : —

May the same Almighty arm , Shield him from danger's harm , And still the Queen ' s alarm . God save the Prince . The AV . M . proposed "The Health of tho Most Worshipful Grand Master of England , Deputy Grand Master , and the Officers of the Grand Lodge of England , " and said : It is a

matter of satisfaction to the subject of this toast as well as to those who elect him , that for twenty-five years , at intervals of a year , when there has been time for a man ' s merits or demerits to be ascertained , to find the same man unanimously re-elected from year to year ; of couise perhaps , speaking for myself , I may have a partial bins towards Lord Zetland , for lie was a member of the Lodge of Antiquity , to which I am affiliated as

an Honourable member , and I have seen a good deal of Lord Zetland , and may be biassed in his-favour , but the evidence resting on the simple fact that from year to year the brethren have re-elected him is a great testimony to his merit . The AV . M .: The next toast is that of " The Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master , and the Present and Past Officers of the Provincial Grand Lodgo . You heard in lodge the fact

pronounced , and witnessed the pleasing ceremony of the investment , by Bro . Goldsbro' , of our good Bro . AVilliam Bulkeley Hughes , as the Senior Grand Warden of the year . It would be impossible for me to s ;\ y exactly what I do feel on the subject , but I am sure that I shall be speaking your own sentiments when I utter mine , that this appointment has been given , in a most worthy manner to a most worthy brother by Sir

Watkin AVilliams Wynn . This appointment will reflect as much credit upon himself as it will on our dear Bro . Bulkeley Hughes ( addressing Bro . Bulkeley Hughes ) . We most cordially desire that you my dear brother may be spared with increased health during your years of office , to discharge the duties of the distinguished appointment which has been confided to you—with .

honours . V . W . Bro . Bulkeley Hughes : Very AVorshipful Master and Brethren , I would that I had' the power and the eloquence to respond to the toast in a way worthy of the compliment paid to the R . W . Grand Master of North Wales and Shropshire , to the humble individual who addresses you , and to the present and past officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge . You have been leased to say that the appointment has met the approval of

p this lodge ; it is indeed one of great honour . I don't believe the duties of the office are very responsible , but whatever responsibility is attached to it , I take on myself . I not only take the responsibility , but I take the honour also , not to the individual , but to St . Tudno ' s Lodge . I did not expect it , as I know I am little or in no way deserving of the compliment . I will say thishowever I may be wanting in my duties as a

, Mason , it shall never be saiil I am failing in kindness towards my brethren . I am old in years but young in Masonry . It has been a bitter reflection to me that I bad not sooner known the impression , the duties , and the pleasures of the Craft , I should have onjoyed many more happy days , yet you have said " may you continue to enjoy , " it is not to be expected that anyone