Provincial.

Holmes , W . M ., responded . Bro . Harpley then proposed Bro . Hodgson , P . M ; , tlie first Secretary of tbe Harbour of Refuge Loelge , who responded in brief terms . Many of the brethren contributed to the harmony of the evening with songs , and the meeting broke up at a reasonable hour .

HARTLEPOOL . —Si . Helens Lodge ( No . 531 ) . —The regular loelge was holdeu in the Masonic Hall on Thursday , the Sth inst ., when the following brethren were present : Bros . Emra Holmes , W . M . ; Harpley , I . P . M ., Harbour of Refuge Lodge , 764 ; W . J . Sivewright , I . P . M . ; S . Armstrong , P . M . ; Forbes , S . W . ; J . J . Armstrong , J . W . ; J . H . Bell , Sec . ; E . Alexander , J . D . ; visiting brethren . Dr . Gourley , S . W ., 764 , and numerous others . The lodge having been opened in due form and with solemn

prayer in the first degree , anel Bro . G . Owens having satisfactorily passed tbe usual examination , he was entrusted and retired . The lodge was then openeel in the second degree , and Bro . Owens was passed as a F . C , und tbe lodge being afterwards closed down , the brethren retired for refreshment .

ESSEX . COLCHESTER . — United Lodge ( No . 697 ) . —The regular monthly meeting was held at the George Hotel on the 11 th inst . At seven p . m ., the lodge was opened by Bro . Sutherland , P . M ., W . M ., pro tern ., assisted by Bros . C . Carnegie , P . Prov . G . Supt . of Works , Essex , I . P . M . ; Wolverson , S . W . ; Newman , J . W . ; Ray , S . D . ; Shaw , J . D . ; Calthorpe , J . G . ; also Bros . Eix , Eustace , BigleyDonnoll Kinganel Crick . Visitors : Bros .

, y , , Cole and Samuel , Angel Lodge , 51 . The lodge was opened in due form iu the first degree , the summons convening the meeting was read , and the minutes of fche last meeting were read anel confirmed . Bro . Carnegie read a letter from Bro . Major Macbers , D . Prov . G . M ., Warwickshire , asking the votes of tbe loelge for L . 0 . Hirori , a candidate for the girls' sehool ; also circulars requesting the support of the lodge for Gertrude

Bowles , a candidate for the girls' school , and Mrs . Guy , a candidate for tbe Benevolent Institution . Bro . C . Carnegie stated that be bad forwarded tbe list of the brethren to the clerk of the peace , in accordance with tbe Act of Parliament . The lod ge was then openeel in tbe second degree , when Bro . Crick , a candidate for the degree of M . M . was examined relative to his proficiency in the F . G . degree bBro . CarnegieI . P . Mwhich

y , ., , proving satisfactory , he was entrusted by the WM ., pro tern ., and retired . Tho lodge was then openeel in the third degree , and Bro . Crick was raised to the sublime degree . The lodge was then closed down to the second and first degrees . Tbe brethren then proceeded to elect their officers for the ensuing year . Bro . Newman , J . W ., was unanimously elected as W . M . for the ensuing year . Bro . C . Carnegie , I . P . M ,, was

unanimously re-elected as Treas ., and Bro . Witten as Tyler . The Board of General Purposes was requested to make arrangements for the installation of the W . M . The resignations of Bros . Moy and O'Neill were accepted , the latter being under orders to join bis regiment , the 96 th , in India . After the transaction of some other business , the lodge was closed in peace , harmony , and brotherl y love .

LANCASHIRE ( EAST ) . MANCHESTER . —St . Lavid ' s Lodge ( No . 1 , 147 ) . —The brethren of this lodge celebrated their first anniversary on the 7 th inst . The occasion was distinguished by the installation of Bro . Thomas Humphreys as W . M . of the loelge . The brethren assembled at the lodire-room at the Masonic Hall , Cooper-street , at two o ' clock for the despatch of business . Bro . Thomas R .

Williams , P . M ., W . M ., in the chair . The attendance of the brethren was more than ordinarily numerous , it having been decided that tbe festival of St . David should , on this occasion , be celebrated with that of Sfc . John , and that tbe highest honour should be paid to tho distinguished representatives of Wales , retiring from and accepting office in the Manchester St . David's Lodge . Tbe W . M . elect was installed into the chair ,

according to ancient custom , and this done , the W . M , proceeded to appoint and invest bis officers , tbe whole business of tbe loelge being admirably conducted . The proceedings were honoured at the close by the presentation of a Past Master's jewel to Bro . T . R . Williams , which was made by the respected retiring P . M . Bro . Ellis Jones , in felicitous terms , and acknowledged in a most worthy manner by Bro . T . R . Williams , who may , with Bro . E . Jones and Bro . Maurice Jones , be named as having founded this well-managed anel efficient lodge . The ceremony having been closed , tbe members and their friends adjourned to a sumptuous

banquet at the Waterloo Hotel . Amongst those present were : —Bros . T . Humphreys , W . M . ; T . E . Williams , Ellis Jones , and Maurice Jones , P . M . ' s ; W . Conway , S . D . ; J . D ' . Jones , J . D . ; E . Jeffreys , Treas . ; D . Eowland , Sec . ; C . H . Evans , I . G . ; J . L . Figgins , P . Prov . D . C . ; J . L . Hine , Prov . S . G . D . ; H . Carrig , Prov . G . Supt . of Works East Lancashire ; T . H . BaldwinProv . G . S . B . Cheshire ; E . SimpsonW . M . 645 ; Bidder ,

, , W . M . 1 , 161 ; Brocklehurst , W . M . 204 ; Hodgson , W . M . 44 ; Sollon , W . M . 633 ; Eibley , W . M . ; Alexandria ; Barker , P . M . ; Nathan , P . M . ; Captain Hardy , J . W . 645 ; Drs . Mathews and Parkers , Alderman Collinge , Urias Bromley , Dr . J . S . Davies , W . Gardner , P . M ., Evan Williams , J . Davies , M . Eoberts , Evan Roberts , S . Aldreel , & c . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were proposed and

responded to in excellent speeches , intermixed with good harmony aud patriotic feeling , which rendered the evening a mosfe pleasing one . With special reference to Wales , Bro . T . R . Williams , P . M ., informed the brethren that the Provincial Grand Master of North Wales and Shropshire , Bro . Sir Watkin Williams Wynn , Bart ., had promised to attend . He had pledged himself about five months ago that be -would bo present at tbe

installation of the Worshipful Master of tbe St . David ' s Lodge , but as charity was the first and ought to bo the ruling power in Masonry , Sir Watkin always made it a point of being at the Welsh Charity Schools in London , which always had their anniversary on the 1 st of March , and in consequence of the 1 st of March falling this year on Sunday , they , like themselves , were then celebrating St . David's Day . He was glad to inform

them Sir Watkin was one of the most liberal promoters of that charity , and a more worthy man anel Mason , he believed never lived . The worthy P . M . then proposed tlie principal toasfc of the evening , "The Health of the Worshipful Master , "

remarking that he could nofc speak for long years as another brother present had done ; but he had known Bro . Humphreys now about ten years , and he had quite satisfied him that if he had known him for thirty years , he should not have know more o £ his good qualities than he had in tho last ten years . They did not require to know a man twenty or thirty years to firicl out his good qualities , anel since he had known Bro . Humphreys be was able to bear the highest testimony to his good qualities ,

and could say they had done themselves honour by electing as their Master for tho ne . it year " the right man in the right place . " Congratulating the W . M . on the efficient and feeling manner in which he had discharged tbe lodge duties , and tbe able and courteous manner in which he presided over tbe banquet , Bro . Williams proposed the health of the W . M ., wishing him long life and prosperity .

The toast having been most cordially responded to , The W . Master rose , and in returning thanks , said he felfc most grateful to Bro . Williams for the kind manner in which he had been pleased to propose his health , and the brethren for the very handsome manner in which they had received tbe toast . The majority of the company knew perfectly well he was placed that evening in , lie would not say a novel , but rather an

anomalous position . He felt tlie honour they hael conferred upon him to be as great as it was unexpected , anel he could unfeignedly assure them that the day had been a happy one to him , as ifc had given him the opportunity of meeting with so many brethren on their anniversary clay . Tbe W . M . eloquently alluded to the objects of Freemasonry , the high character won by the St . David ' s Loelge in its first year of existence , and expressed his determination to elo his best for it , feeling that he should be doing a gross injustice if he did not make more than an ordinary effort to fulfil the trust that bad been reposed

in him . Bro . Ellis Jones , P . M ., most ably proposed " The Masonic Charities , " and was followed by other brethren in warm support of the same . The brethren separated at ten o'clock in peace , love , anel harmony . We have already paid a compliment to the brethren of the St . David's Lodge , and we have like pleasure in stating that the lodge ' s hospitalities , so worthily presided over by Bros . Humphreys , W . M ., and W . Conway , S . D ., in the vice-chair , were alike a credit and an honour to all .

^ LANCASHIRE ( WEST ) . VirmicnorT ^ -Consecration of the Bridgewater Lodge and InstallatioWofthe W . M . ( No . 1 , 213 ) . —This interesting ceremony took place at the Bridgewater Hotel on Saturday , the 7 th inst ., at two o'clock in the afternoon . The Prov . G . M ., Sir Thomas G . Fermor Hesketh , Bart ., M . P ., deputed W . Bro . J . H . Young-