Craft Masonry.

banquet followed the proceedings in lodge , in the covwse of which a P . M . ' s jewel was presented to the J . P . M ., Bro . Wolperfc . Bros . Palmer , P . G . D ., Kent , P . M ., etc ., and Bro . Stevens , AV . M . 1 , 216 , and a P . M . of this lodge , returned thanks on behalf of the visitors , and a most enjoyable evening was passed .

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

LANCASHIRE ( EAST ) , NAKCmssiBit . —JBlair Lodge ( No . 915 ) . —This rapidly increasing lodge , which now numbers sixtv-seven members , was held at the Ilulme Town-lin / I , on Friday evening , tho 14 th inst ,, ancl there was a numerous attendance , both of members and visitors . Messrs . William Henry Pierce and Izyilov Blum were initiated by Bro . J . Bedford , the AV . M . Bros . J . Richardson and McAllister

A . having passed a satisfactory examination in the E . G . degree , were entrusted with a test of merit , and were afterwards raised to the sublime degree of a M . M ., by tho AV . M . A substantial repast was disposed of ; the usual loyal and Masonic toasts wore given , interspersed with the strains of melody , and after spending a delightful ancl fraternal evening , the brethren separated in peace and harmony .

SOUTH WALES ( WESTERN DIVISION ) . PROVINCIAL GR \ -NT > LODGE . The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge for the Western Division of South AVales was lield in the lodge rooms , and under the banner of the Tenby Lodge ( No . 1 , 177 ) in the Assembly Rooms of the Gate House Hotel , Tenby , on Tuesday , the 10 th inst . The lodroom is a large and handsome apart

ge - ment , affording ample accommodation for a very numerous assemblage , and is very superbly fitted with Masonic furniture of the best description , in polished dark oak and gold . Punctually at five o ' clock there was a very huge muster of the brethren from the various lodges in ( lie province , and the procession being formed b y Bro . Parry , P . M . 366 , Prov . G . Dir . of Cers ., the R . AA . the Prov . G . M ., Bro . Sir Prysc Pryse . Sari ., of '

Gogerdden , near Abcrystwith , accompaniedby the D . Prov . G . M ., Bro . Thomas Meyrick , PAL 1 , 177 , M . P . for Pembroke , and Bro . E . J . Morris , D . Prov . G . M . for the Eastern Division of South Wales , and also b y the officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge , ascended the dais and took his seat at the pedestal . The R . AV . the Prov . G . M . then opened the Provincial Grand Lodin line formin a impresive and the

ge , very - manner , Prov . Or . Chap ., Bro . the Hev . R . J . II . Thomas , offered up the usual prayer . The minutes of tbe I-. nt nicotinic of Provincial Grand Lodge , held at Abcrystwith , on the 23 th April , 1809 , were then read by Bro . G . T . Smith , I . P . M . 1 . 973 , Prov . 0 . Sec , and confirmed .

The R . W . the Prov . G . M . then proposed , and Bro . T . Phillips , Prov . J . G . W ., seconded the re-election of I ' . vo . J . Thomas , 47 <> , as Prov . G . Treas . Bro . II . Alexander , P . M . 3 GG , then proposed , and Bro . J . l-. Jhind , P . M . 360 , P . Prov . J . G . D ., seconded , Bro . Henry Williams , P . M . 260 , for the office , and upon the votes being token , that brother was declared duly elected . This Proceeding appeared to sin-prise many present , as no intimation had been made to the ProvGMuster of there being inten

. . any - tion to propose any brothei- iV . r the office , and as it was known to have been his wish that no change should he made as to the brother holding it . No objection could in any way be raised to the very worth y and excellent brother who has been appointed , but it was somewhat questionable taste to propose any one in opposition to the nominee of the Prov . G . Master , without some previous intimation having been made of an intention to do so . The officers

for the year were then invested in the following order :-Bro . T . Meyrick , P . M . 1 , 177 , J 1 / . P ., D . Prov . G . M . ; Capt . J . A . Lloyd Philipps , 1 , 072 , P M . 22 I , Prov S G W J Smeclley , P . M . 37 S , Prov . J . G . W . ; Rev . Latimer M . Jones . ' -W Prov . G Chap . ; II . Williams , P . M . 3 GG , Prov . G . Treas . ; Allen Long , P . M . 37 S , Prov . G . Peg .-, G . T . Smith , P . M . 1 . 072 , Prov . G . Sec ; M . Nicholson , P . M . 37 S , Prov . S . G . D . ; AV . M . Harries , WM 1177

.. ,, Prov . J . G . D . ; J . W . Szlumper , J . AV . 1 , 072 , Prov . G . Supt . of Works ; AV . O . Phillips , PAL 090 , Prov . G . Dir . of Cere . ; G . Parry , P . M . 378 , Assist . Prov . G . Dir . of Cers . ; Dr . R . Ihomas , 671 , Prov . G . Sword Bearer ; H . L . Hardin . " - W M 464 , Prov . G . Org . ; J . T . Jones , WM . 3 G 6 , Prov . G . Purst . irav Or . Stewards : — Bros . Grunish , 366 ; Perkins , 366 ; AA ebbe , J < 8 ; Reynolds , 3 , 8 ; Gaildum , 090 ; and Thomas , 1 , 177 .

The R . AV . the Prov . Q . Master then drew the attention of the Provincial Grand Lodge , and of the lodges throughout the province , to tho different Masonic Charities , and expressed a hope that tho lodges and individual brethren would do their best to support them . Bro . G . T . Smith , P . M . 1 , 072 , Prov . Grand Secretary , said that all who attended Prov . G . Lodge last year at Abcrystwith , must remember with pleasure the presence of Bro . Binckes , the

able and indefatigable Secretary of the Royal . Masonic Institution for Boys , or , as ha would call it for brevity , the Boys ' School . Bro . Binckes hud on that occasion most earnestly and eloquently advocated the claims of that institution , of which he might justly bo termed the life and mainstay ; for if it had not been for his untiring zeal and energy it was very questionable whether the Boys' School would have been still iu existence . They must all regret the absence of Bro . Binckes on the present

occasion , but that absence was unavoidable , as he had to attend iu London that very day a meeting of the Grand Stewards ' Lodge , to assist in making the arrangements necess-. ivy for the ceremonyof the installation ofthe Most AVorshipful Grand Master elect , Lord de Grey and Piipon , which , as they all doubtless knew , had been postponed to the 14 th inst ., in consequence of the recent melancholy events in Greece . He ( Bro . Smith ) particularly regretted tlie absence of Bro . Binckesus lie was not

, as well up in the statistics and details connected with the Boys ' School as ho could wish , or as he perhaps might have been had he known that it would have fallen to his lot to advocate its claims on that occasion . The brethren were all doubtless aware that there were several Masonic charitable institutions , all of which had most noble and praiseworthy objects , and allot' which were most justly entitled to their warmest and most liberal supportbut with regard to tho Boys' School there was this

; difference , that it wa ; struggling under the incubus of a very heavy debt , and consequently its sphere of usefulness was very much narrowed and contracted . As to individual support , that must cf course depend on individual means , mid it was not to he supposed that every brother could afford to contribute , although doubtless the great majority could ; but certainly every lodge ought to clo something out of its funds towards ( lie support of this most excellent institution . Provincial Grand Lodge- could

not be expected to contribute anything just at present , as it was only during the past year that it commenced tbe formation of a fund . However , he looked forward with lively anticipation to the time when matters would be better in that respect . The sister division ( the Kastei-n ) of South AVales had contributed nobly to these excellent institutions , having paid in donations and subscriptions from its Provincial Grand Lodge , its Craft lodges , chapters , and brethren no less a sum than £ 118117 s . 9 d .

, up to the 31 st of December last . Now what had this , the AVestcvn Division , given up to the same date ? All it had given up to that date was sixty-seven guineas or £ 70 7 s . Now these figures , to his mind , very plainly showed that they had not done their duty in this matter . Granting that they ' could not have done as much as their brethren in the sister province had done , still the fact was indisputable that they might and ought

to have done more than they had done . The Abcrystwith Lodge , 1 , 072 , over which he had had the honour to preside for a period of three years in succession , was a very young lodge , in fact , except the Tenby Lodge , 1 , 177 , the youngest in the province , but he was happy to say it was out of debt , had a respectable balance at its bunkers , and had contributed ten guineas to each of the charities ; and he hoped before long that amount very

considerably increased . This example , he was glad to see , had been followed hy the St . Peter ' s Lodge , -176 , at Carmarthen , and he trusted all the other lodges would do likewise . He earnestly entreated them tc do so , as no one of the many grand and benevolent principles and objects of Freemasonry could surpass that of assisting to provide excellent education , careful training , and a start in life to the orphan children of their

distressed and decayed brethren . Tlie Rev . Bro . Latimer M . Jones , Rector of St , Peter's Church , Carmarthen , Prov . G . Chaplain , spoke eloquently in favour of supporting these excellent charities , as did Bro . F . L . Clark , S . W . 1 , 177 , who regretted that the Tenby Lodge was as yet not clear of debt , so that it was not in a position to contribute as its members wished . Bro . T . Phillips , P . Prov . G . J . \ V „ regretted that more had

not been done in the province , but reminded the brethren that its affairs had been , until the recent appointment of their present able and worthy chief , somewhat neglected ; but that he now trusted a better state of things would be inaugurated .