Provincial.

G . Sec . ; A . M . Duff ; P . M . 523 and prov . G . S . ; Dr . Eerneley , Prov . J . G . AA . for Leicestershire , Sec . of the Doric Lodge , Grantham ; Geo . Toller , junr ., and S . S . Partridge , 523 ; Scott , 1 , 130 , Loughborough ; & c . The lodge was opened by the AV . M . at four o ' clock , and tho minutes of the last meeting having been read and confirmed , Bro . Claude Eerneley was called to tbo pedestal and underwent an examination as anE . A ., after which he retired for presentationand the AV . AI . having opened the

, lodge in the second degree , Bro . Fast was duly examined therein . The chair was then taken by the D . Prov . G . M ., and Bro . Femeley was passed a Fellow Craftsman , after which tho lodgo was opened hi the third degree and Bro . East was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason . The duties of the lodge were most efficiently performed during the ceremonies by all the officers , and in a manner highly creditable , to their zeal and

ability—all the officers , from the Secretary downwards , having only heen initiated since the opening of the lodge in October last . The lodge having been closed down to the first degree , the chair was resumed hy the AA . M . ; who at once proceeded to present to the D . Prov . G . M . the testimonial which had been subscribed for by tho members . In a highhy complimentary address , Bro . Norman spoke of the lengthened services Bro .

Kelly had rendered to Masonry in the province in his distinguished office , of the esteem in which he is held hy the Craft , and ofhis readiness at all times to lend his aid whenever it might be required . He then referred especially to tho assistance which the D . Prov . G . M . had given in the establishment of the Rutland Lodge , and his frequent presence and aid at their meetings , adding thatwhen Bro . Kelly suggested to hima year agothe

, , , formation of a lodge at Melton , he ( Bro . Norman ) was almost hopeless of its being effected , and never could have foreseen the highly successful result of their labours in so short a time . He concluded by handing to Bro . Kelly , in tho name of the lodge , a very elegant silver cup , expressing a hope that he might be spared for many years to use it . The D . Prov . G . M ., after

expressing his grateful thanks to the members of the lodge for the elegant token of the high estimation which they had beon pleased to put upon his poor services to the lodge , and his acknowledgments to the W . il . for the very kind ancl highly flattering manner in which he had conveyed their offering , which he should ever prize highly , expressed a fear that the partiality of the brethren had led them to put far too high a value on what ho had been able to do for the lodge . AVhat

assistance he could render it was his duty to afford , both in his capacity as one of the founders of the lodge ( which he considered a privilege ) , and also in the official position which , during so many years , he had had the honour of holding under the present estimable Prov . G . M . and his worthy predecessor . In conclusion , Bro . Kelly said how extremely gratified he had been at witnessing the zealous attention to the duties of the

Order which had been evinced by the officers and members of the lodge , and he felt assured that , if tho brethren only went on as they had begun , the Rutland Lodge would soon occupy a position second to none in tbe province , and that , consequently , it behoved the members of the older lodges to look to their laurels . Bro . G . II . Hodges , Prov . S . G . D ., alter expressing the great pleasure which he and tho other Leicester brethren had

in attending on that occasion to assist in doing honour to the D . Prov . G . M ., invited the Melton brethren to attend his ( Bro . Hodges' ) installation as AA ^ . M . of the John of Gaunt Lodge on the 24-th inst . The lodgo was then closed , and the brethren adjourned to the banquet . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were clone justice to . tiie proceedings , however , being somewhat hurried by the necessitof the Leicester brethren returning

y by an early train . In responding to the toast of "The Visiting Brethren , " Bro . Dr . Eerneley , Prov . J . G . AA . Lincolnshire , spoke in high terms of approbation of the manner in which tho work in the lodge had been performed , and echoed the words of the D . Prov . G . M . that he thought tho older lodges must look to their lam-els . The brethren finally separated , after a highly satisfactory day .

MONMOUTHSHIRE . NEWPORT . —Silurian Lodge ( No . 471 ) . —The usual monthly meeting of the members of this lodge took place ou Wednesday , the 12 th inst ., and was well attended . The A \ . M ., Bro . B . Thomas , took tho chair , and after the minutes of the last lodgo had been read aud confirmed , Bro . Northcott was passed to the degree of a F . C . The lodge was then closed down , and Mr . George Eothergill was duly initiated . The S . D ., Bro . the Bev . S . Fox , then brought forward his motion , in a masterly speech ,

" that the sum of £ 10 10 s . be applied out of the funds of the lodgo to purchase three P . M . 's jewels , ono to be presented to Bro . R , P . Evans , P . M ., another to Bro . John Griffiths , P . M ., and the third to Bro . Henry Hellyer , P . M . " This was duly seconded by Bro . Pickford , Prov . G . Treas ., and carried unanimously . Tho AA . M . then introduced to the members the subject of a Masonic pic-nic , when it was proposed and seconded " that the same do take place on the last Thursday in Julyand that

, Raglan Castle be the place selected . " A committee was at once named to carry out the affair , and the Secretary took tho names of about fifty there and then who were ready and willing to attend . The Secretary then reported that he had received a petition to the Board of Benevolence from Mrs . Susan Smith , of 6 , Exchange-court , London , widow of Bro . AVilliam Smith , mess master in the 48 th Regiment of Foot , stationed in Newport

some years ago , who was initiated in this lodge in November .,. 1852 , but had never subscribed thereto . This latter fact Bro . AA'illiams and the elder Masons present held to be fatal to the application , but in order that the poor widow should have an opportunity of sending the same to the Grand Secretary , the brethren agreed to certify on the back thereof that the deceased , was dulinitiated in this lod and the same was signed

y ge , accordingly . It has been the custom for some years past for the members of 471 to adjourn their lodge for the usual three summer months , and this being the time for that purpose the lodge was duly closed till the first AA'cdnesday in September , lodges of emergency excepted .

NORTH AVALES . AVELCIIPOOL . —Welchpool Lodge ( No . 998 )—This lodge met on the 7 th inst ., when the following officers ancl brethren were present : —Bros . E . Smith , AV . M . ; T . B . Brown , Prov . G . S .,. I . P . M . ; J . M . Edwards , Chap , and S . AV . ; D . P . Owen , J . W . ; . T . Newill , Treas . ; J . Samuel , Sec ; 'E . Pryce , S . D . ; E . Elias , JD TButterEG GOwenAVAVith AV . Callender

.. ; . , . ; . , . y , , J AVard , T . Lewis , J . Andrews , & c . A : sitor : —Bro . L . Jones , No . 476 , Caermartheu . The business consisted of passing Bro . Lewis to the second , and raising Bro . AVard to the third degrees ,, both of which ceremonies were conducted by the AV . M . and his officers in the able and efficient manner for which this lodge is distinguished . After tho lodge was closed the brethren adjourned to refreshmentthe AV . M . Bro . P . Smith , presiding . The usual

, , loyal and Masonic toasts were duly given and honoured . Bro .. T- B . Brown , I . P . M ., in proposing the health of the AV . M ., complimented Bro . Smith upon the very able manner in which he had performed the duties of the chair that evening , and called , upon the brethren to drink " The Health of the W . M . " with full honours . Bro . Smith having returned thanks , requested the brethren to charge their glasses for tho toast which might

be considered as the toast of the evening , viz ., "The Health of the Past Masters of the AA elchpool Lodge , " and said ( addressing himself to the I . P . M . ) : AVorshipful Past Master Brother Brown ,, in connection with that toast I have a very pleasing duty to perform on behalf of the members of this lodge , as a small token , of the high estimation in which they hold you as a Mason , and of their appreciation of the admirable manner in which you have

performed our beautiful ceremonies and conducted the duties of this lodge during the past year , and iu decorating your breast with this jewel , I feel sure I am expressing the earnest and heartfelt wishes of the members of this lodge , that you may live for very many years to be amongst us , and to wear this token of our fraternal esteem and regard . AVorshipful Bro . Brown , I sincerely congratulate you . The AV . Master then called upon the brethren to drink " The Health of the Past Masters of the AVelchpool Lodge , " coupling with the toast the name of Bro . Thomas Blakeman Brown . The toast was most

warmly and enthusiastically received , and with the customary honours . Bro . Brown returned thanks on behalf of the P . M . 's of the lodge , and expressed the great pleasure he felt in receiving the testimony of the kind and fraternal feeling of the brethren , and the expression of their approval of his services as AV . M . during the past year ; and in thanking them individually and collectively for all their good and kind wishes so warmly expressed towards him by the AV . M . begged to assure them

, that he should at all times be most happy to render to the lodge any service in his power . The AA . Master proposed the health of the visitors who ha ' d honoured the AA ' elchpool Lodge by their presence , and said .- Having myself been a visitor to very many lodges , I have just cause to speak of the general kindly feelings with which visitors are always received ancl welcomed by the members of their respective lodges . Though