Leicestershire.

LEICESTERSHIRE .

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE . The annual meeting of the Grand Lodge of this Province was held at the Freemasons' Hall , Leicester , on Thursday , the 13 th instant , and was well attended by tbe brethren of the province , Among those present were the following brethren : — The Right Hon . Earl Howe , G . C' . IL , R . W . Prov . G . M . ; W . Kelly , R . W . D . Prov . G . M . ; R , Bvewin , P . Prov . G . W „ as

S . G . W . ; G . Bankart , Prov . J . G . W . ; T . Sheppard , Prov . G . Reg . ; C . Morris , Prov . G . Sec . ; the Rev . John Denton , M . A . Prov . G . Chap . ; J . P . St . Aubyn , Prov . G . Supt . of Works ; H . J . Davis , Prov . G . Dir . of Cers . ; H . T . Bobart , Pi » v . G . S . B . ; James Cooke , Prov . G . Purs . ; Thomas Goadby , Prov . G . Standard Bearer ; W . H . Man-is , W . Johnson , and G . F . Brown , Prov . G . Stewards ; aud John Pratt , W . Pettifer , R . CrawfordWBeaumont SmithACummingsPGW ' sW

, . , . , ... ; . Millican , P . Prov . G . " Supt . of Works ; G . F . Lloyd and W . Weare , P . Prov . G . Deacons ; Dr . Bolton , H . Gill , and W . S . Bithrey , P . Prov . G . Orgs . ; T . Burwell , S . Selby , T . M . Lewin , H . P . Green , Manning , etc . The minutes of tbe last Prov . G . Lodge having been read and confirmed , the Worshipful Masters of the four lodges in the province were called upon to present their report . It appeared

that the condition of the lodges was , on the whole , satisfactory , although , with the exception ' of No . 766 , but little progress had been made during the past year . In the Knights of Malta Lodge ( No . 5 S ) , Hinckley , consisting of about twenty members , there had been neither initiation not joining . In St . John ' s Lodge ( No . 348 ) , Leicester , there had been one initiation and one joining . The return from tbe John of Gaunt Lodge ( No .

766 ) was very satisfactory , nine initiations and four joinings having taken place , the lodge being also the most numerous iu the province . In the Ferrers and Ivanhoe Lodge ( No . 1081 ) , Ashby-de-la-Zouch , ( the prospects of which for the current year , under the Mastership of the Rev . Bro . Denton , were stated to he very favourable ) there had been one initiation . The D . Prov . G . M . explained that , owing to the protracted and serious illness of the Prov . G . Treas ., Bro . Underwood , it

had been found impracticable to get his accounts made up and audited in time for this meeting ; and on his ( the D . Prov . G . M . 's ) proposition , Bros . Morris , Marris , and Bankart , were nominated auditors for that purpose . The D . Prov . G . M . then moved that tbe best thanks of the Grand Lodge be given to Bro . Underwood for his past services as Treasurer for several years , and the regret and sympathy of the brethren for the lengthened indisposition which had deprived them of his presence and assistance .

The resolution having been carried unanimously , the Prov . G . Secretary was desired to transmit a copy of it to Bro . Underwood . Bro . H . J . DAVIS nominated Bro . R . Brewin , P . Prov . S . G . W ., as Prov . G . Treasurer for the ensuing year , and , a ballot having taken place , he was unanimously elected . The D . Prov . G . M . moved , according to notice , that tbe by-law No . XVIII . be amendedand that the returns from the lod

, ges in future be made up to the 24 th of June , instead of the 27 th of December , annually , and that the fees to the Provincial Grand Lodge become payable accordingly , which , after some discussion , was unanimously agreed to . The following brethren ( in addition to the D . Prov . G . M . ) were appointed and installed by the Prov . G . M . as the officers of tbe Grand Lodge for the ensuing year : —

Bro . Rev . J . Denton , M . A ., W . M . 10 S 1 ... Prov . S . GW . ¦ „ Thomas Goadby , W . M . 5 S „ J . G . W . „ R . Brewin , P . Prov . G . AV ., P . M . 766 „ G . Treas . „ H . J . Davis , Solicitor , S . W . 706 ... „ G . Reg . „ C . Morris , Solicitor , P . Prov . G . W ., P . M . 348 „ G . Sec . „ W . H . Marris , W . M . 348 „ S . G . D . W . JohnsonW . M . 766 JGD

„ , „ ... „ W . Jackson , Architect , 34 S „ G . Supt . of Works „ Francis Harriss , 1081 „ G . Dir . of Cers . „ T . W . Clarke , J . W . 5 S „ Asst . Dir . of Cers „ H . E . Smith , Lieutenant Leicestershire Volunteer Rifle Co ., 1081 ... „ G . S . B . „ Henry Gill , P . M . 348 „ G . Org . „ G : F . Brown , S . W . 1081 „ G . Purs .

Bros . H . P . Green , No . 766 , S . Selby ,- ) R . W . Burnaby , 348 , and S . £ „ G . Stewards . Love , 1081 ... ) Bro . C . Bembridge „ G . Tyler .

A report was read from the Masonic Hall Committee stating that it having been necessary ( as resolved after the presentation of their last annual report ) to increase the mortgage debt on the building to the extent of £ 250 beyond what had been contemplated , in consequence of the deficiency in the sum subscribed in the province for its erection , owing to many of the members of the two local lodges ( and especially the wealthycounty brethren ) , on whose aid full reliance bad been placed ,

not having contributed . The rent , which was fixed to be paid by the lodges and Chapter , had not been found sufficient to meet the annual expenses for interest and establishment charges , and , consequently , there was not only a deficiency in the income account at tbe present time , which it would be necessary to provide for , but also to devise means to make the income in future years at least equal the expenditure . The committee were requested to report to tho next meeting as to

the measures which they would recommend to be adopted , after consulting with the Finance Committee of the two local lodges as to the future rent , & c . Two brethren having been elected to serve on the Hall Committee , and the Prov . G . Reg . and Prov . G . Sec . for the time being having been declared by resolution ex-ofricio members of the committee , in addition to the Prov . G . M . and D . Prov . G . M ., the Grand Lodge was closed in due form and with solemn

prayer . The brethren afterwards re-assembled at the banquet , at which Earl Howe again presided , and to which he had furnished his usual bountiful supply of game , & c . The usual toasts , both loyal and Masonic , having been duly honoured—a most enthusiastic reception being given to that of Lord Howe , which was proposed by the D . Prov . G . M .- —the brethren separated after some hours' pleasant social intercourse .

MIDDLESEX . UXBRIBGE . —Royal Union Lodge ( No . 536 ) . —This prosperous lodge held its regular meeting on Monday last , present , Bros . Newall , P . M . ; Cobham , J . W . ; Coombs , S . D . ; Weedon , Sec ; Steward , Young , Spiers , Gaball , Crawley , Severin , McLaren , Elliot , Comport , Lines , Gawtborp , Cbegwidden , Cocke , and Hicks . Visitors , Bro . Tuck ( 25 ) , Hunting , ( P . M ., 1051 ) . Bros .

Severin , Crawley , and Cocke were passed , and Bro . Elliott was raised . One guinea was voted for the relief of a distressed brother , to which a private collection amongst the brethren was afterwards added . P . M . Bro . Newall , in ' the unavoidable absence of the W . M ., presided in bis usual excellent style ; Bro . Cobham acted as S . W ., and visiting Bro . Ranting- as S . W ., and Bro . Tuck as S . D . Business over , tho brethren adjourned to refreshment . The usual loyal and Masoiiic ° toasts _ were given and responded to , and the brethren separated . "

WARWICKSHIRE . PRESENTATION TO LADY LEIGH . [ As owing to a transportation of a few lines in the making up of last week , the following was rendered unintelligible , we repeat it . ] The Freemasons of Warwickshireon WednesdayNov 5 fch

, , . , consumated a graceful expression of the their appreciation of the manner in which Lord Leigh has for ten years past fulfilled the duties of G . M . for the province of Warwickshire , by presenting to Lady Leigh a portrait of her noble husband , and an address expressive of their sentiments . Of tho portrait , painted by Sir Watson Gordon , we have previously spoken . The address , given in its proper place below , was engrossed in a vellum folio

volume , handsome bound in purple roan , edged with gold , and bearing on tbe front cover an escutcheon , emblazoned with the arms of the house of Leigh . It is signed by the brethren of the eighteen Warwickshire lodges , anil the title of each lodge , occupying a separate page , is beautifully illuminated in the mediaival style , each illumination being characterised hy an interweaving of Warwickshire flowers and lantsThe members

p . of the lodges of the province signed in the following order ¦ •—Bros . C . W . Elkington , D . Prov . G . M . ( Chairman of the presentation committee ); E . A . Linsrard , P . D . J . G . W ., ( Treas ) ; Dr . Bell Fletcher , P . D . Prov . G . M . ; W . Briggs , P . G . J . W ., and C . Ratcliff , ( Sees . ); and tbe officers and members , being subscribers of the following lodges : —St . Paul ' s , Birmingham , 51 ; The Athol , 88 ; The Trinity , Coventry , 316 ; The Shakspeare , Warwick