Provincial.

building which may arise from it , none but good men may be admitted , and men that fear God and love the brotherhood . " The Provincial Grand Master then scattered salt upon the stone , and said , " I scatter this salt as a symbol of fidelity , friendship , and hospitality and may the Most High bless this ancient borough , the county , and the empire at large , with abundance of corn , ancl wine , and oil , and all the necessaries , comforts , ancl couve ; niences of lifeand may the same Almihty Power preserve the inhabitants iu

, g peace , and unity , and brotherly love . " Response—So mote it be ! The Brethren then returned to the Bell Hotel . The building , which is to be devoted solely to Masonic purposes , consists of two floors ; the upper and principal floor affords a Lodge-room sixty feet long , twentyfive feet Avide , and twenty-two feet high , for the ceremonies of Masonry and for holding Masonic balls ; to adapt it for which latter purpose an orchestral gallery is

placed over tho entrance to the room at the south end . On this floor is also a dining-room , twenty-four feet by seventeen feet , and other rooms necessary for the purposes of the Craft . The communication from the ground floor is by a spacious staircase , six feet wide , leading to au open lauding , which forms the approach to the principal room . On the ground-floor are the entrance-hall , anteroom , kitchen , and residence for the Tyler . The front , externally , is of Italian character , and of red dressed brick with Bath stone dressings and cornice ; the front

is set back from tho street line , ancl will be enclosed by an iron pallisade fence . The entire cost of the building and site will be about £ 1 , 500 , Avhich sum is raised among the Brethren of the Order . It is proposed to hold a ball in the building at its completion iu a few months time .

NORTHUMBERLAND . ATr-ronraiiKTS . —/ , o <*(/ es . —Tuesday , March 1 st , St . David ' s ( 551 ) , Salmon Inn , Berwick , at 8 ; Northumberland ( 9 S 5 ) , Assembly Booms , Newcastle , at 8 ; Thursday , 3 rd , Newcastle ( 21 ) , Freemasons' Hall , Newcastle , at 7 ; St . Helen ' s ( 774 ) , Masonic Hall , Hartlepool , at 7 ' ..

OXFORDSHIRE OXPOKD—Apollo University Lodge ( No . 460 ) . —This Lodge assembled at tho Masonic Hall , on AVednesday , February 16 th , when the A \ orshipful Master elect , Bro . the Rev . A . H . Faber , M . A ., Fellow and Tutor of New College , was installed ; the ceremony of installation being performed in an admirable and impressive manner by Bro . W . W . B . BeachM . P . for Northern Hampshire . On the conclusion of

, the ceremony , the AV . M . appointed his officers for the ensuing year , as follows : — Bros , the Rev . R . AV . Norman , M . A ., Exeter College , S . AV . ; T . M . Talbot , Christ Church , J . W . ; Rev . H . S . Andrews , Christ Church , Chaplain ; Dr . Elvey , New College , Organist ; AV . Thompson , Treas . ; V . A . AVilliamson , Christ Church , Sec . ; A . T . Blakiston , Sfc . f John ' s , S . D . ; T . Cochrane , Oriel , J . D . ; W . AV . Harrison , Brasenose , Dir . of Cers . ; Sir G . Grant , Bart , Christ Church , Assist . Dir . of Cers . ; A . C . AAlllyanis , New College , I . G . ; J . Gunch-y , Morton ; E . Hester , AA adham ; J .

K . Hitchins , University ; P . Dickens , New College ; B . K . Pearse , University ; F . AV . A . Bowyer , Christ Church ; R . E . Watson , Exeter ; Tyler , B . Bull ; Stewards , In the evening , tho Brethren commemorated their annual festival with a banquet , at which about sixty were present , including the Prov . G . M . for Oxfordshire , Capt . Bowyer , of Steeple Ashton ; Bros . AV . AV . B . Beach , M . P . ; Sir Michael Edward Hicks Beach , Bart . ; Sir G . Grant , Bart . ; AV . Belcner , AA ' . M . ofthe Alfred Lodge ; Alderman Sadler , Alderman Dudley , several other Past Masters of the Alfred Lodge ,

and officers and brethren of the Apollo Alfred , Churchill , and Cherwell Lodges . The newly installed AV . M ., Bro . Faber , presided , and fulfilled the duties of the chair with great tact and judgment , introducing the various toasts , in his peculiarly happy and humorous manner . A happier gathering has rarely been witnessed , for toast and song followed in regular succession , ancl rarely have Ave heard a greater variety of songs , or better sung * In the course of the evening , the AV . M . mentioned the intention of the Masonic body to give some balls and entertainments at the ensuing commemoration in the first Aveek of July ; and expressed his desire that thev