Provincial.

many of the Grand Officers , Past Masters , and other brethren of the province , about sixty being present . On the Grand Lodgo being opened , and the minutes of tho meeting on the 10 th February last for tho installation of tho Prov . G . Master , and a Grand Lodgo of Emergency held on the ISth May last , to assist in laying tho foundation stones of the churches of S . S . Paul and Mark , at Leicester , having been read and confirmed , a letter was read from the present

Earl Howe , thanking the P . G . Lodgo on behalf of himself and the famil y for the address of condolence on the decoaso of the late lamented Earl , far so many years Grand Muster of tho Order in the Province . After some further routine business the P . G . M . proceeded , with tho assistance of his officers , to dedicate tho St . Peter ' s Lodgo , in ancient form , the musical portion of the ceremony being- conducted most efficiently by the Prov . G . OrganistBrother CrowFellow of

, , the College of Organists . Tho effect of the whole ceremony was highly impressive , In the course of the ceremony tho Rev . Dr . Haycroft , one ofthe P . G . Chaplains delivered , as is customary , an oration on Masonry , which was a truly eloquent disquisition on tho great principles of tho Order , aud which was received with loud applause , and which it is hoped will hereafter appear in print for the benefit of the Craft at large .

Tho Provincial Grand Master having accepted tho office of Master of the new Lodge , then entered upon its duties , the ceremony of installation , being unnecessary in his case , was dispensed with ; aud lie immediately invested the followingbrethren as the officers of the new Lodge . —Sir Henry Halford , Bart ,, Senior Warden ; Rev . John F . Halford , M . S .., Junior Warden ; Rev . A . A . O'Neill , M . A . ( P . P . G . C ; W , Lancashire ) , Chaplain ; Robert Waite ( P . M . 442 ancl P . P . G . Reg . )

Trca-, , surer ; W . H . Marris ( P . M ., 279 . and P . P . G . S . D . ) , Secretary Francis Kemp ( 469 Spalding ) , Senior Deacon . The other offices were for the present left open , Twelve gentlemen having been proposal ! as candidates for initiatfon , and two brethren as joining members , the Loclge was closed and the business of the Province proceeded with . A report was read from the Committee of the Provincia Grand Lodge , which , referring to the audit of the treasurer ' s

accounts , and some matters of detail , stated that the Committee had briefly before them the subject of the proposed public memorial , in Leicester , to tho late lamented P . G . M . Earl Howe , but they w-ere not prepared to make any recommendation to the P . G . Lodge , respecting it , thinking it bettor to leave it an entirely open question for tho consideration and decision of the brethren then assembled . Freemasonry being entirely unsectarian and non-political , it had been hoped that

a Convalescent Hospital , or some similar object , in which brethren of all shades of religions or political opinion might unite , would , have been selected , but that having been found impracticable , and the erect'ou of a Memorial Church having boon determined on , it has been suggested that should they determine , as a body , to co-operate in tho movement , ( as doubtless every one would feel it a privilege to do , as a tribute of respect to the memory of their late beloved chief , could he

do so consistently ) a soperato fund should bo raised among the Freemasons , to be appropriated to tho erection of one or more memorial windows ' of stained glass in the Church ; as many brethren , not members of the Established Church might unite in this scheme , who would have conscientious scruples against subscribing to the erection of tho church itself . This suggestion of the Committee appeared to be received favourably , but time not permitting the discussion of tho subject , it was

referred to a special mooting of the P . G . Lodge to determine the course to be pursued . Tho Prov . Grand Master then appointed and invested the following brethren as the officers of the Grand Lodge for the ensuing year , the numbers denoting the Lodges to which the brethren belong , viz ., ( 50 ) , the Knights of Malta , Hinckley ; ( 279 ) , St . John ' s , Leicester ; ( 523 ) , John of Gannt , Leicester ; ( 779 ) , Ferrers and Ivanlioe , Ashby-do-la-Zonch ; ( 1007 ) , Howe and Charnwoocl , Loughborough ; ( 1130 ) , RutlandMelton

. Mowbray ; ( 12 G 5 ) Vale of Catmos , Oakham ; ( 1330 ) , St . Peter's , Market llarboroush . W . Grimes Palmer , P . M ., ( 1007 ) , Senior Grand Warden ; Right Hon . Earl Kerrers-W . M ., ( 779 ) , Junior Grand Warden ; Rev . Dr . Haycroft , J . W .. ( 523 ) , and Rev . John 1 . Ha I ford , J . W ., ( 1380 ) , Grand Chap , lains ; S . S . Partidge , S . D ., ( 523 ) , Grand Registrar ; W . Beaumont Smith , P . M ., ( 523 ) , Grand Treasurer ; " George Toller , jun ., P . M ., ( 523 ) , Grand Secretary ; Sir Henry " St . J . Halford , Bavt ., S . W ., ( 1330 ) , Senior Grand Deacon ; John

Wilson , W . M ., ( 100 G ) , Junior Grand Deacon ; Thomas Han-old , P . M ., ( 50 ) , Grand Superintendent of Works ; Thomas Markham , J . W ., ( 1205 ) , and John Ii . Garnnr , S . W ., ( 779 ) , Grand Directors of Ceremonies ; Captain John Bailey , ( 1205 ) , Grand Sword Bearer ; Edwin J . Crow , J . W . ( 279 ) , Grand Organist ; John E Bright . J . W . ( 1265 , Grand Pursuivant ; Dr . George Pearce , Sec . ( 279 ) , Assistant Pursuivant ; John Woosey , J . W ., 50 , R . W . WiddowsonJ . G . ( 279 ) F . J . Brines , See . ( 523 ) Henry

, , , Blood , jun ., S . D ., ( 779 ) , W . Grimes Palmer , jun ., ( 1007 ) , and Samuel Weaver , S . D ., ( 1130 ) , Grand Stewards ; Charles Bembridge , ( 279 ) , Grand Tyler . On the business in Lodge being completed , at half-past one o'clock , tho brethen went in procession to church , to attend divine service . Prayers wore said by the curate , and tho lessons wore read by the Revs . A . A . O'Neill , and John F . Halford , after which the sermon ( which as its ground work took the

thraa grand epochs in Royal Arch-Masonry Tor illustration ) was preached by tho Rev . John Spittal , Past Grand Chaplain , and Vicar of St . Andrew ' s , Leicester . A collection , amounting to ten guineas , was then made on behalf of the National Society for Aicl to the Sick and Wounded iu War . On returning to the Lodge votes of thanks were passed to the Vicar for the use o f his church , to the Rov . Dr . Haycroft for his oration , and the Rev . Bro . Spittal for his sermon , and a hope was expressed

that they would be printed . The brethren to the number of fifty then set down to an elegant banquet iu the asembls-room , after which the usual loyal and masonic toasts were duly honoured , and several eloquent addresses wero delivered , especially by the Rev . Dr . Ilaroroft in responding as the Senior Grand Chaplain to" the toast of "The Right Rev . Brother the Lord Bishop ofthe Diocese , and the Ministers of Religion in the Province , " and by the Rev . R . P . Bent ( Bedfordshire ) in

proposing "The Army , Navy , Militia , and Volunteers , " in responding to which Colonel Sir Henry Halford , alluded to the unprepared state in which our military forces are at the present time . The health of the Right Worshipful Prov . Grand Master , was most heartily received , and was proposed by the W . Brother Inns , Deputy Prov . G . M . of Northauts and Hunts . At an early hour the brethren broke up , after a most pleasant and gratifying anniversary festival .

LEICESTER . —St . John ' s Lodge . —( So . 279 ) . —The first meeting of this Lodge after the summer recess was held at the Freemason's Hall , ou Wednesday the 27 th . iust . at which the Prov . G . Mastor , Bro . Kelly presided , the W . M . Bro . W . E . S . Stanley , being absent from the town . Bro . J . W . Widdowson , T . G ., was elected unanimously for recommendation to thel P . G . M . for appointment as a Grand Steward in the Provincial Grand Lodge . Two gentlemen were proposed as candidatet

for iniation after which tho Lodge was dosed for refreshmen and the Brethen separated at a early hour . Tho Lodge of Instruction in connexion with St . John ' s and the John of Gaunt Lodiro met for the first time at the Freema . son's Hall , on Friday , tho 9 th ., inst . under tho Mastership for the night of Bro . the Rev . N . Haycroft , D . D ., J . W . of the John of Gaunt Lodge , who most effiicently and impressively worked the whole of tho ceremonies of the throe degrees , the

Brethen being called off for a short time , for the usual light refreshment . The Treasurer ' s accounts woro passed and other business transacted . LEICESTER John of Gaunt Lodge , —( No . 70 S ) . —An emergency meeting of this Lodge wis held at the Freemason's Hall , on Tuesday evening , tho Oth . inst ., which was numerously attended , all the officers being in their places except the J . W ., the Rev . Dr . Haycroft , Who was out of town . The Rev .

Bro . Buzzain , W . M . presided , and the Prov . G . M . and four other P . M . ' s wero present . The business was to raise Bro . Hewlett , to pass Bro . Howard , ( a native Syrian of Beyrout ) , and Bin-may ; and to initiate Mr . James Kealey , and Mr . Charles Bernard Lange , ( a native of Loipsic ) , which was accordingly done , after which the Bvothon adjourned to refresh , ments . On tho evening of Thursday , tho 15 th . inst ., tho first regular meeting of tho Season was held , tho attendance

being small , doubtless owing to the annual meeting of the Prov-incal Grand Lodge being fixed to take place at Market , Hai-borough , on tho following morning . Bros . Sulham and Cliai-lcsworth were duly raised to the third degree , and Bro . Wynim was passed a follow Craft , Bro . Haines , Secretary , was elected for nomination to the P . G . M . as a Provincial Grand Steward to represent this Lodge . After some further business , the Lodgo closed .