Provincial.

consequently took his place in the east . Bro . Mark Douglass , Senior P . M ., occupied the S . W . ' s chair , and Bro . AA' . H . Crookes , P . M . and P . G . Sec , that of the J . AA ' . The choir consisted of Bvos . Ferry , Myi-e ., Whinom , and Guisicke . Bro . Augelo Forrest presided at the Harmonium . The marked ability of Bro . Dixon as installing Master , gave great satisfaction , the symbolical illustrations aud moral charges , were impressively renderedwhile the solemn and inspiring strains from the choir

, , gave a peculiar emotional charm to the whole of the proceedings . The AA ' . M . then oppointed and invested with their respective Badges of office , the following brethren : Bro . Robt . Dixon , I . P . M . ; Bro . James AA'ilson , S . AV . ; Bro . James Davison , J . AV . ; Bro . Thos . Godfordson , Treas ., Bro . Robt . Hodgson , Soe . ; Bro . Trueman ; AV . Graham , S . D . ; Bro . John Bell , J-D . ; Bro . Henry J . Turiibull , I . G . ; Bro . John Thompson , Tyler ; Bro . Angelo

Forrest , Org . ; Bros . Rudolph , Guisicke , and Geo . Young , Stewards . The acclamations of the brethren at each of these appointments gave evidence that the AA ' . M . had been judicious in his selection . A few propositions were made and recorded , and the lodge was closed in due form . The brethren then retired to the Refreshment Hall , where soug , toast , and sentiment ruled the hoard ; an amount of versatile talent was displayed , honour was given whore honour was due , and Harmony reigned supreme during the remainder of tho evening . HARTLEPOOL—St . Helen's Lodge ( No . _ 31 ) . —The

installation of Bro . Robert Ropner , AV . M . elect , took place on Thursday afternnoon , December 1 st inst . Bro . Jas Grooves , J . P ., P . M ., Prov . J . G . AA' ., performed the installing ceremony in a very effective manner . Bro . Ropner selected his officers for the ensuing year as follows : —Bros . J . J . Armstrong , I . P . M . ; John Hunter . S . AA ' . ; AA . H . Carter . J . W . ; J . M . Porter , J . AV . Atley , Sees . ; AV . Pearson , S . D . ; S . M . Glendinniiig , J . D . ; T . Turnbull , I . G- ; Jas Grooves , P . M ., D . C . ; Bros J . Mosey ,

F . C . Cooper , and AV . Fleetham , Stewards ; Bro . J . Mowbray , Tyler . After the ceremony of installation was ended , and the brethren had saluted the AV . M ., Bro . W . J . Hodgson , P . M ., in a very appropriate speech , presented Bro . J . J . Armstrong the retiring W . AI ., with two very neat jewels , one , a gift from Bro . John Hunter , his late Secretary , and present S . AV ., aud the other from the brethren of the lodge , after Bro . Armstrong had responded in suitable terms , the lodge was closed , and the

brethren adjourned to Bro . C . Humble ' s , of the Cleaveland Hotel , where a sumptuous banquet was prepared for them , and a very pleasant and harmonious evening was spent . Among the visiting brethren present were Bros . AV . C . AA ' . Jackson , J . P ., P . Prov . S . G . W ., of Greatham Hall ; Davis , P . M ., P . Prov . S . G . AV ., Sunderland ; Farmer , P . M ., Darlington ; Jones , AV . M ., Middlesbro ; S . Gourley , P . M . ; Cameron , AV . M . ; Coxon , Sec , Harbour of Refuge , AA ' est Hartlepool ; J . AV . Sidney , St . John's Sunderland .

ISLE OF MAN . DOUGLAS . —The Craft will be glad to see the amity which prevails between the lodges Jn Douglas ; the members of which have decided on celebrating by a joint bn nquet , the " Festival of St . John . " The Installation of Bro . John A . Brown will take place at St . James' Hall , at two o ' clock , the Installing Master being Bro . G . JI . Lofthouse , P . M . ; and the installation

of Bro . Samuel AVebb will be at the Douglas Hotel , at four o'clock , the Installing Master being Bro . H . P . Mayle , P . M . The banquet will take place at the Douglas Hotel , at six o ' clock , and as the occasion will be most interesting , there is little doubt that great numbers of brethren will assemble round the hospitable board of Bro . H . P . Mayle . Bro . E . Tibbets , P . M . will install Bro . II . P . AVebb , Master ' of the St . Maughold Lodge , 1 , 275 , Ramsey . —Isle of Man Times .

LANCASHIRE , ( AVEST ) . LANCASTEE . —Lodge of Fortitude , ( No . 2 S 1 ) . —The regular meeting of this lodge was held ou AVednesday evening last , the 14 th December , 1870 at the Masonic Rooms , Al . hena . um . The AV . M ., Bro . John Hatch [ . 'resided , and was supported by the following officers : —AA ' . Bro . Edward Storey , I . P . M . ; Bros . Christopher Hartley , S . AA' . ; John Barrow , J . AV . ; James Hatch ,

P . JI . and Treas . ; Edmund Simpson , P . M . and Sec ; AVilliam Heald , S . D . ; William Fleming , J . D . ; AVilliam Hall , IG . ; John Watson , Tyler . There were also present Past Masters AV . IT . Bagnall , J , Fenton , YV . King , G . Kelland , J . J ) . Moore , It .

Stanton , and J . Z . AVhimpray , Bros . AV . Hall . AV . M . 1051 ; N . G . Mercer , AA ' . M . elect , 1051 , and about 30 other brethren . The lodge was opened , minutes of the last regular lodge , and of the Lodgo of Emergency read aud confirmed , and other business transacted . Bro . AA'illiam Hayes . E . A . P . having given proof of his proficiency , was passed to the degree of F . C . by the AV . M ., the working tools being presented by the AV . M . The next business was the election of a W . M . for the ensuiug yearfor which

, office there were not fewer than 29 brethren on the list as eligible . The ballot resulted in the election of Bro . J . Daniel , Moore , M . D .. P . M ., P . Prov . G . S . of AV ., and the Installation aud subsequent banquet were fixed for Tuesday the 29 th inst . The election of Treasurer and Tyler were next proceeded with , and resulted in the re-election of Bro . James Hatch , P . M ., as Treasurer , and John Watson as Tyler . The Secretary reported that the Committee appointed to decide upon the votes for the

Royal Albert Asylum , had given their votes to the son of a member of the Craft at Southport , and to the local candidates A committe was appointed to audit the accouuts of the lodge , and there being no other business before the lodge , it was closed in due form .

>• PEESTON . —Lodge Concord ( No . 243 ) . —The annual meeting of this flourishing lodge was held ou Thursday , December 15 , at the King ' s Arms [ Hotel , for the purpose of installing the new AVorslupful Master . The lodge was opened at 3 . 30 by Bro . Pro . Porter , AV . M ., assisted by Bros . Banning , S . AV . ; Heaps , J . AA' . ; Rev . Taylor Sec , and Chaplain , forty brethren of the lodge and the following visitors : —Bros . Capt . MottP . Prov

, , J . G . D . ; Steib , P . M . 113 AVhitehead , W . M . 113 ; AVorsley , P . M . 333 ; Kinselle , AA' . M . 333 ; Dr . Smith , AV . M . 314 ; D . AVilson , J . AV . 333 ; AVard , S . AV . 333 , and others . The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed , Bro . Beattie was passed to the second degree , aud Bro . Bowling to that of the sublime degree of M . M . The lodge was then resumed in the second degree , when the installing Master , Bro . Captain Mott ,

having taken the chair , Bros . Porter and Pritt presented Bro . Banning , S . AV ., and AV . M . elect for installation . The brethren below the rank of W . M . having retired , a board of installed Masters was formed , and Bro , Banning was duly placed in the chair according to ancient custom . The brethren were again admitted and the AV . M . was proclaimed in the three degrees respectively . Tho officers were next appointed as follows : —Bros . J . PorterI . P . M . ; HeapsS . W . ; Rev . TavlovLAV . and

Chap-, , , lain ; G . AA ' . Rawson , Sec ; R . B . Pearson , S . D . ; AV . AVilson , J . D . ; R . Robinson , P . M ., Treas . ; Welbourne , I . G . ; and Moss , Tyler . Bro . Captain Mott then said that his next duty was a very pleasing one , he had been requested by the AV . M . to present in the name of the brethren to Bro . Porter , the I . P . M ., a very handsome gold Past Master's jewel in token of thoir

appreciation of his valuable services during the past year , and he trusted that Bro . Porter Would long live to wear it and work in the cause of Freemasonry as he bad hitherto done . Bro . Porter briefly responded . The visiting brethren having presented hearty good wishes from their respective lodges , and there being no other business the lodge was duly and solemnly closed with prayer , according to ancient custom , ut 7 o ' clock . The brethren then adjourned to the banquet roomsixty-two sat downpresided over bBro .

, , y Banning , AV . M ., supported on his right by Capts . Mott and AA'hitehead , and on his left by Bros . Porter , I . P . M ., Prett Quayle , Dr . Smith , Rev . C . T . Astbury , & c The usual loyal and Masonic toasts having been given and duly honoured , Bro . Porter rose and asked the brethren to drink in a bumper the toast he was about to propose , it was the health of their new AA ' oiship f ' ul Master , than whom there was not a better Mason in

the country ; in the course of his , Bro . Porter ' s remarks , he alluded to the importance of selecting proper men for the chair ; as , should they elect some ono who had not the true interests of Masonry at heart and who was not skilled in the Craft , the welfare , of the lodge must naturally sillier , but such he was happy to say was not their case that night , for they had elected one in whom he hail the greatest confidenceand to whom he

trans-, mitted the affairs of the lodge with pleasure , well knowing that he would discharge the duties of his high office with credit to himself , honor to the Craft at large , and satisfaction to the brethren ol" this lodge ill particular ; and he trusted that T . G . A . O . 'l ' . U . would grant him strength to support and wisdom to guide him during his year of office . The toast was well received , and the AA ' . M . briefly responded , and before sitting down