Provincial.

den , with especial reference to tue high position in Masonry of the two first-mentioned brethren . The toast was most cordially received . Bro . Liddell acknowledged the toast in an appropriate speech . Bro . Dr . T . vdd , endorsing his brother ' s remarks , complimented the lodge on its efficient working .

Bro . Hampden also returned thanks . Bro . Liddell again rose to apologise for the absence of several brother officers who were prevented from attending . Bro . C . Homfray gave "The Ladies , " in a speech which elicited considerable merriment .

Bro . Dr . Hughes , as the youngest Mason , made a humourous response . Then came good Bro . Pickford with his old toast of " The Masonic Charities , " of which he spoke fervently and well . The boys' ancl girls' schools , he said , were more efficient and extensively useful than ever , and more than ever challenged their liberality . He earnestly urged the brethren to subscribe .

The W . M ., in giving " Tho Officers of St . George ' s Lodge , " referred to a project which he was anxious to see carried out , and which he was prepared to support to the utmost of his power , viz ., the erection of a Masonic Hall at Tredegar . Bro . William Adams , C . E ., of Newport , had kindly draw-n out a plan ancl elevation , which would be handed round for the inspection of the brethren , and he was sanguine that the work could be carried out . After which Bro . Fisher , S . AA " ., returned thanks . The brethren separated at an early hour .

NORTHUMBELJVND . NEWCASTE-ON-TTXE . —Lodge de Lorraine ( No . 541 ) . —On Priday , the 20 th ult ., the members of this lodge held their annual festival to celebrate the installation of their AV . Al ., John Stokoe . At the time appointed for the installation , the lodgeroom was we ' ll filled by the members and visiting brethren , particularlP . M . 'samongst whom in the dais we noticed Bros

y , . E . D . Davis , P . M ., P . Prov . S . G . AA . ; Thomas Anderson , P . G ., Treas . ; Jensen , Saniter , Ludwic , Thomas Smith , A . Clapham , P . Prov . G . S . AV . ; Hotham , " P . Prov . G . S . AA . ; Pnlman , P . D . G . S . AA ' . ; Turkey , Winter , & c . The lodge was opened by the W . M ., Bro . B . Smailes , and after the minntes were confirmed , he vacated the chair in favour of Bro . Davis , who performed tho installation ceremony in an impressive manner .

Bro . Stokoe having signified his assent to the ancient charges , was installed in the chair of K . S . in the usual manner . He appointed as his officers the following : Bros . B . Smailes , I . P . M . ; W . G . Laws , S . AV . ; Hubert Laws , J . AA . ; H . Modlin , Sec ; T . Anderson , P . M ., Treas . ; Blenkinsopp , S . D . ; G . Laws , J . D . ; W . Howard , I . G . ; Trotter , Tyler ; C . G . Anderson aud G . Taylor , Stewards . The installing Master then delivered the usual charges to the W . M . officers and brethren , and the lodge was duly closed . The festival was afterwards held at Bro . R . Brown's , Turk ' s Head Hotel , Grey-street , when upwards of

forty of the brethren sat down to a recherche dinner , set out in that unexceptionable style for which Bio . Brown is noted . The usual Masonic toasts were given and responded to , including the health of the AV . M ., ably proposed by Bro . E . D . Davis , and feelingly replied to by the W . M . The toast of " The installing Master , " met with an enthusiastic reception : and the AV . M , in proposing " The present Officers , " pointed out as an evidence of the harmonious working of the lod and of the zeal and

ge , ability of the officers that at the installation that day every officer had gained but a single step in promotion ; their merits having been all so equally good , ancl each had previouslv done his individual work so well . The pleasures of the festival were much enhanced by the vocal abilities of several members of the lodge , prominent amongst whom were Bros . Penman , R . AVatson , Hindhaugh , Donnison , Blenkinsop , and the AV . M ., who

sang several Masonic glees at intervals during the evening in an excellent manner . The " Masonic Charities " were proposed in a speech by Bro . E . D . Davis , who called upon the brethren most earnestl y to support them by contributing liberally to the subscri ption lists of our noble charitable institutions . The T yler ' s toast having at last been given , the brethren separated , highly delighted with the whole proceedings of the festival , and with the enercy and care exercised to bring it to such a successful termination

North Wales And Shropshire.

NORTH WALES AND SHROPSHIRE .

AUGLESEA LODGE ( NO . 1113 . In our impression of the 30 th November last , we gave anaccount of an emergency meeting of this promising and prosperous lodge;—we now return to it , on the occasion of the installstion of the AV . M . The election took place on the 20 tlv of November , when by the unanimous vote of the brethren presentthe Bro . AVilliam BulkelHughesM . P . Prov . G . Reg .,,

, y , , the S . W ., was elected to fill the Master ' s chair for the year ensuing . Bro . William Bulkeley Hughes was unfortunately absent upon the occasion , having to be in his place in Parliament during the unusual autumnal session . His duties in the lodge were very ably performed by a visitor , Bro . Captain Charles E . Pearse , li . N . The installation took place on the 18 th of Decemberand Bro . AVilliam SwanboroughP . Prov . G . D ..

, , , one of the P . M . ' s of the old St . David ' s Lodge , Bangor , performed the ceremony in his accustomed highly efficient manner , and he received the thanks of the lodge for his important services . The AV . M . appointed and invested the following brethren as his officers for the ensuing year : Bros . John Coles Ponrdrinier , I . P . M . and Sec ; AVilliam Hughes , S . AV . ; Rev . R . H . AA'illiams , J . AV . ; Captain Hampton ancl Alexander ,

Deacons ; Phillips , I . G . ; B . R . Thomas , Organist ; I . Griffithsand Thomas Fanning Evans , Stewards . Perhaps not the least interesting event of the evening wasthe re-appointment of Bro . Michael Dyer ( an old AA ' aterlooveteran , whose breast was covered with medals and clasps for varied services ) as the Tyler—the old soldier's salute with his drawn sword and short but pithy thanks were much appreciated

and applauded . AA ' e have said above , "this promising ancl prosperous lodge ;" we will let the concluding paragraph of the report of the permanent committee come to aid us in our statement , viz .: "jYour committee cannot conclnde this their first report without shortly alluding to the progress and position of the lodge , commencing on the 6 th of July , 1866 , with eight members , it may

now fairly boast of having on its register no less than thirtythree subscribing members , besides three honorary members ' , and during this its first season , out of the above number of thirty-three , no less than sixteen 'have seen the light'in this

lodge . This result cannot bnt be deemed highly satisfactory —but your committee , whilst sincerely congratulating the lodge upon its position ancl highly satisfactory condition , and whilst wishing to urge all the members to exert themselves to maintain the present flourishing condition of the lodge , desire most particularly to call the attention of each brother to the fact that it is not bj' mere numbers that any lodge is efficiently and satisfactorily maintainedand that therefore the greatest

, care will be requisite in recommending for admission such gentlemen only as are likely to reflect honour upon their proposers , and upon the lodge in an equal degree , ancl prove good members of our ancient and honourable fraternity . " Bro . Gen . Hughes received his Grand Lodge Certificate in open lodge . The AV . M . proposed for the acceptance of the lodge a very handsome harmonium , in rosewood case , which was accepted '

amidst much applause , and the thanks of the lodge were duly recorded to the AV . M . for his thoughtful , very handsome , and most useful gift . Bro . AVilliiam Bulkeley Hughes , the W . M ., then rose and said : " Brethren , after thanking you for the honour done mo by placing me in the chair , my first duty , and believe me it is a most gratifying and acceptable one it is , to ask you to

joinwith me in tendering to our dear Bro . Fourdrinier , the first Past Master of this lodge , our dutiful and warm acknowledgments , for the kind , urbane , indeed affectionate manner in which Le has conducted the duties and business of this lodge since its establishment . It is well kuown to us all that through his valuable assistance we are mainly if not entirely indebted for the position we hold among the lodges of the kingdom . To

him nearly one-half of the brethren owe their first impressions of Masonry . Having such a highly gifted Freemason as the the first Master of our lodge is is an honour of which I am , as I am sure you all are , proud . Look at the emblems of merit which adorn his breast , one of which was presented to him by the best and sincerest Grand Master of England—the late Dnko of Sussex . Brethren I ask you not only whether we can withhold our deepest and most grateful thanks to the Immediate

Past Master , but can we much longer delay conveying our sense of the obligation the members of this lodge are under to him in a more substantial form , and whicli at a future time I shall take occasion to bring before yonr notice . I shall conclude this .