Craft Masonry.

Silt ¦ frame , Avas'to * the following effect : — "At a meeting of the 'kayal Standard "Lodge , No . 1298 , held on Tuesday , the 7 th B'eb . im-y , 1871 , Bro . Colonel Wiggington , AV . M ., in the chair , it was proposed by Bro . Wilson , seconded by Bro . Modridge , and T . ! . ! ia . itc _ . _ ously resolved , that the best thanks of the brethren , together with the freedom of the Lodge of Instruction connected tbjaiowith , and also for the maimer In AA'hich he has performed

the ; onerous duties of Secretary of this Lodge , and that the same hci engrossed on vellum and presented to him as a slight token of fell e os teem in Avhich he is held by the brethren . Signed : Wm . Wigginton , AV . M . ; R . Lee , S . W . ; H . Ballantyne , J . W . " Bro . Shackell , iu returning thanks , said ho could Welly find words to thank the brethren . He never expected such a recognition of his poor services , and it had taken him quite by surprise , but he could assure the brethren that it Avould be highly

prized ; as long as he should live . The Lodge Avas afterwards closed , and the brethren adjourned to a banquet , after which she usual loyal and Masonic toasts AA-ore proposed and responded ¦ to . The tonst of " The Visitors " Avas responded to by Bro . C . FL Thompson , of No . 177 , and S . AV ., 1158 , AA-IIO in their name expressed the extreme gratification with which they had Avit-• nessed the Avhole proceedings of the ei'ening , and congratulated . the brethren oil having secured so excellent a Mason as Bro . "Lee as their W . M . for tbe present year . The brethren did not separate until a'late hour . The other visitors present were Bros . Wells , 15 ; E . II . Limbert , 382 ; and E . R . Pass , 861 .

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

ESSEX . TJUTON . — Upton Lodge ( So . 1227 ) . —An emergency meeting ¦ -ara .. held on the 2 nd inst ., at the Spotted Dog , Upton . Present : Bros . L . Mather , AV . M . ; J . Bellerby , P . M ., as S . W . ; Bolton , ¦ J . W . ; Mnglish , S . D . ; Bratton , Treas . ; Dr . G . Levick , I . G . ; Picking , I . P . M . Bro . Barber AA-as raised , and Messrs . Hertz u . n & B ti 6 S were initiated . The work being admirably performed liy the WM . The lodge Avas then closed , and the brethren

sac down to a substantial repast , provided by Bro . Vanse . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given , and complimentary -speeches followed . Soma very good songs wero sung , and the Brethren , aeturned to town early .

KENT . BEC-KM :- * . —Acacia Lodge , ( No . 1314 ) . —The above lodgo ate . oti Tuesday , the 14 th " inst ., at the Bell Hotel , Bromley ' . Bro . A . A-very , AA ' . M ., in the chair , supported by Bros . R , H „ - "AVilUam ., Treas ., as S . AV . ; Knott ; . l . W . j Coste , P . M ., Hon . Sec ; S . Wells , S . D . ; Manser , J . D . ; Seaman , I . G . ; J . W . Avery , P . M . ; W . II . BaylLs Deci-ing , D . C . Laskey , AVyatt , . 'J . Bell , Saul , AY . Holland , and others . Thc lodge was opened

and the minutes of the former meeting Avere read and confirmed . B _ a _ . S ' avill , Mauley , and Lovett liaving answered the necessary ¦ . [ uestioiis iu a satisfactory manner , -. vere raised to the sublime degree of Master Masons . Ballots AA - OI - then taken for the admission of Messrs . Boden , Sutton , and J . F . Chubb , AA'hich - . < -as tuia . uim . au . slif u \ their favour , nud were duly initiated , into the order . Bro . C . Bayley , of Lodge No . 9 , Avas pro-¦ posed as a joining member . Two " gentlemen Avere proposed for

initiation . The lodge ivas then closed , and the brethren sat down to a capita ! banquet . The WM . presided . The usual loyal and masonic toasts were then given . In proposing the tons , of the M . W . G . AI ., the W . M . informed the brethren that tiie first Avarrant signed by that noble brother , on his accession te office , was the warrant of the " Acacia Lodgo . " Bro . H . M . Levy returned thanks for the visitors , AVIIO were— Bros . J . Hyde , 11 . 7 S : Moore , St . John ' s Lodge , ' Wappingj C . Bavlev , il ; Sutton , 781 ; G . Davison , 7-1-2 ; J . C . King , I . G ., 72 ; J . Maud , 1300 ; IL M . Levy , P . M ., 188 ; Hudson , 73 .

LANCASHIRE ( AVEST ) . 1 / ANCA . STET . —Bowleg Lodge , ( No . 1051 ) . —A meeting of this Zodge iv . is held on Friday evening , the 17 th March , at the Masonic Booms , Athenaeum . In consequence of the indispositioa of the AV . M ., the duties of the presiding officer Avere ¦ acmdiicfcea by Bra . J . Daniel Moore , P . M . 1051 , W . M . 281 , P . Frav . Cr . Supt . of . AVks ., who Avas supported by the folloAving -IIKMH . and brethren : Bros . John Hatch as I . P . M . ; W . Hill ,

Provincial.

as S . W . ; AV . Barker ; . J . W . ; W . J . Sey , S ' . IK ,-H . Sumner , J . D . ; 11 . Taylor , I . G .- ; - J . Watson , Tyler ; Edmund Simpson ,. P . M . 281 ; G . KeVland , ¥ M . 281 ; E . Airey , S . D . 281 ; R . Mills ;• W . Fleming , J . AA . 281 ; J .- Bailie and others . The- lodge being - opened aud usual business transacted , the ballot AA'as taken and proved unanimous in favour of Messrs . E . Harger , J . Bolton ,. and James Taylor , as candidates'for initiation . Mr . J . Taylor , being a " Lewis , " ivas first initiated into the mysteries of

Freemasonry , by the acting W . M ., who then vacated the chair , and the same ceremony ivas performed by Bro . John Hatch , P ' . M .,. for AA . Robert Harger . Mr . James Bolton ivas then initiated hy Bro . Dr . Moore , the working tools being presented by Bro-Hatch . Bro . Moore gave notice of some alteration in the byelaAA's to be proposed at the next meeting . It AA'as also announced that on Tuesday , 11 th April , a Provincial G-rand Lodge ( committee of the Fund of Benevolence ) , would be held at tho Masonic Temple , Liverpool ; and , there being no other business before the lodge , it ivas closed in due form .

LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND . LEICESTER . —John of Gaunt Lodge ( No . 523 ) . —A monthly meeting of this lodge ivas held at the Freemasons' Hall , on Thursday , the 16 th inst , the AV . M ., Bro . Bazzarcl , presiding . There ivere also present : —Bros . Toller , P . M . ; Scultborpe , S . W . ; Rev . Dr . Haycroft , J . AV . ; Baines , Sec ; Partridge , S . D . ; Atkins , Ross , Thorpe , Dr . Clifton , Burrow , Lange , and

Bernbridge , Tylers . Visitors : —Bros . Stretton , AV . M . ; Stanley , P . M . ; Palmer , S . D . ; Capt . Goodchild , Halford , Ativood , and Cleaver , of 279 . Bros . Dr . Clifton , and Barrers , having been duly examined , were passed to the second degree , after ivhich , the lecture ou the tracing board was given Avith his usual efficiency by the I . P . M ., Bro . Toller . On the lodge being lowered to the first degree , a letter ivas read from Bro . AV . J . Hughan , of Truro , P . G . SecretaryCornwallstating that he was really proudof

, , , the honour tha lodge had done him in electing him au honorary member , as none of the members never kheiv him personally , and , therefore it could only be , in consequence of a real desire to do him honour . " After expressing his intention of periodically sending donations to the Masonic Hall Library , Bro . Hughan added " ive seem to be fast approaching a time ivhen Masonic literature is to be exalted , and where attendance at bancpietsto the neglect of the lodge dutiesno longer the rule .

, , I believe tho movement in Leicester , in founding the Masonic Library , will materially aid in so desirable a result . " The latter having been ordered to be entered on the minutes . The lodge ivas afterwards closed , and the brethren adjourned to refreshment .

MIDDLESEX . PEOYIKOIAL GBAND LODGE . The Provincial Grand Lodge met in the lodge-room of the Royal Union Lodge at Uxbridge , on Monday , 20 th inst . At 4 p . m ., punctually , the Provincial Grand Lodge members were announced . Procession Avas formed , aud tbe R . W . Bro . Col . Burdett Prov . Grand Master , ushered in , preceded by the officers of the new province , assumed the chair of K . S ., and

after duly opening the Provincial Grand Lodge , he appointed Bro . Glashier , to the office of S . W . ; Bro . Taylor to that of J . W . ; Bros . Codner , G . K . ; Buss , G . T . ; Little , G . S . ; Chabott , and Bro . Grand Chaplains ; Bro . AV . II . Coultou , ( the W . M . of the Eoyal Union Lodge ) , G . Dir . of Cers ., and six Grand Stewards from various lodges in the province . The several brethren were duly invested and assumed their various offices . The ordinary business being concluded , the Provincial Grand Lodge was closed in form .

UXBRIDGE . —Pogal Union Lodge ( No . 382 ) . —This , the oldest lodge iu the neiv province of Middlesex , held its installation meeting ou Monday , the 20 th iust ., when the W . M . and brethren were honoured ivith the company of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Middlesex as their guests . There being a large amount of Alasonic business to be got through previous to the reception of Provincial Grand Lodge , the Royal Union brethren met at the early hour of one o ' clockand among tho

, brethren present to assist ill the working of the lodge , Ave noticed , besides the much respected AV . M ., Bro . AV . H . Coulton , the folloAving , viz .: —Bros . Coombes , P . M . ; C . Horsley , P . M . ; Fehrenbach , P . M . ; and Weodon , P . M . Bro , AV . H . Adams , Prov . G . S . B ., the preceptor of the Lodge of Instruction was also present . Bro . Coombes , Prov . G . S . B ,, and Secretary of the