Provincial.

He was sure the officers did not lack zeal in tbe performance of their duties , and would do all they could to assist their respected W . M . There were a few of them absent , but he could answer that business detained them . " The Visitors" Avas then given , being replied to by Bro . Kuting , P . M ., who , having frequently visited the Royal Union Lodge , always felt gratified , and assured the brethren that he would never miss the opportunity of being with them . At this stage of the evening the London brethren had to retire in order to catch tbe train , leaving the W . M . and a few brethren to finish a very pleasant meeting .

NORTHUMBERLAND NEWCASTIE-OJS ' -TVHE . —Nemcastle-on-TyneLodge ( No .- 24 ) .-=-This lodge was opened at the Freemasons Hall , Blacket-street , on July 2 nd , by tbe W . M ., Bro . AV . J . Harding , assisted by his officers and a good attendance of members and visitors . After the minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed , the lodge was opened to the second degree , and tbe candidates passed to the degree of F . C . bBro . LoadesP . M . ; two brethren Avere

y , raised to the sublime degree of M . M . by Bro . C . J . Banister , P . M ., G . S . B . of England , & c . The lodge was closed to the first degree , Avhen the AV . M ., in suitable terms , presented to the Rev . S . Atkinson , Prov . G . Chap ., and Chaplain of the lodge , a beautiful engrossed address on vellum , framed and glazed , showing the attachment of the brethren to him for his kindness to all , and hoping that when he was far away from them that he would meet Avith kind friends Avherever he miht beand in the name

g , of the lodge begged his acceptance of this small token of their esteem . The Rev . brother returned thanks , heartfelt and sincere . He had experienced nothing but kindness from all his brethren , and should he be called away from them sooner than he expected , and wherever his lot should be , he would ever be reminded of the kindness shown to him by the brethren of the province of Northumberland , and this lodge in particular , and in a neat speech concluded by again thanking them .

Busiof the lodge over it Avas closed in due and solemn form . . The visitors Avere Bros . Heaward , AV . M . 56 ; Buckland , P . Prov . G . D . Durham , J . Rodden , Prov . G . S . B . Durham , AVinter , P . Prov . G . Purst . Northumberland , & e .

SUFFOLK . PEOVTNCIAX GEAND LOD & E . The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge for the province of Suffolk was held at Hadleigh on AVednesday , July 1 st . The brethren met in the lodge room at one o ' clock , the R . AV . the Prov . G . M . of Suffolk , Bro . Colonel A . S . Adair , presiding , supported by the following brethren : —Bros . John Head , P .

Prov . G . J . W . and AV . M . 1261 , Acting D . Prov . G . M . ; Gissing , Acting Prov . G . S . AV ., P . M . 96 , P . Prov . G . J . AV . ; Bradbeer , Prov . G . J . AV . 84 ; Edward Dorling , Prov . G . Sec , 522 and 1261 ; AV . Hunt , P . Prov . J . G . D . 417 ; Henry Golding , P . Prov . G . P ., 417 ; J . Payne , P . M . 417 ; Henry Last , 417 ; C . T . Townsend , P . Prov . Purst ., 1261 ; J . F . Robinson , AV . M . 417 ; Robert Clark , P . M . 84 ; John L . Gissing , P . Prov . G . J . AV ., 96 ; AVilliam AVilmshurstProv . G . S . B . P . M . 96 ; Thomas

, , Grimwood , S . D . 522 ; W . Dowsing , Prov . G . S ., 96 ; Thomas Hayes , Prov . G . D . C ., P . M . 196 ; AV . Hayward , S . D . 96 , Sec , 1238 ; J . T . Wright , J . AV . 1238 ; Theodore G . Cresy , S . AV-1238 ; Narman Harris , P . M . 131 , Prov . G . S . D . ; J . Pettitt ' P . M . 522 , Prov . G . J . AV . ; Robert Girling , P . M . 522 , P . Prov G . Reg . ; Alfred Bowles , Prov . G . Org . 131 and 522 ; Newson Garrett , P . M . 3 , AV . M . 1238 ; Thomas Chisnall , P . M . 417 ;

Henry Strapnell , 1261 ; E . C . Tidd , 522 and 1261 ; AV . 0 . Ward , W . M . 935 , 522 , 1261 ; Joseph AVhitehead , P . M . 272 ; AV . Roby , P . M . and S . D . 131 ; F . H . Jennings , 522 and 1261 ; J . AV . Muriel , P . M . 417 ; F . AV . Barber , P . M . 417 ; W . Kersey Tyler , 417 ; John Tracy , P . Prov . G . Dir . of Cers ., P . M . 131 and 572 ; J . A . Pettitt , jun ., J . D . 522 ; John R . Grayson , W . M . 787 ; J . A . Pickess . P . M . 272 ; Robert Cade , P . M . 272 ; James Clarke ,

P . M . 272 ; Thomas AVilson , P . M . 417 ; R . S . Chandler , S . W . 383 ; W . C . Mullinger , W . M . 383 ; W . Stagg , P . Prov . G . S . B . 757 ; George Freeman 417 ; Henry Luff , P . M . 522 , P . Prov . J . G . W . ; A . Robertson , Prov . G . Treas . 522 ; John Bowler , Prov . G . Sec , 417 ; Rev . R . N . Sanderson , Prov . G . Chap ., P . M . 522 ; Henry Read , Prov . S . G . D . ; G . S . Findley , Prov . Assist . G . Dir . of Cers ., P . M . 198 ; Henry Last , P . M . 417 ; E . K . Green 522 , & c . The lodge having been opened in solemn form , and prayer offered by the Prov . G . Chap ., the following Ode to Masonry ,

composed by Bro . Theodore Grant Cresy , S . W . of Lodge 1238 , Avas sung by the Prov . G . Org ., Bro . Alfred Bowles , who presided at the harmonium : — Hail to the Bond , Avhich thus unites Mankind of each degree , And bids a Mason ' s love extend O ' er every land and sea !

Where ' er a suffering brother ' s found , We're taught to bear relief , His sorrows sooth , and pain assuage , And stay his tears of grief . As long as wisdom ' s light we seek , And truth adorns the mystic band , Thus Masonry securely built ,

In beauty ' s strength shall firmly stand . DEATH OP THE D . PEOV . G . M ., BEO . F . AV . FEEEJIAIT . The PEOV . G . MASTEE then addressed the brethren as follows : A duty now devolves upon me , iu the course of my discharge of the proceedings of this Provincial Grand Lodge , to allude to a subject of a most painful character . Your regrets have already anticipated what I am about to say Avith respect to the void

Avbiab has been left in this Provincial Grand Lodge . You all knoAV the worth of tbe lateD . Prov . G . M ., Bro . F . W . Freeman , and , I may say , a more valued man never existed in the province of Suffolk —( hear , hear)—and the loss the Craft has sustained is too well known to you . What the loss is in this province will be remembered with sorrow for some time to come . ( Applause . ) It is a pleasure to meet with a brother in the discharge of

Masonic duties whose heart has always been for the good of the Craft , and for the advancement of Masonry . ( Hear , hear . ) I know his sentiments were of that kind , deriving support from the highest intelligence , which led him faithfully to discharge those first duties in connection Avith Masonry which gained for him so much love and respect amongst his Masonic brethren . ( Applause . ) His memory lives Avith us . It gives me additional

confidence in the feeling which binds us together in this province , to see how general is- that feeling on this public occasion , when we are collected together to show for him , with the emblems of our Order , our condolence , and the sense which we all entertain

in the bereavement which this province has sustained . I found in our late brother that ready assistance Avhich is so valuable to those who have hig h important Masonic duties to perform ; and his experience was valuable beyond all praise . ( Applause . ) And when I speak to our younger brethren of the proficiency in Masonry , of one w-ho was so nobly endowed with intelligence as our late D . Prov . G . M ., I fear I speak of one whose place will not easilbe filled . ( Hearhear . ) I have considered it

y , my duty first to give expression to your sentiments on this occasion , as it probably will be the last opportunity we may have of paying our last tribute of respect to our much-lamented brother . ( Applause . ) The PEOV . G . SEC . read the proceedings of the Board of Finance , upon Avhich tbe Prov . G . M . briefly remarked . The following officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge Avere then

appointed : —Prov . G . M ., Bro . Col . N . A . S . Adair ; Prov . G . S . W ., Bro . C . T . Townsend ; Prov . G . J . AV ., J . F . Robinson ; Prov . G . Treas ., Spencer Freeman ; Prov . G . Sec , Edward Dorling ; Prov , G . Chap ., Rev . R . N . Sanderson ; Prov . G . R ., C . S . Pedgrift ; Prov . G . S . D ., H . Harris ; Prov . G . J . D ., Robert Cade ; Prov . G . Dir . of Cers ., W . C . Mullinger ; Prov . G . A . D . O ., W . Hayward ; Prov . & . Supt . of Works , J . Breckells ; Prov . G . O .,

Alfred Bowles ; Prov . G . S . B ., W . Wilms Murat ; Prov . G . Purst ., R . Clarke ; Prov . G . Tyler , Alexander Robinson . The brethren having been briefly addressed hy the Prov . G . M . upon matters relating to the lodge , the brethren formed into procession , with the banners of the several lodges , and proceeded to church , Avhere the following sermon Avas preached by the Prov . G . Chap ., who took his text from tbe 29 th chap , of

1 Chronicles 15 , 16 , and 17 verses : — " For we are strangers before Thee and sojourners , as were all our fathers : our days on the earth are as a shadow , and there is none abiding . " O Lord our God , all this store that Ave have prepared to build Thee an house for Thy holy name , cometh of Thine hand , aud all is Thine own . " I knoAV also , my God , that Thou triest the heart , and hast pleasure in uprightness . " These devout outpourings of spirit are some of the last recorded Avoids of Da-vid . They express his feelings in contem ..