Provincial.

SUFFOLK . IJPSWIOH . —Perfect- Friendship Lodge ( No . 522 ) . —The usual monthly meeting of this Lodge was held on May 16 th , at the Lodge Room , AVhite Horse Hotel , when the D . Prov . G . M ., the Rev . J . AY . Freeman , who proposes to visit all the Lodges iu his province , having signified his intention to be present , a large attendance of members and brethren ( upwards of fifty ) assembled to welcome him . The following members of the Provincial Grand Lodge were also in attendance : —S . Freeman

, Prov . S . G . AV . ; AA' . F . Mills , P . Prov . S . G . W . ; T . Gissing , Prov . J . G . AV ; T . Pilcher , P . Prov . J . G . AV . ; Rev . — Sanderson , Prov . C Chaplain ; T . Franks , P . Prov . G . Reg . ; T . Crispin , P . Prov . G . Reg . ; H . Luff , P . Prov . G . Supt . of AVorks ; J . Pettit , P . Prov . G . Supt . of AA'orks ; G . Richmond , Prov . S . G . D . ; C . Randall , Prov . G . Purst . ; C . T . T . Townsend , P . Prov . G . Purst . ; Findley , Prov . G . D . C , & c . The officers of the Lodge having taken their respective places , and Bro . B . G . Oppen having given sufficient proof of his efficiency as F . C , was raised as

M . M . by the AA' . M ., Bro . Girling , in his usual impressive manner . The labours of the evening being ended , about forty brethren adjourned to the supper table , and a pleasant evening was spent , enlivened by some excellent Masonic songs from Bros , Turner and Godbold . The W . M ., in proposing " The health of the D . Prov . G . M . and Officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge , " thought it was au exceedingly fraternal act of the D . Prov . G . M . to visit all the Lodges in his province , and believed it would effect a great good to Freemasonry in Suffolk ; it was a step in

the right direction , aud would be a stimulus to good and efficient working in the province ; his presence would stimulate those Lodges who were rather slow in their working , and would increase the ardour of those who were zealous in the good cause ; and he had no doubt but that the brethren would be pleased to profit by his kind and judicious advice . The D . Prov . CM ., iu reply , saicl that he was always pleased to meet the brethren of the Perfect Friendship Lodge ; he believed , as a Lodge for good working Masonsit stood deservedl hihhe hoped that

, y very g ; the Lodge would still continue to go on in its present prosperous state ; lie thought that he might , without exaggeration , say it was one of the most numerous and well attended of the country Lodges . Bros . S . Freeman ancl T . Gissing , Prov . G-. Wardens , having respectively returned thanks , the brethren separated , all sincerely trusting that the D . Prov . G . M . would carry out his intentions .

YORKSHIRE ( NORTH AND EAST . ) LAYING THE FOUNDATION- STONE OE A NEW 1 'KEEMASONS' HACL AT MIDDLESBROUGH . THURSDAY , the 17 th May , was the day set apart by the brethren of the North Yorkshire Lodge , No . 876 , for the laying of the foundation stone of their new hall at Middlesbrough . The ceremony was b Marwoodof BusbHall of the

performed y Bro . G . , y , D . Prov . G . M . North aud East Ridings . The ¦ . members of the Craft belonging to the various Lodges in the province assembled in large numbers in the market house , Town Hall , at twelve o ' clock , when the Lodge was opened by the W . M . of the North York Lodge . Shortly before one o ' clock tho brethren formed a procession , ancl walked to St . Hilda ' s parish church , to hear a sermon from Bro . the Rev . Richard Bradley , Chaplain to the Lodge .

The following brethren were present : —North York Lodge—Bros . J . A . Manners , AV . M . ; John S . Peacock ; John Richardson ; J . C . Robinson ; Henry Thompson ( Treasurer ) and Francis Atkinson , Past Masters ; AV . Doughty , S . AA' . ; Rev . R . Bradley , Chaplain , and J . AV . ; C . C Armstrong , Sec . ; Isaac Booth , S . D . ; John Storey , J . D . ; Joseph Gibson aud AA' . Rayner , Stewards ; and Jordison , Carter , B . C . Robinson , Arnett , Gibbs , Tate , Sutton , James Ingram , jun ., Barker , Ellis , Spence , Collingwood , Storey , Pease , Lennard , AA'illiam Garbutt , jun ,, Lloyd , and Holt . Old Globe Lodge , Scarborough , No . 236—J . AV . AA'oodall , AA ' . M .. Edward Dove , S . AA ' . ; H . A . AVilliamson , Sec ; aud AV . B . Stewart , AV . Prince , and AV . Milliner . Cleveland Lodge , Stokeley , No . 795—AVilliam Martin ,

AY . M . ; J . W . Handyside , P . M . ; John Jackson , S . AA ' . ; Richard AVatson , J . AV . ; Joseph Grey , S . D . ; and Calvert , AVilstrop , Martin , AVeatheriil , Grant , Unthank , Cooper , Turner , Simpson , Hauxwell , and Kitching . Zetland Lodge , G-uisbrough , No . 820—George Harrison , S . AV . ; Burrows , AVatson , Thomas , Molloy , and AA ' eatherill . York Union , York , So . 2 S 7—R . AV . Hollon , P . M . ; H . Thomas , and John Rook . Leimox Lodge , Richmond , No . 144—Bell and Pallin . Restoration Lodge , Darlington , No . 128—Rev . R . J . Simpson , AV . M . ; H . A . Hammerbom , P . M . ; hen Carlton AVilliam

Step , S . AV . ; Lee , S . D . ; and J . AVrightson . Keystone Lodge , Facit , near Rochdale , No . 469—Rev . A . K . MacSorley , P . M . Granby Lodge , Durham , No . 146—AA'illiam Sewell . St . John ' s Loclge , Leicester , No . 348—AV . B . Baker . Old Palatine Lodge , Sunderland , No . 114— John Crossby , P . M . ; Joseph Stainsby . Phoenix Lodge , Sunderland , No . Ill—George Dawkins . Toes Lodge , Stockton No . 749—J . J . AVilson , AY . M . ; AVilliam Best , P . M . ; Knowles , S . AV . ; Thompson , Sec ; Hmitou , I . G . ; and Craggs , Hall , Jacques , Lisle , AVrightson , Maddisonand StHelenLod

, Bowron . . 's ge , Hartlepool , No . 774—S . Armstrong , AY . M . ; Groves , S . AV . ; Tate , J . W . ; Gallon , Treas . and S . D . ; Cunningham , Sec ; Huntley , J . D . ; On-is , I . G . ; Siveivright , Steward ; Dalziel , and Brown . Harbour of Refuge Lodge , AVest Hartlepool , No 1000—John Suteliffe , J . W ., and AV . M . elect ; B . Murray , P . M . ; AV . J . Hodgson , P . M . and Sec . ; Clark , acting as S . W . ; Rickinson , Treasurer ; Kitching , S . D . ; Kirk , J . D . ; Rank , I . G . ; Clarke , Lennard , Brown , Speed , and Muers . Prayers having been read , an anthem was sung , after which a sermon

was preached by the Rev . Richard Bradley , Chaplain and Junior AA ' arden of North York Lodge . The reverend gentleman selected for his text ( this being Ascension Day ) 2 Kings ii . 9 . "And it came to pass , when they hacl gone over , that Elijah saicl unto Elisha , ' Ask what I shall do for thee , before I am taken away from thee . ' And Elisha said , ' I pray thee , let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me . '" It had probably been communicated ( said the preacher ) by Almighty God to the sous of the prophets that their master should be taken up to heaven . They ,

the devoted students of the sacred mysteries , had , doubtless , often meditated on the miraculous ascension of the patriarch Enoch . Now , au opportunity was about to be afforded of witnessing something like ifc — -hence all were on the tiptoe of expectation . They knew that this great wonder might take place any moment , so they ivould not suffer their master out of their sight . Elijah himself seems to have been desirous to step into the chariot of his God when no eye was upon him —amid silence and solitude to place himself in the hands of his Maker ,

and commence the great ascent . But this his fellow prophets would not permit : they could not forego that glorious sight , which should at once convince them of the safety aud blessedness of their master , and strengthen their faith in things invisible . This was especially the case with his servant Elisha , who , on no pretence whatever , would leave him . Hence they proceed to the sacred starting place—fifty sons of tho prophets watching them from a distance—till they come to the Jordan , when Elijah with his mantle smites the waters , and a way is made for

them to pass over . Now the time was come . But , before he left his faithful servant to the trials and struggles ol earth , he said unto him : " AVhat shall I do for thee , before I be taken away from thee ?"' And Elisha said , ' I pray thee , let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me . ' . . . And it came to pass , as they still went on and talked , that , behold , there appeared a chariot of fire , and horses of fire , and parted them both asunder ; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven . " To-daymy brethrenwe commemorate the return of our

, , blessed Lord ancl Saviour to his native heaven . See him , in the midst of his disciples , near to Bethany . Go join yourselves to their number . See ! your master no longer rests on earth—he gradually ascends , and a cloud receives him out of your sight . AA'hy gaze you so steadfastly up into heaven ? You know why he ascends : it is to receive gifts for men .

He is to be the Grand Almoner of the Father ; nay , already " all power is delivered unto him in heaven and in earth . " And , as he arises , he seems to say to every one of you , " AVhat shall I do unto thee , before I be taken from thee ? " "AVhatsoever ye shall ask the Father , in my name , he will give it you . " AA'hat do you ask 1—what is your request in the presence of your ascending Lord ? Is it not that of the prophet : "Let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me I" Ah ! who shall describe the spirit of Jesus Christ , the mind that was in him . —that

spirit ivhich fills heaven with love , and joy , ancl peace—that spirit which fills hell with vain regrets and lamentations—that spirit which , possessed even in a small measure by frail and sinful man , transforms him , and makes him meet for the heavenly inheritance . The reverend gentleman then proceeded to observe that though they could not describe this spirit—though to do so rightly was beyond the power of men and angels—yet they knew something of it ; for they knew first , that it was a compassionate spirit ; secondly , that it was a beneficent

spirit ; and lastly , that it was a devotional spirit . Under each of these headings he eloquently dwelt upon the divine graces and beauty of the Saviour ' s example , and thus concluded . Having spoken to you almost exclusively on the compassion and beneficence of the Saviour , if I have at all succeeded—nay , unless I have altogether failed , you must now be prepared for the good work which awaits you . If , in contemplating the tender heart and kind and ready hand of the Holy Jesus , you have prayed " Give me , Oh ! give me , a double portion of this sympathy aud that kindness towards my fellow creatures "—if your prayer has been answered you will now be thankful for the blessed opportunity offered

you of doing good . Your assistance is solicited in aid of the Middlesbrough Cottage Hospital . You know that an institution of this kind is peculiarly needed in this locality . AA'ithout wearying you with details , suffice it to say that , during the hist year , several hundred patients have been attended by the nurses of this valuable institution at their own houses ; while scores of most severe and tedious cases have been successfully treated in the hospital itself . This is au institution for the mitigation and removal of human suffering , so thafc I boldly appeal to every

human being here present . It depends en tirely upon public subscriptions and voluntary offerings , for its support , and funds are now greatly needed . Give then , my dear friends , each according to his ability , to this good work . You that have much give much , you that have little give of that little . Are you healthy and strong—have you hitherto escaped those serious accidents which are so common . Give to those who have been less fortunate , as a thankofforiiig for protecting mercies . You know not what may be on the morrow—all things here aro

uncertain . You yourself , or your wife , or your son , or your daughter may soon he stricken down ; as , then , under such circumstances , you would desire yourself , or them belonging to you , to be cared for and relieved , do good to others when you have the opportunity . Freemasons , show then to-day that you have inherited the compassionate and benevolent spirit which has distinguished tho Craft in every age . Nay , let us every one of us give in a Christian spirit . Christ has died for all , so that they are no longer their own but his . Every one of these poor sufferers is our brother , not only by section but by redemption . 0 , then , let us show our gratitude for the great thing our Saviour has done for us , by