Provincial.

the attacks made on the pilgrims on their way to visit the Holy Sepulchre , when Hugh de Payens and eight other Knights Hospitallers tendered their services to the Grand Master of the Hospital of St . John for the purpose of keeping the Joppa road open . Their offer being accepted , and a house called tho Temple assigned for their habitation , they quitted the specially priestly

and medical attributes of Hospitallers and became purely warriors in practice , a profession more congenial to the European adventurers who flocked to tho first Crusades . So many joined their banner , and so much landed property was bequeathed for their maintenance , that they became the most powerful body in Europe , and as such attracted the envy and fear alike of the Pope and King of Prance . The secret ceremony of reception into the Order afforded the excuse for false accusations .

The Order was excommunicated , its property confiscated , aud its members thrown into prison . Jacques de Molay , Grand Master , was burned at the stake at Paris , after having recanted a confession extracted from him on the rack . The pressure put by the Pope on the King of England , happily went no further than confiscation , and the Grand Prior of the Anglian langue retired to

Scotland , where he lived on a pension granted him by the king . Having thus reviewed , in a few short words , the history of our Order , nothing remains for me but to proceed to the ceremony of investiture , and to congratulate the province on the selection made by the Grand Master . In assuming this high office you will have no easy duty to perform , following , as you do , our most

distinguished D . G . M . one of the most fervent Masons and excellest of our members . To follow in his footsteps will Ibe to succeed . Let ns trust that harmony will prevail , and that each member laying aside his personal opinions and individual ambitions , will work one and all and with one accord to tho one common end—the prosperity and advancement of this ancient and distinguished Order . Long live the Grand Master , and the Provincial Grand Commander on whom his choice has fallen . "

The remainder of the ceremony having been completed , Bro . Lord Eliot assumed the baton of the province , and appointed the following Sir Knights his Grand Officers : Sir Knts . Eoss D . Prov . G . Com mander . Treffry , Prov . G . Prelate . „ Colonel Peard ... „ 1 st Captain . „ Jenkins „ 2 nd Captain .

„ Carlyon „ Chancellor . „ Kendall „ Eegistrar . „ Bush „ Chamberlain . „ J . Seecombe „ Almoner . « Sobey „ Aide de Camp . „ Kerswell „ 1 st C ' apt . of Lines . „ Truscott „ 2 nd Capt . of Lines . „ S . Seecombe „ Standard Bearer . „ Geaoh „ Herald . > . Lang „ Sword Bearer .

The P . G . C . then proposed that the by-laws of the hitherto united provinces of Devon and Cornwall should regulate the new province , and that the fees of honour should also be the same . The P . G . C . then adjourned the encampment for divine service . The knights having been formed into order by the acting D . G . Dir . of Cers ., preceded by their banners ,

proceeded bareheaded to the parish church of Tywardreath , and formed the arch of steel at the door , under which the D . G . Master , Prov . G . Commander , and G . Chancellor passed . The service was performed by the Eev . Sir Knt . Hawksley in the desk , and Sir Knts . Eoss and Dr . Treffry , at the communion table , after which a sermonwas preached by Sir Knt . Eoss , tho incumbent ,

who , it is believed , never had a fuller congregation . The procession then returned in the same order through the living avenno of spectators , and the arch of steel being again formed , tho Knights entered the encampment .

Provincial.

The encampment was then closed , and about thirty of the knights proceeded to an excellent banquet provided by the host of tho New Inn , Bro . Polsne , and after the usual toasts , the Sir Knights left for their homes by the last train . It would not be fair to close this notice without paying the tribute justly due to Sir Knt . the Eev . G .

Eoss , the rector of Tywardreath-cum-GoIand , E . C . of the Eestormel Encampment , which he called into existence , no man has clone more in the interests of Masonry in East Cornwall than this gentleman , and his success has been absolute .

DEVONSHIEE . STOXEIIOUSE . —Sincerity Lodge ( No . 189 ) . —At a meeting o £ this lodge , held at St . George ' s Hall , Bro . John Sadler , W . M ., in the chair , it was stated that a petition was about to be sent to the Provincial Grand Master , requesting him to grant permission to open a new lodge , to be called the United Service Lodge . The brother whobrought the matter forward stated

. that the proposal had met with the cordial approval of the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , and that the object of it was to enable the brethren connected with the service to take office amongst themselves , and so work up into the chair . It was intended to propose that the meetings should be held on the second Tuesday in the mouth , and at St . George ' s Hall , probably in the lodge-room of Sincerity , which would make it unnecessary

for the new lodge to go to the expense of furnishing . The proposal , so far , met the concurrence of the members of the lodge then present , and a committee was formed to consider how the plan could be best met , and on what terms . The brethren then voted five guineas to the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Decayed Masons , or the Widows of Masons , this vote being for the female branch of the institution . Bro . L . P . Metham , D . Prov . G . M ., has accepted the office of Steward for the forthcoming dinner , and by his subscription has become a life governor of the institution .

NORTH WALES ( EASTERN DIVISION ) . OPEXlXGr OE A MASOHIC HAI 1 I 1 AT LlAXDTTDNO . Some two years since the idea was started of raising a Masonic temple at Llandudno , and , in furtherance of the object , a company ( limited ) was formed- Very superior plans were drawn out and the building commenced on a site of land belonging to Mr . Parrant , in Upper Mostyu-street , known as the Llys Madoc

field—the field in which the National Eisteddfod pavilion stood some years since . The amount paid for the ground with fourteen yards frontage was £ 300 , inclusive of all charges for lease , conveyance , & c . The purchase on such terms makes the property a valuable one and enhances the value of the shares also as a marketable commodity . Such facts as these concerning the New Masonic Hall cannot fail to be interesting to the large and increasing members of the brotherhood now

establishing themselves in the principality . This hall , we believe , is the first Masonic temple that lias been erected in Wales , and , such being the case , it was intended to celebrate the event by a grand opening ceremony yesterday , to which tho whole of the brethren in the North Wales and Salop province have been invited , an account of which we trust to be able to present our readers with next week . It was hoped at one time that the

opening ceremony would have been presided over by the Earl of Zetland , or Lord de Tabley , but the presence of these noblemen is uncertain . We believe , however , in their absence the E . W . Bro . Sir Watkin Williams Wynne , Bart ., M . P ., the Prov . G . M ., has undertaken the superintendence of the ceremony of opening the Masonic Hall on this occasion , supported by all the Prov . G . Officers .

Scotland.

SCOTLAND .

BANPFSHIEE . * PEOVIXCIAIJ GEAXD LODGE . A meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge was held in the St . Andrew's Lodge , on the evening of Friday last , the 18 th inst . In the absence of the Eight Hon . the Earl of Pife , Ero . Thomas Adam , the chief magistrate of the burgh of Banff , occupied the throne as P . G . M .