Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

CHESHIRE . CREWE . —Lodge of Four Cardinal Virtues ( No . 979 ) . —This lodgo met for the fourth time on the 17 th inst ., when the following brethvaw were present -. —Bros . Mould , AV . M . ; Bullock , S . W . ; Scott , J . AV . ; Reade , P . M . ; Dr . Lord , Treas . ; Eardly , S . D . ; Geo . Lord , Sec . and , T . D ., ^) i-o teta . ; Kenyon , I . G . ; AVilkinson , Tyler ; Broadbent and Price . Tho visitors were Bros . Edwards , SAV 293 JSNixsonSee 293 Yoxall and Thursblate

.. ; . . , . ; y , 899 ; Brercfcon , S 52 . The lodge was opened by the AA . M . with solemn prayer , and tbe last minutes confirmed . A ballot was then taken for Bro . Edwards as a joining member , and he was unanimously elected . The AV . M . then called upon the S . AV . to rule the lodge . Bvo . Bullock having opened in tho second degree , examined Bros . Yoxall , Broadbent , and AVilkinson , who were candidates to he raised . The examination showing great

proficiency , they retired and the lodge was opened in the 3 rd degree , when the S . W . raised these three brethren , separately , to the sublime degree of M . M ., giving tho traditional history , lecture on tracing hoard , and presenting the working tools collectively . Tiie J . W . now called the brethren from labour to refreshment , when wine , coffee , and sandwiches were partaken of . Tiie usual toasts were given , and the AA . M . sang , " The Fine Old English Gentlemen , " accompanied on Collard ' s grand

piano , by the S . AA . The S . AA . sang Bro . A . Bowles' new song , " The Five Points , " and the Masonic " Auld Lang Syne . " The S . AV ., in proposing "The A isitors , " made some pleasing allusions to Bro . Tlmrsby , who would depart in a few days to Australia , and the brethren , one and al ) , wished him and his family God speed . The J . W . now lowered his column , and the brethren all obeyed the call to labour . The lodge was then closed in the 3 rd degree , and the lecture on the 2 nd tracing hoard delivered .

The F . C . lodge having been closed , the lecture on the 1 st tracing board , including the illustrations , was given . At the conclusion of which the brethren testified their great pleasure at the admirable working of Bro . Bullock , he having gone through the three raisings and three lectures , & c , not only without a single slip , but with great elocutionary power . The AV . M . then retook the gavel from the S . W ., and MY . . T . Moody and Mr . AA . Evans were proposed and seconded for initiation and

Bro . Yoxall as a joining member . The Secretary then read a correspondence that had taken place between Bro . Blackburn , of Surbiton , Surrey , and the AV . M ., on the right of the S . AA . working the three degrees iu the presence of tire AA . M . and a P . M . As Bro . Blackburn has taken a prominent part in the late correspondence ~ on this point , we append his letter and the AV . M ' s . reply : —

( Copy . ) " December 7 th , 1 SG 3 . "Dear Sir and Brother , —May 1 ask you the favour to inform me if the report in the FBEEITASOX ' MAGAZIXE of Nov . 28 th , as to the proceedings of your lodge on ttie 19 ttr November be be correct ? My opinion is that a AA aiden cannot initiate , pass , or raise ; and unless you inform me that your J . AA . ( Bro . Bullock ) , who passed and raised candidates on that occasion , is

also an installed Master , I shall try the question by citing you and your lodge before the Board of General Purposes , —Yours fraternally , " WM . BIACKBUMI . "Mr . Mould . " ( Copy of Reply . ) " December 11 th , 1 SG 3 . " Dear Sir and Brother , —I beg to inform you that the account of our lodge on the 19 th November , which appeared in

the MAGAZIKE of the 2 Sfch , is authentic in every particular , and that our S . AA . is not an installed Master . Bro . Bullock has had the Grand Registrar's opinion on two occasions , Bro . M'Intyre says a AA avdencan work the three degrees . I , as AV . M ., and Bro . Bead , as P . AI ., are both of the same opinion , especially after reading the very conclusive arguments that have been given in reply to yours on this subject in the late correspondence in the MAGAZINE . AS WO are but a very young lodge , I hope you will

have the charily to forward our expenses when you really do command us to appear before the Board of General Purposes . We hold our lodge on the 17 th inst ., and , if your ' cable tow ' is not too short , we shall be glad to see you , when you can . have tiie pleasure , that many have had , of hearing our S . \ A . work the three degrees , lectures , & c . —Yours fraternally , J . MoutB , AV . M . After some discussion on these letters , the brethren resolved unanimously , "That they entirely approved of the AV . BI . ' s and

tbe S . AV . ' s conduct in the matter . " The S . AV . stated that Bro . Blackburn now was going to lay a complaint to the Prov . G . M . of Cheshire , m the first instance , and if not satisfied with his decision , then to bring it before tho Board of General Purposes . No lodge will rejoice more than the 979 , that this matter should be settled . This most enjoyable and instructive evening's labour being ended , the W . M . closed the lodge with prayer ; and expressed a wish that every evening of the coming festive season , may be as pleasurably and profitably spent by the members of the Four Cardinal Virtues , as the present one had been .

LANCASHIRE ( EAST . ) MA - SCHES-TEH . —Caledonian Lodge ( No . 204 ) . —This lodge held its annual meeting at the Masonic Lodge Booms , Manchester , on AA ednesday the 9 th inst . Present , eighty-one members , and the following visitors : —liros . Stephen Smith , P . M . 44 , and Prov . G . Supt . of AVorks East Lancashire ; Austin She . lkvd , W . M . elect 317 and Prov . G . Steward East Lancashire ; AV . Emmott , W . M . 645 and Prov . G . Steward East Lancashire ;

Henry Cai-rigs , P . M . 44 and W . M . 993 ; Henry Thomas Warren , W . M . 44 ; John Clayton , AV . M . 163 ; Joseph Eltoft , W . M . G 35 ; T . L . Bold , P . M . 189 ; John Lancaster Hine , P . M . 317 and 323 ; Thos . Lea , P . M . 724 ; Alfred Hammond , P . M . 152 ; John Richardson , 44 , and others . The AV . M . elect , Bro . James Payne , having been duly presented , was installed in ancient form by Bro . Baldwin , P . M . The newly installed Master then invested the following brethren officers for the ensuing year : —Bros .

S . P . Bidder , S . AV . ; T . H . G . Berrey , J . W . ; Isaac W . Petty , Treas . ; H . J . Baldwin , Sec . ; J . C . Hind , S . D . ; J . Brocklehurst , J . D . ; and J . D . Brocklehurst , I . G . The following brethren were appointed lodge Stewards , Bros . J . L . Hampson , AV . Ogden , J . Currie , J . Mountain , J . C . Potts , and E . Heaps . The ballot was in favour of Bro . AAlUiam Martin ( late of this lodge ) , as a joining member . The ballet was in favour of Mr . Thomas Ald ' ersoti and Mr . Robert Kershaw . Mr . Kershaw was

initiated by the AA . M ., and Mr . Aldersonby Bro . Baldwin . The Secretary read a report from the Manchester Belief Committee ( this has already been published to in our columns ) , and the following report o ? the business of the official yeOT , 1862-8 , of the Caledonian Lodge ( No . 204 ) , having closed , it is thought that , as an accompaniment to the usual balance sheet of the Treasurer , it will be acceptable to the brethren to receive the following brief resume of the proceedings of tbe lodge for the past year . The W . M ., Bro . Elias Nathan , having been installed on the 10 th December , it was resolved , in place of the usual

banquet , to give a Soiree , at which the ladies of the brethren could be present , and which accordingly took place on Thursday , the Sth of January , IS 63 , at the Town Hall , when upwards of 200 brethren and ladies were present , also the Mayor of Manchester ( Abel Hey . vood , Esq . ) , the Ex-Mayor ( Thomas Goadsby , Esq . ) , and the Right AV . Prov . Grand Master ( Bro . Stephen Blaiv , Esq . ) It is almost unnecessary to allude to the great success of this gathering , all the arrangements for which , were in the

most recherche style , and met with the highest commendation from all present . It may be sufficient to say , that it was materially assisted by the great courtesy of the mayor , in granting the use of his very handsome parlour as a drawingroom , and the council chamber as a supper room . In March , the initiation fee was increased from £ 66 * . tocBSS ^ ., and the joiningfee from £ 2 2 s . to £ 3 3 s ., and it is certain , by taking this step , the lodhas gained both in character and number . In June

ge , the lodge its held annual pie-nic , at Clumber Park , the seat of our Right Worshipful Bro . the Duke of Newcastle , and enjoyed a very delightful day at AA ' orksop , Clumber Park , and the beautiful Forest Sherwood . During the course of tbe day a photograph was taken , containing upwards of 220 portraits , and presenting a very good view of Clumber House . The best thanks of the lodwere iven to the Duke of Newcastlefor

ge g , his kindness in having placed both his house and grounds at the service of tho committee , also to "Bro . BdwavdB . oss , Esq . ( late of this lodge ) , for his great care and attention in making the railway arrangements for the transit of so large a party . In making this report , it would be unbecoming to omit allusion to the services of those brethren who undertook and carried out all the detailed arrangements of the soiree and of the pic-nic .

The members and the ladies who were the guests of the lodge on these two occasions , are indebted to those brethren who devoted so much labour and energies to the duties involved . In July , j a communication w-as received from the Grand Lodge , announcin g that the number of the lodgo had been advanced from 24 G to 204 ,