Provincial.

tiated into the Order . Bros . Sutton .. Chubb , and Ellis were passed to the second degree ; aud Bro . Hell was raised to the third degree . The ceremonies wero perfectly and impressively given by the AV . AI . The election for the W . M . for the ensuing year took place , and the choice ofthe brethren proved in favour of Bro . Knott , J . AV . ; Bro . AVilliams was re-elected Treas . ; and Bro . Bavin , Tyler . A Past Alaster's Jewel was voted to Bro . Alfred Avery on his retiring from the chair , from tbe funds of

the lodge , as a mark of esteem and regard , and also in appreciation of services rendered hy him to the lodge , and for the high estimation he is held in by every brother . Tho lodge was then closed , aud the brethren sat down to an excellent dinner . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given and responded to . The AV . M ., in appropriate terms , proposed the toast ofthe AV . M . elect , Bro . Knott , whose reply proved to the brethren that a worthy successor had been chosen to follow the respected AV . M . The toast of the officers aud tho Tyler ' s toast concluded a very agreeable meeting .

DAETEOED . — Fmuldtion Lodge ( No . 299 . )—Tho regular meeting of this lodge was held on Tuesday , the 16 th inst ., at the Bull Inn . Present : —Bros . AV . Tinkler , J . P . M . ; E . Mackney , P . M . ; N . Martin , P . M . ; P . Harvey , P . AI ., Sec . The visitors were Bros . Binckes , Sec , Boy's School ; Henderson , P . M . 13 ; Pottinger , P . AI . 77 ; Hollingum , AA . M . 77 ; Cole , AV . M . 184 ; Colston , P . M . 228 ; Pearson , P . M . 503 ; Kite , AV . M . 503 ; BlakeyP . M . 1174 Russell 77 ; H . Jolleyand R .

, ; , , Jolley , 765 ; Jalland , 765 ; Pool , W . H . Pool , and AVatkin , 829 ; Knight , 1107 ; Landragin , 1155 ; Bowen , 1222 . Bro . J . Miles installed as AV . M . for the ensuing year by Bro . AV . Tinkler , J . P . M . ; the ceremony being excellently performed . The ballot was taken for Bro G . Kingston as arejoiniug member , and proved unanimous . An excellent banquet was provided by Bro . Brav .

LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND . LEICESTER . —John of Gaunt Lodge ( No . 523 ) . —A meeting of this lodge was held at die Freemasons' Hall , on Thursday , the 18 th instant ; the AV . M ., Bro . T . H . Buzzard in the chair . Present : Bros . W . Kelly , P . AI . and R . AA . Prov . G . M . ; Geo . Toller , jun ., I . P . M . and Prov . G . Sec , ; AA . B . Smith , P . M . and P . Prov . G . J . W ., Treas . ; C . Johnson , P . AI . and P . Prov . G . S . AV . ( Jersey ) Organist ; W . Sculthorpe , S . W . ; Rev . Dr . Hay croft ,

P . G . C . J . AV . ; F . J . Baines , Sec . ; S . S . Partridge , P . G . Reg ., S . D . ; J . G . F . Richardson , J . D . ; G . B . Atkins and A . Sergeant , Stewards ; G . Mace , I . G . ; C . Bembridge , Tyler ; C . S . Thomson , 'A . ROSS , AV . T . Rowlett , F . Pearson , C . A . Spencer , Dr . Clifton , and C . Whitaker . Bros . C . Stretton , P . Prov . G . Reff ., AV . M . ; W . AA eare , P . Prov . G . S . D ., P . M . and Treas . 279 ; and Dr . C . B . Loughman , 724 , were present as visitors . The minutes of tbe iasfc meeting having been reaiA and confirmed , a

ballot was taken for , W . AI . for the ensuing year , which resulted iu the unanimous election of tho Senior Warden , Bro . AVilliam Sculthorpe , who returned thanks to the brethren for tho honour dono to him . It was arranged that the Annual Festival should take place on Friday , June 23 rd , in lieu of Saturaday , St . John ' s Day . A vote of thanks for past services was unanimously accorded to Bro . Thomas Cooper , P . Prov . G . S . W ., a retired P . M . of the lodge , and then was nominated as an honorary member .

Two gentlemen having been proposed as candidates for initiation , it was arranged to take their admission at an Emergency Meeting . The Prov . G . M , on behalf of Bro . AV . J . Hughan , of Truro , presented to tbe library of the hall four curious photolithographic Masonic plates or tracing boards , and the report of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Columbia for the past year for which a vote of thanks was accorded to Bro . Hughan for these additions to several former donations . There being no further business the lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to refreshment .

MON . AI OUTH SHI RE . NEWPORT . —Silurian Lodge , ( No . 471 . )—A lodge of emergency was held at the . Masonic Hall , Great Dock Street , on Friday , 19 th inst ., the W . AI . Bro . Grattee in the chair . The minutes of the last lodge were read . The business this evening was to pass Bro . Alfred Lietke , Master of the Ship " Pillau , " of Pillau , Germany , who was initiated in the Lodge of Love and Honor , 75 , Falmouth , on the 27 th Alarch , 1868 ; also Bros . Campbell and Oliver . The ceremony was most ably rendered by tbe AV . M . The lodge was closed in harmony at 8 . 30 p . m .

Scotland.

SCOTLAND .

LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE NEAV PARISH CHURCH , DALRY , AYRSHIRE . Wednesday , the 10 th of May , 1871 , will be a memorable day in the annals of the parish of Dairy , a day , which , in future years will doubtless assist the inhabitants to compute the date of many minor events . The old parish church was condemned and pulled down some months ago , and foundation-stone of a handsome new edifice was laid with full Masonic honours by the Provincial Grand Master for Ayrshire , Bro . Col . Mure , of Caldwell .

The weather being fine , the turn-out of spectators was large . The ladies of the town and parish were present in great force , and tho gorgeous tints of tbe dresses they wore gave the old graveyard quite a blooming appearance , while the stand erected near to the spot where the ceremony took place looked not unlike a huge bouquet of flowers . The foundation-stone is at the left corner oE the front of the building , and about three feet from the ground . Round this point spaces were allotted

for the Freemasons , the Heritors , and the Choral Union—tbe remainder of the area of the churchyard being left to those who had secured the right of admission . In front of the g-ate and railing , a large crowd assembled , and nearly every available spot where a good view of the proceedings could be had ( the roof of the Town Hall , and the temporary wooden belfry not excepted ) , were taken advantage of . The new churchwhich is being built on the site of the old

, one , when finished , will not only be the most handsome and attractive building in the town , but the finest edifice for public worship belonging to the Established Church in the county of Ayr . The style of the architecture is Gothic , and the building is cruciform in plan , with galleries filling up the three arms of the cross .

The brethren of the Mother Lodge , Kilwinning , and the office-bearers and members of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Ayrshire , assembled in the Blair Ironworks School , near the railway station , at noon , when the Lodge was opened by the Provincial Grand Alaster . Among the members of the Mother-Lodge there were Bros . Rodger Montgoinerie , Annick Lodge , AV . R . Cochrane Patrick , of AVoodside , Beith ; AV . R . Patrick , of Treame ; James M'Cosh , of Piteou , Dairy , etc . Capt . Nelll

of Swinridgemuir was commissioned by the Prov . G . M ., Col . Mure , as P . S . G . M ., in room of J . ( i . Halkett , who had held office for about four years . The procession was marshalled by Bros . Capt . Neil , and Robert Wyllie , P . G . S ., and consisted of the following lodges : —Burns' St . Mary , Hurlford , 505 ; Royal Arch , AVest KUbridge , 314 ; Blair Dairy , 290 ; Houston St . Johnstone , 242 ; Thistle aud Rose , ' Stevenston , 169 ; St . John's , Beith 157 Paisley St . Mirren 129 St . Andrew '

sKilmar-, ; , ; , nock , 126 ; St . Marnock , Kilmarnock , 109 ; ilother Kilwinning , Provincial Grand Lodge of Ayrshire ; ami Col . Mure , Prov . G . M ., and as such R . W . M . of Mother Lodge . The procession , which numbered about 400 persons , was headed by the instrumental band of the Dairy Volunteer Corps , and the band of the Beith A olunteers Corps immediately p-eceded the Mother

Lodge . Ihe beautiful silken baaner , carried by the G . T ., was a presentation to the Mother Lodge , by Miss Neill , of Swinridgemuir ; and the handsome gilt sword borne by the G . S . B ., was , in honour of this auspicious occasion , presented by Capt . Neill . The Earl of Rosslyn , Graud Master Mason of Scotland , and the Earl of Dalhousie , P . G . AI ., were prevented from being present , having on the same day to attend with the Grand Lodge , office-bearers , the installation ofthe Provincial Graud Alaster of

Linlithgowshire . Amongst those assembled to witness the ceremouy of laying the foundation-stone were—Capt . Blair , of Blair , chief heritor of the parish ; F . Blair , Jun ., and Miss Blair ; Hon . G . R . A ernon , and Roger Montgomery ; C . A . Cuningham , and Mrs . Cuningham , A \ aterside Lodge ; Henry Gardiner Patrick , of Giffen ; AVilliam Ralston Patrick , Esq ., of Trearne , and party ; W . C . Patrick of Woodside ; Capt . Jolm Crichton of Liuu ; Major R . O . CrichtonLinn ; Capt . Neill of Swinridgemuirand

, , party ; James M'Cosh of Merksworth ; Theopbolis Paton of Swiulees ; Capt . and Airs . Paton of Hillend ; David Patrick of AVard ; Walter and Miss Euston of Ryefield ; John Gow of Highgate ; Andrew Blair Aitken , and Miss Aitken of Carsehead ; . Thomas Biggart , Jun ., of Baidlaud ; Rev . Robert Stevenson , Parish Minister , Rev . Messrs . Duncan and Shepherd : Robert