Provincial.

-a want of proper examination ) the W . M . and other brethren had been imposed upon by a tramp , who , in the previous week , had visited the town and sought relief as a Hungarian Mason in distress . It appeared that this individual after calling upon the worthy W . M ., who , in the goodness of his heart , and believing the applicant's statement , without any examination , gave him half-a-sovercign , then applied for relief to tlie ¦ Treasurer , informing him that he could not obtain any order

from the W . M ., as he was in Manchester . A statement which he had also previously made to the Rev . Bro . Spittal and others . Upon this the Treasurer sent the applicant with a note to him ( the D . Prov . G . M . ) stating the absence of the W . M ., and asking 'him , if he thought the applicant worthy , to send a written order "by him , and relief should be given . In reply to questions , tho applicant said he had a proper Masonic certificate , but not with Vim , as it was framed , and he never expected to have to seek

assistance : and that his object was to get to London , where he should at once receive aid from the German Society . Ho then , in lieu of a certificate , exhibited a tattered begging petition , dated at Leeds , in July , 1 SG 6 , and purporting to bear the signatures of a number of merchantile firms with subscriptions , chiefly of £ 1 , attached , in favour of the applicant , F . J . ilisso ; who stated that he very much regretted the absence of the AV . M . from the town as he would have known many of these

. firms . He also said he had been for some years a subscribing member of St . Peter ' s Lodge , at Peterborough , at the same time pulling out of his pocket a copy of the " Freemasons ' Calendar , " and turned to the list of lodges . After two or three questions as to his initiation had been very unsatisfactorily answered , he ( the D . Prov . G . M . ) asked him to describe to him the positions of the Master , AVardens , and other officers in the lodge ,

" Oh , " said he , "if you could ask me in mv own language I could tell you all about it , but I have a difficulty in doing so in English . " ( Which , however , he spoke very well . ) The D . Prov . G . M . then said to him , " AVell , I certainly cannot talk

to you in the Hungarian language , bnt there is one way of explaining it which is the same in all languages , and which is ( producing a pencil and paper ) to mark the positions down on paper . " This , with some hesitation , he proceeded to do , placing -the W . M . at the top of the lodge , the S . AV . on his right , the J . AA . next to him , and saying , "There are seven of them , all in . a row . " Upon being told that no order for relief would be given him , and that he knew nothing of Masonry , he said ho had been

a Mason 1 G or 17 years . He then very quietly went away , but : subsequently applied to several other brethren for relief , again making use of the same false statements as to the absence of the \ A . M ., and also stating to at least one brother that the D . Prov . G . M . was also out of town . Immediately after the interview he ( the D . Prov . G . M . ) addressed a letter of inquiry to the W . M . of the lodge at Peterborough , of which the applicant asserted he had been a subscribing member , and by return

of post a reply was received from the Treasurer , stating that no such person had ever been a member of tho lodge , evidently showing , as fully expected , that the man is an arrant impostor , and entirely unworthy of relief—one of those who prey upon the easy goodnature of members of the Craft , to the detriment of truly worthy brethren in distress . The W . M . explained the -circumstances under which he had been imposed upon in this instance , and urged the brethren in future to comply strictly

with the by-laws as to relief , by which they are desired not to relieve tramps , but to send all such applicants to the AV . M ., in order that , if found worthy , they may be relieved out ofthe lodge funds , the AV . M ., on his part , undertaking to examine into all such cases himself , or , should he be going out of town , to depute some brother to act for him , so that the brethren should not be again imposed upon in a similar manner . It subsequently transpired that the same individual had visited the town , ancl obtained relief from various brethren , about a year ago . There being no further business , the lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to refreshment .

SUFFOLK . STOWJIABKET . —phoenix Lodge ( No . 516 ) . —The monthly -meeting of this loclge was held ou Friday , the 20 th inst ., when a large number' of the brethren were present , in order to bid farewell to Bro . Richard Fox , who is about removing to a distant county . Bro . Martyn , AV . M . Foundation Lodge ( No . 82 ) , Cheltenham , was present as a visitor . After the business of the lodge had been closed , the brethren adjourned to banquet , ; at which Bro . AV . G . Ransom , AV . M ., presided . After tlie usual

loyal , patriotic , and Masonic toasts had been given , the W . AI ., in very eloquent terms , spoke of the great services rendered to the lodge by Bro . R . Fox , and of their regret at his leaving the province . Ho concluded by proposing Bro . Fox ' s health , happiness , and prosperity . Bro . Fox , who was much affected , responded at some length , and spoke of the many pleasant and happy hours he had spent in the lodgo , mentioning that , during the ten years of his belonging to it , he had never heard a word

of discord amongst the brethren . He attributed this in a great measure to tlie scrupulous care which they had excercised in admitting members ; ancl he strongly impressed upon those present the necessity to continue this practice—always to study quality rather than quantity . He concluded along speech by wishing the lodge every prosperity . The AV . M . then proposed the health of Bro . Martyn , and expressed the great pleasure thhad in welcoming him amongst them . Bro . Martyn

reey sponded , and proposed the health of Bro . Ransom , speaking of the efficiency with which ho carried out the duties of W . M . Bro . Ransom responded , after which numerous other toasts were given . The proceedings of the evening were enlivened by several songs by Bros . Gudgeon , Sheridan , & c . Bro . Richc . Fox was a short time since presented with a very valuable testimonial , as a token of esteem , from the . brethren on his leaving .

YORKSHIRE ( WEST ) . BRADFORD . —Lodge of Harmony ( No . 600 ) . —The brethren of this lodge held their regular monthly meeting on Thursday , the 19 th inst ., when , in addition to a goodly attendance of tho members , there were several visitors . Bro . Bentley Shaw , D . Prov . G . M ., of AVest Yorkshire , had accepted an invitation to be present , but owing to severe indisposition was unable to

attend ; he had requested Bro . Peace , P . Prov . G . S . W ., and Bro . Jaggor , to attend ancl to state the regret he felt at not being able to redeem his promise to visit the loclge , but he would take the first opportunity of doing so that lay in his power . The AV . M . ( Bro . W . Barber ) , on behalf of himself and the Lodge of Harmony , desired Bros . Pearce and dagger to convey to Bro . Bentley Shaw their fraternal sorrow and sympathy for him in his afflictionand sincerely hoped that the

, Great Architect of the Universe would restore him to his wonted health , and that on a very early day they would have the pleasure of seeing him in their lodge . After the lodge had been opened in the second degree , the ceremony of passing a brother to the degree of F . C was ably performed by the AA ' . M ., assisted by his Senior and Junior Wardens . The lodge was then lowered to the first degree , when the W . M . announced to the brethren thataccording to tho circular convening the meeting

, , their next duty was one of a very pleasing character , viz ., that of rewarding merit , and acknowledging the services rendered by the P . M . of the lodge . He said the brethren were aware that the first four Past Masters of the loclge had already received each a collar and iewel indicating their rank as Past Masters .

and their present business was to confer the same distinction upon eleven brethren who had succeeded to the chair of the lodge , the first four already mentioned ; hut he was sorry to add that in consequence of the unavoidable absence of one who was in ill-health , and two who were out of town , three of the collars and jewels would have to be presented on a subsequent occasion . He then stated that each Past Master , on receiving from his successor in office tlie collar ancl jewel , would

acknowledge the gift , and then present one in turn to his predecessor , thus , as it were , retracing their steps backward to the first four , and at one ceremony discharging in some slight measure the accumulated obligations of eleven years to those Past Masters his predecessors . The following are tbe names of the brethren receiving tbe collars and jewels , and the order of presentation , viz .: —Bros . Jno . Rhodes Corclingley , A \ . M ., 1 SG 7 ; Thos . Peel , W . M . I 860 ; Jas . DewhnstAV . M . 1 SG 5 ; Jno . BurnleyW . M .

, , , , , 18 G-1 ; Jno . Dodd , AV . M ., 18 G 3 ; Louis Goldstein , W . M ., 1862 ; Sainl . OldfieldBailey , W . M ., 1 SG 1 ; Isidor Aln-eus , W . M ., I 860 ; Thos . Johnson , W . M ., 1859 ; Julius Wolfisohn , W . M ., 1 S 5 S ; Antoy . Eugelmann , AA' . M ., 1857 . Other routine business heing disposed of , Bro . Bailey , P . M ., proposed in warm terms that a vote of thanks should be recorded on the minutes of the lodge to Bro . Jno . AA ardP . M . their worthTrea . for his disinterested

, , y , and unselfish services in procuring the jewels which had that evening been presented , remarking that it was only just to him to thus openly acknowledge the part Bro . Ward had taken in tie matter . The motion was seconded by Bro . Dewhurst , P . M ., and carried with applause , the Past Musters all rising . Bro , J .