Provincial.

WARWICKSHIRE . SUTTON COLDEIELD — Warden Lodge ( No . 1096 ) . —The annual festival of this lodge was celebrated at the Town Hall , Sutton Coldfield , on AVednesday , December 11 th . Bro . the Eev . J . E . Codrington , AV . M ., presided , and was supported hy his officers and a goodly muster of brethren , though several who had proposed being present were prevented bvarious unexpected causes from

attendy ing . After two brethren had been balloted for and elected as joining members , Bro . the Eev . E . H . Kittoe , JAY ., was installed in ancient form as AA ' . M . for the ensuing year ; Bro . AA ' . I-I . E . Bedford , G-. Chap ., officiating , assisted by a board of installed masters , comprising Bro . Codringtoii , P . Prov . S . AA . Oxon ; Bro . AA * . Thompson , P . Prov . SAY . Oxon , P . M . 425 ; Downes , Prov . G . C Stafford , P . M . 786 ; James , Prov . GAY . Stafford , P . M . 786 ; Hudson , Prov . G . AA * .

AVarwick , P . M . 88 ; Harrison , Prov . G . Purst . AA arwick , P . M . 689 ; Newton , Prov . G . AA * . AVarwick , P . M . 689 ; Empson , P . G . AV . AA ' arwick , P . M . 51 . "U pon the re-admission of the brethren , Bro . Kittoe was duly saluted and proclaimed , and appointed and invested the following brethren as his officers for the ensuing year : —Bros . AA * . H . Osborn , S . AA * . ; T . Halbeard , J . AA * . ; J . F . Green , Chap . ; 'Wilson , Sec ; Cull , S . D . ; Addenbrooke , J . D . ; Hughes , I . G . ; Hudson ,

P . M . 88 , Dir . Cer . On the motion of Bro . Harrison , Treas ., it was unanimously resolved to present a P . M . ' s Jewel to Bro . J . G . Codringtoii , with the cordial thanks of the lodge for his services in the chair . The AA ' . M . afterwards took the chair at the annual banquet , -supported by the brethren above named , and by Bros . Kempson , Barber , Davis , Sayer , C E . Bedford , Cochrane " ; AA * . H . Fairfax , J . AV . 880 ; A . Bill , S . AV . 51 ; Eea , SS ; Mackay , 88 . In giving the toast of " The D . G . M . Earl de Grey and Eipon , and the Grand

Lodge of England , " the AA' . M . took occasion to mention that the Grand Chaplain of England was an active member of their own lodge , and was about to act as Steward to the Boys' School at the i . ext festival of that charity . Though he , the AA ' . M ., was opposed to anything like an after-dinner canvass for subscriptions , yet he might say that he should be only too glad , as AA ' . M ., to take charge of contributions from the lodge . —Bro . BEDEORD , Grand Chap . iu returning thanksobserved that the increasing influence

, , of provincial Masons in Grand Lodge was much to be attributed to the exertions made of late years hy certain Prov . G . Masters on "behalf of Masonic Charities . The Province of AA ' arivick , though not so early in the field as some neighbouring ones—Oxford and Stafford for instance—had now taken a forward place in this desirable movement , and he trusted would eclipse its former efforts at the third festival presided over by her AV . M . The health of the

W . M . was afterwards drunk with extreme cordiality , and responded to in a hearty and truly fraternal speech by Bro . KITTOE , who proposed ' ¦ ' The Health of the immediate P . M ., Bro . Codringtoii , " a man who had come forward to serve the lodge when he had already obtained the highest honours in an adjoining province . The toast was drunk with enthusiastic fire , and Bro . Codrington ' s replywas equally warmly received . The Visitors were represented worthilbBros . James and Thompsonand Bro . Osborne in

rey y , turning thanks far the officers , gave some interesting reminiscences of the Craft in his earlier days , embracing a Masonic experience of half a century , from his initiation under a dispensation from the Prince of AA ' ales when Grand Master . Many other toasts were . given and responded to , and some excellent songs sung , and order , harmony , and brotherly love were the order of the day .

YORKSHIRE ( AA'EST ) . HO M-I'I IITK . —Holm Valley Lodge ( No . 937 ) . —The regular meeting of this lodge was held at the Victoria Hotel , on Friday , the 20 th inst ., Bro . J . M . AA ' oodhead , AA ' . M ., presided , and was supported by Bros . Lawton , S . AA * . ; Tinker , J . AA * . ; and P . M . 's Taylor , Mellor , Nelson , Burton , and Littlewood ; there was a good attendance of brethren , amongst whom were the following visitors viz .,

AV . Smith , P . Prov . G . D . C ; Jos . Brook , and J . Brook , P . M . 's ; of the Huddersfield Lodge ( No . 365 ) . The Lodge having been opened in the first degree , and the minutes of last lodge read and confirmed , the inflation of Jesse Shore , under dispensation as a serving Bro . was proceeded with by the AV . M . ; Bro . Charles Taylor , P . M ., delivering the charge . The E . A . P . having retired and the lodge being opened in the second degree , Bro . J . Harpin , the W . M . elect was duly presented by Bro . Joseph Mellor , P . G . J . D ., supported by

Bro . P . M . Nelson , for installation , which ceremony was performed in a very able maimer hy Pro . Jos . Brook , P . M . 385 , assisted by Bro . A \* . Smith , and others , who formed a board of installed Masters , and by whom Bro . Harpin was regularly entrusted and placed in the chair . On the readmission of the brethren , ancl after being duly saluted , proclaimed , presented with the working tools of the various degrees , the AA ' . M . appointed and caused the following brethren to "be invested as his officers for the

Provincial.

ensuing year viz ., Bros . H . Tinker , S . AA * . ; G . Hinhcliff , J . AA * . ; U . Lawton , Treas . ; C . Taylor , Sec , ( by dispensation from the D . Prov . G-. M . ) Thos . Barber , S . D . ; ( appointed , but being absent from illness his investment was postponed ) , O . Greenwood , J . D . ; ancl C Battye , I . G . After the lodge was closed the brethren partook of an excellent repast under the presidency of the AV . M ., who gave the usual loyal toasts . The deep sorrow and gloom which have fallen upon the nation at largein consequence of the

, death of H . E . H ., the Prince Consort , appeared in no light measure to rest upon the brethren of an order at all times distinguished for its loyal and devoted attachment to the throne , and many were the expressions of deep sympathy of the brethren with her Majesty , the Prince of AA ' ales , ancl the rest of the Royal Family , on the sudden bereavement and irreparable loss they had sustained . The usual masonic toasts were put and heartily responded to , but

without arnsie , also complimentaiy votes to the W . M . and officers of the past year , to the Installing Master for the very able and and effective manner he had discharged that duty , ancl to the newly installed AA ' . M . on his accession to that honourable , post .

Australia.

AUSTRALIA .

A'ICTOEIA . GRAND MASONIC BALL AT THE EXHIBITION BUILDINGS , MELBOURNE , 16 TH AUGUST , 1861 . Excepting on the occasion of those viceregal balls which annually celebrate the anniversary of the Queen's birthday , the Exhibition Building has rarely held a more brilliant or numerous assemblage than it did on this occasion , when the grand masonic ball , in aid of masonic charitieswas given . Masonry has taken deep root in

, A'ictoria society , and the result last night was the great success of which we have spoken . Everything connected with the affair was of an almost splendid character . The Exhibition Building , never suited to ball-room purposes , always representing awkward corners for the eye to rest upon , was dressed with festoons of bright evergreens , fancifully and tastefully arranged . The bare walls could scarce be seen for these leafy screensancl the effect was heihtened

, g by the ever-recurring presence of a masonic symbol or "Tracingboard . " At the western end of the room was an elegantly-fitte d alcove , at the entrance to which were placed two magnificent golden columns , each surmounted by a mystical globe , which ha d been brought from the Sandridge lodge-room for the purpose . The Combermere Lodge , at Collingwood , also furnished three exquisitely-carved gilt pillars for the same alcove , which were not the

less suited to the place because of their Ionic , Doric , and Corinthian capitals , which symbolized those famous masonic qualities , AA'isdom , Strength , and Beauty . Ordinary masonic emblems met the eye everywhere , and the eternal square and compasses blazed forth in gas-jets at one end of the room , while " V . B . " adorned the opposite end . Two elegant fountains , surrounded with sweet shrubs- and flowers , were continually pattering and spurting their scented waters , and all these , with the crowd of dancers , presented a rare

tout ensemble . It was not the ladies alone who filled up the perspective with those masses of colour which are required to set off a ball-room scene , for most of the gentleman had forgotten that fashionable rule of life which obliges an Englishman to put himself in mourhig when he is taking his pleasure , and had adorned themselves with gorgeous masonic paraphernalia . The common blue ancl white of the master mason ' s apron had a prett y effect ; but that ancl the more gorgeous " Eoyal arch " decorations

paled before the costumes of thc Grand Lodge officers , and the Knights Templar and Bosicrucians—for the two latter were their white cloaks , like crusaders , and theformer glittered in gold aud silver and stars . So much fortheroom ancl company , which , during a portion of the evening , were honoured by- the presence of His Excellency the Governor and Lady Barkly ; Dancing was commenced soon after nine o'clock , and was kept up with great spiritto the

in-, spiring strains of M . Strebinger ' s band . Supper-time came at midnight , ancl the good things provided by the caterers were liberally patronized . The tables were laid out with extreme good taste , ancl not a dish lay upon the table , or even so small a thing as a roll , but had a masonio mark upon it . We have in a previous issue sopken of the beauty of the table decorations , and as they stood in their place , freshly bedecked with flowers—which , indeed

were abundant everywhere—they could scarcely have been surpassed . To Messrs . B . Isaacs and Son , of the London Tavern , must the credit of most of these arrangements be given , as that of the excellence of the eatables ; nor must we omit to compliment the " Tasting Committee " for their judgement in the matter of wine . The toast of " The Queen and the Craft" having been duly given and honoured , dancing recommenced ; and the festivities were kept up till a late hour in the morning .