Provincial.

H . Miller , P . M ., Sec ; AV . Glover , I . G . ; J . Rogers , Tyler . The lodge was then closed . THE BANQUET . At four o ' clock many of the brethren assembled at the Globe Hotel , where Bro . Isaac AA'atts provided a most excellent dinner , as is his custom , and gave to its services that personal attention which is sure to make all things pass off leasantly . Tho W . M .

p of Metham Lodge , Col . Elliott , presided , and was supported on his right by Bros , the Rev . John Huyshe , P . G . M . ; R . Lose , the AV . M . of the Elms Lodge ; G . W . Rogers , P . G . S . ; and Isaac Latimer , Assist . P . G . S . ; and on his left by Bros . L . P . Metham , D . Prov . G . M . ; Rev . J . C . Carwithen , P . G . Chap . ; Col . Picard , S . Jew , P . G . Treas ., and other brethren high in office . There were sixty-three brethren at the festive board , amongst

whom , besides those already named , were many who held high office in many lodges , whose numbers we have given above , Bro . Murcb presided at the piano , and was assisted vocally by Bro . Clemens and other good singers . The proceedings at the festive board were consequently rendered very pleasing by the addition of some choice and excellent Masonic music . A prime dessert having been placed on the table

, The AV . M . proceeded with the toasts . We must be necessarily brief in our notice of the remainder of the proceedings . He first proposed "The Queen and the rest of the Royal Family . " He next gave "The Sovereign of Freemasons—the Earl of Zetland , " both of which toasts were duly honoured with true true Masonic fealty . The AV . M . then proposed " The R . W . the Prov . G . Masterthe

, Eev . John Huyshe . " Of his high qualities he could tell them nothing with which they were not already acquainted ; but whether in the performance of his Masonic duties as G . M . of the province , or in respect to bis holy duties , which are to point to Heaven and lead the way , he would give them a practical example in his own life . The support of Masonry be believed to be one of the great objects of his life ; but he was sure that

much as his R . W . brother would like to see the Craft increase in numbers , he would be sorry to see any unworthy brother introduced . The R . W . G . M . 's good qualities and kindness of heart were not confined only to Masons , but were extended to all amongst whom he moved .

The toast was received with great enthusiasm , and greeted with Masonic honours . The P . G . M ., on rising , was received with renewed applause . No doubt be stood in a very important position , at tbe head of a province in which there were 35 lodges , and nearly 2 , 000 members . There were few provinces in England , except Lancashire and West Yorkshire , now to be compared with it . But he feared that he viewed the increase of Freemasons with some

alarm . It had been said that in every flock there was a black sheep , and he thought this was so in Masonry . But he would fain hope that in this province there were fewer black sheep than elsewhere . It remains with the Masters of lodges to keep out black sheep , and he put it to the brethren who had been called upon to preside over the new lodges to act with care in this respect . It was of the greatest possible importance not to think of tbe quantity but of tbe quality of their members .

There was another point to which he would advert . He was sorry to see anything in the by-laws of a lodge permitting the subscriptions of a lodge to be applied to eating and drinking . It was a custom of many lodges to apply a portion of its funds to eating and drinking . He was not a teetotaller . He was going on for seventy years of age , and he enjoyed the good things of this life without abusing them , for he was never drunk iu his life . He did not object to social meetings and to eating and

drinking , but it ought not to be done out of the lodge's funds , which ought to be applied to other purposes . Whenever they met to enjoy each other ' s society they should open their own pockets , and then they would be able to say , " We eat and drink what we please , and we pay for it , but all our Masonic proceeds go in charity . " He then referred to another matter , on which it was impossible that he should not speak in the

presence of his brother , Metham . It was to his great medical skill , and to his kind watchfulness and attention , under a merciful Providence , that his life had been preserved in a most serious illness . He concluded by saying that at all times when the brethren required bis services he should be glad to como down and render them . The P . G . M . again rose , and in a speech of warm eulogy proposed " The health of the D . P . G . M ., Bro . Metham . He was high in office , having received honours from the G . M . of England

himself , and that was a rare event , as honours were only given to men who were not only iu high repute as Masons , but who were held in more than good repute amongst their fellow men . Bro . Metham lived in the heart of every brother , and he need not say how deeply he had entwined himself around his heart . 'The R . W , speaker concluded by proposing Bro . Metbam ' s health , which was greeted with enthusiasm , and drank with due honour .

The D . P . G . Master thanked his brethren for the manner in which he had been received , and proceeded to enlarge in eloquent terms upon the important question of the charities-He deprecated the expenditure of the funds of the lodges in personal enjoyments , and advocated with his usual earnestnessthe cause of the Masonic charities . In the course of this and a subsequent speech , be stated that one of their brethren ,

whowas a worthy man , had fallen into sickness , and it was most desirable that they should elect him-on the Fortescue Annuity Fund . Then there were the orphan children of their late respected friend , Bro . Bush , the engineer of the Cornwall Railway , who had been suddenly taken from them . No one could have dreamt six months since that his orphan children would be at that time candidates lor admission into their schools . AVith a proper appropriation of their funds to charitable purposes , and

subscriptions from amongst themselves , they ought of themselves to meet every case in which they felt interested . The D . P . G . Master then proposed "The W . Masters of the-Metham and Elms Lodges , Bros . Colonel Elliott , and R . Lose ,, and the other officers of those lodges . " Bros . Elliotts , Lose , Measham , Down , Captain Carlyon , and Tremain responded in suitable speeches . The toast of " Our Visiting Brethren and sister lodges " was

couplea with the health of Bro . Murcb and his musical assistants ,,, who were warmly thanked for their services both then and in the morning . Tbe toast " To aU distressed Masons , wherever dispersed , anrl speedy relief to them , " concluded a well spent and agreeableday .

DURHAM . GATESHEAD . —Borough Lodge ( No . 424 ) . —This lodge , which has been under a cloud , is now rising into importance , a largenumber assembling on Monday last , the 24 th inst ., to witnessthe installation of Bro . Noach S . Lotinga as AV . M . for theensuing year , lie having been elected to fill that office at thelast regular monthly meeting . The Installing Master was Bro ..

James Roden , of St . Bede ' s Lodge , 1 , 119 , Jarrow . The way inwhich the ceremony was performed reflected the highest credit on that talentei brother , and elicited marks of approbation from all present . Bro . Lotinga having been placed in the Solomonicchair , and having received the usual , salutes proceeded to appoint and invest his assistant officers ; they were as follows :: Bros . 11 . Stephenson , S . W . ; AV . Harrison , J . W . ; Howdon ,.

S . D . ; Laurend , J . D . ; J . Davidson , I . G . ; Curry , Tyler . Bro .. AVivegang , P . M ., was invested as Treas ., re-elected at the previousmeeting . Lodge business ended , the brethren sat down to anelegant dinner , which was thoroughly appreciated—as it fully deserved to be—much credit being due to Mrs . Neilson , thewortby hostess of the Grey Horse Inn , Gateshead , where thelodge is held . Upwards of fifty were present—including someof the most influential members of the Durham and

Northumberland Craft , among whom we observed Bros . G . Tullock , P . M .. 431 , Prov . S . W . for Northumberland ; J . Oliver , P . M . 240 ; . Simpson , P . M . 991 ; George Thompson , P . Prov . G , W . of Northumberland ; M . Robson , P . M . 431 ; George Lawson , P . M . 240 ; Menser , 431 , P . Prov . G . Chap . ; J ., Robertson , W . M . 240 ; G . F . Taylor , 25 , London , and many others , whose names we did not learn . Several good speeches and songs followed the banquetand a happy evening was brought to a close about

ten-, o ' clock . From what we know of the nowly installed Master , we predict one of the most prosperous sessions ever recorded of this or any other lodge in the province . Bro . Lotinga issparing no exertions to render the Borough Lodge A 1 . An emergency meeting was announced for the 25 th inst ., when several candidates for initiation are expected to be present . IlAitTLErooij . —St . Helen ' s Lodge ( No . 531 ) . —A Masters '

Lodge was holden on Thursday , the 20 th inst . Pressent : Bros .. Emra Holmes , W . M . ; W . J . Sivewright , I . P . M . ; S . Armstrong , P . M . ; Forbes , S . W . ; J . Armstrong , J . AV ; J . II . Bell , Sec . j R . Ropner , Treas . ; E . Alexander , J . D ., & c . The lodge being opened with solemn praj r er , was raised to the third degree , but