Provincial.

some of tbe best musical compositions . Tbe arrangements of the day will conclude with a visit to the Deanery ( by special invitation of the Very Rev . the Dean and Mrs . Johnson ) when , after seeing the gardens and pleasure grounds , tea and coffee will be provided . This will be a grand holiday for our brethren of the mystic tie , and no doubt many others will take the opportunity of visiting the quaint old city and the many objects of interest it contains .

MONMOUTHSHIRE . SILURIAN AND ISCA LODGES . —We stated the other day that it was intended to have a Masonic pic-nic in Raglan Castle , and we And Thursday , the 4-th of July , is the day fixed . Tbe following arrangements have been completed : The party will leave Mill-street station , Newport , by train at twenty-five minutes past ten a . m ., returning from Raglan Footpath at a quarter past eight p . m . Fares to and fro , 2 nd class 3 s . 6 d . each ; children ,

, half price . These tickets will , however , be available by the half past one and twenty minutes to six p . m . trains from Newport . Parties to provide themselves with refreshments . A first rate quadrille band has been engaged , and the warden of the Castle will have a plentiful supply of games of all descriptions . Tickets not transferable ,, only to be had on application to the committee , at 16 Dock-streetnot later than six o ' clock p . m . on

, , Monday , the 1 st July ; all applications must contain the names of parties for whom such tickets arc intended , and subject to approval of the committee , each brother will be at liberty to introduce a friend in addition to the members of his own family . AA e wish them a pleasant , happy meeting . AVe will endeavour to be amongst them and report progress .

AVORCESTERSIIIRE . KIDDERMINSTEE . — Lodge Hope and Charily ( No . 377 ) . — The monthly meeting of this lodge was held on Monday , the 24-th ult ., though ifc is usual to have a vacation in fche summer , which is not taken advantage of this year , as there is a probability of much work , owing to the favourable impression produced by the proceedings of the Worcestershire Provincial

Grand Lodge held at Kidderminster in fche previous week . At seven o'clock p . m ., the lodge was opened in the first degree by Bro . A . Hancocks , AV . M ., supported by Bros . W . Fuwcett , I . P . M . ; A . Hancocks , S . W . ; Baker , J . AV ., & c The minutes of the last regular and of an emergency meeting were confirmed . At the request of the AV . M ., Bro . Dr . Hopkins took the chair . Bros . AA . aud G . Hopkins having been presented as candidates

for the second degree , were examined , found worthy of promotiou , and entrusted . They then retired for preparation- The lodge was opened \\\ the second degree . The candidates were again introduced properly prepared , and passed by Bro . Dr . Hopkins to the degree of F . C . Having announced that he had privately given them the lecture on the first tracing-board , for which there was not time at the previous meeting , the acting

W-M . now proceed to give the second . The AV . M . resumed his chair and closed the lodge in the second degree . Two propositions of gentlemen for initiation were made by the W .. AI . and Bro . Cooper , P . M ., which were duly seconded . The lodge was closed by the AV . M at half-past eight o'clock , and the ¦ brethren adjourned to another room for supper and social intercourse . Brequest the chair was again taken by BroDr

y . . Hopkins , as the W . M . was unable to remain . The usual Masonic toasts were duly honoured , and the presiding brother took the opportunity to give several addresses , commenting ou several matters which had come under his observation iii the province and in this lodge in particular . The party separated afc balf-past ten .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

CORNWALL . FALMOUTH - . —Love and Honour Lodge ( No . 94 ) . — On Thursday , the 20 th June , the regular meeting of this lodge was held afc the Royal Hotel , Falmouth . Bro . W . J . Hughan , P . M ., 7 S , 94 , Past G . O ., & c , presided in the unavoidable absence of the W . M ., Bro . Reginald Rogers , ( D . Prov . G . M . in the craft . ) v The minutes having been read and confirmed , tbe acting A \* . M . stated that the Grand Masier had been pleased to appoint Bro . F . M . Williams , M . P ., of No . 7 S , Truro , Pro-

Mark Masonry.

vincial Grand Master for Cornwall . The members received the information with great delight , and as there is no Mason more respected and beloved by the brethren in the county , as better able to fulfil the duties of that high position , we ^ look forward to a most prosperous and flourishing term of office for so worthy and distinguished a mason . The Annual Meeting and Festival of the Truro Mark Lodge , No . 78 , is tobe held on the 4 th July .

Knights Templar.

KNIGHTS TEMPLAR .

SCOTLAND . Am . —A most interesting meeting of the Ayr Priory of" Knight Templars took place a , fow nights ago ; tho business on tho occasion boing tho reception of Bros . William Brierly , Thomas AValton , W . R . Richardson , and John 3 IcCoig as Knights of tho Religious and Military Order of tho Tomplo and Knights or Malta . Tho " delta " was formed under tho roof of tho far-famod offi

Tam o' Shantor inn , and tho Prior , Bro . D . Murray Lyon , - ciated iu "dubbing" tho candidates . After tho coromony tho encampment entertained to supper tho nowly admitted Sir Knights , tho Prior presiding , aided by Bro . A . C . Hislop , as Croupior . Iu tho courso of tho evening our Southern brethren oxprossod how highly thoy esteemed tho knightly courtesy and hospitality of tho members of tho AJT onenmpmeur , and how dolightod thoy had boon with their forenoon ' s ramblo on the banks aud braes of bonny doon .

Sketch Of The Masonic Career Of Bro. Sir Archibald Alison, Bart., Prov. G.M. Glasgow.

SKETCH OF THE MASONIC CAREER OF BRO . SIR ARCHIBALD ALISON , BART ., PROV . G . M . GLASGOW .

The historian of Europe is dead—the vital spark lias fled from one of Scotland ' s most gifted and distinguished sons . Although Bro . Sir Archibald Alison had attained the ripe age of seventyfour years , yet the freshness and vigour of his faculties , the arduous nature of his daily duties , and the frequency with ' which his name was associated with works of a public nature , excluded from our minds the thought of death aud , when the sad event was announcedit astounded his admiring countrymen

, , not more by its suddenness than by the magnitude of the loss ifc curtailed- His demise is a national calamity , and has already been acknowledged as such . In Glasgow and the surrounding districts , the immediate field of his labours , the expression of grief has been most intense . The daily newspapers have each paid a tribute of respect to his memory ; and the eulogiums they have passed upon his merits are but the echo of the public

sentiment . Tho Town Council and other public bodies of tbe City have each recorded their deepest regret for the loss of so distinguished a man , and so useful a citizen ; and the brethrenof the Masonic Art , amongst whom he occupied so conspicuous a place , have also testified to his worth , and given expression to the irreparable loss which tho Craft has sustained in his-/ lnp .. 'i = p Tn li . 'ivn flisr'h : U' < rpil fchp nnhlic duties t . lmh dnvnlvpfl

upon him in his official capacity with so much energy and ability merits all praise ; but to have voluntarily undertaken other duties equally arduous , and , in a public sense , equally important , commands our highest admiration and respect . AVe are amazed that , amidst his almost herculean labours at the bar and on the bench , he should have found leisure enough to execute such extensive and admirable literary works—so vast

, indeed , that had he done nothing besides during the thirty years they occupied his divided attention , their magnitude and genuine worth would still have surprised us . It speaks highly for his genius , his indomitable perseverence , his high aim , and his public spirit , that , leaving no duty public or private undone , he should have put forth such great works necessitating profound research , minute knowledge of details , and such

acquaintancewith every variety of information , legal , historical , political , and philosophical . Active in his habits , incessant in bis application , well versed in the literature of the present and past ages , possessing a mind of the finest balance and rarest culture , as well as a gentlemanly bearing that endeared him to all , he gained a name that will be written for generations in the annals of those great ones who " though dead yet speak . " Our purpose in the following sketch is not to enter upon all tho incidents of so long and busy a life ( although fche recollection of the high position he occupied as a lawyer , a judge , an .