Provincial.

until five o ' clock , when about thirty brethren sat down to au excellent banquet , provided by Bro . Taylor . After the removal of the cloth , the AV . M . gave the usual loyal and Masonic toasts , which were heartily responded to . The AA . M . also took this opportunity of convoying the thanks of the Fawcett Lodge , to Bro . Crossby , P . M ., ( the first AV . M . of this Lodge ) , Bro . Levy , P . M . of the Palatine Lodge , No . 11-i , and Bro . Naylor , the immediate P . M . of this Lodge , for the very able and valuable assistance rendered by them to this Lodge since it came iuto

existence , at considerable personal inconvenience . To their endeavours the Lodge is mainly indebted for its present flourishing condition . The pleasures of the evening were greatly enhanced by excellent vocal music from several of the brethren , and spent with that love and harmony which always characterizes members of the Craft . The Lodgo having been called from refreshment to labour , Bro . Crossby P . M ., proposed , and Bro . Naylor P . M ., seconded , that Bro . J . L . Henry , of Seaham Harbour , collector of her Majesty ' s customs , late a subscribing member of Lodge , No . 675 , Donaghadee , County Down , Ireland , be a subscribing member of this Lodge . The Lodge was then closed in due form , aud the brethren separated highly delighted with tho proceedings .

GLOUCESTERSHIRE . ArroiNTJiiiXTS . —/ , otf (/« s . —Tuesday . April 5 th , Sherhorno ( 1001 ) , George Hotel , Stroud , at 5 . ; AVednesday , Oth , Eoyal Union ( 307 ) , Freemasons' Hall , Cheltenham , at 0 . HAMPSHIRE . ArTBixnmsis . —Lodges . —Monday , Apri ! 4 fch , Oakley ( 995 ) , Black Boy , Basingstoke , at I ) Thursday , 7 th , Panninre ( 1025 ) , Boyal Hotel , Aldershot , at 0 . Chapters . —Wednesday , 6 th , Koyal Sussex ( 42 S ) , Freemasons' Hall , Portsea , at 7 ; Southampton ( 55 . 1 ) , Freemasons' Hall , Southampton , at 7 ; Thursday , 7 lh , Koyal Gloucester ( 152 ) , Freemasons' Hall , Southampton , at 7 .

SOUTHAMPTON ' . —Royal Gloucester Lodge ( No . 152 ) . —This Lodge held its usual meeting on Thursday , the 24 th hist ., at the Freemasons ' -hall , Bugle-street , Bro . F . Perkins , AA ' . iL , in the chair . The Lodge having been opened in due form , aud the minutes of the last meeting confirmed , two candidates for initiation were elected . The AV . M . then proceeded to pass Bro . Stevens , of this- town , to the second degree , after which he initiated one of the newly elected candidates . The Secretary , Bro . H . Clarke , informed tho AV . M . that lie had received from Bro . J . It . Stebbing , Prov . 'G . Secpro tern . notice of the special Provincial Grand Lodgo of Emergency

, , , to be bolden at 'Winchester on the 2 Sth . Bro . Payne alluded to a bust of her Majesty , the Queen , in statuary porcelain , of life size , the gift of the AVM . to the Lodge , which forms a most pleasing and prominent ornament in the hall , and moved that the thanks of tho brethren be given to the AV . M . for that very handsome and appropriate present . Bro . Passenger , S . AA ., seconded the proposition . Bro . Douglas , P . M ., expressed his pleasure in supporting the motion , and complimented the AA . M . on this being only one of his many acts of liberality aud kindness

to the Lodge . The vote was carried unanimously , and acknowledged by the AVM . in a short speech , expressive of his gratification at the display of kind feeling his gift had elicited . Two candidates were proposed for initiation / when the Lodge was closed in harmony at half-past nine . Upwards of thirty of the brethren then sat down to the usual banquet , at which the AV . M . presided . Two brethren from Lodges in the East Indies , in responding to tho toast of visiting brethren , assured the AVM . how much pleasure it gave them to find , on comparison with English Lodges , that those in other parts of the British Empire wore so correct in their working ; in fact they could find no difference but what was too trivial to mention .

SOUTHAMPTON . —Lodge of Peace and Harmony ( No . 402 ) . —A meeting of a special committee of this Lodge was held on AVednesday , March 16 th , at the residence of Bro . J . R . Stebbing , P . M ., for the purpose of considering the propriet y of changing the place for holding tho meetings of the Lodge and of preparing a reply to the queries sent byBro . Havers respecting the Grand Lodge property , when the following answer was proposed by Bro . Stebbing , — "That if it be possible to carry out the four first propositions , without limiting the amount of assistanco