Provincial.

Avhich he had endeavoured to fill in the spirit of the Constitutions , and the obligations he had entered into . He was fearful he had given offence to some of the members by refusing admission to some of their friends on account of such friends not having brough their certificates . This he could not help , he was determined as long as he was their AV . M . to admit no stranger unless he brought a Grand Lodge Certificate . The visitors' toast was responded to by several ; after some other

toasts the brethren withdrew at an early hour . LANCASHIRE ( WEST ) . AVARRHrGTOS-. —Lodge of Lights ( No . 148 ) . —The regular stated meeting of this old-established lodge was held on the last Monday in April , at 6 . 30 p . m . Bros . John Bowes , AV . M . ; H . B . AVhite , P . M . and Treas . ; Shaw Thewlis , Prov . S . G . D ., as

S . AV . ; Charles Pettitt , J . AV . ancl Sec ; Rev . J . N . Porter as I . G . ; James Hepherd ( ex-mayor ) , and others attended . The minutes of the preceding lodge were confirmed . The Rev . J . J . Dreaper gave proof of his proficiency as an Entered Apprentice , ancl being duly rewarded , then retired . The lodge was opened iu the second degree , and Bro . Dreaper , being admitted in due form , was ably passed as Fellow Craft by the AV . M ., Bro . 0 . PettittJ . AV . and Secofficiating as S . D . The lodge resolved

, , to subscribe £ 1 per annum to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution—all votes of this year being given in favour of Bro . Sankey . Bro . H . B . White gave notice of a motion , and after routine business the lodge Avas closed in peace and harmony at nine p . m .

LANCASHIRE ( EAST . ) MANCHESTER . —Tercentenary of Shakespeare . —At one o'clock on Saturday , the 23 rd inst ., a meeting was held in the Town Hall , when the Robert Burns' Lodge ( No . 999 ) , and the Shakespeare Lodge ( No . 1 , 009 ) , Avere consecrated by Bro . Stephen ^ Blair , Prov . G . M . of East Lancashire , assisted by his Prov . G . Officers . About 180 brethren were present , amongst Avhom were —Bros . Stephen BlairEsq . Prov . G . M . ; R . Callenderjun . Prov .

, , , , S . G . W . ; W . H . Wright , Prov . J . G . AV . ; Lawrence Newall , P . Prov . S . G . W . ; Rev . J . L . Figgins , Prov . G . Chap . ; J . H . Leresche , Prov . G . Reg . ; J . Tunnah , Prov . G . Sec . ; Chas . Affleck , Prov . J . G . D . ; Stephen Smith , Prov . G . Supt . of AVorks ; T . G . Gibbons , Prov . G . Dir . of Cers . ; Richard A eevers , Prov . G . Purst . ; S . P . Bidder , J . M'Dowell Smith , Austin Shellard , and Joseph Chadwick Pcatson , Prov . G . Stewards ; J . AA . Petty , P . M . ; T . R . AVilliams , P . M . ; Henry Thos . Baldwin , P . M . ; John

Chadwick , P . M . ; J . Eltoft , AV . M . ; T . Stafford , P . M . ; M . Bereud , AV . M . ; James Payne , AV . M . ; J . L . Hine , P . M . ; T . L . AVilliams , J . R . Hampson , T . H . G . Berrey , AV . Martin , J . Mountain , T . Brett , T . Oakden , V . Kilborn , AV . S . Brown , J . M . Haslegrove , and J . H . Stephenson . The following brethren Avere installed the first officers of the two new lodges : —The Robert Burns'Lodge ( No . 999 ) , Charles Affleck , W . M . ; J . R . Hampson , S . W . ; J . G . Holden , S . W . ; Rev . Dr . Cranswick , Chap . ; W . Tomkies , Treas . ; George Brett , Sec . ; 11 . Greenhalgh ,

S . D . ; J . II . Stephenson , J . D . ; and AVilliam Gibson , I . G . The Shakspere ( No . 1 , 009)—Isaac AV . Petty , AV . M . ; Thos . Oakden , S . AV . ; V . Kilborn , J . W . ; Rev . AV . Milner , Chap . ; A . Nicholls , Treas . ; Thos . Alclerson , Sec ; E . J . Heaps , E . Randies , J . D . ; and T . Richards , I . G . At four o'clock the brethren celebrated the inauguration of the Shakspere Lodge by a dinner at the Clarence Hotel , Spring Gardens . There was a numerous attendanceand the chair Avas occupied bBro . Isaac AV . Pett

, y y , AV . M . The following toasts were proposed by the chairman"The Queen and the Craft , " "The Prince and Princess of "Wales and the Royal Family , " « The Earl of Zetland , M . W . G . M . of England , ancl the Grand Officers , " and " Stephen Blair , Esq ., R . W . Prov . G . M . East Lancashire , " by Bro . Oakden ; "A . H . Royds , Esq ., V . W . D . Prov . G . M . East Lancashire , and the P . G . Officers , " by Bro . J . H . P . Leresche ; " The

Immortal Memory of AA'illiam Shakspere , " by Bro . Stephen Blair , R . W . Prov . G . M . ; " Prosperity to the Shakspere Lodge , " hy the Chairman ; " Prosperity to the Robert Burns Lodge , " by Bro . II . C . DrinkAvater ; "The Caledonian Lodge and the Kindred Lodges of Manchester , " by the Chairman ; "The Newly-Initiated Brethren , " by Bro . J . L . Hine ; "The Masonic Charities , " by the Chairman ; "The Visiting Brethren , " by Bro . J . E . Heaps ; " The Ladies . " The musical arrangements , hoth at the Town Hall and Clarence Hotel , were conducted by Mr . Thomas Rawson , and gave the greatest satisfaction .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER . The following is the Report of the Committee of General Purposes to be presented to the Supreme Grand Chapter on AVednesday next : — The Committee of General Purposes beg to report that they have examined the accounts from the 20 th January to the 19 th April , 1864 , both inclusive , which they find to be as follows : — To Balance 20 th January £ 257 15 4 To Subsequent Receipts 263 4 0

£ 520 19 4 By Disbursements during the Quarter ... 135 7 0 By Balance 385 12 4 £ 520 19 4 which balance is in the hands of Messrs . AViilis , Percival , and Co ., Bankers of the Grand Treasurer .

The Committee have also to report that , in pursuance of the Resolution of the Supreme Grand Chapter , they have embodied in the Regulations all the alterations in , ancl additions to , the same Avhich have been made from time to time by the Grand Chapter subsequent to the issue of the last edition . They have also in several places transposed paragraphs , and have

introduced some few mere verbal alterations in order to render the sense more clear . The Committee have also to report that they have received the following petitions for new chapters , viz : — 1 . From Comps . Charles James Banister , as Z ., Frederick AVilliams Hayward , as H , Thomas Blacklock , as J ., ancl twelve

others , for a chapter to be attached to the Union Lodge ( No . 310 ) , Carlisle , to he called the " Union Chapter , " to meet at the Masonic-rooms , Barwise Court , Carlisle , on the last Monday in the months of March , June , September , and December in each year . 2 . From Comps . Charles Reynolds Rowe as Z , AVilliam Low

as H , Benjamin John Kerridge as J , and six others , for a chapter to be attached to the Lodge of St . Cuthberga ( No . 622 ) , AVimborne , Dorsetshire , to he called the " Saint Cuthberga Chapter , " to meet at the Crown Hotel , Wimborne , on the second Monday in the months of January , April , July , and October in each year .

3 . From Comps . Thomas James as Z , Horton Yates as H , Michael Arthur Bass as J , and six others , for a chapter to he attached to the Abbey Loclge ( No . 634 ) , Burton-on-Trent , in the county of Stafford , to be called the "Abbey Chapter , " to meet at the board-room of the Burton Brewery Company , at Burton-on-Trent , on the Tuesday on or before the new moon in the months of April , September , and January in each year .

These Petitions being in all respects regular , the Committee recommend that the prayers thereof be respectively granted . They have also received a petition from Companions Henry AVardle as Z ., Henry Naylor Bates as II ., James Daniel Gates as J ., and six others , for a Chapter to be attached to the St . James's Lodge ( No . 448 ) Halifax , Yorkshire , to be called the

" Chapter of Regularity , " to meet at the Talbot Hotel , Halifax , on the Monday on or after the new moon . This Petition is properly signed and recommended by the Grand Superintendent of Yorkshire , but being unaccompanied Avith the formal sanction of the St . James' Lodge , your Committee recommend that the prayer of the Petitioners be granted ,

subject to the consent of the Lodge being obtained . The Committee have further to report that much inconvenience heing experienced in having the services of one Clerk only available for entering returns , making out Royal Arch