Provincial.

which proved to be unanimously iu his favour . Mr . Stevenson was then duly and in a most impressive manner initiated by the W . M ., the charge being delivered b y the J . W ., Bro . John Bowes . A Grand Lodge Certificate was delivered to Bro . Blackhurst . The W . M . announced the receipt of a Grand Lodge summons . Nothing further being proposed for the good of Masonry in general , or the Lodge of Lights in particular , the lodge was duly closed at S" 30 , anil the brethren adjourned for refreshment .

SURREY . CBOYDOX . —Concord Lodge of Instruction ( No . GSO ) . — The success which has attended this lodge has been so great that since the 13 th March , the meetings have taken place weekly instead of fortnightly , as heretofore—and will continue to meet every Friday evening , at 7 - 30 p . m ., at Bro . Clemishjiw ' s Railway Hotel , Addiscombe-road ,. Croydon , and is deserving of the support of the neihbouring brethren . We have much

g pleasure in making this announcement , as the exertions of the Hon . Sec , and one or two of the brethren connected with it have been indefatigable to bring about this' happy result . REIO-ATE . —Surrey Lodge ( 603 ) . —The members of this lodge held their quarterly meeting on Saturday , the 16 th inst ., at the new public hall , under the presidency of Bro . Lees , AV . M ., who was assisted b y his officers , Bros . Carruthers , S . W . ; C . J . Smith ,

J . W . ; Lainson , S . D . ; Harris , J . D . ; Sargant , I . G . ; I . Llewellyn Evans , President of the Board of General Purposes , P . M . ; and others . _ The Visitors were Bros . Farley , 1011 , and R . A . W . Iver . The lodge having been opened in due form , Bro . Home , of Horshem , Sussex , was elected a joining member . A ballot having been taken for Mr . Edward Thnrnam , of Reigate , he was duly initiated into Freemasonry . The lodge was then opened

in the second degree , and Bro . Goldsmith was passed to the degree of a F . C ., and Bro . Lintott raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason . The lodge was then resumed in the first degree , and the W . M . delivered to the initiate , Bro . Thnrnam , in an impressive manner , the charge to an Entered Apprentice , and in reporting these proceedings we must notice the excellent working of the WMin the ceremonies of the three d

.. egrees , for , although but a young Mason , he went through the different degrees with a correctness and precision , at the same time in a forcible manner , also bring out in their fullest character the several beauties of the system which inform the understanding and improve the heart . A ballot was also taken for Treasurer , when Bro . Peter Martin , who for many seasons bad so ably filled that officerequested to retireand Bro . Morrison was

, , elected in his place . Some routine business was then gone through , and the lodge was closed until the banquet , when tho usual Masonic toasts were given , that of the W . M . being received with much enthusiasm , and the health of the newl y initiated brother was given in the usual Masonic manner , being a pleasant and profitable evenine : spent .

WARWICKSHIRE . CONSECEATION OP TnE BEDFORD LODGE ( NO . 1227 ) or FESE AND ACCEPTED MASONS . On Wednesday , May 20 th , this lodge , consisting of about forty members , was consecrated at the Masonic Booms , New Hall-street , Birmingham , in the presence of the R . W . Lord Leigh , Prov . G . M . ; W . Bro . Chas W . Elkington , Prov . G . S . B ., D . Prov . G . M . ; and the following amongst nearlone hundred

y brethren -. —Bros . Revs . W . K . IS . Bedford , Prov . G . Chap . ; H . Falkner and Jos . Ray , G . Chaps . ; Rev . E . H . Kittoo , Rev . W . H . Bramwell Smith , Captain Clark , Prov . G . M . Victoria ; Jas . Stimpson , G . O . ; Rev . J . II . Layton , Dr . Burton , D . Prov . G . M . Staffordshire ; Colonel Mason , Captain Briggs , Captain Hebbert , Sir John Ratcliff , Knight ; J . C . Cohen , Lewis Cohen , Machin , E . A . Lingard , J . H . Bedford , Hudson , Empson , G . Wyman ,

Purvall , C . Read , Astley , Weiss , G . Jones , Thos . Jainer , John Beresford , W . M . ( Bedford , 1227 ); F . D . Durham , S . W . ; E . Davies , J . W . ; Ed . Worrall , Sec ; and Petty , Wright , Hiue , and Marsh , from Lancashire , & c . The brethren having assembled in an adjoining room , a procession was formed , and moved into the ball , the organ pealing forth its solemn music . The W . Bro . Chas . W . Elkington

, P . G . S . B ., D . Prov . G . M ., presided , and performed the consecration service , assisted by the Rev . Jos . Ray and II . Falkener , Prov . G . Chaps . ; Bro . Captain Briggs acting as D . C . The IV . Bro . W . K . R . Bedford delivered the oration , Bros . Stockley and Baker presided at the organ , and conducted the excellent Masonic choir . A more beautiful ceremony it would be impossible to witness , and the order and admirable arrangement

of the proceedings were the thorns of universal praise . Upon the conclusion of the service , Bro . Beresford , W . M ., initiated a candidate into the Order , the work being excellently done . TnE BANQUET . At its conclusion the brethren , to the number of 100 , adjourned to the Royal Hotel , where a sumptuous banquet had been prepared by command of the brethren of the Bedford Lodge . The W . M ., Bro . Lord Beresford , presided , supported on

his right by the Rt . Hon . Bro . Lord Leigh , Prov . G . M ., W . Bros . Chas . W . Elkington , Rev . Faulkener II . Kittoe , & e . Upon the entree of dessert the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were drunfc with Masonic honours , after which the " Health of Lord Leigli " was proposed from the chair , and enthusiastically , responded to . Lord LEIGH , in reply , rose and said , —Brethren , it has given me sincere pleasure to have been present this day at the Consecration of the Bedford Lodgeand to have watched the highly

, satisfactory manner in which the Masonic duties therewith connected have been performed ( cheers ) . I attribute that in no small measure to the voluntary principle upon which all the institutions of our brotherhood are founded . Distinguished as we are from the outer world by mysteries and signs , it is pleasing to know that these arc never communicated , excepting to those who earnestly seek them of their own free will and accord ( cheers ) . TherebI believe a zeal and devotedness to Masonry

y has been created and fostered among the fraternity Avhich hasborne its legitimate fruit in the perfection of our discipline , the enlargement of our borders , and the exercising ourselves in works of charity which have gained for our Ordeca distinctive renown in this country of charitable institutions . Even in your own town of Birmingham I should not wish to select a better proof of the voluntary principle than the singular success which has attended its working in connection with that freest of all

institutions , Freemasonry . Without adverting to the large sums of money which you have annually assisted me in transferring to Grand Lodge for the benefit of the aged and infirm , and the" orphans of deceased Masons , I may instance the singular readiness with which the great proportion of you voluntarily undertake and efficiently discharge the most arduous duties of the Craft , duties in which the will constitutes the only true and effective weapon of success . When I consider that the numerous

lodges over which I have the honour to preside are composed for the chief part of brethren deeply immersed in professional and commercial pursuits , to whom time is of the highest value , I have cause to wonder at their regularity and efficiency in lodge , and have reason to congratulate myself upon the existence of that voluntary principle which gives play to the better feelings of human nature , and encourages a generous spirit of emulation among the several lodges and their individual

members . Its fruits are conspicuous even to the uninitiated . Many of the most influential and respected of your fellow-citizens havesought admission to the privileges and responsibilities of our brotherhood , and the number of these is continually increasing . In Avitness of this I have only to remind you of the large number of lodges I have already consecrated in Birmingham during the short period that I have presided over you , and the very

considerable number of brethren which these and the more ancient lodges enroll . But it is to the voluntary , principle , as a weapon of defence as well as an instrument for fostering the moral and social virtues , that I would also allude ; and I am induced the more directly to refer to it upon this occasion , because my attention lias so lately been fixed upon scenes in which its direct antagonistic , the principle of force , is sedulously cultivated .

Pleased , indeed , I am to know that no man in England depends for the security of his hearth and the independence of his home upon the forced services of an unwilling defender , but that whoever handles the sword in our native land , does so of his own free will and accord . ( Cheers ) In this the military power of England contrasts favourably with that of other nations . If there is one feeling more than another which is calculated to

weld the armies of England into one , and animate them with a common esprit de corps , it is the consciousness which every enrolled soldier possesses , whether in the regular army , the militia , or the Volunteers , that his services have been freely and voluntarily offered . No conscription has been used , no intimidation attempted . It is not so in other countries . During my recent sojourn in France it was my melancholy lot to witness a

most distressing instance of the manner in which the conscription works in that country . A poor widow , having an only son , upon whose exertions she was dependent for her livelihood , beheld him suddenly snatched from her by the merciless arm of the law , and ordered to Algeria . In the agony of her miud sha