Provincial.

districts . Bro . Hardy , P . M . and Bro . Richards , S . W ., of the parent lodge , who are well known iu the Craft as most efficient Masons , are indefatigable in their exertions to establish the proposed lodge of instruction , aud with such excellent support it is to be hoped that its success will be as complete and perfect as that of the parent lodge . SOUTH WALES ( EASTERN DIVISION ) .

PHIIANTHEOEIC LODGE ( NO . 818 ) . —The members of the Craft had a pleasant reunion at Abergavenny , in the province of Monmouth , on Friday week , to celebrate the installation of Bro . William Charles Freeman , S . W ., in tbe chair of the above . The brethren assembled at the Masonic Hall at high noon , and tiie ceremony was performed in ancient and solemn manner by Bro . Henry Bridges , D . Prov . G . M . for Somerset . The gathering was distinguished by the presence of an

unusually large number Of Past Masters , namely , Bros . II . Bridges , D . Prov . G . xM . of Somerset ; J . T . Hallam , 237 ; John Maund , Prov . G . Reg . of Monmouthshire ; H . E . Sullivan , St . Tudno , Llandudno ; James Peirce , 818 ; H . J . Higginson , 818 and 41 ; W . Pickford , P . M . 471 ; W . Evans , 471 ; and Bro . Browning , 818 . There were also present Bros . J . Price , 818 ; W . Saunders , 818 ; J . W . Hands , 818 ; James Gosden , 818 ; J . H . Steel , 818 ; J . P . Meredith , 818 ; John Smith , 818 ; T . Harrhy , 818 ; — Dew , 818 ; — Rogers , 818 ; T . Map , 818 ;

J . Gwynne , 818 ; — Eames , 818 ; J . Green , 818 ; — Williams , 818 ; P . Morgan , 818 ; W . Prosser , 120 ; and — Allman , 818 . The following are the present officers of the lodge : —XV . C . Freeman , W . M . ; J . Peirce , P . M . ; H . J . Higginson , Treas . ; J . H . Steel , S . W . ; J . Gosden , J . W . ; J . S . ~ Meredith , Sec ; J . Gwynne , S . D . ; XV . J . Hands , J . D . ; T . Harrhy , I . G . ; J . Green , Tyler . Bro . Bridges performed the ceremony of installation in a

manner at once impressive and effective , dwelling with an emphasis becoming so sacred an injunction upon the high and important duties and privileges appertaining to the position of Master of a lodge . The brethren subsequently proceeded from labour to refreshment , provided by Bro . W . Saunders , florist and fruiterer of that town .

After the cloth was drawn , the W . M . gave the usual loyal toasts , followed by those of " The Earl of Zetland , G . M . of England ; " "The Earl do Gray and Ripon , D . G . M ; " and " The Officers of Grand Lodge , coupled with that of Bro . Bridges , Prov . G . S . B . and Installing Master . " Bro . BIIIDGES , in acknowledging the toast , expressed the pride , pleasure , and gratification he felt , as a member of Grand Lodaud a subscribing member of the Philanthropic

ge Lodge , Abergavenny , to he present . It was a matter for regret with Grand Lodge that it had so small a number of collars to bestow , but when we look at the strength of the Masonic body in London , and the claims it has upon tbe Grand Master , we shall no longer feel surprise that so few grand officers are found in the provinces . It was , however , the desiae of the Grand Master that they should have collars ,

and he had determined to distribute one or two each year amongst the country lodges ; but the acquisition of such honour were expensive , as the recipients must first attend Grand Lodge at least five times . As regarded bis own services , tbey bad only to command them , and lie would strive to be amongst them ; and trusting they might all live long , and day by day have the principles of Freemasonry more firmly engrafted in their hearts , he thanked the brethren

again present for the warm reception , they had given the toast . ( Cheers . ) The XV . MASTER gave "The Health of the Right Worshipful the Grand Master for the Province of Monmouth , Bro . J . W Rolls , " whom they all deeply regretted to learn was absent , through illness , from which , however , they would be delighted to know he was fast recovering . ( Cheers . ) The W . MASTEE also in flattering terms" The Health

gave , , of the D . P . G . M ., Bro . Charles Lyne , and the Officers of Prov-Grand Lodge . " ( Cheers . ) Bro . MAUND replied , and expressed a hope that at an early date the W . M . and members of Prov . G . Lodge ivould be enabled to visit the Philanthropic Lodge of Abergavenny , and thus strengthen the bonds of brotherly love that held them together . ( Cheers . ) Bro . PEIECE said he was qnite sure they would all agree in the

propriety of drinking the health of the brother whose name he was about to mention , and with him feel proud that they would have such a diligent member of the Craft to preside over them next year ( applause ); for during the time

that he ( Bro . Peirce ) filled the chair , Bro . Freeman was never once absent from his post as Senior Warden . ( Applause . ) This fact assured him that Bro . Freeman would make a good Master , and he had therefore much pleasure in submitting the toast . ( Cheers . ) Bro . FBEEMAN , the XV . M . elect , in appropriate terms acknowledged- the double honour that had been paid him—in his election to the chair , which he feared he should never

be able to fill so efficiently as his predecessor , who had taken great pains to work him up in all the degrees of a Master-Mason , and for the cordiality witli which his health had been received . He would , however , do his best to discharge the duties of his office , and , with the regular attendance and generous assistance of his officers , he hoped to give satisfaction . ( Cheers . ) Bro . BROWNING proposed "The Health of the Immediate

P . M . Bro . Peirce , " who was his successor iu office , and who discharged his duties not only Masonically correct , but in the most praiseworthy manner . ( Cheers . ) Bro . PEIECE said it was most gratifying to him to hear hisconduct spoken of in tho manner it had , but he could not forget that , without the kind and able assistance of Bro . Maund , he should not have succeeded in the manner they had given him credit for . ( Cheers . ) He trustedhoweverthat Bro .

, , Freeman would be even more successful , and that in the appointment of his officers he had chosen those who would support him better than he ( Bro . Peirce ) had been , for he unfortunately had frequently to rely upon the assistance of Rro . Higginson and one or two others . To that end his best exertions should , however , not be wanting . ( Cheers . ) The toast of " The Lodges of the Province" was acknowledged by Bro . Evans , of Newport .

The W . MASTEB said he had selected his officers from the most regular attendants of the lodge , and that he hoped they ivould always be at their posts . Bro . GOSDEN , as S . W ., returned thanks , and promised to be regular in his attendance . Bro . HIGGINSON , in eulogistic terms , gave " The Health of Bro . Pickford , the Treasurer of Grand Lodge , " than whom the Prov . G . M . had no better officer . ( Cheers . ) Bro . PICIEFOBD , in an excellent speech , returned thanks , and

then urged upon the brethren the duty of subscribing to the Masonic charities , tbe advantages of which to the widows and orphans of deceased brethren be pointed out and instanced by cases brought under his own observation , ancl in which he had secured homes for several fatherless children . ( Cheers . ) Bro . PEIECE said all would agree that , to the exertions of Bro . Maund the present position of the Philanthropic Lodge was mainly due . ( Cheers . ) From the commencement they had

been indebted to him for his assistance , not only Masonically , but in discharging the duties of absentees . ( Applause . ) Bro . MAUND said he had striven to . do bis best , but feared he had only been a loose attendant . He was , however , glad to do whatever he could for Masonry , valuing as he did more highly their good word than his purse . ( Cheers . ) It was his sincere wish that the lodge should go on prosperously , and he congratulated it upon having a larger number of past masters

present than he had ever seen at an installation . ( Cheers . ) He had to propose a toast , and it was the health of one who was the life and soul of everything he entered into , whether in Masonry , the Volunteer movement , or any public movement , viz . Bro . Higginson , whose efforts no one in Abergavenny failed to appreciate . ( Cheers . ) Bro . HIGGINSON said he was fully rewarded by their approbation for any efforts he had made to establish a lodge in

that town . He felt gratified by the success they had achieved , and of the fact that the Master just installed was initiated by him , and had worked his way up to the highest position in Craft Masonry . ( Applause . ) He was happy to say , as Treasurer , that the funds were in a more prosperous condition than they were four years ago , and that their lodge was a regular subscriber to the Masonic charities . ( Cheers . ) The W . MASTEE gave " The Health of Bro . Smith , " a regular

attendant upon the lodges of instruction , which was duly acknowledged . Bro . PEIECE proposed " The Health of Bro . Browning , " who preceded him as Master of that lodge , and who they ought not to forget worked it admirably . Bro . BEOWNING suitably replied . The W . MASTEE proposed the toast of "The Visitors , " coupled with the names of Bros . Hallam ( of Crickhowell ) and Prosser ( of Hereford ) , both of whom replied .