Provincial.

in the lodge at Calne , but wishing to sec one at home he became the promoter , with the AV . M ., of their lodge . Although the credit of its success had been given to him , he could not claim it for their prosperous state must be attributed to a proper sense of economy , and if they had subscribed to each of the charities it , was only their bounden duty . If he gave satisfaction to the brethren all he asked in return was a regular attendance . ( Hear

, hear . ) He thanked them for the compliment and resumed his seat . The Tylers toast brought this very successful meeting to a close and the brethren separated , expressing their intention to support their AV . M . during his year of office , and he , on his part , promising to do his best to attend to his duties and afvovd them instruction . There was some very good singing by Bro . Gibbs , S . W ., the AA . M ., and several other brethren .

Masonic Festivities.

MASONIC FESTIVITIES .

OLD CONCOED LODGE ( NO . 201 . )—The Annual Ball of this lodge was held at the Queen's Concert-rooms , Hanovev-scpiare , en Tuesday , Januaiy 20 . The promoters of this ball have invariably since its establishment been successful in obtaining the patronage of their friends , and the numerous and fashionable company who attended on this occasion must have completely satisfied the most exacting . AVhen the supper-rooms were thrown open , nearly three hundred and fifty ladies and

gentlemen were present . The supper was well served by Mr . Withers , and the wines of Bro . Nicholson gave universal satisfaction . The health of the Queen and the usual loyal toasts were given by Bro . Hogg , W . M . and President , in appropriate speeches . The health of tbe President was proposed by Bro . Emmens , and warmly responded to . Bro . Emmons took occasion to remind the company that they were aiding the cause of Masonic charity , and to extol the perseverance of Bro . Hogg and the Stewards in

their efforts for the . promotion of the comfort and enjoyment of their friends on this occasion . Bro . AA aters returned thanks for the ladies in a most humourous speech , aud at its close was loudly applauded . The company then returned to the ballroom , anel the dancing was resumed aud continued until a late hour in the morning . The exertions of Bro . Taylor , as M . C ., contributed materially to the enjoyment of the company , nor must we forget to mention the excellent band of Bro . Bradley .

The Board of Stewards , consisting of Bros . Hogg , President , Waters , A . P ., Nicholson , Davis , Corben , Green , Dixon , Sallust , King , Perkins , Botting , and Bro . John Emmens , Hon . Sec , carried out all the arrangements for the reception of the commany to perfection . AVe are happy to add that a surplus repains to he devoted to Masonic charity .

Scotland.

SCOTLAND .

From Our Oion Correspondent . AEDEOSSAN AND SALTCOATS ST . JOHN ' S ROYAL AECH , NO . 320 . —The Masonic festivities of the season are now being brought to a termination , anel the guardians of the middle chamber preparing to resume their places at the foot of the winding stairs . AVe paid a visit on Thursday night , the 22 nd

inst ., to Ardrossan , personally to thank the brethren of No 320 for the spont . iniety and unanimity with which they had , in conferring upon us the rank of H . M ., added another to the numerous clasps which already adorn our masonic cordon . Ardrossan and Saltcoats Royal Arch , amongst the youngest in Ayrshire of Mother Kilwinning's grand-daughters , was ushered into existence in 1 S 26—the year in which the British nation was called upon to mourn the loss of tlie Marquis of Hastings ,

who died at Malta , after a career of pre-eminent success in the service of his country as a statesman and a warrior , —and in whose removal from the level of time to' the celestial lodge above the brethren in this and the sister kingdom were also deprived of the counsel and active masonic service of a most illustrous member of the Order . From this landmark , then , it was that the lodge No . 320 joined the mystic procession which has for these five thousand years been threading its way through the different tribes of men religiously believing in the existence of the G . A . 0 . T . U . ; and ever since has it held on

its way in a manner creditable alike to its sons and to the province in which its labours are more immediately directed . Pitching its tent upon the seaboard of its island home , the Ardrossan lodge has had assigned to it a place in the masonic economy of no inconsiderable honour and responsibility ; nor have its sons failed to take tlie fullest legitimate advantage of that position . The light shining in the E . of their ? has with a talismanic influence drawn from almost every point of

thecom-_ pass novitiates who carry forth with them to the most distant regions of the earth the tangible memorials of the mystic science acquired by them in the sanctum of their mother lodge . AVe never look upon the promontory of Ardrossan from our every-day standpoint without our mind reverting to the period of the Commonwealth—when the citadel of Ayr was in the hands of Cromwell ' s soldiers , the church of the Lord turned

into a garrison , and the walls of the ancient Castle of Ardrossan thrown down and the stones carried over sea in boats for the purpose of being employed in the fortifications erected by the Puritan General at the mouth of the river Ayr . The ruins of this memento of Oliver Cromwell ' s visit to Ayr are gradually disappearing before the march of modern improvement , still the Mark M . M . ' s of the Ardrossan Lodge could , were they so inclined , find enough left of the ashlars so ruthlessly abstracted from tho now ruined stroneholcl of the collateral ancestors of the

Eglinton family , upon which to exercise their lore in the theorems of the fourth degree of Craft Masonry . Sometime ago we endeavoured to decip her some of the marks still traceable upon the stones in the wall of the bastion occupying tbe northeastern angle of the Fort . Of the number examined , the blind or E . \ A / , mark predominate ; but whether engraved hy the chisel of the operative in the pay of the Usurper , or made by that of the Craftsman who prepared the stone for its oriinal lace in the

g p ^ Castle of Ardrossan is matter of speculation . But lest we lose ourselves in the labyrinth of the past , we gladly respond to the call from the Ss . and g ird ourselves for the festivities of the evenings The brethren having in great strength met in their lodge room , proceeded to the Town-hall , iu order to afford the necessary accommodation to the members of other lodges coming from a distance . The hall was gaily decorated with Masonic and naval

flags . Precisely at seven o'clock , in the absence , from indisposition , of the E . AY . M . ( Bro . M'Leod ) , Bro . John Paterson , the Chaplain of the lodge , was called on to preside . He was well supported by a most effective band of Gibalimites , by whose skill many a rough ashlar has been squared and fashioned for the builcler ' s use in the construction of the " great moral edifice of our minds . " In the instruction of the seafearing neophyte , would that the following charge were ever present to the minds of those ruling in lodges frequented by the hardy , yet too often thoughtless , sons of Neptune : —

" Tell him of that home celestial , AVhose bright doors ere long shall ope—Point him , ' mid the storms terrestrial , To the soul ' s sure anchor , HOPE . " Chief among the occupants of the dais , in point of Masonic experience , were Bros . J . F . Love and Robert Boyd , Past Masters of the lodge ; while Bros . Emslie and Robertson represented

the section of brethren in whom its hopes are centered as successors in office to those who have so worthily and so long borne the heat aud burden of the day in the field of Masonic labour . It must have been gratifying to the members of No . 320 to receive the countenance of so many of the sister lodges as passed through the adjacent on this the occasion of their annual banquet . These were—Mother Kilwinning , led by their veteran

Depute , Bro . Hugh Conn , accompanied by Bros . D . Murray Lyon ( one of her representatives in the Grand Lodge ) , Dr . Andrew , and AA m . Kennedy ; Irvine St . Andrew , led by Bro . Campbell ; Stevenston Thistle and Rose , by Bro . Lockhart ; Largs St . John , by Bro . Glen ; Blair Dairy , ' by Bro . David Brown ; West Kilbride , by Bro . Robertson : Bro . Halkett , of the Eoyal Bank of Scotland , representing his mother lodge , Cumberland

Kilwinning . The brethren ruling in the S . J . AA . were Bros . Robertson and Barclay , aud so long as they retain their seats at the base of the Doric and Ionic columns respectively , no 320 will never lack strength to support , or beauty to adorn the lodge congregating under her charter , 'i'he preliminaries disposed , and when the last of the long train of visitors had traversed the angular approaches to the E ., and the lodge being close-tyled , the business proper of the evening was inaugurated hy the delivery of a short address from the Orient , which for terseness of language ahd depth of pure