Provincial.

P . P . G . Treas . had consented to perform tho installation ceremony . This his Worship did iu a most impressive manner , and at its conclusion the new W . M . Bro . William Bacon appointed and invested his Officers . A letter was received from Bro . R . D . Poppleton P . M . P . P . G . D ., regretting his inability to be present , and suggesting that as he was going

abroad for some months the Brethren should elect another member to represent the Lodge on the Essex Provincial Charity Committee , an oflice he had held for somo years . The members , however , unanimously decided to re-elect Bro . Poppleton , the Secretary Bro . Wiseman undertaking to attend any meeting of the Charity Committee that might take place before that Brother ' s return .

A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Bro . Claude E . Egerton-Green for his great kindness in attending , notwithstanding the many calls upon his time as Mayor of Colchester . His Worship gracefully acknowledged the vote , remarking that he took a veryt great interest in Freemasonry , and was pleased to do anything in his power for the benefit of the Craft . Between forty and fifty Brethren afterwards dined at the Swan Hotel , the arrangements made by the new host giving every satisfaction .

FIDELITY LODGE , No . 445 . THE annual festival was celebrated at Towcester , on Friday , lst inst ., when the new Master Bro . Howard Packer was installed . The Lodge was opened at the Lodge Room at the Pomfret Arms Hotel , by Bro . H . W . Giles W . M .

The installation ceremony was ably performed by Bro . Dr . Knight , after whioh the W . M .-elect appointed and invested his Officers for the ensuing year . The new W . M . received hearty congratulations from the Brethren

representing other Lodges . Subsequently a banquet was held at the Pomfret Hotel , the catering of Host O . Browning being most admirable . The W . M . gave the usual Masonic toasts .

Bro . Dr . Knight gave the W . M . of the Lodge of Fidelity , and highly eulogised the modesty and conscientiousness of the new head of the Lodge . Bro . Packer had many of the qualities which went to the making of a good Freemason ; and no effort would be wanting on his part to carry out the work of the Lodge honourably and creditably . He asked for tho support of members of the Lodge for the new Master .

The W . M ., in the course of a brief and modest reply , said he felt that the responsibility of the office was very great , but he was firmly resolved to do all in his power to carry out the responsibility . He looked back at a long line of excellent predecessors in the chair , and he would strive to follow worthily in their footsteps .

CORNUBIAN LODGE , No . 450 . AT the regular meeting , held at the Freemasons' Hall , Hayle , Bro . J . M . Nicholls was unanimously elected to the position of Master for the ensuing year , while Bro . F . Harvey P . P . G . S . W . again received the suffrages of the Lodge as Treasurer , a position he has held for upwards of a quarter of a century .

o o o DEVONSHIRE LODGE , No . 625 . THE members celebrated their annual festival of St . John on Thursday , Tth inst ., at the Masonic Hall , Glossop . In the afternoon , at 2-45 , thoy assembled in the Council Chamber at the

Town Hall , which has temporarily been transformed into a Lodge Room The first business was tho initiation of a candidate , Mr . Francis G . Knowles , solicitor , the ceremony being performed by the Worshipful Master Bro . Wm , H . Irlam .

Afterwards the ceremony of installation of the W . M .-elect for the ensuing year ( Bro . Thomas Kamester ) took place . The Installing Master was Bro . Thomas S . Bowden P . P . J . G . W ., who was assisted b y several Past Masters .

The accounts were read and passed , showing a very favourable balance . Tho Brethren afterwards adjourned to their own quarters at the Masonic Hall , where a sumptuous dinner awaited them . The usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were honoured .

RYDE LODGE , No . 698 . BRO . K . W . INGLEBY MACKENZIE was installed W . M . on Friday , lst inst ., at the Masonio Hall , Ryde , Isle of Wight ; Bro . F . Newman being the Installing Officer . The Brethren afterwards dined together at the Royal Pier Hotel . o o o

PELHAM PILLAR LODGE , No . 792 . THE thirty-seventh anniversary took place at the Masonic Hall , Grimsby , when Brother F . Barrett P . M . Prov . G . Assistant Secretary opened the proceedings at 2 30 p . m ., supported by the Earl of Yarborough Provincial

Grand Master of Lincolnshire P . G . S . W . of England , several Past Provincial Grand Officers , and a very large gathering of Brethren , for the purpose of installing the W . M . for tho ensuing year .

Bro . Morton P . M . P . P . G . Swd . B . acted as Installing Master , and regularly inducted Bro . Charles Maddison . After the ceremony the Brethren adjourned to the lower room , where the

Installation banquet was served under the direct supervision of the T yler Bro . Martin and Mrs . Martin . This is the first year that the banquet was held in the Masonic Rooms , and passed off with great credit to all those in charge .

HARTINGTON LODGE , No . 916 . THE installation took place at the Queen's Hotel , Eastbourne , on the 8 th inst ., when Bro . Henry Colegate , M . D ., was installed as Master by his predecessor in office , Bro . H . Benson . Afterwards about forty Brethren sat clown to the banquet , at which the pew Master presided .

Provincial.

KINGSTON LODGE , No . 1010 . ON the Oth inst ., Bro . Captain Charles Judge , V . D ., Senior Warden , wa unanimously elected a ; Worshipful Alaster of the Lodge , which assembled at the Masonic Hall , Kingston Square , Hull .

Brn . Judge , in acknowledging tho compliment and high honour which the Brethren had paid him in electing him to the highest position in his Mother Lodge , assured the members that he would uphold the distinguished position with Masonic dignity , exhibit true Brotherly feeling to all , and contribute as far as possible to the prosperity of the Lodge .

HUYSHE LODGE , No . 1099 . THE annual meeting was held at Home Park , Stoke , on Thursday , 14 th inst ., when Bro . G . F . Miller was installed W . M . for the ensuing year . The ceremony of installation was ably performed by Bro . S . Fry , in the presence of a large Board of Installed Masters .

ALNWICK LODGE , No . 1167 . THE annual installation took placo on Wednesday , 6 th inst ., at the Freemasons' Hall , Prudhoe Street , Alnwick . The ceremony of installing Brother James Phillips as Worshipful Master for the ensuing year was ably performed by Bro . R . A . Holt I . P . M . At the conclusion of the ceremony an interesting event took place in the

presentation to Bro . G . Simpson of a valuable gold jewel and a silver snuff box , bearing a suitable inscription , in recognition of his services as Treasurer eo long and faithfully rendered to the Lodge ; also a brooch for Mrs . Simpson . In very felicitous terms Brother R . A . Holt I . P . M . made the presentations , which Bro . G . Simpson accepted and feelingly acknowledged .

The Brethren afterwards sat down to a banquet at the Star Hotel , catered by Brother Thomas Home , at which the newly-installed Master agreeably presided .

u o o WAVERLEY LODGE , No . 1322 . . r * nHE twenty-fifth anniversary of this Lodge was celebrated at the Queen ' s I Arms Hotel , George Street , Ashton-under Lyne , on Thursday , 31 st ult . and that festival which the Bretons are pleased to call " Monsieur St . Jean " passed off with an amount of success which was gratifying to all concerned . The meeting had been summoned for a very early hour , and no time was lost in getting to the principal business of the day , the installation into the chair of King Solomon of Brother Walter Rawlinson S . W .

A Board of Installed Masters was formed as follows : —Bros . J . Mercer Jones Installing W . M , Walter Newton P . P . J . G . D . as S . W ., John Smith P . P . J . G . D . as J . W ., G . W . Davies as I . G . Brother Wright Wood P . M . Installing Deacon presented Brother Rawlinson to receive the benefits of installation , the Working Tools in each degree being explained by Brother Newton , whilst the investitures of the Officers was undertaken by Brother J . Smith P . P . J . G . D . who made a special feature of pointing out to the members

the useful work performed by Bro . Newton during his fifteen years service in the Lodge . The following is a list of Officers who will support Brother Rawlinson during his term of Mastership : Bros . Albert Sumner I . P . M ., Samuel Grundy Senior Warden , Montgomery Newman Junior Warden , Walter Newton P . M . P . P . J . G . D . Treasurer and D . C ., Walter Eastwood P . M . P . P . G . S . Sec , J . Mercer Jones P . M . Assistant D . C , Enos Andrew P . P . G . O . ( C . ) Organist and Musical Director , Alfred Cooper S . D ., James Travis J . D ., Tom Ogden I . G ., Robert Wood and G . W . Davies Stewards , Daniel Birkby Tyler .

The addresses to the W . M ., Wardens , and Brethren generally were given by Bro . Walter Eastwood P . P . G . S . From beginning to the end , the work of installation was performed with commendable evenness , and a careful preparation was evidenced by the almost imperceptible fluctuations in excellence displayed through the ceremony .

A choice banquet had been provided , to which the Brethren afterwards sat down . During its progress Bro . Wright Wood P . M ., by request of the W . M ., proposed the health of Brother Walter Newton P . M . P . P . J . G . D . in eulogistic and grac -ful terms , referring to him as the " Schoolmaster , Treasurer , and Father of the Lodge , " having been one of its founders and an active worker since its consecration 25 years ago . He must admit that

Brother Newton had been an excellent father , and if they could only act according to his precepts they would become worthy sons of a worthy sire . In the V / averley Lodge he had held the position of Treasur r for a period of fifteen years in succession and during that time ho had a ^ so worthily held offices in other Lodges . That night he ( Brother Wood ) departed from the ordinary routine to pay a special compliment to him on account of those

services which ought not to go unrequited . As a citizen aud townsman , and member of that Lodge , he had been connected with Bro . Newton for many years , and it was with the greatest possible pleasure that he performed the task which had been assigned to him . On behalf of the members he presented to Bro . Newton a combined Past Master ' s and Treasurer ' s jewel of solid gold , of beautiful design , and of exquisite workmanship , upon which was engraved this inscription : —

Presented to " ** BKO . WALTER NEWTON P . M . P . P . J . G . D ., by the Brethren , as a mark of their esteem for services rendered as Treasurer for fifteen years in succession , and in commemoration of the 25 th anniversary of the Lodge . 31 st October 1895 .

Bro . Wood concluded by saying that he had often seen Brother Newton with a multiplicity of jewels , which were doubtless valuable , but he hoped that the one presented that night would be considered equally as valuable as any of the others . Bro . Samuel Grundy S . W . supported the last speaker on behalf of the junior Officers and Brethren of the Lodge , and expressed the gratification

which he had derived from association with Bro . Newton , who was a guide , philosopher , and friend to all young Masons , and one to whom they might in case of requirement appeal , with the safe assurance that their confidence would never be betrayed . The speaker said that he had spent many happy hours in the Lodge , but upon none should lie look back with a greater degree

oi pleasure than the present evening , which he described as their silver wedding . Bro . Newton had stood loyal to the Lodge in its many trials and vicissitudes , and through his efforts they had happily surmounted them Bro . Newton was a worker in the Craft of the highest eminence , as had been recognised by Visiting Brethren , and his urbanity and geniality had endeared