Provincial Lodges.

i-aisnig Br . G . Thornton to the degree of a Master Mason , when he acquitted himself m such a manner as would haA'e clone credit to a Mason of twenty years standing , calling forth the warmest congratulation of several able and experienced P . M . 's , AVIIO were present during the ceremony , as well as the whole of the brethren in the Lodge . The W . M . then left the chair , which was afterwards taken by Br . W . Hill , of the Lod ge of Lo 3 * alty , No . 402 . He proceeded to instal Br . John Merrill , W . M . for the ensuing year . Br . Merrill haA-ing named his principal officers , Br . Hill proceeded to

invest Bros . R . S . North , S . W . ; G . Whyatt , j . W . ; W . Turnbull , Treas . ; R . Andrew , Sec , & c , & c . The installation was gone through in Br . Hill ' s usual correct manner , rivetting the attention of the brethren to the interesting ceremony . The Lodge was then formally closed , and the meeting adjourned to the 17 th inst ,, when the brethren again assembled to eelebiate the festival of St . John . The W . M . authorised the banquet to be held in open Lodge , ancl it was served by Br . Hammond in his well-known style of elegance . It consisted of almost delicacy

every in season , to which the brethren did ample justice . After the cloth was drawn , and the usual loyal ancl other toasts had been gh-en , and duly responded to , the W . M . called upon the S . W ., Br . North , for the next toast . The S . AV . rose aud said , the W . M . had given him a very pleasing task to perform , but one which he regretted had not fallen into more able hands . He would , however , endeavour to be brief , and to the point . After giving the health of the immediate P . M ., Br . T . Swindells , ancl eulogising his conduct as Master during the past year , he spoke highly of his

unwearied diligence , and attention to the interests to the Lodge , which , together with his correct knowledge of working , ancl his general Masonic and obliging demeanour had endeared him to all the members of the Lodge . He then drew from his pocket a . handsome Morocco case containing a splendid gold P . M . 's jewel , beautifully set with brilliants , which contained on the back the following inscription : — " Presented to Bv . T . Swindells , by the Brethren of the Lodge of Faith , No . 847 , as a small token of respect for his valuable service , Jan . 17 , 1855 , " Br . North then presented the jewel to Br . Swindells hoping he might long be spared to Avear it . Br . Swindells ,

after a brief interval , rose , and appeared deeply affected , having been kept in utter ignorance of the testimonial being in contemplation until the A'ery moment of its presentation . He cordially thanked the brethren , and said their kindness had almost deprived him of utterance . After alluding to several interesting topics which had occurred during his Mastership , he concluded a very impressive and appropriate Speech by again thanking them for the A'ery handsome token they had been pleased to present to him , and said , if it pleased the G . A . O . T . U . to spare him , their kindness

would stimulate him to further exertions in the good cause . After several a-Dpropriate songs and toasts had succeeded each other , tiie W . M . called upon the brethren to fill bumpers . He then gave the healths of the visiting brethren , with Masonic honours . Br . C . Ellis , the W . M . of the Caledonian Lodge , No . 240 , Manchester , responded , and stated he always felt a great degree of pleasure iu visiting the Lodge of Faith , from the agreeable and uniform kindness of its members , and concluded a neat speech by hoping that himself and the other visitors would have many more

opportunities of visiting the Lodge . Br . Baldwin , Secretary for the Caledonian Lodge , No . 24 G , Manchester , iu making allusion to the Masonic Mirror as a newly opened channel for Masonic information , took occasion to observe , that as such journals were instituted for the purpose of Masonic intercourse , it would be desirable that all the Lodges throughout the kingdom should , at least , once a year , publish a list of the names of its members , together with the names aud address of the Master and Wardens of each Lodge , for the information of brethren like himself , who had to travel from to town

city , and from town to city , during the greatest part of the year . They would then have much greater facilities of meeting with their brethren in almost every town in the kingdom , where they might exchange those Masonic greetings and sentiments of friendship , which might be productive of a great amount of good to the brethren and the Craft . Br . Tomlinson of the same Lodge , followed and made some suitable remarks on the same subject , and stating that the Masonic Pocket Book was not explicit in these matters . Several other toasts were given and most ably responded to by the W . M ., by the Wardens and