Provincial Lodges.

"The Wigton Loclge , No , 409 , " though not the first Lodge in the Province as regarded numbers , was certainly the first in the province in respect of Masonic lore . It also set the other Lodges of the province an example , inasmuch as the members subscribed to the whole of the Masonic charities . Br . Roper , W . M . of the Wigton Lodge , was proud to meet such a body of men on the present occasion . It was the best Prov . Loclge that had ever been held . Although the Wigton Lodge was small in numbers , they subscribed to all tho

Masonic charities , and he hoped the example set by them would be followed by all the other Lodges in the province . The D . P . G . M . said , that in his present capacity , he might be allowed to divest himself for a moment of his connection as a member with the Lodge he was about to propose . It was " The Master and Brethren of the Lodge of Unanimity , No . 424 . " He could assure the brethren that a more honourable and worthy body of Masons could not be met with , and he had no doubt but the brethren would assist him in

doing honour to them . Br Walker , W . M ., of No . 424 , begged to return thanks on behalf of himself and the brethren of his Lodge , for the very flattering terms in which No . 424 had just been introduced , and for the kind manner in which the toast had been received by so large an assemblage of Cumbrian . Masons . He saw around him many distinguished brethren , who would have been much more able than himself to respond to the toast . He had only known the Lodge of Unanimity since 1848 , in which year he became a Mason , but this he would say , that the affairs of the Lodge were now in a much more flourishing condition than when he became a member ; they had improved not only in numbers , but in funds , and everything else likely to conduce to their

permanent well-being ; and for this prosperity , which he believed was unparalleled in the annals of the Lodge of Unanimity , they were chiefly indebted to the indefatigable exertions of a worthy member of that Lodge , whose zeal in promoting the welfare of Freemasonry was beyond all praise , and that brother was none other than the D . P . G . M ., Br . Greaves . It had been remarked , and very properly , that tho Wigton Lodge was the only one in the province which subscribed to all the Masonic charities , and it was his duty to inform the brethren that the subject had been discussed in the Lodge of Unanimit

y , and he believed it was the intention of that Lodge to imitate the noble example of their brethren at Wigton . ( Hear , hear ) . Next followed "The Master and Brethren of the Longtown Loclge , No . 595 . " The Longtown Loclge , and especially Br . Foster , had never failed to pat in an ap . pearance at their Prov . G . L . meeting . Br . Foster responded . He had great pleasure in forming a part of so numerous an assemblage ; many brethren from Longtown would have been present on that

occasion , bad they not been particularly engaged . The D . P . G . M ., in proposing "The Victoria Lodge , Carlisle , " said , though not numerous , he hoped they would ere long become so , so that each year might add to their prosperity . Br . Bell , W . M . of the Victoria , hoped that next year they would be able to muster in larger numbers ; for his part—and he was sure he might say the same on behalf of the brethren of the Victoria—he should always be happy to clo all in his power for the benefit of the Craft , calculated as it was to confer great benefits on all who ranged themselves under its banners . The parting toast having been given , the meeting broke up .

DEVONSHIRE

ST . JOHN THE BAPTIST LODGE , PLYMOUTH ( NO . 83 ) . —The brethren assembled at their usual monthly meeting on Tuesday , Sept . 4 . There was a large show of business on the summons , but none of the candidates for the various degrees were in attendance , consequently nothing but the routine business of the Lodge was accomplished . We regret , that when brethren are prevented from attending punctually , they do not apprize the W . M . of the fact . Were they to use this courtesy , which " is certainl y due from gentlemen , much unnecessary delay and disappointment would be obviated . On Tuesday , October 2 nd , the Lodge again met , and as in the last