Provincial.

lodge and himself , in an excellent speech , proposing "The Health of the W . M . aud perpetuity to the Union Lodge . " The newly initiated , Bro . Dr . Eeeves , returned thanks for his health being so favourably received in a truly fraternal spirit , and proved to the brethren that he had thoroughly understood the ceremony he had gone through . Bro . Banister ' s health was handsomely proposed by Bro . Hayward , P . M ., and responded to by all present in such a hearty manner that proved to him

that his services and little attentions were appreciated . He rep lied in suitable terms hoping by his new connexion with the lodge 389 that he should be often with tbem , and proposed " The Officers of the Lodge . " Other toasts followed , and the harmony 0 f a happy and truly Masonic evening was brought to a close by the Tyler ' s toast .

DEVONSHIRE . D EVONPORT . —Lodge of Friendship ( No . 23 S ) . —Afc a regular lodge held on Thursday , the 26 th of February , for the purpose of raising Bro . M . Barron and passing Bro . Andrew Barron to the second degree' the lodge was , as usual , well attended and every officer in his place . The newly installed W . M . occupied the chair and opened and closed the lodge in the three degrees with great credit , being well supported by bis officers , who are

equally proficient in their work . During tbe evening Bro . Harfoot , of lodge No . 80 , very zealously and ably advocated the cause of the Boys' Schools . Bro . Binckes may well congratulate himself on having so able , efficient , and sincere a brother for a Steward ; the exertions of Bro . Harfoot in this province to raise a fund for the enlargement of the school as well as to secure the election of the son of the late Bro . Martin P . M . ( of this province ) is beyond all praise . Several

communications were read , among the many was one for the relief of the distress in Lancashire by the purchase of a piece of music ( 0 Memory ) , published at five shillings and left to the discretion of the lodge as to what amount they choose to pay for it . Ifc was unanimously agreed to pay £ 1 , tbe whole of which would be appropriated to the relief of the distress , the music being given gratuitously by the publisher . At the closing down there were three candidates proposed for initiation and five joining members , one of whom would take tbe third degree . The lodge was closed at nine and retired to refreshment , and , as is usual in this very ancient lodge , several Masonic songs were

sang ancl a very appropriate recitation by Bro . Fox , P . M . Bro . Harfoot , as a visitor , expressed himself very warmly on the usual kindness he received from Lodge Friendship and passed very high compliment on the officers generally . STONEHOUSE . — Lodge Fortitude ( No . 122 ) . — A loclge of emergency was held on Monday evening , the 2 nd inst ., to initiate Isaac Latimer , proprietor of the Western Daily Mercury ( previously balloted for ); also to ballot for Mr . Vaughan , which

proved unanimous in his favour . The gentlemen were then introduced , and initiated into the first degree of ancient Freemasonry , by Bro . Eodda , W . M ., assisted by Bros . Tripe and Thuell , S . W . On the termination of the ceremony Bro . Harfoot gave the lecture on tbe tracing board in a very able manner , and to the evident satisfaction of the brethren assembled . The lodge was closed at nine o ' clock , and the brethren adjourned to refreshment .

PLYMOUTH —St . John the BaplistLodge ( No . S 3)— -Thebrethren met for the discharge of the duties of their loclge on Tuesday evening , the 3 rd inst , under tbe Mastership ( pro . tern . ) of Bro . Harfoot . P . M . The minutes of the last regular lodge , ancl two lod ges of emergency , were confirmed ; one candidate balloted for and accepted , and two brethren were , after due examination , wised to the third degree . The lodge voted one guinea to tho Boys' and Girls' School , and Bro . Harfoot , Steward to the Boys ' School , advocated the claims of that institution , and received Me names of several donors during the evening . Several visitors were present . The lodge adjourned from labour to refreshment at 9 . 45

LANCASHIRE ( WEST ) . . LIVERPOOL . —Lodge of Instruction ( 294 ) . —The regular meetln g of this lodge was held at the Masonic Temple , Hope-street , ° n the 24 th February . Bros . Preceptor Younghusband , W . M . ; Mott , S . W . ; McGeot-ge , J . W . The lodge was opened in the iirsfc degree , and the minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed . The lodge was then opened in the second and third agrees . The W . M . gave a preface to the lecture in the third ae gree , and illustrations of the five points of fellowship . The Jo ''ge was then closed down to the first degree . On the motion ot the W . M ., it was resolved that Bro . Glynn , W . M . Lodge 35 ,

be appointed W . M . for the 3 rd of March . The lodge was then closed Avith solemn prayer by the W . M . This being tbe 4 th . anniversary , the brethren afterwards assembled for refreshment , Bro . Preceptor Younghusband being unanimously voted to the chair , and Bro . Mott the vice-chair . After refreshment , the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given and cordially responded : to , and a vote of thanks was recorded to the committee appointed to provide the refreshments for the evening . Bro .

Younghusband responded to the important toast of the evening , viz ., " Prosperity to the Lodge of Instruction ( No . 294 ) , " and adverted to the benefits derived from a due attendance at the regular meetings of the lodge , and exhorted those brethren who held Freemasonry at heart to assist by precept and example in furthering the objects of tbe Lodge of Instruction . The Treasurer , Bro . Mott , also made an appropriate speech upon tbe benefits of tbe Lodge of Instructionand directed attention to

, the marked success which had attended its course during its short career , having within the last two years subscribed twenty guineas to the West Lancashire Masonic Institution , thereby constituting the worthy Preceptor a Vice-President ; and also five guineas to the Lancashire Relief Fund , and this from a subscription of only 6 s . per annum . Several songs followed , ancl the brethren separated with regret , and with the avowal that they had rarely , if ever , passed a pleasanter evening .

MONMOUTHSHIRE . NEWPORT . —Silurian Lodge ( No . 693 ) . —The V . W . the D , Prov , G . M . for Monmouthshire , Bro . John Etherington Welsh Rolls , has kindly granted a dispensation to the brethren to join the public procession on the occasion , of the marriage of His Eoyal Highness the Prince of Wales , and a special lodge , will be held at the Masonic Hall , Great Dock-street , on Tuesday , the 19 th of March at half-past 9 a . m ., when tbe lodge will be

opened in due form , ancl the brethren will at 10 a . m . proceed to the Cardiff-road , and join the general procession ,- pass through Tredegar-street , Commercial-road , Dolphin-street , Dock-street , Llanarth-street , Commercial-street , High-street , Stow-hill , Victoria-place , Victoria-road , Palmyra-place , Commercial-street , High-street , Thomas-street , Mill-street , and Marshes-road , to the Marshes , and as soon as the evolutions there are finsbed , they will return in procession to the lodge room and close the lodge . Dress—Black , white gloves , and a white rosette on the left breast , made of Coventry ribbon . —We shall give particulars in our next .

NORFOLK . NORWICH . —Consecration of the Lodge of Sincerity ( No . 1245 ) . —Wednesday , the 25 th of February , having been appointed by the E . W . Prov . G . M ., for the constituting and consecration of Lodge Sincerity ( No . 1245 ) , on the register of the Grand Lodge of England , the interesting ceremony was conducted in ancient form by the V . W . Bro . George Harcourt , M . D ., PG . Assist . Dir . of Cers . and D . Prov . G . M . of Surreyin the of

, presence upwards of sixty members of the Craft . The brethren assembled at four o ' clock , at the Freemasons' Hall , St . Stephens . The members of the new lodge also mustered in good force , and Bro-Bignold , 60 , ancl Bro . Ballard , 1109 , ofiieiate ' d as S . W . and J . W .,, Bro . H . J . Mason was appointed Dir . of Cers . for the day . Thebrethren being properly clothed , entered the large and beautiful lodge room in proper order . Bro . Harcourt , the acting W . M . the lod

opened ge in the three degrees in due form , after which the sanction of tbe E . W . Prov . G . M . was read by Bro . A . B . Miller , Sec , pro tern ., for the V . W . D . Prov . G . M . of Surrey , to act ; also the warrant of constitution granted by the Grand Master of England . The lodge was then consecrated and constituted in due form , in accordance with ancient usage , in tbe most perfect manner . Bros . MorganMinnsand BignoldPM ' s

, , , .. sprinkling the elements of consecration , and the Eev . J . P . Deacon discharging his duty as Chaplain in the most solemn and impressive manner . During the ceremony a selection of suitable choral music was performed , Bro . James Darken , Organist . The consecration over , Bro . G . E . Simpson , Prov . G . J . W ., was installed as the first W . M ., and invested his officers as follows : —Bro . the Eev . Francis Stone Hodgeson , S . W . ; Donald Delrymple , M . D ., Donald Steward Alfred Master

J . W . ; , S . D . ; , J . D . ; Eev . J . P . Deacon , Chap . ; G . F . Deacon , I . G . ; A . E . Miller , Sec . The lodge was then closed in due form by the newly installed Master , after which the brethren adjourned to the large room , where a sumptuous banquet was provided . The chair was taken by Bra . G . E . Simpson , and a joyous evening spent by upwards of forty brethren ; thus closed one of the most pleasing ceremonies witnessed by the Craft of the province for many years .