Provincial.

symbolic meaning of the tools of an E . A . in a highly efficient manner , and the S . AV . delivered the ancient charge of this degree . Both the initiates desired to be enrolled as contributors to the loclge . The loclge was passed to the second degree and Bros . Leeson ancl Unstable , having in a satisfactory manner proved themselves candidates for the third degree , were passed to that sublime degree b y the AV . M ., assisted by his Wardens . These duties having been completed , the Master announced the

receipt of an official communication , announcing the fact of a warrant having been granted to attach a chapter of the Eoyal Arch degree to this loclge . Bro . Smith was invested as Junior Steward , vice Bro . Austin , who , residing at a long distance , was compelled to resign his appointment . The duties of Organist was filled by Bro . Iiallett , in a highly effective manner , to the satisfaction of the brethren assembled . The office has been vacant for some months , by the absence of Bro . Martyn ( serving

in H . M . 's navy ) . During tlie evening , the lecture of the third degree was given in a most able manner by Bro . Eogers , P . M ., & c . Representatives from the Military Loclge , Meridian , Fortitude , Friendship , and other local lodges . Conspicuous , however , among the visitors , ancl one deserving of notice , was Bro . Ball , P . M ., of Loclge 202 , who was presented at the last meeting of that loclge with a very handsome silver-mounted walking cane iu commemoration of his having been a member of that lodge fifty years .

OXFORDSHIRE . LAYING THE FOUKDATION- STOKE OE A NEW LODGE AT OXI-OBD . On Thursday , August 4 th , the foundation-stone of the new Masonic Lodge-rooms , about to be erected in conjunction with the Clarendon Hotel , for the Apollo University Loclge , was laid with the usual Masonic rites , by Alderman R . J . Spiers , D . Prov .

G . M . for Oxfordshire . Among the brethren who assisted at the ceremony were Bros . C .. T . Hawkins , Prov . J . G . W . ; E . G . Bruton , Architect , ancl P . Prov . S . G . W . ; A . Hurford , Prov . G . Dir . of Cers . ; S . Lowe , Prov . G . Steward ; G . Taunion , P . Prov . Dir . of Cers . ; Joseph Plowman , P . Prov . G . S . B . The proceedings were opened with prayer , after which tbe D . Prov . G . M . briefly addressed the assembly , and expressed his regret that Bro . Colonel BowyerProv . G . M . was unable

, , to be present , owing to a previous engagement of a public nature . They were met together , as was the custom in former times , to lay the foundation of a new structure with Masonic rites . The rapid advancement of Freemasonry , and the increasing accession to its ranks , rendered a larger and more commodious set of buildings necessary , and judging from the progress which the science was making , it was probable , that at

no distant clay , even the building they were about to erect might also be found inadequate for its purpose . He invoked the blessing of the Great Architect of the Universe on the undertaking , and prayed that all engaged in it might be preserved from accident , and spared to see its completion . A copy of the inscription , a bottle containing various coins of the realm , ancl a copy of the Oxford Times , were then deposited in the cavity

of the stone . The upper stone was then lowered , ancl tested in the usual manner , after which , corn as an emblem of plenty , oil as the emblem of peace , ' and wine as the emblem of joy , were poured upon the stone . Tbe proceedings closed with prayer , after which , three cheers were given for the Queen , three for the D . Prov . G . M ., and three for the architects , builders , and workmen employed on the buildina-.

The inscription deposited in the stone was as follows : — " On the 4 th of August , A . D . 1864 and in the 28 th year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria , the foundation-stone of this building for the Apollo University Lodge ( No . 357 ) , was laid according to ancient custom and with Masonic rites by Bro . Alderman R . J . Spiers , F . S . A ., P . G . Sword Bearer and D . Prov . G . M . for Oxfordshire , in the presence of Masons of the province . —Edward G . Bruton , P . M . 340 , P . Prov . G . AV .,

Architect ; Thomas Baker , builder . " Tlie building will comprise a lodge room , banqueting-rooms , anti-room , ancl waiting-rooms . The lodge-room will be fifty-two feet long by twenty-six feet wide , and will have a vaulted roof ; the room being twenty-six feet high to the crown of the vault . The vault will be spanned by five-ribs which will be finished in rainbow tints ; the plastering between being finished in blue colour . The room will be lighted , in the day time , by a lantern light , and afc night by a series of gas jets above the

cornice of the room . The central portion of the floor will be laid with tesselated tiles : the margin being left for carpeting . The room will be heated with hot water . AVARWICKSHIRE . LAYING THE FOUKDATION-STOSE OI ? THE COVENTKY KSD WARWICKSHIRE HOSPITAL .

This important ceremony took place on Tuesday last under the auspices of Lord Leigh , Prov . G . M . of AA arwiekshire . The Mayor ancl Corporation met at St . Mary ' s Hall , and the brethren jef the " mystic tie" at the Castle Hotel . The Provincial Grand Loclge was opened in ample form by Bro . Lord Leigh , assisted by his officers , and a large number of the brethren of the province , among whom we observed the following : —Bros . Lord LeihProvGMCAVElkingtonD . Prov . G . M . ;

g , . .. ; . . , Robert H . Foster , Prov . G . AV . ; Edward II . Kiltoe , Prov . G . Chap . ; Joseph Ray , Prov . G . Chap . ; Dr . Bell Fletcher ; Charles Read , AV . M . 254 ; AVilliam Read , P . M . 254 ; Philip Solomon , S . W . 254 ; W . A . Davis , J . AV . 254 ; Henry Turner , Sec . 254 ; G . Haswell , S . D . 254 ; John Ogden , J . D . 254 ; Josh . Hands , I . G . 250 ; John Astley , P . M ., P . Prov . Dir . of Cers . ; P . Cohen , James AndrewsCharles LaytonP . M . 319 ; J . TomkinsonThos .

, , , Clarke , P . Prov . G . M . ; J . East ; Isaac Arrowsmifch , P . Prov . G . Purst . ; Alex . McCracken , Prov . G . Sec . ; Joseph Jenneus , I . G . ; James Isaac , Prov . G . S . B ., P . M . 725 ; AV . H , Tyler , P . M . 34 ; David Dagleish ; A . M . Dunlop , 67 , G . Sec . of Scotland ; Andrew Sumner ; Charles Redfern , P . J . W . 284 ; Frederick Goodchild , J . W ., 284 ; C . F . Brown , 284 ; G . Septimus Phillips , 785 ; A . Henry Ferris , 725 ; AVilliam Robbins ; E , Croydon , P . M . 395

and 567 , P . S . G . AV . ; Henry Read , P . M . 567 ; Francis Robbins , J . AV . 725 ; Francis Silvester ; Thomas Volus , 567 ; Joseph Haswell , 51 ; William Haswell , 51 ; G . J . Harrold , Henry Buswell ; D . E . AVelsh , 725 ; J . Parnell , P . M . ; D . R . AVynter ; C . H . Penn , 74 ; H . N . AVells ; Henry Brown ; AV . Bramwell Smith , W . M . 301 ; F . D . Johnson , AV . M . 925 ; George Fayrer , J . W . 301 Edward WorsallS . AV . 925 ; John FlinnProv . G . Org . ;

; , , J . T . Collins , Prov . G . Treas . ; Thomas Harding , W . M . 725 ; H . AVeiss , P . Prov . G . Sec ; Daniel , 473 ; J . S . Glover ; R . B . Nason , AV . M . Abbey Loclge ; Arthur Malins , J . D . 696 ; Henry Southern , 254 ; Benjamin Hunt ; AVilliam George Wilkins , 567 ; Thomas Jager , 74 ; AVilliam Baylis , 74 ; John

Suffield , S . D . 925 ; Thomas Partridge , 725 ; John Campbell ; Charles Maekay , 925 ; John George Beard , 925 ; Henry Smith , 74 ; B . J . Whitehead ; C . Pembroke ; Chas . H . AVilliams , 925 ; Vincent Taylor , 925 ; AVilliam Jennings , 925 ; Edward C . Sisse , I . G . 567 ; E . E . Schurth , 47 ; Henry Hadley , P . M . 47 ; Edwin AVhitehouse ; G . C . Richards , S . AV . 482 ; S . AV . Jones , 301 ; AVilliam Henry Fairfax , S . AV . 43 ; AV . Lynes , P . M . 669 , ProvGSBJohn TAVriht 857 Matthew SmartSec . 74 ;

. ... ; . g , ; , John Darwin , AV . M . 567 ; Edward Snape , 925 ; J . S . Burkitt , S . D . 725 ; Thomas B . Brown , 74 ; Rev . F . Stonehouse , 725 ; Charles Lee , AV . M . 74 ; John AVoodward , J . D . 567 ; John Sutton Barber , J . G , 794 ; James Muggleton , S . D . 74 ; M . AV . Wilson , S . W . 794 ; Edwin C . Middleton , 794 ; Edward Benon ; J . D . Collins , Prov . G . Sec . ; James Downes , P . Prov . G . Chap ., Stafford ; John B . Herbert , Prov . G . Reg . ; AV . Bristow , P .

Prov . J . G . W ., AVorcester ; George AVyman , P . M . 309 ; John J . Turner , P . Prov . Supt . of AVorks ; F . Empson , P . S . G . W . Peter Bristow , 254 ; H . Scampton , P . M . 254 ; J . D . Horley , 74 . Notwithstanding the unfavourable state of the weather—a drizzling rain falling during the greater portion of the morning —there was a numerous attendance of visitors , and the following lodges of the province were fully represented : —St . Paul ' s ,

43 ; Trinity , 254 ; Athol , 74 ; Shakespeare , 284 ; Apollo , 301 ; Guy's , 395 ; Abbey , 432 ; Light , 468 ; Faithful , 473 ; Rectitude , 504 ; Unity , 567 ; Howe , 587 ; Stoneleigh , 725 ; Temperance , 739 ; Bard of Avon , 778 ; AVarden , 794 ; Leigh Lodge , 887 ; Bedford , 925 ; Grosvcnor ; 1 , 249 ; Fortitude , 51 . The present hospital in Little Park-street having been notoriously too small ancl inadequate for the requirements of the

district , the erection of a more commodious one for the purpose became at length a matter of absolute necessity . The building of which the foundation-stone was laid , is calculated to afford relief to hundreds , or rather thousands , who have no other resource in times of sickness . After the usual formal business , the Masonic body joined the Mayor and Corporation , and proceeded to St . Michael ' s Church in the following order : — Sword and Mace . Mayor of Coventry , accompanied by the Town Clerk .