Provincial.

not prepared to take the chair , he felt very much obliged to the brethren for saying he had acquitted himself to their satisfaction , and hoped he AA-OUICI continue to merit their kind indulgence . Bro . B . J . THOJIBSOX proposed " The Health of Bro . Davis , " thanking him on behalf of the meeting for the Avay he acquitted himself in the presentation . Bro . DAVIS responded , and said he only regretted the D . Prov .

G . M . Avas not there , as he felt how inadequately he fulfilled the duty entrusted to him , and how much better that would have been performed hy Bro . M " . L . Jobling . Shortly afterAA-ards the brethren separated in loA * e and harmony . NORTH SHIELDS . —St . George's Lodge ( No . 624 . )—The annual festival of this lodge was held at Bro . Manning's , Albion Hotel , on Friday the 3 rd iust ., under the presidency of the W . M . Bro . William Twizell , Prov . Grand Junior Warden of

Northumberland , Avhen forty-five brethren sat doivn to a sumptuous dinner , and the day was spent with that love and harmony which , usually distinguishes the meetings of the Craft . Amongst the brethren present we noticed Bros . Alderman Mayson , P . M ., P . Prov . G . S . AA . ; Henry Johnson , P . M ., P . Prov . G . J . W . ; Thomas Fenwick , P . M ., P . Prov . G . E . ; Edward Shotton , P . M ., Prov . G . J . D . ; John G . Tulloch , P . M ., Secretary and Director of Ceremonies . The AVardens occupied their respective positions

, Bro . S . Brittain , S . AV ., in the West , and Bro . H . C . Hansen , J . W . in the South ; supported by the other officers . Amongst the visitors Avere Bro . George Lambton , 24 , Prov . G . Sup . of AVorks ; Bro . James Roddam , W . M " ., St . Hilda Lodge ( No . 292 ); Bro . H . Powell , of the Zion Lodge ( No . 291 ) Whitby , and Bro . Martin , Fidelity . Lodge ( No . 364 ) , Leeds .

STAFFORDSHIRE . WOLYEBHAMPTOI * . —St . Peter ' s Lodge ( No . 607 ) . —The annual meeting of this lodge AA-as held January 2 , 1862 , at the Star and Garter Hotel . Bro . Haseler , AV . M ., with all the officers in attendance , and a full assemblage of the brethren . The lodge being opened Avith solemn prayer , and preliminary business trausacted , the AV . M . proceeded to raise Bro . Pursell to the

sublime degree of a M . M ., which ceremony was performed in a correct and impressive manner . The next business ivas the installation of W . M . for the year ensuing . Bro . T . W . Cooper , S . AV . ( who had been elected AV . M . in December by all the brethren ¦ unanimously ) was installed into the chair by Bro . Haseler , and proclaimed and saluted in the usual manner in the several degrees . After Avhich he invested the folloAving as his officers : — Bros . Haseler , Prov . S . G . D ., immediate P . M . ; S . Cook , S . AA . ;

Partridge , J . AV . ; the Eev . J . Hodgson lies , P . M . 819 , and Prov . G . S . AV . AVorcestershire , Chap . ; C . H . King , P . M ., and P . Prov . J . G . D ., Treas . ; "Warner , P . M . 435 , Sec . ; Purnell , S . D . ; C . A . Neivnham , M . D ., J . D . ; Acton , I . G . ; Stanway and F . Lewis , SteAvards . ; Jones , Tyler . The Treasurer's accounts , AA-MCII Ai-ere of a satisfactory kind , were audited and passed . £ 5 AA'as voted to the Wolverhampton Orphan Asylum . Tbe next business ( if it may be so called ) was the presentation of a testimonial to the ex-W . M . The AA ' . M ., addressing Bro . Haseler , and investing liiin , said he had been entrusted Avith the very pleasant duty of

presenting him , in the name of the officers and brethren of the lodge , with a P . M . 's Jeivel , as a slight expression of their appreciation of the eminent services performed by him , for his zeal for the Craft during the period he had occupied the chair , and as a slight token of their brotherly love and regard for him , and although the gift was slight intrinsically , it was a sincerely Masonic gift and the spontaneous , free offering of the brethren to one who Avorthily deserved it , and it was their sincere wish that

Bro . Haselar might long live to wear it , and that the purity of the metal might ever be the emblem of his Masonic virtues . — Bro . HASEIEE . replied in suitable terms , expressing the great gratification and surprise he felt at that kind expression of their regard for his sendees . He expressed himself most happy at having merited the good opinion oftlie brethren , and he would still further , endeavour to benefit St . Peter ' s Lodge . [ The je «* el is a very handsome one , and bears an appropriate

inscription . ] Business being ended and the lodge closed in form Avith solemn prayer , the brethren adjourned to a banquet amply provided by Bro . Host Trigger . The AA . M . presided , being supported right and left by several past and present provincial officers , P . M ' s ., visitors , and brethren . The cloth being removed , the usual preliminary toasts were gii-en by the AV . M ., after which Bro . Haseler , P . M ., was called upon to propose the E . W . Prov . G . M . of Staffordshire , Col . Vernon ( AVIIO Avas unavoidably prevented attending . ) This toast was received with

applause , and duly honoured . The next toast from the chair was "R . AV . D . Prov . G . M ., Dr . Burton , and the other Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge , " AA'hich was duly honoured . — "The Visitors , " acknoAvledged by Bro . Millard 435 , for himself and others . —The next toast was that of the neAv- " AV . M ., " AVIIO , in returning , thanks , acknoAvledged the great honour conferred upon him in appointing him AA ' . M ., and assured the brethren of

his ardent determination to do everything in his poiver , and to the fullest extent according to his humble ability , to promote the cause of Freemasonry , and the prosperity and maintenance of St . Peter's Lodge Avould always be his earnest thought and endeavour . —The W . M . proposed the " Officers of the Lodge , " and alluded to the consistent and thoroughly effective manner the- past W . M . had performed his duties and ratified the pledges he made tAvelvemonths ago . AA'ith reference to the

Treasurer , Bro . King , he could not speak too highly of his services . If the brethren . would take a retrospective view of the financial affairs of the lodge , they would find that since Bi-o . King had been Treasurer , there had been a considerable improvement in the lodge and in the state of their funds . In 1858 , Avith . 34 members , there was a balance due to the Treasurer , £ 2 19 s . 8 dIu 1859 ( when Bro . King was appointed

. , Treasurer ) , 41 members , balance in hand , £ 26 lis . Sd . In 1860 , Avith 47 members , balance in hand £ 35 4 s . 8 d . In 1861 , with 47 members , balance in hand £ 46 13 s . 7 d . In 1862 , AA'ith 44 members , balance in hand of upwards of £ 56 . Considerable praise was due to the Treasurer for his indefatigable industry and economy as Treasurer . With reference to these and the

other officers of the lodge he trusted he should always have their support and that they and he Avould ahvays AA * ork together AA-ith that love and harmony so necessary for the proper and efficient welfare of the lodge . This AA'as fully responded to . — " The P . M . 's of the Lodge , " was next proposed and AA'as received likeAvise Avith Masonic honours , and acknoAvledged by Bros . CasAA-ell , Corke , King , and Haseler . — " The Host , Bro . Trigger , " and the Tyler's toast , brought the programme to the finale .

AA'e had almost omitted to mention that the brethren wore Masonic mourning and the lodge was also hung with , black , in token of sympathy with Her Most Gracious Majesty in her recent heavy affliction . AVoLVERHAMETOi , * . —Lodge of Honour ( So . 769 . )—At the monthly meeting of this lodge , on Friday , the 10 th inst ., there Avas a good attendance of the brethren , as Avell as a few members of the St . Peter's Lodge ( No . 607 ) , everyone being in

mourning on account of the death of H . E . H . the Prince Consort . Bro . Henry LeAvis , P . M ., occupied the J . W . 's chair , Bro . Captain Segrave being unavoidably absent . The lodge being opened in the first degree , Captain George Pudsey Aston , of Scisdon Hall ; the Eev . Rob . Baker Stoney , Curate of St . Paul's , AVoh-erhampton ; and AVm . Aston , Esq ., having been duly balloted for and approved , ivere initiated into the mysteries of the Order—the ceremony being performed Avith credit bthe

y AV . M ., Bro . C . Matthews , one of the recently appointed Provincial Officers . At its conclusion , the ordinary business of the lodge Avas disposed of , and the W . M ., witb several of the brethren and the initiates left labour for the refreshment of a goodly supper , so making pleasure and profit the result of their assembling .

AVARAA'ICKSHIEE . COVENTRY . —Trinity Lodge ( No . 316 . )—The annual meeting of this lodge was held at the Castle Hotel , Coventry , on tht 8 th . inst ., Avhen Bro . AV . S . Davies AA-as installed into the chair . After the appointment of officers and other business , the brethren adjourned to banquet , the AA ' . M . presiding , supported by Bros . Charles AA . ElkingtonD . Prov . G . M . Dr . BicknellH . Davis

, ; , , Thos . Clark , P . Prov . S . G . AV . ; Charles Eeid , Prov . G . D . C ; Astell , P . Prov . G . O . ; Matterson , Scampton , & c . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts AA * ere duly given , and in the reply of Bro . Elkington to his health , called upon the brethren to support the Boy's School , the AV . M . responded to the call and gave his name as a Steivard , making the second member of the lodge ; the brethren also put dovvn four sums as donations . Other toasts folloAved .

and the brethren passed a very agreeable evening . The dinner and wiue was excellent and reflected great credit on Bro . Hall . BIBMINOHAM . —Howe Lodge ( No . 857 ) . —This lodge met on the 13 th , to install the AA . M . forthe year ensuing , which was ably done by Bro . J . H . Bedford . Bro . George Jones then proceeded to appoint Bro . Robinson and Dawson , AVardens , and the other officers , amongst them . Bro . Beaumont , as organist , who played a beautiful voluntary upon the harmonium . It is worthy of re-