Provincial.

ESSEX . COLOHESTEE . —United Lodge ( Xo . 697 . )—The regular monthly meeting of this lodge was held at the George Hotel on Wednesday , the Sth inst ., at seven p . m . There were present Bros . J " S . Sutherland , P . M ., W . M . pro tern . ; C . Carnegie , P . Prov . G . Supt . of Works , Essex , I . P . M . ; Eustace , S . W . ; J . Xevvman ( W . M . elect ) , S . W . ; Shaw , S . D . ; Rix , S . D ., & c . The lodge was opened in the first degree , the summons convening the meeting

was read , and the minutes of the last regular meeting read ana confirmed . A report from the Board of General Purposes was read , recommending that invitations to the installation and banquet on the 13 th inst . be sent to the Prov . G . Master , the D . Prov . G . Master , the Prov . G . Sec , the W . Masters and Secretaries of the lodges in the province , and of the Ipswich lodges ; Bro . Matthews , P . G . J . G . W .. Essex ( installing officer ) , & cthat Bro . C . Carnegie be requested to make the

arrange-, ments for the installation and banquet . The Board also reported that they had audited the Treasurer's ( Bro . Carnegie ) accounts , which were Correct , showing a balance of £ 12 2 s . 7 £ d . to the credit of the lodge . The Secretary read letters from Bros . Mann ( Prov . G . Sec ) , Palmer 35 th Regt . ; White and Goshawk , requesting the lodge to accept their resignation , as they had left the province , which was granted . Bro . Munnings signed his Grand Lodge certificateand received it from the W . Master

, pro tern . Bro . Carnegie acknowledged the receipt of a voting paper , & e ., from the Boys' School , which was filled up in favour of H . C . Eade by the W . M . pro tern . Some other business having been transacted , the lodge was adjourned to three p . m . on the 13 th inst ., then to install the W . M . elect for the ensuing year .

KENT . DOVEE . —Lodge Peace and Harmony ( Xo . 199 . )—The anniversary meeting of this lodge was held at the Royal Oak Hotel on Monday , the 6 th inst . The lodge was opened at half-past five p . m ., by Bro . H . Boyton , W . M ., with the beautiful and solemn ceremonies peculiar to the Craft . The minutes of the previous lodge having been read and confirmed , Bro . Alfred Ayred , the W . M . for the ensuing year , was duly installed , the

imposing ceremony of installation being performed by Bro . Vanderlyn , P . M ., P . Prov . G . S . B ., in a most able aud impressive manner , which will doubtless be long remembered by the brethren who were present . The newly installed Master having taken the chair proceeded to appoint the following officers : — Bros . Rees , S . W . ; Marshall , J . W . ; Coram , P . M ., Treas . ; White , S . D . ; Wilson , J . D . ; Fry , I . G ., who were invested by Bro . Vanderlyn with the jewels of their respective office , and who at the same time addressed to each officer a few kind and

appropriate remarks in relation to his duties . The lodge having been duly closed in ancient and solemn form , about forty of the brethren sat down to a sumptuous banquet , which did the greatest credit to Bro . Philpott ' s catering and liberality . The cloth having been drawn , the W . M . gave the usual loyal and formal Masonic toasts , which were duly honoured . The proceedings were greatly enlivened by some excellent singing , and a most delightful evening was spent by the brethren , who separated at twelve o ' clock .

SHROPSHIRE . OSWDSTEY . —Lodge of St . Oswald ( Xo . 1 , 124 . ) -Tho last lodge before the recess was heid on Monday , the 6 th inst ., the W . M . presiding . One brother was raised and another passed . The following members of the lod ge were present : —Bros . Sir W . W . Wynn , Prov . G . M .,- Rev . E . H . Dymock , Prov . D . G . M . ; Bulkeley Owen , P . G . S . D . ; W . H . Hill , P . M . ; Hamer , S . W . ; EliasJ . W . ; Rev . R . X . BigsbChapEOswellTreas

, y , . ; . , . ; Askew Roberts , Hon . Sec . ; Spaull , Dir . of Cers . ; T . Longueville , Org . ; Henry Davies , Steward ; K . G . Salter , W . F . Rogers , T . W . Hill , C . W . Owen , J . C . Frank , J . Ward , W . I . Bull , A . Walker , Walford Barker , and T . Gough . After the ceremonies were duly completed , the brethren dined together at the Wynnstay Hotel , under the presidency of the W . M ., Bro . George Owen .

WARWICKSHIRE . BlEMnfGHAM . —Fletcher Lodge ( Xo . 1 , 031- )—The regular monthly meeting of this lodge was held at the Masonic rooms on Wednesday , the Sth inst ., at half-past five p . m . There was a good muster of brethren present , and the following visitors . —Bros . Dr . Alfred Hill , 468 ; Frederick Wharton ! 925 ; H .

Provincial.

M'Lauehhn , and John Packer , 531 ; the latter kindly officiated as Organist . The ballot was taken for a joining member which proved unanimous in his favour . Bros . W . Brewster , R . Burman , and W . Williams , were then examined as to their proficiency in the first degree , which proving satisfactory they were passed to the degree of F . C . The W . M . gave the long description of the working tools , and delivered the lecture in the second degree . It was then proposed by the W . M . in accordance with

notice of motion , and after some discussion agreed " That the sum of £ 10 10 s . be voted from the funds of the lodge for the purpose of presenting to Bro . J . F . West , P . M ., a Life Governorship of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . " Also "That the sum of £ 5 5 s . be given from the funds of the lodge to tho Warwickshire Annuity Fund , and £ 2 2 s . to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls . " A joining member was proposed by Bro . J . F . West , P . M . Xothing further offering , the lodge was then closed according to ancient custom .

Scotland.

SCOTLAND .

AYRSHIRE . KILMARNOCK . —Lodge St . Marnoclc ( Xo . 109 ) . —This lodge met in its lodge room , Angel Inn , on Wednesday evening , the Sth inst ., when Bro . Daniel Frazer , who , since the reponal of the lodge , has acted most energetically as its Secretary , was presented with an elegant Masonic jewel , as a parting gift from the brethren , ou the occasion of his leaving Kilmarnock to fill a responsible situation in the government arsenal in Constantinople . Bro . Shaw , R . W . M ., presided .

DUMFRIESSHIRE . DALBEATTIE . . Erection and Consecration of the Granite Union Lodge . On Tuesday , the 10 th ult ., a ceremonial possessing considerable interest for members of the Masonic brotherhood , took place at Dalbeattie , where a new lodge , which has adopted the

appropriate title of the " Granite Union , " was erected and consecrated by Bro . Lauderdale Maitland , of Eccles , Prov . G . M . of Dumfriesshire , assisted by his office-bearers . It appears that some months ago it occurred to several members of the Craft resident in Dalbeattie that a lodge might be formed with advantage in that place , and accordingly a petition , duly supported by the qualified office-bearers of neighbouring lodges , was forwarded to the Grand Lodge of Scotland ,

praying for a charter of constitution . This it was agreed to grant , but pending its preparation a working letter of authority was issued for the erection of the lodge , and in consequence of the Prov . G . Lodge of Galloway ( of which the Earl of Stair is Master ) , not being at present in working order , the Provincial Grand Master of Dumfriesshire as representing the Grand Master Mason of Scotland was authorised to perform the ceremony of constituting the lodge . The brethren , to the number of upwards of 100 , assembled

in the Town-hall , at two o clock , when the Grand Lodge was opened . There were present deputations from the following lodges : —St . Cuthbert ' s , Kirkcudbright ; Thistle , Dumfries ; Quhytew ' oollen , Lockerbie ; St . John ' s , Castle-Douglas ; St . John ' s , Thornhill ; St . John's , Xew Abbey ; and St . Clair , Glasgow . Bro . L . Maitland , " acting Grand Master , presided , being supported by Bros . Henry Gordon , S . A . G . W . ; and Jas . Sloan , J . A . G . W . ; and his other office bearers in the Provincial Grand

Lodge of Dumfriesshire . The lodge having been constituted in the highest degree , the P . G . Sec . read the letter of authority empowering Bro . Maitland to preside , after which the acting Grand Chaplain read the opening prayer—the responses being given by the brethren . A hymn by Haydn performed on the harmonium by Bro . Gooden , P . G . Conductor of Music , was followed by the reading of the 133 rd Psalm by the acting Grand Chaplain , after whicli a short

but impressive and instructive oration on the nature and objects of Masonry was delivered by Bro . Thompson , of St . Clair Lodge , Glasgow . The anthem , " When earth ' s foundation first was laid" ( music arranged by Bro . Gooden ) , was then sung to the accompaniment of tho harmonium—by Bros . Riddick , Gooden , and Smith . The acting G . Secretary read the letter of authority from the Grand Lodge of Scotland sanctioning the erection of the