Provincial.

DURHAM . AVEST HA _ M _ . EI . OO _ -. —Harbour of TRefuge Lodge ( No . 76-1 ) —The annual and regular meeting of this lodge was held in the Freemasons' Hall , on Tuesday , tbe 8 th inst ., at two o'clock in the afternoon , Bro . S . Gonrley , M . L ., WM ., in the chair , supported by a goodly number of distinguished visitors and

brethren , amongst whom were the following : —Brn . B . Levy ; P . M . of Lodge " Palatine ( No . 97 ) , and P . Prov . J . G . AV ., Installing Master ; Herbert Laws , of 481 , 636 , and S . AV . 541 ; Ralph Graham , AA . M . ; J . Settle , P . M ., and P . Prov . G . " Res . ; AV . Best , P . M ., and P . Prov . J . G . W ., and AV . Metcalf AVatsoii , J . AV . Tees Lodge , 609 ; Enira Holmes , P . M ., and J . J . Armstrong , S . AV . St . Helen's , Hartlepool , 531 ; W . G . Laws , AV . M . De

Loraine , 541 ; A . Farmer , AV . M . North York Lodge , 602 ; H . Jackson , W . M ., and J . F . Mann , S . D . Pbilanthrophy , 940 . Bro . S . Gourley in a short but forcible and appropriate speech , before leaving tbe chair , presented to and adorned the breast of Bro . Earply , P . M ., with a jewel , supplied by Bro . Caney , Cheapside , London , and subscribed for by the officers of tbe lodge , as a souvenir of their esteem , and ns a trifling reward for his constant and untiring zeal for the welfare of this lodge . This gracious

i \ ct—the recognition of " patient industry and merit" —was a most befitting one with which to close the labours of an official year , and it must have , given the AV . M . and his officers much pleasure thus to have crowned these efforts . The most important business of tbe day was tho installation of Bro . J . B . "Watt , as AV . M . for tbe ensuing year , which ceremony was efficiently and impressively performed by Bro . B . Levy . The newlyinstalled AV . Mnow selected and invested his officers ; tbey are

. as follow : —Bros . S . Gourley , M . D ., I . P . M . ; J . IV . Cameron , S . AV . ; R . H . Stafford , J . W . ; ' J . Miller , Treas . ; E . Hudson , Sec . ; G . Carter , S . D . ; AV . Harrison , J . D . ; J . Scott , I-G . ; and W . Atkinson , Tyler . After the conclusion of tbe business of the lodge , the brethren , accompanied by many visiting brethren , retired to Bro . Gallon ' s , the Royal Hotel , and there partook of a most recherche banquetsuch as Bro . Gallon is famous for .

, Bro . AVatt , the W . M ., presided , and very ably disposed of the usual loyal and Masonic toasts , which were interspersed with instrumental and vocal music of no ordinary character by Bros . Walton ( pianist ) , Hart , Hunter , Graham , Whitwell , Jackson , Frascr , and Wihnot , making the evening's entertainment one continued feast .

KENT . DOVER . —Peace and THarmony Lodr / e ( No . 199 ) . —The installation took place on the 7 th inst ., at the Royal Oak Hotel , before a large number of the members of the lodge and visiting brethren . The lodse was opened in due form at two o'clock , by Bro . A . W . Ayers , AV . M ., assisted by bis officers , all of whom were present , and the minutes of the previous meeting read

and confirmed . Bros . J . D . and T . A . Terson having given proof of proficiency , were entrusted , and retired . The lodge was opened in the third degree , and Bros . Terson ivere readmitted and raised . Tho lodge was resumed to the first degree , and Bro . Birch having given proof of proficiency was entrusted and retired , and in due time passed . The lodge was then called off for a short time , and on its being resumed Bro . J . Owen Bees , S . AV ., who had been unanimously elected the AV . M ., was

presenred for the benefit of installation . After the necessary preliminaries , a Board of Installed Masters was formed , and Bro . Rees was , with all due formality , installed in the chair . The brethren were then admitted , and the following officers were appointed and invested . Bro . Ayers , I . P . M . ; Dr . Marshall , S . W . ; A . Wilson , J . W . ; J . Coram , Troas . ( re-elected ); AV . J . Adeoek , S . D . ; E . IV . Fry , J . D . ; Cessford , I . G . Bro . A ' anderlinP . M ., was the Installing Masterand elicited the warmest

, , admiration from the whole of the brethren by tbe excellent and impressive manner in which he performed the ceremony , and for the eloquent address to the officers . The lodge was closed at half-past five o'clock , and the brethren , to the number of fifty , sat down to a splendid banquet , prepared by Bro . Philpott . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given , and duly responded to by the brethren . Bro . Ayers , in a very

eulogistic speech , proposed " The Health of the W . M ., " which was warmly responded to by the brethren . The W . M ., in returning thanks , pointed out the advantages of Freemasonry , and the great beauties that could only be discovered by an earnest search after Masonic knowledge , and urged the younger brethren to commence a competition , earnest in character and Masonic iu disposition , to at ' . ahi the position lie bad the satis-

Provincial.

faction of holding , assuring them tbat tbe prize was not always to tbe swift , but that patience and perseverance were able to surmount every difficulty , and concluded by saying that he would use every exertion to maintain the lodge ' s efficiency , and to further the interests and welfare of the Craft . Tlie D . Prov . G . Master for Kentwas prevented from being present by the

, severe illness of a member of his family . Tbe musical arrangements were under tbe direction of Mr . Planet , of Canterbury Cathedral , assisted by Messrs . Cross and Rhodes , which considerably enhanced the enjoyment of the evening , and the brethren separated highly pleased with tho entertainment .

NORTHUMBERLAND . NOHTH SHIELDS . —St . George ' s Lodge ( No . 431 ) . —Thc regular monthly meeting of this lodge was held on Monday the 3 rd ult .. at the Masonic Hall , the AV . M ., Bro . Thomas Jackson in tho chair , supported by Bros . J . D . Brown , S . AV .: M . Mensor , TO . !) ., J . AV . ; Bro . T . Featherstone , P . M ., Chap . ; M . J . Robson , MDPMTreasand other officers of the lod Visitors : —

.., .., . ; ge . Bros . AA . G . Laws , W . M . 541 ; J . Robertson , AV . M . Tync Lodge ; J . H . Ingledew , G 85 ; G . Lawsmi , W . M . 1 , 119 ; Joseph Robertson , P . M . 240 ; J . Roddam , P . M ., and others . The lodge having been opened in due form by the W . M ., Bros . Anders , Peter Anderson , Elias Davis , and AAllliam Sharp , were severally raised to the third degree by Bro . M . J . Robson , P . M . Mr . Joseph Brown was proposed as a candidate for inflation , and a

ballot taken , when he was declared duly elected , and Bros . John Gayford Howsagoe and Luke Blumer Hubback were proposed and admitted as subscribing members of the lodge . A letter was read from the Secretary of tho Grand Lodge of England stating tbat £ 15 had been granted to the widow of late Bro . J . Mainland from tho Fund of Benevolence . The AV . M . having given notice of his intention to move at next meeting that a sum of money be tribute ! out of the lodge funds to the Zetland Commemoration Fund , anil there being no further business the lodge was closed in regular form by the W . M .

AVARAVICKSII 1 RE . BiioiiKGHAai . — " Fletcher Lodge ( No . 1 , 031 ) . —The usual monthly meeting of this lodge was held at the Mason's Rooms , on Wednesday , the 9 th inst ., Bro . T . D . Miller , W . M ., in the chair . There were also present , Bros . P . M . ' s Partridge , Prov . G . Org . ; J . F . AVest ; B . Purnell , I . P . M . ; E . Kent , S . AV . ; AV . AV . Rose , J . W . ; A . Rooke , Sec ; A . Simpson , Treas . ; and

others . Tlie lodge having been opened , and the minutes confirmed , Bros . Morris and Bransby were examined as B . A . 's , and having satisfactorily answered the several questions , retired . The lodge was then opened iu the second degree , and they were respectively passed as F . C . ' s . The chair of K . S . was then taken by Bro . B . Purnell , I . P . M ., when Bros . Jackson and Taylor were interrogated as to their proficiency as F . C . ' s , and having answered in a satisfactory mannerwithdrew . The lodge was then opened

, to thc third degree , when Bros . Jackson and Taylor , being properly prepared , were re-admitted , and raised to the sublime degree of a . Master Mason . This important ceremony was performed in a most careful and impressive manner by Bro . Purnell , I . P . M ., who is well known as being one of tbe most able and proficient workers in this province . During the ceremonies the organ was taken by Bro . AV . T . Belcher , Mus . Bac ., Oxon . Two candidates for initiation , and one joining member , were

proposed . Bro . E . Kent , S . AV ., gave notice of motion respecting donations to the Masonic Charities . Thc lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to refreshment , and spent a pleasant evening .

Ireland.

IRELAND .

COUNT ! " DOAVN . NEW ] . !' . —Provincial Grand Lodge . —Tlie half-yearly meeting of tbe Prov . G . L . of this province was held on Tuesday , tbe 18 th ult ., at two o ' clock p . m ., in tbe Masonic Rooms , the K . AVBro . Wm . Henrv , J . P ., Dep . Prov . G . M ., presiding , supported by R . W . Bro . Bell , Prov . S . G . W . ( acting ); Francis A . Potterton , Prov . J . G . W . ; Henry Montgomery , Prov . G . Sec . and Treas . ; Braithwaite , Prov . G . J . D . ; Moore , Prov . G . S . D . ( acting ); and John Russell , Prov . G . I . G . The following brethren were present : —Bros . H . G . Henderson , P . M ., of IS Newry ; W . T . Henry , CIS ., J . W ., i 66 Hillsborough and 77 Newry ; Moody ,