Provincial.

attribute it to his zeal for the welfare of the lodge . Bro . Coombes , S . W ., and Herring , J . AV ., briefly replied . The AV . M . next proposed " The Press . " They again two had members of the press among them—Bro . Mills , of the Bra , and Bro . Gaball , of the FREEMASON ' S MAGAZINE . He considered the Royal Union Lodge was under very great obligations to the press , and especially to the FHEEJIASONS' MAGAZINE , for to the glowing reports in that paper he attributed much of the notoriety and popularit

y enjoyed by their lodge . He would not say he had been inundated with letters , but he would say that , if he had invited every brother who had congratulated him in consequence of reading the report of the last meeting , he feared that the accommodation of the Chequers Inn , extensive as they were , would have been rather overtaxed . Bro . Mills briefly replied , thanking tho AV . M . for tbe compliment paid to the press .

After some other toasts , Bro . Newallgave "To all Poor and Distressed Masons , " thus bringing to a close another of the happymeetings ahvays enjoyed by the brethren of 536 . The evening ' s enjoyment was enhanced by the vocal and musical exertions of Bros . Stewart , Newall , Hicks , Gaball , and others .

AVARAVICKSHIEE . BIRMINGHAM . —Faithful Lodge ( No . 669 ) . — The annual installation meeting of this Lodge was held on Tuesday , April 14 th , at the Masonic Rooms , Newhall Street , Birmingham . The lodge was opened by Bro . AV . H . Dawes , AV . M ., and Mr . Henry-Bonus regularly initiated into Freemasonry . Bro . Dawes then resigned the chair , which was afterwards occupied hy Bro . J . J . TurnerPMPProvAssistPurstof AVarwickshirewhen

, .., . . . . , Bro . Dawes presented Bro . AVm . Hutton , S . AV ., as AA . M . elect , to receive the benefit of installation , who was accordingly duly installed and proclaimed . The newly-installed AV . M . Bro . Hntton then appointed and invested his officers for the ensuing year as follows—namely , Bro . E . Hooper , S . W . ; G . Beech , J . W . ; S . Fenn , Treasurer ; C . T . Nelson , Hon . Sec ; S . A . ParkerHon . Assist . Sec . ; Bro . B . N . SmithS . D . AV . C .

, , ; McEutee , S . D . ; J . Darwin , I . G . ; J . J . Turner and AV . Cressivell , P . M . 's , Dirs . of Cers . ; D . Malin , jun ., Org . ; and Bros . Underbill , Bingley , Pickering , AVilliams , Price , and Cornforth , Stewards . Bro . J . J . Turner delivered the several addresses in his usual impressive manner . The lodge was then duly closed , after which the brethren assembled at the Royal Hotel to attend the annual banquet . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts

wore then given in routine , that of the W . M . being received with much enthusiasm , who responded in very Masonic and feeling terms . Amongst the company , ivhich numbered nearly seventy members and visitors , was Bro . C . AV . Elkington , D . Prov . G . M ., AVarwickshire , who , in an excellent speech , dilated upon the claims of the Royal Freemasons' School for Female Children , and enlisted the sympathy of the brethren

towards that Institution , which held its anniversary on May 13 th , 1863 , and nearly £ 10 was collected . The health of tho newly-initiated brother was given in the usual Alasonic manner , and a most agreeable evening spent .

India.

INDIA .

( From ihe Indian Freemasons' Fneud . ) CALCUTTA . LODGE COURAGE WITH HintANi-rr ( No . 551 ) . —A regular meeting of this lodge was held on Thursday the 12 th February , present : Bros . J . H . Linton , W . M . Taylor , P . M . ; John AVm . Brown , Hon . P . M . ; and several others . Bros . Freeman and Sagriell were elected joining members . Messrs . F . AV . Appel ,

H . Proctor , and H . W . AV . Robinson were initiated ; Bros . Carvalla , Rodviques , Kelson , and Coleman , were passed ; and Bro . Captain AV . Willis was raised . The third degree was conferred by Bro . John AVm . Brown , who had been specially invited for the purpose , and who received a vote of thanks for the important services rendered to the lodge on this and on many previous occasions . Another meeting of this lodge was

held on Thursday the 26 th February ; 'Bro . J . H . Linton , AA . M ., presiding . Bro . F . J . D'Eboux , late a member of Lodge Marine ( No . 282 ) . was elected a joining member of the lodge , and Mr . Thos . Cunningham , Second Officer of tho ship Wide Awake , was initiated . LODGE SAINT- JOHN ( NO . 715 ) . —A regular meeting of this lodge was held on Friday the 27 th February . Present : Bros .

India.

Frank Powell . M . D . AV ' . M . ; John AVm . Brown , P . M . ; E . AVm . Pittar HJ . A . S . AV . ; Rambarfc , J . AV . ; AV . G . Baxter , Sec . and Treas . ; Robert Henry Torrens , S . D . ; Stephen Nation , of No 126 , , T . D . ; Pinto , ofthe same , I . G . ; Bro . Newham , pro tempore O . G . owing to the absence of Bro . Daniel through indisposition , Bro . Dugald Lattey , an old member of the Sister Lodge Industry and Perseverance ( No . 126 ) , was elected a joining member by acclamation . Another meeting of this lodge was held on

Friday the 13 th February . Present : John AVm . Brown , P . M presiding ; E . XV . Pittar , ( Banister-afc-Law ) , S . AV . ; llumhart , J . W . ; XV . G . Baxter , Sec . and Treas . ; and others . The work set down in the summons did not come oft " , owing to the absence ofthe nominee . Bro . C . T . D avis , a member ofthe lodge , and P . Af . of the Sister Lodge Industry and Perseverance , was elected an honorary member .

LODGE EXCEISIOR ( NO . 1127 ) . —A regular meeting of this lodge was held on Tuesday the 17 th February . Owing to the unavoidable absence of Bro . Abbott , Master of the lodge , Bro . John Win . Brown , P . M . of Lodge Saint John ( 715 ) , was invited to attend the meeting and preside . Bro . Doctor Frank Powell , Master of the same lodge , officiated as P . M . ; Bro . Captain iEneas Perkins , S . AV . ; Bros . Peach , J . W . ; AV . B . Fan-, Sec .

and several others were present . Bro . AVroughton , a visitor to the lodge , introduced by Bro . Barron , ' was , after due trial , admitted and obligated by Bro . Brown . After labour , the brethren adjourned to an excellent banquet . The band was in attendance , and played many lively airs . Bros . Etnantiuel and Chardon contributed to the pleasure of the evening by their performances , respectively , on the piano and the violin ,

while the worthy Junior AA arden , Bro . Peach' kindly entertained us with tho cornet u piston . Another meeting was held on Tuesday , the 3 rd March , present : Bro . AV . H . Abbott , W . M ., presiding ; Bro . John AVm . Brown , P . M . of Lodge Saint John , ( No . 715 ) , as P . M . ; Bro . Fergusson , S . AA . ; Peach , J . W . j and several others . Bro . John AVm . Brown , having been speciallinvited by the AV . M . to aid in the work

y , passed two brethren ancl initiated Mr . Charles Henry Brown . The AV . M . of the lodge raised three brethren to the M . M . Degree . Bro . Jordan . W . AI . of the Cawnpore Lodge ( not known ) , having been examined by Bro . Brown , was by him introduced into the lodge , where the AV . M . obligated and welcomed him .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

LANCASHIRE ( AVEST ) . GAESTON . —Chapter of Sarmom / ( No . 267 ) . —The companions of this chapter assembled together on Thursday , the 14 th , at the Wellington Hotel , presided over by Comps . Pepper , Z . ; B-. mister , H . ; May , J . Bro . White , W . M . 183 , Warrington , and Bro . Shaw , 845 , were unanimously accepted and exalted . A sum of money was voted to a poor brotherwhen several propositions

, for exaltation , at the next chapter , concluded the business . At the banquet table the three Grand Principals were duly honoured , ancl Comp . Banister , G . Dir . of Cers ., responded , and brought before the companions the case of Bro . Sankey , a candidate for an annuity from tiie Royal Benevolent Fund , when several pounds were unanimously subscribed to enable Comp . Banister to purchase votes on behalf of Bro . Sankey .

LIVERPOOL . —Ci l ler of Friendship ( No . 294 ) . —At the regular meeting , held on Monday , the 18 th inst ., at the Masonic Temple , 22 , Hope-street , a candidate was elected to the supreme degree of Royal Arch Mason by Comp . Kearne , M . E . Z ., assisted by Comps . Maudesley , II ., and Eaton , J ., the lectures being delivered by the respective chiefs , after which Comp . Younghusband , P . M . E . Z . 294 , delivered the lecture on the Five

Platonic Bodies and Explanation of the Royal Arch Jewel , which elicited the cordial approbation of the companions present . A vote of thanks was unanimously accorded to Comp . Younghusband , and a request conveyed that he would take an early opportunity of repeating the lecture , with which he promised to comply at tbe next regular meeting on the 15 th of June . It is believed that this is the first time this lecture has been delivered out of London , and Royal Arch Masons who havo not an opportunity of going there to hear it would do well to attend the next meetiug of the Chapter of Friendship .