Provincial Grand Lodge Of Nottinghamshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF NOTTINGHAMSHIRE .

ON the 26 th ult ., the annual meeting was h eld in the Mechanics' Hall , Eastwood , under the auspices of the Robin Hood Lodge , No . 1493 . The following Officers of the Provincial Lodge were present : —Bros J . M . Perry

P . P . G . J . D ., Rev . T . W . Dolphin P . P . G . C , Rev . Canon E . St . J . Morse , A . Lawson P . P . G . Pursuivant , A . W . Brentnall P . P . G . Pur ., G . Chapman J . D ., R . C . Wills P . P . G . D . C ., H . J . Hobson S . B ., W . H . Burton Pur ., C . H . Benham Treas ., R . T . Ingram P . M . P . P . G . Standard Bearer , J . Hpusley P . M ., J . P . W . Marx P . M ., upwards of 100 being present altogether . The banners of the following Lodges were present : —Provincial Grand Lodge , Newstead , No . 47 , Commercial , Southwell ,

Carnarvon , Nottinghamshire , Annesley , De Vere , Vernon , Forest , Robin Hood . After the preliminary business of the session , the following resolution was nnanimously carried , having been moved by Bro . Wills , seconded by Bro . George , and supported by Bros . Rev . C . W . Butler , J . M .

Perry , G . Chapman , and Hatherly : —

" That , in the opinion of this Provinoial Grand Lodge , a striot investigation should bo made into the excessive expenditure at the Royal Masonic Boys' School by the Representative Committee . " Subsequently a banquet was held at the Sun Inn , provided by Bro . G . Bingham , of which about 70 partook .

Royal Arch. Provincial Grand Chapter Of Somerset.

ROYAL ARCH . PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF SOMERSET .

THE Annual Convocation was held on Wednesday , the 15 th ult ., at the Masonic Hall , Taunton , under the banner of the Sincerity Chapter , No . 261 . Owing to the unfavourable weather there was not a large atttendance .

The Grand Superintendent of the Province , Comp . Colonel Adair , presided , and all Chapters in the Province , with one oxception , answered to the roll . The minutes of last P . G . Chapter , and a Chapter of Emergency held at

Clevedon for the purpose of consecrating the Adair Chapter , having been read and confirmed , all offices were declared vacant , and the Grand Superintendent then appointed and invested the following as the Officers of Prov . Grand Chapter for the year ensuing : — Comp . R . C Else - - - H . F . T . Elworthy 261 - - J .

Colonel Long - - - Scribe E . W . Bidgood 261 - - Scribe N . B . H . Watts - - - Treasurer — Nosworthy 329 - - Principal Sojourner J . M . Atkins 446 - - 1 st Assistant Sojourner — Glossop 1222 - - 2 nd Assistant Sojourner — Hearne - - - Registrar H . B . Crowe 261 - - Sword Bearer — Hawkins - - ¦ Standard Bearer — Glover - Director of Ceremonies T . G . Williams 261 - Assistant Scribe E . — Bigwood ... Janitor The alms collected were , on the motion of Comp . T . G . Williams , seconded by Comp . W . Bidgood , given to the Taunton and Somerset Hospital . P . G . Chapter was then

closed in ancient form , and the Companions adjourned to a banquet , which was held in the dining-hall adjoining the Lodge , under the presidency of the Grand Superintendent , Comp . Col . Adair . After the banquet the usual Masonic toasts were honoured , and the brethren separated about eight o ' clock .

Stanmore Chapter, No. 1549.

STANMORE CHAPTER , No . 1549 .

THE installation meeting of this improving Chapter was held at the Abercorn Hotel , on the 11 th ultimo , and although well attended was deprived of several distinguished visitors through the Provincial Grand Lodge of Middlesex having been held at Stanmore on the previous Saturday . It was , however , a very successful

meeting . Tho Chapter was duly opened at 5 ' 40 , Comp . J . Tickle P . Z . occupying the chair of M . E . Z ., E . B . Haynes H ., and W . A . Rogei' 3 J . On the admission of the Companions , the minutes of the previous convocation were read and confirmed . The report of the Audit Comrnittoo , read by Comp .

Peyser P . Z . Treasurer , was also approved and adopted . Three brethren were aunounced on the summons as candidates for exaltatiou , but being unable to atteud , the ceremony of installation was proceeded with . Comp . Haynes , who had previously been installed in another Chapter was appropriately placed iu the Chair ^ M . E . Z . by COLU [> . Tickle , and the full ceremony of installing Cornp .

Stanmore Chapter, No. 1549.

Rogers and Blatchford aa H . and J . reapeotivoly was very impressively rendered by Comp . F . Brown , who has maintained a very firm allegiance to thia Chapter . The M . E . Z . then invested tho following Companions as Officera , viz .: —Comps . C . Keyaer P . Z . Treasurer , C . Veal P . Z . S . E ., B . Hosegood S . N ., D . R , Soames P . S ., J . Best 1 st A . S ., W . R . Shutt 2 nd A . S ., J . S . Fraser P . Z . W . S ., J . Middleton Janitor . The following Companions were also present : —T .

J . Maidwell P . Z ., C . H . Webb P . Z ., C . B . Todd , D . H . Jacobs

P . Z ., E . C . Kilsby , W . Wilson , J . L . Holmes , and Visitors Comps . M . Slaughter J . 404 , A . W . Wells Z . 975 , 1556 . The M . E . Z . invested Companion J . Tickle with the handsome P . Z . jewel voted at the last meeting . This waa suitably acknowledged . After tho uaual inquiriea and hearty good wiahes from other

Chapters the meeting was closed in form at 6 * 50 . The Companions then adjourned to an excellent banquet where the usual toasts were ably given by the M . E . Z . and duly honoured . A most enjoyable evening fully maintained the credit of the Chapter both for working and hospitality .

Red Cross Of Constantine. Stirling Castle Lodge, No. 14.

RED CROSS OF CONSTANTINE . STIRLING CASTLE LODGE , No . 14 .

ON Friday , the 20 th ult ., a ceremonial of much interest to the fraternity of Stirling and its neighbourhood was held , when the first meeting of this newly-instituted Lodge , of the religious and military Order of the Red Cross of Constantino and appendant degrees of K . H . S . and St . John the Evangelist , took place in their assembly room , which was taatefully decorated for the occaaion .

The M . P . S . Captain Alexander Wilson presided , and the E . V . E . Lieutenant J . Denholm was vice-chairman , supported by the following office-bearers : —Rev . George Mure Smith Prelate , D . M'Intosh S . G ., Q . M . S . Beattie J . G ., Sergeant-Major P . Low Treas ., K . P . Maoleay Sec , Riohard Twist Prefeot , James G . Kerr Herald ,

Colour-Sergeant Barron Sentinel , Sergeant-Instructor J . Campbell Alva S . B ., & c , and the under-mentioned visiting Companions , viz ., Thos . Milne , M . D ., Alloa , I . G . of the Order , Wm . Blaok , C . E ., Falkirk M . P . S . No . 11 , Colonel John Campbell , H . M . General Prison , Perth , John Taylor E . V . E ., Jas . Finlayson Past S ., and Peter M'Beth H . P .

No . 11 , Falkirk . The assembly having been duly constituted , letters of apology were read from Comps . George Christie of Southfield , J . W . Small , Stirling , Colonel P . Stirling of Kippendavie , & c . The following Master Masons of good standing in Craft Lodges as under were then introduced and admitted into the Order : —Wm .

Milne S . D ., James Ritchie J . D ., R . Morrison and J . M . Miller , all of No . 30 , "Ancient , " Stirling ; Wm . Ross , No . 325 , Gibraltar , John Dunk , No . 988 , " Wahab , " Sealkote , Thomas Blair , No . 175 , " St .

John , " Greenook . The impressive ceremony of reception was conducted by Comp . Wm . Blaok , with his usual ability and zeal . Thereafter refreshments were partaken of , and a short and characteristic toast list was exhausted prior to the meeting separating .

Interesting Relics At A Masons' Lodge.

INTERESTING RELICS AT A MASONS' LODGE .

fTlHE alterations at present being made on the front of the Masons ' JL Lodge , Crieff , have led to rather an interesting find . Last week , while the workmen were removing the south corner of the wall , on a level with the street , they came upon the foundation-stone , in a cavity of whioh was deposited a bottle containing seven coins of the realm , written documents , and newspapers—all of which were in an

excellent state of preservation . The coins consisted of a three-shilling bank-token , of date 1815 , a ten-penny bank-token ( Irish ) , 1813 ( Georgo III . ); an eighteen-penny bank-token , 1812 ( slightly larger than a current shilling ); two silver pieces , much worn , one bearing date 1787 ( George III . ) and the other 1758 ( George II . ) There was

also a threepenny piece , dated 1762 ( George III . ) , and one copper coin ( a farthing ) of date . 1744 ( George II . ) The written documents are : —( 1 ) " Copy of Constitution and erection in favour of the Mason Lodge of Crieff , granted by John Young , Depute Grand Master of the Free and Accepted Masons of the Kingdom of Scotland , with the

consent of David Kennedy , Esq ., Senior Grand Warden , and George Drummond , Esq ., Junior Grand Warden , and the other brethren of the Grand Lodge , " upon a petition presented upon the eighth day of August , 1739 , " by the Most Worshipful and Right Honourable His Grace James , Duke of Pearth , for himself , and in name of the other

Worshipful Brethren of Masons' Lodge keept at Crieff . " ( 2 ) Copy Charter , dated 1 st June , 1816 , granted by the Honourable Clementina Sarah Drummond Burrell of Perth , in favour of Sir Patrick Murray , of Ochtertyre , Baronet , Master of St . Michael ' s Lodge , Crieff , for behoof of the members of that Lodge ; and ( 3 ) the building contract

and specification of the Lodge . A copy of tho rules and regulations of the Lodge , dated 1812 , was also enclosed . It had attached to it the following list of the Lodgo Officials , which will be of interest to the older generation of Crieff townspeople : —John Tainsh Depute Master , John Feichney Substitute Master , William Robertson Senior Warden ,

James Skeldoch Junior Warden , William Maxtone Treasurer , aud David Tainsh Secretary . The newspapers consist of a copy of the Perth Courier ( No . 431 ) , dated May 9 , 1816 ( price 7 d ) , and two copies of the Edinburgh Correspondent ( Nos . 771 and 785 ) , of dates June 26 , and July 29 , 1 S 15 ( price Qhd ) . The Edinburgh journal is a

four-page paper ( five columns in page ) , and is 22 inches long by 15 broad . The copy of Monday , Jane 26 , contains the Duke of Wellington ' s dispatch , giving a full account of the battle of Waterloo , and is dated Waterloo , June 19 , 1815 , besides a list of the British officers killed aud wounded , and mauy letters and other

interesting matter connected with the great battle . One of the letters , from an officer of the 92 nd Highlanders , i 3 of particular interest . There i 3 also an advertisement announcing tho proceedings of a

meeting " called by the Lord-Provost and Magistrates of Edinburgh , of gentlemen disposed to promote the construction of a canal to connect the cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow , iu a line recommended by Mr . Rennio , engineer . "