Instruction.

WOODROW LODGE , No . 1708 . AFTER the Christmas festivities the Brethren assembled at their usual quarters , at Bro . Rudderforth's ( Stone ' s ) , Panton Street , Haymarket , on Monday afternoon , at 3 o'clock , Bro . H . Wood W . M ., A . Butcher S . W ., W . West J . W ., C . Woodrow P . M . Preceptor , I . W . Simeons Secretary , A . W . Musk S . D ., J . E . Culverhouse J . D ., J . M . Klempner I . G ., Rudderforth P . M ., E . Wavell P . M ., J . Wynman , 0 . Wetton , E . Nice , and others .

The Lodge was opened hy Bro . Woodrow , and on the arrival of Bro . Wood he vacated the chair , and the ceremony of initiation was rehearsed , Bro . Wetton acting as candidate . The W . M . kindly vacated the chair in favour of Bro . E . WavolJ , who rehearsed the second degree , Bro . Wood being examined and entrusted , and acting as candidate .

The W . M . having re-occupied his chair resumed the Lodge to the first degree , when Bro . Nice , with the assistance of the Brethren , worked the first section of the lecture . Bro . Woodrow proposed that a hearty vote of thanks be recorded on the minutes for the excellent working of the W . M ., who had that evening occupied the chair for the first time in that Lodge . This was seconded , unanimously agreed to , and duly acknowledged by Bro . Wood . Bro . A . Butcher was elected W . M . for Monday next .

CHISWICK LODGE , No . 2012 . ON Saturday ( New Year ' s day ) , the Brethren assembled , with a very strong force of Past Masters , at the Windsor Castle Hotel , Hammersmith , when the chair was occupied by the popular Bro . J . H . Gumming P . M . and Secretary of the Royal Alfred Lodge of Instruction , No . 780 , who received the assistance of Bros . R . Reid P . M . as S . W ., W . Hide P . M . J . W ., A .

Williams P . M . Preceptor , F . Craggs P . M . Treas ., R . Josey P . M . Secretary , J . H . Beardon S . D ., W . H . Hobbis P . M . J . D ., T . Ridgway I . G ., R . H . Williams P . M . and Preceptor of the Royal Alfred Lodge of Instruction , W . Herring , J . Knight , M . T . Wilkin , F . Powell , P . Cronin , W . H . Handover , J . Wynman , and others .

The W . M . intimated his intention of rehearsing an initiation , for which Bro . Cronin offered himself as the candidate , and the ceremony was gone through . The Lodge was opened in the second degree , and by desire of the W . M . Bro . A . Williams ( Preceptor of the Chiswick Lodge ) , with the assistance of the Brethren , worked the first section of the lecture . Bro . R . H . Williams gave the lecture on the tracing board .

The W . M . resumed the Lodge to the first degree , and Bro . Josey Secretary informed the W . M . that he was in receipt of a letter from a Brother in distress , and thc charitable disposition of the members was evidenced by a contribution of £ 1 Is , without the slightest hesitation , with the promise that a further grant would be taken into consideration .

Bro . R . Reid P . M . was unanimouseJy elected W . M . for next meeting . The Lodge meets every Saturday at 7-30 , and Brethren wishing to improve their knowledge in Masonry cannot do better than join . We confidently recommend Bro . A . Williams as an excellent Preceptor .

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

ST . JOHN LODGE , No . 80 . THE annual meeting was held at the Masonic Hall . Park Terrace ' Sunderland , when Bro . George Fenwick W . M . presided . The W . M .-elect Bro . J . W . Brodie S . W . was presented by P . M . Elwen , and the ceremony of installation was ably performed by the retiring W . M .

RESTORATION LODGE , No . 111 . THE annual meeting was held at the Freemasons' Hall , Darlington , on the 30 th ult . Bro . C . J . Walton P . M . presided in the unavoidable absence of the W . M . Bro . John Broughton , through a bereavement . There was an exceptionally large attendance on the occasion , including Bros . John

Robinson P . M . P . G . J . W . W . M .-elect , who was presented by Bro . John Bailey P . M . to the Installing Master Bro . R . Hudson Provincial Grand Secretary of Durham , by whom Bro . Robinson was duly installed in the chair of K . S . and saluted according to ancient custom .

PERPETUAL FRIENDSHIP LODGE , No . 135 . ON Monday , 3 rd inst ., the annual meeting was held at the headquarters , Royal Clarence Hotel , Bridgwater , the installation of Bro . C . E . Hagon J . W ., as successor to Bro . T . Kelway , being performed by the D . P . G . M . of Somerset Bro . R . C . Else P . G . D . of England , in his customary able manner . There -was an unusually large muster of Brethren and Visitors .

LODGE OF INTEGRITY , No . 163 . THE last meeting of the financial year was held at the Freemasons' Hall , Manchester , on the 29 th ult ., Bro . Herbert A . Owles W . M . There was an attendance of over thirty members , and the principal business was that oi

electing Officers . The ballot for Worshipful Master was unanimously in favour of Bro Fred Walmsley S . W ., the choice for Treasurer falling upon Bro . T . H Scholfield P . M ., vice Bro . J . M . Sinclair P . M . resigned .

At the festive board which followed , the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were varied by songs , & c , given by Bros . Owles W . M ., J . Herbert Studd Sec , R . W . Nuttall , W . Pearson , B . Wilmot , J . 0 . Grime , E . Roberts P . M . 1459 , and others .

The health of the W . M ., proposed by Bro . J . M . H . Blarney P . M ., was responded to by Bro . Owles , who , although he regretted the absence of candidates during his year of office , through various causes , had not overlooked the fact that it was the duty of a Master in the chair to sustain the character of the Lodge above all things . A very pleasant evening was spent .

VITRUVIAN LODGE , No . 338 . THE annual festival and installation was held on Monday , 3 rd inst ., at Ross . The business of the Lodge was transacted at the Cantilupe Hall .

Provincial.

The chief business was the installation of Bro . A . P . Small , who succeeds Bro . A . Outfield in the chair . The ceremony was ably and impressively performed by Bro . A . Outfield I . P . M . Prov . G . R ., as was also that of the initiation of new members . After the banquet the usual toasts were honoured , a feature in the proceedings being the presentation of a P . M . jewel to the retiring W . M .

GUY LODGE , No . 395 . ON Monday , 3 rd inst ., tho festival of St . John the Evangelist was celebrated at tho Masonic Hall , Leamington , there being a large attendance of Brethren . Bro . H . W . Sprenger was installed W . M .

LODGE OF FAITH , No . 581 . THE annual meeting and Festival of St . John recently held at the Gransmoor Hotel , Fairfield , Manchester , was a very successful function in every way . The principal business was that of installing Bro . Robert Adshead S . W . into the chair of K . S ., and this duty was undertaken by Bro . William Jones , the retiring Master , assisted by Past Masters of the Lodge .

A list of Officers selected for investiture is as follows : Bros . G . H . Scott S . W ., 0 . H . Griffiths J . W ., H . B . Brown P . M . Treasurer , George E . Mellor Secretary , H . J . Harrison P . M . D . C , Arthur Mellor Organist , Dr . E . E . Jones S . D ., S . Andrews J . D ., J . Harrison I . G ., W . H . Wagstaffe , W . B . Gleave , Dr . 0 . Carruthers , and J . Hutchinson Stewards .

We must not omit to state that Bro . Thomas Tyers P . M ., an old and respected member of tho Lodge , to whom the Grand Master of the Province Col . Starkie had recently offered the position of P . P . G . Std . Br ., was congratulated upon the fact in Lodge . After the close of general business , which occurred at an early hour , the Brethren sat down to a very excellent banquet provided by the host Bro . J .

T . Moorhouse , the various subjects on the menu being piquantly designated by suitable expressions of general Masonic usage . An enjoyable programme was gone through , the contributaries being Bros . J . T . Moorhouse and Arthur Mellor Musical Directors , Dr . E . E . Jones , Geo . E . Mellor , W . Nelson , H . Crellin , 0 . H . Griffiths , E . Roberts P . M . 1459 , M . Goth , Joseph Lever P . M ., J . Walton , and two boys , one a son of Bro . Councillor James Pollitt , whose remarkable abilities had justified this innovation .

The loyal and general toasts were introduced by the newly-installed Worshipful Master , who , although suffering from severe illness , acquitted himself remarkably well . He proposed the health of the retiring Master , who in turn briefly submitted the name of Bro . Adshead to the company . The visitors were welcomed by Bro . W . Greenup P . M ., the toast of the Masonic Charities being placed in the able hands of Bro . W . Whyte McLeod

P . M . The latter , in the course of his remarks , gave some very interesting statistics with regard to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , and also reverted to the forthcoming Centenary Festival of tbat Institution , to beheld in the summer of 1898 under the distinguished presidency of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales Most Worshipful Grand Master . Bro . McLeod made a very powerful appeal on behalf of the Institution , which we have no doubt will ultimately receive a generous response .

Among the visitors we noticed Bros . W . J . Mellmg P . M . 2185 P . P . G Std . Br ., W . Gregg I . P . M . 2144 , John A . Jones W . M . 463 , F . Middleton W . M 1077 , M . Newman W . M . 1322 , Thos . P . Cooper W . M . 1458 , and George W Daviea P . M . 1459 .

BUTE LODGE , No . 960 . THE annual festival was held at the Masonic Temple , Cardiff , on Tuesday , 4 th inst ., when there were present the Deputy Provincial Grand Master Bro . Marmaduke Tennant and a large gathering of the Province . The retiring W . M . Bro . W . Lowrie Baker Prov . G . S . B . installed his successor Bro . H . T . Gilling , in a very efficient manner , and the newly installed W . M . afterwards invested his officers for the ensuing year .

During the proceedings an interesting ceremony took place , the retiring W . M . being presented by his initiates with a silver tea and coffee service and a salver .

EGERTON LODGE , No . 1030 . THE regular meeting was held at the George Hotel , Heaton Norris , on Monday , 20 th ult ., Bro . A . E . Broome W . M . The principal business was that of balloting for Mr . Herbert Edmund Travis , Agent , Heaton Chapol , who , after approval , was initiated by the W . M ., the address in the N . E . being given by Bro . Thos . Knott P . M . Sec .

Bros . W . Hy . Geo Brocklebank and Geo . Frederick Muddiman were then raised to the sublime degree of M . M ., the former by Bro . W . H . Vaughan P . M . and " the latter by Bro . Geo . B . Goodfellow I . P . M . Mention was made of tbe recent sudden death of Bro . Henry Shepherd J . D . It was also announced that his funeral would take place at Ardwick Cemetery , on the 22 nd , and Brethreu were requested to be present on that occasion , as a last tribute of respect to their deceased Brother .

ST . KEW LODGE , No . 1222 . rpiHB annual meeting was held on Tuesday , 4 th inst ., at the Masonic I Hall , Weston-super-Mare , when Bro . J . J . Lovell S . W . was installed Worshipful Master for the year , the ceremony being performed by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master Bro . R . 0 . Else P . G . D ., who was assisted by the W . M . of the past year Bro . R . J . Dart . There was a large attendance , and after the conclusion of the business the annual banquet took place .

WHARNCLIFFE LODGE , No . 1462 . TT ^ HE annual installation festival was celebrated on Wednesday , 29 th ult ., JL at Penistono , when Bro . Frederick Dunstan , of Middlesbro ' , was duly installed as W . M . by Bro . Edwiu Billington P . M . P . P . G . P . The Brethren afterwards dined together , tho usuil Loyal and Masonic toasts being given .

U u w MARLBOROUGH LODGE , No . 1620 : THE annual installation meeting took place ou Wednesday , 5 th inst ., at the Derby Hall , Tuebrook , Liverpool , aud notwithstanding the