Provincial.

The Visitors were Bros . Robert Matthews I . G . 77 , H . J . Tranter 199 , G . A . Bennett 77 , and Hugh P . MacKenzie 77 . After the Lodge had been duly opened , the ballot was taken for Messrs . F . F . Webber , Arthur H . Holland , and Thomas Kemp , all of Gravesend , as candidates for Freemasonry . These gentlemen having been approved , they

were admitted and regularly initiated into the mysteries and privileges of the Craft . Bros . Frederick Webb and Edward Paramour proved themselves sufficiently proficient to be advanced to the degree of Fellow Craft . Both the ceremonies were performed by Bro . Hawker in a masterly manner , and he also gave the ancient charge to the initiates . After labour the Lodge was closed and the Brethren partook of supper .

DORIC LODGE , No . 1193 . A GOODLY array of members and visiting Brethren assembled at tha White Hart Hotel , Wymondham , on the Sth inst ., fco witness the installation of Bro . J . J . Marshall as W . M . for the ensuing year . The ceremony of installation was performed by the retiring W . M . Bro . George Hare , and tbe charges were delivered by Bro . G . C Maynard .

At half-past six the Brethren sat down to a banquet , served in admirable style by Bro . John Hare . The usual toasts were honoured , the health of the new Master being drunk with much enthusiasm . The pleasure of the evening was greatly enhanced by some first-class songs excellently rendered . In the midst of the banquet a telegram was received from Bro . Hamon

Le Strange D . Prov . G . M . expressing , on behalf of Lodge Union , whioh had just assembled under his gavel at the Masonic Eooms in St . Giles ' s Street , Norwich , hearty good wishes to Bro . Marshall and the Brethren gathered together at Doric . This Brotherly greeting was received with hearty applause .

ARCHITECT LODGE , No . 1375 . THE regular meeting was held at the Masonic Hall , Chorlton-cum-Hardy , on Friday , 1 st inst ., Bro . Alfred Pickford P . M . acting Worshipful Master . As there was no regular work announced on the summons , Bro . Pickford opnned and closed the Lodge in the three degrees , an early

adjournment being made to the festive board , where Loyal and Masonic toasts were given , these being varied by songs , & c , rendered by Bros . W . T . Hesketh P . M . Sec , C . H . Beever P . M . D . C , Hugh W . Bloomer I . G ., Wm . Eushton Organist , Wm . Lea , Chas . Klindworth , John Webster , Chas . E . Bygrave P . M . 2091 , and James Mitchell 163 . A pleasant evening was spent .

Bro . Councillor Jas . Lambert P . M . P . G . D . Eng . replied for the Grand Officers , and the acting W . M . responded on behalf of Bro . Holland W . M . who is abroad . Bro . John M . Crone J . D . proposed the health of the Past Masters , in a very neat and effective speech , thafc of the Officers being introduced by Bro . Bygrave , a visitor , who made fche admission that some of the modes of work customary in the Architect Lodge had been adopted by his own Lodge , the Castleberg , No . 2091 .

We must not omit to congratulate Bro . Arthur A . Moss P . M . on his recent offer of Provincial honours , and believe thafc we are not anticipating matters when we announce thafc he is likely to be invested as Provincial Grand Junior Deacon of West Lancashire , at the meeting to be held in Southport on Wednesday next , the 13 th inst .

LODGE OF TRUTH , No . 1458 . / riHE regular meeting was held at the Mosley Hotel , Manchester , on 1 Friday , the lst inst ., Bro . Thomas P . Cooper W . M . After the rpading and confirmation of minutes , the principal chair was assumed by Bro . Eobert Caldwell P . M . P . P . G . S . B ., who raised Bro . E . Woodford to the third

degree . Bro . George T . Lenard P . M . then took Bro . Caldwell ' s position , and raised Bro . Councillor M . W . Southern to the sublime degree of M . M ., the traditional history being given by Bro . Alfred Hebden P . M . P . P . G . D . D . C . The whole of the work was performed with that regularity and precision which distinguishes the Truth Lodge .

Before the proceedings were closed , Bro . Joseph Day handed in the name of Mr . Doyle as a candidate for initiation , his merits being attested by the proposer , by Bro . Hebden the seconder , and also by Bro . W . H . Worsley I . P . M . Treasurer , who supported the proposition . At the festive board , which on account of the pressure of Lodge work had to be somewhat curtailed , Bro . James Archdale P . M . proposed the

health of the W . M ., who responded ; that of the newly raised Brethren being in the hands of Bro . Hebden , who complimented them upon the marked attention which they had given to the various ceremonies as they progressed through them . The first candidate having retired , the response devolved upon Bro . Southern , whose excellently well-chosen words were listened to with deep attention , and loudly applauded at the close .

Besides those already mentioned there were present : Bros . A . B . Taylor SiW ., T . H . Hall P . M . acting J . W ., J . J . Dean S . D ., W . Dewhurst acting I . G ., H . Hellewell Secretary , George Needle P . M ., J . A . Vincent P . M ., G . P . Taylor P . M ., Sydney R . Muller , E . Stevenson , G . Cotterill , and others . Visitors : Bros . William Jones W . M . 581 , M . Goth 581 , and Pinnell 211 ( St . Michael ' s , London ) .

CARADOC LODGE , No . 1674 . ON resuming after the summer vacation , on Monday , 20 th ult ., at Ehyl , the members of this Lodge unanimously elected Bro . F . J . Gamlin S . W . as Worshipful Master for the ensuing year .

JOSIAH WEDGWOOD LODGE , No . 2214 . THE annual festival of St . John , and the installation of the Worshipful Master , took place at the Freemasons' Hall , Hanley , on Thursday , 23 rd ult . As will be well known to some of our Masonic readers , says the " Stafford Advertiser , ' * Freemasonry in Staffordshire has a well authenticated history extending considerably over a century , and St . Martin ' s , Burslem , which is No . 98 on the roll of Grand Lodge , and dates its Warrant from

1764 , has the honour of being fche oldest Lodge in the Province . St . Martin's has had a somewhat singular history , as it was first constituted at Wolverhampton , and migrated to Burslem in 1805 , being allowed to retain its old Warrant . Long before that , Dr . Plot , in his " History of Staffordshire " ( 1686 ) , refers to the custom of admitting men into the Society of Freemasons " That in the Moorlands of this county seems to be of more request than any-

Provincial.

where else . " It appears , however , that Masonry rapidly declined in Staffordshire after the civil wars in the 17 th century , bufc we Hnd a revival at Wolverhampton as early as 1732 . The Crown Lodge was constituted at Newcastle in 1767 , but disappeared about 1792 . It is noteworthy that in 1805—the year that St . Martin's migrated to Burslem—a Cheshire Lodge ,

! the Independent , of Congleton , moved to Longton , or Lane End , as ifc was then termed . The same year a military Lodge , the Atholl , which was originally constituted in the lst Batt . Royal Artillery , in 1744 , was also transferred to Lane End and became the United Potteries Lodge . Both these Lodges were erased about 1829 .

This , though interesting historically , is somewhat of a digression from the main subject of this notice . The Josiah Wedgwood Lodge is a young organization , dating only from 1887 . Its first Master Bro . Richard Tooth is still a moving spirit in its prosperity , and the succession of W . M . ' s is as yet happily unbroken by death . The successors to Bro . Tooth have been Bros . E . B . Jackson , J . White , L . A . Taylor , G . L . Birch , S . Fenton and M . Nuttall . The number of members is returned at forty-eight , a number which , if a balance were struck , would mark about the average on the rolls of the thirtytwo Staffordshire Lodges .

There was a very good muster of members of the Lodge and also of Visitors , in all some seventy members and guests signing the Tyler's book . Among the Brethren was a distinguished Freemason Bro . Abraham Green , 498 , Eoyal Standard , Dudley , P . G . P . England , who , on his entrance to the Lodge after the formal opening , was received with the honours due to his rank .

Tho installation of the Worshipful Master-elect Bro . M . Nuttall was impressively performed by the Worshipful Master , assisted by Bros . Tooth , Jackson , and White . Tho address to the W . M . was given by Bro . Jackson , the address to the Wardens by Bro . White , that to the Brethren by Bro . Tooth , and an explanation of the working tools was given by Bro . Birch . The Worshipful Master invested his Officers for the year .

In the course of the proceedings Bro . Abraham Green kindly offered to present a loving cup for use on the occasion of the annual installation . The generous offer was thankfully accepted by the Worshipful Master , on behalf of the Lodge . Bro . Green presented hearty good wishes from the Grand Lodge of England . Letters of apology were read from Lord Dartmouth Prov . G . M ., Lieut .-Col . Bindley D . P . G . M ., Lieut .-Col . Walker P . G . Secretary , Dr . Newnham P . G . Treasurer , and others .

Following the proceedings in Lodge , a banquet was held in the Council Chamber afc the Town Hall . An excellent and well-served dinner was

provided , and a prominent feature in the table decorations were numerous fine bunches of fragrant heather , from the Scotch estate of Bro . Munro . The Worshipful Master proposed the Queen and the Craft , and expressed a . fervent hope that Her Majesty would be spared " long to reign over us . " The toast was drunk with musical honours , the solo being sung by Brother Bearne .

The health of the Prince of Wales as Grand Master was also proposed from the chair . His Eoyal Highness's remarkable willingness on all occasions to promote the interests of Masonry met with cordial acknowledgment . The Senior Warden proposed the Officers of Grand Lodge , and Brother Green , with whose name the toast was coupled , assured the Brethren that any time he as a Grand Officer could be of any assistance to the Brethren in

Staffordshire he should be highly pleased to render any service m his power . He had been delighted with his visit , and with the working of the Lodge . Ifc was not the rirst time he had visited the Potteries , and he had a most vivid and pleasant recollection of his visit to Longton early this year to support his Royal- Highness the Grand Master . The splendid ceremony associated with that occasion he should never forget .

Bro . Lockett J . W . proposed the Right Hon . the Earl of Dartmouth Provincial Grand Master , a toast which he truly remarked appealed to the Staffordshire Lodges in a special manner . He believed that when Lord Dartmouth got his opportunity he would show that he was as good a Mason as any in England , and a credit to Staffordshire .

The health of fche Installing Master and the Worshipful Master were drunk with the utmost cordiality , and both expressed their great appreciation of the interest which was being taken in the Lodge by all its members , and congratulated the Lodge on the number of visiting Brethren who had come to greet them on their annual celebration .

CENTURION LODGE , No . 2322 . THE regular meeting was held at the Victoria Hotel , Manchester , on Monday , 4 th inst ., Bro . Major Geo . Kershaw W . M . After the reading and confirmation of minutes , Bros . Capt . Francis Isaac Bentley , and 2 nd Lieut . Alan Ramsay were raised fco the sublime degree of M . M ., the former by the Worshipful Master , and the latter by Bro . Surg .-Oapt . Arthur H . Smith I . P . M .

An election of Officers afterwards took place , with the result that Bro . Capt . J . W . Ashworth S . W . was unanimously chosen W . M .-elect , Bro . Lieut . Col . J . Howarth , J . P ., P . M . P . P . G . D . being re-elected Treasurer . At fche festive board Loyal and Masonic toasts were honoured . Besides those already mentioned above , we noticed that there were present , Bros .

Surg .-Oapt . J . J . Kent Fairclough J . W ., Rev . John Challinor P . P . G . C . Chap . 2 nd V . B . M . R ., Capt . Peter Nightingale S . D ., Major W . H . Hopkins P . M . P . P . G . D . C . D . C ., Capt . H . S . Hardy Organist , Lieut . Geo . Heys Std ., Capt . Jas . Andrew P . M . P . P . G . D . C , Major Fred Pratt P . M ., Major John Heap P . M . P . P . G . D ., Surg .-Lieut . A . J . " Bailey , Surg .-Oapt . Stephen Nesfield , Capt . J . E . R . Hall , Major H . J . Widows , & c .

Visitors - . —Bros . John Barlow P . M 1012 Prov . G . W ., Harry Nash P . M , 321 P . P . G . R . Ches ., W . J . Nash P . M . 321 P . P . S . G . D . Ches ., 0 . G . Hindley P . M . 148 P . P . S . G . D . Ches ., 0 . Hobbins P . M . 44 , W . Humphreys P . M . 44 , G . W . Pilkington S . D . 44 , T . J . Rowland 633 .

American Cycles.

AMERICAN CYCLES .

fllHE Lozier Manufacturing Company have taken larger and more I commodious quarters at 24 , 25 , 26 and 27 Orchard Street , Oxford Street , W ., and feel it may interest our readers to know that instead of leaving the English market ( as some of our contemporaries have reported ) they , as makers of the Cleveland Cycles , are having fitted up at their new address the most commodious Cycle Depot in the United Kingdom , which is pronounced

by all who have viewed it to bo the most complete establishment of fche kind in the world . Not only do they carry a complete stock of Cleveland Cycles , but also a large and complete stock of parts for executing any and all kinds of repairs , and , if necessary , to build the machine complete ; this enables the English branch to take just as good care of their riders as though the several factories wero in this country .