Provincial.

E H . Buck P . M . 903 Prov . S . G . D ., A . Manistree W . M . 1958 , A . J . Dunn W . M . 342 , E . Stapleford W . M . 2074 . The M . Ms , having been re-admitted , and thc usual ceremonies gone throug h , tlie W . M . proceeded to invest his Officers as follow : —Huggett S . W ., Morris J . W ., Spriging Treas ., Smith [' arsons Sec , Hales S . D ., Sabine J . D ., l ; Uke I . G ., Godfrey D . C , Bazley Org ., Williams S . S ., Stebbing J . S ., and U arrows Tyler .

The addresses were then delivered by the Installing Master , to whom a hearty vote of thanks was tendered . Tho W . M . then , in the name nf the Lodgo , presented Bro . Cox , in a fow well chosen words , with a gold P . M . 's jewel , which had been subscribed for by the members . It was designed and manufactured by Bro . H . T . Lamb , of Clerkenwell , and bore a suitable inscription . As it is only tho second occasion on which the outgoing Master has been presented with a similar testimonial , it came to him as a surprise .

The recipient having responde 1 , the Lodge was closed , and the Brethren adjourned to banquet , after which the usual Masonic toasts were given , interspersed with some excellent singing by Bros . Warwick Gray 12 S . C , Nickisson , Lodge 2308 , Buck and J . J . Bascombo . Bro . Bazley also gave a Flute solo . Bro . H . G . Fryer accompanied on tho Piano .

TOXTETH LODGE , No . 1356 . THE aunual meeting was very largely attended on the 10 th inst ., at Liverpool , the chair being taken by Bro . Henry Bridger W . M . The installation ceremony was performed by Bros . E . George P . M . P . P . G . D . C . and Philip Lloyd P . M . D . C . in an effective manner , Bro . Joiin Lloyd being p laced in the chair , and subsequently investing his Officers . The banquet was afterwards held , when a P . M . jewel , accompanied by a marble timepiece and a handsome brooch for Mrs . Bridger , were presented to the I . P . M .

TRAFFORD LODGE , No . 1496 . THE regular meeting of this Lodge was held at the Western Hotel , Moss Side , Manchester , on Monday , Sth inst ., Brother Percy E . Land W . M . There were also present Bros . Francis Long I . P . M ., Ramsay Knight S . W ., Chris . Preston J . W ., Geo . Burslem P . M . Treas ., J . C Gillman P . P . S . G . D .

Sec , W . Yeadon S . D ., J . Done J . D ., H . Russell I . G ., D . Johnson P . M . D . C , H . P . Jones P . M . P . P . G . R ., John Rathbone P . M ., G . W . Maybury P . M ., Walter Lees , C F . Davies , S . Woollam , C . H . Moss , H . Preston , T . Jackson . Visitors : —T . Hunter W . M . 1147 , J . Ellwood S . W . 1161 , T . Firth 148 , H . B . Brown I . P . M . 581 , E . H . Flower P . M . P . G . T . ( E . L . ) Tyler .

The minutes of the last meeting having been read and confirmed , the ballot , which was successful , was taken for Mr . Arthur Herbert Norbury , Managing Clerk , Monton Green , when the Brethren adjourned for tea . On re-assembling , this gentleman was initiated into Ancient Freemasonry by the W . M . assisted by Bros . Preston J . W . and Knight S . W ., the former delivering tbe Charge and the latter presenting and explaining the Working Tools .

A proposition by the W . M ., seconded by Bro . Johnson P . M ., that the sum of six guineas be presented to the " Alpass Benevolent Fund " of West Lancashire was approved . At the festive board which followed , Loyal and Masonic toasts were responded to . That o £ the initiate was proposed by the W . M ., who stated that he had known the candidate for about sixteen years , and from what he had seen of him believed he would make a good member among them , and bo a credit to the Craft .

Bro . Norbury , in answer , thanked the W . M . and Brethren for the manner in which they had received him amongst them , and said he would endeavour to act up to the principles he had been taught . Bro . Jones P . M . P . P . G . R . proposed the health of tho Visitors , and the guests , in replying , thanked the W . M . and Brethren for the hospitable manner in which they had been received , and said the working of the W . M . and his Officers had been admirably performed . Bro . Burslem proposed the health of the W . M .

Bro . Land W . M . replied , thanking the Brethren for the hearty manner in which they had received the toast , and also the Visitors for their very flattering remarks respecting his working and that of his Officers ; he further said he must inform them that the " Trafford Lodge " had that night entered upon its " majority . " In the unavoidable absence of Brother Robert Wylie

D . P . G . M . of West Lancashire , who consecrated the Lodge , he should call upon them to drink the health of the worthy ancl indefatigable Secretary Bro . Gillman , the originator and one of the founders ( the only one left in the Lodge ) , and in doing so he hoped that he would bo long spared to givo the light of his countenance and advice to the Lodge .

' Bro . Gillman , in replying , thanked tho W . M . and the Brethren for their very kind wishes , and said that as long as the Great Architect of tho Universe spared him he should continue to do all he could for the welfare of the Lodge and his children , for he always felt happy when amongst them . Other toasts followed , varied by songs rendered by Bros . Hunter , Lees , Yeadon , Maybury , and Long ; Bro . Long being the accompanist .

LIVERPOOL LODGE , No . 1547 . rpHE annual meeting of this , which is essentially a citizens' Lodge , was -L held on the 10 th inst ., at the Temple , Hope Street , Liverpool , and was presided over by Bro . T . W . Hughes . There was a largo number of visitors , including many prominent members of suburban Lodges .

The W . M .-elect Bro . Charles H . Eaton was installed in an admirable manner by Bro . John Duncan P . M . P . P . D . C . During the evening a handsome P . M . jewel was presented to the I . P . M .

DEE LODGE , No . 1576 . THE annual installation meeting was held at the Union Hotel , Parkgate , on Wednesday , 3 rd inst ., when Brother John Mayers , of Chester , was installed Worshipful Master for the ensuing year . The Lodge was opened under the presidency of Captain Shaw P . M ., who , after the presentation of tho new Master bv Past Masters John Morris

t / P . G . S . B ., and the Hon . Henry Holbrook P . D . D . Grand Master British ? . ? k > mstallea - Bro . Mayers into the chair of the Lodge in a manner Which well deserved the warm acknowledgments of the Brethren , who had V ffP- Iare ' y hear < l this beautiful ritual rendered in a more accurate and etncient , as well as a more pleasing and effective manner . The Worshipful Master then appointed and invested the Officers to assist

Provincial.

him in carrying on tho work of Freemasonry in the Lodge for the next twelve months . At the conclusion of the general business the members , accompanied by tho Visitors , adjourned to tlie Banqueting Room , where Mrs . Acton had provided for thoir requirements in a most ample manner . Tho chair was occupied by the newly installed Master , who , after tho removal of the cloth , proposed the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts , which were heartily taken up by all present ,

EBORACUM LODGE , No . 1611 . rpHE annual excursion in connection with this Lodge took place on tho A . 10 th inst ., to Pateley Bridge and Nidderdale . Upwards of forty Brethren and Ladies journeyed from York by saloon at 7-23 . The journey was broken at H ; m-o < 'ato , and tho interval was spent in a pleasant ramble

round the town . Pateley Bridge was reached at 9-47 and the party sat down to breakfast at the King ' s Head Hotel . After breakfast a very pleasant drive was taken to How Skeam Beck , via Wath , Ramsgill , and Lofthouse—viewing on the way the Bradford New Waterworks , and Gowthwaito Hall . The charming weather added much to the enjoyment of the journey , says the " Yorkshird Herald . "

The party had a pleasant stroll through the ravine , and afterwards passed the cave . The journey to Pateley Bridge was resumed , and on arrival a visit was paid to Ravensgill , the picturesque views affording additional pleasure to the Brethren and ladies . At 4 o clock dinner was served at the King ' s Arms , the Worshipful Master presiding , ancl tho Senior Warden Bro . F . H . Vaughan being in the vice-chair .

At 5-40 tho return journey was made , and a very pleasant hour was spent at Harrogate , York boing reached at ten minutes past eight . On arrival the party were invited to the Lodge to partake of the hospitality of the W . M . Bro . J . Smith . Light refreshments wero served , and musical contributions were given by Bro . Lofthouse on the organ , and songs and recitations hy Bros . Wilson , Humphreys , Debenham , Spetch , Smith , Storey , Kilvington , and Lamb .

MINNEHAHA MINSTREL LODGE , No . 2363 . fTTHE writer who described a picnic as " the most unpleasant of all parties JL of pleasure "had evidently never paid a visit to Ripon and its delightful neighbourhood . On Monday , tho 1 st inst ., we , in company with the members and friends of the above Lodge , met to participate in their first excursion , and may admit at the onset that if subsequent arrangements depend at all upon the success of this venture , there will be similar trips for many years to come .

The party , which consisted of ladies and gentlemen to the number of 60 , assembled at the Victoria Station , Manchester , at such an hour as to avoid the numberless workers who had not yet commenced flocking citywards to begin the daily goad which should load to a week of toil . Saloon carriages which had been provided were attached to a special train , and after Bro . Sam

Luke tho Picnic Secretary had seen that everyone was comfortably seated , the train moved slowly out of the station . Light refreshments were supplied during the journey to Ripon , which was reached soon after 11 a . m . Conveyances awaited the visitors upon alighting , and they were speedily driven to the Unicorn Hotel , whore luncheon had been provided .

Following this was a drive through very pleasant scenery to Fountains Abbey , four miles distant . The Abbey , of which sufficient is left amongst the ruins to convey a good idea of what a grand and imposing fabric had originally beon erected , " contains all the stylos of architecture from the late

Norman to the perpendicular tower—a very fine and almost complete specimen . " It is situated in the midst of magnificent natural scenery , whose present lovely ornature must be ascribed to the artistic labours of those responsible for the maintenance of what may now be considered one of the most attractive features of the place .

A heavy downfall of rain drove the party into the cloisters for shelter , the time being whiled away by the efforts ol a hastily improvised glee party , who gave a variety of melodies in a manner which gained the approbation of scores of other visitors , who had availed themselves of the privilege to inspect the ruins .

The party returned to Ripon in time to viow the Cathedral , and inspect "its far-famed Saxon and Norman Crypts , the fine Transition-Norman work of Archbishop Roger , the charming specimens of decorated and perpendicular work in the choir aud nave , and other interesting details . " The late Mr . J . R . Walbrau in his " Guide to Ripon " says that the Cathedral contains " an example of every stylo of architecture which has been used in England from its introduction in Saxon times to its utter debasement in the 16 th century . "

Tho Market Place , in which the hotel is situated , boasts a magnificent obelisk erected iu 1781 by W . Aislabie , Esq ., who represented the borough in Parliament for sixty years . Tho dinner , like the lunch of tho morning , was of a most sumptuous kind , and we heard it highly commended by several of the party . The various musical items were supplied by Mrs . VV . T . Watts , Bro . Chas . Harrop S . W . and Henry Nail P . M .

Several toasts wero submitted and duly honoured , that of the Worshipful Master being proposed by Bro . W . A . Brabner I . P . M ., who said that the picnic of that day , which had been begun as a trial , had ended in success . He very humorously directed a friendly philippic at Bro . Beever for not being accompanied by a lady " in the shape of a wife , " and concluded by the following impromptu :

" If you wouldn't he considered a gay thoughtless deceiver , The next time you come , you must bring Mrs . Beever . " Bro . Cyril H . Boever W . M ., in responding , said that he heartily thanked those present for the way in which they had accepted the toast of his health . He made a very laughable comparison of his own case by reverting to the

story of woman at the Creation , who came after man , Bro . Beever suggesting that she had been after him ever since . He spoke in high terms of the treatment received at the hotel , of the enjoyable scenery through whioh the party had passed , and of the admirable arrangements made to ensure what had proved to be a satisfactory result .

Brother J . C . Wood having proposed the health of the Visitor .- ) , Brother Gaskill responded , after which preparatims wore made for the return journey . According to a small and compact " Guide " which is generously supplied

to Visitors by Bro . Bernard Evans , proprietor of the Unicorn , no account of the hotel can bo complete without mention of a celebrated character called Tom Crudcl , whose history has been reverted to by Charles Dickens in Household Words . This extraordinary personage , familiarly known as Old Boots , flourished about thc year 1762 . " Ho was favoured by Nature with