Craft: Provincial.

A musical party was formed from members of the Lodge , and in addition several Brethren from other Lodges kindly gave their services . Bro . Alexander Marr sang with conspicuous success , " Down in the deep , " "The diver , " and , in conjunction with Bro . Pa )* ne Clark , " Excelsior . " Bro . Owles sang " The Admiral ' s yarn , " with

impress'vo effeH . The triumph of the evening was undoubtedly Bro . Payne C ' ark , who sang no fewer than eight songs , Gounod ' s " Lend me your aid" ( Irene ) , being especially fine . He was also very successful in a favourite air from Lurline , " Come into the garden , Maud , " " Let me like a soldier fall , " " When other lips , " etc .

Six popular humourists gave selections , and it is therefore difficult to single out any one of the number for especial commendation . We may , however , mention Mr . Fox Turner , who gave imitations of George Thorne , and rendered " The village concert , " and " Olympia " in splendid style . Mr . Moon gave Chevalier's song "'E dunno

where ' e are , and several others ; Bro . Mutteen was successful in a spirited rendering of Gilbert ' s " Yarn of the Nancy Bell . " Bro . Robinson ' s song , " It's a long lane that never has a turning , " was much appreciated . Humorous selections of a very superior kind were also given by Messrs . Ward and Sheen . The songs were ably accompanied by Bro . W . H . Worsley J . W . of the Lodge .

The evening was a most enjoyable one , and the promoters were warmly congratulated upon the thorough success which had attended their efforts . It is hr contemplation to repeat the concert at a very early date . Amongst the many Provincial Officers who were present we noted Bros . J . W . Abbott 1030 and 1459 , Fred Hilton 1055 and 2363 , Joseph Lees 1345 and 2295 , Alfred Hebden 1458 , and Edward Roberts 1459 . o o o

CARADOC LODGE , No . 1573 . THE annual meeting was held on Monday , 5 th inst ., when Bro . N . M . Crose P . G . Superintendent of Works was installed for the second time . He appointed the Officers in regular form . o o o

DUKE OF FIFE LODGE , No . 2345 . FTHHE fourth election meeting was held at the Alexandra Hotel , _ L Clapham Common , S . W ., on Wednesday , the 15 th ult . The ballot was taken for Mr . Horace Cross Mitchell , known in the theatrical world as Horace Charlton , and proving unanimous in

his favour he was impressively initiated into the Order . The annual elections took place with the following result : —A Harvey W . M ., R . Steele Treasurer , PatrickTjler . Auditors—Bros Baldwin , Morris , and Wyer P . P . G . D . C . Kent .

The musical portion of the meeting was very successful , songs being given by Bros . Lyell S . D ., W ood Secretary , W . Stracey and H . Mitchell , violin solos by Bro . Horace Cross Mitchell , all of which were well received .

o o o MINNEHAHA MINSTREL LODGE , No . 2363 . THE ordinary meeting was held at the Victoria Hotel , Manchester , on Monday , 26 th ult . There were present : — Bros . W . A . Brabner W . M ., F . W . Wollaston I . P . M ., Cryil H .

Beever S . W ., Chas . Harrop J . W ., M . Thomas P . M . P . P . G . D . Secy ., Henry Nail P . M . S . D ., Fred Hilton P . M . Prov . G . D . C J . D ., Seth Wrigley P . M . D . C , Edwyn A . Smith Org ., J . W . Lloyd P . M ., Edw .

Roberts P . M . Asst . Prov . G . T . ( FBEEMASON ' CHKONICLE ) , Thomas Hamnett , Sam Luke , W . W . Hitching , G . R . Ward , S . H . SWbbs . Visitors : —Bros . Joseph Lees Prov . G . S . 1345 , John Travers S . W , 1387 , T . H . Thomason P . M . 739 , Jas . Beardmore P . M . 2482 , W .

Muir 204 , F . Todd 1052 . After the minutes had been confirmed , Bro . Sheldon Harold Sfcubbs was interrogated in the usual way , and having answered satisfactorily , he was passed by Bro . Thomas , the latter being assisted by Bros . Beever and Wrigley . Bro . Brabner W . M . presented to the Lodge a magnificent

banner , which had been made at his own premises in Princess Stieet , Manchester , and under his own personal supervision . It was of elegant workmanship , the design being an enlarged copy of

the foundation jewel , with the addition of several characteristic Masonic emblems . The gift evoked the warmest enthusiasm from the brethren present , and Bro . Brabner was accorded a fitting vote of thanks , which he duly acknowledged .

At the festive board which followed , the orthodox toasts were very agreeably relieved by songs , recitations , and instrumental music , rendered by Bros . Hilton , Thomas , Hall , Smith , Thomason , Beever and Todd .

o o o LODGE OF INSTRUCTION , No . 581 . THE regular meeting of this increasingly popular Lodge was held at the Old Boar ' s Head Hotel , Withy Grove , Manchester , on Tuesday , the 27 th ult . The Lodge was opened at 7 . 45 by Bro . Lingard acting W . M .

, the other Officers being Bros . Fryer S . W ., Loebell J . W ., Dean S . D ., Crone J . D ., and S \ ee I . G . After the reading of the minutes , Bro . Shorrocks accepted the position of candidate , and the ceremony of the second degree was rehearsed by Bro . Lingard , who was assisted by Bro . Fryer . Bro . Lenard now assumed the

principal chair , and Bro . Hepworth evincing a readiness to act as candidate , the ceremony of the third degree was rehearsed . Upon the proposition of Bro . Abbott , which was seconded by Bro . Higbam , the Secretary was instructed to forward a vote of condolence from the Brethren to the family of the late William Lindop , recently deceased . During the evening , the names of four Brethren who were desirous of becoming members were submitted to the meeting .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

SINCERITY LODGE , No . 35 . FT ! HE annual meeting was held on the 5 th inst ., in the Masonic JL Temple , Town Hall , Stonehouse , when Bro . John Parker S . W ., unanimously elected by the Brethren , was installed as W . M ., by dispensation , for the year ensuing . The ceremony was ably carried out by the letiring W . M ., Bro . George Dunsterville . In tho evening the Biethren of Sincertv Mark and the Ark Mariners

Lodge , which is attached to the Mark Lodge , dined together at the Masonic Club , Plymouth , an excellent tupper being well served up . Bro . J . Parker the W . M . of the Mark Lodge presided , and was supported by Bro . F . M . H . Somerville the W . CN . of the Ark Mariners Lodge .

o o o ROBINSON LODGE , No . 255 . AN interesting ceremony took place in connection with this Lodge on Tuesday evening , the 27 th ult ., at the Freemasons ' Hall , Brewer Street , Maidstone , when Bro . F . W . Wright P . P . G . J . W . Kent , was presented with his portrait in recognition of his

services to the Lodge as Secretary for several years . The portrait is a capital likeness , and was executed by Mr . Hibling , of Week Street . Bro . Wright is sitting in an arm chair , with his regalia ,

whilst above the portrait is the name of the Lodge , and beneath that the following inscription : " To W . Bro . F . W . Wright P . M . P . P . G . J . W . Sec . 1890-94 . Presented at the Freemasons' Hall , in open Lodge , Feb . 27 th , 1894 . " The presentation was made bvBro , J . H . Bridge W . M ., on behalf of the members . o o o

EUSTON LODGE , No . 399 . THE members had the honour of entertaining their Worshipful Master , H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught , to luncheon on Monday , the 26 th ult ., at the Grafton Rooms , W . The Lodge was opened by Bro . Sir Lionel Darell , Bart ., P . G . W ., the senior Past Master of the Lodge . The Ark Mariners Lodge was opened by Bro . Sir Reginald Hanson , Bt ., M . P ., and Bros . Lord Skelmersdale

YYoodhouse Bevan , and Colonel Egerton were elevated as Ark Mariners by Bro . C F . Matier Grand Sec . The Lodges were then adjourned and the Brethren retired to luncheon , which was presided over by H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught . On the Lodges being resumed , H . R . H . the W . M ., attended by Bros , the Earl of Euston Treas ., and Col . A . B . Cook Prov . G . M . Middx . Sec ,

entered and was formally placed in the chairs of Master and Commander by Bros . Sir Lionel Darell and Sir Reginald Hanson . The Officers were presented to his Royal Highness by Bro . Frank Richardson , Grand Registrar , after which the Lodges were closed , by command of the W . M ., by Bro . Clement Godson , the Deputy

Master . His Royal Highness was graciously pleased to accept from the members the jewels of W . Master and W . Commander N ., and to express his entire satisfaction with the arrangements which had been made and most admirably carried out by the Manager of Blanchard and Co . o o o

ST . JOHN THE BAPTIST LODGE , No . 404 . npHE annual meeting was held in the Masonic Hall , Penzance , JL Bro . W . Colenso being impressively installed as W . M . by Bro . Major Ross P . M . P . P . G . S . W . An interesting feature of the proceedings was the presentation to the Lodge by Bro . W . K . Baker P . M . P . P . G . S . W . of a large portiait group of the founders . The brethren afterwards dined together at the Western Hotel . ¦ ¦ >

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

— : o : — ST . HELEN'S CHAPTER , No . 531 . rpHE Annual Convocation was held at the Masonic Hall , Hartle-I pool , the installation of Comp . Belk as Z . being deferred , owing to his recent severe accident , from which he is happily recovering , though slowly . Comp . T . H . Johnson was installed H ., by Comp . B . Levy P . Z . P . P . G . H ., and Comp . C . T . Watson as J . The banquet was served at the King's Head Hotel .

A pretty little tale is going the rounds just now , says " the Mallet , " in " Glasgow Evening News , " of the fraternal and Masonic spirit which exists among the Brotherhood in San Francisco . The brother-in-law of the W . M . of a Lodge in Glasgow was , it appears , while on a visit to 'Frisco with his ship , accidentally drowned . His shipmates in looking through his belongings came upon a Masonic

document which they sent with intimation of his death , to the headquarters of the Craft in the town . The parchment proved the dead man to have been a member of the Craft made only some eighteen months previously . The body meanwhile having been recovered , it was claimed by the Freemasons of San Francisco , and

during the next two days a Masonic funeral was advertised in the public prints , resulting in a large number of the Craft turning out to the burial , which took place at the Masonic portion of the burying ground in town . The recital calls for no comment , and I but place it on record in tribute to our Brethren across the sea .