Instruction.

the rest of the Provincial Grand Officers Present and Past , which toast was well received , and replied to by several Provincial Officers who were present . ' Bro : John Bottomley P . M . P . P . G . Sword Bearer - proposed Colonel La Gendre N . Starkie Prov . G . M . East Lanes ., and the Officers of neighbouring Province ' s , ' coupling with it the name " of Bro . J . Mercer Jones P . M . P . P . G . A . P . In a very able . and : eloquent speech he said it was with feelings of much pleasure he submitted the toast to the Brethren . On several occasions , he

had had the pleasure of visiting the Provincial G ' . Lodge of East ' Lancashire ' , and witnessing the admirable maimer in which the p . G . M . Bro . Starkie conducted the work of the Province and performed the'duties of his high calling : * In appointing the Officers for the Province he was a very gocd judge , finding out good and honourable members of the Craft , Brethren who had distinsiiished themselves in Masonry ,, and wero capable of performing the

beautiful ceremonies With advantage , with credit ;' and with honour"to them r selves , and to the Craft in general . Bro . Mercer Jones had done great and good service for the Institutions of the Craft , and he . was capable of doing much more good work . He had distinguished himself by merit and ability , and * honestly earned the honour which had been conferred on him by the Grand Master of his Province .

; 'Brp . Jones , in response , tendered his grateful thanks to Bro . Bottomley for the eulogistic way in which he had coupled his humble name with ' one so illustrious , dignified and noble as the Grand Master of the Province with which he had the honour to be associated , and also the Brethren for the way they had received the toast . The Brethren of Moira justly prized , and highly esteemed the Master of their Province ; and he respected them for so doing . He always felt at home with the Brethren of Moira Lodge , and although a

little stream divided their land horn his they of East Lancashire did not stand shivering on the brink fearing to launch away ; but were ready to come over and help fco fche besfc of their ability the good cause of Brotherly love , relief and truth . He dearly prized the honour , although a lowly position , the first round on Provincial honour ' s wheel , of having his name enrolled on the scroll with so noble an army of Provincial Officers , under the command of so noble a Provincial Grand Master as Colonel Le Gendre N . Starkie , who he was proud to say ranked second to none in discipline and order .

: Bro . Samuel Hall I . P . M ., in submitting the toasfc of the W . M . ' , spoke highly of his abilities and fitness for occupying the high position he had that day attained . Bro . Hall was eloquent in speaking of the noble example of former occupants of fche ohair , and incidentally mentioned that he had in his possession an engraving of an apron which had been specially produced or designed and afterwards dedicated to the memory of the Patron of the Lodge , the Earl of Moira . The Earl of Moira was an excellent example of a worthy Freemason , and when he was appointed Viceroy of India hia Masonic

friends presented him with a jewel which cost 1 , 000 guineas . On the apron were these words : — " If wisdom in council , eloquence in debate , valour in arms , steady patriotism , and universal benevolence be deserving of record in the page of history , and archives of Masonry , no subject in the British dominions possesses more genuine claims than the Right Honourahle the Earl of Moira A . G . M . of England , whose memory this Masonic badge is designed to ( perpetuate . " He had pleasure in giving the toast , which was heartily received .

The W . M . rose to respond , and was well received . In a very impressive speech he said he felt it to be a great honour to be W . M . of a Lodge of such eminence as the Moira—it was a proud position in which to be placed , He had . the interest of . the Lodge at heart , and- although he felfc it would he difficult to follow such able and expert Past Masters as Bro . Bottomley , whose name was known and honoured as a stalwart exponent of Masonry , yet he assured them nothing should be lacking on his part to make his year of office a successful one .

Bro . Holt , in proposing the health of the Immediate Past Master , expressed the genuine pleasure he had in having , the opportunity of commending the toast to the notice of the Brethren . Bro . Hall had without doubt done a great and good work during tbe past year . He had at his first meeting an initiation , and then a passing , and the raising of a Brother . These

separate ceremonies were gone through fully by him in a manner creditahle to himself and to his Lodge . To show again his capacity for work , on more than one occasion during his year of office he performed three ceremonies . Bro . Hall was an excellent business man , and he was an example to his Officers and to the Brethren geuexa . Uy . b * ' hiastn-atp-u-Qctuaitt *** in attending to all . Masonic business , as well as by his strong liking for the ritual of the ceremonies .

Bro . Hall I . P . M . made a suitable response . Other toasts followed . During the evening Bro . Bottomley received the following acrostic from Bro . Hughes , a member of the Moira Lodge , who was prevented by illness from being present that evening . M ay every Freemason , in the old Moira Lodge , 0 n this festive occasion the good things enjoy ; 1 nvest too each office with honour and badge ,

R epeat well those maxims they ' ve sworn "to stand by . A nd we hope the Great Architect , from mansions above , L ooks down with appoving benevolent eye , O n the tables surrounded by Brotherly love , D ivested of aught that can hurt or destroy . G iving help to each other as always they strove , E ver springing and spreading a fountain Of joy .

FIDELITY LODGE , No . 430 . THE installation meeting of this flourishing Lodge took place at the Pitt and Nelson Hotel , Ashton-under-Lyne , on Thursday , 15 th insfc ., Bro Edwin Whitehead W . M . presiding . There were present among many other distinguished Brethren , Bros , Col . Jno . Eaton P . M . 430 P . P . G . Treasurer , Josh . Leach P . M . 300 P . P . G . Treasurer , W . Newton P . M . 1822 P . P . G . J . D . and P . P . G . D . of Cheshire , Edwin Barlow P . M . 300 P . P . G . J . D ., Thos . L . Buckley P . M . 1218 P . P . G . J . D .. J . Mercer Jones P . M . 1322 P . P . G . A . P ., A . B . Wilkinson P . M . 1322 , Jno . Andrews 300 , A . E . Hague 324 , Jno . Hulme P . M . 2156 .

. The Lodge having heen opened , and the minutes read and confirmed , Bro . W . Newton P . M ., Mayor of Ashton , took the principal chair , arid appointed Officers as follow ; Bros . E . Barlow S . W ., S . Newton J . W ., J . Mercer Jones Inner Guard . Bro . Dr . Thos . Cooke W . M .-elect was presented , and duly installed in the chair of K . S . according to ancient custom , the ceremony being most

ably conducted . The W . M . then invested the I . P . M ., and appointed his Officers ^ who ware invested by Bro . Hy . Shaw P . M . as follows J . E . Ludlam S . W ., John Wm . Pollitt J . W ., C . H-. Waterhouse P . M . Treasurer , S . Newton P . M .. -Charity Representative , J . B . Pownall P . M . D . C , J . Lomas Organist , Frank . White SiD . / J . A . Fletcher J . D ., A . J . Gibson , W . K . Bradley , E . H . Howe , and F . Noel Eatoh Stewards , G . H . Coope I . G ., D . Birkby Tyler .

Instruction.

Bro . J . Mercer Jones presented the working tools in his usual lucid manner , and ; Bro . E . Barlow gave the addresses to the Master , Wardens and Brethren . *"•• ¦ '' All business being ended , the Lodge was closed , and the Brethren adjourned to a sumptuous banquet , and a highly enjoyable evening was spent , interspersed with some excellent music under the able direction of Bro . 0 . H .

Waterhouse P . M .. who presided at tbe organ , wifch J . Lomas ( Piano ) , J . Hulme P . M . ( Violin ) , A . E . Hague and Tom Ogden ( Vocalists ) . After the usual Loyal toasts had been given , Bro . Col . Eaton P . M ., in well chosen terms , proposed the toast of the W . M ., and congratulated the Lodge on its . selection of so indefatigable . a Master as Bro . T . Cooke . From his personal-knowledge , he : having been personally and closely intimate with him for a very great number of years , he knew him to be well fitted

faithfully fco perform his important duties , with credit to himself and satisfaction to the Lodge . The W . M ., in reply , after thanking Colonel Eaton and the Brethren for tha cordial and hearty way in which the toast had been given and received , said that , with the assistance of his Officers , and the co-operation of the members of the Lodge , he would try to discharge his duties during the coming year to their fullest satisfaction , and would hand down to his successor the . Warrant of the Lodge untarnished in honour and reputation . He heartily wished them all a merry Christmas .

The W . M . proposed the I . P . M ., which was well received , and neatly responded to . Bro . Samuel Newton P . M . then gave the Installing Masters , Bros . W . Newton , H . Shaw , Mercer Jones , rand E . Barlow , and in eloquent terms spoke of the merit and ability of each , and heartily welcomed them . Bro . W . Newton suitably replied .

The W . M . Bro . Cooke desired specially to thank Bros . Newton , Jones , and Barlow for their kind and ready assistance , and hoped to have them again on some future occasion . Bro . J . B . Pownall P . M ., in happily chosen terms humorously gave the Visiting Brethren , bidding all a hearty welcome , which was enthusiastically received , and suitably responded to hy Bio . Jno . Andrew .

The Officers , the Masonic Chanties , and the Tyler s toast followed , and the meeting broke up at a late hour , everyone declaring it to be one of the most pleasant Sfc . John ' s they had spent .

LODGE OF SYMPATHY , No . 483 . AN emergency meeting was held at the Royal Clarendon Hotel , ' Gravesend , on Wednesday of last week , under the presidency of Bro . A . J . Walklin W . M ., assisted by Bros . R . J . Beamish as I . P . M ., W . Hawker P . M . as S . W ., Orlton Cooper P . M . as J . W ., T . T . Hogg P . M . as Sec , J . A . Gillett S . D ., J . A . Axcell J . D ., T . Smith I . G . ' There were also present Bros . Percy Bowen , Walter Hayward P . M ., Geo .

Ceiley , T . A . Mummery , R . Porter , Dr . Thurnell , R . Andrews , T . D . Gee , H , Webster , F . Pettingall , G . Purves , J . W . Sweet , 0 . Befcts ,. A . F . Denton , W . F . Buckland , J . C . Walker , Geo . A . Grant " , ' J . ' Towhro ' v : Visitors , E . W . Webb , H . P . Mackenzie , Henry E . Porter , E . 0 . Paine , Wm . Gunn , A . J . Hilder all of 77 ; P . G . Hales 1563 , F . J . Hawkins 860 , J . Vowles 1416 , Stephen Wright 1831 . . ' ¦* ... ¦

The opening hymn having been sung the Lodge was advanced to tha third degree , when Bros . A . J . Walklin , George C . Realfi and James Fothergill having proved their proficiency , were raised to the sublime degree and took their seats in the Lodge as Master- Masons . The ceremony was admirably rendered by the * W . M . who also delivered the traditional history .

The Lodge was then resumed to the first degree , when the ballot was taken and proved unanimous in favour of Messrs . George Arthur Oldland and James George Browne . These gentlemen being in attendance , together wifch Messrs . Charles Edward Mitchell and John Alexander Smith , previously balloted for , were admitted and regularly initiated into the mysteries and privileges of Freemasonry . This ceremony was also perfectly performed by Bro . Walklin , and fche impressiveness of the ritual was considerably enhanced by the capital work of the Deacons .

The Lodge was . closed , and the Brethren afterwards partook of supper , served by Bro . Cosh .

LODGE OF INSTRUCTION , No . 581 . r * pHE regular meeting was held at the Old Boar ' s Head Hotel , Withy Grove , J _ Manchester , on Thursday , Sth inst ., Bros . Alfred Hebden P . M . 1458 P . P . G . D . D . C . Preceptor , assisted by Bros . Geo . T . Lenard P . M . 1077 Treas ., and Geo . W . Davies P . M . 1459 Secretary . The Preceptor appointed the Officers for the evening as follow , viz .: — Bros . G . P . Taylor W . M ., H . E . Massie S . W ., Geo . Pettinger J . W ., Matthew Goth S . D ., M . Pogson J . D ., Nathan Robinson I . G .

The minutes of-the previous meeting having been read and confirmed , successful ballots were taken for Bros . Robert Aspden , Townley Parker Lodge , No . 1083 ; Albert Horrocks , Duchess of York Lodge , No . 2482 ; and Joseph Winson Scott , Integrity Lodge , No . 163 , who were desirous of Becoming members .

The ceremony of initiation was then rehearsed by Bro . G . P . Taylor as W . M ., assisted by Bros . Massie S . W ; , who presented and explained the working tools , and M . Goth S . D ., who delivered the E . A , charge , the work in each instance being admirably performed . The candidate was Bro . William Heywood .

The chair having heen assumed by Bro . Thos . Knott P . M . 1030 , an election of Officers took place , the result being unanimously in favour of the following : —Bros . Hebden Preceptor , Lenard Treasurer , Davies Secretary . Each Officer acknowledged the compliment—that of re-election in all cases . Bros , W . Bae P . P . G . D . D 0 . and Joseph Day S . D . 1458 we ' re appointed Auditors of the accounts for the past year .

Bros . Massie S . W . 1459 and James Doyle Std . 1458 were appointed to assist the Officers in making arrangements for celebrating the Festival of St . John , on Thursday , 12 th January . .. . We may add that there was an excellent attendance of members at the meeting .

URMSTON LODGE , No . 1730 . A REGULAR meeting was held afc the Victoria Hotel , Urmston , on Monday , 12 fch inst ., Bro . Jas . Ormrod W . M . After the reading and confirmation of minutes , Bro . George Franklyn was raised to the sublime degreo by the Worshipful Master , assisted by Bro . J . S . Whitley S . W ., who presented and explained the ^ working tools of tha degree , Being the { penultimate meeting of the financial year , an election of