Provincial.

The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed , a successful billot was taken for Bro . William Poters Bellerby , Manufacturer , Heaton Chapel , AgricoK Lodge , No . 1991 , who was desirous of becoming a joining member , sifter which Bro . Alfred Pickford P . M . D . C . treated the Brethren to a fine exposition of tho third degree tracing board , the explanation being attentively listened to .

At the festive board , Loyal and Masonic toasts were given , also songs ana sketches , a pleasant evening being spent . The next meeting , to be held on Friday , 2 nd February , will be a Ladios' night , and especial arrangements are being made to provide an interesting and varied programme .

CASTLEBERG LODGE , No . 2091 . IN response to a very cordial invitation , received from Brother John Mann Crone S . D . Worshipful Master-elect , we were present at the annual meeting of this Lodge , held at the Ashfield Hotel , Settle ( West Yorks ) , on Thursday , llih iust ., which was characterised by several as the largest gathering in its hif tory .

At mid-day v . e and Bro . Crone , accompanied by half-a-dozen Past Masters of tho Architect Lodge , No . 1375 , West Lancashire ( in which Lodge Bro . Crone holds the position of W . M . ) , together with the S . W . ( Bro . Hugh W . Bloomer ) and otbor members , as also several Brethren from other Lodges , to the number of twenty or thereabouts , left Manchester in a special saloon , and arrived at Hellefield in time to partake of a slight repast , one just sufficient to wot the appetite for more substantial things which were to follow Lodge business at Settle .

' Upon the arrival there of the Manchester contingent , Lodge was opened by Bro . S . Parker W . M . After the reading of the dispensation necessary under the circumstances , and the confirmation of minutes , the ceremony of installation was performed by Bro . Thos . Brayshaw P . M . P . P . G . Reg . Secretary , assisted by Bros . J . Lund Brayshaw P . P . G . D . D . C , W . J . Waugb

P . P . G . Reg ., Dr . F . E . Atkinson Treasurer , Chas . E . Bygrave , Dr . C . W . Buck , and E . Handby , the latter also distinguishing himself by a very fine rendering of the solo "Be thou faithful unto death , and I will give thee a crown of life " ( St . Paul ) . We must not forget to mention that the singing of the hymn , "Lead , kindly light , " at the opening of the third degree , had a very imposing effect .

Bro . Crone , the newly-installed W . M ., in a neat and appropriate speech , presented to the retiring Master a Past Master's jewel , the gift of one of the members , whilst Bro . Parker , following a custom which has obtained since the formation of the Lodge , in turn presented to the members a very fine portrait of himself , the same being destined to adorn one of the walls of the handsome Lodge room , in company with those of his fourteen predecessors .

The following is a list of Officers for the ensuing year : —Bros . J . L . Kidd S . W ., C . F . Armistead J . W ., Rev . R . C . Garnett Chaplain , Rev . A . Crofton Treasurer , Thos . Brayshaw P . M . P . P . G . R . Sec , H . B . Shepherd P . M . S . D ., Chas . E . Bygrave P . M . J . D ., J . Lund Brayshaw P . M . P . P . G . D . D . C , E , Handby P . M . I . G ., C . A . L . Swale Tyler , J . L . Kidd , C . F . Armistead Stewards , E . Handby P . M . Charity Steward and Almoner .

Letters of apology for non-attendance were read' from Bros . Wm , Goodacre P . G . S . B . Eng . Prov . Gr . Sec . West Lanes , Walter Newton P . M . 268 830 1322 P . P . G . D . East Lanes and Cheshire Mayor of Ashton-under-Lyne , J . J . Lambort P . M . 1387 P . G . D . Eng . P . P . G . Reg . West Lanes , A . Cross P . P . G . D . West Lanes , Capt . Roper ( Keigbley ) , Capt . Dewhurst ( Skipton ) , who has just gone to take command of volunteers in South Africa , Kd . Wilson ( Leeds ) Dep . Prov . Gr . Master , and others .

The Festival of St . John took place in the large dining room of the hotel , which had been especially adorned for the occasion . The banquet expeditiously served by the proprietor ( J . W . Dugdale ) was of that recherche description a sight of which would have made the ^ ascetic mouth of Thomas Parnell's hermit water—he whose meagre diet is described as

" Our food the fruits , our drink the crystal well . " Loyal and Masonic toasts were agreeably varied by songs , recitations , & c , the oontributaries being Bros . E . Handby , Chas . B . Bygrave , C . W . Buck , C A . L . Swale , Hy . Nail P . M . 1375 P . P . G . Tr ., Alfred Pickford P . M . 1375 ( after ¦ whose appreciable rendering of Bro . Rudyard Kipling ' s " Absent-Minded Beggar " the amount of four guineas was collected on behalf of the local war fund ) , Wm . Lea S . D . 1375 , Edward Roberts P . M . 1459 Prov . G . Tlr . East

Lanes , and others . Bro . Hanson ( Bingley ) kindly officiated at the pianoforte . In proposing the health of the Queea Bro . Grone said the first toast he was about to submit required but few words from him to commend it , and perhaps on the present occasion brevity would be the wisest course to adopt , seeing that the mind of Her Most Gracious Majesty tho Queen was almost distracted by the enormous loss of life which had taken place in the efforts to maintain our supremacy in the Transvaal . Let them show their sympathy by drinking her health most enthusiastically .

Of the Prince of Wales and the Grand Officers present and past , he felt to tell them that the Grand Master was one of , if not THE best who had graced that position , was to impart information which they were already familiar with . In him they had a ruler of whom they were all proud , and those who , like himself , had had the privilege of seeing him at his post could judge of hig variety of powers , his graceful and elegant bearing , and his easy performance of the duties of his high station . They were also justly proud of the other Grand Officers , and he asked them , on behalf of the members , to extern ! a cordial welcome from West Yorkshire .

In proposing the Right Hon . W . Lawies Jackson , M . P ., Prov . G . Master , Bro . Ricbaid Wilson Deputy , and the Prov . Grand Officers present and past of West Yorkshire and other Provinces , Bro . Crone said the toast was one which came nearer home , and which applied to them in a strictly local sense . Every governing body must have its supreme head , and also its

sub-divisions , for the easier transaction of business . They looked to the Provincial Grand Master , his Deputy , and the Provincial Officers for guidance and support , which was never withheld . They bad with them that night Provincial Officers from their own Province , and representatives from surrounding ones , to all of whoso , thoy tendered a most hearty welcome .

Bros . J . R . Hartley 810 P . P . G . D . C , A . G . Collins P . M . 1375 P . P . G . D . C , G . S . Tatham P . M . 1074 P . P . S . D ., J . W . Clayton P . M . 2457 P . P . G . S . B ., and Edward Roberts responded . Bro . Crone afterwards alluded in feeling terms to the death of Bro . Throup P . M ., a founder of the Castleberg Lodge , and hiB memory was toasted in solemn silence .

The health of the Worshipful Master was proposed by Bro . Chas . Bygravo P . M ., & c . who gave a very interesting account of his own early acquaintance with Bro . Crone , and also reverted to the l & tter ' s connection with the Architect Lodge , No . 1375 , West Lanes , of which he was the present Worshipful Master . We may add here that immediately following Bro . Cone's installation , last March , his portrait and an account of his Masonic career appeared in this journal , to which we would refer our readers .

Provincial.

Bro . Crone W . M ., in responding to the toast of his health , said he did not claim the power of imagination which could find expression in glowing terms and high-sounding words and phrases . He left that to those possessed of ability in that direction , and would himself try to be guilty of nothing worse than that of uttering a few truths , with a bit of old English common sense thrown in . He wished he could feel he deserved one half of what Bro .

Bygrave had said of him . He assured him , and all of them , that he considered it a very great honour to have been installed W . M . of the Castleberg Lodge , and he took it as a high compliment to his Mother Lodge , for , as Yorkshiremen they were far too cute to place any Brother in the chair without having made sure that he was a fit and proper Mason to occupy it . He was afraid he had not been able to prove his fitness by the manner in

which he had attended to the duties of 2091 , living as he did so far away , ana thus he took it as an additional honour to his Mother Lofig 8 , for they must consider he had been well trained there . Some of them had paid him visits at Chorlton-cum-Hardy , and had been well received . He assured them that on future occasions they would be heartily welcome . He promised he would try his utmost to maintain the position in which they had placed him with

all the dignity it demanded , and would endeavour to the best of his ability to perform its duties so that when his term of office was completed they would be able to say he had justified the confidence they had placed in htm . That night he felt proud of his position in Freemasonry , being Worshipful Master of two Lodges , a position that did not fall to the lot of every Brother . Again he thanked them from the bottom of his heart for their kindness .

Bro . Thos . Brayshaw proposed the health of the I . P . M ., saying there was an old maxim well known to them all , " the king is dead , long live the king . " So with the Worshipful Masters—they enter into the body of " have been , " and as one of those who had been in the rank he was glad to welcome Bro . Parker , who , only a year ago had been questioned by himself as to whether

he could faithfully accept and discharge the duties of Worshipful Master . Bro . Parker had promised to do so , and he was glad to state that at the end of the I . P . M . ' s labours the office had not suffered any deterioration at his hands . He was cordially welcomed among the Past Masters , and it was hoped that this day would be marked with a red stone in his life .

Bro . Parker thanked the Brethren for the handsome manner in which they had received the toast of his health . His year of office had been a most pleasant one , and he had to thank the Past Masters for that . To Bro . Brayshaw especially he was under a deep obligation . Bro . Nail proposed the Castleberg Lodge , to which Bro . Thos . Proctor P . M . responded .

Bro . W . J . Waugh P . M . proposed the health of the Visitors , which was responded to by Bros . Varley Sellars P . M . 810 , R . Harrison W . M . 810 , P . Lloyd Rees 1055 , G . Webster W . M . 1074 , J . G . Bromley P . M . 1375 , and E . Roberts P . M . 1459 .

Other toasts followed . Among those whose names have not been mentioned there were present Bros . N . W . Helme P . P . G ; W . W . L ., J . Roper I . P . M . 1074 P . r . G . J . W ., T . A . Holland P . M . 1375 , E . M . Beebee 1375 , W . J . Flint 1375 , E . Sharratt 1375 , and J . Lingard 1375 .

SYMPATHY LODGE OF INSTRUCTION , No . 483 . ON the 22 nd inst ., at the Star Hotel , Gravesend , under the Preceptorship of Bro . H . Forss , Bros . William Hawker W . M ., R . J . Beamish S . W ., Ernest Ineram J . W .. Percy Bowen Sec , O . Cooper S . D ., J . Hewison J . D ..

Wm . Buckland I . G . The ceremony of initiation was rehearsed , Bro . H . T . Davey being the candidate . Bro . Axcell was elected to take the chair at the nex . % meeting . A ballot for a Life Governorship from the Lodge Benevolent Fund was taken , Bro . Blinn being the successful drawer .

WARNER LODGE , No . 2256 . ON Friday , 19 th inst ., the regular weekly meeting was held at the Royal Forest Hotel , Chingford , when Bro . W . W . West Deputy Preceptor of the Walthamstow Lodge of Instruction , No . 2472 , acted as Worshipful Master , with J . R . Carter W . M . 2501 S . W ., G . B . Benson J . W ., C . T . Papworth Sec , D . C Rhodes Preceptor acting S . D ., J . T . Inkpen J . D ., J . Ives P . M . I . G ., & c

The Lodge was opened to the third degree , and the ceremony of raising was rehearsed . The W . M . resumed the Lodge to the first degree , and Bro . Carter was elected to preside at the following meeting .

AT a recent meeting of this Lodge the Brethren presented their Secretary Bro . G . T . Papworth with a very handsome testimonial , consisting of a beautiful silver cigar case suitably inscribed as follows : — From the members of THE WARNER LODGE OF INSTRUCTION , No . 2256 . Christmas 1899 .

We add our congratulations to Brother Papworth on receiving so handsome a present . May he use it in good he « , Hh for many years , "in a very liberal manner , " is the earnest wish of his friends . The Lodge meets every Friday at 8 . 15 , and Brethren rosidiug in the neighbourhood could not do better than pay it a visit . They will receive a most hearty welcome .

Ireland.

IRELAND .

NELSON LODGE , No , 18 , fl ^ HE installation meeting of this , the premier Lodge of Newvy , took place I in the beautiful aud comfortable lYlasonio Hall situate in Downshire Road , on Thursday , 4 th inst ., and was a brilliant gathering in every respect . After the installation of Bro . William Fraser as W . M . the following were invested as assistant Officers for the year : Bros . Benjamin Beamish S . W Henry Smart J . W ., W . Harris S . D ., F . S . Wade J . D ., F . S . D . Meats I . G ., F . C . Crosbie Prov . G . S . Sec , H . H . Handcock Treas .

The Brethren who acted as D . C . were Bros . J . Hunter Moore P . M . and J . L . D . Mears P . M . The ceremonies were conducted in excellent form , and with commendable promptitude . The dinner was served in the dining hall , in Bro . F . Joos ' s usual satisfactory manner . After the Loyal aud Masonic toasw an excellent programme of music W » S rendered by Bros . Beustead , R . Eiskiue . R . Dempster , and G . Alderdice . Among the visitors present were Bros . G . R . A . Gietniy 51 V . C ., W . C M , Smith 27 ( Newry ) , E . Biggar ( Dundali ) , H . LI . Booth 097 ( Warreupoint ) ,