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held the office he had had the pleasure of sitting under the P . G . M . on five different occasions , and from the great attention he seemed to give to his duties , he was fully led with the belief that he would prove to be a worthy successor to one whom they all knew was a worthy predecessor . He trusted the P . G . M . mig ht long be spared to preside over

'Ihe Chairman next proposed the toast of Sir Hcdworth Williamson , Bart ., D . P . G . M ., and the Officers of the I rovincial Grand Lodge , " which was received with entnu-S ' Br " o ' . D . Sinclair , P . M . S , P . G . A . D . of C , responded to the toast , and trusted the Provincial Officers of this district would ever continue to act harmoniously as they had done

Bro . George Carr Watson , P . M ., proposed "The Health of the Worshipful Master . " He said they had got a brother in the chair who was well up in Masonry , , and he trusted he would have a successful year in the chair ; anil , seeing that Bro . McNamara was such an exec lent visitor himself , he trusted the lodge would be visited by brethren from all the lodces of the province , and that when his year

of office terminated , they would be ablei to say'lie naa oone his work zealously and impartially . Without saying any more , he gave them « The Health of the W . M . " The toast was drank with great cordiality . The Chairman , in responding , said -. Past Master Watson , Past Masters , Wardens , and brethren—In looking round me to-nitrht , the sisrht of such an array of brethren who have snouia

already passed the ordeal I am about to undergo , inspire me with courage to say a few words . \ et 1 teel any words 1 can command must utterly fai to convey to you the feelings of thankfulness and gratitude I experience at the present moment , not only at the vyay m which you , Bro . Watson , proposed my health and the happy way it has been received , but for the great honour you have

conferred on me by placing me here at your neau ... » . < - . » . » - tine Lodge for the ensuing twelve months . I shall not detain you with a lengthy speech , but I think it is due to you that I should tell you something of what I consider to be the duties I have engaged myself to fulfil to-night . 1 hope that any words falling from my lips that might have the slightest tendency to offend , the brethren wil pardon , ine

as I only wish to express what 1 consider to De uuues of a Master of a lodge . It is not every one who is chosen Master that , from a variety of circumstances , is able to fulfil the duties of the high and honourable position . the Master should be a teacher , and should be well learned in the laws , usages , history , and traditionsof the Order ; thoroughly able to impart all the information necessary to the canl d

didates in passing through the severaucgreo , „ u capable to instruct the less informed brethren . the luKewarmness and indifference to Masonry often evinced by many members of the fraternity , and their ignorance of its principles and high moral aims , are often to be attributed to the neglect of the W . M . If the candidate m passing through the several Degrees is not properly instructed , it sennmcnis ier

he is not imbued with high and lolty , u .. nj . and holier feelings are not awakened in lus bosom to live a better life , to have increased charity towards his fellow men , it is in vain to suppose that he will devote his time and attention to seeking for pearls of precious value when his instructor gave him no reason to believe that any existed , and of which he himself was ignorant . I , moreover ,

believe that a candidate should not be allowed to leave the Sodge on the night of his initiation without having at least the first charge given unto him , and if there is too much •work to be got throug h in a reasonable time it were better - . to put off Second and Third Degrees and have extra lodges , for that purpose , if required , so that the candidate may be Dronerlv instructed in the First Degree , and that the

. brethren may not feel dull by being too long at 'aoour . Then we might escape the principal scene which Itoo often occurs in a Mason ' s lodge-the general exodus of the brethren at a certain period of the night . I also believe it to be the W . M . ' s duty to keep the Past Masters well up in the various Degrees by endeavouring to prevail upon them to participate in the work of the evening , and not to ¦ nimseiii mscwise

; , „ too anxious to do all the worn . NUICVC ihat ¦ ' » work should be done , and the lodge closed as near nine o ' c . ' ock as possible , so that a happy hour may be spent a the socia l board , which is considered by many brethren to be one of the greatest cements of the Order . Brethren , as 1 have to-night taken upon myself the great and solemn SolKation to keep inviolate certain secrets or landmarks of noi ouiui

the Order , t wou d oe p . auc .. . ....... ~ - ~ J --- words on the secrecy of Masonry . I know there are many members of th ^ Fraternity who think everything connected with Masonry is secret , and who will not budge one peg more than they were taught when the several Degrees were conferred upon them ; who entertain an opinion that they ou " ht not to know anything of its history , traditions , or the

origin of its rites and ceremonies ; wno »» - ' " » knowledge should be hid from the light of day , and perfsh in oblivion for ever . To shield themselves in their ignorance they make use of that convenient expression- " Masonry is a secret society . I -rant you Masonry is a secret institution so far as its landmarks are concerned ; they are unchangeable ; and any brother worthy of the name of a Mason would nevei wish them otherwise ; but he that infers that its aims and purnoses are secret , and are incapable of unioldment , betrays sole

a gross ignorance of its history . An institution whose aim and purpose is to elevate and improve mankind cannot ^ e secret in all respects ; the platform of yesterday must be it , vatcd to conform with increased light and knowledge of Wry ; there must be a continual change , an upward and •onwar . d tendency as we increase in knowledge from day to 4 iv of the duties we owe to God , our neighbours , and „ , ' ; J . W < . It is idle to tempt Freemasonry from advancing

•with the intellectual advancement ol the age . the i-reen asonry of to-day is far in advance of the I-rceinasonry o ¦ one hundred years ago in its . system ol charities but more especially in the acquisition of knowledge of its ¦ ist history . None but the wilfully Wind , E ? imorint . or those who can see nothing in Masonry

beyond its signs , tokens , and pass-worus , can pe nos ne instructing their brethren in Masonic light and knowledge . All intellectual Masons , in the proper sense of the term , as regards the landmarks of the Order , are truly secret , but he secrecy which will not admit of the development of Masonic principles , of the promulgation of Masonic

teachings , of its history , philosoiAy , statistics , symi . o . s , or ns high and holy aim and . mission , 10 ; , ' . opposed tc . true Freemasonry as virtue is opposed to vice , ) rethrcn , I ¦ g . "ain thank you . 1 make you no pruinisc ivhatt-ycr , what

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I may do during my year of ofiice , but I will to the best of my ability endeavour to perform the duties of that office . May we have a happy and prosperous year , at the termination of which 1 hope some of you will be able to say , " He has tried to do his duty . " To you of my brethren who have been invested by me to-night , I have again to remind you of what I said at your investment . 1 hope you will be

regular in your attendance and endeavour to be proficient in your duties , so that at the end of your year of office the brethren shall say , " The Officers have all done their duty . " To you of my brethren who have not been invested—no doubt you have shown yourselves anxious to be so—1 say , in the words of an old and valued brother : Avoid dissensions , jealousies , and piques ,

Beware of party spirit , and all cliques ; Let not desire of office be too keen , And if defeated fairly , show no spleen . The choice of officers should always rest On those whom we believe will work the best ;

Good men and true , who will with heart and soul , Exert themselves to benefit the whole . And if the brethren differ in their views , Remember , the majority must choose ; And the minority can do no less _ Than in their preference to acquiesce .

He again thanked them . The toast of the I . P . M . was next proposed , and given with enthusiasm . Bro . J . H . Leech , in responding , said that he undertook the duties a year ago with some diffidence ; but what he lacked in ability he had tried to make up by regular attention to the duties of the Ijdge . He was glad to think , at

the end of his year of office , that he had satisfied the brethren by the manner in which he had discharged the duties . The Chairman then proposed " The Health of their Newly-Initiated Bro . VV . Birch , " who suitably replied . Bro . P . M . Sharp proposed the toast of "The Past and Present Officers , " coupled with the names of Bros . J . C . Moor , S . W ., and J . G . Masbet , I . G ., who suitably

responded . Bro . H . Tonkinson , P . M ., proposed "The Installing Master , " Bro . G . C . Watson . He did not know a better Installing Master than Bro . Watson was . . It had been his pleasure to be acquainted with him from his initiation into Masonry , and a more studious and earnest Mason had not sat in the Palatine Lodge . He had worked assiduously and had put a good finishing stroke to his work that night .

He had great pleasure in proposing the toast . Bro . G . C . Watson , P . M ., in responding , said he could assure them that he had endeavoured to do his best , and if he had given satisfaction in his duties that day he was well repaid , and if he could at any time be of assistance to the newly-installed Master he should be glad to help him . The Chairman proposed "The Visiting Brethren . "

Nothing had given him greater pleasure during his Masonic career than to see so many of his brethren both on the right and on the left that night . They had members present from the following lodges : 4 S , So , S 5 , 94 , 240 , 406 , 6 G 1 , 949 , 1119 , 1342 , and 13 S 9 . The Palatine Lodge had ever been an hospitable one , and if he was spared with health and strength , he would not let that part of the glory

of the lodge go back during his year of office . Bros . D . Sinclair , P . M . 4 S ; R . de Clare Yeld , W . M . So ; J . Hudson , W . M . 94 ; Mawson , 240 ; G . Porteous , W . M . 949 ; H . Golder , W . M . 1119 ; and F . Maddison , P . M . 13 S 9 , responded . Bro . j . J . Clay , P . M . 97 , P . P . G . S . of W ., proposed the next toast—that of " The Masonic Charities . " Before he

mentioned anything about these valuable institutions , he would like to make a remark about one—an old friend whom they did not see here this year , who had passed away since they met last year , their good Bro . W . H . Crookes , P . G . S . —who had been Steward for two or three of the Charities , and used every endeavour to carry up as large a sum as he possibly could from the Province of

Durham . These Charities demanded support , not only of Masons generally , but of every Mason individually . The new Masonic school had always received hearty support , having had £ 25 voted to it at the last Provincial Grand Lodge . He thought , however , they might do more for their local charities , one of which—the Orphan Asylumseeing that Sunderland was a seafaring town , required their especial support . He had great pleasure in proposing the

toast . Bro . F . Madison , P . M . 13 S 9 , suitably responded . The last toast of the evening— " Our Absent Brethren " —concluded the harmonious proceedings . During the course of the evening several glees and trios and songs were admirably rendered by Messrs . Sinclair , Ferry , and Richardson , from Gateshead ; Wake , Porteous , Sutcliffe , Rainbow , and others .

PLYMOUTH . —Lodge of Fortitude ( No . 105 ) . —The annual meeting of this lodge , one of the oldest in the province , was held on the iyth inst ., at the Huyshe Temple . The W . M . elect , W . Bro . E . A . Lyons , was installed . W . Bro . H . J . Kitt , Bro . Lyons' immediate predecessor , was the installing officer , and carried out the ceremony with considerable eclat . The following

Worshipful brothers constituted the Board of Installed Masters : Bros . VV . S . Hearder , I . P . M . ; R . B . Twose , P . P . G . T . ; Samuel Jew , P . P . G . T . ; G . C . Bignell , Treas ., P . P . G . S . of Wks . ; C . H . Cooper , Sec , P . G . St . ; J . T . Browning , P . M . 105 ; M . Emdon , P . M . 105 ; J . E . Curteis , P . P . G . S . W . ; E . Aitken Davies , P . P . S . of Wks . ; J . B . Gover , P . P . G . A . DC ; Geo . Whittley , P . P . G . O . ; A . E . Lean ,

P . M . 70 ; J . Gidley , P . M . 156 ; B . S . Johns , P . M . 15 S ; W . H . Hunt , W . M . 1205 ; M . C . Lakefhan , I . P . M . 1550 ; and R . Hambly , W . M . 1055 . At the close of the installation the W . M . invested the following brethren as the ollicers for the ensuing year : Bros . H . J . Kitt , I . P . M . ; J . Gilford , S . W . ; E . Pillar , l . W . ; G . C . Bignell , Treas . ; C . IL Cooper , Sec . ; Geo .

Horswcll , S . D . ; S . R . Hayes , | . D . j J . W . Parson , D . C . J . S . Sloggett , A . D . C . ; W . S " . Hearder , Org . ; T . Gray I . G . ; M . Joel and A . W . Spinney , Stwds . ; and VV . II . Phillips , Tyler . The W . M . was elected to represent the lodge at the Committee of Petitions , and the following brethren were elected the representatives in the Temple Lodges Amalgamated Committee : Bros . E . A . Lyons , G . S . Bignell , C . H . Cooper , J . T . Browning , and J . Gifford .

MARPLE . —Lodge of Benevolence ( No . 336 ) . —The installation meeting of this lodge was held , and the festival of St . John celebrated , on Saturday , the 23 rd inst .,

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at the Jolly Sailor Inn . The following brethren were present : Bros . James Ridgway , XVM . ; Ralph Andrew , 5 > . W . ; J . D . Andrew , IJ . W . ; James Boardman , Seer John Crompton , S . D . ; W . Caldwell , J . D . ; Joseph Boardman , P . S . W . 111 G , I . G . ; Thomas Mather and Joseph Kirby , Stwds . ; Henry lackson , P . M ., P . P G . P Treas . ; J . H . Hartley , P . M . 1126 , P . G . P . Or < r . ; \ V

, , Hardy , P . M . ; Lynch D . Bradbury , P . M . 322 ; George rh / r & £ - ; 3 ? , ? - Jesse Tymm , P . M . ; J . E . Steward , f . M ., D . C . ; William Boardman , John Sherwin , John Phythian , and John Osbaldistone , Tyler . The following brethren from neighbouring lodges were the invited guests : Bros . Henry Howard , P . M . 112 G , P . P . G . J . D . ; J . Bardsley , P . M . 322 , W . M . 10 * 7 : R . Grav . W . M . i ,, fi . T

Barlow , W . M . 36 r ; Henry Barlow , S . W . 361 ; Jonathan Bailey , 3 G 1 ; T . H . Sherburn , W . M . 10 SS : W . Bayliss , P . M . 10 SS ; and J . Cowling , S . W . 112 G . I his lodge which has been aptl y termed "the corner Iodge of the Masonic lodges in the province of Cheshire " is , we are glad to find , rapidly , but cautiously rising in importance . In a sparsely populated district and deDendent .. nnn its

members from neighbouring towns and villages it has passed through various vicissitudes , and but for the perseverance of Bros . Henry Jackson , P . M ., P . P . J . D ., William Hardy , 1 . M-, and Joseph Ellis , Steward , it must have passed into oblivion . It possesses aminute book recording the minutes from the ist January , 1759 , and so on in a direct line down to the present tune . When to be able to write was

considered a great accomplishment , this lodge could boast of having a Secretary , who appears to have been a master of penmanship . In the year of the battle of Waterloo the minutes are recorded in a manner second to none that have been since indited , and its books and the "volume of the sacred law "would be interesting mental food foramember of the Society of Antiquarians . Among all the changes during

123 years it is creditable to the brethren who have passe ' d off the stage of life that such valuable records have been left as legacies to the present brethren . There is in all this evidence that the predecessors were genuine and true Masons . Within the past few years it has shown a vitality equal to that of a period so long ago as 1 S 30 , when the railway system was in its infancy , and when the brethren

ot those days had to walk six or seven miles , and sometimes more , to attend to perform th . e mystic duties . It can now boast of two brethren who have gained provincial honours ; and when it is considered that such honours are not bestowed every day its members have reason to be proud and grateful that the noble captain of Cheshire Masons , the Right Hon . Lord de Tabley , has not overlooked the lod

ge of Benevolence . The lodge was opened in due form at 2 . 20 p . m ., by Bro . James Ridgway , W . M ., and after the minutes of the previous meeting had been read and confirmed , the W . M . elect , Bro . Ralph Andrew , S . W ., was presented by Bro . Henry Jackson , P . M ., P . P . G . P ., to Bro . Henry Howard , P . M ., P . P . G . J . D ., the Installing Master , and with nride

and due ceremony was inducted into the chair of K . S . On the admission of M . M . ' s , Bro . Ralph Andrew was proclaimed W . M . for the ensuing year , and was accordingly saluted as such , the brethren forming procession and singing , " Hail ! Masonry , Divine . " When this formula had been gone throug h the requisite number of times , the following ofiicers were invested : Bros . J . D . Andrew .

a . W . ; James Boardman , J . W . ; John Crompton , Secretary ; W . Caldwell , S . D . ; Joseph Boardman , J . D . ; Ihomas Mather , I . G . ; Joseph Kirby and John Sherwin , Stewards ; and J . H . Hartley , P . M ., P . G . P ., Organist . Bro . Henry Jackson , P . M ., P . P . G . P ., was appointed 1 reasurer for the fifth time for the ensuing year , amid the acclamations of the brethren present . These duties

having been done , Bro . H . Jackson , the eldest M . P . of the lodge , said that by desire of the brethren he had to perform an office that was an exceedingly pleasant one , namely , to present a Past Master's gold jewel to Bro . James Ridgway . In doing so he said that he felt that he was sure that he was speaking the sentiments of all tho brethren of the lodge when he expressed a fervent wish

that the recipient might be long spared to exhibit it , in testimony of the zealous and courteous manner in which he had discharged his duties as W . M . The festival of St . John the Evangelist was afterwards celebrated at a banquet . During dessert the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were honoured , including that of " The W ~ " " . ' . ' . ' -P . M ., " "The ProvinciaTofficers , " and The

' Visiting Brethren . " The music of the evening was ably rendered by Bros . J . E . Steward , J . Kerby , John Obaidistone . Bro . J . H . Hartley , P . G . S ., presided at the organ . A most enjoyable evening was spent and the brethren dispersed , after singing the National Anthem , at 9 . 30 p . m . The jewel was a very handsome one , and was manufactured by Bro . George Kenning , of 47 , Bridge-streeet , Manchester .

MALTA . —Zetland Lodge ( No . 513 ) . — This ancient and interesting lodge held its installation meeting on Saturday , the 16 th inst . The lodge-room was crowded by the majority of the brethren of the island , who were evidently determined to do honour to the installation of Bro . A . B . Truelitt into the chair of K . S . The installation ceremony was ably performed bv the R . W

District Grand Master of Malta and Tunis , with W Bros . Pearse , 515 , as S . W . ; and J . D . Roe , 515 , as J . W ., in the presence of a Board of eleven Installed Masters . The orations from the different chairs were delivered in a most impressive manner by the R . W . D . G . M ., and were listened to with profound attention and warmly applauded . The newly - installed Master

having been duly saluted and proclaimed in the usual manner , he proceeded to appoint and invest his officers as follows : W . Bro . Pearse , D . G . Supt . of Wks ., I P M Bros . W . Parientc , S . W . ; T . Jcnkin , J . W . ; W ' Bro ' . J . D . Roe , D . G . D ., Sec ; Bros . H . Caraco , S . D . ; IL Harding , J . D . ; C . S . Dalzel , I . G . ; and R . Beck ( reelected ) , T y ler . The ordinary routine business of the lodge having been disposed of , a cordial vote of thanks to the Installing Officer was proposed and carried with acclamation " Hearty

. good wishes" and congratulations were tendered on behalf of the Grand Lodge of England by V . W . Bro . W . R . R . Bedford , as also on behalf of the following lodges : 340 ,. 40 / , 1923 , 1920 , and 3 S 7 ( I . C . ) b * MJ ' Ihc brethren then adjourned to a most recherche banquet , where the customary toasts , loyal and Masonic , were proceeded with . Oiving to the lateness of the hour , speechmaking was minimised . The accession of Bro . Truelitt to the chair of this Iodge is-