Provincial Lodges.

ence should be sent to the W . M . of No . 122 , hoping thereby to force explanation they so much desire to have ( but which , par parenthesis , they did not get ) . Lodge having been closed in form , the members retired at a reasonable hour . KENT . - LODGE OF FREEDOM , GRAVESEND ( No . 91 ) . —This flourishing Lodge held its monthly meeting on Monday , July 16 th , at Br . Wates ' s Hotel , when four gentlemen

were duly initiated into the Order . After this , the installing of their Worshipful Master , Br . R . Spencer , for the ensuing year , was very ably performed by Br . Moore , who was pleased to appoint his officers as follows : —Br . R . Watson , S . W . ; Br . Hills , I . W . ; Br . Dobson , Trea . ; Br . Brivean , Sec . ; Br . Lardner , S . D . ; Br . Tulk , I . D . ; and Br . Stafford , I . G . There were three gentlemen proposed for initiation on next Lodge evening . All business being ended , the Lodge was closed in due form , and the brethren , to the number of thirty-eight , adjourned to a most elegant

bauquet provided by Br . AVates . In the course of the evening two very handsome-P . M . 's jewels were presented to Br . Southgate P . G . S . W . of Kent , and Br . Brivean . After the usual Masonic toasts had been drunk and responded to , the brethren separated at a late hour , very much gratified with the proceedings of the clay . The Lodges was honoured by the presence of a number of visiting brethren , among whom were the following Provincial Grand Officers of Kent : Br . Joseph Ashley , P . P . D . G . M . ; Br . Charles Isaacs , P . G . Sec , Br . Wm . Saunders , P . G ., Trea . ; Br . Fielder , P . P . G . R . ; and Br . S . Isaacs , P . G . I . W . ; also , Bi . Windier , W . M ., No . 20 ; Br . Frampton , P . M ., No . 166 ; Br . Merrick , P . M ., No . 252 ; and Br . Garrod , No , 206 .

LANCASHIRE—( EASTERN DIVISION ) . LODGE OF FIDELITY , BLACKBURN ( NO . 336 ) . —Held its ordinary monthly meeting on Friday evening , 29 th of June . The usual routine of business having been gone through after due opening of the Lodge , it was considered expedient to postpone the raising of Br . J . Neville Haworth to the sublime degree of M . M . until the following Friday , as a Lodge of Emergency . ( This was accordingly done on that evening by Br . E . Collinson , P . M ., assisted by Br . G . Whewell , S . W ., and Br . J . Yates ,

I . W . ) After which the Lodge was closed with solemn prayer , and the brethren adjourned . LODGE OF PERSEVERANCE , BLACKBURN ( No . 432 ) . —This Lodge celebrated its usual monthly gathering on the evening of the 2 nd of July , but as very few P . M . ' s were present , the intended installation of the W . M . elect , Br . C . Brandman was deferred till next Lodge night , and after the confirmation of the minutes of previous meeting , the brethren adjourned . Br , Rd . Eaves of 336 , Sec . and P . M . were present .

KEYSTONE LODGE , FACIT ( No . 469 ) . —The brethren held their usual monthly meeting on Wednesday , July 4 th , at 7 o ' clock . The W . M . Br . Shackleton presiding . The Lodge was opened in due form and solemn prayer , on the first degree , and the minutes of the last meeting read and confirmed , the Lodge was then opened on the second degree . Br . E . Law was examined previous to being raised , being found duly qualified , he was admitted to the sublime degree of a M . M . The ceremony v ,-as performed by tho W . M . in first rate style . At the conclusion of the Masonic business , the Lodge was closed in due form and solemn prayer at 10 o ' clock . The Brethren adjourned to refreshment , spent a pleasant evening , and retired earlv .

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE . THE annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge took place in the Town Hall , Bury , on Wednesday , the 25 th July . The proceedings of the day were highly interesting . After the transaction of business connected with the order , a procession was formed , and wended its way through the leading thoroughfares , and resting at the Parish Church , where , after full cathedral service , an impressive sermon was delivered to the assembled brethren by the Rev . Mr . Nicholson , of St . Philips' Salford , the Provincial Grand Chaplain . A collection was made on behalf of the Bury Dispensary , and the Ladies' Charity .