Provincial Lodges.

dinate Lodges of the Province received and registered . These showed that the spread of Masonry was on the increase in the Province , and that the brethren therein resident were fully alive to the beauties and excellencies of the science , and carefully acted up to the injunction given to them upon entering the Craft . The R . W . the P . G . M . having expressed the satisfaction which he felt in presiding over a Province in whicli Masonry was so well understood and so faithfully practised , nominated as his deputy for the ensuing year Br . J . Randolph . He also appointed

Br . the Rev . W . R . Crotch , W . M . of the Lodge of Unanimity and Sincerity ( No . 327 ) , his P . G . S . W ; Br . Broadley , P . G . J . W . ; Br . A . P . Browne , P . G . Secretary ; Br . Dr . Falconer , P . G . Treasurer ; Br . Rev . W . Codrington , P . G . Chaplain ; Br . Williams , P . G . S . D . ; Br . Dix , P . G . J . D . ; Br . Hollard , P . G . Registrar ; ancl Br . Mitchell , P . G . Pursuivant . The newly appointed officers , after then- investure , repaired to their proper places in the Lodge , when the brethren voted several sums of money out of their funds for the relief of the distressed ; after which they attended divine service in

the parish church , where an admirable sermon , inculcating charity and the other Masonic virtues , was preached for their edification by Br . Codrington . In the evening they again assembled at the Highbridge Inn , where an excellent banquet was served up for their refreshment hy Br . Butson in a style highly creditable to his establishment . RURAL PHILANTHROPIC LODGE , HUNTSPILL ( No . 307 ) . —This lodge met on the 27 th of July , at Br . Butson , Highbridge Inn , for the installation of Br . W . Harwood as W . M . for the ensuing year , and he having invested his subordinate officers ,

the brethren were called off for refreshment , and spent a very happy evening around the provision bo , r _ -d of their worthy host . TAUNTON . —The foundation stone of the new Shire Halls was laid on the 14 th of August , and never was Taunton much more gaily decorated . Flags of all colours were displayed from the houses of almost every tradesman , who appeared to vie with each other in their efforts to show off to the best advantage . The public buildings were profusely decorated ; and the influx of visitors was , as large as on any previous public occasion . A procession of the inhabitants and local authorities having paraded

the principal streets of the town , entered the grounds , and Lord Portman having arrived opposite the foundation-stone , desired his Chaplain , the Rev . F . B . Portman , to implore the Divine blessing . A bottle , containing a written account of the ceremony , was then deposited , together with a brass plate , on which was the following- inscription : "This stone was laid on the 14 th day of August , in the year of our Lord , 185 J , as a foundation for the administration of the laws of this country , by Edward Berkeley Lord Portman , CustosRotolorum of the county ; Richard King Meade King , chairman

of the committee of magistrates , W . B . Moffat , architect ; Richard Carver , county surveyor ; and George Pollard , builder . " The stone having been laid , Lord Portman said—I have much pleasure in telling you that this stone is perfectly laid . We have all done our work rightly , and I trust that this will be the foundation of great good to this county . We all know that among the many vicissitudes of life , one thing remains eternal as the sun , and that is the love of justice throughout the civilised world ; ancl

if there is one thing to which an Englishman is attached more than another , I believe it is to the maintenance of justice . In the building we have this day assisted in erecting , by laying this corner stone some of us may hope to see the judges of the land administering justice , and I trust , as in the old assize courts of this county strange things have happened in the olden time , which in our days are mere matters of history , such scenes may never again be enacted in this county ; hut that there will be a pure and independent administration of justice , according to the laws of the land which are

the great pride as they are the boast of every Englishman . I am glad that the town of Taunton has thought fit to meet the authorities on the occasion of laying the first stone in the erection of this building ; and I trust that the youngest among us may ever remember the events of the day when this foundation stone was laid , which will probably be counted as one of the greatest days in the annals of this county , by the thousands assembled on this occasion . I am proud of the invitation of the inhabitants to attend here to-day ; and although I am more mixed up with military matters in this time of war than with civil duties , yet the High Sheriff has permitted me to take part in these proceedings ; I am proud to belong to the county of Somerset , and re-