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feel pleased that thus , at the . close of his year of office , to find his name so kindly greeted . He had endeavoured , by attention , to uphold the reputation of the AVatford Lodge . It was pleasing to he thus commended in the immediate neighbourhood of the place where his family had been for a long period settled . Ere he resume d his seat the AV . M . proposed "The Past Masters , " especially alluding to the services of his predecessor , referring to Bro . Francis ' s cordial manner , whilst he assisted in the working of the lodge , and the

encouragement he gave to the young brethren . Bro . Francis was desired by the other P . Ms , to offer their warmest thanks ; the manner in which the toast had been received was an assurance their services were acceptable , and they were perfectly satisfied that those who followed them would leave nothing wanting . —The AV . M . asked for a cordial greeting to Be given to their only visitor , Bro . Davison , of No . 10 , which that brother acknowledged . After " The Health of the Officers , " the meeting broke up .

LEICESTERSHIRE . LEICESTER . —Joint of Gaunt Lodge ( No . 766 ) . —The monthly meeting of this lodge , was held at the Freemasons' Hall , on Thursday , the 21 st ult ., under the presidency of Capt . Brewin , Prov . S . G . AV ., AV . M . Among the brethren present were the D . Prov . G . M ., Bro . Kelly ; Kinton , P . M . ; Bankart , P . M ., and Treas . ; Sheppard , S . AV . ; Johnson , J . AV . The lodge having been opened , and the

minutes read and confirmed , Bro . Jemson Davies was called to the pedestal , and examined as to his proficiency in the first degree ; after whicli he was passed as a Fellow Craft . Bro . Barwell was duly examined , and having satisfactorily answered the several questions , he was raised to the sublime degree of a M . M . in highly effective manner by the W . M ., —Bro . Bithrey presiding at the organ . A ballot was taken for Bro . J . Morley Maxsted , of the Harmonic Lodge , Dudley , who was unanimously elected a joining member . Some business of a- charitable and routine character having been transacted , the lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to refreshment .

WARWICKSHIRE . STRATronn-OK-Avoit . —Sard of [ Awn Lodge ( No . 1080 ) . —This lodge celebrated its festival on the 18 th Feb . The W . M ., Bro . Hobbes , opened his lodge , when Bro . Capt . Machen raised Bro . Brookes , and initiated Mr . Mowrie . The AA . M ., Bro . Bird , was then duly installed , and proceeded to appoint his officers : —Bro . Bolton , S . AV . ; Blake , J . AV . ; Rev . G . Granville , Chap . ; Moss , Treas . ; Hobbes , Sec . ; Gibbs , S . D . ; Adams , J . D . ; Thompson , I . G . Amongst the visitors were

Bro . Charles Win . Elkington , D . Prov . G . M ., and Bro . Capt . Machen , Prov . G . S . B . The brethren then proceeded to an excellent banquet prepared by Bro . Hartley . The " Queen , the Prince Consort , and the rest of the Royal Family , " " The M . AV . the Grand Master , " "The R . AV . the Deputy Grand Master , " and "The Grand Lodge" ( replied to by Bro . Chas . AA . Elkington , P . G . S . B . ) , and "The Prov . G . M ., Lord Leigh , " were duly given . Bro . Hobbes then proposed " The D . Prov . G . M . Bro . C . AV .

, Elkington , and the Prov . Grand Lodge . "—Bro . Elkington said he felt the importance of the valuable services his friend and brother Captain Machen had rendered to the lodge , and he should leave him to respond to that part of the toast . For himself and the Prov . Grand Lodge , he thanked them ; he felt very grateful for the very

complimentary terms in which his health had been proposed , and he assured the brethren it afforded him much pleasure to visit the lodge . Two years since he had assisted at its consecration , and he felt pleased to find it was progressing so well . He was glad to find the esteemed Alcar of Stratford-on-Avon at his post , as Chaplain ; and he felt sure the appointment of officers made that day would add greatly to the success of the lodge . Bro . Elkington then urged upon the brethren the importance of supporting the Masonic

charities , and called upon them to support the Prov . G . M ., on the 8 th of May , when he would preside at the Girls'Festival . As a steward , he ( Bro . Elkington ) would be happy to receive any contributions . — Bro . Machen said , any services he had rendered to the lodge , had given him pleasure , and he should at all times he ready and willing to lend a helping hand . "The AA . M ., " "The Chaplain , " and "The Officers" wereduly proposed and responded to . Some excellent singing from Bros . BoltonButchardLiuie and others added much to the

, , enjoyment of the evening . It was mentioned during the evening that the stained glass window to be placed in the church over the monument of the immortal bard , in commemoration of the establishment of the Masonic Lodge , would be ready and consecrated early in the summer , when a Masonic gathering upon a large scale would take place .

XORKSHIRE ( NORTH AND EAST . ) MiDDLESROEouon-os-TEES . —NortltYork Lodge ( No . 876 ) . —The monthly meeting of this lodge was held on Friday evening , the -2 nd inst ., m the lod ge-room at the new Freemasons' Hall , " Bro .

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Doughty , W . M ., presiding . Bro . Craster was passed to the second degree by Bro . Thompson , P . M ., and Bro . Brown was raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason . The ceremony was performed by Bro . Hornung , P . M . Bro . Atkinson , P . M ., presented to the Lodge Wardens the columns , square , level , and plumb-rule used in laying the foundation-stone of the Freemasons' Hall and the North Riding Infirmary . Bro . Thompson , P . M ., presented to the lodge two elegant kneeling stoolsand BroHornungPMpresented the

, . , .., rough and smooth ashlars , with the necessary appendages . A vote of thanks was recorded to each of the above brethren for their liberal gifts , which will considerably enhance the internal beautiesof the new hall . The lodge was closed in perfect harmony shortly after ten o'clock . YORKSHIRE AVEST .

BATIEY CARR , DEWSBimy . —St . Jolm'sLodge ( No . 1129 ) . —This lodge ' held an Emergency Meeting on Monday evening , the 25 th January , in the lodge-room at the Saw Inn , under the presidency of the W . M ., Bro . R . R . Nelson , Prov . G . Sec . of AVest Yorkshire , for the purpose of raising Bro . the Rev . AVilliam Appleyard , M . A ., Incumbent of Holy Trinity Church , Batley Carr , to the sublime degree of a Master Mason . The whole of the ceremony was gone through in that able and effective manner bthe W . M . which

y characterises all his Masonic proceedings ; after which , Bro . the Rev . AVilliam Appleyard was appointed and invested as Chaplain of the lodge , an office which the brethren are fully justified in saying he will fill with credit to himself and honour to the Craft . The lodge was well attended , and amongst the visitors were—Bros-John Spiking , W . M . No . 251 ; William Hemingway , S . D . ; and . W . C . Greaves , I . G . No . 251 . The lodge was closed in perfect peace and harmony ; after whichthe brethren adjourned to

, refreshment , when the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given . The W . M . gave , for the first time , " The newly-appointed R . AV ' Prov . G . Master of West Yorkshire , the Right Hon . " Earl de Grey and Ripon , " which was received with great applause , and with that good feeling which there is little doubt but the name will always command throughout the province . The whole of the toasts being gone through , the party broke up in a manner which gave evidence of the prevalence of trne Masonic feeling and brotherlv love .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

YARBOROUGH CHAPTER ( No . 812 ) . —A convocation was held on AVednesday , 20 th February , at the George Tavern , Commercialroad East , when Comp . George Biggs , P . Z . and P . G . D . C , presided as-M . E . Z ., in the absence of Comp . Robert Taylor ; Comps . Alfred Day , H . ; George AV . Mobbs , J . The principals were installed at the previous meeting , the other officers invested being , Comps . John Purdy , E . ; H . J . Thompson , N . ; R . AVilliams , Treas . ; Samuel A asey , P . S . ; E . AV . Davis , and T . J . Middleton , Asst . S ;

Thomas Adams , D . C ; J . Gray and J . Hudson , Stewards ; and Speight , Janitor . The minutes of the preceding chapter havingbeen read and . confirmed , Comp . Biggs said he regretted to announce that illness caused the absence of the M . E . Z . ; for the same cause some of the Past Principals were also unable to be with them . Comp . Rev . D . Shaboe was re-admitted a member of the chapter . After the disposal of some general business , the chapter was closedand the companions adjourned to at whicli

, supper , Comp . Biggs presided . —In the course of the evening Comp . AVynne proposed " The Principals of the Chapter , " on whose qualifications he dilated ; and Comp . Biggs , as the locum tenens of " the M . E . Z ., said he regretted he had so to appear , Comp . Taylor being absent through severe illness . He was requested by the other chief officers to acknowledge the toast ; and , in doing so , he could not but refer to their qualifications for the posts they held , both being well able to fulfil the important duties of their position . In proposing the toast

of "The Past Principals of the Chapter , " the M . E . Z . referred with pain to the hopeless state of one who was united with them in the formation of the chapter—Comp . F . Crew—who , he feared , would never again appear among them . An intimacy of thirty-seven year ? , which had been of unvarying love and friendship , enabled him to testify to Comp . Crew's excellence in all the relations of life . In pleading the cause of charity , no man had spoken so eloquently

and so successfully ; and although he was attached by his position to the Girls' School—which , by his untiring attention and energy ,, he had brought to its present state of prosperity—he gave every assistance to the other Masonic charities . Comps . T . E . Davis and Bettger were also absent through illness . There was that evening but one of the distinguished body of Past Principals present : all were entitled to the grateful acknowledgment for past services , and Comp . Wynne especially for his regular attendance , and undeviating support of the chapter . —Comp . Biggs , in proposing "TheOfficers , " said , as in a lodge , the First'Principal dut ' . c-s were ren-