Provincial.

for the ensuing term and appointed his officers . The ceremony of installing was ably performed by the W . Bros . Hasford and Elliott . At five o ' clock the brethren assembled at the Great Western Hotel , were a banquet was served by the host , Bro . Thomas , consisting of the usual delicacies of the seasson . On the withdrawing of the cloth , the usual Masonic toasts were given and responded to by the several officers and visiting brethren .

DEVONPOET . —Lodge Friendship ( No . 238 ) . —The annual meeting of the brethren in connection with this lodge , was held at the Masonic Hall , Devonport , to elect a zealous and expert brother to preside over them for tbe ensuing term . The choice was unanimously in favour of Bro . Crocker , late S . W ., and he having been duly installed and proclaimed , invested Bro . Mnrch as S . W . ; Ash , J . W . ; Welch , S . D . ; Hocken , J . 0 . ; Ryall , I . G . During the afternoon , Bro . Rockett received his second degree .

Bro . Hiram Baker presented the lodge with a set of jewels , of handsome and chaste workmanship , for which a vote of thanks was duly accorded . After the business of the lodge was closed the brethren adjourned to the Royal Hotel , were a first-rate banquet was served , such as had never been equalled by the lodge on any previous occasion . The room was appropriately decorated with the banner of the lodge , evergreens , & c . The Masonic toasts were given and drunk with the usual amount of

enthusiasm . Duriug the evening a very handsome P . M . jewel was presented to Bro . Jennings , who had so ably performed tbe duties of his high office during the past term . A suitable response was made by Bro . Jennings . Lodge of Fidelity ( No . 280 ) . —Our correspondent writes to say , "That the irregularity supposed to have been made at the above lodge did not occur " ; the paragraph should have read " for the

purpose of installing the Master Elect , and not to elect , " & c . PLYMOUTH . —St . John ' s Lodge ( No . 83 ) . —The brethren of this old and distinguished lodge , assembled as per summons , at their hall , in Courtenay-street , Plymouth , on the 31 st ult . Being the senior lodge of the locality , it was pleasing to notice a numerous attendance , with a good sprinkling of Provincial Grand Officers , amongst whom were—Bros . W . Dr . DowseP . M . PProv

, , . . G . S . D ., and Rodda , W . M ., P . G . S . The W . Bro . Harfoot , P . G . S ., the W . M ., opened the lodge with the usual formalities at two p . m . He then initiated Mr . Seaward into the mysteries of this ancient fraternity , after which Bro . Glover , P . M ., P . Prov . G . Assist . Dir . of Cers ., presented the Master elect , Bro . Phillips , to the W . Bro . Harfoot , for installation , who performed the ceremony

m a manner that called forth a well-merited exdogium from all present . At the close of the installation , serfice , an address was delivered to the brethren , which we understand emanated from the pen of the veteran Secretary of the lodge , and which as a Masonic production , reflected the highest credit on the head and heart of Bro . Brewer . Bro . Phillips , on taking his position , invested his officers as follows : —W . Bros . Harfoot , P . M ., Prov . G . S . ; FinemoreS . W . ; HooperJ . W . ; BrewerP . M . See . Ash

, , , ; , P . M ., P . Prov . G . Assist . Dir . of Cers ., Treas . ; Hambly , S . D . ; Matthews , J . D . ; Neiumarck , I . G . ; Wilson and Head , Stewards . The lodge then adjourned to Bro . Watt ' s , Globe Hotel , to celebrate the annual festival of St . John the Evangelist . The banquet provided by the worthy host was of the most recherche description . The cloth being removed , the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given . The one to the Sister Lodges of the

neighbourhood , was responded to by the W . Bro . Rodda , Prov . G . S ., W . M . 122 , who , after passing an appropriate campliment on St . John ' s Lodge , eulogised the brethren of the Three Towns for their great liberality and zeal , especially in the promotion of that great scheme which , under Divine blessing , will become a lasting memorial to the late revered Prov . G . M ., Earl Fortescue , and a permanent benefit to our distressed and decayed brethren .

At the unanimous request of the lodge , the W . Bro . Harfoot presented Bro . Holmes , P . M ., with a P . M . 's jewel , accompanying the act with a very feeling and eloquent address on Bro . Holme's Masonic conduct . The speech throughout was listened to with great attention , and the speaker sat down amidst much applause . The last toast of the evening , " Our Distressed Brethren , " being given , the lodge resumed its labours , and was closed in due form at

eleven p . m . TOBQUAY . —St . John's Lodge ( No . 411 ) . —The brethren of this lodge held their annual festival on Tuesday , December 30 th , when Bro . "W . Melluish , P . Prov . ¦ G . Org ., was according to ancient custom peculiar to the Craft , installed as . W . M . for the ensuing year , in the most impressive manner , hy the Installing Master , Bro . Harland . The W . M . then installed his officers , viz .,

Bros . Glanfleld , S . W . ; Richardson , J . W . ; Appleton and Goss , Deacons ; Harland , Treas . ; M'Lean , Sec . ; Bovey , I . G . ; Whiteway , Tyler ; and the Rev . Bowden , Chaplain . TAVISTOCK . —Bedford Lodge ( No . 351 ) . —On Wednesday , the 31 st ult ., being the festival of St . John , the brethren of this lodge dined at the Bedford Hotel , when Bro . J . C . Wills , was duly installed W . M . and he afterwards appointed his officers

, for the ensuing year , as follows : —Bros . R . S . Merrifield , S . W . ; W . E . Commins , J . W . ; W . R . Noi-thway , Treas . ; H . E . Monk , Sec ; E . W . Nettle , S . D . ; W . Merrifield , P . M ., P . Prov . G . Treas ., J . D . ; G . Merrifield , I . G . ; J . Andrews , P . M ., Tyler ; J . F . Thynne , P . M ., P . Prov . G . Org ., P . M . The dinner was an excellent one , and altogether a very pleasant evening was spent .

DURHAM . HABTLEEOOL . —St . Helen ' s Lodge ( No . 774 ) . —A lodge for the installation of Bro . B . R . Huntley , W . M . elect , was held in the Masonic Hall , Hartlepool , on Tuesday afternoon , December 30 th . The attendance of members of the loclge was not quite so large as on previous occasions . Among the brethren present were James Groves , the retiring W . M . ( who has had the honour to fill the chair for two successive years ) Bros . Dr . George

, Moor , P . M ., P . Prov . J . G . W . ; S . Armstrong , P . M . of St . Helen's ; John Settle , W . M ., Wm . Best , P . M ., aud Thomas Nelson , W . M . elect of Tees Lodge , Stockton ; Dr . George Kirter , W . M . of Harbour of Refuge Lodge , West Hartlepool ; W . E . Collingwood , W . M . of North York Lodge , Middlesborough , and other brethren . The retiring W . M . having opened the lodge in due form , a candidate was initiated to the first

degree , after which the solemn ceremony of installation was proceeded with , Bro . Groves officiating as Installing Master , in a manner which showed that he is a skilled and experienced craftsman . The W . M ., Bro . Huntley , invested the following as his officers : —Bros . A . Nathan , S . W . ; S . M . Lindhard , J . W . ; Inglis , ; S . D . ; Otto Kramar , * J . D . ; W . Donald , I . G . ; James Mowbray , Tyler ; S . Armstrong , P . M ., Treas . ; James Groves , P . M ., Sec . ; Dr . Moor , Dir . of Cers . ; and Wm . Hull and James

Brown , Stewards . The lodge was then closed ; after which the brethren celebrated the Festival of St . John the Evangelist , by an excellent dinner served up in the best style of Mrs . Smith , of the King ' s Head .

GLOUCESTERSHIRE . TEWEESBTTBY . —St . George's Lodge ( No . 1202 ) . —At the meeting of this lodge on Friday , the 2 nd inst ., on the minutes ofthe former loclge being confirmed , the W . M . proceeded with the ballot for six candidates for initiation , which were unanimously approved . The W . M . having called for the collars of the respective offices , made the following appointments for the year 1863 and they being presentwere dnlinvested . Bros . J . D .

, , y Pegg , S . W . ; Frederick Moore , J . W . ; S . P . Brookes , S . D . ; . Henry Browett , I . G . ; ancl confirmed Bro . E . Gillman , as Sec , Bro . W . Brydges , the elected Treas ., was duly invested by the W . M . The W . M . than initiated the following gentlemen into the mysteries of the Craft , in his usual skiful manner , though evidently not in good health : the Rev . Francis Henry Laing , the Rev . Charles W . Grove , John Yardley , Mr . Aaron

Pike , and Mr . J . H . Vockins . The W . M . presented on the behalf of the collective brethren of the lodge , unto Bro . John Smith , of Worcester , a handsome set of gold Masonic shirt studs , to mark their appreciation of his courteous bearing , and the great attention he had paid to his duties whilst gratuitously acting as the Tyler of the St . George's Lodge during 1862 . The festival of St . John the Evangelist , was appointed for Friday , the

Oth inst ., at which it was expected a large muster of Bro . Cossens ' Masonic brethren would surround the throne , and do homage to him on his re-installation . A grand Masonic ball is advertised under the most distinguished patronage , to be held at the Town Hall , of Tewkesbury , on Friday , the 23 rcl inst ., at which members of the Craft will appear in full dress Masonic clothing , those , however , who have attained chivalric degrees , will wear the dress of their respective orders . Avery large muster is anticipated , for which every preparation has been made in the very best style .

HAMPSHIRE . BOUENEMOUTH . —Lodge ofHengist ( No . 230 ) . —The brethren of this lodge met on Monday , the 29 th December to celebrate tbe festival of St . John . After going through the usual business of the lodge , the brethren proceeded to the election of the W . M . for the ensuing year , when Bro . S . Bayly was unanimously elected to fill the chair . Bro . Bayly is a