Provincial.

history to all the candidates unitedly . Bro . Niner explained the working tools , and Bro . Dr . Hopkins gave the signs , the charge , and an elaborate and peculiar lecture ou the degree . The lcd"o was resumed in the second degree , and afterwards in the first degree , and no other business offering , the lodge was finally closed at 9 . 30 . The brethren then adjourned to partake of refreshment .

ESSEX . BiUGnTLTNGSEA . —Lodge of Hope ( So . 433 ) . —The annual meeting of this lodge took place at the Swan Inn , Brightlingsca , on Whit-AIonday , and eclat was given to the proceedings by the unexpected visit of the R . W . the Prov . G . M ., Bro . R " j . Bagshaw . The first business was the installation of Bro . Henry York as AA ' . AL for the ensuing year , a ceremony which

was most efficiently performed by Bro . J . E . AViseman , P . M . and Sec . The W . AI . then appointed and invested his officers as follows : —Bros . John Jolly , S . AA . ; R . Salmon , J . AV . ; AVilliam Garry , Treas . ; J . E . AViseman , Sec . ; A . AVont , S . D . and Org . ; Alfred Jeffries , I . G . ; and William Harmer , Tyler . At the conclusion of the business tho R . AV . the Prov . G . AI . addressed some pertinent remarks to the brethren , and subsequently left by the five o ' clock train for London . At six o ' clock a large party sat

down to a substantial ten , excellently served by Airs . Harmer . During the evening the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were dul y honoured , and the proceedings were enlivened by the singing of several brethren . Among the brethren present , either in lodge or at tea , besides those already mentioned , wore—Bros . Joseph Richardson , I . P . M . ; AV . Bishop , P . AI . ; Georco Riches , P . M . ; J . Francis , P . M . ; C . Blyth , P . M . ; E . Stammers , AVilliam Minter , James Rodger , Abraham MartinJ . HarmerAV . Lee

, , , and S . L . Coppin . The united ages of the four last-named brethren amount to 332 years . A isitors—Bros . J . Coppin , P . M . 51 , and P . Prov . G . S . W . ; A . L . Coppin , 51 ; and T . J . Railing , Sec . 51 , and Prov . G . S . ; AV . Calthorpe , W . AI ., T . Rix , S . W 697 ; and Capt . Gray .

GLOUCESTERSHIRE . PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE . The annual meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge was held at Cheltenham , on the 1 st inst ., under the presidency of the Right Honorable Lord Sherborne , tho Grand Master . There was a very large muster of the Craft . Amongst the subjects which were discussed in open Lod ^ e , was that of the rercdos in Gloucester Cathedral , the cost of tlie restoration of which , over £ 600 , the Masons of the Province have undertaken .

In a lew months this beautiful work will be formally handed over to the Dean and Chapter by the Alisons , aud the name of the Bishop of Peterborough , a , Mason amongst Masons , has been mentioned as likely to take part in the celebration b y preaching a sermon in tlie Cathedral . The following appointments of Officers were made hy Lord Sherborne , P . G . M . : — Bros . Sir Michael Hicks Beach , ALP . ... Senior AVarden .

„ Want , Junior Warden . ,, AVaites , Deacon . „ Captain D . ST . Foster , S . Deacon . ,. Forth , Registrar . „ Ashbee , Sup of Works-„ Fronde , Dir . of Cers . „ Rev . J . Hadon , Chaplain . ,. Captain II . M . James , Pursuivant .

„ Ricketts , Sivord Bearer . „ AViggins , Tyler . The following Officers rc-occupicd posts which they have filled for some years with advantage to the Craft : —Bros . Newmai'ch , D . P . G . AL ; Trinder , P . G . Sec . ; Palmer , P . G . Treas . The meeting next year , it was announced , would be held at Berkley . The Masonic Hall not being sufficiently large to accommodate so numerous a company , the banquet , which

followed , took place at the Plough Hotel . The usual Masonic and loyal toasts were given , that for the Charities finding an able exponent iu Bro . Binckes , whose able appeal to the brethren present was highly appreciated .

KENT . Vr . vxi _ T _ . \ T > .- PaKisou Lod ' je ( No . 913 . )—Tiie installation of Bro . C . A . Ellis , P . M ., as Worshi pful Alaster of this Lodge took place on Thursday , at the Lord Raglan Hall . The installation ceremony was impressively performed bv Bro . J . Gravdon , P . M ., and P . Prov . G . S . Deacon of Kent , and the AV . M .

then invested his officers iu their several degrees as follows : — Bros . S . I-I . Pain , S . W . ; T . AV . Kni ght , J . AAr . ; E . Denton , P . M ., and P . Prov . S . Purst , Kent , Sec . ; A . Jessup , Treas . ; G . M . Tapp , S . D . ; J . AIcDougall , J . D . ; A . Penfold , I . G . Subsequently an elegant banquet was served b y Bro . Raymond . The AA ' . AL presided , and there were also present the Ri ght AA ' orshipful Bro . ]? . Pattison , Past Grand AA ardeu of England , and founder of this Lodge ; Bro . C . Couplaud , the Immediate Past Alaster ;

Bro . G . Tongue , P . AI ., and P . Prov . G . J . AA arden of Kent ; Past Musters Graydon , J . Henderson , ancl AV . Norman , of this Lodge , together with all the officers , and the following members : —Bros . J . Widgery , P . M . ; E . Hughes , P . M . ; R . Lister , T . AV . Davis , AV . W-. Ms , AV . Farnfield . G . AV . Smith , E . Palmer , E . Biddick , AV . B . Lloyd , J . Raymond J . Griffith , G . Cay , R . Lonorgan , F . F . Thorne , AA ' . T . Vincent , T . D . Hayes , F . Barnett , AA . Canty , AV . II . Pinkney , and AV . Lock . The visitors

present included Bros . Dr . Prescotf , R . A ., P . AI . 706 ; Feiling , S . AA . 706 ; Sydney Clarke , J . AV . 706 ; J . Allies , AV .. AI . 293 ; AA . D . May , AV . Af . 700 ; AV . J . Graham , W . M . elect , 700 ; G . B . Davies , A \ . M . 13 ; Marshall , S . D . 130 i ; Hastings , 1056 ; Pownall , 13 and 1089 ; and others . The whole proceedings of the day were of the most interesting character . Bro . Pattison responded to the toast of the Earl of Carnarvon , and the rest of the Grand Officers , and Bro . Graydon for Lord Holmesdale and the province of Kent . But for urgent parliamentary duties , his lordship would havo been present .

SUFFOLK . IPSWICH . —British Udion Lodge , ( No . 114 ) . —The usual monthly meeting of this Lodge was held at the Masonic Hall , Ipswich , on Tliursday , the 1 st inst . Present : —Bros . P . Cornell , AA ' . AL ; AV . BobyP . AI . acting as S . AA SchubcnPAIacting

, , . ; , .., ¦ as J . AV . ; Rev . E . I . Lockwood , D . P . G . AL Suffolk : Rev . R . N . Sanderson , P . AI . Prince of AA ' ales Lodffe ; Emia Holmes , P . AI . ; Dr . Elliston , P . AI . J . Franks , P . M . of the Perfect Friendshi p Lodge ; A . J . Barber , I . P . M ., P . G . O ., & c . Tho Lodge having been opened in solemn form , in the first degree , the minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed . The AA ' . M . stated that a letter of condolence had been addressed to Sir

Shafto Adair , P . G . AI ., on the lamented death of Lady Adair , by the D . P . G . AL , on behalf of the AA ' . AI . ' s . of the Lodges of the Province , expressing the deep and heartfelt sympathy of the brethren with the Provincial Grand Alaster in the grievous loss he had sustained . The AV . M . then called upon Bro . Sanderson to deliver a lecture on the " mysteries of civilised and savage nations . " The space at our disposal does not permit of our doing justice to this learned discouise , which was delivered extempore—but we may state that the lecturer divided his

subject into a description ot what might he called the genuine and spurious Freemasonry ; speaking of the one as the Pantheistic , the other Jehovistic . An admirable description was given of the Egyptian EleusiuUm mysteries , aiv . l their relation to Masonry—the legend of Osiris , and the beautiful Gothic legend of Balder were also related , and their hidden meanings explained , and a reference was also made to the AA ' orships of Bacchus and Baal-peor , which became so gross , and ended in

such abomination , that at last the Bacchics orgies were put down at Rome . Bro . Sanderson was of opinion , that the Legends of Bui Dionysus , aud Zagrens were not , as is supposed by many , merely solar myths , aud admitting of an astronomical explanation , but he thought that the only satisfactory explanation was , that they were Relics of a patriarchal tradition of the Coming Messiah . In proposing a vote of thanks to Bro . Sanderson , Bro . Kmra Holmes reminded the brethren that

King Solomon's Temple was said to have been built by the Dyonisian Architects , who it was thought were afterwards converted to Judaism , and exchanged their mysteries of the Death of Dionysius , or Bacchus , for that now related in our Masonic traditions , and exemplified in the third degree . Bro . Lock-