Provincial.

I . G . The duties of tho Deacons were undertaken by Bros . Dr . Hopkins and Bartlett , P . M . ' s . The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed . Bro . Watson , P . M . and Sec , presented the report of the Audit Committee , which was adopted , and ordered to be entered on the minutes . A ballot was taken for Messrs . William Snell Chenall and Joseph Chenall , as candidates for initiation , regularly proposed at seven days' notice , which proved unanimous in their favour . The lodge was

opened in the second , and then in the third degree , Bro . Stephens having been examined and entrusted on a previous evening . He was then admitted ancl raised in due form by the W . M ., who administered the solemn rite in a manner so impressive as evidently to produce a great effect on the recipient . The candidate having left the room , was on his return invested , andby the request of the W . M . the chair was then taken by

, , Bro . Dr . Hopkins , who gave the traditionary history and the charge appertaining to this degree . The W . M . again occupied his own place , and resumed the lodge in the second , and afterwards in the first degree . The Messrs . Chenall were introduced , properly prepared , and regularly initiated with great correctness and effect hy the W . M . He also gave them the usual charge . Bro . John Adams 1099 was proposed as a

, , , joining member by Bro . Cooke , S . W ., seconded by Bro . Ninor , I . G . Several matters of business were discussed and disposed of , among which was the formation of a Lodge of Instruction , the arrangements for it being left in the hands of tho W . M . Bro . Taylor , as usual , officiated at the harmonium during the evening . The lodge was finally closed at nine o ' clock .

DURHAM . HARTLEPOOL— St . Helen ' s Lodge ( No . 531 ) . —The usual monthly meeting was held at the Masonic Hall , Regent ' s-squaro , on Thursday , the 5 th inst ., when the lodge was opened in due form and with solemn prayer . It being the annual meeting for the election of W . M ,, Treasurer ,. and Tyler for the ensuing year , there was an unusually large number of the brethren present .

Upon the ballot being taken , the result was as follows : —Bros . Emra Holmes , 17 ; J . Groves , P . M ., 1 ; A . Nathan , P . M ., 1 ; and J . Sivewright , W . M ,, 1 . Bro . Emra Holmes was therefore declared duly elected as W . M . of this lodge for the ensuing year , Bro . R . Ropner was elected Treasurer , and Bro . J . Mowbray as Tyler . The last named brother has occupied the post for some fourteen or fifteen years , and is one of the most

deservedlypopular members of tho lodge . The installation of the W . M . elect will take place on the 26 th inst ., when the Festival of St . John the Evangelist will bo celebrated . Bro . G . Moore , M . D ., P . Prov . J . G . W ., will act as Installing Master .

Scotland.

SCOTLAND .

EDINBURGH . STOW —Lodge of Instruction ( No . 216 ) . —The usual monthly meeting of this lodge was held on the evening of Friday , the 6 th inst . In the absence of Bro . Brownlee , R . W . M ., Bro . II . Kerr , D . M . elect , presided . The question for discussion was a resume of the question discussed at the last monthly meeting , viz- " What are the best means to advance the principles of

, Freemasonry ? " All the brethren present endorsed in substance the opinions expressed at the former meeting , and advocated strongly the propriety of Masons themselves living out their principles , and by their constant and circumspect conduct showing there is more in Masonry than conviviality and show .

GLASGOW . PROVIXCIAL GRAXD LODGE . A special meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Glasgow was held on the 5 th inst ., in the Kilwinning Hall , 170 , Buchananstreet . The Prov . Grand Lodge was opened bv Bro . Thomas Ramsay , R . W . M . St . John's , No . 3-, acting Prov . G . M ., assisted by Bros .

A . McTaggart , M . A ., R . W . M . St . Mungo , 27 , acting Prov * . S . G . W . ; Thomas Paton , E . W . M . Thistle , 87 ; D . H . Miller , Prov . S . G . D . ; J . B . Walker , Prov . G . Treas .: R . Robb , Prov . G . Mareschall ; Leith , Prov . G . Dir . of Cers ., and a large number of members of Provincial Grand Lodge . The Prov . G . Sec . having read the circular convening the meeting , and sundry letters received by him in connection with Provincial Grand Lodge business , he then moved— " That this

Scotland.

Provincial Grand Lodge pass a hearty vote of thanks to Bro . James Cruickshanks , Depute Provincial Grand Master , on his retirement from office , for the able manner in which he has for a very lengthened period discharged the various duties he has had to perform , it being now nearl y half a century since he first commenced to take an active interest in Freemasonry . " The motion was seconded in a very feeling manner by Bro . Ramsay , carried with acclamationand ordered to be endorsed

, in the minutes of Provincial Grand Lodge . The next business was tho recommendation of brethren for the respective offices of Depute and Substitute Prov . G . M ., Senior and Junior Prov . G . Wardens , and Prov . G . Secretary . Bro . Wilson , R . W . M . 354 , moved that Bro . Walter N . Neilson , Prov . S . G . W ., be recommended for the oflice of Depute Prov . G . M .

Bro . Anderson , R . W . M . 362 , seconded the motion , which was carried unanimously . Bro . Buchan , S . W . 3 ' -, proposed Bro . F . A . Barrow , P . Prov . S . G . W ., for the oflice of Substitute Prov . G . M . Bro . Geo . McLeod , R . W . M . 128 , seconded the motion , which was carried unanimously . Bro . McLeod proposed Bro ; Capt . McCasland for the office of

Prov . S . G . W . The motion was seconded by Bro . McTaggart , and carried unanimously . Bro . McTaggart proposed Bro . Thomas Baker for the office of Prov . J . G . W .

Bro . McLeod seconded the motion , which was carried unanimously . Bro . Wilson , R . W . M . 354 , proposed that Bro . William Smith , the esteemed Prov . G . Sec , be recommended for re-election , and , in doing so , alluded in pleasing terms to the indefatigable manner in which Bro . Smith had , during the time he had held tho oflice of Prov . G . Sec , discharged duties which , at any time oneroushadas was known to the brethrenbeen

especi-, , , ally so during the last six months or so , in consequence of tbe death of their late lamented Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Sir Archibald Alison , Bart . The motion was heartily seconded by Bro . Paton , R . W . M . 87 , and carried unanimously * . Bro . Smith announced to the brethren that the annual provincial festival in aid of the Provincial Grand Lodge

Benevolent Fund , would be held in the City Hall , Glasgow , on Friday evening , the 20 th inst ., the chair to bo occupied by the R . W . Bro . Captain Speirs , M . P ., Prov . G . M ., whose installation will take place at an early hour in the evening , for which the Provincial Grand Lodge will be summoned . The Provincial Grand Lodge will dine at five o ' clock , and afterwards , accompanied by the Prov . G . M ., take up their position on the platform , the chair to be taken at eight o ' clock . The festive programme consists of a soiree , concert , and full dress assembly ,

GLASGOW . —Lodge Thistle and Pose ( No . 73 ) . —An ordinary meeting of this lodge was held in the Masonic Hall , Buchananstreet , on Tuesday evening , the third inst ., Bro . T . Mac Robert , R . W . M ., iu the chair . The lodge was opened in the first degree by the R . W . M ., assisted by Bros . J . Ballantine and W . Smith , acting Senior and Junior Wardens ; P . Thomson , Treas . ; G . Macadam , Sec . ; and other office-beavers ancl brethren . After the minutes of the previous meetingbeing that for the

nomi-, nation of office-bearers , had been read and confirmed , the lodge was raised to the third degree , when Bro . J . Whitham , who received the degree of Fellow Craft on 19 th Nov . last , was brought forward iu proper form , and was raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason . Bro . Mac Robert , R . W . M ., giving the usual charge in a most impressive manner . This being , according to the by-laws of the lodge , the night for the election

of office-bearers , the following were duly elected , viz ., Bros . T , Mac Robert , R . W . M . ; J . Ballantine , S . W . ; W . Smith , J . W . ; J . Jordan , P . M . ; W . Johnston , D . M . ; P . Thomson , Treas . ; G . Macadam , Sec . ; Arch . Somerville , Chap . ; J . McGregor , S . D . ; G . McDonald , J . D . ; J . Marrison , S . S . ; J . Russel , J . S . ; W . Gardner , S . B . ; A . Watt , I . G . ; and W . Jamieson , Tyler . The installation of office-bearers to their respective offices was deferred till next ordinary meeting . The lodge was then closed in due and

ancient form . It may be mentioned that amongst other brethren who hail from the venerable 'Thistle and Rose Lodge , is our esteemed and distinguished townsman , Bro . Alexander Strathern , Sheriff for Lanark , who , upwards of a quarter of a century since , was initiated in this lodge , the date of the learned Sheriff ' s initiation being May 12 th , 1834 .