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omitted . Bro . Matthew Cooke ' s capital song , " The Queen and the Craft" Avas then sung by Bro . Webster and chorussed b y Bros . Reed , Cruso , and Green . —The Earl of Zetland , M . W . G . M . of England , " Avas next ably proposed from the chair and received with the due masonic honours . —The toast of " The Earl de Grey and Ripon , Most Worshipful D . G . M ., " ivas next given by Bro . T . M . Vendall , received with eclat . —The J . W . being called

upon for the next toast proposed "The Health of the Right AVorshipful Prov . G . M ., Bro . Benj . Bond Cabbell . " In giving this toast , which so appropriately came from the genial South , the proposer dwelt upon the universally known munificence of the the R . W . Bro ., as a warm supporter of every charitable work , and said that his name Avas in fact accepted as a synonyms for large-hearted and open-handed benevolence . He also called attention to the recent purchase by the R . AV . Bro ., of ths

Assembly Rooms at Norwich , with the avowed object of dedicating that commodious building to masonic purposes , and also took occasion to express the generally felt regret that , as the Prov . Grand Lodge had ceased its perambulations of the province , and ivas in future to meet only at Norwich , there was no Deputy Prov . G . M ., appointed to undertake the duties , too onerous for one at the advanced age of the Prov . G . M . himself , of visiting the various lodges in the countto inquire into their condition

y , and secure uniformity and efficiency in their working . He trusted that so essential an officer would ere long be appointed . In the meantime he called attention to the effort which had recently been set on foot in No . 124 , to follow in the footsteps of the R . W . Prov . G . M ., by establishing a fund of benevolence in connection with the lodge , for the purpose of relieA'ing individual cases of distress and also of subscribing to the great Masonic Charities and endowing the

lodge with permanent governorships in those institutions . The toast having been Avarmly received and honored , the charity box Avas caried round by the Tyler , and the result was a collection of £ 2 Its . 6 c ? . in aid of the Benevolent Fund . — Bro . PEIDGEON gave ¦ ' The Past and Present Grand Officers of the Province , " and coupled therewith the health of Bro . T . M . Wilkin , Prov . G . S . AV ., Avhose services to this lodge in the capacity of its AV . M ., for three years past , he warmly eulogised . The toast was duly honoured . —Bro . Winers' in returning

thanks , expressed his sincere gratification at witnessing the great prosperity of this lodge , and felicitated the members on the contrast which its present position afforded to the low estate to ivhich it had fallen when he was first induced to preside over it three years ago , on the decease of the late lamented and distinguished Bro . Broadfoot . He congratulated the lodge on the efficiency of its new AV . M . and officers , aud himself on the share Avhich he had had in bringing about that

result ; and added , that though he had many years ago resolved not again to undertake the government of a lodge , having been induced by the circumstances above mentioned to break that resolution , he now felt like an old war-horse , scenting the battle afar , and would promise that if the Lynn and Wisheach Lodges could unite to form a Royal Arch chapter , he would give his best assistance , either as First Principal , or in any other capacity . —Bro . KENNEDY , P . M .,

proposed the health of the W . M ., Bro . Hart , Junr ., speaking in terms of the highest praise of the efficiency and credit Avith which that brother had fulfilled the various senior and junior offices in the lodge , and of the spirit of emulation which existed among the members . The toast Avas received with the greatest cordiality , and was duly honored . —The W . M . returned thanks in an appropriate address , and proposed the health of the immediate P . M . Bro . Wilkinwho acknowledged the same . —

, , Bro . the Rev . H . BEIDGEWATEE , proposed "the Visiting Brethren , " which was ably responded to by Bro . the Rev . G . Thompson , Chaplin of the AVisbeach Lodge . —Bro . AVILKIN proposed "The Newly Initiated Brethren , " of whom several were present . —Bro . MILKER returned thanks for the E . A ' s ., expressing his great delight in what he had already learned of Masonry , and his determination to persevere in seeking to

attain excellence in the craft . — "Prosperity to the Philanthropic Lodge" was proposed by Bro . Rev . G . THOMPSON - , and "The P . M ' s of the Lodge" by Bro . BENNETT . —Bro . J . HART , Senr ., responded to the latter toast , and expressed the satisfaction he felt in seeing so prosperous a lodge of which he had for five and tiventy years been a member ; and of which for a considerable portion of that time , he ancl the late Bro . Broadfoot , and one or two others had been the only Avorking members . —Bro . REED proposed " The Officers of the Lodge , " to which Bro . WHITWELL , S . W ., returned an animated response , and

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stated the intention of himself and many of the younger brethren to persevere in seeking by their deserts to win the highest offices in the lodge , and if possible , the honorable position of Provincial Grand Officers . —The health of the Secretary was then given , and drank with fullest honors , and Bro . Green having returned thanks , Bro . AVoolsey was called upon to give "The Tyler's Toast , " and thus was brought to a conclusion a most delightful and truly masonic eveningthe lodbeing

, ge closed shortly after eleven o ' clock . SUSSEX . HASTINGS . —Derwent Lodge ( No . 47 . )—This lodge held its usual monthly meeting at the Swan Hotel , Hastings , on Monday the 10 th , when the newly elected W . M . took the chair for the

first time , having been installed on the 13 th January . At the present meeting Bros . Rubic , Winter , and Harman , were raised to the sublime degree of a M . M ., and the very efficient way in which Bro . Cave Boniell , AV . M ., performed that beautiful ceremony , assisted by Bro . C . Ayles , S . W ., and Bro . C . Foakes , J . W ., was highly creditable to himself and the lodge , and ill fact more like an old experienced P . M . than one so recently invested . At the conclusion of the ceremony the hrethren partook of a slight refreshment , highly pleased with their selection of officers for efficiently carrying out their several duties ..

Scotland.

SCOTLAND .

( From oar oion Beporterj \ & o f , t - ^\ fy PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF AYRSHIRE . IJIIOETANT DECISION OE GBAND LODGE . The Provincial Grand Lodge of Ayrshire Avas summoned to meet at Kilwinning on the 24 th December last , for the election and installation of office-bearers . Sir James Ferguson Bart

, M . P ., Provincial Grand Master , was unavoidably absent , and none of the Prov . Grand Officers having ever been installed as such , the chair fell to be taken by the R . W . M . of tbe senior lodge present , Kilmarnock Kilwinning St . John ( No . 22 ) . The Secretary of the Mother Lodge , Bro . Robert Wylie , who also held a commission as Prov . G . Sec , read the advertisement calling the meeting , after which the Frov . J . G . W ., tabled his

commission and presented himself for installation . To this the presiding Master , Bro . J . Broivn , objected , on the ground that Bro . Lyon not being Master or AVarden of a lodge Avithin the province of Ayr , conld have no status in the Provincial Grand Lodge , —in ivhich view the occupant of the chair was supported by the R . AV . M's . of Lodges Nos . 126 and 149 , ( Bros . Caldwell and Gray . ) Dr . GEAY thought the Rules of Grand Lodge wisely contained a little ambiguity in respect to the parties constituting a Provcial Grand Lodge , and that in ordinary circumstances that ambiguity might have heen taking advantage of to the profit

of proA'incial grand lodges generally by the occasional introduction of a talented and influential brother ; but the peculiar circumstances in which they were placed compelled them to act up to the very letter of the laiv . The recent decision of the Grand Committee had explained away the ambiguity completely , and at the decision referred to had been obtained in answer to a communication addressed by the R . W . M . of Kilmarnock St . Andrew to the Grand Secretaryof date April 181860 relative

, , , to the powers and privileges of the Ancient or Mother Lod ge ; and for the information of members of Provincial Grand Lod ge Avho had not seen the deliverance of Grand Committee of June 5 , 1860 he , Dr . Gray , begged to read / that part bearing upon the point at issue , and which was as follows : — QUEBY . — " 1 st . Has the Provincial Grand Master of A yrshire the right to nominate or commission , as Office-hearers of the

Provincial Grand Lodge , any Master Mason in Ayrshire , ( not being Masters or Wardens of Lodges in the Province , ) solely as being Master Masons in said Lodges ?" ANSAVEE . — " 1 st . That the Provincial Grand Master of Ayrshire , or any other Province , is , hy Grand Lodge Laws ( Cap . 13 , § 3 , ) entitled to choose , and to appoint by commission , from time to time , a Proi'incial Grand Depute and a Substitute Master , two AVardens , a Secretary , and Chaplain , but that