Provincial.

the long and most interesting lecture of the first degree , anel explained the various customs observed by Freemasons at the initiation of a candidate into the mysteries ofthe Craft from time immemorial . The remaining business having been concluded , the lodge was closed in the several degrees after solemn prayer from Bro . Eev . H . B . Bullocke , M . A ., Chaplain of No . 331 . Several visitors were present , as all such receive invariably a warm welcome at the Fortitude Ledge .

DEVONSHIRE . MOHICE Tows , DEA - QXPORT . —St . Aubyn Lodge ( No . 954 ) . — A largely attended meeting of the lodge was held on Tuesday , tlie iOfch inst ., to raise two , pass two , and to ballot for the five candidates regularly proposed nt the previous meeting . The minutes having been confirmed , and the ballot taken and pronounced unanimous , the candidates for Craftsmen were called to the pedestal ( those for the third degree being absent

from the first ) and passed a most satisfactory examination . The lodge having been opened in the F . C . degree , the candidates were re-admitted and passed to the second degree . Business was then resumed in the E . A . degree and the whole of the candidates being present they were introduced and admitted to the secrets of the first degree of Ancient Masonry . The ceremonies of the evening having been closeel , the ludge resolved that the

congratulations ofthe meeting be tendered to a member of the lodge 0 : 1 his promotion from a non-commissioned to a commissioned officer in the army . The \\ . M . called the attention of the brethren that pursuant to the by-laws they would be called on to nominate his successor at the next meeting . Tho proposition of a candidate and prayer to the G . A . closed bhe labour ofthe evening . At the refreshment table the W . M . was supported b

y visitors from Lodge Fidelity , 230 ; Lodge Sincerity , 1 S 9 ; Loelge Fortitude , 105 ; Lodge Friendship , 202 ; Lodge ' Charity , 223 ; su ! from several foreign lodges ; all of whom expressed themselves highly pleased at the reception accorded them and wifch the manner in which the duties of fche evening had been cond :: cteii . The Tyler ' s toasfc having been given , tire brethren withdrew .

HAMPSHIRE . AA IXCUESTEl ! . Lodge of ( Economy ( No . 76 ) . The brethren of this lodge recently determined , in accordance with the excellent practice now increasing amongst Masons , to ¦ separate their lodge from all hotel associations , and by this AW ; an 5 to do with the reproachso often heard in the

away , o ' . ' . ter world , that our secret arts and hidden mysteries aro but flimsy excises to cover immoderate indulgence in the gratification of eating and drinking . After encountering many difHc-iUie . ! , and meeting with heavy disappointments , the brethren a ; last succeeded in obtaining premises for a Masonic hall . A chapol , almost as old as the lodge itself , and which boars traces of its occupation in b- days bRoman CatholicsFrench

ygone y , p ' . 'is i-. iers , and Wesleyan Methodists , was purchased , and the nec 33 sary alterations were made to adapt it to its new purpose . In carrying out these alterations all superfluous expense has lie . ; n carefully avoided , the brethren having wisely determined f . at to secure a hall which should be solely devoted to the purposes of Masonry , and then to beautify and adorn it by

degrees , according to the prosperity of the loelge and the zeal of its members . Mtmehiy , the 9 fch inst ., was tho day selected for the celebration of tho 105 th anniversary of the lodge , and the installation of tho W . M . elect , Bro . Thomas Ruff , S . W . 0 ;; --distinguished nnd indefatigable Bro . AV . AV . B . Bench , M . P ., had kindly undertaken to perform the ceremony of installation , but was unfortunately prevented from attending by his public engagements . Under these circumstances two Past Masters of

the lodge ( Bros . Everifcfc and Smith ) were called upon , afc short notice , to discharge the duty , and acquitted themselves with the zeal and assiduity of experienced Masons . - Notwithstanding the extremely unfavourable state of the weather there was a large muster of the brethren , including Bros . E . Sheppard , W . M . ; Thomas Ruff , AV . M . elect ; R . W . Bro . Mauockjee CursetjecD . G . M . Western IndiaJudge of t ' . ic {

, , Supreme Court of Bombay ; J . Rankin Stebbing , P . G . D . of England ; ii . S . Hulberfc , Prov . J . G . W . ; Hickman . Prov . C-. Soe . ; Jenkins , Prov . G . Dir . of Cers . Bucks ; T . Bonham-Carter , M . P . ; Naish , Payne , Hnsleham , Sherry , Smith , Everitt , Challis , Gibson , I and Oaksliott , P . M . 's ; Newman , Harris , Stopher , King , Whale , Wright , Stanley , Huggins , E . Carter , Hubbersty , Hall , & c .

The first business was to ballot for AV . Rudden , Esq ., Mayor of Winchester . The ballot having proved unanimous , the ceremony of initiation was most impiessively performed by the retiring Master , Bro . E . Sheppard , tho ancient charge being delivered by Bro . Stebbing in his usual excellent maimer . Bro . A . Smith , P . M ., then began the ceremony of installation , anel having administered the obligation to ' Bro . T . Ruff , S . W . placed him in the chair of K . S . according to ancient

, , custom , and with tho hearty co-operation and approval of the assembled brethren , Bro . Everitt , P . M ., presented the working tools , and delivered those beautiful addresses which form so important a pari ; of this impressive ceremony . The following officers were invested on fche occasion : —Bros . Sheppard , I . P . M . ; R . S . Hulberfc , S . W . ; G . Stopher , J . AV . ; Huggins , Sec ; Whale , S . D . ; StanleyJ . D . ; C . SherryDir . of Cers . ; J . HallT \ G .

, , , ; and Richards and Pottle , Tylers . Before the lodge was closed , ifc was moved by Bro . Alfred Smith , P . M ., seconded by Bro . Naish , P . AI ., anel carried unanimously , thafc a resolution be placed on the minutes ofthe lodge , expressing the high gratification of the brethren at fche visit of their distinguished Parsee , Bro . Manockjee Cursetjec , and their delight at recognising in him an exemplification of the universality of Masonry The

W . M ., Bro . Ruff , then presented his vote to his eminent visitor , in a few well chosen words of graceful compliment , and greeted him well in the name of fche Winchester brethren ; whereupon , Bro . Ivlnnockjee Cursetjec arose , and with a fluency and accuracy of language which would have done credit to any well educated native-born Englishman , expressed his acknowledgment of fche compliment which had been paid him , and proceeded to expatiate

on the benefits of Masonry as witnessed by himself in India anel iu England . This concluding the business of the day , the lodge was closed at half-past four o'clock , and at five o'clock the brethren abovementioned sat down to a sumptuous banquet under the presidency of the new AA . M ., Bro . Ruff , to whose generous liberality the lodge was much indebted on the occasion . When the cloth was removed , the AA ' . M . called ou the brethren to drink to " The Queen anel the Craft . " Justice having been done to this toasfc , the AV . M . then proposed " The Most AVorshipful the Grand Master of England ,

the Deputy Grand Master , and the Officers of Grand Lodge , " coupling with it the name Bro . Rankin Stebbing , Past Grand Deacon of England . Bro . It . Stebbing , P . G . D . of England , replied in a powerful speech , full of Masonic zeal . He strongly urged on the brethren of the provinces a closer union with the London Masons , and recommended those who were qualified to be regular in their attendance on Grand Lodgeassuring them of a kind reception

, , aud a ready hearing should they think ifc right to take part in the proceedings . He advised all to make themselves practically acquainted with the accommodation , the means , and the requirements of on , " noble charities , and emphatically protested against Masons limiting their Masonic spirit to the walls of their own lodge , or the boundaries of their own town . A sliht deviation from the established order of the

proceedg ings now took place in consequence of the approaching departure of Bro . Bonliam Carter , M . P ., on account of his parliamentary dr . tles , and the health , of that brother was proposed by Bro . Niiislr , P . M ., and heartily drunk by tire brethren . In reply , Bro . BOXIIAM CARTER said thafc though young in Masonry he yielded to none in admiration of its noble principles and excellent precepts . He regretted that he had not solicited

admission to the Order afc au earlier period of his life . The brethren might wonder that he had not sought to be initiated at AA'iurhester , seeing that he had been connected with the city as its lopresoutative in Parliament for some seventeen years . The reason was that when he resolved to become a Mason and made inquiries on the subject of au experienced brother , he was told thafc Masonry hael nothing to do with politics anel

that ho woulel act more prudently if he were initiated in the lodge nearest to his own residence ( Petersfielc !) rather than in the lodge of the town with which he was only politically connected . The honourable brother concluded by proposing , in high terms , "The Health of the Right Worshipful the Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Western India , " at the same time apologizing for being compelled to quit the lodge before

his eminent brother could reply . liro . MAJCOCKJBE CURSEIJEE replied in a speech of great eloquence , in the course of which he communicated many interesting circumstances relating to the history and progress of Masonry in India . He again thanked the brethren for the