Provincial.

terms to the kind reception ho had received from tho AA . M ,, Officers , and brethren of the Lodge , and expressed his satisfaction at tho skilful and correct manner iu which the business had been conducted , ] larticularly the working of the third degree , which ho had never seen surpassed in any Lodge ; and as a young Lodge it did them great honour . On retiring he was saluted with the grand honours , superintended by Bro . J . B . Lambert , P . M ., and Director of Ceremonies , and enthusiastically joined in by all the members . Bro . Blair , evidently affected by this

token of esteem , shook hands cordially with the A \ . M . and retired . The Loclge then formed itself into committee to take into consideration a motion made on the previous Lodge meeting , respecting tho propriety of the Lodge being held at a private room , instead of an hotel . After considerable discussion , the proposition , was put from the chair and carried by an overwhelming majority . A committee of six was then appointed to decide on a proper room for the purpose . The committee met in the forenoon of Tuesday , and decided to take one of the large rooms in the

premises of the late Mr . James Mawdesley , the Assembly Rooms , No . 2 , in Lordstreet , and there tho Lodge will assemble at its next monthly i meeting . The room will be called the Masonic Hall , ami the entrance decorated with a suitable Masonic device .

LEICESTERSHIRE . Av 20 ixi : wst . —f . odge . —AVednesday , March 2 nd , St . John ' s ( 34 S ) , Bell Hotel , Leicester , at 7 . LAYING Till : COnSUIt STONE OF 1 'ltKKMASONS' HALL . In tho middle ages , when tho fraternity of Freemasons , privileged by royal charters , and personally patronised by kings , many of whom woro enrolled amongst its

members , travelled from town to town over tho face of Europe , and divided into Lodges , each under tho rule of its Master and AVardens as overseers of the work , erected those glorious churches and cathedrals mauy of which still remain to be alike the wonder and admiration of the architect and the delight of the man of taste , it Avas customary on the commencement of any noble edifice for the foundation stone to bo laid with much pomp , and in solemn form , by some royal patron of the artlike Edward tho Third ; some eminent prelatelike William of AVkeham

, , y ( Grand Master of the Order ); or , in the instance of country churches , by some potent earl or mail-clad baron , whose piety or whose superstition , as the case might be , led him to apply a portion of his revenues to founding the sacred edifice . AA'ithin the stone , were usually deposited an engraved plate and other records , descriptive of the purposes for which the structure was erected , together with the names of its founders and patrons , ancl also a glass vessel containing coins of the reigning sovereign . After the stone was fixed , the founder usually deposited

upon it the deed of gift ofthe land and building , and other eminent persons in the assembly offered thereon their contributions to the good work . The members of the Order in this province have recently purchased a site iu Halford-street , Leicester , for the erection of a hall , in which , on its completion , the meetings of the local Lodges are to take place , which , of necessity , in this town , have hitherto been held at hotels ; and tho Provincial Grancl Lodge was convened on Tuesday , February ISth , to lay tho corner-stone of the building . The Prov .

Grand Lodge Avas opened at the Bell Hotel , at half-past three o'clock , and among those present , were Bros , the Right Hon . Earl Howo , G . O . H ., Right AVorshipful Provincial Grand Master ; AV . Kelly , Deputy Provincial Grand Master , ; C . Morris , Senior Grand AVarden ; the Right Hon . Earl Ferrers , Junior Grand AVarden ; Rev-J . 0 . Picton , M . A ., Grand Chaplain ; J . Underwood ( ex-Mayor ) , Grand Treasurer ; F . Goodyer , Grand Secretary ; AV . Pettifor , AV . Hardy , AV . J . AVindram , E . Clephan , Past Grand AVardensAA MillicanGraud Superintendent of AVorks ( the architect

; . , of the building ); R . Brewin , junr ., and A . Cummings , Grand Directors of Ceremonies ; George Bankart , Grand Deacon ; H . E . Emberlin , Grand Sword Bearer ; J . D . Paul , Grand Pursuivant ; Martin Nedham , C . J . AVilley , T . Sheppard , ancl James Bouskell , Grand Stewards ; AV . S . Bithrey , Grand Organist ; AV . AVeare , AV . Johnson , Harry J . Davis , Junior AA ardeu , Lodge No . 58 ; J . Law , James Thompson , Joseph Haines , P . M , No . 348 ; J . II . Bobart , IT . T . Bobart , AV . Mason , and John