Provincial.

opened in duo form , the minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed . The ballot was then taken for Mr . J . Bates , builder of Stoney Stratford , which being unanimous in his favour , he was duly initiated , the W . M ., Bro . J . Meadley , performing in a very efficient manner tbe ceremony . The ballot was then taken for two candidates , but , not being unanimous , the propositions were withdrawn . There being no other business before the lodge , the usual questions were put b y the AV . M ., and there

being no response the lodge was closed in due form . Bro . E . Bore was unable to attend to be raised . Present : —Bros . J . Meadley , AV . M . ; G . Ratcliffe , S . AV . ; J . Butcher , J . AV . ; R . Hales , J . D . ; It . King , I . G . ; J . B . Devon , P . M . ; A \ . Roebuck , Sec ; II . Chibnail , Tyler ; W . Webb , Steward ; AV . A . Rouck , C . F . Webber , H . A . Hicks , and C . Avcline . Alsitors—Bros . AV . Fogg , 439 , Mauritius , and James Twining , 1 , 083 .

DURHAM . BISHOP AUCKLAND—Wear Valley Lodge ( So . 1 , 121 ) . —The regular monthly meeting of tins lodge was held on Friday , the 14 th inst ., at tlie Saving ' s Bunk . In the vmavoidibie v . bscnee of the W . M ., Bro . the Rev ^ G . P . Wi'kinson , Bro . G . Canuey , M . D ., P . M ., presided , and was supported by Bro- -. G . Stillman , S . vV . ; J . AVyldJ . W . ; T . B . jThwaite ? Treas . ; AV . l'awsonHon . Sec ;

, , , J . Hobson . I . G ., & c . A isitor—Bro . John Bowes , Kos . 129 , 14 S , 1 , 051 , 1 . 250 , P . M ., P . Z ., P . Prov . G . Dir . of Cers ., P . Prov . G . Reg . Cumberland and Westmoreland . The lodge was opened in due form , according tn ancient custom , when one brother was passed , and two raised , the ceremonies being perfarmed by the acting AV . M . in a correct an-l impressive manner , under the Deaconate of Bro . John Bowes .

HAMPSHIRE . WIKCHESTEK . —Lodge of Economy ( So . 70 ) . —The regular monthly meeting of this lodge took place at the Masonic Hall , Parchment Street , on AVednesday , the 20 th May , when the following brethren were present : —Bros . Sheppard , AV . M ., Stopher , S . AV ., Everitt , J . AV ., Sberrv , Treas ., Stopher , Sec , AVhale , S . D ., PontonJ . D ., OakshotP . M . PriddisI . G . BishopF . I . AA '

ar-, , , , , , ner , J . W . Snelliug , H . Hubbersty , H . Newman , AV H . AVooldridge , Sealey , Daswell , Beach , Hutt , E . Snelling ; Tamue , AA . M . 177 , Warren , 177 , Bodley , 39 , visitors . The minutes of the last lodge being confirmed , and after raising Bro . F . J . AVarner , the brethren proceeded to discuss the following notice fof motion by Bro . Sherry : — " That the scheme proposed by Bro . Clabon , for appropriating a portion of

the Fund of Benevolence to other than the purposes for which it was created , be taken into consideration and discussed at our next monthly meeting , on the 26 th May . " Bro . Sherry introduced the subject before tho lodge , seeking the opinion of the brethren present , saying at the latterpartof the evening be would found a resolution on the opinion of a ma , ority of the members . Bro . Sheppard explained the scheme for the information of those unacquainted with the subject ; Bro . Oakshot opposed the scheme ; Bro . Stopher supported the scheme ;

Bros , AVarner and Wliall opposed the scheme . Bro . J . AV . Snelliug produced figures as follows : —Tho fact that the Fund of Benevolence was ori ginally instituted , and has continued so long without question , dedicated to tho relief of Allisons in distress , and that such distress still exists inclines me to the decided opinion that it cannot rightly be alienated from its ori ginal purpose . That part of the scheme , which proposes an enlarged application of the funds to the relief of distressed Masons , meets with most cordial

my support , but to nearly all the rest I am most decidedly opposed . Upon a hasty analysis of the published figures I find that the surplus of , £ 11 , 000 which existed in 1840 should be , at the end of 18 ( 17 , at Z \ per cent ., about £ 26 , 100 , and the actual amount was only £ 26 , 779 , showing that the surplus has in the main arisen from the accumulations of the original surplus of 1840 , and that on an average of vears the contributions , c % c , have only sufficed for the relief of cases of

distress , and that too on the present scale . Let us see what will be the effect of doubling the amount of relief as proposed . . Tbe average annual amount of relief for six years ending 1 SG 7 , irrespective of the grant to the charities , was £ 2120 , the amount for the last year of that period being £ 2 , 108 . Now if we double tbe average amount we have £ -1 , 210 , and the actual contributions & c , for 1867 ( irrespective of interest ) only amounted to £ 4 , 226 , shewing that tbe existing contributions , & e ., will only just

sumco for the increased grants proposed , leaving tbe interest on . investments £ 1053 to meet the annual grant to the charities . The total interest on invested funds for eight years , ending 1867 , amounted to £ 5500 , and the amount granted to the charities for tbe same period was £ 6400 ; and although the present interest is slightly more than sufficient to pay the £ 800 to the charities , it may fairly be asked , why the aged and decayed Masons should not be as much thought of , in the

application of any such trifling surplus , as the Masonic schools , which are so well supported with such constantly increasing liberality . I contend that there will be scarcely any surplus if the funds are liberally dealt with for their only legitimate purpose . Let us examine how tbey have been dispensed of late years . The contributions , & c , were , in 1862-3-4 . £ 9302 Do . do . 1 S 65-6-7 . 11 , 769

Increase of contributions , & e . . . 2467 The expenditure for relief , 1 S 62-3-4 ... £ 7100 ( Relieving 479 cases ) Do . do . 1865-6-7 . . . 5621 ( Relieving 420 cases ) Decrease in charity £ 1479

So that , in the face of such an increase , ' ( 7 less cases were , relieved , and £ 1479 less expended in the last period of three years . I leave these figures to speak for themselves . Bro . Sherry then proposed the following resolutions , seconded by Bro . Sheppard : — " That in the opinion of this lodge , the scheme proposed by Bro . Clabon is approved , with the exception of that part which states that a wielow of a deceased brother ( no matter what her poverty might be ) cannot apply a second time

for relief . And also that part which proposes to take from the surplus fund of benevolence two thirds for the use of tbe Masonic Schools . The latter proposition being alien to tbe eighteenth article of the act of union between the two Grand Lodges in 1 S 13 , which is worded as follows : — 'The Fund appropriated to the objects of Masonic Benevolence shall not be infringed on for any purpose , but shall be kept strictly and solely devoved to charity , and pains taken to increase the same . ' This

lodge is also of opinion the scheme ought to be referred back to the committee for amendment , and more time allowed for its consideration , especially as very few lodges in tbe provinces are aware uf the magnitude ofthe scheme . " Bro . Stopher moved an . amendment which was not seconded , and the resolution was carsied with' one dissention .

LANCASHIRE ( WEST ) . PI . ESCOT . —Lodge of Loyalty ( Xo . 86 ) . —The brethren of this lodge met on AA ednesday , the 19 th inst ., at the Royal Hotel , Prescot , Br . J . Fowler , P . M ., taking the chair , and was supported by Bros . J . M . Hall , Prescott , S . AV . ; Birohall , J . AV . ; and other officers of the lodge . The lodge was duly opened , and the minutes of the previous meeting were read by Bro . Caldwell ,

aud confirmed . Bros . T . Beasley , 897 , and J . Knight , 14 S , were balloted for as joining members aud unanimously elected . The lodge was opened in the second degree , and Bro . It . Young was then interrogated as to his proficiency in this degree , and those interrogatories were ¦ answered in a satisfactory manner . Bro . Young then retired , aud the lodge was opened to the third degree , and Bro . Young was admitted , and raised in a very masterly maimer by P . M . Fowler to the degree of M . M . This

important ceremony was performed in a most impressive and careful way , and several veteran masons expressed the high gratification they had experienced in seeing Freemasonry carried out in all its purity . The labours of the evening being ended , the lodge was closed in due form .

LEICESTERSHIRE . LEICESTER . —John of Gaunt Lodge , ( No . 523 ) . The usual monthly meeting of this lodge was held at - ' - ' - ; Freemason ' s Hall on Thursday , the 20 th instant , the AV . M ., Bro . A . M . Duff , P . M . 160 , in the chair . There were also present P . M . ' s Kelly , D . P . G . M . ; Goodyer , P . P . S . G . AV . ; AV . Beaumont Smith , P . P .. LG . AV . ; and AV . Johnson , P . P . G . D . ; Toller , S . AV . ; Sculthorpe , Sec . ; Sargeant , S . D . ; Partridge , J . D . ; AVardle , I . G . ; and others . Alerters , Rev . N . Hayeroft , L . D ., 181 , London ; Alex . Mackintosh , 758 ; Louis H . Moore , 1017 ; 1 . McAllister