Provicial.

plate to bo deposited in the stone was then read by the Prov . G . Sec ., the following is a copy of the inscription : — " The foundation-stone of this building was laid with the formalities of Craft Masonry , by Le Gendre Nicholas Starkie , of Huntroyde , Lancashire , Esquire , P . M ., P . Z ., Past Grand Warden of England , P . Prov . G . AVardcu of \ A cst Lancashire , P . Prov . G . A \ arden of East Lancashire , Captain 2 nd Royal Lancashire MilitiaLieut .-Col 2 nd Lancashire Kino Volunteersand

Lieut-, . , . Col . 8 th Admin . Battalion of Lancashire Rille A olunteer =, on the 2 nd October , 1869 . Officers in the 2 nd L . R . A " ., Blackburn — Lieut .-Col . Le Gcndro Nicholas Starkie ; Major Arthur Ingrain Eobiii'on ; Captains William Nutter , William Henry Hoinlty , jun ., Robert Parkinson , George Beaumont , and Henry John Robinson ; Licuts . AVilliam Alexander Cameron , John Clough , and Albert Neilson Hornley ; Ensign John Dean , jun . ; Adjutant '

Hubert Cornish Whitlock , lute Capt . 83 rd Rest . Architects : Stevens and Robinson , Derby ; Builder : Richard Hacking , Blackburn . " The stone was then raised , solemn music playing the while , and a hermetically sealed bottle , containing a parchment roll with the signatures of all the brethren who assisted at the ceremony ; copies of all the local papers of that day's date ; and

specimens of tbe various coins of the prosont reign , was deposited in the cavity of the stone and covered with charcoal , after which the plate was placed over the cavity . The Prov . G . Supt . of Works then handed the trowel to tlie Prov . G . M ., who spread the mortar on the lower stone . The foundationstone was then slowly lowered to its proper position , while the Masonic glee , " AA hen the Temple ' s first stone , '' was being sung

by Bros . Towers , Birkett , Robinson , and Sanderson . The stone now resting firmly on its bod , the Prov . G . M . directed the officers appointed I ' or that purpose to prove that it was properly adjusted , which they did by means of the plumb-rule , level , and square . Bro . Thomas Clough , P . M ., & c , 345 , then delivered the mallet to tbe Prov . G . M ., who gave three knocks upon the stoneand declared the same to be well and trullaid .

, y The stone was then annointed severall y with corn , wine , and oil , and the ceremony was brought to a close by the Chaplain pronouncing the benediction . After this a presentation was made to Capt . AVhitlock , Adjutant 7

2 nd L . R . A ., consisting of the medal from the Royal Humane Society , and a handsome silver tea and coffee service from the officers and men of his regiment ., in acknowledgement of his gallant conduct in rescuing two volunteers from drowning at Cleveleys , near Fleetwood . Tbe presentation was made by Lieut .-Col . Starkie , who accompanied it with some very feeling and eloquent remarks . The brethren then re-formed in procession and returned to the

lodge room , and the lodge was immediately afterwards closed in the different degrees , the proceedings terminating finally about 6 p . m . In the evening a grand banquet was held at the Old Bull Hotel . Some days previous to the meeting Bro . Lieut .-Col . Starkie had very kindly invited tbe AA " orshipful Masters , Wardensand Past Masters of tbe two Blackburn lod Nos .

, ges , 269 and 345 , to dine with him and the officers of the 2 nd L . R / V . The company comprised his Worship tbe . Mayor , and several of the aldermen and leading gentlemen of the town , the members of the Prov . G . Lodge who had taken part in the proceedings , together with Bros . James Spencer , AV . M . 269 ; AV . Ainsworth , J . W . 269 ; Richard Eaves , P . M . 269 ; John Rigby , W . M . 345 ; Joseph Cullis , S . AV . 345 ; Denis Towers , J . AV 7 345 ; Thomas

Birtwistle , P . M . 345 ; Charles Tiplady , P . M . 345 ; Richard Radcliffe , P . M . 345 ; Franklin Thomas , P . M . 345 , and P . Prov . G . Reg ., Oxon ; Edwin Eastwood , P . AI . 345 ; Thomas Robinson , P . M . 345 ; John Proctor , S . AV . 346 ; Benson AVood , AV . M . ; and the AA ' ardens and Past Masters of Lodge 381 , Over Darwen , and the officers of the 2 nd L . R . V . ; Lieut .-Col . Starkie occupying the chair . The dinner was choice and elegantand was full

, y appreciated both by the civic dignitaries and the Freemasons , as well as by their hospitable entertainers , the volunteer officers . This having been strictly a private dinner , no reporters were present , but we are enabled to say that tho usual loyal and patriotic toasts were given , as well as many of a general and personal character , the latter of which were ably responded to . Bro . Lieut .-Col . Starkie proved himself a most genialableand

, , eloquent chairman . The fact , however , of about one half the company not being Freemasons , precluded the possibility of that interchange of Masonic feeling and sentiment which is usual in meetings purely Masonic ; but no Freemason present could do otherwise than feel that many of the most eloquent passages in

Bro . Starkic ' s addresses derived their inspiration from the true spirit of Freemasonry , with which that very -worshipful brother is known to be so strongly imbued . LANCASHIRE WEST . PEESTON . —Lodge Concord ( 343 ) . —This lodge held its regular monthly meeting on Thursdaythe 21 sc inst .. at the King's

, Arms Hotel , Bro . Pritt , AV . M ., in the chair , assisted by Bros . Quagh , P . M . ; Porter , S . AV . ; Smith , P . M ., as J . W . ; Stevenson , S . I )/; Poole , J . D . ; Laverty , I . G . ; Heap . Sec ; Taylor , Margcrison , Cockshott , Clegg , Steib , AA . M . 314 . Jackson , Greaves , P . M ., Ashtou , Farmer , Clitheroe , Dewhurst , Bee , etc . Tho minutes of the previous meeting wero read and confirmed . Bro . the Rev . J . Taylor was raised to the sublime degree of M . M . Mr .

AVelbourn having been previously balloted for and unanimously accepted , was initiated . Two candidates were then proposed , after which Bro . Pritt , AV . M ., proposed , and Bro . Smith , P . M . seconded , that Bro . Porter , S . AV ., be the AV . M . for the ensuing twelve months . The lodge was closed with solemn prayer at 9 ' 45 , and the brethren adjourned to refreshment .

MONMOUTHSHIRE . TEEDEGAE . —St . George ' s Lodge ( No . 1093 ) . —This lodge met on Thursday , the 15 th ir . st ., for the first time after the vacation . The brethren mustered in considerable numbers , and among them were Bros . B . S . Fisher , AV . M ., Prov . G . J . D . ; S . G . Homfray ,. P . M ., Prov . G . J . AV . ; and Bond , P . M ., Prov . G . Dir . of Cers . The lodge was opened in due formand the minutes of the last

re-, gular lodge and of an intervening lodge of emergency were road and confirmed . Bro . David Dobbs was raised to the sublime degree of M . M . by tbe W . M , who , as usual , performed the ceremony in a very careful and impressive manner . After some routine business was gone through , upon the motion of Bro . Bond , P . M ., seconded by Bro . Brown , it was unanimously decided that Bro . Middleton , P . M . 109 S , & c , Prov . G . S . AA ., in

consideration of the many services rendered by him to this lodge and to the Craft in general , be elected an honorary member of tbe lodge . The AV . M . announced that during the recess death had robbed this lodge of two of its most respected members , namely , Bro . Richard Waters , who was one of the founders of the lodge , and also one of the oldest and most beloved Masons in the provinceand Bro . the Rev . \ A \ M . JenkinsB . A . a former

Chap-, , , lain of the lodge . In each case a vote of condolence with tho friends of the departed brothers was passed , and a copy ordered to be forwarded to their respective relatives . The W . M . then presented to the lodge an engraving each of the Boys' and Girls' Schools . Several names having been proposed for initiation and for joining membership , and there being no other business , the lodge was closed in due and ancient form .

SUFFOLK . IPSWICH . —British Union Lodge ( No . 114 ) . —Tho members of this old-established lodge held their regular monthly meeting at the Masonic Hall , on Thursday evening , the 21 st inst . Tho occasion was rendered more than usually interesting by tho visitation of the highly regarded Prov . G . M ., Bro . Sir Shaffco Adair , Burt . who is a member of the lod . The brethren assembled

, ge , at seven o'clock , when the chair of K . S . was taken by the AV . M ,, Bro . AVm . Boby , supported by Bro . A . J . Barber , as S . \ A . ; and Bro . P . Cornell , as J . W . There were also present the R . W . the Prov . G . M . ; the D . Prov . G . M ., Bro . the Rev . E . I . Lockwood , Bros . F . Gull , l ' . P . M . ; Schulen , P . M . ; Neave , P . M . ; W . Spalding , Sec ; AV . P . Mills , P . M ., 375 ; S . B . King , P . M ., 375 ; E . C . TiddP . A-G . SecC . Meadowsit . StephensS . AV . 376 ; A-

, , , , , , Gamman , 959 ; E . T . Read , 376 ; G . A . Turner , P . M ., 376 ; J . Spalding , Tyler , & c . There was no special business before the lodge , but Bros . Gull and Cornell worked the First Section in such a manner as to call forth the warmest expressions of approval from the brethren . The R . AV . the Prov . G . M . addressed the brethren , complimenting them highly for the admirable manner in which * their Masonic duties were carried ,

out ; and more especially , lie said , was a word of praise due to to Bros . Gull and Corneil for the able manner in which they had acquitted themselves . The Prov . G . M . also referred to the Craft apron which he then wore for the first time for many years , saying how many and varied were tho thoughts which were called to memory since he first put it on in a Cambridge lodge-He also expressed the pleasure it afforded him to be able to be