Provincial.

significance in the Masonic , body undertaking this particular work in preference to a new one . Antiquity is one of the cherished characteristics of the body ; and whether the first lodgo was held amongst the rising columns of Solomon ' s temple or not , it at least must he admitted that the origin of the Masonic Order dates back in centuries beyond the reach of record ; so that in devoting its contributions to the preservation of a building whose foundations were laid iu the dim past , the brotherhood hetti to perpetuate in

carved stone the old chronicles of Bristol—personal , civic , and ecclesiastical . " AVe may live without architecture , " says Ruskin , " and ivorship without her , but we cannot remember without her . How cold is all history , how lifeless imagery , compared with that which the living nation writes ancl the uncorrupted marble bears . How many pages of doubtful record might ive not often spare for a few stones left one upon another . There are but two strong conquerors of the forgetfnlness of menpoetry and architectureand

, , the latter , in some sort , includes the former , and is mightier in its reality ; for it is well to have not only what men have thought and felt , but what their hands have handled , and their strength wrought , and their eyes beheld all the clays of their life . " The past generations of Bristol citizens , whose visions have heen gladdened by the glorious old structure , the restoration of which a present generation has taken in hand , may hardly be counted ; but there has been we think , a peculiar fitness , as applied to the circumstances of the

founder or refounder , in the character of each class that has from time to time during the last seventeen years taken up the task of restoration , and continued it generally or in particular parts . Thus the work of restoration was inaugurated hy the Mayor and Corporation—Ganynges having six times held the one office , ancl taken a lead in the administration of the other : then came the unknown rebuilder of the north porch , doubtless contributing from the profits of trade to tbe preservation of that which was first built from the

same source ; ivhile the part undertaken by the Commercial Travellers was a tribute from the successful commerce of a place , whose first merchant was the founder of the structure ; while here and there particular acts and gifts in connection with the enterprise testify to the fact that the reverential feeling of William Canynges still survives in the city of his birth . Even this " order of analogies , " was , in some fashion , carried out through the less sentimental piroceedings of AVednesdayfor who that sees the tomb of

, the founder , surrounded by graves of the officers of his hospitable household—his baker , his cook , his butler , and his brewer—can doubt that when the Craft ended the day with a dinner at the AVhite Lion , passing " from labour to refreshment , " they fulfilled another duty inculcated hy the life of the great Bristol citizen , who probably set his neighbours and contemporaries the example of ¦ crowning with a genial gathering ancl feast the beginning itself of the goocl work .

DEVONSHIRE . PEOVINCIAE GEAND LODGE . The Prov . Grand Lodge for Devon was holden by order of the Prov . G . M ., Earl Fortescue , K . G ., at Tavistock , on AA'ednesday , 27 th ult . JMJost of the lodges in the province were represented by the attendance of brethren from all parts of the county . There

were also present visiting brethren from the Prov . G . Lodge of Cornwall , from Callington , Launceston , London , ancl Ireland . " The lodge assembled in the large room of the Temperance Hotel , and in the absence of Lord Fortescue through illness , the D . Piov . G . M ., the Rev . John Huyshe , presided . The lodge having been opened according to the forms of the Order , the ordinary business was disposed of , sums of money voted to various Masonic charities ; and various applications on behalf several distressed Freemasons

and widows having been heard ancl relief voted , Bro . AV . Merrifield , P . M ., of Tavistock , having been elected Prov . G . Treas ., and Bro . Gregory re-elected Tyler , the following were appointed and invested as officers of the Prov . G . Lodge for the year ensuing , viz ., Bros . Lord Graves , of Lodge 224 , S . G . AV . ; J . C . Goodridge , 380 , J . G . W . ; Rev . J . Poiving , 1012 , Prov . G . Chap . ; AVm . Merrifield , 357 , Prov . G . Treas . ; Henry Crantoun Adams , 123 , Prov . Ref .

W . D . Moore , 152 , Prov . G . Sec . ; JR . Dowse , M . B ., 224 , P . J . G . D . ; Captain , C C . Dick , 129 , P . J . G . D . ; Joseph Matthews , 351 , Prov ! G . Supt . of AVorks ; S . AV . F . Leamaii , 380 , G . Dir . of Cers . ; G . B . Gover , S 3 , Prov . Assist . G . Dir . of Cers . ; Capt . T . D . Hogg , 312 , Prov . G . Sword Bearer ; J . AV . AVebber , 725 , Prov . G . Organist ; AA' . H . Foulds , 270 , Prov . G . Purst . ; and Prov . G . Stewards , Bros . James Gilbard , 720 ; John Mackay , 185 ; Samuel Chappie , 185 ; Robinson Ridly 224 Frank Alexander Stackpole 650 and Richard

, ; , ; Pomeroy , 122 . ^ On the closing of the lodge the brethren formed into procession according to the usual order , and marched from the Temperance Hotel by the market through two or three streets , to that noble building Tavistock Church . Evening prayers were said by the Rev . J . Huyshe , D . Prov . G . M ., and a sermon was preached by

the Rev . George Kuowling , M . A ., Incumbent of St . Paul's , Stonehouse , the Prov . G . Chap , for the expiring year . The sermon , which was based on the 14 th verse of the sixth chapter of Job , was indirectly a defence of the principles of Freemasonry , but primarily it was an argument in favour of brotherly love ancl an earnest appeal for the exercise of , sympathy , kindness , and practical charity towards the poor ancl the afflicted , and more especially with reference to the Tavistock Dispensary , on behalf of

whose funds the sermon was preached . There were not many persons in the church , except the Freemasons and their friends , but nevertheless the collection amounted to £ 11 Ss . 6 cl . It is impossible that anything could nave been better than were all the arrangements connected with the Church , for which credit is due to Brother Joseph Mathews , who is churchwarden , Brother AVills , Brother Merrifield , Brother Thynne , ancl other Tavistock Freemasons , who have taken part in preparing for the proceedings of the clay . It

will be a very long time before many of the brethren , to whom the Tavistock Church organ , and the playing of Brother J . F . Thynne , were new , will forget the musical portion of the service . It was such as to leave little to he desired , and charmed every educated ear . The organ is one of the sweetest toned and best in England ,

and perhaps than Bro . Thymic there are very , very few more able organists . The organ playing was , indeed , a rich treat , ancl it was supported hy a competent , although limited choir . On leaving the church the procession was re-formed , and marched , headed as before hy the excellent band of the Tavistock Yolunteers , by the way of the New Market to the Bedford Hotel . At the Bedford some hundred or so of the brethren sat down to an excellent dinner , well served up by Brother Northway . The lt . AV . the

Rev . J . Huyshe , presided , and Brother AA ' . Denis Moore , Prov . G . S ., officiated as ' G . S . AVarden . After dinner the usual Masonic toasts were given ancl responded to , and several good speeches were made . In the course of the proceedings a complimentary allusion was made to the sermon preached by the Rev . George ICnowling , and a very handsome ancl valuable past grand chaplain's jewel was presented to the rev . preacher on behalf of a brother Freemason , who desired in that way to mark his respect and admiration for Brother

Knowling , ' The D . Prov . G . M . ancl most of the Brethren left at 5 . 15 to return to Pfymouth and other parts of the county , by the train leaving Tavistock at 5 . 30 . The whole of the proceedings connected with the Prov . Grand Lodge were conducted in the spirit of true amity and brotherly kindness .

DURHAM . GATESHEAD . —Lodge of Industry ( No . 56 . )—The lodge was opened at the Grey Horse Inn , Gateshead , on Monday the 26 th August , by the AV . M . Bro . AVm . Bryden , assisted by " Bro . P . M . Anty . Clephan as S . AA' . ; Bro . P . M . A . Gillespie , as J . AV ., and a full attendance of members . The visitors were Bros . D . Shaw , P . M ., 711 , Ashton ; G . H . Hawks , AV . M .. 9 S 5 ; H . Gillespie , AA' . M .,

614 ; Chas . Smith , 793 ; Robt . and Thomas Brown , 252 , & e . Mr . Benjamin Bigger was initiated into the mysteries of the order by the AV . M . in a very impressive manner . Bro . C . J . Banister , P . M ., gave the lecture on the tracing boarcl in this degree . Ten pounds was voted to the Treasurer as a tribute of esteem for past services ; the rest of the business over , the lodge was closed in due form , and the brethren adjourned to refreshment , ancl spent two hours in social conversation , separating at 10-30 .

AVILTSHIRE . PitoviNClAJi GEAND LODGE . This meeting was held at the AA'hite Hart Hotel , Salisbury , on Thursday , the 29 th , when , in consequence of the absence of the R . AV . Prov . G . M ., the Lord Methenn , the duties were most ably performed hy Bro . Gooch , P . G . S . B ., and D . Prov . G . M . of the province .

At 2 o'clock , p . 31 ., a meeting of the Charity Committee was held in an adjoining room , when the various accounts were examined and audited , and amongst other business transacted was the confirming the vote of last Grand Lodge of forty guineas to the different Masonic Charitable Institutions , and a fresh vote of ten guineas to be applied to Lodge 909 , for the Girls' Schools , ten guineas to Lodge 914 for the Boys * Schools , and ten guineas to Lodge 856 for the Royal Benevolent Institution , thus making each lodge in

the province a ' subscriber to one or other of the different Charities ; and by the plan laid down by the Charity Committee , this annual distribution is to continue . till all the lodges are Life Governors of each Institution . The Grand Lodge was then formed , and proceeded to the Lodgo Room of Robert cle Dereham , 856 , where they were received with the usual Masonic honours ; hut in consequence of many local events happening on that , and previous days , preventing the attendance