Provincial.

of love to him , and he must again thank them for the agreeable surprise which they had sprung upon him . The Festival of St . John followed , a recherche banquet being provided by Miss Brandon , the hall caterer . Loyal and Masonic toasts were agreeably varied by songs , recitations , & c , the contributaries being as follow : —Bros . H . A . Owles I . P . M ., J . E . Williams P . M . P . P . G . D . D . C , S . Gaskill P . M ., F .

Simpson , R . W . " Nuttall , George Garlick , F . M . Whittle , and Edwd . Roberts P . M . 1459 . Bro . Whittle shone in the dual capacity of player and composer , for he performed an oboe solo , entitled " Fantasie , " and furnished an original song for Bro . Nuttall , which was called " The Harmonies of Night . " Bro . 3 . H . Studd J . W ., in proposing the health of the Grand Officers , regretted that various circumstances had prevented the presence of any that evening , but he believed the Lodge had their good wishes .

The toast of the Provincial Grand Officers was responded to by Bro . Wm . Brookes P . M . 1009 P . P . G . S . D ., whose remarks wore amusing , incisive , and congratulatory . In the absence of Bro . Past Master John Studd , who was in attendance upon Bro . Eastwood , the latter being unfortunately stricken down by illness , Bro . Soholfield introduced the toast of the Worshipful Master , to which Bro . Walmsley replied as follows : —Brethren , I rise with the greatest of pleasure ,

pride , and satisfaction , which are not unmixed with considerable embarrassment , to respond to ihe toast of the health of the W . M . of this memorable and grand old Lodge . Pleasure and pride indeed must possess the mind , heart , and soul of any Brother who fills for the first time the chair of K . S ., with the consciousness of following , as I do , in the footsteps of 130 noble men and true , who have so worthily gone before me . This adds much to the lustre and honour of this high position , and also to the difficulty of adequately

sustaining its high traditions . Some embarrassment , therefore , must be natural to one who is new to the position of such responsibility , and who owes so much already to his colleagues and members of the Lodge . I know that in my own time a lofty ideal , a high standard , has animated the work of the Master and Officers of the Lodge in its administration , and although I feel that it is no small task to follow such records , I hope that at the end of the year , with the co-operation of my colleagues and Brethren , to be able to

fulfil what I have tried to deserve—the good things that have been said of me , and that the Lodge has not fallen behind in its work and usefulness . Usefulness to humanity must in the future , not less than in the past , be the " summum bonum , " or " raison d'etre " of its existence . Practical Charity , like its sister Mercy , is blessed both to him that gives and takes , and falleth like the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath . And so the Fraternity of Masonry , which spreads almost from pole to pole , and gathers in its ranks

under a never-setting sun men of every station , irrespective of race , creed , or colour , has become a combination of great power in the problem of humanity , and the advancement of the world . But combination and influence bring responsibility , and to quote the words of a leading man— " We take new responsibilities when we combine , and must ever hold before us as the distinct purpose that we each one of us , at the close of our working days , shall leave our art or our calling better than we found it . " And so I think that although our Craft has done much for Charity in the past , and has

extended tbe right hand of fellowship when most required , in which indeed own Lodge has a noble record , yet I believe that humanity , with all its influence and world-wide power , has not yet realised its fullest potentiality for human good , and will , I trust , in the future rise to a higher sense of its noblest attributes , and make still greater sacrifices in the cause of Charity and practical Brotherly love . Masonry has its social side , and Goldsmith must have been a Mason , methinks , when he sang : — " Blest is the spot where cheerful guests retire ,

To pause from toil and trim their evening fire , Blest that abode where want and pain , despair , And every stranger finds a ready chair . " And now , Brethren , I must thank Bro . Soholfield for the kind words which he has spoken of me . It is ten years since Bro . Studd initiated me into this Lodge , and to the Officers and members , past and present , I desire

to tender my sincere thanks for favours already received , and for the uniform kindness and encouragement I have always experienced . I trust that in the coming year we may have prosperity to the Lodge , and a good , useful , and happy time to the members and the Craft generally . I am sure it is the wish of all of us that as years roll on our good old Lodge may surpass its records and triumphs , and that more and more we may find that " Our nights shall be filled with music ,

And the cares that infest the day Shall fold their tents , like the Arabs , And as silently steal away . " * The Masonic Charities were proposed by Bro . H . H . Warburton P . M . P . P . S . G . D ., who congratulated the members on the amount raised . He stated that ho had been induced thirty years ago to join the Lodge of Integrity , because he had heard it was a charitable Lodge , and he hoped he

might always be connected with it . After a very interesting description of the manner in which the various amounts were dispensed , b" read several letters from the widows of members who had been assisted by the Lodge , and also from children of deceased members who had by the same medium been sent to educational institutions . We transcribe one from a little girl correspondent , dated from Barnes , to show the general nature of the communications : —

" Dear Mr . Warburton , —Please forgive me for not writing to thank you for tho nice Christmas present , but as 1 was breaking up soon I though I would wait , and we all could write together . Thank you very much for it , and will yon also thank the other gentlemen for me . I went in for the College of Preceptors' examination , but do not know if I have passed yet . I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year .

Your affectionate little Friend . " The remarks of Bro . Warburton , in appealing to the Brethren not to let their interest wane in support of such noble objects as those to which he had drawn their attention , were received with enthusiasm , and rightly so , say we , for there is no effort which is worthier of Freemasonry , of its principles , the intellect or the hearts of its members , than an endeavour to infuse comfort .

and pleasure , and hope , into the dull and colourless routine of the lives of those who are less fortunate than ourselves .

The toast of the Visiting Brethren , proposed by Bro . Blarney P . M ., was replied to by the majority of those present . One of the speakers ( we believe he was a Reverend Brother ) judiciously contrasted the ceremonial of Freemasonry with its social element , aud although he did not speak in dispraise of the latter , which he contended was essential for the pleasant interchange of thought and feeling , yet there were high , and pure , and noble aims for man in this world which should not be overlooked . In the words of the late George Linnieus Banks , they were

Provincial.

" For the cause that lacks assistance , For the wrongs that need resistance , For the future in the distance , For the good that one can do . " The toast of tho Installing Master , proposed by Bro . R . Alf . Hepworth

P . M ., was responded to by Bro . Sinclair , while that of the I . P . M . and other Past Masters of the Lodge was answered by Bro . Owles , who , in a short , but excellent speech , thanked the Brethren for their kindness to him during his year of office , and wished his successor a very pleasant time of it . Other toasts followed .

LODGE OF REPOSE , No , 802 . THE annual festival was celebrated on Tuesday , 25 th ult ., when Bro . W . Eaton was installed W . M . for the ensuing year . There was a very large attendance—more than at any previous meeting , it was announced—and both at the installation and the subsequent banquet the arrangements were excellent .

The Installing Master was Bro . W . Gilman I . P . M ., who conducted the impressive ceremonial and pronounced the various charges most effectively .

CARNARVON LODGE , No . 804 . A PLEASANT re-union took place on Tuesday evening , 1 st inst ., at the Masonic Hall , Havant , when the W . M . Bro . J . M . Godfrey presided over a very large gathering of Brethren , including the whole of his Officers and several of the Past Masters , together with a large number of visitors . After the Lodge was closed the Brethren adjourned to the supper-room ,

when forty-five sat down . Tho Loyal and Masonic toasts were briefly given and responded to , the chief interest being centered in the attendance of his Worship the Mayor of Portsmouth , Bro . H . Kimber , who served as Master of the Lodge in the year 1882 . The harmony of the evening was contributed to by Bros . Long , Bascombe , Mitchell , Charge , Brown , Lawton , & c , Bro . Fryer ably presiding at the piano .

CABBELL LODGE , No . 807 . AT the Masonic Rooms , St . Giles , Norwich , on Thursday , 27 th ult ., took place the installation meeting , when Bro . C . E . Todd W . M . occupied the chair .

Bro . S . F . Stackard S . W . having heen presented , was installed in tho chair in an able manner by Bro . A . Berry , who also delivered the charges . The newly installed Master appointed and invested his Officers , and then initiated two candidates , after which the Brethren sat down to a banquet .

Bro . Hamon Le Strange Deputy Prov . G . M . responded on behalf of the Officers of the Grand Lodge of England , while in proposing the Officers of the Grand Lodge of Norfolk the W . M . alluded to the great interest Bro . Hamon Le Strange always displayed in Freemasonry , a fact abundantly exhibited in the comprehensive and valuable " History of Norfolk Freemasonry " which he had compiled . . ,

Proposing the health of the I . P . M ., Bro . Todd W . M . congratulated him on a successful year of office , and on behalf of the Brethren presented him with a handsome Past Master ' s jewel , as a token of esteem and fraternal regard .

SINCERITY LODGE , No . 943 . ON Tuesday , 25 th ult ., the installation meeting was held at the Masonio Rooms , St . Giles Street , Norwich , when there was a large attendance of members and visiting Brethren .

The ceremony of installing Bro . Walter Edgar Cobbald as W . M . for the ensuing year was ably performed by Bro . C . B . Cross P . M ., the charges being delivered in a highly impressive manner by Bro . G . W . G . Barnard P . M . Prov . G . Sec .

The Lodge having been closed , the Brethren retired for refreshment . On rising to give the first toast of the evening , Bro . Cobbald met with a very cordial reception , and he promised that it would be his best endeavour to maintain thc prestige of Lodge sincerity . Owing to ill-health , the W . M . then quitted the chair , resigning the gravel to the I . P . M . Bro . T . J . M . Palmer . Under his rule a very pleasant evening was spent .

V KJ J TREGULLOW LODGE , No . 1006 . THE annual meeting was held at St . Day , when the W . M .-elect Bro . John Martin was duly installed into office , after which he appointed his Officers . After the Lodge was closed the Brethren adjourned to the club-room , where an excellent repast was served by Bro . Smith P . M .

SQUARE AND COMPASS LODGE , No . 1336 . THE annual installation was held at the Masonic Chambers , Public Hall , Wrexham , on the 1 st inst ., when Bro . Chas . Price was regularly placed in the chair . The retiring W . M . Bro . J . W . Bishop jun . was presented with a Past Master's jewel , by the Brethren of the Lodge , in recognition of his services during the past twelve months .

ST . JOHN LODGE , No . 1343 . A MEETING was held at the Masonic Hail , Grays , on Wednesday , 26 th ult ., when tbe W . M . Bro . E . Ayres was supported by Bros . J . Weymouth S . W ., G . Silverwood J . W ., James acting S . D ., Pean acting J . D .,

Walker I . G ., F . W . Pelling I . P . M ., 0 . Westwood P . M . P . P . G . A . D . C . Treas ., Rev . A . H . Delafield , H . E . Brook , F . Dorman , A . C . James , F . Spurr , J . Melvin , H . Manning , H . Brough , J . Jones , & c . Visitors : —Bro . Blyth 77 , and Dick . Bro . Westwood P . M . acted as Secretary , in the absence of Bro . Borradaile P . M .

The Lodge was opened in due form , and the minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed . The ballot was then taken for Mr . Hunt , and proving unanimous he was initiated into the ancient mysteries of Freemasonry . Lodge was opened in the second degree , and Bros . Knight and Borradaile , candidates for raising , were questioned , entrusted and retired . The Lodge