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forefathers must have consisted , when compared wilh the resplendent beauty of modern

illumination . On thc clearing of the cloth , grace was sung , and the toasts were proposed and responded to in regular order . In giving " The Queen and the Craft , "

The Grand Master said : I rise , brethren , under circumstances of no ordinary difficulty . I know well that the world at large in their ignorance of Freemasonry believe that wc are very much given to deeds of darkness . (

Laughter . ) They are very much " mistaken in that opinion , nnd we are quite ready to bring forward proofs , so far as is consistent with the ancient principles ofthe Craft , that we have light , if its rival , the gas , which is apparently a somewhat

fickle element , will afford us the opportunity of doing so . But , Brethren , the loast that I have now to ask you to drink is one which requires no recommendation either of words or of illumination , because the health of one who is in

every sense a light lo her subjects —( hear , hear ) —is thc health of one who sets by her own brilliant example , whether it be in the earnest discharge of public duties or in the constant

practice of every social and domestic virtue , a pattern which should be followed by every one . I g ive you "The Health of Her Majesty the Queen . "

The toast having been drunk , was followed as usual by the singing o ( the National Anthem . Thc Grand Master : Thc next toast that I

have to propose to you is one which I know well you will drink with the utmost heartiness ; it is " 'J'he Health of our Most AVorshipful Brother , His Royal Highness the Prince of AVales , the Princess of AVales , and Ihe rest of the Roj * al

Family . " Brethren , we always should have received the toast ofthe heir of the Crown nnd the other members of his illustrious famil y with warmth and enthusiasm among a society so loyal as that of I ' reeniasons ; but we have peculiar

ties which unite us to I lis Roynl Highness the Prince of Wales , anil ihe interest which he has always shewn from the first hour in which he entered into the Craft for all that : concerns thc welfare of Masonry has given him a place , and a

very high place in the heart of every true Mason . ( Hear , hear . ) AVe all know lhat at the present moment I lis Royal Highness is worthily representing this country in the great capital of iljc Austrian Empire , and ol" course that explains

his absence from us on this occasion , though 1 feci confident that had it been in the power oi His Royal Highness consistently with his many necessary engagements to have been with us this evening it would have heen lo him a source

of very great satisfaction to have heen here . I give you "The Health of His Royal Highness the Pi ' mcc of Wales , the Princess of AVales , and the other - A 1 em hers of the Rot-al l- ' amilv . " 'I'hc ( oast was dulv honored .

bro . R . J . Bagshaw , Provincial Grand . AfastCj of Essex : Brethren , it is my privilege lo introduce to you the next toast . I could have desired that it had fallen into other hands , but I take upon myself this position because 1 share

in active duty . But Bretliren . although it is active duty , J do it with j leisure because J know you all feel sincerilv in the warmth with

which you will receive the loast---The Health ol ihe Grand Master of England . I can answer for this great assembly that the feelings of enthusi is ** n which we shall exhibit will evince that our sentiments are not merely formal , but will shew

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him that we are delighted to see h \ m here tonig ht after the trials he has undergone . I am sure that I express the feelings of you all when

I say that we all feel proud that he occupies the high position of our Grand Master . I am myself a very old Mason , and it is from the fact that 1 am an old Mason that I have the

honour to propose this toast . I am happy to say that after a long experience in Masonry no Brother has ever filled the high position which our noble Brother now fills with greater credit to the Craft than he . ( Hear , hear ) . Brethren ,

we have , I am sure , in another place listened to him this night with a degree of pleasure and satisfaction not to be equalled . On thc duties of Provincial Grand Masters we have gathered much useful information . He has been pleased

to say that he derives much of his strength from us , and falling ns thai expression does from one in his hig h position it is extremely gratifying to us . I hope the allusions he has made will have their clue weight . He has taught us this , that

wc should exercise great caution in every thing we do in Freemasonry . I will not detain you by descanting on the merits of thc nobleman

who sits at my left hand , but ns I know that you arc all well acquainted with liis merits and love him for his virtues you will drink with enthusiasm "The Health ofthe Grand Master . "

Thc Grand Master : ] thank you for the kind manner in which you have responded to the toast proposed in such friendl y terms by my Right AVorshipful friend on my right . You have added another to the many causes of gratitude

which you have given me in times past . I should indeed be most ungrateful if I did not rejoice to have this opportunity of meeting once more those who have been pleased now for several years to honor me by the distinguishing

marks of Ihcir confidence . I can assure you , Brethren , that J appreciate that confidence very highly ; but there is one thing which I appreciate even more than that proof of confidence which is given by your re-election of me at the

last Quarterly Communication , and that is the constant support which ymi are pleased to afford to me in the discharge ofthe duties ofthe office lo which you have called me -which all of you from every part of the country are pleased

equally to afford me . Now , Brethren , I think it cannot be contested thai however difficult thc art of driving maj- be , it is rendered comparatively easy when the horses ofthe coach are so well trained that they are always accustomed

to go the right way by themselves without any aid from the rein and the whi p of the coachman who sits upon the box . Now , I have been , I must say , during the time that 1 have had the honour to fill the oflice of Grand Master

singularly fortunate m that icspect . If , ns I had occasion to say a short time ago . these years have been a period of great prosperity to us it has been owing , I am bound to say and we are ill bound to remark , due to the wise , the

prudent , the disinterested administration of the distinguished Mason who preceded me in lhis chair . ( Applause ) . And it has been due also to the fact that there has existed throughout the Craft that trul y Masonic spirit , and harmony

: md good feeling which have rendered the duty of ruling the members of this great society nn easy task comparatively even to one who has

had so many and such absorbing calls upon his time as have fallen to my lol during thc last few years . And , therefore . Brethren , it is not merely for the honor you have lately done mc in com-

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mitting me for another year to the position in which I now stand , but it is yet more for the assistance which you have given me in maintaining thc character and position of Masonry

throughout the country by the spirit which has animated the Craft from one end of England to the other , that I thank you . Therefore , I rejoice to have this opportunity of returning my

hearty thanks to all those , -whether they be Provincial Grand Masters in their respective localities , whether they be the Grand Officers of Grand Lodge who have discharged their duties

so well , or whether they be that great and important body , more important by far than G . Masters , or Prov . G . Masters , or G . Officers of any kind , the great body of AA'brshipful Masters

of Lodges throughout the country —( hear , hear ) —upon whose character and whose conduct depends in reality the position which the Craft holds in the public estimation of the country .

( Cheers . ) I rejoice to think , I may say without undue boasting , that it is the feeling by which Masters appear now to be animated—and it is the feeling which I trust will animate them yet

more and more as time goes on , that they have cast upon them by the election of their brethren the great nnd important duty to hold hig h in the face of their countrymen the character of the

Craft . ( Hear , hear . ) It is in that way that Freemasonry may do good—it is , so far as they may be able , to influence men to hold an

honorable and an upright course among their countrymen , to practice those princip les which they profess in words . It is that which will tend to make our institution valuable : it is that which

will tend to raise it in the estimation of those who do not belong to it : it is that , and that alone which will make it worthy of the support of an honest man . ( Great applause . )

The Grand Master : Brethren , the next toast which I have to ask you to drink is " The Health of the Most AVorshipful the Past Grand Masters of England . " That toast includes two illustrious

names - one illustrious in the annals of Masonry and entitled by the services o [ a quarter-of-acentury to the deep gratitude of every true Mason ( hear , hear ) : the other , illustrious by his

birth and position and endeared to us by his zeal for the Craft . The health of the Prince of AVales we have already drunk , and therefore thc name which rises principally to our minds in connection

with this toast is that of the late late Grand Master , the Earl of Zetland . ( Hear and applause ) . Brethren , it does not need one word from mc to recommend that toast to every one of you .

There are many here present who recollect Lord Zetland ' s Masonic career longer than I do ; but there is no one in this room who does not , either from his own recollection or from that which he

has heard as the honoured tradition of the Craft , deeply feel the debt of gratitude which thc Masons of England owe to Lord Zetland ; and , therefore , with the most perfect confidence that

this toast will be received with thc warmest and heartiest enthusiasm I give you " The Health of the Past Grand Masters of England . " ( Cheers . ) The toast having bcen drunk ,

The < hand Master said : Brethren , I have now lo ask you to drink " The Health of thc Deputy Grand Master of England , the Grand

AA ardens , and the other Grand Oflicers , present and past . " I regret , very much , the absence of my noble friend and brother , Lord Carnarvon , upon this occasion . ( To bc continued . )