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blessing which has been vouchsafed to ns may it induce us to exert ourselves as Masons according te > our ability . I have also to couple with this toast" The Health of the Past Grand Master ,

the Earl of Zetland , " although I was not under him except as a free and entered apprentice , yet I believe that that nobleman worthily filled the high office of Granel Master with great credit to

himself and with profit tei Masonry- and I have reason to believe that his Lordshi p texik a special interest in the Institution whose claims we are met to day to advocate , and whose anniversary

we celebrate . I am told , and I believe it , that from the character Lord Zetland bears , though he is not able to go through the fatigues of the office of Grand Master , his heart is as strong in

Masonry as ever and that he takes great interest in all Masonic gatherings , and is always glad to hear of the prosperity of this school . ( Cheers . ) This toast was also enthusiastically received .

The Chairman—Ladies and Brethren , the next toast on our list is one that I consider a very important one j it is a collective one and a comprehensive one . First of all it is " The health of

the lit . Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon , R . W . D . G . M ., the Provincial Granel Masters , anel Present anel Past Grand Officers . " Every one who has held office in Masonry knows what a very great

advantage it is to have a good deputy ; and I am sure the Most Worship ful Grand Master would agree with me , if he heard me , in saying that he is worthily represented in his absence by the

the Rig ht Worship ful Brother the Earl of Carnarvon . He also has his heart in Masonry . To him and to the noble Marquis I am officially indebted , for it was at their instance I hold the

position I do in my own province as Provincial Grand Master . Therefore I give you this toast with peculiarly warm feelings . I have also an additional pleasure in ottering this toast to your

notice , because I am about to couple with it , to return thanks , the name of Bro . Augustus Smith , Prov . G . M . of Cornwall ( Applause . ) I have not met Bro . Smith for some time , in fact ,

I think that the last time I had the pleasure of seeing him was in the arena of politics . There we knew each other , and to-day I was glad to find that Bro . Smith came here to support this

charity . I was glad also to find , which I did not know before , that he was a Mason . As one goes through life , one turns round a corner and finds a pleasant recollection of former days ; and

having in the House of Commons , in former times frequently met him , it was most agreable to me to see him who has sat opposite to me for years in politics , in cordial co-operation with me

in the work of charity . It is a great pleasure to me that we are associated together in such a work , anel I trust we always shall be . There are brethren here whom it would be impertinent in

me to compare myself with ; they are in high favour with you , and I hope that I , who am hut a mushroom Mason , may emulate their conduct in fulfilling my duties in that high position which

I am honoured by being placed in , over the Province of Staffordshire . I have used the language of eulogy towards Her Majesty and the Prince of

Wales , and 1 have spoken as I felt regard to Bro . Smith . I did not think it would be becoming in me , as a Mason , to eulogise brethren who are unknown to me ; but for his kind support on the

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present occasion I am very grateful , and hope ere long tt ) continue an acquaintance which has begun so agreeably with me this evening . The toast having been honoured .

Bro . Augustus Smith , Provincial Grand Master of Cornwall said : —Rig ht Worshipful Brother anel Brethren all , I have been very unexpectedly and unworthily calledupon to return thanks for

the honour you have done the Deputy Grand Master of England . I think there are other brethren , looking to the number I have to represent , who stand on my right and left , who are

far more fitted to return the compliment that you have paid to us . This I can say for myself , as one of the Provincial Grand Masters of England that nothing assists us so much as considering

that we have the Marquis of Ripon as our Grand Master , and such a Deputy as his representative , the Earl of Carnarvon . Wc may consider ourselves , as it were , as planets revolving

round that sun , and that moon in the Masonic world " anel , as reflecting their light , it is our endeavour , in our several provinces , to do our duty as far as wc can . I congratulate you ,

Worshipful Brother , on presiding this evening on behalf of this flourishing Institution . It is one in which I have myself taken great interest , as one who wishes well to education . The question of

education is now ripe throughout the land , and it is a proud consideration that more than seventy years ago , when that question was not so popular as it is now , Masons set such an example as

the foundation of this Institution . ( Hear , hear ) . Of this I am convinced , that the difficulties that attend that great question , practically , to work it through the kingdom , the more it is conducted

upon those general Masonic princip les the more sure are we to secure its prosperity . Returning you , on behalf of my worthy colleagues , mid of

the noble Lord , whose health you have drunk , ourjhanks , I beg to assure you we feel highly honoured by your notice . ( Cheers . ) Bro . Frank Elmore here sansr "The death of

Nelson , ' in splendid style , anel was loudly applauded . Bro . Vernon , Past Provincial Grand Master of Staffordshire , then rose anel said : —Ladies and

brethren , I have not the slightest doubt there are many brethren present who would wish to have the honour of proposing the toast I have the pleasure to place before you . I ,

so far , am sorry that it has not been put into more efficient hands ; but bo assured there is no man in this assembly , no brother more anxious to do it credit than I am

myself ( hear , hear ) , for personal anel provincials reasons , which I shall mention hereafter . First , I think it is my duty to bring before you , " The health of our Rig ht Hon . and Ri g ht Worshipful

Brother who presides on the present occasion , ( hear , hear . ) Our brother calls himself a mushroom Mason . Of a goodly growth indeed ( hear , hear ) , for from the iirst he had taken great

interest 'in everything which could promote , advance and benefit Freemasonry ; and I think on the present occasion , in supporting as he does one of our noble anel excellent Masonic charities

he sho \\* s what he means , ( hear , hear ) . I am proud to see him at the the head of this meeting . We must tender him our thanks , coming as he does from a considerable distance , at great personal

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inconvenience , I know , to attend this meeting . He has taken up the right line , brethren , and be assured he will stick to it . I have not the slightest doubt that his presence has very much

influenced the large and important assemblage which we have this evening , and I am very certain that when our Bro . binckes makes up his accounts at the end of this day ' s work , he will

find that he has a great deal to the good . As I have said , I am quite certain his heart was perfect in all minute points as well as in the great points of Freemasonry , and that he will always do what he

can to advance the interests of the Order . ( Hear , hear . ) Now as to the personal points which I mentioned . I think the reason wh y the honour was conferred on me of proposing the

health of our Right Worshipful Brother in the Chair , was that I had the honour of installing him as Provincial Grand Master of Si aftordshire , a province which , before him . I ruled over for

some years , and I trust without any ill effect j but I venture to promise that the Right Worshipful the Grand Master for Staffordshire will have indeed a most favourable and excellent time

of it . He has started well , as he said himself . He owns he was not very far up in the active work of Freemasonry ; he took to it immediatel y with a will . and energy which could onl y be

surpassed in his efficiency . He has shown himself in every way anxious to promote the interests of the Craft , and he has begun his rule in that charming manner not only , you know

all , brethren , that it must be with firmness and command , but with that suavity and good humour and sweetness which are inherent in him ; he cannot help it . He has won the hearts of all .

He has now before him a most prosperous reign ; and without extending my observations further , I am sure you will understand what I have said with perhaps very little eloquence , but

from my heart in English . I beg you will rise and drink with hearty cheers " The health of our Right Worshipful and Hon . President ' on the present occasion , " not only wishing him a happy

career in Masonry—for , believe me , the longer his career is , the more fortunate it will be for Freemasonry , from his own good heart—but I

think I may without varying very much from the rules of our meeting , I may say " All health and happiness to him and his . " ( Cheers ) . [ The report will be concluded in our next ] .

THE SRI-PADA . —Perusal of the following paragraph in Sir James E . Tennent ' s work on Ceylon produced Masonic ideas , and I thought of your column of "notes . " "At the present

day , the Buddhists are the guardians of the Sripada , but around the object of common adoration the devotees of all races , not in furious contention , like the Latins and Greeks at the Holy Sepulchre ,

in Jerusalem , but in pious appreciation eif the one solitary object on which they can unite in peaceful worship . " I may add that the " Sri-pada is

the sacred foot-mark of Buddha , or , according to Mahometan tradition , the foot-mark of the first man , on the summit of Adam ' s Peak , in Ceylon . 7420 feet above sea level . J . F . C , P . M . 957 .