Provincial Lodges.

brought us together—( cheers ) . In the first place , I shall allude to the character of a soldier ; but here 1 must be allowed to trespass upon your patience for a few moments Avhile I refer to the time when the Colonel was a boy , at the celebrated school of Harrow , and first became acquainted with Lord Byron . Little could the poet have then imagined that in the companion of his youthful sports he saw the friend of his manhood , the future owner and scrupulous restorer of the beautiful mansion in which , through a long series of years his illustrious forefathers had been

cradled . From Harrow to Oxford , and from Oxford to the army , were short steps . In the peninsular wars , the gallant hussar , as you are aware , fought in that band of heroes which combated and triumphed over no ordinary foes—the numerous , highlydisciplined , chivalrous , ancl bravely led troops of the great Napoleon . How he distinguished himself in those combats was noticed and appreciated by the authorities at home , and his services Avere rewarded by a staff appointment in the war which , soon broke out afresh after the peace of Paris . As the aide-de-campt to the

chivalrous Anglesea , he fought once more against the same formidable but brave ancl generous foes , then the hereditary enemies , now the firm friends and surest allies of this country . It is delightful for me to consider at this moment the two gallant nations of France and England ; not in adverse ranks , but with their serried forces united , combatting together against the modern Attila and the barbarian Huns who are threatening the civilisation and liberties of Europe . May the battle of Inkermann , in which every soldier French and English was in himself a hero , blot out every

painful reminiscence of the last stern conflict in which our friend appeared for the last time on the plains of Belgium as a soldier . I shall now refer to the second phase of his character . After the battle of Waterloo , Othello ' s occupation Avas gone , but other pursuits soon engaged the attention of Colonel Wildman . By the acquisition of the lordly demesne of Newstead , he became introduced for the first time to this county . I will not now , in his presence , dwell upon his kindness , the excellent qualities of his heart , his princely hospitalities , upon the charitable ancl conscientious mode in which he has discharged the duties of a magistrate . Still it would be

unpardonable , especially at a meeting of Freemasons , not to allude to the good taste and feeling with which he has restored the mansion of the Byrons , tho almost religious determination with which he has preserved every aechitectural feature , every heraldic allusion , every tree which could point out that all around him , now his , formerly belonged to the family of the Byron ' s —( cheers ) . Nor could I with propriety omit to make some slight allusion to the marked liberality with which that mansion is opened every day of the week , without regard to troub ' e or the interruption of

domestic privacy —( loud cheers ) . Pilgrims arrive from every part of the Avorld to contemplate the lovely ruins of the priory , or to pay homage at the classic shrine of Byron . If ive may suppose that the spirit of the immortal poet still hovers round the disrupted , consecrated , and beautiful fac . ade of the Abbey church , or , thanks to our Provincial Grand Master , the now no longer ruined halls which form the " vast and venerable pile" of Newstead , it must look down with smiles , and contemplate with satisfaction the works of the companion of his youth , and

rejoice that henceforward in the annals of his country , and especially in the annals of this county , there will be entwined and interlaced with the name of Byron , that of Wildman —( cheers ) . I will now speak of that point of his character in which , as Masons , he is nearest to our hearts . It will be unnecessary to dwell upon the important services which he has rendered to the cause in this province . No one who has heard the earnest and impressive tones in which strangers are introduced to fhe mysteries of our Craft , and the instructive manner in

Avhich he is taught to plunge deeper into those mysteries , must have been otherwise than deeply struck with the great Masonic skill and sincerity of the colonel . But there is one point , one peculiar idiosyncracy of our friend , an absolute necessity of his nature , that no individual , whatsoever his rank and station , can approach him , without being made , as far as may lay in the power of Col . Wildman , comfortable and happy . Surely this is an attribute of a good man ; and the retrospect of such a career may Avell be envied , That career reminds me of the beautiful lines of Sheridan Knowles , which I think very appropriate to the present occasion :