Provincial Lodges.

An immense concourse of people thronged the streets at two o ' clock , eager to watch the procession of the brethren , which would have paraded the streets had the weather permitted , previous to going to church . Rain continued to fall , but the crowd , eager to satisfy their curiosity , did not leave the streets . At twenty minutes to three the procession of the brethren was formed , they wearing their full Masonic costume , according to their respective offices and rank , and headed by the Bury Borough Brass Band , went along Market-street , up Broad-street , Silver-street , and then into the

church . The Rev . P . C . Nicholson , P . G . Chaplain , delivered an excellent discourse to the brethren from the words contained in the third and fourth verses of the third chapter of Proverbs . After divine service the procession was again formed , and , headed by the band , proceeded direct to the banquet-room—the lecture-hall of the Athenaeum—where a dinner had been prepared under the auspices of the landlord of the White Horse , Br . L . Park .

At the head of the room was suspended a large flag bearing the inscription , " The Queen and the Craft . " In other parts of the room were hung the emblems of the order ; and the platform , with its vases , tables of flowers , & c , presented a pleasing picture . The banquet commenced by the Rev . P . G . Chaplain saying grace . A little before seven o ' clock , the repast being ended , " Non Nobis " was beautifully sung by the choir . Br . John Fawcett , Mus . Bac ., P . G . O ., of Bolton , presided at the pianoforte .

The band was also in attendance . The doors were then opened to admit the ladiesthe wives and daughters of the brethren—the admittance being by ticket . The ladies occupied the gallery , and a platform which had been purposely raised at the entrance to the hall . The presence of the ladies added greatly to the beauty of the scene . At the table on the platform were seated the following persons : —Br . Stephen Blair , P . D . G . M ., chairman ; Br . John Bell , P . S . G . W . ; Rev . P . C . Nicholson , P . G . Chaplain ; Br . W . Barlow , P . G . T . ; Br . John Tunnah , P . G . S . ; Br . J . F . Wolfenden , P . P . G . S . ; Br . J . Lambert , P . P . G . D . ; Br . J . W . Pitt , P . G . D . C . ; Br . J . Wilting ,

P . G . S . B . ; Br . W . Hutchinson , P . P . G . P . B . ; Br . James Parkinson , P . S . G . B . ; Br . J . Redfern , E . P . P . G . P . ; and Br . H . Gveenhalgh , P . G . P . After an air had been played by the band , The chairman rose to propose the first toast , " The Queen . " Brethren , said he , a day scarcely passes over our heads but we are forcibly reminded of the goodness and virtue which is exhibited in the life and character of our beloved sovereign who sits upon the throne of this country . In almost every copy of a newspaper , we read of

some good action having been performed by her kind and beneficent hand . He referred to the act of our Queen in providing apartments in Hampton Court for the comfort and happiness of some of her soldiers who had been wounded in the Crimea . He had no doubt every Mason loved the Queen , and that all present would rise as one man to drink the health of their sovereign , loyally . The toast was drunk with loud cheers . The National Anthem was then sung in solo and chorusthe audience joining in the

, chorus . The Chairman then proposed " Prince Albert , Albert Prince of Wales , and the rest of the Royal Family . " He had great pleasure in proposing this toast , because he was one of those who believed that the Queen made a good choice in selecting Prince Albert to be her Royal Consort . He spoke of the interest which had ever been manifested by him in the arts and sciences , also in agriculture , and the army of the country . He expressed a hope that the Prince of Wales would imitate the

goodness which shone in the lives of his illustrious parents . He concluded by proposing the toast , whicli was drunk with great enthusiasm . The glee , " Hail , Star of Brunswick , " was sung by the choir . The Chairman again rose , and said that he had another toast to propose , which he had no doubt they would respond to heartily , as it was the health of one of the brethren , " The Earl of Zetland , M . W . G . M . of England . " He spoke highly of the character of the noble Earl , eulogised him as a Mason , and concluded again by moving the proposition , which was heartily and cheerfully responded to by the brethren . The glee " Prosper the Art" was then sung by the choir , and encored by the audience .