Provincial.

THE BANQUET was laid out in the orangery , a building sufficiently spacious to allow 140 to sit down comfortably . The roof and walls were covered with banners and garlands of evergreens and flowers most tastefully disposed . The entire front being glazed and the doors thrown open to a lovely lawn , on which were roses and other odoriferous plants , which diffusing their perfume not a little heightened the enjoyment . First seeing that every lady was provided with a seat , the

Prov . G . M . took his place at the centre of the table , having on his right Mrs . Hambrough , Colonel and Mrs . Boileau , Bros . Dr . Leeson , Pullen , the D . G . M ., and others ; and on his left Mr . Hambrough , Bros . Sir Lucius Curtis , the G . M . ; C . E . Deucon , D . G . M . ; Miss Scott , Bros . Stebbing , Emanuel and Miss Emanuel , Heather and Miss Heather ; the Wardens filling the ends of the tables . The collation was set out with considerable taste , and the wines , provided by Mr . Bush , of the Royal Hotel , gave universal satisfaction . Besides the Brethren , there were present at least sixty ladies of their families .

Too much time was not given to the delights of the table , and Bro . Maturin having rendered up thanks for the refreshment , The Provincial Grand Master rose , and , in a brief address , called on all present to rise and do honour to "The Health of her Majesty , " who , in a country famed for the virtues of its women , was one t > f the best of wives and best of mothers , and therefore was , not only as a sovereign , but as one possessed of all those qualities that adorn the sex , entitled to esteem . " The Queen . "

Bro . Fleming next claimed a greeting to the health of the head of the Masonic Fraternity , " The M . W . the G . M . of England , the Earl of Zetland ; " and as their time was limited , he would unite with it the name of one better known in the isle , and a member of the Lodge No . 809 , the R . W . the D . G . M ., the Earl of Yarborough , who would have been happy to be present , ill-health alone keeping him away .

The Prov . G . M ., in again rising , said that he would more particularly address himself to the ladies and those gentlemen present who were not members of the Fraternity . In planning the entertainment of that day , it was his most anxious desire that those who were present should witness that Masonry was not all secrecy , and that none were so capable of contributing to the happiness of all around them as the Brethren of the Order . To enable him to afford a day of true pleasure and calm enjoyment to the Fraternity of his province , and their fair

relatives , his brother and sister had kindly placed at his disposal their grounds , replete with lovely scenes of rural beauty and magnificence of nature ; and he hoped that his efforts to contribute to the object he had in view had been successful . As on these annual meetings he had the felicity of seeing not only nearly all the Brethren of the province , but also his esteemed friend Sir Lucius Curtis and the members of the Grand Lodge of Hampshire , —aided by the countenance of their presence , he desired to show the fair friends around him that Masons had

nothing to conceal , save those peculiar marks and signs by which they are known to each other , and distinguished from the rest of the world . Masonry was but a beautiful system of morality , for it enjoined the performance of the duties man owed to God , his neighbour , and himself ; and from the first to last of their business , the Holy Scriptures were essentially present . The Mason was enjoined to share with his Brother the goods of this life , and to assist him in raising himself in the scale of society , by proper means . On bis initiation he was admonished to be a good , a loyal , and peaceful subject ; and that , to be a good Mason , he must

be in the constant practice of all the social virtues , and among these temperance ; but in the cardinal virtues , the charities of the Order were pre-eminent . For himself , he ( Bro . Fleming ) could but say , that since he had entered Freemasonry , seeing the many opportunities the institution afforded him of doing service to his fellows , he regretted lie had allowed so many years to pass uselessly . After all , he might bo asked , What was Masonry ? It was an institution which took its rise in the primeval ages of the world , and emanated from the early worshippers of the great Creator of the universe . It had flourished throughout ages , in spite oi persecution ; and in the wild aa well as civilized world the Brother was acknow-