Provincial.

band , which added much to the pleasure of the Brethren , by performing many popular melodies in a highly creditable manner . The service was very impressively performed , the choral department being superintended by Bro . Twiss , W . P . G ., assisted bv Bros . Edmondson , alto ; Moxon ,

tenor ; and Scarisbrick , bass ; the trebles being Masters Spronson , Tims , and Painter , of the Congleton Choral Society . The 100 th Psalm , which was sung at the commencement of the service , was admirably rendered , as was the "Cantate Domino , " and " Deus Miscreated from Dr . Whitfield Clarke ' s Evening Service , in D . The Psalms were given to "Lord Mornington ' s Chant . " The anthem was the wellknown " 0 ! praise God in His Holiness , " by Clarke ; the bass solos , hy Scarisbrick , could not have been better , and the youthful trebles were very successful

in the solo , " Praise Him . " The Rev . Bro . Tanner , V . W . Prov . G . Chap ., preached an excellent sermon from the text , 1 st Epistle Peter , 3 rd chap . 8 th verse , " Love as brethren ; " and very powerfully enforced the beautiful principles of the Order—brotherly love , relief , and truth ; and the collection for the Prov . G . M . Fund of Benevolence , which followed , amounted to £ 17 . On returning from the church , the Brethren sat down to a most sumptuous banquet , at the Egremont Hotel , which was served in a style of elegance and profusion which elicited marked and deserved approbation . The following Brethren were the Grand Stewards for the year : —Bros . Wilson , . No . 701 ; Langley , No . 701 ; Anderson , No . 782 ; Stephanoff , No . 782 ; Neville , No . 880 , and Colborn , No . 880 ; and we must say , that the whole arrangements reflected the highest credit on their indefatigable exertions , which were crowned with the most complete success , and gave universal satisfaction .

The throne was occupied by Bro . Cruttenden , supported by the Prov . Grand officers already named ; and amongst the company we observed Bros . Pickering , P . M ., No . 880 ; Griffith , P . M ., No . 701 ; Wedgewood , W . M ., No . 701 ; Wade , S . W ., and Brattan , J . W ., No . 701 ; Brilley , W . M ., Piatt , S . W ., Marshall , J . W ., No . 782 . ^ After " Non nobis , Domine " had been sung , the acting Prov . Grand Master proceeded to give the usual toasts of " The Queen , " & c , which were responded to with much spirit , and were accompanied by the capital vocal efforts of the choir under Bro . Twiss . The health of the " Viscountess Combermere and the Ladies " was then drunk with much spirit , the Master of the Ceremonies , Bro . Seddley ,

leading off a sort of Kentish fire with a marvellous crescendo and diminuendo , which was given with great precision by the Brethren . The E . W . Prov . G . M . then gave the healths of the "Earl of Zetland , M . W . G . M ., and the Earl of Yarborough , R . W . D . G . M ., " which were drunk with Masonic honours . He then stated that he came to what was really the toast of the evening , namely , the " Bight Worshipful Prov . Grand Master ; " and after stating his regret that the noble lord was unable to attend on account of ill health , he having never been absent from the Prov . Grand Lodge during the last sixteen

years , concluded with proposing his better health , which was received and drunk with true Masonic feeling . Glee , — " I see them on their winding way /' Then followed the healths of Le Gendre N . Starkie , B . W . Prov . G . M ., West Lancashire ; " " Sir W . W . Wynne , Bart ., M . P ., Pv . W . Prov . G . M ., North Wales and Shropshire ; " "J . Maddock , Esq ., B . W . D . Prov . G . M ., " and the officers of the Province .

Bro . Willoughby proposed the next toast , which was " The Health of Bro . Cruttenden , as B . W . D . Prov . G . M . / ' observing that no body of men were more desirous of paying hononr where honour was due than the Masons , and the only regret which accompanied the toast was that it indicated the absence of one who was highly esteemed by them all . They had , however , in Bro . Cruttenden a very excellent substitute , for the manner in which he had conducted the business that day , both in Grand Lodge and at the festive board , amply proved his fitness for the office . The toast was drunk with Masonic honour , and ably responded to by Bro . Cruttenden .