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preceding toast , regretted that he was not so fortunate as to be going to the Crimea ; for having recently been appointed Paymaster to the Dep 6 t Battalion at Preston , he had retired from the 51 st regiment . But there were several Masonic Brethren , yet in the 51 st , who were going to the Crimea with the regiment , and he was certain they would , with pleasure , take charge of the message the Y . E . Prov . G . C . had entrusted to him ; and he was equally sure that message would gladden the hearts of those of our brave " Companions in arms" who were now before Sebastopol ready to lay down their lives in their country ' s service , and who would be rejoiced to hear , in that far distant land , that they were not forgotten bv their Brethren the Kts . T . of Lancashire .

The Y . E . Prov . G . C . then rose and said , — "It is now , Sir Kts ., my pleasing duty to propose to you the health of our M . E . and S . G . M . Col . Chas . Kemeys Kemeys Tynte . When he first assumed the sovereignty of oar Order , he found our forces scattered like sheep without a shepherd ; each encampment ' did that which was right in its own eyes ; ' and when our ceremonies were attempted to be performed , they were so mixed up with those of the Kts . of St . John of Jerusalem , of the Kts . of the Mediterranean Pass , and of various other Orders , that

when a Mason became a Kt . T . it was next to impossible for him to recollect the signs and the words peculiar to this Degree , so jumbled were they with those of the other Degrees which he had taken at the same time . Our M . E . and S . G . M . set himself to cleanse this Augean Stable , and to purify the ceremonies of our Order , not only from the intermixture of those ^ of other Degrees , but from ( I think I may fairly use the term ) the buffooneries , which had gradually been foisted into our imposing and beautiful Ritual . I rejoice that he has lived to see the day

when the Degree of Masonic Kt . T . is given pure and unmixed with other Degrees ; and though the infirmities of age are creeping on him , and his sight is rapidly failing , his most anxious thoughts are still given to the welfare of our Order . I had the pleasure of sitting the next but one to him , on the occasion of the presentation of the beautiful piece of plate , which was lately given to him as

a testimonial of the affectionate regard of the Kts . T . of England and Wales ; and never shall I forget the ( I may say , affecting , ) speech which he made on that occasion , replete with a truly Christian spirit , and with every good Masonic feeling . His heart and soul are with us ; and I call upon you , Sir Kts ., to fill bumpers , and to rise to the health of our M . E . and S . G . M . ; long may he live to preside over us" ( great applause ) .

In proposing the healths of the Dukes of Athol and of Leinster , the M . E . and S . G . Masters of Scotland and of Ireland , the Y . E . Prov . G . C . remarked , that he had not had the pleasure of being present at an Encampment in either of those countries ; but he believed that , although they differed from each other , as well as from us , in their mode of working this Degree , they considered themselves second to none in their devotion to the Order .

The Y . E . Prov . G . C . then said , — "I have now the pleasure of proposing to you the health of a distinguished Sir Kt ., whose friendship I have long enjoyed , our Y . H . and E . D . G . M . Sir Kt . W , Stuart ; who unites in his own person , not only the utmost devotion to our Order , but that aristocratic , I may say , that Royal , descent , which so well befits him for the high position he holds in our ranks , and , to crown all , he has ' that most excellent gift' of Charity , the Mason ' s brightest jewel . I was on a visit at his residence , Aldenham Abbey , last summer , and

amongst the rare and beautiful objects which there attract the attention of a stranger , T think I was most struck with a neat and unobtrusive row of almshouses , which SirKt . Stuart has built , on his own estate , and amply endowed ; where six old men and their wives were , through our D . G . M . ' s truly Masonic bounty , spending their declining years in peace and comfort . I give you , Sir Kts ., with hearty good will , the health of our Y . H . and E . D . G . M . Sir Kt . W . Stuart . "

The Y . E . Prov . G . C . of Cheshire , Sir Kt . W . Courtenay Cruttenden , then rose and said : " Having the permission of the Chair to propose the next toast , he did so with the utmost pleasure ; and when he announced that that toast was the health of their Y . E . Prov . G . C . Sir Kt . Dawes , he was sure it would be hailed with that enthusiasm , which such a toast deserved . They had all along known Sir Kt .