Provincial.

fellow-citizens , and occupied the foremost place in their municipal affairs . ( Cheers . ) The MATOR OP MANCHESTER ( A . M . Hey wood , Esq . ) , responded to the toast . Bro . W . C . CRITTTENDEN , in an appropriate speech , proposed , " The members for Manchester . " Mr . J . A . TURNER , M . P ., in reply , said he bad just heard sentiments that did him more good than he would have received

by remaining in the House of Commons and listening to what was said there . ( Laughter . ) Far be it from bim to pass any remarks upon the eloquence of distinguished members of that House ; but at the end of the session the speeches became tedious and the audience thin . ( Cheers and laughter . ) But it was far different in that room , and if he were blamed by his constituents for leaving his place in the House two days before

the time , he did not think he should be dealt with very harshly . ( Cheers . ) It was a serious and arduous task to represent such city as Manchester . Ever since he had been their representative he had known no distinctions of colour ; he had acted " on the square" —( Loud cheers and laughter . ); and if a brother , whether Conservative , Liberal , or Radical sought his assistance , he appealed to them whether it had not always been freel

y given . ( Cheers . ) He had acted upon the broad principle of being subservient to nobody ; to think for himself ; to view with impartiality the various measures brought before Parliament . He had expressed his disapprobation of ivhat he considered to beivrong ; and had voted for any measure he thought good . ( Cheers . ) He had been too much of an architect himself not to sympathies with the undertaking . ( Laughter . ) He came into

the city to build up an edifice , and had succeeded ; but the croivning stone had been the honour of representing Manchester . ( Cheers . ) If he was not a Mason himself he was the father of four Masons , and there ii'as no telling to Avhat honours he might some day arrive . ( Loud cheers . ) While thanking the meeting on his own account for the manner in which the toast had been received , he wished his colleague had been present to respond

for himself . ( Cheers . ) Bro . LERESCHE , Prov . G . Reg ., proposed the " Visiting Brethren . " He remarked that it was a great pleasure to the Masons of East Lancashire to receive at their board so

distinguished a specimen of the fine old English gentleman as Bro . Townley Parker , ivhose hospitalities on the celebration of the great guild at Preston , during his guild mayoralty , so many of the brethren here remembered with kindly feeling . He hoped that Bro . Parker might be spared to grace the ceremony of consecrating their hall , when completed . He also referred to the great Masonic work ivhieh their noble guest , Lord cle Tableyhad inaugurated in his lordshi's immediate

neihbour-, p g hood , which had worked a marked resuscitation of Freemasonry in that part of Cheshire . Bro . Leresche also spoke in high terms of the proud position which the province Bro . Dr . Fearnley represented had attained in relation to the charities of our Order . West Yorkshire was regarded all over the north of England as having been ever prominent in the cause , and her course had served as a stimulus to East Lancashire to emulation

in that first duty and obligation of the Craft . Bro . R . R . NELSON , Prov . G . Sec . of West Yorkshire , responded in a hearty speech , which was warmly applauded . Bro . Charles Affleck , Prov . J . G . D . East Lancashire , acknowledged the toast of the "Directors of the Manchester Masonic Hall Company Limited , " ivhieh was prorosed by the ex-Mayor of Manchester ( Alderman

Goadsby . ) He expressed the gratification which had been afforded , to him and his coadjutors by the ivhole of the day's proceedings . The distinguished body of the leaders of the Craft who had accepted the invitations the Company had given , as ivell as the very numerous gathering of members of the order from all parts of the country , sboived that the design the directors had undertaken was one of interest and importance to

Freemasonry , not only in Manchester , but throughout the breadth of the land . The general satisfaction which had been uttered in regard to the arrangements which had been made by the Company fully repaid him and his colleagues for all the labour and anxiety attending on so great an undertaking , and the difficulties and responsibilities involved in so great a ceremonial as they had that day brought to a happy conclusion . He thought that

that day would be regarded as a " red letter day " in the existence of every Lancashire Mason , and that one and all ivould remember to their latest hour the events of that auspicious day and the part which each had been enabled to sustain in connection with it ( loud cheers ) .

Bro . J . L . HINE , P . M ., then proposed the " Officers of the Company . "; -S He referred to the great service Bro . Bradley , their Secretary , had rendered the company , ancl expressed sympathy with him under the severe illness by which he had latelybeen afflicted . The inconveniences which might have arisen in the conduct of the company's business , though that circumstance had been greatly mitigated btbe assistance the Directors bad

y received from Bro . Percy . The company had also been ivell served by the solicitor , who had been unremitting in his attention to his duties , and in whom the company felt the fullest confidence . The toast was duly acknowledged . Bro . J . CHADWICK PEATSON , M . D ., W . M . 1117 , then proposed , in a graceful and humorous speechthe " Lancashire

, Witches . " He alluded to tbe services of the little " Maids of Merrie England" during the ceremony , who Avould doubtless hereafter look back with very great pleasure to the part they had so gracefully sustained on that memorable day . Before the close of the meeting it was announced by Bro . Bradley that the ivhole of the shares were taken up .

MONMOUTHSHIRE . ABERGAVENNY . —Philanthropic Lodge ( No . 818 , late 1120 . ) ¦ —On Friday , the 10 th ult ., a Lodge of Emergency was held to instal the newly-elected Master , Bro . James Peirce , Past S . W ., and also Prov . Grand Steward for Monmouthshire . Bro . Peirce has evinced a great interest in the Craft , and ivas one of the petitioners for the warrant of constitution of this lodgewhich

, has from a very small beginning become of some importance ancl name in the province in three short years . More than forty brethren have been initiated in it , and , although the greatest circumspection is used by the brethren in the selection of the candidates , yet still , even in this small district , they have constant applications from gentlemen and respectable tradesmen of the neighbourhood to become participators in tbe

Masonic rite . The greatest unanimity and brotherly feeling has existed in every meeting since it was opened . Bro . Maund , Prov . G . Reg ., of Monmouthshire , on this occasion , performed most efficiently the office of Installing Master , and placed Bro . Pierce in the chair of K . S ., for the ensuing twelve months . The lodge had been renovated and decorated for the occasion , aud besides a number of the brethren , there were present also Bro . Charles Lyne , the newly appointed and justly popular

deputy P . M . Grand Master . After the ceremony had been concluded , the brethren adjourned to the Angel Hotel , where a banquet had been placed on the table , which did the greatest credit to Bro . Mason's catering and liberality . The W . M . was supported on the right by the Deputy Prov . G . Master , and by his immediate P . M ., l _ ro . Browning , on the left by Bros . Higgins and Maund . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts ivere given , and the brethren separated at their usual early hour , well pleased with an evening spent in social intercourse .

SURREY . REIGATE— Surrey Lodge ( No . 416 , late 603 ) . —This lodge held its Installation meeting in their lodge room , at the Public-Hall , on the 18 th instant . There were nresent — - Bros . Lees , W . M- ; Carruthers , S . W . ; C . J . Smith , J . W . ; Lainson , S . D . ; Harris , J . D . ; Hart , Sec . ; Sargant , I . G . ; John LI . Evans , President of the Board of General PurposesP . M . ; SissonP . M . j

, , Notman , P . M ., ancl other members . Visitors—Bros . Simpson , S . G . D ., W . M . 324 ; Woods , G . D . C . ; Masterman , No . 11 ; Drewitt , 777 . The business of tbe lodge commenced by a confirmation of the minutes of last lodge , and a ballot was taken for Mr . Arthur Kelsey and Mr . W . II . Last , who were unanimously elected , and were duly initiated into Masonry in an excellent manner bBro . LeesW . M . The lodge was then opened in the

y , second , and subsequently in the third degree , when Bro . Edward Thurnam was , in a very impressive manner , raised to the sublime degree of a M . M . The W . M delivering the lecture on the third tracing board , the lodge was then resumed in the second degree , when Bro . Carruthers , having been duly elected W . M ., ivas in due form presented , and solemnly obligated , investedand inducted into the Master's chair by a board of

In-, stalled Masters , and then duly proclaimed ; the retiring W . M . of the lodge , Bro . Lees , acting as I . M . ; and ive Avould observe that , in acting up to the duties of a W . M ., the retiring Master ought to instal his successor to office ; but hoAV very seldom is this done , scarcely ever in country lodges ; generally some P . M . is brought