Provincial.

down " special" to perform the duties properly resting on the ex-W . M . All honour to the Surrey Lodge in setting so masonic an example . All honour to Bro . Lees , a young Mason , in carrying out his duties to the last moment of his reign of office , and in such a manner as to merit the immediate commendation of the Past Masters then present . The W . M . elect was then pleased to appoint and invest the following brethren as his

officers for the ensuing year : —Bros . C . J . Smith , S . W . ; Lainson , J . W . ; Harris , S . D . ; Sargent , J . D . ; Hart , Sec ; Morrison , Treas . ; and J . A . Foot , I . G . It was then proposed that the cordial thanks of the lodge be presented to Bro . Peter Martin for his long continued and faithful services as Treasurer of the lodge , in wliich capacity he had merited ancl obtained the good esteem of the brethren . Bro . Lees announced that the Grand Lodge had changed the number of the Surrey Lodge to 416

instead of 603 . Several of the brethren regretted to lose their old number , it being one distinguished in the province , and had gained encomiums for zeal and assiduity in the Craft . Bro . Evans proposed that the thanks of the lodge be presented to Bro . Thurmau for officiating as organist during the ceremonies in lodge , and that he be requested to fill that office in future . The lodge was then closed , and the brethren proceeded to the banquet , which was excellently served by Bro . Goldsmith , when ¦ the usual masonic toasts were given , and a most agreeable and Harmonious evening passed .

Canada.

CANADA .

GRAND LODGE . The annual meeting of the Grand Lodge of Canada was convened on July 9 , at the Bonaventure Hall , Montreal , Bro . T . D Harrington in the chair . After the usual preliminary business , the meeting adjourned until the evening . On re-assembling the Most Worshipful Grand Master delivered his annual address : •—¦ To the M . W . the Grand Lodge of Canada , assembled in annual communication- at Montreal 9 th Jul 1863 .

, y , Brethren , — " Happy to meet , sorry to part—happy to meet again . " This was our parting salutation a year ago , and I , for one , think there cannot be a more appropriate introduction to our present meeting , bringing us together , as it does , from all parts of our common country to exchange warm ancl friendly greetings , to compare notes as to what has transpired during the year

passed for ever , to talk pleasantly of mutual friends still spared , and affectionately of those who have gone to their rest , to consult together whether Freemasonry has derived benefit from our bygone efforts—whether we have carried out her attributes of kindness and benevolence , and preserved unsullied her good name by our own conduct , and by making her , as she is intended to be , a source of consolation and relief to our suffering

brethren and fellow creatures—to devised additional means ancl regulations for advancing the interests of our order ; and , by an univavering allegiance to the three grand principles of " Brotherly Love , Relief , and Truth , " upon which it is founded , to give the best refutation to men who , knowing nothing of the real living beauties of Freemasonry , endeavour , by sowing slander bioadcast against her , or taking the more direct course of " Anathema ! Maranatha ! " think to crush her energies ,

and prevent her members from dispensing help to distress throughout this world of probation ancl trials . Let us unite , brethren , in thanking with our hearts the G . A . 0 . T . U . for his many blessings , and sparing us to assemble again togetherand , having a fervent and faithful trust in Him , fearlessly ancl zealously let us endeavour to fulfil our respective duties as men and Masons , in whatever condition He may be pleased to place us .

I have a more cheerful announcement to make to you on the commencement of this , our new Masonic year . When we last met , our Queen ancl the British Empire were bowed beneath the weight of a heavy AVOO , and mourning was in the palace , the mansion , and the cottage . Now , though memory is still clinging lo the late illustrious Prince Consort , ivhose innate worth and untimely loss have been daily brought more and more home

to the nation , as his great virtues and manly affections , and his anxious plans for the great and good of his country and countrymen , have become more and more knoivn to us—our good Queen ' s heavy sorrow is being lightened by a Divine hand , and let us believe by the entire undiminished sympathy of her loving subjects , and she has been cheering their eyes and hearts and , as usual , her kindly and womanly presence has again been felt where pains , ivounds , and death were

paramount—comforting herself by extending consolation to others , and well may her subjects exult in acknowledging fealty to and love for a Sovereign so noble , so goocl , and so purely womanly . Bnt I must put a curb on my own proud English feelings . Brethren , the heart of the Queen Mother has been gladdened by the happy marriage of her eldest , son , H . R . II . the Prince of WalesHeir to her Crown and the pride of the British

, Empire , ancl how vividly is his fresh manly face brought back to us here in Canada . Even now the rejoicings commenced on the auspicious occasion of his marriage are vibrating throughout the land , in these British homes described by our sweet Poetess , Mrs . Hemans , as— " tbe stately , the merry—the cottage—and the free fair homes of Britain , —and whose prayer for them

is" Long , long in hut and hall , May hearts of native proof be heard , To guard each hallowed wall ! And green for ever be the groves , And bright tbe floivry sod , Where first the childhood ' s spirit loves Its country and its God !" And IIOAV fair is the flower who now clings to our Prince . A

distinguished novelist ( Bulwer ) tells us that our Saxon King Harold promised to a Danish invader six feet of English ground or as be was a tall man seven feet . NOAV all Briton maybe said to be at the disposal of the heretofore Floiver of Denmark , Alexandra of England , Princess of Wales . I am sure I am your true mouthpiece , when I say , and the words comprise every good wish—God bless the JPrince and

Priucess of Wales . Last year , Brethren , you passed a loyal , respectful address of sympathy and condolence to our widowed Queen . Now you can approach her ancl her princely children ivith congratulations , and your fervent desire for thier continued happiness , and that the latter may long remain a comfort to our Most Gracious Sovereign .

The address you instructed me to forward was laid before the Queen , and the gratifying acknowledgment is as follows : — Doivning Street , 4 th Nov ., 1862 . MY LORD , —An address of condolence to the Queen , on the death of the late H . R . H . the Prince Consort , has been forwarded to me by Mr . T . Douglas Harington , from the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Canada . I have the honour to request that you will acquaint the members of the

Grand Lodge that her Majesty has received , ivith much gratification , the expressions of sympathy and attachment conveyed in their Address . I have , & c , To Viscount Monck , & c , & c , & c . ( Signed , ) NEWCALTLE .

And now , brethren , I will refer to matters more immediately connected ivith the Craft of Canapa . Your generous resolution and address in favour of Mrs . F . G . Ridout have been made knoivn to that lady , —and inasmuch as R . W . Baothers Harman and Spence prepared an address and otherivise took a waein interest in her welfare , I consider it but just , and ivould be gratifying to them to carry out the wishes of Grand Lodge

, and I leave to them to make known to you tha result of your generosity . I have to report , and you will , I know , read the official announcement with sorrow , that since our last meeting , ive have lost , Avith other brethren , one AA'hose name ivas largely and for a length of time connected with the Craft . The M . W . Bro . Sir Allan Napier MacNabBart . P . G . M . departed this life on

, , , the Sth August , 1862 , and my memorandum of his decease bears the two simple words , " much regretted . " I believe short as the epitaph is , it carries truth with it . Our late brother ivas intimately connected with the affairs of Canada , and there is hardly a man to whom he ivas not knoivn in some way , and all must remember his kindness , his easy affability , and the pleasure his presence seemed to diffuse . Circumstances attended his

departure from us which , as they were notorious , I cannot help making slight mention of . That they did occur is a lamentable and mortifying fact , for a man , so distinguished as our late bz-other , should have been deposited in his last resting-place peacefully and regretfully with the many friends during his eventful life around . That he war a true and faithful member of our Order to within a very brief period before his death I

personally vouch for , and I haye no doubt he died one . The general condition of the Craft continues prosperous and satisfactory , and shows a steady increase in lodges and members .