Provincial.

I congratulate you , Brethren , on the prosperity of Freemasonry in this province , and on the prospects before us of increased usefulness , strength , ancl benevolence , in our ancient and honourable Institution . Not only in this province , but under the the whole sway of our M . W . Grancl Masters , Masonry progresses in numbers , wealth , and charity , and the past justifies us in the reliance that Hampshire will continue to stand well in the ranks whenever the condition of Masonry is reviewed . AVhen I was first appointed

Grand Master of this province , now some 20 years ago , there were only 10 Lodges under my control , of these ( 230 , 387 , 401 , ancl ¦ 162 , ) ivere so weak in numbers , that the effective strength of tbe province may be said to have vested in only six Lodges . I am happy now to congratulate . you on the existence of 15 Lodges , making an increase of five new Lodges , ancl all of them now in good working order . No . 230 has been moved from Christchurch to Bournemouth , it has paid up all arrears , ancl is increasing in numbers .

No . 387 bas been moved from Gosport to Fareham , ancl has become a very numerous Lodge . No . 401 , which for the last twenty 3 ears has had but throe members , has been kept afloat by the zeal and exertions of Bro . P . M . Hayward , and has been recently revived with excellent prospects , returning to-day 1 G subscribing members . No . 462 has been removed from Romsey to Southampton , after having for years only six or seven members , but revived and energetically supported bBro . J . It . Stebbingnow returns 09 subscribing

y , members . The additional Lodges are , 717 , Portsmouth , with 6-1 members ; 995 , Basingstoke , wifch a considerable number ; 1025 , Aldershot , with 71- members ; 1087 , Southampton , with 12 members ; ancl 1106 , Havaiit , with 42 members during the first 3-ear of its existence ; and there is an application for a new Lodge at Southsea , to be called the Lodge of Honour , ancl which is now under consideration . The 15 Lodges , to which I have referred , represent about 700 subscribing members ancl , from every appearance , that number

will , ere long , largely increase . It is a source of great gratification to me to know that this province has been remarkable for much Masonic union ancl good feeling , and rarely , indeed , have anv differences arisen . Unhappily , during the last year ,

one Lodge was the subject of internal difference , to the somewhat local injury of Masonry , but these differences have been happily arranged , and there is every reason to believe that harmony and brotherly love re-exists in that Lodge , and generally throughout the province . I confidently believe , that every Lodge therein , is in a state of happiness and prosperity , and characteristic of those moral excellencies we profess to admire . I may be permitted to remind the brethren , that every Lodge ancl every member of a

Lodge , is at once the subject of comment and condemnation whenever ive disturb that harmony that should always characterise Freemasons . The increase of Lodges and the consequent increase of members have led to an increase of charity , not only local but in support of the general charities of our Order . One , the Royal Masonic Benevolent Annuity Fund , received from this province , by the liberal response of tbe Lodges and Brethren , to the application of Bro . J . R . Stebbing , the Steward of this 3-ear , the large sum of £ 100

ancl ifc maj I trust , be confidently anticipated , that the Lodges ancl Brethren will afford a similar generous support to the next Steward or Stewards , who may take that honourable and truly Masonic oflice , on the next occasion . Propositions will this day be submitted to your consideration , for further aiding our Brethren in acts of charitj ' , and for disposingof some of our funds in benevolent purposes ; ancl in all which I am sure , you will act with that liberality , which has ever been conspicuous in this province . The increase of Lodges

and members adds much to my anxiety in the distribution of the provincial honours . I have not the means as I have hacl years since , of decorating so large a proportion of the Brethren , for " if I deduct the Grand Chaplain , Grand Treasurer , and Grand Secretary , who may be considered somewhat permanent appointments , I have onlj twelve collars at my disposal . These offices are . fixed by the constitutions of the Order , and I cannot increase them ; so that if every Lodge in the province wore represented here to-clayI could not ive

, g even one appointment to each . I trust , therefore , the Brethren will consider these difficulties ancl be reconciled to some amountof disappointment . The increase of Lodges , and the progress of time , have brought some junior executive officers into the active management of Lodges , and necessarily with less experience in the diselianre of their duties . I must , therefore , impress on W . Masters and Secretaries to be exceedingly careful in their Lodge proceedings , more

especially in tho minutes of their Lodges , the returns , alf certificates to petitions , and every verification tbey may sign , as the W . Masters must recollect that for all these tbey are more especially responsible . I regret to state that one Lodge in the province has lately been summoned before the Board of General Purposes , for certifying a Brother to have been a member of the Lodge , when he bad never paid any subscription , and for printing as members , those who , strictly speaking , were not entitled lobe so recorded . Another Lodge has been summoned to appear before the Board f ' orcc-rtifvim . ' a Brother to have been a suhscribins member for four rears and r .-. ' i

wards , when he hacl actually subscribed but a short time ; this appears to have originated nuclei' a somewhat pardonable error , there being two members of the same name , but if the error hacl not been discovered , a Brother , not qualified , might have received the benefit of one of the Masonic schools for his child to which he was not entitled , to the possible exclusion of another Brother , who may very likely have hacl a stronger claim . I strongly impress these occurrences 011 the attention of Masters and Secretaries of Lodges .

It is a consolation to me to know that since I have had the honour of being Grand Master of this province , it bas been a very rare thing indeed for any of tbe Lodges to be summoned before the Board of General Purposes for any irregularities , ancl never for actual misconduct . I must call the attention of the executive officers of Lodges to the shortness of time frequently given for the issuing of dispensations , and to the insufficient information forwarded with their applicationsmore especially as to candidates under age .

, Some of the following essential points are omitted : —the exact age , station in life , ancl the special reasons for requiring dispensations in these exceptional cases . It is by no means a matter of course , that these variations from the constitutions are granted , and I claim sufficient time ancl full information ou every occasion , so that delay or refusal , if it occur , will be the fault of the applicants . I must again remind the Brethren that in March , 1851 , the Grand Lodge

resolved that a fee of five shillings should be paid for all dispensations issued in provinces , to be applied to the Benevolent Fund , ancl this fee is payable whether for initiating Tylers , or for any otheipurposcs ; but there are mam- omissions of these fees in your returns . I shall take steps for the purpose of ascertaing these omissions , that they may be included in your next returns to which I direct yourspccial attention , but for the future every application for a dispensation must he accompanied by the fee of five shillings ( in postage

stamps , as a convenient form of remitting the amount ) to be returned if the application be rejected . I regret to find there is still much want of uniformity in the working of Lodges , not only in the province , but of Lodges in the same locality . Masters and Past Masters should diligentlv inform themselves ofthe correct methods

where diflerences exist , and , 11 necessary , apply to me through the Grand Secretary of the province , in order , that not only uniformity but accuracy be fully obtained . In conclusion , let me direct your attention to the Bye-laws of the province , whieh , require that all communications to the Prov . G . Master should be forwarded through the- Prov . G . Secretary , a law which is occasionally overlooked even amongst tbe older Lodges . Ancl now , thanking 3 * 011 for your kind attentionand appreciating the large attendance of Lod and

, ges Brethren this day , I earnestly impress on your attention , the consideration of the subjects to which I refer , and with great gratification call your attention to the next subject , the very satisfactory balance sheet which will be presented by Bro . Alfred Heather , the Grand Treasurer of the province . The Right Worshipful Brother returned to his seat amidst loud applause . The Prov . G . Treasurer ' s accounts were read at length , shewing

a balance in hand of £ 260 , whereupon it was proposed by Bro . Deacon , D . Prov . G . M . seconded b y Bro . P . M . Batchelor , and unanimously resolved , that the Treasurer's accounts he passed . Uro . Deacon , D . Prov . G . M . proposed , Bro . P . M . F . Perkins seconded , thafc the W . Bro . Alfred Heather , P . M . 319 and 387 be re-elected Grand Treasurer for tlie ensuing year , which was unanimously carried . Bro . Treasurer briefly returned thanks . It was ordered that the accounts be compared with the vouchers by the Committee of Masters , ancl £ 100 invested in such manner

as said Committee direct . Bro . , T . Hankin Stebbing , W . M ., 10 S 7 , tbeu rose pursuant to notice , and said that that greater inducement should be offered to Brethren to act as Stewards of the various charities , and one method could be adopted by which tbe subscriptions raised by Stewards , could be substantially aided , viz ., hy Grancl Lodge heading the list with a handsome subscription every year , and thus Brethren would have a better chance of making a- fair list to hand in . It was not

every one who coulcl successfully get up a subscription ; and hence many Brcthen feared to take the office of Steward , dreading the possibility of having little more than perhaps his own £ 5 to present to the charity ; but if a Brother was sure of his own £ 5 , say £ 1010 s . from tho province , with a few subscribers from his Lodge , he would have a start , certainly £ 20 to begin with , ancl would have some inducement to act and some spirit to get up a subscription list . He

therefore begged to propose , that , if a subscribing member of any Lodgo iu the province , shall accept tho office of Steward of either of the Masonic charities , ancl himself subscribe £ 5 or more to either of the same , the Grancl Treasurer be authorised to pay over to the charity , of which the brother is Steward and through him the sum of ten guineas in tho name of the Grancl Lodge of the province ; ancl , in event ot two or more brethren acting as Stewards , that the sum of twenty guineas be allowed , and be c jually divided amongst the brethren acting as aforesaid ; seconded by Bro . P . M . C . Sherry , and carried unanimous ! v .