Provincial.

existed among them ; and saiel ho recollected an incident in the Peninsula war , when the commander-in-chief had sent orders for a certain portion of the army to cross a river without delay , leaving everything in camp : tho General instantly gave orders for the march . His servant , an Irish brother , said he might as Avell take thc plate chest , without being incommoded , but he Avas commanded to leave ifc . Ho then said he woulel put his card on it , in case it should be lost ; immediately fastening his

Grand Lodge certificate to tlie chest , and left it . The next morning a flag of trace was observed on the opposite side of tho river , the bearer of which announced that some gentleman had left a chest behind , and he was to send for ifc . There was the chest found , safe and unopened , with the certificate tacked on tbe top as it had been left by the servant . In his short experience of Masonry he lound there were parties who -wished to join the fraternity—not of a favourable opinion pre-conceived

of the institution , but from a desire to know the secrets , and nothing else . These brethren usually retired from the Craft in a similar manner to the fox leaving the grapes—with a sneer . They found so much of the secrets of Masonry as the little rustic boy discovered when he cut open bis mother's bellows to find out where the wind came from . On behalf of the "Big Baby " —the Greyfriars Lodge—he begged to return his sincere thanks , and he hoped the perfect success of this meeting was a

prelude to many others in different parts of the province . The CHAIRMAN next proposed " The Masonic Charities , " and coupled with it the names of Bros . Patten , and Binckes . Song— "The Village Blacksmith , " by Bro . AVhitehouse . Bros . Patten and Binckes in responding to the toast , spoke of the advantage of the institutions with which they were connectecl , and made an earnest appeal for continued and further support .

Bro . W . Biggs , P . M . ( No . 1101 ) , said : Having taken on bimself the responsibility of representing this province as steward for the Girls' School at the next festival , the E . AV . A . Prov . G . M . would allow him to thank him for the kind way in which he had introduced tire subject to the notice of the brethren , and fche manner in which he ( the A . Prov . G . M . ) had mentioned his name in connection with it on undertaking that important office , the more so at the present timeconsidering the especial object

, they had in view at the next election , when he should recruire all their aid , all their support , and all their sympathy on behalf of tbe child of one who was held in the highest estimation , not only by the members of his loelge , but throughout the entire province . TheR . W . A . Prov . G . M . hadbeenpleasodin the exercise of his official authority and in recognition of services rendered to the Craft at the last Provincial Grand meeting to confer on

their late beloved brother the highest honour the Craft could give or this Grand Loelge could bestow ou any of its members —that of Senior Grand Warden of this province—since which time it had pleased the Great Architect of the Universe to remove that brother from amongst them , leaving a bereaved wife with eleven children to mourn the loss of one of the most affectionate of fathers . Ifc behoved them to ask themselves what was their duty with regard to those dear children , and the answer was to be found in every brother's heart : they must be

regarded as a legacy left by their departed brother r . s a sacred trust placed under their charge . He would ask what was the value of the decorations with which they were honoured ; this this purple and gold , these ornaments and jewels , unless thoy carried that priceless jewel which , ho trusted , heats in every Mason's heart , — he meant charity , without that it was but as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal . Charityever lovely in itselfwas the brihtest that could

, , g gem adorn their Masonic profession ; ifc nourished and cherished , — and happy was the man that hael sown in his heart the seeds of benevolence . He fearlessly asserted that in no institution had those seeds been more plentifully sown , carefully nurtured , and brought to greater perfection than in their Masonic institutions , of which they were all proud , anel which , he trusted , would ever maintain the same high reputation thoy did at the present

time . He did not feel the same gloomy forebodings , that were entertained by some brethren , that tho Order was making such rapid strides that the claims on their institutions would become beyond their means of support . That was a doctrine from which he entirely differed . lie woulel not say " sufficient unto the dayis the evil thereof , " bufc sufficient unto tho day would he tlie requirements thereof . He would tell the brethren , in support of his argument , that the amount announced at three annual festivals in . 1857 , amounted to only £ 4 , 458 , and in 18 G 5 to

over £ 12 , 000 at these festivals ; but , nearly £ 20 , 000 during this year flowed into their Masonic exchequer for charitable purposes ; and was not this financial statement in greater excess than their numerical strength ? Should Masonry retrograde ? Certainly not : it -n as placed on too firm a basis—built on too solid a foundation for the winds of prejudice or error to prevail against it . He could only say as their steward , representing this province at that anniversary , he asked for the cause he had taken iu

hand for the interest of that child , whose father's last letter he ever penned , was one to himself , asking him to do what he could for a child in which he was interesting himself , as he was too ill to attend to it ; anel this letter was written within one week of his death , thereby showing that his last moments were devoted to the doing unto others what he ( Bro . Biggs ) trusted they would now elo unto him . He said for the cause of this child , whom he hoped to see elected at the next election into this school , that every Mason would rally round him to place such a sum on his list as would be a credit to this province , and an honour to that profession of which they felfc proud to call themselves

members" The Visitors" aud " The Ladies , " were proposed anel acknowledged , and the party then separated . LANCASHIRE ( WEST ) . WATmisaion . —Lodge of Lights ( No . 143 . )—The regular monthly meeting of this lodge was held at the Masonic Rooms ,

Sankey-stroet , on Monday , the 27 th ult . In the unavoidable absence of the AV . M ., Bro . G . Greenall , M . P ., S . G . Warden of England , Bro . J . Bowes , P . M ., Prov . G . Dir . of Cers ., presided in the East , anel was supported by tbe following brethren , viz ., Bros . AV . Mossop , as S . AV . ; R , G . Stringer , P . M ., as S . W . ; Rev . J . N . Porter , S . D . ; D . Finney , J . D . ; C . Ekkert , Org . ; and Bros . J . Holloway , Dr . Pennington , AV . Richardson , T . Jones , G . JHiinbottomAV . SavageA . S . L . LeonbardtP . PearseJ .

. gg , , , , Plinston , H . Cunningham , R . Gibbons , G . AVoolf , AV . AVoods , C . AVood , J . W . Wood , J . AVood ; J . Robinson and J . Johnson , Tylers . Visitors : —Bros . A . H . Beckett , R , AVright , both of 758 ; and J . G . Hughes , 1055 . The loelge was opened in due form with solemn prayer , and the minutes read and confirmed . The acting W . M . announced the receipt of letters of apology for non-attendance , from the AV . M . and his two Wardens , Bros . IIBAVhitePMSThewlisPMand AWaringsThe

. . , .. ; . , .. ; . . ballot was then taken for Mr . C . AVood aud Mr . J . AA . AVood , as candidates for the mysteries , which proved unanimously in favour in each case . The gentlemen being present , were introduced and initiated in due form , according to ancient custom-A number of Grand Lodge certificates were delivered and duly signed . The receipt of a Grancl Lodge agenda paper was intimated . The WM . then announced the deatli of Bro . AV .

Akern , when it was resolved that the lodge do go into mourning for the next three months . Bro . A . H . Beckett , of Lodge No . 758 , was proposed as a joining member , and a gentleman as a candidate for initiation . The AV . M . then called upon Bro . Rev . J . N . Porter fco give his promised lecture on " The Archives of Freemasonry , " which was listened to with marked attention . At its close a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Bro . Porter . There being no further business the loelge was closeel with the usual solemnities at nine o ' clock .

Asniox-iN-MAEEiiEiELD . —Lodge of Paith ( No . 484 ) . —The regular meeting of this lodge took place at the Gerard ' s Arms Hotel , on Wednesday , the 22 nd ult . The chair was occupied by Bro . T . Stone , AV . M ., who was supported by Bros . Summer , P . M ., S . AV . ; J . Stone , P . M ., J . W . ; Dr . Pennington , P-M ., Hon . Sec ; Shaw , Brcwis , & c . Visitors : —Bros . J . Bowes , P . M * 14 S ; and D . Finney , J . D . 148 . The loelge was opened in due form with solemn prayer , when the minutes of the last regular

lodge were read anel confirmed . Bro . J . Fairhurst being a candidate for promotion , and having proved proficient he was entrusted anel retired . The lodge was openeel in the second degree , and Bro . Fairhurst re-admitted and passed to the degree of n FiC . At the request of the AV . M ., the ceremony was performed by Bro . Bowes , P . M . Tho loelge was closed in the second degree . The brethren then discussed the desirability of removing the lodge to the Legh Arms , Newton , for the

convenience of the members . It is to be hoped this proposition Avitt be carried , for Ashton is most inconveniently situated . On the conclusion of the business the lodge was eluly closeel , and the brethren separated in harmony .