Provincial.

J ) . A . Gibbs , in the Council Chamber ; ancl having been admitted , that lodge was closed and Grand Lodge opened by Bro . D . Gooch , D . Prov . G . M ., in the absence of the R . AV . Prov . G . M ., Lord Methuen , who had not then arrived ; Bro . Jos . Burt , P . Prov . S . G . W ., as D . Prov . G . M . ; Bro . AVittey , S . G . W . ; Bro . Staneombc , J . G . AV ., and other Grand Officers . The Prov . G . Master then read a letter he had received from the Prov . Grand

Treasurer stating that , from his advanced age ( 87 years ) , lie felt compelled to relinquish the office he had held for a period dating from the 27 th October , 1827 , having been initiated at Devizes in 1817 . The PIOT . G . Master expressed the regret he felt at the announcement , for the number of years he had done suit and service for tbe province , he was sure the brethren could clo no less than accept his resignation , and proposed a vote of

thanks for past services and earnest wishes for the future , which being seconded by Bro . Burt , was carried by acclamation . Bro . Goocn then said , that while regretting the loss of their venerable Bro . Sheppard as Grand Treasurer , he at the same time felt sure the brethren would be pleased to hear that he had obtained the sanction for proposing one who was wellknown in the province as a zealous promoter of the Craft , and who , if elected , had consented to undertake its duties . He would

only mention the name of Bro . AVhifcfcey to ensure their cordial support , for he felt sure from his peculiar aptitude for business , his love for Freemasonry , and the good services he had already rendered to the province , that the office could not be placed in more able hands . On its being ^ seconded and carried unanimously , Bro . WHITTEY thanked the brethren for the confidence reposed in him , and assured them of the pleasure he felt at being of service to the province , and hoped he should discharge the duties of the office to their entire satisfaction .

The PBOV . G . MASTEB then , pursuant to notice , called on Bro . AA'ilfiam Biggs to bring forward his motion , which was to vote from the Provincial Grand Loclge Fund the sum of £ 21 , so as to make the Prov . G . M . and his Deputy Life Governors of the Boys' School . Bro . Bi & GS stated that when he gave his notice to the Grand Secretary he was not aware of the new regulation of the committeethat existing Life Governorsb ing the additional

, , y pay sum of £ 5 5 s ., entitlecVthemto additional votes , equal in amount to new subscribers of £ 10 10 s . ; he , therefore begged , with the permission of the Provincial Grand Master and Provincial Grand Lodge , to amend his proposition , which was , " That , as the Provincial Grand Lodge had already paid in the sum of £ 26 5 s ., an additional sum of £ 26 5 s . be now paid to the Building Fund in the name of the Provincial Grand Masterwhich

, would make him a Vice-President of the Institution , and greatly augment the votes of the province . " He much regretted the absence of their indefatigable Secretary , Bro . Binckes , who but for an accident , whereby he had broken his ankle-bone , would have been with them that day . He was happy , however , to add that he was rapidly progressing towards recovery . He also begged to that this tbe Charity would be represented

say year by a brother of the province who had taken the office of Steward , tbe Rev . Bro . T . F . Ravensbaw , and he therefore hoped that this sum , together with all that could be collected in the province , would be handed over to him , so that the Province of AVilts might assume its proper position at that Festival .

The motion being seconded by Bro . S . AVUITTEZ , Prov . S . G . AV ., was duly carried . The Pnov . G . MASTEB'then invested the following brethren Avith their collars of office for the ensuing year : — Bro . AVilliam Biggs Prov . S . G . W . „ S . Benham „ J . G . W . Rev . T . F . Ravensham GChap

„ „ . . „ Samuel Whittey „ G . Treas . a , H . A inneir „ G . Sec . » H . Calf „ G . Reg . „ S . Haywood „ S . G . D . „ AV . Read „ J . G . D . ,, R . D . M . Lawson „ G . Supt . of Works . „ John Toomer GDirof Cers

„ . . . « D . A . Gibbs „ G . Assist . Dir . of Cers . > , T . S . Camidge „ G . Org . n T . Hollway „ G . Purst . ,, S . Allen ... ~ \ „ J . E . Hayward f « „ , , ..„ A . J . Marsh f " G ' Stewards-„ AV . Nott '' . ' .,... )

Bro . BIGGS ' , S . G . W ., then proposed that the sum of £ 21 be transferred from tlie Grand Lodge Fund to the Charity Committee for future appropriation , which , being seconded by Bro . GOOCH , D . Prov . G . M ., was carried unanimously . The Treasurer ' s accounts showing a very prosperous state of finance , with a good balance , having been audited and passed , the lodge was closed in due form , and the brethren adjourned to

THE BANQUET . On the removal of the cloth his lordship proposed the usual toasts of " The Queen aud Craft , " " The Right Hon . the Eavl of Zetland , " "The Earl de Grey ancl Ripon , together with the rest of the Grand Officers , " which called up Bro . Gooch , D . Prov . G . M . as P . G . S . B . of England , and who warmly thanked the brethren for the honour done to Grand Loclge . He felt sure that the Order was never better represented by any D . Prov .

G . M . than at present , for the constant attention , zeal , and aptitude of business displayed by him on all occasions called for the gratitude and thanks of the Craft in general . Bro . GOOCH , D . Prov . G . M ., then proposed " The Health of the Provincial Grand Master , Lord Methuen , " and expressed the great pleasure he felt at seeing him amongst them that day , having travelled direct from Scotland for the purpose of attending his Masonic duties . A toast that was responded to

with the greatest enthusiasm . The PBOV . G . MASTEB , who was loudly cheered , replied by thanking the brethren for so numerous an attendance , ancl concluded by proposing "Our Distinguished Visitors , " who had honoured them with their presence that day , showing that time and distance stood not in the way of Masonry , having amongst them Bro . Alderman Jacob , P . M . of the Humber Loclge from Hull and S . G . W . of Yorkshire , also Bro . W . Smith , O . E .,

Proprietor of the FBEEJIASONS' MAGAZINE ; Bro . Kelway , J . G . W . of Somerset , as well as that highly distinguished brother so noted for fiis serial researches , Bro . Professor Glaisher , from the Royal Observatory , Greenwich . He felt sure tbe brethren would show them that AViltshire was in no way behind in their hearty thanks for the honour they had done the province by their visit . Bro . GEAISHEB assured the brethren of the pleasure it gave

him , together with the other visitors , of coming amongst them that day , for he considered it a very fortunate circumstance , attending the British Association for the Advancement of Science , at Bath , that the Provincial Grand Loclge of AViltshire was held during that time , which enabled him to be amongst

them that day . Engaged as lie was in scientific pursuits , he could but consider them as closely allied to Masonry , both tending to the same result—the ultimate happiness of mankind , and coneluded a very interesting speech by thanking them for the hospitality they had received . The PEOV . G . MASTEE then proposed " The' Health of their valued and indefatigable D . Prov . G . M ., " for the great attention he had given to the province , as it was to him and him

alone , was due all the prosperity that attended it , and hoped whatever allurements other provinces might hold out , that nothing would induce him to sever his connection with Wiltshire . Bro . Goocn , amidst great enthusiasm , responded to the toast , assuring the brethren tliat , 4 io \ vever Lord Methuen might eulogise his efforts to promote Masonry in the province , he ( Lord Methuenwas equally entitled to the thanks of the

, brethren , as he had ever taken a warm interest in the Craft ; but , unfortunately for this province , his lordship ' s multifarious duties were of so onerous a character as a public man , and the extensive calls on his time as a nobleman so deservedly popular as his lordship , necessarily entails such an amount of labour , that he was surprised he could devote so much as he did to the interests of the province . The long journey he had taken was a convincing proof of his desire for their good wishesand hoped

, with his lordship to he many years connected with the Province of Wilts . Tlie PEOA" -. G . MASTEB then gave "The Health of Bro . Biggs , S . G . W ., and the other Grand Officers . " Bro . BIGGS responded by saying they felt honoured , not only by the high positions they hail been placed in the province , but bthe enthusiastic reception the toast had met with from the

y brethren present . He could assure his lordship that whatever they had done for the interests of the province to promote its welfare , tbe honours conferred on them would , he was sure , act as a stimulus to each , not only to continue as they had done , but increased exertions to advance the prosperity of each loclge within it , ancl concluded by proposing " The Health separately