Provincial.

the interests of the Royal Cumberland Lodge , he trusted he should receive the same approbation afc the close as he had at the commencement of his year of office . Ho concluded by proposing " The P . JI's of the Lodge and Bro . Bagshaw , " ivho briefly returned thanks . — " The A'isifcing Lodges of the Province , " Avere then severally given , and responded to by Bros . Commans , Bartram , and Marshall . — "The R . AT . Prov . G . M . of AA'iltshire , ancl Prov . Grand Officers , " fco ivhich Bro . Biggs , Prov . G . Reg ., responded . —Bvo . BAGSUAAV , P . AL , had great pleasure in proposing " The Health of the oldest Jlason in Bath , " and , in fact , he thought he might say the oldest in the Province , he having beenhiitiatecl nearly 60 years ago . — Bro . AA ' UITNEI : thanked them for the honour thev had done him bv

thinking his health as a member of such an ancient ; and honourable ¦ society as that of Freemasons , tracing , as ive do , its existence from time immemorial ; aud honourable , inasmuch as it has been considered by the wise and greatest of all nations ; for we find tha t emperors , kings , dukes , and lords have at all times ranked amongst its members , and honoured this society ivith their particular patronage and support ; anel I am proud to say they had never thought ifc a disgrace to call the poorest of its members brothers

and fellows , if they found fchem AA'orthy . In our intercourse ivifch fche world , brethren , ive have often heard different opinions by those ivho are ignorant of our institutions , and the motives that induce us to enter this society ; but I hope and trust that the solemnities which accompanied our initiation into them , have ever led us to believe they are such as may deservedly employ the attention of tho wisest and best of men . I

perceive around me many junior members who are but in their infancy with respect to Freemasonry , and who must necessarily be strangers to all its sublime science , which nothing but a regular progress through its several parts and degrees can open to their view' . Their attendance at the loelge must be absolutely necessary for their own improvement , and to seek instruction where it is most properly given . In a well-conducted lodge of Freemasons AA'e have no other contention than this—he that can work best for the good of his lodge , and the welfare of his fellow man . Freemasonry may not , therefore , be inaptly termed the Daughter

of HeaA-en ; and the only means to obfcain a knoAA'ledge of our sublime mysteries is integrity , persei'crance , and ability , together with a uniform practice of all our moral and religious duties . These are the necessary qualifications ; these are the steps by which men ascend to the summit of Freemasonry ; ancl while we adhere to these principles , ive not only secure fco ourselves the esteem of -every able brother , but the wannest approbation of our ow-n hearts . Letusremomberbrethrentobe ever readto lend such asssistance to

, , y a poor brotherthat may not be detrimental to ourselves or families , for to loi-e charity ancl universal benevolence are the grand characteristics of Freemasonry . Therefore , to be good Jlasons , ifc necessarily follows AVC should be good men in tho ivhole compass of our duty , in whatever things are just , pure , and perfect . Thus , my brothers , may Ave entertain a well-grounded hope that the good effect of our works will folloiv ns Avhen Ave rest from our labours : ancl when the sliall be for darkened

sun ever , and the moon ancl stars no lonser give their light , we shall all be found as duly and properly prepared candidates , and receiveci into that Grand Lodsre above ' not made with hands , eternal in the heavens ; where tlie Sum-eine Grand JIaster presides , whose eyes arc more pure than " to behold iniquity , . and who will reward or punish as AVC have obeved or disregarded his divine commands . " —AA ' e need not remark that our venerable brotheraddress listened

' s was to with the most profound attention . — "The Jlasonic Charities ami Bro . Payne , " together witli many other toasts , followed , the comforts of the evening bein" - enlivened by very many excellent songs . ° °

STAFFORDSHIRE . HANLEI - . —Menlm-ia Lod ge ( No . 600 ) . —The annual installation meeting of tins lodge ivas held afc the Town Hail , Hanley on Tuesday , . January 1 . Nearly forty brethren were present . Amono- the visitors were the D . Pvov . G . AL , Bro . Dr . Burton ; V . Prov S GAV Bro John Hallam 671 ; P . Prov . J . G . W . ; Bvo . George Baker , 66 o ' ,-P . Prov . S . G . D . BroAA'illiam Dufct-on 671 PPro

, . , ; . - S G D Bro Charles Davenport 115 and 660 ; P . G . D . C ; Bro . Frederick Leesi Ho ; 1 . lrov . Gr . Reg ., Bro . (> -. Sergeant , 006 . There were al < o present several of the present and past Prov . Grand Officers of otaliordshu'e , and past JIasters of the Lod ge . Pro . J . C . Daniel li ¦ , - ° i lened tue M S'e , and after the usual business was transacted ' Jie AA . JI . requested Bro . John Butterworth , P . AL , to proceed witli the of installing irtre elect

ceremony Bro . AA' . L .-, AA ' . JL . Tho AV Af elect , being presented by Bro . J . C . 'Daniel , P . AI ., w . ; s installed aii-l - , 11-ocaimed m the several ilegrces . The foUwms are the offices I ? , ' , " »» g year :-Bros . J . C . Daniel , P . JI . : J . S . Ci-amier ! > .. Y . ; George Bradford , J . iy . . . Simpson , Treasurer ; J j '

Peake , Secretary ; T . Chantrev , Organist ; John Butterworth , M . C . ; A . JI . Dix , S . D . ; C . Turner , J . D . ; AA' . Hales , I . G . At the conclusion of the business , the bretliren adjourned to a sumptuous banquet at the Saracen ' s Head Hotel , over which tho AA' . JL , Bro . Large , presided , being supported on his right and on his left by the 1 ) . Prov . G . JL , Bro . Dr . Burton , Bro . G . Baker , Bro . F . Lees , Bro . AA ' . Dutton , Bro . J . Hallam , Bro . C . Davenport , ancl a number of past and present grand oflicers and visitors"The ancl the

. Queen Craft , " ' ¦ ' Prince Albert anel the vest ofthe Royal Family , " " The Earl of Zetland , G . JL of England , " "Marquisof Dalhousie , D . G . AI . of England . " " The R . AA' . Prov . G . JL Bro . Col . A ' enion , " having been toasted , the AA' . JL called upon Bro . C . Davenport to propose the next toast , which w-as "The D . Prov . G . JL , Bro . Dr . Burton , " who by his presence that clay showed the interest he took in Masonry . l ) v . Burton , in the high office of D . Pvov . G . JL , would prove a worthy

successor to Bro . AVard . He had known Dr . Burton for many years , and ho , by his excellent qualities , had endeared himself to the brethren of the Craft , and he congratulated the province in having one who he knew-enjoyed the respect and love of the brethren . The toast having been drunk with Jlasonic honours , the D . Prov . G . JL Bro . Dr . BURTON said : —Brethren , I am , indeed , very much obliged to yon for the welcome you have given me on this occasion . It is afc all times gratifying to receive the congratulations and the

assurance of goodwill and respect from any large body of men , but other feelings than those of mere personal ambition haA'e stimulated me in my desire to fill the position I IIOAV hold . It is very natural for an individual after years of toil to look forward to a short season of tranquillity ancl ease ; but societies can never afford to cease from their labours ; audit' as the old members ] drop off—those old members who by their vigour and wisdom , have gained for the society the it there be

reputation enjoys— no younger brethren to step into their places and guide the state of affairs with the same energy ancl discretion , that society , instead of enjoying honourable repose , will sink into a state of decay . He said . this much to stimulate his younger brethren in the Craffc , and he trusted that they ivould ever uphold Jlasonry in its integrity . He hoped to visit every lodge in the province , ancl trusted that he should see as good working as he had seen in the lodge that day . —The D . G . P . J 1 .

Bro . Dr . BURTON again rose and said that he had been entrusted by the W . AL with a pleasing duty , and thafc was , to present , on behalf of the lodge , a very elegant P . JI . ' s jewel to Bro . J . Butterworth , P . JI ., as a mark of high appreciation the lodge had for his

services . He trusted that ifc would not diminish his zeal for the future welfare of the lodge of AA'hich he w'as a member , and that it would prove an incentive to the other brethren of the lod ge . —The AA ' . JL Bro . LARGE , in supporting the gift , spoke highly of Bro , Buttei-Avoi-th ' s services ; he Avas sure that all the brethren could bear testimony to his worth in connection ivitli the Jlenturia Lodge . —Bro . BUTTERWORTH , in reply , coulcl scarcely utter , in languagewhat he really felt on that occasionand he could not

, , but appreciate the kind manner in ivhich the lodge entertained for him , and he should ever devote himself energetically for the welfare of the Jlenturia Lodge . One of the great advantages of the glorious combination of winch they were connected ivas in promoting harmony , peace , and goodwill to all men . The great object of Jlasonry was to benefit those w-ho could not benefit themselves—to bedew the widow ' s face with smiles—to cherish the

orphan—to comfort the sorrow's of affliction , and to soothe the feelings of death , to seek to promote happiness and comfort all around us . He accepted the jeivel , not for what it AA-as worth in itself ; the inscription AA'as more valuable , and he shoulel ever wear it on all occasions in the lodge , anel shoulel always look upon ifc with feelings of gratitude . The jeivel bore the following inscription " Presented to Bro . J . ButterworthP . M . PProvGSDby the

, , . . ..., brethren ofthe Jlenturia Loelge ( GOG ) , as a mark of the high esteem in ivhich he is held as a man and a Jlason , January , 1861 . " The D . Prov . G . JL , in proposing the AV . JL Bro . Large , trusted that he would pass through his year of office with credit to himself and the loelge . He did not fear but the AA ' . JL would do his best in earning out the objects of tho lodge , and thafc he would bo well and , 'iUy supported by his AA ' ardens ancl officers . —Bro . LARGE , in

reply , thanked the brethren for the very kind manner in which they had responded to the excellent remark's made b y the D . Prov . G . JL He should ever remember the good advice lie has thought fit to give him , and he trusted that at fche end of his year of office he should have fulfilled the duties of the office in which he was placed to the satisfaction of the brethren , and hoped to see that [ brotherllove amongst them which was one of the grand

y principles on ivhich Freemasonry rested . A variety of other toasts followed , including " The Health of Bro . James , Secretary , " for his valuable services for the past three years . The evening AA' -IS interspersed with songs from several ofthe brethren , and w-as much enhanced with the skill and ability of Bro . Chant-rev on the pianoforte . The business being over the brethren seprated ivell pleased with the proceedings of the evening .