Provincial.

all know his private character , and the estimation in which he is held , and in few places more so than he is at Welshpool , where ile presides also in another capacity . He is known well , and known everywhere . Health and long- life to him—long may he preside over the Craft in this province—and long may he hunt the hounds so well as he does . May every luck aud prosperity attend him and Wynnstay . The toast was drunk with honours , which were most

enthusiastically given by the brethren . Song , " The Craft , " Bro . Forrest-Sir Watkin , in reply , said : Brethren , I beg to return thanks to yon for the kind way in which you have received my health . 5 am exceedingly pleased to see so many good Masons collected here . I have known this room , I am afraid to saw how long . I have been at so many pleasant gatherings , so many jolly parties in this room . When I come to look hack upon having spent a

pleasant week in each year for a great many years in succession , from ISM until now , it shows me that I must know a good deal of the town of Pool , and of the people of Pool ; and , of course , I am very glad to see that in a town where I have received so much kindness , and in which I have spent a good deal of time , amongst its other good qualities it possesses so many good Masons , whom I am always proud and happy to meet- I may congratulate the province—when I look over this hook , which

has just been shown to me—upon the increase of tho number of lodges . Except East Lancashire , there is no province in which more new lodges have been opened than in this . When I am applied to for new lodges , if there is a strong Masonic feeling , I say , "Open them , " and what I can do to assist them I will ; but should this not be the case I say , "Pause till that feeling come . " But when you see lodges which have sprung up , and when you see a lodge like this , with so many subscribing members , and so much zcalousness shown in the cause , what I IOmarked just now is like throwing words away . It is something

to be able to say that this province is in a very prosperous state . I think you will agree with me , and you may depend upon it , fchat anybody who presides as a Provincial Grand Master cannot do much ; it is the active Masons—those who work out the ledges—who are to be thanked , and who ought to have the credit ; and to those I have to return my thanks , and I now beg to thank them all for the trouble they have taken , and the work they have done .

Sir Watkin proposed " The Health of the Earl de Grey and Ripon D . G . M . and the rest of the Grand officers of England , " mid remarked that as there was no better known colour or Better known name in Masonry than White , he should couple the toast with the name of the Prov . G . Treas ., Bro . J . P . White , with honours . Bro . J . P . White returned thanks for the last toast ,

and alluded to the remarkable fact of liis grandfather and uncle having collectively held office in the Grand Lodge of England for nearly 100 years , and that his brother was at present a Grand Deacon of England . Sir Watkin , in answer to several calls for Bro . Binckes , said — " I did not include tho name of Bro . Binckes in tho last t-sast , because there is a theme upon which he will speak much better , not because ho has tho good of Masonry less at heart ,

but because I believe he has worked harder in the cause of the charities than any other , and as I see upon my list of toasts that of "The Masonic Charities" I shall couple with it tho name of Bro . Binckes . We have this year doubled our contributions . We know that the intention of Masonry is to encourage good will to our brethren and to help them in their distress , and though some of us here are endowed with the goods of this world , there are others who are in a great measure dependent upon the kindness and charity of the brethren . I beg to propose the toast of the Masonic charities , and to couple it with the name of Bro . Rkickes . "

Duet— " Could a Life bo secure" Bros . Forrest and Glydon . Bro . Binckes replied , at considerable length , to tiio last toast , and , after expressing the admiration he entertained of tho institution of Masonry , and stating what he considered to be some of the duties of its members , gave an account of the etmrities connected with it , especially those for the Aged and their Widows and "the Boys' and Girls' Schools" —the first aamed institution maintaining 130 aged leand enabling

peop , 4 bem"To lengthen out lifes' taper to its close , And keep the flame from wasting by repose . " flie girls' school which now maintains , clothes , and educates , 303 girls , and fits them for the discharge of the duties of any

sphere of life , and the boys' school , which , in like manner , maintains , clothes , and educates , upwards of 100 boys , and fits them for any position . "Are these , " asked Bro . Binckes , "fit objects to support ? You have every guarantee that every shilling you bestow is faithfully applied . I could tell you . of cases of those who were one year enjoying the highest pitch of prosperity , in the next were received amongst us , and thanked God that their fathers were Masons . I ask my brethren to

support these charities , and to manifest their interest in them by placing their names upon the list of Bro . Goldsbro' who has done good service in the Craft , and who will represent this province as a Steward at the festival in March next , in aid of the funds of tho boys' school . " Bro . White gave the toast of the Grand Masters of Scotland and Ireland , coupling with it the name of the V . W . Bro . J . C . Fourdrinier .

Duet— "The Brothers , " Bros . Glydon and Forrest . Bro . Fourdrinier returned thanks on behalf of the Grand Master of Ireland . Bro . Dr . Oakeley proposer ] , " The health of the R . W . Bro . Dymock , " and said : The more wo know him the more occasion we havo to respect him . His courtesy is aknowledged and appreciated by all—may he long be spared to us . I give you

tho toast of the health of Bro . Dymock , our Deputy Grand Master , and I claim the honours . Song , " Simon the Cellarer , " Bro . Glydon . Bro . Dymock said : I am very much obliged to Bro . Oakeley for the kind manner in which he has proposed my health , and for the very kind way in which it has been received by you all . I have had the honour , and for many years have never omitted attending these meetings . There are no better

wishers to the Craft than there are in the old Shropshire Lodge—brethren whom I have met for many years , and whom I sincerely hope to meet with the same friendly feelings for many years to come . The Rev . Bro . J . M . Edwards said : I have a health to pro « pose , and I hoped it would have fallen into the hands of some

person better qualified—it is that of "The Provincial Grand Chaplains . " The Provincial Grand Chaplain was not here , and I it was my office to perforin his duties in , I fear , an inefficient ; manner . I propose " The Health of the Grand Chaplains of the Province . " Sir Watkin : Thanks , Bro . Edwards , for acting so efficiently to-day . Rev . Bro . Benson returned thanks for the Grand Chaplains

, and said : I came in too late for the meeting of the Grand Lodge , and I am only thankful that the duty was undertaken by one so able as Bro . Edwards , and I thank him for the verykind and efficient way in which he performed those duties . I am glad to find wo have so many clerical brethren amongst us . Every young clergyman at Oxford and Cambridge now endeavours and is lad to be proposed as a candidate for Masonry .

g For myself and my brother chaplain we hope to do our duty , and leave behind no stain . Bro . Binckes said : It has fallen to my lot to discharge the duty of proposing the health of the Provincial Grand Wardens , who must have earned a high place in the estimation of the Prov . Grand Master to have gained their distinguished position . I believe I am not wrong when I say that upon the efficient

discharge of the duties of those officers depends the furtherance of the best interests of our Order . If those who are invested with high office are indifferent , they take a very low estimate of Masonry . If , on the other hand , we see that they do their duties thoroughly , the realities of Masonry are well and duly felt . I believe Freemasonry to he a great reality , and though not of Divine origin , the greatest institution the world has ever

scon . It can only be carried out by the way in which those invested with high office perform the duties of their office . Those acting under you , Right Worshipful Prov . Grand Master , can be well taken as an example , by discharging their duties in such a manner as must be highly gratifying to you . At all events having , without any choice of my own , to propose this toast , I give you " The Health of the Provincial Grand Wardens , and may they long live in health , strength , and bappiness . "

Given with honours . Bro . Goldsbro ' : On behalf of my brother Grand Warden and myself I beg to return thanks for the very flattering manner in which our health has been proposed and received . I trust that my being present upon every occasion of the assembling of the Provincial Grand Lodge during my term of office ,