Provincial.

The PEOV . G . M . next called attention to the fact that the Lodges at Burnham ( 7 SS ) and Booking ( S 17 ) stood for erasure at the next Grand Lodge , unless some returns wero made ; on which a conversation ensued , from which it appeared that there was but little chance of their being again brought into working order . After some conversation as to the manner in which the Provincial Grand Lodge had been summoned , it was resolved that in future the meetings should be advertised in two local papers ancl THE FBEEJIASONS MAGAZINE .

A letter having been read from Bro . Binckes , the Secretary to the Boys' School , asking for aid to tho school , and he being present , the Prov . G . M . called upon Bro . BINCKES , who briefly addressed the meeting , and directed attention to the fact that , in consequence of recent alterations in the management of the Boys' School , the expenses would be considerably increased , necessitating extra exertions on behalf of the "brethren in its support .

Bro . STCAET , Prov . J . G . D ., bore testimony to the wants -of the Boys' School , but thought the appeal should be made to the various private lodges , and not to Provincial Grand Lodge . The PEOV . G . M . thanked Bro . Binckes for having brought the subject under the consideration of the Provincial Grand Lodge , though he thought it was more properly the business of the private lodges than the Grand Lod He believed that the charities were

ge . not sufficiently known in the provinces . Indeed , last year , at Colchester , a member of one of the lodges , and a magistrate of the county , told him that ho was not aware that Freemasonry had any charities . When he ( the Prov . G . M . ) asked him what he thought Masonry consisted in , he replied , " Why , eating and drinking . " Now , that was a very poor kind of Masonry , though he was afraid

that in some districts that was the general idea of it . It was to their charities , however , that he looked as the best part of Freemasonry—as a beneficent institution , promoting good-will and works of charity amongmen . He would recommend Bro . Binckes to have a circular , setting forth the position of the charity , prepared , and send a number of them to each lodge for distribution among the members , and was sure the Grand Secretary of this province would give him every facilityand the address of every brother that was known

, . He would likewise recommend that a joint circular from the different charities should be put forward , so as to show the advantages of all . Were this done , he felt assured it would add to the support they received , and at the same time be of great benefit to the Craft . _ Bro . BINCKES thanked the R . W . Prov . G . M . for his recommendation , and begged to remind him that two years since a joint circular was issued by the two schools , which had , he was happy to

say , done great good . On behalf of the boys' school a special circular would , he hoped , shortly be issued , and he only presented himself at the Prov . G . Lodge in order to endeavour to make himself acquainted with brethren of the various lodges in this province , in order that they might exert themselves amongst the brethren of those lodges , it being impossible for him personally to visit the whole of them . The subject having dropped it was resolved on the motion of

Bro . STUAET , Prov . J . G . D ., that the bye-laws of tho Prov . G . Lodge should be reprinted , and circulated amongst the members of the various lodges . A vote of thanks to the magistrates of the town , for the use of the town hall , having been passed , the Prov . G . Lodge was closed hi due form .

THE BANQUET . At half-past four o ' clock the brethren reassembled at the AVhite Hart Hotel , where a very elegant banquet had been provided by Bro . Durranf , the only regret being that whereas it was provided for about fifty , not thirty sat down . On the removal of the cloth , and grace being said , The Pitov . G . M . "The Queen and the Craft" which was

gave , drank with all the honours . The PEOV . G . M . next gave "The Health of their Most Noble G . M ., the Earl of Zetland , " who , he was convinced , was most near to their feelings and hearts . As the representative of the G . M ., he had had opportunities of seeing the great interest the noble Earl took in the Craft . The office of G . M . ' of England was one of great difficulty , and the manner in which the noble Earl carried it out

proved him eminently fitted for the office . During the past three years Masonry , under the rule of the Earl of Zetland , had greatly increased , and the appointments he had recentl y had the opportunity of making , not only showed the judgment of the noble Earl , but must conduce to the interests of the Craft . ( Applause ) . The PEOV . G . M . said the next toast was that of "The D . G . M . of England , and the Grand Officers , Past and Present . " He believed that the

present D . G . M ., the Earl de Grey and Ripon , would prove most efficient , he being a man of sound judgment and a good Mason . He never , however , could forget the P . D . G . M . 's , the more especiall y Lord Yarborongh , who had come down into Essex to

instal him ( the Prov . G . M . ) in his office , as from that day Masonry had revived in Essex , lie could assure them that the Grand Officers of England had most onerous duties to perform , and ho felt certain they performed them most conscientiously . The toast was drank with loud applause after which the PEOV . G . M . asked them to fill bumpers to "The Health of the visitors . " He was hajipy to see he was surrounded by many distinguished visitors , amongst whom he recognised Bro . Henry G .

Warren , a brother who was connected with the FEEEJIASOXS ' MAGAZINE , to which they had been indebted for many very valuable suggestions , and through which great good had been done to the Craft . He thought it most fortunate for the Order that they had an organ in the press , especially when conducted with the ability and independence which characterised the FREEJIASONS' MAGAZINE . He had not the pleasure of being intimately acquainted [ with Bro . W-. wren , hvit he had ohservedmm in Grand Lodge , and was

convinced that through his exertions much had been done to ameliorate defects that naturally arose in every institution , for he must say that in a country like England , the true blessings of Freemasonry were not understood , and might be perverted without the aid of the press . He had had the advantage of seeing Freemasonay in the Colonies and India , and none but those who had been abroad could well estimate its advantages . He was delighted to see Bro . Warren present on that occasionbeing assured that his pen and

, his talents had ever been used to promote the "best interests of the Craft . Amongst the visitors there was also Bro . Binckes , who had ably advocated the cause of the Boys' School in Prov . G . Lodge that day , and he assured them that ho , the Prov . G . M ., wished every success , not only to the Boys' School , but to every Charity connected with the Order . He was sure they would give a cordial welcome to the toast with which he would couple the

names of Bros . Warren and Binckes . ( Applause . ) Bro . HENEY G . WABREN begged , on behalf of himself and the other visitors , to return his sincere thanks for the handsome manner in which the toast had been proposed and responded to ; on behalf of himself and the majority of the visitors , for he should leave to Bro . Binckes to speak on behalf of the Institution with which he was more immediately connected . The R . W . Prov . G . M . had been pleased to speak of his exertions in connection with THE FEEEJIASOXS' MAGAZINE , and he was proud to believe that he had been of some service to the Craft , more especially with respect to their Charities . But , at the same time ,

he ( Bro . Warren ) was not one who relied upon his pen alone , as he never hesitated to speak out , even in Grand Lodge , when he thought occasion required it , and he must tell the Essex brethren , with all due reference to the R . W . Prov . - G . M ., that he had not come to the Prov . G . Lodge merely for pleasure , or as a representative of THE FBEEJIASONS' MAGAZINE , but he felt , as a Mason , that he had a duty to perform in calling their attention to the fact that a candidate for an annuity from the Benevolent Institution had been eight

years applying in vain for its benefits which she . might long since have obtained had the unity , of which the Prov . G . M . had spoken , existed amongst their lodges . At the last election he , Bro . Warren , found that there were four candidates on the widow's list who had applied more than once for its benefits . One of those candidates was Mrs . Piper , the widow of a deceased brother of their province , and seeing the number of votes she had already polled' upwards of 1300 he looked upon her as safe

, , , knowing that she ( would be so , if the Essex brethren only acted together . He therefore took up the case of a poor widow who had applied as many times as Mrs . Piper , but had only polled 700 , votes , and was enabled to place her triumphantly fourth on the list with 3500 votes ; whilst , much to his astonishment , for want of management , Mrs . Piper only added 300 to her former number . They could not tell him it was for want of power , for at the very same election the Colchester brethren carried the election of a lady ,

on her first application , second on the list with upwards of 4500 votes , 500 of which , under proper management , would have still kept her second on the list , and also carried the election of this poor canidate , who , at the age of seventy-five , still found herself , for the seventh time , disappointed . And why was this ? It was for want of arrangement and union amongst themselves ; for , like the bundle of sticks in the fable , united , they were strong , divided , they were powerless . He did not say that the

disgiace , for so he must call it , of this poor lady ' s loss of annuity was attributable to the Essex brethren only , for as a subscriber to the Institution he felt it reflected also on himself , but he did say that if they would not assist themselves , they could not expect others to assist them . In Suffolk and in West Yorkshire , by union , they always carried their candidates within reasonable time , and in Essex , by union , they could do the same . They should make arrangements by which all their votes should pass through the hands of one brother for their own candidates , when they had them , and for others when they had not , so that , when they had , they might return to them three or fourfold . This was not a