Provincial.

Charity of the existence of which they could plead ignorance , as the R . W . Prov . G . M . had intimated they did of others , for the « was not a lodge or a chapter in the kingdom which had not votes in . right of their contributions to Grand Lodge or Grand Chapter , without taking one shilling direct from their own pockets , and these votes , properly accumulated , would have long since placed Mrs . Piper on the roil of annuitants . He was sure there were

many brethren in the province who would be glad to act for them , if united ; and , if there were not , his ( Bro . Warren ' s ) services were always at their command . Mrs . Piper would succeed at the next election if his ( Bro . Warren's ) life was spared , for she was now his candidate ; and all he called upon . the Essex brethren to do was to support him , assuring them that for every vote they placed in his hands he would poll three ; and in such a cause he knew not the meaning of the word failure . He

must now apologize to the E . W . Prov . G . M . for having taken upon himself thus to address the brethren apart from the toast which he had risen to acknowledge , and for which , with his brother visitors , he must again express his gratitude , assuring them that he felt highly pleased with the proceedings of the day , with the handsome manner in which the health of the visitors had been proposed , and the great courtesy with which he , had been listened to by the brethren . ( Cheers . )

Bro . BINCKES also expressed his thanks to the R . W . the Prov . G . M . and the brethren for the kindness with which he had been received , and , after the remarks of Bro . Warren , should not think of detaining them at any length , for those remarks regarding union were as equally applicable to the other Charities , as they were to the one to which Bro . Warren had more immediately addressed himself . He thanked the R . W . Prov . G . M . for the opportunity he had given him in Provincial Grand Lodge to address them on behalf of the Boys ' School that day , and which had not been without its fruits , as Bro . Burton , of Lodge 343 , had , immediately after Grand Lodge , kindly

given him his name as a steward for the next festival , in March , ancl he had also a promise from a P . M . of the Chigwell Lodge to serve on the same occasion , so that the Essex brethren would not then be unfairly represented . He again thanked them , on behalf of himself and his brother visitors , for the reception they had met with , feeling assured that the province could not be otherwise than prosperous , whilst it was so ably presided over as at present . ( Cheers . )

Bro . MATTHEWS , Prov . G . D . C ., had a peculiar privilege accorded "him that day , which he had never had before , the D . Prov . G . M . having asked him to do that which he generally performed himself , propose the health of the Prov . G . M . ( Applause . ) He had been in office under their late Prov . G . M ., but he had never had greater pleasure than in serving under their present most excellent Prov . G . M ., and believed that since the Prov . G . M . had been in office , he had visited every lodge working in the provinceand done much to

, promote the best interests of the Craft . He had heard with regret that the Charities were but little known amongst the brethren of the . province , but he trusted they would become better known through the proceedings of that day , and the influence of their most excellent and worthy G . M ., than whom a truer friend to Freemasonry could not exist . ( Applause . ) The PEOV . G . M . expressed himself unable to adequately return thanks for the compliment which had just been paid him . He had

ever felt the greatest interest in the prosperity of Freemasonry , and though it was not without regret that he observed two of their lodges were likely to be erased in consequence of a want of true Masonic feeling amongst the brethren of those lodges , he could not -feel otherwise than grateful for the support which the brethren of the -other lodges had accorded to him , and for the friendly spirit with which he was always met throughout the province , and he could sincerely state that should difficulties at any time arise , nothing would give him greater pleasure than in using his best exertions to overcome them .

The PEOV . G . M . then called for bumpers to the " Health of Bro . Major Skinner , D . Prov . G . M ., " who had been high in the province before he ( Bro . Bagshaw ) was Prov . G . M . He had always regarded him as the real head of the Craft in the province , and wherever he went he found that Bro . Skinner had been before him in endeavouring to serve the interests of Freemasonry , and nothing would give him greater pleasure than to resign his office were he to know that he was to be succeeded by that worthy and distinguished brother .

Bro . Major SKINNEE , D . Prov . G . M ., returned thanks to the Prov . G . M . for the very handsome terms in which he had proposed the toast , and to the brethren for the manner in which they had responded to it ; not that he was taken by surprise , as he had for so many years received those tokens of their approbation , that he scarcely knew how , properly , to reply to them . He regretted to hear that two of their lodges were likely to be erased , as in previous years he had spent many happy hours in them ; and at one , the North , Essex , he and other brethren then present had assisted at the

consecration . He could bear testimony to the truthfulness of the observations of the R . W . Prov . G . M ., with regard to colonial lodges , having himself seen them at work forty years since , and knowing how well Masonry was carried out in the colonies . He had been pleased , though grieved , by the observations of Bro . Warren with regard to a candidate from their province having seven times lied for an annuity from the Royal Benevolent

Inapp stitution ; and whilst thanking that brother for so forcibly bringing her case under their consideration , he pledged himself that at the meeting of their lodge in October , to lay her case before them , and do all in his power to assist Bro . Warren in his disinterested efforts to secure her annuity at tho next election . He looked upon all their Charities as of great importance , but none so much as that for the Aged Mason and his Widowto which he would give ten

, pounds for every pound he gave to the others , though he by no means undervalued the importance of giving to their boys and girls a good and virtuous education . He had long wished to retire from his office , but so long as their R . W . Prov . G-M . commanded his services , he would cheerfully give them to the Essex brethren . ( Loud cheers ) . The R . W . PEOV . G . M . next gave "The health of the Prov . G .

Officers . " which was appropriately responded to by Bro . Bott , Prov . S . G . W . The R . W . PEOV . G . M- then called upon the brethren to dedicate a bumper to the health of their oldest Prov . G . Officer , Bro . Peter Matthews , Prov . G . D . C . Bro . PETER MATTHEWS briefly replied ; and , various other toasts having been drank , the brethren separated at an early hour . AVe should not be doing justice were we to close this report

without acknowledging the great exertions made by Bros . Peter Matthews , Prov . G . D . C . ; and F . Adlard , P . Prov . A . G . D . C . ; in the regulation of the business ; - and the promotion of the comforts of the brethren .

MONMOUTHSHIRE . ABERGAVENNY . —Philanthropic Lodge ( No . 1120 ) . —A Lodge of Emergency was held at the Masonic Hall on the 12 th inst ., when Bro . Higginson , AV . M ., proceeded to invest his officers for the current year , in consequence of the continued indisposition of Bro . Pierce , who resigned the Mastership previous to his installation . Tho following are the officers -. —Bros . S . Browning , S . AV . ; T . D . Steel ,

J . AV . ; AV . C . Freeman . Sec . ; J . Smith , Dir . of Cers . ; T . Bees , S . D . ; E . Tucker , J . D : ; S . Steel , J . Gosden , and AV . Gait , Stewards ; AV . Saunders , I . G . The anniversary banquet was held at the Angel Hotel on the 26 th inst ., when Bro . P . Morgan catered for the brethren in his usual liberal style . After the customary loyal and Masonic toasts , Bro . Maund , Prov . G . Reg . of Monmouthshire , in a neat speech , proposed tho health of the AV . M ., and at the same time invested him with a P . M . ' s jewel , which had been subscribed for

by the brethren , in remembrance of his having founded ' a lodge in Abergavenny , and for his assiduity while Master thereof . The AV . M . returned thanks , and expressed the deep sense of obligation he felt to the brethren for their kindness , and , in a lengthened speech , traced his connection with the lodge , and the circumstances which led to its foundation . He concluded by expressing a hope that the G . A . O . T . U . would bless their Masonic labours with success , and could only tremble for himself lest he should become unworthy of their kindness . A happy and social evening was spent , and the brethren separated at their usual early hour .

SUREEi \ P R o v i N c i A i GRAND L O D GE . ( Prom our own Beporler . ) The annual Provincial Grand Lodge of Surrey was held at the Spring Hotel , in the beautiful village of Ewell , on Saturday last , the 27 th ult . Grand Lodge was opened shortly after 3 o ' clock ,

the R . AV . Prov . G . M ., Bro . Dobie , P . G . Reg ., presiding , supported by Bros . Harcourt , P . G . D . C , D . Prov . G . M . ; Francis , P . D . Prov . G . M . ; Slight , P . G . D . ; LI . Evans , P . G . S . B . ; Blake , P . Prov . G . AV . ; Maudslay , P . Prov . G . AV . ; Greenwood , Prov . G . Sec . ; many other Prov . and P . Prov . G . Officers and visitors , amongst whom were Bros . Fai-nfield , Assist . G . Sec , Secretary to the Royal Benevolent Institution for Aged Masons and their Widows , and Binckes , Secretary to the Boys' School .

The minutes of the last meeting having been read and confirmed , the report of the Audit Committee was presented , showing a balance in hand of about £ 86 alter defraying all expenses . Bro . Dr . Harcourt was continued as D . Prov . G . M ., and the following Prov . G . Officers appointed and invested for the ensuing year , Bros . Lyon , S . W . ; Meymott , J . AA . ; Rev . J . Bayley , Chap . ;' Morrison , Reg . ; Prince S . D . ; Lashman , J . D . ; Carruthers , Supt . of AA'brks ; Avelin , D . C . ; Copeman , S . B . ; Robins , Purst .