Provincial.

THE PRESENTATION TO Br . o . II . B . AA ' DITE , ( consisting of a full dress suit of clothing , together with a jewel of beautiful quality , and exquisite workmanship , supplied by Bro . Joseph J . Caney , of Cheapsido ) . Ho then read a letter which the AA . M . had written to the S . W ., Bro . AA . Smith , stating his inability to be present , and requesting Bro . Smith to make the presentation for hiin . Bro . Bjives , therefore , called upon the S . AA . to discharge the duty

which he felt sure would afford him very great pleasure . Bro . Smith then left tho west , aud proceeded to the east , calling at the south to secure the assistance of Bro . Stevenson , J . W . Bro . Smith then said : — ' The pleasant duty of presenting you with the handsome gift from the various brethren of this lodge devolves upon me in consequence of the AA . M . having a prior engagement of a nature sufficient to excuse his absenceas I am very sensible of my

in-, ability to represent him or give effect to the wishes and intentions of those brethren who have taken this opportunity to express their approbation of your great zeal and labour in the interests of this lodge . "Sir , I may say I have tho fullest and firmest conviction that every shilling contributed towards this beautiful gift by the subscribers is given with a proper and becoming regard for

their duties as good Masons , as also to the merit they wish to acknowledge in you for your indefatigable perseverance and attention to the duties and interests of the lodge . Sir , it is an acknowledgment of that useful and necessary acquirement which enables us to be useful to each other , and also to render that which is so valuable to the Masonic Order in general , for it is by such means that not merely the fabric , so to speak ,

is held together , but the true spirit and love for all that is good and beautiful in Masonry can be continued through future generations . Presenting you , sir , with the mark of our high respect we venture to hope it will in some degree strengthen and encourage you in the discharge of those duties , which on tho present occasion so strongly claim our acknowledgment and deserves our warmest approbation . " Sir , long may you live to wear them with honour to yourself and advantage to Masonry . Bro . Robert Stevenson , J . AV ., begged to add to the remarks

of the S . AA ., a few words . He was very glad indeed of the opportunity to express personally his admiration of the manner in which Bro . White had laboured for the welfare of the lodge . He was most able in matters Masonic , and always willing to help any brother who was desirous of advancement . The lodge was deeply indebted to him , and the members felt that they would not be doing their duty if they did not in some slight way recognise his zealous care of their interests . Glad ,

indeed , was he to be called upon by Bro . Smith to assist in the presentation , and most sincerely did he hope that Bro . White might long live to enjoy their truly fraternal esteem . The Acting AA . M ., Bro . Bowes , then read the inscription on the jewel , as follows : — " Presented to Bvo . H . B . AVhite , P . M ., M . E . Z ., Prov . G . D . C ., AA est Lancashire , by the members of No . 14 S , in recognition of valuable services rendered to the lodge , October lS 66 , "and invested Bro . White amid tokens of Masonic

acclamation . "AV . Master , Bro . AA ardens , and Brethren , it has been my lot on several occasion ; to be present when testimonials have been presented , and more than once I have wondered what were the sensations experienced by the recipient . I have now an opportunity of judging for myself ; and I must say that , on the whole , tho sensation is a very pleasant and agreeable one . It has , howeverone drawbackand that is the difficulty of adequatel

, , y expressing one ' s sense of the honour conferred ; for were I to say that I was utterly unworthy of the compliment paid me , I should be paying you but an ill compliment by inferring that you did not know what you were about in making the presentation ; whereas , on the other hand , if 1 were in any way to intimate that I was worthy of the kindness shown me , I should lay myself open to a serious charge of vanity and conceit . You have , however , brethren , recorded in the inscription on tho

jewel which forms part of your handsome gift that the testimonial is presented " in recognition of valuable services rendered to the lodge ; " and I can honestly and fairly say that I have done my best to advance the interests of this lodge , and I feel very proud and much gratified that my endeavours have met with your approval . Nearly five years since , when appointed S . AA * . of this lodge , I sent a circular letter to its members—and at that time there were not very many — in which , amongst other things , I stated that I hoped ere long we should double

our numbers , and hold that proud position in the province to which by tho antiquity of our warrant wo were fairly entitled ; and I feel very proud and happy that my wishes have been more than realised , for , when I look around and see that we have a lodge-room superior to most and inferior to none in the province , that wo possess all the furniture and other appliances requisite for the proper working of our ceremonies ; when I find that instead of merely doubling tho number of our members we

have quadrupled them ; when I call to mind that our status has been acknowledged by the holding of a special Prov . G . Lodge to celebrate our Centenary Anniversary , and that our YV . ' il . is not only S . G . W . of the province but also of the Grand Lodge of England , 1 do feel that we now hold that high position that we ought . But , brethren , it behoves us to remember that if in a comparatively short space of time we have made such a rapid advanceso in an equally short space of time shall we

, retrogress unless we use our utmost efforts to maintain the position which wc hold . Brethren , I' assure you I feel very proud of the clothing you have presented me with , and shall glory in wearing it on sill suitable occasions ; but I must ask you , should the Great Architect of the Universe spare my life

long enough to have so many opportunities that in course of time the clothing may show signs of wear , thabyou will not say , 'Bro . AVhite has valued our present so little that ho has made it shabby already ; " but that you will say , 'See how proud Bro . White is of our present , for he has worn it on all suitable occasions , and those occasions have been so many that it is beginning to look tbe worse for wear . ' There is , however , one portion of present that is less perishable than the restI allude to

your ; the jewel whereon you have recorded your kind expressions , and I hope that that will bo handed down to my children and their descendants , and be treasured by them as a memento that their father or ancestor was held in some slight esteem by the Brethren of his lodge . Brethren , I most heartily thank you for your kindness . " The lodge was then closed and the brethren adjourned to

refreshment at Bro . Thorpe ' s , Lion Hotel . After an evening spent in true and uninterrupted harmony , during which "Her Gracious Majesty" and all Masonic dignitaries were properly remembered , the brethren separated with due decorum . The proceedings were much enlivened by excellent songs from Bros . Savage , AV . Woods , H . Cunningham , C . Ethert , and Jos . Bancroft .

LEICESTERSHIRE . \ PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE . The annual general meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Leicestershire was held at Melton Mowbray , on the 19 th ult ., to inaugurate a new lodge just formed in | onr hunting metropolis , called tho Rnciand 'Lodge , No . 1130 ; to iastal Bro . G . Norman , of Goadby Hall , as its first A'Vorshipful Master ; to

appoint the officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge for the ensuing year , & c . In the lamented absence of Bro . Earl Howe , the R . AA " . Grand Master , owing to severe indisposition , the chair was taken by Bro . Kelly D . Prov . G . M ., and among the brethren present were —Bros , the Revs . J . Spittal , Prov . G . 8 . W . ; E . AV . AVoodcock , Prov . G . Chap ., and AV . M . of St . John's Lodge ; AV . K . Robinson and AV . LauglcyWymondhamand R . MitchellD . D .

, ; , , Edmondthorpo ; G . Norman , AV . M , 1130 ; S . Davis , AV . M . 50 ; S . Love , AV . M . 779 ; P . Goodyer , W . Pettifor , T . AY . Clarke , C . Morris ( Prov . G . Sec . ) P . Prov . G . AV . ; G . II . Hodges , J . E . Hodges . XV . Millican , AV . H . Griffiths , AV . AVcare , C . Stretton . G . Toller , Jun ., J . Harris , J . C . Clarke , G . B . Atkins , F . J . Baines , E . Gosling , M . Hack , J . Hack , J . Ride , F . Manning , J , SelbH . MorrissP . M . 210 and Prov . G . Sec . ; A . M . Duff ,

y , , P . M . ; F . P . Newcombe , P . Prov . G . XV . of Lincolnshire , & c . After the minutes of the preceding Grand Lodge had been read and confirmed , the consecration of the new lodge , named after tho noble Lord Lieutenant , was proceeded with by the 1 ) . Prov . G . M . calling upon the Prov . G . Secretary to read tho petition for the establishment of the lodge , and the charter or warrant constituting it , under the hands of the Earl of Zetland ,

Grand Master , and Earl de Grey and Ripon , Deputy Grand Master , and the seal of the Grand Lodge of England . The D . Prov . G . M . then demanded of the members of the new lodge whether they approved of Bros . G . Norman and the Revs . AV . K . Robinson and AV . Langley , as the AYorshipful Master and Wardens nominated to rule over them , and' to which they having given their assent , he desired the Prov . G . Chaplain to commence