Provincial.

that their thoughts might be elevated , and that they all might form a better opinion of poor human nature . ( Hear , hear . ) They had many bright examples in tho Craft whom they would do well to imitate . There was Bro . Colvile —( cheers)—and there was the late lamented Bro . AA'ilmot , who initiated him ( Bro . Okeover ) into the mysteries of Freemasonry , and whose name was always received with the greatest feeling of respect

and regard . If ho kept these two good men in view , he hoped , in a small measure , to come up to his duty as a Mason . Bro . Okeover concluded by proposing the Prov . G . M . of Staffordshire .

Bro . HARVEY , Prov . G . M . of Staffordshire , briefly responded . Bro . Dr . BURTON , D . Prov . G . M . of Staffordshire , also responded on his health being drank , and urged a more continuous visitation of brethren between the two provinces , as calculated to do a great amount of good . Bro . A . BASS , Prov . S . G . W . of Staffordshire , was loudly called for , and responded in a truly Masonic speech . He remarked that it occurred to him that ho was appearing in a false

character , for although he belonged to Stafford , he was as nearly allied to Derby . ( Hear , hear . ) He belonged to one or two Derby lodges , and , although he bad not attended them , still they must believe him when he stated that the welfare of Masonry in Derby , next to that of his own lodge , was most dear to him . ( Applause . ) " The Officers of the Grand Lodge of Derbyshire " was responded to by the Prov . S . G . W .

The D . PEOV . G . MASTER gave "The Visiting Brethren , " which was responded to by Bro . LACEY , of the Lodge of Sympathy ( No . 709 ) , Gravesend . "The Tyrian Lodge , " responded to by Bro . BOBAET , 1 V . M . ; " The Aboretum Lodge , " proposed by Bro . S . CEAEKE , and responded to by Bro . BRINDLEY , AV . M . ; * ' The Canadian Lodges , " responded to by Bro . BARROW , recently returned from Canada ; and " The AA . M . and Wardens of other Lodges in the Province , " " brought the toast list to a conclusion . Presents of doe venison were sent by his Grace the Duke of Devonshire , and game by Bros . Okeover and Bass , M . P .

LANCASHIRE ( WEST ) . CONSECRATION OF THE TOWNLEY PARKER LODGE ( NO . 1 , 032 ) , AT AA niiTLE-LE-WOODS , NEAR CIIORLEY . This new lodge , named after R . Townley Parker , Esq ., Guild Mayor of Preston , was consecrated on Wednesday , the 23 d November , and is this fifth lodge consecrated in this province during the present year .

The lodge having been opened in the three degrees by Prov . G . Lee , the chair was taken by Bro . Sir Thomas George Hesketh , Bart ., MP ., R . W . D . Prov . G . M . of West Lancashire , who performed the ceremony of consecration most correctly and impressively , and was ably seconded by the Provincial Grand Organist and musical brethren from Liverpool . The D . Prov . G . M ., having resumed the lodge in the second degree , then called upon Bro . Younghusband , Prov . G . S . B ., to

install the W . M ., which he did to the entire satisfaction of the brethren present . The lodge was then called off from labour to refreshment , aud the brethren sat down to an excellent banquet . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given and briefly responded to , many of the visitors from Liverpool having to return by an early train . Amongst the members and visitors present were the

following : —Bros . Sir Thos . Geo . Hesketh , Bart ., M . P ., D . Prov . G . M . ( the Consecrating Master ); Banister , P . G . S . B ; R . Townley Parker , Prov . S . G . AV . f Wylie , P . Prov . J . G . W . ; Rev . A . A . O'Neill , Prov . G . Chap . ; Ilamer , Prov . G . Treas . ; Maudesley , Prov . G . Sec . ; Major Birchall , Prov . J . G . D . Armstrong . Prov . G . Supt . of Works ; Capt . Eastham , Prov . G . Assist . Dir . of Cers . ; Younghusband , Prov . G . S . B . ( the Installing Master ); Sanders , Prov . G . Purst . Mott and BeazleyProvGStewardsSir

; , . . . ; AA m . Fielden , Bart . ; Major Fielden ; Hoult , W . M . ; Dr . Rigby ; S . W . ; Stanfield , J . W ., & c . During the ceremony of consecration , the Prov . G . Chap ., the Rev . A . A . O'Neill , delivered the following oration : — " Right Worshipful Sir , Officers , and Brethren , —According to the ancient landmarks of our Order , it is now my duty to speak to you while your minds , I trust , are fully alive to the

solemnity of the ceremony in which we are now engaged . My words shall be few and simple , especially as I speak in the presence of those who are more fitted to instruct me than I them . Duty alone is my excuse .

" We have met to consecrate a new lodge . It is a work of deep importance to those who shall form it , and furnishes an opportunity for us to declare our sympathy with our brethren , and our love and attachment to the institution of which we are members . " The foundations on which our Order are built are stable and sacrod , inferior only to onj—the greatest society in the world .

Our existence is a mystery to the outer world . We value at their proper weight the opinion of those who would class us with the benevolent societies of the land ; and the reproach of those who would assume that the bond which links us together is that of festivity and good fellowship and brotherly feeling we expressly cultivate . But Masonry is not built on these qualities . They are rather the adornments of the building than the edifice itself . At some of the qualities with which we should

be adorned I will briefly glance . " Brotherly love is constantly inculcated , and ought to actuate our hearts . This love ought to produce a feeling of unity , beautifully described of old— ' Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity . ' ' It is like the precious ointment upon the head , that ran down upon the beard : even unto Aaron ' s beard , that went down to the skirts of his garments . ' Our ancient forefathers worked with love

and unity . Tho Grand Master had so prepared the plan , and each man so understood his work , that though the stones were squared in tho quarries of Tyre , and the timber prepared in the forests of Lebanon , and the brass vessels cast in the clay grounds of Jordan , between Succoth and Zarthan , yet each and all fitted in the places assigned . The brethren who thus worked in love and unity at a distance so marked each article that there was no confusionfor those who laboured at the building

, knew and understood every sign . AVe have , in the deepest moral sense , to fulfil our offices with zeal and devotion , that without compulsion or coercion our whole system may be cemented by union and harmony . But brotherly love leads us to look on all men as brothers . While Freemasonry , it must be confessed , numbers under its banners the noble and the wealthy ,

yet , fiom its wide-spread boundaries , there are those who , from unavoidable calamity and misfortune , are reduced to the lowest ebb of poverty and distress . Relief is a duty which every man owes to his fellow-creatures , because of the vicissitudes and needs common to the whole human family . Stronger still is the call of those to whom we are , of our own free-will , mutually pledged by the bonds of Masonic affection . Relief and succour in the hour of distress are tho fruits of brotherly love .

" Another virtue which should adorn our Order is truth . It is the attribute of the great Father of Lights , with whom is no variableness nor shadow of turning . It is woven in the laws of His creation , and revealed to man in the volume of the Sacred Law . Truth , to be humbly sought for , is a privilege . Truthspeaking the truth from his heart , and using no deceit in his tongue—is the duty of every Mason . Searching for and walking in truth , according to the lights of the revealed will .

Making truth the guide of his words and actions ; ever remembering that truth and wisdom are inseparable . " Time would fail to speak of prudence , temperance , fortitude , justice , benevolence , charity , and piety , which should adorn and beautify our lives . These are tho buildings wo raise ; but the foundation on which we build is the volume of the Sacred Law , which lies ever open , and is pointed out for our earnest contemplationthat we may learn to know God ; and knowingb

, , y His aid , to reproduce in our lives the character there displayed . The foundations of our Order being thus fixed in the revealed will of the Eternal , wo may well rejoice in the work in which wo arc this day engaged . Finally , may the brethren of this lodge dwell together in unity ; may they learn and practice lessons of piety , charity , and holiness ; and may their minds be impressed with justice , humility , peace , and love . Thus will they learn to approach this building with feelings of reverence

, and to depart from it with higher and more exalted thoughts as to their duty . So shall we all leant to do our duty in the lodge of this outer world until , fitted and prepared , we are , by the Eternal ' s mercy , removed to the Grand Lodge above , to dwell with Him who is indeed the Grand Master , the Author and Finisher of our course . "

AVARRINGTON . —Lodge of Lights ( No . 148 ) . —The regular meetings of this flourishing lodge are held on the last Monday in each month at the Masonic Rooms , Sankey-street . At the October meeting there was a good attendance , the W . M . being well supported by his officers . Bro . Albert Latham was very impressively raised to the sublime degree of a M . M . by Bro .