Provincial.

Tiie CHAIRMAN was hailed with immense cheering . He said he was not very ready with his words at any time , and was always wanting in that respect when he had to speak of himself . With a grateful heart he returned them thanks for the honour done him , as well as to his Right Worshipful Brother who had submitted the toast , and to his old friend , Bro . Spiers , to whom he was greatly indebted for their kind expressions concerning him . Since the time alluded to by Bro . Spiers , ho

had never been lazy in Masonry ; but his power of attending Masonic meetings had been sometimes interrupted . These interruptions had arisen from no fault of his own , for part of his time since he was made a Mason had been spent out of this country , and the whole of his time since that event had "been spent in the service of his country . The first time he was Master of a loilge was in this city , and while he held the office he was obliged to be away a good deal of the time with his

regiment . The second time he was made Master was at Taunton , and when his collar was declared vacant , he was a quarter of the globe distant . He should now be more amongst them . No one could be more attached to Masonry than he was , and he trusted that he should be able to attend punctually and regularly to his duties , and discharge with credit the functions of the high office to which he had that day been installed .

( Hear . ) He had now to bring before them a toast they would be sure to bestow their warmest approval upon—it was , " The Very AA orshipful the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Bro . H . Bridges , and the Officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Somerset , past and present . " He spoke of tho admirable way in which Bro . Bridges and the officers of the lodge had managed the affairs of the province . In taking the command , his only source of regret was that amongst the many brethren in the province worthy of wearing Provincial collars , he had so few

offices to request them to hold , and that many would go away without tbe purple to whom he should have been glad to have given it , bad he a sufficient number of collars to bestow . He hoped those brethren would not he disheartened , but would believe that the tongue of good report would be heeded in their case , in due time , and he trusted that next year many would be on their legs when this toast was responded to , who had to retain their seats on the present occasion .

( Applause . ) Bro . H . BRIDGES , D . Prov . G . M ., responded . He assured the meeting that during the last three years , while he had officiated as deputy , it had been to him not a work of labour , but one of love , and he had done the best he could for the Province of Somerset and the Craft in general . ( Hear , hear . ) He did not take the credit to himself of what had been accomplished , for

the Officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge had ably assisted him , and without their help his exertions would have been fruitless . It had been a good pull , a strong pull , and a pull altogether , and to the various officers he returned his hearty thanks for the manner in which they had supported him , and especially to the lodges in Bath and the neighbourhood , where the Masonic strength of the province might be said to be centred . This was one of his most glorious days as a Mason , in

having had to resign the power entrusted to him to so excellent a brother as their new Provincial Grand Master . As long as he had the ability to perform his duties , and they had confidence in their Deputy Provincial Grand Master , nothing should be wanting on his part—ancl he could answer for the Provincial Grand Officers—to render every assistance , as he hoped they had done that day . ( Hear , hear . ) He again sincerely thanked all the brethren for the way in which he had heen helped and received during the year he had administered the affairs of the province , and resumed his seat amidst general apnlause .

The CHAIRMAN then proposed " The Grand Master of Ireland , " observing that he could not couple with it the Grand Master of Scotland , as the lamented death of tho Duke of Athol had lately deprived the Scotch Masons of their chief . He had no doubt that the Deputy Provincial Grand Master of North Minister , who had been obliged to leave in order to catch the train , would inform his Grand Master , the Duke of Leinster , that his name had been dulhonoured in that room . ( Alause . )

y pp The toast having been duly honoured , The CHAIRMAN next proposed ' ¦ ' The Provincial Grand Lodges here represented . " He said they had with them the Provincial Grand Master of Bristol , the Provincial Grand Master of Suffolk , the Provincial Grand Master of Worcester , the Deputy Provincial Grand Master of North Munster , the Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Oxford , the Grand AVarden of Bucking-

Provincial.

hanishireand Berkshire , and several good and worthy Masons fro in Monmouth and other provinces . ( Cheers . ) Bro . SHUTE , Prov . G . M . of Bristol , Bro . SPIERS , D . Prov . G . M . of Oxford , and Bro . PICKFORD , Prov . G . Treas . of Monmouth , acknowledged the compliment . The former said he had been twenty years Master of the Province of Bristol , and had had no difference or dispute brought before him , He believed that Bro . Adair would be able to say the same ' twenty years

, hence , about Somerset , if he had the good fortune to be then the Provincial Grand Master of the province . ( Hear , hear . ) The remaining toasts were "The Lodges of the Province of Somerset , " proposed by the Chairman , and acknowledged by Bro . AVhite , P . Prov . S . G . AA . ; "Our Visiting Brethren ' , " proposed by the Chairman ; " The Masonic Charities , " proposed by Bro . Dr . Falconerand responded to bBro . Binckes " Tbe Ladies "

, y ; , proposed by Bro . Muttlebury , and replied to by Bro . F . Wright ,-ending with the Tyler's toast , ' ' Poor and Distressed Masons throughout the World . " At intervals during the speeches a party of vocalists , under the direction of Bro . J . K . Pyne , sang several solos and concerted pieces , much to the satisfaction of the company .

THE BALL . In the evening , a Masonic Ball w-as held at the Assembly Rooms . The newly-installed Prov . G . M . and his uncle , the Prov . G . M . of Suffolk , were prevented from attending by the recent death of a relative , but among those present were the D . Prov . G . M . of Somerset ( Captain Bridges ) , the D . Prov . G . M . of Oxford ( Bro . Spiers ) and other distinguished visitors . All

, the brethren wore their Masonic clothing , some donning the peculiar and graceful garb of the Knights Templar , with its flowing mantle and worked red cross , reminding one of the mediaeval crusaders . The Rose Croix , Knights of Malta , Royal Arch , and other high degrees were likewise represented , and the glittering jewels , embroidered collars , silken sashes , and gay aprons , formed a gratifying contrast to the usual sombre black

and white male costume at ordinary balls . There wero not so many present as might have been expected , but the lateness of the season , the hot weather , and the fatigue incident upon the installation , the laying the foundation-stone , and the banquet , combined to keep many away . The 200 who were present , however , enjoyed themselves all the more from the increased space and coolness , and the dancers , one and all , declared it to be a delightful balland many where the inquiries

, made whether a Masonic Ball could not be made an annual affair , and thus enlist for the Craft the sympathies of the fair sex , who are debarred from its mysteries and feasts . The last element was , however , not wanting here , for an elegant and plentiful repast , comprising substantial fare , with light and tempting delicacies , and including wines and other beverages , was laid out in the supper room , provided by Bro . Gibbs , who had so ably

catered for the afternoon banquet . The whole suite of rooms were thrown open , the octagon being handsomely carpeted , and furnished with ottomans , lounges , & c . Reynolds's band discoursed most excellent music , and to its inspiriting strains the dancers tripped it merrily till the early dawn surprised the " Sons of Light . " and their fair partners at their Terpsichorean revels . Thus ended a day , the pleasant remembrance of which will not he confined to the records of the Craft .

Ar01301

DHAINAGE OE FREEMASONS' HALL AND NEIGHBOURHOOD . — It appears , from the minutes of the St . Giles's District Board of AVorks , that at their last meeting the survey or read a report , in which he stated— " I beg to report that by the operations for rebuilding Freemasons ' s Hall in Great Queen-street , the sewer formerly draining Queeu ' s-place and New-yard has become partially destroyedand will require to be restored as nearly as

, possible in its original position . As , however , the fall of the old sewer was very slight , a question would arise whether tho Board would consider it desirable to divert the course of the old sewer by building a new egg-shaped sewer 3-6 by 2-3 in the clear , in whole brickwork , through New-yard into Great Queen-street , forming a connection with the Piccadilly branch of the Midlever Sowernow in course of formation . This arrangement

, would enable the owners of properties to more effectually drain their premises . I estimate the cost at about £ 300 . " A resolution was passed that the new sewer be constructed as suggested by the Surveyor , on condition that the Society of Freemasons pay one-half of the cost thereof .