Provincial.

brethren , expressing tho groat gratification he felt in seeing Masonry resuscitated in Bury after the lapse of so many years . He then called upon the Prov . G . Sec . to read the warrant of constitution and the minutes of the lodge , which , having been done , the imposing ceremony of consecrating the Royal Edmund Lodge was then performed by tho Prov . G . Chap ., Bro . It . N . Sanderson , according to ancient custom , assisted by Bros . John HeadHenry Thomasanel John Gissingthe Prov . G . Org .

, , , playing solemn music . At the conclusion of this interesting portion of the lodge proceedings , an appropriate oration was delivered by the Prov- G . Chap ., who invoked the blessing of the Most High upon the Royal Edmund Lodge . The W . M . of the newly-formed lodge , Bro . AV . Lucia , was then presented to the Prov . G . M . by Bro . E . Dorling , the Prov . G . Sec , and took his seat on the immediate right of the Prov . G . M .

Ihe Provincial Grand Lodge was then opened , Bro . Leedes Fox acting as D . Prov . G . M . The Prov . G . M . proposed a vote of condolence to the M . AV the G . M . of England , the Right Hon . the Earl of Zetland , on the death of the Countess . This was seconded by Bro . Gissing , " and most cordially assented to .

Ihe Prov . G . Sec . then read over the list of lodges in the province , when ii was found thafc with only one exception every loelge was represented . Bro . Spencer Freeman was unanimously re-elected Prov . G . Treas ., and Bro . Syer , Prov . G . Tyler . The following Prov . G-. Ofiicers were then appointed : — Bro . Henry Thomas Prov . S . G . W . Wm . Lucia J . G . W .

„ „ „ Rev . R . : N . Sanderson .... „ G . Chap . „ Newsom Garrett „ G . Reg . „ Spalding „ S . G . D . „ G . A . Turner „ J . G . D . „ E . Dorling G . Sec . „ E . C . Tidd „ Assist . G . Sec . „ John Bowler % , G . S . B .

„ Mullinger „ G . Dir . of Cers . „ Hayward „ Assist . Dir . of Cers . „ Bowles „ G . Org . „ AV . Bruff „ G . Supt . of Works . „ II . Wright „ G . Purst . „ Westgate " * ] „ F . B . Jennings

„ Ranson „ , ¦ „ J . A . Pettitt , jun . f » Ste ™« ' „ John Alloway „ It . N . Green J The Prov . G . Officers having been invested with their collars and jewels of office were conducted to their seats by the Prov . G . Sec .

The sum of ten guineas was , on the motion of the R . AV . the Prov . G . Master , unanimously voted to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . The resolution of the brethren was acknowledged by Bro . Benjamin Head , one of the School Committee , and Bro . F . Binckes , the Secretary to tlie Institution .

The brethren , numbering between 70 and 80 , then formed procession anel proceeded to the Church of St . Mary , the use of which had been given for the occasion b y the incumbent , ¦ when the following sermon , which we give in extenso , was preached by the Prov . G . Chap . Bro . R . N . Sanderson , from Hebrews xiii . 1— " Let brotherly love continue . " " We , too , until the judge ' s voice shall pronounce the solemn words , ' Ifc is done / are well doing—happy if it be well

doing—if we have not , seeking to have ; if we have , seeking to have more ; in joy , longing to have other joys ; in . sorrow , sorrowing more in ( Irene ! of to-morrow than of to-day . Yea , even in onr own souls we are in a constant state of change ; though with many an ebb and many a flow , yet on the whole tlie tide sets one way until it reaches the mark when time and change cease , and where eternity begins . Men do not mark it ,

cannot trace it day by day , yet , just as surely ns day after day , though unmarked amid labour and refreshment , are doing their work upon these mortal bodies of ours , and arc fitting them for their final breaking up and last decay . Even so , surely , day after day , are tracing their lines upon our souls unseen indeed at the time , hut at longer intervals clearly and plainly enough . God alone can say , Iain the Lord ; I change not . True ifc is that when man bore his Maker ' s image , uudef ' aced , he , as in

all other things resembled Him in this , too ; but when he fell from his high estate , the self-same voice that pronounced the doom , ' in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread , ' in the self same hour declared , ' dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return . ' The law that bids us change anel the doom that bids labour are twins alike in their birth and in their death . '' Time , as we understand the word , implies change . In Iris world , at least , even to a proverb , there is nothing upon which

Time does not write his mark . Everything bears traces of his passage , either as his agent , or as acted upon by him . The outlines ofthe everlasting hills change their shape ; the sea , famous image though ifc be of eternity , yet wears away its coasts and makes inroads on the land , in obedience to tho universal law ; mighty forests spring up , grow , and are cut down or decay , anel the fruitful field , with its changing crops , or the busy citywith its over-moving throngsucceed in their

, , place , and in their turn pass away . " Since , then , we are all under one universal law—that we should labour , and another , no less universal , that we should change , it is not a little remarkable that the measure of the value of oar labour should be its freedom from the liability to change . The true estimate of the value of all things here on earth can only be found by answering the question , What will

be their value when the earth shall have passeel away ? And that this is true , we ourselves bear witness in earthly things . Iu them we doubt not but that the end is the touchstone thafc shows their real value . In them we prize , not that which looks gay and showy to the eye , but that which lasts ; not that which promises well , bufc thafc which perforins ; not the rich sunny glow of morning , but the clay ' s calm , enduring

brightness ; not the branches all lovely with bloom , but the boughs laden with fruit ; not the beginning , but the end . " My brethren , we Masons have met together here to-day to forward a common work of our own , in which , I trust , we all are labouring as befits those who are linked together by common ties , common hopes , common interests , and common vows . AVork is so pre-eminently a part of our Masonic profession , that it behoves us especially to be well assured that we are not spending our money for that which is nofc bread , and our labour for thafc which satisfieth not . Something , too , we owe , in a

place like this , where our Masonic Order has for a long time been all bufc extinct , and now is newly revived ; something , I say , we owe to those who are not members of the Masonic body , to show to them that , in putting before them the advantages and merits of our Order , we arc preaching no new gospel—God forbid!—but are only leagued together to set forward the cause anel carry out the principles of the old . " Ifthereforeany one should wish to know what is the

, , Freemasonry which is in part exhibited to the world to-day , I reply , that it is a peculiar system , veiling morality in allegory , illustrated by symbols . And herein we do but follow the example set before us by the writers of the Sacred Scriptures , and by our own Saviour himself . By what varied figures does He , by whafc varied figures does St . Paul , describe the life , and work , and duty of a Christian man . We are likened to

servants sitting up at night watching for their masters' return ; to stewards who have their employers' money in their charge , for which they must give an account ; to labourers hired to work in a vineyard for stated wages ; to runners entered for a race ; to soleliers enlisted for a war ; to reapers employed to gather in a harvest . And , following this example , we . in speculative Masonryliken ourselves to workmen employed in

, building , in which the Most High may say , Here will I dwell , for I have a delight therein . In strength will 1 establish this , my house , that my name may rest there for ever . Know ye not ( it is written ) that ye aro the Temple of God , and that the Spirit of God elwelleth in you . A devout and Godly life is the Temple which wo are to rear , aucl the stones of which that temple is compacted are deeds of piety , self-denial , and love ,

tried and approved by the Square of God's Word , the Compasses of self-convincing conscience . And the work is to be done , continued , and ended , not in our own power or mightfar from us be any such presumption—but in his name , and with bis help , who alone gives us power to labour , without whom we can do nothing , bufc with whom , helping us , sve can do all thingswhoHimselfthe Author of our workwill be

; , , , Himself its finisher—will complete it in time , and will reward it in eternity . "As the created of the Almighty God , the Great Architect of the Universe , the world of mankind is one family—is one brotherhood . As the redeemed of the Almighty Goel , the Saviour