Provincial.

delivered a short address , desiring , he said , to follow in the noble Earl ' s strain of thankfulnoss and congratulation . A work carried on in a right spirit , was one on which the light of God Almighty's countenance shone with exceeding brightness . Referring to the interesting records in tho Bible of the erection of the former and the latter temple , and of the so great willingness to give to the latter that the people had to be restrained from giving , he expressed a hope thatif there were no need for restraintyet there

, , would be such liborality in contributing towards the erection of the present building , that the building committee would soon be relieved of any anxiety . Our Lord bad given us His holy example in constant attendance at the temple , and in the synagogues , while His Apostles told us not to omit the gathering of ourselves together . He could not speak in favourable terms of tho edifice this building was to replace . Still , in 1612—258 years ago—its

foundation stone had been laid by the same brotherhood , which was so well represented and so worthily headed that day ; and the people of Thornton seemed to have taken great interest in the building , having repaired or rebuilt portions of it in 1664 , 1720 , 1761 , 1793 , and he found it stated that tho church had been repaired and beautified in ISIS . A Latin poet had spoken of a beauty that seemed not to have departed in death ; but in this the beaut

case y seemed to have utterly departed . It was interesting to sec two of the monuments respecting clergymen who had been working there . In one of it was said that his life was divided into three parts : —the 1 st to religion ; the 2 nd to his people ; the 3 rd to himself ; and the whole to God . Of another it is reeordad that he exemplified his own motto , " Impondc ot expondc . " And he could not entertain a better wish , and very good wishes rose towards them that day , than that there might be ministers in that edifice who would so divide their lives , and would be so ready to " spend and be spent " in tho service of their Master .

The ceremony then closed ; but a sudden and severe hailstorm deprived the retiring procession of the boauty which had impressed all obsei-veis but a short time before . By the kindness of W . Foster , Esq ., howevpr , omnibusses had been procured , which had brought up r . he brethren from Bradford in the forenoon , and euablcd them to return in comfort through a most inclement afternoon .

Tea was provided in the National schoolroom , at which there were several "sittings down , " the number being nearly 300 . And a public meeting was held in tho evening , the school-room being densely crowded . Mr . John Miu-ge ' risoti occupied the chair , and the Rev . J . Ellis , of Wilsdon , and Rev . G . Robinson , of Allerton , addressed the meeting , the proceedings being enlivened by the Thornton Glee and Madri gal Union ; aided by Miss Rushworth , aud Messrs . Bulterlield , ilobson , and liobcrtshaw ( pianist ) .

THE BAXQTIET . At four o ' clock there was a brilliant and successful banquet in St . George ' s Hall ( the hall being decorated by Mr . Haley ) and the catering most abundantl y mid excellently supplied by Mr Crowthci-, of the New Inn . The Black D yke Band played during the banquet , and the glees , songs , & c , were under ' the superintendence of Bro . AtkinsonMusBacCantab

, . . , Prov . G . M ., organist , Jeremiah Rhodes , and several of the musical brethren assisting . About 345 sat down , mostly members of Ihe Craft , hut including the building committee aud a few of the friends of the church . Towards " the close of the banquet , the stalls were graced by about 300 ladies , for whom dessert and refreshments were provided in the saloon . The M . W . Grand Muster presided . On his left were seated Odd of

Bro . J . C . y , W . M . Harmony Lodee , Bradford ; M . Dawson Esq ., the Mayor of Bradford ; the RcvrDr . Ryan ; Canon Burfield ; Canon Mittori ; the Rev . It . II . Heap , vicar of Thornton ¦ Col . Scllic-k , the American Consul ; Mr . T . Peel , Chairman of the Building Committee ; J . Foster , jun ., Esq . ; Capt . Wocdhall Scarborough ; anil Bro . Oldroyd , P . G . Treas . On the ri-bl- ' Bro . P . W . Foster , P . Prov . S . G . W . ( in place of the W . I ) . Prov ! Bentl Shawwho absent

G . M . oy , was through illness ); Bros . Ftynn , Prov . G . C . ; Unnn , P . M . ; and M . Rhodes ; Capt . galmond ; Bro . F . Binckes , Secretary of tho Royal Masonic Institution for Boys ; Bro . Henry Smith , P . G . S . & c . At the other ends of the long table nit the W . M . ' s of the other Bradford Lodges , viz ., Bros . J . 1 ) . Sugdeii , D . Leeson , W . Hodgson , and W . W ' roe ' . Canon Bin-field oil ' eied a Masonic form of grace before and after dinner . The Noble Chairman then proposed the toast of " the Queen "

in loyal terms , which was followed by that of " The Prince of Walos and the rest of the Royal Family ; " his lordship bearing testimony to the Masonic activity of his Royal Highness , and referring to the approaching marriage of the Princess Louise , to whom he was sure they would all wish every blessiug . In proposing tho Army and Navy , he said their first feeling must be one of thankfulness that they had not been called upon to engage in the dreadful struggle which was now revealing to

us all the horrors of war . Long might we be spared from such a calamity ! At the same time we had many lessons to learn from the contest to perfect our military organization . He was happy to believe that we had just cause for satisfaction in the present condition of our forces . Still there were changes to be made ; but ho hoped no change would impair the incomparable spirit which had always animatetl our Army and Navy , and the reserve forces of our Militia , Yeomanry and Volunteers . —Bro .

Capt . Robinson , Prov . G . S ., responded . Bro . Freeman , of Huddersfield ( in the absence of Bro . Bentley Shaw ) , proposed the health of the M . W . Grand Master , aud observed that seven years had now elapsed since the noble Earl was elected Prov . G . M . of West Yorkshire ; and , from their experience of him , if that had to be done again , it would only be done more heartily than before . He was the very personification of a Mason , both in his public acts and in his private life ; and Masons should never forget to be guided by the noble principle of universal beneficence and charity , which lay at the foundation of their Order .

The M . W . Grand Master , ( whose rising was the signal for long-continued cheers ) most heartily thanked them for thenkind reception . That was the first occasion upon which since his election to fill the throne of the Craft , he had been amongst , and addressed them . He could assure them that when he consented to take upon himself the important duties of that most honourable position , ho did not do so without much hesitation as to his power of properly filling that important office , because

from the public position which he was called to fill , it would necessarily follow that his public duties would prevent him from attending as he should wish , to the duties of the Grand Master But he felt that ho should ill fulfil his position , if he did not lay it down as a rule , that it was his first duty to let his public duties to the country come before all considerations of a less extensive character-, Upon that occasion , when they were graced with the presence of so many ladies and others , who did

not belong to the Masonic body , he must abstaira from touching upon topics relating to the Craft ; but he might say , alike to the brethren and to those who were nob numbered in their rauks—that it had been his endeavour to impress upon them , upon every fitting occasion , that their ancient Masoury was not an affair of enibroderied aprons aud public dinners , it was something deeper and higher , which they ought to get out of it —because the principles of Masonry—if he mistook them not —were principles of a sound morality . If tliey did not show forth in their daily life the benefits which they derived from

the studies of their principles , they were not true to their principles . " By their fruits shall ye know them . " If they did not bring forth good fruit , the world would misrepresent , not themselves only , but tho body to which they belonged . His lordship stated his satisfaction in knowing that amongst other claims Masons had not been forgetful of those of charity , as was shown by the thousands of pounds , which had been given for benevolent purposes . He believed they had that day been

acting strictly in accordance with Masonic principles , when they took part in the interesting ceremony , which they had performed that morning at Thornton . There were peculiar circumstances connected with the church at Thornton , which had a special claim for consideration upon the Craft , and it was obvious that it n as impossible to take part on all similar occasions in every part of the province . He felt he should not be doing as ho

wished if he did not consent that the memorial stone at Thornton church . should be laid by Freemasons , when lie heard from Bishop Ryan that the first stone of the old church at Thornton was laid centuries ago by the sumo ancient body of Freemasons . There H as no greater , no worthier work , as it seemed to him , in which men could bo engaged , than in raising a fitting building for the sacred worship of God . The M . W . G . M . next proposed the toast of tho " R . W . the

Deputy Grand Master of England , " Earl Carnavon , whom he regretted to say was unable io be present . The next toast on the list , put down for J . Rand , Esq ., who was absent , was proposed by tho chairman , viz : —the " liishop and Clergy of the diocese . " He