Provincial.

resided in India or some other foreign station , could fully testify to the blessed effects of Freemasonry and what a bond of union a Masonic Lodge was to all classes of men . ( Hear , hear . ) It was the means there of bringing about a most delightful feeling of fraternity ; and ho was glad to see to-day an illustration of the same spirit—men of differ cut grades in the military service meeting together on the common ground of their Masonic relationshi . ( Hearhear . ) He assured the AV . M . he was most

p , delighted to see him occupying the first position in this lodge , and from what he knew of his ( Capt . Boyce's ) antecedents he was quite sure lie would do ample justice to the duties of that position . ( Applause . ) Bro . Colonel FKEEIISG said he had obtained tho temporary use of tho JIaster ' s gavel for a purpose they would all readily anticipate , and iu connection with which he called upon them

to ( ill their glasses—bumpers . Among the duties of the Master of a lodge some were pleasant and some , perhaps , the reverse ; but to his ( Colonel Freeling's ) mind , one of the most pleasant of those duties was that which fell to his lot just after his own term of office bad expired . Having served his year as Jlaster , -according to tho English constitution , he ( Colonel Freeling ) opened his mouth , probably for the hist time in this lodge , to

propose "The Health oi the new Jlaster , Bro . Captain Boyce . " ( Applause . ) There could be but one opinion ns to the propriety of tho choice the brethren had made upon this occasion ; the way in which ho had concluded tho ceremony of that day showed him to be perfectly competent to undertake tho duties he had so solemnly promised to perform , and they had therefore the prospect daring tho ensuing year of having a perfectly efficient and aood Master . ( Aiiphmse . ) He ( Col . Freeline ;) had

had the happiness of knowing C . ipt . Boyce for some time jiast , and he was sure they could not iind anywhere a fine :- officer , a truer gentleman , or a better man . ( Applause . ) Might ho for one moment advert to what the Worshipful JIaster had already done for this lodge ? One of ihe first acts on joining it was to propose that the entrance fee to non-commissioned officers should bo reduced to the lowest limit consistent with the laws of the constitution . ( Hearhear . ) He had evidently

, studied the matter , and was satisfied that it was not tho absence of the wish , hut the heaviness of the fees , which provented non-commissioned officers from becoming Freemasons . ( Hear , hear . ) He ( Colonel Freeling ) as AVorshipful JIaster , seconded Captain Boyce ' s proposition ; and no sooner was the alteration k-nown than those who ivere the objects of it flocked to the lodge to bo made Freemr . sons ; and he hud had the

pleasure , in the course of his year cf o . Jieo of introducing into Masonry some dozen or more of new members , chici'Iy noncommissioned officers ; and he was h .-. ppy to see in the Junior AVnrden ' s chair to-day one of the most respectable of that highly-respectable body . ( Applause . ) Equality was inculcated on their first entrance into Freemasonry , and they saw to-day that principle in operation—non-commissioned officers

fillingposts of honour hy the side of commissioned officers . ( Hear , hear , and applause . ) Long might that happy state of things continue ; long might this lodge prosper and increase in prosperity from year to year ; and might their present Worshipful Master ' s year of o / liec be even more prosperous than his own had been . ( Much applause and JIasonie honours . ) The AV . JIASTER said if Bro . Freeling found the concluding duty of his oiiice the most pleasant , he certainly must confess

that he began to experience the difficulties of his position . He felt quite nabic to acknowledge as he ought to do the extremely kind manner in which his health had been proposed and drank , and he must fall hack upon his privilege as a soldier of returning thanks in tho fewest possible words , and trusting in the future to show his gratitude by deeds . He assured thorn ( ns he did iiot know where to find a better model ) ho should endeavour during the forthcoming year to

conduct the business of the lodge as nearly as possible as his predecessor had done ; and in seeking in that way to win their approbation , he was sure he might confidently look for the support of the brethren generally , and particularly of those who had kindly accepted office under him . ( Applause . ) The AA . MASTEB said the subject of the next toast wns a brother already well known in this lodge for the valuable

services he had from time to time rendered to it , and not tho least so on that day . He was sure he need employ no eulogy in proposing "The Health of Bro . Peter Matthews . " " ( Applause and honours . ) Bro . MArrirEWo said from its first consecration lie had felt much impressed with the peculiar usefulness of this lodge ,

because ho had seen it extending the principles of Freemasonry among tho ranks of the army both at home and abroad , and he had seen the chair occupied in succession by bravo and good men , of whose gallantry thoir country ought to be proud , and . who were endeared to their JIasonie brethren by the care , anazeal , and judgment with which they had ruled over their lodge . ( Applause . ) He need not say that he alluded tfo ' Colonel MadywellMajor BnvneyCaptain PenderColon ? , '! .

, , , Freeling , and though last not least , the worthy military brother now in office . ( Applause . ) Nothing warmed his ( B ' . o . JIatthews ' s ) heart so much as to have his name associated , with Freemasonry , and to bo of any assistance in carrying out a system founded upon tho truly Christian principles of brotherly Iovo , relief , and truth . He was proud to be able to bear testito the in which those principles had been carried out

mony way in this lodge , where he had seen non-commissioned officers mingling with their superior officers ; aud he must add that ho had been delighted to listen to tho truly JIasonie speech which they had just heard from Colonel Freeling , and ivhieh he ivas sure ivould be deeply engraven upon the tablets of their memories . ( Applause . ) He trusted that this lodge would continue to flourish ; would continue to disseminate the principles

of Freemasonry from pole tt > pole ; and that they might meet again , when many of them , perhaps , ivould " Have travelled the world over , in the same bond of friendship aud brotherhood which they were enjoying now . ( Applause . ) The PROV . G . JIASTER proposed " The Health of Bro . Freeling , the Immediate Past JIaster , " and highly complimented him upon the c / licienfc execution of the duties of the office from

which he had just retired . ( Applause . ) Colonel Fr . Eja _ l . s -G said he had certainly hoped that he had discharged all tho duties appertaining to his Mastership , more particularly as the deep sense ho entertained of their kindness

prevented him from saying what one would wish , and hoiv deeply one felt such au expression of regard from persons with whom he had been associated in tho brotherly relationship of a JIasonie lodge . ( Hoar , hear . ) It had been his endeavour throughout his period of office to make himself acceptable to the lodge ; and he was hapuy to say that on no occasion on which ho had filled the chair did h-i ever remember a single word of discord or disagreement to have taken place .

He did not claim the credit of this himself ; ho rather attributed it to the good feeling of the members of tho lodge , because , of course , though a JIaster had great powers , ho could only work his Lodge with real success when seconded and supported by those who had chosen him to rule over theim ( Hear , hear . ) The Provincial Grand JIaster iu proposing his health had been good enough to allude to his official connection with

this station , now drawing to its close . ( Hear , hear . ) All ho could say was that during the time ho had been connected with the Colchester garrison he had always endeavoured to associate himself with those out-door sports and amusements which helped to make up the character of a true Englishman—the sports of the field , the cricket ground , and the racket court . ( Applause ) Such sportshe believedbbringing together men

. , , y of all classes in friendly intercourse and generous rivalry , helped to promote tho stability and the best interests of society generally . ( Applause . ) The AV . JIASTER next proposed '' "The Health of tho A'isitors , " coupling with it the name of Bro . Franks , P . M ., who returned thanks . The other toasts were " Tho Healths of the Senior and Junior

AVavdens ; " ' 'The Secretary ( Bro . Critcher ); " "Tiie Treasurer ( Bro . Carnegie , P . M . ) ; " " The Fast JIasters and Bvo . Hull ;" "The Press and Bro . Balling , " & c ; and during the evening some excellent songs were sung by Bros . Matthews , Turner , Coppin , Wolverson , Bishop , & c .

MONJIOUTIISHIBE . INSTALLATION OF TIIE AV . JI . OE THE SlXTEIii * LODGE ( No , 471 ) , NEWTOHI-. On Friday , the 21 st of April , the members of this lodge and a number of visiting brethren from Cardiff and the Isca Lodge dined at the King ' s Head Hotel , Newport . The object of the dinner was twofold 1 stto celebrate the installation of tho

; , AV . JI ., Bro . J . Griffiths , and , 2 ndly , to afford the opportunity of presenting a testimonial to the Secretary , JBro . A \ m . AA'illiams , who has for many years been a most efficient officer of the Silurian , and also fills the office of Prov . G . Sec . It should be stated that the installation dinner merged last