Provincial.

of the Grand Lodge of England , and that he had at their last meeting appointed him as Deputy Grand Master of this proA'ince . For himself he was extremely desirious of bearing his testimony to the value of the services rendered to Masonry in the province of Wanvickshire by his friend , Bro . Elkington . He had no hesitation in saying that but for his aid , counsel , and support , he never coulcl have succeeded as , he had happily done , in gaining and securing

their approval of his conduct as their Prov . Grand Master . He only ivished that he possessed more ability , more eloquence , the better to do justice to the object of their regard . Nothing that had occurred during his tenure of his distinguished office afforded him more real gratification than the discharge of the duty IIOAV devolving upon him of presenting to Bro Elkington this token of affection ancl esteem . In affixing these jeivels to his breast , he desired to assure Bro . Elkington of the sinceritand cordialitivith which he Avished

y y him health , happiness , and prosperity . Bro . ELKINGTON replied in graceful ancl feeling terms , expressing to his lordship , the R . AV . Prov . G . M ., his appreciation of the un--varying kindness and consideration extended fcoivards his efforts , and to the brethren IIOAV truly gratified he must be "b y their approval . In a very short time he should complete his twentyfifth of Masonic existenceand ifc would be a matternofc

year , , only of difficulty , but of impossibility , for him adequately to convey to them his sense of the obligations under ivhich he laboured . AVithout wishing to be in any way egotistical , he could not refrain from calling to their recollection the progress which Masonry had made in the province during the period to which he had alluded . It has been his good fortune to inaugurate many improvements , and to take upon himself to incite their

efforts from time to time in behalf either of their noble charitable institutions , or of some object ivorfchy their asssistance in their OAVU province . AVith pride , he said , he had never appealed to them in vain ; witness their noble efforts in the cause of the Benevolent Institution for Aged Masons and their AVKIOAVS , in 1859 ; ancl in the cause of the Girls' School , in 1860 ; afc the festivals of hoth of Avhich institutions their R . AV . Prov . G . M . presided , and the result of ivhich was to add upivards of £ 700 to the funds . He had been honoured with the confidence of the R . AV . Prov . G . Master .

and he had ahvays endeavoured to repay that confidence by vising any influence he might have possessed for the promotion of the best interests of Masonry to the utmost extent in his poiver . He might not have succeeded in giving satisfaction to all , but it had heen his studious endeavour to avoid giving offence to any . The jeAvels IIOAV presented to him , he need hardly say , he should ahvays hi ghly value . He might think his poor exertions undeservedly recognisedbut that Avas a matter for their

considera-; tion , and he could only return them his warmest , most sincere , bufc most imperfect thanks , for this renewed mark of their approval and regard . His best services ivould always be afc their disposal . ( Cheers . ) The Prov . Grand Lodge having been closed in ample form , the brethren proceeded to St . Phillip ' s Church , Avhere an admirable sermon was delivered bthe ProvGChapBrothe

Revy . . ., . . Dickie , after which a collection was made , amounting to nearly £ 18 . The banquet was held at the assembly rooms—late Dee's Royal Hotel—tbe hall being most tastefully decorated ivith flags and evergreens , with a large number of fine paintings , all of which were specially lent for the occasion . The tables ivere covered with a sumptuous array of costl y dishes , the dinner being followed by a magnificent dessertthe liberalitand perfection of the whole

, y arrangements reflecting the highest credit on Sir John Ratcliffe , the AV . M ., and the officers and members of the Faithful Lodge , under whose auspices the meeting was held . The R . AV . Prov . G . M . presided , supported by the D . G . M ., Bio . Elkington ; Dr . Bell Fletcher , Past D . Prov . G . M . ; Rev . AV . R . K . Bedford , Grand Chaplain of England ; Josiah Y . Robins , John Muchin , Fred . Ewpson , AV . II . Reece , J . C . Cohen , Thos . Clarke , P . Prov . G .

Wardens ; Rev . — Downes , Prov . G . Chap . Stafford ; John Goode , Thos . James , Edivin Yates , Prov . G . AVardens Stafford ; Masemorc , Prov . G . Treas . AVorcester ; B . AV . Goode , P . Prov . G . Reg . ; Alderman Gates , Alderman Roberts , ex-Mayors of Northampton ; tflewitt , AV . M . 463 , Northampton ; Rev . John Green ; Rev . Joseph , Ray ; W . II . Diuves ; Capt . Hebbert ; Capt . Briggs ; Capt . Cheshire ; Capt . Thompson ; Capt . Machen ; Capt . Bullock ; Fred . Binckes , Sec . Boys' School , London ; F . Tebbett , etc ., about 3 SO in all .

To those AVIIO have had the opportunity of ivifnessing the bonhommie and spirit which characterise "the work" of the R . AV . Grand Master , we need hardly describe with Avhat warmth and heartiness the various toasts ivere proposed , as little need be said , under such influence , of the cordiality of the reception they met with . After the health of " The Queen , " and "The G . L . ; " his lordship gave " The Earl cle Grey ancl Ripon , and the G . M . J of Lngland , " ^ coupling therewith the names of Bro . Rev . AV . R . K . Bedford , Grand Chaplain , and in the course of his observations

took occasion to state that amongst their visitors Avas Bro . Binckes , the Secretary of the Boy ' s School , who had come from London to attend thafc meeting and had urged upon him a request thafc he would preside afc fche annual festival of that institution , in March next . They all knew him sufficiently well to be aware that he would never shrink from the discharge of any duty in which it ivas thought his services might he useful . In himself he was perfectly

willing to comply Avith the request made to him , but only on the condition that the province ivould support him . And here he must confess he felt both delicacy and' reserve . The brethren of AVarwickshire had come fonvard so nobly on the t'vo last occasions , on which he had presided at the festival of the Benevolent Institution , and at that of the Girl ' s School , that he coulcl nofc ask them to do so for the third year in succession . If , hoivever , they iveve disposed to support him—if they thought he ought to preside

as had been requested—if the province bade him do so—he AA-as quite prepared . He Avould place himself entirely in their hands , and leave to them the decision . Bro . the REV . W . R . K . BEDFORD , Grand Chaplain , acknowledged the kindness of the R . AV . Prov . G . Master in giving the toast they had just received so warmly , and on behalf of the Earl de Grey ancl Ripon—the other Grand Officers , and himself he thanked them most sincerely . Referring fco what had fallen from the

R . AV . Prov . G . M . in connection with the ensuing festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , ifc devolved upon him to take the sense of the brethren then assembled on the question submitted to them . He ivould nofc detain them , but as a ready and decisive means of ascertaining their opinion he ivould call upon those who were desirous that his lordship should accede to the request submitted to himand who were Avilling to support him in a manner

, Avorthy of the province , to rise , and so testify their concurrence . Anything more enthusiastic than the response to this appeal Avas never Avitnessed . Nearly every brother present rose , and the R . AV . Prov . G . M . announced his intention to preside , amidst loud and prolonged acclamations . Bro . CHAS . AV . ELKINGTON , P . G . S . B ., D . Prov . G . M ., then rose

ancl proposed " The Health of Lord Leigh , the R . AV . Prov . G . M . " Knowing as they did so Avell how his lordship had endeared himself to tbem by the manner in which be had discharged every duty ivhich hacl devolved upon him , whether in his character as a nobleman , as lord lieutenant of the comity , or as Grand Master of the province , ifc needed no eulogy from him to recommend the toast to their notice ancl approval . He felt satisfied , hoAvever , thafc his lordship had that evening extorted increased admiration

from them , if it Avas possible , by fche kindness he had evinced in so entirely consulting their wishes in reference to the festival at which he had been asked to preside . Bearing in mind , as he had every reason gratefully to do , the liberal reponses so readily made to appeals in behalf of the other charitable institutions , he felt every confidence that , in March next , it Avould be substantially manifested that the brethren of AVanvickshire Avould never tire of doing good so long as they had afc their head a Grand

Master who , putting aside all considerations of personal convenience , was ever desirous to lend the aid of his influence in promoting the prosperity of those institutions whose claims they had from time to time hacl brought before them . He could not omit alluding to the many individual obligations he was under to their Prov . G . M ., ancl he ivould simply call upon them to pledge the health he now gave them in bumpers , and receive the toast as it deserved . ( Loud cheers . )

THE R . AV . PROV . G . M . in rising to reply Avas greeted Avith repeated rounds of most hearty applause . — -He said that , gratifying indeed it must be to any man , in any position , to meet with such a reception as that given him . He did not hesitate to say that he ahvays looked forward to these occasions of meeting his brethren , with feelings of unmixed pleasure . The heartiness of the Avelcome invariably accorded to him Avas such , as any one might Avell be proud of , " aml it was the best assurance they coulcl ive himthat his

_ g , efforts to merit their approval were attended ivith success . He felt the responsibilities of his high office , ancl he recognised the claims upon his services , and therefore , it ivas in the instance noiv before thein , that be had nofc shrunk from the discharge of a duty , conditionally on receiving the support of those on whom he hacl so often relied . The response made to the question so admirably put by Bro . Bedford , had entirely dissipated the feeling of hesitation

and reserve he had entertained , in again attempting to enlist their sympathies in the cause of charity , and all that remained for him noAV Avas to express a hope that by united exertions such a success Avould be achieved , as even the brethren of Warwickshire might Avell make their boast . Before sitting down he Avould propose the next toast , " The Prov . Grand Lodge of AVarwick , ancl Bro . Elkington , Dep . ProA ' . Grand Master . " Of Bro . Elkington , he had alread y had an opportunity of speaking , ancl therefore AA ' OUIC ! not venture to say anything further in his favour , though he confessed ifc ivould take a long time to exhaust tbe catalogue of that worth y brother's excel-