Metropolitan.

about , and I should have failed in it had I not been assisted by the strenuous exertions of the late Deputy Grand Master of this province , and of Bro . Crawfurd Antrobus , who , since his appointment to that office , bas been unceasing iu his efforts to promote the interests of the Craft . Now I will challenge any Mason in England , or in the United Kingdom , to show us a province where Masonry is better attended to than it is in this one . AA'ithoufc the able assistance I havo received , it woidd have been impossible to have effected what has been done . I can only say

that as long as I have health and strength , so long will I attend to the duties of my high office ; and I will endeavour by all the means in my power , and by strict impartiality , to preserve Masonry in this province in the way in which it is now carried on . So long as I can attend the meetings of this Lodge , ancl of other Lodges , so long will I continue to do ifc . My cordial assistance will ever be given to tho interests of Masonry ancl to Alasons . I beg leave to return thanks to you for the fraternal manner iu which you have drunk my health . ( The noble lord resumed his seat

amid prolonged applause . ) The Provincial Grand Master next proposed , in succession , the toast ? " Bro . Le Gendre , N . Starkie , Prov . Grand Master of AA esfc Lancashire , " "Bro . Stephen Blair , Prov . Grand Alaster of East Lancashire . " and "Bro . Sir AVatkin AVm . AVynn , Prov . Uraud Alaster of North AVales and Shropshire . " The Prov . Grand Alaster : I rise to propose the next toast , and I am quite certain you will drink it with as much satisfaction as I shall give

it . I give you the health of " Bro . Crawfurd Antrobus . " ( Loud Cheers ) . Bro . Antrobus said : I beg to return you my warmest thanks for the way in which you have received this toast . I cannot take to myself all the praise the Right AVorshipful Prov . Grand Alaster was pleased to give me this evening when he alluded to the aid I hacl afforded him in promoting the revival of Masonry in this province . I claim no merit on that account , and deserve no credit beyond that of hearty good will . T heard that Masonry was the bond of brotherhood , a means of promoting good will to our fellow men : therefore 1 became a Mason , ancl I

have never repented that step . ( Loud cheers ) . The Prov . Grand Master gave " The Provincial Grand AVardens of Cheshire . " Bro . AA'illoughby said : On behalf of the Provincial Grand AVardens , I beg to thank you . I esteem it a great honour to be au officer of this Provincial Grand Lodge . The Provincial Grand Master has alluded to the state in whieh he found the province when he received the appointment which I now hold , and he has congratulated us on the

improvement that has taken place , and I will agree that the present condition of the province is mainly to be attributed to the efforts of our Provincial Grancl Master . AVe aie now in a most enviable position in comparison with what we were a few years ago , and I trust we may yet do more to honour the province , I allude to the charities in connection with Masonry . There are some charities carried on on n very large scale in the neighbourhood of London . There is a school in which the sons of our poorer brethren are being educatedand all the boys educated in

, that school have turned out worthy members of society , and of the girls school the same thing may be said , and even to a greater degree . The education received there is most excellent . I should he much gratified if the provincial Lodges would come forward in a body and do something more than they do for these charities . I know of , £ 7 , 000 collected for their support , but of this sum , £ 6 , 000 has come from the London Lodges , and only £ 1 , 000 from those iu the provinces . Now ,

considering the number of the Lodges throughout the country , I think it is hardly fair in us to allow this great disproportion to exist , and it would be far better for the honour of this province , if we contributed more , according to our ability . I hope to see the day when the province of Cheshire will come forward in support of the charities , in such a manner as will add materially to their efficiency . The Prov . Grand Master then proposed " The Provincial Grand Chaplain , Bro . Newall Tanner . " "The Provincial Grand Treasurer , and other Provincial Grand Officers , past and present , " and "The Visiting Brethren . "

The Prov . Grancl Master next gave " The Prov . Grand Stewards . " Bro . E . J . Maclntyre , after expressing his thanks for the way in which the health of the Prov . Grancl Stewards had been drunk , said—lean assure you it will be our constant care to minister in every way we can to the comfort of the members of the Lodge , and we shall moreover be always delighted to see visitors to Chester , either in our private Lodge , at our ordinary meetings , or an occasions like this , when we have the honour of receiving the Prov . Grancl Lodof Cheshire . The Lod

ge ges of Chester have always been renowned for their hospitality , and I will answer for this Lodge , and I will also venture to do so for the other Lodge in Chester which has recently obtained its charter , thafc we will not depart from the example of our predecessors , but will always be ready to give a hearty welcome to visiting brethren from every quarter . ( Cheers ) . There were some expressions dropped by a brother , who recently addressed us , which I cannot help directing your attention to

again . Bro . AVilloughby has impressed upon us the necessity of not forgetting at our own banquets , that there are those places which are dependent upon us for their existence , the inmates of which iu such a season as this especially , have the strongest claims ou our consideration . Charity , we are often told , begins at home : and I am afraid ifc too often stops there . Let this , however , never be the caso with regard to the Masons of Cheshire . I would also beg of you to recollect that the charitable institution ^ in the neighbourhood ' of London do not in the

least belong to that place exclusively . The benefits they diffuse are spread over the whole of Masonry . I speak within my own knowledge , being a life governor of every one of ttiose institutions , and I tell you that the applications coming in from the provinces are considerably greater in number than those we receive from Loudon . AVe shall have , at our meeting on the 13 th of next month , to take into consideration the application ' s that have already been sent in , and I can tell you that tho lications forwarded from the provinces arc as two to one when

app compared with those whieh have eome in from Loudon , where we receive so much the greater share of support . Those applications , however , will be considered impartially , and with sole reference to the special claims of the applicants . 1 would now offer the suggestion ^ that you should make your Prov . Grancl . Alaster a life governor of those institutions , a suggestion which I hope will be carried into effect . AVe do not expect to be able to do muchbut we are endeavouring to add ten

, girls to tho number educated in our school . AVe are in the habit of educating seventy girls , and a proposition will be brought forward and considered next month , to add ten to tho number , and we could wish to make a similar increase in the boys school , and I hope we shall not be prevented by the want of funds . I think it would be paying a graceful tribute to the R . AV . Prov . Grand Master , who has presided over the Lodge so many years , who has given so much satisfaction , and has

contributed so much to the cause of Masonry , if you were to make him a life governor of these charities . He has been spared to see the day when , mainly through his exertions , Masonry has been resuscitated in the province * of Cheshire , ancl I hope the Masons of Cheshire will show their gratitude to him by contributing nobly to the support of these schools , and let it . be said that he was their ' first Prov . Grand Alaster who was made a life governor of these institutions . You have made me ono of yoor stewards , and I will take care that there shall not be a single

brother in the Lodgo who will not have the opportunity of helping to bring this about—who shall not , at least , be asked to contribute . And f hope tho Prov . Grancl Master will accept the office , and when he is made a life governor of every one of our charitable institutions , I am sure the Masons of Cheshire will feel proud of having him in that position . ( Protracted cheering ) . The health of "The Masters and Wardens of the Lodges in the province" was then drunkand the list of toasts having been gone

, through , the R . AV . Prov . Grand Master expressed his wish to retire . The members then rose , and the noble lord having invoked the blessing of the Great Architect of the universe upon the brethren , was escorted down tho room by the proper officials , amid the warmest demonstrations of affection and respect from all present . The Deputy Prov . Grancl Master then took the chair , and after a few more toasts the brethren separated .

DERBYSHIRE . LAYING Till-: FOUXDATIOA STOXI-: OF THE cnKSTF . RFIF . LD AXD NOHTII fiKP . BYsmim HOSPITAL . A grand public demonstration was made on AVednesday , Sept . 23 th , in Chesterfield , on the occasion of laying the foundation stone of the intended new hospital , by the Marquis of Hartington , Prov . G . Master of Derbyshire . A more enthusiastic display of public feeling was never

witnessed in Chesterfield on any previous occasion , and a considerable time may elapse before such manifestation may again occur . The most eligible site observed by the committee was that situate at Durrantgreen and Holywell-street , immediately adjoining the residence of T . Carrington , Esq ., which was considered highly favourable on account of the superior advantages it possessed for ventilation and drainage . The ground being the property of the Duke of Devonshire , an application was made to the late Dukewhowith that benevolence whieh

, , characterized all his actions , promised the site , but passed to his eternal home before that promise could be fulfilled . The site was not to be absolutely given , but 100 / . was to be paid as a nominal price for the purchase . The present noble Duke , who has the cause of charity at lieart . having been made acquainted with the intention of his late lamented predecessor , most liberally expressed his desire to comp lete

the arrangement , and to hand over the ground to the Hospital Committee . The Hospital contains on the first floor two principal wards , each forty feet , long , and over sixteen feet wide , lighted and ventilated by six large windows on opposite sides of the building , and warmed hy open fire-places . On the second floor are two smaller wards , with the matron s bed room , servants' rooms , and store rooms . From the position of the building on the slope of a hill , a spacious basement is left at present unappropriatedbut whieh at future time bo m ? . do use of a =

, can any occasion may require . The arrangement of the wards , with window ? opposite to one or another on both sides , lias been adopted in comp liance with the expressed opinion of the medical profession iu favour oi such an arrangement , and with the approval of the medical gentlemen of the town . . The committee being of opinion that a public demonstration would more fully awaken public sympathy and support in their cause , determarked

mined that the laying of the foundation stone should be by a grancl demonstration , * and the Marquis of Hartington consented to perform the ceremony . The noble marquis being the Prov . Grand . Master for Derbyshire ' of the order of Freemasons , advantage was taken of the circumstance to lay the stone according to Masonic usage . 'Iho Alasonic arrangements , therefore , of the clay were left to the management ox the Scarsclale Lodge of Freemasons in conjunction with the brethre ? '