Provincial.

things were recalled to his memory . He should state that tor some years he had been absent from the province , and during that interval a great deal had been due to-Bro . Deacon rather than to himself ; the province had been for a good deal of time under Bro . Deacon ' s sole power and superintendence . He had no wish to arrogate to himself more than he could justly claim , and he was always anxious to give honour where it was clue . ( Hear . ) Ho begged to propose "The Health of Bro . Hasleham , the AA ' . M .

of the Lodge of ( Economy , " and he would conclude his observations by expressing a sincere hope that their excellent AV . M . might long live and enjoy good health , happiness , and prosperity . The toast was honoured with especial manifestations of love and respect . The AA . M . ( Bro . Hasleham ) rose under exceeding difficulty to return thanks for the very happy manner in which the Prov . G . M . had introduced his healthand the flattering manner in ivhich the

, brethren had received it . He felt deeply indebted to the Prov . G . M ., and to the assembled brethren his thanks were especially due . His obligations to the many visitors present were almost more than he could express , and he had not expected to he greeted by such an influential gathering . All he could say was that his best endeavours had and always should be directed with a view closely to adhere to the ancient landmarks of the Order ; likewise to observe the literal teaching of the Book of Constitutions . ( Hear . ) He

had appointed his new officers with very great satisfaction , and he looked forward with full confidence to a very harmonious and prosperous year—such , in fact , was the aim he had in view . He approved ofthe endeavour to curtail their expenses as much as they could ; and . he hoped yet to hear it said , iii the outer would—not see how they eat and drink , hut see how they unite in brotherly love for the relief of the poor and distressed . ( Loud cheers . ) It had been for the sake of doing increased good that he had lately

pressed an amendment on their plans upon the brethren of the Lodge of ( Economy ; in fact , he had wished to cut down their hanquetting to once a quarter , in order that they might be enabled to devote more of their funds to the relief of the distressed , to contribute more to their excellent institutions for sheltering the poor and aged , and nourishing and educating the boys and girls . ( Cheers . ) As he had said already , he hoped to experience a year of satisfaction and prosperity ; and he trusted that at the close of his year of service he should have the satisfaction of transferring the jewel he wore unsullied to other and abler hands , and retire with

the credit of having endeavoured to do his duty . ( Hear and cheers . ) Bro . DUEAXT , P . M ., in introducing the next toast , prefaced his observations with a review of the last speech . He said the W . M . had just told them what they were led to expect in the working of the lodge during the current year . He himself certainly augured good results ; but he could not let the doings of the past year go haltogether without a few words in reference to them . He had

y seen a good many changes , and now ho was the senior P . M . of the lodge . Under the rule of the late W . M ., Bro . La Croix , the lodge had worked extremely well , and he had had the assistance of very able aud willing past officers , who had officiated during the year with energy , zeal , ancl industry . ( Hear . ) AA'ith a vast deal of sincerity he proposed "The Health of their late AA . M . and the Past Masters of No . 90 ; " and he was quite sure the toast would bo

received and drank with the same amount of cordiality that he } . roposed it . ( Cheers . ) Bro . LA CROIX , immediate P . M ., said it was with a considerable deal of pleasure that he rose to respond to the compliment ; but he must confess that there existed in his own mind a strong idea of very many shortcoming ' s on his part during his year of office . He was led to conceive that Bro . Durant , in proposing the toast , had been painting more from fancy than the realitin his sketch of the

y AV . M . The peculiar calls upon the time of a brother in his ( hte medical ) profession offered great drawbacks to any wish that might exist for devoting much time and attention to the duties of the lodge . ( Hear . ) But he thought that man proved himself the best Mason who did the utmost in his power for advancing the interest of the Order in the position in which the Great Architect of the Universe had been pleased to place him . ( Hear . ) He had seen

those , who , though they had a good deal of Masonry in their mouths , seldom got it much further down . ( Hear , and laughter . ) He had more faith in Masons ivho did not make it so much a matter of form ; those who endeavoured to show that Masonry was not so much a matter of conviviality alone , but that it was an institution eminentl y fitted for the improvement of mankind . Indeed , Masonry comprised a wonderful machinery for a wonderful good

. ( Cheers . ) He heartily thanked his esteemed brother Durant , and was only afraid he was not deserving of one-half of the amount of praise that had been bestowed upon him . There was one thing very truly inferred , —when he had been absent from the lodge , in consequence of the interference of his professional duties , he had been always enabled to leave the brethren in the hands of good

officers , both as to their knowledge of the ritual and their real Masonic spirit . ( Hear . ) To Bro . Everitt his best and especial thanks were due ; fihat brother's useful knowledge and great Masonic lore had always been held ready to be commanded in any way and to any extent the lodge might require it . ( Hear , and applause . ) To Bro . Hasleham also his grateful acknowledgments were due for frequent valuable assistance . ( Hear . ) In conclusion , Bro . La Croix expressed a hope that at the next centenary meeting

of the lodge it might be found with such a good Master and with such good officers as it possessed at the present time . ( Hear . ) Bro . NEWMAN also responded . He said , as S . W . of the Lodge of ( Economy for the past year , he begged to acknowledge the compliment paid , him by Bro . Durant in so kindly proposing the health of the Past Officers . He could only say that he had endeavoured to discharge the duties of his office agreeablto the brethren

y , though at the same time he was quite sensible of having shown many imperfections attached to the performance of his duties . It might not be generally known to the lodge why it was that the late AV . M ., Bro . La Croix , had made choice of him as the Senior AVarden . But Bro . La Croix had thought it possible that the lodge might , by chance , during the then ensuing year , be called upon to perforin a little piece of operative Masonry , and , as he ( Bvo .

Newman ) happened to be an operative as well as a Free and Accepted Mason , he thought that , if such an event should occur , he should be of some service to him on the occasion . Freemasonry was especially interesting to him , from the fact that it was once really of an operative character ; and though it had now glided into that which was called speculative , it proved that the principles by which that particular branch was guided , and the ceremonies which they observed were such as to attract attention . It must be

acknowledged that operative Masonry had been of great importance to every civilised nation and people through every age of thc world . Bro . Passenger , at his installation as AV . M . of the Southampton Lodge ( to which he believed Bro . Stebbing belonged ) , noticed this fact in his splendid and poetic speech , ivhich , no doubt , most of the brethren present had read . It was shown therein that the genius of Masonry had stamped the tastes , and feelings , and pursuits , and purposes of the different ages and nations amongst whom they had exercised their art , and had by these means been the faithful historians of the times in ivhich they had raised the

lasting monuments of their skill . But , to come to a later period , as soon as the professors of Christianity began to indulge in external display , and required magnificent cathedrals , and other churches and religions houses for the celebration of its ceremonies , and other religious purposes , tho Masonic art was in great request , and the Pontiffs of Rome , and the potentates of Europe , sought their aid without interfering with the secrets of the Craft . It would appear that in this country as well as in Scotland the Masonic

fraternity commenced their labours about the year 940 . No doubt the lodge of Masons to whom the building of Kilwinning Abbey was * confided were foreign Masons—they might have been Italian , or Greek , or French—but whatever they were , if they were of one or more nations , they were no doubt of one brotherhood , and they understood the art of building—and they did build in those days . They built in a manner that neither the tooth of time , nor the hand of mischiefnor the culpability of lect had been able

en-, neg tirely to destroy their work . It ivas a peculiar ancl a gratifying fact that they should have possessed among themselves so much of brotherly love , relief and truth as the principles ivhich governed the fraternity , as to have attracted the attention of others who were not operative Masons , and who became from time to time admitted into the Order ; and though they had , in the course of their career , met with grievous opposition , Freemasonry had ceased to be of that operative character which it once was ; but it was pleasing to

think that the principles of the Order were still appreciated , as a proof of which the present company of gentlemen met to do honourto that day ' s proceedings need but be quoted . After again thanking Bro . Durant and the company , Bro . Newman sat down , warmly applauded . The AA . M . then proposed "The Health ofthe Installing Masters , Bro . Biggs and Everitt . " As to the maimer in ivhich the ceremony of the installation had been carried out hy those brethrenit was

, quite unnecessary for him to enlarge , inasmuch as most of the company present had been witnesses of the scene ; and the Prov G . M ., and many other brethren of great experience , had already stated that they had never seen the duties performed better . The toast was received and drank with cordiality . Bro . BIGGS said , for the very gratifying way in whicli Sir Lucius , the Chairman , and the brethren generally , had spoken of the performance of the ceremony of installation that day , he and his