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to nine in the evening , and that two or three times a week . He invited every Past Master , Master , or AVarden of a lodge then present to make a point of attending Grand Lodge on the first Wednesday in June to consider the subject . He did not ask them to adopt any particular scheme , hut to attend and examine for themselves the various plans which might be submitted to them , and give an honest verdict as to what they believed to be for the

best interests of the Craft . ( Cheers . ) He asked tliem not to listen to out-of-door talk . In every large body of men there must he differences of opinion , and no angel from Heaven could satisfy all . He would be a bad minister , however , who refused to endeavour to do his best on that account . It had been the object of the committee to endeavour to stand between an enormous expenditure which should run them into debt for fifty or sixty years on the one hand , or of being so stingy on the

other as not to do justice to the Craft . ( Hear . ) He thought the time had now arrived when the brethren ought to have a home open to them at all hours of the clay , where they could meet without inconvenience ; ancl through which he helieved their charities would be greatly benefited . ( Cheers . ) By all the kindness they had ever shown to him , by all their love for Masonry he urged them to attend the next Grand Lodge to do their own business in the manner

it should be done . ( Cheers . ) He most cordially thanked them for their kindness on this and every other occasion . ( Cheers ) . The CHAIRMAN said they were all much indebted to the brethren who had afforded them so much useful instruction that evening . He need hardly say how much their ceremonies depended upon good working , and nothing could exceed what they had seen that evening , He gave them "The Health of the Working Brethren . " ( Cheers . )

Bro . Cox thanked the Chairman and brethren for the compliment just paid to them , and was much obliged for the attention paid to the working that evening . He could assure them that , for the quality of the work , they wore mainly indebted to the attention and exertions of their talented preceptor , Bro . Muggeridge , who was the spirit aud backbone of the lodge . ( Cheers . ) The CHAIRMAN had to call their attention to a verv

important toast— "The Prosperity of the Sister Lodges of Instruction . " Generous rivalry should always be encouraged amongst Masons , and to no brother were they more indebted for good working in the Lodges of Instruction than Bro . Stephen Barton Wilson . He had been for many years at the head of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , ancl no man knew their rituals or the principles upon which their Order was founded better ; he was , in fact , the very embodiment of Masonic

ritual . The brethren from the East were always proud to welcome brethren from the AA est , and never more so than in the person of so good a man and a Mason as Bro . AVilson . ( Cheers . ) Bro . AVIESON , P . G . D ., thanked the worthy President for coupling his name with the toast just drank . He had been a member of the Emulation Lodge of Instruction for thirty years , and the utmost kindliness had ever existed between that ancl

the sister Loclge of Stability . There was no difference between them , excepting in the phraseology of some of their working . He would not then enter into a history of how that difference had arisen , as he hoped it would soon cease to exist . Tlie Chairman had alluded in the early period of the evening to a great work in which he ( Bro . AAllson ) was engaged . Now , he wished it to be understood that that work was not in connection with the remodelling of their property in Great Queen-street ;

but the allusion fvas to some communications which were going on between himself and the worthy Preceptor of the Stability-Lodge , Bro . Muggeridge , for assimilating the work so as to have but one ritual . ( Hear , hear , from Bro . Muggeridge . ) And he was sure Bro . Havers would be one of the first to assist them . He hoped that , in a short time , the little differences at present existing would be set aside , ancl they would have , as they ought to have under the English Constitution , but one

system of work . He well remembered Bro . Philip Broadfoot , and he helieved that , with the exception of Bro . Patten , ho was tlie only person in tlie room who did so , when he presided over that lodge ; and he knew that there was some talk at the time of the death of Bro . Peter Gilkes , in 1333 , of assimilating the work , but in 1835 Bro . Broadfoot , who was engaged in the work , left London , and the matter dropped . AVhen Bro . Broadfoot was last in London he advised Bro . Muggeridge to consent to such assimilation , and he believed that , with the valuable assistance

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of Bro . Havers , it would now soon be brought about . ( Cheers . ) He thanked them for the compliment paid to himself and the sister Lodges of Instruction . ( Cheers . ) The CHAIRMAN next gave the . Masonic Charities , which he looked upon as the brightest jewels in the Masonic diadem , and ? he was sure ho need not say one word in their recommendation . As Bro . Binckes had lately had a good innings , ancl he hoped hemight have one equally as good next year—he would couple

withthe toast the name of Bro . Patten ( Cheers . ) Bro . PATTEN , P . G . S . B ., thanked the president of the eveningancl the brethren , for the compliment just paid him and the-Charities . He regretted that Bro . Farnfield was not present ,, as he was sure he would readily acknowledge that he had had a pretty good innings . Bro . Binckes had also had a very good innings , but he ( Bro . Patten ) , would not have his innings until the 13 th Maywhen he trusted they would give him their

sup-, port , and make a good field under the presidency of the Dukeof St . Alban ' s . They had lately spent £ 1700 in adding a new wing to the building , which would accommodate twenty morechildren , but to support that number would cost a further sum of £ 600 a year . They had recently taken in five additional children , and he hoped at the coming festival the charity would he liberally supported , for without the bt-ethren gave them the moneyit was impossible for the Committee to do all the good

, they wished . ( Cheers . ) The proceedings were then brought to a close , the proceedingshaving been enlivened by the excellent singing of Bros . Tedder ,. Borrani , and T . Young . [ It having come to the knowledge of Bro . Havers that hisobservations relative to new degrees as reported above , wereunderstood by some brethren to apply to the high degrees ,

wears authorised to state , and we do so with much pleasure , that * he had no intention to refer at all to those degrees , for which hehas great respect , and more especially for that of the Knights-Templar , and we can well understand from the words used , thatthe only degree really referred to was the " Mark , " that being the only one claiming to be connected with Craft Masonry . —ED . ];

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

BERKS AND BUCKS . ABINGDON . —Abbey Lodge ( No . 1247 ) . —The consecration of this new lodge took place at Abingdon , on Thursday , April 30 th , when eminent brethren of the Craft graced the meeting with their presence , amongst whom were Bros . R . AA . J . Mclntyre , G . Reg . : Col . Bowyer , Prov . G . M . of Oxford ; Alderman R . J . Spiers , F . S . A ., D . Prov . G . M . Oxford , P . G . S . B . ; Huyshe , G . Chap . ; Thompson , P . Prov . S . G . W ., the worshipful Mayor of

Oxford , and other eminent brethren , members of Grand Lodge and Grand officers of the province of Berks and Backs , and . Oxfordshire . The consecration ceremony was performed in amost impressive manner by the R . W . Bro . yEneas J . Mclntyre , G . Reg ., acting Prov . G . M ., and the arrangement of the music , incidental to tho consecrative ceremony , was under the able direction of Bro . Dyson , prov . G . A . D . C . Berks and Bucks , who has made this portion of the ceremony his especial study . He

was assisted by Bros . Marriott , AVhitehouse , and Lambert , the latter presiding in an able manner as Organist , and by his good and correct taste adding greatly to the effect of the vocal music . The Oration was delivered in a very impressive manner by Bro . tlie Rev . — Mortimer , Chaplain , and was an able exposition of the principles of Freemasonry . Bro . Rev . Richard Whitmoro Norman was installed by Bro . Spiers , who performed the ceremony in a most admirable manner , during which a very

effective chant was sung by tho musical brethren , in the chorus of which all the brethren joined . The oflicers , named in the warrant , Bros . Rev . Richard AVhitmoreNorman , AVarden of St . Peter ' s College , Radley , P . M . 460 , ancl P . Prov . S . G . AV . Oxon , AV . M . ; Richard Badcock , Mayor of Abingdon , 425 , S . AV . ; John Blandy Jenkins , 460 , J . AV ., having been severally invested with their collars , ancl the routine bhisiness finished the loclge was closed in ancient formand a parting hymn was beautifully

, sung by the musical brethren , after which the brethren adjourned to tlie Council Chamber , where n sumptuous banquet was prepared by the worthy host of the Crown and Thistle , Mr . Phillips , and served in his best style . After the banquet grace was sung by Bros . Marriott , Dyson , Whitehouse , and