Provinvial.

self . The brethren having been admitted , the AV . M . was saluted in ancient form iu the three degrees , and presented with the warrant , Book of Constitutions and Bye-laws , and the working tools in each degree , as the lodge was closed down . The AV . M . then appointed and invested the following officers , viz .: —Bros . G . Pickup Hartlev , S . AV . ; Elles Heath , J . W . ; Rev . George Preston , P . M ., Chip . ; James Pilkington , P . M ., Treas . ; Ralph Abbot , Sec . ; James Garsden , S . D . ; Adam Duckworth , J . D . ;

Thomas Clough , P . M ., Dir . of Cer ., and Disp . of Charity ; Chas . Greenwood , P . M ., Org .,- Thomas Robinson and AA illiam Taylor , Stewards ; Joseph Pearson , P . M ., Tyler . The AV . M . 'then proposed the following laudible resolution : — " That the sum of three guineas be voted from the lodge funds to the relief fund for the unemployed poor of the town and neighbourhood , " which we need scarcely say was passed unanimously . Such an act of ¦ charitis a fitting inauguration to BroTiladon his accession

y . py to the AV . M . ' s chair . The brethren were then called from labour to refreshment by the J . AV ., when upwards of forty sat down to a sumptuous banquet provided by mine host , Bro . Bolton . The cloth having been removed and the dessert placed on the table , the W . M . in proposing the first toast , " The Queen , " said , that with the universal sympathy displayed to her Majesty at the irreparable loss she had sustained through the very sudden

4 ind unexpected death of her royal husband , the Prince Consort , that as Masons we shared in that sympathy , and trusted that the G . A . O . T . U . would comfort her in the hour of her severe affliction . —The W . M . then gave the next toast , "Albert , Prince of Wales , and tho rest of the Royal Family , " i-emarking that the absence of the name of his late Royal Highness the Prince Consort in this toast was a sad reminder of the severe loss the Queen , her family , and the country

had sustained by his early and so unexpected death , and paid a marked tribute of resiiect to the many virtues of the illustrious deceased , commending the royal widow and her fatherless children , to Him who has promised to be a husband to the widow , . and a father to the fatherless . —The W . M . next gave " The Army , Navy , and Volunteers , " which was responded to by Lieutenant Garsden , 5 th Lancashire Artillery A ' olunteers , in a very appropriate manner . —The AV . M . then gave "The Earl of Zetland , M . AV . G . M . of England , " and in doing so said , that although

personally unknown to any of the brethren then assembled , that , as their Masonic Chief , had he not been eminently qualified for that post of honour , he would not have been so often reelected to supreme command , and called upon the brethren to drink the toast in a bumper , which , we need not- say , was responded to as only Masons can do when called upon to show their fealty . —The AV . M . next gave "The Earl de Grey and Ripon , M . W . D . G . M . of England , and said that having been

present at the installation of the R . W . D . G . M . as Prov . G . M . for 'West Yorkshire , he could assure the brethren , from what he saw aud heard , that their Deputy Chief was a uobleman of very high attainments , a perfect English gentleman , and a therough Mason , which he thought was such a recommendation toast , as to ensure its reception . —The AV . M . afterwards gave "The Duke of Athole , M . W . G . M . of Scotland , and " The Duke of Lemster , M . W . G . M . of Ireland . "—The S . AV . next gave

" Stephen Blair , Esq ., R . W . Prov . G . M . for East Lancashire , " and the J . W . gave "Albert Hudson Royds , Esq ., A . AV . D . Prov . G-. M . for East Lancashire . "—Bro . BELT , , P . M ., then , proposed " The Past and Present Prov . Grand Officers for East Lancashire , " and said that many of tho present officers were such , that no province could excel them in their zeal , and for the past ¦ officers he referred the brethren to Bro . Clough , P . Prov . G . Reg ., then presentas a sample of what Blackburn could furnish in

, the past , and doubted not , that should ever 4-32 be represented in Provincial Grand Lodge , the brother receiving that appointment , would leave it as Bro . Clough had done , with credit to himself and honour to the province , —Bro . CLOTTGH responded , assuring the brethren that he was not accustomed to public speaking , but could endorse all that Bro . Bell had said of the present officers , and for himself as the only past officer present he tendered his hearty thanks . Bro . Clough then

proposed " Our Alsiting Brethren . " He said he looked upon this toast as his own now , having given it on these anniversaries for many years past . The associations , he remarked , carried on from year to year by these re-unions , were looked forward to by Masons , as eagerly as the Christmas holidays were by those at school , where brother meets brother , after a lapse of twelve months , and amongst neighbouring lodges , tending to cement them more closely in the bands of brotherly love , relief , and truth . —Bro . DEAX of Lodge 481 , Clithroe , responded in a very

humorous speech . —Bro . THOMAS next proposed " Our Absent Brethren " in a neat speech . — -Bro . The Rev . G . PEESTOX , Chap ., then proposed " Prosperity to the Lodge of Perseverance , No . 432 , " aud said he hoped the brethren would always bear iu mind , that the eyes of the outer world were upon them , and thus show them that to be a Freemason , was to be a good man , and he trusted that the same prosperity which had attended 432 for the last few years , would still continue . —Bro . TIPLADY ,

AV . M ., responded . — -Bro . BEKTWISTLE , P . M ., then rose and said , that the toast he had to propose was one , he was sure , need only to be named to ensure for it a most enthusiastic reception . It was that of our highly respected AV . M ., Bro . Tiplady . He said he need not recapitulate the services he had rendered the lodge , whether as Secretary , Deacon , or Warden , for , as all the brethren were well aware , his attention and assiduity had brought the lodge from adversityto prosperityboth in its finances

, , and working . To such a brother they might well entrust tho helm of affairs , and after alluding to the importance of the punctual attendance of all the officers , he called upon the brethren to drink the toast , by wishing Bro . Tiplady long life , happiness , and prosperity to our new AV . M . " | Bro . TIPLADY in responding , said , that for the flattering manner in which the toast had been proposed and received , he tendered the brethren his most cordial thanks . He also thanked them for having

elected him unanimously to the proud position of W . M . Having entered the Order somewhat advanced in life , he said he never expected to have attained that position , but having got into office as Secretary , and after filling that post for two years , he felt a desire to aspire a little higher , and having gone through the Deacons and Wardens chairs , he felt that , should the brethren think him worthy of presiding over them , that conscious of his imperfectionshe would endeavour to carry on the

, lodge , with the assistance of his officers , and the counsel of the Past Masters , in snob a manner as to merit their approval , and when his year of office had expired to hand it over to his successor unimpaired , either in funds , in working , or in the chara cteristie harmony , which prevails in the lodge . He also reminde d the officers that no AV . M . could carry on a lodge unless supported on every occasion by their punctual attendance , and trusted to be well supported bv the brethren he had that day

invested . Bro . Tiplady , W . M ., concluded byproposmg "The Health of Bro . Bertwistle , immediate P . M . complimenting him on the manner in which he had conducted the lodge for the last twelve months . —Bro . BERTWISTLE in reply thanked the brethren , aud said , he had , during his year of office endeavoured to carry out the grand principles of the order , and if he had done that in such a manner as to please them , he felt amply repaid , and in whatever he had come short , it was more an error of the head

than the heart . —Bro . RADCLIPPE , P . M ., next proposed the health of Bro . Clough , P . M ., whom he looked upon as the father of the lodge . When Bro . Clough joined the lodge its meetings were held at the " Goose , " and it was virtually defunct , but he succeeded in getting it removed shortly afterwards , to its present place of meetiag , and since then it had continued to improve year by year ; those who had been members foxsome yearshe knew would indorse his sentimentsand those

, , who had joined within the last few years , he could assure that Bro . Clough had been a host in himself , having for many years to perform all the ceremonies , on which occasions , his very punctual attendance was well worthy of imitation . — Bro . CLOTJGH in reply thanked the brethren for the compliment paid him . He said it was now upwards of a quarter of a century since he first saw the light iu Freemasonry , and he looked upon these festivals as exerting a very beneficial tendency on

the brethren of the different lodges , in cementing that truly masonic feeling , and encouraging each other in the promotion of all that ennobled man , whilst passing on like pilgrims " in search of that bright sphere and domain , " and might they all be found at last living with the world's Grand Architect , when time and earth should have passed away . —Bro . ROBIXSOX then gave " The Host and Hostess , " which toast he said would commend itself , for the banquet had been faultless , and he

hoped that Mr . and Mrs . Bolton might be long spared to each other . —Bro . TIPLADY AV . M . next gave "The Health of Bro . Bell , P . M ., " in a very eulogistic speech , to which Bro . Bell replied . — ' ¦ ' The Lancashire Witches , " was next given by Bro . Garsden , S . D ., and replied to in a humorous speech by Bro . Fletcher . The W . M . then gave " Our next Masonic Festival , " and Bro . Thomas , P . M ., " To all poor and distressed Masons , " & c . The brethren having been , called from refreshment to labour , the lodge was closed in good harmony , and with solemn