Provincial.

tables were set-out in the most splendid style . The platform was occupied by a number of ladies , relatives or friends of the brethren . After the Harmonic Society had sung " Non Nobis Domine , " Bro . LAWRENCE NEWALL proposed the first toast , — "The Queen , " followed by " The Prince Consort , Albert , Prince of AVales ; and the rest of the Royal Family . " "Tho Army and Navv . " "The Earl of Zetland , M . W . G . M , " and "Lord Pimimu-e , R . IV . D . G . M ., and the rest of the Grand Officers . "

Brother DICICIN , of Middleton , said he had the honour to propose the next toast , and he could not permit the opportunity pass without a few observations on that great character who lived in East Lancashire . Although they had heard "a great deal about their Officers , he did not think the li . W . Prov . G . AL fell much short of his Brethren in the principles of Masonry . He believed they had been carried out , matured , and practised by Stephen Blair ; and he hopedbthe aid of Divine Providencehe miht live for a

long-, y , g term of years , ami that he might go in that straight-forward way , which he had always maintained . The principles of Freemasoury were love , and charity to every individual . It knew no bounds . He hoped the ladies ivho were present would that night learn something of the honour and integrity of Freemasonry ; and instead of dissuading their husbands and sons from becoming Freemasons ,

persuade them to join them . If any poor brother fell sick he had nothing to do but present the sign of Freemasonry , and he was cared for as if he was a prince . ( Hear , hear . ) Bro . A ' EEVEES , AV . M ., 266 , in giving "Bro . A . IT . Royds , D . Prov . G . M ., and the rest of the Prov . G . Officers , " said it was almost unnecessary for him to make any remarks on the absence of Bro . Royds ; for he was sure none of them would attribute it to a wrong motive . They well knew that he was at all times willing to

support Freemasonry . There was a cause for his absence—indisposition , and indisposition of the most painful nature . He hoped , ere long , he would be restored . The Prov . G . Chaplain responded , and read an extract from a letter he had received from Bro . Royds , saying that , although he should be absent in body , ho would ho with them in spirit , and concluding- by wishing them success . Bro . . LUIES GEEEN 2 ) roposed "BroLawrence NewallProv .

. , S . G . AAV He was sure this was a toast ivhieh every Brother would drink heartily . He could say , from what he knew of Bro . Lawrence Newall—the brother who had so well performed his duty that day—that there was not a better Mason living , and he could also assure theiu that there did not live many better men . ( Hear , hear ) . Ho had great pleasure in thanking him on behalf of the Lodges and members .

Bro . NEIVALL thanked Bro . Green , for tho manner in which lie had spoken of him . Ho could assure them that , when he engaged in Masonry , he did so with heart and soul ( hear , hear ) , and the more ho saw of it the more ho loved he loved it ( hear , hear ) . Many times the thought occurred to him in business— " Is this Masonic ? " His prayer ivas , that , knowing the foundation of true Masonry , he might not stray from its lovely and pure principles . The same feeling actuated hundreds ; and it was through their exertions that Masonry had attained its honour . He never went to the house of a friend but there wore many things that reminded him of what they were , while here on earth , to pursue—that was , the true character of a Mason . Not a . better man could face his

Creator than a true Mason . Some had tried to vilify them ; but , like fools , they spoke of what they did not know . The whole of their structure ivas based on the Bible , and they could not have a better foundation . ( Hear , hear ) . Ho built on that basis , and no Mason could more truly go " square" than by that . There were many who were more properly fitted for the duty which he had that day performed ; but he hoped to be found a humble Mason , treading in the path of duty ( loud applause ); aud he thought that none of the Brethren

could report to the Most AA ' orshipful Grand . Master that his high and noble office had lost any of its virtues by placing him in that position . ( Applause ) . He felt it , in one sense , as a personal honour . Tie had risen from the ranks to the position he held amongst them . Many of them knew of his doings in Masonry ; and he could say that they had placed him where he was . The path was open to all , but to obtain they must work for it . He begged of them to put their shoulder to the wheelandtrusting

, , in Providence , it would always be going down the hill of prosperity . He concluded by wishing them all health and happiness . After a short interval , Bro . NEWALL again rose to propose tho toast of the evening" Success to the Todmorden Masonic Hall . " He thought , when he said that they had been laying the corner-stone of the first Masonic Hall in East Lancashire , he had spoken volumes for the Todmorden Brethren . To erect a building for the purpose of Masonry was an

honour to the Lodges concerned and a token to the public that there was something in Masonry that they revered . He wished the Hall that success which every true lover ' of Masonry could wish for himself ; that it might long stand as a memento of that day's

proceedings ; that they all would hold in remembrance the square , the level , and the plumb-rnle , and when they erred from those ways laid down in Holy AVrifc , he hoped they might soon be brought back . He concluded by saying : — " May we be blest with a posterity ivho will say , "All glory to our fathers who did this work !" The Rev . Bro . PIIILLTS gave "The Masters of Lodges , 363 and 266 . " In doing sohe said he perhaps should dwell more especially

, on the solid foundation on which Masonry rested . He was sure it could not have a more firm foundation than it had , and h e congratulated the AV . Masters of Lodges Nos . 363 and 266 on their high and honourable position . It was an honour to Todmorden to bo the first place in the Province which had erected a hall for Freemasonry . All honour to the Lodges of Todmorden . It was exceedingly pleasing to meet there , and more-pleasant still to lay the first stone of the Hall . He would have them remember that a

great work had yet to be done , before the building would be completed . Other Lodges in East Lancashire had tried to raise a hall , and had failed , but the Brethren of Todmorden had succeeded ; and it would be remembered to their credit that they had laid the first stone for a Masonic Hall in East Lancashire . Bro . TIPLADY , in proposing "The Treasurers of Lodges No . 363 and No . 266 , " said , that , as a stranger , he most cordially proposed " The Health of the Treasurers of tlie Todmorden Lodges . He felt sure

there were amongst them men of intelligence , integrity , and good Masons . As treasurers , they had something to take care of , and be hoped they would do their duty . That day they had laid the chief corner-stone of a Masonic Hall , ivhieh would do honour to the whole of the Province of East Lancashire . As treasurers , they were called upon to distribute the charities of Masonry , which were as nude as the world , to the widows and orphans of deceased brethren . As Masons they had symbols , which were only as the

shell . It was built and had its foundation on Holy AVrit . The treasurers were men who ought to be looked upon with reverence ; and , for his part , he had not the least doubt that the brethren whose health he had the honour of proposing , were men of probity , and integrity , and would not be niggardly in distributing charity when demanded , and would , at the same time , see that the funds were not needlessly squandered . He would also say that their charities were not confined to the relief of the indigent . They could point to their institutions for Orphans , and Masons' Widows . He was impressively reminded of those valuable institutions when he beheld

those eight lovely children , ivho appeared dressed in the garb of innocence and beauty , and on whom all eyes looked with the deepest interest . The boys , too , had in their faces the look of intelligence ; and he could not help expressing a wish that they might rise up to manhood , the children of good and upright Masons . Perhaps they might bo children of affluent members of the Order , who were well cared for ; but he would also remind them that they had widows and orphans , who were properly eared

for . He hoped whatever they attempted to do they would do it in the spirit of humility and love . Bro . COCKKOI'I , on rising , said he had great pleasure in returning thanks for the kind manner in which their health had been proposed ; and he hoped they should go on in the discharge of their duty , and ever have a little in hand . Bro . A . G . EASTWOOD said , he had tho privilege of proposingthe next toast— "The ArchitectBro . James Green . " He had

, long had the pleasure of his acquaintance . For a long time he had known him as a private gentleman , and friend , and had had experience of his taste and ability as an architect . It had been said that they were the first in that province who had the spirit and "pluck" to start a Masonic Hall . He believed the beauty of the design , the convenience of the building and its inexpensiveness , would be pointed out as a model , and would reflect credit upon the architect . Mr . Green had been for a long time a . brother ofNo . 676

Lodge at Aeeringtoii . Since he came to reside in this neighbourhood , be bad joined them , and had filled high posts . He was a brother worthy of their admiration . Bro . GKEEN in returning thanks , said it always gave him greater pleasure to perform a public duty than a private one . He was -much obliged to Bro . Eastwood for the manner in which he had spoken of him , and also to the brethren who had so heartily received the toast . He could only say that so long as he had been

connected with Masonry , he had done all he could for its welfare , and should continued to do so . ( Loud applause . ) Bro . LAWKENCE NEWALL then gave . "The A'isiting Brethren , " which he called " a toast of love . " Bro . JOHN HOBNE made some remarks expressive ' of his pleasure at the order and regularity that had characterised the day ' s proceedings , and said , it hud seldom been his lot to hear the cause of Freemasonry advocated so well as it had been that night . He hoped that the knot of brethren , who had set them such a noble example might ever bo widened but never divided . Bro . LAWUENCE OIOIEBOD proposed— - "The Stewards , "