Provincial.

he was bound to say their deputy had gained , by his kindly disposition , tho good will of the province , and had carried on its duties with great credit to himself , and he felt very great pleasure in proposing the toast . —Bro . ICELWAT , Prov . J . G . W ., responded , regretting the absence of his superior officers . He quite agreed with Bro . Oliver that the province should have its head , but he could not forget tho great qualities of their deputy , whose exertions ou behalf of Masonry were excelled b

y none , and it was by his energy the Masonic Charities had been supported to the extent they had . —Bro . W . SMITH proposed the Prov . G . M . and Grand Lodge of Wiltshire , coupling with it the name of Bro . S . Wittey , the Prov . S . G . W . of that province , —Bro . WITTEY expressed the pleasure he felt at being present that day , ^ not only for the gratification of seeing an old and valued friend installed in the chairwho he was quite

, sure would fulfil all its duties with satisfaction to himself and credit to the lodge , but for the fraternal spirit which animated the brethren of the two provinces in assisting each other with their support at the different elections of candidates ; and he felt sure the more that feeling was cultivated b y those interchanges of visits the better it would be for both provinces , many members of which belonged to lod in eachshowing that they

ges , might almost be considered as one family of brotherhood . —Bro . W . SMITH proposed "The Provinces of Bristol and Hants , " which was responded to by the W . M . of the former and by Bro . FORD for the latter . —Bro . Dr . FALCONER then proposed " The Health of the W . M ., Bro . Bennet , " expressing the great pleasure he felt at seeing him installed in that chair , one ivho he might say had received his education in that lodge ; and it was

a gratifying fact that they now required to go from their initiated brethren to find officers to fulfil its different duties . After passing a high compliment to the W . M ' ij , ability , he concluded by proposing his health , to whicli the W . M . replied in an able speech , assuring them he would use his utmost endeavours to perform its duties and maintain its well-earned reputation , and concluded by proposing "The Installing Master , Bro . E . T . Payne , " and thanked him for the very efficient way in which

he performed the ceremonies . —Bro . PAYNE , on rising , was received with quite an ovation of applause , and expressed the pleasure he felt at all times in being of service to the lodge , whicli he designated as a labour of love ; in fact , he should always lookback to his year of office , just expired , with the greatest pride and pleasure , it being a noticeable fact that during that time there had not been one dissentient vote given in the lodge , everything having been done with the greatest unanimit . He was

y greatly indebted to his officers for their assistance , and while admitting it would be invidious to individualise any particular officer , still lie could not forget tiie services of the Secretary , Bro . Hollway , to whom he felt greatly indebted , and hoped each would accept his best thanks . —Bro . HOLLWAY then gave the P . M . ' s of No . 53 , which was replied to by Bro . OLIVER . —Bro . COMJIANS proposed tbe Masonic Charitiescoupling with it the

, name of that worthy and indefatigable brother who had favoured them with his company , Bro . F . Binckes , the Secretary of the Boys ' School . He ( Bro . 0 . ) would not be understood as advocating any one of the charities in particular , as each had an equal claim to their sympathy and support ; and drew attention to the former position of the parents of the children in the schools , who had held many of them the same position in the Craft as those he saw

around him . —Bro . BINCKES , with his usual ability , responded , setting forth the position of the different institutions and their requirements , which resulted in a very telling response from the Rev . Brother Davey , who hacl undertaken the duties of Steward for the hoys' at the next festival . "Prosperity to the Province of Somerset , " coupled with the name of Bro . E . T . Payne , the Grand Treasurer , then followed , who expressed

liis belief that the province of Somerset would never arrive at the height of its position of greatness until the province was represented by a Provincial Grand Master , however efficiently the duties were performed , ancl he was happy to say they were as effectually as they could be ; still , the want of that high officer was a serious cheek to Masonry in the province . Many other toasts followed , ancl the brethren separated , highly pleased with the meeting , several brethren having favoured the brethren with some good songs .

SURREYKINGSTON . —Me Dolie Lodge ( No . 988 ) . —This lodge held its first meeting for the current year at tho Griffin Hotel , Kingston , on Thursday , the 3 rd December , it being their stated period for the installation of the W . M . elect . Among those

present were Bros . Cartwvight , W . M ., Prov . G . J . W . ; J . W . Clayton , S . W ., Prov . G . S . D . and W . M . elect ; Dr . Harcourt , D . Prov . G . M . ; Dr . Kent , P . M . ; W . "Watson , P . M . ; Blackburn , P . M . ; Matthews , P . M . ; Cathrow , Sec . ; Wilkinson , Long , Constable , King , P . Jones , and Abrahams . The visitors included Bros . Warren , W . M . ^ Chertsey ) , Prov . S . G . W . ; Maney , P . M . 201 , and Blaker ( Chertse } ' ) . The business of the lodge commenced by an able passing to the F . C . degree of Bro .

Westall by the W . M . ; after which Bro . Blackburn occupied the chair , to install the W . M . elect , Bro . J . W . Clayton , Prov . S . G . D ., who appointed Bros . Wilkinson , S . AV . ; Long , J . W . ; Cartwright , Treas . ; Cathrow , Sec ; Constable , S . D . ; Shrubsole , J . D . ; P . Jones , I . G .,- and Abrahams , Steward . A P . M . ' s jewel was unanimously voted to Bro . Cartwright , as an acknowledgment of his services during the past year , which has been a year of peculiar interestas the lodge was onlin its second year ,

, y and being called upon to receive the Provincial Grand Lodge , was enabled to do so with much eclat , mainly by the exertions of Bro . Cartwright . After the banquet , the usual Masonic toasts were proposed and responded to . Bro . Dr . Harcourt , D . Prov . G . M ., in acknowledging the toast appropriated to the Provincial Grand Lodge for Surrey , remarked on the flourishing state of the Craft in general . He could say with confidence that nowhere was Masonry more flourishing than in Surrey .

Even to the contracted portion of the county which was allotted the Prov . G . M . he would not allow an exception , for it must be considered that , only an unimportant portion , as regards population , is under the rule of Bro . Dobie . And , again , many Masons are resident in this province , who , from their town connections and the proximity , belong to London lodges . However , the working of tiie lodges in this province is equal to those

elsewhere , of which an admirable specimen had been given that evening . But let not the Dobie lodge think that they are better than their neighbours , for the Chetsey Lodge , of which he is a member , declare that they are second to none , and whatever lodge in the province which he visited the members declare their own lodge to be an example for the rest . And he encouraged this emulation , boasting if you will , and was pleased to hear each lodge assert , " We are second to none , " for if each lodge would endeavour to raise itself to the true Masonic

standard , the entire working would be in harmony , ancl present a grand whole . On the part of Bro . Dobie ( who was absent against his inclination ) and the grand officers of the province , present and past , ho acknowledged the kindness with which the toasts had been received . The health of Bro . Clayton , the newly installed Master , was received with enthusiasm ; he replied , —I have but newly donned my armour , and can only make promises to performbut I will zealously endeavour to

, redeem the promises I have made , that when the time shall come to doff it I may have the satisfaction of feeling that I have laboured to do my duty , and receive the acknowledgments of the lodge that in a great measure I have been successful . I shall then take my position at the side of my predecessors , and enjoy with them your congratulations . The health of Bro . Cartwright , the immediate P . M ., was

received with hilarity . He said , —It would be false delicacy in me not to confess that , during the past year , I have had many anxieties as to the success ofthe Dobie Lodge , but " the pleasure we delight in physics pain ; " and so great has been my pleasure in seeing things go on well in the lodge , and such hearty support have I received from my Bro . Clayton ancl the members of the lodge in generalthat all painful doubts have been well

, physicked and well got rid of . I owe much to Bro . Clayton ; the lodge is deeply indebted to him . The beautiful tracing boards which adorn our lodge are his gift , and to him , as well as others , I owe much , when serving as a Steward to the five Charities . I am quite sure that his year will be a prosperous one , as all will be anxious to serve him who has so well served the lodge . The health of tho visitors called forth Bro . Captain

Warren , AV . M . of the Chertsey Lodge , and Prov . S . G . W ., ancl Bro . Maney , P . M . Old Concord Lodge . Bro . A \ arren rejoiced the D . Prov . G . M . had spoken , as it gave him more pleasure to echo his sentiments than to trouble the brethren with his own commonplace remarks . He hud much enjoyed the working of the ledge and the pleasures of the banquet , and it should be no fault of his if these fraternal greetings in the

province were not frequent . Bro . Maney said , being a town Mason , he hacl just come into tho country to enjoy himself , and his trip had done him much good . It had gladdened him and revived the scene of days gone by . It was nearly thirty years since he first heard the installation worked by Bro . Peter Gilkes , and the