The Masonic Mirror.

ment held their meetings . They must , in looking at the flourishing state of the offshoot , remember the parent tree , and , judged by the offshoot , a good old trunk it must be . ( Cheers . ) They were all deeply indebted to the Lodge of Unions for giving its sanction to the Lodge of Improvement , which so well maintained the landmarks of their working ; hut the Lodge of Unions was equally distinguished for its charities—and from that lodge they received the first Lady Vice-President of the

Boys' School , in the wife of Capt . Lamb , who had collected the noble sum of £ 250 for the charity . He could assure them that the country brethren looked up to the Lodge of Emulation with pleasure as a model of working , and they felt that they coutd always rely on its decisions , whilst it was guided by so excellent and talented a Mason as Bro . Wilson , ancl so well supported by the brethren . The R . W . Brother concluded by proposing " Prosperity to the Lodge of Unions , No . 25 G . "

Bro . WATERS , P . M . ofthe Lodge of Unions , returned thanks , and assured the brethren that the lodge felt proud of the Lodge of Improvement working under its sanction , and to the instruction afforded in which the brethren owed many of its most talented members . ( Cheers . ) The AV . MASTER said that , though they were met to celebrate the anniversary of the Emulation Lodge of Improvementthey

, must not forget there was another Lodge of Instruction to which they were deeply indebted . ( Cheers . ) There was no ill feeling between them ; and though the two lodges differed slightly in their teachings , in their essentials thoy were the same , and he hoped ere long , through the exertions of tho talented brother at tho head of the two lodges , a perfect uniformity of . voHcing- miht be obtainedand not a word of

difg , ference be between them . He ( the W . M . ) could , however , bear witness that there was now no essential difference between the lodges , inasmuch as ° he worked both systems , and had before now done so in tho same evening . ( Cheers . ) The W . M . concluded by giving , " Prosperity to tbe Sister Lodge of Instruction , " coupled with the name of Bro . Muggeridge , its excellent preceptor . ( Cheers . )

Bro . MUGGERIDCTE said he was deli ghted with the kind and hearty manner the last toast had been proposed and responded to . The members of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement on all occasions treated him with the greatest kindness and consideration , not only as the representative of the sister Lodge of Instruction , but as an individual brother ; and he assured them that the members of the Stability Lodge of Instruction entertained tho same kind feeling of respect and esteem for the

excellent and worthy President of this lodge , Bro . Stephen Barton Wilson . He wished the same uniformity existed in both lodges as regarded working the ceremonies of the Order . There certainly was a difference ; but , after all , as the worshipful chairman had said , what did it amount to ? Why , a mere difference in phraseology : they both communicated the same signs , tokens , and words , and inculcate the same princiles of morality ancl

p virtue . But whatever differences existed , they were not created by him , as he was taught by his predecessor and instructor , . Bro . Peter Thomson , at the Stability Lodge of Instruction , ancl precisely so he taught . The same way of working had been practised at that lodge of instruction since its formation by Bros . Broadfoot , Satterly , and Peter Thomson , in 1817 ; yet lie could feel great pleasure in doing all that lay in his power to

promote uniformity between the two sister lodges of instruction . Forty years ago he believed there were only those two lodges of instruction , with the exception ofthe Grand Stewards' Lodge in London , and that was the reason they were called " Sisters . " They had always been on the most friendly terms with each other , and he hoped that the cords of brotherly love by which they were bound would very soon be drawn much tighter , so

that they might be more united in respect to the working part of Freemasonry . Hoping the Emulation Lodge would continue to prosper , he thanked them most sincerely for inviting him to be their guest that evening , and for the kindness they had shown him on this and many previous occasions . ( Cheers . ) "The Working Brethren , " The Charities , " and one or two other toasts having been drunk , the brethren separated , the proceedings having been enlivened by some singing from Bros . Tedder and Huc'klanil .

[ The only drawback to the pleasures of these Annual Festivals is the late hour at which the lodge meets , which prevents all living beyond the sound of Bow Bells stopping to the close , the proceedings lasting until past midnight . !

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

GLOUCESTERSHIRE . STOW-ON-THE-WOLD . —Prince of Wales Lodge ( No . 951 ) . — On Monday , the 23 rd ult ., the usual monthly lodge was held at the Unicorn Hotel , in this town , when Bros . _ Neale , Tipping , Gardiner , Bullock , Thornbury , and Gallop , having passed a most satisfactory examination as F . C , were raised to the sublime degree of M . M . Bro . the Rev . W . Bamford was at the same

time passed from the degree of E . A . to that of F . C . The lodge was visited by Bro . E . S . Cossens , W . M . No . 900 , and P . Prov . S . G . W . for the province of Gloucester , who , at the request of the W . M ., conferred the above mentioned degrees in the most impressive manner , each brother being introduced separately . The W . M . appointed Bros , the Revs . Otto Ball and — Hadow , Chaplains ; S . Wooles , S . D . ; J . W . Neale , J . D . ; J . Bullock ,

I . G . ; W . Thornbury , Organist ; T . Tipping , Dir . of Cers . ; ancl J . S . Gallop , Tyler . The brethren , after the conclusion of tho labours of the evening , adjourned to the banquet room , where a most excellent supper awaited them . The chair was filled by Sir J . Maxwell Steele Graves , Bart ., and the vice-chair by Bro . Robt . J . Brookes , S . W . The usual toasts were given and duly honoured in antient form , and a very pleasant evening was spent .

SOMERSETSHIRE . BATH . —Pogal Sussex Lodge ( No . 53 ) . —This lodgo held its annual gathering at the Corridor Rooms , on Monday , the 7 th inst ., for the purpose of installing- their new Master , Bro . W . F . Bennet , into the chair . Tho ceremony was most ably performed by the retiring ^ Master , Bro . E . T . Payne , and elicited the warm approval of the numerous brethren present , and a cordial vote of thanks for the very efficient way in whicli the ceremony was

conducted . A more numerous company it is rarely our pleasure to meet , numbering above eighty brethren from all parts of the province , including some from Wilts and Hants . Tho W . M . was pleased to appoint Bros . Stothert , S . W . ; Davey , J . W . ; Rev . — Davey , Chap . ; Smith , Treas . ; Hollway , See . ; W . Gibbs , S . D . ; Parkham , J . D . ; Shumm , I . G . ; Hayward and Strong , Stewards ; Marshall , Dir . of Cers . From the very large attendance , it would be occupying too much space to give the

names and titles of those present ; we shall therefore observe that , at the conclusion of tho business , the brethren adjourned to Amny's Hotel , when a most splendid banquet awaited them j in fact , too much praise cannot be given to tho Stewards , assisted by tho worthy host , for the very excellent arrangement ., made for the comfort of their guests , amounting to seventy brethren who sat down . On tho removal of the cloth , " The

Queen and the Craft" was given , with true Masonic zeal , followed by " God save the Queen , " Bro . C . Milsnm presiding at the piano . "The Prince ' of Wales and the other members ot tho Royal Family" followed in rapid succession . The W . M ., in

proposing the Army , Navy , and Volunteers , alluded to the pleasure he felt in seeing a brother amongst them who was one of the 500 who rode into that valey of destruction at Balaklava , and hacl been spared , through that fearful storm , to return to his native laud unscathed , and was now tho W . M . elect of their sister lodge—the Lodge of Honour ( No . 379 , late 528 ) , — -he , therefore , coupled his , Bro . Capt . Muttlebury's , name with that of the armyBro . Capt . Palmerof the navyand Bro . Capt . Fordwith

, , , , the volunteers , each of which responded to the toast , Bro . Capt . Muttlebury according a meed of praiso to the efficiency of the volunteer force , as being England's pride and greatest security against any storm that might overtake us , anil fully equal to combat with the dark clouds that at present obscure the political horizon . — Bro . C . F . MARSHALL proposed " The R . W . the Grand Masterand Grand Lodge of England . "

, Bro . 0 . W . OLIVER next proposed the Acting Prov . G . M . of the province , the I ) . Prov . G . M ., and Grand Lodge of Somerset , greatly regretting that this was tho third anniversary of the lodge that had assembled without the appointment of a Provincial Grand Master . Ho was quite sure the interests of the Craft materially suffered in consequence , not only in numbers , but in the assistance that would be given to the difi ' erent

Charities . They had petitioned the Grand Master , bub no response whatever was given to their prayer , and he felt that , considering the extent , the influence , and the number of Masons even as at present constituted , of tho province , that they were entitled to expect that they should have a Prov . Grand Master appointed them , and not as at present bo ruled hy deputy . Still ,