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do , for he was then the servant of the lodge , and he could assure them that he would do all that lay in his power to promote its prosperity . During the coming year , he would assure them that he would always bo present to do anything that might be required of him . He cordially thanked the brethren for the honour they had conferred upon him . The lodgo was then closed and the brethren adjourned to a banquet , which was furnished in Bro . Panter ' s style , so well

Icnown to the frequenters of the Ship and Turtle . It embraced everything in season , and was of a bountiful description . The cloth having been withdrawn , The W . MASTEE briefly gave the first toast , "The Queen and the Craft , " which was heartily responded to , followed by the " National Anthem , " the solo verses hy Bro . Davies . The W . MASTEE then gave "The Health of the Earl of ZetlandMost AVorshiful Grand Master of Masons" which

, p , was equally well received . The W . MASTEE gave "The Earl de Grey and Ripon , and the rest of the Grand Officers , Past and Present , " coupling with the toast the name of Bro . Udall , P . G . D . Bro . UDAIJ said it was with pleasure that he had to return thanks for the health of Deputy Grand Master and the rest of the Grand Oflicers , and he could say that a more efficient member

• of the Craft than Earl de Grey and Ripon did not exist . In tiddition to the duties he performed in tlie service of his Queen and his country , by his presence in the Grand Lodge of England be showed the zeal he felt in tbe Craft , and the benefits derived from it . On the part of the rest of the Grand Officers be assured them that they were most efficient in their duties , and it was only that day he had been with five Grand Officers

going over the accounts for the annuitants , and it was gratifying to him to be able to say that during the year £ 2 , 500 had been given to the females , and £ 2 , 000 to the male annuitants , and those were the largest sums ever received since the charity was established . Those were the results of the good the Craft had done by their liberal subscriptions , which were greater that year than they had ever been before . About £ 11 , 000 had been contributed to the Boys' School , and to the other charities upwards of £ 8 , 000 more , so that the total subscriptions towards these institutions by the Craft for the year were upwards of

£ 19 , 000 . The Percy Lodge always sent a Steward to all their charities , and he was glad to hear that night they had voted five guineas towards the old men ' s asylum , and he trusted they ¦ would contribute a similar sum to tbe boys and girls , and although he might he supposed to have more interest iu the Girls' School , yet as the Boys' wanted the money the most , he trusted that by a long pull , a strong pull , and a pull altogether , they would get the Boys' School well up in its finances .

Bro . HEATH , I . P . M ., said the toast he had to propose required no apology from him , as it was "The Health of the AVorshipful Master . " He thought the Percy Lodge had done -well in the selection they had made in electing Bro . Allison as their W . M . Judging from the specimen they had seen in the investment of his officers , it augured well for the future as a token of proficiency . He hoped the W . M . would have plenty

of initiates and a prosperous year of office . ( Cheers . ) The AV . MASTEE said he felt exceedingly obliged to the brethren for the manner in whicli they had responded to the toast proposed by Bro . Heath , their I . P . M ., but he hardly thought he deserved such a reception . As he had obtained the position he then occupied , he could assure them that he would do his duty to the best of his ability , and if he was supported ,

as he had no doubt lie should be , he hoped to leave the chair in the same state as he found it , pure and unsullied ; and he felt very much obliged to them for the kind manner in which they had drank his health . ( Hear , hear . ) j The AV . MASTEE next proposed " The Health of the Alsitors . " j Bro . LAWSOIT , P . M . Peace and Harmony , returned thanks ; for the visitors for the lendid hospitality with which they had

sp been received , and hoped that would not be the last occasion they would have the pleasure of visiting the Percy Lodge , which he said stood A 1 in the Craft . The AV . MASTEE said the next toast he had to introduce was one that was received in all lodges with every mark of respect and courtesy , as it was "The Past Masters of the Percy Lodge . " AA'ithout the assistance of the P . M . 's a lodge

would soon go to the wall , and he was sure that the Percy Lodge would . Therefore thoy had reason to be thankful to them for the support thoy had received from them on every occasion . He submitted the toast with great confidence , and he

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hoped it would be responded to in a way which the attention and support received from them deserved . The toast was very cordially drank . Bro . HEATH said during the time he occupied the position of AV . M ., be could never understand why the immediate P . M . should always be called upon to return thanks for the P . M . ' s , as he thought that should come from the oldest of them , but then he understood how it wasThe WMwasinthebabit oi talking

. .. so much , that instead of casting him into oblivion at once , which might sour his temper , it was thought better to let him down easy , and allow him to return thanks for the P . M . ' s . ( Laughter . ) On the part of the P . M . ' s of the Percy Lodge , and of which he had the honour to be a member , he said it would be a pleasure to them to assist the AV . M . or any of the officers coming to the

chair , and those services would be freely given and with free good ivill . As to the AV . M . in the chair , from wbat they had seen , he did not think that he would want much assistance from the P . M . ' s . On their behalf he felt obliged to them for the way in whicli they had received the toast , and as long as they had P . M . ' s they would never lack their assistance . For the kind way in which they had received their names one and all , they wished the brethren prosperity for the year and prosperity

in their various lodges . ( Loud applause . ) The AV . MASTEE said , in proposing the health of their Treasurer and Secretary , as they were both so well known , as well as how they had done their duties , it required no lengthened remarks from him . AVithout further remarks then he asked the brethren to join with him in drinking " The Health of Bro . Thorne , Treasurer , and Bro . Kay , their Secretary . " ( Drunk with ap . lause )

p . Bro . TnoENS , in returning thanks , said he had the honour of belonging to the lodge for 35 years , and Bro . Key had been in it nearly as long . He was not only the Treasurer but the father of the lodge , and all he would say was that he trusted every brother would derive as much pleasure and comfort as he had done from the Percy Lodge . Bro . LAMBERT also acknowledged the compliment on behalf

of the Secretaries of the lodge , and hoped the new W . M . would have plenty of work , and a long and happy life . The AV . MASTEE next gave "The Officers of the Percy Lodge , " which was responded to by Bro . Adams , and " The Tylers " having been given by Bro . Smith , the proceedings of a very agreeable evening were brought to a close before ten o ' clock . Bro . Davies and some of the brethren contributed to the harmony of the gathering by some choice songs , & c .

Provinciai.

PROVINCIAI .

BERKS AND BUCKS . AA ' INDSOE . —Etonian Lodge ( No . 209 ) . —The brethren of this old-established lodge held their annual festival at the New Inn , Windsor , on Tuesday , the 2 nd inst ., when the appointments of officers for the ensuing year took place as follows : —Bros . Gibbons , S . W ., was installed into King Solomon's chair ; Tilley , S . W . ; Byrne , J . AV . ; Rev . J . S . Simpson , P . M ., P . Prov . S . G . AV DurhamChap . GreyS . D . ; RedoutJ . D . ; PullinTreas . ;

, ; , , , Strange , See . ; Stacey , Org . ; Shepherd , jun ., I . G . ; Case , O . G . In all the degrees the business was admirably conducted , important assistance being rendered by Bros . Powell , P . M ., and the Rev . J . S . Simpson , whose appropriate and beautiful prayers in each ceremony produced a solemn and reverential effect upon all the brethren . * Several Past Masters from other lodges , including Bro . Lambert , were present on this occasion , and

were much gratified in witnessing the superior manner in which all the ceremonies were performed by the respective officers of the lodge . The banquet table was supplied with the accustomed taste and liberality always met with at this hotel ; and the evening ' s proceedings were much enhanced hy the excellent singing of Bros . Marriott , Tolly , and Bridgewater , members of the choir of the Chapel Royal of St . George .

CHESHIRE . CEEWE . —Lodge of the Four Cardinal Virtues ( No . 979 ) . — This lodge held an emergency meeting on Thursday , January 4 th ( the room having been accidentally let for a dinner on the 3 rd ) , when Bros . AVhale , S . AV . pro tern ., Eardley , J . AV . ; Eadlifl ' e , S . D . ; AVhifcting , J . D . ; Moody , Sec ; Price , I . G . ; and