Provincial,

¦ tain Stewards for tbe festival . The Masonic Girls' School was far more popular ancl commanded general support . The Boys ' School and the other charity for aged Freemasons ancl Widows , though possessing equal clai ms for assistance , were comparatively thrown into the back ground . But , fortunately , a change has ensued . Bro . Binckes took the office of Secretary to the Boys School , and immediately applied himself to place that charity upon a proper footing . ( Hear . ) His indefatigable

industry ancl unremitting exertions were given to the work . No distance was too great for him—no labour was too arduous . Wherever he thought he could advance tbe interests of the charity there he was sure to be present . ( Hear . ) His eloquent voice was heard on all occasions to advocate the cause , his \ Vfiole heart was thrown into his words , and who can wonder that success has attended his efforts ? That success has been unprecedentedas Masons know full well . Time was when the burden

, of supporting the charities was thrown upon the London Freemasons , who were ever ready and willing ; but the country Freemasons hacl now come forward nobly in the cause . Ancl amongst the Lodges which led the van , the Lodge of ( Economy took a foremost place . Therefore , we are entitled to say that this Loclge sympathises with Bro . Binckes's successful efforts . ( Applause . ) His exertions in the craft have been long and

unwearied ; he has looked upon Freemasonry as a vast system , possessing within itself the elements of great good . He has not confined himself to one branch , but wherever he thought he could advance the interests of the Order , he has been ready and willing to lend his aid ; his ardent wish was to support , to promote , and to extend it . We may well congratulate ourselves that his sphere of usefulness has been enlarged , and that the

Masonic Boys' School has thrived so largely under his auspices . May every brother be incited not to relax his efforts , but to clo even more for the support of the charity , ancl may increasing success attend their exertions . ( Applause . ) I beg to move the resolution . —Bro . STEBBING said , as a member of the Loclge he had very great pleasure in seconding the motion which had been so gracefully introduced by their distinguished Bro . Beach . He had been long and intimately acquainted with Bro . Binckes ' s Masonic zeal , and was exceedingly glad to find that his country brethren were so appreciating his exertions . He then referred

in touching language to the unity which had existed between Bros . Binckes , Symonds , and Lyall , a few years ago , to stir up the feeling of tbe Masons on behalf of the charities throughout the provinces . There was a fear , perhaps , existing among some of the brethren that if great prominence was given to one charity , the others might suffer , but the result of last year ' s experience had proved this fear to be groundless , for at no previous period had the Benevolent Institution and the Royal

Masonic School for Girls raised such large sums in donations ancl subscriptions . For this reason , then , he considered that they owed a double debt of gratitude to Bro . Binckes , for he had never selfishly advocated merely the charity with which he was more immediately connected , but hacl also strenuously urged on the brethren the important duty of supporting all their charities . ( Applause . ) He knew how feeble his language was to express

all that the brethren felt towards their eminent brother , and be begged to conclude by most cordially seconding the resolution before the Lodge . The W . M . read the resolution , and put it to the Loclge , when it was carried with the utmost unanimity . — . Addressing Bro . Binckes , the W . M . thus proceeded , I have very great pleasure in giving directions to our Secretary to record this resolution on the Lodge books . I have before said bow greatly honoured we feel bthe presence of name on the

y your roll of the members of No . 90 . Further , your name during the last year has been singularly connected with the advocacy and the advance of the charities . I can only hope that tho strenuous exertions you will no doubt make in tbe time to come will meet with your utmost desires , and that the great success of the charity you are immediately connected with will be the means of producing also a great increase to the prosperitof the

y other institutions . I have now very great pleasure , in the name ofc he loclge , in presenting yon with this resolution ( Applause . ) —Bro . BINCKES rose amidst another round of congratulations . He saicl he was somewhat afraid that without difficulty he could not fully respond to the handsome compliment just rendered to him . Apart from the pleasure he experienced in again meeting them as a member of tlie Loclge , there were also a great many

happy reminiscences connected with it . He was greatly indebted to Bro . Beach , a most distinguished member of the craft , who had in times past made great sacrifices in its behalf , and was still always first and foremost in a wish further to promote

its interest and prosperity . For himself a very distinguished honour had emanate ! from No . 90 . In times past , when there was not existing that unity which now happily prevailed , when acts had been misconstrued , and he hoped misunderstood , in a trying time ot difficulty to him , the brethren of No . 90 bad shown their sympathy and good feeling towards him by electing him an honorary member of their Lodge . This , in itself , was evidence that they thought him actuated only by good wishes ,

and they had endeavoured by their influence to assist those motives . At a subsequent period , again , the first vote of congratulation to him came from No . 90 , and he most heartily thanked them for that proof of their continued kindness and esteem . He cordially agreed with the speeches just made by the proposer and seconder of the resolution , and was certain that while a large increase had occurred to the institution with which he was more immediately connected no

detriment had been caused to the other institutions . Whilst he had been the happy means of stimulating others in different districts , and hacl succeeded in raising the Boys' School to its present proud position , he found that the Girls' School had been benefitted with a larger amount of support than had ever before been afforded it . ( Hear ) . He was afraid , at that protracted hour of the sitting of the Lodge , he could not longer continue to detain them upon this subjectbut be should yet like to say a

, few words on the great merits of Freemasonry . He hacl before now beard it saicl that the glory of Freemasonry consisted in nothing else but its charitable institutions , ancl that if it was not for them the Craft would not be held in that estimation it was by tho pnblic . He would not say one single syllable against the important position the charities had held in their estimation , but he thought they must all of them admit that there was a vast field for work independent of that opened up by their

charitable institutions . Freemasonry had for ages been the depository of the sciences of the world , though often illused they had been the pioneers of civilisation peering out of the darkness , and truly might it be said that Freemasonry had been one of tbe brightest institutions for ameliorating christian humanity . It was only the natural result of its practice that it should show itself in some active way for the amelioration of the wants of mankind . What had been done had naturally followed , clown to that

clay . He considered the charities , not the crown of Freemasonry , but he certainly looked upon them as its brightest ornaments . ( Hear . ) He thought it should be made known to those without its pale , that , next to religion , there was no institution in the world doing so much good to the human race . He was happy to find that their charities had been so much increased , and he believed that all had not yet been done that very well could be clone . The amount subscribed by the Freemasons during the

financial year just passed far exceeded that of any other institution of a charitable kind , considering their numbers . They had this year subscribed nearly £ 11 , 000 for their own charitable institutions , and this spoke volumes as to what might be done by united exertion . He thought the W . M . and the brethren who had introduced the motion had spoke of him in too laudatory terms for what he hacl clone . It was clearly apparent that it was only requisite for the claims and merits of tho charities to be

made known in the provinces , to ensure for them an equal amount of support as gained from the Metropolitan districts . There were , no doubt , many districts in the provinces where comparatively little was known of the charities , and in some districts in existence , even now , it was not known that the Craft had a Boys' and Girls' Institution . It was only for the provinces to be informed of these thingsand to be told

, what was wished , ancl the result to follow was a ready amount of aid . For information sake , he might mention that in the year 1862 , out of 107 Stewards for the charities , fifty-three were from the country , and nearly one-half of the whole sum contributed to the charities hacl been derived from the country . In the present year he found that the number of Stewards from the country was the largest , and the amount of contributions the

most . ( Hear . ) He could hope that what had been achieved in the country in the last two years , would lead to the metropolitan brethren being reminded of their former prestige , and induce them to more active exertions and a determination to beat the country . He must again declare that to him was not due one half of the credit given him in reference to the success of the charities ; if he had not hud the good fortune to have sown good seed upon good soil , such a product could not have been realized . He had always found a hearty welcome , especially in that lodge , and a liberal response had followed his appeals , ancl he was sure no one could feel more truly grateful for the responses made to