Provincial.

up a Masonic connection in the town for twenty-five years , though they could not muster a lodge , and the R . AV . Prov . G . M . on investing him with the office of Prov . G . S . AV ., had said he confided the honour to him in consequence of the Masonic zeal he had evinced during that long period . At last they had revived the lodge , through the instrumentality of their Southampton friends , and mainly ancl principally through that medium the New Forest Lodge

( No . 401 ) was being brought up to hold , if not one of the highest , a tolerably good position in the province ; and , under its present AV . M ., he was sure it would go on prosperously . To go back to the subject of the toast , he thanked them most kindly and sincerely for the honourable manner in which be ancl his brother officers had been alluded to . If he had in any way failed in giving that stimulus which he ought to have done , he hoped they would attribute that feeling to au error of judgmenta fault of the head

, rather than of the heart . ( Cheers . ) The next toast was " The Isle of AVight and Dorset Past ancl Present Grand Officers and other Visitors . " The R . AV . PROV . G . M . said , as to the Isle of AVight brethren , they were of course always most happy to see them ; ancl it also gave them much pleasure to meet those from Dorset or any other province . He was sorry to say , he missed the attendance of one Bro . ( Hyde Pullen ) who he

believed was presiding over another meeting at Portsmouth . In conclusion , the Prov . G . M . expressed his firm love and devotion to the ancient Craft . Bro . COUSINS , Prov . J . G . Warden of Dorset , was called upon to respond . He said he little expected the honour of having to return thanks , but with pleasure he replied on the part of Dorsetshire . He had visited many lodges , but he had never before experienced such a thorouglMasonic meeting as that of the present day . The

y expressions of every brother present , representing fifteen lodges of the province , were actuated by but one feeling of affection ancl regard towards their R .. AV . Prov . G . M . It was a good thing to take the opportunity of intermixing with brethren of different localities and he was sure he would be led to say on his return , " Go into Hampshire and see how they act there . " He was sure that anv

visitor to that Prov . Grand Lodge must go away deeply impressed with the virtue and worth of Masonry . He could only say , that ii any brother from Hampshire visited the coming meeting at Wareham in September , they would receive a hearty welcome . ( Hear . ) The R . AV . PROV . G . M . then proposed " The Health of the newlyappointecl Grand Officers of the Province . " Bro . HAREIELD responded . He thanked the Prov . G . M . for the

unexpected honour conferred upon him . ancl he would certainly strive to do his best , and make his services acceptable to the G . M . and satisfactory to the brethren of the Province . ( Cheers . ) The R . AV . PROV . G . M . then proposed " The Health of an absent Brother , Bro . Stebbing . " ( Cheers ) . That gentleman had now been -unanimously elected as Alee President of the Board of General Purposes . There had been a time when Bro . Stebbing was not considered by some to be a true ancl zealous mason ; he had differed

in opinion from those who held high situations in the Grand Lodge ; but his good feeling and his zeal had at last become so conspicuous , that he was returned as one of the members of the Board by a large majority . This was a great honour to him , ancl to the province to which he belonged , and he was sure that the more they knew of Bro . Stebbing , the more they would appreciate him and his good qualities . He was sorry he was not competent to do justice to the toast , and all the claims Bro . Stebbing possessed ; hut it was with sincere feeling he proposed his good health , ancl he

regretted he was not present with them . The toast was drunk ¦ with strong terms of approval . The R . W . Pnov . G . M . then proposed "The Health of Bro . the Rev . G . Bradshaw , Prov . Grand Chaplain , " which was warmly received . The PROV . G . CHAPLAIN responded , and in reference to his new degree , in his capacity as a scholar and a clergyman , said , no degree was prized by him more than the Masonic one of Prov . G . Chaplain

of the Province of Hampshire . ( Cheers . ) The Prov . G . CHAPLAIN then gave his toast , " To all poor and distressed Masons , ancl a speedy return to thoir native land , " which was drunk amidst solemn silence . " The Ladies " were also duly honoured . Bro . EMANUEL proposed "The Health of Mrs . Ackland and Family , " with the especial thanks of the assembled brethren for the excellent and sumptuous repast furnished for them that clay .

The toast met with full acknowledgement . \ On the R . AV . PROV . G . M . leaving the chair he was most warmly applauded by the company . After the gallant Admiral had retired , Bro . Harfield , the Prov . S . G . AV ., succeeded him , and several additional toasts ancl speeches were given . It is satisfactory to notice that Bro . John Hayward , was induced during the meeting to accept the Stewardship of the province for the Boys' Institution , for the ensuing j-ear .

Provincial.

LEICESTERSHIRE . LEICESTER . —John of Gaunt lodge ( No . 766 ) . —The annual festival of this Lodge was held at the Freemasons' Hall , on . Thursday , the 27 th ult ., by postponment from St . John's Day . Among the brethren present were Capt . Brewin , AV . M . ; Kelly , D . Prov . G . M . ; AA'illey Clephan , Bankart , Millicant , Hardy , Past Masters ; Sheppard , S . AV ., and AV . M . elect . ; J . 0 . Picton , " Chaplain ; Davis ,

Sec ., & c . A'isitors , Bros . J . F . Klein , P . G . S ., Lodge of Emulation ( No . 21 ); Lanclen and AVeare , W . M . ; Underwood , Pratt and Morris , P . M . 's No . 348 . The loclge having been opened and the minutes , including the election of AA . M ., read and confirmed , Bro . Brewin , the retiring AV . M . proceeded to initiate Mr . Henry Peake Green , into the mysteries of the Order . Tlie loclge was then opened in tbe second degree , and the D . Prov . G . M . having taken the chair , installed Bro . Thomas Sheppard , as the AV . M . for the

ensuing year , who afterwards appointecl and invested the following brethren as his officers : —Bros . W . Johnson , S . AV . ; H . J . Davis , J . AV . ; Rev . J . 0 . Picton , Chaplain , J . Spencer , Sec . ; J . H . Garnar , J . D . ; W . S . Bithrey , J . D . ; T . Barwell , I . G . ; Chas . Bembridge , Tyler . Bro . Capt . Bankart was unanimously re-elected Treasurer , and thanks were voted to him for his past services . On the proposition of the D . Prov . G . M ., the thanks of the lodge were accorded by acclamation to Bro . Brewinfor his highly efficient

, services as W . M . for the past year . Some financial ancl other business of a routine character having been transacted , the loclge was adjourned for refreshment , ancl between twenty and thirty brethren sat down to the banquet , after which the usual loyal ancl Masonic toasts were duly honoured , and a very pleasant ancl social evening was spent .

Masonic Festivities.

MASONIC FESTIVITIES .

EASTERN STAR LODGE ( No . 112 ) . —The summer festival was celebrated at the Crown Inn , Broxbourne , on AVednesday , July 3 rd . At fouro'cloek , twenty-five ladies and brethren were summoned by the dinner bell to the conservatory , where the banquet was spread . The chair of course was filled by the AV . M ., Bro . Fred . Innman Sharp , and the vice-chair by the S . AV . ) Bro . Horatio Grey . The dinner disposed ofBro . Sharp rose and saidas were desirous

, , many of enjoying themselves in the grounds , he should offer but few toasts , and those would be introduced as briefly as possible ; disposing of the loyal ancl Masonic healths , he then proposed that of " The Past Masters of the Loclge , " and connected with it the name of an honoured member of forty-eight years standing , their venerated friend , Bro . Fuller , who all were pleased to see with them . —Bro . Fuller , in responding , said he never knew a greater amount of

enjoyment than he experienced on that occasion , and he perceived by the arrangements on that as on all their gatherings , a desire to promote the happiness and cordial good feeling of the members . — Bro . E . W . Davis then rose , and observed that there was one toast never omitted , ancl which , on that occasion , it was his particular privilege to propose . As in the course of the year he should have other opportunities of doing justice to the merits of Bro . Sharp , he contented himself with proposing " The Health of the W . M . "—

Bro . Sharp , in a few words , gracefully acknowledged the compliment . He then proposed " The A'isitors , " which was acknowledged by Bro . Maney ; and then followed " The Ladies . " At a given signal , a band in the grounds struck up a lively strain , ancl a dance upon the lawn finished a most agreeable day .

YAEBOROUGH LODGE ( NO . 812 ) . —The Annual festival of this loclge was held on Thursday , July 4 th , at the Star and Garter , Richmond , and was attended by about forty brethren and ladies . The meeting possessed more than the usual amount of interest , as testimonials were to be presented to Bro . P . M . A ' asey , and also to Mrs . AVilliams , the respected hostess of the "George , " Commercial Road , Eastthe regular place of meeting . The Rev . Bro . D . Shaboe

, , the AV . M . ofthe loclge , presided . The cloth having been removed ancl the usual toasts drunk , the AV . M . said they had reached the toast of the evening , andbehadto present to his predecessor , to whose health he demanded the pledge , the testimonials of the gratitude of the Yarborough Lodge for Bro . Vasey's services during the preceding year , and also recently as Secretary . Bro . A asey had made choice of a goblet , and in presenting it he devoutly wished

"May he ne ' er want a friend , Or a bottle to give him . " The silver gilt goblet filled with champagne was then passed round , it bore the following inscription , "This goblet with a P . M . jewel , was presented , on the 4 th July , 1861 , to Bro . J . Vasey , P . M . and Sec , as a testimonial of the regard ancl admiration of the brethren of the Yarborough Lodge ( No . 812 ) , for the excellent working manifested by him in all the degrees , and his skill in conducting the affairs of the lodge . " —Bro . A asey in acknowledging the testi-