Provincial.

Tin : BANQUET . Bro . Sir T . G . Hesketh , Prov . G . M ., Bart ., MP ., presided ; and Bro . Gilbert Greenall , Prov . G . S . W ., and G . W . of England , M . F . ; and Bro . T . Biveball , Prov . G . J . W ., acted as vicechairmen . The cloth having been withdrawn , The Right Worshipful Chairman rose to propose a toast , which he said was always first in honour and in place amongst

every assembly of her Majesty ' s subjects , and he was sure her Majesty had no more loyal subjects than the Masons of England . Without further preface and without enlarging on her Majesty's virtues and good qualities , which were patent and well known to every class of her subjects , he had to propose " The Health of her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria . " "National Anthem . "

The Right Worshipful Chairman said he had to propose "The Health of the Prince and Princess of Wales , and the rest of the Eoyal Family . " He believed they stood only second to the Queen Jierself in the estimation of the people , and he hoped Avhen—which he trusted ivas far distant—the time arrived when the Prince and Princess of Wales should reign over this kingdom , they would secure as large a share in the affections of the people as their royal mother had done before them .

"The Summer Kve . " —Hatton . The Eight Worshipful Chairman , in proposing "The Army , Navy , Volunteers , Eoyal Naval Eeserve , Yeomanry , and Militia , " said the toast ivas due to a great body of men , upon whom the safety of the country depended . It was the duty and policy of the country to interfere as little as possible with the affairs of other nations , at the same time it was quite as Avell to have a sword in the scabbard to drawivhen one was attacked .

, " Soldiers Chorus . " —Gounod . Bro . Capt . Mott , Zieat . R . N . R ., acknoAvledged the toast for the Navy and the Eoyal Naval Reserve , and expressed a belief that after all , the great dependence of this country must be placed not in ships or guns , but in "The Hearts of Oak" that manned the ships—the seamen . Bro . Capfc . Edward Harbord , SOfch L . R . V ., responded for the land forces .

The Eight Worshipful Chairman rose to propose "The Health of the Earl of Zetland , M . G . W . M . of England , and the the Earl de Grey and Ripon , M . W . D . P . G . M . of England . " He had been somewhat brought into contact with those two noblemen and brethren since he had had the honour of managing this province , and from what he had seen of them he could assert that they took the deepest and most grateful interest in Masonry , and spared neither time nor means of their own to

advance its interests in this kingdom . Song— " Old Simon the Cellarer . " Bro . Gilbert Greenall , M . P ., S . G . W . of England , W . M . of Lights , No . 148 , Warrington , said he had very loyally and obediently to acknowledge the call that had been made upon him . He trusted his Avarniesfc thanks would be accepted for the favourable reception that had attended the toast just drunk . Near to him BroHarbord had made an observation connected

. Avith the legislature of the country ; and all he could say was that the experience which he had had led to the conclusion that everybody was impatient of taxation , whether to support the volunteers or any other body in the state ; and therefore , he ivas not surprised that a brother should object to volunteer officers being saddled with the income tux and other taxes , in addition to the expenses of the force to which he belonged . Reall

y and truly he felt a discontent Avith that tax as a Mason and a brother . He did not like the income-tax ; but this he did feel , thafc if a volunteer was relieved , he hoped all Masons Avould be relieved of the tax also , because their principles Avere based on honour , truth , and virtue . Song . The Eight AVorshipful P . G . M . of Cheshire , Lord De Tabley ,

proposed "The Health of Sir Thomas George Hesketh , Sort ., f * --P- > R . W . Prov . G . M . West Lancashire . He deeply regretted that onerous duties prevented him attending the installation of his Bro . Hesketh . If , as was the case Avith Sir T . G . Hesketh , constant attention was devoted to Masonry , the duties Avere great and onerous , and therefore he ivas convinced the toast WO be receivecl with the utmost cordiality

m . . The toast ivas received with all the Masonic honours . Glee : " Prosper the Art . " —Hargreaves . . Ihe Eight Worshipful Chairman rose to return his most sincere thanks for the honour conferred upon him . It Avas a matter of great regret to himself and to all the brethren of

the province thafc they had not the honour and the advantage of the presence of Lord de Tabley at his installation ; however , they knew that his lordship took a great interest in their proceedings . Since he ( the Eight Worshipful Chairman ) had had the honour of being at the head of the province his work had been very light , owing to the excellent Grand Officers who had been his assistants . He begged to ' propose "The Health of the Right Worshipful the Grand Master of East Lancashire , Stephen Blair

, Esq ., and of Lord de Tabley , the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master of Cheshire . " He had never seen anything more enthusiastic than the reception that was accorded to Lord do Tabley . He never saw a Provincial Grand Lodge better Avorked , nor one where there was a greater unanimity , or where the Grand Master acquitted himself better . The toast Avas received Avith every Masonic honour . Duet : Bros . Hughes and Armstrong

. The Right Worshipful Lord De Tabley , in acknowledging the compliment , said it Avas perfectly true , lie Avas proud in having the confidence of his Provincial Grand Lodge ; but then Masonry was a thing more extended than Cheshire or England , it pervaded the whole world . It was not only necessary that the provinces should work together , but that all Masons should work together harmoniously , so thafc tbe real principles of the

Craft should extend throughout the habitable globe . As they had heard that day , they in Lancashire were afc any rate working to further that great principle Avhich was really the foundation of Masonry here and everywhere—charity . He hoped the Eight Worshipful Master of West Lancashire would prosperously rule his lodge , and that the Masons of the province would ever folloAv tbe rule of goodwill to all men and relief to the distressed .

The Right Worshipful Chairman gave " Tbe Health of Bro . R . Townley Parker , the Eight AVorshipful Deputy Provincial Grand Master of West Lancashire , and the Provincial Grand Officers . " Bro . Townley Parker responded , and in turn proposed , " The West Lancashire Institution for the Education and Advancement in Life of the Children of Distressed Freemasons . " In the present day , he said , children Avithout education had a poor

chance of advancing in life , and if the Masons of the province Avould co-operate they might be the means of enabling many intelligent children to advance themselves in tbe world . Tbe establishment AVUS founded in 1850 by six gentlemen , three of Avhom had been called to the Grand Lodge above , but the three trustees—Bros . Hesketh , Greenall , and Billinge—yet remained , and he was glad to find that they had afc their disposal a fund amounting to about £ 5 , 000 which was well and Avisely administered , and to Avhich he hoped large additions Avould be made . -

Glee : " When the wind blows . "—Horsley . Bro . Mott , Prov . G . Sword Bearer , acknowledged the toast , and pleaded urgently for additional funds for the Educational Institution , upon which thirty-eight demands were made last year , and he was rejoiced to say they were able to respond to them . He trusted they would never have to refuse an applicant Avho came under the rules for the governance of the fund .

Bro . White , of Warrington , Prov . G . D . C , gave "Tbe Ladies , " which AA-as eloquently responded to by Bro . S . White , P . G . S . J Tlie Eight Worshipful Chairman gave , " The Health of the Visitors , " coupling with the toast the name of Bro . Busher , Prov . J . G . W ., of Westmoreland and Cumberland , Avhich Avas duly honoured and acknowledged . Bro . WylieProv . G . E " The Grand Stewards of the

, ,, gave Province , " which Avas acknowledged by Bro . Marsh , Prov . G . S . Bro . Allpass , Prov . G . S ., gave " " The Masters and Wardens of Lodges in the Province , " which was warmly received , and duly acknoAvledged by Bro . Wilson , W . M . 113 . The Right Worshipful Chairman gave " The Health of the Provincial Grand Secretary , " which was enthusiastically received and elegantly responded to by Bro . Allpass ; and the concluding

toast of the evening : " To all Poor and Distressed Freemasons throughout the Globe , and speedy relief to them , " was given from the chair , after wliich the Company broke up . GAXSVOX . —Zodge of Harmony ( No . 220 ) . —The regular monthly meeting of this lodge Avas held on the 1 st of October , and Avas numerously attended both b y members and visitors . Among others we noticed Bros . Hamer , Prov . G . Treas . ; Scott , P . M . 594 ; Larsen , J . W . 594 ; Gee and Gibney , 249 ; Ditcbfield and Seers , 203 . The lodge having been duly opened by tbe