Australia.

The vice-chairman was supported on either side by the W . M . 's and officers of the lodges above mentioned . Grace having been sung by the Provincial Grand Chaplain , the company paid due homage to the good things provided , intermingling them with hilarious and agreeable conversation . The PROV . G . MASTER then called attention to tbe toasts of

the evening . "Tbe Queen , " "The Prince and-jPrincess of Wales and the Royal Family , " and the " Three Grand Lodges , " were put from the chair , and all received with the usual loyal and Masonic honours . The VICE CHAIRMAN then proposed the toast of the evening — "The Provincial Grand Master , the Right Worshipful Brother George Thornton . " He thought that the greatest homage he could pay would be to ive the toast in as few words as-possible .

g The Right Worshipful Brother had served the community as citizen , as mayor , as representative , and now in his character of Freemason . He was the representative of Irish Freemasonry in this colony , and iu this character he would visit the old country , and when he returned he would no doubt be able to school most of bis brethren .

The PROV . G- MASTER , on rising , was received with overwhelming cheers , which lasted for several minutes . Visibly affected , Bro . Thornton said , —I rise under feelings of no ordinary nature to return you my sincere and heartfelt thanks for the kind and generous manner in which you have responded to this toast . These feelings are mingled—they are partly those of pleasure , partly of pain ; of pain at leaving the old familiar faceson leaving native land for the first timeperhaps for

, my , ever , to visit a strange country . But inseparable from this feeling , is that of pleasure at seeing so many friends around me in this hour , and of anticipated pleasure at being able at length to accomplish , with the will of God , my cherished desire of treading tho shores of that dear old country ; for though I am a native of Australia , yet it is the land of my forefathers , —the land which even all Australians cannot but consider as

homethe land of family connection and early association . I have been so much engaged during the last few days in preparing for this important stop , that I have not had time to think of anything I might wish to say to you here ; but I know that you will receive even these few remarks as the sincere expression of my heart and feeling . It is an important step , and I trust that it will not only benefit myself , but also enable me to acquire

knowledge that will be of service to the Freemasons , and to the public generally ; and that these will reap the advantages arising from this visit and its associations , one of my greatest desires being to visit the head quarters of the Constitution . It shall be one of my first proceedings to visit Ireland , for I feel convinced that more can be done in one personal interview than hy years of correspondence . There are many things in the working of our system that require explanation ; many points in the

working that require to be authenticated , as hitherto there has been no opportunity of our communicating personally with the Grand Lodge of Ireland . I shall assiduously make myself and you acquainted with all things that require attention ; and when I come back ( if it should please the Great Architect of the Universe to spare me ) , I hope to be useful to you and keep up the unanimity of feeling existing amongst Masons , and to be of service to my fellow-citizens generall . It has always been the

y great ambition and wish of my life to visit the old country , if ever I should have the means ; now , I am so fortunate as to be able to do so under the most agreeable auspices . A singular circumstance is connected with this visit . During the hour of my great trouble , when no hope was entertained of my recovery , I had no worldly care , no anxiety ; but the one great sorrow that oppressed meand made death seem so bitterwas the

, , disappointment I felt at having to leave the world without satisfying the wish of my life , to go home and see the old country . I shall never be unmindful of your kindness ; I will take solemn care that that greatest of all dignities and position , that of your Provincial Grand Master , shall remain untarnished . I have spent many happy days amongst you ; I shall ever think of this evening with proud satisfaction ; and I hope to come

back , trusting in an increased share of your interest and affection . Bro . ^ Thornton resumed his seat amidst the heartiest cheers . Eising again , he stated in a few appropriate words that he had for the period of his absence , vested his authority in the Deputy Prov . Master , Bro John Clark . _ The VICE-CHAIRMAN gave the next toast , " The Deputy Provincial Grand Master , and the officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge . " Bro . J . CLAEK , D . Prov . G . M ., replied . He regretted he

could not speak like their Provincial Grand Master , whose words flowed from his mouth like honey ; but he nevertheless felt the thanks he could not express . Nothing should be wanting on his part for the advancement of this Constitution , or of the Craft in general . Though he had been for many years associated with the Provincial Grand Master , he was the oldest Past Master in the Constitution . He had been associated with the Grand Master from his initiation till the present claytill he

, had arrived at tho present high position of Deputy Provincial Grand Master . He promised , during the absence of Brother Thornton , to carry out the intentions of their great Order , and to promote unanimity and good feeling amongst the brotherhood , lie had overcome all difficulties with the assistance of the very able officers who were now associated with him . He hoped they would go on and prosper , and that he should be able to give

the Grand Master , on his return , a most satisfactory account of their proceedings and progress . Ho had never been absent ' from his post , and nothing should be wanting on his part either in energy , perseverance , and industy to keep their Order in the high position it had always occupied in this part of the world . The toast of Provincial Grand Chaplain ( proposed by the D . Prov . G . M . ) was earnestly and beautifully acknowledged by

that officer , the Rev . C . C . KEMP . Notwithstanding that he had come amongst them at a late period of life , he was fully capable of appreciating the great truths aud beauties of the Order , and of rejecting the opinions of those who had stood " forward as the enemies of the Craft . He was not there to exercise his duties as chaplain , but to remind them of their duties as men . Here all were cosmopolitan . No prejudices should stand between man and man . All were laced on equal terms

p ,, and all were to show their love to God and to man . The rich should not suffer himself to forget the poor . All those who arrived at influence in the Craft , would advocate the privileges and advantages of Masonry . We should all be able to point to our works of charity , and he hoped that our privileges as Freemasons would lead us to take the proper steps in that

direction . It was his privilege to point to their works ; it was not enough that they should talk of good deeds , they must be up and doing . The privileges of Freemasonry should be applied to the best purposes , aud the moral tendency of the institution ever remembered , to enable man to return to the Creator of the Universe . The reverend brother lastly alluded in the most feeling language to tbe departure of Bro . Thornton , whose virtues would live after him , should it please the Almighty to take

him away during his perilous voyage . The succeeding toasts were , "The Provincial Grand Inspector , " replied to by that officer ; " The Provincial Grand Lodges under the English and Scotch Constitutions ; " "The Officers of the different lodges under the Irish Constitution ;" each separate and acknowledged by the respective Worshipful Masters ; " Our Past Masters , " " All the Fraternity around the Globe" " Our Absent Brethren" and " The Vice-Chairman "

, , . After the toasts , which , as Grand Master , the chairman had to propose , Bro . THORNTON begged to be permitted to leave , as he had many things still to do to prepare for bis early departure . It was difficult to him to say to such kind friends—farewell , perhaps for ever . Should it be so—it would be his lot to submit to the will of Heaven . He was reluctant to depart from them

, and had not words to express his feelings . But he hoped to be spared to report welcome tidings to them and to find them again all hearty and happy , enjoying every happiness and prosperity . Bro . CLARK thought they could not allow their Grand Master to say farewell on this happy occasion . He had made arrangements with Captain Swanson for the brethren to meet the Prov . G . M . on board the Duncan Dunbar before her departure

, when an address would be presented to him . The PROV . G . MASTER said he was very pleased to hear this , and would , therefore , now only wish them a hearty good night . Bro . Thornton then left the room amidst the most enthusiastic Masonic honours , and the very agreeable entertainment terminated about midnight .

PRESENTATION OP AIT ADDRESS TO BRO . GEOEGE THOENTON . Pursuant to an advertisement of the Prov . G . Sec , the members of the Masonic fraternity , under the Irish Constitution , assembled at Bro . John Clark ' s rooms , in Elizabeth-street , for the purpose of presenting an address to the Eight Worshipful their Prov . G . Master , and of taking leave of him on his departure for Europe on Saturday , February 13 th . A large