Provincial.

the Provincial Grand Lodge it is provided that every brother who shall serve the office of steward to the festivals ofthe Boys ' and Girls' Schools , as the representative of the province , shall be presented with the charity jewel , it is hoped that , ere many years elapse , each lodge will have the pride and satisfaction of seeing one or more of its -worthiest members decorated with this honourable badge of servitude .

" Tbe claims of the Girls' School will next year be advocated by Bro . David AVilliams , P . Prov . G . Sec , and tbe duty of representing the more urgent needs of the Boys' School will , it is hoped , be undertaken b y a brother nominated by tbe Bute Lodge . ' Tbe committee once more desire to draw tbe attention of the brethren to the system of the mutual interchange of voting

papers with neighbouring provinces . To this system , which has been in partial operation for the last four years , is due the fact that all the candidates supported by the province for admission to the schools have been successful but the committee regret to observe that this scheme is not as fully carried out as it might be , and they therefore recommend a more complete organisation of the system than has heretofore been adopted . The constitution of the Provincial Grand LodCommittee renders it

ge pecu liarly well qualified to decide upon the relative merits of the candidates who may be recommended by the various lodges , and also to ascertain at other times in what direction the votes may best be given , so as to ensure an equivalent return when called for . They would therefore ask the lodges and individual

brethren to place all the votes unreservedly at their disposal , on the understanding that they will be used strictly to advance the interests of candidates from the province . It will be apparent that such a scheme , fully carried out , would produce results such as individual desultory action could not accomplish . The committee pledge themselves to use every endeavour to utilise tbe voting papers to the best advantage of the province , and they propose to report annually to Provincial Grand Lodthe result

ge of their operations , which they have every reason to believe would merit the confidence reposed in them by the brethren . " The adoption of the report was moved by the W . the D . Prov . G . M ., seconded by Bro . G . B . Brock , Prov . J . G . W . and unanimously agreed to . The next business on tbe agenda paper was the presentation ofthe charitjewel of Grand Lodto BroHLPrichardP

y ge . . . , . Prov . J . G . AA ., but in consequence of tbe indisposition of this worthy brother , he . was unable to attend to receive his well earned decoration . Bro . Charles Bath , P . Prov . S . G . W ., then moved the usual vote of twenty guineas to each of the Masonic schools , which being seconded by Bro . E . F . Langley , P . Prov . S . G . AV ., was unanimously carried . Bro . Frederick Einches ablresponding on

y behalf of both the schools . On the proposition of Bro . P . H . Rowland , P . Prov . S . G . W ., seconded by Bro . Thomas Powell , P . Prov . G . Dir . of Cers ., a vote of five guineas was unanimously agreed to towards the funds of Alderman Dane's schools , for the education of poor children .

The usual collection for charity was then made amounting to £ 6 7 s ., which in conformity with custom was ordered to be placed in the hands of the rector of Neath , for distribution among the poor . The lodge was then closed in due form . The banquet was served iu the National School rooms , which had been most elaborately decorated ; the walls were newly coloured for the occasion ; light stone with purple panelling ; the

various lodges , chapters , and encampments were represented by new and tasteful banners bearing their respective names , and each banner was surrounded by a group of flags , these were connected by festoons of evergreens and flowers ; between the groups of banners , and in the centre of the festoons , were shields bearing various Masonic emblems , but conspicuous amongst them were the quartern , gs of the Grand Lodge . At the head of the room , and immediately behind the Prov . Grand

Master's chair , were three steps and a platform , nearly the whole width of the schoolroom covered with crimson cloth , upon which was arranged with great taste a most elegant assortment of flowers , shrubs , and ferns . Upon the platform were placed two Corinthian columns , connecting which was an arch bearing the inscription "Cambrian Lodge " in silver letters ou a pale blue ground , this was surmounted by the banner of the " Cambrian Lodge , " and groups of flags . A crimson damask curtain formed a background to the design

in front of which was a marble bust of the Earl Zetland , M . W . Grand Master . The effect of the decorations was complete , and reflected the highest possible credit upon every member of the lodge . The " Queen and the Craft "being duly honoured , and " The Most Worshipful Grand Master" having been as usual enthusiastically received , then followed " The Health of the R . W . the Deputy Grand Masters , and the Grand Officers , " coupled with the name of Bro . Martin , G . Chap .

Bro . Martin , G . Chap ., responded , in an amusing speech oa behalf of the R . W . the D . G . Master aud tbe Grand Officers , and in doing so fully endorsed all that had been said by Bro . Talbot with regard to the noble earl . He said that the pleasure of doing so , however , was enhanced greatly by having an opportunity of witnessing the hearty reception which his dear friend ( Bro . Talbot ) had received that day from brethren who had assembled from this and the neihbouring province to do him

g honour . This gathering , delightful though it was , made his mind revert to tbe days when Bro . Talbot and himself were fellow collegians at Christchurch , and members of the Churchill Lodge . Since that time they had been bound by ties of the closest friendship and brotherly regard , and he had determined that nothing should prevent him from being present that day to witness the gathering of tbe province who paid fealty to his

distinguished friend . The very worshipful brother explained that be was not a sailor , in fact the sight of water in large quantities gave him singular qualms ; however , as he resided in Devonshire there was no help for it but to screw up bis courage , which he did manfully , and was fortunate to cross the " briny deep" between'Burnliam and Cardiff , without experiencing the slightest sea-sickness , or being overtaken by shipwreck , as be bad quite anticipated . Bro . Morris , D . Prov . G . M ., then proposed the health of the R . AV . Prov . G . M ., which , it is needless to say , was received with

great enthusiasm . Bro . Talbot made a suitable response , and proposed tbe health of " The D . Prov . G . Master , Bro . Morris ; " in doing so said it was unnecessary for him to expatiate at any length upon the merits of his worthy Deputy . The untiring zeal and high Masonic qualities which Bro . Morris possessed ought—as they believed tbey did—to endear him to every member of the Craft throughout the Eastern Division .

Bro . Talbot afterwards rose and said , that he bad that day tbe honour of receiving a number of visitors , although scarcely as many as he bad anticipated , several distinguished brethren from various reasons having been unable to avail themselves of the invitations given them , but , however great the disappointment might be in not being able to welcome them at that festive boardlie had the honour of welcoming among the

, brethren that day no le = s a personage than the District G . M . of China ; their acquaintance bad been but of short duration , but lie bad seen sufficient of Bro . Murray to convince him that he was a man highly deserving of the distinguished position which he held among the fraternity and of the great responsibility entrusted to him by the Craft .

Bro . Murray , District G . M . of China , in the course of bis response , expressed himself highly gratified at tbe gathering which he had witnessed and the reception which the Cambrian Lodge had given to their esteemed Grand Master . The welcome which he had himself received he looked upon as one of no ordinary character ; it brought to his mind a flood of memories such as could only be understood and appreciated by an exiled Mason , and the impression of that day ' s proceedings would long

remain imprinted on bis heart . In Masonry he had found much consolation and many friends , and , were it not for Masonry , he , in his distant occupation , wouldhavebeen as it were " a stranger in a strange land . " A distinguished brother had that evening stated , in " alluding to the not very numerous attendance , that large gatherings or every Masonic progress was not to be expected in a province situated in such a remote part of the country—in his ( Bro . Murray ' s ) experience he had found that

Masonry has far better opportunities of being promoted and appreciated in remote districts than it could he in tbe full blaze of metropolitan sun . And , while thanking the brethren with very great feeling for the hearty reception be had received , and for the warmth expressed in the toast proposed by the Prov . G . Master , Bro . Murray said that he should very shortl y be leaving England for China , and might never again meet the brethren or join in their assemblies , but they may rest assured that that day twelve months he should be thinking of those who had on this