Provincial.

£ 5 5 s . ; and five guineas each to the fund of the Staffordshire General aud North Staffordshire Infirmaries . These votes having been carried in the usual manner amongst Jlasons , and au acknowledgment offered by the Grand JIaster to the ProA-. Grand Chaplain for ° his sermon , the Grand Lodge was closed . The banquet was served at four o ' clock in the assembly room of the Shire Hallwhich had been tastefully decorated . The

, tables were admirably arranged for the convenience of the guests , 200 of whom were comfortably seated , the R . AV . Prov . G . JI ., occupying a seat in the centre , on tbe west side of the hall . The sumptuous character of the repast Avas considerably enhanced by a magnificent collection of choice fruits and flowers from the gardens of the noble president , which were arranged with much taste and to admirable advantage by Jlr . ' . Phipps , of Ingestre , his lordship ' s gardener . The dinner was

served by Bro . James Senior of the Swan and A'iue Hotels , and it may he sufficient to say that everyone was pleased and satisfied II is lordship was supported on the right by the R . AA' . D . Proi ' . G . JI-, Bro . Tudor , and the R . AA' . P . Prov . D . G . M ., Dr . Foster Gough , and on the left by Bvo . the Earl Ferrers , and the R . AA' . P . Prov . G . JI ., Leiut .-Col . Vernon , together with several of the past and present officers of the province . On the removal of the

" creature comforts" Avhich had been provided , "Non Nobis Domine" was sung by Bros . Edmondson , of Stockport , and Dumville aud Standen , of the Cathedral , Jlanchester ; immediately after which the R . AA ' . Prov . G . JI . proposed " The health , the better health of her JIajesty tlie Queen , " which was drunk standing , followed by the Masonic version of the National Anthem . The R . AV . Prov . G . JI . the Earl of Shrewsbury again rose and

, proposed "The health of P . G . M . Bro . his Royal Highness the Prince of AA ' ales , the Princess of AA'ales , and . the rest of the Royal Family . " As regarded the Prince of AA ' ales , his Royal Highness , he said , had proved himself a good JIason , while tho Princess had endeared herself to every English heart . The toast was warmly received . The R . AV . Prov . G . AI ., then proposed "The health ofthe M . W . G . M ., the JIarquis of Ripon . "

The R . W . P . Prov . G . JI ., Bro . Col Vernon , proposed " The health of R . AV . Prov . G . JI ., the Earl of Shrewsbury . " They had all , he observed , seen how the Proviucial Grand JIaster bad worked the Provincial Grand Lodge that day , and from his kindliness cf manner and his thorough grasp of detail , they all have said to themselves , " Here is the man for us . " Before he became a JIason their R . AA' . brother showed how thoroughly he was imbued Avith some of the best principles of tbe

Craftcharity and pi ilanthropy—and now that he had obtained high honours among them , his earnest desire was to prove himself worthy of them . The best interests of the Craft wero now in good hands , and trusted that their R . AV . Prov . G . M . might long live to preside over them . ( The toast was drunk with much enthusiasm . ) Tbe R . AV . Prov . G . JI ., the Earl of Shrewsbury , said ho felt that that day was au important era in his existence . He had

not accepted the responsible office of their Prov . G . M . without careful inquiry as to what were its duties , and whether , with his other varied engagements , he could efficiently discharge them . Having decided in the affirmative , be accepted , but with diffidence , the proud position which was offered him . In these days of work , if a man aspired to any commendation among his neighbours , le must be determined to lead a life , not of pleasure

and idleness , but of real bind work . In the position he had by their kindness been placed , he trusted to be able to assist tliem iu carrying out great aud good works , and to show the world that JIasonry was not a mere social club , but a great power for good . He had made it bis business to glance over the reports of many of their Masonic charities , aud he believed that the JIasonic School for Boys and that for Girls ranked among the grandest institutions of the kingdom . No community was

so ready as Jlasons to to stretch out a friendly hand to the widow and orphan , and he could not but regard as one of the safeguards of the Constitution of a free country like this , the existence of a society Avhich , revering all that was good and rejecting all that was bad , hound together its members in the ties of truth and fidelity . After a feAV remarks on the importance of a feeling of unity between the various lodges , the Prov . G . M . went on to propose the health of the R . AV . D . Prov . G . M . Prov . G . S . Tudor , of whose services to the Craft he spoke in the

highest terms , and who , he said , ought to have occupied the position which he ( tho Prow G . JI . ) then held . From the moment , however , that he communicated with Bro . Tudor respecting his appointment , ho received nothing but tho greatest kindness aud courtesy , and the most valuable advice . Further alluding to a subject which , he had mentioned iu Grand Lodge the R . W . Prov . G . JI . reiterated his intention of visiting the

various lodges , in company with the R . W . D . Prow G . M ., with tbe view of making himself thoroughly acquainted with the work of Masonry , and promoting uniformity of action . So far as lay with him , JIasonry should not remain stagnant . Alluding to the sermon preached at church by the ProA' . G . C , Bro . AVestbury , the R . W . Prov . G . M . observed that their rev . brother had said in twelve minutes what it would baA'e taken some rev . gentleman an hour , to deliver . Iu his brief but edifing and

y most true and honest discourse Bro . AVestbury had fully set forth the principles of JIasonry , and he should like to seo the sermon in print , and a copy attached to fche bye-laws of every lodge . ( The health of the R . AV . D . Prov . G . M . ivas then drunk with great cordiality . )

The R . AV . D . Prov . G . JI ., Bro . Tudor , in acknowledging the toast , gave expression to the earnest desire to discharge his duties efficiently which had always actuated him , and his gratitude to them for their invariable kindness , and especially to Prov . G . S ., Bro . Cartwright and the P . D . G . JI . ' s , Bros . Dr . Gough aud Dr . Burton for the invaluable advice they had from thus to time given him .

The Prov . G . JI . then briefly proposed "The health of the P . Prov . G . JI ., Bro . Col . Vernon . " The R . AA' . P . Prov . G . M ., Bro . Col . Vernon , gracefully acknowledged the compliment . The R . AV . P . D . Prov . G . JI ., Dr . Foster Gough acknowledged the toast .

P . Prov . S . G . AV . the P . G . S . AA ' m . Cartwright , in proposing the health of the P . G . C , the Rev . Bro . J . AVestbury , hoped that the happy brevity which had distinguished the rev . gentleman's sermon would be imitated by every minister of the Church of England . P . G . C . AVestbury briefly acknowledged the toast . The R . AV . D . Prov . G . JI . Bro . Tudor proposed "The Prov : G . AV .

and Officers of Prov . G . Lodge , " coupling Avith the toast the name ofthe S . G . AA ' ., Bro . Yates , who , in acknowledging it , said the St . James ' s Lodge , Handswortli , of which he was a member , had very properly viewed his nomination to the office of S . G . AV . as an honour conferred upon them . ii i The R . AV . Prov . G . JI . the Earl of Shrewsbury proposed " The Visitors . " He regretted the abseuce of several distinguished friends , who had been invited , but congratulated the company

on the presence of Earl Ferrers , the G . JI . of the Ivanboe and Ashby-do- ' a-Zouch Lodge . He was sure that though one part of his noble friend ' s heart belonged to Leicestershire , the other belonged to Staffordshire . In addition to Earl Ferrers , the

R . AA ' . G . M . coupled with the toast the name of Bro . Whitt , who , his Lordship humorously stated , bad been professionally engaged iu auditing his accounts , and had enabled him to come to that banquet with a clear conscience . Bro . Earl Ferrers , and Bro . AVitt , briefly acknowledged the toast , the noblo earl observing that though he was a JIason of Leicestershire , he was proud to be a native of Staffordshire . Bro . Bristow , of Worcester , also responded .

P . S . AV . Yates proposed the health ofthe Prov . G . Treas . and the Prov . G . Sec , to the great A-alue of whose services he bore warm testimony . The toast was briefly acknowledged by Prov . G . T . Howells and Prov . G . S . Cartwright . "The Masonic Charities" was given by Bro . Sargeant , Prov . G . J . AA ' ., and was acknowledged in an excellent speech by Bro . Binckes . The R . AV . D . Prov . G . JI ., Dr . Foster Gough , in a very happy

speech , proposed " The Ladies , " which was acknowledged by Bro . J . C . Marson . Tho R . AV . Prov . G . JI ., tho Eavl of Shrewsbury , proposed the " Stewards , " coupling with it the name of Bro . Joyce , to whose able services , he said , they ivere deeply indebted . His lordship also connected with the toast the name of Bro . Senior , of whose catering he deservedly spoke in high terms . At the same time he warmly thanked P . Prov . G . O . Shargool for the admirable manner in Avhich he conducted the musical service at church .