Provincial.

majority of the brethren present . On proceeding to record the votes for the W . M . for the ensuing year , it was found that Bro . Groves , already twice elected to that office , was now recalled by a large majority to the chair . The announcement was received with acclamation . Bro . Huntley was appointed Treasurer , and Bro . Mowbray , Tyler . There being no other business , lodge was closed in the usual manner , when the brethren retired for refreshmentancl the evening was spent in harmony .

, Sourn SHIELDS . —St . Hilda ' s Lodge ( So . 2-10 ) . —The regular monthly meeting of this lodge was held on Monday last , the Oth inst ., the AV . M ., Bro . Henry Hedley , presiding , supported by Bros . Ridley ( the AYorsliipful tbe Mayor of the borougb ) , Barker , Hewison , Hinde , Buckland , and Eoddams , P . M . s ; Twizell , I' . Prov . J . G . W . Northumberland ; and Hansen , AA ' . M . No . 431 , Shields . After two gentlemen bad been initiated , the

brethren proceeded to ballot for tbe AA . M . ancl Treas . for the ensuing year . Bro . AA . Wright , S . W ., was unanimously elected W . M ., and Bro . Piidley re-elected Treas . After the Tyler ancl Auditors had been nominated , ancl several propositions had been received , the lodge was closed in clue form . A Lodge of Instruction has been formed under the sanction of St . Hilda's Lodge , and meets every AA ednesday fortnight . The first annual

report of the Treasurer of the Freemasons' Hall Committee has just been published to the shareholders , which represents the company in a very favourable and flourishing condition . MONMOUTHSHIRE . ISSTAI , I . A . TIOX OS THE PllOV . G . MASTES , BltO . ROLLS . AA e last- week gave the proceedings at the Provincial Grand Lodge , on the occasion of the installation of the new Prov . G . M ., on the 29 th ult ., and we now proceed to give a report of the evening ' s entertainment .

'I HE BAU - QUET , AVhich ivas served up iu the Assembly-room of the Beaufort Arms Hotel , was a very sumptuous affair , in which the cuisine of the establishment ' was well maintained , and the whole gave great satisfaction to those who partook of what may justly be termed an " epicurean festival . " The rifle baud played an excellent selection of pieces in an adjoining apartment , and several brethrenwho formed themselves into a glee partyrendered in

, , good style some of the most popular of the musical compositions of a past and present period . Bro . Rolls , Prov . G . M . was supported by Bros . Dr . Bowles , Prov G . M . of Herefordshire ; Colonel Tynto , Prov . G . M . of Glamorganshire ; Chandos AA ren Hoskyns , D . Prov . G . M . of Herefordshire ; C . Lyne , D . Prov . G . M . of Monmouthshire ; H . . Martin , Kennard , High Sheriff for the County ; C . De Bernardy , AA . M .

of the Silurian Lodge ; Roberts , Prov . G . Chap . ; S . Maund , and other distinguished Masons . Bro . the Rev . W . II . GHETTOS ' , the Prov . G . Chap , of Herefordshire , in the temporary absence of the Prov . G . Chap , of Monmouthshire , implored the blessing of the G . A . O . T . U . The Piiov . G . MASTEH gave the first toast , " Tho Queen and the Craft , " remarking that although he could not give her Majesty as " a Mason , " yet he w as proud to do so as the next best tiling—the daughter of one . ( Cheers . )

The next toast given from the chair was "Tho Prince of AAyales and the rest of the Royal Family . " ( Cheers . ) The PiiOV . G . MASTEH again rose and said : That which I am now about to submit to you is no formal toast . It is the health of a distinguished brother , the Right Worshipful the Provincial Grand Master of Herefordshire , the Rev . Dr . Bowles , who lias done me the honour to attend here this clay , ( Cheers . ) He is one of the oldest and best of Masonsdistinguished alike for bis

, eloquence and scholarly attainments , and was , as a Mason , a very intimate friend of the late Duke of Sussex , who was in his day the Grand Master of England , and from whom our brother received his appointment to the neighbouring province of Herefordshire . He is also acquainted with our late Provincial Grand Master ; he is never wanting when he can be of use to the surrounding provinces ; and he has once or twice before honoured

our gatherings with his presence . I am scwe you will receive with the greatest enthusiasm the name of Dr . Bowles , the Provincial Grand Master of Herefordshire . ( The toast was drunk with Masonic honours . ) Bro . Dr . BOWLES , in reply , said : Brethren , knowing , as I do , how deservedly popular your recently installed Prov . G . M . is , it is with great reluctance that within a few hours of his installation I am the first to find fault with his proceedings this evening . Laughter . ) I think that he ought to have remembered that

I have arrived at that period of life when he ought not have deputed to me what is usually called the speech of the evening . ( Hear and cheers . ) The cheers which the eloquent but undeserved eulogium of my honourable friend the Prov . G . M . has called forth bring to ray mind in vivid and most grateful remembrance the truly fraternal reception which you gave me several years ago , when , by special invitation , I appeared among you at Newport . It has been said that " old age chills the

genial current of the soul , " but the feelings which at this moment surge up in my heart , and oppress my tongue , convince me that the recollections of past kindness , far from withering in life's winter , strike deeper root in the heart that warms and expands under the influence of brotherly love . ( Cheers . ) I sincerely thank you for tbe cordial manner in which you have received the toast so eloquently proposed hy my honourable friend and brother your newly appointed Prov . G . M . Permit

me also to emigrate you upon the benefits you will derive from so judicious ancl excellent an appointment . Under bis government I am convinced that Masonry will continue to prosper in Monmouthshire ; that by its benign inlluence class feelings will be softened down , and all brotherly feelings strengthened ancl enlarged ; that in your intercourse with one another you will reject everything that divides minds , ancl profess everything

that unites hearts ; ancl that you will so spread the cement of virtue about the foundation of your Grand Lodge , as to insure its prosperity ancl permanence . ( Cheers . ) As some of you are only entered apprentices , ancl therefore cannot have made much progress in the study of your Craft , pardon me if , for your instruction , I state that the spirit of Masonry has from the earliest times brooded over all tho earth . It inspired those secret hands and brotherhoods which owed their

origin to the mysteries of the old faiths , and the oppressions of ancient despotisms . We can trace it in those remote fields of Central Asia which seem the cradle of our race . Thebes and Babylon , the massive ruins of Nineveh and Memphis , the mysterious temples of old Egypt , have transmitted our mystic symbols from generation to generation . AVhen the extreme necessity which gave birth to these mystic symbols had passed away , we still retained their forms , signs , and secrets , and shall probably continue to do so until the end of time . Their objects

are modified , if not changed ; but promoting , as all brotherhoods should , a kindly spirit of unity and benevolence . Our ancient English brethren copied the example of the nations who lived in the old time before them , by recording those mystic symbols on the walls of those wondrous edifices with which they adorned this kingdom . You may see some remarkable instances of this in your immediate neighbourhood . AVhen I visited Raglan Castle a few months ago , I saw there , chiseled

sharp and clear upon the ancient walls , those Masonic sign ? , suggestive , while yet dumb , which shadowed forth the Triune Architect of the Universe , the eternity in which he dwells , and tho cross on which the Saviour suffered . There was the triangle , emblem of the Trinity ; the circle , emblem of eternity ; the cross , the emblem of religion . The hand that first traced those mystic symbols had long since mouldered in the dust of ages ; but the Masonic signs which that hand hud graven on the

timestained stone spoke to my heart with the eloquence of awful silence ancl deep mystery , and bade me walk in tbe way of truth , and hold the faith in unity of spirit , in the bond of peace , and in righteousness of life . Literally then , to all men , hut especially to Masons , there are " Sermons in stones , and good in everything . " ( Cheers . ) But I must not forget that all of you are doubtless very impatiently waiting for me to sit down , in order that you may hear the eloquent voice of your Provincial

Grand Master ; of my reverend friend the Chaplain , whom I regret that I did not hear this morning , ot my honourable friend , the Deputy Provincial Grand Blaster for Herefordshire , and of the other brethren who will address you in the course of the evening ; and , therefore , I will not detain you longer than , to assure you that your present kindness has strengthened and extended my remembrance of the past , and laid me under additional obligations ,

which I feel move deeply thaw I CAW express . To you , my right worshipful friend and brother , I oiler my heartiest congratulations . The sound and manly vigour of your understanding , yonr practical and effective usefulness , and the very able manner in which you have for so many years governed this province , afford the soundest guarantee that in raising you to the high dignity of a Provincial Grand Master , Lord Zetland has clone that which our rulers do not always do—he has put the right man in the right place . ( Loud cheers . ) Under ordinary cir-