Provincial.

the Divine blessing will accompany us in all our undertakings , affording us strength to support us under every difficulty , and for the discharge of all those moral and religious duties here set before us for our guidance and instruction , so that , in that beauty of holiness which Masonry holds out for our acceptance , our path may be as a shining light which shineth more ancl more unto that perfect day , which will open to us the commencement of a never-ceasing bliss and fellowshipthrough

, the countless ages of eternity . The records of our proceedings will bear in mind for many years to come the day wherein the benign rays of Freemasonry first shed their calm and peaceful light on this now favoured island ; we may , therefore , congratulate ourselves on the increase ancl spread of Masonry , not only in this country but in every part of the world , and particularly at a ' time when a bold ancl determined

front against every liberal and enlightened institution is being upraised by the powers of darkness , and Masonry in particular is openly denounced by them as needful to be swept from the face of tbe earth , it would appear almost as a providential design of holding sacred and inviolable within the Mason's lodge , those sacred treasures of Divine truth , which have been carefully handed down to us from their first promulgation in Judea

to the present day , through the instrumentality of Freemasonry . Freemasonry undoubtedly partakes of the character of a Divine institution : that for which our earliest brethren worked was for a Divine purpose—its principles and moral truths are all drawn from a Divine source—all its ceremonies partake of a Divine character , for while they illustrate the wisdom , the truth , and justice of the Most High for our imitation and instruction , they

also lead us in humility of heart and purity of intention to the footstool of His mercy , from whence we learn to be happy ourselves , and to communicate that happiness to our fellowcreatures , by extending to them the same mercy , forgiveness , and lovingkindiiess we so constantly receive at His hands . Thus , to relieve the distressed , to soothe calamity , alleviate misfortune , compassionate misery , ancl restore peace to the troubled mind , is the grand aim of the true Mason ; for he is here taught that Ave are all sprung from the same stock , are partakers of the same nature , ancl sharers of the same hope . But while he seeks to exercise in their true sense those benign principles of faith

and charity , he does not forget that every other qualification for good that the human mind can receive , must also contribute to form the characteristic of the true Mason—if to love and adore God with an unrivalled and disinterested affection , to acquiesce in the dispensations of Divine Providence with a joyful resignation , afford him that peace which the world can neither give nor take away , so will his heart be enlarged for the performance of every dutling upon himand

y y , here those grand principles in Masonry—brotherly love , relief , and truth- —will have their share in his daily exercise . Truth is the foundation stone of all that is virtuous , honourable , and dignified in human society , and thus the true Mason becomes an honour to his country , a glory to humanity , a satisfaction to himself , and a benefactor to the whole world . Freemasonry thenby a sincere ancl honest exercise of itin a true ancl livel

, , y faith iu God , a strict obedience to his laws , and a universal charity towards all mankind , stands forth as the fairest handmaid of true religion , unshackled by any particular dogma , beyond that one all-prevailing principle—Divine truth . In the ceremonials now before us there is much of religious and moral truth conveyed ; and while wo look to the externals , wo should not entirely disregard their true value and meaning ; for tho

true riches of Masonry lie concealed , as it were , in a casket . We rest satisfied with our attainments as far as the general ritual is concerned , and if we are capable of discharging some of our duties here , ancl acquainted somewhat with our lectures , we too often conclude that we have clone all that is required of us ; it is , therefore , only on particular occasions , and on such as the present , that we have an opportunity of unfolding them to

ascertain their real worth , and of searching out much that is valuable , and thereby drawing around us tighter those cords of brotherly love which unite us together more firmly in one faith , one hope , one charity . Faith , hope , and charity form the moving spring in Masonry at every turn we take , and in the present ceremonials of this day they will also engage our attention . If we dedicate our

lodge , in the first instance , to Freemasonry , we use the utmost caution that no one shall partake of our privileges ¦ until he has openly acknowledged before us a true faith and trust in the one Great Creator—the Governor and bountiful Disposer of all ; if we dedicate it to piety and virtue , we are

assured there can be no true piety of heart or mind without a firm hope in the Divine promises ; ancl when we dedicate it to universal benevolence , we here set forth that greatest of all virtues—charity—in its most enlarged sense . AVhile engaged with our corn , our wine , and our oil , those great theological virtues shine forth again in all their lustre , aud in the three grand offerings we have to consider they form a prominent part . Faith practically receives the Divine testimony concern

, ing invisible things , ancl looking to Him whom the beloved son of Abraham prefigured , relies with confidence on Him , and on the Divine promises concerning Him ; hope practically awaits and expects tbe promised blessings to be perfected in eternal life ; and charity is the active motion and principle of Divine fellowship ancl walking with God , and of all those willing services of brotherly kindness and charitywhichas

, , Masons , we endeavour so particularly to cultivate . [ The speaker then alluded to those Masonic traditions whence we learn that it was on holy ground our first lodges were established , aud then proceeded . ] The consecrating or dedicating of any person or thing for pious purposes is not only of Divine appointment , but they engage the affections in a hearty thankfulness for past benefitsand confident expectation of future

, blessing . The whole Hebrew nation was consecrated to be tbe peculiar people of God . To commemorate the destruction of the first-born of the Egyptians , when the Israelites were preparing to go forth from Egypt , the first-born of man and beast were ever after dedicated to the service of God . The tabernacle of Moses , and the temple of King Solomon were dedicated at the command of God , and feasts were provided

for the people . The wall encompassing the city of Jerusalem , when it was finished , was solemnly dedicated with prayers , praises , and thanksgiving , and with much , singing and music ; so also in our Masonic arrangements this custom has been continued down to us through many ages , nor should we consider our lodges fairly established without it . The use of corn , wine , and oil is of the earliest date , and rendered symbolically to ro

present the goodness and mercy of God towards his creatures , not only in temporal things , but in spiritual blessings also . The ancient prophets referred to them to encourage the people in a true faith and dependence on the bountiful Giver of all good ,

for all His blessings and bounties towards them , as a reward for their faithful obedience to His laws ; and to express the judgments of God for their disobedience , tbe corn , wine , and oil should be withheld . It was from a similar idea that our ancient brethren have transmitted down to us their custom in laying the foundation stones of buildings dedicated to the service of God , in pouring corn , wine , and oil thereon in acknowledgment of the great goodness and merey ^ of God towards His people . Ihey erected

those temples to show forth his praise , while at the same time they are expressive of their faith , and hope , and dependence upon him for the completion of the great work . But in the consecration of Masonic lodges , where alone the sacred mysteries of Masonry are unfolded , they will appear to carry with , them a much higher signification , and one well worthy of our attention ; foroil a close examinationit will be found to be

, , that which forms the ground-work of Masonry itself , and that which our ancient brethren , when they left Jerusalem , at the destruction of the Holy City and Temple , anxious to perpetuate the memorial of that great work on the Holy Mount , and the subject of those sacrifices offered there , veiled them so carefully to preserve themselves from persecution at the hands of the heathen around them , that they left it open to all who should

afterwards join them , to discover its truths by telling us in the very words of Him who was the very centre and Divine perfection of wisdom , to " seek and ye shall find , ask and ye shall receive , to knock , and the door of Divine wisdom ancl knowledge will be opened to us ; " and this Divine instruction is to bo traced through all the degrees of Masonry . In the ceremonials now before uswith a little careful attentionwe cannot

, , fail to discover those sacred and Divine truths , which to a , mind embued with the valuable and beautiful principles of Masonry , will render the institution worthy of the utmost rcwerence ancl esteem . In the trial of Abraham ' s faith and obedience , the offering for sacrifice of his only and beloved son Isaac , was a whole offering ; tbe knife was firmly grasped ; the hand upraised , but the fatal blow was not

given , the fire had not been applied , the sacrifice was not consumed—it was accepted , and a more agreeable victim provided ; which represent the fulness , the suitableness , and all sufficiency of that great and stupendous plan devised in the Divine counsels for the restoration of fallen man