Provincial.

however , shown the greatest zeal , ability , and courtesy , iu conducting their affairs , and under his rule Masonry had extended beyond all precedent . ( Cheers ) . The D . Prov . Grand Master said he had the honour to be entrusted with the next toast , the health of " Lord Paumure , and the rest of the Grand Officers . " Lord Panmure was a most distinguished man and excellent Mason , aud in his office of Prov . D . Grand Master had shown himself most' energetic and zealous in the discharge of his duties , evidently

having the welfare of the Craft at heart . They were honoured that day with the presence of more than one Grand Officer , including their respected Bro . Evans , the excellent Master of the Reigate Lodge , and their venerable Bio . AVhite , who had so many years filled the office of (¦ rand Secretary , in which ho won the respect and esteem of the brethren , from the Grand Master down to the humblest member in the Craft . ( A pplause ) . He therefore coupled with the toast the names of of Bros . AVhite and Evans . ( Cheers ) .

Bro . AVhite , P . G . Sec . returned thanks for the honour conferred upon him , and assured the brethren that after sixty years of active life as a Mason—nearly the whole of which had been spent in the service of the Craft - nothing gave him greater gratification than to receive such a mark of approbation from so distinguished a body in the Craft as the Prov . Grand Lodge of Surrey . ( Applause ) . Bro . Francis , P . D . Prov . CM . had great pleasure iu beiug allowed to propose the next toast—and ho was sure he needed no excuse for doing

so in the highest of terms—the health of their " Right AVorshipful Prov . Grand Master . " ( Applause ) . Bro . Dobie not only filled that office to their satisfaction , but he also for many years held a most distinguished positiou in Grand Lodge as G . Reg ., the duties of which he performed to the great advantage of the Craft , and his own honour . ( Cheers ) . The . Prov . Grand Master returned thanks for the very handsome manner in which his health had been proposed , aud to the brethren for so cordially responding to it . He could assure them that he always felt highly gratified at beiug amongst the brethren of Surrey , whom he felt proud of presiding over . Wherever a brother could be found willing to

take his position who was likely to be more serviceable to the Craft than he could be , he would willingly make way for him ( No , no !) , but so long as the province was confided to his care he would use his utmost endeavours to promote its prosperity . ( Cheers ) . The health of the visitors was given and responded to by Bro . Bell , P . Prov . G . W ., Norfolk , and Bro . Snow , P . Prov . G . S . B ., Sussex , the latter of whom stated that he was an old Surrey Mason , that he was about to rejoin a Surrey Lod and hoped to die a Surrey Mason

ge , . The Prov . Grand Master then proposed the " Health of the D . Prov . G . M . and the rest of the Prov . Grand Officers . " The D . Prov . G . 'M . had shown himself in every way worthy of his office , and had by his strict attention to his duties , very much tended , to the prosperity of the Craft in the province . He had recently given another convincing proof of his zeal for Freemasonry , by consenting to assume the chair of the new Lodgethough with the old title of the Royat Alfred of Guildfordand

, , there could be no doubt that under his auspices it must prove successful . ( Cheers ) . AVith regard to his other officers he believed he might say , that as he had been fortunate in his selection upon previous occasions , so he should prove upon the present . He had great pleasure in asking the brethren to join him in drinking their health . ( Applause ) . Bro . Dr . Harcourt , D . Prov . G . M ., thanked the It . \ V . brother for the renewed mark of confidence extended to him that day , aud the brethren for the kindness

which he always received at their hands . He had always met with the most flattering reception throughout the province , I ' ecliug it his duty to occasionally visit every Lodge within it , and would , so long as he continued to receive the confidence of the Prov . Grand Master and the brethren , use his utmost exertions to promote and maintain the best interests of Freemasonry in Surrey . ( Cheers ) . As there - . several other Grand Officerssuch theiexcellent

yere , as r Treasurer , their valuable Secretary , aud their Chaplain , who had done them so much honour by coming amongst them , and who would probably like to ray something for themselves , he should now only again thank them for the confidence reposed in him . ( Applause ) . The Prov . Grand Treasurer having declined the invitation to address the brethren .

Bro . Greenwood , Prov . G . Sec , thanked the Prov . Grand Master for having re-appointed him to so responsible an office as that of Grand Secretary , the honour of which he duly appreciated , and assured the brethren he would ever endeavour to discharge the dutio 3 of the office to the best of his ability . Pro . the Rev . L . AV . Till , G . Chaplain , assured the R . AV . Prov . Grand Master and the brethren that be was deeply grateful for the honour which had been conferred him bhis appointment Grand

upon y as Chaplain to the province . He had ever regarded Freemasonry as well calculated to assist the cause of religion and morality , and so far as the duties of his parish would allow him , would do his best to promote and strengthen its position in the province . ( Applause ) . The Prov Grand Master had now to ask them to drink to "The health ot the Past Grand Officers , " coupled with the name of Bro . Francis , who had for a considerable time filled the office of indeed

D . Prov . CM ., alter the death of the late Lord Mouson he was for some time virtuall y tlie Grand Master , and had discharged his duties with great tact and . -ic-Uity . At that time there was some disunion in the province , which rendered the office one of great difficulty , but Bro . Francis had successlimy overcome every difficulty aud restored union and happiness .

Bro . Francis , P . D . Prov . G-. JL , returned thanks , aud stated that the R . AV . Prov . G . M . having alluded to the difficulties with which he had been beset when he held office , he could assure them that those difficulties were more than compensated by tho happiness he had enjoyed in later years when their present excellent Prov . Grand Master had re-appointed and continued his confidence iu him as D . G . M . Though he now no longer resided in the province , he felt the greatest interest in its prosperity , aud was always happy in visiting it on every possible occasion .

( Applause ) . Bro . Elkins , P . Prov . CAV . having obtained leave to propose a toast , gave the health of the " Prov . Grand Treas ., Bro . Price , " to whom they were all greatly indebted for the care aud attention he paid to the duties of his office . ( Applause ) . Bro . Price , Prov . G . Treas ., returned thanks , assuring them that the compliment was quite unexpected , as he considered that his health had been druuk in the toast of tho officers . Ho esteemed the toast the

more highly as coming from a brother who had preceded him in the office , but whose other duties would no longer allow him to continue to hold it . The Prov . Grand Master proposed " Prosperity to tho Royal Alfred Lodge , " by whom they had been so kindly and hospitably received that day . The resuscitation of tho old Lodge , under a new number , was chiefly due to Bro . Kaydon , who he regretted was unable to be present that day , and Bro . Elkins , assisted by the D . Prov . Grand

Masterwho had kindly become the Master—he had no doubt would make it a very successful and popular Lodge . ( Applause ) . In tho absence of Bro . Kaydon , ho would couple with the toast the name of Bro . Elkins . ( Cheers ) . Bro . Elkins , Prov . S . G . AV . regretted that Bro . Haydon was prevented by illness from being present to acknowledge the toast , as he was sure he would have had great pleasure in doing so . He trusted that that bro thor would soon bo restored to healthaud that when installed as

Wor-, shipful Master , as he would no doubt bo next year , he might be enabled to complete the work so well begun by the D . Prov . Grand Master iu resuscitating tho Lodge . In the name of himself , and the rest of tb /; brethren of the Royal Alfred Lodge , he could assure them it gave them the greatest p leasure to meet the Prov . Grand Lodge in

Guildford , . and he trusted it would not be many years before they might meet iu greater strength than at present , and again have that honour . ( Applause ) . The health of the Master and brethren of tho various Lodges in the province present was drunk , and responded ^ to by Bro . H . Evans , Prov . G . S . B ., Master of tho Reigate Lodge . The Prov . Grand Master said , he had now to give a toast in which he always felt the greatest interest . This country owed much to tho

possession of a press which was generally conducted by gentlemen of great independence , talent , and education . The Craft had for many years possessed the advantage of a journal which , with more or less fidelity , had recorded the proceedings of their body ; but never as a rule with greater ability and impartiality than at present . He had , however , seen some editorial observations in the Magazine , which had caused him great pain , and which had evidently been made without due inquiry . AA'hen he last had the pleasure of being present at a Masonic

gathering in Guildford , it was to take part in the consecration of the Royal Alfred Lodge , and on that occasion the brother who had charge of the musical arrangements , had introduced female voices into the choruses and anthems . Upon them the Editor of the Magazine had made the remarks to which he alluded , assuming that the ladies were admitted into the Lodge—an assumption which he was happy to sec denied by a letter in a subsequent number from Bro . How . He admitted , that when he first heard the ladies' voices he was taken by surprise , and not knowing whether the ladies were in tho clock case ( laughter ) , or adjoiumg room , or where , made some inquiries—when he

was assured by the Tyler , and by others , that they were so placed in another room , the door of which , though opened when their services were required , was effectually shaded by a curtain , so that nothing could be seen , and the instant that the music concluded , tho door was closed , and properly tyled . Such beiug the case , he did not think a charge of want of attention to their Masonic duties ought to have been made , for even if he ( the Prov . Grand Master ) would have allowed any infringement on their ceremonies , he was sure that so distinguished a

Mason as Bro . Stephen . Barton AA'ilson would not have done no . ( Applause ) . He made these remarks , knowing that Bro . AA arren was present , not in any ill feeling , or to complain of the maurer in which the Magazine was generally conducted , for he could assure them that he had the highest respect for that brother , aud being at all times , as he was convinced the brethren were , happy to meet him in Surrey , he begged to give them "The Press , and prosperity to Bro . AVarren . " ( Applause ) . Bro . Henry G . AVarren begged to thank the brethren for the

compliment paid him , and through him to the Freemasons' Magazine . As a rule he would decline to discuss the policy of the Freemasons' Magazine or of anything which might appear within its pages . But as regarded the playful allusion at the close of the report of the consecration of the Guildford Lodge , he had no hesitation in taking upon himself the full responsibility of having written it . In making this admission he regretted that it should have given tho slightest annoyance to their respected Prov . Grand Master ; but he was sure that their R . AA . brother would give him credit that in making the remark he was actuated only by a principle which he had consistently advocated . In Grand Lodge he bad