Provincial.

Bro . the Rev . F . H . S . HODGSON , in responding , said that since he had been a Mason he had only felt one regret—and that was that he had not been made a Mason ten years sooner . ( Cheers and laughter ) . He hoped that the longer they lived the better Masons they would all become , and then the better men they would all be . ( Cheers . ) He had always considered it a great thing that in a Masonic lodge men met each other as men , " divested of all metallic substances , "—that was to say ,

without any distinction of wordly rank —( Hear , hear . )—man there met man as his brother and his friend . ( Applause . ) It was a matter of just pride to the Order that it reckoned among those who were ranged under its banners some of the best blood in all England ; but far more than that , the Order comprised men who were eminent , not merely by wordly rank , but by thenvirtues and their intelects . This was the true Masonic principle with regard to merit and distinction , ancl the sentiment hacl been embodied in the three lines by the Poet Laureate : —

" It is only noble to be good ; Kind words are mere than coronets , And simple faith than Norman blood . " ( Cheers ) . Bro . the Rev . S . TITLOAV also replied . He expressed the pleasure the brethren experienced on learning that they would be presided over hy the Prov . Grand Master , whose absence , he said , ivould have caused a comparative gloom , which no other

brother in the province , however respected he might be , could have dispelled . ( Cheers ) . Bro . Titlow referring to a promise which had been privately made by Bro . Cabbell , that the brethren ivould have an opportunity of possessing themselves of his photograph , said that the brethren wished for something morethat they were all anxious to see their Right AVorshipful Master ' s portrait placed in the rooms which he had so munificently purchased for the use of the Order in this province . ( Loud cheers . )

The matter had been mentioned in the lodges of the city , ancl he trusted that Bro . Cabbell would accede to the wish which hacl been expressed , that he should sit for his portrait to some first-rate artist worthy of such a work . ( Hear , hear . ) He ( Bro . Titlow ) could not help considering that it would be a disgrace if future generations of Masons did not see in these rooms the portrait of a distinguished brother who had done so great a service to the Craft . ( Applause . )

The next toast was " The Prov . Grand Officers , " to which Bro . J . C . SAIITH , the S . G . W ., briefly responded . The PROA-. GRAXD MASTER then proposed " The health of the Deputy Grand Master of Suffolk , " acknowledging the kindness with which that Rev . and Right Worshipful brother always came forward in this province on any occasion ou which his

assistance might be required . The Rev . F . AV . FREEMAN- - , D . Prov . G . M . of Suffolk , hoped if the brethren of this proi-ince felt that they owed him a return for any services he had rendered them , especially for the exertions he made to obtain support for their Prov . Grand Master from his own province when that brother presided at Masonic charity dinners , they would come forward next year and support his ( Bro . Freeman ' s ) superior , Colonel Adair , the G . M . of Suffolk ,

who hacl undertaken to preside at the Girls' School Festival in 1863 . Bro . Cabbell hacl heen Treasurer to that charity for upwards of a quarter of a century , and he ( Bro . Freeman ) hoped , therefore , that the Masons of Norfolk ivould send up a goodly number of Steivards to represent them next year , and he should take the opportunity of visiting the various lodges in the province to solicit their support , so that Col . Adair might have a bumper , something like what Lord Leih had in 1860 when no less than

g , seventy brethren came up from that nobleman's province . The PROV . GRAND MASTER then gave "the Past Provincial Grand Officers , " which he coupled with the health of that distiiiguishedbrotlier , SirHenryStracey , JBn / -i ., jlf . i ; , . , P . Prov . S . G . AV Bro . Sir HEXRY SXRACEY , jlf . P ., who ivas cordially greeted ,, remarked that the apostolic precept which the Grand Chaplain bad so eloquently expatiated on that day , "Let brotherly love continue , " had been nobly exemplified by their Prov . Grand Master ,

in giving the brethren of his province this splendid building to assemble in . He ( Sir Henry Stracey ) thought the least they could do to evince their gratitude and to preserve the memory of it , would be to place the portrait of their generous Grand Master in the Masonic Hall , and he was confident that all the brethren ol the province would be most anxious to contribute to such an object . ( Cheers . ) The PKOA-. GRAND MASTER in proposing the lodges of the province , ivhieh he coupled with the name of the Hon . F . Walpole , S . W . of Lodge 00 , that being the oldest lodge in the province * A

Provincial.

said he believed that all the lodges carried on their working in a ivay highly creditable to themselves , and conducive to ' the character of the Order . Bro . the Hon . F . AValpole from his experience in Masonry abroad , ancl his proficiency in its various degrees , as well as from his position and abilities , was a great accession to lodge 60 , ancl to the Order generally , ancl he ( Bro . Cabbell ) , was sure that he was only expressing the feeling of all the brethren , when he said they ivould be highly pleased when

they received him as W . M . of Lodge 60 , ancl that the members of that lodge could not possibly dobetter than place so distinguished ancl competent a Mason in the chair . ( Applause . ) Bro . the Hon . F . AVALPOLE having briefly acknowledged the compliment , The R . W . Bro . the Rev . F . W . FREEMAN , proposed « The Visitors , ' , to which Bro . MASSES , P . Prov . S . G . W , of Cambridgeshire replied .

Referring to the deviations in the working of different provinces he expressed his opinion that a Board of Past Masters should be appointed by the Grand Master to visit the provinces in order to establish a uniform system of ivorking . He also thought that it would be well to relax the prohibition relative to Prov . Grand Stewards wearing their Prov . Grand Lodge clothing after then- year of office , and that Steivards ought to he allowed to continue to wear the crimson in their own province . ( Hear , hear . ) He warned the brethren against impostors who obtained admission into the Order for the purpose of selling articles contrary to the Book of Constitutions .

The PROA ' . GRAND MASTER then gave "The Masonic Charities , " and said he hoped that the brethren of this province would muster strongly next year in support of Colonel Adair , the G . M . of the neighbouring province of Suffolk . Bro . BAHWELL , Prov . G . Treas ., stated that Bi-o . Patten , Secretary to the Girls' School , had promised to attend , but had heen prevented . He ( Bro . Barwell ) visited the institution three weeks ago with a view of obtaining some information which he

wished to apply to a charity of which be was one ofthe trustees , and he was much struck with its admirable management , and lie found it to be the very best model that could be selected for similar establishments . The PROA ' . GRAND MASTER proposed "The health of Bro . W . Leedes Fox , " the zealous ancl indefatigable . Secretary of tha pjrovince , which was drunk with great cordiality . Bro . AV . LEEDES FOX , in reply , stated that since Bro .

Cabbell ' s installation as G . M . of the province in 1856 , the number of subscribing members had increased fourfold , from 100 to 100 . ( Applause ) . The R . W . Bro . the Rev . AV . F . FREEMAN proposed that-the Prov . G . Sec . should summon a meeting of the Masters of all the lodges in the province to takei the first steps necessary for procuring a , portrait of Bi-o . B . B . Cabbell to he placed in the assembly rooms . ( Cheers ) . Bro . the Rev . S . TITLOAV seconded the proposition , which was carried with acclamation ; ancl after "The health of the ladies " had been drunk , the company separated .

NORTHUMBERLAND . NEWCASTLE . —jYewcastle-on-T gne Lodge ( No . 21 ) . —This lodge was opened on the 7 th August , in Freemasons hall , Blackett-street , by the AV . M ., Bro . Loades , assisted hy Bros . H . Hotham , P . M . ; A . Clapham , P . M . ; A . Gillespie , P . M ., ancl the officers of the lodge . The minutes of the last regular meeting were read ancl confirmed . Tho candidates not coming for the degrees clue , and other business overit was closed in clue form .

, At refreshment the brethren enjoyed the social chat , ancl with song ancl - ' sentiment spent a happy hour . Bro . Hamnierboin , P . M ., P . Prov . G . Dir . of Cers . of Durham , was present as a visitor , and responded to the toast which is never forgot in this lodge , " The adjoining Province . " BYK : EB . —St . Peter ' s Lodge ( No . 706 ) . —This lodge ivas opened in Catterick Buildings , Byker . Newcastle-on-Tyne , on August 11 th 1862 by the AA . M . Bro . Geo . Thompson ,

, , , assisted by Bros . Reid , S . AV ., Stokoe , J . AV ., ancl the rest of the officers of the lodge . The minutes of the last regular meeting ancl lodge of emergency , were read ancl confirmed . Mr . Alexander McGregor being in attendance , the AV . M . deputed Bro . C . J Banister , P . Prov . S . G . D . Durham , ancl Prov . G . Dir . Cers . of AA est Lancashire , to perforin the ceremony of initiation , which he did with his usual earnestness . Bro . It . B . Smailes , of CalifcgaEftsyas a visitor . Business of the lodge over , it was closed