Provincial.

great pleasure in seeeing Bro . Burney in that chair , and he could assure him he had his most sincere wishes for his welfare , ( applause . ) Their worthy Bro . Hall he ( Bro . Matthews ) was glad to see amongst them , ancl for the efficient manner in which he had performed the duties ofhis office , he was entitled ot the respect of all the brethren . ( Applause . ) The AV . M . said he did think their best thanks were due to BroHall for the service he had iven to the United Lodge .

. g The AA . M . was very frequently absent , and , therefore , they were deeply indebted to him for his kindness in taking the chair . He thought they would agree with him in proposing a vote of thanks to Bro . Hall for his kindness . ( Applause . ) The vote was unanimously and cordially passed . Bro . Hall said he felt very deeply their kindness in proposing to him such a mark of their approval . He felt he had only

done his duty in rendering what service he could to Freemasonry . What be had done had been a source of pleasure to him , and he should feel it his duty to do so wherever he might he . ( Hear , hear . ) He sincerely thanked the AV . M . for the kind manner in which he had referred to Mm . As to Bro . Matthews , it always afforded him the greatest possible pleasure to meet him and to hear the manner in which he spoke of Masonry ; and to the

brethren present for the kind consideration with , which they had treated him , he thanked them sincerely . ( Applause . ) The AV . M . announced that communications had been received from the Prov . G . M ., the R . W . Bro . R . J . Bagshaw ; the D . P . G . M " ., Bro . Major Skinner ; and from Bro . the Hon . Major Addington , regretting their inability to attend . The Lodge was then closed in solemn form by the AV . M . Elect , and the brethren adjourned from labour to refreshment .

THE BANQUET , which was most sumptuously served by Bro . Guiver , was attended by nearly thirty brethren , amongst whom were the AV . M ., Bros . Major Hugh Somerville S . Bumey ; Major Brown , S . AV . 998 ; John Maim , Prov . G . Sec . for Essex ; S . 0 . Owen , P . Prov . G . Reg . and P . M . 935 ; Peter Matthews , P . M . 343 , P . Prov . G . J . AV . and ProvGDirof Cers . for Essex- Lieut . Evans ; Lieut .

. . . , Ton-ens ; the Rev . Crespigny ; Edward Dorling , P . M . 522 , anil Prov . G . Sec . for Suffolk ; C . T . Townsend , P . M . 522 , Ipswich ; AV . O . AA ard , AV . M . 935 , Harwich ; Lieut . Lampan , Dir . of Cers . 998 ; Sergt . Lloyd , I . G . 998 ; H . C . Jaslin , Hon . Sec . 998 ; Colour-Sergt . Paul , J . D . 991 ; Sergt . Early ; Gluckstein , 59 ; A . E . Church , AV . M . 59 ; AV . Gywnn , 59 ; AV . Griffin , P . M . 59 ; Quarter-master Anderson , Tyler 998 ; Jaeksou ; G . E .

Thompson ( Boxford ) , & c . Grace having been said , and the door closely tyled , The AV . M . gave "The Queen ancl the Craft , " followed by "The Prince of AA ' ales and the rest of the Royal Family , " uniting with the last toast the name of the Princess Alexandra . The

toasts having been duly honoured , The AV . M . again rose , and said it now became their duty to pay respect to the superiors of their Order . He would give them " The W . M ., the Earl of Zetland , G . M . of England . " ( Applause . ) Though they saw little of him , they heard a good deal of what he had done for Masonry . He believed him to be a most conscientious Mason . ( Drunk with Masonic , honours . ) The WM . next " The D . G . M . the Earl de Grey and

gave , Ripon , and the Grand Officers of England . " He was sure they must do their duty , or Masonry would not flourish as it did . ( Drunk with Masonic honours . ) The AV . M . said they had now came near home . He had the pleasure of knowing the Prov . G . M ., and he only regretted he was not present amongst them that evening . They all , howeverknew his worth and his zeal in the cause of Masonry .

, ( Hear , hear . ) » They were under great obligations to him , and he ( the AV . M . ) , should ever remember the great assistance he had been to them . It gave him very great pleasure in proposing " The Health of the Prov . G . M ., Bro . 11 . J . Bagshaw . " ( Applause . ) The toast having been Masonically honoured , Bro . J . MANS , Prov . G . Sec . for Essex , responded on behalf of the Prov . G . M . lift said he -regretted very much that the Prov .

G . M . was compelled to be absent on urgent businesss . He ( the Prov . G . M . ) had always taken a very lively interest in the lodges of Colchester , and perhaps more especially in the United Lodge . He felt sure he would be highly gratified when he was informed of the honour which had been paid him by the brethren . ( Applause . ) The W . M . rose and proposed " The D . Prov . G . M ., Major Skinner , and the Prov . G . Officers , " one of whom , he was pleased to say , had paid them the compliment to come amongst them

that evening . He alluded to Bro . Peter Matthews . ( Loud ap plause . ) They had many brethren of note in the province whose hearts and souls were in Masonry . ( Hear , hear . ) He thought the selection ' of officers reflected " , great credit upon the Prov . G . M ., and one of the best selections was that of the Prov . G . D . C , Bro . Matthews . ( Applause . ) He , therefore , called upon tkem to join in drinking to the health of the D . Prov . G . M . and his officers . ( Drunk with true Masonic honours . )

Bro . MATTHEWS , on rising to reply , was warmly greeted . He said he had expressed his feelings in the lodge-room after the ceremony of installation , but he might be permitted now to add that it was with the warmest feelings of gratification that he heard that their worthy brother , Major Burney , was to fill the W . M . ' s chair for the ensuing year . He knew that he ( the W . M . ) was anxious to "become the Master of that lodge , and very naturallsoas he was one of its founders . ( Hearhear . ) There

y , , were also many present that evening who could testify to the untiring exertions of Col . Maydwell , to promote the welfare of the United Lodge , and whose energies were ably seconded by the AA ^ . M . elect . ( Hear , hear . ) He merely mentioned this to show how anxious Bro . Burney was to exalt tiie position of thclodge , and to see it flourish ; and now they saw before them in their AV . M ., a star of the first magnitude , and one who would shed lustre on the lodge over which he was called upon to

preside . ( Hear . ) He hoped the brethren would rally round him under his banner ; aud he felt assured , if they did so , they would find much to instruct and gratify them . As to their D . Prov . G . M ., he did not know where they would find a better —( hear , hear)—and he was only sorry he was not present that night . This was the first time that he ever knew him absent ou an occasion like the present . As for himself , he was a plain-spoken

individual , glad to serve them on all occasions , and if one pleasure in Masonry was greater than another , it was that of coming clown to the United Lodge , especially to meet military men , for he had been a military man for nearly 30 years . His was an old » established society , for he had tho honour of belonging to the Hon . Artillery Company , ancl though they had not travelled over many lands , still they had been over many seas —( laughter)—yes , there was Battersea , Chelsea , and many other seas — ( continued laughter)—ancl ho could truly say they had never

disgraced the service —( hear , hear )—and after all these difficulties , here he was , Dir . of Cers . for Essex ; ancl he could assure them , if they followed his example , they would never be unhappy , for he was certain they never saw a gloom on his face . ( Cheers aud laughter . ) He could only say , for their great mark of respect he thanked them most sincerely . ( Loud applause . ) Buo . "MiTKrews s \« wtl ; f afterwards again rose aud said

he had the greatest possible pleasure in proposing the health of their AV . M . ( Loud applause . ) Those who knew Bro . Burney well knew his merits , and those who did not had yet a treat in store , and he trusted they would avail themselves of it . ( Hear , hear . ) In his day Masonic knowledge was not soeasy of attainment as it was in the present . Some thirty years ago lie went a long way to gain that knowledge which he now willingly dispensed at his own house . It washowever

, , very different now . All they had to do if they desired , to advance in Masonic knowledge was to visit their AV . M . when he was in Colchester , and he felt assured they would receive every assistance from him , who would only be to glad to give it . ( Applause . ) They all knew his gentlemanly urbanity , and his great desire to advance those principles of Masonry with which his own heart was so thoroughlimbued . Hetherefore

y , , called upon them to drink his health ancl wish him all happiness and prosperity during his year of office . The toast was most cordially ancl enthusiastically drank with Masonic honours . The AA . M . ou rising was warmly received . He said he thanked them from the bottom of his heart for the cordial and kind manner in which the toast had been received . He feared Bro . Matthews had given him credit for attainments

which he did not possess . His heart was in Masonry because he believed in it , and what he could do he would willingly perform for the benefit and advantage of Masonry . ( Hear , hear . ) - As far as the working of a lodge was concerned , much depended upon its officers . The AV . M . might do something , but the work could not properly be performed without the assistance of his officers . He came amongst them almost a stranger , and he

must confess he felt very great interest iu the lodge over which he now had the honour to preside , for it was one of the dearest wishes of bis heart to become W . M . of the United Lodge . ( Loud applause ) . For it was so rare for military men . to think