Provincial.

except religion itself . If the principles of Masonry had pervaded the nations dwelling upon the Continent , the frightful scourge of war would be unknown , and peace and amity would j > revail . The longer he lived the more he was impressed with the beauty of the system , anel he would use all the influence connected with the honourable position they had so kindly given to him for the extension of the pure and elevating doctrine it inculcated . In this high endeavour he felt sure that he should be

very materially assisted by the officers , who had that day been invested , anel who had been selected , not from personal motives , but on account of their efficient discharge of the duties of otheroffices they hael previously held . If they went on as they had begun , the ensuing year wonlel be one of hard work . Of this he should not complain , and he should spare no effort to make his period of offic t happy for themselves and successful for'Masonry . The W . M . then said he had great leasure in giving them the

p health of one of his Masonic schoolmasters , Bro . James Hamer , AV . Prov . G . Treasurer , who had so ably officiated as Installing Master . Bro . Hamer was always ready to aid them ou every occasion , he hoped he would live long and often favour them with his presence . Bro . Hamer in responding saiel he had only done his duty . When he was initiated he was told to make progress in Masonry every dayalways provided that attention to it did not interfere

, with his business , or other important duties . He hael tried to practise this advice , anel he was still progressing , for new lights were continually springing up , and the more be stueliod the more he discovered fresh beauties . Though he hael been connected with Masonry for many years he was not tired of it , anel was very glad to be of any service to his Southport brethren , for whom he bad a high regarel . What be had witnessed that day of the

love aud harmony which prevailed hael greatly pleased him , and he hoped it would long continue , and , if possible , increase . The W . M . in giving the " I . P . M . of Loelge 613 , " referred to many proofs of good feeling exhibited by Bro . Arthur Mayhew in the prosperity of the loelge . Among those he might mention the gift of new collars , anel his handsome donation towards the debt fund .

Bro . Mayhew said he was very sensible of their great kindness to him that day , especially in the gift of the beautiful jewel which had been presented to him as a token of their respect . He hael a high regard for Masonry , which he looked upon as a most powerful agent in diffusing genuine anel hearty brotherly love . He could not class Freemasonry with religion , but it ranks next to it , for just as religion introduced into a district permeates the whole anel produces the hihest goodso in

g , a lesser degree does Freemasonry , with its sublime and beautiful ceremonies , tend to make them better men . It was a mistake to suppose that Freemasonry taught or encouraged revelry or impropriety of any kind ; it inculcated the principles of brotherly love , relief , and truth ; the hand of fellowship was ever to he outstretched , especially to brethren in need , their feet were always to be ready to run for the relief of distress , and their heart

quick to feelibr and sympathise with those in trouble . The W . M . then gave "The Past Masters of Lod ge 613 , " whom he described as true anel noble friends of Masonry , who in past years hael well and worthily served its interests . He would specially mention Bro . Lambert , who in 1854 was the father anel founder of the Lodge 613 , and whom the G . A . of the U . bad spared to be amongst them on this happy occasion . Lambert

Bro . , who was very heartily received , referred in an interesting manner to the origin of the Loelge 013 . which at its commencement was very prosperous , no fewer than thirty-five members having been admitted during the fust year , but nearly all had been taken from them ; some hael left their good names and characters behind them , and would he over thought upon with love anel regard . Among these he specially montfoued the late Thomas Rid

Bro . gway Brielson , who was an honour to our society and the Craft in general—a man of high purposes and generous impulses , who was so unostentatious in his kindness that his lolt hand ne'er knew what his right had done . Bro . Ralph Herliling must also be remembered as a good and valued brother . These anel other friends and brethren were "one before them for a short time . Miht it be the privilege of all

g , when they stood before tho bar of the Almighty , to receive the reward of a well-spent life . He hoped the harmony which now prevailed woulel long continue . Bros . George AVoods , P . M .: G . R . Scholos , P . M . ; and Robert Jeffries , P . M ., also responded .

The W . M . next gave "The newly-invested'Officers of Lodge 613 . " Bro . Wainwrigbt , S . AV ., respu deel , and spoke in the highest terms of the admirable features of Masonry . Its preferments were not distributed from partiality , but according to merit and ability , anel he hoped he anel his brother officers would evince their gratitude for the honours conferred upon them by zeal and fidelity in the future .

Bro . Griffiths , S . D ., in acknowledging the toast , said one of the pleasing characteristics of Masonry was that it knocked off all superfluous knobs and excrescences . It was a most beautiful system , and the more they became acquainted with its mysteries , and the better they knew themselves , the better would they be able to work for the advantage of their fellow men . The next toast was "The Retiring Officers of Lod 613 "

ge , , which was heartily received . The AV . M . then said he was very happy to give anew toast on such occasions . Freemasonry bad progressed so rapiclly that it hael beeu thought desirable to have another lodge in Southport , and he was specially pleasod to refer to their daughter , the Fermor Lodge , anel give " The Health of Bro . James Piatt , P . M .. of 613 , and W . M . of 1313 . "

The toast was most heartily received . Bvo . Piatt responded , stating that tho daughter had great respect for her mother , and hael shown it in several ways . If 17 years ago , when Southport was but a village , it was thought desirable to found a lodge , surely now , that it contained four times the population , there ought to he two prosperous lodges . " The Auditors " was then given , anel responded to by Bros . Walton and Green . "The Visiting Brethren" followed , and was responded toby Bro . Rev . J . F . Goggin , who said that the proceedings of the

evening had done him much good . He thought that clergymen required an evening of that kind to cheer them . He regretted that the reverend gentleman who had spoken at a banquet the the other evening was not present on that occasion , as he ( the speaker ) woulel have assured him that whenever he met Nonconformist ministers he had always found them what such gentlemen should be , and he entertained a high regard for them . If they and clergymen knew more of Freemasonry they would

be better fitted for their work , for it elevated the mind and improved the heart . Ho wished for the W . M . and his officers strength for their duties , and happiness in the discharge of them , aud when at last their work ou . earth was over , they woulel all receive the " well-done" and the reward "Come ye blessed of My Father , inherit the kingdom prepared for you . " Bro . Howell ? , P . Prov . S . G . AV . of Staffordshire and

Worcestershire , Prov . G . Treas ., of Staffordshire , also responded , saying how greatly pleased he had been with the working ofthe lodge that afternoon , when the W . M . just installed gave ample proof of his Masonic ability . " What one can do another can imitate , " and he recommended all to strive to ascend the Masonic ladder , and so attain the hi gh honour the W . M . had secured , and bus live respected , and die regretted .

Bro . Newett , 1313 , in further response to the toast , said that having been for some time a member cf a Liverpool lodge , he had been thoroughly delighted at the working ofthe lodges in Southport , and expressed his high regard for tho brethren generally . " The Newly Initiated Brethren " was tho next toast , and was responded to by Bro . Leigh Leyland Heyward , and Bro . James Heyward . Bro . Hartley , Tyler , then gave " Poor anel Distressed Masons , and speedy relief , " which brought the toasts to an end , about eleven o'clock .

The proceedings were most pleasantly diversified with songs rendered by several of the brethren iu most admirable style : the contributions of this kind being given by Bros . Turve-y ^ Marchbank , C . IT . Brown , Howell , Kershaw , Walton , Chadwiek , Ellison , J cileries , aud Beckett . Bros . Turvey aud Ellison presided at the pianoforte . The evening was most agreeably spent , several of the older brethren saying that they did not remember a more delihtful gathering in the history of Freemasonry in

g Southport . ULVEHSTONE— Lodge of Fumess ( No . 995 ) . —The regular meeting of this lodge was helel at the Masonic Temple , on Tuesday , the Gth inst . Present -. —Bros . John Case , AV . M . ; R . Pearson , S . W . ; T . Dodgson , as J . AV . ; G . Butcher , Treas . ; Robert James , Sec ; R , Dodgson , S . D , ; James Paxton , J . D . ; R . Cusson , Org .