Provincial.

Bro . Josiah George G . Registrar „ Heather , 319 G . Treasurer , Edwin Wells , 717 S . G . Deacon „ W . A . Wolfe , 428 J . G . Deacon „ Milner , 401 G . Sup . AYorks „ Tushy , 428 G . Dir . of Cers . „ A . Grace , 3 S 7 Assist , ditto „ A . Miller G . S . B .

„ H . M . Powell , 995 G . Organist „ II . Huggins , 90 G . Pursuivant " ?• « ' « ! G . Tylers „ juiockyer , lo 2 ) J Bros . J . R . Stebbing , Aslett , Brewer , T . Hill , and Mertpn , Graiid Stewards . The minute books of the various lodges were then submitted for approval to the Right Worshipful Prov . Grand Master ,

and received the accustomed official signatures . NEXT PROVINCIAL MEETING . The R . W . PROV . GRAND MASTER announced that the next annual provincial meeting would take place at Gosport , and of which due notice would be given . The whole of the business on the agenda having been transacted , the thanks of the united brethren to the R . W . Prov . Grand Master were proposed by Bro . the Rev . Dr . Bradshaw , and carried by acclamation , and the lodge was closed in due form at three o ' clock .

THE BANQUET . At four o'clock the brethren re-assembled around the festive board , an elegant banquet having been prepared for them at the Black Dog Hotel , where the arrangements of the host and Bro . Simpson were of a most satisfactory kind , as far as he was concerned . Nearly 100 brethren sat down , Bro . Admiral Sir Lucius Curtis , Bart ., presiding . After the . dessert had been set on , the R . W . Prov . G . Master proposed with the usual honours the healths of " The Queen , " "The Earl of Zetland , Grand Master of England , " his "Deputv , " & c , which were enthusiastically received by the

company . Bro . Jos . GEORGE ( Mayor of Romsey ) expressed his wish that one more competent than himself bad been selected to do justice to the next toast . He had been entrusted to propose the health of one ever held in high esteem in the province—the admirable brother who was that day presiding over their business and refreshment assemblies . The presence of their R . W . Prov . G . Master was always hailed as a harbinger of peace and pleasure ,

and when he proposed his health he was sure there was not a heart present but beat ardently in unison to do honour to that estimable and highly useful man . Sir Lucius , by his uniformly kind conduct , was recognised amongst them more as a father than as the Provincial Master of the Province , and long would they remember with grateful hearts his kindness , affability , and many other prominent virtues as a Mason and a man . He gave " The health of Sir Lucius Curtis , with full lodge honours . " The toast was received and drank amidst the universal

acclamation of the company and the usual honours of the fraternity . The R , W . PROV . GRAND MASTER rose amidst repeated plaudits . He said he bad to return to his worshipful brother the Mayor of Romsey and the assembled brethren , his best thanks for the kind manner in which his name had been introduced and honoured , but he thought Bro . George had gone too far in alluding to the virtues which he might possess , and had said of him more than he deservedHe had been always

. received and honoured by the brethren with warm fraternal regard , and it was now twenty-two years since he had been honoured with the title and office of Provincial Grand Master , and for two or three years before that he had been Deput y Prov . Grand Master . It was with extreme pleasure he saw so many of the brethren around him ; he knew that numbers of them had travelled many miles to assemble there that

day , Lymington being the mest eastward lodge that had sent representatives , whilst many were from the extreme north of the county , and many also from the west and south ; so that they had come from the four cardinal points of the compass to spend that interesting day . He should be always glad to do his utmost to assist the continuance of that harmony and brotherly love and affection which ought to guide every Mason ; and as

tr ^ i lllUl the llonol , r to ffll that c , lail ' j ! ie should do everyung he could to encourage those feelings . He could not find words , m which appropriately , and with satisfaction to himself , 0 C 0 llW reply to the handsome way in which he had been

Provincial.

received and complimented , but he wished them all every prosperity and happiness in this world that the great Architect of the universe could confer upon them . The R . W . PROV . G . M ., in giving the next toast said it was one always drunk with special enthusiasm in the provincial meetings , and all the private lodges . The officer he was about to mention was almost the father of the province , and he was hy all received with cordiality , and looked up to with esteem . He

begged to propose " The Health of the D . Prov . G . Master of the Province , and Senior Grand Deacon of England , Bro . C . E . Deacon , of Southampton . " The toast was heartily received and drank with provincial honours . Bro . DEACON , D . Prov . G . M ., said he most highly appreciated the honour conferred upon him by the R . W . Prov . G . M . in proposing his health as his Deputy , a position making it is duty to do all he could to uphold the interests of the province . He

thought it a very great thing to receive so distinguished a mark of honour . He was no stranger to the compliments of the brethren of the province , and lie hoped it would be a long time before the link was broken , and that nothing would arise to interfere with the ties of affection aud confidence existing in the province at the present time . He owed his proud position in that province to the chief who had done so much lor Masonry in generalcalculated to promote the comfort ,

, happiness , and prosperity of every man connected with the Order . The honour conferred on him hy the province had been added to lately by the Grand Master of England . The speaker here referred in eloquent terms to the great demands upon the brethren by their Charities . He designated charity as one of the brightest ornaments of the Craft , contrived by its wisdom ,

supported by its strength , and beautified by its eminent goodness . He was glad to see one of the metropolitan brethren present , one who was connected with the province , of which he might be well proud , because it was doing its utmost to extend the usefulness and goodness of the Craft , which did so much for our fellow-creatures in diminishing the evils which surrounded them . It gave him unalloyed pleasure to meet the brethren from time to time , and he hoped to carry to his grave their

love and affection ; he had treasured up the kindness he had received , and it had . cheered him on , comforted and consoled him . through life . He hoped to see the welfare and prosperity ot their noble and glorious institution carried on continually . Bro . the Rev . — WILLS said he was about to introduce atoast , the reception of which he knew they were always agreed upon . The subject of the toast was " Charity , " one of the true principles of Masonry . It blessed him who gave as well as him who

received . By it they were enabled to relieve the necessitous when reduced by circumstances over which they had no control He wished to propose " The Masonic Charities . " Bro . Binekes was competent to give them a deal of particulars , if such were desired , hut they hardly wanted information . They knew all about the schools , and the great good done through them . He was convinced that if it was found necessary and consistent to add another wing to the Masonic propertand a general

suby , scription was suggested , the Masons of the " province of Harnpshire would not be backward in contributing a stone each , or rather a brick each , in promoting the improvement . He was sure all the company would join him heartily in drinking to " The success of the Masonic Charities , " and he would couple the name of Bro . Binekes with the toast . Drank with great

cordiality . Bro . BINCKES ( who was very warmly cheered ) said he felt especially delighted with the reception of the toast and himself . The subject of this toast was certainly one in respect to which there was no appearance of difficulty or dispute , and so far was unlike the subject upon which he had that afternoon addressed Prov . Grand Lodge . The branch of the Crafts' institutions in which he was more particularly concerned was one on which

Heaven seemed to smile beneficently . His wish to be present that day had been prompted hy a desire to visit a province wherein the institutions were so warmly supported , especially that with which he was more concerned . He thought he might have assisted the brethren in coining to a decision upon a matter before them that day ; and he did not see that because he was particularly connected with one institution he should he debarred from iving his opinion on any question of broad princile . He

g p had the honour of being there as a member of the province in his own ri ght , being then under the banner of the Lodge , No . 90 , which had elected him as an honorary member and also a subscribing member . With reference to the Girls' School , he would make an observation upon