Provincial.

East Lancashire : Lieut-Col . Le Gendre N . Starkie , Prov . G . M . ; W . E . Callender , Jun ., D . Prov . G . M . ; Hopwood Hutchinson , Prov . G . S . W . ; W . Birch , Prov . G . J . W . ; the Eev . Thomas Eadley , Prov . G . C . ; Charles Tiplady , Prov . G . Treas . ; William Harrison , J . P ., Prov . G . Beg ; John Tuunah , Prov . G . Sec ; E . Eadcliffe . Prov . G . S . D . ; J . W . Maclure , Prov . G . J . D . ; E . A . N . Royds , Prov . G . S . W . ; T . A . Gibbons . Acting D . C . ; Thomas Clarkson , Prov . G . A . D . C . ; Austiu Shellard , Prov . G . D . C . ; J . M .

Whitehead , Prov . G . S . B . ; W . Gouldthorp , Prov . G . O . ; J . Smith , Prov . G . P . j and John Dufficld , P . Prov . G . S . W . and Hon . Sec . Lattcvs of apology were received , from Bros , the Earl de Grey and Bipon , the Earl of Zetland , Lord de Tabley , Lord Bichard Grosvenor , and Sir T . G . F . Hesketb , Bart . All the lodges in the province were represented , After an organ performance by Bro . Seed , the Deputy Grand Master took the chairand said that since the last meeting of

, the Provincial Grand Lodge they had to lament the death of their late respected Provincial Grand Master . Death had removed him from amongst them in an honoured old age , and with the respect of all his brethren . It had pleased the Grand Master to appoint a successor , and that successor he rejoiced to think was one whom they could cheerfully and heartily welcome amongst them—one wdio had been long known to them bname

y , by family , by the ties of property , and still more by Masonic descent , Bro . Lieut-Col . Le Gendre N . Starkie . That lodge had been summoned that they might be present at his installation , and that he might have tho honour and satisfaction of performing that ceremony . Bro . Hervey , Grand Secretary , read the patent for Bro . Starkie's appointmontand be was then introduced by Bro A . II

, Eoyds , Prov . G . M . for Worcestershire , and the ceremony of installation duly performed . The Deputy Grand Master then expressed a hope , in his own name aud in that of the lodge , that the Provincial Grand Master would for many years continue to eujoy the great honour and dignity which the office of ruler of the province conferred .

He could not add much to the charges which had been delivered , but he would wish Bro , Starkie to remomber that to rule in Masonry , especially over such a province , carried with it great and weighty responsibilities , for it was no common province . He was sure that the new Provincial Grand Master would rule -the province kindly , considerately , and temperately , in a conciliatory spirit , but at the same time a firm one . Above all he would ask him to adhere to a fixed rule , so that when a case

arose for his decision the result would not take the brethren by surprise . In the last placo he had to remind him that the office ¦ which he had undertaken would in no form supersede , or in any degree dispense with the obligations of Masonry , but only invosted them with a deepened responsibility . All classes were embraced in Fveomasom-y . It comprised the charities and virtues of private life , and also the dutios of social , civil , aud public life . On the one hand it taught them to command wisel

y , temperately , and faithfully , and on the other hand it taught the duty of subordination to constituted antbori ¦ -y , because , as they well knew , those who could not obey properly were never fit to command . He entreated the Provincial Grand Mister , in consideration of the obligations which he had rcc-jived , and the ancestral honours "which those who had gone before him . had borne in Masonry , to select its higher and better side , and so to

live that Ids reign over the province might be long remembered , and that he himself would be an example not only to the brethren , but to the outer world beyond . The Provincial Grand Master then took the chair , and announced that tho office of D . Prov . G . M . would be filled by one who was justly esteemed as a Mason and a citizen—Bro . \ V . E . CallenderJun . The ceremony of installing the D . Prov . GM

, .. was then proceeded with , after which Bro . Starkie acknowledged his appointment , and said that Masonry was not dependent for success on any degrco or order , but on the energetic work of each individual in that order , whatever rank he might hold . The other office-hearers of the Provincial Grand Lodge wove then re-appointed , and after the transaction of some formal business , the lodge was closed .

THE BANQUET . A grand banquet took place in the evening in the Free Trade Hal ] , and was numerously attended , Bro . Lieutenant-Col nnel Le GendreN . Starkie , Prov . G . M . presided , and was supported by the Bight Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon , D . G . M . ; W . It .

Callender , jun ., D . Prov . G . M ., and the many officers of the lodge . Dinner was served by Messrs . Jennison , of Belle Vue Gardens , and after the removal of tho cloth the ladies were admitted to the gallery , but did not muster in lar- 'e number . The usual loyal toasts were given from the ch or , and enthusiastically responded to , the Prince of Wales being recognised as " Bro . Albert Edward , M . W . P . G . M . " The succeeding toasts were the Right Hon . the Earlde Grey and Itipon , M . W . G . M ., and the Eight Hon . the

Earl of Zetland , M . W . P . G . M . The Provincial Grand Master then gave " Tho Eight Hon . I the Earl of Carnarvon , E . W . D . G . M ., and the Grand Officers | present and past . " In doing so , he said that the Earl of Carnarvon was a member of the order whom they all esteemed , valued , and highly regarded . No one who was present and heard his beautiful charge , and the language in which it was deliveredcould fail to sec how deeplMasonry was implanted

, y iu his mind . The toast was drunk with full Masonic honours . The E irl of Carnarvon , in responding to the toast , said that ho always kuew how very warm the heart of Lancashire was to its friends , hut he felt well nigh overpowered with the touching welcome that they had been pleased in thou- indulgent kindness to lavish upon him . When he left he should carry away the warmesttiie heartiestand the most constant recollections of

, , the day ' s proceedings , and of his Lancashire brethren ; and as he trusted thej- never would hesitate to ask him for any share of Masonic trouble he could give , so , on the other hand , he never would hesitate to ask them for any kindness or auy good offices at their hands . Ho had to answer to two toasts in one . He had to thank them first for the manner in which they had drunk the health of the officers of the Grand Lodge of England ,

of whom he had the honour to be the representative . He was well sensible of the compliment that they had paid them , and he rejoiced to have been present ou such an occasion as that . There were many amongst these officers who were his seniors , yet he would venture to say that none of them had ever seen any Masonic ceremony so full of interest , so full of true Masonic feeling , so remarkable , and so dignified in all its proceedings as that which had illustrated the great hall and gladdened

theneyes on that occasion . The Grand Lodge of England was a tangible and visible embodiment of English Masonry , but it was so only iu so far as it reflected and represented the Masonry of ever } ' province in England . They could not be present from all parts of England ou every occasion at the Grand Lodge , and therefore he vejoicod when its members , higlr in office , who were able to speak of its weight anil its value , were present in the provinces , to judge how true the Masonic feeling was there , and

how important it was that provincial interests should be fully and faithfully represented . One word more as to himself . He rejoiced that by the favour of the R . W . Provincial Grand Master , no longer designate , and also by their kindness , he had been allowed to take part iu the day ' s proceedings . He would never forget it , but would carry away in his mind the liveliest and heartiest recollection of the great and striking- scene which had passed before II ' eyes that morning . How could it be

otherwise in Manchester , one of the great centres ot English commercial life and activity , in that great hall , tho former scene of many an animated and , perhaps , not always friendly debate ; aud in Lancashire , when industry , energy , heartiness , aud resolve of purpose belonged to her sons , and his heart would be very cold indeed , if it did not feel warmed with all that ho had seen and heard . He was told sometimes that after a certain age men ceased to make friends ; but he did not

believe that miserable and odious doctrine . For his own part , he had found , and he trusted that as long as life lasted , go where he would , he would always find friends . He hoped he would be allowed to feci that , if he came amongst them as a stranger , he would not go away as a stranger , aud that he would one day he allowed by their kindness and favour to return . Bro . W . R . Callender proposed the memory of Bro , Stephen Blairlate Provincial Grand Master of the province . He

des-, scribed him as one who was beloved in the social circle , a warm and constant friend , a man of business whose commercial dealings were never sullied by dishonosty or by speculation , a man who was looked up to and trusted b y his workpeople and fellowtownsmen , and a true and honest politician who never obtruded his private opinions , and who deserved their admiration for the manner in which he had performed his duty as a Christian , a getleman , and a Mason . For twenty-five years , or nearly that