Provincial.

Bro . AV . Leeds Fox , who for many years held the office of Prov . G . See ., received the appointment of Deputy Provincial Grand Master , an office that has long been held in abeyance , and the revival of which on the present occasion was somewhat unexpected . A sum of £ 10 was voted to Bro . R . Gidney , Secretary to Lodge Perseverance ; £ 21 was voted as a contribution towards the Girls' School ; and £ 10 10 s . towards the Boys' School .

At the termination of the lodge business the brethren formed in procession and attended Divine service at St . Peter ' s Church , where a very excellent sermon was preached by the Prov . G . Chaplain , and a collection was made in behalf of the Norwich Benevolent Association for the Relief of Decayed Tradesmen , their AVidows , and Orphans . The brethren on leaving church reformed in procession and returned to the Freemasons' Hall where they sat down to a

very excellent banquet , provided by Bro . AVoods , whose catering ¦ elicited the highest encomiums from the brethren who partook of it . The Prov . G . Master occupied the chair , and was supported at the cross table by Bros . Sir H . Stracey , Bart ; AV . Leeds Fox , Revs . Chomeley , S . Tatlow , Hodgson , Coleby ; J . Barwell , A . F . Morgan , D . Dalrymple , & c . On the removal of the cloth , "The Health of the Queen , " was proposed by the Prov . G . MASTER , and drunk with the greatest enthusiasm .

in proposing "The Health of the Prince and Princess of AVales , " the PROV . G . MASTER said—His Royal Highness was the grandson of a most brilliant example of Freemasonry , the late Duke of Cambridge , who took a very warm interest in the Order , and who carried out the principles of Freemasonry in private life as well as in those public matters in . which he was engaged , and in which , hy every means in his power , he endeavoured to promote that whicli was good . ( Hear , hear , and

applause . ) He trusted the time was not far distant when the Prince of AA ' ales might confer the great sanction of his name on the Order by becoming himself a member of that body . ( Cheers . ) By so doing His Royal Highness would not only be conferring a great benefit on the Order , but tbe step would be equally conducive to his own happiness and welfare and to the progress of the principles of Masonry , not only within the limits of our own landbut in quarter of the lobe .

, every g ( Cheers . ) The PROV . G . MASTER , in proposing " The . Health of tho Earl of Zetland , Grand Master of England , " observed that Masonry had lost none of its power under the presidency of that distinguished nobleman . ( Drunk with honours . ) The D . PROV . G . MASTER proposed " The Health of the Earl de Grey and Ripon , the Deputy Grand Master of England , and

the Officers of the Grand Lodge . " ( Drunk with honours . ) Bro . Sir HENRY STRACEY , who rose amid loud and long continued cheers , said he could not but feel that the brethren present had anticipated the toast for which they had given so handsome a demonstration . Although they had so handsomely received him , he could not suppose that the very great compliment they had just paid was intended for himself . ( " Ycs ,. yes . " ) He was sure it must he intended to apply to the toast they

liad anticipated , and he was about to give , which was " The Health of their excellent and esteemed Provincial Grand Master . " ( Loud and prolonged cheering . ) He was sure when lie mentioned the Provincial Grand Master , the toast would be

received with the acclamation he had just heard . He felt , however , a little hesitation in speaking on this subject , because in a recent conversation with a most intimate and valued friend , that friend had said to him , " Why do you make enemies by your style of speaking ? " He could not help feeling that , in all probability , his friend was right . His friend added , "It is from your truthfulness of speaking that you make enemies . You call a spade a spade . " AA ellhe would lead guilty : he

, p knew lie did ; but in what he was about to say , he felt certain that its truthfulness would he no impediment , and that they would all coincide with him when he stated that their Provincial Grand Master was a most excellent one . ( Cheers . ) Might he take the liberty of asking , did the Provincial Grand Master , ¦ or did he not preserve the dignity of his high office ? ( Cheers . ) Did he or did he not ive the strictest attention to the duties

g of that office ? ( Cheers . ) Above all , if he had sins , and who had not , wonld not his charity cover a multitude of those sins ? ( Loud cheers . ) There were charities founded hy their excellent Provincial Grand Master ' s instrumentality — charities arising from the Order of which he was so noble an example . There were numerous Charities iu London and the

neighbourhood , with which all present were doubtless acquainted ; and not only were there these , but there were others , with which his good name was connected—Charities like the one that had been so strongly recommended to them that day in lodge , and to which they had given their assistance . ( Hear , hear . ) He had ever shown that disposition for charity which had made him at tho ago he had attained , so respected by them all . ( Cheers ) They all congratulated him on the green old age

. to which he had arrived . Might he for many years enjoy and preserve that green old age , ami when the time came for the Almighty to require his presence , might he be surrounded by troops of friends , and he ( Sir If . Stracey ) was convinced that none would regret his loss more than the Freemasons of the province over which he . so worthily presided . ( Loud and continued cheers . )

The PROV . G . MASTER , who rose amid prolonged cheers , said he rose with no ordinary feelings to state what he was about to say , and it was no mere common expression when lie said he deeply felt the way in which Bro . Sir Henry Stracey had proposed ' his health , and the very kind ' way in which the brethren present had received it . He had now been a member of the Craft for nearlhalf a century . ( Hearhearand cheers . )

y , , He had attempted , as far as his humble means had enabled him to do , and so far , also , as his limited powers permitted , to promote every institution connected with the Order , for the advancement or relief of those members who were unfortunate , and for bringing up the children of these unfortunate members , and putting them " in the way of obtaining a respectable rank in lifesuch as liad been held btheir parents before misfortune

, y came upon them , and the children were left unprotected . He had great pleasure in saying that Masons had succeededin raising establishments , which , if not fully commensurate with their wants , were at least of very great advantage in the relief of the wants that were entailed on the Order . ( Hear , bear . ) He assured his brethren he felt deeply indebted to them for the kind assistance they had g iven him in the promotion of those

institutions which were an honour and credit to the Order , and so long as he was allowed to remain in this world , so long should he be anxious to do all in his power to promote and carry out the great principles of the Order , convinced that by

so doing he should not only be maintaining the honour of the Order , but conferring a benefit on our countrymen , not only within the limits of our own shores , but all the surplus population that owed its existence to this country . ( Cheers . ) The PROV . G . MASTER next proposed " The Health of the Rev . Chaplain , " remarking that they must all feel tho great honour conferred upon them by their reverend brethren who condescended to visit their humble boardand he hoped that

, when they returned they carried out to the world at large a full declaration that whatever they saw here met their full approbation , and that they considered , as far as they were enabled to form an opinion , that the principles they professed without the limits of their own fraternity were such as they had no hesitation in carrying out , as it was their sacred duty to do , as conducive to that hih conduct and integrity which were

g the honour of every man in the fraternity . ( Drunk with honours . ) The PROV . G . CHAPLAIN , in responding , objected to the term condescension as applied by the Provincial Grand Master , to the visits of himself and clerical brethren on these occasions . This ivas not his feeling , nor did ho think it that of any of his reverend brethren . God forbid they should enjoy anything if they thought

they were above it . Ho thought it their duty to give countenance , as far as they possibly could , to anything that had for its object the encouragement of true Christian principles—of love to God and man . ( Hear , hear . ) He regarded it as no slight privilege to be permitted to address them on this occasion , and to have been permitted so to do on a former occasion also . He assured them that if lie did not truly and thoroughlbelieve what he put forth in his sermons he would

y not a day longer remain a Freemason . He could not but look upon Freemasonry in a far higher light than perhaps many were accustomed to do—higher than he used to do during the first five or six years he was a Mason . This was since wlr . it he had learnt from a sincere friend , an honest Mason , who had travelled much in foreign countries and was deeply conversant with the oldest language in the world—that language from which so

many Masonic words were taken—the Hebrew . He was convinced from what he had thus leamt that Freemasonry was more ancient than many were at first disposed to allow . He could , hy quoting the words of a reverend friend , who was both