Provincial.

therefore had great pleasure in asking the brethren to heartily respond to the toast , which being done—Bro . STUART , felt agreeably astonished , and delighted at the able working , perfect unanimity and good feeling which seemed to exist in the Royal Union Lodge . The brethren of the London Lodges , were in the hahit _ of laying the flattering unction to their souls that their working was the perfection of Masonry , but he felt hound to speak in praise of the excellent manner in which tbe work had

been conducted . He had to congratulate the AA . M ., upon his selection of officers , and to thank the brethren for the excellent manner in which himself and his brother visitors had been entertained , aud the excellent fare that had been set before them . He had frequently been taunted because he did not get fat , but he felt convinced that if he became a constant visitor to 536 he should very soon overcome that difficult .

, y On behalf of himself and the other visitors he thanked the brethren , and wished to the Royal Union Lodge increased prosperity , and to the W . M . a pleasant and successful year of office . — The AV . M . then proposed " The Health of the Installing Master , Bro . AAratson , " a brother too well known to them to require any eulogy on his part . ¦ He could not in that place expatiate upon the manner in which he bad performed the ceremony of

installation ; suffice to say , that at the conclusion he had been more than ever impressed with the importance of the office he now held . —Bro . A \ ATSON always had great pleasure in installing the Master of a lodge . It gave him the same gratification that was felt by a W . M . in initiating members into -the Order . He assured the Royal Union Lodge that he felt great pleasure in attending their meetingsand should he re . idy at all times to

, render every assistance in his power to forward the welfare of the lodge . —The WM . then proposed the toast of "The Health of the Past Masters . " They were very few—but very select . He then placed on the breast of Bro . Carter a handsome P . M . 's jewel . If Bro . Carter had not been so prominent in the work as he might have been , the members of the lodge were all well aware it was from no fault of his own ; but whatever

shortcomings he had exhibited in that respect , he had fully made up in the zeal he had exhibited for the welfare of the lodge . He , therefore , had great pleasure , in the name of the brethren , in placing the jewel on his breast , wishing him long life and

happiness , and that he might always have a good coat upon which to wear it . The following inscription on the jewel was then read : — " Presented by the members of the Royal Union Lodge ( No . 536 ) , to Bro . Carter , P . M ., in recognition of the zeal displayed hy him in the conduct of the " affairs of the lodge during the year ending March , 1863 . "—Bro . NEWALL responded on behalf of himself and Bro . Carter . He referred to the hitherto poor attendance of the P . M . ' s of the lod .

ge He could not account for their absence ; every endeavour had been made to induce their attendance hut in vain . He felt he must dissect the speech of the AA . M ., who spoke of only two P . M . s being present , as if he had a large stock in store . Bro . Newall during his year of office had not been able to keep such a stock in hand . In that year , Bro . AA eedon , meeting after meeting was the only P . M . of the lodge present . And now , himself

and Bro . Carter , stood before them as the ghosts-of a long line of P . M . s . Ghosts as they were , their substance would always be with them , and they would endeavour to make that substance as substantial as possible . —Bro . CARTER briefly thanked the brethren for the honour they had done him in presenting him with a jewel , and assured them that his efforts to increase the prosperity of the lodge would not cease with his year of office .

He sincerely thanked the brethren for the indulgence shown him , and especially Bro . Newall , P . M ., and others , who had done so much to help him . AVithout their assistance he felt sure he could never have got through the duties . —The AA . M . in proposing the toast of " The Officers of the Lodgo , " referred to the untimely death of Bro . Claisen , in feeling terms , having been reminded thereof bthe fact that himself and his officers had

ady vanced a step by the death of that much respected and deeply lamented brother who , if spared , would at that moment have occupied the chair in which he sat . It might be a stereotyped phrase to remark that a AV . M . could not perform his duties in a satisfactory manner without the cordial support of his officers . He trusted that the selection he had made would ensure good working , and would meet with the approbation of the brethren .

They had certainly made a good beginning , and he looked forward to a pleasant year of office . —Bro . C 0 O 3 iBS , S , AV ., had resolved to devote all the time he could bestow to acquire efficiency in the discharge of his duties , so that when it came to his lot to occupy the chair he might not cause the reputation of the

lodge to suffer . He was , he might say , a young Mason , and he felt proud at having so speedily reached the honourable position he now occupied . He would , therefore , endeavour to perform his duties with credit to himself and benefit to the lodge . —Bro . HERRING , J . AA ., was also a young Mason , and it was his intention to work Monday , Tuesday , AA ednesday , Thursday , Friday , and Saturday to qualify himself to perforin the duties of his present officeso that the brethren might deem

, him worthy of further advancement . —Bros . CHEGWIDDEN and AVILIAJIS , J . D . and S . D ., thanked the brethren , and promised to use every exertion to perform their duties in a proper manner . •Bro . GAUALL , I . G ., thanked the AA . M . for having promoted him and the brethren for the way they had responded to the toast of the officers . Though placed in what might be termed a humble position , he felt the importance of doing what little he

had to do properly . His friend on the left ( Bro . Herring ) had promised to work to all the days of the week , but he would try to take the shine out of him by working on Sundays as well . He believed it to be the proper ambition of every good Mason to aspire to the important position of AV . M ., and as such he hoped to some day attain that honourable rank . —Bro . LEVINSON , Treas ., was much indebted to the AOl . for the enconiums passed himwhich he felt he had not deserved .

upon , He had ' performed his duty to the best of his ability , and promised the brethren the brethren he would take the greatest care of their fnnds and try to keep them out of debt . He had spent many pleasant evenings with them , and he could saythat in the Royal Union Lodge , the union element was carried out in the highest degree . The Lodge , whilst enjoying themselves , did not forget the charities . Bro . Newall had served the

Stewardship of all three of the Masonic Institutions . On the last occasion he had represented 536 at the Festival of the Benevolent Institution . The lodge was greatly indebted to Bro . N ewall , who had done so much to promote the welfare of the lodge and the happiness of the members . He concluded by assuring the brethren that as often as business would permit he would be amongst them and endeavour faithfully discharge the duties of his- office . —Bro . HICKS , Collecting Steward , had been appointed to what he considered an important office . He should use his best endeavours to collect the dues of the lodge , and assured the

brethren that if they got in arrears he would look them up . — Bro . GAWTIIORI ? , Sec , was happy to meet the members in lodge From the first time he had the happiness to attend the meetings of Royal Union Lodge , he found that they were of a truly fraternal nature , and that Masonry as there practised , was something more than the mere name . Bro . Gawthorp then , in an elegant address expatiated upon the beauties of Masonry , and the duties of Masons towards one another and the outer world . In

conclusion he stated that on being requested to act as Secretary he found two difficulties in his way . The first was that bis avocations might prevent a strict attention to the duties of his office ; this had been overcome by a brother having intimated that he might receive some assistance if he needed it . The other difficulty he met with on perusing the bye-laws , where he found that the Secretary was excused from paying his subscrition .

p Upon these terms he could not consent to accept the office , and stated his intention to continue to pay his annual subscription the same as any other member . It was suggested to Bro . Gawthorp that he could do so , and that he should sign as Hon . Sec , whereupon Bro . Gawthorp expressed his willingness to undertake the duties , stating that if at any time he found he could not devote sufficient time to the duties of his office , he should

request the W . Master to appoint some other brother in his stead . The Press having been proposed and responded to by Bro . Mills , the AA . M . said the last , though not the least toast , was that of the worthy host , Bro . Line . The visitors had mentioned the gratification they had felt at the working of the lodge . They had had the opportunity of witnessing the working of the first degree only . But their gratification must have been equally

great at the manner in which Bro . Line had worked , the " fourth degree , " for this he might term the banquet , which Bro . Line had put on the table in a manner conducive to his own reputation as a caterer , [ and to the comfort of the brethren . —Bro . LINE felt great pleasure in entertaining the brethren of Royal Union Lodge , and should always do his best to ive them satisfaction and make them

g comfortable . He thanked the brethren for drinking his health . The Tylers toast brought this happy meeting to a close . The evening ' s enjoyment was much enhanced by the vocal exertions of Bros . Carter , Herring , Newall ( who gave an excellent extempore song , referring to all the officers of the lodge in a