Provincial.

in the province , or his admirable reply in acknowledging the toast , and the enthusiastic reception to ifc ; but v ,-e may add our testimony of the zeal and ability of Bro . Morris as a Mason , and to his great courtesy and attention to the brethren and visitors in general , and in particular , to thc representative of the FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE . Bvo . B . J . SIIEKS , D . Prov . G . M . of Oxfordshire , responded to the toast ofthe D . Prov . G . M . ' s present in his usual impressive

but quiet gentlemanly stylo , and expressed the great pleasure ho felt at seeing the province in so promising a condition . " Tho Visitors , " responded to by the Grand Chaplain of England ; " The Prov . G . Officers , " responded to by Bro . Michael , S . G . W ., brought the list of toasts down to "The Masonic Charities , " whereupon was called forth the united eloquence of Bros . Patten and Binckes , against who ' s appeals in the

cause of charity , what body o" mortal men can stand , however resolute or formidably arrayed , and we elo believe that if ever Bro . Binckes did make one speech more forcible or admirably addressed to the subject than another , lie did upon this occasion excel ; indeed , ho oufc-Binckised himself . With the toast of "The Glamorgan Lodge and the Lodges of the Province" which toast was responded to bthe W . M .

, y of the Glamorgan Lodge , Bro . D . Roberts , the proceedings of the evening were terminated , and the brethren separated about 9 . 30 p . m ., highly delighted with the Provincial Grand Lodge meeting , and with the admirable manner in which tticy had been presided over at the banquet by the Prov . G . M ., whose additional hospitality added materially to the enjoyment of the evening .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . COL . LLOYD V . W ATKINS , M . F ., P . M . On the 23 th wit ., nt Brecon , in his sixty-third year , died Bro . Col . John Lloyd Yaughan Watkins , her Majesty ' s Lieutenant for the county of Brecon , and M . P ., and alderman for the borough . Ho was initiated into Freemasonry in St . Peter ' s Lodge ( No . 47 G ) , Carmarthen , and

ifc was through his exertions tho Brecknock Lodge ( No . 651 ) Avas established in 1855 . He Avas installed Worshipful Master in 1857 , and his regular and punctual attendance at the lodge Avas an example to all . The loss the Brecknock Lodge has sustained will bo most severely felt . As a mark of respect to departed merit , tho W . M . has requested the lodge to bo placed in mourning for three months .

Bro. John T. Archer.

BRO . JOHN T . ARCHER .

We regrefc to announce tbe death of this well-known I brother , at Cork , on the 25 th ult ., after a short illness . Bro . Archer was initiated in the Bedford Lodge ( No . 183 ) , in 1840 , became P . M . of the same , and was presented with a £ 5 jewel , Avas a member of tho Robert Burns Lodgo ( No . 25 ) , a member of the Globe Lodge ( No . 30 ) , member of the Lodge of Regularity ( No . 108 ) , Pasfc Master of

the same lodge , and presented with a £ 5 jewel ; Avas appointed Grand Steward by the Most Worshipful Grand Master , was an honorary member of the Pythagorean Lodge ( No . 93 ) , Greenwich , one of the founders of the Preston Lodge ( No . 1008 ) , Putney , of the Beadon Lodge ( No . 902 ) Kew Bridge , and the Polish National Lodge ( No . 778 ) , of Avhich he ivas a Past Master , and was

decorated with the Polish White Eagle and Golden Cross , in ccmrjany with the M . W . Grand Master the Earl of Zetland , the late Earl of Yarborough , andthe late Lord Dudley Stuart ; was a member of the Board of General Purposes three years , a member of the Board of tho Royal Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and their WidoAvs six yearsgovernor for life of the same

, institution , governor for life of the Freemasons' Girls ' School , subscriber for life of Freemasons' Boys' School , , exalted to the Royal Arch degree iu tho Chapter of Prudence ( No . 12 ) , on the 2-lth January , 18-15 . Tbe deceased brother ivas one of the founders of Robert Burns Chapter ( No . 25 ) , an honorary member and Fast Prin- j

Bro. John T. Archer.

cipal of the chapter , and was presented with a £ 6 jewel ; Avas also one of the founders of the Polish Chapter ( No . 778 ) , Past Principal and honorary member of the same . Ho joined No . 8 Lodge , Cork , and was a subscribing member of No . 3 Lodge ; also a member of No . 3 Royal Arch Chapter , and Pasfc Z . or 1 st P . of same . Bro . Archer , since his arrival in Cork , some five years

ago , has , by his kind and affable manners and abilities as a Mason , endeared himself , not only to the Masonic body but also to many of his acquaintances . 'The funeral procession moved from Hydes Hotel ( where he died ) afc nine o ' clock on Wednesday morning , the 27 th ulfc ., followed by upwards of a hundred of the brethren Avearing blue and those entitled Avearing blue and crimson

rosettes , wifch sprigs of acacia iu tho lapel of the coat , crape , and Avhite gloves . The whole of his Masonic jewels , collars , and aprons wore laid on the coffin . The pall bearers were Bros . W . Marsh , E . W . Wigmore , and F . Grey , K . T . ' s ; W . Stephens , Jos . Grey , and W . Barnard , E . A . M . ' s , all of No . 3 Royal Arch Chapter .

Bro. H. L. P. Gentile.

BRO . H . L . P . GENTILE .

On the 26 th ulfc ., afc Naples , of consumption , m his " 1 st year , Bro . Henry Louis Pascal Gentile . He was initiated in tho Northumberland Lodge , at Newcastleupon-Tyne , and afterwards joined tho Lodge of Good Bcrjorfc . He was exalted in tho Mount Zion Chapter , and became a member of the Keystone Mark Lodge . Ho was much esteemed by a large circle of friends . Having been for a long time in declining health , his passing awayAvas not unexpected .

Notes On Music And The Drama.

NOTES ON MUSIC AND THE DRAMA .

Mr . Walter Montgomery , the manager of fche new Nottingham theatre , has got into trouble Avith a local dissenting minister , Mr . Baxter . Mr . Montgomery , iu his opening address , had thought fit to say , " Recognised as our profession is by the highest in the land , Ave have little to fear from tho clouded intellect and narrow prejudices of a limited feAV , but even they shall be

convinced ( if the } ' come amongst us ) that there is nothing inconsistent in the following our profession and Avearing ' the li g ht yoke of that Lord of love Avho stilled tho rolling Avaves of Galilee . '" Mr . Baxter denounced this as blasphemy , and Mr . Montgomery called upon him for an apology under threat of legal proceedings . Mr . Baxter declined to apologise , declaring thafc he adhered

to the opinion he had expressed . Mr . Montgomery retorts in an address , in Avhich . he charges Mr . Baxter with "deliberately inflaming a congregation with the most A-indictivc passions , turning tho holy kouse _ of prayer into a bear garden resounding Avith responsive howls at ever }* fresh denunciation . " He adds , " Ifc Avould nob havo surprised mo to have seen my beautiful theatre

in flames at the hands of some excited fanatic an hour after that fiery attack . " A meeting of gentlemen interested in the continuance of the festivals of tho three choirs of Worcester , Hereford , and Gloucester has been held afc Worcester , to take preliminary steps for fche next festival , Avhich Avould come , in due courseto tho turn of Worcester next year . The

, Lord Bishop of Worcester presided , and among those present were the Hig h Sheriff of the county ( Mr . Royd ) , tho Mayor of Worcester- ( Mr . J . D . Perrin ) , the Right Hon . Sir J . S . Pakingfcon , Bart ., M . P ., Sir E . A . H . Lechmere , Bart ,, M . P ., Mr . Sheriff , M . P ., & c . It was resolved , on the motion ofthe Bishop , that those present should form themselves into a committee to tako the

• preliminary steps for the next festival , and that tho usual request should bo preferred to thc Dean and Chapter for tbe use of the cathedral and college hall . Mr . Maplesoa announces a short season of Italian