The Masonic Mirror.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE . I'ROVINCIAL ( 1 RAXD I . ODOE AT HER KKLEY . TUESDAY , the 4 th inst ., welcomed the assemblage of a numerous body of the brethren , at tho Berkeley Anns , Berkeley , where the Prov . Grand Lodge was opened in duo form at two o ' clock . Thoro were present , the R . AV . Bro . tho 1 Ion . James Button , Prov . G . M . on the tin-one ; the A . AV . Bro . Newmarch . DProvGM : Bros

, . . .. . Pearce , Prov . S . G . AV . ; Cornwall . Prov . J . G . AA ' . ; T . G . Palmer . Prov . G . Treas . ; Litle , Prov . G . Chaplain ; Col . F . AV . F . Berkeley , M . P ., Prov . G . Reg . ; Trinder , Prov . G . Sec . ; Cottle . Prov . G . S . B . ; Gainer , Prov . G . J . D .: AVallaco , Prov . G . Supt . of AVorks ; Goo . Smith , Prov . G . Dir . of Cers . ' ; A . Sleed , Prov . G . S . B . ; J . 0 . Smith , Prov . G . Org . ; Grist , Prov . G . Purst . All the various Lodges in the province were well represented . Amongst other brethren present were Bros . Sir M . H . Beach , Burl .,

Gwinnett , Brandon , Alex . AVilliams , & c , & c . After the minutes had been duly read and con firmed , the Prov . Grand Treasurer reported the funds to be in so flourishing a state that it was decided to double all the subscriptions to the Masonic charities . There was no other business , aud the Prov . Grand Lodge was duly closed . The brethren dined together afterwards , and after spending the evening in harmony and brotherly love , departed to their respective homes at an earlv hour .

HEREFORDSHIRE . PROVINCIAL GRAXD LODGE AT ROSS . A COMMUNICATION of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Herefordshire was holden on Monday , the 10 th inst ., at the Royal Hotel , Ross . The R . AV . and Rev . Dr . Bowles ( vicar of Stanton Lacy ) , Prov . G . JI ., presided . The Provincial Grand Lodgo having been opened , the following appointments were made : —Bros , the Veil . Archdeacon Freer , Prov ! Daniel

S . G . AV . ; Fisher Collins , Prov . J . G . AV . ; Rev . C . Allen and Rev . AV . Jtorrish , Prov . G . Chaplains ; James AA'illiams , Prov . G . Treas ; Frederick Davison , Prov . G , Sec ; Capt . Aynsley and Thomas Donne . Prov . G . Deacons ; Capt . Peyton , Prov . G . Supt . of AA orks ; AVilliam Phillips and A . Myers , Prov . G . Birs . of Cers . ; Francis Lewis , Prov . G . S . B . ; Henry Collinson , Asst . Prov . G . Sec . ; John Cheese , Prov . G . Org . ; John Sparksman and A . Osborne , Prov . G . Bursts .: Edward George , AVilliam Russell , Henry Pitt , G . Harry Piper , and AV . Minett . Prov . G . Stewards John Bather aud C . Geary , Prov . G . Tylers . The routine business of the Prov . Grancl Lodgo having been completed , the brethren adjourned .

A dinner afterwards took place under the presidency of the Prov . Grand JIaster , at which about sixty or seventy gentlemen were present . AVe have been informed that various individuals , not members of the Craft , were admitted to this dinner party , but that nevertheless , all the usual JIasonie forms were observed except the important duty of koepiii " the Lodge close tyled against intruders . ° Dinner being over , and "Non Nobis" having been performed by the choir

, Jfhe Prov . Grand JIaster gave in succession , accompanying each with appropriate remarks , the health of "The Queen , " and "The Prince Consort , Albert Prince of AA ' ales , and the rest of the Royal Family . " These toasts were honoured with true JIasonie loyalty . The Prov . Grand JIaster said : I now rise to propose the health of a nobleman , to whom every JIason in England owes a direct and pei-siiu . il debt of gratitude . I mean my noble friend the Earl of Zetland , ivho fills tho hi and office of

gh important Grand Jlaster of om- Order , and who is ever read y to support and extend the genuine principles of freemasonry—principles grey with the hoar of ages , sanctioned and proteeteel by tho most dignified and illustrious characters in church and state m almost every country in Europe , and eminently calculated to unite men of the most opposite religious persuasions in the zealous and loving pursuit of one common object—the lory of God and the ood of

g " men ( cheers ) . To submit to the poivers that be , to obev the laws " which yield protection , to conform to the government under which they live , to be attached to their native soil and sovereign , to encourage industry ' to reward merit , and to practise universal benevolence , are the fundamental tenets of JIasons . Such , brethren , is the nature of the fraternity whose origin may be dimly traced in the faint and . shadowy mists of an antiquity so remote that the mystic hieroglyphics of Nineveh and his have latel

Memp y awakened from their sleep of ages to bear testimony to its truth , and to prove that even in the thick darkness of that olden time then , glimmered a light afar off ivhieh the ancient JIasons saw with the eye of faith , and towards which they groped their way Inpatient continuance in well dfiiiiK , believing that it was a light which shone , however dimly , from their Father ' s house , to guide ' " them on their way towards a better country ; and being persuaded that the time would come when the whole earth should be filled with its glory ! ' ¦ ' How favour'd are our eves

That see this heavenly light ; Prophets and kings desired it lung . But died without the sight . ' ' Brethren , I ask you to evince your fraternal regard and respect for our Grand JIastor the Earl of Zetland , and the confidence you have in his Masonic administration , by drinking his health with every possible demonstration of respect . The Prov , Grand Jlaster thus proposed the health of Lord Panmure ,

the M . AWD . G . M . ofthe Order : —He is a nobleman ever ready to support Lord Zetland against those somewhat unfair attacks that have receuyli , been made in Grand Lodge by a composite JIasonie party , who are everlastingly holding up their rushlight iu the eyes ofthe Grand Lod ge , exclaiming " Behold the sun ! " ( Cheers ancl laughter ) . Bro . the A en . Archdeacon Freer said the pleasure of proposing the next toast had fallen to his share . They were all deeply indebted to the Rev . Dr . Bowles , his learned , valued , and much-esteemed friend ,

foihaving accepted the office of Prov . G . JI . of that province . They well knew that at the time he accepted that office , Jlasonry was at a low ebb within tho province of Hereford ; but thoy had only to look around them , if thoy did not look also to the Lodges at Hereford and Ledbury , to see the vast increase and resuscitation of Jlasonry which had taken plp . ee under the auspices of his rev . friend . ( Applause ) . They were , therefore , all deeply indebted to the Prov . Grand JIaster . There ivere a feiv lines which struck him as being very apposite : — " 'Tis this and 'tis that .

They cannot tell what , That so many great men of the nation Should aprons put on , And make themselves one AA'ith a Free and -Accepted JIason . " No doubt it did create astonishment ancl surprise , and give rise to a considerable amount of wonder , that his rev . friend should come so many miles to hold this Lod that gentleman on his left should come

ge ; from London and its neighbourhood ; that his friends on his right should come from the centre of AA orce . stershire ; that lie himself should come from the coast of Cardigan , and others from equal distances , for that which astonished the world . Some might suppose they came merely for the sake of enjoying the banquet : others might suppose they only came to luxuriate in those habiliments and articles of clothing of which they knew not tho mysterious meaning , but which they

( the JIasons ) knew to have a deep meaning . But they hacl not met merely to gratify their appetites or their love of finery , nor altogether for the empty purposes of mere barren society . Freemasonry was . supported by his rev . friend , and himself , and everybody else in the room , because it was a type of great and lofty objects ; because , next to the inspired volume , he believed there was nothing which could afford u system more calculated to benefit mankind than Freemasonry would . ( Cheers ) . They had but to look the precepts it inculcatedanil

upon , obey tbe dictates it held forth , to study tho mysterious meaning of those emblems-which were announced in the lectures , to become goocl citizens , good subjects , honest members of society , and good Christians . They were taught to reverence the power of the supreme Architect of the Universe , and look forward to that time which sooner or later must overtake them , when this world and all upon it should pass aivay , when they should stand before the tribunal of the great Judof this

ge earth , and whatever their station had been here , high or low , rich or poor , they should all be equal as brethren . The benefits of Jlasonry were great and incalculable , and unknown to the uninitiated : they had been vastly increased in this province by his rev . friend who occupied the chair , and ivhose health he had the greatest pleasure in proposing . The toast was honoured with the greatest enthusiasm , evinced after the

peculiar fashion of tho Order . AVhen the excitement had partly lulled , the Prov . Grand JIaster rose to respond , and was again applauded . Ho then said—Brethren , it is useless to pause any longer in the vain attempt - to gather up fitting words in which to express my gratitude for the enthusiastic manner in which you have received this toast . But the reception you have given me to-day shall be treasured up as long as life and memory are vouchsafed to me , iu the innermost recesses of my heart , as a proof of your brotherly regard beyond all priceand as a token that

, my JIasonie government of this province is honoured with your approval and support . ( Cheers ) . Brethren , allow mc to pass at once " from myself , and proceed to the business of the day . I rejoice in being supported on this occasion by so many brethren of high social position and influence , and of great energy of character . I rejoice in having been enabled to bestow the purple upon some of those brethren who have so zealously and efficiently aided me in infusing new life and vigour into our Lodges ;

and I gladly avail myself of this opportunity of expressing my most grateful acknowledgments to every one of those gentlemen , aud more especially to my venerable friend and brother , Archdeacon Freer , to whom we are all so deei > ly indebted . ( Applause ) . I would also congratulate you upon the rapid adv .-tuee which Jlasonry is making in tins province ; aud permit me to add that I shall anxiously look for those works of charity and love ivhieh are the graceful and fitting result of such an advancement . BrethrenI cannot too earnestly impress upon

, your minds that benevolence is the central principle of Masonry , aiid _ that works of goodness are the only works which the Great Architect of the universe will recognize when His voice breaks tho long silence of the centuries , and he comes to givo to every JIason his hire , beginning from the last unto tho first . Conceive of Jlasonry in this spirit , and then you will perceive that it is not a dream , but a reality befitting the gospel of human brotherhood . ( Great applause ) . It does not consist , as some men imaginein a social gathering like the presentnor in a set of

, , ancient formularies , transmitted to us by far back ages ; neither does it consist in the jewels which g litter on tho breasts of some of the brethren around me . No , these arc but the types and symbols of our Masonic l ' iiilh ; and the brother who is content to slumber behind these decorative types and . suggestive symbols , is but half a JIason—