The Masonic Mirror.

brother delivered an admirable and eloquent discourse , which we hope to lay before our readers at an early opportunity . Tho brethren could not fail to ba struck with the beauty of the fine east window , presented by tho late B . Prov . Grand Master for the province—Bro . George Thomas , of AVoodbridgo , who was an excellent and liberal supporter of Freemasonry . Tiie brethren returned in procession to the Lodge , where a collection was made for the Provincial Fund of Benevolence , and the Lodge was then closed iu due form .

At the dinner in the afternoon , which was held at the Corn Exchange , Bro . F . Roxburgh , Grand Registrar , presided over an assemblage of brethren numbering about one hundred . After the dinner the Grand Registrar gave " The Queen "—coupling with it : " The Craft , " " The Prince Consort the Prince of AVales , aud the rest of the Royal Family . " His Royal Highness the Prince Consort was a warm supporter of the arts and sciences . He had sedulously devoted himself to those matters—wliich JIasons so much prized .

The Grancl Registrar then gave " The M . AV . G . JI . the Earl of Zetland . " He was glad they were ruled over by a nobleman possessing such high and distinguished qualities . And he was glad to say further—that wliich he could not say the last time he hacl the honour of addressing them—that he was free from the attacks of those who sought to detract from his merits . The Craft now fully appreciated the worth of their Grand JIaster ; but they were , after all , not fully aware of the time , patience , perseverance , and attention that the noble lord gave to the

business of Freemasonry , He ( the Prov . Grand Registrar ) said " last time , '' in reference to the slanderous and calumniating remarks which wore made in a publication afterwards repudiated , as he knew it would be , by the province of Suffolk . The dissensions—if he might so term them—existing iu Grand Lodge had , he hoped , for ever ceased ; ancl he fervently trusted they might proceed , under the rule of so amiable , courteous , aud honourable a Grand Master with the great business of Freemasonryivithout discussion leading to no particular result

, . GrandLodge used tolastbeyondeleveno ' cloek , anclthe discussions therein were not often found conducive to practical utility . The time occupied in the business of the Craft was not used as it might have been . The last time Grand Lodge met , however , the business on the paper was over by half-past nine o ' clock . The Craft , he repeated , fully appreciated the merits of the noble lord their Grand JIaster . He hoped , then , that there would always remain on the JIasonie throne of Engl-nd one so competent and so fitted in every way for the distinguished office he held

as was the Earl of Zetland . The Grand Registrar said that the Queen herself could no more carry on the government of the country by herself ivithout competent ministers , then could the Grand Jlaster carry on his business in Freemasonry without competent officers . He deemed that the Grand JIaster hacl acted wisely in selecting for his deputy so able a man as Lord Panmure , than whom no one could better discharge the duties of his high office . He was sure he was speaking the

sentiments Oi . the brethren , ivhen he said that no one endeavoured more , so liu- as in them . laid , to perform their duties zealously and faithfully than clid his lordship and the Grand Officers of England . It was a most serious duty to select from so many brethren on whom to confer the honour of Grand Officers . The Grand JIaster , ho believed , endeavoured to exercise the strictest impartiality in selecting only those who ivere most likely and best calculated to advance the interests of the Craft . And those chosenhe believedwore anxious and determined to

, , discharge their duties to the best of their ability . So long as they did so they would obtain not only the support of the particular provinces to wliich they belonged , but to the Craft at large . He would couple with the toast of " Lord Panmure and the Grand Officers of England , " the name of Bro . Scott , Past Grand Beacon of England , au excellent supporter of the charities , and one who was a very zealous attendant in the discharge of his duties , especially in his Lodge ( Antiquity ) . He was a Past

JIaster of two years' standing , and he need only add that they hacl but to know him to appreciate him . Bro . AA . P . Scott briefly responded , sincerely thanking them for a compliment ho feared he did not deserve . He believed the Grand Officers were anxious to discharge their duties , and that they succeeded . As for tie attacks on the Grand JIaster , which had been spoken of , he felt that that nobleman could afford to bear them , because he knew and felt , that 'uter all

' , he had done his duty . As for liimself , he felt that he had but performed his duty imperfectly—still lie thanked them for their kind Wception of his name . . , lSro . the Rev . F . AV . Freeman , B . Prov . G . JI ., of Suffolk , said it was '" a dut y to introduce the toast of ' ' The Grand Eegist : ar of England , " "ov .- acting as their Prov . Grand JIaster . They were considerably iu--wted to him for the care and attention which he had bestowed upon ] , ; ' j ? l' ™ vmco since it had been under his charge . He for one appreciated -fc actions and he the whole of the brethren in the

, was sure province , 'omeuled with him . Since they last mot , it had been his duty to call In i ' . Seller in Februarv to consider a charge made against them as a li- a " 7 U 1 tli 0 P ' 0 " 1106 of Suffolk . But still ho believed that that charge eta ;! * ^ l against them so much as against him who occupied the the "' ' * ' ose wll ° ; lttclul ° ^ with him . Ho ( tho speaker ) did not regret it r 't ' , afc ' ll ; i < : 1 tilkcn in the matter ; on the contrary , he rejoiced at th ' e cl S ' *" m an 0 PP ' tunity of meeting with the brother who made Ho ' l _ . lai ^ , i ' ° £ obta ' £ tllu most ample explanation of the matter . ' Tod they were not likely to have a recurrence of unseemly

discussion in Grand Lodge ; three or four times that he had been there , he had been exceedingly disgusted at tho manner in which matters had gone on , whilst the real business of the Craft had been neglected , because certain brethren tried to show off their ability and eloquence . He believed there was not a more upright man in the councils of the Craft than the Grand Registrar of England . ( Hear , hear ) . He called on them , then , to hail his name with all due honour—for he was sure ho deserved it .

The Grancl Registrar returned thanks , saying that no task combined pleasure ancl pain more than did the response to this toastpleasure on account of the generous manner in which they had received the mention of his name , and pain that he could not adequately express the satisfaction ivhieh their reception had given him , not only now but during the whole time the province of Suffolk had been under his charge . During that time he eould assure them that his office hacl been rendered anything but disagreeable . It hacl been most grateful to him

to preside over the province , and the courtesy and kindness he had experienced had been such that the termination of his connexion with them—necessary as it' was—could not be looked upon by him but with extreme regret . Still he felt proud to say that he desired it to be terminated ; for he held it to be goocl for the province that it should have as its head its own Prov : Grand JIaster . He would do all in his power to procure a goocl and fitting representative , whose actions would be beneficial to the province and to the Craft . It was not because he felt the

office a laborious one , nor its duties irksome , that he suggested the desirability of a change . But it was because he thought it would be better for the province ; and he could assure them that whenever his efforts could be of service to them either as their representative in Grand Lodge or in any other way , those services would always be at their command . He trusted that the province would soon have a ruler of its own , who would be of service to it in every way . He assured them it would give him pain to leave thembut it would also give him pleasure to leave

, them under the care of a fitting-successor . The Grand Registrar next gave the "D . Prov . G . JI . and Officers of the province , '' complimenting them on their energy ancl efficiency . No one could have attended more zealously to his duties and to the interests of the Craft than the worthy D . Prov . Grancl JIaster . Indeed he had taken such care that no province in England was better worked or better regulated than the province of Suffolk . Their best thanks , therefore ,

were due to him . Bro . the Rev . F . AA . Freeman returned thanks for the complimentary manner iu which his name had been received , which had really deprived him of words adequate to express his feelings . Still , however much ho might feel his inability— at the same time he held an honest desire to promote as far as he could the interests of Freemasonry , especially in that province . In fact its interests were dear to him as his life ' s blood . He loved them as he loved his own brother . Ho was exceedingl

y attached to the working of Jlasonry ; and he would never allow anything that he could possibly prevent to interfere with his attendance at a Masonic meeting . He had hoped to make the round of the different Lodges in the province . He did start , and he was stopped by two or three Lodges . But now as winter was coming on , thoy might perhaps receive him with more cordiality . If they saw the pleasing countenance of their Jlaster , it might at least gladden if it did not enlighten . He at wounds the oil of human kind

any rate was anxious to pour into their - ness , and to instil into them a little patience and perseverance . The Grand Registrar next gave "The Visitors . " They had visitors from London , to whom ho was sure thoy gave a hearty reception . He was personally very glad to soe them . —Bro . Cockle , a member of his old Lodge ; Bro . Ireland , the eminent instructor in Freemasonry , second to very few ; ancl Bro . East , who represented the Freemasons' Magazine . Of the Magazine he would say , that so long as it continued the course it had already pursued , in detailing for the information of the Craft at large , the proceedings of Grand Lodge fairly , honestly , and truly , and in

comments upon them also in a fair and manly spirit , it would receive the support of the Craft . He might add , that in recommending it to their support , he recommended it as the organ of the Craft at large . It was highly desirable that they should have some reliable organ in JIasonie matters ; and not only this , but one which would give the Craft all information on matters relating to Freemasonry . ( Hear , hear ) . Tho course adopted by the Magazine of late must have been such as to recommend it . It was not for him to advise them , that was not his

business , they must judge for themselves , but for himself lie thought the Magazine reported the proceedings faithfully , ancl deserved support , not only iu the provinces but in London . ( Hear , hear . ) The toast haying been warmly received , Bro . Cockle highly complimented the province of Suffolk on the help it hacl rendered to the cause of Freemasonry ; and regretting the discussions which had taken place , and which had been adverted to , hoped they should never see them repeatedHo trustedin conclusionthat they all heartily and willingl

. , , y recognized the manner in which tho business of Grand Lodgo was managed by the JI . AV . G . M . and all his officers . ( Hear , hear . ) Bro . Ireland assured them , in returning thanks , that it gave him tho greatest pleasure to visit such a Provincial Grand Lodge . Bro . East returned thanks on behalf of the proprietors of the Freemasons' Magazine , assuring the brethren that it was their earnest and increasing endeavour to render their publication in every way deserving

tho support of the Craft . The Grand Registrar next gave " The Provincial Grand Officers of the present year . " They had been appointed under the belief that they