Provincial.

of a brother whoso name is always received with rapturous delight in every lodge in the province . At my first interview with him I felt my whole heart intuitively drawn towards him , and every subsequent interview has increased the admiration I first felt for him . His whole heart and soul seems bent upon the practical elucidation of those grand Masonic virtues , " brotherl lovereliefand Truth . " Nor is it bhis brethren

y , , y in Masonry alone to whom the exuberance of his goodness and the kindness of his heart are known , ancl by whom his virtues are admired , and he almost adored . But in the parish where he resides , and of which he is the rector , there is not an individual in whose heart he does not live , and whose breast does not g low with ardour , and throb with delight at the sound of his returning footsteps , let him be absent never so short a time .

If there is any man upon earth who can adopt the beautiful language of Scripture which he himself chose as the groundwork of that excellent sermon , that masterpiece of Masonic defence which we all had the happiness and honour to hear in August last—he is the man . He can truly say " AVhen the ear heard me then it blessed me , when the eye saw me it gave witness to me , because I delivered the poor that cried , and the fatherless , and him that had none to help him , the blessing of

him that was ready to perish came upon me , and I caused the widow ' s heart to sing for joy . " No one knows the extent of his charity ; no , not even himself ; it discovers objects in quarters where modesty stifles complaint , and where thongh the heart severely knows its own bitterness , bashful sorrow , like a silent statue , is unable to utter a request . He truly is a father to the poor , and the cause which he knows not he searches out . Thousands yet unborn will call him blessed , and in his dying moments he will he comforted by the cheering recollection that

he has laboured to promote the comfort and happiness of his countrymen . Assist me then to drink the health of the R . AV . the Rev . J . Huyshe , M . A ., Chaplain to the Grand Lodge of England . This toast was received with bursts of applause , the brethren showing the greatest feeling of love and admiration for this truly great man . The AV . Bro . Ridley , the immediate P . M . desired to propose the next toast , namely , the AV . M . In doing so he said they certainly had one to preside over them , whose

Masonic , abilities were of the highest order , having proved himself in the lodge as one of their most useful members . They had heard his eloquence that evening , ane knew his untiring zeal in promoting every scheme for the interests of those grand charities with which onr Christian Order abounds . The AV . M . acknowledged the high compliment paid to him , and hoped that he might be able under Divine protection , fully to carry out those duties appertaining to the office of Master , as his predecessos had

done , and assured them that nothing should be wanting on his part to support Masonry upon its noble principles , brotherly love , relief , and truth . A P . M . ' s jewel was presented to the AV . Bro . Ridley , P . M ., Prov . G . S ., from the lodge , with an inscription thereon , which elicited from that brother a very feeling reply . The other usual Masonic toasts were given and suitably responded to . The J . AV . then , by the AV . M . 's command , called the brethren from refreshment to labourand the lodge was closed in due

, form , with solemn prayer at an early hour . It is hoped and believed that from this memorable gathering of the brethren of Lodge Fortitude , happy results will follow ; that the members will be stirred up to increased and enduring efforts to promote the great charities of Masonry , and if possible to raise the standard of our royal Order to a more elevated and exalted position .

GLOUCESTERSHIRE . TEWKESETJEY .-St . George's Lodge ( No . 1202 ) . —The brethren of this lodge met on Friday , the 9 th instant , to celebrate thenfirst festival of St . John the Evangelist , at . vhich Bro . E . S . Cossens was reinstalled in the chair of K . S ., in full and antient form , by the AV . Bro . Amos Sleed , Prov . G . S . W , the proclamationssalutationsand addresses being rendered bhim in the

, , y most ample and satisfactory manner . Bro . G . Blixard was appointed and invested as the J . D . ; Godsall and Rice reappointed as Dir . of Cers . and Assist . Dir . of Cers . ; the Eev . J . K . Booker , reappointed as the Chaplain ; Edward Gillman , reappointed as Sec . ; and W . H . Pearcy , M . D ., appointed Beg . The brethren mustered in good force , and after the lodge business was concluded , partook of a very good banquet , prepared by Bro . W . Xrotman

, the banquetting-room being tastefully decorated with Masonic emblems . The usual Masonic toasts were given and warmly responded to , especially those of the AV . Bro . Amos Sleed and the W . M . j

LANCASHIRE ( WEST ) . PROVINCIAL GIIAND LODOE . The quarterly meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge was opened at the Masonic Temple , Liverpool , Jan . 16 tli , In- the R . AA' -. D . Prov . G . M ., Sir Thomas Hesketh , Bart ., M . P ., P . G . W . of England , assisted by Bros . Wylie , as D . Prov . G . M . ; Hamer ,

as Prov . G . SW . ; Mavulsley , as Prov . R .. T . AV .: Rev . Dnnckley , Prov . G . Chap . ; P . Maddox , Prov . G . Supt . of Works ; Tiioriey , Prov . G . J . D . ; C . J . Banister , Prov . G . Dir . of Cers . ; John Pepper , Prov . G . Assist . Dir . of Cers . ; H . S . Alpass , Prov . G . S . B . ; Armstrong , Prov . G . Standard Bearer ; Allender , Prov . G . Purs ; May , Hughes , and . 1 . Armstrong , Prov . G . Stewards : the AV . M . ' s of Lodges 245 , 294 , 845 , 865 / 1225 , & c , and a fair attendance of brethren .

Bro . Younghusband brought forward his motion that £ 50 be given out of the funds of this Provincial Grand Lodge towards the fund now raised by the lodges of this province tu tlie relief of the distressed operatives of Lancashire and Cheshire , which was carried unanimously . AVith this amount the fund will be over £ 400 , and there are several sums yet to come in , which , when complete , will amount to nearly £ 500 . Six petitioners were relieved from the Fund of Benevolence .

Bro . C . J . Banister gave notice of motion that at the next meeting he would propose that £ 10 be paid out of the funds of Provincial Grand Lodge to tlie Royal Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons , and the like sum for the Widows' Fund also . Business over , the lodge was closed in form . Letters of apology were received from the absent officers . LIVERPOOL . —Ancient Union Lodge ( No . 245 ) . —January 15 th

being the regular monthly meeting , the lodge was opened in the Masonic Temple , by Bro . M . Crawford , W .. AI ., assisted by the officers of the lodge . The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed . Bro . C . Rowson , W . M . elect , was then presented to Bro . Colborne , P . M ., by Bro . M . Simpson , P . M ., to receive at his hands the benefit of installation , which was performed in the presence of Bros . C . J . Banister , Prov . G . Dir . of Cers . ; John Pepper , Prov . G . Assist . Dir . of Cers . ; C . Bromley , Crawford , Young , Crankshaw 971 , Shepherd 864 , Langley 1125 , Simpson 245 , P . M . 's ; Mott , S . W . 294 ; Butt , 294 , and a full lodge . After being severally proclaimed , the W . M . appointed

and invested the following officers : —Bros . M . Crawford , P . M . ; Friesh , S . W . ; S . AVhite , J . AV . ; C . Bromley , Treas . ; Younsr , Sec ; John Carrick , S . D . ; Tindsley , J . D . ; Sparkes , I . G . ; Bail , Steward ; and McConuel , Tyler . Bro . Yparugurre was passed to the second degree , by the newly installed AA . M ., in a very creditable manner , which is a good beginning . The brethren were then called from labour to refreshment and attended the banquet , which was served up in Bro . Walker ' s best style , in

the hall , in fact , there was every delicacy of the season . Over forty brethren sat down and did ample justice to the good things provided . The cloth being drawn , the AV . M . proposed in succession the " The Health of the Queen , Albert Edward Prince of AVales , and the rest of the Roval Family ; " " The M . AV . G . M ., the D . G . M . and Grand Officers ; ' ! " "The R . W . Prov . G . M ., L . G . N . Starkie ; " "The R . W . D . Prov . G . M ., Sir Thomas G . HeskethBart . M . P . and the Prov . G . Officers . "

, , , Bro . C . J . Banister , Prov . G . Dir . of Cers ., responding to tlie last toast with his usual earnertness , reminded tlie brethren that the Festival for the Aged Freemasons and their AA'idows would be held on the 2 Sth , and hoped that he should have some names before that day to add to his list , as Steward—to that laudable institution . Bro . Colborne , P . M ., proposed "Tlie AV . M , " which was replied to in suitable terms , hoping at the expiration of his year of office , the brethren would be satisfied

with his rule . The P . M . 's of the loclge were toasted , and each returned thanks . Bro . M ' ott , in a very able speech , returned thanks for the visitors , recommending the officers of the lodge to visit other lodges , for it was by this means that they corrected their own working , emulated the best , and were unprejudiced ; he also advoeated the West Lancashire Masonic Relief Committee , it was working well , and saved the lodges in this province from imposition , and rewarded the deserving .

Bros . Scott and Butt also gave the brethren good advice . The Officers of the lodge returned thanks for their healths being proposed , Bro . Walker , for the kind manner his health had been received , and was pleased with the remarks from the W . M . that he was satisfied with the dinner . Bro . AVhite gave an excellent recitation from Hood ' s Poems , Bro . Tindsley a very droll piece , and some excellent songs were sung by Bros . Anderson , Mott , Butt , James , & c . The last toast brought a very agreeable evening to a close .