Oxfordshire.

Bro . Spiers , D . Prov . G . AL , said , it became his pleasing duty to propose the next toast , and he knew that he need not detain them at any length in so doing . As thoy had been reminded that short speeches were to be the order of tho evening , he should regulate his by the length of their plaudits , when he proposed to them " The health of their R . AV . Prov . Grand Master . " ( Long continued applause ) . The speeches and cheers of the brethren must also ' be short—( laughter)—and he would not detain them longer than to ask them to drink to the health of tho

Prov . Grand Master—that he might be spared for many years to preside over them , as no brother performed his duties with greater zeal , or was more anxious to promote the interests of the Craft and the province than their Provincial Grand Alaster . ( Cheers ) . The Prov . Grand Master need not say that he rose to acknowledge the kind reception of his name by the brethren with tho greatest pleasure . There was nothing he more highly valued than their good opinionwhich it ivould ever be his

endea-, vour to retain , so long as he had the honour to hold the high position with which he had been entrusted by the M . AV . Grand Master . Ho trusted he might longhave the happiness to preside over them , and that they ivould continue to show to the Alasonic world that Oxford was a united and happy province . ( Cheers ) . The next toast he should havo tho honour to propose was the health of a body of brethren , to whom the Craft were under deep obligations , at tho head of whom was one who had deservedly won the esteem and regard of all Freemasons . In

proposing "The health of the ii . \ Y . Deputy Grand Master , Lord Panmure , and the rest of the Grand Officers , " he would not attempt at any length to dilate upon their merits . They were aware that the Deputy Grand Master had long been before the country . He had served his Queen in most difficult times with great talent and success , and Masonry had found in him a firm friend and most talented officer . AVith regard to the other Grand Officers , several of whom had honoured him with their company that day , ho could only say they ivere generally alike distinguished for their Alasonic ability aud deep devotion to the interests of the

Order . There was present as one of those Grand Officers , one whom he could scarcely speak , as , being his own brother , ho was fearful that his partiality might carry him too far . He would therefore only remind them that he was brought up in their university , and had a very extensive knowledge of Freemasonry . He ivould now propose to them the toast , coupled with tho name of the Grand Chaplain of England , Bro . the Rev . AVeutworth Bowyer . ( Applause ) . Bro . AVeutworth Bowyer , Grand Chaplain , regretted that , as the senior Grand Officer presentit should have devolved upon him to acknowledge the toast

, , especially as there were older members of Grand Lodge present , who possessed a greater amount of Masonic lore , talent , and eloquence than he could lay claim to . It was , however , with especial pleasure that he had the honour to meet them that day , and to return his thanks for their kind reception . He had learned the whole of his Masonry from their R . AV . Provincial Grand Master , and though he might not exactly prove a chip of the old block , he trusted he might prove a chip of a good sort . ( Laughter . ) lie had learned his duties as Grand Chaplain iu the Grand

Lodge of Oxfordshire , and he hoped to bo able to perform those duties iu Grand Lodge in a manner to give general satisfaction , and to reflect no discredit on their province . ( Applause . ) . The Provincial Grand Alaster had especial pleasure in proposing the next toast , as it included the health of one towards whom they all entertained the most grateful feelings , and who was conspicuous for the many benefits he had conferred on the province . He believed this was almost the first time he had had the

opportunity of proposing the health of Bro . Spiers as D . Prov . Grand Alaster , having generally to include it in the toasts of the Grand Officers of England . He could assure them , however , that in proposing "The health of the Deputy Prov . Grand Alaster and the Grand Officers of the Province , " he did so with the greatest satisfaction and gratification . He could assure them that he gave the most anxious consideration to the claims of every brother—and though of course it was impossible for him to know the full merits cf every individual officer , he could assure them that not one was appointed to grand office who he did not feel