Oxfordshire.

He had now an experience of one or two and twenty years in Freemasonry and lie could not help feeling that its principles were more truly carried out m the provinces than m London . In London they too often found it intermingled with intrigues ^ and personal feelings and animosities were made to interfere with the true principles of our order . Mindful of those principles , he had ever endeavoured to advocate onl y such measures as he believed would be beneficial to the CraftHe had never sought the office he had the honour to fillit had been

, — pressed upon him b y his friends-and though he mi ght have appeared at some time wanting m good temper , they must make allowance for aim , in the belief that he had ever endeavoured to conduct the business entrusted to him conscientiously and he defied any man to charge him with one single act unworth y the character of a gentleman . Amongst those who attended Grand Lodge , however , there were many good and right minded men who deserved the credit due to those who had materially assisted in the ing on of the businessHe had denied the

carry . never existence of reasonable ground for complaint , but brethren must bear iu mind that it was no easy task at once to remedy the shortcomings of the past , and repair neglects . He ivould not be an instrument for carrying out hasty and hot reforms but he rejoiced if , with those associated with him iu the executive , he could introduce advantageous and proper reforms in the conducting of their business by cautious and well considered means . That end , he was happy to say , they were enabled to effect by the pure , kind , and honourable spirit iu which every proposition met bthe Grand

was y M . AV . Master the Earl of Zetland , who was worthy of the respect mid regard of all true and good Masons . Permit him to say that their lv . \\ . iroy . Grand Master in the chair presided over the most important Masonic province m the kingdom . It might not be through the Cherwell Lodge , nor through the Altred Lodge , but it was through the Apollo Lodge , that many of the most distinguished ornaments of Freemasonry were introduced into the order It appeared to him that Blasonry , like other affairs in life , had its duties as well as its pleasure . Let him ask those young brethren when they left Oxford for a , more extended sphere m hfe-ivhen they entered Grand Lodge , not to take the advice either ot the advocates of a question on one side or the other , but to act for

themselves , and judge according to what thoy mi ght see and hear . He believed that no greater wrong could bo done to the Order , no greater mischief produced , to the destruction ot that concord and good feeling which should always exist amongst ihem , than the endeavour to poison the minds of the young noblemen and lu-istocratici members of the Craft on their introduction into Grand Lodge , on tlie very threshold as it were of their entrance ou a public Alasonic career . To do so was not only a wrong to the individual , it was a crime against the Craft , as tending to rob it of its brightest ornamentsIt at all

. was times difficult to retrace a false sten ta , ; en early in lite , but it was far more difficult for those who were placed in hHi and dignified positions . No matter what their situation , he believed it to be equally the duty ot the higher and the lower members of Grand Lodge to endeavour to guide their younger brethren into the right path ; and if they wanted a safe and sure guide , allow linn to say that nowhere could a Mentor bo found who ivould more salelguide them than the honourable and riht minded brother who

y g presided over them as Grand Alaster of that province . ( Applause . ) The Prov . Grand Master had now to propose a toast which he was sure would be most gladly received- " Tho W . AI . and Brethren of the Cherwell Lodge , " who lind so hospitably and handsomely received them that day . The merits of the AV M of uhat Lodge were too well known to need his alluding to thoin , and he was sure it would be a source of regret to the brethren when he was called upon to leave the chair , lo the brethren of Oxford the Cherwell Lodge was always of great interest they had taken active in it

as an part establishing , and their services were well repaid by the prosperity which attended it . He had himself when for two years its Master , regular y travelled a distance of one hundred miles to attend it ; and dm-inrthat period , and a third year , when ho was called upon to perform tbo duties of tlie chair , had inever been absent upon one occasion . He could only express his best wishes for its continued progress and prosperity . ( Cheers . ) Bro . B . Havers , as AV . M . of the Cherwelt Lodge , could not but express bis best thanks for the kind and affectionate maimer in which tho Provincial Grand Master