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evening to a close . Some good songs and music were rendered by Bros . Reed , Crusoe , Green , & c , and speeches by the several brethren accompanying the foregoing toasts . A most enjoyable evening was spent .

NORTH WALES AND SHROPSHIRE . DENBIGH . —liogal Denbigh Lodge ( No . 1 , 143 ) . The members of this dis . itiguished lodge met at the Town-hall , Denbigh , on Friday , tho llih inst . The business of i lie evening , including the presentation of a testimonial to Bro . John Prcece , who has lately removed to the city of Lichfield . Tint occasion being of a gala natnrcthe lodge room was adorned with

appro-, priate banners , and . Alasonic crests , artistically executed by Air . R . Maurice Roberts . On entering , the eye was gratified by the appearance of a very -handsome aud chaste collection of solid silver plate , comprising the testimonial , arranged on a table covered with crimson cloth , at the east end of tiie lodge , and which was inspected by a number of ladies aud gentlemen prior to the meetingby whomalsothe various articles of late were

, , , p much admired for the good b'ste and skill with which they had been manufactured . The testimonial , it should be stated , was in two parts—the one from thc Masonic brethren , consisting of a richly-embossed salver and dinner service , ancl the other by tho public , of a tea and coffee service , the whole supplied by the ancient firm of Elkington and Co ., at a cost of nearly £ 100 , almost equally subscribed , the public testimonial fund ( of which ,

R . C . B . Clough , Esq ., surveyor , was the worthy hon . secretary ) being a little over the other in amount . The lodge was opened in clue form at four o'clock , and a happier and more delightful party never assembled in the good old town under the banner of the compass , the square , and the level . There were present : —Bros . John Ormiston , AVigfair , Flintshire , AV . M . ; J . Copner Wynne Edwards , I . P . M . ; It .

"Vaughan AVilliams , P . M . ; John Preeee , P . M ., P . Prov . S . G . AV . ; R . Lloyd AVilliams , S . W . ; Rev . J . H . Roberts . J . AV . ; Martin Underwood , J . R . Hughes , AV . P . Beecham , Rev . Henry Parry ; J . Parry Jones , Treas . ; R . Harrison , T . Sleight , Francis Wynne , Llewellyn Lodge , St . Asaph , Augustus Henry Raid , John Davies , & c . Bro . George Osborne Morgan , jlT . P ., forwarded a kind note regretting not being present , and Bro . R . J . Sisson , Talardy , Flintshire , also sent au expression of his regret for the same through the AV . M .

After the regular business of the lodge had been performed , including the various phases of the beautiful ceremonies of passing and raising in order , by four of the junior brethren , the W . M ., in appropriate and eloquent terms , presented the lodge ' s testimonial to Bro . Preeee , whom he complimented for having always been very anxious and cordial in affording any assistance he possibly could , not only to himself but to every brother of the lodge . As long as Bro . Preeee had been amongst them

he had been always ready to afford them all assistance ancl instruction , had put them well forward in their duties , and he ( the AV . M . ) hoped and believed they all felt as much as he did how greatly they were indebted to Bro , Preeee for the gratifying position in which the lodge now stands . Bro . Preeee , in tbe course of events , they had been all happy to bear , had . met with that promotion which he richly deserved from the

directors of the eminent banking company with which he was connected , and upon which they all congratulated him , although they fully estimated the serious loss of the presence of so valuable a brother to the ledge . But having left them , it was thought by the members it would , be becoming on their part to -present Bro . Preeee with some mark of the respect iu which he was held amongst then ) , and the regret that they felt upon his leaving the neighbourhood . In . accordance with that feeling ,

the testimonial on his right hand had been provided , and iu tho name of the Royal Denbigh Lodge he begged Bro . Preece ' s acceptance of those gifts , possessing in themselves a certain degree of intrinsic value , but still more valuable and honourable as conveying with them the expression of the kind will and gratitude entertained , towards him by his Masonic brethren . Gilts , he was well aware , might be iu themselves but of small value , and yet be most valuable to the receiveras showing the <

li-, vection of the current of goodwill aud approbation . To Bro . Preeee the brethren of the Royal Denbigh Lodge were greatly indebted ; him they recognised as thoir founder and leader , as he hail made the Lodgtt wined it was , aud they vrore alt very happy that the first expression ot this lodge ' s high esteem taking a substantial form should be given to Bro . Preeee . He ( the W . M . ) had little more to say iu presenting their testimo-

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nial , ancl would now read the inscription which appeared upon one portion of it , viz . ;—" To Bio . John Preeee , P . Prov . G . S . AV ., This Salver and Service , Tokens of fraternal regard avid gratitude , For services rendered to toe Grail ; iu general , And the Royal Denbigh Lod ^ -e in particular , AA'ere presented by his Masonic brethiuu Upon his departure From thc Province . of North Wales aud Shropshire . ¦ A . D . lStO . A . L . 5870 . "

He ( the AV . M . ) , in the observations he had addressed to the lodge and to Bro . Preeee , retrained from u-ong terms of fulsome praise , or any expression which niis _ h „ be considered overlaudatory , feeling that he best consulted the wishes of the brethren , and that anything more than the plain and honest truth would , so far from being grateful to Bro . Preece ' s feelings , be annoying to ouo of his earnest and honourable dispositions ; andin conclusionhe begged to express a hope thatalthough

, , , Bro . Preeee had left them , he would occasionally make his appearance amongst them . He ivas sure Bro . Preeee would always be present with them iu spirit , and he could assure him they would always be glad to hoar of his promotion—might it not be long in coming—and if it only led him a little nearer to thein , instead of further off , they would like it all the better . One remark more , and he had done . It li-. nl been often said

that tokens ot gratitude conveyed lively sentiments of thankfulness for favours to come . Now , their testimonial to their worthy brother was unalloyed with any suspicion of that nature , for by his having removed from them , there was no opportunity for the giving or receiving of such , and therefore Bro . Preeee could only accept thoir gifts in the spirit they were given , which he begged him to clo , with all hearty good wishes that they aa

men and Masons could wish him as a man and a Mason . Bro . Preeee , who was at first so overpowered that he could not speak , returned his most grateful thanks in feeling terms . They had really undeservedly made him a most handsome present , and which he much appreciated . He assured all the brethren that as long as he lived he would always remember and appreciate his connection with the Royal Denbigh Lodge , in the formation of which he had been merely an humble instrument . Itwasto the officers of the lodge and tho members of it that the credit of its success belonged . He could see well that

they had started upon very good grounds , and by so continuing they could not fail to secure its future prosperity and welfare . lie was quite aware that the few words he had uttered fell very far short of what was due from him ; and that there had been many observations made by their worthy and esteemed W . M . to which he ought to respond ; hut he felt himself under the necessity of requesting that they would allow him to conclude by again thanking them for the very tangible

and munificent tokens of their regard and esteem they had presented to him . The W . M . 's closing remark had brought to his mind the fact that when men departed from thc place where they had been actively engaged , people seemed to find out their good and bad qualities . Fortunately he had been most kindly judged , and had to rejoice in the possession of tho beautiful service of plate which they had just- presented to him . But

apart from that—and while he should ever value it—he assured the brethren how groat a pleasure it had been for him to serve them and the Craft generally , ami how inestimable was his reward in knowing that he had their approval of his conduct , and their goodwill and best wishes as men and brother Masons , and which by him wero most heartily reciprocated to all . to

After tho labours of the lodge , the brethren adjourned au excellent banquet , provided by Bro . IT . C . Murless , Crown Hotel , and spent a most delightful evening . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given by the AV . M ., and enthusiastically responded to ; and Uro . Vaughan Williams , P . M ., delivered a most eloquent aud appropriate speech , illustrating the true and undying princip les of oar Order , and showing that the mission of Freemasonry is to nuke men friends . Everything passed off most agreeably , several good songs , contributed bv Bros . M . Underwood and J . Davies , adding much to

the general enjoyment . On the following day the public testimonial was presented at a meeting of influential inhabitants held at the Bull Hotel , the Worshipful the Mayor of Denbigh , Evan Pierce , Esq ,, M . D ., ably discharging qhe duties of chairman on the occasion .