Provincial.

The National anthem haying been sung , as a solo by the Grand Organist , with chorus , by all the members of the Craft , — The R . AV . PROV . G . M . said-. Brethren , the next toast- is " Albert Edward Prince of Wales , "—a prince blessed by his mother's prayers , rich in a people ' s love , ancl richer still in the pious and priceless example bequeathed to him by his illustruons iU 1 cl deeply-lamented father—Albert tiie Good . ( Applause . ) Born to inherit , I trust , at somo far distant period , the greatest

monarchy in the AVOI-UI , may the grandeur of his mind be suited to his royal birth and lofty destination . ( Applause . ) May he identify himself with tbe great nation he will one day govern , and by becoming tho champion of constitutional liberty , holiness , and truth , prove that he is AA orthy of his mother ' s love , and emulates his father's great and good example . ( App lause . ) Peace to his father's memory—let it grow

Greener Avith years ' , ancl blossom through tho flight Of ages ; let the huge monolith shoiv To future times his goodness ; let the light Stream on his deeds of love , that shunned tho sight Of all but heaven , and in the book of iame The glorious record of his virtues write , And hold it up to men , and bid them claim A palm like iiisand catch from him the hallowed flame !

, ( Applause . ) The R . AA . PROV . G . M . again rose and observed : I have now the honour and gratification of proposing the health of my noble friend and our Masonic ruler , the Earl of Zetland , under Avhose wise and gentle sway our ancient and honourable fraternity continues to prosper , and to whom the Masons of England oive an everlasting debt of gratitude . ( Applause . ) Bro . H . MOORE said : As a very young MasonI deeply feel

, the honour conferred upon me by placing in my hands the next toast , and I cannot but regret that it has not been conferred upon some older brother , more experienced in the principles of the noble Craft , more cognizant of tbe mysteries of Masonry and better acquainted with the high officers under whom Ave serve , ancl AA-IIOSO behests it is our pleasure to carry out . I am , however , fully aware that tho first duty of a Mason is implicit obedience to the commands of his superior officers , and therefore

in obedience to the mandate of the Right AVorshipful AA orshipful the Provincial Grand Master , I beg to otter the next toast on the list—that of " the Right Worshipful tho Deputy Grand Master of England , the Earl de Grey and Ripon , ancl the present and past Grand Officers . " ( Applause . ) From what I have heard from brother Masons it needs no encomiums of mine to eliminate your good Avishes and good feelings towards those brethren , and I therefore gii'e the toast , feeling that it

will be received with warmth to which it is entitled . ( Applause . ) THE DEP . PROV . G . M . then said : Brethren , I have the permission of the Prov . Grand Master to use the gavel and propose the next toast , AA-hich I am sure you will drink Avith the greatest enthusiasm , pleasure , and delight , for it is no less than the health ofthe Worshipful the Grand Master AA-IIO presides over us this day . ( Cheers . ) In drinking the health of one occupying so distinguished a position in Masonry as the Provincial Grand

Master , there aro many considerations which , as it Avere , rush upon our minds ; and first and foremost in proposing his health , that as rule and order are the first principles of nature , so also are those principles upon which Masonry is founded and conducted ; and thus in looking to the visible building which wo raise , as tho foundation stone must be firmly and safely deposited before ive raise , as it were by gradations , the superstructure , so must we be brethren of a lodgo and inferior

officers before we can arrive at the culminating point of honour in which Ave find our Grand Master . ( Cheers . ) And inasmuch as the spire and the pinnacle are the glory of the building , so he who fills the illustrious position of Grand Master of a ProA'ince is the glory of the lodges that are placed under his superintendence . ( Cheers . ) These , brethren , are the feelings aroused m the breast of and acknowledged by every sincere Mason—by every one AVIIO has the good of the Craft at heart . To have the

mind imbued with these precepts and these feelings is calculated not only to make a good Mason , but a good and worth y lnan ' _ but AA'hen is added to them the high position occupied b y the Right AVorshipful Grand Master—Avhen Ave have other qualifications , those of a personal nature added to them—I say , ivhen Ave add the erudition aed learning of the deep-read scholar , the courtesy , and kindness , and consideration ofthe polished gentleman ; the virtues and good qualities which are ever , L / rtS sure exercised b y him and experienced by all the memtygfeare

the lodges in this province—he possesses a still higher claim upon us , and we feel a still greater pleasure in drinking his good health , prosperity , and happiness , than if ho merely occupied a private and less exalted position . I have very great pleasure in giving you the health of your and my valued friend the Right AVorshipful tbe Provincial Grand Master , Dr . Bowles . THE R . AV . PROV . G . M . then rose and said : Sir and Brethren —AA ' e all , I presume , have experienced how much easier it is to

conceive thoughts than to give them fit utterance . This difficulty of expression besets 1110 noiv , and therefore I cannot describe the gratitude I feel for the eloquent ancl kindly spirit in which you , Right AVorshipful Sir , have proposed , and the truly cordial and fraternal manner in which you , brethren , have received the toast of my health as the Provincal Grand Muster of this district . ( Applause . ) If any additional inducement were needed to prompt me to the more efficient discharge of the duties

of my office , I should find it in the earnest desire to merit a contituance of your good opinion , and thus to prove to you by actions rather than by words , how highly I value the kindness I have always received from the Preemasons of Herefordshire . ( Cheers . ) Brethren , I will not weary you by further allusion to myself , but hasten at once to say a word or tAvo about the memorable event of this auspicious day . AA e have set apart and consecrated the Royal Edward Lodge to the benevolent work of

Masonry , in the hope that here will be initiated and hence will go forth Masons AA * 1 IO Avill work in the earnest endeavour for the benefit of their felloiv creatures and for the happiness and progress of mankind , and AA-IIO will continue to practice , both in this neiA-ly-constituted lodge and out o £ it , that disinterested benevolence AA'hich is the distinguishing characteristic of Ereemasonry . and which shall endure and ilouris hwhon all other things which are admired and esteemed by men shall be forgotten . ( Great

applause . ) May the Great Architect of the Universe , AVIIO in tho beginning laid the foundations of the earth , accept our consecration and fulfil our hopes ; may He shed on this UOAV lodge His light and His love ; and may the candidates here to be initiated in the mysteries of our ancient and honourable fraternity become the efficient friends of Masonry and of the human , race ; may thoy hero begin a career of excellence AA'hich ivill

never end , but widen will' be carried forivard in the Grand Lodge above , where all true Masons will continue to fill up the succession of ages in the glorious and immortal progress of doing good . ( Much applause . ) Brethren , both tho Deputy Grand Master and myself are , as you well know , Ministers of the Church of England . Nevertheless we have dedicated this lodge to no particular doctrines , nor walled it round with any exclusive creeds . ( Hear , hear . ) The Royal Echvard Lodge is not

consecrated to bind any man ' s opinions in the swathing bands , of intolerance , but it is consecrated to the love of God and man ; to religions , moral , and intellectual liberty ; to brotherly kindness , love , and charity ; to Masonic progress ; to the right of private judgment , and those grand principles Avhich , when rightly apprehended , make men free indeed . ( Great applause . ) AVorshipful Master , Wardens and brethren of the Royal Echvard Lodge , permit me as the mouthpiece of the other lodges in the

province , as AA-OII as of those brother Masons from other provinces ivho have honoured us with their company to-day , to proffer you our hearty good Avishes for the prosperity and permanence of your lodge . May it strike its roots deep in Masonic usefulness , and bear rich fruits of honour and progress to our own Craft ; and may every one of its members , from this night fonvard , devote his best energies to the rearing of a Alasonic temple , nobler and more enduring than that winch in the far

olden time was reared by the Royal Solomon , and Avhich stood so long the pride and wonder of the Judean people—I mean the inivard temple of fraternal unity , built up in every true Mason ' s heart , and which , being so founded , shall remain unbroken by force , and undecayed by time , even ivhen your massive and time-worn church , grey with its thousand years , shall have passed away and perished . ( Immense applause . ) Brethren the duties of my oiiice , and let me add my OAVU inclination also ,

urge me to propose a toast , which requires feiv words of mine to recommend it your favourable notice . Need I add that the toast which I now ask you to drink is the health of our brother , and my A enerable friend , tho Archdeacon Lane Freer . ( Cheers . ) With my reverend friend seated on my right , I find it difficult to speak ivith the freedom I otherwise ivould of his character and attainments . Most cheerfully clo I aknoivledge that he is jIv _ r _ snporiov in everything but the accidental circumstance of his SsQ ^ Nmy deputy in this province ; and often as I have ox" peThs & MvL whilst addressing a public assembly , the pOAvei-lessness