Provincial.

of words to clothe the ideas -. vliich spring up in the mind , I never lamented the want of this poiver more than I do at the present moment because it precludes me from speaking as I wish to do of my venerable friend and brother , the Deputy Provincial Grand Master . ( Applause . ) He is , as all who are honoured with a share of his friendship knoiv , an apt and ripe scholar in the highest school of ivisdom . possessing sound judgment combined with refined taste , and deriving his poAver as a

minister not from his official posiiton , but from his moral and religious worth . ( Applause . ) As a speaker he is rich in the treasures of intellect , and gifted with an imagination that robes his thoughts in beauty , and sends them forth to instruct , delight , and elevate his felloAv-men . ( Renewed applause . ) As a Mason lie sympathises with every innocent enjoyment , brings into our lodges the cheerfulness and sunshine of the soul , and labours with all the energy of his nature to aid in tbe production of

happiness , in the relief of distress , and in that progress towards good AA'hich he has so beautifully described in his recent lecture on ' England in the Olden Time , " that I cannot do better than give it in his OAVU gloiving and eloquent language : — " AVho ¦ does not feel , as he witnesses the progress or civilization , the amelioration of manners , the improvement of morals , ancl the advancement of religion , that this world , in which ive have our

"being , ivith all its faults , and all its shortcomings , is still God ' s own world , and that it is gradually progressing by such steps as seem best to Him , to a more perfect developement of his Avill , and consequently the increased happiness of his creatures . " ¦( Cheers . ) Let us ( said the eloquent speaker ) aid our Venerable "brother in this great work ; let us also rise up and bo doing something in God ' s world for God , remembering that Avhat we

do lasts—lasts in us—that when Ave shall rest from our labours onr works shall folloiv us . ( Great applause . ) Impressed with this conviction , let us all become fellow labourers together Avith God in God's great harvest-field , the ivouldworking earnestly ancl waiting patiently for our glorious and final recompense till the evening hour when our Grand Master shall call the labourers together ancl give them their hire beginning at the last unto the first , ancl when both " he that soiveth and he that reapeth shall rejoiced together . ( Enthusiastic applause . )

The D . PROV . G . M ., m reply , said : I rise to return most grateful and cordial thanks for the manner in AA'hich you have received the toast proposed by my distinguised friend , the Prov . G . M ., this evening . I return you my most hearty thanks for the manner in which you have drunk my health , but I really do not knoiv IIOAV to thank my right AVorshipful friend for the way in which he proposed it , for the high and flattering manner Avas far beyond any deserts of mine . I have been a mason for a

large number of years—so long , indeed , that I hardly like to look back to the time of my initiation . Eor some years after leaving college , circumstances prevented me joining any lodge until I tlireAV in my lot Avith the Palladian Lodge , at Hereford , since ivhich time I have endeavoured to the utmost of my feeble powers to exert the information I possessed for the advantage and good of masonry ; and I have'done so upon the surest and firmest conviction that in so doing I was doing that which was

good to my felloAV creatures , and Avas a means of giving glory to my Maker . ( Hear , hear . ) Masonry is the oldest benevolent institution in the world . It rises far beyond any other society that has its existence for the advantage and comfort of , and for the display of benevolence and kindness towards , our fellow creatures . So far , if for no other reason , it has the strongest claims upon us ; but it has other claims , for it exerts an influence which must be felt b masonacting

y every , upon every moral principle , so that ive may say a good mason must be a good , man— - ( applause ) : —the two things are inseparable . ( Renewed applause . ) I do not mean to say that masons , like other men , are not given to err , but I do feel that masonry has for its foundation that ivhich will exalt and raise our principles and our feelings beyond any other human institution , and is even next to that religious principle which I hope actuates ancl

guides all present . ( Applause . ) My right worshipful friend has been pleased to allude in gloiving terms of friendship and kindness to the little exertion I have made in the cause , of masonry , and for Avhich I have been truly , Avholly , and fully compensated in that grateful feeling and reciprocated kindness I have met with from every mason in this lodge and in this province . ( Cheers . ) Perhaps there is a matter that requires a little explanation . I had some share in the appointment of this day , as that upon which the lodge should be held , and I find that oiving to the clay not being a convenint one for the Vitruvian Lodge ,

they have not been able to attend . I hope therefore that any blame attaching to this circumstance may be thrown upon me . Really we found it extremely difficult to name a day that ivould suit all brethren , who AA-ere kind enough to say that any clay that suited me should be named . I consulted our lodge at Hereford , and first spoke to one and then to another , and at length found this the only day we could hit upon to suit the majority . Unfortunately it did not suite the Vitruvian Lod

ge , and I regret it exceedingly , and I do hope they will see it was no fault of mine that this day was appointed . ( Hear , hear . ) One more word before I jsit doivn . I rejoice exceedingly and sincerely at the spread of Masonry in Herefordshire . ( Hear , hear . ) AVhen I look back a few years , since you did me the honour to appoint me , perhaps , rather prematurely , to the office of D . G . M ., there were but two lodges existing in this

province ; now four attest the spread of masonry . ( Applause . ) That must be very gratifying to the Prov . G . M . and to masons ( Cheers . ) Allow me , worshipful sir , to offer you my sincere congratulations upon the consecration of your lodge , and most humbly do I beg and pray that those blessings of morality and virtue , which I invoked when spreading the corn upon your lodge , may follow . I beg to thank you for the kindness shown we on this and on every occasion . ( Cheers . ) ; '

Bio . E . S . COSSENS , at the request of the Prov . G . M ., proposed the next toast ; and after some preliminary observations apologetic of his own insufficiency , folloiving , as he did , eloquence that had excited the admiration of all present , said : Situated as the Royal Echvard Lodge is , in the most interesting part ot this fruitful province , it bids fair to receive , under the guidance of the R . AA ' . and talented master , the direct support , weight ,

and influence of all fit and proper men within the immediate locality . It must be remembered that the Royal Echvard Lodge existed in this ancient borough a great many years ago , although for the last forty-five years it has remained in abeyance , and the brethren of it have ceased to meet . It has now , hoivever , recommenced ivorking under the most favourable auspices , and may be likened unto " that stone which the builders rejected , but which became the head stone of the corner . " ( Applause . ) I trust therefore that the AA ' . M . will take courage and continue strengthened ancl steadfast , seeking the great end in view , and

there is no doubt that at no distant period , under the benign influence of the AV . the Prov . G . M ., we may have the pride and pleasure of seeing the temple , of AA-hich Ave have this day laid the foundation stone , rising , according to ancient form , in beauty ancl perfection , liaving its pillars croivned Avith the glorious capitals of the order , and Avinning the admiration of all those AVIIO may vieiv it . ( Applause . ) In conclusion , brethren , alloAV me to say thatwith the assistance of those brethren and

, officers the AV . M . has had the pleasure of appointing in the Royal Edward Lodge , I believe it will not only prosper , but become a beacon and a permanent . landmark for all time . ( Applause . ) I therefore beg to propose the next toast— " Prosperity and Permanence to the Royal Edward Lodge . " ( Applause . ) The AA ' . M . of the Royal Echvard Lodge proceeded to gh-e the

next toast . Alsitors , who have so kindly honoured us AA'ith their attendance on this occasion . ( Applause . ) From my oivn province in North AA ' ales as also from Shropshire , several masters had intended to be present , but Avere prevented by circumstances over Avhich I learn they had no control . I therefore beg to ask you to the drink to the health ofthe visitors . ( Cheers . ) Bro . COSSKNS , at the request of the RW . M ., responded to the toastand said : After the display of eloquence we have heard

, this evening , —after the magnolias , the cacti gr . andifiora , and tho A'ictoria regia of literature have been so profusely presented to us , I have only to offer for your acceptance a few simple primroses , blue bells , and lillies ofthe valley . First permit me , on behalf of myself and the ' numerous visitors , to express my thankfulness for the high compliment you have thus paid us and for the permission afforded us by the RW . M . of attending

the ceremonies of the day . Engaged as I am , I cannot indulge in masonic pursuits so frequently as I could Avish . Nevertheless , Avhenever permitted , to visit masonic lodges is to me a source of great delight , especially Avhen I may be enabled to render any service to the presiding officer . ( Applause . ) I trust that Avhat I have done this day will be takenby the newly initiated brethren as an example worthy of their imitation , and will induce them to render unceasingly to the AV . M . their best efforts of assistance , so that he may discharge the arduous duties of his office with pleasure to himself , and to the incalculable benefit of its members ; and that by a con-