Provincial.

or persuasive eloquence to recommend it to your acceptance . The toast is "The Health of the Right Worshipful the Provincial Grand Master . " ( Cheers . ) This is the first occasion on which he has been pleased to visit this locality , and I , in my position as Master of this lodge , have been peculiarly gratified , as I am sure I may say has been every brother of this lodge . ( Cheers . ) AA'e have heard toasts proposed by himself , and exceedingly interesting to

the Masonic body generally , and amongst those the toast of the Noble Earl , the Grand Master of England , and his deputy . He has alluded to the appointments that must necessarily emanate from such men as the Earl ol Zetland , but we may think ourselves fortunate thafc the appointment of the Prov . G . M . has proved in the highest degree satisfactory to every Mason in the province over which he presides . ( Much cheering . ) I am constrained to say that few provinces possess such a man—still I must not trust

myself to say all I feel or would say if he were present . It would be useless for me to do so when you know his singular powers of expressing that great eloquence with which he is gifted in so remarkable a manner , and which graces so well the chair which he occupies . ( Cheers . ) I have to regret , most worshipful sir , that you are not surrounded by a stronger body of brethren of this province , ancl I can only lament the peculiar circumstances which

have occurred to produce such unfortunate results . ( Hear , hear . ) The brethren of the different lodges in the province desired most sincerely to support you on this occasion , but the single line of railway , with trains running at inconvenient hours , and the tempestuous state of the weather , have , unfortunately , detained many at home who I know hacl fully intended being here . AVith this apology , allow me to propose to you " The Health of the Right

Worshipful the Provincial Grand Master , " wishing him many happy years , that the province may long enjoy his presence at their lodges , that he will frequently grant it us at Eastnor Lodge , and that he may see Masonry flourish in this province under his direction . ( Loud cheering . ) The PROV . GEAND MASTEB , on rising , received a very enthusiastic welcome . On the subsidence of the cheering he said : My honourable and gallant friend complimented me upon what he is pleased

to call my rare powers of eloquence . Brethren , I wish for your sakes , as well as my own , that these powers of eloquence were really mine ; but ability has not been given me to use that quickening language which expresses strong emotion with fluency of words and excites similar emotions in the minds of others .

Nevertheless , I rise without hesitation and without fear , because I know that in the spirit which animates true Masons dwells a uniting power found in no other tie , ancl which prompts you not merely to overlook , but to pardon the deficiencies of your Prov . G . Master . ( Cheers . ) Brethren , I am fully conscious that my appointment by Lord Zetland to the high office which I have the honour to hold is to be altogether attributed to the friendship with which I was honoured by the late Royal aud illustrious G . M . of our Order , and

not to any merit of my own , ancl therefore you will not attribute it to vanity on my part if I contrast the present state of Masonry in Herefordshire with the state in which I found it . ( Cheers . ) Soon after my appointment to the office of Prov . G . M ., I addressed a letter to the Master , AA ardens , ancl brethren of the Palladian Lodge , at their lodge-room , the Green Dragon Hotel , Hereford , ancl after a long interval , I believe of some months , I received a letter from Bro . A'ale , a part of which I will read to you . Bro . A ale says : —

" DEAE SIB AND BEOTHER , —I fear you must have considered the Masters and Brethren of the Palladian Lodge not only negligent in duty , but deficient even in the least approach to courtesy . I trust , however , by a plain statement of facts , to remove any unfavourable opinion you may have formed of our lack of politeness , ancl thus open the door of further communication . I must first beg to assure you of my regret that , in consequence of great inattention at the hotel where we have usuallheld our meetingsan

y , accumulation of letters was allowed to take place without being forwarded to any one until this morning , when yours , with many others , including one from the Grand Secretary on the subject of your appointment were placed in my hands . I therefore immediately reply , and am exceediugly sorry that ignorance of the honour of your correspondence prevented my doing so before . In consequence of having no Prov . G . Master , ancl I am sorry to say a "

falling off in the zeal of many of the brethren , musteringat times a barely sufficient number to ' open a lodge in the first degree , it was thought expedient at Christmas last to discontinue our meetings till brighter clays should arise . " Now look at Bro . Axle's picture , in ISIS , brethren , ancl look at this ( pointing to the company ) . ( Immense enthusiasm . ) AVe have upwards of 60 contributing members to the Palladian Lodgenearl

, y 40 in the Altruvian Lodge , upwards of 30 in the Eastnor Lodge , and a petition has been sent me for the establishment of a new lodge at Leominster . ( Cheers . ) The difficulties alluded to in Bro . A ale ' s letter , ancl whieh seemed well nigh insurmountable , have all been overcome , and the Freemasons of the Province of

Herefordshire no hold no inconsiderable place in that vast Masonic community which has existed in all times , is spread over all lands , and . numbers amongst its brethren men whose names have come to us with the loudest shouts of ages , ancl whose memories will live in the reverence and love . of remotest generations . ( Enthusiastic cheering . ) Brethren , I have now to exercise one of the most pleasing privileges of my oflice by proposing the health of my venerable friend and coadjutorthe Riht Worshipful the Deput

, g y Provincial Grand Master . ( Cheers . ) It was fully his intention to have been present to-day , but circumstances , with which I need not trouble you , have occasioned his absence . I wish I could adequately express the smallest portion of the esteem and regard which we all feel for our distinguished friend , whose career amongst us has invariably displayed the consistency which follows from a genuine unity of character and motive , and who derives his influence not

from his ecclesiastical or Masonic rank , hut from his intellectual , moral , and religious worth . ( Cheers . ) The Archdeacon of Hereford is honoured as few men are by those who know him best , and I am sure you will be delighted with this opportunity of evincing towards our absent brother those sentiments ot esteem nnd regard which we are all so anxious to express . ( Prolonged cheering . ) The PBOV . GEAND MASTEB then said -. I rise once more to propose "The healths of the Senior Grand Warden ( Bro . Chandos AA ren

Hoskyns ) , the Junior Grand Warden ( Bro . Captain Peyron ) , the Grand Registrar , and the other Officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge . " ( Cheers . ) My honourable friend , the Senior Warden , is known to all of us as one who has drunk deep at the fountain of classical literature , and whose richly-stored mind , sound judgment , ancl vigorous , original intellect eminently quality him for filling a distinguished position in Herefordshire with honour to himself and advantage to the count . ( Cheers . ) Of our gallant Junior Grand

y AVarden , the Grand Registrar , and indeed all the Officers of our Grand Lodge , we may safely predicate that they will ever be found ready to guard the altar , maintain the vigour of the constitution , and prop the pillars of the throne . ( Cheers . ) I beg to couple with toast the name of my gallant friend , Captain Peyton . ( Renewed cheering . ) Bro . Captain PEYTON said : Worshipful Sir and brethren , I rise to return thanks for the honour clone the Provincial Grand

Officers of this and other lodges . At the same time I regret that the chair now occupied pro . tern , has not been filled by Bro . Chandos Hoskyns . of whom our Grand Master has spoken sopleasingly and so truthfully . ( Cheers ) . He is , indeed , singularly endowed with the power to show what Masonry is . ( Cheers ) . He has upon every occasion shown himself to be a true and zealoufc Mason , and I think we are unfortunate in the circumstance thathe is not present . ( Cheers ) . I assure brethrenI approach

you , , this toast with mingled feelings of pain and satisfaction , I occupy this chair through the kindness shown me by the Prov . G . M . of the Province , and am the successor of one known to the majority of brethren present , ancl who has been gracefully alluded to by the Right Worshipful Master . I feel that in losing him we lost the right arm of the Eastnor Lodge and of Masonry in this locality . ( Hear , hear ) . It has placed me in a difficult position , and one I fear

1 shall but indifferently well discharge . Bro . Peyton , with much feeling , then at some length , alluded to the loss of Bro . Captain Aynsley ; speaking of him as possessed of a heart touched with the noblest and warmest feelings of love and honour , of the most generous ancl manly disposition ; one whose friendship all persons Valued ; as ready to relieve the distresses of the poor , ancl a benefactor to all ; and as having that within him which would suffer martyrdom ere it would commit an act unsoldierlike and

dishonourable . ( The expression of these sentiments seemed to find an echo in every heart present . ) The gallant Bro . Peyton then sketched the progress their lodge hacl made under Bro . Aynsley ' s guidance , and observed that , though tbey had lost his presence , he had left behind him a noble example for them to follow . ( Cheers ) . He hoped he should be able , in some measure , to discharge the duties with which he hacl been honoured , and concluded by responding to the toast ( Cheers )

. . Bro . DR . JONES gave , in an ' eloquent speech , " The Health ofthe gallant Viscount Combermere , " whose friendship the R . W . M . possessed , and who , though over 90 years of age , was au exemplary Mason , ancl one of the most gallant officers in England . ( Cheers . ) Bro . ROOTES proposed " The Health ofthe Masters and Wardens of Lodges , " and regretted that his recent acquaintance with Masonry would not allow him to dilate at any length upon the merits of the

toasts . However , the conduct of those with whom he had come hi contact had been most exemplary , and had , like the learning and eloquence of the Right AVorshipful Master , thrown a light upon the merits of the Order . ( Cheers . ) Bro . H . CLABKSON responded , but could not think of returning thanks for those Masters who were gifted with the powers of eloquence with which to express their feelings . He would , however , say that they felt it a great honour to have their healths