United Grand Lodge.

I have succeeded in rendering you any service , I am more than rewarded by the support which you have given me and which has enabled me to do so . ( Cheers . ) I would continue those services with pleasure , but when I find that an unfortunate complaint , to which I am snbject , prevents me , from time to time , attending the quarterly communications of Grand Lodges I take it as a hint

that I should no longer fill the office of Deputy Grand Master , and I feel that I am bound to vacate the chair , trusting that it will be filled by a brother who can give you the advantage of his presence , and be of more service than I have been . ( Xo , no . ) I own that it is with deep regret I take this step , but that regret is qualified by two considerations : first , that I believe it is for

your advantage that from time to time new blood should be intro " duced into the high offices of the Craft ; and , second from the conviction which I feel that I may still be useful to you in Grand Lodge . ( Cheers . ) Brethren , my health is not broken ( loud and prolonged cheering ); and , honoured as I am by the Grand Master , who has requested me still to form part of his council

( cheers ) , I shall be enabled to give him advice , and should it please the G . A . of the Universe , to follow up that advice by action in my private capacity as a member of the Grand Lodge of England ,

which I shall endeavour at all times , when possible , to attend . ( Cheers . ) In retiring from office , I do not in the least forego my interest in the welfare and prosperity of the Grand Lodge , to which I have the honour to belong . ( Cheers . ) I have already stated that one advantage of my retirement is the allowing ofthe infusion of new blood into the office ; and , brethren , I am happy to state

that the Grand Master has selected for the office of Deputy Grand Master a nobleman whose name is not unknown in Masonry , though it is better known by his services to his country . ( Cheers . ) I know of no man whom I would rather see step into my vacant chair than Lord cle Grey . ( Cheers . ) He is one whose character and talents eminently fit him for the discharge of the duties of the office ,

whilst I feel that the zeal with which he will perform the duties required from him will raise the character of the office far higher than I have been enabled to do . ( Ho , no . ) I will not say more in bis lordship ' s presence ; but I am convinced that the Grand Lodge of England will be as proud of him as one of its members and officers as , by-and-bye , the people of England will be proud of him as one of its legislators . ( Cheers . ) I give you " The Health of the Deputy Grand Master of England , " with all the honours . ( Loud applause . )

EARL DE GEEY , Deputy Grand Master , rose amidst loud cheers which lasted some time , and said , Brethren , I am deeply grateful to you for the kind manner in whicli you have received the toast proposed in such feeling terms by my noble friend , Lorcl Panmure , and I feel it difficult adequately to express my feelings on this occasion . Brethren , when first the Grand Master informed me

that in consequence of the intended resignation of the office of Deputy Grand Master by my noble friend , he thought of nominating me to it , I wished to decline it , believing that he could easily find a better qualified brother for the post . (_ S . o , no . ) I informed him that , consistently with the claims of public duty—which must be the first consideration with every public man ( hear , hear)—I feared that

I should be prevented taking that part in the affairs of Grand Lodge and performing my duties to the Craft as I would wish o do ; but when the Grand Master informed me , at a later period , that having , at my request reconsidered the question , he still wished me to undertake the duties of . this high position—considering that one of the first duties of

Masonry was obedience—I felt that I could no longer , consistently with that duty , refuse to undertake the duties which I have entered on this day . ( Cheers . ) In entering upon these duties I do so feeling and hoping that I may rely on the kind indulgence and favour of Grand Lodge in overlooking any shortcomings of mine , provided they are convinced that I endeavour to . discharge the duties ofjmy office to the best of my ability . ( Cheers . ) In one

respect I am placed in a peculiarly difficult position , being called upon to succeed sueh a Deputy Grand Master as the noble Lord who has just retirecV / rom the office , and I have one good cause of quarrel with the noble Lord , besides that whieh I feel he has given me occasion for this evening , by having overwhelmed me with so many compliments , and that quarrel is for having fulfilled the duties of

the office so well that it is very difficult to succeed him . ( Cheers and laughter . ) I can , however , assure you , brethren , that the kind reception you have given me will be an inducement to Jattend to the discharge ofthe duties of the high office conferred upon me on every dossible occasion . It is my earnest desire to afford every possible assistance to the Grand Master , which he has

a right to claim from every brother , in the discharge of his important office , and as far as is consistent with my public duties , whieh ought and must be first considered , it will be my pleasure and gratification to labour for the benefit of Grand Lodge ( Cheers ); and not only will I endeavour firmly to perform the onerous duties of my office , but in every way to promote the good of the

Craft , the interests of the Grand Lodge , and harmony and union amongst all Freemasons ( Cheers . ) Harmony and Union are the great pillars and bonds which from time immemorial have proved the strong foundation upon which our Order rests , and has so long maintained for the Craft the confidence and support of its members , and insured the prosperity which happily attends the Grand Lodge

ot England ( Cheers ) . Brethren , I again assure you that I am proud of being placed iu a position , by which I may be enabled to promote the interests of our institution , and I again ask your kind indulgence and assistance in the performance of my duties , and from this night it will be my pride , as it is my duty , to labour for the good of Freemasonry . ( Cheers . ) Now Brethren , having said so much relative to myself , I have to propose to you the health of the Grand AVardens and the other Grand Officers who

have been appointed this day . You know how much depends on the Grand Officers efficiently discharging their duties ; all have important duties to discharge , and doubt not they will zealously do so in order that the Grand Lodge may still occupy the high position it has long maintained , and I feel assured that position will not be endangered by such Grand Officers as have been appointed to clay . ( Cheers . ) I will couple with the toast the name of the G . J . AV ., Bro . Xovelli .

The toast was drunk with great applause , different brethren loudly proclaiming the names of the officers , with whom probably they were the most intimately acquainted . Bro . JMOVELLI , J . G . AV ., in offering his sincere thanks for the compliment paid to the Grand Officers , pleaded his inability to adequately do justice to the toast j but he would venture to say ,

that all the officers appointed that day , would do all in their power to perforin their duty , so as to meet with the approbation of the brethren . The D . GRAXB MASTER said , the next toast he had to propose was " The Health of the Prov . Grand Masters . " The office of Prov . G . Master ivas a most important one in Masonry as

he was the representative of the Grand Master in the district over which he was appointed to preside , and on his skill and discretion much depended the interests and prosperity of the Craft . The Prov . G . Masters had most important duties to perform , not only in Grand Lodge , but in their respective provinces , and he was sure they would receive that acknowledgment which their zeal and

efficiency deserved . He would couple with that toast the name of Admiral Sir Lucius Curtis , Prov . G . Master for Hampshire , and he could only say that as he ( Earl de Grey ) was the youngest Prov . G . Master present , he should endeavour to follow the example of that gallant and worthy brother . ( Cheers . ) Admiral Sir Lt'cius CURTIS could assure the brethren that he

was deeply sensible of the compliment paid to the Prov . G . Masters and to himself by the manner in which the toast had been so kindly proposed and drunk . He agreed with the noble Earl that the office of Prov . G . Master was a most important one , as on the man-