Provincial.

prayer be winged to heaven for grace to help ; then may the text , by the blessing of God , become to us as a talisman , to remind us of our duty , and to keep us to our obligations . Moreover it is a duty owing alike to ourselves , and to Freemasonry , that we not only be free from outward or grosser offences , but that we also " order our conversation aright "" preserve our ancient usages and customs , sacred and inviolable , and induce others by our example to hold them in due veneration . "

Have you never seen a candidate brought , perchance with faltering steps , into "tbe body of a lodge just , perfect , and regular , " and viewing with calm and dignified complacency the symbols of our Order , as Masonic light first shone upon him ? AVhen the words of instruction and encouragement broke upon his enraptured senses , how his countenance bespoke the satisfaction that reigned within ! Here , he seemed to think , have I found the palladium that I longed forthe place for " brotherl

, y love , relief and truth , " that I have long vainly striven to find in this cold chilling world . Pevadventnxe tbe heaven-born desire , now merged into a prayer , may have gone upward . "This is my rest—here will I dwell—for I have desired it . " Brethren , may such candidates never be lacking to fill up the seats in our lodges , vacated by death or removal . Such assuredly will ever be found waiting at our portals—if we now onlbe

y true to our Constitutions , and uphold our principles , by a lifelong reflection for them . Thus , it is evident , that the future extension and usefulness of Masonry greatly depend upon the consistent lives and practices of its present members . How sad then will be the consequences to ourselves , and to our Order , if our younger members ever witness in the office-bearers , and in such as have been admitted to hiher degreesfeelings and

g , actions the very reverse of those which as Masons we are pledged to follow and to uphold , and in consequence are driven back from our lodges into the world , there to make known the disappointment , to the great injury and prejudice of our society . Better far would it be " never to put on the badges" of our Order , if animosity against a brother rankle in any bosom . Better far to be absentthan to exhibit feelings of

, anger , jealous } ' , or mere worldliness , in that place where above all others peace , order , and concord ought to reign . One great means of preserving unity and concord both in our dealings with each other , and with the world , may be for all ever to remember , —notwithstanding the excellency of our system , aud our great privileges , that we are all still men , and not angels , —and that imperfection adheres to man's best efforts in

this world , —and at the same time to settle it in our minds , that peace cannot long be preserved amid any order or society of men , without mutual concessions and forbearance . Iu exhorting j'ou , brethren , to the practice of mutual forbearance , which may very properly be regarded as another designation of " charity . " I am bound to confess , —that I do myself find it a harder duty to bear , than to act , harder unjustly to bear reproachthan even to achieve great resultsIt is to toil

, . easy on amid the world ' s excitement and applause , but it is not so easy , having faithfully done our duty , to bear to be reviled , — and to bear to have one ' s fair name , —which is dearer to a Mason and to a Christian than life itself , —cast out as evil . Yet would we be " Israelites indeed" we must ask God , in earnest prayer , to give to us His Holy Spirit , to enable us to attain to this higher degree of excellency . For it is written : ¦ "

What glory is it , if when he be buffeted for your faults ye take it patiently ? But if when ye do well and suffer for it ye take it patiently this is acceptable with God . ( 2 Peter , ii . 20 . ) Brethren , as the various colours and kinds of Masonic clothing , and the jewels and medals worn on the breast , are , to the ini"tiated , indications of Masonic degrees and offices , —so also is the exhibition of this superior mental condition—the bearing

, of injuries , injustice , and malevolence meeloly—and loving even our enemies , —indicative of a spiritual attainment in Masonry , which is far higher in real excellence , than any mere outward mark of distinction , for such is in unison with the mind and will of God , —for we are taught that it is " by well doing that we must put to silence the ignorance of foolish men . " Let us all then pray constantlthat the same mind be

y , may in us as that was in Christ Jesus—that as we regard one whose name I need not here mention—who was a widow ' s son—as a pattern of Masonic constancy and devotion—yet whois to us merely as a Masonic symbol of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ —so may we still more regard the Emmanuel—God with us—Jesus Christ our Lord—as the centre of the Masonic circlethe author and finisher of our faith—the basis of our best and

smcerest hopes—the great light of the world—the sun of righteousness—in whose light only we can seen light ? This brethren is the kind of clothing that becomes us wellof this our outward dress is merely typical , we can wear it on all occasions , and under all circumstances . May God Almighty give us all grace so to wear this dress of humility , faith , hope , and charity , that society may be so influenced thereby—as to make it the means of driving far away from the midst of us

" envy , hatred , malice , and all uncharitableness . " Finally , one word to such as have so kindly honoured us with their presence here to-day . I do hope that not one will either say himself , or allow others , without questioning the remark , to state that Masonry is a mere myth , that its secrets are not revealed , because such do not exist . I trust that you have this day learned something of the spiritual character ancl real purpose of Masonry , The exercise even of ordinary intelligence must

show any one that it would require something more than a nonentity to bind together , as one , more than twelve hundred lodges , and to unite in the bonds of a common brotherhood a proportionate number of brethren . AVe have our secrets , numerous and important , which , being " reciprocally given , serve to distinguish a Freemason , by night , as well as by day . " These never have been , and never will be revealed to the world at large ; they are " safely laid up in the sacred repositories of our hearts , "

"in all good fidelity . " Iu the possession and proper use of these secrets , the operations and advantages of Masonry are realised . My dear brethren , —let us each look beyond the symbols of our Order to the object typified , let us receive the light of divine truth into our hearts , and let us go on patiently enduring the contradiction of sinners , —bearing , and doing , the will of God . Let us go on extending our works of beneficence and love , supporting our schools , and giving still increased help to the

indigent and infirm . Let our breasts be a safe and sacred repository of the just and lawful secrets of a brother . Let us not wrongfully revile him ourselves , nor suffer it to be done by others , if it be in our power to prevent it . And let us unite and consecrate our plighted affections upon the ark of God's covenant , blending them together on His Mercy Seat . So shall we be true members of a regularly constituted lodge here below , and in due time , the great Overseer of the universe will remove us to the Grand Lodge above , with this joyful

welcome , " Well done good and faithful servant , enter fchou into the joy of thy Lord . " After service the brethren returned to Albert Buildings , where the remaining business of the lodge was transacted . The following votes were passed in addition to the special business of the lodge : —A cordial and unanimous vote to the Provincial Grand Chaplain ; to Bros . Chaplin and Puxley , for conducting the service at church ; to the Eev . Canon Cooper , vicar

of Kendal , for the kind manner in which he placed his pulpit at the disposal of the chaplain ; to Bros . AVhitwell and Busher , for the use of the Albert Buildings ; and to the Churchwardens , for their assistance rendered on the occasion . The Provincial Grand Officers for 1864-5 were then appointed as follows : — Bro . P . L . B . Dykes Prov . G . M . „ Dr . Greaves D . Prov . G . M .

„ H . Home Prov . S . G . W . „ C . Hodgkin „ J . G . AV . „ W . Cockett „ G . Chap . „ H . Puxley „ G . Assist . Chap . „ J . Thompson „ G . Treas . „ W . Pearson , G . Keg . „ E . Busher „ G . Sec . „ T . Robinson „ G . Assist . Sec .

„ John Howe „ S . G . D . „ J . H . Johnston „ J . G . D . „ II . Cook „ G . Supt . of Works . „ AV . Little „ G . Dir . of Cere . „ H . Fisher „ G . Assist . Dir . of Cers , „ C . Morton „ G . Standard Bearer . „ J . Lucock „ G . Sword Bearer . —Cooper G . Org .

„ „ „ John Hayne „ G . Purst . „ Joseph Martin „ G . Tyler . ; : „ — Anderson ~ ) „ C . Brisley , : BS ::::::::::: 1 - «•«*• „ John Bamber I „ Henry Faithful J