Provincial.

the son of an old P . M ., though not of this lodge . He , therefore , felt it an honour few could boast of in having to introduce into Masonry two Lewis ' s in one evening . It must be a sufficient proof to the outer world that there is something good in Masonry to induce those who have left us to express a wish that their sons should fill their places . ( Cheers . ) Bros . Hart and Stephens were well known to most of us as good men and true ,

and he trusted their presence with us this evening was but a foretaste of many pleasurable associations to follow . ( Hear , hear . ) He would also embrace with this toast the health of Bro . Kean , who although not an initiate this evening , has not since his initiation had an opportunity of joining our banquet . ( Cheers . ) The toast he proposed was "The Health of the Initiates . " The several brethren having cordially returned thanksBro . WRIGHT remarked that he felt he was a very great

, loser in not joining tho Order before . Almost the last words his father said before his death was , " William , as soon as you have nn opportunity become a Freemason , " and only from what he had seen of Masonry that evening he believed it was the best advice he could give him . —The W . MASTER then proposed " The Health of the Afsitors , " remarking that at all our lodge banquets he had the pleasure , and indeed he felt so , of proposing this toastas it was a proof to him of the respect in

, which the members of the Lodge of Perfect Friendship , were held by the other lodges of the town . He , therefore , called upon them to drink to the health of Bro . Moore , of the British Union Lodge , and Bro . Parker , of the Prince of Wales Lodge , as visitors on this occasion . —Bro . PARKER , having briefly returned thanks , Bro . MOORE in doing so , in reply to the remarks of the W . M . respecting the frequency of visitors to this lodge , said he could assure the W . M . that whilst they met with such courtesy ,

and such hearty receptions from the Lodge of Perfect Friendship , himself and the brethren of the British Union Lodge should not fail to visit them as every opportunity offered . — After hearing some excellent songs from Bros . Turner , Fisher , Jobson , and others , not forgetting one of P . M . King's amusing recitations from " Tom Hood , " a very pleasant evening was brought to a close by the Tyler ' s toast being given , after which the brethren separated , it being past high twelve .

WALES , SOUTH ( EASTERN DIVISION ) . PROVINCIAL GRAND LODQE . Tho Provincial Grand Lodge for this province was held at the Maronic Hall , Consulate Chambers , Bute Dock , Cardiff ( thetemporary meeting place of the Bute Lodge , ( No . 960 ) , on Tuesday , the 16 th inst . There was a large attendance of the brethren of the Bute Lodge , as also of the Glamorgan Lodge ( No . 36 ) ,

Cardiff , and brethren from the Loyal Cambrian Lodge ( No . Ill ) , Mertbyr ; the Indefatigable Lodge ( No . 237 ) , Swansea ; the Cambrian Lodge ( No . 364 ) , Neath ; the Brecknock Lodge ( No . 651 ) , Brecon ; the St . David's Lodge ( No . 679 ) , Aberdare ; and the Afan Lodge ( No . 833 ) , Aberavon , all comprised in this division of the province . The Provincial Grand Lodgo was opened at high noon . In the absence of the Prov . G . M . the D . Prov . G . M . Bro . T . M .

, , Talbot , presided , and conducted the business with great efficiency . The proceedings were of a very formal nature , one of the customs peculiar to this province under the present Prov . G . M ., Col . Tynte , being for that brother to give to the Prov . G * Officers every alternate year the more military than Masonic word of command , " As you were ; " a practice we do not think commendable in a province consisting of eight influential

lodges , as causing natural dissatisfaction to a number of efficient Past Masters , who are thus deprived of their chances of the purple . At one o'clock the brethren formed in a procession , comprising about 150 members ; the procession was preceded by the excellent band of the Royal Glamorgan Militia , and proceeded to St . Mary ' s Church to attend Divine service . The congregation was not confined exclusively to Masons , many of

the respectable inhabitants of the town being present . The sermon was preached by Bro . L . B . Burrow , LL . D ., Prov . G . Chap ., who selected for his text 1 Peter iii . 8— " Moreover , as brethren , be pitiful , be courteous . " He first alluded to the gathering together of the disciples , how they had to meet in places away from the general haunts of men , and how in their earliest associations they realised to some extent the term which the pagans applied to them that they were a band of men bound together by secret ties . At that time there was much which bound those disciples together , and though there was nothing

in the character of Christianity which led to the formation of these societies , they were forced upon them from the character of the country and the troubled nature of the times iu which the early Christian Church flourished . They were strangers sojourning in a strange land , where their enemies heaped the most opprobrious epithets upon them — where they were accused of most unhallowed rites in their secret assemblieswhere their own brethren were looked upon as renegades from ,

the old religion . And to whom in time of trouble could they look for help , humanly speaking , but among themselves . This led to the frequent use of that word brotherhood . And there was no doubt in the earliest days of the Church there were these associations of men banded together by the pure and holy influence they had received from their Divine Master . From the records of the New Testament they found that the richer members of the brotherhood sold all they had and laid

it at the Apostles' feet , and this formed a fund for the support of the poor and needy ; for they well knew that charity or assistance could not be expected from those who heaped epithets upon them , and who had reviled their Divine Master . By degrees , the times which for years had been of a troubled character—at one time menacing the small band of Christians , with national misfortunes—at others with individual animosity , assumed a calmer tone , and the brotherhood emerged from the

secret places in their catacombs , to the broad light of day , and the word brotherhood began to have a wider meaning , and from the parable of the Good Samaritan that of neighbour , the brotherhood merged into different churches , and in the earliest records of these churches they found them filled with the spirit of Charity , and when their own immediate wants were supplied , sending assistance to distant churches . The reverend brother for a long time dwelt on this subjectwhat was Charit—what

, y Charity our Saviour pointed out—how it blessed him that gave , as well as him that giveth . That there must exist in the heart brotherly kindness ; that the outward manifestations of it , the sympathy it showed to the world , was the way in which it sought to relieve the necessities of others . But there was still a higher duty—a duty by which the brother was not merely contented in giving when asked—a duty which urged him to go and seek for objects for his Charity ; not merely a Charity

which required relief from the seekers purse , but a Charity that sought by good deeds , by kind words , and Christian sympathy to lift the fallen brother , though he may not have asked to be lifted , and has , perhaps , shrunk from the humiliation of asking for another ' s pity . He then alluded to themselves—to their meetings—to their support of each other—to their daily intercourse—to their walk and conversation . Freemasonry was an old , perhaps one of the oldest institutions , and he could bub

call upon them not to allow its time-hallowed associations to be sullied by them . Freemasonry , be its origin what it might , was no ignoble institution , ancl they should individually strive that no disgrace should fall upon its name through them . He considered it was not a mere benefit society—it had higher and holier objects in view , and they , as its members , its supporters , should strive in their daily conversation to maintain that it had a far greater scope—the purest and hihest motives

g , to seek ancl to save . He Uien concluded with some very appropriate remarks upon the spread of such views generally , not only among them as members of a particular association , but also among Christians generally . Divine service being ended , the brethren re-formed in procession , and returned to the Masonic Hall , where , after the usual collection for the Charities , lodge was closed in clue form . At four o ' clock the brethren re-assembled at the Angel and

Queen Hotels , at each of which banquets had been provided by the worthy hosts , Bro . Cousins and Bro . Lord . At the former , the D . Prov . G . M ., Bro . Talbot , presided , and about eighty brethren sat down . The attendance at the latter was not so numerous . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given at each assembly , but the post prandial proceedings were much curtailed , in consequence of the programme for the day including

"A Grand Concert in Aid of the Masonic Charities , " and which turned out , to quote the local press , " a grand failure . " The aforesaid local press ' also attempts to account for this disaster by attributing it to " the want of energy on the part of the committee ; but we happen to be better able to account for the contretemps upon Masonic grounds . A very large number of the brethren entertained strong objections to any such undignified method of " raising the wind , " and considered it altogether derogatory to the high position assumed by the Masonic body to make any such appeal to the public for aid in the support of