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sat down to a bounteous repast , which was furnished in Bro . Stannard s best style . The cloth having been drawn , and the usnal loyal and masonic toasts given and responded to , the AA . M . said the next toast he had to propose was one that , as master of the lodge , gave him great pleasure . It was the health of three gentlemen , whom he could now call brothers , ivho bad joined them that evening-, and lie hoped they would never regret the step they had taken from the

little they had seen of Freemasonry , which was nothing to what they would see hereafter . Ho was happy to find that they had made choice of the New Concord Lodge to be admitted into Freemasonry , and he trusted that they might be for many years brothers and members of that lodge . Bro . PERKX returned thanks on behalf of himself and brother initiates , and thanked tho brethren for tho kind and generous reception they had met with that evening , and for himselfto use a somewhat hackneyed hrasehe could trul

, p , y say that it was the proudest moment of his life to be admitted into Freemasonry . They hoped , and indeed it would be their study , to be worthy of the reception they had met with , and to become brothers in every sense of the word , and although their position on tho present occasion was puzzling , if not embarassing , ho hoped the brethren would excuse any imperfection on his part while endeavouring to give vent to his feelings for the honour conferred on

them . ( Loud cheers . ) Bro . H . MUGGEBIDGE said their AA . M . had been pleased to say that he should consider him as P . M . of the lodge for the present year until other years should jiroduee the regular P . M . of the lodge . As ho had , therefore , the honour to represent that mysterious individual , whoever he might be , he should now proceed to discharge his duties , which was , as past masterto propose tho health of the AV . M . Bro . Emmons and they

, , would agree with him that it was not necessary that he should say anything in his behalf , as they all knew the merits of Bro . Bmmens , and his zeal as a Mason for many years . They knew what an active part he had taken in founding the New Concord Lodge . They all knew what he had done in promoting the interests of the charities of the Masonic order , and they all knew the anxiety ho had displayed to get a steward to attend the festival

for the aged Masons and AVidows' Fund . He was now going on in the same way in . which he had begun in promoting the prosperity of the New Concord Lodge , as he had done with respect to the Old Concord Lodge . He therefore called upon them to drink to the health of Bro . Emmens , their esteemed AV . M . ( Great Cheering . ) The W . M . said he rose to thank them for the way in which they had responded to the toast which had been so kindly proposed by his esteemed friend and brotherBro . Muggeridge

, , whom he considered so identified with the lodge , that he should look upon him as one of its members . They found Bro . Muggeridge at the consecration of the lodge , and although he could not attend so often as he could wish , he ( the AV . M . ) felt sure that every brother ivho witnessed tlie consecration of the lodge must have felt greatly indebted to him . He thanked Bro . Muggeridge for his remarks and the brethren for responding to them , and he

would endeavour to carry out Freemasonry in the New Concord Lodge to the best of his ability , and according to the constitution to the routine business of the lodge , and in doing so he hoped to have the assistance of the brethren , for without that he should be unable to do so . He thanked them sincerely for responding to the toast in the manner they had done that evening . The AV . M . next proposed " The health of the visitors , " for ivhieh Bro . H . Tuonrsox returned thanks , expressing the high sense the visiting brethren entertained of the lodge , having a AV . M . of whom the lodge might

be justly proud , and equally so might the AV . M . he of the lodge and its officers . Under the auspices of their AV . M . there was no doubt that the New Concord would always equal if not outstrip the Old Concord Lodge in the race for public favour . The AV . M . then , in very complimentary terms , proposed " The Officers of the Lodge . " Bro . the Rev . J . SIIAOOE , Chaplain , in returning thanks for the officers of the lodge , alluded to thefive years connection he had had with that district as curate of Hoxtonand said that during that time he had never

, met with anything but kindness , and although he had now left it , he did notrthink there was a man , woman , or child , ivho did not entertain towards him the same feelings as he had to them . He had joined that lodge , and he did not repent it , and he felt assured that their newly initiated brethren would never regret having j oined it . He had heard one of them say , that evening was the happiest moment of his life , and he believed that he would ho

exceedingly rejoiced that he had joined their order , for in a long professional career as a member of the Church , he could sincerely say , that he had never met a Mason of whose conduct he ever felt ashamed , or did bo ever meet with one who had been guilty of a dirty action . He could go further , and say , that he was exceedingly rejoiced that he ivas a mason , not only for the good that it did to all mankind , but because it prevented any unkind action or unhappy thought . He could also direct their attention to their charities , for ' as Masons , if they walked over their Freemasons' Schools they would be told that althoug h 1000 girls hail been educated iu one of them ,

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that they never had occasion to blush for one of them , and when he met Bro . Crew at the Crystal Palace , he told him that he need not defend the character of any one of those-children , which they must admit was saying a good deal for Freemasonry . They had tonight heard that Bro . Estwiek could represent tho lodge at the festival for the old men and women , and although they then felt that sitting round that table they were rich , healthy and strong ,

there was no telling what a day might bring forth . It was therefore their duty to give their mite in support of those cbaritiesand he hoped that one and all would give their assistance to Bro . Estwiek , who would represent the lodge at the coming anniversary . He rendered his cordial thanks for tho manner in which the toast had been received . The AV . M . then gave " The Health of Bro . Muggeridge , " and expressed the pleasure he experienced in seeing him amongst them that eveningBroMUGGEKIDGEafter a few preliminary

. . , observations , said ho highly appreciated the compliment paid to him on that and on other occasions , aud remarked that as Bro . Shaboe had alluded to tho Freemasons' Girls' School , he might add the institution was intended to receive SO daughters of Freemasons , where they obtained a g-ood education . During the past year , through tho generosity and munificence of the Craft , the governors had been enabled to increase the number ; and another

movement had also latterly taken place , which had extended the time for keeping the children in the school from 14 to 16 years of age . This alteration might be unpleasant to some , as for two years none would leave the school , and , as a matter of course , as there was no vacancy , there would he no election ; but if they would exercise a little patience in getting their children into the school , they would , in the long run , receive the benefit of it . At the last festival , of the Royal Benevolent Institution , the sum of

£ 3 , 100 was received , and when they considered that there were two or three other Masonic institutions , it must be admitted that the brethren supported them in the most generous manner . On that occasion the , brethren of Yorkshire did a great deal . In 1859 they gave £ 300 to . the boys' school , aud this year they gave £ 700 to the girls' school . Next year they would give 120 guineas to the annuity fund , and he had no doubt that AVarwickshire and Lancashire would do something . Bro . Crow was attending the Provincial

Grand Lodge of Suffolk ' , which ivas under the charge of Bro . Roxburgh , and he had no doubt that it would take up the Masonic charities . Indeed : there was a growing desire , not only in the metropolis , but throughout tho provinces , by the brethren , to support tliese institutions . He sincerely thanked them for the way iu which his health had been received . Some other toasts were given , and the proceedings terminated in the most harmonious manner .

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

ESSEX . rr . ovixeiAi . GXA > - > IODGE . On Thursday , Oct . IS , Bro . Robert John Bagshaw , Provincial Grand Master , held his annual Provincial Grand Lodge at the Town Hall , Colchester . The only two lodges in the province unrepresented were those of Bnrnham and North Essex , but owing to the unpropitious weather , and other circumstances , there was not so large an attendance as usual of the brethren from other parts of the county .

The R . AV . Prov . G . Master was supported by the Deputy Prov . G . M ., Bro . S . 3 . Skinner , Major K . A . ; and the following Grand Officers of the Province : —Bros . Andrew Durrant , S . Cr . Warden ; Rev . G . E . Carwithin , G-. Chaplain ; John Pattisson , G . Treasurer ; C . S . Owen . G . Registrar ; John Mann , G . Secretary ; Taylor Osborne , S . G . Deacon ; F . Adlard , Assistant C . D . C . ; AVilliam Paas , G . Pursuivant , & c ,

There wore also present , from Colchester : —Angel Lodge ( 50 ) , Bros , J . Pattison , AV . M . ; AV . Griffin , Jan ., P . M ., S . AV . ; A . E . Church , . LAV . ; AV . Slaney , P . M ., Trcas . ; T . Hall , P . M . ; T . Osborne , P . M . ; AV . AAllliams , Sec , ; T . Penning , J . Saunders , J . H . Brown , AV . C . AA'interbon , J . Arnoup , N , Gluekstcin , T . Railing , and J . AVliitten . Rochford Lodge ( 1 S 6 ) , . 1 . Bell Brai / . cr , AV . M . ; AV . Knapping , P . M . Lodge 250 ; A . Thissleton , Secretary to Royal Freemason's Boys '

School . Chelmsford Lodge ( 311 ) , A . Dmrant , P . M . ; Jas . Maryon . Brightlingsea Lodge ( 627 ) , Joseph Ames , AV . M . ; J . Richardson , S . AV . ; 11 . AA . Baker , P . M . Romford Lodge ( 259 ) , F . Adlard , AV . M . Chigwell Lodge ( 663 ) , R . AV . Stewart , AV . M . Harwich Lodge ( 935 ) , E . Tenison Ryan , AVAL ; C . S . Owen , P . M . Colchester United Lodge ( 998 ) , Captain Pender , A \ . M . ; G . E . Thompson , C . Quiver , E . PrattFEarlyA \ . StokesThomas Lloyd & c .

, . , , , The report of the Audit Committee was re-ad and adopted ; and the following were appointed or elected Grand officers of the Province for the year ensuina-, and those present were invested by the R . AV . Prov . G . AL , with their collars of office : — Major Samuel James Skinner , 11 . A .., 313 , D . Prov . G . M . ; Captain Francis Pender , 5 th Fusiliers , 9 'JS , Prov . S . G . AV . ; William