Provincial.

which the newly initiated stands a lesson , that his love to all is to be as boundless rs that love ivhieh brought the Son of God to earth to redeem us ? And as the worthy Mason learns more of that science into which he is now priviliged to enquire , does he not find each symbol around him replete with mystic beauty ? He learns to feel that the very ground on which ho stands is holy to the Lord , that the whole universe is the temple of Him whom we serve , and that Wisdom , Strength , and Beauty , arc about His throne , as pillars of

his work . He is reminded again and again of the gracious purpose for which God's holy word ivas given to us , and thereby taught , he ascends that ladder , whose rounds are Faith , Hope , and Love , into the very sanctuary and 2 U'esence of the Lord . The very tools we use become more in his hands , than mere implements of labour . To the true Mason theit moral tendency render them as precious as kingly jewels ; well it were for each of us , my brethren , did we lay more deeply to heart the lessons they give us ot justiceuprightness

, , and humility before God . A ' ea , the lifeless stones find among Masons a voice to tell us that which we have been , and of that which , by tho peace of God , ive hope to become . Then , when Masonry invites her worthy son , thus taught in the principles of moral truth and virtue , to extend his researches into the more hidden mysteries of nature , and of science , the instruction is still of the same exalted character . AA e are told of that Almighty hand

which in six days made the heavens and the earth , which hung great lights in the firmanent , and once made them stand still there at the voice of a man for the deliverance of the chosen people . AVe are told of that all-seeing eye of majesty and love which is continually watching over us , and marking all our ways , and how our work is to be established in heavenly strength , that God ' s name may rest there for ever . Nor is this all : we have one great and useful lesson more . When earth and earthlthings are passing

y away for ever , and when death is drawing near to smite the Mason , we are taught to bend with humility and resignation to the will of the G . A . O . T . U ., and to commend our spirit into His hands who gave it . AVondrous things has Masonry to tell ns of Him who said that He would dwell in the thick darkness , and reverently

pointing where God ' s word points the way , lifts that mysterious veil which the eye of human reason cannot penetrate unless assisted by that light which is from above , and bids the eye of faith seek through the darkness visible , that bright morning star , whose rising brings the peace and salvation tothe faithful and obedient of the sons of men . Call to mind , my beloved brethren , the solemn and impressive lesson which you have all received , how , even in that last hour , the right hand of the Redeemer's rihteousness holds His faithful servants

g up and places them near to the sanctuary of His presence . Let us learn , at the same time , to arise from the deathly sleep in which the world , and the flesh , and the devil , would fain throw us , and with renewed energy set about our work in union with companions linked to us by so solemn a pledge that not even his own mother's son is dearer to the true Mason than the brother who takes his hand in the mystic clasp of fellowship . Said I not well , then , my

brethren , that to fear God and to keep His commandments , to love God and his neighbour , was the Alpha and Omega of the teaching of our Order ? A system in which wo may read such lessons as these must be a great and holy thing . Let those who are without be content to believe that there can be no good in anything which hides itself from their prying and inquisitive gaze . AVe who have seen the light , though , in comparison with that which ive hope to see , it be but as the faint glimmering of tlie star which heralds the dawn , can afford to wait till their error shall be cleared up in our

heavenly Master ' s day . AVe seek no proselytes , hut we bid glad welcome to all the worthy who seek to join our ranks , promising that through patience mid industry they shall reap a rich reward . But to you , my brethren in Freemasonry , I have yet a word to say . Imperfectly as I have dwelt on the teaching of our Order , I trust I have said enough to show that a talent of no common kind has been entrusted to your keeping , of which God will assuredly demand an account . "God shall bring work into judgment

every with every secret thing . " God forbid that any of you should receive tho portion of the slothful servant . How " shall we approve ourselves in the eyes of our Divine Alaster as true and faithful Masons , striving to work as becomes our Masonic profession ? How shall ive show to those who are without , that Freemasonry is no system of idle forms—no association for the purposes of seifish pleasure and indulgence—but in very truth a body of men helping each other to fear God and

keep His commandments , to do justice ^ to love mercy , and to walk humbl y before God ? How , indeed , but by striving to follow ! lis blessed steps , whose favourite employment on earth was to soothe the sufferer's anguish and to dry the Mourner ' s tear ? Brotherly Love , Relief , and Truth , are our watchwords . AA ' e rejoice that God has enabled us to care for the children , to feed the widows , anil to cherish the indigent old age of so many of our own brethren . Let us , however , not suppose that a true Mason's charity is bounded by such limits . Xo , in the broad circle of his affections he embraces all mankind , and it is enough to

come before him in sorrow and destitution to establish a claim upon bis sympathy . The Right Worshipful Chaplain concluded by appealing to his hearers , both Alasons and non-Masons , to contribute to the fund raised for tho relief of the widows and orphans of tho 194 fishermen who perished in the fearful gales of May last , and , at the close of the ^ sermon , a collection was made in behalf of that object , which amounted to £ 5 10 s ., of which £ 4 16 s . were contributed by the brethrenand 14 s . by the non-masonic portion of

, the congregation . THE BANQUET . AA as held in the-evening , at tho Suffolk Hotel , and was attended by 43 brethren . A sumptuous dinner was provided by Bro . Clark , of the Suffolk Hotel , whose catering is always first-rate . The R . AV . I ) . Prov . G . AL , Bro . the Rev . F . AA " . Freeman , presided , and was supported by Bros , the Rev . AV . N . Sanderson ( the Bro .

Grand Chaplain ) . Bros . Alley , F . Adland , F . Crew , AV . Ludboook , J . A . Pettit , AV . AA . Garnham , R , G . Fuller , and E . Dorling . The vico-chairs were occupied by the Provincial Grand ATardens , Bros . A . Fleming , and R . AV . Bradbere . On the removal of the cloth , The R . AV . DEPUTY PROV . GRAXD MASTER said : — "As we are not only Freemasons , but all loyal subjects , I beg leave to propose the health of Her Majesty , and as we always join the Craft with that toast , I give you ' The Queen and the Craft . ' Her Majesty being

the daughter of a Mason , I am sure you will receive the toast with enthusiasm . " ( Loud Cheers . ) In proposing the health of " The Prince Consort ; the Prince of Wales , and the rest of the Royal Family , " the D . Prov . G . M . said that though the Prince Consort was not a Mason , he hoped that before this time twelvemonth they should see him enrolled amongst their members the heir apparent to the crown of England ( Cheers . ) The toast of " The Army and Navy " the D . Prov . G . AL coupled

ivith the names of two distinguished Masons belonging to those services , F . M . Lord Combermere , Prov . G . AL of Cheshire , and Admiral Sir Lucius Curtis , Prov . G . AI . of Hampshire . The 1 ) . PROV . G . M . said the next toast he had to offer was one which he ivas sure needed no encomiums from him , but

would enter at once into the hearts and feelings of every Alason , "The health of their Alost AVorshipful Grand Master , the Earl of Zetland " ( Cheers . ) They all know tho value he was to the Craft . He ( Bro . Freeman ) had himself experienced the courtesy and cordiality of tho noble Earl , and bad witnessed his great tact and kindness , and untiring patience , which was sometimes , indeed , sorely tried in Grand Lodge by the talking against time which had often annoyed him ( Bro . Freeman ) but was endured by the Grand Masterwithout the

, , least symptom of annoyance . He ( Bro . Freeman ) considered that every Mason should appreciate the admirable manner in which their Grand Master met the last attack upon him , and which , perhaps , many brethren now present were not acquainted with . On the occasion in question , Lord Zetland simply went into Grand Lodge , opened it , informed the brethren that such and such things were to be brought before them , with which he himself was mixed up , and

then quietly bade the brethren " good night , " aud walked out of the lodge . He ( Bro . Freeman ) thought that such temperate conduct deserved the appreciation of every honourable and right feeling brother , for every true brother must feel that the head of their order ought to be supported , and lie ( Bro . Freeman ) had had the gratification of supporting their Grand Alaster , and shouldalways be happy to go to London for that purpose whenever his assistance might be required , lie felt that authority ought to be supported whether in Grand Lodge , or Provincial Grand Lodge , so that the

principles ol their order might be carried out , and its ancient landmarks preserved from the encroachments of initiation . ( Hear , hear ) . The health of the M . AV . G . M . was drunk with tho usual honours , as also that of the M . AV . D . G . M . . Lord Panmure . Bro . F . ADE . VUB proposed tho health of Bro . Roxburgh , the Acting Grand Alaster of the Province of Suffolk ' , whose absence , he said , was owing , he believed to the illness of a relative , and the

arduous duties of his office as Grand Registrar , ivhieh , as they were aware , ivas no sinecure . Bro . F . CHEW , in proposing the next toast , echoed the hope expressed by the II . AV . J ) . Prov , G . AI ., that before long the Craft would be presided over as it was formerly , by a member of the Royal family . It was a Royal society , and deserved a royal head . It was a great and mighty society , for it was more ancient than any other society in the world , and it had existed for ages without external

assistance , without the support of any state or authority !; but in spite of frequent opposition and enmity from "the powers that be , " it bad existed solely through its own inherent virtue and goodness , and it was diffused not simply over England , Ireland , and Scotland , or even Europe , but over every nation on the face of th e ^ earth . The influence of Alasonry abroad ivas little known except by those who had personally experienced the advantages of the fraternal bond in foreign countries , where a brother was , cceived as a friend among strangers . He ( Bro . Crew ) was asked by Lord Salisbury to make