Provincial.

to persons or faith ; because , while the Church is upheld as the exponent of the national religion , a free and large-minded toleration is extended to all , to worship God according to their conscience , without fear of pains and penalties . Long may she reign to receive the grateful homage of our devoted loyalty ! The Cathedral Choir next sang the Hundredth Psalm with fine effect . Cheers were then given for the Queen and the Mayor , ancl the ceremony was terminated . The procession then returned to the Tolsey , and the Masonic hrethren afterwards returned to Beaufort House and the Booth Hall , and the lodges were closed in due form .

THE DINKEB . The dinner took place at the Corn Exchange , shortly before six o ' clock . About 150 were present . The Mayor presided , and was supported by the D . Prov . G . M ., Bro . G . F . Newmarch , Bros . W . H . Gwinnett , the Rev . G . Roberts , J . Burrup , D . M . Walker , F . Trinder , W . Nicks , the Rev . John Emeris , R . Hendewerk , & c . And

among the guests were Mr . Thomas Meyler , Mr . Kendall , Mr . R . T . Smith , Mr . Ashbee , the Rev . E . C . Brice , the Rev . Thomas Jones , Mr . Harley Bushel , Mr . J . Jones , the Rev . J . Elliott , Mr . G . Buchanan , the Rev . Henry Fowler , Mr . A . C . Wheeler , Mr . Innell , Mr . A . H . Jenkins , Mr . J . P . Wilton , Mr . Ping , Mr . W . Matthews , Mr . H . Bruton , Mr . G . F . Fox , Mr , Hulls , Mr . Hawkins , Jtfr . J . H . Brown , Mr . W . H . Green , Mr . Curtis , & c .

The CHAIEMAN gave "The Queen , the daughter of a Mason . " The toast having heen duly honoured , he next proposed " The Prince Consort , the Prince of Wales , ancl the rest of the Royal Family . " The CHAIEMAIT , in proposing the next toast , "The Bishop ancl Clergy of the Diocese , " said he regretted the loss of a man so highly esteemed as Bishop Baring . He took the opportunity afforded him in

proposing the toast , of thanking the clergy of the cathedral for their kindness and attention to all the " requests made of them , in reference to the proceeedings of the day ; ancl -also the clergy of Gloucester , for the part they had taken . ( Cheers- ) The Rev . J . EMERIS returned thanks . He was exceedingly sorry Mr . Minchin was not present , as he would have been if not prevented by an engagement he could not defer . In his absence he

Tiegged to thank them . The clergy most cordially concurred in the expression of regret at the loss of their Bishop . It had been said , we ought not to sacrifice to heroes till the setting of the sun ; and as the Bishop's sun was now so nearly set , ' he thought there was no objection to their saying what they felt with regard to him . He believed everyone must feel that the mantle of Hooper had descended on no unworthy successor in Bishop Baring . ( Cheers . ) He hojied his successor would acquire , as Bishop Baring had , the

universal esteem of all classes in the diocese . With regard to the . clergy , they might in some respects claim to have been the originators of this movement in commemoration of Bishop Hooper . It was since he had been in Gloucester , about seven or eight years -ago , that a clergyman , who was not now iu 'Gloucester , proposed a monument to Bishop Hooper ; but he must say he went about it in so injudicious a manner , that few could join him . Those who promoted the present monument were not exactly the one

persons would fancy who would have brought the work to so high a state of advancement ; but what they wanted in position they more than made up in diligence and determination ; and now we have to thank the Freemasons for having come forward on this occasion , / vnd not only helping us by their presence , but hy subscribing to the funds . ( Cheers . ) The CnAlBMAif , in proposing the next toast , saicl we must thank

the volunteers of this city for their attendance that clay . ( Cheers . ) He was sure that without them the proceedings would , to some •extent , not only have lacked the interest they possessed , but it would have heen impossible for them to have made their way -through that narrow passage into St . Mary's-square . He gave "The Army and Navy and the Volunteers , " associating with the toast the health of Mr . J . P . Wilton . ( Cheers . ) Mr . Wii / rojr who was received with lausesaid although he

, app , regretted that a person more qualified than himself had not been -called upon to respond to the toast , it was perhaps appropriate that the " health" of the volunteers should be responded to by a volunteer surgeon ; and on that account he willingly accepted the duty . ^ We know that Hooper died in support of the religious principles we profess ; and though perhaps the principles upon which the volunteers have been organised not he of so hih a

may g character , yet those principles are somewhat analogous . The volunteers have been raised with the view to resist any attempt at aggression that may be made on this country ; ancl he was sure they would imitate Hooper , and die for their duty if required . ( Cheers . ) Bro . BUKROT ? said a duty had been thrown upon him which

yielded to no man in feeling strongly that the duty which they had been engaged in that day was one which they must all regard with many persons present might better fulfil . At the same time he great satisfaction . He wished the vicar of the parish in which the monument is to be erected was present , as he could propose this toast much better than he ( Mr . Burrup ) could . Happily for him there had been so much expressed that day with respect to the great man who died in so good a cause that little more was left for him to say than simply propose , as he then did , that they drink in solemn silense " The pious menmory of Bishop Hooper . "

The company then rose and drank the toast in silence . Bro . NEWMABCH , D . Prov . G . M ., said he rose to propose " The Mayor and Corporation of the City of Gloucester . " ( Cheers . ) He did not know whether the health of their Chairman would more commend itself to them as Chief Magistrate of this city or as a Mason . That he had acquired the good feelings of the citizens of Gloucester was obvious from the position he now filled ; and that he had gained the good feelings of the whole of the Masons , he

coulcl vouch for . Inasmuch as the Corporation was coupled with the toast , he thought he could say as a Mason that they were very much indebted to the Mayor and Corporation of Gloucester for their encouragement of Masonic Craft . ( Cheers . ) It was very much owing to their energy and zeal , and their appreciation of the principles upon which Masonry was founded that they had had had a new lodge opened in this city . He thought to that fact might be attributed the part which the Masons had been called upon to

take in the proceedings of that day . Without wishing to say anything of the older lodges , he looked upon it as a fact that it was mainly owing to the advance that Masonry had made here by the opening of the new lodge , that the spirit had gone abroad among the citizens of Gloucester , ancl that they had been called upon as Masons to assist in the ceremonial of that clay . He did not wish to further allude to the occasion which had brought them together , as it had been done by other gentlemenand in tlie most able

, manner , from the pulpit of their cathedral . ( Loud and prolonged applause . ) He would only remind those amongst them who were Masons that there were no qualities which a Mason so highly honoured as those of fortitude ancl fidelity . Ifc must be in the remembrance of every one , and especially of the Master Masons present , that there was one name among them most highly venerated for those qualities , ancl who suffered as a martyr to the sacred trust reposed in him . It was those same qualities they now

honoured in Bishop Hooper , the fortitude to hear his agonizing death , the fidelity which he displayed that Protestant religion which most of them , if not all , so highly value . He begged to propose "The Mayor ancl Corporation of the City of Gloucester . "

The toast was drank with rounds of cheering , led by Mr . Gwinnett . The CHAIEIIAIT , who was received with applause , said he thanked the D . Prov . G . M . for the manner in which he had introduced his name and the corporation of Gloucester . He could only say that in their joint capacity as corporators and Masons they were only too happy to carry out the arrangements of that day . Speaking for himself , he felt it a very great compliment on the part of those gentlemen who so kindllaced in his hands the dutof laying tbe

y p y foundation stone ; and he felt it as a compliment to the corporation by whom he was elected to the office he now filled . The corporation would be ready at all times to assist in any public work promoted in the city . ( Cheers . ) The CHAIEMAN next proposed "The health of the Memorial Committee , " and said tlie city had to thank those gentlemen for their exertions in earring out the project of a monument to that

good man , Bishop Hooper . Those gentlemen must have used very great exertions in making the requisite arrangements for this undertaking , and the citizens of Gloucester were very much indebted to them . It must be to the credit ofthe city thafc the monument should be erected ; and ifc was nofc the committee who would be known , but the city of Gloucester would be recognized for having erected it . He proposed the Memorial Committee , ancl connected the toast with tlie name of Mr . Innellwho had taken an

, active part in the work . ( Cheers . ) Mr . INJI -EMI , who was only imperfectly heard , in acknowledgment said he thanked them for the honour the Mayor had done them in proposing the health of the Memorial Committee , and for coupling his name with that Committee . To the Masons of England , who had come forward in the handsome manner they had in assisting the promoters of the memorial hy the procession

and in laying the stone , on the part of the building committee , he returned their most grateful thanks . He did so because he trusted many of the idlers in the streets who had seen the procession that day might go home and ponder over its object ; while it had been the means of bringing together many ofthe admirers of a man who died to secure the privileges which we enjoy at the present time .