Provincial.

to by Bro . Bourne and Stern , one of whom said he had been a captive in America , and would have been murdered bad he not given the sign of distress , which was fortunately recognised by bis captor , a Mason , who spared his life ; while the other observed that he had travelled in India and other parts of tho world , and had often experienced tbe great advantages of Masonry

, The Prov . G . M . spoke of the admirable manner in which the Prov . G . Treas . ( Bro . Holden ) and Prov . G . Sec . ( Bro . Gibbons ) bad discharged their duties ,- and then proposed their healths . Bro . Holden suitably responded . Bro . Biggs , the newly-appointed Prov . G . Sec , followed , and , alluding to the festival at ivhich Sir Daniel is to preside in January next , expressed his hope that tbe brethren of the

province would rally round him on that interesting occasion , and show their determination to support him in his efforts to promote the welfare of the noble charity . He trusted that Stewards would go up from this province , and alsofrom Wilts , with lists that would from every point of view be regarded as satisfactory . The Prov . G . M . expressed the thanks of the province to the Etonian and Castle Lodges for the very hearty reception they

had recorded to the Prov . G . L ., and for the excellent arrangements which had been made . He felt much pleasure in asking the brethren to drink the health of the W . M . 's of the two lodges . Bro . Hideout ( W . M . of the Etonian ) and Bro . Tolley ( W . M . of the Castle Lodge ) severally responded . The Tyler's Toast was then given , and thi » pleasant and successful assemblage of Masons broke up . We should mention that the Prov . G . M . wore the splendid regalia presented to him a short time ago by the Province of Wilts .

READING . The Grey Friar ' s lodge , No . 1 , 101 . This lodge , which was established tour or five years ago , held its anniversary festival on Tuesday , the 18 th inst . The installation of the W . M . for the ensuing year also took place on that day . The installation festivals of this lodge have always been very successful , but on this occasion more than usual interest

was attached to the gathering , as the Prov . G . M ., Sir Daniel Gooch , Bai-t ., M . P ., was present . The lodge was held at the Masonic Hall in the afternoon , and was very numerously attended ; between sixty and seventy assembled . The principal business before the lodge was the initiation of Mr . Alfred Gooeh ( son of Sir Daniel Gooch ) , and the installation of Bro . R . C . Hurley as W . M . Both of these ceremonies \ vere performed by Bro . W . Biggsand his style was on this occasion even more

im-, pressive and more felicitous than usual . The effect of the ceremonies in lodge was greatly enhanced by the musical performance of Bro . Tolley , P . Prov . G . Org ., and Bros . Marriott , Briggs , and Barrett , of St . George's Chapel Royal , Windsor . After tho W . M . had been duly installed ho proceeded to invest tbe following officers of the lodge : —Bros . J . Wc-ightinau , S . W . ; G . ChancellorJ . W . ; R . J . SimpsonChap . ; J . Greenfield

, , , Sec . ; E . J . Tabor , S . D . ; Godsmark , J . D . ; J . T . Brown , I . G . ; Stranson and Freeman , S . A P . M . ' s jewel was presented to Bro . Alexander Beale , I . P . M ., in recognition of the zeal , efficiency , and courtesy which he has displayed during his year of office .

In the evening a banquet took place at the George Hotel , and tbe room was almost inconveniently full . The banquet was admirably served by Bro . Pontin . The chair was taken by Bro . R . C . Hurley , W . M . of the Grey Friars Lodge , and amongst those present were Bros . Sir D . Gooch , Bart ., Prov . G . M . ; the Rev . Sir J . W . Hayes , D . Prov . G . M ., P . G . Chap , of England ; J . R . Stebbing ( Southampton ) , P . M ., P . G . D . of England ; R . J . Siers ( Oxford ) P . G . S . of Englandthe Rev . R . J . Simpson

p , ; , P . G . Chap , of England ; E . G . Bruton ( Oxford ) , P . M . ; S . Wittey , D . Prov . G-M . for Wilts ; R . S . Hulbert ( Basingstoke ) , P . Prov . G . S . W . Hants : F . A . Bulley , P . M . ; G . Botly , P . M . 414 ; John Deiv ( Basingstoke ) , P . M . ; J . W . Blowers , W . M . 414 ; J . H . Wynne , P . M . ; John Ellis , P . M . ; A . Sellar , P . M . ; James Harris , W . M . ; W . W . Wynne , W . M . 101 ; Lovatt , 520 ; J . W . HounslowJ . W . 414 ; C . W . WvntlhamP . M . G . Reg .

, , , , Wilts : P . Spokes , S . 414 ; R . Cave ; Arthur Welch ; Alfred W . Gooeh , P . Prov . S . G . W ., Wilts ; G . Anns , P . M . ; R . C . Shettle ; H . P . Dowson ; R . Bradley . S . D . 414 ; F . C . Warner ; F . D . Awberry ; W . C . Jameson ; F . Warncott ; W . Simpson , P . G , Supt ., Wilts ; G . Parfitt ; W . A . Danett , J . W . 1044 .

On the removal of the cloth The W . M . proposed "The Queen aud the Craft , " remarking that as loyal citizens and as good JIasons they would drink the toast with the greatest pleasure and the most hearty enthusiasm . The W . M . next proposed " The Right Hon . and the Most Worshipful the Grand Master and the Grand Officerspast and

, present . " The Earl of Zetland had now held his high position as a G . Master for a quarter of a century . It was thought that at the termination of the present year he would retire from that position , and should he do so he would carry with him the gratitude and the respect of the Craft . Bro . Spiers ( Oxford ) , as one of the G . Officers , returned thanks . Tbey had reason to be proud of belonging to such a body , and

they had especial reason to be proud of the G . Master , whose services to the Craft had been so great and so numerous for many years . Tlie position held by tbe Deputy G . M ., tbe Earl De Grey and Ripon , showed that they were able to attract to their body men eminent in the State . The President of tbe Council ( Lord De Grey and Ripon ) bad worked as a Mason with a thoroughness for which Englishmen were distinguished . The Chairman of the Committee of the House of CommonsMr .

, Dodson , had also taken office in the Craft . Their Prov . G . M ., Sir Daniel Gooch , also , though his duties were so multifarious , though he had charge of that wonderful undertaking , the Great Western Railway Company , though lie was one of those who were engaged in casting a girdle round the earth , though be took his part in the legislation of the country , yet found time to devote to the interests of Masonry . He ( Bro . Spiers ) would

merely now add how much pleasure it had afforded him to be present , and to observe how thoroughly well the work was done in Greyfriars Lodge . He hoped that the lodge would continue to prosper as it had in years past . The W . M . said that tbe next toast might be fittingly described as the toast of the evening . It was "Thehealth of the Prov . G . Master , Bro . Sir Daniel Gooch . He considered it

a very great privilege to have the honour of taking the chair on the occasion of the Prov . G . M . 's first visit in that capacity to Reading , aud in the name of the Grey Friars' Lodge he begged to give him a hearty welcome , and to thank him not only for

being present but also for giving bis name as an honorary member of the lodge . For the last ten years , ever since the resignation of the late Marquis of Downshire , the province had been represented by the G . Reg .: Bro . Mclntyve had fulfilled tbe duties of the office with great ability , but he had other provinces to bttend to , as well as a great deal of other Masonic business . They hailed , therefore , with peculiar pleasure , the appointment to the oflice of Prov . G . M- ot so excellent a Mason

and so good a man as Sir Daniel Gooch . He ( the W . M . ) devoutly hoped that it might please the Great Architect of the Universe long to preserve the life of their distinguished brother in health and strength . Bro . Sir D . Gooch , P . G . M . who , on rising , was most warmly cheered , said that ho was extremely obliged to thorn , for having , received tho toast in a manner so cordial and so kind . It had

boon to him a groat pleasure to bo present that day . Ho could assuro them that ho bad not taken upon himself tho responsibilities of tho office to which tbe Grand Master had appointed him , without a thorough determination to perform bis duties in a way which should , ho hoped moot with their approbation and rospoct . In order to do bis duties to tho satisfaction of tbe province and himself bo felt that bo must have extended to him that Masonic charity for his short comings , and that cordial

support in his efforts , which ho was confident he should not fail to receive . Under suchjeircumstaneo ho believed that tho province would continue to 23 rospor , and would bold no mean position amongst tho Provinces of tho land . But the present had boon to him a most gratifying occasion for a personal reason , because ho had soon his own son initiated into Masonary . It was many years ' siuco bo ( Sir Daniel ) was initiated , aud ho was ploasod to say that bo hr . d never regretted that step . Tho ceremony had made

a deep impression on his mind , ancl ho did not doubt that it had also douo so on tho mind of his ( Sir Daniel ' s ) sou , sooing that that ceremony had boon performed by Bro . Biggs with tho utmost accuracy of language , and tho most perfect correctness of fooling . Now that his sou had boon initiated , ho ( Sir D . Gooch ) felt that as his father and also as his brother , bo should bo able to teach him somo of tho mysteries of tho science . Ho ( tbe P . G . M . ) would conclude by tbankiug them for tho kind invitation thoy bad sent to him , and for tho boarty wolcomo they bad given him . He hoped to visit tbe other Lodges in tho Province