Provincial Lodges.

ton , Reg . ; Jos . Burton , Sec . ; T . H . Devonshire , S . D . ; A . Stone , J . D . ; Peter Bruff , Sup . of Works ; Wm . AViseman and Lieut . Crow , Dirs . of Ceremonies ; Capt . Robert Honywood , S . B . ; Jas . Dace , Organist ; Geo . Addison , Pursuivant . At the conclusion of the appointments , the P . G . M . proceeded to address the brethren , and congratulated them on the prosperity of the Craft in the Province , the Lodges being generally more numerous and the working better than for some years past . He was also happy to inform them that the M . AV . G . M . of England had been

pleased to grant a Charter for a new Lodge , which would shortly be consecrated at Harwich . Some routine business having been gone through , a vote of thanks was given to the R . W . D . G . M . and the rest of the G . Officers for their attendance , and the Lodge was closed in due form . A large number of the brethren afterwards re-assembled at a very elegant dinner , the band of the West Essex Militiain which corps many of the brethren present

, hold commissions , attending , and playing several favourite marches with great spirit and precision . At the conclusion of the dinner a large number of ladies were introduced into the room amidst loud cheers . Grace having been said , The P . G . M ., in giving " The Queen and the Craft , " said , there was never a period in this country ' s history when the Sovereign was more dear to the people than at the present moment , and he was sure they would in all due loyalty drink her health , and wish the country through this time of severe trial . Her Majesty was educated in

their principles , as the daughter of a Mason , and was entitled to their utmost devotion —( Drunk with loud cheers ) . The National Anthem was finely executed by the professional party . The P . G . M . said the next toast was "The health of Prince Albert , the Prince of Wales , and the rest of the Royal Family" —( Applause ) . The P . G . M . said he had on this occasion rather to depart from the usual routine of masonic toasts , feeling this was peculiarly an occasion for doing so , and he could not permit any other toast to be given to them till they had done due honour to the army

and navy for their distinguished services —( Cheers ) . He felt deeply for those connected with the brave and gallant men who had to sustain the conflict in which they were engaged , and many had to lament the loss of friends whose memory was treasured in their affections ; but if there was anything from which these men could derive consolation amidst their sufferings , it was the knowledge that when their brethren met together on these occasions , with their dear sisters , they could think of those brave spirits that thus gloriously fought their battles . He gave them , "The Army and

Navy , " and he would connect with it the D . P . G . M ., Major Skinner , and the gentleman at his side , equally distinguished , Br . Dr . Rowe , P . P 1 . D . G . M ., who had served through all the Peninsular campaign —( Cheers ) . The D . Pl . G . M ., Major Skinner , said he rose under strong feelings of gratitude to their Pl . G . M . for introducing his name in the way he had done , or rather for coupling it with the distinguished service to which for many years he had the honour to belong , for at a time like this , when the army and navy were engaged in conflict with a foreign

enemy , they felt deeply and sensibly that this was no common toast —( Cheers ) . The army and the navy for the last forty years had never been forgotten by Englishmen when assembled round the festive board ; and certainly on an occasion like this , a peculiar occasion never before witnessed in this town , and in a society like that , gathered from the Province , from the Metropolis , and other parts of the kingdom , he was quite certain the toast would be given , and when given would be responded to in the way it had been—( Cheers ) . The army in the Crimea , for the last twelve months , had been in their dail

y thoughts ; it had striven through a winter of great severity , suffering from famine and disease , and exposed to every privation that could visit the soldier , but under their noble commander they were ever ready to do their duty , notwithstanding all these privations and sufferings —( Cheers ; . He must say he did not feel so much for the friends of those who fell by the bullet and the sword , for they had the sympathy of the whole country with them ; but he did feel deeply for the wives , and mothers , and sisters of those husbands and sons , and brothers , who had dropped down at their posts from famine and disease—( Hear ) . But the courage of