Provincial Lodges.

view of the ceremony could be obtained . At the conclusion of the ceremony , the procession returned to the Hall , aud the brethren , shareholders and visitors sat down to an elegantly prepared cold collation , consisting of every delicacy of the season . TheR . W . P . G . M ., Wm . Stuart , E q ., in the chair . After dinner " Benedictus" ( reading ) was sung by Brs . Donald King , Lawler , and Me-isrs . Montem Smith and Dawson . The R . W . P . G . M then roseand proposed the first toast"The Queen . "

, , " The National Anthem . " Toast , " Prince Albert , Albert , Prince of Wales , " & c , & c . Ode , " Hail to thee , Albert , " ( J . W . Hobbs ) . Toast , " The Allied Armies and Navies . " Acknowledged Capt . Kelly . Song , " The Queen ' s Letter . " ( Hobbs ) .

The R . W . P . G . D . then proposed "The health of the Grand Officers , " coupling with the toast , the name of Br . White , G . S . Br . White briefly returned thanks for the honour . He , and his brother officers , had come down solely because they considered it to be their duty to render all the assistance in their power , in the cause of Freemasonry ; especially in promoting so laudable an undertaking as the present . He had the pleasure of looking back through a long term of years , during which he had always had the welfare of Masonry at

heart . Glee , " If to morrow may dawn . " F . Fellowes , Esq ., then rose to propose a toast which he considered to be of the greatest importance . They had met that day to perform an important and impressive ceremony . He could well recollect the public celebration of the Battle of Waterloo , and the excitement consequent thereon . Forty years had since rolled on , and he felt it to be not only his own wish , but the wish of all whom he had the pleasure to address , that the New Corn Exchange might be as productive of happiness and prosperity to the district of Watford , as the long peace had been to the nation at large . He had had the pleasure of being connected for thirty years with a family of the

neighbourhood , whose sire ( now no more ) , had always endeavoured , through a long life , to do good to the town . He was , therefore , well able to appreciate the labours of those gentlemen whose exertions had so far L been attended with success—a success which , he hoped , would continue to the end . Without further preface , he would ask them to be upstanding , to drink to " The health of the Directors of the Watford Corn Exchange , and the Promoters of the Town Improvement Company . " Mr . Escourtas Chairman of the Directorsfelt that they were deeplindebted to

, , y the visitors for their kind attendance , more especially to the Freemasons , for the assiduity they had displayed in carrying out their impressive ceremonies , although the weather bad , unfortunately , been so unpropitious . It was when he witnessed so much unanimity aud good feeling in the brotherhood , that he wished he had been a Mason himself . The importance of a Corn Exchange could not be too highly rated , not only for the advantages it would offer as a place of resort for all the leading men

of the county , but also on account of the publicity of its transactions , showing to the poor of their neighbourhood , that there were no combinations between millers and growers to keep up high prices , but that all their transactions were fair and open . Nothing more seriously affected the real interests of the nation at large than the price of corn —( hear ) . It influenced their tithes , their rent charges , their wages , and everything which they consumed ; and he had no hesitation in saying that , the future importance of the town of Watford would , in a great measure , depend upon the

success of their New Exchange . On behalf of the Directors he begged to thank them for their good wishes fir the future success of their undertaking . The skill of their chairman in placing the stone in its present position must have been admired by all who , perhaps , had a better opportunity of witnessing it than he had ; for his own part , unhappily , the umbrellas prevented him seeing much , but what he did see , was certainly most gratifying . However much Mr . Stuart might be admired bv his brother Masons as their P . G . M ., he could assure those who were visitors on the present-occasion , that as a good and kind neighbour he stood second to no one , for no man more truly deserved the admiration of his townsmen . He therefore begged to propose " The health of the Chairman " —( applause ) .