Provincial Lodges.

would never have met as they had done that day to lay the first stone of their new Cora Exchange . The toast , was acknowledged by Mr . Robert Clutterbuck . Song , " The Flaxen-headed Ploughboy . " Br . Burchell Heme then proposed , " The health of Br . John Sedgwick , P . G . S ., and Secretary of the new Corn Exchange , " highly eulogising his indefatigable services . Br . John Sedgwick , in acknowledging the compliment , expressed Ms conviction

that he was utterly undeserving the flattering enconiums , which had been passed upon him . In fact , their kind remarks would have been far more appropriate , had they been applied to those gentlemen who had helped him . When he looked round him in the world , and perceived the many schisms which divided its communities in every direction , he turned to Masonry with delight , for like an oasis in the desert , it was delightful to look upon , and united all who assembled under its banners in one common Brotherhood . He begged again to thank them for all their good wishes , and would endeavour to do his duty—although very unprofessionally—without charge . Fourth part song , " I know a maiden fair to see . "

The R . W . P . G . M . gave the next toast , "The Brothers who assisted at the ceremony . " Br . Howe , Dir . of Ceremonies , in acknowledging the toast , said that the Freemasons of London had come down simply to do that which was their bounden dutyto assist their brothers in performingthe important ceremony of the day . Perceiving that there were many present who were not members of the Fraternity , he would take the opportunity of briefly explaining to them what in fact the principles of Freemasonry really were . Much had been said of then- charity . He could tell them

that Freemasons carried out their charity on three great principles—viz ., to render assistance in infancy , poverty , and old age . For the children of Masons , they had two most excellent schools . For poverty , they monthly dispensed their bounty with a liberal hand to distressed Masons , without calling their creed or country into question . For old age , they had annuities and asylums for male and female . All these were accessible without difficulty to worthy applicants . As regarded their reliious observanceshe could assure themthat they transacted no business without

g , , the Sacred Volume unfolded , being before them . The first act in Lodge was to open it , the last was to close it . They had sometimes been censured for feasting , but he felt he might appeal with confidence to the people of England on that point , whether they ever met to transact any business of more than usual importance , without having refreshment of some kind suitable to the station and feelings of the company ; whether it be the fashionable dejeuner a la fourchette , the more substantial dinner , or the sober meal of the beverage which

' Cheers , but not inebriates , " usually denominated a " tea-meeting . " Surely , then , that which was accepted as a salutary custom around , ought not to be denied to the Freemasons , who were accustomed temperately to use , but not abuse , the bounties of Providence . Ballad , " An honest heart to guide us . " Br . J . Sedgwick proposed as the next toast , " The health of Mr . Murray , the architect . "

Mr . Murray very briefly returned thanks . Mr . Alderman Copeland , who was received with considerable applause , begged to be pardoned for ventuiing to propose the next toast , for although he was nut a Mason , yet having two sons who were M asons—one in India and the other in England —he almost felt himself to be one of them . He was well aware that the Order was established in the most distant lands , but it was not at all surprising , seeing that the object they had in view was that which all must admire—BrotherlLove and

y Christian Charity —( Hear , hear ) . It was these sentiments which made him frequently wish he was a Mason . He trusted that the new undertaking , so successfully commenced , might be as successfully brought to completion , and always prosper . They all knew that joint stock companies were one day at a discount , and another day at a premium , but in these matters they could only look for honesty of purpose in those who had come forward to carry out the wishes of the shareholders . But , as