Provincial Lodges.

he first became G . M . of England , there were but 720 Lodges , and now they numbered upwards of 1 , 000 . There had also been a corresponding increase in the number of members , who now could be counted by thousands where formerly there were only hundreds —( cheers . ) The toast was drunk with Masonic honours . The P . G . M . said that , having already had the hardihood to depart from the usual routine of toasts , he felt inclined to stray a little farther —( cheers , and laughter . )

Freemasonry was a pacific institution , but when they saw a friend in dangoi from the attack of an unmuzzled bear , it was their duty to protect him if possible . England was now in this position , and the present war had made them all feel how much we were indebted to the bravery of our army and navy abroad for our present unmolested and peaceful enjoyments at home —( cheers ) . He had near and dear relations in both services . His son-in-law , who usually lived with him , was now in the Sea of Azoff , on board the Hannibaland his grandsona French vicontewas serving with the

, , , French army before Sebastopol , and he had family traditions too of the last war ; for , a first cousin of his , the only son of General Comte de Duhesne , was killed 37 years ago that day , at the battle of Waterloo . He might therefore be excused if he gave " The Army and Navy , " even if the presence , on that occasion of two officers of her Majesty ' s Service , one of whom , at least , was a distinguished Mason , had not suggested the

toast —( cheers . ) He concluded by coupling with the toast the name of Colonel Cator —( loud cheers . ) The toast was drunk with Masonic honours . Colonel Cator , in responding to the toast , said it was 20 years that day since he had the honour of receiving her Majesty ' s commission , and he supposed it must be a good augury that on the anniversary of that day , and in such a company , he should now , for the first time , be called on to return thanks for " The Army . " Although the army

had been , called into active service after a . forty years' peace , every one knew that it had never distinguished itself more than in the Crimea—( cheers ) It was due to the gallantry and devotion of both services , and their sufferings in the arduous campaign they had gone through , that no terms of peace should be accepted but such as fully satisfied the honour of England , and secured the objects of the war—( cheers . ) The P . G . M . has now to propose a truly Masonic toast , and one which would require from him very few words to recommend it to their notice—it being " The health

of the R . W . D . G . M ., the Earl of Yarborough , and the Past and Present G . Officers . " He was glad to see that one of the most distinguished members of the Dover Lodge had been honoured by the G . M ., with office in the G . Lodge , and he should therefore have great pleasure in coupling the name of Br . Philipe , P . G . S . B ., with the toast .

The toast having been drunk with Masonic honours , Br . G . P . De Rhe Philipe responded to the compliment . Although he acknowledged with gratitude the high honour of having been entrusted with an office in the Grand Lodge of England , he felt considerable pride also at his connection with the Dover Lodge , which he had been instrumental a great many years ago in resuscitating . Its numbers then were very limited indeed , but by a little exertion and the friendly co-operation of the brethren , he was enabled once more to raise its members to

something like a respectable muster ; and it gave him the greatest satisfaction now to see so magnificent a meeting of Freemasons in Dover as that festival had brought together —( cheers ) . He had also the very high gratification of saying that his son was also a P . M . of the Dover Lodge —( great cheering ) . He concluded by some excellent remarks upon the Masonic Charities , and took that opportunity , when there were representatives present from all the Lodges in Kent , to inculcate the policy and duty of all assisting to obtain admissions to those charities for Kentish applicants .

Br . Ashley , P . D . Prov . G . M ., having been honoured by the Prov . G . M . ' s permission to propose a toast , would ask them to fill a bumper . In proposing " The health of the Prov . G . M ., " hewas'fully aware that he had an easy task , for though that distinguished brother had been but a comparatively short time amongst them , he had won the esteem and regard of all with whom he was brought into connection —( cheers ) . He was a gentlemen of great legal attainments , of literary and antiquarian research , and