Provincial.

G . S . and Prov . G . J . G- / , Prov . G . J . D ., pro tern . ; R . R . Rodd , S . D ., No . 224 , Prov . G . Tyler , pro tern . ; J . Rogers , P . M ., No . 238 , and Tyler , of Nos . 122 , 185 , and 224 „ Bro . Rogers was relieved by Bro . Gregory , the Prov . G . Tyler . The petitioning Brethren having made their request , the new Lodge was

instituted , and dedicated with the proper ceremonies , and subsequently Bro . Chapman was installed as its W . M . for the year ensuing by Bro . W . Denis Moore . The newly-installed W . M . then appointed as his officers , Bros . Pyper , S . W . ; Rowe , J . W ., Gibson , Sec . In the course of the day the Rev . P . S . Batchelor , the chaplain of the Convict Prison of Dartmoor , was initiated into Freemasonry in the new Lodge , No . 964 , Bro . W . D . Moore acting as W . M .

It was intended to have proceeded in state from the Duchy Hotel , where the Lodge was held , to Prince Town Church , but the heavy fall of rain made it impossible . However , despite the torrents of water , some hundreds or so found their way to the sacred edifice . Prayers were read by the newly-initiated Bro . the Rev . F . S . Batchelor , and a very appropriate and admirable sermon preached by Bro . the Rev . W . E . Hadow , of No . 351 , Tavistock , from 10 th verse of the . xii . chap , of the Romans . (( Be kindly affectioned one to another with

brotherly love ; " and the sermon commenced by calling attention to this , one of those short and practical sentences that abound towards the close of St . Paul ' s Epistles . It then went on to show that this precept was especially a Christian precept ; that the whole text was summed up in one comprehensive word , " Charity , " and therefore was very suitable for the consideration of a Fraternity w ho claim " Brotherly Love , Relief , and Truth , " as the grand principles on which their Order is founded , and who ought therefore to be very careful in the

observance of so noble a rule . That though it might be thought the text inculcated an impracticable duty , yet that much good might be done by asserting our principles , even though we failed to effect all we sought . Two things were necessary in order to produce brotherly love in all its fulness , viz ., self-knowledge and self-government , for by them we should be restrained from everything that was opposed to charity , and should be making a daily advancement towards the duty so strongly enforced by the Apostle in the text . Brotherly love also is

needful for our comfort here , as well as our everlasting happiness hereafter , not that by possessing it heaven could be demanded as of right , but that its possession showed the love of God working in us , and proved us to be striving to have in us "the same mind that was in Christ . " Thus religion was the only ground on which brotherly love could rest ; and Freemasonry agreed with this in principle and practice . To the initiated it would be enough to say that religion prompts all our acts , and justice guides our motives : but that we shrink not from the

world ' s examination , and therefore the uninitiated should know that , although Freemasonry was not religion itself , nor intended to supersede it , yet it was an assistant to it ; that there was nothing in our principles opposed to either Old or New Testament , and that to be a good Mason , was to be a religious man . That although the system of Masonry was veiled in allegory , and illustrated by symbols , and therefore might by some be thought to be vain , yet really such was not the case , for these symbols taught each Mason a lesson

calculated to make him a wiser and a better man . That the use of symbols was no new thing , but that the Bible was full of such modes of instruction . Again , as to our public duties , the charge was quoted to show that Freemasonry had a good effect as to its teaching ; and the necessity of concealing the terms and ceremonials of the Fraternity , while the fruits of the system were patent to all , was insisted upon . That although the Order had been abused by improper Members

being admitted , yet abuse of a thing is no argument against its legitimate use ; and he was the best champion of the Order who defended it with his deeds rather than his words . The sermon concluded with an appeal in behalf of the Royal British Female Orphan Asylum at Devonport , the Brethren being called on to remember their obligation , and the great lesson taught them at their initiation , and all being reminded that their principles must be proved by their practice . The collection amounted to about 13 / .

After the conclusion of the service at the church , a large number of the Brethren sat down to a substantial and well-served banquet at the Duchy