Provincial.

handed down to your successors for ever , as a memorial of our gratitude to the R . W . D . Prov . G . M . for the eminent services he has rendered to Freemasonry for upwards of fifty years . In conclusion , I will ask the Brethren to unite their prayers with mine , that when it shall please the M . H . to remove our dear Brother from his sphere of Masonic duties in this world , he may ascend to the G . L . above , where the world ' s G . A . lives and reigns for ever and ever . "

Bro . Dilworthy W . M ., rose to thank Bro . Mason for his very handsome and appropriate present . The thanks of the Brethren were due , not only for the portrait , but also for the very great exertions be had used in bringing the matter to so successful a termination . He ( the W . M . ) was confident he spoke the feelings of all present when he said they could not have a more pleasing picture wherewith to decorate the walls of their Lodge-room , representing , as it did , one who was so much endeared to them by the indissoluble bonds of

brotherly affection . He trusted that the R . W . Bro . would live long to grace by his presence their assemblies ; for however much they might delight to gaze on so correct a representation of their worthy and esteemed Brother ( for , as a work of art , he considered the portrait perfection itself ) , still , so long as they enjoyed the company of the respected original , the picture was a secondary consideration . He again begged to thank Bro . Mason on behalf of the Lodge and Chapter . Bro . Mason then performed a voluntary on the organ .

Bro . W . K . Harvey , P . Prov . G . S . W . and P . M . of Lodge No . 803 , proposed a vote of thanks to the R . W . Bro . Ward for his kindness in sitting for his portrait , and drew an amusing picture of the disagreeables inseparable from having an artist staring one in the face for so long a period . The V . W . Bro . A . le Yeau , P . G . S . B . of the Grand Lodge of England , seconded the motion in appropriate terms , and was supported by Bro . C . J . Davenport , Prov . G . Supt . of W . and P . M . of Lodge No . 660 . This motion , on being put , was carried unanimously .

The R . W . Bro . Ward rose to respond , and in doing so said : " Worshipful Sir and Brethren , the very kind and flattering terms in which the trifling services I have been able to render to this Lodge and Chapter have been alluded to have so overcome me that I feel it impossible adequately to express my deep sense of the honour conferred upon me this evening . Attached as I am to the Craft , and zealous as I am for the promotion of its interests , I feel that the distinguished compliment paid me this evening is far above any merit of mine , and that in

your very high estimate of my deserts you have given me credit for what I wished to do and ought to have done , rather than for what I have actually accomplished , in the cause of Freemasonry . Little , however , as I am conscious of deserving so high a compliment , I accept it with pride and pleasure , not as a tribute to any merit of mine , but , which I value still more highly , as a memorial of that kind and brotherly feeling which I have ever experienced at your hands . I think we may congratulate ourselves that

Freemasonry is in a most flourishing and healthy state in this province , and that , with the exception of Lancashire , Yorkshire , Cheshire , and Kent , we can boast of more Lodges than any other province in England . That Masonry should flourish in this province is not to be wondered at , when we look at the number of talented and zealous Masons in our different Lodges and Chapters , and when we can boast of such a leader and chief as our R . W . Prov . Gr . M ., Col . Vernon , a man whose private worth and high Masonic attainments are so well known and appreciated in the Masonic world , that the announcement of his appointment to '

this province , in the FreemasonsMonthly Magazine , was headed with the words ' The happy event in Masonry . ' Nothing seems to have been more misunderstood beyond the walls of our Lodges than Freemasonry . Because our proceedings are shrouded in mystery , it is suspected that we must have something questionable to conceal ; because our meetings are not religious meetings , they are supposed to be irreligious ; and because Freemasonry is not exclusively a Christian institution , it is supposed to be anti-Christian . But the initiated know well that it inculcates nothing inimical to our civil , moral , or religious duties , and that wore it otherwise , neither you nor myself would be found