Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

CHESHIRE . PKOVIXCIAI GEAND LODGI :. On Thursday , 21-th ult ., the brethren of the Province met at the Assembly Rooms , Knutsford , for the transaction of business . The town was gaily decorated with flags , banners , and bannerets , anil at an early time of the day considerable bustle and excitement was caused bthe arrival of carriages from distant parts

y of tlie county , the now line of railway also bringing its quota of brethren of the mystic tie . The Provincial Grand Lodge was opened at 11 a . m ., in the absence of F . M . Lord Combermere , by the Hon . Col . Cotton , assisted by the following distinguished officers and the assembled brethren of the province : —Bros . Lord do Tabley ; G . C . Legh , M . V ., S . G . W . of England ; MTntyre , G . Reg . ; his

Excellency E . Dubois , the Ambassador of Hayti and G . M . of the Freemasons nt Hayti ,- AA illonghby , Cruttenden , AA . Egerton , M . p . ; Garnetfc , Bennett , B . Lowther , Smith , Griffiths , Bland , Bully , Capt . Cope , Barlow , Twiss , Rigby , ancl the Eev . Bros . Garnet t and Terry , of Arley ; Tanner , of Northwich ; Garvin , of Runcorn ; and A ernon , of Liverpool . The minutes of the last Provincial Grand Lod wore read

ge and confirmed , and a very interesting discussion followed on the educational scheme for the sons and daughters of Masons , lately established in the province . The appointment of the Prov . G . Ofllcers for the year followed , and Bro . Bland , Prov . G . Treas ., brought forward his annual statement , which was pronounced satisfactory and passed unanimously . The appointment of Bro . Lord de Tabley as Prov . S . G . W . and Bro . G . C .

Legh as Prov . J . G . AV . of the province were then made by the acting Prov . G . M ., the Right Hon . Col . AVellington Cotton . Bro . Lord DE TABLET proposed the re-election of Bro . Bland as Prov . G . Treas ., observing that they had had the advantage of bis services as Treasurer for many years , to tbe great satisfaction of tbe brethren of the province ; that they wore much indebted to him for the attention ho had devoted to his office ,

and hoped to have his continued exertions iu his high office for many years to come . Bro . Capt . Corn seconded the proposition , endorsing all that Bro . Lord de Tabley had said with reference to Bro . Bland as

Prov . G . Ireas ., and considered it would be an evil day for the province should Bro . Bland cease to perform the duties of his office , as he had hitherto done , for the benefit of Masonry . The re-appointment of their inestimable Prov . G . Sec , Bro . Griffiths , then took place . The brethren then formed in procession to church , preceded by the 15 th Cheshire Rille A olunteers , as follows-. — Representatives of the following lod were presentand

ges , took part in the ceremonial of the day : — The Endeavour Lodge , Dukinfield ( No . S 30 ) . The Ellesmere Lodge , Runcorn ( No . 75 S ) . The Lodge of Independence , Chester ( No . 721 ) . The Combermero Lodge , Seacombe ( No . 005 ) . Tbe Zetland Lodge , Birkenhead ( No . 537 ) . The Eaton LodgeCongleton ( No . 533 ) .

, The Mersey Lodgo , Birkenhead ( No . 477 ) . Tlie Lodge ; of Unity , Macclesfield ( No . 207 ) . The Lodge of Fortitude , Newton ( No . 4 G 1 ) . The Loelge of Fidelity , Newton ( No . 430 ) . Tlie Lodge of Sincerity , Northwich ( No . 4-28 ) . The Cestrian Lodge , Chester ( No . 425 ) . The Samaritan Lodge , Sandbaeh ( No . 3 GS ) .

The Lodge of Industry , Hyde ( No . 3 G 1 ) . The Lodge of Benevolence , Marplo ( No . 3 GG ) . The Moira Lodge , Stalybridge ( No . 321 ) . Tlie Lodge of Concord , Stockport ( No . 323 ) . Tlie Lodge of Peace , Stockport ( No . 322 ) . The Lodge of Unity , Crewe ( No . 321 ) . Thc Lodge of Loyalty , Mottram ( No . 320 ) .

The Combermere Lodge of Union , Macclesfield ( No . 295 ) . Tlie King's Friends' Lodge , Nantwich ( No . 2 U 3 ) . The Lodge of Unanimity , Stockport ( No . _? S 7 ) . Tlie Lodge of St . John . ' Stockport ( No . 101 ) . Tlie Lodge of Unanimity , Dukinfield ( No . 89 ) . An eloquent sermon was " delivered by the Prov . G . Chap ., Bro . Garnett , fron Acts xxii ., v . G and 7 . After divine service , the brethren returned from church to tlie Royal George Hotel . Tlie Provincial Grand Lodge having been duly closeel , they assembled at the banquet .

Bro . Lord do Tabley presided , supported on his right by his Excellency the Ambassador E . Dubois , G . M . Hayti ; Bros . Rev . J . W . N . Tanner , Griffiths , Bennett , Bland , Garnett , & c . ; ancl on the left by Bros . MTntyre , the Grand Registrar of England ; AA . C . Cruttenden , AV . Egerton , M . S . ; Willoughby , Andrews , Bully , & c . The banquet was most profuse , and highly creditable to the cuisine of Bro . and Mrs . Hurst . . Lord DE TABLETin rising to propose the first

toastacknow-, , ledged the honour of presiding on the occasion , and regretted the absence of the venerated Lord Combermere , and that sudden indisposition had prevented the Hon . Col . Cotton taking the chair . His lordship then proposed the health of her Gracious Majesty the Queen , dear to every heart that throbs through the realm , but still dearer to a Masonic heart . The ACTING PKOV . G . MASTER , in giving the toast of the

Prince of AVales and tho Countess of Chester , said he need scarcely remark with what anxiety they all looked forward to the career and success in life of the Prince of Wales and his amiable Princess . He hoped ere long they should be able to give him Craft honour , as well as British honours . The ACTING PKOV . G . MASTER , in proposing the Bishop and Clergy , regretted that Bro . Garnett had been obliged to leave ; but he had left behind him Bro . Tannera gentleman to whom

, they were so much indebted . Bro . the Rev . J . AA . N . TANNER responded , observing that the kind reception of the names of the Bishop and Clergy convinced him that the clergy were more respected than clergymen themselves think . They had heard a most excellent sermon , and hoped they might all profit by it , and bring its precepts home to themselves , and thereby make them happy in this

world and in that which is to come . He believed the Bishop was not opposed to Masonry , and heard he was one of the Order . He trusted the Craft would meet together many years to come in the same happy state of feeling and circumstances . The ACTING PKOV . G . MASTER proposed the health of that beneficent and most excellent Mason Lord Zetland , and extolled tlie discretion , zeal , and ability of the Grand Master .

The ACTING PROV . G . MASTER said it rejoiced him to see how cordially the health of the Grand Master had been received . He , therefore , propose ! 1 the health of the D . G . M ., Earl de Grey and Ripon , distinguished alike in Masonry and the service

of the country . They had most able representatives ot the Grand Loelge in Bro . MTntyre , G . Reg ., and Bro . G . C . Legh , as J . G . W . of the Grand Lodge of England , and J . W . of the Province ; he therefore proposed the toast of " Thc Health ot the D . G . Master . " Bro . MTNTTRE , G . Reg ., observed it was a high privilege to respond to the toast on behalf of the Grand Lodge . Tlie D . 6 . M . Earl de Grey and Riponnot onlfound time to devote

, , y to Masonry , bat to the interests of his country . Tlie ACTING Pitov . G . MASTJSU said every good Mason would drink the last drop of wine to the health of the Prov . G . M ., A'iscount Combermere , who lived in the good old fighting days , and performed great , heroic deeds . For his interest in the Craft , for his calm valour on the battle field , and his beneficence as a country gentleman—their warm anil silent aspirations were for

, his happiness ancl that of Lady Combermere . The ACTING PKOV . G . MASTER then proposed the visitors ; he had on his right hand his Excellency the Ambassador from Hayti , tho Grand Master of the Masons at Hayti , Bro . E . Dubois —he had thought it his duty to visit the Grand Lodge , to establish relations ivith tho Masons of Hayti , and had now come to pay a friendly visit to the Masons in this province .

Bro . E . DUBOIS , in responding to the toast , feared he should not be able to express himself in their beautiful language . He was very happy to be amongst them that day , which was owing to his friend Lord de Tabley . Ho thanked them for their goodness to hi in , and wished God's blessing on this kingdom , anel a large amount of prosperity . He wished honour , joy , and fortune to each brother and his family .

The GHAND REGISTKAR proposed the health of the W . M . of the youngest lodge in the province—Lord de Tabley . As a Past Grand Officer , as Prov . S . G . W . and Acting l ' rov . Grand Master of the day , he deserved every honour that could be bestowed in that four-fold capacity . He put the torch to the De Tabley Lodge , and a brilliant Masonic light had resulted . Lord de TABLET returned thanks for toasting his health ,

which had been proposed so eloquently , yet so flatteringly . He hoped he might never forfeit their good opinion in tlie fourfold capacity alluded to . The health of the Senior Grand Warden of England , and