Provincial.

humble services to-day are more than amply repaid by tlie very kind manner in the Provincial Grand Master and the brethren present have just acknowledged them . It has been a source of great gratification to me to be present to-day on every account , not only- because , in so doing , I fulfilled the commands of the Most Worshipful the Grand Master of England , but because I feel certain I was complying with the wishes of every member in the province . ( Cheers . ) Though the office of Provincial Grand

Master is not elective , ancl I should therefore he incorrect in saying that the noble president was placed in . the position whicli he now occupies by the voice of the brethren , yet I am quite sure that the Grand Muster , in making this appointment , only anticipated and fulfilled the wishes of the brethren of the province , and that no other appointment would have been received by you with such unanimous satisfaction . ( Cheers . ) I have had considerable experience in provincial Masonry , ancl I know what are the duties of

Provincial Grand Master . How those duties are likely to be fulfilled by the noble brother in the chair , you are best able to judge . He has youth , station , education , and the goodwill of the brethren all in his favour , and if he does not make use of those advantages , both you and I will be mistaken . ( Cheers . ) But I am quite satisfied that his lordship will justify the confidence reposed in in him—( cheers)—ancl that this province , which is so pre-eminent in many other respects ; so unequalled in the importance of its

geogra phical position ; so unrivalled for its beauty ancl fertility ; so unsurpassed in the manly character , and courage and constancy of its inhabitants , will hold as high a position in respect to Masonry as it does in its natural and artificial advantages . ( Cheers . ) I say this with some'little personal feeling , for though I am neither a native nor an inhabitant of Kent , still I am a freeholder of the county ; and as suchancl as a MasonI wish the Provincial Grand Masterthe

, , , Provincial Grand Lodge , and every brother in the province , longcontinued prosperity and success . ( Loud cheers . ) The PROV . GRAND MASTEKiiext , in brief though appropriate terms , gave " The Visitors , " coupling with the toast the name of Bro . Beech , P . Prov . G . W ., Hampshire , who he was proud to count amongst his personal friends . ( Cheers . ")

Bro . BEECH , M . P ., in returning thanks , said—I am certain that all the visitors who have witnessed the imposing ceremonial of this day must have been highly gratified . At all events , I am sure that fraternal intercourse between different provinces tends very materially to cement those bonds of Masonic friendship , and brotherly love ivhich should afc all times prevail amongst Masons —( cheers)—and I hope the Masons of Kent will pay us in Hampshire a visit , thus affording us the opportunitof ing theliberal hospitalit

y repay y we have experienced on this occasion . ( Cheers . ) The PEOV . GEAND MASTEB proposed "The Provincial Grand Officers of Kent'" coupling with the toast , in the absence of the Senior Grand Warden ( who was obliged to leave for Canterbury at an early period of the evening ) , the name of Bro . Gardner , whom he had felt much pleasure in appointing to the office of Junior Grand Warden . ( Cheers . )

Bro . GARDNER briefly acknowledged the compliment . THE PEOY . GRAND MASTER called upon the Brethren to drink the health of those who laid so well sustained the credit ; of the Craft in times past—tlie past Provincial Grand Officers of Kent . ( Cheers . ) One was sitting at his left who , while the oldest in years , was , at the same time , one of the most meritorious Masons in the province —he alluded to Bro . Ashley . ( Loud Cheers . ) Through a long life he had constantly shown his devotion to Masonrv , and he ( the Prov .

Grand Master ) would take that opportunity of tendering to him his most grateful thanks for the assistance he bad kindly rendered him that day . ( Loud cheers . ) Bro . ASHLEY , who was greeted with renewed applause , said—After the many admirable and eloquent addresses to which we have had the pleasure of listening this evening , anything that I might say would appear tame and weak by comparison . As yon have always been kind enough to drink health in connection with

my the Past Provincial Grand Officers at these annual festivals , I intended to have made a few remarks , bat they have already been so well expressed by various speakers , that it would be waste of time for me to repeat them . It therefore only remains for rae to thankyon for the honour you have been kind ' enough to pav me ; and I sincerely trust that trie G . A . 0 . T . U . may grant you ' , my lord , long life , peace , and happiness . ( Loud cheers . )

The PEOV . GRAND MASTER had now come to the name * of two of the most important officers of the province , whose healths he would call upon them to drink—the Provincial Grand Secretary and Treasurer . ( Cheers . ) All were acquainted with the manifold duties devolving upon the Grand Secretary—the trouble he must take , the tune he must give up—and he was ' sure they would coincide with lnm that few men could have discharged the duties of that office as well , none better , than Bro . Isaacs , " who had occupied it for so many years . ( Cheer . ; . ) It was not in that respect alone that the Gram ! Secretin-- ; -. - .-as entitled to their thanks , for ho helievecl ;!; . t

Bro . Isaacs had initiated more Masons than any other brother living in England . ( Cheers . ) As far as the Grand " Treasurer was concerned , his duties were not of a very popular nature —( a laugh)—and it argued no small tact on the part of Bro . Saunders that he should at the same time be a tax-gatherer and not unpopular . ( Cheers . ) Bro . ISAACS , in acknowledging the compliment , said : —It is now sixteen years since I received an appointment in the Provincial

Grand Lodge , when , in this very town , Bro . Ashley named me Grancl Steward . The next year I was appointed Grand Secretary to the province , an office whicli I have held ever since . I have always endeavoured to discharge its duties faithfully ; and though it would be presumption for me to hope that I could give satisfaction to every brother , yet the manner in which you have received my health this evening is a proof that my exertions are nofc

unappreciated . ( Cheers . ) I have always striven to practise out of the lodge over which I have the honour to preside those precepts which are preached within it . ( Cheers . ) I can sincerely say that I have never allowed a poor Mason to enter my doors without relieving his distress , consistent with my cluty to my family , and so long as it shall please God to give me health and strength , I shall endeavour to promote the prosperity of the order ancl carry out those great principles which Masonry inculcates . ( Cheers . )

The . PROY . GKANDMASTEEnextproposecl"Lodges 91 aricl 709 , " paying a high compliment to the liberal hospitality with which the brethren of those lodges had entertained the numerous assembly of Masons on that occasion . ( Cheers . ) Bro . EVERIST appropriately responded . The PBOV . GRAND MASTER gave , in complimentary terms , " The Press , " . which was responded to by Bro . Cooke ( of the Maidstone

, Journal ) , who expressed his regret that Bro . Warren , tho editor of the FREEMASONS MAGAZINE , was obliged to leave at an earlier period of the evening , and remarked that every Freemason who wished to become acquainted with tho proceedings of the order , ought to be become a subscriber to The MAGAZINE .

The brethren then separated . NORTHUMBERLAND . NEWCASTLE . —Lodge of Inst ruction , —This loclge , acting under warrant of Lodge 21 , met at their Masonic-hall , Blacketfcstreet , on Tuesday , 23 rd ult ., there being present , Bro . C . J . Banister , P . M ., acting as Lecture Master ; Bro . Atkinson , as W . M . ;

Bro . Stout as S . W . ; Bro . Heaword as J . W . ; Bro . Evin , S . D . ; Roseuburg , J . D . ; ancl a full attendance of the brethren . After the former minutes were confirmed , Bro . Loads volunteered to act as a candidate for initiation , ancl Bro . Bryden , S . W . " of 56 , gave the degree . Bro . Heaword explained the working tools . A visiting Bro . volunteered to act as candidate for the third degree , which was given by Bro . Bryden , assisted , by the Lecture Master . Bro . Atkinson explained the working toolsand

, Bro . Banister , PAL , the tracing-boards . Bro . A . Gillespie , W . M . of Lodge 21 , was elected Lecture Master for the next meeting . This lodge of instruction is working well , and with the cooperation of the PAL , the junior Masons of this district ivere likely to excel .

SOMERSETSHIRE . HIGUBRIBGE , BuRNUAjr . —Rural Philantrophic Lodge ( No . 307 . ) —On Friday , October 26 th , this lodge held its last regular lodge meeting ( for the season ) at the Masonic Room , Railway Hotel , Highbridge . In the absence of the W . M ., Bro . Joseph Duke , Bro . Henry Bridges , G . S . B ., P . M . and Sec . presided . The minutes of the loclge held September 2 Sth were read and confirmed . Bro . E . T . Fernandezof St . John the Baptist Lodge ( No . 10 )

, , Exeter , was unanimously elected a joining member . Bro . D . Spink having been examined ancl found duly qualified , the lodge was opened in the second degree , when Bro . Spink was admitted and passed to the degree of Fellow Craft . Bro . Fazewell having been examined and found duly qualified , the lodge was opened in the third degree , when Bro . Fazewell was admitted and raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason . The loclge was then closed in

the several degrees and the brethren adjourned for refreshment ; whicli the usual loyal ancl Masonic toasts were duly given , honoured and responded to . An interesting conversation then took place as to the desirability of securing a model of the marble bust , that had been presented on the previous day to our Bro . Bridges by the Pleiades Lodge ( No . 1012 ) , Totnes , ' to be fixed in the Lodge , when it was unanimously resolved to appoint Bros . Greenhill , R . Smith , ElseW . H . Holmesand Swan as a committee to carry out that

, , object with as little delay as possible ; the brethren only regretted that they were not privileged to be the first to pay so just a tribute to so excellent a Mason . At the conclusion a collection was made for the Benevolent Fund which was contributed to as usual , and the brethren separated at their usual early hour .