Provincial.

I have always dreaded that I might be committing myself to something I might afterwards regret . I can honestly say , after what I have seen and heard to-night , I have not the slightest feeling left on my mind in having entered upon this profession , for it is a profession , and one of a very high standard , and I can say sincerely , it will 'be my utmost endeavour not to disgrace the articles of faith which I have been privileged to subscribe to . I thsnk you very heartily for the warm reception you have

given me , and if on future occasions , though at longer intervals , or if living nearer to you , I hope to meet you again and again to reciprocate the honour as far as I can do , and the-kihd and hearty sentiments expressed towards myself by my brethren . Bro . Goldsbro' proposed '" The Health of the Visitors , " and said : AA'ith regard to Bro . Jones , he could scarcely reconcile himself to the belief that he was a visitor and not a member of tbe lodgehe beinar one of his children in Masonryhaving had

, , the pleasure , some three or four years ago , to initiate , pass , and raise him in the Welchpool Lodge , but he should now have to couple the toast with his name as a visitor . Song— "I'm going to be married next Monday , "by Bro , Collendev .

Bro . T . P . Jones : AVorshipful Bro . Goldsbro' , I beg to thank you very much for the way in which you have proposed my health as a visitor . As you very justly said you can scarcely call me a visitor , as I was one ofthe first members initiated in this lodge . As all the brethren know very well , with tbe exception of the brother who joined us to-night , I have not been present for some time . I assure you it has very often caused me a great amount of regret that I could not attend hereI

. did not expect to be here this evening but Bro . "Ward asked me to come to the lodge , I felt pleased in being asked by a brother to do so , and it is a great pleasure to see here such happiness and unanimit y . The time when I seceded from the lodge was a peculiar one , and I must say I have regretted the day I left it ; this is the only opportunity I have had of expressing it , and I hope that , with your permission and that of the brethren , my be the list of its

name may again put on members . At the time I resigned I did think there was not the amount of squareness that there should be in the lodge , but several things have since transpired which have caused , me to alter my opinion , and this has been the only time I could express that opinion . I hope you will look over my secession from the lodge , it was no fault of mine , it ^ vas an error of judgment , and I have come to the determination to express my opinion , and I shall only be too and it will

proud , give me great pleasure , to be once more amongst my brethren . The W . Master : The next toast is the Past Masters of the AVelchpool Lodge . I am sure though we have only two at present those two are a host in themeslves . This lodge must be very much gratified when wo have amongst us the Grand Senior AA arden of this province . AA e know the high esteem in which he is held by every Mason in this province , and I believe that as working he is

a Mason unsurpassed . There is not a lodge that would not be proud to have Bro . Goldsbro' as one of its members . AVe know that our brother has uot sought these honours , but they have been placed on him through his modest , uoassuming manner , and for his great ability . Of our Bro . Past Master Brown we know in what an admirable manner he performed the duties of the Master's chair and as an Installing Master , ancl he will no doubt also be our lecturer . I give you " The Health of the Past Masters , Bro . Goldsbro' and Bro . Brown . " "Prosper the Art . "

Song— " Pair Hebe I love , " Bro . Stannen . Bros . Goldsbro' and Brown having respectively retuaned thanks , Bro . Edward ; Pryce , Prov . G . See , said : I am allowed the privilege to propose the next toast , ancl I do so with a great deal of pleasure , although I have before had the same pleasure and gratification ; it is the health of onr worthy Chaplain , Bro . Edwards believe

. I I hm expressing the sentiments of every member of this lodge , when I say that a more worth y brother is not to _ be found . We have , happily , many worthy members , u « t he is perhaps one of the most worthy . It is only the extreme inclemency of the weather that has kept him away irom us on this occasion , and he has only missed once in the last tour in the duties that

years discharging devolved upon mm , ancl you all know how efficiently he has done them . I liope and trust that his days maybe long spared that he may aciu to the solemnit y of our proceedings . I am certain it is 1 » ite unnecessary for me to say anything further here to

ensure for that worthy Mason a hearty reception of the toast . Having done that , I can also take this opportunity of expressing the gratification with which I have heard the words of recantation of Bro . Jones , and I hope aud trust that it is only the beginning , and that the other members who seceded from us will soon see ( I do not use the words offensively } the error of their ways , and that , as they grow older they will grow wiser . We shall only be good Masons to them . I will now go back to tbe subject of my toast and propose"Health and long continued life to our worthy Chaplain , Bro . Edwards . "

Song— "She ' s just like a fairy , " by tbe W . M . The W . Master : In pi oposing " The Health of the Officers of the AVelchpool Lodge , " I must say I am deeply indebted to them , for they always muster well at their posts . I regret the absence of our brother , tbe Senior Warden from whom I received a note this evening , stating that he dreaded the severity of the weather , and when we consider that he is seventy-three or seventy-four years of age , his constant attendance up to the

present time has been a pattern that might well he imitated by his younger bretnren . Our Bro . Pryce Owen is always with us , and we look upon him as one who will make a very able Master of this lodge . Bro . Edward Pryce , also , we always see his smiling and good-humoured face , and can always depend upon his being present , and we can count upon his being a very great gun in this lodge . Our good Bro . Rutter , we always look for himand we know that nothing but illness will keep him

, away . Bro . Roper also , who has very efficiently performed theduties of Junior Deacon this evening . I propose their very good health , and may we see them all going in turn into thechair of AV . M . in this lodge , and be added to the staff of the Past Masters ; I couple with the toast the name of Bro . Pryce-Owen .

Song— "Jack's the Lad , " Bro . Brown . Bro . D . P . Owen , J . W ., said : AV . Master there is one thing which to me is a paradox and which I cannot get over . AVhether I am acting for the senior officer or am in my office as Junior Warden , I am told I must return thanks for the toast of the officers . I have been a member of this lodge for four years , and it so happens that I have been in every office in the lodge ,, one excepted . As years roll on and if health

begranted me , having except upon one occasion , attended every summons of the W . M ., and being only too glad to support the working of the lodge , having begun at the very bottom andgone on gradually , and from the very many times you have kindly spoken of me as trying to do my duty in each succeeding office , I only hope and shall only he too glad still ta go on if thought requisite . I have felt great pleasure tonight , I won't say the greatest I ever felt , but very nearly

since the night I was initiated . I have had the pleasure of visiting a London lodge and some of our neighbouring lodges , aud I was very forcibly struck this evening by Bro . Goldbro ' s words to the effect , that the more you visit other lodges the more you learn of Masonry . The pleasure I have had thiseveniug has been threefold , the first before the working of thelodge commenced , in seeing our old friend back again especially after being long absentsecondlhearing the old familiar

, y voice and the beautiful manner in which the first degree wasperformed , and thirdly listening to the very nice speech made by Bro . Stannen . I am very sorry that our Bro . Senior Warden is unable to be present , on his behalf ancl on that of the officers of the lodge I return you sincere thanks , and I am certain that it is a great pleasure to us all to do the best we can for the lodge , because we have the support of all from the Master downwards

. Bro . Goldsbro proposed " The Health of the Treasurer , Bro , Thomas Newell , " and expressed the regret he felt , and which he knew was shared in by every member of the lodge that he was unable to be present through important business engagements .

The AV . M .: The next toast is one which , though I propose with pleasure , it is notimmingled with feelings of great regret ,, it is " The Health of our Worthy Secretary , " whose announcement that he is about to leave Welchpool has filled me with dismay . The very able manner in which he has always performed his duties , his nice , kind , and modest demeanour have impressed us with feelings of regard and affection towards him . Though he resigns his office as Secretary , he will still continue a member of the lodge , and we shall hope to see his amiable face often amongst us . Bro .