Provincial.

decline of Masonry which took place about the close of the last century . Be that as it may , about fifty years ago the warrant was transferred to Plymouth , and after a brief sojourn in the Masonic Hall and in Westwell-street , it found a home for some years iu the Royal Hotel , where we are now assembled . In this town Lodge Sincerity rose , almost at a bound , like a phoenix , from the ashes of neglect aud decay to which it had been so long condemned . On its books of that date are entered

the names of the foremost men of Plymouth and the neighbourhood . Philanthropists , professional men , merchants , magistrates , country gentlemen , officers in the army and navy , and literary men , of whom Plymouth possessed a perfect galaxy in that day , were initiated in rapid succession . Again a period of considerable depression occurred , and when I was initiated , more than a quarter of a century ago , the meetings were infrequent and the numbers very greatly reduced , alt-bough those who still

subscribed to the funds , without attending the meetings , were men of influence , position , and elevated -Masonic rank . I was initiated in a room within ten yards of this in which we are assembled , and tbe ceremony was performed b y the then Acting Master , Bro . Major Symons , who had achieved for himself tho proud position of Grand Warden of England , by his Masonic diligence , erudition , and perfect oratory . Of the six or seven brethren , one was a Grand Lodge officer , the others held high

office in the province . AVhen I took my place as the newlyinitiated brother , it may easily he imagined that I drew a very dispiriting comparison between my own lowly apron , no longer of pure and unsullied lambskin , but worn aud soiled by repeated use , and the gorgeous array of gold and purple by wliich I was surrounded . But I was not discouraged for long ; the desire lo achieve equal honours grew upon me , with a strong belief that if I deserved them , they would come in their own good time . I

bore with equanimity preference given to those whom I had myself initiated into Masonry , my own brother being in the number . Honours came at last , and when they came unsought , as our chief who sits by my side can testify , they were the more prized because unsought . The low numbers on the books at the period of my initiation were a typo of Masonry throughout the kingdom at the t ' . ine , but Lod- 'e Sincerity , long before the period of general revival , wliich came some years after , star . ed io' -ward

on a career or prosperous success , which rivalled , even if it did not exceed , the period to which I have allud-. d . That I aided in that success by unremitting , unflagging devo' -on to its interests , will always be a subject of pleasant retrosrection . The young who live for ivhat the years to come may bring , and who find their greatest delight in ambitious dreams and struggles which are to crown their future with happiness , think than ihe old have no pleasures that en equal theirs , but that is a great

mistake , for if memory carries with it no sting of an ill-spsnt and useless life , but if , on the contrary , there are green spots on memory ' s waste on wliich the mind can dwell with satislaction , advanced Hie must possess many pleasuies unknown to those who have re-ilised no hope , and who are yet struggling forward to the goal wliich we have readied . As , in my private world , I live again in uiy children and my . children ' s children , so in my Masonic world , I live over again many a happy hour

spent , aud many a firm friendshi p formed within the lodge , some now , alas ! broken by death , but hallowed b y memory still , others lasting to this hour , defy ing time and distance alike . Our lodge , carried to St . George ' s Hall , where it is now located , the prestige of its lame , iind very few private lodges have enrolled so many members whose posidon in life and whose mental aud social qualities are so well calculated to sustain the reputation of their mother lodge . That Old Sincerity may long prosper ,

and that the brethren who meet to celebrate the close of the second century , which , as I speak , is already some hours old , may find her happy in her sous , and united iu the bonds ol brotherly love , relief , and truth , as we are who to-day place a footstep on either century , is my earnest prayer , and no effort of mine will ever be wanting to eijsure the fulfilment of my hope and prayer . The event we celebrate today , and on wliich I still linger as if cling to the pest ,

of which I have been myself a part , and in which I have found so much delight , like knell which tells of the dying , and the joy bells which tell of the new born year , will , I hope awaken in each of us the enquiry , how have I fulfilled the mission I so solemnly took upon myself at n . y initiation , and how can I best redeem misspent time and missused talents in the time to come ? For myself , Masonry has brought to me much pleasure and much advantage ; it has softened asperities which otherwise would have been active ; it has awakened sympathies which otherwise

would have been dormant ; it has taught me duties which otherwise might never have been acknowledged ; it has given me influence which , I trust , I have exercised for good , which otherwise I should never have possessed . My regret is that T have done so little , and so much of that little wrong . My hope and prayer are that in the brief space of life still permitted to me I may do more , and do it better . There were several other toasts , including those of "The Worshipful Masters and Sister Lodges of the Three Towns ;" " The AY * . Master and Officers of Lodge Sincerity , " " Cur Visiting Brethren , " and " All Poor and Distressed Masons . "

HAMPSHIRE AND ISLE OF WIGHT . . provincial Grand Lodge . The installation of Bro . AV . XV . B . Beach , M . P ., as Provincial Grand Master of Hampshire and the Isle of AA'ight , took place at Southampton , on Tuesday , the 30 th ult ., about 250 brethren were present . The ceremony was performed by the R . W . Bro . tht Earl of Carnarvon , Fro v . G , M , for Somerset , and at the

conclusion the Prov . G . M . appointed his officers as follows : —Bros . C . E . Deacon , 394 , P . G . D . of England , D . Prov . G . M . ; AV . Hickman , 130 , Prov . S . G . AA . ; J . Douglas , 487 , Prov . J . G . W . ; Rev . — Pettat , 694 , Prov . G . Chap . ; Dew , 694 , Prov . G . Reg . ; Frost , 487 , Prov . G . Treas . ; Le Fenvre , 130 , Prov . G . Sec . ; AVoolleus , 342 , Prov . S . G . D . ; Wilkinson , 359 , Prov . J . G . D . ; Lemon , 348 , Pvov . G . Supt . of Works ; Main , 903 , Prov . G . Dir . of Cers . ; Bettesworth , Assist . G . Dir . of Cers . ; Caffe , 35 , Prov .

G . Sword Bearer ; Rebbeck , 185 , Purst . ; Bradbear , 804 , Prov . G . Org . Prov . G . Stewards : —Bros . Snelling , 76 ; Jones , 130 ; De Fraine , 257 ; Green . 309 ; Harle , 359 ; Hine , 394 ; Dawkins , 304 , and Biggs , 130 , Prov . G . Tylers . In the course of Provincial Grand Lodge business it was referred to the Charity Committee to report on a better mode of ensuring a more efficient election of Hampshire candidates to the various Masonic Charities than now exists ; aud a proposition

by Bro . J . R . Stebbing , expressive of opinion that no future Grand Master of England should hold that office more than three successive years , was carried by a large majority . The banquet was served in the Victoria Rooms , by Bro . Dartnell , ami drew together upwards of 200 brethren . The R . W . the Prov . G . Master presided , and was supported by Bro . the Earl of Carnarvon , Prov . G . M . ; Windham Portal , P . G . W . of England ; C . E . Deacon , D . Prov . G . M ., and P . G . D . of England ; J . R . Stebbing , P . G , D . of England ; John Hervey . G . Sec . ; Patten , Sec . of Girls' School ; Spiers , D . Prov . G . M . of

Oxfordshire , & c . In proposing the toast of " The Queen and the Craft , " the Prov . G . M . expressed gratification that the Prince of AVales had lately been admitted into the fraternity , and hoped that his appreciation of what he learned on the threshold of Masonry would lead to his taking every means for being admitted jinto tbe inner precincts . By the choir— " God save the Queen . "

Tne Prov . G . Master next gave " The Most Worshipful Grand Master , the Earl of Zetland / ' whose signal efforts in behalf o £ Masonry , lie eulogised ; and the toast having been drunk , thanks were cordially tendered to the Earl of Carnarvon—who had to leave by an earl y train—for the proficiency- be bad shown , and the kindness evinced in acting as Installing Master . The noble Earl in reply , made an admirable speech , assuring the brethren that at all times he experienced great pleasure , as a

Hampshire man , in meeting Hampshire men , but this feeling was greatly enhanced when he found himself amongst Hampshire Masons . It had been a real personal saticfaction to him to be allowed to take part in the proceedings of that day . Interesting at all times ts such a ceremony was , it was doubly interesting because the friendship existing between their Prov . G . M . and himself dated back many years , and he hoped and believed had grown with each year . It was a friendship

inaugurated , he might say , under the shadow of Masonry , because it was under the counsel and tutelage of his right Worshipful friend that he was induced , to his own satisfaction and comfort aud never ceasing gratification to be enrolled in the ranks of Masonry . He rejoiced , therefore , if it was in his power in however feeble a degree to return to obligation to the Prov . G . M . imposed upon him in early life . Allow him without eere « mony and without exaggeration , to congratulate them upon having as Prov . G . M . a brother who would devote his time , energy , best thoughts , and attention to the office without stint