Provincial.

Master of this Province , Bro . Bagsliawe . " ( Applause . ) He had known the Grand Master long enough to feel sure that his heart was centered in the prosperity of the lodges of Essex ; and therefore ho was sure that the reports read tliat day of the progress Freemasonry was making in Essex—for there was not a lodge which had not made some initiations—must be most satisfactory to the Grand Master , as well as the way in which he supported that lodin the Province

was clay , every ge being duly represented . ( Hear , " hear . ) ' He was sure it was ¦ the wish of all the brethren in the Province that Bro . Bagshaw might long enjoy the dignified position which be held iu Masonry , and might also long enjoy the happiness ancl blessings of his own fireside . ( Hear , and applause . ) Tne PROV . G . MASTER said , whatever might be bis feelings of modesty upon ordinary occasionshe could not helsome sfiht

, p g emotions of pride at the proceedings of that day . After having been connected for so many years with the " Freemasons of Essex , he was glad to find that as one meeting followed another there were ahvays some signs of progress ancl prosperity , and of an increase of mutual goodwill and regard ; while to-day he bad the pleasure of meeting a larger number of brethren than on any former occasion—allhe believedwith hearts

, , devoted to the good cause of Masonry , and really sincere in their expressions of regard for him who very feebly , and , perhaps unworthily , presided over tbe Order in this county . ( Applause . ) He valued those good feelings very kindly ; he had no other wish than to advance the cause of Freemasonry ; and he enjoyed upon all occasions a degree of support that any Provincial Grand Master might be proud of . ( Applause . ) How

much longer be might enjoy his present honour he could not say , for with increasing years he felt that he was less efficient —( No , no . )—and that he could not do a better thing for tbe Order than to look out for some younger blood to fill tbe chair of this province . ( No , no . ) Certainly he had received no discouragement from their treatment of him on the present occasion ; and as long as he lived , whatever capacity he might

fill , he should feel proud to enjoy their good opinion . ( Applause . ) Tbe PROV . G . M . said ho had been asked to skip some of tbe customary toasts but if he were to omit the one he had now

arrived at he should never be able to show his face in the Province again , for it was the "health of the R . W . Deputy-Prov . G . Master , Bro . Skinner . " ( Much applause . ) In the present company he was sure he need not expatiate upon bis friend ' s worth ; it was his own opinion that they ought to change places —( laughter)—but , at all events as long as Bro . Skinner was kind enough to sit on his right , he should feel under very great obligations to him ; for he believed as

Deputy-Prov . G . Master they would not find Bro . Skinner ' s equal in all England . ( Much applause . ) The D . Prov . G . M ., in acknowledging the compliment , said he really could not express the pleasure with which he had ¦ witnessed that day's meeting in Prov . Grand Lodge : it was by futile largest gathering during tbe thirteen or fourteen years he had had the honour to fill tlie office of D . Prov . G . M . ; and ho

believed that very much of its success was owing to the revival of the good old practice of attending Divine service on the day of their annual gatherings , which he hoped would be followed out on all future occasions . The cause of Masonry could be very little advanced by their meeting privately ancl secretly in the Shire Hall , or any other building ; but by openly attending church tbey showed their reverence for religion ; they were

reminded by the preacher of their own duties ; and tbe uninitiated were often made to see " that many of their previous . notions with regard to Freemasonry were altogether erroneous . ( Hear , hear . ) He was also pleased to hear so satisfactory a report of the progress of Masonry in the Province ; ancl he could speak for tbe Chelmsford Lodge that there had been more initiations , passings , and raisings in the past year than he ever

remembered . ( Applause . ) With regard to himself , when a man was getting near three score and ten he could not expect to be of much service ; but he was far from saying that he did not accept a renewal of his oflice with gratification ; and as long as God gave him health and strength to support the Prov . G . M . and to come amongst the Freemasons of Ksse , x he hoped they would never find him flinching from his duty . ( Applause . )

The PROV . G . M ., in allusion to a remark by Bro . Skinner , said although at their meetings at Chelmsford upon former occasions the Archdeacon bad had some hesitation about allowing them the use of his church , they had attended divine service at Colchester upon two or three occasions ; and , for his own

part , he assured them it was always a disappointment to him to have their annual festivals pass off without their having the opportunity of attending church . ( Applause . ) The PROV . G . M . said he would now propose the health of the Grand Wardens and Officers appointed that day for the ensuing year . In those appointments he had endeavoured to make such a selection as would give satisfaction to the province and advance the general interests of Masonry . He hoped they

would do their duty zealously ; and if , in attending the meetings of Craft Lodges , they noticed any irregularity , it would bo their duty to correct it . ( Hear , hear . ) Bro . HILLIARD , S . W ., in returning thanks , said he was sure be might say for his brother officers as well as for bimselfj that , they should endeavour to carry out tho orders of tbe Prov . G . M ., hoping at the same time that any errors or omissions would be attributednot to want of zealbut to want of

know-, , ledge or ability . It would also be their study , in common with all the brethren of the province , as far as possible to act up to those principles which had been so ably impressed upon them from the pulpit that clay . There was an opinion among the uninitiated world that there was iu Masonry an antagonistic feeling towards Christianity and religion . Masons themselves knew it was not so ; and that a good Mason must of necessit

y be a good man , a good husband , father , brother or a son . ( Hear , hear . ) At the same time , 'there was the contrary opinion abroad ; and he believed that services like that in which tbey had been privileged to join that day , would do more to remove prejudices of that kind than anything else possibly could do . ( Applause . ) The PROV . G . M ., in giving the health of the Past Grand

Officers , said he could not help specially mentioning the fact that Bro . Burton , after previously filling every other office open to him in the province with credit and satisfaction , had that day received the strongest possible proof ofthe confidence ofthe brethren by being elected to the office of Treasurer . ( Applause . ) Tbey had the presence to-day of a Past Grand Officer and most distinguished Mason , Bro . Burney , who had made greater sacrifices for the Order than any brother be ( the Prov . G . M . ) ever

knew . His residence out of the province precluded his acceptance of any office of distinction in the provincial lodge ; yet they saw him at their meetings ; and as W . M . of the United Lodge at Colchester , although be bad to travel 100 miles to do so , he never failed to attend his monthly lodges . As Prov . G . M ., he confessed he felt a peculiar interest in that Military Lodge . Having lived many years in India , he ( Bro . Bagshaw )

knew the blessings of Freemasonry to Englishmen in a foreign country ; and with the constant change going on amongst its members he believed it to be doing more to disseminate Masonic principles far ancl wide over the face of the globe than almost any other lodge in England . ( Applause . ) The services of Bros . Arnold ancl Field as ^ Past Grand Chaplains , and of Bro . John Mann as Grand Secretary , were also specially

mentioned hy the Prov . G . M . in connection with the toast ; which was most cordially drank , ancl duly acknowledged by the brethren mentioned . The other toasts were— "Tho health of Bro . Matthews , with thanks for bis services "; " The Masonic Charities , ivith the health of Bro . Patten , Secretary tothe Girls'School" ; ancl the Tyler's toast , " To all poor and distressed Masons , speedy relief . " I'he brethren separated about 9 o ' clock .

LINCOLNSHIRE . PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE . The annual Provincial Grand Lodge was held at the Assembly Rooms , Boston , on Thursday , May 28 tb . The Grand Lodge was opened in due form , at half past twelve , by tbe Right Worshipful the Duke of St . Albans , Prov . G . M ., and the following hymn was sung , Bro . Keller , Prov . G . O ., presiding at the harmonium : —

Hail Eternal ! by whose aid All created things were made I Heaven and Earth Thy vast design , — Hear us Architect Divine 1

May our work , begun in Thee , Ever blest with ORDER be ; Ancl may we when labours cease , Part in HAEJIONY and PEACE . By Thy glorious Majesty , — By the TRL < ST we place in Thee , — By the badge and mystic sign , Hear us Architect Dirine 1