Provincial.

early Church . Now , he apprehended that in all these acts there was but one end specially to be sanctioned , and that was , that the vow must be a good ancl ri ghteous one , ancl paid unto the Lord . It must be made according to a good and Christian feeling , and have for its main objects spiritual glory and love towards man , ancl not be one of mere form . We read in God's AVord that several men made foolish vows , ancl in the end did they suffer for them . Uriah lost his daughter through

a vow he had foolishly made . Darius acted in a similar manlier , and subsequently repented it . Herod did the same , ancl he also had cause to regret having made it . AA e also read of the wickedness of the conspirators—more than forty in number—who made a vow that they would not eat or drink of anything until they had slain Paul . Ancl after quoting all this , he would ask thembefore a great number of

witnesses—, some of whom looked upon the Order with suspicion , some with jealousy , and others with question—whether Masonry did justify itself in this respect , ancl whether the vow they had taken was a good one , and whether they bad " vowed and paid unto the Lord ? " He spoke here as a Mason , ancl as a minister of the Church of England having a charge in his hands , and he affirmed that if the vows which they bad taken were

not paid unto tho Lord , nor to the glory of the Almighty , they would tend to have an evil effect ; but if otherwise , blessings would rest upon their efforts . But how were all their traditions maintained , and how was it that their societies had always been successful , if their vows were not righteous . Evidences " of tradition in mystery holding authority in the whole viorld could be traced by any diligent person . In Egyptin Greecein Rome

, , , and in Phocnecin , these societies of tradition existed , they lived in secrecy and in mystery ; they were maintained with great rite and ceremony , which was with them their greatest point , but to the vulgar all this was inexplicable . In very ancient times these societies had their existence . Even in their own country , Julius Caisar , the earliest historian of Britain , says that amongst the ancient Britons societies existed the rites of which

were secret ancl enveloped in mystery , except to those who ivere the immediate members of them . These societies at that time , and ever since , had had a very beneficial effect upon the progress of the arts and sciences iu this countrj * , and also by their

discountenancing idolatry did they also have a very excellent effect in assisting to drive it from this country . At the return of the Crusaders , there prevailed amongst the people of the nation a general desire to establish some society which should work in secrecy and in mystery . Associations were accordingly formed , which had a great aim at its members leading a pious life . One of these societies was remarkable for the great skill displayed by them in the art of architecture . Freemasonry from

this time became well-known , ancl has ever since been on the increase . It is to Freemasonry that England owes her first position amongst tile nations of the world . The grand characteristic of the Order was Charity . They had been accused of atheism , but this had since vanished , ancl it was only to point to the high position in which the Bible is viewed in the lodge to confute that opinion . The whole aim of the Freemasons was to know God ancl to serve Him : to imitate Him in His works ancl His

feelings of charity . Virtue was highly esteemed amongst them , and the Mason who was honest and sincere to the Order was looked upon with the greatest respect . He concluded by calling upon them for a revival of those practices of Christian charity which had hitherto always characterised the Order , and for the diligent exertion of that brotherly love which existed among them . By so doing , it would establish that brotherly love which

so distinguished them from the rest of the world , ancl their reward hereafter would be great . The usefulness of tlie Order required obedience from its members , and its prosperity depended on the diligence used by them in their works of charity . A hymn was then sung and a collection made amongst the brethren , when a large sum was realised , which was divided as follows : —One-third to the minister of Falmouth for

distribution amongst the poor ; one-third to the Falmouth Sailors ' Home ; and the remaining one-third to the Masonic charity . The old parish church of Falmouth was tastefully decorated for the occasion . The pillars were gracefully entwined with ivy boughs , ancl around the church devices in flowers , and loaves of tho Masonic Order were placed . The fount was also decorated witli evergreens , & c . On leaving the church the brethren re-formed in the same order , and returned to the Assembly Rooms—the band playing as before—and there continued tho labours of the lodge .

The following were then installed as Provincial Grand Officers for the ensuing year : — Bro . Reginald Rogers D . Prov . G . M . „ E , R . Eodd Prov . S . G . AV . „ T . Chirgwin „ J . G . AV . „ T . Mills „ G . Treas . „ —Jenkins , G . Eeg . E . T . Cai-lyon G . Sec .

„ „ „ J . 0 . Mavne „ Assist . G . Sec . „ H . S . Bush „ S . G . D . „ — AVilliams , J . G . D . „ J . Bray „ G . Dir . of Cers . „ —Bun-all „ G . Assist . Dir . of Cers . „ F . AV . Dabb „ G . Supt . of AVorks . " S frilll'IIl ] " G . Sword Bearers .

„ —Nincss „ G . Org . „ —Harvey „ G . Purst . „ —Miller „ G . I . G . „ — Smith " * „ — Jones ,... - * Iich

" f J . G . Stewards . „ —iolyglase ' " „ -Toll „ — Paull .. J . At the meetiue ; it was determined to invest a sum of money as an annuity fund for the Province ot Cornwall , for the benefit of the indigent Masons of the lodge . All these brethren were duly installed by the Prov . G . M .,

who addressed to each of those present some kindly words of greeting . The lodge was then closed , and the brethren , after again re-forming in procession , proceeded to the Polytechnic Hall , where a most recherche banquet was laid out by Bro . Middleton , ot the Royal Hotel , Falmouth . Covers were laid for 1-1-0 . The banquet was served up in the best possible manner , and the wines were of the first quality . The banquet was presided over bBro . Augustus SmithM . P . Prov . G . M .

y , , The following is the list of toasts proposed and responded to at the banquet : —Queen and Craft ; Prince and Princess of AVales and the rest of the Eoyal Family ; Ladies ; Earl of Zetland , G . M . of England ; Earl cle Grey and Ripon , D . G . M . of England ; Prov . G . Master of Cornwall , Bro . Augustus Smith ; P . Prov . G . Master , Bro . Sir C . Lemon ; D . Prov . G . Master , Bro . Reginald Rogers ; Prov . S . G . Warden ; Prov . J . G . AA * arden ;

Prov . G . Secretary ; Prov . G . Treasurer ; Prov . G . Registrar ; Prov . G . Chaplain ; Prov . G . Dir . of Ceremonies , and other provincial officers ; W . M . and AVardens of Falmouth , Penzance , Truro , Helston , Bodmin , Hayle , St . Austell , Liskeard , Callington , Redruth , Chacewater , Launcesfcon , Lostwithiel , Millbrook , Penryn , Looe , and Fowey Lodges . The hall in which the banquet took place looked extremely gay . Around the sides of the room were hung flags of all

nations , beside which were alternately placed devices in flowers and evergreens of the Masonic Order . The whole appearance of the room hacl a very pleasing effect . - Many of the brethren left the banquet before it was over , in order to catch the last train to Plymouth ancl other stations , but others stayed and were conveyed to stations up the line in carriages attached to the night Cornwall luggage trains by the courtesy of the Cornwall Railway Company .

DEVONSHIRE . STOREHOUSE . —Lodge Sincerity ( No . 189 ) . —A regular meeting of this lodge was held on the evening of Monday , the 8 th inst ., for the purpose of initiating a gentleman of the neighbourhood , and also to pass two brethren , who were initiated on the day of the late installation . The ceremonials were conducted by the much esteemed brother , the W . M . Several minor matters of business were afterwards introducedand two candidates

, named for initiation at the next meeting . Several visitors were present during the evening . Monies TOWN , DEVOXPOBT . —Lodge St . Aulyn ( No . 954 ) . — The regular meeting of this lodge was held on Tuesday , the 9 th inst . The AA ' . M ., with his accustomed punctuality , commenced the labours of the evening at six o ' clock . The minutes of the last regular ancl emergent meetings were read

and confirmed . A ballot was then taken for the two gentlemen proposed for initiation at the last regular lodge , together with the proposed joining brother . Tlie ballot was unanimous . The two candidates were then introduced and received the benefit of initiation at the hand of the AV . M . The J . W . explained the