Provincial.

his mantle might descend . His light would not die out , and what he had taught would never be lost . There woulel always he a good man springing up in the Emulation Lodgo when required . He would now conclude by asking the brethren to drink to " Tlie Health of Bro . AVilson , and the able Officers accompanying him , " and say , with all . their hearts , and strength , " God bless them ! " ( Great and long continued applause . ) Bro . S . B . AVnsoN full y appreciated the compliment paid to

himself and the brethren who had accompanied him on that occasion . Although it seemed to him to be somewhat out of tlie usual course , yet he knew it was the custom in some lodges to honour the visitors before the Worshipful Master . Ho did not for a moment wisli to censure what was done in that loelge , and lie knew that Bro . Stebbing had acted in his sense of extreme goodness in so early giving tlie present toast . ( Hear . ) AVith regard to himself individually , he hael only clone what ifc

was tho duty of every Mason to do—to communicate the light he may possess to every brother of the lodge . With regard to the various brethren then standing up with hhr ., he could say a very great deal . ( Hear . ) The Deputy Master of fche Isle of "Wi ght ( Bro . Pollen ) was one of his oldest friends and pupils , who carried out Masonry in its entirety , and of whom he could speak with the greatest confidence . ( Hear . ) Bro . Fenn was one of the Emulation Lodge , and Bro . Stebbing had been

pleased to refer to him in eulogistic terms . Ho was truly one of those to whom he looked with a great deal of confidence , because ho was one of the ablest he had to depend on , and the lodge hael great faith in him . ( Hear ) . He could not say anything of Bro . Binckes , except that he followed strictly the system of the Emulation Loelge ; and he said thus much gladly , because lie was so well known as to need very little commendationbufc fche charity he was connected with deserved every

, assistance . His time was usually so taken up thafc ho could hardly communicate his wishes to the brethren he had brought down with him ; if he had brought more of them , the brethren would have been kept longer from their banquet for the sake of further information . All lodges delighted to pay their W . M . the attentions lie was entitled to . He had been instrumental that day in putting their AV . Master in tho chair , and he had participated in the ceremony with great pleasure , because he

knew they would not have elected him if they had riot thought him worthy . ( Hear ) . He thought their new Master would prove a credit to tho Craft and that province in particular , and he therefore , with pleasure , said he had taken a part in putting him in the chair , and thought thej' would never regret his heing placed there . ( Hear ) . He had been in many of the provinces , hut there were none he had visited with greater pleasure than this , and because iie had been received , and his brethren of

long standing with him , with the greatest enthusiasm . If any lodge had shown a greater degree of enthusiasm than another , it was the Loelge of ( Economy , and he was inclined to give them the palm . ( Applause ) . Those things of the pasfc were nofc felt so vividly in their effects as those of the time present , anel he Avas sure , though Bro . Stebbing had perhaps saiel a little more than they were justly entitled to , that they should endeavour still to earn all the praises bestowed upon them ; and if at any

time in the future their services were again required , they would only be too happy to come and render them . ( Applause ) . He said nothing respecting the banquet ; it was according to the usual custom , and he could only return their sincere thanks ; it was what they expected , aud what lodges generally did ; but the kind aud exhilirafcing manner of their reception thoy could not forget . Ho hoped what ho had said would be taken in all sinceritand he wished prosperitto them all and to their

y , y lodge , and a return of the kindly sentiments expressed towards him and his friends and colleagues present . ( Great applause ) . Bro . AA . W . BEACH , M . P ., said he offered the next toast with considerable pleasure , though not without diffidence , as he felt like a truant that had been away from school . He felt that he Ought to have been there that day , and he regretted sincerely his absence , because it was known he took a deep interest in their welfare , and it was a matter of regret to any true Mason

to be absent , though it may be unavoidable . He had learnt from what ho heard , and he was certain , from the character of Masons there that day , that they had experienced a rich treat in Masonry . He had been pleased to hear the eloquent sentences falling from Bro . Stebbing , in giving adequate praise to the able brethren who had come from the metropolis to give the lodge their valuable assistance . ( Hear . ) The toast he was about to give would more properly have fallen to the hands of the Installing Master , Bro . Wilson , for it was the health of

their new W . M . ( Applause . ) It was a proud position for any one to bo raised to the proud position of Master of a lodge ; the ceremony was of the highest honour the Craft could bestow , and when a brother came to that high honour , it was no light responsibility and no light duty he was called upon to undertake . ( Hear . ) Their new Master had a still more difficult task to enter upon than many others before him , because he had to succeed one whose name in that province and throughout the

country was recognised as the very landmark of Masonry . Ifc was very difficult to follow such a brother , but he hoped their AA . M . would prove so perfect in his duties , in the coming year , that the brethren would have no cause to regret for a moment their selection of him to preside over them . ( Hear . ) He knew that hitherto their choice hael been earnest in his duties , and he woulel certainly continue to carry out the same principle . If

their WM . could rely on his brethren ' s cordial help he woulel be sure to succeed , and he therefore asked the whole of the lodge to give him their very best assistance . He then proposed "The Health of the AVorshipful Master . " ( Loud applause . ) Tlie AV . MASTEE , in returning thanks , said ho was sorry that what the distinguished brother last speaking hael saiel was too true . ( Hear . ) He certainlhad an arduous task to perform

y , as regarded his prospects , hut he was determined to do his best to surmount the difficulty before him . He ought not to shrink from it , for it was his daily occupation to teach others , not how to avoid , bufc how to meet and overcome the troubles thafc beset them ; and he therefore should confidently await his own difficulties . He might give an illustration of the position . When tlie great Nelson resigned fche command of his ship , and

was succeeded by another , there was soon apparent symptoms of dissatisfaction and insubordination ; and why was this ? Not because of the successor's deficiency in any respect , bufc that the crew had been commanded by a Nelson , and could nofc brook being commnnded by any other . In the casein question , the new commander was a good officer and a humane man , but when compared with England's sailor , he fell short . ( Hear . )

This was the peculiar difficulty he had to meet . He clid not look upon the duties of the office as particularly difficult , though the Mastership of a lodge was no sinecure . He considered that every one called fco the chair was bound by every

principle of honesty and gratitude to fulfil the office to the best of his ability , or any other lower office he might be required to accept . ( Applause . ) The very circumstance of difficulty intervening , contained within itself a source of pleasure in defeating ifc . He hoped , at the end of his year of office , to be assisted in reaching the happy summit attained by his predecessor , and he rested confidently on his assistance to help him there . ( Hear . ) There were other encouragements ;

anel he could nofc help alluding to one . It had been his good fortune , since he had been connected with the lodge , to be presided over by officers whoso efficiency had been guaranteed . There hael been Bros . Haslam and Smith , his Masters , and the last connection , Bro . Stebbing , all of whom had set a noble example . Once a brother was initiated , and saw the example of these men , he could not but be influenced for good . It was not onlMasonic heads but Masonic heartsanel they

y , generally went together . Wherever they found an intellectual Mason , they found a good-hearted Mason . ( Applause . ) " "Tis not in mortals to command success , " bufc he hoped the brethren at the end of his year of office would yet be pleased to say that Bro . Sheppard , while in the chair , did his best to deserve it . ( Enthusiastic approbation . ) Comic and characteristic song , —Bro . WxsDTXAir . Bro . HITLBERT said the toast he was about to propose was

sure to be well received in tho Lodge of ( Economy and other lodges . He , this year , had the honour to be Provincial Steward for one of the Charities ofthe Oreler , and he well knew where to look for ready assistance . He need scarcely mention the name of Bro . Binckes , as the Secretary of the Boys' Institution ; it was utterly impossible to find a more energetic man . ( Hear . ) He thanked the brethren of thc Province for the

kindness in securing the election of the boy Howe , whom he had well known and respected . They hael an initiation that day anel he could not forget the superior manner in which the ceremony was gone through ; the feeling of charity therein was most beautifully exemplified . He proposed the health of Bro . Binckes , and the Charities . ( Drank with warm applause . ) Bro . BINCKES said he had a short time back thought the festivities of the evening were to be preferred to any further formalities , and the brethren inclined to enjoy themselves ; and , therefore , he had not been led to expect the introduction