Provincial.

of more serious subjects . But , in the Province of Hampshire , he should not be surprised at whafc took place , and he was quite sure the Masonic Charities would not be forgotten . His good friend , Bro . Hulbei-t , was one of the respected Stewards for the Province at the next Festival of the Boys' School , and there was no more zealous and earnest worker ; anel he was surrounded , too , by many others equally zealous in the good work in hand . They had an initiate brother with them that eveningwho had

, heard the ancient charge delivered to him , in which it was anjoined upon all Masons to practice every social and moral virtue . ( Hear . ) They , as Masons , knew that some in the outer world denied to them the possession or practice of many of those virtues , but , unquestionably , whatever they had , or whatever the outer world denied themthey most decidedlpractised hospitalitand charity !

, y y There was practised a gorgeous hospitality throughout that province , anel iu the higher virtue of charity Hampshire always set an example to all the world . ( Applause . ) He did not mean to say that Hampshire did as much as other provinces more numerous and more wealthy , but he did claim for Hampshire that ifc was one of the best with which he was associated . Ifc was a province thafc year after year consistently gave its

magnificent support to each and all of the Masonic Charitable Institutions . _ ( Hear . ) That kind of rivalry leading to animosity he did not approve , but he could nofc help expressing his encouragement of a honest , beneficial rivalry in doing the greatest good to those who most deserved it . ( Great applause . ) He said with a great deal of pride anel gratification that since Iris connection with Freemasonry he had never received anybut the

thing greatest kindness and the warmest support from the Province of Hampshire collectively . He was as thoroughly identified with the province as most of them then present , and lie had been made one of them in every sense of the word . He had never made an appeal for the Boys' School in vain , and their support had increased steadily from year to year . Less than this justice and gratitude would not allow- him . " ( Applause . )

Thoy were thoroughly acquainted with the claims of the several Charities , the Aged anel Decayed , anel the Girls' School , aud they also knew thafc ifc was for tlie Boys' Institution he was the most concerned . He made his appeal the more earnestly ,

because they had lately undertaken a great work , which , when accomplished , would afford accommodation for 100 boys , and in a further limited space of time , for 150 boys , and when perfectly accomplished , for 200 . This , of course , would involve a great outlay , no less than £ 30 , 000 , and towards effecting it they had spent not less than £ 15 , 000 of their funded stock . After the expiration of two years , then there would be a deficiency of £ 10 , 000 . The Benevolent Asylum for the Aged and Decayed

Brethren and Widows accommodated thirty-four inmates ; this Institution ' s building was all paid for , and it hael a permanent income from Grand Lodge and funded property of over £ 1 , 000 , and £ 24 , 000 funded property . The Girls' School contained 100 children , who were educated and clothed in the best possible way , and the building paid for , whilst it hael an income of nearly £ 1 , 000 a-year . Contrast the state of these Institutions with that of the Boys' School . That had not one shilling's

worth of funded property , whilst ifc was £ 10 , 000 in debt , and only an income of £ 160 a-yoar from the Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter . The Boys' School ought to he placed not in a position superior , but one equal to the other Charities , and then Masons might well congratulate themselves upon the three Institutions they possessed . Until this change was achieved thoy would hear of him everywhere , for he should

continue to raise his voice in the hope of touching their hearts anel opening their purses , because he believed ifc was not consistent with the performance of the highest duties and obligations of Masons to allow such a Charity to be neglected . He had been told , he would admit , that he could not expect to make the Boys' Institution so attractive as the Girls , ' but he would say that the boys should be the real bone and sinew of the country , and if they were properly educated and trained , them would

upon properly depend the very life and sustenance of the weaker sex . ( Applause . ) Good husbands and fathers made good citizens , and these the best of Governments . If the hoys were neglected they ran tho risk of turning out tho chief Arabs of society . It had always puzzled governments most what they could elo with those who conld not help themselves . ( Hear . ) AVhen the breadwinner of a famil y happened to be taken away by a sudden illness , leaving a widow and youthful orphans behind him , could they be taunted with the saying , "Oh , boys can always take care of themselves ? " Yes , they might , but

the consequence was tho gallows were fed . ( Hew . ) Let the country take care of and well train tho boys ; some of them so befriended occasionally rose to distinguished positions in the professions and businesses of the nation , and he might enlarge upon tliis topic fco any length . Afc present lie had to speak to them on behalf of seventy-two boys , and next season he should probably have eighty-two Lewis ' s with an especial claim iu their adversity . He might truly say that he had never yet needed

support , anel he had occasion to speak more in thanksgiving than in supplication . He meant to say , after all , that the Boys'School ¦ was the most important Institution they had ; it was through tho medium of their Boys' School that the glory of Freemasonry should be made known to the world . ( Applause . ) When they came to be men they could fill distinguished positions , for the highest were open to every one under our free constitution . ( Hear . ) 'Their object should be to do the greatest good to the

greatest number . That day month was the Anniversary Festival of the Boys' Institution , and he , by an accident , had been deprived of many opportunities of getting further support , and through bad health he should go to the Board with less means than heretofore ; for this reason it was that he so earnestly asked those brethren who had not given already to give now , and those who had given before to give more liberally in future . ( Great applause . ) To state his case simplyhe might

, say that the Boys' Institution was at least £ 20 , 000 worse than any other . ( Hoar . ) The W . MASTER then proposed ' ' The health of the Officers of the Lodge of ( Economy ; " those of the past year , and those whom ho had had the pleasure of investing . As in an army , unless the chief valued the officers under him lie could not succeed in the field . In the drama , success depended no more " on the plot or the dialogue than it did on the actors . Their

lodge did not depend more upon their glorious constitution than on their beautiful bye-laws , and all these woulel be useless unless they acteel up to what they were told in the duties of the several offices . They had the right men in the right place , anel he hoped at all events that afc the end of his period of office they would be enabled to say with truth that they had passeel through another successful year . ( Applause ) . Bro . T . RUEP said , as the Senior Warden of the lodge , it

devolved upon him , and he availed himself of the privilege , to return thanks , anel he could assure the assembled brethren that the officers thanked them most heartily for drinking their healths in the positions they respectively filled . It did nofc become those who had just put on the armour of office to boast like those who had taken it off " , but he trusted they would nofc be disappointed in their Senior Warden . He must congratulate the lodge on the splendid manner in which the AV . Master had been

inducted into office ; to see such was a privilege few had the opportunity of enjoying , and he only hoped fco see the same on every occasion in the future . He hoped those brethren who had come down from London aud shown themselves so well versed in Masonic lore were fully appreciated for their kind services , anel he thought they would be all exceedingly to blame if they did not ensure improvement from such high examples of excellence . ( Applause ) .

Bro . HULIIEUT asked Bro . Wilson his opinion as to the necessity of "firing" in the reception of Masonic toasts . Bro . AVILSON , amidst much laughter , said it was generally expected that a gentleman in entering a ball room should be attentive to all the rules of courtesy ; and there might be uo objection to it if lie chose to show his dexterity by turning a summerset ; hut , like the "firing" in receiving Masonic toastsit was not absolutely necessary . Stillit was not wise

, , or necessary to interfere with old customs of certain provinces . ( Hear . ) Bro . BINCKES said there were many old observances followed in the North of England , and especially among the Mason ' s of Yorkshire ; anel they would not give them up , let others legislate as they might . Bro . A . Sirn-ji said there was no fear of legislation on such a matter . He had been trying for months to got Grand Lodge

to legislate upon an important question— " Can a AVarden initiate ? " and he wished for tlie support of as many brethren as possible . Bro . WILSON observed thafc the Board of General Purposes would , no doubt , have to report on the question mentioned , and referred to them . The Grand Lodge alone had power to make laws . Bro . PULLEN said he was not ou the Board of General Purposes and he had no objection fco give his opinion on the