Provincial.

question mooted . He thought , as to a AVardeu having the power to initiate , certainly "No . " ( Hear . ) If he could , where was the utility of the Master ? It was the Master ' s duty to work all ceremonies ; and if a Warden could initiate , he could do any other ceremony he liked . This conversation having dropped , after observations from one or two other brethren , The W . MASTER proposed the health of the newly-initiated

brother , anel would give him a little advice as to his future action . He would persuade him to work hard , though at the bottom of the ladder , and not mind much for one false step . The motto of the college in their locality was " Manners make the man ; " but he thought it was " difficulties " that made the man . He should endeavour to impress this upon the brethren . He proposed the health of Bro . Rawlins , and a speedy accession to office and the successive steps . ( Loud applause . )

Bro . RAAVLINS was extremely grateful to the brethren for drinking his health . He hael no doubt they did the same kindness to every new brother , and helel the hope thafc every man who joined the Craft woulel become a good and honest Mason . He hael found himself in a strange position , and he had not known what to do ; but what he had heard he trusted woulel not be thrown away upon him . He had found good fellowship , anel he would say , if they accepted him as one of their

body , he would elo all he could to become a good and a working brother . ( Applause . ) Bro . FENN proposed the health of Bro . Beach , M . P ., and alluded to his efforts in the cause , both here and in Canada . ( Applause . ) Bro . Smith had given a hint thafc Grand Lodges neglected certain questions ; but , generally , there was no time for discussing suggestions in Grand Lodge . They were referred to the Board of General Purposes for them to report on , and thafc board had given no question so much time and

attention as to that one referred to by Bro . Smith . Probably , at the next Grancl Lodge , that brother would find things in so satisfactory a state as to give hopes of a settlement of the point . Bro . BEACH : said ifc gave him great pleasure to be present that evening , though only for so short a time . Taking a deep interest , as he always had , in the cause of Freemasonry , it afforded him much gratification to hear of the working of the lodge

ceremonies in the manner they must have been conducted that day . He had often heard of the Lodge of Emulation and Improvement , anel from the first moment he entered Masonry he had constantly heard the brethren of the lodge cited as examples to the Craft . The local lodge must feel much indebted to those brethren for coming down to impart instruction . A brother had alluded to his visit to Canada . He had nofc encouraged the thought that so humble a member as himself could effect a

reconciliation of the differences existing between Grand Lodge and the Loelge of Canada ; but he found no difficulty in presenting himself in the lodges as an individual with good motives . Ho found things there flourishing in regard to the working of Masonry , but could distinguish no hopes of any reconciliation . AMicn the colony once determined to be free , and thought they could rule themselves better than the Grand Lodge of the mother country , it was better that they should

rule themselves than that the mother country should rule over unwilling subjects . The colonists carry out Freemasonry in a beautiful manner , yet they prefer to manage themselves , in a sincere desire to go on without the rule of the Grand Lodge of England . Ho came back to England firmly impressed with a belief that it would be better for the Grand Loelge of England to accord them perfect freedom , than to endeavour to coerce them to an unwilling rule . The Grand Lodge did soon afterwards concede the freedom of rule to the Canadian Masons .

They beautifully worked in the lodges there , and carried out Masonry in that far country in such a manner that he could say in no part of the world were Masonic principles better understood than by the North American subjects of our Queen . ( Applause ) . He thanked the assembled brethren most sincerely for the kind manner in which they had received the toast of his health . ( Cheers ) . Bro . HYDE PULLEN said he had one more toast he should

like to give . It was " The Lodge of ( Economy ; " may it be abundantly prosperous , and tha reign of its new Master and officers marked with especial success . He hoped to see some such a gathering ae celebrated Bro . Stehbing's retiring day on the retiring day of the present Master . He looked upon those beautifull y conducted meetings as abundantly useful to the cause of Freemasonry .

The AV . MASTER returned thanks , and hoped the many good wishes expressed towards him would be fully borne out . He thought it would be their own fault if they did nofc succeed , and he should . make it his duty to act upon many suggestions held out that clay . It had been his good fortune to be installed under circumstances rarely experienced in that province ; in fact , the proceedings of the day had been a great Masonic treat to the whole of the brethren ; and that such treats may

be more frequent in the future he sincerely hoped . Every loelge in the province would he benefited if they got such meetings throughout the year . Bro . Stebbing , during his year of office , had exerted an amount of influence which it was impossible he could even hope to meet with ; but , nevertheless , nothing would more contribute to his happiness than to exert himself to fche utmost for the good of the cause . ( Applause . ) Bro . BINCKES proposed " The Health of the worthy Host of

the Black Swan Hotel . " He should have been sorry if that happy party had broken up without making some acknowledgment of the anxiety , zeal , attention , and forethought displayed in providing for the comfort of those who were to meet under that roof . He had been told that this probably woulel be the last Masonic celebration in that house under Bro . Sherry ' s direction , and that fact was an additional justification for honouring thafc toast . "With regard to the Masonic Charities he

was indebted' to few more than to Bro . C . Sherry . ( Hear . ) Again , what would they have done that day if Bro . Sherry hael failed them in celebrating their convivial meeting ? He hoped the toast would not be the less welcome because he threw into it his own debt to Bro . Sherry for his kindness on every occasion he came there on his own account individually , or in connection with the business of Masonry . He gave them the health of Bro . Sherry , together with prosperity to every member of his

excellent and respected family . ( Applause . ) BBO . SHERRY responded in grateful terms for the handsome manner in which Bro . Binckes had proposed his health . It was quite true that it was his intention to retire from the business of an hotel-keeper , but they might rest assured he should not give up the active duties of Freemasonry . In those duties he should not cease to take a deep interest , as he ever had ; anel he felt very proud of the opportunity that hael been afforded to

the distinguished brethren who had come clown and done them the honour of visiting the oldest loelge in the province of Hampshire , for a nior-e intellectual treat they had never before witnessed ; and bo begged to thank them most heartily for the great favour they had conferred , hoping the present would nofc be their last visit to Winchester . ( Cheers . ) After a few more toasts , the brethren resolved themselves into a convivial meeting , and eventually departed afc the hour of high twelve .

HERTS . AA * ATFOit-D . —Watford lodge ( No . 404 ) . —On Friday , Feb . 10 , tho members held their monthly meeting . Amongst those present were Bros . IT . G . Martin , W . M . ; G . Francis , D . Prov . G . M . ; Burehell Heme , D . Prov . S . G . W ., Sec ; H . C . Finch , P . M ., Prov . G . Reg . ; RogersP . M . Treas . ; SedgwickP . M . Prov .

, , , , G . Sec ; Birchell , AV . M . 795 ; Brett , P . M . ; Humbert , P . M ., and other brethren . The business of the clay was to raise Bro . Pattison , in the performance of which ceremony the W . M . exhibited his usual ability . Before closing the loelge the AV . M . read a letter from Bro . Copeland , stating his regret at his inability to attend that meeting , as he was desirous of joining in an expression of regret at the loss the lodge had sustained by

the death of Bro . Henry Miles , P . M . and P . Prov . G . AV ., and his hope that the brethren would record their sense of the social and Masonic virtues of their departed brother by an entry on the minutes . The W . M . said he fully concurred in . every sentiment in Bro . Copelanel ' s letter , anel requested some brother to propose a resolution in accordance with it . Bro . Finch then proposed , and Bro . Francis seconded , a resolution to be entered on the minutes , which was unanimously carried ,

expressive of the deep regret the death of their truly worthy brother had given the brethren of the Watford Lodge , and of the remembrance they would ever cherish of his kindly feelings towards all of them , and of the brotherly and social virtues which had always characterised him . Bro . Burehell Heme said thafc being allied to Bvo . Miles hy marriage , having known him nearly half a century , and been the means of his joining the AYatford Lodge , he could not but feel extremely gratified at the expressions of respect and regard to his memory which had