Provincial.

The R . AA . Prov . G . M . on resuming his seat was greeted with another round of applause . The next toast given by the AV . M . was " The Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Turner , and the Present and Past Officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge , coupled with the name of Bro . AVood . " The AV . MASTEB , in introducing this toasfc , observed , with respect to Bro . Turner , that his having been so recently appointee ! to his office had not allowed him the

opportunity of proving his efficiency in the discharge of his important duties , but the brethren of the ivhole province were well aware how good and zealous a Mason he was . The toasfc was cordially received by the brethren . Bro . WOOD , AV . M . Yarborough ( No . 811 ) , Prov . J . G . AV ., most ably responded , and in the course of a most able and telling speech alluded to the marked increase in the number of brethren

in every lodge in the province under the auspices of their present Prov . G . M . He was able'to say , on behalf of himself and his brother Provincial Grand Officers , that they would endeavour to discharge their duties so as to merit fche approbation of the Craffc throughout the province . The AV . MASIEE then gave " The Past Masters ofthe Denvent Lodge , " coupled with the name of Bro . Jesse Mann , Immediate Past Master , and Provincial Junior Grand Deacon for Sussex . In connection with this toast the AV . MASIEE observed that the P . M . ' s of the Denvent Lodge were most ready and

willing at all times to assist the AV . M . with their advice and counsel in the discharge of the duties appertaining to the chair . The Immediate Past Master Avhose name he had mentioned in connection with the toasfc had most ably conducted the lodge during the past year , and he Avas certain thafc his advice and assistance would on all occasions be most willingly extended to him during the time he occupied the chair . Bro . JESSE MANNI . P . M . responded on behalf of the P . M . ' s

, , of the Denvent Lodge , and he begged the brethren to accept his sincere thanks for the kind manner in ivhich they had responded to the toasfc . He said he had much pleasure in returning thanks on their behalf , because during the last twelve months they had rendered him great assistance in the discharge of his duties in the chair , and he thought their constant attendance and willingness to assist the AV . M . at all times in carrying

out the duties of his important office Avere a sufficient proof that they had Masonry at heart . With regard to his own name being coupled with the toasfc as Immediate Past Master , he begged to thank them sincerely and from his heart , and to say that ivhen elected to that chair , twelve months ago , he certainly felt his inability to carry out his duties ; but it appeared by what had fallen from the W . M . in proposing the toast , that his feeble efforts had met with success . Such being the case , he Avas amply repaid for his humble exertions , and though past the chair , he trusted he should nofc relax his duties as a Mason . He could

assure the brethren he felt honoured in having presided over them during the past year . He must take the opportunity of expressing his pride in having been appointed Provincial Grand Deacon for Sussex , under their Provincial Grand Master , whom he was pleased to see present among them . He now asked permission of fche AV . Master to borrow AA'bafc he considered a feiv hours before his oivn private property , the gavelto propose the toasfc of the evening—it was the health

, of one on whom the brethren of the Denvent Lodge had conferred the highest honour that any lodge could bestow on an individual brother . Such being their confidence in him , he thought no words on his part were necessary for bis recommendation , bufc this lie could fearlessly state—that he had proved him to be a dear and sincere friend , a worthy brother , and one AVIIO had Masonry at heartand he trusted ( feeling

; sure all the brethren Avould join him in the Avish ) that this Great Architect of the Universe Avould give their brother health and strength to carry out the duties of his important office . AVith that blessing vouchsafed to him , he felt confident that their AV . M . would fulfil his duties with credit to himself and advantage to the lodge . Ho called upon the brethren to drink "The Health of their AV . M . Bro . Edwin Baldwin , " wishing

him a successful year ot office , and life and prosper ! fcy . The toast Avas most cordially received . The W . MASTEB rose and thanked Bro . Mann for the graceful and complimentary manner in which he had introduced his name , and also the brethren for the very cordial manner in ivhich they had ' responded to it . He said it would be very difficult to find a more zealous Mason than his Immediate P . M ., yet he feared that in the present instance his unbounded charity had led him to say far more in his favour than he

could possibly deserve . Ifc was his opinion that the strength of tho lodge did nofc depend so much on its numbers as on the zeal , efficiency , and sterling worth of those members who rightly appreciated their system ; and he would strongly recommend a continuance of thafc caution Avhich had hitherto been one of their distinguishing characteristics . He Avas happy to say that the lodge was now , and no doubt would continue to beboth as regards its numbers and financesin a most

satis-, , factory condition . Ifc ivas to the brethren he was indebted for the enviable position he occupied there that evening , and not to any particular merit of his own . He AA'ould endeavour to discharge the duties of the office to which they had elected him to the best , of his ability , aud he trusted to the satisfaction of fche brethren of the Denvent Lodge . He begged again to thank them most sincerely for the compliment he had just

received . The AV . MASTER then gave "The Senior AVarden , Junior Warden and Officers of the Denvent Lodge , " doubting nofc that they would discbarge fche duties of their several offices with fidelity and zeal . Bro . J . P . HAEIVOOD , S . AV ., responded to the toast on behalf of himself and his brother officers . He thanked tbe W . M , for his selection of himself to fill the post of Senior AVardenand

, expressed a hope that himself and brother officers would not be found wanting in the discharge of their respective duties during the ensuing year . The next toasfc proposed by the AV . M . was that of "The Chaplain , " the Rev . Bro . j George Richards , P . M ., Caledonian ( No . 134 ) and "Tbe Treasurer , " Bro . George Wellerd , P . M . No . 40 , and P . Prov . Dir . of Cers . With respect to the

Chaplain , the AV . M . said the Denvent Lodge considered it an honour to number so efficient aud respected a brother among its members , and he felt the greatest pride and satisfaction in reappointing him to his sacred office , and from his thorough zeal in tbe cause of Freemasonry , he felt satisfied that he was destined to fill far higher offices than that he had so much pleasure inbesfcowing upon him . AVith regard to their respected Treasurer , too much praise could nofc bestowed upon him for the excellent manner in which he had filled his important post . The fact of the brethren bavins re-elected him for the fifteenth

time was a sufficient proof of the confidence they reposed in him . During his term of office the Denvent Lodge had not always been in so flourishing a condition as he was happy to say ifc was at the present time , but ifc had made no difference to their ivorfchy Treasurer Avhether they had a balance in hand or not , he had always been ready and Avilling to discbarge the liabilities of the lodge . The Rev . Bro . Dr . RICHAEDS , P . M . Caledonian

Lodge-( No . 134 ) , Chaplain , returned thanks in an eloquent ancl forcible speech , Avhich attracted the marked attention of his auditory . He remarked that in the consecration of lodges and : the appointment to the office of Chaplain of members of his profession , Freemasonry recognised a great and sacred principle —the claim of the Great Architect of the Universe as the Father of all—hence the necessary consequence thafc Ave are all brethren . Nor had he found this term among Masons an

unmeaning term . On tbe contrary , he Avas glad and proud to bear his testimony that , to a very great extent , did Masons treat Masons as brethren , and that their system was one eminently calculated to soften down those asperities which opposition to the opinion of others , political and religious , too frequently produced . Bro . WEEEEED thanked the brethren for the kind maimer in ivhich they had received the mention of bis name . As regards

the office of Treasurer of the lodge , ivhich he had noAv held for fourteen years , he had ahvays . discharged the liabilities of the lodge whether they had funds in hand or not . Times had been during his tenure of oflice when the financial state of the lodge was not in a prosperous state , but he was happy to say thafc IIOAV the lodge Avas in a flourishing condition as regards its pecuniary affairs . He hoped he might always be able , as it

appeared he had hitherto , to discharge the duties of his office to the satisfaction of fche Denvent Lodge . The AV . MASTEB then proposed " Prosperit y to the Masonic Charities , " observing that in their own immediate neighbourhood they had an annuitant who was receiving in his old age the benefits of one of those charities . He had no doubt the Benevolent Institution for aged Freemasons and their AA idows lsad extended its benefits to other provinces , and to other parts of their own province , equally as to their own district . With respect to the Boys' aud Girls' Schools , the same might be said