Provincial.

previously a stranger , one felt oneself amongst friends and brethren , and all stiffness and formality was at once dispelled . AVe have been honoured this evening by the presence of a distinguished member of the Carmarthen Lodge , Bro . Jones Lloyd . "AA ' e bid him a hearty welcome , and we hope he has been pleased with us . Brethren , I call upon you to drink the health of our brother visitor with due honour . Bro . Jones Lloyd , in an animated and eloquent speechfull of truly Masonic feeling

, , returned thanks for the last toast , and expressed tho great pleasure he had derived in visiting the AVelciipool Lodge . '" Bro . Thomas Butter said he had the permission of tho " AV . M . to prep . jise a toast , and one which he was sure would be responded to with every warmth of feeling by the brethren . It was " The Health of the Rev . Bto . Chaplain and Senior Warden of the Lodge . " It always afforded the brethren the greatest delight to

see Bro . Edwards amongst them , and he was not only regarded with sincere respect , but he might say with positive affection by every brother in tho lodge . Bro . R ' utter concluded by remarking that Bro . Edwards had regularly and constantly attended the lodge from the day upon which he joined it , and he sincerely hoped that he might yet live in health and strength for many years to cometo be with them and the lod

, grace ge with his welcome presence . The Eev . Bro . Edwards , in a warm-hearted and truly Masonic speech , thanked the brethren for tbe kind way in which they had responded to the toast proposed by Bro . Butter , and stated that he had not been absent , except upon one occasion , since he became a member of the lodge . The AV . Master , in proposing "The Health of the Officers of the Lodge , " observed that he was very happy in the

selection of his officers , and felt that the lodge could rely upon them to support its credit and dignity . He regretted that some of the oflicers had been obliged to leave by the train , but there still remained two brethren than whom none were

more universally regarded by the lodge with esteem , namely , Bros . Edward Pryce and Thomas Ratter , both of whom had been constant attendants , and who , by their zeal and energy , had evinced the great interest they felt in the cause of Masonry . Urns . Pryce and Butter having replied to the toast of the officers , the usual final toast terminated the proceedings of an evening of unalloyed fraternal harmony .

WORCESTERSHIRE . PBovrycrAi . GRAND LODGE . The annual meeting was held at Kidderminster on Tuesday , the ISth inst ., under the presidency of the V . W . Bro . A . H . Royds , Prov . G . M . Early in the forenoon the presence of many strangers from other towns , and the sound of the church bells , announced something unusualAt eleven o ' clock amthe

. .., members of the local lodge , Hope and Charity ( A o . 377 ) , began to assemble at the Music Hall , which was suitably fitted up for tho occasion . It was noon , however , before the lodge was opened by Bro . A . Hancocks , W . M ., assisted by Bros . Alfred Hancocks , S . W . ; T . D . Baker , J . W . ; W . Fawcett , I . P . M . ; Cooper , P . M . ; Fitzgerald , P . M . and Sec . -, and the other officers . There wero also present , Bros , the Rev . Sir F . Gore Ouseloy , '

Bart ., P . Prov . G . Chap . ; S . Baldwin , S . AV . 560 , Prov . G . Or-. ; Kew ton , P . M . 2 S 0 , Prov . S . G . AV . ; G . Baldwin , AV . M . 560 and S . W . ; Dr . Hopkins , P . M . 43 and 947 , and P . Prov . S . G . AV- for A " varwickwiekshire ; and others , as visitors . The circular of summons and the minutes of the hist meeting having been read by the Secretary , the lodge was opened in the second , and afterwards in the third degree . No business offeringand the

Pro-, vincial Grand Oflicers not having arrived , the lodge was called off . At one o ' clock the members re-assembled , and the Provincial Grand Lodge entered in procession . The chair having been taken by Bro . Royds , Prov . G . M ., supported on his riglit hy Bro . the Rev . Sir ]? . G . Ouseley , Bart . ; Bro . J . Barber , D . Prov . G . AL , and others ; and on his left by Bros . Brown ; Rev . — Gore , Prov . G . Chap . ; —Vine , of the Somersetshire

Prov . G . Lodge ; Dr . Hopkins , Griffiths , and other brethren of rank-, a salute to the Prov . G . Master was given , led by Bro . S . Baldwin acting as Dir . of Cers . The Provincial Grand Lodge was opened in due form , prayer being offered by Bro . the Rev . — Gore . Prov . G . Chap . Nearly one hundred brethren were in attendance , a fair number considering that there are but nine lodges in the province . The minutes of the previous meeting

were read by Bro . Bristow , Prov . G . Sec , and confirmed . The muster roll of the lod ges in the province was called over , the brethren of each rose as they were named , and were vouched for by the respective AV . M . ' s . Tho Prov . G . Master entered into

an explanation of the manner m- which he had disposed of the votes for tho different Charities which had been entrusted to him , by the sale of which upwards of £ 20 had been realised , with which he had purchased life governorships for the lodges most entitled to them . The two brethren who had beon deputed to examine the accounts now entered , reporting that they had found them correct , ancl that there was a balance in hand amounting to upwards of £ 12 . Bro . Masefield was unanimously

re-elected as Treasurer , and a vote of thanks was awarded to him for his past services . The Prov . G . M . announced that , in accordance with the desire of the Prov . 0 . Lodge , he had purchased a Prov . G . Muster's jewel for V . AA . Bro . Vernon , his predecessor in office , which he had hoped to have the pleasure of placing on his breast at this meeting , but ho regretted to say that illness prevented his attendance . After some discussion ,

ou the proposition of tho 1 ) . Prov- G . M ., the Prov . G . M . was requested to forward it to him as an expression of the high consideration and esteem in which he is held by the brethren in AA orcestcrshire . Bro . Newton , Prov . S . G . AA ' ., proposed , and Bro . AA ' . Fawcett , Prov . J . G . D ., seconded a vote of £ 5 to each , branch of the fund for aged Freemasons and their widows . Bro . Brown and the Treasurer proposed as an amendment an

additional annual subscription of £ 3 2 s . to each , which was carried . Bro . Lavers exhibited two designs for a stained glass window in Worcester Cathedral , the cost of which would be £ 220 , which sum had been subscribed by the lodges and individual Masons in the province , including a grant of £ 50 by the Provincial Grand Lodge . A committee was formed , consisting of the Prov . G . M ., the D . Prov- G . M ., the Prov . G . Wardens , f

Bro . Sir F . G . Ouseley , the AA . M . 's of lodges , with power to add to their number , and to it were entrusted the selection of the design and the arrangements for carrying out the project . The following appointments were made : —

Bro . J . Barber D . Prov . G . M . „ Griffiths S . G . AA ' . ,, Brown J . G . AA ' . „ Rev . Hampton G . Chap . „ Masefield G . Treas . „ R . Smith G . Reg . „ Bristow G . See . E . A . Royds S . G . D .

„ „ Smith J . G . D . ¦ ., Rutland G . Supt . of AVorks . ,, Stanley Baldwin G . Dir . of Cers . ,, Augustus Hancocks G , Asst . Dir . of Cers . „ AVestwood G . Sword Bearer . „ Newton G . Org . ,, Geo . Baldwin G . Purst .

„ Baker Steward . i . Head „ „ Robins „ „ AVood , „ Rogers ... „ Knowles „

These brethren having been invested , Bro . Jones , P . M ., Lodge of Stability ( No . 364 ) , invited the Provincial Grand Lodge to meet next year at Stourbridge . No other offer being made , the proposition was accepted . The D . Prov . G . M . proposed and Bro . Masefield seconded a vote of ten guineas to tiie fund , now amounting to upwards of £ 300 , for the widow of the late Bro . Franklin , P . G . Chap , of AA orcestershire , which was agreed to . No other business offering , the Provincial Grand Lodge was

closed at a quarter to three . A procession was formed to proceed to the parish church of St . Mary , which had been kindly granted for the occasion , as usual tbe youngest lodge going first , and tbe line being closed by tbe members of the Provincial Grand Lodge . There was no band of music , and no banners displayed , such as mark the gatherings of other Orders . In fact , there was a quietness and

an order about tho whole which fitly characterised an assemblage of gentlemen . The streets were , of course , lined with spectators . At throe p . m . the brethren entered the church , to which tho public were admitted . The service was intoned hy the Rev . Cheshire . Bro . Fitzgerald presided at the organ , and the choristers attended to conduct the musical part of the service . An excellent sermon was preached by Bro . the Rev .

Sir P . G . Ouseley , Bart ., from the 1 st Epistle of St . John , ch . iv ., v . 11 , most suitable for the occasion , in which he cleared Freemasonry from the aspersions so often cast upon it by those who do not understand its principles and objects , and enlarged on