Provincial.

however , he had performed in a manner which entitled him to the highest esteem of the brethren . ( Applause . ) In conclusion , he could only express his hearty wish for the prosperity of the United Lodge ancl of every brother connected with it . ( Applause ) . The next toast was " The D . Prov . G . M . ancl Officers of the Province , " with the health of the G . Sec , Bro . Mann , who returned thanks .

Major BUENET said he esteemed it a great privilege to propose the next toast , for having the pleasure of being one of the original members of this lodge he could speak with full confidence of the merits of its founder . ( Applause . ) Probably few of the brethren present were aware of the labour and exertion involved in the formation of a lodge ; and tor his great exertions in forming this lodge , as well as his great ability in ruling it during the first two years of its existence , they owed

a deep debt of gratitude to the beloved brother who had that day again come among them—( applause)—and it was a fortunate coincidence that , after an absence of five years , one of the first visits he was able to pay on his return was to the festival of the United Lodge . ( Renewed applause . ) He might remark also that he considered it a bright clay in the annals of this lodge , which had witnessed the election of Bro . Colonel Freeling to the Master's chair—a guarantee that the lodge

would again flourish as it did under its old Master , Colonel Maydwell . Nor was it in this lodge only that that worthy brother had exerted himself for the good of Masonry . Having for two years filled the mastership of this lodge , the brethren , on his leaving , presented him with a jewel , which it was a great regret to him not to be able to wear to-day in consequence of its having been paclced up with his uniform ; but he wore on his breast another jewelpresented to him on the eve of his

, departure from Ceylon , as a testimony of the manner in which he had carried out his Masonic duties in that Island . Having joined there a lodge under the Irish Constitution he became Master , ancl during twelve months he performed no less than fifty-two initiations , sixty raisings , and fifty-nine passings . ( Much applause . ) It was therefore quite true , as the Prov . G . M . had remarked , that from this lodgo the principles of Masonry had been disseminated far ancl wide . ( Hear , bear . )

They all knew the ability and the urbanity with which Bro . Maydwell ruled this lodge , ancl although many old members were no longer resident in Colchester , it was gratifying to find that every one within reach had come down to welcome their old Master , together ivith many brethren from the elder Colchester Lodge and elsewhere . ( Applause . ) If there was any brother present who was not personally acquainted with Bro . Maydwell , or what he had clone for Masonry , he might refer

him to the minutes of this lodge for tho number of brethren initiated under his rule . ( Hear , hear . ) Without detaining them by any further observations he was sure they would all oin him in drinking the good health of Col . Maydwell , congratulating him upon his return to his native country , and wishing him long life , prosperity , and happiness . Drank with Masonic honours . Colonel MAYDWELL said it was with no ordinary pride ancl

satisfaction that he rose to return thanks for the extremel y cordial and hearty welcome he had received that clay ; ancl to acknowledge not only the very kind remarks of the Provincial Grand Master , but the very friendly and fraternal manner in which ho had been spoken of by Bro . Burney . He begged also to thank the Provincial Grand Master for the kind intention he had expressed witli regard to him . As Major Burney

had remarked it was a great- regret to him that be was not able to wear to-night the jewel presented to him by the brethren of this lodge . Since he left England he had been a good deal in Masonry , but not for some years , because in Colombo he found no English lodge ; and he was for a long time unwilling to leave the constitution with which he had been connected at home . The only lodge in the place was one held in the 50 th

Regiment , under the Irish Constitution : it was a very good lodge : when he went out the Lientenant-Colonel was Master , and when he left the Sergeant-Major was Master and the Lieutenant-Colonel Secretary , which showed that Freemasonry in a regiment not only did good , but added to the good of that regiment . When the 50 th Regiment was removed to Candy it was thought that Colombo would be without a lodge ; but they

left an offshoot , from which in 1861 a lodge was formed , which he was invited to join , but declined for the reason he had given , and also because he hoped to form an English lodge . In this , however , he did not succeed ; and when in 1862 the Master ' s

time was up , it was represented to him that unless somebody of some position in the town joined the lodge it would go clown altogether . In fact , it barely numbered twenty members upon the rolls , and there was often considerable difficulty in forming a lodge . Feeling , therefore , that the interests of Masonry were at stake—for whether the Constitution were English or Irish the system was the same , he consented tojoin the Sphynx Lodge ; and in 1862 was elected Master , the term of office there being

six months , at the end of which he had the honour of being elected for a second term . ( Applause . ) During his mastership he had the honour of performing the number of initiations , passings , and raisings which Bro . Burney had informed them of j tbe number of subscribing members was increased from 20 to-107 —( applause)—and the lodge was in so flourishing a state that it was thought better to divide it ; ancl two days before he left Colombo he had the honour , as Past Master , to instal the

Master of the new lodge . Another fact which showed the deep root Masonry had taken in Colombo , was the purchase of a house to be used as a Masonic hall , reading-room , and club ,, for the sum of £ 1 , 500 , which was all raised in a fortnight , although an institution under purely Masonic rules , which , nobody but a Freemason could belong to nor yet take a share in —( hear , hear)—and he had every hope that this Masonic hall at Colombo ivould do very much for the spread of the Masonic

order in the East . ( Applause . ) The Provincial Grand Master had pointed out how Masonry abroad might be spread by , a little help from a home , ancl his apology for giving these egotistical details was to show that if , as they had been good enough , to testify , he had been of some little service to this lodge ,, he had also been permitted to render some little assistance to-Freemasonry in the East . On leaving Colombo , as mentioned by Bro . Burney , he had the pleasure of being presented with a

jewel as a parting tolceu from the brethren of Colombo , and he should have been very glad if those brethren could have witnessed the enthusiastic ancl flattering manner in which he had been welcomed back to his old Lodge ( No . 697 . ) ( Applause . ) For that welcome he once more returned them his sincere thanks , and he hoped , as long as he remained in England , to have an opportunity often of visiting this lodge . ( Much applause . )

The PEOVINCIAL G . M . proposed " The Health of the Worshipful Master , Colonel Freeling , expressing his satisfaction at seeing that position occupied by men whose countenance and . example could not but ... Ivance Masonry in the opinion of officers younger than themselves . ( Hear , hear . ) He ( Bro . Bagshaw ) had already adverted to the great value of Masonry in military circles . Although not a military man himself , he was initia' 3 d in a lodge in the Fortress of Chunarchieflmilitarybut

, y , open like this to civilians as well , ancl the effect of Masonry in cementing society at that station was delightful . Further than that , he might say , as a Christian , that lie believed in many parts of the world the seed of Christianity was often sown through the influence of Masonic lodges . ( Hear , hear . ) Many young officers had , for the first time , their minds directed to the Bible in a Masonic lodge ; in fact , he had himself seen . such

good fruits from the system , that he had no hesitation in saying that he was a Mason at heart ; and he believed there was no human instrumentality so calculated to advance the interests of mankind as the multi plication of well-regulated Masonic lodges . ( Hear , hear . ) Where , he ivould ask , in ordinary society , could they find the same cordiality , sentiment , and feeling which pervaded their present meeting ; and if they were

sensible of its benefits to themselves , let them do all they could to increase its numbers and thereby extend its influence . ( Applause . ) As far as his voice could reach he would urge all young men , ancl more especially young officers , to join a Alasonic lolge , where they would fall into good hands , and in , the result would benefit both themselves ancl mankind . ( Hear , hear . ) He had very great leasure in proposing " The Health

p of Bro . Colonel Freeling , " whose acquaintance he had that day made for the first time , but who , he was quite confident , would rule the lodge in a way to insure both its efficiency and prosperity . ( Drank with honours . ) Colonel MAYDWELL might be permitted to remark upon the . coincidence that he had been succeeded in tha Master ' s chair at Colombo bLieut .-Colonel SimRoyal Engineers ancl on his

y , ; return to England he had had the happiness of witnessing the installation , as Master of his old lodge , of Lieut .-Colonel Freeling , Royal Engineers . ( Hear , and applause . ) Colonel FitEEEINO said he rose with great diffidence to acknowledge their lund reception of him on the occasion of his