Provincial.

three fundamental bases of society which alone render life valuable—the spirit of rational liberty , the spirit of mutual sympathy , and the spirit of true religion . It is impossible but that such a tree , so graced in its origin , so beautiful in its growth , so diffusive in its tendencies , so limitless iu its endurance , should produce abundant and gratifying fruit , and therefore I am confident that , among all the social , moral , and religious

revolutions now going on in the world , Freemasonry will yet play an important part , will clothe itself in some new form of majesty and power , and recast tho world in a now mould . " We should rejoice , " writes an eloquent brother , " to see tho day when we shall have passed from tbe iron and brazen ago into that which , if not gold , is , at least , silver , when equality , justice , and consideration for the feeling of others shall pervade the

world . We see it penetrating legislation , directing public events , and softening the minds of men , and , surely , as the icy thrall of winter melts before the genial approach of spring , so surely will tbe worst passions of men thaw before tho warmer and balmier influences breathed by the holy spirit of universal brotherhood . " The worst state of a people is one of personal conflict , political strife , and theological bitterness ; the plagues

of Egypt are but a type of such a state . Tbe pure gold of a perfect union may be denied to us in our fallen and corrupt nature , but there is no human institution so well calculated AS Freemasonry to bind all classes of men together in the silken bonds and silver chains of kindliness , mutual forbearance , justice , and charity . Brethren all , it is your duty and privilege to ski in bringing about a consummation so devoutly to be wished .

Pray , therefore , that the Great Architect of the Universe will bestow his blessing on our labours to-day . May Charity , the guiding star of our Order , preside over and direct the steps of this lodge aright . May she pour oil and wine into the wounds of the aillicted , distribute abundantly of the corn of plenty to those who are in want , and be guided in her counsels by the salt of eternal wisdom . Worshiful Master and Brethren of

p Lodge Devon , to you , again , we commit the honour of our Craft ; see that you guard it jealously . Better that these walls had never been erected than that the voice of discord should arise to drown the accents of brotherly love ; better that none should be initiated within them than that any should bo

admitted who by immorality , dishonesty , intemperance , irreligion , or infidelity , would reflect discredit on your choice and on the Craft . The day is gone by when the world will be satisfied witli mystery or with symbols ; it will look for results from Freemasonry as from every other human institution ; therefore , as you have erected this temple to the purposes of Masonry , and thereby attracted to yourselves the eyes of tho outer world , take especial care that your lives are in accordance to

your pro fessions and solemn Masonic obligations . Do not depend on tho desire of receiving and conferring ideal happiness , which is fed in so many breasts by ideal dreams , idle and profitless . Wo were meant to bo workers in the world , aud are commanded to exercise the talents committed to us for our own advancement and the good of God ' s creatures . When the dark curtain falls on our stage of life wc shall find that the acts of brotherllove

y , relief , and truth we have pictured in our loiiges were meant to havo been acted iu reality and not in poetry . Our ancient brethren went forth with the implements of labour in their bands , and with the sword by their side , to rebuild the temple ofthe Lord . Let us , like them , diligently labour at the work which he has given us to do upon bis earth . Let us first labour to secure the happiness and well-being of those whom he has

given to us as our own—our wives , our children , and our relatives ; then let us labour to secure the happiness of all who aro hound to us by the ties of si common humanity ; that is , for the whole family of man , without distinction of colour or creed . Let us fight the battle of lifo for those who cannot fight it for themselves , for the good against the evil , tho true against the false , the weak against the strong . Whatsoever thy hand findetb to do

, do it with all thy might , for there is no work , no device , no knowled ge , nor wisdom in the grave whither thou goest . Opportunities of doing good cannot he recalled at will ; sunshine is departing , shadows are falling deeper and deeper around us , the evening of life is closing in , the eleventh hour will soon be upon us ; therefore , whatever we find to do , let us do it at once and with all our mihtFor tbe work to be

g . done look into the world ; there is field for labour— -he field so much in want of tilling . Abroad , contend against the lust of empire , the horrors of war , the curse of slavery , the sin of idolatry ; at home , fight against the demon of intemperance , the growing spirit of irreligion and infidelity . There are the hungry

children who cry for food to the widowed mother who has no food to give them ; there are the naked who have neither raiment nor fuel to keep out the wintry blast ; there are the ignorant whose souls are in danger of perishing for the want of knowing better . Write your names on the hearts of your generation by acts of kindness , brotherly love , and charity , and you will have fulfilled the true mission of Masonry . Then will you be talked of in life and remembered in death as true and faithful brethren of our noble Order .

Be ours the task to soothe distress In breasts long worn by weeping , And thousands then our Craft will bless , No more life ' s sorrows reaping . The public business being concluded , tho brethren re-formed in procession and returned to Courtenay-street , to transact the usual business of the Provincial Grand Lodge .

We ought to state the Devon Lodge is to be erected by Messrs . Chudleigh , from designs by Mr . W . J . Rowell . Tbe lodgo is only nine months old , and it speaks well for the public spirit and tbe good faith of the Masons of Newton Abbot—a lodgo still in its infancy—that its members should have determined to have a temple of their own . On returning to the temporary lodge roomwhichlarge as

, , it is , was greatly crowded , the Prov . G . M ., the Rev . J . Huyse , proceeded to open the P . G . Lodge in due form . This having been done Prov . Grand Secretary , Bro . Rogers , read the minutes of tbe last annual meeting of the Grand Lodge , and the three subsequent meetings ivhich had been held at Ilfracombe , Tiverton , aud Newtou Abbot , all of which minutes were unanimously confirmed .

The Secretary rend a report which spoke in gratifying terms of the progress of Freemasonry in the provinces . He stated that there about 1 , 500 members , and that ho had had returns from . all the lodges excepting two . Of these two the return of one of the lodges was inaccurate , and had been sent back for correction . Teignmouth had made no return at all . One of the brethren from Teignmouth Lodge attempted an explanation , but the P . G . M . stated that letters had been written to the Secretary of the Lod _ re , which had met with no response . It

We all , in journeying on through earth , May thick with pleasure strew it , Plant joys in many a heart of worth , Which else would never know it . Far other seed hath man , too long , On every side been sowing , Far other gifts on life ' s sad throng

With open palm bestowing . How much of mingled care and strife The arm , by justice guided , Might weed from other's path of life Were men but less divided .

was a serious thing for tho lodge , as no member of it had a right to be present , and could only be there on sufferance , and no ono could be suffered to vote or take part in any discussion from a lodge so circumstanced . The P . G . Secretary also read an abstract of the accounts of tho P . G- Treasurer , which showed a balance of more than £ 3-1 in hand after defraying all the expenses of the year , and paying the sums which were last year voted to the Fortescue

Memorial Fund , and to the other Masonic institutions . But owing to the absence of Bro . Isaac Watts , the Prov . G . Treasurer , it was impossible to give an exact statement of the funds . It appeared , liowever , that there were three annuitants , receiving eacii £ 2 G per annum from the Fortescue Fund , and that there was a funded property of £ 1 , 200 which the Prov . G . M . expressed a desire to see augmented , so that they might

soon be able to appoint another annuitant—a wish which met with the loudest applause of the brethren present . Bro . James Howe , P . M . of Lodge Fortitude , then rose and apologised for the absence of the Prov . Grand Treasurer , who had been detained from the meeting by peculiar circumstances . He then proposed the election of Bro . Samuel Jew , P . M ., the Treasurer of Fortitude , as the Grand Treasurer for the Province ,

in doing which he eulogised Bro . Jew for valued services extend ing over a period of more than eighteen years . The motion having been duly seconded was supported by the Grand Deacon of England , Bro . Metham , who said he could confirm all that had been stated by Bro . Rowe . The proposal was put and carried amid loud cheers . The R . W . the Prov . Grand Master then proceeded with what