The Provinces.

The Provinces .

BERKS AND BOOKS . —We are given to understand that the last p . G . L . ' s held in the above Provinces wore , at Reading , in 1852 , and at Windsor , in 1848 . This accounts for tho return from these united Provinces being missing 1 S OMERSET . —United Meeting of the Masons of Bath . —We very much regret that our circumscribed space precludes the possibility of giving a detailed report of this meeting . Not tho least pleasing feature of this inauguration of a new era in local Masonry , was the presence of the chief magistrate of the City of Bath ( Bro . Dr . Wilbniham

Falconer , P . P . G S . W ., and P . G . Treasurer , Somerset , ) in the capacity of W . M . * Under the direction of so skilled a Craftsman as the W . Bro ., tho proceedings in Lodge could not fail to bo of the most satisfactory character . It must bo a rare occurrence in the annals of Masonry , that tho curule chair , without losing any of its proper dignity , lends an additional grace to the Master ' s pedestal . There were present on the occasion many distinguished Grand Officers of Somerset and the neighbouring Provinces . At tho conclusion of tho Lodge businessthe Brethrenmore than one hundred in number

, , , adjourned to the banquet in the Guildhall , which was supplied by Bro . Amcry ( Amery ' s Hotel ) , under the presidency of the Y . W . Bro . Dr . Falconer , Mayor of Bath . We report the speech of Bro . the Earl of Carnarvon , as it has reference to the general policy which the noble Brother has so ably vindicated , and which he will still advocate in G . L . Bro . the Earl of Carnarvon said , he was sure he should speak the feeliugs of all around him when he said he should not li ghtly forget what he had witnessed to-night . He felt deeply the kind way in which his health had been received ; but , though ' it was true he was

enjoying the happiness of their hospitality as a visitor , at the same time he was no stranger . To the West of England he was attached by the strong ties of property , and by the yet stronger ties of early and happy association . He was no stranger , either , to the Masons of Bath ; it was not the first time he had partaken of their hospitalityhe hoped it would not be the last . And he had not only come down with pleasure because the West of England had attractions for him , but because he was glad to bear his share ou an occasion like the present , with which he must entirely sympathize . When he was here some twelve months since ( he spoke ' with all frankness ) , he had been pained by much that he had seen and heard here . It was

evident that a dark shadow had fallen upon Masonry in this town . With great zeal and earnestness , it was evident that a cold phantom of mistrust and reserve had glided in between the brethren whore there should have been the cordial sympathy of brotherhood . But he rejoiced to see now that the dark vapour of night had rolled away , and left all bright , glowing , genial , and sunny . That was tho picture they now presented to the rest of the Craft . He hoped it would not be thrown away upon them , but that it might be the first of a long succession of triumphs that would illustrate the

legitimate operations of this ancient order . It was true that there had been , and are , other differences in the Craft , and he was free to say he did not dread these manifestations . Discussion was a sign of vitality . But he might add , that his own opinion was not changed one iota since he was here last year , as to the management of the Craft in connection with the Canadian Lodges . It would be an easy task for him to show that every prediction he had made had been miserably but literallfulfilled . On the other hand

y , every arrangement he had pressed upon the management had , to the extent to which it had been attended to , averted much evil , and , if they had been adopted altogether , would probably have removed the evil altogether . For , in the interval , a great disaster to tho Craft had occurred . Those Canadian Lodges , which owned allegiance to us twelve months ago , did so no longer . Tho old time-honored connection between the two countries had been severed for a day and for ever . ( Hear , hear . ) He wished to say nothing to revive old latent animosities ; he would rather

say— "Let bygones be bygones , let the dead past bury its dead , and let us act in tho living present . " There was a wide field of work out out for us . There was the discontent alluded to in tho Canadian Lodges . They naturally felt a dissatisfaction to be governed in England . But he thought the future held out the promise of hope . >> ith good feeling and common sense to bear upon them , there was no reason why the affairs of the Canadian Lodges should not be made the subject of a better understanding ( Cheers ) He would

. . enumerate some of the advantages which had been secured during the l'ast twelve months . In the first place , a Colonial Board had been established , of had , at all events , come into full play during that period . He believed its operations would be most beneficial . It was at least a guarantee to their Colonial Brethren that their efforts would * The admirable address delivered on the occasion by the w " . Bro . has been extensively published in the JUL and the local papers of Bath .

have that attention which wo were bound to pay them , if we insisted on managing them here . And he would take the opportunity of bearing testimony to the conduct and personal language of the Grand Master throughout these controversies . He was bound to say that the proposals which the Grand Master had made were just in themselves , and , late though they were offered to Canada , he thought they might have been accepted . As it was , the smaller province had accepted those proposals , and was working satisfactorily . The Grand Master had resolutely repudiated all the frivolous objections that

found favour in some quarters in Grand Lodge , and produced irritation in the colonies . A second reason for the suecoess which had attended recent management was that the Grand Master had acted for himself , with a frank avowal of the error into which he had been led , expressing his regret for what had passed , and his determination to give more reasonable and liberal powers of self-administration . Another favourable change was tliat which had taken place in the personnel of the offices in G . L . ; henceforth efficiency and practical aptitude for business would be insisted on in the appointments to

offices requiring them . A further subject of congratulation and hope was , that Masons had awakened to a more serious sense of duty ; they no longer seemed to think that Masonry consisted in dinnering and banqueting ( hear ) , but they recognized now the principles which affirm that honors and dignity entail correlative responsibilities . The noble Lord then adverted to the condition of the country Lodges , maintaining that they were not effectually represented in Grand Lodge . It was a monstrous thing , that the control of the 500 Lodges of the country should be left , from the accident of their geographical

situation , to tho control of a small section . He would add , as a practical suggestion , likely to be attended with advantage to the country Lodges , that the votes they were entitled to give should be legally tenderablc , wdien written upon a sheet of paper and sent by post , instead of having to be delivered in person by the officers of the G . L . It would give the country Lodges a much more real share in the central management . ( Hear . ) It was an advantage in now having the agenda paper prepared , and to obtain the other concession was but the necessary corollary . In other minor details , matters had certainly been placed upon a more satisfactory footing . In providing for the future , however , it must always be borne in mind , that no departure was to be sought or sanctioned from those provisions of

the Constitutions which all good Masons were bound to reverence and obey . ( Cheers . ) HAMPSHIRE ' . —At a late meeting of Lodge , No . 152 , Southampton , Bro . Biggs , in returning thanks for the " Visitors , " made the following sensible observations : — "He was sorry to find so little done in behalf of that noble charity , the Masonic Benevolent Institution ; if it arose from want of funds , the Brethren , as Masons , were bound to remedy the evil . And what Lodge would refuse to double their subscriptions on the very trifling sum now paid ? Would not every one

of them there present retire to their beds better satisfied with their evening's entertainment , if such were the ease , from a conscientious feeling that while enjoying themselves they had at least done their duty to their loss fortunate Brethren , and which he did not think they could say at tho present time ? Another subject he thought deserving their consideration was , the representation of country Lodges in Grand Lodge . The London Lodges numbered about two hundred , the remainder was made up from the country , and he should like to know how many without the circle of fifty miles had been represented

at Grand Lodge ? What Master and Wardens from the provinces could neglect their business—to say nothing of the expense—to attend as they ought , while the representation of London Lodges entailed neither sacrifice of time nor expenditure of money ; and he thought that it was high time a change was effected in the system—that country Lodges should have the privilege of voting by proxy . It was nothing but right that those wdio contributed to the Masonic funds should have a voice in their disposal ; and that could never be carried out with any degree of fairness until country Brethren could record

their votes without the loss of time and expense necessarily dependent on it as was the case at the present time . " The subject of Bro . Biggs ' s observations was freely discussed by the Brethren , who entered fully into the importance of the suggestion . DRRBYSIIIUIS . —Bro . C . R . Colvill , M . P ., has been appointed P . G . M . in the place of the late Duke of Devonshire . THE BOARD OF GENERAL PUKPOSKS has decided that the undress collars of P . G . O . 's must be edged with gold . THE PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF LONDON . —Tho following

letter to our contemporary shows how completely the notion prevails ( and very naturally ) , that G . L . is an Institution contrived for the sole benefit of the London Brethren . It is so admirable a satire on the existing state of things , that we cannot forbear extracting it : — "PROVINCIAL GRAND CLOTHING . — To the Editor of the Freemasons' Magazine and Masonic Mirror . —Sir and Brother , — In your last number you have published the decision of the Board