The Provinces.

After a few further remarks , he called upon the D . Prov . G . M ., to address the Brethren . The R W . D . Prov . G . M ., Bro . Marwood then said , — "By command of the M . W . G . M ., and in his name and that of the Provincial Lodge , I address you , Brethren of the Lion Lodge—I most heartily congratulate you on the auspicious commencement you have this day matle towards the erection of a building to be dedicated to Freemasonry , in which building you will , I trust , for many a year to come meet together , and working in all brotherly love and harmony , enjoy many

an hour of social intercourse , and by every means in your power encourage the practice of those precepts inculcated by our ancient and honourable institution . Surrounded as I am by so many good and experienced Masons , it would on any other occasion , be unnecessary for me to dilate on the ancient history of Freemasonry , or the grand principles on which it is founded ; but as I see here so many of the uninitiated , who know little or nothing of the origin , the tenets , or the practical utility of Freemasonry , I cannot refrain from saying a few words to inform themand remind youthat Masonry has existed

, , from time immemorial , and that after the completion of king Solomon ' s temple , 2868 years ago , many of those who had for years been employed in the erection of that wonderful temple , formed themselves into companies , and travelling over the world , devoted themselves to the science of architectnre , and erected many temples for the service ofthe Most High , which in grandeur , in beauty of design , and harmony of proportion , have never been surpassed , and will , I fear never again be equalled . It is only natural to suppose that , living and labouring together with one common object in viewthe members of

, each community became to a certain degree a peculiar people , bound to each other by the tie of kind and brotherly feeling , dwelling together in love and harmony , and ever ready to relieve the necessities and sooth the afflictions of a brother . It is likewise only natural to suppose that labouring for years , as so many of them did , solely on works dedicated to the worship of the Most High , their hearts were filled with reverence for the almighty Creator , and ohedienee to His divine command . The constant practice of the arts and sciences would tend to refine their minds and mannersuntil by their good

, conduct , their brotherly love towards each other , and general benevolence , they had gained the respect and esteem of the rest of mankind . In the course of time many good and influential men , though not architects or masons , were anxious to be members of so honourable a fraternity , and being admitted , became what we are

now—Free and Accepted Masons . Although no longer a community of operative masons , we profess the same tenets , and maintain the same principles , as our ancient Brethren . Our duties as true Masons are , reverence and obedience to the Most High , brotherlylove , charity , and truth to our fellow-men . On these grand principles , has our Order been founded , and limited to no sect , rank , or nation . Masonry has become diffused over the whole world , and endeavours , as far as human powers can effect , to bind man to man in one social bond of brotherhood . Although when we consider the

many conflicting interests and opinions that excite the minds and passions of men , it may seem impossible by any tie , to bind the hearts of all men in peaceful unity ; our Order endeavours to accomplish this , and strictly forbidding all topics of political discussion or religious controversy , offers in a Mason ' s Lodge neutral ground , on which men of all creeds and opinions may meet in friendly and social intercourse . In a Mason ' s Lodge , the strifes and contentions of the world being strictly excluded , after the most exciting periods of public lifethe brethren can again meet to compose all differences

, , to renew old friendships or form new ones , to give the hand of brotherhood to each other ; and parting in peace and harmony , with hearts warmed by sympathy for all their fellow-creatures , they can return to the world , better fitted for the duties of their respective stations . We wish it to be fully understood by all here present , that we do not , as Masons , arrogate to ourselves the character of being better than other men are . Far from us be any such intention . There are many thousands who have not joined our fraternity , who are as good and true men as many of us can be ; but we believe that the

true practice of Masonry has a natural tendency to refine and improve the hearts of all those who truly follow its precepts—that it awakens in our minds feelings of brotherly love and universal benevolence , thereby enabling us to become better members of society than we were before . The speculative Freemasonry of the present day has been justly denominated a peculiar morality—not the cold morality ofthe schools , but the genuine morality which springs from religious feeling , instilled into our hearts by the perusal of the volume of the sacred lawwhich holy book is ever in our Lod the unerring

stan-, ges dard of truth and justice—the one grand light to rule and govern our faith . That holy book teaches us every duty wo owe to the Most High , and likewise to our fellow-men . " It inspires us with awe and reverence for the Great Architect of the Universe : it orders us to practise truth , justice , and charity to our fellow-men ; not merely the

charity of alms-giving , but likewise the charity of opinion , of kindly sympathy antl assistance to any one in affliction . It is our bounden duty to give relief to all who are in distress , ever remembering how it is recorded in one of the most beautiful passages of the holy volume" Beware that thine eye be not evil against thy poor brother and thou givest him nought ; and he cry unto the Lord against thee , and it be sin unto thee . Thou shalt surely give unto him , and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him , because that for this thing the Lord thy God shall biess thee in all thy works , and in all that

thou pattest thine hand unto . " Brethren , wc profess as Masons , a sincere desire to benefit our fellow-creatures . Let me strongly urge upon yon all to prove ,, by deeds of kindness and benevolence , that y ou practise what you profess . Be ever ready to assist the poor and needy ; so that ( as is stated in one of our ancient charges ) when a man is said to be a Mason , the world may know that he is one to wdiom the burdened heart may pour forth its sorrows , to whom the distressed may prefer their suit , whose heart is guided by justice , and whose hand is extended by benevolence . Let me likewise exhort you

to bo just and upright in all your actions , to be loyal subjects and peaceable citizens , to be true to your brethren and to the Craft , and by general good conduct maintain the honour and reputation of ouv ancient fraternity . And may the great Architect of the universe ever continue to support our Order , cementing and adorning us with every moral and social virtue . " After the invocation for the divine blessing by the Rev . E Gambier Pym . the anthem was sung , and the procession marched along George Street , North Terrace , East Terrace , down the Crescent , and New

Road , to the Pier , and thence to the Angel Hotel . As the procession passed the North Terrace , the Russian gun , which had been temporarily placed that morning on the West Cliff , was fired several times , to the great gratification of the thousands who were assembled on the Cliff . WoitCESTEiiSHimc—A Provincial Grand Lodge was held at the Dudley Anns Hotel , Dudley , on Tuesday , September 14 , under the presidency of Bro . Henry Charles Vernon , the Prov . G . M . who was supported by his officers , by Bro . H . A . Bowyer , the Prov . G . M . for Oxfordshire ; Bro . Col . Vernon , Prov . G . M . for Staffordshire ; Bro . Randolph , D . Prov . G M . for Somersetshire . The Prov . Grand Lodge was opened and conducted in strict conformity with the law , and was therefore not so numerously attended as on some previous occasions ,

but the R W . Prov . Grand Master explained that it had been his intention to allow all Master Masons to be present immediately after the opening and transaction of the formal business , and such would be the course pursued in future . The usual reports having been presented , the R . W . Prov . Grand Master proceeded to appoint his officers for the ensuing year , as follow : —Bro . Royds , D . Prov . G . M . ; Rev . A . Davies , No . 730 , Prov . S . G . W . ; Wood , W . M . 349 , Prov . J . G . W . ; Rev . J . W . Herbert , P . M . 313 , and W . M . I 04 J , Prov . G . Chap . ; W . Masefield , P . M . 313 and 730 , Prov . G . Treas . ; Bristow , P . M .

313 , Prov . G . Reg . ; W . Howells , 730 Prov . G . Sec . ; C . Clarke , W . M . 313 , Prov . S . G . D . ; Hopkins , W . M . 772 , Prov . J . G . D . ; Morris , P . M . 313 Prov . Grand Supt . of Works ; Brooke , W . M . 824 , Prov . G . D . C ; Horton , W . M . 838 , Asst . Prov . G . D . C ; W . Wigginton , J . W . 819 , Prov . G . S . B . ; J . Fitzgerald , P . M . 523 , Prov . G . Orgt . ; Clutterbnck , 72 , Prov . G . Purst . ; Bros . Davison , Poole , Wright , James , Pitt , and Russell , Prov . G . Stewards ; Stanley and Smith , Prov . G . Tylers . It was resolved that £ 50 should be voted from the funds ofthe Prov . G . Lodge to make the Prov . Grand . Master a Life Governor of the

Girls' School , he having been in like manner made a Life Governor of the Benevolent Institution for Aged Masons and their Widows , on a previous occasion . DURHAM . —On Tuesday , the 5 th of October , the Provincial Grand Lodge for the county of Durham , was held in the Hall at the Mechanics' Institute , Darlington , when about 150 Brethren from the various Lodges in the province , together with visiting Brethren from neighbouring provinces , attended . The business had been greatly

facilitated by the committee , when the various demands on the funds for charitable purposes were examined into and prepared for the meeting , over which Bro . H . Fenwick , M . P ., and D . Prov . G . M ., presided . The various Lodges in the province were found to be in a flourishing state , both in number and funds , and large sums had been appropriated to the charities ofthe brotherhood during the past year . The Lodge was opened by the Prov . G M ., in his usual effective manner , who , after other business had been disposed of , appointed his officers for the ensuing yearviz—Bros . H . FenwickM . P . D . Prov .

, , , , G . M . ; G . S . Ransom , Prov . S . G . W . ; John Shelly , Prov . J . G . W . ; Joseph Dodds , Prov . G . R . ; J . Kenvon , Prov . G . Chaplain ; J . Curt- ' dell , Prov . G . Treasurer ; W . H . Crooks , Prov . G . Secretary ; Benjamin Lew , Prov . S . G . D .: E . Taylor , Prov . J . G . I ) . ; G . A . Mid ' dlemiss , Prov . G . S . of W . ; E . D . Davis , Prov . G . Dir . of Cers . ; j . Watts , Prov . G . Org . ; G . Jones , P . G . S . B . ; —Foster , Prov . G . P . ; Wm . Lawes , Prov . G . Tyler . After the closing of the Lodge , upwards