The Provinces.

word which would add to the force of the censure they intended to convey . He would propose to insert tbe words " and libellous , " after " groundless , " so that it would read " That this Prov . Grand Lodge desires to express its sympathy with the M . W . G . M . under the groundless and libellous attacks recently made upon him . " ( Cheers . ) Bro . Looker , Prov . J . G . W ., seconded the motion , and could not too strongly express his indignation of what had taken place . He seldom saw the Masonic Observerand never wished to see itand

, . he believed the Brethren of his Lodge ( the Cherwell , ) universally condemned it . Bro . Thompson , P . Prov . G . W . thought there was no necessity for introducing any further words in the resolution , as it was strong enough as it stood . Bro . Dr . Hester , P . Prov . G . W ., considered the word " libellous " a very proper one to introduce into the resolution . The Prov . Grand Master then put the question for the insertion

of the words " and libellous , " which was carried . The Prov . Grand Master was much pleased that Bro . Portal had conceded the point , that the attack was void of truth , and that the Grand Master was entitled to their sympathy . He had listened attentively to the speech of Bro Portal , and though he could not agree with it , he desired to give it all the weight and authority it deserved . There was one thing he had particularly observed . It appeared to him that the executive were systematically accused of

subserviency to the Grand Master , and Qoposittaa to tte interests of the Craft , and that as soon as a man was promoted , no matter how zealous' for their interests , or how independent he had shewn himself , he became an object of attack . ( Hear , hear . ) He thought that most unjust , though personally he did not feel aggrieved , as he felt the accusation could not touch him . He believed all the Grand Officers to be actuated by a high sense of duty , and that when they opposed propositions brought before Grand Lodge , they did so

because they believed they would be thereby best serving the interests of the Craft . He had always deprecated these attacks , and he had told Bro . Portal that he thought it most unjust , because Brethren were placed in positions of eminence , to suppose they were always actuated by unworthy motives . Bro . Portal wished to explain . He had not attributed motives to the dais , and when speaking of the executive he did not allude to the dais generally . He spoke of the executive , meaning the President of the Board of General Purposesthe Grand Registrarand

, , the Grand Secretary , who were generally understood to be the council of the Grand Master . The Provincial Grand Master thanked Bro . Portal for his explanation ; he knew that he did not allude to himself , but he knew that the M . W . G . M . often consulted the Prov . G . Masters , though he had not yet done him that honour , and probably never might have occasion to do so . He thought the accusation unjust to the dais generally , but was glad to accept the explanation of Bro . Portal .

Be had called the Prov . Grand Lodge together not under light circumstances , but under a deep sense of duty , and he was glad to see how well his call had been responded to . He should not detain them after the many eloquent speeches they had heard , but at once put the resolution , leaving to the Prov . Grand Lodge to express their feelings by their acts . The resolution was then put , and carried amidst loud applause—Bro . Portal alone dissenting . BroSpiers then moved that the resolution should be' embodied

. in an address , and presented to the Grand Master . The Rev . Bro . Pickard seconded the motion , which was unanimously carried . The Provincial Grand Lodge having been closed in ancient and solemn form , a vote of thanks was , on the motion of Bro . Hester , given to the Prov . Grand Master for calling the Brethren together , and the meeting separated .

SUFFOLK . The annual P . G . L , was held at Ipswich on the 24 th September , by the Grand Registrar , acting as P . G . M ., who proceeded to appoint his Grand Officers as follows : — Rev . F . W . Freeman , ( No . 757 ) D . Prov . G . M . ; Spencer Freeman , ( No . 757 ) Prov . S . G . W . ; J . S . Gissing , ( No . 96 ) Prov . J . G . W . ; Rev . J . Sanderson , ( No . 522 ) Prov . G . Chap . ; J . K . Sidgwick , ( No 757 ) ProvG EDorling ( No 522 ) ProvGSee

. . . . Reg . ; . , . . . . ; J . Richmond , ( No . 272 ) Prov . S . G . D . ; J . Ludbrook , ( No . 544 ) Prov . J . G . D . ; T . Downes , ( No . 417 ) Prov . G . Supt . of Works . ; J . Tracy , ( No . 131 ) Prov . G . Dir . of Cers . ; J . Harding , ( No . 417 ) Asst . Prov . G . Dir . of Cers . ; J . H . G . Ball , ( No . 522 ) Prov . G . Orgt . ; W . H . Sams , ( No . 910 ) Prov . G . Sword Bearer ; W . C . Randall , ( No . 272 ) Prov . G . Purst . ; Alexander Robertson , Prov . G . Tyler . Prov . G . Stewards : —Bros . Bowles , ( No . 417 ); Jennings

and Turner , ( No . 522 ); Harris , ( No . 131 ); Breckles , ( No . 96 ) : Cade , ( No . 272 ) . At the banquet , in giving the toast of the M . W . G . M ., the G . R . said , the Earl of Zetland had filled the office of Grand Master for many years , and he would venture to say , that it would be impossible for the duties of his high office to have been better discharged by any Grand Master . Not only did he pay the utmost attention to the various reports and correspendence laid before him , but he deemed no sacrifice too great to make when he believed he

should be thereby serving the interests of the Craft ; and he often travelled nearly 200 miles to and from Grand Lodge to preside over its meetings . The many years which the Earl of Zetland had served the Croft , ought to have been a sufficient guarantee when taken in conjunction with the high personal character which his lordship bore , of the integrity with which he had conducted the business , to have protected him from any attack upon his honour ( hear , hear ) . He regretted that it had not been so , and he could not forbear from

calling their attention to an attack which had been made upon his Lordship in a publication which was probably unknown to the majority of the Brethren present , and which he trusted would continue unknown . To reply to that attack might be unnecessary where his Lordship's character was known , but it was understood that the Masonic Observer was gratuitously circulated in the colonies and other districts where his Lordship's qualifications for his office and high honour are comparatively unknown ; but the !

amongst Masons oEngland generally , he was sure that snch attacks would have no weight . That publication , notwithstanding the honourable character of Lord Zetland , had presumed to accuse his Lordship of having prostituted to party purposes the powers with which he was invested , in the appointment of Grand Officers . He ( Bro . Roxburgh ) thought it but right , as the poison had been spread , to take every opportunity of applying the antidote , believing that it would be impossible throughout the length and breadth of

the land , to find a nobleman more distinguished for his impartiality than Lord Zetland . He ventured to assert , that no appointment made by Lord Zetland had ever been dictated by political motives —indeed , many of the highest appointments had been conferred upon his lordship's political opponents—whilst in the majority of instances , he believed his lordship had no knowledge of their opinions . Could the Grand Master have been capable of the conduct

attributed to mm , he would , as he had himself stated in Grand Lodge , be unfitted to fill the office he held , and his election would reflect on the Grand Lodge itself , which had year after year unanimously re-elected his lordship as Grand Master . ( Hear . ) The noble lord had felt that these attacks upon his conduct and honour could not be passed over in silence—he felt that charges so groundless and scandalous should be brought before Grand Lodge ; and having done so with that manliness and straightforwardness which always distinguish himthe Grand Lodrepudiated with one voice

, ge the impertinent and scandalous charges which had been made through that trumpery publication . He could only imagine that the charges had been made with the view of casting a firebrand amongst the Craft . He looked upon the publication , however , as only fitted to light a cigar ; and he was sure , that if such attacks were continued , such would be the feeling of the Craft that it would only end in smoke . There were publications of a different class in the Craft—publications which honestly and independently the in to which

reported proceedings Masonry— there could be no objection—but this paper assumed to itself the title of being the Grand Lodge Chronicle , as though it were authorized by Grand Lodge , whereas it held no authority whatever from the Grand Lodge , or from any member of the Executive . ( Hear , hear . ) He would not further detain them , but conclude by proposing the health of the M . W . Grand Master , the Right Hon . the Earl of Zetland , feeling sure that so long as the noble Earl continued to hold the hioffice to which the Brethren had called him

gh , he would , as he had hitherto done , continue to receive the cordial support of every true and well-thinking Mason . ( Cheers ) . Bro . Havers , in returning thanks for his health said , They were probably most of them aware that a most unwarrantable , unfounded and wicked attack had recently been made upon the M . W . G . M . the ' Earl of Zetland . Those who had taken the trouble to examinc ' into the merits of this chargeknew it to be but a silly refurbishing

, up of an old lie . It had been sufficiently cotradicted—and thus much he would say , that England's peerage , amid all its proud names , did not possess one nobleman whose honour was more pure and spotless , and whose integrity and singleness of purpose was more unquestionable , than the nobleman whom they hailed as their chief . The Grand Master was not the only one amongst us who was held up to obloquy by the writers of a certain publication ; the Grand Officers generally , and the Executive especially , were doomed to .