The Provinces.

2 nd . —That under the head , in the said by-laws , of " Fees payable to the Provincial Grand Lodge , " the annual subscription from each member of the Lodge shall be Is . instead of 6 d . STONEHOUSE . LODGE OF SINCERITY . —( No . 224 . )—The Lodge was convened by a notice issued on the 26 th October by Bro . W . H . Evens , jun ., P . M ., P . Prov . S G . D-, from which the following is an extract : —

" The marriage of our W . M , Lord Valletort , having jnst been announced , it has occurred to me that it would be a particularly graceful and fraternal act on the part of the Brethren ofthe Lodge of Sincerity , over whom he presides , to join in presenting to him their congratulations on the happy event , in an address which may serve to assure him of our brotherl y love and form a pleasant souvenir of his year of office in No . 224 . ' ' It was agreed to present an address , illuminated and emblazoned , at the regular meeting of the Lodgeon the 8 th instant ; but it

, being found , after the summons for the meeting was issued , that the address could not be got ready , a copy on vellum was made and presented . The Lodge was opened in due form , in the absence ofthe W . M ., by Bro . W . Hunt , P . M ; assisted by the officers , as follows : — Bros . R . Robinson Rodd , S . W ; Lord Graves . J . W . ; Robinson Ridlay , S D ; H- EmlonBarton , J . D . ; Rev . G . Knowling , JiX , Chaplain ; J . Cree Hancock , P . M ., Secretary ; there were upwards of forty Brethren present .

The arrival ofthe W . M . having been notified , he was received by the Brethren standing , and on receiving the gavel from the P . M ., was saluted in proper order . Bro- W . Hunt , P . M ., then said : — "Worshipful Master , J am delighted to see you again in that chair , and especially on this happy occasion . On behalf of the Brethren of your Lodge , I have to ask you to receive an address of congratulation on your marriage . But , in the first place , Worshipful Master , permit me to address a few words to the Brethren . Brethren—although 1

regret that the dmy of presenting to our Worshipful Master the address of congratulation on his marriage lias not fallen upon some more experienced and able Brother , I must say I deem myself fortunate that so distinguished an honour should have devolved on me by virtue of my position as the immediate Past Master of the Lodge ; and moreover , in some respects , 1 may be the most fitting person amongst us to perform this " labour of

love , " for in addition to having stood sponsor to our worthy and noble Brother ' s admission into this Lodge , I think I may venture to assert that not one of you has known him longer , or had better opportunities of becoming acquainted with his many excellent qualities . The acquaintance of which I speak goes back to a period anterior to his admission into Freemasonry , and is founded on observations and facts , having reference as well to his conduct as a son and a nobleman , as to his character as a member of our ancient and honourable orderand I can witli confidence add

; , that the longer and better I know him , in any and every relation of life and society , the greater is the respect and esteem in which I regard him . " As we only realize a fair idea of the value of a thoroughly good picture or highly finished work of art by such a close , steady , and continued inspection as brings out its most delicate touches and recondite beauties , so are there true-hearted , sterling , ingenuous , and well-balanced men , for whom our admiration

and respect are ever increasing in the same ratio as our means of knowing and appreciating them . ( Cheers . ) "Worshipful Master and Brethren , —One of the advantages of Freemasonry is its connecting people of different colours , countries , religions , creeds , and classes by an additional bond of brotherhood—its creating a link of mutual interest between persons who without it would have remained strangers—its originating new ties of kindred feeling and sympathy , and so contributing to strengthen the coherence of society and add to the

sum total of human kindliness , and therefore of human happiness . This advantage springs out of , and is maintained by , the exercise of its first leading principle— 'brotherly love , ' which teaches us ' ever to regard the interests of our Brethren and fellows as inseparable from our own ; ' which prompts to the exercise of good offices and the interchange of kindly feeling ; makes us rejoice with our Brethren when they are in the bright sunshine of prosperity and happiness ; and mourn with them , and , if possible , help them , when under the dark clouds of affliction and distress . It is , Worshipful Master , this first principle of Freemasonry that has prompted the preparation and presentation of this address . In the right of our fellowship-in the bonds of the Order—we claim to share in the satisfaction and

joy consequent on the accession to your happiness in attaining the blessedness and the dignity of being a married man . ( Applause . ) "Residing , as we do , in the vicinity of Mount Edgcumbe , and participating with our neighbours in the respect and esteem in which the noble family connected with that charming place are so universally and deservedly held , we should doubtless have rejoiced at any event calculated to enhance the happiness of that family . But how much greater must be our satisfaction , when that event is no less important and joyous than tlie happy

marriage of so prominent a member of the family as the heir to its honours and its fortunes ; who to his elevated social position superadds the high advantages and claims of great intelligence , moral worth , and the kindliness yet dignity of disposition and manner that ever characterise noble natures ; and to whom we are bound by the strong and ' indissoluble chain' of fraternal affection , and to whom , also , we owe allegiance , as the Worshipful Master of our Lodge " YouthenWorshipful Masterwill be pleased to accept this

, , , address , as the sincere though inadequate expression of our feelings ; which , as it was suggested by the first leading principle of our Order , has been written under the direction of another fundamental principle of Freemasonry—' truth . ' It is in these words — ' To the V . VV . Bro . Viscount Valletort , Prov . J G . W ., and W . M . of the Lodge of Sincerity , No . 224 . "' We , the Freemasons , being members of the Lodge of Sincerity , No . 224 , beg most cordially to offer you our hearty and fraternal congratulations on your marriage .

"' We venture to hope that this union may mark the commencement of a long series of happy years yet to come , for you and your noble bride , and that you may be enabled , as time rolls on , to look back to the year in which you presided over the Lodge of Sincerity , as one to which memory will recur with grateful remembrances . "' Connected as your family is with this neighbourhood , and eminent as the names of your noble father and mother have become for the practice of every social and moral virtueespecially

, those truly Masonic ornaments , charity and benevolence—we cannot allow this occasion to pass without including them in our congratulations ; with a confident belief , that an example so excellent will be emulated by yourself in the long and bright career which we trust lies before you .

" ' It is with feelings of great pleasure and satisfaction that we meet you , Worshipful Master , this day , feeling assured that to whatever Masonic rank you may be advanced , none will ever be regarded by you as more valuable than that conferred by the free and unsolicited voice of your Brethren of this Lodge . '" With a fervent prayer that the Great Architect of the universe may be pleased to bestow on you and your family every happiness , both present and future , we beg to subscribe ourselves , Worshipful Master faithful and attached BrethrenWm .

, your , Hunt , P . M ., Prov . GD , Devon ; R . Robinson Rodd , S . W . ; Prov . G . S . ; Graves , J . W ., Prov . G . S . ; L . P . Tripe , P . M ., Treas ., P . Prov . G . S . D . ; Walter Damtint , P . M ., P . Prov . G . Supt . of Works ; W . H- Evens , jun ., P . M ., P . Prov . G S . D . ; A . Narracott , P . M ., P . Prov . G . S . B . ; Peter Ellison Rowe , P M ., P . Prov . GDir . of Cers . ; W- R . Phillips , P . M ., P . Prov- G . Treas . ; Thomas Russell , P . M ., P . Prov . G S D . ; Edwd . W . Cole , P . M . ; Samuel Cave , W . M ., No . 122 , Prov . G . Supt . of Works ; R . Dowse , M . D ,

P . M ., Nos- 176 , 491 , and 723 ; James Hughes , P . M ., Stewart !; George Knowling , M-A-, Oxon , Chaplain ; R . Lidstone , W . M ., No . 270 ; James Gilbard ; R . J . Squire ; Robinson Ridley , S . D . ; H . Emlyu Barton , J . D . ; John Honey , Steward ; J . R . Newcombe ; V . Narracott ; William Rennell Coleridge ; Paul Oliver ; R . E . Knowling ; C . Spence Bate ; Henshaw Russell ; Kadri Bey , Colonel ( Turkish Service ); J . P- Mann ; Robert H . Rae ; Samuel Triscott ; E . M . Russell Rendle ; Henry Charles Lopes ; G . Sidney Strode ; Arundel RogersNos 224 and 10 John

, . ; Rogers , P . M ., Tyler ; John Cree Hancock , P . M ., Secretary . '" " Worshipful Master , so far aa this address goes , it is , I am quite sure , a faithful reflection of the feelings of every member of the Lodge of Sincerity ; some of the Brethren of the Lodge are lion-, resident , and others are abroad on service in tbe navy and army . Our only regret is that words will not more fully convey the sentiments we entertain towards you . Were it possible to have made it a perfect photograph of our feelings , the address would be far stronger in expression than it is possible to render it by words

any . You , I am persuaded , will accept our offering in the kindly and fraternal spirit in which it is made , and with a sincerity corresponding to our own , you will , amongst the many congratulatory addresses presented on this auspicious occasion , ever regard that of your devoted and attached Brethren of Lodge No . 224 , with even something beyond ordinary esteem . Your early return to Mount Edgecumb ' e