Provincial.

iii our province where there avc no lodges . AVell , to have lodges we must ( tat have 'Freemasons . ( Hear , hear . ) And I ask whether it is not the best way to increase our Order by showing a liberality in our dealing---- with tlie rest of the community . ( Cheers . ) Our interest is not confined to those who have the happiness of belonging to our Fraternity , but we are interested in the welfare of all the children of the ' Great Architect of the Universe . ( Hear , hear . AVe act as members of one groat family ; we are brethren ou

one great people ; we are bonud tog-ether in the universe by the bonds of a common brotherhood ; and it is our duty to relieve all brethren in distress , whether they are brethren in Freemasonry or not . ( Cheers . ) However much I may love our Order ; however much , allegiance I may hold to its principles ; we owe allegiance also to a higher power—that of the Great Architect ofthe Universe ( Hear , hear ) , who looks upon all His creatures as members of one family , bound to promote the interests and welfare of each , other . And I say that we , possessing-, as we do , a universality of charity—a universality of good feeling—a universality of all those

kindly influences which bind society together , are bound , not to subscribe exclusively to those charities which are immediately connected with our Order , but to extend our liberality to every son or daughter of Adam over the whole face of the world . ( Loud cheers . ) In taking that course , I humbly conceive , ancl I hope I shall have your opinion with me , that we are not only promoting the cause of charity and the cause of good feeling , but we are promoting the honour and the character of our own Order .

( Cheers . ) It is said thafc "Charity begins at home ; " it is highly nropcr that it should begin at home , but ought not to end there . ( Hear , hear . ) It is our duty to give relief to all in distress , because tho Great Architect of the Universe has so ordained it — an injunction of tbe Creator which is as wise as it is beneficent , for its observance tends to generate a good feeling among mankind and to remove all invidiousness between different orders of society by linking- them together in tho bonds of mutual relief aucl kindness .

( Hear , hear . ) 1 hope tbe brethren will excuse me for making this digression . I assure you that no words on my part can adequately express my thanks for tho compliment 3-011 have paid me ; and so long as it shall please the Great Architect of the Universe to prolong my life , so long shall I feel it a duty- and a pleasure to promote the principles of our Order , and do everything in my power in advancing what I consider to be , not only for its honour , hut for the alory of our country . ( Cheers . ) By tlie permission of

our excellent chairman , I will only just allude to an observation of bis with respect to a Masonic Hall . ( Hear , bear . ) That was another charge made against us—that we had no Masonic Hall . AVe must certainly plead guilty to that charge : wo havo no Masonic Hall . All I can say is , that I shall be most happy , with 3 'Oiir co-operation and support , to do everything in my power to relievo ourselves from that objection . ( Cheers . ) Ancl I hope I may live to see tlio day ivhen ive may havo a Alasonic Kail in the

city of Norwich . ( Loud cheers . ) This city , being the centre and capital of the county , would be the only proper site for such a building ; and if it can he carried out , I shall be most happy to do anything in iny power to promote such a consummation . ( Loud cheers . ) I would only add this , that though I have made some remarks respecting certain criticisms , far be it from me to offer any objection to the freedom of the Press . ( Hear , hear . ) I consider the Press the foundation of our liberties ; ancl that the

Press has contributed to make this country one of the greatest nations in the world , with dominions on ivhich , as has been said , tho sun never sets . But the freedom of the Press must be amenable to public opinion ; and if it attempts to carry out what is opposed to public opinion , its power will be curtailed by that nub lie opinion . In the -present clay , with the wide-spread of

edu cation , when every man is qualified to form an opinion how far thePublic Press is right or wrong , the press is made amenable to the opinion of every individual , however humble or insignificant ho may be . I wish , however , that ifc should not be imagined from anj r remark-s I have felt hound to make that , I undervalue in the least degree the great and glorious freedom of an enlightened , an intelligent , and an independent 'Press . ( Applause . ) " With this expression I shall concludeassuring you thatso long as I am able

, , , I shall do everything in my power to promote the cause of Freemasonry in the Province of Norfolk ; ancl I ivish to take no exclusive credit to myself , but am anxious to share the glory and the gratification with every brother in the province . —( Tho ' lLAV . Brother resumed his sent , amidst loud and prolongedcheering ) Bro . A . F . ACOJIC -A :- ,- , Prov . G . J . W ., said a most pleasing but at tlie-samc time onerous task devolved himanil if ho were not

upon , assured of the truth of tho old adage , that " good wine needs no bush , " lie should feel himself quite inadequate to proposing the toast , ivim had heen entrusted to him . He would not ramble round tbe bush , or conceal from them , that that toast was the health of their Chairman . ( Lrmd cheers . ) it was at all times difficult to speak of : iman in his presence , where the literal truth miirht sound like

adulation and flattery ; but all who knew Sir Henry Stracey , respected and esteemed him , ancl his name was universally received with acclamation in every society in which he was known . There wero little private acts of kindness and true sympathy , which became known contrary to Sir Henry ' s intention , which spoke much more for the real generosity of bis disposition than any amount of miinilicenfc donations to public charitle-. ( Cheers . ) In short , ifc had pleased the great Architect of the Universeto adorn him with every moral

, and social virtue , and that had earned for him tho regard and esteem of all who had tbe honour and pleasure of his aciuaintance . ( bond cheers . ) Tbe toast was drunk with the greatest cordiality . Bro . SirHivXiiT STUACEY briefly acknowledged the compliment , ancl observed that in proposing thci health of the R . W . Prov . G . AL ho had omitted to refer to the establishment of a new lodge in

the province , which hacl been called after Bro . Cabboli , who had taken great interest in its establishment , and thereby given another proof of his desire for the increase of the Craft in tho province . ( Cheers ) . Thoy had all reason to congratulate themselves on having a Prov . Grand Alaster who was so zealous a Alason , and they must all ardently desire that his health would be long preserved , and that lie would continue for many , many years to hold

thestation which ho filled in so dignified and worthy a manner . ( Cheers ) . Sir Henry Stracey then mentioned that he was lately clining with Sir Archibald Alison , tlie historian , and he enquirocl of him as to the authenticity of an anecdote formerly published , with respect to a relative of his having saved his life on the battle-field by giving the Masonic sign to one of tho eneinv , who was about fco cut him down . Sir Archibald said the story ivas perfectly true ,

that the incident occurred in the American war , and that the relative referred to was the father of his wife , Lady Alison . Ho had been badly wounded in an engagement , and an American was just on the point of bayoneting linn " , when the wounded officer gave him the sign , which was responded to , and the American , instead of bayoneting him , took him up , brought him ancl kept him . there , ancl treated him with the greatest kindness and friendship until ho was recovered and was able to return to England . ( Cheers . ) He

( Sir Henry Stracey ) was glad to hear from Sir Archibald's own lips that the anecdote was authentic , for it was a valuable and interesting illustration of the brotherhood subsisting between Alasons . ( Cheers . ) The CKAITUIAS - , soon afterwards , proposed the next toast , " The Officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Norfolk , " which he coupled with the health of a very efficient officer , Bro Avilkin , the Senior Grand Warden .

Bro . J . AV . AVILKIN , Prov . S . G . AV ., said they all knew that a good general made good staff officers , good stall' officers made good soldiers , and the result was a good army ; and it was a pleasure to him that it should have fallen to bis lot to act under so distinguished a general as Benjamin Bond Cabbell . ( Cheers ) . He ( Pro . AVilkiny was happy to lind that the tongue of good report hacl been beard in their ' favour , and hoped that at every meeting

of tho Provincial Grancl Lodge the Inner Guard would announce that they came properly prepared to fulfil their duties . ( Cheers ) . AVithin the last week he had learnt an interesting circumstance in connection with Freemasonry , which was perhaps not generally known to the brethren . He had ascertained that one of the most distinguishod men in the world in the present day—a man on whose acts tlie eyes of all Europe ivere now fixed ivith the deepest attention and interest—General Garibaldi—was a Mason , and had attained a high rank in the Craft . ( Loud cheers ) . This fact he

( Pro . "Wilkin ) learnt from the officer who was deputed by General j Garibaldi to come over to England to invite some gentlemen to pay a visit to Mount Etna , as Lord Palmerston had humourously put it . ( Laughter ) . There ivas a life of Garibaldi written by himself , and edited by Alexandre Dumas , published for one shilling , which would afford everybody a good deal of interesting information , bnt especially Alasons , as to the light in which Freemason ! - was regarded in Italat the present amount . He ( Bro . AYilkin ) would

y not say any move on the subject now , because tbey all knew that nothing of a political bearing was allowed to be introduced into lodges . ( Cheers ) . Ho was sure , however , that they would all rise from the perusal of that little work wiser and better men . He was exceedingly grateful for the way in which the toast had been coupled with his health . Ho bud been called upon to fill the place of a late brother in the Lynn Lodge , being the only one

I at that time who was sufficiently experienced in the Crate to undertake the duties of the Master , and he was happy to sayJEliat , since 1 be bad filled that position , tho number of members in No . 12-1- had considerably increased , and he had no less than five candidates to initiate afc ' their next meeting . ( Applause ) . He did not , at tbe same time , attribute thafc to any personal merit of his own , but merely to his sincere love of the Cr .-i . ft , to which be bed always been ardently attached since be bud the privilege of /; . . . ) ::- ¦ : ¦ admitted into the fraternity . ( Cheers . )