Provincial.

His Grace the Duke of Newcastle , and this fact , he thought , mi ° ht induce them to hope that H . R . H . might yet be numbered as one of the Craft . He then gave the health of the Prince of AVales aad the rest of the Royal Family . The G EAND REG . then approached a health which was always rap turously received in every lodge . They had drunk the health of the Queen , the head of the nation , the Prince of AA / ales , the heir to the Crown , and now they came to that of their M . AV . G . M .,

the Earl of Zetland , whose acts were those of discrimination and justice , and who , personally , deserved and had obtained the confidence of the Craft . The ACTING- PBOV . G . M . felt that as they got down the list of toasts they arrived nearer home , and closer to those with whom they were more intimate . The next toast they knew was " -The R . AV ., the D . G . M ., and the Grand Officers , past and present . " The Earl de Grey and Ripontheir D . G . M . was earnestly desirous of

, , doing all he could for the Craft , and an invaluable ruler his lordship was . The M . AV . G . M . had this year chosen to place in high office one whose services had been of immense benefit to the Craft ,- and however some might have formerly arraigned him for the part he had taken in Grand Lodge on some occasions , yet no one ever had seen a brother more devoted to his duties . ( Hear , hear . ) For three years he had been President of the Board of General Purposesand never had the Craft been more

, properly managed . For this the M . AV . G . M . had thought fit to honour Bro . Havers by appointing him J . G . AV ., and all were delighted to recognise this tribute to his merits . ( Hear , hear . ) AATioever differed from him must acknowledge that in this selection it was the right man in the right place . ( Cheers . ) A graceful compliment , well deserved , had been paid to a most zealous brother , and with the toast he ( Bro . Mclntyre ) would couple

the names of Bvo . Havers , J . G . AV ., and D . Gooch , P . G . S . B ., and D . Prov . G . M . for Wilts . Bro . HAVERS , J . G . AV ., in rising- to return thanks in the name of the D . G . M ., thought it was a matter of great advantage to our country to have men of the highest social position and wealth holding its most important offices . If this proposition held good with regard to the nation , how" much more forcible was it when applied to Masonry ? In their late D . G . M ., the Earl of Yarborough , no one was more devoted to the Craft .- the

Earl of Dalhousie , though a Scotch Mason , never was exceeded in his loyal services to our Grand Lodge ; and for their present D . G . M ., the Enrl de Grey and Ripon , no one was more active , zealous , and able than his lordship . It was true he had laboured to do something for the Craft himself , but he did not deserve half as much as some of his brethren . He had only to turn to Bro . Gooch at his side as an example . That brother was not only known in London , but the provinces , and he believed that

it was to the Prov . D . G . M . 's and Sees , that very much of the prosperity of the Craft was owing ; and he was pleased to see that it was a growing precedent that the grand officers should be partly selected from those who had worked hard in the provinces . For the manner in which the R . \ A . Prov . G . M . had been pleased to speak of him in terms of eulogium , he felt he could only express his thanks , for though he had laboured he was glad that his endeavours had won some good opinions .

( Loud cheers ) . No doubt ho had often done wrongly , and his opponents knew it ; but sometimes they also were wrong and his side right : yet right or wrong , for those who differed with him , and for himself , he believed that they were actuated by one motive only—to do what each considered the greatest good . ( Loud cheers ) . There was one matter before the Craft at the present time which had for its object a strong endeavour

to raise the character of Masonry . The period had arrived , with wealth and members uncounted , when , without running into extravagance , they ought to secure a comfortable home and proper temple for Masonry . It was to be done , and he hoped it would be done unanimously ; but if they wished to see the Grand Lodge of England hold the position it had hitherto done and should do—if they wished to see that and would not

take the trouble to assist in that project , they must not be surprised if others took tho matter up and carried it through . He did not feel a stranger amongst them , and therefore he had spoken on that subject . In one of their local lodges—the Lodge of A'irtue—he had often met with the late Bro . Ramshottom , and had been a frequent visitor . In conclusion , he wished them a good Prov . G . M ., D . Prov . G . M ., and Prov .

G . Sec , and he hoped to be there to ' see it . Bro . Goocn , P . G . S . B . and D . Prov . G . M . AVilts , expressed his regards for the kindness always extended to him in Windsor and his own province .

Bro . MCCOSNELL , D . Prov . G . M . Berks and Bucks , rose to perform a pleasant duty , and to claim his privilege , which he could not allow to devolve into any other hands . He was happy to call all to witness and hear testimony to the able manner in which Bro . Mclntyre , G . Reg . and their Prov . G . M ., had discharged his really laborious task that day . If there was one Mason more than another likely to effect good in a province situated as theirs was , he believed it was Bro . Mclntyre . ( Loud

cheers . ) His own little experience lie hoped would not disappoint their expectations ; hut to those who knew the confidence reposed in the G . Reg . by the M . AV . G . M ., no one could doubt that if the whole province were as inexperienced as himself , yet in their Prov . G . M . they possessed one who could , and would , set them right . ( Loud cheers . ) He gave them " The Health of Bro . Mclntyre , G . Reg . and Prov . G . M . of Bucks and Berks . " ( Long and continued applause . )

Bro . MclxTYitE , G . Reg . and acting Prov . G . M . Bucks and Berks , rose , and said , cold , indeed , his heart would he if he did not warmly express his thanks for the reception he had met with at their hands . He had heard much of their unfortunate position , and had deplored it , and determined to go amongst them , and try to put the province in a bettor position . He must say it was with apprehension that ho took that determination , for he neither expected to find tho members so numerousnor such a

, proper Masonic spirit amongst them . He expected , as a stranger , that he should have been looked upon with distrust ; but all had shown the greatest cordiality and co-operation . They had asked to be called together to see tho position of their province ,, and to know how their money was expended . He would take care that that account was rendered . ( Cheers . ) They must not retrograde , but he determined to carry out the position they were then assuming . It onlremained for them to do their

y duty—never to despair of being successful—to take care the work did not flag ; and if they went on in that spirit they must succeed , and Berks and Bucks would be one of the best provinces , and have a real Provincial Grand Master of its own within a year . ( Loud applause . ) The GBAND KEGISTEAB next proposed "The toast of the Brethren of Bucks and Berks . " No good could ensue unless they had good officers . Every lodge should take its share of

Provincial Grand honours ; and it would be their business tosecure a Provincial Grand Master of status in society , who would command the respect of all the brethren . He had discovered a D . Prov . G . M ., whose knowledge of science admirably fitted him to be recognised as one of the best men that could be selected for that office . The Prov . S . G . AA . was another fair appointment , he being the AV . M . of the lodge in whose room they had met that day . The Prov . G . Treas .

was their own selection , and it was clear he enjoyed their perfect confidence . The Prov . G . Chap ., by his discourse that day , had proved that no better selection could have been made . The Prov . G . Reg . was a lawyer , as he ( the acting Prov . G . M . ) held he should be , but as a lawyer of eminence , he was a thoroughly honest English gentleman . ( Cheers . ) He had taken equal care in the salection ofthe Prov . G . Deacons , and in the several reappointments he had made—but there was one to whom he was

personally indebted , and without whose co-operation they could not have met . Bro . Devereux —( cheers)—from the moment he was solicited to undertake the duties of Prov . G . Sec , had exerted the most untiring energy ; he had obtained the use of the town-hall , the church , and the services ofthe choir , and he felt that without thai brother he could not have gone through the business of that day free from mishaps . In conclusion he

begged to give them the D . Prov . G . M . and other Prov . > . officers ( cheers ) . Bro . MCCOSNELL , D . Prov . G . M ., said , in responding to the toast , he was under some difficulty . They were all pretty nearly comparative strangers to each other , and their province extended over a large space , but they had willing and . united , hearts , each one determined to do his duty , and commence a

new era in the province of Berks and Bucks . The Rev . Bro . AVEAP . TOJT , Prov . G . Chap ., said it was thirteen years since he had been initiated in the Apollo Lodge . Deeply attached to Masonry , as he was , he had seen itgiadually dying away in his more immediate county , and he accounted for it by saying that a more awkward county than Bucks neverexisted . ( Laughter . ) They certainly could go from home in

the day time , but at night there was no getting back . However , good times were coming , railways were being extended and he believed they would be much more able to visit each other than they had hitherto been .