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sufficient proof of his efficiency to fill the office , and he hoped he might do so for many years to come . The health of the Deputy Grand Master , the Earl cle Grey and Ripon , ancl the rest of the grand officers , was coupled with the name of Bro . Farmer . Bro . FAKJIER , in returning thanks for the toast , said that he had Deen similarly situated many times , but never rose to thank the brethren with more pleasure than he did upon the present

occasion . The PM . AA ' . G . Master had been pleased to appoint him to office in Grand Lodge , and he was proud of the distinguished position . He hacl worked hard in Masonry , and the position he had attained only tended to show that however humble the individual , and none more so than himself , there was , ancl they had the opportunity of attaining just the same chance for position and promotion in Grand Lodge as a duke or an earl . He certainly had been b

gratified y the manner in wliich the ceremonies of consecration and installation had been performed by Bro . Muggeridge , and he thought the AA . M . had also given them a good specimen of his ability . He would conclude by thanking them for the honour conferred upon him , and congratulating the AA ' . M . and brethren of the lodge on the able manner in ivhieh the business of the day had been conducted . Bro . Muggeridge , haling borrowed the W . M . ' s gavel , rose ancl said , —Brethren of the Royal Oak Lodge , you may congratulate yourselves on your Master , as I am sure no lodge has a better one

than Bro . Dixon . I have known him , and have been intimately acquainted with him , for many years ; was present at his initiation , and can testify to the good services he has rendered the Craft . Bro . Dixon was not satisfied with being a passive member , but has become a thorough goocl ivorking Mason . He is a Past Master of the Mount Lebanon Lodge , and , on the day of his leaving the chair , I had the opportunity and pleasure of hearing him install his successor . He had supported the Charitiesserved as Steward to

, the AVidows' Festival ancl the Boys' School , ancl was present at the recent Festival of the Girls' School , where , if every Steward had contributed the same amount as Bro . Dixon , the collection would have been much larger . Ho was not only good in theory , but in practice . Ho supported Masonry in intellect ancl in purse , ancl , so long as the Boyal Oak Lodge was supported by such Masons as those he had the honour of knowing , Bros . Dixon , Scott , and

Collington , he ivas sure it could not fail to prosper . He should therefore call upon them to drink " The Health of the AA . M ., Bro . Dixon . " The AV . M ., in reply , said that he had clone nothing more than his duty , and he hoped every Mason would do the same ; the fact was , he had been initiated and belonged to a ivorking lodge , supporting all the charities , giving a larger amount for that purpose than any other lodge in proportion to its numbers , and it was from this example that he had given the Masonic Charities all the support he could . He was much indebted to the brethren of tho Mount

Lebanon Lodge for their assistance , especially at the recent Festival of the Girls' School , when he collected £ 60 for that institution , ancl he hoped the brethren of the lodge will assist and use their best exertions to supply the deficiencies of poor Masons , AVidows , and Orphans ; and he thanked the brethren most cordially for the honour conferred upon him . The AV . M . said the next toast he should have the pleasure to propose , was " Success and Prosperity to the Royal Oak Lod" led with the name of Bro .

Mugge , coup geridge , who hacl consecrated the lodge under the sanction of the M . AV . G . M . He had no doubt Bro . JMuggeridge was knoivn to most of the brethren present ; and those who had attended the Lodge of Instruction , of which he was the Preceptor , at the Green Dragon Hotel , Bisliopsgnte , must have heen delighted at the excellent lectures delivered by him upon the tracing boards , follow . , ing the steps of Bro . Peter Thompson , who was the great director

of Freemasonry at the east end of London . Bro . Stephen Barton AA'ilson was . equally great at the Emulation Lodge , in Bro . Gilkes ' s working . Bro . Packivo > tl had assisted in " the consecration ; the m . iimer in which he delivered the oration must have delighted all who heard it . He would , therefore , propose "Success to this auspicious beginning of the Royal Oak Lodge , " coupled with the names of Bros . Muggerid and Packwood

ge . Bro . MuocElilDGE , iu acknowledging the compliment , said that if good wishes could form words , he should bo enabled to do justice in responding to this toast , for he could assure the brethren that no one had the prosperity of the lodge more at heart than himself , and lie heartily wished them succcess ; but the greatest difficulty he had to contend with was talking of himself . The AA ' . M . had been pleased to couple his name , and also that of Bro . Packwood ,

with tiie toast . He could assure the brethren that thoy were both very much delighted at the reception they had met with , and if the members of the Royal Oak Lodge were satisfied at the manner ; n which the ceremonies had been performed , they were equally gratified in having succeeded in their endeavours to please them . On behalf of himself and Bro . Packwood , he thanked them for the compliment paid them in drinking the toast of their health . — " The Health of tho Initiates " was next given , the AV . M . hoping the

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ceremony they had passed through would make a lasting impression on their minds , and earnestly wishing they might become worthy and esteemed members of the Craft , and that he might long enjoy the gratification of their society . —Bro . PEHEEOKE , in a very original and humourous manner , responded to the toast , and said that , in the whole course of his life , he hacl always been told to look ahead , and never to look astern ; he hacl been looking forward to becoming a Mason for some time , for although bis father was

not a Freemason , still he hacl impressed upon him the true principles of Mason ry , as part and parcel of his duty throughout life . He could assure the AV . M . he was very much impressed with his remarks , and he should not fail to ask him a question or tivo whenever he might require it , and he hoped that , at the end of his servitude , he should not prove himself an unworthy apprentice . —Bro . MILES also thanked the brethren . —Some other toasts were givenincluding "Tbe A'isitors" responded to by Bro . Thomas

, , , P . M . Pilgrim Lodge ( No . 745 ); "The Joining Members , " by Bro . J . Peckham ; ' ¦ The Officers of the Lodge , " by Bro . AV . Scott , S . AV . ; the last being " The Health of Bro . John Stevens , jun ., " the worthy host , who , having replied in suitable terms , the proceedings terminated , ancl the brethren separated at eleven o ' clock , with many expressions of delight and satisfaction at the whole of the proceedings .

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

BRISTOL . PEOVINCIAI GEAND LODGE . THE EADY CUAPEE , ST . MAET , EEDCMEE . Pursuant to summons a Prov . G . Lodge was held on Wednesday , the 27 th ult ., to lay the foundation-stone for the restoration of this chapel . It is unnecessary here to show at length that this church would

vie in beauty of design and perfectness of architectural details with tho most venerable shrines , or to recapitulate the efforts that have been made , the difficulties that have been encountered , or the encouragements that have been afforded to the gentlemen who have taken part in the work of restoration since 1842 , when the necessity of doing something on a large scale for the preservation of the church first forced itself upon tbe minds of the parish authorities . Suffice it to say that on the 24 th April 1 S 4 Sthe first stone of the

, , new work was laid by the Mayor . The vicar , churchwardens , and vestry then said , in their address to theMayor , "To aid you in your pleasing task ive invite the assistance of the ancient Society of Freemasons , to whose progenitors Europe is indebted for the greater number of the wonderful buildings raised in the middle ages ; and we offer cur cordial thanks for their ready co-operation . " On that occasion , after Masonic ceremonies , the stone was laid , and the D . Prov . G . M . Slmtein his addresssaid : —• " This is not the

, , first / occasion on which Freemasons have worked on this building , for the experienced Craftsmen will readily discover various marks and proof ' s of the labours of our ancient brethren . " Subsequently tbe brethren undertook the restoration of the east end and north side of the Ladv Chapel , ancl the work has been successfully carried

out at their expense , under the direction of the architect , who has charge of the entire restoration , Bro . G . Godwin , F . R . S ., under the superintendence of Bro . J . A . Randall , Prov . G . Sup . of AVorks , and under the immediate supervision of JBro . AVilliam Rice . The cost has been between £ 700 and £ 800 . First a slight face was taken off the front of that portion of the building , and then all decayed portions of the stone were cut out ancl supplied by new stone . The eastern portion of the ceiling has been cleaned . The old mullions

and tracery have been replaced by new on the original pattern . The upper portion of the north turret of the Lady Chapel has been replaced with new work , " while the other portion of it has been refaced . During the progress of the works the Lady Chapel was enriched with three memorial windows . Tho window at the east end is of a splendid description , and was given by Miss Lucas as a meiiiori-. il to her father , who was once an Alderman of Bristol ; the paintings represent the offering of the shepherds and the offering

of the magi . On the north side is another window in memory of Miss Lucas above-named . The window is set up by Miss Hobson , her friend , and the execution of the work is much admired . The window on tho south side is to the memory of Mr . AA'illiam Hall , late a schoolmaster of Redcliff Sunday School ; the painting represents Christ blessing little children . A finer day the Freemasons could not have hacl for their ceremony and in this they were most fortunate , for such a pageantry

requires an auspicious atmosphere , since the gorgeous aprons , ancl the splendid scarves , ancl the jewels and insignia , which shine and look so gay and imposing in the sun , are sadly dimmed and damaged by such rain as , it will probably be remembered , fell on