Colonial.

evening , which , though the first occasion of the kind in Ceylon , was an undoubted and complete success . The brethren having done ample justice to tbe excellent fare provided for them , the W . Master requested them to charge their glasses , after which be rose and said : —Masons are never wanting in loyalty ; one of our first lessons is allegiance to the Sovereign , and in all Masonic gatherings , the Queen is always the first toast , I will therefore propose with all honours , — " The Queen . "

God bless her . The W . Master , in proposing the next toast , remarked -. —The next toast ou our list is one , which on this occasion has a very peculiar interest attached to it , and I would enjoin the brethren to receive it with every possible honour ajjd enthusiasm , it is , — " The Prince of Wales , the Princess of Wales , and the rest of the Royal Family ., ' The brethren will observe the flag of Denmark occupying a prominent position on the west side of the room ; it is there advisedly to do honour to

her whose health , I believe I am correct in saying , is now proposed for the first time by any public body in Colombo ; it will , therefore , be a lasting and a proud record in the annals of tbe Sphinx Lodge , that they had the high honour of being the first to drink Her Royal Higlmess ' s health . He then said , the next toast I have the pleasure to propose is— " The Grand Master of Ireland , " His Grace the Duke of Leinster , a nobleman who had Masonry at heart , and under whose kind and

vigilant rule the Masonic body of Ireland always has flourished , and , I am fully satisfied , always will flourish . He said , I will now propose to the brethren the health of the Deputy Grand Master , and the other Grand Officers of Ireland . I can assure you that all the Grand Officers are ever anxious to promote the good of every lodge under them , ancl they at all times offer all the assistance and kindness in their power . He then rose and observed—The next toast on my list is that of the Grand

, Master of England and Scotland , the Eail of Zetland , and the Duke of Athol , noblemen who had long held their respective offices , and under whose rule thc utmost gooc . feeling , cordiality , and true Masonic spirit always existed among the lodges of the three countries . Bro . WILLIE , W . M ., of Lodge No . 665 , being both an English and Scotch Mason , returned thanks in appropriate terms . Bro . COLOS ____ WADDY , in rising to submit the next toast , said , —Brethren , it was only after I had taken my

seat at this table that I was told I had been selected to propose one of the toasts of the evening . Fortunately ifc'is one which I feel convinced will in any case be warmly received by every one present . To me it is indeed' a labour of love , ' and it is doubly gratifying to me to have to propose the health of the oldest friend I have in Ceylon . When I name him I am sure all the glasses on the table will jingle in their anxiety to be drained to the health of the Master of the Sphinx Lodge , Bro . Colonel

Maydwell . ( Tremendous applause . ) Well , brethren , was I not right in saying my toast would be enthusiastically rsceived ? No wonder that you have thus responded to it . You all know the worth of 3-0111- Master ; a man whose whole heart is enlisted in the good cause of pure Masonic principles , —whose untiring zeal in that cause is not less remarkable than his sound judgment and correct working in lodge . ( Renewed applause . ) The W . MASTER rose and responded as follows : —I reall

y feel most deeply the very kind manner in which my old friend and brother , Colonel Waddy , has proposed my health , and the really cordial , and , I may say , enthusiastic reception it has met with at the hands of the brethren present . I feel it very much , and return my grateful thanks to the brethren for their kindness . This is the fourth time I have been placed in the high office I hold , of Master of a lodge ,

and I would enjoin all young Masons , so many of whom I see around me , to cultivate their new Order , for the longer they really act up to the principles of Masonry the more they will like it . During the past six months the lodge has not been idle , for sixteen brethren have been raised , thirty-one passed , and thirty initiated , We have held weekly meetings , and I fear I shall be obliged to require still to meet once a weekfor there

, is yet a great deal of work on hand . I must really record my deep sense of the very able assistance I have received from all the officers of the lodge , from Bro . levers , S . W ., downwards . One and all have been everything I could possibly wish , and have never absented themselves from any meeting unless they were obliged from absolute necessity ; Still , although this lodge has recently so flourished and prospered that at the present

time its members number , I believe , upwards of sixty , you should not forget that there has been a time of danger to the lodge , that it has had to contend with great difficulties , and that gra . titude is due to a brother , who I regret is not among us this

evening . I refer to Bro . Thompson , P . M ., whose steady zeal and energy has carried the lodge safely through the storm . Great praise is due to Bro . Thompson for his indefatigable exertions , and I am quite sure the brethren present will unite with me in regretting the cause of his absence this evening , his illhealth . I must congratulate the brethren on the present state of the finances , which enables the lodge not only to . contribute to Masonic charities in the mother countrybut also to the

, various local charities of the island in which they reside . In conclusion , allow me again warmly to express my thanks to the brethren , and the great pleasure I bave had in presiding over a lodge which , though so large , is so harmonious and brotherly . — Bro . GRINDEOD iu moving the next toast said—I have ' great pleasure in proposing the toast placed in my hands , namely , the Worshipful Master of Lodge No . 58 , Bro .

Colonel Waddy , and I feel sure that it will be received in the same cordial manner as those that have preceded it . — Bro . Colonel WADDY , in returning thanks for the "Queen ' s Own" Lodge , No . 58 , said it gave him much pleasure personally at being there as a guest of the Sphinx , and he was sure every member of his lodge joined in tbe feeling . When he arrived in . the island he found Masonry all but defunct in Ceylon . He was indeed proud to feel that the " Queen ' s Own" Lodge had

been the means of imparting fresh life into the Craft , and that from it had arisen the new and thriving Sphinx Lodge , whose guests they were that night . ( Applause . )—Bro . BAINS said ,: — The toast which has been assigned to me is that of the health of Bro . Wyllie , W . M . of Lodge 685 , Kandy . I regret that it has not devolved upon a more fluent speaker , and one better acquainted with Bro . Wyllie , but I think that nothing could be

more gratifying to the members of the Sphinx Lodge than the high compliment paid them by Bro . Wyllie , in coming to join , them in this celebration—a conclusive proof of his zeal for the prosperity of the Craft ; and I have much pleasure in proposinghis health . —Bro . WYLLIE returned thanks in a few words fertile honour which had been done him . —The W . M . then rose and said , —I bave now a toast to propose to tbe brethren , which I am very sure you will cordially receive . Masons are noted for their hospitality , and I am very proud to see so many guests among us this evening . I will therefore give , you " The

Visitors , " with which I would couple tbe name of Bro . Major Sim . —Bro . Major SIM responded . —Bro . H . R . LEVERS proposed the next toast—the , healths of the new Wardens of Lodge No . 107 . —Bros . GHINDROD and RAINS returned thanks . —Bro . L-ORENZ said that it was not enough to do homage to the rising stars of the lodge ; and he could take the liberty of proposing two stars that had set—the Past Wardens , and , with them , the Officers of the Lodge . — -In returning thanks for this toast , Bro .

H . R . IEVERS said , —I can assure you that the very kind and cordial manner in which you have drunk my health gives mono small pride and gratification . Believe me , I consider that it is a very great honour to me to bave been Senior Warden of a lodge so large and important as No . 107 may now fairly claim to be . —Bro . WYLLIE proposed the next toast , and paid a high compliment to the zeal and ability of Bro . Lemarchand , the Treasurer .- —Bro . LEMJVRCIIAMD responded . —In proposing the

next toast , Bro . Dr . DANE said , —We have had a great many toasts proposed this evening , but the list would be incompletewithout that which I have the pleasure to introduce , namely . " The Stewards , " to whom we are indebted for an entertainment which I have never seen equalled in my long experienceof Masonic banquets . We know that King Solomon , firat Grand Master of our Order , built the Great Temple ; but I feel confident the refreshments supplied to his Masons could not

possibly have equalled the magnificent feast provided by ths Stewards on this occasion , for the more favoured Masons of thenineteenth century . —Bro . N . D . SCHULTZE responded . —The W . M . said , —I have now one more toast to propose to you , and will not detain you many minutes . The increase of Masonry has extended to a body of gentlemen who are justly esteemed , by everybody , and whose hospitable board is always , open to all , a body who have long been resident in the island , —the officers

of the Ceylon Rifle Regiment . A short time ago there were hut two Masons in the Regiment ; now , Masonry is rapidly extending itself in the corps . I give you " The Officers of the Ceylon Rifle Regiment , " coupling therewith the name of Bro . Major Hook . —Bro . Major HOOK , in a most appropriate speech , returned thanks on his own behalf and for the officers of the Rifles . —Bro . WILLIAMS then proposed "The Ladies , " to which Bro . KINS responded . —Tho Tyler then gave the concluding toast , after which the brethren separated .