Provincial Lodges.

our D . P . G . M ., with all the honours . Drunk with enthusiasm , and honours . Br . Medcalf , the D . P . G . M ., in reply said—W . M ., my much loved brother and highly esteemed friend , also my much beloved and respected Br . Davis , S . AV ., Br . J . W ., and brethren generally , to you all for the kind manner in which you have drunk my health , I am deeply grateful . There are , it is true , amongst you many warm and personal friends , at the same time amongst my brethren I now begin to see many strange faces , but I cannot but dwell on this feature , without viewing in it the

increase of Freemasonry . I am delighted to see so large a company assembled to day to do honour to the W . M-, who is most deserving of all the honour we can do him . I hope this day will make impressions on his ( the W . M . 's ) mind , never to be effaced , and may the Great Architect of the Universe long spare onr much-loved Br . Dalzielto be with us . Brethren , I love you as men and as Masons . I shall always do all in my power to promote harmony and affection . —( Cheers ) . Brotherly love is the only solid ground of union and prosperity . May the Great Architect of the Universe bless your

families and firesides . May all our future assemblies be as harmonious and peaceful as we have been to day . Br . Wm . Berkley , P . M . 586 , and P . G . S . AV ., next rose and said—Brethren , often have I . risen to address my brethren in various Lodges in the province , but never have ! risen with feelings of more pleasure and pride than on the present occasion in rising to propose to you the health of our well beloved brother and AV . M ., Br . Dalziel—( cheers ) . Ever active— what Lodge has not been indebted to him ? Looking back , we see him as the founder of Northern Counties , the father of

St . Peter ' s , the mainstay of 24 , and the sheet-anchor of all the Lodges in the province —( loud cheers ) . I might go on eulogising , but you all know'how deeply Br . Dalziel is respected and beloved both in Masonic and in private life . With the warmest feeling of my heart , I beg to propose to you in a bumper , " the health of our AV-M ., Br . Dalziel "—( cheers ) . Drunk with enthusiasm , and Masonic honours . The W . M . in reply said—brethren , it is impossible for me to express- to you my feelings—Br . Berkley has used much flattering compliments . I will not say flattery , because I believe it proceeds from the inmost recesses of an honest heart ; but I cannot but

feel , brethren , that I am undeserving of that compliment . I do thank you all most sincerely , for the honour you have conferred on me in drinking my health in so warm and brotherly a manner . I am deeply grateful . The officers I have chosen are , I believe , men with a high sense of their duties , and , with their assistance , I hope this day twelve months to resign the trust reposed in me , if not improved , at any rate not impaired . My highly respected Br . Davis , who has kindly consented to be my S . W ., is qualified to do any duty in a Masonic Lodge , and so is Br . Harrison , my much esteemed

J . W . ; in all my officers I have the fullest confidence . Brethren , I again thank you for the honour you have done me in drinking my health in the very warm manner you have done —( cheers ) . The AV . M ., after a short pause , rose and said—Now , brethren , for the next toast do charge a bumper . A more pleasing duty has not devolved on me than to propose the health of Br . Mbrk , your much-respected late AV . M . —( cheers ) . And whom now we are proud to have as a P . M . of Northern Counties Lodge . During my whole Masonic career never have I seen a Lodge more

harmoniously conducted than this Lodge has been under Br . Mork , during the past twelve months ; I have extreme pleasure , therefore , in proposing " the health in a bumper , of Br . Mbrk , now a P . M . of this Lodge "—( cheers ) . Br . Mork in reply , said—brethren , I shall not attempt to be eloquent , but shall simply , but gratefully return my sincere thanks for the very flattering manner in which you have drunk my health—I am deeply grateful . I am happy , also , to know that the Lodge is in a very prosperous state on my leaving the chair , much of that prosperity , is , brethren ,

as you know , owing to the indefatigable exertions of Br . Punshon , our much-respected treasurer —( hear , hear ) . Again , brethren , I thank you all most sincerely . The W . M . then gave " Prosperity to Lodge 24 , " coupling " the health of Br . Johnson , " the universally respected W . M . of that Lodge . Br . Johnson , made a neat and feeling reply . Then followed the health of Br . AA m . Berkley , by Br . E . D . Davies , the S . AV ., who said Br . Berkely not only was a P . M . of Northern Counties Lodge , but held the high office of P . G . S . AV . for the province , and also enjoyed the universal respect of his fellow-citizens , who had conferred on him one of the proudest civic distinctions—( cheers ) . Br . Berkley in feeling terms acknowledged the com-