Provincial Lodges.

of brotherly love and charity . That was the noblest of all bonds . He trusted it would long continue to be the distinguishing bond , and keep the brethren of the Silurian Lodge and the members of the province together . He found he was entrusted with the toast of the evening . He was exceedingly sorry it did not fall into abler hands . Very much might be said about it , but it would be a wasteful excess of words to do more than mention the name of the gentleman who had . presided OA'er that province for thirty yearsand who was loved and honoured as few

, men were by those who knew him best . ( Cheers . ) Turning to the chairman he -said , Colonel Tyne , I have only to propose your good health . May the staff of God's promises help you on your way , so that when that time comes which comes to all of us , the lamp of God ' s love may light you through the dark valley ancl guide you in safety to the golden land . And I am sure with one heart and voice all present will say , " So mote it be . " ( Loud cheers . )

The Chairman said if he hacl some difficulty , when assembled in Lodge , in thanking them , he' felt more difficulty , now , after so eloquent , so feeling , and so kind a speech from his excellent friend , Dr . Bowles . He modestly likened his speaking to the flight of a very humble bird ; but he ( the chairman ) thought it was move like the flight of the eagle , soaring with his eye on the Sun of Masonry ; and in a flight wliich they all looked upon with admiration , he described , in eloquent , glowing and Masonic terms , the vises of tho Lodge , which , he trusted , Ainder the blessing

of the Supreme Architect of the Universe , would speedily rise in that town , the corner stone of which , to-day , he had the high honour and gratification of laying—he trusted that the blessing of the Most High might attend that Lodge , and that it might , on its completion , bear those fruits wished for , and , he might say , foretold . It was now indeed a long time since he first had tho honour of presiding over that province . Many of those present were not then born . In fact a new birth in Masonry hacl taken place , for then it was almost a dead letter . He felt at the time young and inexperienced in Masonry . Still he Avas the son of a Mason of merit and distinction ; and feeling himself unequal to the task , he consulted his royal master , the late Duke

oi Sussex , who appointed him , and he should never forget the words Avhich he uttered , " Let Masonry take its course . Attempt not to force it , and the time will come when Masonry Avill be a profession you AV ' UI have pride in . Masonry never dies , and it will resuscitate again in the province of Monmouth . " These were the words of the then Grand Master , and days like the one they had just had , showed that Masonry was not dead here , and that they stood as high in the Masonic world as any province in the kingdom . He felt it was a proud clay to preside on such an

occasion ; and in conclusion made some graceful remarks on the able manner in which the D . P . G . M . discharged tho duties of his office , and those other officers of the province whom he had appointed , all of whom were recommended by tho D . P . G . M . The silver trowel , with which they had presented him would be to him more valuable than any silver plate from the jeweller ' s shop , and he should hand it down to his son , whom he was proud to see present on this occasion , with the hope that it would be an heir loom in a family of Masons . ( Loud cheers . )

Br . Rolls said it gave him the greatest pleasure to propose to them the health of ono of the oldest and best Masons in England , and AVIIO was looked up to with the greatest reverence- It was the health ot Col . Tynte , the father of their chairman , and grandfather of Capt . Tynte , another of their officers , and who , amongst other good tilings which might be said of him , had contributed two whole bucks for their banquet . " The health of Col . Tynte , the P . G . M . for Somerset . " ( Loud cheers . ) The Chairman responded .

Br . Kent , P . G . M . for South Australia , said he Avas a stranger to nearly all in the room , except Brother Thomas , who , he was proud to say , was a fellow-colonist , and who was received into Masonry in the Lodge which ho ( Mr . Kent ) presided over for two years . Hoiv Mr . Thomas had improved that circumstance his position that day was an evidence . In South Australia Masonry had great difficulties to contend with for a long time , but it was now overcoming them ; and there was one singular fact in its history—the ladies were in its favour , because it made the members better husbands and better fathers than they were before . At the present time there were