Provincial.

I can do for the Craft , but that little shall be done freely ancl heartily , for "Ladies , " I assure " you" I am devoted to Masonry . I will tell you why . Would you know- the secret , what Masonry is ? It is a peculiar system of morality , veiled in allegory , andillustrated by symbols . It is love to God , and love to man ; its three grand - principles are brotherly love , relief , and truth . —

"How grand in age , how fan- m youth , Arc holy friendship , love ancl truth . " How congenial aro its tenets to the duties of my sacred profession . To teach and preach glory to Gocl in the highest , on earth peace , goodwill towards men . Yes , I love Masonry ; in Masonry . man meets man as a brother , whatever his creed , or rank , or clime . And I feel proud to stand in tho distinguished position of Grand Chaplain of the Order . Leaving our good Bro . Symonds , the A . Cr .

Dir . of Cers ., to answer for himself' I again beg to tender my grateful thanks for the high compliment paid to the M . W . G . M . and the Grand Officers of England . I trust that the blessing of the Most High will rest upon the solemnities of this day , and upon the Craft in general , and I fervently pray that when our labours on earth are closed , we ancl ours may all be raised to the Grand Lodge above , not made with hands , but eternal in the heavens . ( Cheers . ) Bro . SY . IIONDS ( A . G . D . C . of tlio Grand Lodof England ) also

ge replied to the toast . Bro . tho Marquis of HABTINGTON ( the P . G . M . of Derbyshire ) proposed " The Prov . G . M . of AVest Yorkshire , the Right Hon . the Earl De Grey and Ripon . " ( Cheers . ) It ivas their duty ( said the noble Marquis ) to receive with respect ancl honour the person whom the Grand Master of England had appointed to ride over

that province ; but the Grand Master had not put them to a hard trial , for if he had left the appointment to the Masons of AVest Yorkshire themselves , they would , whether in their Provincial Grand Lodge , or in their respective lodges , have unanimously elected Earl De Grey as their Provincial Grand Master . ( Hear , hear , ancl applause . ) The men of the AVest Riding had in past years , not in their Masonic capacity , but in their capacity as citizens , conferred upon him the greatest honour which it w-as

possible for an Englisii commoner to receive—that of being the parliamentary representative of the Biding . ( Applause . ) Most of those present knew his Lordship intimately , and they knew that in the AVest Riding , whenever there had been anything requiring the practical manifestation of those principles which were intimately connected with Freemasonry , he hacl always been in the front , rank , and had been ever ready to help forward any movement for improving the social condition of the leand to knit together

peop , the various classes of society in one common brotherhood . ( Loud applause . ) The toast was drunk with great enthusiasm , and was followed by the singing of the ode " Hail , Masonry divine , " composed by Bro . Sparks which was heartily applauded , and received with loud cries of encore .

Bro . the Earl De GREY and Birox , in responding to the toast , assured his brethren that the recollection of the kindness which he had received that day would never fade from his mind , and that it afforded him the greatest encouragement at the commencement of bis career as their Provincial Grand Master that , while his services were so small , they had been pleased to accord to him so large a portion of their favour . AVhen first it was proposed to him by the Most AVorshipful tbe Grand Master that he should take upon '

himself that great and responsible oflice , he felt it his duty to represent the many impediments which stood in the way of his adequately performing its various duties . He felt bound to call to the Grand Master ' s recollection how much other claims had in past times prevented him from giving that attention to his more simple Masonic duties , which otherwise it would have boon a pleasure to him to have afforded , and ho might remind his brethren who were present of those claims ; still he remembered also that there was a result to

which , sooner or later , all official men were brought , namely , being turned into Her Majesty ' s Opposition . ( Laughter . ) AYhenever that unfortunate day did arrive , he might perhaps bo able to turn from the cares of his parliamentary oflice to a more complete devotion to the post of Provincial Grand Master . ( Applause . ) But until that day came—and he could not prophesy when it might happen , for he did not like to contemplate the matter ( laughter)—until it did

arrive , he should have to claim at their hands a large share of that indulgence which his noble friend , the Grand Master , bad promised him on thoir behalf . ( Hear , hear . ) He was confident they would think that he was best discharging his duties as a Mason by duly considering the circumstances in which he was at the present time placed ; but he could assure them that it would always be a pleasure to him to assist the Provincial Grand Lodge in any way that lie could

. ( Applause . ) He should , indeed , be ungrateful , after the reception which they had given him , if he did not clo his best to promote tbe interests of the province . ( Applause . ) AVitnessing ceremonies as mystical as those which had accompanied the

installation , and convivial meetings as agreeable as the present , were not the main duties of a Provincial Grand Master . There were other duties which must be attended to—duties of government , of administration , ancl counsel ; these they might demand of him at any time . Those duties were of a most important character , apart from those special Masonic matters to which he dare not at the present moment allude , because he knew there were those present whose acute intelligence would quickly seize the slihtest hint—would

g quickly divine the secrets of the Order , and would he ready with many an enticing and perplexing question when they ascended from those lower regions to the blissful realms above . ( Laughter ancl cheers . ) There ivere various objects which came before the public of sufficient importance to show the magnitude of the duties of Freemasonry . They had the management , maintenance , and support of those great and noble charities which were the ornament of tbe Order , ancl which had a special claim to the regard of this province .

Thoy had also to maintain that principle of charity and brotherly affection which formed the foundation of their Order . ( Hear , hear . ) Some might say that they were principles of universal application . He trusted that Freemasons would never forget the lesson which hacl been impressed upon them by the Prov . G . Chaplain , that their actions were not to be restricted to the circuit of their Order , but to extend to tbe limits of mankind ; still be doubted whether the time would ever come when they could afford to dispense with any one of those links which united men together , and hound them in the bonds of mutual affection . ( Hear , bear . ) Little could they clo so at the present time , because they

lived in days of wars and rumours of wars ; they lived in times when they saw national principalities overthrown , and new states spring up in their yilaee ; they lived in times when dissensions afflicted not only countries under monarchical governments , but tfiose under the most modern ancl improved governments ; surely this , then , was not a time when they could afford to dispense with that bond of union , secret though it might be—impalpable , yet strong and mighty—which bound together Freemasons of every clime ,

which made them feel that they had brethren at the antipodesbrethren in every quarter of the globe , and which enabled them to rely in the hour of danger and difficulty upon the out-stretclied hand of their common brotherhood . ( Loud cheers . ) To be called upon to preside over a craft founded upon such principles , and formed for such objects , was a matter which called for the most serious consideration from him who had undertaken those important duties . He could assure his brethren that it w-as in that spirit be

hacl entered upon his task to-day , and that he should endeavour to discharge it . ( Applause . ) He knew that he had much need of their forbearance , assistance , and encouragement , ancl they had enabled him to bope that he should receive it at their hands . ( Applause . ) " Let us , " concluded the noble Lord , " work together for the good of Masonry ; let us labour for its spread ; let us maintain its principles ; and it is my earnest hope , and my ardent task as long as I may be called upon to govern tbe Craft , that those great principles may be maintained unsullied—that the reputation of West Yorkshire may not be tarnished , and that I may be enabled to hand down the office with undiminished and unsullied honour . "

( Loud cheering . ) The PROV . GRAND MASTER again rose , and proposed "The R . AV . D . Prov . G . M . and tlio Prov . G . Officers of West Yorkshire . " His Lordship said they all knew Dr . Fearnley's zeal for Masonry , bis love for the Craft , and the wisdom , discretion , and justice with which be had administered to the affairs of this province . ( Applause . ) AVhen he ( Earl De Grey ) accepted oflice , he named it as an indispensable condition that Bro . Dr . Fearnley should continue Deput

y Grand Master . ( Applause . ) Bro . Dr . FEAENLEI * responded , and expressed his best wishes for tbe continued progress of Freemasonry . The principles of tbe Order were right , its rules and regulations were fair , and , indeed , there there was no nobler institution of a social kind in existence . ( Hear , hear . ) AVith an institution so good , ancl brethren energetic , and desirous of doing their duty , the Order could not fail to prosper .

( Applause . ) Bro . Dr . Fearnley concluded by proposing , in complimentary terms , " The Provincial Grand Chaplains . " Bro . the Hon . and Rev . P . Y . SAVILE appropriately returned thanks , and referred to the warm attachment which his father ( the late Earl of Mexborough ) had for the cause of Freemasonry , and the respect and honour winch had been shown him by the Masons of AVest Yorkshire on different occasions . ( Hear , hear . ) The PROV . GRAND MASTER proposed " The P . G . M . of Derbyshire

and the Visiting Brethren , " which was responded to by Bi-o . the Marquis of HABTINGTON , who mentioned that be was connected with Yorkshire by relationship and oilier ties , and that he deemed it a great honour to be so . ( Applause . ) Bro . the Rev . J . B . FEKRIS proposed "The Mayor of Leeds " ( Bro . J . Kitson ) . Bro . J . KITSON responded , and on behalf of the town of Leeds ,