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eluded with the Hallelujah Chorus . The exertions of the choir gave the greatest satisfaction . The Prov . G . M . and Brethren returned to the Town Hall in the same order . The Prov . G . M . having gone through the usual business of the Lodge , proceeded to appoint his officers for the ensuing year , viz . : —Bros . C . J . Stone , No . 160 ,

S . G . W . ; S . Harvey , No . 694 , J . G . W . ; J . Hannan , No . 694 , G . Treas . ; S . Maunder , No . 199 , G . Sec . ; Rev . T . Scott , No . 905 , G . Chap . ; T . Brounker , No . 905 , G . Reg . ; O . Maggs , No . " 694 , S . G . D . ; W . Briant , No . 542 / J . G . D . ; J . R . Brown , No . 160 , G . S . B . ; T . Patch , No . 605 , G . Org . ; G . Evans , No . 905 , G . Sup . of W . ; N . Maskel , No . 694 , Dir . of Cer . The whole of the duties of the Grand Lodge being gone through , the Prov . G . Master closed the Lodge in due form .

At four o ' clock the R . W . Prov . G . M . and seventy of the Brethren proceeded to the Antelope Hotel , where a most sumptuous dinner awaited them , provided by Bro . Knight in the first style , comprising every delicacy of the season , — -the dinner , the dessert , and the fine flavour of the wines , gave the greatest satisfaction to all present . The usual Masonic toasts were given ; the severe illness which the Prov . G . M . had lately undergone , rendered him so weak as to be unable to speak at any length , but he gave the toasts in a peculiar happy manner .

The Prov . G . M . then gave " The Rev . Bro . B . Maturin , " who in reply , said , — He thanked the R . W . the Grand Master for the very kind , and indeed flattering manner in which he had proposed his health , and also the Rev . Bro . Pearce for the very efficient manner in which he had afforded his valuable services in assisting the Brethren to give expression to their warm-hearted feelings . He felt great pleasure in meeting the Brethren . Their reception of him was so kind , their attention so marked during the solemn services of the sanctuary , that he trusted that pleasure

to himself would be accompanied with profit to them . It was indeed a happy day to him thus to meet with an assembly of kindred spirits . It refreshed his soul , wearied with the toils and labours necessarily connected with the charge of a large and important parish . It was indeed refreshing to his spirit to be permitted the free and friendly interchange of feeling amid a company of Brethren , knit together in unity , and who had greeted his presence with such a warm and fraternal reception .

< c The thread of our life would be dark , heaven knows , If it were not with friendship and love intertwined ; And I care not how soon I sink to repose , When these blessings shall cease to be dear to my mind /' But it was not only because he loved and valued their society that he was present among them , but because he admired the principles of that venerated order of which they had the honour and happiness to be free and accepted members .

Masonry was indeed a venerable order , to be honoured for her antiquity . " Her hoary head was a crown of righteousness . " The student , who loved to explore amid the arena of the past , or to follow up the stream of time till it conducted him far beyond those ages that were wrapped in darkness—the antiquarian , who loved to turn over the dusty and time-worn tomes of the mighty dead—each would find in Masonry a theme and a subject of surpassing interest . Existing in the dark ages of antiquity , frowned upon at one time , caressed at another , still

unscathed , unchanged by time—the secrets of her order preserved inviolable , she still lived and flourished in her virgin pride and purity , and of her it might be said , "Thou goest forth , dread , fathomless , alone . " Masonry was a soul-exalting science . The subjects of her contemplation were the works of Nature ' s God , amid these she loved to conduct forth her students , and to impress their minds with feelings of the deepest veneration for the G . A . O . T . U . From nature ' s work she

ascended to the contemplation of Nature ' s God . The vaulted roof of heaven , the sun , the moon , the stars , the laws of gravity and of order that regulated the system of creation , each and all subjects of kindred interest , engaged the enlightened attention of her members , while at the same time , by the peculiar laws of her order , they impressed the heart with significant lessons of moral worth . Masonry VOL . I . 4 f