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by about 120 of the Brethren . The Chairman , the Prov . G . M ., was supported on the right by the lit . W . Bro . Capt . Bowyer , the Prov . G . M . of Oxfordshire , the V . W . Bro . Thomas Ward , Dep . Prov . G . M . of Staffordshire , & c . ; and on the left by the Prov . G . Chaplain , and W . Bro . C . J . Vigne , Past Prov . G . S . W . for Dorsetshire . The vice-chairs were occupied by Bro . Col . Hogg , Prov . G . S . W ., and Bro . Griffin , of the Portland Lodge . The room was nicely decorated with flags , evergreens , and flowers . The cloth haying been withdrawn , the Chairman , with

a few suitable remarks , gave " The Queen / ' which was most loyally received , all the Brethren joining in the National Anthem . The Chairman next gave " The Consort of her Majesty and the rest of the Royal Family . " The Chairman , in proposing " The Army and Navy , " alluded to the important events now transpiring , and eulogised the gallant services of those brave men by whom the honour and dignity of our glorious country was upheld , and doubted not but that they would continue to deserve well of their country . The toast was received with great applause , the band playing Rule Britannia . " The Chairman said he was

convinced the toast he was about to propose would be well received by the Brethren present , not only because the subject of it was the faithful ally of our Queen , but also because he . was a Freemason . After passing a suitable encomium on the gallant French army and navy , the Chairman gave the health of his Majesty the Emperor of the French and our gallant allies ( loud cheers ) . The band played the French National Air . In proposing the first Masonic toast , the Chairman said he need offer but few remarks thereon , as the ruler of the Craft in England was so well known to them all , if not personally , at least by name .

They knew how their Rt . W . Grand Master loved the Brotherhood to which they had the honour to belong , and how he laboured to promote the art of Masonry . He was not less esteemed as a Mason by the body than he was by all who had the pleasure personally to know him by his many virtues . He gave them health , long life , and happiness to ' the Earl of Zetland . The health of the Deputy Grand Master of England , the Earl of Yarborough , and the other officers of the Grand Lodge of England , was next proposed by the Chairman and duly honoured . The Rt . W . Bro . the Prov . G . M . of Oxfordshire returned thanks as one of the officers

of the Grand Lodge . The W . Bro . Ward then gave the health of their worthy chairman , feeling assured that one so worthy and so well known to all of them , did not require many remarks from him . He had much pleasure in asking them to do honour to the toast , and trusted he might live many years to preside over them ( loud cheers ) . The Prov . G . M ., in returning thanks , said , he was proud to stand in the position he did . He had felt an additional pleasure in coming amongst them that day , which might be accounted for by the anticipations of the interesting ceremony connected with the business of the Lodge . He had never

presided over a more numerous body of his Brethren than he had that day seen before him , and he trusted that the rite they had witnessed would long be remembered by them , and not only be remembered by them , but that much good might spring out of it . He hoped the Brethren of the Portland Lodge would strive to become proficient in the art of Masonry , and be an honour to the Fraternity . He begged to thank them for the honour they had done him . The Chairman called on the Brethren to fill a bumper to the next toast , for he had to propose the health of one who was endeared to them all as a most worthy

Brother , well versed in the art of the order . His Deputy , Bro . Ward , was , he believed , upwards of half a century old as a Mason , and he could assure the Brethren that he placed the greatest confidence in him , and he knew that if at any time he ( the chairman ) was prevented from attending their meetings the duties would be most efficiently performed in his absence . He knew this from experience . The talents of his worthy friend and deputy had been tested . He trusted that

Bro . Ward would still long be spared to occupy the position he now so ably filled . The toast was received with great applause , the band playing "The fine old English gentleman . " Brother Ward returned thanks , and said if he did not deserve all that their worthy chairman had said about him , he endeavoured to do so . It was true he felt the greatest zeal for the craft , and he was desirous at all times to deserve well of his Brethren . So long as he continued to hold the office he had the honour to do , it would be his study to promote the interests of the Pro-