Provincial Grand Lodge Of Kent.

duct himself that their kind feelings and good wishes would ever continue the same as theu , for it would be otherwise a hard thing for him ever to lose that love and respect which he believed they had for him , and which he could assure

them was , and ever would be , so dear . During the past year he had consecrated two new Lodges , and would shortly have to consecrate another . All that he could do for the

prosperity of the Province he would do , and he assured them of his cordial sympathy and desire for the welfare and happiness of the brethren .

The Prov . G . Master then proposed the V . W . Bro . James Smith Eastes D . P . G . M . He said it was a toast that was generally drunk with unmingled feeling of p leasure ; on the present occasion he proposed it with

mingled feelings of pleasure and regret ; pleasure because it was a great satisfaction to him to know that be should still have the invaluable services of Bro . Eastes at his right hand in the Province ; and regret at the heavy domestic

affliction that had so recently befallen that good and excellent brother . He had received a most touching letter from Bro . Eastes in responce to a letter of condolenco sent him from their preliminary meeting at Canterbury , but on

account of the presence of Bro . Eastes at Grand Lodge he ( the P . G . M . ) thought it best to treat it sub silentio , so as not to again open the wounds that time alone could heal . He trusted everyone , in drinking the toast , would ask the

G . A . O . T . U . to grant Bro . Eastes health and strength to support him in his affliction , and that the cloud now over his life would soon pass away . The other toasts given were the Provincial Grand Officers Present and Past , the

Masonic Charities , the visitors , the Committee of the Emulation Lodge , and the Tyler ' s toast . The musical arrangements were under the control of Bro . J . Kiff , the singers included the Misses Ada Beck and Marion Ellis , and Bros . T . W . Page , W . H . Webb , and J . Kift .

The Beneficence Of Masonry.

THE BENEFICENCE OF MASONRY .

THE voice of this Institution comes to us through centuries , and generations join in the words which tell of its labours for the good of man . From " vanished years , deep toned , like some cathedral chant , " the music

swells into a mighty chorus of harmonious speech , touching the heart of the earnest listener with the story it bears in its rhythmic lines of brotherly love , relief , aud truth . With

such a trinity it must go on conquering and to conquer . Selfishness shall flee from its presence , prejudice vanish from its sight , evil disappear on its approach , and men , with reverent mien bend the head in admiration as it

passes down the years . Noiseless as the march of thought , and strong as the Temple of Truth , it has found its way into every land where suffering abides , where want needs a haven or humanity a prayer . Its faithful

disci ples bearing its banner broad and bright , wave the symbol in the rays of the rising sun , and hold it aloft to be kissed by the soft light of the twinkling stars . Its benefactions know no slumber , and for their duties make " all seasons summer . " To the

great of earth it offers the joy and peace which with impartial hand it tenders to the humble and the poor . Of all who seek to serve at its tables and guard its altars it asks but one question , " Is he worthy and well qnalified ?"

Were he king—without this qualification ho could not enter . Were he peasant — with it as a sesame , tho bolts fly back , the gates open to his approach , and all the hidden wealth which its temples hold is uncovered to his view .

Through war and pestilence and famine it holds its way , turning the sword of the soldier into the ploughshare of good deeds , the breath of the scourge into whispered words of fraternal comfort , aud the cry of hunger into the

prayer of gratitude . Its living subjects bear as a talisman against all evil the Compasses and the Square , made radiant by the effulgence of its greatest li ght . Its dead

sleep with the emblem of innocence upon their breasts , that it may bear witness of their lives , which the evergreen , * ts close companion , tells us will be eternal . —Grand Master Davidson , Georgia .

Do good by stealth , and blush to find it fame . —Pope . Suit the action to the word , the word to the action .

Carnarvon Lodge, No. 804.

CARNARVON LODGE , No . 804 .

TII E regular meetiug of this Lodgo took place at the Masonio Hall , Waterloo-road , Havant , on the 5 th instant , tho alterations and extension of tho building having been completed . As it was the Annual Festival there was a good must or of tho members , over thirty being present , besides twenty visitors . Tho Lodge was opened at three o'clock , by the I . P . M . Bro . H . VV .

Smith-Parsons . The minut » s being confirmed , and th « ballot takou for a candidate , who was elected , the initiation of Mr . Best , win was unable to attend the last meeting , was proceeded with ; after which the W . M ., Bro . James J . Bascombe , took the gavel , and proceeded with the installation of his successor , Bro . John J . Hardy Bascombe .

For the last fifteen yeara , with four exceptions , it has been the custom for the outgoiug Master to instal his successor , and on this occasion it was ably performed ; indeed , it oan be said that the rendering of the ritual and the ceremonial could not have been surpassed . It met with general approbation from all present . The Board of Installed

Masters being closed , the W . M . proceeded to invest his Officers , as follow : —Bros . A . A . Wood S . W ., G . H . Tuck J . W ., H . W . Smith Parsons P . M . Sec , J . Collings P . M . D . C , E . S . Sprigings S . D ., W . P Bowler J . D ., J . T . Slade I . G ., J . Leader Org ., J . Collins and J . M , Godfrey Stewards , W . Blackmore Tyler . The remainder ofthe cere

raony was then completed , and a hearty vote of thanks accorded to the Installing Master . The Lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to the banquet room , where fifty-one sat down to an excellent repast , provided by Mr . Buller , of Osborne-road , Southsea ,

the W . M . presiding . The nsual toasts were proposed and responded to , and several brethren contributed to the pleasures of the evening by well-rendered songs , accompanied on the pianoforte by Brother F . Wilton Past Provincial Grand Organist . Amongst the Visitors present were Bros . G . E . Lancaster Prov . Grand Eos ; istrar , W . E .

Gilbert W . M . 257 , W . A . Hill W . M . 309 , W . Bowtell W . M . 342 , J . S . Senior W . M ., G . Darby P . M . 1703 , G . S . Hill W . M ., W . J . Borrow S . W . 1958 , and several others .

A Quarterly General Court of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls was held at Freemasons' Hall on Saturday last , when there was a full attendance ofthe Governors , under the presidency of Bro . Horace Brooks

Marshall , J . P ., CO ., Past Grand Treasurer . The business was of a purely formal character , a number of candidates being placed on the list for the October Election , and it , was decided that fifteen should be then elected . A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceedings .

Bro . Raynham W . Stewart presided over the Quarterly General Court of the Governors and Subscribers of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , held at Freemasons '

Hall on Monday last . There was a good attendance of tho members of the Court . A list of fifty-four candidates was handed down on the recommendation of the

General Committee , from which eleven boys shall ho elected at the Quarterly General Court to be held in October next . Pour out of five additional petitions were deferred for consideration . The proceedings concluded with the customan votes of thanks .

The Committee of Management of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution held their monthl y meeting , at Freemasons' Hall , on Wednesday . Bro . James Brett P . G . P ., was in the chair , and there were present Bros .

John Bulmer , C . A . Cottebrnne P . G . P ., J . E . Dawson , Charles Kempton , F . Adlard , Alex . Forsyth , Hugh Cotter , C . H . Driver , Joseph Freomau , J . Newton , C . H . Hill , Walter Martin , C . F . Hogard , S . Brooks , W . Bellekambor ,

Jabez Hogg P . G . D ., E . M . Money , Thomas Cubitt P . G . P ., and James Terry P . G . S . B . ( Secretary ) . The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and verified , the Secretary reported the death of four annuitants on tbe

Male Fund , and that he had received a cheque for £ 1000 from Grand Lodge , being the amount voted in March last towards the requirements of the Institution . The Warden ' s report wns read , and a vote of thanks passed

to the House Committee of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , for haviug granted permission to the School Band to attend at the Institution at Croydon on the occasion of tiie recent visit paid by the Festival Stewards . The

report of the Finance Committee was road and adopted , and ordered to be entered on the minutes . An application from tho widow of a late annuitant , for half of her husband ' s annuity , was acceded to , and five petitions ( two male and

three widows' ) were considered find accepted , and the names ordered to be entered on the list of candidates for the election in May 1888 . A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings .