Provincial Grand Lodge Of Kent.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF KENT .

nnHE Masons of the Provinco of Kent assembled on JL the 10 th inst ., at Ash ford , under tho presidency of tho Provincial Grand Master the Rt . Hon . the Earl of Amherst , who was supported by Bro . James Smith Eastes tho

Deputy of the county , several Officers of the Grand Lodge of England , and a largo number of present and past Officers of Kout and other members of the Provincial Lodtro . It was estimated that about two huudred and

fifty Masons were present at the meeting , which was held at tho Assembly Rooms . Tho Earl of Amherst having regularly opened the Provincial Grand Lodge , the minutes of last ear ' s gathering , held at Bromley , wero read and duly coufirm d . The accounts of the Prov . Grand Treasurer

wero next submitted , adopted , and ordered to bo entered on the minutes . Then followed the election of a Treasurer for the ensuing year , tho choice of the members falling upon Bro . Russell , who had filled the appointment during the last year , and had given every satisfaction in the discharge

of tbe duties attached to it . No other name was . submitted 1 o tho Provincial Lodge , and Bro . Russell ' s election was received with acclamation . Ho replied , acknowledging the honour the Provinco had confenod on him , and hoped

ho might continue to give satisfaction . The following brethren were then appointed nnd invosted as the Provincial Grand Officers for tho ensuing year , tho Earl of Amherst addressing to each a few words of congratulation ou their appointment : —

Bro . Cupt . W . H . Tilden-Pattenson 1854 Senior Warden John Smith Lovett P . M . 709 ... Junior Warden Rev . H . M . Maugham , M . A ., 1915 Senior Chaplain Rev . J . Stewart , M . A ., W . M . 1414 Junior Chaplain

— Russell ... ... Treasurer Alfred Spencer ... ... Seoretary « Fredk . S . Stenning P . M . 1725 ... Registrar ¦ •' " •" ' Rnbt . Andrews Gibbons P . M . 14641 r , . r > Wm . Henry Crouk P . M . 1414 ... I Son , or Deaoona

Johu Sills Charlton P . M . 1678 ... ) T . ~ Chas . Edward Birch P . M . 1223 ... j Junlor Deacona Wm . J . Light P . M . 299 ... Snpt . of Works George Wm . Mitchell P . M . 615 ... Dir . of Cers . Geo . Naylor P . M . 20 ... Deputy Dir . of Cers .

Stephen E . Morgan P . M . 1424 ... Assistant Dir . of Cers . Thos . Henry Blamires P . M . 1419 Sword Bearer Samuel F . Pringuer P . M . 972 ... " ) 0 , , , Prieasnitz Jones P . M . 1837 .. j Standarti Bearer 8

Wm . Henry Longhurst P . M . 31 ... Organist Ernest L . Walford P . M . 2148 ... Assistant Secretary Jamea J . B . Candell P . M . 1436 ... Pursuivant Wm . Thos . Brailey P . M . 1531 ... Assistant Pursuivant Thos . Deane P . M . 77 ... ~ 1

Richard Griggs P . M . 133 John Hunt P . M . 503 ... ... _ . , Robert Jewell Cook P . M . 913 . .. f steward 8 Charles Baker P . M . 1206 Geo . R . Iggleaden P . M . 1203 ... ^ Joseph Oram 20 ... ... Tyler

Tho recommendations of the Grand Lodge Charity Committee were then brought forward by the Provincial Mastor , and unanimously approved of . These included one grant of £ 20 , four of £ 15 each , and ono of £ 10 for distressed members of the Province ; £ 13 for the purpose of

placing a memorial light in the Centenary Hall of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls ; and £ 142 10 s to the Boys' School Pensions Indemnity Fund , that being at the rate of 5 s per Lodge for 10 years from all the Lodges in the Province of Kent , the sum proposed to bo subscribed

by all the Lodges of the country . These proposals were seconded by Bro . J . S . Eastes , and unanimously agreed to . That gentleman then proposed the granting of various sums to the three Institutions , to be paid in in the name of various Lodges in the county . These grants amounted in the

aggregate to £ 315 , and were distributed as follows : — £ 126 to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls ; £ 105 to tho Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , and £ 84 to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . The Provincial Grand Master then brought forward certain alterations

that had been proposed in the Bye-laws of the Province . The existing ones , he said , had been in use for a long time . Grand Lodge had , a few years back , revised the Book of Constitutions , and it was desirable their local laws should agree with that book in word as well as in spirit . An

amendment was suggested iu connection with the proposed new Law IX ., -which will have the effect of bringing all who are , as well as those who have been , members of tho Lodges within its scope . The amendment was agreed to , and the other alterations accepted . Lord Amherst then '

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Kent.

proposed that the various Lodges of the Province be mvitod to contribute from their respective funds a sum of two shillings per annum for every member on their books , the sum so received to be applied in subscriptions to the Masonic Institutions , tho votes so accruing being

apportioned to tho Lodges in tho Province , as hitherto . This was simply intended as a means of keeping up tho Charit y Fund of the Province . Ho especially wished to impress on them that he had no power to enforce this payment , but he hoped that the various Lodges in his district would

see their way to its payment . He should very much regret to see their old Charity Fund fall through , but felt safe in leaving the matter in the hands of tho members . The Provincial Grand Lodge was then adjourned , and the brethren proceeded to the Parish

Church , where a special service was given , and a sermon preached by the Provincial Grand Chaplain , Rev . H . M . Maugham . On tho return to Provincial Grand Lodge , Earl Amherst proposed that the thanks of the brethren should be given to tho Vicar for the

use of his beautiful church that day . Bro . Eastes secouded , and said the Vicar had given every assistance in his power to ensure the success of the day ' s proceedings . Earl Amherst then proposed that the thanks of Provincial Grand Lodge be voted to their Chaplain—Bro .

Maughamfor his excellent sermon . This was camel with acclamation , and in replying the Chaplain announced that tho offertory had amounted to £ 15 14 s—an amount in excess of tho sum collected last year—and that it would b 8 equally divided between the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls and the National Schools of Ashford . This

completing the business of the day , the Provincial Grand Lodge was closed , and the company repaired to the Corn Exchange , where the annual banquet was held , under the presidency of the county chief . Mr . Tench White ' s band gave a selection of music during the dinner , and at its conclusion

grace was sung . The Chairman then gave the toast of tho Queen , with which ho coupled tho Masonic Craft , which was received with hearty cheers , and followed by the National Anthem . The health of tho Most Worshipful Grand Master H . R . H . tho Prince of Wales was next

submitted from the chair , and secured an equally hearty welcome . Lord Amherst considered it a toast always sure to be received with respect and gratitude on such occasions as the present . The Prince of Wales had done an immense amount of good for Freemasonry , and it was but natural

the members of it should take every opportunity of showing their appreciation . The toast of the Deputy Grand Master , and the rest of tho Grand Officers present and pa 9 t , was then given . Earl Amherst referred to the gap which now existed in this toast , which no longer contained the name of

the late Pro Grand Master , but he felt they would all cherish for many years to come the memory of the late Earl of Carnarvon , who did so much during his lifetime to advance the welfare of Freemasonry . Iu Kent they were always pleased when a rxiember of their Province was

honoured with an appointment in Grand Lodge , but perhaps more so when they had tho honour of receiving other Graud Lodge Officers as visitors . Ho had much p leasure in coupling tbe name of Bro . Edward Terry , Past Grand

Treasurer , with the toast , and of adding tbe name of the Grand Secretary as the senior present Officer amoug them . He did not intend to say much in praise of these brethren , as he was reminded of a picture iu his room whioh recorded the fact that " this man was talked to death . " He did not

therefore intend to say moro in introducing tho toast , lest he was considered guilty of adding a stone to the sepulchre of the brethren he desired to honour . Bro . Edward Terry was the first to reply . He felt literally crushed at the overwhelming nature of the toast to which he had to reply

—not that be dreaded to face Kentish fire , no Eng lishman need be afraid of that—but he feared his flowers of speech had been washed away by the late rains , and that he should not be able to do justice to the toast . Ho must say that when he was appointed Grand Treasurer he was entrusted

with a key that would open—nothing . It mig ht be that his was too short an experience of the work of the ofbee , but he could not help feeling that the key was a bogus one altogether . Tho principal work of the year seemed to be to attend Committees of the respectivo institutions , but his oi

work in that respect came to an end at the termination his year of office . He was not quite like his friend , Col . CJerke , who might be compared with the brook—for « ° matter who became past or present Grand Officers , then worthy Secretary seemed to go on for ever . Bro . Terry