Kent.

KENT .

THE preparatory meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Kent was held on 14 th , at the Masonic Hall , Folkestone , Earl Amherst Provincial Grand Master presiding . The business was to make arrangements for the ensuing Festival , and to decide what recommendations should be made as to the disposal of the

Provincial Grand Lodge Funds . The Railway Companies granted return tickets at single fares to members who attended the meeting . After the transaction of the business the Brethren adjourned to the Pavilion Hotel and there dined , Bro . Spurgen catering for them in excellent style .

The annual Provincial Grand Lodge will be held at the Palace , Maidstone , on Wednesday , 3 rd July . Among the business will be a presentation to the Deputy Prov . Grand Master Bro . J . S . Eastes . There will be a service at All Saints Church . The banquet will be held at the Corn Exchange . The Railway

Companies will grant return tickets at single fares from stations upwards of ten miles from Maidstone . The Provincial Grand Master will propose that five guineas be given to the Dean Smith Memorial Fund , and the question of Vagrant Masons will be considered .

Northants And Hunts.

NORTHANTS AND HUNTS ,

THE Provincial Grand Lodge was held at Kettering on Thursday , 6 th inst ., under the banner of the Perseverance Lodge , No . 455 , when Brethren were present from Peterborough , Huntingdon , St . Neots , Towcester , Northampton , Thrapston , Stamford , and other places in the Province .

The Board of Benevolence and Charity Organisation Committee met at the Conservative Club at 1 . 30 , and the Provincial Grand Lodge was opened at the new Masonic Hall at 2 . 30 , under the presidency of the Right Hon . the Earl of Euston , D . L ., Provincial Grand Master , assisted by Bro . John Haviland

P . P . S . G . D . Deputy Prov . G . M . designate . The new building , which is situated in York Road , is well adapted for the purposes for which it is intended . There is a spacious entrance leading to the main part of the building , termed the Drill Hall . There are several small ante-rooms , and the

apartment upstairs , measuring 30 x 18 feet , is to be utilised as the Masonic Hall . The last two words are inscribed on the exterior of the building . Mr . Wilson was the builder , Messrs . Talbot-Brown and Fisher the architects , and the cost of the

structure about £ 1 , 000 . Inconsequence of the large number of Freemasons expected , the Drill Hall was converted into a reception-room , and there the Lodge was held . The hall was elaborately fitted up , and had a pretty effect .

The minutes of the P . G . meeting at Northampton , in May 1894 , having been confirmed , the next business was to call the roll of the Lodges and examine minute books , then to invest the Worshipful Deputy Provincial Grand Master , to elect the Treasurer , and appoint Officers for the ensuing year . The following were appointed : —

Bros . T . P . Dorman .... Senior Warden A . Webb ..... Junior Warden Rev . T . Hodgson .... Chaplain Eev . A . W . Gross - Assistant Chaplain A . Cockerill ( elected ) - - - Treasurer

Dr . Knight ----- Registrar F . S . Buckle .... Secretary II . C . Clarabut .... Senior Deacon H . H . Packer .... Junior Deacon J . Pascoo ----- Superintendent of Works

G . Ellard ----- Director of Ceremonies J . J . Hart ----- Assist . Dir . of Ceremonies Captain Wallace - Sword Bearer R . W . Elsey .... First Standard Bearer

A . P . Mullincr .... Second Standard Bearer E . J . Gibbs .... Organist G . W . Williamson .... Pursuivant E . Archer .....

P . Carter - - - - - W . T . King Stewards B . Thompson .... J . T . Errington - - - - S . Robinson .... Tyler .

Subsequently a banquet was provided at the Conservative Club , by the Perseverance Lodge , and was held under the presidency of Lord Euston . At the conclusion of an excellent repast , the Provincial Grand Master gave the usual toasts .

Bro . J . T . Parker ( Wellingboro' ) gave the Prov . Grand Master of Northants and Hunts the Right Hon . the Earl of Euston , D . L ., and the Chairman replied . The Chairman gave the Deputy Prov . Grand Master , and Bro . Haviland responded .

Books intended for Review should be addressed to the Editor Fieemoson ' s unronicle , " . New Barnet . .

New Masonic Halls.

NEW MASONIC HALLS .

r TlIIE ground iu West Regent Street , Glasgow , on which the JL Masonic Hall and offices are to be erected by the Masonic Halls Company , Limited , is being quickly cleared . The buildinc which occupied the site is in great part taken down . ° , 4 BUILDING site has been secured in John Street , Gourock

XX at an annual feuduty of £ 4 , on which to build a Masonic Hall . It is proposed that the building shall have two halls the largest to have accommodation for 300 persons . The site is central , and building operations are to be commenced without delay , says the " Glasgow Evening News . "

ON Saturday , 8 th inst ., the foundation-stone of the new Masonic Hall , which is being erected by Lodge Polmont , No . 793 , S . C ., was laid by Bro . George Christie Provincial Grand Master of Stirlingshire , assisted by Bro . Sir James Gibson Maitland , Bart ., oi Sauchie , Provincial Substitute Master , Bro Win , Black , Falkirk , Provincial Depute Master , and others . The hall is a building of a plain but substantial appearance , and

when completed will be a great convenience to the Lodge . The architects are Messrs . A . and W . Black , Falkirk . After the ceremony , which was performed in the presence of a large assemblage of Brethren and the general public , a cake and wine banquet was held in the Redding Co-operative Hall , presided over by Bro . John Taylor the R . W . M . of the Lodge , when a number of toasts were pledged .

The Provincial Grand Master having been presented with the handsome silver trowel with which ho had laid the stone , delivered an address , in the course of which he said that on such an occasion it was only proper and becoming that he should speak of the objects and advantages of Freemasonry , not so much for the edification of tlie Brethren , who were supposed to possess already that knowledge , as with the view of favourably impressing

those who were outride their pale , so that when that Lodge had been consecrated and opened its rooms might be crowded with candidates for admission . It was of some consequence to be connected with one of the oldest and most venerated institutions in existence . On those gigantic ruins of antiquity which were to be found in the old world und the new . . " Masons' marks " could be discovered by those who knew where to look for them . Masons '

marks were characteristic of the fraternity then , they were characteristic of the fraternity now . These were the days of the great operatives , whose work and whose remains , whose skill and energy were and would continue to be the admiration and the wonder of mankind for all time . Long ago the operative Mason became merged in the speculative , and it was as speculative Masons they now existed . Freemasonry taught them the great duties of life ,

their duty to God , the Grand Architect of the Universe , their duty to their neighbour , their duty to themselves . In tho first it directed them to conduct themselves as became creatures to their Creator , to be contented with His dispensations , and always to rely upon Him , whose wisdom would not mistake their happiness , whose goodness could not contradict it . It directed them to be peaceablo subjects—never to engage in plots or conspiracies

against the well-being of the nation ; and as politics had been the cause of discord among relatives and most intimate friends they were wisely excluded and prohibited at their meetings . In their duty to their neighbour Masonry taught them not to injure him in any of his connections , to act with justice and impartiality in all their dealings with him . It discouraged anything that would defame his character ; it instructed them to be faithful to their

trust , to deceive no one who relied on them , to be above the meanness of dissimulation , and whatever they promised religiously to perform . It commanded inviolable secrecy and forbade them ever to reveal their mystic rites or ceremonies , or to betray a confidence a Brother had placed in them . It warmed their hearts with true philanthropy , taught them that they were to be charitable to the poor and needy Brother , and to extend to him the cup

of consolation filled with the milk of human kindness . Freemasonry made them lovers oi order ; it stilled enmity , -wiath , and all uncharitableness . It nourished love , peace , friendship , and every social virtue ; taught them to seek their happiness in the happiness they bestowed , and to love their neighbours as themselves . Ecclesiasticism was strictly forbidden in the Lodge . As Masons they worshipped the God of mercy , truth , and justice ,

believing that all who fear and love Him and work righteousness would be accepted of Him . Iu theic duty to themselves Freemasonry taught them to set bounds to their desires , to put a curb upon their sensual appetites , to avoid intemperance , to practise virtue , and to walk uprightly before God and man . Such were some of the duties which Masonry imposed upon them . It was founded on moral and social virtuo , and taught them to act with

proprietory in every station of life . The tools and implements of architecture which surrounded them in a Lodge were expressive symbols to convey the strongest moral truths . Let them , then , with reverential gratitude cheerfully and faithfully worship the Eternal Architect of Creation ; bow themselves in filial and submissive obedience to the unerring-wisdom of the Mighty Builder ,

work by his perfect plans , and their edifice would be beautiful and everlasting . He impressed upon his Brethren the dignity and high importance of Freemasonry , and advised them so to act that the eyes of the censorious might see nothing to reprove , that the tongue of the slanderer might be put to silence , to rather practise outside the Lodge those excellent precepts they were taught within it . —" Bridge of Allan Reporter . "

We see by the Glasgow papers that Bro . James Stevens again in Scotland , and that he will have a prominent place in the exhibition to be opened in Glasgow on the 1 st of July . o o o Mr . G . F . Harris , Merthyr , has been commissioned by Mr .

D . A . Thomas , M . P ., as W . M . of the No . 110 Loyal Cam brian Lodge of Freemasons , to paint his portrait , says the " South Wales Daily News . " The senior member will be depicted in full regalia , and the portrait , which will be three-quarter length , will be presented to the Lodge .