Provincial.

Upon the re-admission of the Brethren the new Master was saluted m the three degrees , and then proceeded to invest his Officers for the year : — George Masters S . W ., John Solomon J . W ., George Rackstraw P . M . Treas ., John C . Biggs P . M . P . P . G . D . C . ( for the thirteenth time ) Secretary , the Bev . Augustus Jackson , M . A ., P . M . P . P . G . C . Chaplain , Joseph Davis S . D ., P . W . Martin J . D ., Frank Hitchens P . M . Prov . G . R . D . C , Edward B . Wilks Assist . D . C , Bobert Matthews I . G ., G . R . Ceiley Organist , J . P . White P . M . Stwd ., J . G . Prevost Asst . Steward , George Martin ( for the fifty-third time ) Tyler .

After the investiture had taken place Bro . Bussell delivered the Addresses to the Master , Wardens , and the Brethren , in his usual able manner , which elicited the hearty applause of those present . A vote of thanks to Bro . Bussell for his services was afterwards proposed by Bro . Doughty , seconded by Bro . King , and carried unanimously . Before the Lodge was closed Bro . Whitfield proposed that the memorial stone to be inserted in the new entrance of the Parish Church of St . George , Gravesend , should be presented by the Freemasons of the town . It would

be a solid block of marble , about five feet high by three feet deep , and it was intended to lay it with some ceremony during the next month . Bro . Bussell , as one of the churchwardens , said he regarded the proposition with a favourable eye , because outsiders said that Freemasons too often frequented taverns and public houses , while here they would have a proof that they did not neglect their duties as regarded the church . He should be happy to become a subscriber . V : The proposition was supported by several Brethren , and Bro . Whitfield subsequently announced that the amount had been subscribed .

Bro . Gunn having received tho congratulations of the visiting Brethren the Lodge was closed in due form , and the meeting adjourned . The installation banquet was served at the New Falcon Hotel , on the bank of the river , the large hall of which was particularly pleasant and cool , and the dinner reflected much credit upon Bro . W . Hardwicke , the courteous proprietor . At its termination the W . M . gave the health of the Queen and Prosperity to the Craft , which was drank with enthusiasm .

He next submitted the Grand Master and the Officers of Grand Lodge , for whom Bros . William Bussell and Alfred Spencer responded . ¦ Bro . R . J . Beamish gave the Bt . Hon . Earl Amherst Provincial Grand Master of Kent , and spoke highly of the large amount of Masonic work undertaken by his lordship . Although they were delighted at the dignity conferred upon him by the Prince of Wales , yet they could not help regretting that his duties as Deputy Graud Master necessitated his occasional absence from among them .

Bro . Orlton Cooper proposed Bro . J . S . Eastes Deputy Prov . G . M . and the Provincial Grand Officers , which was acknowledged by the Rev . Cecil M . Bevan Prov . Grand Chaplain . He said the present Provincial Officers would follow the example set them by the past Officers , and act loyally towards their Master . Geographically Kent was a small county , but from a Masonic point of view it was a large and prosperous Province , with 4 , 000 Masons on its roll .

Bro . Jas . A . Whitfield then proposed the toast of the evening , that of the Worshipful Master . He had every reason to believe that he would do all that was required of him , and be a good Master and true Mason , so that at the termination of his year of office the Brethren would be satisfied . Bro . Gunn acknowledged- the compliment paid to him , and said that

though he had taken office rather late in his Masonic years , he had now filled every office in the Lodge and had at length reached the chair . He knew that he followed an excellent Master , but hoped he would give satisfaction , as he was quite determined to maintain the prestige and uphold the dignity of their ancient Lodge .

Bro . J . C . Biggs , in an excellent speech , spoke of the Masonic Charities , which was eloquently responded to by Bro . James Terry Secretary of the Benevolent Institution , and Bro . J . M . McLeod Secretary of the Boys School . Bro . Frank Hitchens proposed the visiting Brethren , for whom Bros . William Hawker , R . Renton , and J . B . Colwill returned thanks .

Bro . William Russell . responded for the Past Masters , and said he was pleased , owing to the unexpected absence of the now I . P . M . Bro . R . C . Fowle , to attend and perform the installation ceremony . This would assure the Brethren that the Past Masters did not lose interest in the Lodge , but were always ready to be of assistance .

Bros . Rackstraw and Biggs and the Senior and Junior Wardens replied for the Officers of the Lodge , and the Tyler ' s toast brought the proceedings to a happy and harmonious conclusion . The excellent musical arrangements were under the direction of Bros . G . R . Ceiley and George Masters .

Bro . William Gunn , the newly installed Master of the Lodge , who was born at Gravesend , in December 1842 , claims than he can trace his descent from the Clan Gunn who were Earls of Orkney and Shetland so far back as the ? year 609 A . D . The family were at one time the sole possessors of the county ^ of Caithness , Scotland , which they made their headquarters during the reign of Baliol , King of Scotland , who was a contemporary of our Edward I . ; | and the family genealogical tree boasts of some names well known in the history of Scotland .

Provincial.

Bro . Gunn was initiated into Freemasonry so far back as 1874 , but various considerations militated against his progress in the Craft , so that his ascent to the chair has been rather later than is usually the case . He has , however , served all the Offices in the Lodge , and is a painstaking student at the Lodge of Instruction , so should make an excellent Master .

LIVERPOOL LODGE , No . 1547 . THE installation meeting took place at the Masonic Hall , Hope Street , Liverpool , on Wednesday , 14 th inst ., a goodly number of members and visitors being present . The installation of Bro . Barrett was performed by Bro . Godden W . M . in an able manner , at the conclusion of which the newly installed W . M . invested his Officers .

At the close of the business the Brethren adjourned to the banquet which had been provided , and during the evening a Past Master ' s jewel was presented to Bro . Godden . The musical arrangements were carried out under the direction of the Organist Bro . Wright , and the following contributed to the programme : Bros . Nicholls , Piatt , Edwards , Green , Hollis , and Merry .

DEE LODGE , No . 1576 . THE members assembled at the Union Hotel , Parkgate , on Wednesday , 14 th inst ., for the purpose of assisting at the annual installation ceremony . The W . M .-elect Bro . R . 0 . Davies was installed by the retiring W . M . Bro . F . V . Fearn . The visitors included Bro . R . Newhouse P . D . G . S . B . Prov . Grand Sec , and many Provincial Officers .

Lodge Meetings Next Week.

LODGE MEETINGS NEXT WEEK .

Monday . 1632 Stuart , Camberwell 491 Royal Sussex , Jersey 657 Loyal Victoria , Uallington 1177 Tenby , Tenby lo 25 Stanley , Liverpool 1762

Ogmore , Bridgend 1763 Obedience , Olvehampton 1991 Agricoia , Y * ork 2068 Portsmouth Temperance , L'dp ' t . 2279 Xhornham , Tliorimam 2547 Llangattock , Oardiit ' 2553 Ruft ' ord , Nottingham 2582 LewishamSmethwick

, Tuesday . 253 Tyrian , Derby 788 Crescent , Hampton Court 954 St . Aubyn , Devonport 1007 Howe & Charnwood , Louguboro

1016 Elkington , Birmingham 1052 Callander , Manchester 1353 Torbay , Paignton 1390 Whitwell , Millon 1536 United Military , Plumstead 1580 Cranboume , Hatfield 1650 Rose of Raby , Staindrop

1675 Ancient Briton , Liverpool 1779 Ivanhoe , Sheffield 1834 Duke of Connaught , Landport 1942 Minerva , Fenton 2025 St . George , Plymouth Wednesday . neuueauoj' .

753 Prince Fred . Will ' m ., Frascati 754 High Cross , Tottenham 1017 Montefiore , Cafe Royal 1360 Royal Arthur , Wimbledon 220 Harmony , Garston 724 Derby , Liverpool 304 Philanthropic , Leeds

439 Scientific , Single *** 461 Fortitude , Newton Yea Bard of Avon , Hampton Court 1119 St . Bede , Jarrow 1283 Ryburn , Sowerby Bridge 1296 Vale of Brislington , Brislington 1343 Saint John , Grays . „ Ww— -. - — -, v .- —J ~

Woo Sunbury , Sunbury 1756 Kirkdale , Liverpool 1760 Leopold , Scarborough 1775 Leopold , Church 1989 Stirling , Cleator Moor 2019 Crook , Crook 2064 Smith Child , Tunstall

2149 Gordon , Hanley 2320 St . Martin , Castleton 2330 St . Lawrence , Pudsey 2357 Barry , Cadoxton 2444 Noel , Kingston-on-Thames 2448 Bradstow , Broadstairs

Thursday . General Committee Girls School , Freemasons' Hall , at 5 . 39 St . John Baptist , Exeter 475 Bed . St . John Bap ., Luton 590 La Cesaree , Jersey le

636 De Og , Morpeth 772 Pilgrim , Glastonbury 807 Cabbell , Norwich 904 Phoenix , Rotherham 1032 Townley Parker , Chorley 1151 St . Andrew , Tywardreafch 1166 Clarendon , Hyde ¦ I C 70 ¦\ , I "„ ,. I ,- ~ T > 4 ^™ * . * , * 1578 MerlinPontypridd

. , Friday . Council Boys School , F . M . H ., 4 . 810 Craven , Skipton 1822 St . Quintin , Cowbridj-e 2415 Tristram , Shildon

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