Isle Of Man.

ISLE OF MAN .

IN pursuance of the decision recently come to , to pay an official visit to each of tbe Insular Lodges , the Provincial Grand Lodge of the Isle of Man assembled at the Masonic Hall , Douglas , on Monday , 9 th inst ., for the purpose of visiting the Spencer Walpole Temperance Lodge on the occasion of its monthly

meeting . There was a fair attendance of both the ordinary Lodge members and of the Provincial Officers . The Provincial Grand Master Sir John Goldie-Tuabman was absent in London , and his place had consequently to be taken by his Deputy Bro . J . A . Brown .

The business was very heavy , the agenda comprising three thirds , a second , and a first . The latter ceremony was performed by the W . M . of the Lodge Bro . L . S . Gorkill and the Dep . ProT . G . M . and the W . M . of the Tynwald Lodge Bro . T . S . Atkinson collaborated in the thirds . Owing to the lateness of the hour , the seconds had to be adjourned .

On Tuesday no fewer than a dozen of the Provincial Grand Officers journeyed to the western city ( Peel ) for the purpose of paying a visit to the prosperous Lodge of St . German . The Provincial Grand Master was again unable to attend . The attendance was very large , close upon forty Brethren signing the Tyler ' s book .

The ceremonies , which comprised two thirds and a passing , were , at the request of the W . M . Bro . G . T . Watterson all performed by Prov . Grand Lodge Officers . After the ceremonial work the Lodge proceeded to the election of Officers ior the ensuing year . ' Bro . Thomas Edward Kelly S . W . was elected W . M ., Bro . 0 . Morrison P . M . was re-elected Treasurer , and Bro . Quirk Tyler . On Wednesday evening the Tynwald Lod ge held a very successful meeting .

The loyalty and devotion of Cheshire Freemasons was most agreeably indicated at Northenden , on Saturday , on the occasion of the Consecration of a new Lodge , by the popular and esteemed Provincial Grand Master Earl Egerton of Tatton . There was a large number of Provincial Officers present , and quite a crowd of Visitors from other Lodges ( to which those at Stockport ,

Macclesfield , Alderley , and other centres contributed their quota ) . The handsome regalia of the Provincial Officers , the elegant furniture of the Lodge , and the exquisite sublimity of the ritual all contributed to make the service impressive , and the day a memorable one in the annals of the local Craft . Under the efficient direction of Bro . Small Provincial Grand Director of

Ceremonies everything worked most smoothly , and it was indeed a source of pride to all the Brethren of the Province to assist their genial and Eight Worshipful head in this extension of the Order . That we wish the Lodge a long and prosperous career it is hardly necessary to say . We trust its " leavening" influences in the district will soon be seen , felt , recognised , and appreciated . — " Cheshire Echo . "

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PROVINCE OF KENT . THE Annual Provincial Grand Lodge of Kent will be held at the Victoria Hall , Hawley Street , Margate , on Wednesday , 15 th June , at 12-30 o ' clock precisely , when and where the Provincial Grand Officers and Past Officers , with tho Worshipful Masters , Past Masters , and Wardens of the Lodges in the Province are convoked to attend . By order of the R . W . P . G . M . Earl Amherst , ALFRED SPENCER , Prov . Grand Secretary . Maidstone , 21 st May 1898 .

Business.

BUSINESS .

Minutes of the last Provincial Grand Lodge to be considered . Accounts of the Provincial Grand Treasurer to be considered . Election of Provincial Grand Treasurer . Brevet appointments to be conferred ( sanctioned by Grand Lodge ) . Appointment of the Provincial Grand Officers for the ensuing year . Notices of Motion received by the Provincial Grand Secretary at the Preparatory meeting to be considered .

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The arrangements of the Committee , at Margate , for the Festival , are : — Lodge at the Victoria Hall , Hawley Street ... ... i-o p . m . Service at the Parish Church , by kind permission oi the Vicar , the Rev . W . Trelawney Ashton Gwatkin , M . A . ... 2-30 p . m Banquet at the Foresters' Hall , Union Crescent ... ... 4-15 p . m .

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Tickets for Banquet , 12 / G inclusive , to be obtained of Bro . F . Stanley , Rokeby , Edgar Road , Margate .

Church Service.

CHURCH SERVICE .

A S briefly recorded by us last week the Commemoration r \ Service in support of the Centenary Fund of the Boys School , held at St . Martin ' s Church , Trafalgar Square , on Sunday , 15 th inst ., was a great success , proving the whole of the arrangements to have been well thought out .

The Service was organised by Bro . E . W . Browning W . M . of the St . Martin Lodge , No . 2455 , and Bro . Eev . Prebendary Kitto , M . A ., ' Chaplain of the Lodge and' Vicar of the Parish of St . Martin-in-the-Eields , and was attended by a large number of Brethren in Masonic clothing ( the necessary dispensation having been obtained ) , among those present being Bros . Lt .-Col . H . W .

Kiallmark J . G . D ., E . J . Mure J . G . D ., J . H . Eutherglen D . G . Sw . B ., J . W . Woodall P . G . Treasurer , E . St . Aubyn Eoumieu P . G . S . of W ., Ernest Money P . A . G . D . C ., Henry Lovegrove P . G . Sw . B ., Major Gen . Vizard P . P . G . W . Gloucestershire , G . E . Nicholls A . G . D . C . Middlesex , W . M . Boddington P . P . G . A . Sec . Warwickshire , F . Swinford Smith P . P . G . O ., W . Barnes Fendick P . P . G . S . D . Berks , and P . P . G . S . B . Bucks .

Bro . J . D . Langton P . D . G . D . C . officiated as Director of Ceremonies , while the following Officers of St . Martin Lodge officially represented that body : Bros . E . W . Browning W . M ., H . T . Brickwell I . P . M ., T . Mason S . W ., C . Cole J . W ., G . W . Murnane P . M . Sec , . Z . Greenfield S . D ., H . Bristow Wallen D . C ., and T . Essex and C . Maynard Walker Stewards .

The procession from the crypt of the church to the church was led by the Worshipful Master ( carrying the V . of the S . L . on a velvet cushion , which was deposited on the pedestal in front of the altar ) and was followed by Worshipful Masters , Past Masters , Officers of Lodges , Master Masons , Fellow Crafts , Entered Apprentices , Provincial Grand Officers , and Grand Officers , they in turn being followed by the choir and clergy .

The Service was preceded by an organ solo by Bro . James Connah , and the opening hymn was " Blessed City , Heavenly Salem . " Prayers were said by Prebendary Kitto , and special lessons were read by Bro . the Eev . E . J . Simpson P . G . C . and Bro . Eev . Harry Hebb Headmaster of the Boys School . Solos , " With verdure clad " aDd " O Divine Eedeemer , " were beautifully sung by Miss Bessie Spells , who possesses a fine

soprano . The Ven . Archdeacon Sinclair P . G . C . preached the sermon , selecting as his text St . Mark ix , 36 , 37 ; " And He took a child , and set him in the midst of them : and when He had taken him in His arms , He said unto them , whosoever shall receive one of such children in My name , receiveth Me . "

The preacher said : Our interest in children never decreases . All through our lives they are coming up in close succession , one taking the place of another , like the series of flowers in spring ; first the aconite , then the snowdrop , then the crocus , then the primrose , wood-anemone , bluebell , cowslip and orchis . Always a new set of flowers coming on ; always a new set of children succeeding the last . At any moment that we think of , the

children of ten years old at that particular time are those who twenty or thirty years hence will be the active , vital , governing forces of the country . The whole number on the school registers in England and Wales in any twelve months is about 5 , 300 , 000 ; and it is steadily increasing every year . The future of the nation depends on what we do for these children . The problem presented is the most momentous , pressing , and imperative that could be offered to true lovers of their country .

Great and tender was the love of our Lord for little children . As the weekly sermon only comes at intervals , and is generally esteemed in proportion to its shortness , I always endeavour to refer every subject that comes before us either to His teaching , His redemption , or His example . He rejoiced in the simplicity of children , in their ignorance of evil , their beautiful trustfulness ,

their pathetic docility , their pure delight in the gladness of life . He watched and noticed their games in the market place ; He liked to have them in His arms , and to bless them ; He spoke with scathing and immeasurable indignation of those who should do them wrong ; He reminded His followers how each one of them has an attendant appointed him from among the bright and

glorious hosts who flash and shine in the confines of that invisible light to which no man may approach . He was Himself young in human years , and He remembered with a quiet happiness the days when He , too , was a little child , and had nestled in the love of a gentle mother and a peaceful hillside home . One of His latest words was to the greatest of His disciples , that he should not forget to feed His lambs . It had been a prophecy of Him

that He should gather the lambs with His arms , and carry them in His bosom ; and one of the most favourite and frequent emblems of His Incarnation is the figure of the Good Shepherd , with a trustful , innocent little creature , lying in utter confidence and repose in His kindly hands , or on His protecting shoulder . When He wanted both to show the simplicity of the Christian religion , and the importance and dignity of child life , he took a little boy , and set Him in the midst of them , and when He had