Provincial Grand Lodge Of Kent.

such a thing happening . The P . D . G . M . had alluded kindly to the 25 years or so that he had ruled over the province , but no success eould attend , or would have attended , that rule unless the brethren were actuated by the highest and noblest principles ; and to the fact of those high and noble principles guiding the actions of the brethren , and to that alone , he attributed the great success of Freemrsonry in that , the Province of Kent . If they had not added to the roll of lodges during

the past year they had in another direction scored a great and startling success . Two nights before the late great meeting at the Albert Hall he was asked by H K . H . their G . M . what were the prospects of the meeting , and he told H . R . H . that he would " cut the record . " H . R . H . almost apologised for it , and said they would cut the record in the Province of Kent ; and they did so , for theirs was the greatest amount subscribed by any province , and he should have liked every one

thero to have been present when the list was called over , they need not have blushed for the honour of their province . They had now a Perpetual Presentation to the Girls' School ; they had a greater number of votes ; they had shown their loyalty to the Queen , and to H . R . H . their G . M . ; and he felt sure that those who were not present , when they saw in the Masonic papers the amount subscribed by Kent , the pleasure they must have felt recouped them for any endeavours they

had made to ensure the success of so grand and gratifying an object . In every case when they were called upon the Province of Kent nobly responded ; they had done so twice in the past , and if any special call was made upon them they would do so again ; but he hoped there would not be a special call on them for some years to come . If better times came they would have the " golden birds" in their pockets ; and the glorious principles of Freemasonry calling them to the

front , they would do their duty cheerfully . They held a good position , which could only be retained by showing that Freemasonry flourished in the province , and so long as they did that his services would always be at their disposal . He trusted the time would never come when his name would be received with less enthusiasm than it had been that day , for if that tinie ever came he should know that there was no longer , as there was now , a united and prosperous province to rule over . ( Loud and continued cheering . )

The next toast was that of " The D . P . G . M ., Bro . Eastes , " and in giving it his LORDSHIP spoke of the immense amount of work done by Bro . Eastes in the province , the success of which was eminently due to that brother . He had always considered it a lucky day for him when ho , got Bro . Eastes to take the position , The duties were not always pleasant , but whether or not they were always done

with tact and judgmenfc . For himself , he never wished to have a better friend or a better adviser than tho worthy brother on his right hand , and he trusted many years would pass before ho missed him from his right hand . He felt sure that their brother deserved the collar given him by his Royal Highness , and hoped he might live for many years to wear it , and that the toast might be ever as heartily received as he felt sure it would bo by them now .

Bro . EASTES , who was received with enthusiasm , in response , said ho felt it very difficult to express himself adequately for their very kind reception of the toast . He felt it a most gratifying thing to bo spoken of so highly by their esteemed Prov . Grand Master ; to be called his friend and adviser was ample l'eward for anything he had done in the past or could do in the future . He looked

upon Masonry as a sort of luxury , aud the work attached to his office as a little enjo } ''ment . He had taken a groat interest in the Girls' Schools movement , and was proud of the success that had attended it , in the pi'ovince , as the fund asked for was assured . After a lengthy and eloquent address our distinguished brother resumed his seat amid cheers .

Bros . HARMS and COUPLAND having responded for " The Provincial Grand Officers , " Bro . ADAMSON gave a lengthy account of the Masonic Charities , especially with reference to the provincial work . Bro . Capt . KNIGHT responded for "The Visitors . " " The Committee of the St . Michael ' s Lodge " was the next toast , for which

the WonSHiPFUL MASTER responded . The PROV . GRAND MASTER gave the Tyler ' s toast , and then the meeting broke up . Bro . T . W . Page had charge of the musical arrangements , and Bro . Drake accompanied on the piano . The vocalists included Bro . Page , Mr . Tufnall , Miss Merydith Elliott , and Miss Ada Beck . The whole affair was most delightful and the arrangements perfect .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Leicester. Shire And Rutland.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF LEICESTER . SHIRE AND RUTLAND .

The annual general convocation of this Provincial Grand Chapter was held pursuant to summons at Freemasons' Hall , Leicester , under the auspices of the Chapter of Fortitude , attached to St . John ' s Lodge , No . 279 . The Chapter of Fortitude having been opened at 4 . 15 , the Grand Superintendent and his officers were received , and Provincial Grand Chapter war opened . There were present the following officers : Comps . William Kelly , F . S . A .,

F . R . H . S ., Grand Superintendent ; S . S . Partridge , P . G . S . B ., Prov . Grand H . ; Walter S . Allen , Prov . Grand J . ; Rev . C . Henton Wood , M . A ., Prov . G . Scribe E . ; William Yial , Prov . G . Scribe N . ; Joseph Tuckfield , Prov . G . Treas . ; William A . Musson , Prov . G . Registrar ; John Dove Harris , P . Z . 279 , Prov . G . Std . Br . ; Miles J . Walker , Prov . G . D . C . ; and Thomas Dunn aud James

Tanser , Prov . G . Janitors . The chapters were further represented by Comps . Edgar Taylor , P . Z . 279 ; T . A . Wykes , P . P . G . O . ; J . Young , P . P . G . S . N . ; T . Coltman , P . P . G . Treas . ; S . E . Johnson , P . Z . 779 ; J . Harrison , J . 279 ; H . G . Marriott , 279 ; E . Jeeves , J . 1130 ; S . Knight , Treas . 279 ; F . G . Boden , S . N . 279 ; S . A . Harris , 279 ; G . T . Willan , P . Z . 1130 ; Thomas Corcoran , P . S . 1007 ; C . Lowerstein , 1007 ; and others .

Comp . Rev . Wathen Wigg , P . Z ., representing the Province of Norths and Hunts , was present as a visitor . The business was of a formal character . The roll of Provincial Grand Officers was called , but there were severaVabsent , whose excuses were accepted . The subordinate chapters were called , aud all were represented . The minutes of tbe last annual convocation , held at Loughborough , 24 th May , 1887 , were read and confirmed .

The Treasurer ' s abstract of accounts , which had been circulated with the summons , was received , approved , and passed with a hearty vote of thanks for his past services . He was then unanimously re-elected . The Provincial Grand Registrar ' s report showed asmall increase in the number of subscribing members .

The Grand Superintendent then appointed his officers as follows , and , with the exception of two , who were unavoidably absent , they were invested : Comp . S . S . Partridge , P . G . S . B ., P . Z . 279 , Z . 1560 ... Prov . G . H . „ Joseph Young , P . Z . 279 ... .., ... Prov . G . J . „ Rev . C Henton Wood , P . Z . 279 ... ... Prov . G . S . E . „ John Hassall , Z . 779 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . N .

„ Joseph Tuckfield , H . 779 ... ... ,., Prov . G . Treas . „ Edgar Taylor , P . Z . 279 ... ... ,,, Prov . G . Reg . „ G . T . Willan , P . Z . 1130 ... ... ... Prov . G . P . Soj . „ _ J . H . Marshall , J . 1007 ... .., ... Prov . G . 1 st A . Soj „ Chas . Lowenstein , S . N . 1007 ... ... ,.. Prov . G . 2 nd A . Si

„ Edwd . Simpkin , J . 779 ,., ... ,,, pr 0 v . G . Swd . Br „ S . E . Johnson , P . Z . 779 ... ... ,,. Prov . G . Std . Br „ Miles J . Walker , P . Z . 1150 ... ,., ,,, Prov . G . D . of C . „ Edmund Jeeves , J . 1130 ,., ,, . Prov . A . G . D . of C „ John Harrison , J . 279 ... ... ,,, Prov . G . Org . „ James Tanser , Janitor 379 ,,, ,,, ' , ' Prov . G . ' Janitor .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Leicester. Shire And Rutland.

The GRAND SUPERINTENDENT having enquired for propositions as usual , a number of apologies for unavoidable absence were received from Past Provincial Grand Officers and others , and were accepted . Regrets for inability to be present , accompanied by " Hearty good wishes , " were received from Comps . Sir Francis Burdett Bart ., G . Supt . Middx . ; Col . Le Gendre N . Starkie , G . Supt . E . Lanes . ; j om ' Woodall Woodall , P . G . P . ; Percy Wallis , Prov . G . D . of C . Derbyshire ; and Silver Hall .

Comp . Rev . S . Wathen Wigg tendered hearty greetings from Comp . Butlei Wilkins ( D . G . Superintendent in charge ) , of the Province of Norths and Hunts . Provincial Grand Chapter was closed ; the Grand Superintendent and his officers retired ; and the Chapter of Fortitude was closed .

The annual banquet followed . Owing to various local causes , the attendance was small ; but under the genial presidency of Comp . Kelly , and owing to the careful arrangements of Comps . John Case and H . G . Marriott , of the Chapter of Fortitude , those who were so fortunate as to be present passed a very ploasant time . The usual toasts were honoured , and several good songs were sung .

Consecration Of The Barnato Lodge, No. 2265.

CONSECRATION OF THE BARNATO LODGE , No . 2265 .

. The consecration of the Barnato Lodge took place on Thursday , the 28 th ult ., at the Cock Hotel , at Highbury . The ceremony was performed by the V . W . Bro . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , P . G . D ., G . Sec , assisted b y R . W . Bro . Lord J . Taylour , J . G . W ., as S . W . ; V . W . Bro . F . A . Philbrick

G . Reg ., as J . W . ; V . W . Bro . Rev . George W . Weldon , P . G . Chaplain , as Chaplain ; W . Bro . Frank Richardson , P . G . D ., as D . of C . j and V . W . Bro . Robert Berridge , J . G . D ., as I . G . The musical arrangements , which were excellent , were under the direction of W . Bro . W . A . Barrett G . Organist .

The brethren having assembled in the lodge room , the Consecrating Officer , with his assistant officers , together with such other Grand and Provincial Grand Officers as were present , entered in procession at 4 . 30 p . m ., when the Presiding Officer took the chair , and appointed his temporary officers as above indicated , after which the lodge was opened in the three Degrees . The following anthem , the words of which were written by Bro . W . A . Barrett , G . Org ., and the music composed by Henry Gadsby , was

then sung : Great Architect on High , Who by Thy power the heaven and earth sustained , Whose loving eyes descry The place and task of all , for each remaineth As when Thy ordinance issued first , Made order out of chaos burst .

Give us who seek to spread the light , Which guides each path , directs each mind , And moves all souls in concord bright , , Give us good grace Thy will to find , And in the way of duty To bear and cheer us on , so deign That daily we may near attain To wisdom , strength , and beauty .

May work thus laid in order true To offices of love subtend , May we in peace our work pursue , In harmony our labours end , To Thee Great Architect all praise . All meed of gratitude be given , Who pleased man's erring soul to ' raise , By mystic secrets near to heaven .

The PRESIDING OFFICER then addressed the brethren in regard to the object for which they had met together , after which the CHAPLAIN , by his direction , offered up the customary prayer . The D . of C then addressed the Consecrating Officer , and , by his direction , arranged the founders ot the new lodge before him ; and when that had

been done , he read out the petition of the founders , and also the warrant which had been granted by the M . W . G . M . authorising the formation of the Barnato Lodge , in answer to the prayer of the petition , and designating Bro . Joseph Da Silva , P . M . 205 , as W . M . ; Bro . Maurice J acob De Leeuw , S . W .: and Bro . Lion Kool , J . W .

The CONSECRATING OFFICER then enquired of the brethren ranged before him whether they approved of the officers named in the warrant , and the brethren having signified their approval in Masonic form , the CHAPLAIN , at the request of the Presiding Officer , delivered the following address on the nature and principles of the institution :

It is quite in accordance with the fitness of things that I should not trespass unduly upon your attention on this occasion b y delivering what is technically termed " an oration . " The object of such a feature in the programme of the consecration of the lodge will be amply secured if I brefly remind the brethren of the leading principles upon which the Craft is founded , and of the brilliant illustration which those principles receive in the benevolent exercise of Masonic Charity , and the pure and disinterested policy

which forms the basis of our unanimity and goodwill . The main feature of our Order is the cultivation of brotherly kindness and Charity in the truest sense of that word . By Charity we 60 not mean simply the giving of money . To give your neighbour money is , after all , to give him little , if you do not also give him love ; bread when hungry , medicine when sick , shelter , and fuel , and a bed to lie on ; these are not all that man needs from his fellows—kind offices and kinder oravers ; smiles for his iov and sympathy

with his sorrow—a word of hope , a look of love—for these things rather a man will bless us living and when dead . Handiwork and money wages is not the sole bond of union between man and man . Men were not made to be mere buyers and sellers , masters ana servants , but brethren and neighbours—fellow-worshipers of the same God , and fellowheirs of the same destiny . And I do not hesitate to say that there is no society on eartn in which these principles are more strictly enjoined , and more faithfully carried into

practice than in that to which as Freemasons we have the privilege to belong . h < . the most eminent of French philosophers—distinguished as a very clever but somewna cynical writer—says that " Friendship is a community of interests , not of souls . , 3 "'' ¦ , was the opinion expressed by Rochefoucauld when surveying the moral condition society in his day—and no dcubt there is much truth in the caustic criticism of this M J and accomplished scholar . But I fearlessly appeal to the matured experience or eV ^ Freemason in nrnnf of the assertion which 1 am about to makp so far as it regards

character of the Craft that among Masons " friendship is a community of souls , and 1 of interests . " Men who have had practical experience of the world in its many pf » ^ of social and religious developments frankly and freely admit the efficacy ana v *' p the friendly intercourse which exists among men outside the mystic c"y ? ij ngs , masonry . But , while giving full and ample credit for the existence of K ^ ntsitte and amiable impulses , and generous acts of beneficence in the uninitiated iw "" . ? on ; c our Order , I do not hesitate to say , after a fair and accurate comparison of the iwa