District Grand Lodge Of Malta.

tion , and I trust thai this District of Malta will not be behind hand in supporting them , even more so in the future than in the past . There is nothing more , that I am aware of , to bring to your notice . I will only add that it gives me great pleasure once more to meet you here , and that I wish you success in the excellent work you all are determined to carry out for the welfare of Masonry in general and the District of Malta in particular . ( Applause . ) The business bsing concluded , Dist . G . Lodge wis closed .

The usual banquet followed , when great enthusiasm prevailed , the occasion being availed of to wish God-speed and a pleasant passage home to Bro . Capt . C . G . Robinson , R . N ., Dep . D . G . Master , whose period of duty in the Mediterranean had expired .

Provincial Priory Of Kent And Surrey.

PROVINCIAL PRIORY OF KENT AND SURREY .

Ihe annual meeting of the above Provincial Priory was held at the Masonic Temple , Canterbury , on Friday , the 3 rd inst ., under the presidency of the Right Hon . the Earl of Onslow , G . C . M . G ., K . C . T ., Prov . P . ior . A good number attended , and a very successful meeting has to be recorded .

The Provincial Prior entered under the arch of steel , and opened the priory . After the reading of the minutes and a satisfactory Treasurer ' s report , the Provincial Officers of the year were appointed and invested as follows :

Sir Knight Horatio Ward ... ... Prov . Sub-Prior . „ Rev . H . Cummings ... ... Prov . Prelate . „ R . T . Wheeler ... ... Prov . Chancellor . „ S . J . Brice ... ... ... Prov . 1 st Constable . „ R . Clout ... ... ... Prov . 2 nd Constable . „ Col . A . S . Bircham ... ... Prov . Treasurer . A . H . Bateman ... f Prov . Reg and Vicei Chancellor . „ Lieut .-Col . F . A . Bowles ... Prov . Marshal . „ R . J . Voisey ... ,.. Prov . Almoner . ,, F . Flood ... ... ... Prov . Wdn . of Regalia . „ S . Saunders ... ... ... Prov . Herald . „ J . E . Barton ... ... ... Prov . 1 st Std . Br . „ F . H . Sumner ... ... ) n , „ . ,. I . D . Langton j Prov . 2 nd Std . Br * . „ W . Briant ... ... ... Prov . Sword Br . „ A . Jackson ... ... ... Prov . Chamberlain . „ S . Horsiey ... ... ... Prov . Capt . of Guard . „ G . Wilks . . ... ... Prov . Organist . Frater G . Harrison ... ... ... Prov . Guard . In appointing his officers , the PROV . PRIOR expressei h s grateful thanks

to his Sub-Prior , Sir Knight Horatio Ward , whose woik for the province was simply invaluable , and also referred appreciatively to the long services of the Prov . Registrar , who was now appointed for the eleventh time in

succession . A vote of £ 5 5 s . was made to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . The alius having been collected , the Provincial Priory was afterwards closed . The members subsequently dined together at the Fountain Hotel , where , it is needless to say , the most complete and courteous hospitality was , as ever , experienced .

Prior to the meeting , a party of the members of the Order was accorded a rich treat by being taken to some of the inner chambers of the Cathedral , where , under the expert and kindly direction of Br . o . Cross , a va ^ t amount of most valuable and inleiesting information was compressed into a brief compass ; and , together with a walk round the delightful , but decaying ,

Cloisters , and an inspection of the Kent Masons' window in the stately Chapter House , a too brief peep into the crypt , and a glance at Bucket ' s crown and the tomb of their great ancestor , Edward , the Black Prince , made the 1 S 97 meeting of the Order in Kent one not likely soon to be forgotten .

Red Cross Of Rome & Constantine.

Red Cross of Rome & Constantine .

ANNUAL COX CLAVE OF THE DIVISION OF KENT .

The annual meeting of the Division of Kent was holden on the i 6 t ult .,. at the Green Man Hotel , Blackheath Hill . The Intend inl General of Kent , the Rev . H . Cummings , presided , supported by his Deputy , Sir Knight A . H . Bateman , and in my Present and Past Divisional Officers .

The Divisional conclave having been opened , and the minutes read and confirmed , a satisfactory financial statement was presented by Sir Knight Bryant , the Divisional Treasurer , who was re-elected to the post . The Divisional Officers for the year were appointed as follows :

Sir Knight A . H . Bateman ... ... ... Dep . Inlendant Gen ,, R . J . Voisey ... ... ... Viceroy . ,, G . H . Dowsett ... ... ... Sen . Gen . ,, G . F . Traill ... ... ... Jun . Gen . ,, Rev . R . Finlay , M . A . ... ... High Prelate . ,, B . R . Bryant ... ... ... Treas . ,, VV . C . Tavlor ... ... ... Recorder .

,, W . H . Burney ... ... ... Chamberlain . ,, W . Briant ... ... ... Marshal . „ R . Elgar ... ... ... Prefect . ,, V . T . Murchu ... ... ... Insp . of Regalia . „ W . A . Leaning ... ... ... 1 st Std . Br . „ W . J . Hewett ... ... ... 2 nd Std . Br . „ S . F . Mackway ... ... ... S . B . ,, F . Sanders ... ... ... Org . Frater Spinks ... ... ... ... Sentinel .

Red Cross Of Rome & Constantine.

The Jubilee rank of Past Viceroy was also cinferred on the Divisional Treasurer , Sir Knight Bryant , in recognition of his many and valuable

services . The meeting having been closed , the Intendant General retired under the arch of steel , and subsequently presided at a banq'ift , in conjunction with the Saye and Sele Conclave , No . U 2 , which held its regular meeting prior ( o the above , and in addition to its formal business , elected three members as Knights of the Order , viz ., Bros . J . D . Cleminson , Rev . R . Finlay , and Major J . A . Thornhill . Other propositions for membershi p were made , and it was decided to have a ladies' banqiet in February . A special meeting will be held on the nth prox ., when the Order of the Holy Sepulchre will be fully worked and conferred on several members .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

CENTENARY FESTIVAL . A preliminary meeting of the brethren who have kindly undertaken the office of Steward at the above-named Festival was held on Tuesday , the 30 th ult ., and , as the number was unprecendently large , the Grand Hall of the Freemasons Tavern had to be engaged for the meeting . Bro . Richard Eve was elected to the chair , and amongst the 200 brethren who supported him were Bros . J . W . Woodall , P . G . Treas . ; E . Terry , P . G . Treas . ;

J . Strachan , Q . C ., P . D . G . R . ; Col . Brymer , M . P ., D . P . G . M . Dorset ; Major L . Feuvre , D . P . G . M . Hants and the Isle of Wight ; H . Smith , P . D . P . G . M . West Yorkshire ; C . E . Keyser , Treasurer of the Institution ; W . F . Smithson , P . G . D ., C . Godson , P . G . D . ; J . Stephens , D . G . D . C ; F . R . W . Hedges , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . I . G . ; Russell , P . A . G . D . C ; Attenborough , P . A . G . D . C . ; A . C . Spaull ,

P . G . Std . Br . ; Scurrah , P . G . Std . Br . ; Philippe , P . G . Std . Br . ; Valeiiani , P . G . Std . Br . ; Kentish , P . G . Std . Br . ; Thomas , P . G . Std . Br . ; A . Lucking ; P . G . P . ; Glass , Corbie , Pritchard , A . II . Bevan , J . VV . Burgess , R . D . Cummings , J . P . Fitzgerald , Manfield , G . Ward Verry , J . Bruton , F . Hughes , F . A . White , D . Mayer , C . W . Hudson , H . A . Tobias , F . A . ' Powell , and ] . M . McLeod , P . G . S . B ., Secretary .

The CHAIJIJM . IN called upon the Secretary to report the negotiations with H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., in respect to the Festival over which he had graciously consented to preside . It transpired that his Royal Highness had decided to hold the Festival at the Royal Albert Hall in June next , and would fix the exact date early in 1898 . The SECRETARY also reported that the number of Stewards up to the present

time was over 1000 , and comprised no fewer than 21 Provincial Grand Masters , 82 Grand Officers , and 40 ladies , with representatives from every province , and from nearly one-half of the London lodges , necessitating this early meeting in order that an Executive Committee might be formed to make arrangements for the Festival in accordance with the commands of his Royal Highness , the Churman of the Festival .

A resolution thanking his Royal Highness for the gracious intimation of his presidency was adopted . Bro . EVE then said he had a dual duty to perform , which was alike pleasing and yet most painful . In graceful terms he alluded to the eminent services rendered by the Earl of Lathom , 3 LW . Pro Grand Master , in negotiating with the Grand Master the matters referred to in the report presented by the Secretary , and he felt that their warmest thanks were due to his lordship . But they were all

saddened at the terrible blow which had befallen his lordship so recently as Tuesday , the 23 rd ultimo , when his beloved wife had met with a tragic death . The Countess of Lathom had proved herself a true friend to this Institution , amongst many other Charities , and it would ever be a pleasing recollection of his and of many there present of the happy and encouraging address her ladyship gave to the boys on the occasion of her graciously presenting the prizes at the School in 1891 . He would therefore propose "That this preliminary meeting of the Board of Stewards for the Centenary Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Bovs

desires to tender to the Right Honourable the Earl of Lathom . G . C . B ., M . W . Pro Grand Master , its best thanks for the very important services lw has rendered in the negotiations with the M . W . Grand Master on the question of his Royal Highness presiding at the Festival and as to the locality for holding the same , and further beg to express to his lordship their deepest and most respectful sympathy in the sad calamity which has ' . befallen him , in which all lovars of the Institution feel they have lost one of the best and most sympathetic of its friends . "

The resolution was seconded by Bro . SMITHSON and the meeting showed its sympathy with the Pro Grand Master in his affliction , all present rising in their places to give unanimous support to the motion . The meeting then proceeded to constitute the Board of Stewards by electing the various officers .

It was resolved to invite Lord Lathom to take the position of President , and Lord Leigh that of Hon . Treas ., these noblemen being the Senior Trustees . The Provincial and District Grand Masters were appointed Honorary Presidents . Bros . Eve , Sir J . B . Monckton , Fenn , Letchworth , Keyser , Col . Drymer , M . P ., and Smithson were appointed Acting Presidents . Bro . Le Feuvre was appointed Chairman of the Ladies' Stewards . Bro . Keyser , Treasurer of the Institution , was appointed Hon . Acting Treasurer , and Bro . McLeod , the Hon . Secretary .

Twenty-one brethren—in addition to the Hon . Acting Officers—were elected as an Executive Committee—with power to add to their number—to make and carry out all arrangements for the conduct of the Festival , the elected members being Bros . S . J . Attenborough , A . H . Bevan , J . W . liurgess , G . Corbie , George Everett , J . Glass , G . Graveley , G . B . Heming , C . W . Hudson , D . Mayer , O . Philippe , F . A . Powell , H . Pritchard , A . Remington , W . Russell , VV . A . Scurrah , A . C . Spaull , J . Stephens , E . Terry , F . A . White , and J . W . Woodall .

It was decided that the Stewards fee be two guineas , with usual limitation for ladies , Lewises , and foreign Stewards . A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the proceedings .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

Ten ot the pupils were entered last month for the School Examinations of the Associated Board of the Royal Acidemy and the Royal College of Music . It is satisfactory to learn that the whole of the girls pjsiud—three in the Higher Division , live in the Lower Division , and two ( quite little girls ) in the Elementary Division , with Distinction Miss Redgrave , the principal Governess and chief musical instructress , may well be congratulated on this pleasing result . The College of Preceptors' Examination is no * in progress at the Institution , and next week will be entirely occupied with the Cambridge Local Examinations ; for these upwards of 100 girls in all have been entered , ,