Provincial Grand Lodge Of Essex.

"We the W . M ., Wardens , and Brethren of the Chigwell Lodge of Freemasons , No . 453 , of the Province of Essex , established and held in Epping Forest , formerly at Chigwell , and now at the Forest Hotel , Chingford , desire to take advantage of the opportunity of the visit of Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen to the Forest on the 6 th of Mav . 1 SS 2 , to express the iov and satisfaction of the Brethren as well of this

Lodge as of the whole Province of Essex , at this Her Majesty ' s graceful act for the benefit of her loving subjects : and to assure her of the sincere and steadfast loyalty of the Craft , and the hearty good wishes of the Brethren for her continued health and happiness . " Dated this ist day of May , 1 SS 2 . Signed—A . Buck , W . M . ; J . Child , S . W . ; J . Glass , J . W . ; R . Martin , Treas . ; and G . Coble , Sec . "

He ( Lord Tenterden ) had the honour of submitting this address to His Royal Highness , who was pleased to reply as follows : — " Buckingham Palace , May 7 , 1 SS 2 . "My Lord , —I have been desired by the Duke of Connaught to express on the part of His Royal Highness his appreciation of the cordial and loyal greeting from the W . M ., Wardens , and Brethren of the Chigwell Lodge of Freemasons on the occasion of His Royal Highness ' s visit to Epping Forest yesterday . "

( Applause . ) The Duke of Connaught ( continued his Lordship ) was Pas ' Senior Grand Warden of England , and he had the pleasure of himsel installing His Royal Highness as Worshipful Master of the Alpha Lodge , two years ago , so the Duke was a working Freemason . And now he had gone out to Egypt to prove that he was a working soldier , their hearty good wishes accompanied him . ( Applause . ) The Provincial Masonic year had further been marked by the success which had attended their Charity

Committee in the Elections , a boy , a girl , and a pensioner having been elected . Considering the comparative smallness of the Province , and the orershadowing influence of London , this result was , his Lordship ventured to think , very creditable indeed to those who had had the management of their Charity Committee , and showed what good results could be obtained by not only a long pull , and a strong pull , but a pull altogether .

( Applause . ) They had the pleasure of receiving as guests that day the Provincial Grand Masters of Suffolk and Middlesex . The Provincial Grand Master for Hertfordshire , who was a Member of Parliament , was detained by his engagements in another place ; and the Provincial Grand Master for Kent , Lord Holmesdale , had written to say how sorry he was to he unab / e to attend , but he had to preside at his Provincial Grand Chapter to-morrow ,

and was unable to manage it ; and the Provincial Grand Master for Sussex had also been prevented coming at the last moment . He did not know whether he was indulging in a visionary speculation if he ventured to throw out a hint that possibly the relations thus opened up with their neighbouring provinces might have , some day , a practical result . The Charity Committe in Essex might , should occasion arise , enter into alliance with one or

more neighbouring provinces , and thus secure the election of any candidates in whom Essex might be specially interested , in return for Essex voting for the candidates , in which say , Suffolk might be specially interested . He did not know how far this might be really feasible , he merely threw out the hint . ( Hear , hear . ) There was another matter which was of interest to the Craft in general as well as to this Provincial Grand Lodge in particular . Hc

meant the proposed re-arrangement of the Book of Constitutions . On receiving the rather bulky volume which contained the proposals for rearrangement , it occurred to him that all their members might not have the leisure or the accurate knowledge of the present Constitutions necessary to enable them to examine these proposals critically for themselves , and he accordingly asked their Deputy Provincial Grand Master

( who , as many of them might be aware , had been of those engaged in assisting the Grand Master in the work of re-arrangement ) if he would be good enough to let them have a brief notice , explanatory of the changes contemplated . Bro . Philbrick had been so good as to furnish it , and it had been circulated in the province , so that they might be able to judge for themselves of the nature of the proposals , which were to be

submitted to Grand Lodge . There did not appear to be anything in those proposals which affected this province . They consisted mainly in a rearrangement of the paragraphs of the Book of Constitutions . The only important alterations were the omission of the ceremonial directions for constituting a new lodge , which had become obsolete , inasmuch as since the great extension of Freemasonry in England , to which he had already

adverted , it , yas physically impossible for the Grand Master or his Deputy to constitute all new lodges themselves personally or in public . Another omission was that of the directions for Masonic funerals , which had also become obsolete . There must have been something singularly touching and impressive in the breaking of the Masonic chain when the brother whom they had perhaps only recently seen full of life and vigour was consigned to the cold

embrace of the tomb , which would in turn open to . receive them all ; but , nevertheless , a wise discretion had , no doubt , been exercised in eliminating from their Book of Constitutions a ceremony which was no longer consonant with the spirit of the age . ( Hear , hear . ) In conclusion , his lordship strongly enforced the efficient working of the lodges as of paramount imporance . No lodge could possibly thrive which was carried on as a mere knife-and-fork

affair , or regarded only as a benefit society . If men wanted to belong to benefit societies they could become Odd Fellows , or Druids , or the like . They became Masons and retained their love for Masonry because they believed in it as a reality , as being truly what it proclaimed itself—a perfect system of morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols . Their Charities were the jewels which decorated the golden

columns which supported their Masonic temple , which showed that they practised what they professed ; but the secret of the great development of Freemasonry was not lo be found in its Charities , admirable as they were , but in its being a perfect system of universal toleration and morality , within whose lodges men of all creeds , classes , and countries could meet on a common ground and find a fraternal welcome . ( Applause . )

The R . W . P . G . M . expressed his great regret that , owing to an important engagement at Bury St . Edmund ' s , W . Bro . Fred . A . Philbrick , the D . P . G . M ., was unable to be present to-day . ( Hear , hear . ) He need hardly say that hc should have great pleasure in re-appointing Bro . Philbrick ; and took the opportunity of thanking him for his great assistance in carrying on the affairs of the province . The Grand Officers for the year were then appointed and invested as follows :

W . Bro . Alfred Buck . W . M . 453 ... ... Prov . G . S . W . E . B . Florence , I . P . M . 214 ... ... Prov . G . J . W . Bro . Rev . j . H _ Rowley , 1343 ... ... Prov . G . Chap . W . Bro . A . Durrant , 276 ( re-elected ) ... ... Prov . G . Treas „ J . F . Barrett , W . M . 1000 ... ... Prov . G . Reg . T . J . Railing , P . M . 51 ( re-appointed ) ... Prov . G . Sec . . _ H . E . Dehane , W . M . 1543 ... ... Prov . G . S . D . '

W. Bro. A. J. Manning, P.M. -437 ... ... P Rov. G.J.D. F. C. Smith, W.M. 1457 ... ... Prov. G.S. Of W „ A. Lucking, P.M. 160(Re-Appointed) ... Prov. G.D.C. C. Hempson, W.M. 1799 ... ... P Rov. G.A.D.C. Bro. H. Bowles. 276... ... ... P Rov G Ore W. Bro. J. M. Farr, W.M. 1817 ... .!. Prov! G.S.B D. J. Wright, I.P.M. 1024 ... ... Prov. G. Purst.

W . Bro . A . J . Manning , P . M . -437 ... ... p . G . J . D . F . C . Smith , W . M . 1457 ... ... Prov . G . S . of W „ A . Lucking , P . M . 160 ( re-appointed ) ... Prov . G . D . C . C . Hempson , W . M . 1799 ... ... p . G . A . D . C . Bro . H . Bowles . 276 ... ... ... p G Ore W . Bro . J . M . Farr , W . M . 1817 ... . ! . Prov ! G . S . B D . J . Wright , I . P . M . 1024 ... ... Prov . G . Purst .

W . Bro . Wm . Sowman , W . M . si > E . Shedd , W . M . 276 ... T . G-Mills , W . M . 697 ... ... _ .. [ . Prov . G . Stwds . A . Mead , J . W . 276 .. ¦ f - Bro . R . Clowes , S . W . 650 ... ... \\) j Bro . T . S . Sarel , 276 ( re-elected ) ... " . ' Prov . G . Tyler . W . Bro . ANDREW * DURRANT , P . G . Treas ., pursuant to notice , proposed the following resolution :

That every lodge in the province add to the present payment to Provincial Grand Lodge a contribution of sixpence for each subscribing member per annum : the amount to be forwarded with the annual return , and to be applied towards making as many Worshipful Masters for the time being , Life Governors of the Masonic Charities , as the funds will admit . Not less than £ 10 ios . being subscribed to each charity , and the lodges to have precedence according to their seniority . "

After a desultory conversation , the motion was carried , substituting the word " Lodges " for " Worshipful Masters for the time being , " and " Subscribers ' ' for " Governors ; " a negative proposition falling to the ground for want of a seconder , and a suggestion that the money should be allotted to the lodges by ballot instead of by seniority also failing to elicit any support .

I he following proposition by Bro . DEHANE was also carried nem con .: ., " That four Provincial Grand Officers be now added to the Masonic Charity Committee , three Past and one Present ; and that one of the Past Provincial Grand Officers retire by rotation at the yearly meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge , when a Present Grand Officer shall be elected to ( ill the vacancy . "

Some other business having been transacted , the LORD MAYOR proposed , and Lord WAVENEY seconded , a vote of thanks to Lord Tenterden , for his kindness and ability in presiding over the business of the day . Provincial Grand Lodge was then closed , and the brethren adjourned to the Pavilion , attached to the Royal Hotel , where some 150 partook of a splendid banquet . A brass band was placed in the gardensand layed during

, p dinner ; and between the toasts a concert party , under the direction of Bro . Walter Latter , R . A . M ., discoursed some sweet music . Altogether the proceedings passed off most happily ; and the brethren of the Chigwell Lodge , headed by their indefatigable Secretary , Bro . Corbie , are to be congratulated upon the excellent arrangements they made for the reception and entertainment of the Provincial Grand Lodge .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Kent.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF KENT .

By the invitation of the Bertha Chapter , 31 , the annual provincial meeting of the Grand Chapter of Kent was held at the Masonic Temple , St . Peter's-street , Canterbury , on Wednesday , the 2 nd inst . Comp . Viscount Holmesdale , Provincial Grand Superintendent , presided , and appointed and invested the following companions as Provincial Officers for the ensuing year :

Comp . J . S . Eastes ( re-elected ) ... ... ... Prov . G . H . „ ' C . Holttum ... ... ... ... p rov . G . J . „ T . S . Warne ( re-elected ) ... ... ... Prov . G . S . E . „ J . S . Podevin ... ... ... ... Prov . G . S . N . „ H . J . Butler ... ... ... ... p . G . P . S . „ XV . Mate ... p . G . ist A . S

„ B . Swallow ... ... ... ... Prov . G . 2 nd A . S „ B . K . Thorpe ( re-elected ) ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . ,. W . Russell ... ... ... ... p . G . Reg . „ Captain W . J . Blakey ... Prov . G . Swd . B „ C . E . Wright ... ... Prov . G . Std . B . „ G . Page ... Prov . G . D . of C .

„ A . Bourne ... ... ... ... p . G . Org . » J . Cooke ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Janitor . The Provincial Chapter being closed , the companions adjourned to thc Royal Fountain Hotel . This well known hostelry has been completely renovated and refurnished ; and is now an ornament to St Margaret ' s-street . The banquet on Wednesday was elegantly served by Bro . Horatio Wardj who has become proprietor of this hotel . Viscount Holmesdale presided

, and the vice-chair was filled by Bro . J . S . Eastes . "The Queen and Royal Arch Freemasonry " was the first toast , and this was followed by " The Hea . th of the Grand First Principal ., His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , and the Pro . Grand First Principal Earl Carnarvon . " The other usual toasts were afterwards duly honoured , and at intervals songs were rendered by Comp . Plant and Bros . Rhodes , Moulding , and Higgins , Master Higgins presided at the pianoforte .

HERMETIC PHILOSOPHY . —It is not quite easy to say what this term really implies . If it means anything , it relates to the philosophic teaching of a supposed Hermetic Brotherhood , as derived from the works of Hermes Trismegistus originally , and subsequently of his followers , who practised alchemy and studied the occult sciences , and were believers in the Philosopher ' s Stone and the Elixir of Life . It is i . s idle to attempt to cover this simple fact

with a jargon of meaningless words and technical absurdities . The Hermetic philosophy is , as far as we can reach into its profundity to-day , very questionable indeed ; and though there may be truth mixed up with its fallacies , it cannot be treated as aphilosophyinany truesenseof the word . Latterly a great deal of nonsense has been written about " Hermetic Philosophy . " Any scientific treatment of it is , we believe , impossible , as a good deal is attributed to it which it never professed to hold or to teach . As far as wc can

master the Hermetic treatises , the greater portion of their teaching turned upon the transmutation of metals , the Philosopher ' s Stone , the adaptation of Hebrew cabalistic forms and words to magical ceremonies , the question of nativities , and the whole machinery of judicial astrology . That there may have been , in ignorant times , some teaching beneath all this paraphernalia of rubbish , we do not deny ; but , as far as we can sec , that " residuum " was very small , and now is no longer useful or valuable to man . —Kenning ' s Cyclopaedia , of Freemasonry .