Masonic Statistics.

attendant on exaltation being about as much as for the Craft , not a few brethren cannot afford to spend any more money Masonically ? At all events , I am persuaded that the cost of the extra regalia is one item to be considered , as well as a lamentable ignorance in some as to what R . A . Masonry really is , and why it should be supported . W . J . HUGHAN .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Kent.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF KENT .

A meeting of the above Prov . G . Lodge was held at Gravesend , under the banner of the Lodge of Freedom , No . 77 , on Wednesday , the 13 th inst ., when the Prov . G . Master , Earl Amherst , attended with Bro . James S .

Eastes , P . G . D ., the Dep . Prov . G . Master . There was a large attendance of Prov . G . Officers . The different lodges in the province were well represented . It would be tedious to give the names of all present ; we may mention , however , that there was a goodly array of visitors .

The Prov . G . Lodge was opened by the Prov . G . Master , Earl Amherst , and the minutes of the last Prov . G . Lodge were read and confirmed . The accounts of the Prov . G . Treasurer were submitted , approved of , and confirmed . The election of Prov . G . Treasufer then took place , the unanimous choice of the brethren fell on Bro . VV . Russell , P . A . G . D . C . , The Prov . G . Master appointed his Prov . G . Officers for the ensuing year as follows :

Bro . James S . Eastes , P . G . D . ... ... Dep . Prov . G . M . „ Lieut .-Col . C . J . Hamilton , P . M . 2587 ... Prov . S . G . W . „ J . W . Elvin , P . M . 1915 ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ the Rev . H . P . H . Statham , M . A ., P . M . 2195 } p G ch „ the Rev . H . L . Fry , M . A ., W . M . 2499 ... j ^ rov' U' cnaps-„ W . Russell , P . M . 77 and 1464 , P . A . G . D . C . ... Prov . G . Treas . „ A . Spencer , P . M . 1063 , P . G . S . B .... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ H . B . Mace , P . M . 1854 ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ W . C . Hunt , P . M . 133 ... ... ... ) SGD . „ John Solomon , W . M . 77 ... ... ) „ B . Rix , P . M . 874 ... ... - ] prov ? GDo - „ W . Bushbridge , P . M . 913 ... j i rov . j . u . Uo . „ R . J . Beale , P . M . 1107 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of Wks „ Joseph Solomon , P . M . 77 ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ Lawrence Seager , P . M . 1273 ... ... Prov . D . G . D . C . „ C . W . Dixon , P . M . 1206 ... ... ) „ R . C . Howard , P . M . 2305 ... ... [ Prov . A . G . Ds . of C „ T . H . Lygo , P . M . 483 ... ... ... J „ Serg .-Maj . H . G . Drake , P . M . 2195 ... Prov . G . S . B . „ G . C . Allen , P . M . 784 . ] Prov . G . Std . Brs . „ H . G . Frost , P . M . 1096 ... ... ) „ J . Plant , P . M . 31 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ A . G . Harvey , P . M . 2448 ... ... Prov . Asst . G . Sec „ J . Croft , P . M . 2148 ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ G . Woodger , P . M . 1967 ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst .

„ H . H . Mount , P . M . 31 ... ... .. / I „ Major V . H . Stallon , P . M . 158 ... ... | „ W . Bur / oor , P . M . 1223 ... ... I p G s , . „ J . D . Webb , P . M . 1314 ... ... f „ W . D . Ingall , P . M . 1837 ... ... | „ H . Tyrer , P . M . 2147 ... ... ... J „ W . Austin , 1678 ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler

The Prov . G . Master , Earl AMHERST , Pro G . Master , proposed that 100 guineas should be given to the South African Masonic Relief Fund , which was carried by acclamation . Several grants of relief from P . G . L . C . Fund were proposed , and unanimously approved .

Provincial Grand' Lodge then adjourned to the Parish Church , where a special service was held by the kind permission of the rector , the Rev . E . Lionel Gedge , B . A . Bro . the Rev . H . LAWRENCE FRY , W . M . 2499 , Prov . A . G . C ., preached a sermon on the influence of Freemasonry on the different conditions oi human life .

At the conclusion of Divine service , the brethren returned to the Hall , and Provincial Grand Lodge was resumed . Votes of thanks were tendered to the rector of the P . irish Church and also to the officiating Prov . A . G . Chaplain for his excellent icrmon , which were carried unanimously .

The Provincial Grand Loc ' ge was afterwards closed by the Prov . Grand Master . The large gathering of brethren assembled in the Public Hall , and did justice to the admirable banquet provided . The Prov . Grand Master , Earl Amherst , presided , and gave the usual Masonic toasts . "The Queen and the Craft" having been given , the National Anthem was sung .

" H . R . H . the Piince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., " was the next toast

given . " God bless the Prince of Wales " was sung , The banquet room not being close tyled , there was no Masonic fire . Bro . Col . HAMILTON , PIOV . S . G . W ., gave " The M . W . Pro G . M ., Earl Amherst , Prov . G . M . ; the Deputy G . M ., the Earl of Warwick ; and the rest of the Grand Ofiicers , Present and Past . " Bro . KITE responded .

Bro . HENRY LOVEGROVE , P . G . S . B ., also replied . He said that he was much pleased to be present at the meeting of the Province of Kent . As he visited a good many lodges , he had often to respond for tin * Grand Ollicers , and he felt he could not find words to express the admiration of the Masons of

England for ihe Pro Grand Master or the love and esteem of the Province of Kent for their Provincial Grand Master .. The Deputy Grand Master was also very popular , and the other Grand Officers tried to do their best to promote the interests of the Craft . He had the pleasure last year of seeing how much the Masons in North Britain thought of the leading Grand

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Kent.

Officers . Bro . Kite had spoken of the way in vvhich the affairs of Grand Lodge were managed , and he was sure that all who had anything to do with the Grand Lodge must feel how well and smoothly everything worked . He could wish that matters at the War Office were managed as well . He frequently met in London their three leading Provincial Grand Officers—Bros . Eastes , Russell , and Spencer—and was pleased to notice how popular they seemed to be with the Kentish brethren . On behalf of the Grand Officers , he thanked the assembled brethren for their hearty welcome .

The Dep . Prov . G . Master , Bro . J . S . EASTES , gave " The Health of M . W . Bro . Earl Amherst , Prov . G . M . " He spoke of the low ebb of Freemasonry about 1840 , especially in the Province of Kent ; that since that period it had acquired new vitality which may be dated b ? ck from the period when their Prov . G . M ., of whom they were all so proud , first accepted ihe position as ruler over the Province of Kent . Their progress

had proceeded steadily year by year , until now the Kentish brethren could feel just pride in the fact that there were 65 lodges attached to their province , whilst their beloved G . M . had been appointed by H . R . H . the Prince'of Wales Pro G . Master of England . His lordship had endeared himself to all those over whom he presided by his kind and judicious sway , and he felt sure that the men of Kent would respond as warmly to the toast of thtir Grand Master as he ( his Deputy ) proposed .

It need hardly be said that the toast was received with loud acclamation . The Prov . G . M ., Earl AMHERST , Pro G . M ., replied . He said that when some 40 years ago he accepted the exalted position of P . G . M . of Kent he well knew the responsibilities attached to that ofiice ; however , he did not then more than he did now shrink from undertaking them . He was

very pleased to say that he had been eminently successful in his efforts , * he might compare with a just pride the present prosperity of the province with that of the past . His lordship also alluded to the fact that at the last Masonic gathering at the Albert Hall the Province of Kent , by the large amount it contributed , held the position of being second on the list of

Provincial Grand Lodges . The Province of Kent was universally acknowledged as the most happy , united , and most prosperous province of the United Kingdom . The P . G . M . said he intended to preside as Chairman at the next Girls' School Festival , and felt sure that he might rely on the loyal and generous support of his officers and brethren on the occasion .

The PROV . G . M . gave "The Health of the Dep . G . M ., Bro . J . S . Eastes . " His lordship said he had selected their worthy brother from among many others whose names were submitted , and events had proved that he was thoroughly justified in the wise and popular selection he had made , The Dep . G . M . was indeed his right hand and he could not hope to continue his success without the valuable aid of the popular and genial Dep . G . M .

The D . P . G . M . replied . He said it had been stated there were at present 65 lodges in the province and how to pay a visit to each annually entailed a serious difficulty ; however , he managed somehow or other to do it . He thanked the brethren for the kind facilities they afforded him in the discharge of his important functions .

The toast of "The Prov . Grand Officers , Present and Past " followed . The PROV . G . M . said he had been most fortunate in the selection of his Grand Officers . Bros . Lieut .-Col . C . J . HAMILTON , P . S . G . W ., and W . RUSSELL , P . G . Treas ., briefly replied . The PROV . G . M . gave " The Mayor of Gravesend , Bro . J . N . Willes . " The MAYOR replied .

The PROV . G . MASTER then gave "The Masonic Charities . " He stated that it should be a point of honour and conscience with everyone who joined the Craft not to do so in the hope of personal benefit , but that his aim should be how he could render himself most extensively serviceable to his poor and distressed brethren .

Bro . F . R . W . HEDGES , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . I . G ., replied . He thanked the Prov . G . Master in anticipation for the promise of too guineas for the ensuing Festival . The P . G . M . gave " The Prosperity of the Lodge of Freedom , No . 77 . " under whose banner the Prov . G . Lod ge had that day assembled . He said that the arrangements had been most excellent ..

The W . M . No . 77 replied , with thanks for his lordshi p ' s kind approbation . " The Visitors " followed , well put and ably responded to . The Tyler ' s toast brought the evening , which had been most agreeable and successful , to a close .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Gloucestershire And Herefordshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE AND HEREFORDSHIRE .

The above Prov . G . Mark Lodge was held at Cheltenham on Friday , the 15 th instant . The Prov . G . Master , Bro . Vassar-Smith , presided , and the Dep . Prov . G . Master , Bro . O . Shellard , with many officers and brethren , was also present . The officers appointed for the ensuing year were as follows

Bro . J . Waghorne ... ... ... p . S . G . W . „ J . Owner ... ... ... ... p . J . G . W . „ C . Rostes ... ... ... ... p . G . M . O . „ J . W . Harrison ... ... ... Prov . S . G . O . „ H . L . Gadd ... ... ... ... Prov . J . G . O . „ the Rev ., Dr . Lynes ... ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ J . C . M . Vaughan ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ G . Newman ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ E . Denning ... . „ ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ 11 C . Ewens ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ G . F . Minett ... ... ... Prov . G . I . of Wks . „ Conway Jones ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ N . Philpott ... ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ F . Forty ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . ,, W . Sparks ... ... ... ... Prov . G . I . G . 1 , Tarr ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler . Afterwards the brethren visited Pittville Park , and lunched at the Pump Room ,