The Province Of Kent.

with the Royal Marines , and boomed forth to the astonished world under the title of the United Chatham Lodge of Benevolence . The Lodge of Peace and Harmony , whose home is Dover , first "tiled" its doors in 179 1 , but it is still looking longingly for its centenary warrant , of which , or

a similar document , the Lodge of Emulation at Dartford , its younger sister , is justly and gloatingly proud . In the brave old county of Kent there have been from time to time forty-nine towns or villages in which lodges have been held ; to-day that number has been reduced to thirty-nine . Reference was made earlier in this . article to the

influence exerted over Kentish Masonry by the military element ; thus Foolscrav ( in 1769 ) , Brabourne , Lees , and Ash ford all boasted lodges of the class . The posting houses , too , had lodges presumably for the purpose of welcoming the coming and speeding the parting guest . Amongst these may be mentioned the Lodge of

Friendship , at Lamberhurst one of the same name at Wrotham , and the True and Faithful Lodge , which first met at Dartford , and then moved to West Mailing .

Of these the Lodge of Friendship , which came into being in the year 1772 , has had a chequered career ; from Wrotham , the place of its birth , it removed to Deptford , then in 18 4 6 it took a new lease of life at St . Katherine ' s Docks ; the "George and Vulture , " in Cornhill , was its next place of

meeting ; and , lastly , it has settled down to a hoarv old age at the "Ship and Turtle , " in Leadenhall Street . The first Prov . Grand Master of Kent was the Hon . Robert Boyle Walsingham , fifth son of the Earl of Shannon , and commodore in His Majesty ' s service . He first opened Prov .

Grand Lodge in the year J 7 6 9 , and continued in office until the year 1780 , when he was drowned at sea . The next three Grand Masters were of the military persuasion . Captain Chas . Frederick took up the gavel laid down by the late chief , and he in his turn was followed by Captain George Smith , then

MALLIXf - ARIIKV TOWKB .

came the third of these soldier Masons , and Colonel Jacob Sawbridge took up the reins of government .

ST . LEONARDS , WEST MAI-LING , NORMAN TOWKH OK UUXnOLPIL The navv and the army having each had their innings , it was now the turn of the doctors , and thus we find that Dr . Perfect , of Mailing , next ascends the steps of the provincial throne . Sir Walter James succeeded the doctor in the year

1810 , and then we get back to the army in the person of General Sir Samuel Hulse , who does not seem to have made a very successful ruler , since we find that when he hands over his gavel to the Hon . Twistleton Fiennes , in 18 31 , he could only count up a roll of eighteen lodges .

He , in his turn , does not appear to have greatly encouraged the Craft , for when that learned gentleman , Bro . L . C . Humfrey , Q . C , followed him in the chair , he found a dwindled roll of but thirteen lodges . Again a lawyer stepped into the breach in the person of Bro . C . P . Cooper , Q . C , and then came that appointment which has done so much for Masonry in Kent , and has put new heart and soul into the Craft in the county .

As Viscount Holmesdale , the present -Lord- Amherst was installed at Gravesend , as j _ o rd Amherst he rules the same province to-day , and during the forty-one years of his reign there is no Provincial Master who has done more to consolidate his province and bring into harmonious working the sometimes discordant element which will arise , no matter

how sweetly the charmer may pipe . Sixty-six lodges stand to the credit of the province to-day , as against the above-mentioned thirteen of forty-one years ago , a record of which any Grand Master may well be proud .

' t & U

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

Royal Masonic Institution for Boys .

The first meeting of the Board of Stewards ' for the 103 rd Anniversary Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys was held at Freemasons' Hall on Friday , 10 th May . Bro . Charles E . Keyser , P . G . D ., Patron and Treasurer of the Institution was in the chair , supported by about thirty-live

Stewards . The Secretary of the Institution reported correspondence he had had with the Brighton Railway Company , by which it appeared the Company declined to allow privileges enjoyed in former years on the extended lime for return journey whenever the Festival had been held at Brighton , and had

also increased the fare by 33-y per cent . He also reported the result of enquiries with reference to other places available for the meeting , and letters from Stewards unable to attend the

meeting . Considerable discussion followed , and it was ultimately resolved , with practical unanimity , to hold the Festival at the Crystal Palace on Wednesday , the 26 th June , 1901 . Bro . Edgar Goble , P . G . S . B ., D . P . G . M . Hants and Isle of

Wight , was elected President of tne Board ; Bros . Harry Bevir and James Stephens were elected Acting Vice-Presidents ; Bro . John W . Gieve , J . P ., P . G . Treasurer Hants and Isle of Wight , and Bro . J . M . McLeod were respectively elected Hon . Treasurer and Hon . Secretary of the Board of Stewards . The acting officers , with Bros . T . A . Bullock ,

Corbie , Fraser , Pritchard , Powell , Parsons , Money , Songhurst and Alfred J . Thomas were appointed a Committee to make all arrangements for the Festival .