Provincial Lodges.

of a kind and benevolent disposition—( cheers ) . And he believed that no brother took a deeper interest in the prosperity of Masonry , and the more particularly as regarded its prosperity in the province of Kent —( cheers ) . The toast having been drunk with Masonic honours , the P . G . M . acknowledged the compliment , and said that he did so with the greater pleasure , from the circumstance that it had been prefaced in such kindly terms by his excellent Br . Ashley —( loud cheers . ) The next toast he had to propose was one always received with applause ,

because it included a class of most meretorious brethren , without whose able assistance the working of the Grand Lodge could not attain any degree of perfection ; he meant the newly-appointed Grand Officers —( cheers ) . They were all favourably known to the brethren and were , indeed , the selection of the brethren themselves—( cheers ) . Believing they were most worthy of the distinction conferred upon them , and that they were not to be surpassed as good practical Masons by any other province , he had had great pleasure in confirming these appointments ; he could never himself have made a better choice—( cheers ) . He proposed their healths , and coupled with the toast the S . G . W ., Br . Souflsgate —( cheers ) .

Br . Southgate , P . G . S . W ., in acknowledging tho toast , mentioned as an encourageing fact that the Gravesend Lodge , to which he belonged , had gone on steadily increasing ever since the Grand Lodge was held in that town , and he earnestly hoped that this meeting would tend to further the cause of Masonry in Dover and generally all over the province , and make it , if it were not so already , the strongest province in the kingdom —( cheers ) . At Gravesend they would have no difficulty in doubling their members ; but they did not choose to open their doors indiscriminately to all

comers without reference to their qualifications to be admitted as members of the Order —( hear ) . They rather sought to make brothers of men who would devote themselves to the study of Masonry , and who did not seek admission to its secrets from an idle curiosity which bore no good fruits —( cheers ) . The Prov . G . M . had now to propose a toast which he knew would be received with the utmost favour by every member of tho Craft , be he a man of Kent , or a Kentish

man —( cheers ) , as neither of them would ever forget , services rendered to them . He begged to propose to them "The P . G . Officers of the province , " coupled with the name of their excellent friend , Br . Ashley —( loud and protracted cheers ) . Br . Ashley begged to thank the R . W . G . M . for the very flattering manner in which he had proposed the toast , and the brethren for the equally flattering manner in which they had responded to it . He was sure the P . G . officers would highly esteem the compliment paid to themand for himself the brethren had so recentlshown their

, y respect for him by the publication of his portrait ( a copy of which hung over the chair of the G . M . ) , he knew not how adequately to express his feelings . He had always endeavoured to do his duty , and would ever continue to the utmost of his power to promote the interests of the

Craft-The R . W . the P . G . M . having apologised to the Brethren for having to leave the meeting , in consequence of having a long distance to go in returning to his home , the chair was taken by the P . D . G . M ., Br . Ashley . TheP . D . Grand Master then gave , "The he ' alth of the Worshipful Master and Brethren of the Dover Lodge ( No . 235 ) , " and thanks to them for the handsome manner in which they had entertained the Grand Lodge and visiting brethren that day —( cheers ) . Everything that could conduce to the convenience and comfort of

the brethren had been provided , and he was delighted that all the arrangements had been successful —( cheers ) . He concluded with good wishes for the success of the Dover Lodge —( cheers ) . Br . Gardiner , W . M ., returned thanks , and expressed the pleasure he felt at hearing the Grand Lodge and visiting brethren were satisfied with the arrangements made for their entertainment . Freemasonry was now prospering in Dover to a degree quite unknown in past timesand he trusted that its healthful princiles would spread

, p with equal luxuriance throughout the province —( cheers ) . The P . D . Grand Master then gave , " The health of the Mayor , and success to the town and trade of Dover "—( cheers ) . Br . Nazer , one of the deputation which had waited on the Mayor to request the