Provincial.

brethren of Kent . ( Cheers . ) He believed the proceedings of that day would have the effect of raising the position of Masonry in Kent , and that ere long this province would prove to be second to none , either in number or influence , in the kingdom . ( Cheers . ) Under the presidency of the nobleman who had that day been solemnly installed as Prov . G . M ., he doubted not that Freeinasonry would advance to the highest state of prosperity ; and , by

advancing their own prosperity , they would promote that of the Grand Lodge of England , on behalf of the Officers of ivhich he begged to return them his most cordial thanks . ( Cheers . ) The D . PEOV . Grand Master said—I have a very pleasant duty to perform , which you will all readily anticipate . Many of those present have heard me speak in this room before , but I do not know that I ever rose with more peculiar feeling of gratification than on the present occasion . It has been said that the G . M . of

England perforins his duties well . I think we shall all give a hearty response to that , when we remember that his lordship promptly attended to the wishes unanimously expressed by the members of the lodges of Kent , on both sides of the county , with respect to the appointment of Prov . G . M . ( Cheers . ) Nothing could more plainly show that the insinuations which have appeared in some newspapers or periodicals , as to certain influences prevailing in the Grancl Lodgepartlin reference to politicalpartlin reference to other

, y , y matters , had no foundation whatever in fact , than that the G . M . of England immediately responded to the wishes of the province , ancl appointed as our G . M . a nobleman who , though politically opposed to him , he knew to be a worthy member of the Craft —( cheers)—one who ivould act in accordance with the feelings and inclinations of the Masons of Kent , and uso his utmost endeavours to promote the prosperity of Freemasonry in . the province over which he ruled . ( Loud Cheers . ) 1 know there are many members of the Craft

present who , coining as they do from long distances , will be obliged to leave early , and therefore my remarks must necessarily be brief . My lord ( continued fche speaker ) you are a young man and a young Mason , but the members of the Prov . Gran d Lodge of Kent look with perfect confidence to you in every respect . ( Cheers . ) We believe you

have Masonic principles at heart—we know you have all the courage of an Englishman —( loud cheers)—we therefore anticipate that while your conduct will be firm ancl dignified to every member of the province , yet that these qualities ivill be combined with that courtesy ivhich always becomes an Englsh nobleman , and with that kindness whicli always characterises an English gentleman . ( Loud Cheers . ) I would direct your attention to the motto over the entrance to this room—¦ ' Constantia etVirtute . " AYhenl came

here this morning an indefatigible member of the decorative ifommittee , Bro . Johnson , drew my attention to the fact that this motto is that of our Grand Master's family . ( Hear , hear . ) I may also say that it is a Masonic motto . What do we meanly " constantia ? " Yl ' e mean , and know , my lord , that you ivill preserve the ancient landmarks of our order . ( Cheers . ) What do we mean hy " virtute ? " We mean , ancl know , that your lordship will conduct yourself in every capacitthrough life both as a man and a

y Mason ; and I trust , my lord , that should your term of office be extended to the space of fifty years , though many of us present will then have entered the valley of the shadow of death , your jubilee year will be celebrated by such another meeting as that we have witnessed this day , and that you will then receive the same congratulations , the same kindness and esteem from tho Masons of Kent as have been tendered you on this occasion . ( Loud cheers . ) It is the earnest aspiration of the Provincial Grand Lodge that you

may long be spared to preside over them , and we arc convinced you will do so with all that kindness and gentlemanly bearing which you havo displayed this day . ( Cheers . ) Knowing the name you bear , we are confident that nothing will induce yon to swerve from the strict paths of rectitude , and should you ever be tempted to do so , we are assured that the memory of those ancestors who have won for themselves so distinguished a place in their country ' s annals will at once check any feeling approaching the base or

grovelling , and that you will maintain unsullied the proud name you bear , as ivell as the fair fame of Masonry in Kent . ( Loud cheers . ) The toast was drunk with the greatest enthusiasm . The PEOV . GRAND MASTEE , whose rising was the signal for a renewed burst of cheering , responded in the following terms : —I really can scarcely find words to express adequatefy the deep sense

I entertain of fche very kind manner in which those present , including many distinguished members of the Craft , have responded to the health of one called to preside over this province , although so young . ( Cheers . ) It will be long before I shall—nay , 1 never can , even though it pleased Providence to extend my life to the term mentioned hy Bro . Dohson , and all through that time 1 ivere to do my duty to the Craft unexceptionably—merit the kindness you have this day shown towards me , untried as I am and comparatively unknown in this province . ( Cheers . ) I would yet again thank you for the large attendance at this , my inaugural festival ; for I cau

assure you , if I may be allowed to do so , I take it as no slight compliment to myself . ( Cheers . ) Many of you , I know , have come from long distances in order to be present to-day , and in so doing you have given another proof of your devotion to the Craft . ( Cheers . ) The circumstances under which I am called to this chair are exceedingly grateful to me—both because it was at the unanimous prayer of the provincial lodges , and because the Most

Worshipful the Grand Master of England so readily gave effect to that prayer . ( Cheers . ) I feel the acceptance of this office to be no slight and trivial charge , and I trust the flattering anticipations of Bro . Dohson may be realized . ( Cheers . ) Of one thing I can assure you—I am as determined as Bro . Dohson himself could wish not to deviate from the ancient landmarks of the order —( cheers)—ancl it will be my earnest endeavour never to disgrace the chair which has been occupied by so many eminent predecessors . ( Cheers . )

I hope the good cause we all have at heart will not stand still in Kent—that our numbers will be increased year by year—that , as the province over which I have the good fortune to preside now comprises no fewer than seventeen lodges , so each succeeding year may see one added fco fche list , and fche members of those already iu existence largely augmented—ancl that when the time arrives for mo to resign this office , Freemasonry in Kent may be ten times as flourishing as at present . ( Loud cheers . ) It is only by your hearty

ancl unanimous support—such a support as that ivhich you have so kindly rendered me to-day—that I can hope to carry out the duties of Provincial Grancl Master to your satisfaction . That support I feel confident I shall not solicit in vain ; and in again thanking you , I can only say that it is from the very bottom of my heart . ( Cheers . ) Perhaps , however , before I sit down , it may not be out of place if I were to make one or two remarks which have occurred

to me . I have recently seen some observations as to the mode in which the funds collected iu this ' province for the Masonic Charities are administered , and hopes expressed that some change in this respect should he made . Now to me the present system , giving as it does to each of the present lodges in the province the privileges of a life-governorship for the different charities , appears

to be so excellent that I should nofc be disposed fco recommend or support any alteration . ( Cheers . ) Another subject is , that I have observed several Masons who have attended to-day wearing Mark jewels . It may not be unknown to many of you that 1 myself hold a higher position in Mark than in Craft Masonry ; but at the same time it is my duty to tell you that Mark jewels ought not to be were in a Craft lodge . ( Hear hoar . ) In saying this , I wish not to be thought speaking anything derogatory of Mark

Masonry ; on the contrary , I think ifc a graceful addition to the second degree , but still , not being recognised by Grand Loclge , the jewel must not be worn in a Craft lodge . ( Hear . ) It has been asserted , I know , that the Grand Loclge of Mark Masonry was instituted in opposition to the Grand Lodge , and that the Grand Master would not countenance its members ; but no better refutation of these statements can beafl ' orded than the fact that the Grand Master did not hesitate to appoint me to the position I now occupy , although

I am the Deputy Grand Master in Mark Masonry . ( Hear , hear . ) Having thus set this matter on a right footing , ifc now only remains for me to perform the pleasing duty of drinking all your healths collectively , and to reiterate the hope that while your anticipations with respect to myself may be fulfilled , so may I also experience that friendly kindness and cordiality which I have this day received . ( Loud cheers . ) The PROV . GEAND MASTER rose and said : —The pleasing duty

now devolves upon me of proposing the health of that distinguished Brother who has this day been invested Deputy Provincial Grand Master . ( Loud cheers . ) That cheer tells me how popular , and how deservedly popular , is Bro . Dohson amongst the Masons of Kent . ( Cheers . ) When called to this chair , my first cluty was to look around amongst the Masons of the province for one whom 1 could select as my deputy , I took the advice of many members of the Craft , and I may say the

unanimous voice of all pointed to Bro . Dohson as best fitted to discharge the duties of that important office . ( Cheers . ) Few appointments could have been more consonant with my own feelings , for while I respect him as a Mason , I cannot do otherwise than admire his private virtues . ( Cheers . ) With his good qualities many present are more intimately acquainted than myself , as for many years he has discharged important civil duties

in tliis borough—how worthily that piece of plate will telt ( pointing to a magnificent candelabrum presented to Bro . Dobson hy the inhabitants of the town ) . ( Cheers . ) I now , therefore , call upon you to drink this toast with every honour , for I am sure that no honour you can give it will be more than that ivhich its subject deserves . ( Loud cheers . ) The toast having been most warmly drunk , The DEPUTY PEOV . GRAND MASTER , after thanking the brethren for the compliment said : —The circumstances connected with my appointment to the office I now hold avu pretty wellknowu to most