Provincial.

hailed his appearance among them . They would also offer a kind greeting to Bro . How , who had come from London to attend the festive meeting ; Bro . Harrington , from Ryde , so well known and esteemed among them ; together with Bros . Hancock , King , ancl AA oolven . Bro . Ford in reply said , that as he hacl been admitted a member of No . 717 , he would rather have been ranked as one of themselves , but he could not forget that he filled the chair of another Lodge ; and for the position he held as chief magistrate of the townhe was indebted to Masonry . He viewed

, the institution , not as an idle plaything , but as best calculated to diffuse good . AVhen presiding in the corporation by virtue of his office , he looked around and saw himself surrounded by Masons ready to assist him in any difficulty ; and ho hoped 'he should be able to fulfil all the duties that devolved upon him , to the satisfaction of the ] townsmen ; ancl for himself ancl the other visitors , he tended their united aud grateful thanks . The "Health of Bro . Edwin Gait , " who had performed the duties of installationwas greeted with applauseand gracefull

, , y acknowledged by that estimable Brother , who , having seen this Lodge in its apparent decline , now haded its flourishing condition as mainly to be attributed to the conduct of the late Masters . They had seen how energetic and punctual Bro . Hollingsworth had been , and he was satisfied they hacl iu Bro . Rake a Master equally capable of sustaining the credit of the Lodge . He then proposed the health of the immediate Past Master , one who hacl clone much for Masonry and more for their own Lodge ; Bro . Hollingsworthwhether as a public man or as a

, Mason , was ever useful aud ready to assist his fellow men or Brethreu . Bro . Hollingsworth said , the kindness he then , and hacl always received , would never be forgotten . Tho past year would , long as life lasted , be imprinted on his memory . The mayor proposed " The Past Masters of the Lodge , " which was acknowledged by Bro . Castell . Bro . Hollingsworth then , by desire of the W . M ., said he claimed

the attention ot the . brethren to a strictly Masonic toast . To the Masonic press they were , in the provinces , indebted for a knowledge of the proceedings of the Grand Lodge , as well as what Masonry was doing throughout the world . These reports were so faithfully guarded that no betrayal of Masonic secrets passed out of the charmed circle . To the intelligence ancl usefulness , as well as the ability , with which the Freemasons' Magazine was conducted , the Craft was deeply indebted . The ' editor had iu a recent number appealed to the brotherhood to aid his effortsand he ( Bro . Hollingsworth ) hoped the Brethren presentwho were not

, , already subscribers , would send in their names to Bro . How , who , well known to many in that room , was then present as the representative of the Magazine , and whose health he would propose in connection with that of prosperity to the Freemasons' Magazine . Bro . How , in responding , took up Bro . Hollingsworth ' s appeal , and urgently entreated the Brethren to aid the managers of that journal in fighting the battle , which at present was a losing one ; and so successful was the appeal that several Brethren tendered their namesin addition to that of the Lodge .

, Bro . Frost , P . M ., proposed the health of Bro . Joseph Gait , who hacl as their Treasurer been of great service to the Lodge . He had not only resuscitated it , but by the readiness with which he hacl opened his purse for its aid in time of need , entitled himself to the everlasting gratitude of the Lodge . The respected Treasurer having briefly replied , the AV . M . proposed the officers . Bro . E . Gait asked the Brethren to join in a hearty greeting to "The health of Bro . Bannister , " one to whom he and others were indebted for much Masonic instruction . Bro . Bannister was

Master so long back as 1 S 15—he had been forty years a Mason—and during the entire period hacl so conducted himself as to have received the love ancl esteem of the Brethren . The parting toast , " To all poor aud distressed Masons , " somewhat near the " wee sma' hours , " closed a most satisfactory meeting .

KENT . AVTOi-smv . Z'is . -Lodge . —Tuesday , Jnnu-. irv 2-uth , Emulation ( 37 G ) , Bull Inn , Dartford , at 7 . Chapter . —AVednesday , 29 t- ! , Belvidere ( 7-1-1 ) , Star Hotel , Maidstone , at 3 . GRAVESEND . —Lodge of Freedom ( No . 91 ) . —On Monday there was a meeting at the Town Hall ; Bro . AVates , AV . M ., in the chair , who passed one member ancl raised three . A Lodge of Emergency wa ? announced for next week . The Brethren