Provincial Grand Lodge Of Surrey.

ships of family , parent , child , brother , sister , are one ; form , feature , faculty , even character and habit , spring up wo scarcely know ho " to toll of this unity ; and if within the bonds of a single family it 1-c true , it must remain tine tlmnghont the raoo that h is a c . mmon origin , that human natnre is one , created and snstained as a universal

brotherhood . T have already noticed how religious tuith is apt to be marred by human narrowness . The truth which religion asserts is this , that men are brethren ; tho narrowness of man replies that these brother men shall be as few as possible . There is no doubt a natural tendency also to this . The earliest vivid experiences of life

are those which concern the child s own needs , pleasures , or pains ; it is only gradually that the circle of sympathy can be enlarged for tlse admission of tho pleasures , pains , and needs of others , parents , brothers , sisters , neighbours , fellow-conntrymen , mankind at large . To make nse of an old comparison , it was once only possible for

astronomers to consider the earth which wo inhabit as itself the centre of the Universe , about which all the other heavenly bodies must move in attendanco ; now we are known to be scientifically small and humble indeed among the vast magnitudes and spaces which the Great Architect has arranged . Man's moral narrowness

has in like maoner often led him to think himself the one important being to whom all around must minister , or , next to this , to admit into the select number whom he will call brethren as few of his fellow creatures as possible . Thus wo have selfi-hness of all kinds , personal and social . Oh , let ns lift up some voice against this false

spirit of isolation . The One Great God is our Universal Father . Shall we not open our understandings and hearts ns widely as tho truth demands , and at least aim at the Universal Brotherhood ? Yes , surely an appeal for wide-embracing love will meet with ready response amongst ns to-day . Have we not already found in tho

midst of the mysteries of our Craft an ever-abundant stream of sympathy and brotherly love ? In our own Brotherhood let us keep such an object in view ; for we are in possession of a means very powerful for such an end . Already the ties of love with ns are acknowledged to bo extensive , spread as they are over the face of

the globe ; we , if any , are men who ought easily to learn that love is to be without limit . Ready with words of sympathy wo should be . active in works of charity , zpalous in all that can promote the good of mankind . Tho opportunities presented to us are abundant , let us not fail to nse them , and to act on the principles of our Craft , which

are those of true religion . So we shall ourselves be honouring out brotherhood , and be teaching others to honour it . For men assuredly will honour that which is effectual in making life more full of love , When it is found that we as Freemasons ca ? i indeed lay aside oni quarrels , that to us the appeal , made elsewhere in vain , " Sirs , ye are

brethren , " comes in the midst of strife with a powor of command . When it is found that we can and do use the Craft in such manner as to become at the same time more loving husbands and parents , truer friends , and better citizens , then will the blessing of Almighty God be recognised as working with us . Freemasonry will be known

even to the uninitiated to be not against religion , not instead of religion , but as a most effectual agent , a ministering handmaid , iu the service of religion . So , brethren , may the bonds that unite us symbolize and teach a universal love . May the brotherhood of earth , by-and-bye , enlarge into the complete fulness of tho

brotherhood of heaven . We can speak of heaven , for we acknowledge God ; and know that , as He is maker of heaven as well as of earth , so , hereafter as well as now , there as well as here , He will be the One Giver , still the Universal Father of those who aro members of the Universal Brotherhood .

The brethren afterwards sat down to banquet in the St . Mark ' s School , and here also the Provincial Grand Master presided . At the conclusion of the repast graco was sung , and then the toast list of the day was commenced . In proposing the first , the Queen and the Craft , General Brownrigg said that while anything approaching

politics shonld be avoided at Masonic meetings , they could but express their sympathy with Her Majesty , who had recently , for upwards of a week , really been without advisers in the government of Her great Empire . This toast was followed by the National Anthem , and then the president gave that of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , Most

Worshipful Grand Master . The Prince of Wales had for many years ably presided over English Freemasonry and took a great interest in its working . He ( General Brownrigg ) was one of tho oldest members of the Alpha Lodge , in which the Grand Master had recently initiated his eldest son into the mysteries of the Order . The brethren must of

course look forward to the time when the young Prince mi"ht be called upon to rule over the Craft , and naturally take great interest in anything which brought him nearer to them . He bad not only been struck by the way in which the ceremony had been performed by the Prince of Wales , but also by the attention paid by the youn «

prince during his initiation . He had evidently . appreciated the position in which he was placed . Tbe toast was dnly honoured , and followed by a song . The next toast was that of the Grand Officers . The Provincial Grand Master felt extreme diffidence in submitting this toast to the notice of the brethren from the fact that he was in

a measure , proposing his own health , he having occnpied the position of Senior Warden in Grand Lodge some thirty-two years back . There was no duty actually defined for the Grand Officers , and no duties actuall y laid down for them . Their work was to carry out the principles of Freemasonry , and promote its welfare . One " could but

be struck by the number of prominent members of the new government who were also prominent members of the Masonic Order , and no doubt they had thr > best wishes of their brother Masons . Bro . Case replied . The Provincial Grand Master had said that after thirty-two years association with the toast he felt a diffidence in proposing the - . — j ¦ tut

- - _ __ . " |( UU * LI !; nealth of the Grand Officers , how much greater difficulty was it te adequatel y respond to it ? Tho Grand Officers filled duties of a very important character in the Craft , and many of them had recently beer called

upon by the Queen to fulfil duties of importance in the country ine duties they fulfilled in the Craft they carried out most satis . Jactoril y , and he felt sure they wonld be equally efficient in theii pronunent positions in the state .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Surrey.

Bro . Arnold proposed the health of the R . W . Provincial Grand Master . It was no ! nee ssarv to say much in intu . ducing : ¦ is toast , because Gener •! Brownrigg was nniversallv beloved by the Mason * of the Province . Tin resnh of his rule was that thoy hid a district working in peice and harmony , and prospering iu a most satisfactory

manner . He thought if they looked all round Euglard tlioycmld not find a single Masonic Province with which they wocld rather bo associated than with Surrey . He concluded by asking the brethren to drink the toast and join him in the hope that General Brownrigg might long havo health and strength to manage tho affairs of the

district . The chairman , replying , said it was thii t ° en years since he had the honour of being appointed as Provincial Grand Master of Surrey . There wero then nine Lodges for him to rule over ; now they had more than three times as many . He conld not say this increase had given rise to an unmixed feeling of gratification , for while

Freemasonry had so largely increased , his difficulties in the management , of the Province had also increased , and in no particular more so than in the appointment of Officers year by year . He hoped the appointments he had made that day had met the approval of the brethren of the Province generally . He had always received tho

most gratifying support from the Masons of his district , but from none more so than from he whose health he was about to propose—Bro . Arnold , the Deputy Provincial Grand Master . He had been inclined to rejoice in the past in possessing so distinguished a Mason for his Deputy , and now that Bro . Arnold was about to leave he felt more

liko chanting a funeral dirge over his loss . Ho had often thought and said how fortunate he was as compared with other of his friends in a similar position , and felt it would indeed be a hard time for him when Bro . Arnold really loft the Province . He wished him God speed in his new home , and hoped he wonld long cherish the memory of

his association with the Masons of Surrey , by whom he would ever be remembered . With the toast was coupled the health of tho Provincial Grand Officers generally . Bro . Arnold tendered his thanks , both on behalf of the Provincial Officers and on his own . He stood before them on what he might term a very painful occasion , for

although he then stood in the position most men were proud to achieve , he yet felt his retirement from activity among them would be a painful matter . His being obliged to sever himself from Freemasonry in Surrey was among his greatest regrets . For nine years

he had occupied the position of Deputy Provincial Grand Master , and those nine years had been most pleasant ones to him—there having scarcely ever been a case of difficulty in the Province throughout tho entire term . In taking farewell of

them—for he was afraid he shonld not bo with them at their next meeting—he assured them he should always cherish memories of his connection with tho Proviuce of Surrey . The next toast was that of the Charities , and was proposed by Bro . Arnold , who again urged the necessity for united action in the district . General

Brownrigg proposed the toast of the entertaining Lodge , complimenting them on the way in which they had carried out their work , and the taste they had displayed in the decorations of the table and rooms . Bro . Sebastian Hart , whose performance on the organ during the Church service had been referred to in most

complimentary terms by the Provincial Grand Master , responded . This was certainly the most difficult part of his duty that day . He thanked the brethren for their presence , and was pleased to hear hia Lodge had given satisfaction in tbe arrangements they had made . The Masters of tho other Lodges in the Province were next

toasted , and to this Bro . Langton , W . M . of the newly-consecrated George Price Lodge , replied . The Provincial Grand Master proposed the toast of the representatives of the Press—a class , he said , eminently useful in recording the doings of the Craft and in

criticising its members whenever criticism was deserved . Bros . E . Massey , Morgan and others replied , and then Bro . C . T . Speight , the Provincial Grand Tyler , gave the concluding toast of the evening , this bringing the proceedings to a close .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Kent.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF KENT .

THE annual meeting 01 the brethren of Kent was held at Gravesend on Wednesday , under the presidency of the R . W . Provincial Grand Master , Viscount Holmesdale . The Prov . Grand Master was supported by the following Officers of Prov . Grand Lodge : James Smith Eastes Deputy Grand Master , R . T . Tatham Senior Warden , Rev . V . S . Vickers Chaplain , B . Kelly Thorpe Treasurer , Alfred

Spencer Secretary , T . R . S . Champion Senior Deacon , Thomas Watson and F . Klatt Junior Deacons , Richard Durtnell Superintendent of Works , John Wyer Deputy Director of Ceremonies , John T . Reeves Assist . D . of C , James Husband Sw . Bearer , E . Kipps Organist , A . W . Wells , J . M . Browning , E . Fenn , C . F . Wncher Stewards ,

Robert Eastly Tyler . The minutes of the last meeting having been confirmed , the accounts of the Prov . Grand Treasurer were submitted and adopted , after which Bro . B . Kelly Thorpe was re-elected to the office of Prov . G . Treasurer , and tho following brethren were sippointed , and . invested as the Officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge : Bro . J . S . Eastes .... Deputy G . Master Sir W . Hart-Dyke , Bfc ., M . P .. P . M . 1837 Senior Warden

Horatio Ward P . M . 31 - - Junior Warden Rev . V . S . Vickers P . M . 199 - 7 nu , . Rev . J . P . Syree P . M . 709 - . ) Chaplains

ii . lv . Tnorpe - - - J reasuror Alfred Spencer - . . Secretary J . Giosman Chillingworth P . M . 1973 Registrar R . Clay Sndlow P . M . 19 55 - - " ) a . r , „ _ ™ . ~ , _ S Senior Deacons ± 2

U . ii ' . Wacner f . ftl . Uy - - ) Arthur Carter W . M . 77 - - " > , „„ . - „„ ¦ m -ci T > ~\ r -i ono > Junior Deacons Edwin Fenn P . M . 1208 - - j J . M . Browning P . M . 784 . - - Snpt . of Works A . W . Wells P . M . 299 - - Director of Cera .