Prov. Grand Lodge Of Kent.

PROV . GRAND LODGE OF KENT .

f a 'HIS important event took place on Thursday , the - £ - * 2 / ith ult ., at Tunbridgo Wells , under the banners of tho Hblraesdaio Lodgo , No . S 7-1 , and the Pantile . s Lodge , No . 2200 . The reception took place at the Pump Room . A largo number of Masons attended , and arrangement *

were made on an extended scale by the reception Committee , which comprised the W . M . of tho Holmesdale Lodgo ( Bro . A . T . Simpson ) , Tom Ryder ( W . M . Pantiles Lodge ) , and other members , with fche Secretaries Bros . H . Harris and Rufus Stevenson . The approaches to the Pomp Room

wero decorated with Venetian masts and flags , and a choice selection of foliage plants lined the entrance to tbe room of ceremonial . There wero representatives from Lodges at Bromley , Plumstead , Tonbridge , Ashford , Maidstone , Dartford , Mailing , Deal , Gravesend , Dover , Sevenoaks

Whitstable , Fnversham , Sittingbourne , Evitb , New Brompton , and Hythe . Tho Prov . Grand Lodgo was opened with due ceremony by the R . W . Bro . the Earl Amherst P . G . M ., and tbe V . W . Bro . J . Smith-Bastes P . G . D . England D . P . G . M . The appointments to tho Prov . Grand Lodgo were made m follows : —

R . T . Simpson Senior Warden G . F . Alexander Smyfch Junior Warden Rev . J . Stewart , M . A . Senior Chaplain Bev . G . Paydcn , M . A . Junior Chaplain

W . Russell Treasurer A . Spencer Secretary J . Cook Registrar W . Crawford ) a n C . Baker J Semor * Deaoons

E . H . Joynson *) T . _ S . Wagon * j 3 amor * Deaoons R . Griggs Snpt . of Works J . W . Court Dir . of Cers . W . Prances Deputy Dir . of Cors . J . Hunt Assist . Dir . of Cers .

W . Moulds Sword Bearer W . B ^ Snner } Standard Bearers W . fl . Longhurst Organist H . Iron Assist . Secretary J . Hill Pursuivant J . Nyo Assistant Pursuivant

Among the members present were : — Bros . Wilmotfc P . M . P . P . G . Reg . Dir . of Cars ., Burton P . M , P . P . G . Reg . Treasurer , Cripps P . M ., Dunkley S . W ., Skinner , Luck J . D ., Beale Steward , Fowler , Atherton , Tester , Graham Lo Grand , Nye , A . C . Skinner , Anscombe J . W ., Warwick , Cousens aud Austen

( Holmesdale 874 ) , Potter Treasurer , Grunwoll J . S ., Willmot S . D ., Colls J . D ., Gallard I . G ., Lossels Steward , Downs , Rule , Tupper , Wiseman , Langley , Hodson , Wall ( Pantiles 2200 ) , Embery , Lyle , Stedolpb , Bonltor , Crates , Grover , Redman , Fielder , Hammond , Lomnn , Starmer , Martin , Boatby , Read , Catchpole , Boscawen , Vise , Dainton , Simpson , Stone , Hoadley , Bacon , Charlton , Burslem , & o .

Divine service was afterwards conducted at the Church of King Charles the Martyr , by kind permission of Rev . Bro . Tugwell , M . A . It was a choral service , the choir being augmented by members from St . James ' s Church , Christ Church , & c . The decorations of the Chnrch were

tasteful , and were carried out by the Misses Read and Calway , nnder the superintendence of Bro . Anscombe . The shortened form of service was used by the Rev . Bro . Pagden , M . A ., Provincial Grand Jnnior Chaplain . The special Psalms were 95 , 97 and 150 , the Rev . Hornby Steer

reading tbe Lesson , which was taken from 1 John iii . 1—25 . "Thine , O Lord , is the greatness , " was the anthem , and it was rendered with grand effect by the

choir , Dr . Longhurst Provincial Grand Organist being at the organ . The Rev . Bro . Stewart Prov . Grand Senior Chaplain preached an effective discourse on the topic of Universal Brotherhood . A collection was made at the close

in aid of tbe Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution and tho choir and organ fund . The banquet was served in the Sussex Assembly Rooms by Mr . Dartnall , of the Pantiles , who laid covers for over 200 . The tables and room were elegantly decorated . The Wor . Prov . Grand Master ( Earl

Amherst ) presided , and he was supported by the Provincial Grand Officers , & c . The usual toasts were submitted . During tbe banquet a choice selection of music was discoursed by Mr . Gates ' s band , and the following artists interpolated the toast list with vocal selections : —Miss

Griffin , and Bros . Brown , Dalzell and Ackerman , Bro . Cozens being tbe accompanist . The Stewards and Reception Committee inclnded several prominent members of each local Lodge , the Secretarial duties , undertaken by Bros . Stevenson and Harris , being ably carried ont .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

PROV . G . LODGE OF MIDDLESEX AND SURREY .

rpHE annual Provincial Grand Mark Lodge was held at - *** - Mark Masons' Hall , Great Queen-street , on Monday , 29 th ult . A very foil attendance of brethren testified to the great interest taken in the meeting . The Provincial Grand Lodge was opened in due form at five o ' clock , by

tho Grand Master Sir Francis Burdett , Bart ., and tho following Grand Officers : —Bros . C . Hammorton D . P . G . M ., Col . A . H . Bircham S . W ., Jobn Gates Collier J . W ., John Barnett M . O ., Capt . C . J . Knightley S . O ., A . H . Bowles J . O ., Rev . J . Cater and Rev . F . Oliver Chaplains , L . G .

Gordon-Robbins Treasnrer , J . T . Briggs Registrar , W . G . Brighten Secretary , Harry Tipper S . D ., Henry Burgess J . D ., J . T . Norman Callaway Inspector of Works , R . Marshall acting Director of Ceremonies , J . Byford Assistant Director of Ceremonies , James Stevens acting Sword Bearer , L . P .

Conbro , J . T . Skinner and J . B . Lancaster Stewards , Jobn Gilbert Ty ler ; and the Masters and Wardens , Overseers and Brethren of all the Mark Lodges in tho Province of . Middlesex and Surrey , with several visitors . The Provincial Grand Master was saluted in ancient form . The minutes

of tho last Grand Lodge were read and confirmed . The Report of the Committee of General Purposes was then read , as follows , aud was received and adopted . Since the last annual Provincial Grand Lodgo meeting , two Lodges in tho Province have been consecrated , viz ., Tho Bisley Lodge ,

No . 107 , and the Ubique Lodge , No . 411 . Wo report that all the 37 Lodges in tho Province havo paid their Prov . Grand Lodge duns up to 31 st December 1890 . The number of members ou the books of the respective Lodges is now S 22 , last year 7 G 0 , showiuj > nn

increase of G 2 . We recommend the rota of Lodges for nominating Grand Stewards as follows : Era , Euston , West Smithfield , and Monatsohin Lodges . Tbe Prov . Grand Treasurer ' s account has been rendered and referred to tho Auditors .

The Treasnrer s account was then read , and it proved highly satisfactory . There was shown a considerablo balance in band belonging to the General Fund ns also the Benevolent Fund . The account was received and ordered to be entered on the minutes . Tho usual grant of ten

guineas to the Mark Benevolent Fund was then mado by tho Lodge . Tho next important business was to recommend to tho most Worshipful Graud Master a brother for the office of Prov . Grand Master for the nexfc three years . Bro . Robbins , the Treasurer , iu proposing the name of Sir

Francis Burdett to rule over the Province for a farther period eulogized tho services Sir Francis had rendered . The proposal was received with acclamation and unanimously passed . The Prov . G . Master in appropriate terras referred to the kindly feeling always existing between the

brethren and himself , and thanked thom for tho hononr , assuring them he would always endeavour to further the interests of Mark Masonry for their benefit . Tho roll of Lodges was then called over , and each of the 37 Lodges in the Province was duly represented and answered to the

roll call . Bro . L . G . Gordon-Robbins was unanimously re-elected Treasurer , and the usual vote of thanks awarded to him for his past services . The Provincial Grand Master then invested his Officers for the ensning year , as follow :

Charles Hammerton D . M . Rev . Viscount Molesworth Senior Warden Col . C . H . Nevill Junior Warden Frederick West M . O .

William Mason Stiles S . O . Alfred W . Hillier J . O . Rev . Henry F . Oliver *) « . . „ ,. _ Rev . Richd . Wood Samnel j P la , n 8 L . G . Gordon-Robbins Treasurer

John W . Mash Registrar W . G . Brighten Secretary L . P . Coubro Senior Deacon John T . Skinner Junior Deacon A . J . Hone-Goldney Inspector of Works

Robert A . Marshall Director of Ceremonies John T . R . Cresswell Assist . Director of Cers . Major-Gen . A . H . W . Williams Sword Bearer Philip H . Clisby Standard Bearer Charles F . Passmore Organist

Murray Haynes Assist . Secretary W . R . Arnold I . G . Dr . H . W . Kiallmark *) John Webb f

„ . Dr . R . D . R . Sweeting ^ Stewards . — Chaufforier ) John Gilbert Tyler