Provincial Grand Lodge Of Kent.

members of distant Provinces , and hoped that others wonld make a point of joining their festive board . The toast having been heartily drunk and responded to , the R . AV . the Prov . G . M . vacated his chair in favour of his Deputy , and left amid tho cheers of tho brethren . Bro . Eastes proposed the health of Bro . Dr . Longhurst , who had that day delighted them with tho splendid anthem he had composed in honour of their meeting . Bro . Longhurst considered it a great

favour to bo called npon to respond to so great a compliment as had just been conferred on him . Tho Ty ler ' s toast was then given , and the proceedings of the day closed . Those brethren who had the direction of the meeting seem to have spared no trouble to make it what it unquestionably was—a grand success . Tho bells of tho cathedral rang : out a hearty welcome in tho morning , and pealed ont a joyful farewell in the evening to those of our brethren who had to leave by train .

The Provincial Grand Lodge Of Berks And Bucks.

THE PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF BERKS AND BUCKS .

rpHE annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodgo was held on -i- Wednesday , at the Carlton Club Room , Windsor , when Sir Daniel Gooch , Bart ., M . P ., presided , and a large concourse of brethren assembled for the purpose of supporting their respected chief . Immediately after tho Lodgo had been opened , tho patent of appointment of Bro . the Yen . Archdeacon Rev . A . P . Purey-Custas Deputy Grand

Master of tho Province was read , and our rev . brother was installed in his office with tho customary ceremonial . The roll of Lodges was then called , and wo rejoice to say that all of them wero represented . On tho roll of Provincial Grand Officers being called , a very large number responded , and suitable apologies were furnished in tho case of thoso who wero

unavoidably absent . Tho minutes of the last annual meeting wero then taken as read and—on the motion of Bro . Brownrigg P . D . P . G . M ., duly seconded—confirmed . The financial statement of tho Provincial Grand Treasurer was submitted and approved , and tho Report of tho Charity Fund Committee , which was eminently satisfactory , was read , when a recommendation , that tho sum of twenty guineas be

voted from the funds of tho Provincial Grand Lodge to this fund , was unanimously agreed to . It may bo as well to state here , in connection with this Fund , that , with tho exception of Lodge No . 1501 , Wycombe , which , from being a comparatively young Lodge , has probably not had time to straighten itself , all the Lodges in the Province have a balance in their favour . The

Provincial Grand Secretary then read out his report of the Lodges , and from this wo gathered that there are , at the present time , 717 subscribing brethren , of whom about 150 are Past Masters . The P . G . Lodge proceeded to the election of a Treasurer , aud tho result was that tho choice fell unanimously on Bro . Charles Stephens , after which the Provincial Charity Jewel was presented to Bros . John 0 .

Carter P . M . 209 , G . M . Knight W . M . 574 , Edward Grisbrook P . M . 771 , and Thomas Taylor J . W . 1410 . The Provincial G . Master appointed and invested the following brethren as his Officers for the year , namely : —Bros . Filder S . G . W ., McGubbin J . G . W ., Rev . 0 . 11 Honey Grand Chaplain , Rev . — Garry Assistant Grand Chaplain , Charles Stephens G . Treas ., Welsh G . Rag ., Robert Bradley G . Sec ,

W . H . Bingham S . G . D ., Cautrell J . G . D ., Pocock G . Sup . Works , C . D . Hume G . D . C ., G . De Fraine A . G . D . C , Shcppard Grand Sword Bearer , ltovell Grand Purs ., Britton Senior Grand Steward ; C . A . Barrett , S . Tunis Baker , A . IT . Simpson , F . J . Ferguson , and D . Radclyffe G . Stewards ; XV . Hemmiugs G . Tyler . There being no other business to transact , Prov . G . Lodge was closed with tho usual

formalities , and the brethren adjourned to the Town Hall , whero an excellent banquet , presided over by the Prov . G . Master , was served by Mr . Kemsley , of tho Castlo Hotel . Ample justice , having been done to the viands , the cloth was removed , and the regular Loyal and Masonic toasts were proposed , and in all cases most cordially responded to . Sir Daniel Gooch , in proposing the toast of tho Grand Master ,

spoke in justly eulogistic terms of His Royal Highness ' s interest iu Freemasonry , while with that of the Pro Grand Master , & c , was con . nectcd tho name of Bro . Winkfield , Past Graud Steward , who warmly thanked the P . G . M . for associating him with tho toast . The agreeable duty of proposing tho health of tho Prov . Grand Master fell to Rev . Bro . Honey , who spoke most eloquently

of Sir Daniel ' s attachment to the Craft , and tho deep interest ho took in the welfare of tho Province , and in reply the R . W . Chairman thanked Bro . Honey for the kindly manner in which he had submitted the toast , and the brethren for the equally kind manner in which they had received it , adding that it was always a eonveo of pleasure to him to be present on these occasions . In

announcing that tho next meeting of Prov . G . Lodgo would be held at Abingdon , he reminded those present when they last met at that town of the excellent reception they had experienced , aud ho trusted that the gathering would be as numerous as it had been that day . After Bro . Briggs had sung Watson ' s song of The Sentinel , the Prov . G . M . again rose and invited the brethren to drink a bumper to the D . P . G . M ., whose

absence from tho banquet table must bo a source of regret to all , ami the other Prov . G . Officers Present and Past , and with it he coupled the name of Bro . Cutler , who expressed his thanks for the reception accorded to the toast as well as for the honour specially conferred upon him in associating with it his name . The toast of tho Visiting brethren followed , aud in the course of his remarks the Prov . G . Master referred with infinite pleasure to the efforts of

Bro . Dick Radclyffe to whom they wore so indebted for the floral decorations of tho table . Bros . Bony and Radclyffe responded , antl the latter in his speech expressed himself as much gratified with the chairman ' s comments . The toast of the Masonic Charities was proposed b y Rev . Bro . Garry , who spoke of the great amount ol good they had effected and wero effecting ; this was acknowledged by Bro . Carter . Tho other toasts included those of the Grand

The Provincial Grand Lodge Of Berks And Bucks.

Officers of the Province , of tho W . Masters , Officers , & o . of the Etonian , No . 209 , and Windsor Castle , No . 771 , tho Provincial Grand Treasurer , who personally acknowledged the compliment , tho Prov . Grand Stewards and tho Tyler's toast . Shortly afterwards , the guests , who had mustered to the number of seventy-eight , rose aud dipersed , and a very pleasant dav was brought to a close .

We cannot conclude this notice without mentioning tho courtesy and liberality of tho Great Western Railway Company , who issued tickets at half price to all brethren who travelled from London and the Provincial Stations . Wo will further add that in au early number we shall publish a short sketch of Freemasonry in thia Province , based on the account issued some years since by Bro . XV . Briggs Past Prov . Grand Secretary .

Freemasonry In Cornwall.

FREEMASONRY IN CORNWALL .

THE annual meeting of tho Provincial Grand Lodge of Cornwall is thia year to bo held at Redruth , nnder the wing of tho Druids' Lodgo of " Love and Liberality , " No . 589 , warranted in 1851 . The progress of the Craft in the County can easily bo estimated by a comparison of the numerical position of the Lodges when tho Drnids was constituted , with their actual state at the present time . In 1851 , nnder tho rule of Sir Charles Lemon , Bart ., F . R . S ., there were

eleven Lodges and about 350 members , whereas now there aro twenty-seven Lodges and over 1 , 550 brethren who aro subscribing members , aud who are all pleased to have so estimable a nobleman as tho Right Hon . tho Earl of Mount Edgcumbe as Provincial Grand Master . It is not , however , merely in numbers that the Province has improved , for now nearly all the Lodges assemble in halls of their

own , some especially being of a very handsome character ; and not only have their contributions to the Masonic Charities ( located in London ) considerably increased , but tho members havo had , sinco 18 G 4 , an excellent Masonic Annuity and Benevolent Fund , which has far outgrown tho extent originally contemplated by its promoters , having in 1878 about £ 2 , 500 funded , and an income from the interest

of tho property and annual subscriptions of upwards of £ 200 , thereby enabling tho brethren to devote sufficient to pay for four annuities of £ 20 each for aged Freemasons , and for several grants for the education of children , and for the relief of widows , without in any way lessening the money funded . If we look back one hundred years before the Druids waa constituted , we shall find there was but

one Masonic Lodge in the county , which still flourishes as the premier Lodge of the Province , as the " Love and Honour , " No . 75 , Falmouth . In 1752 a new Lodge was formed at Truro , aud a third Lodge at Redruth , both of which havo long since ceased to work . But the Provincial Grand Lodge , which was constituted in 1752 ( with the R . W . Bro . William Pye as the first Prov . G . M . ) is still in a most

vigorous condition , and never so prosperous as now . There are now moro Freemasons iu either of the larger towns in which Lodges assemble than there wero in all the county a century aud a quarter ago , so rapidly has tho Craft increased of late years . The Provincial Grand Lodge will assemble at , Redruth , on Tuesday , the 6 th of August , in the Druids' Hall , for which preparations are already being made ,

as it is anticipated that the meeting will bo numerously attended . As usual , the brethren will proceed to the parish church , to hear a sermon by ono of the Provincial Grand Chaplains ( Bro . the Rev . F . J . Wintle , Rector of Beerferris ) , after which a collection will be made , which will be divided between a local charity ( to be named by the Provincial Grand Lodge ) , the Annuity and Benevolent Fund , and

the Rector for distribution amongst tho poor . The fine Masonic Hall will be also dedicated in due form , the building being worthy of the object , and one that reflects great credit on the members of the Lodgo , the whole cost being upwards of £ 1 , 300 ( fully subscribed by tho company ) . The annual banquet will be served in the large hall at Bro . Tabb a Hotel . —Western Morning News .

Obituary

Obituary

BRO . ALBERT SCHMITT . rPHE funeral of the late Bro . Albert Schmitt of Jersey , took pla . e -L on Friday , 14 th nit ., with Masonic Ceremonial , and as it is eleven years since such a ceremony took place on the island , there was it large concourse of spectators , eager to catch a glimpse of such unusual , and yet such solemn proceedings . The body of the deceased brother had lain in state tho previous evening in the Temple , the coffin being

covered with the insignia he was entitled to wear . At the appointed hour on Friday afternoon the procession left tho Masonic Temple , from tho summit of which the Royal Standard and the Union Jack hung half-mast high , Mr . W . McGee ' s baud , playing alternately the " Dead March in Saul" and " Adeste , fideles , " leading the way . At

the 1 tench Lutheran Chnrch tho fnneral service was performed by the Rev . J . Dupuy , and Bro . E . Dowdcn presided at the organ aud performed , both ou the arrival and departure of the cortege , some most appropriate music from Beethoven ' s works . The procession having been reformed , then wended its way to the Aimorah Cemetery ,

and hero the coffin was born to its last resting place , Bros . Viel , Reuouf , Pallet , Benham , Du Jardin , and Dnrell , Past Masters of La Cesaree Lodge , being the pall bearers . When the ceremony was over ' tbe brethren walked slowly past the grave , each throwing into it a sprig of acacia , and several handsome bouquets were also thrown

npon tho coBn . Some earth , brought from Poland , was also cast in by the Polish friends of the deceased . The procession then moved off and returned to the Temple , where the proceedings were brought to a close by La Cesaree Lodge . The following ia the text of the address delivered over the grave by Bro . Dnrell , W . M . of tho Lod _ e : — "Beiey ? throwing a last glaace ou the remains 0 four broths ; - wh ?