Jubilee Celebration.

charge . He had , of course , seen many changes in Masonic matters , as in other matters in that part of the world , during his long period of Office ; and one thing that he marked as having grown and increased was the excellent spirit that animated the various Lodge . As the years had gone on there

had been more and more readiness to attend to > the suggestions and recommendations of Grand Lodge ; " and this had gratified him more than he could say . In conclusion , he said he had to thank them for their kind wishes , and for the manner in which they had received the toast of his health ;

but more especially he had to thank them for that splendid gift , which he would prize most highly , and which he was sure everybody connected with him would greatly admire and value when they saw it . Several other toasts followed .

Kent.

****************** KEMT .

1 HE annual meeting of this important Provincial Grand Lodge will be held on Wednesday next , 12 th inst ; at the Town Hall , Dover , at 1 o ' clock . The Brethren will attend Service at the Parish Church , at 2 . 30 , and will sit down to banquet at the New Town Hall , at 4 o ' clock .

Somersetshire.

****************** SOMERSETSHIRE .

ON 29 th ult , this Provincial Grand Lodge met at the Drill Hall , Keynsham , at the invitation of the St Keyna Lodge , No . 1833 . In the absence of the Provincial Grand Master Viscount Dungarvan the Deputy Provincial Grand Master Bro . R . C . Else presided .

The Deputy Provincial Grand Master referred to the great regret the Brethren felt at not being presided over by the Prov . Grand Master Lord Dungarvan . Unfortunately

for them , Lord Dungarvan had been once more called away to South Africa in command of his troop to fight the battles of his country . They trusted that he would return to them unscathed as on the former occasion .

Among those who apologised for absence were the Prov . Grand Master of Bristol Bro . W . A . F . Powell , the Deputy Provincial Grand Master Bro . Colonel Bramble , and the Grand Lodge Secretary Bro . Letchworth . Bro . Chas . L . Fry Edwards Prov . G . Treasurer presented

the accounts , which showed that a balance of £ 49 13 s 2 d remained in hand , and that a sum of about 130 guineas had been given to charity during the year . There had been an increase of about thirty members throughout the Province during the year . The sum of £ 50 had been given to the South African Fund .

Bro . Nosworthy P . Prov . S . G . W . proposed the re-election of Bro . Chas . L . Fry Edwards as Treasurer . This was seconded by Bro . Billing , and adopted . The Deputy Provincial G . M ., on behalf of the Provincial Grand Master , then invested the Officers .

The Charity Organisation Committee ' s report was presented by the Dep . Prov . G . M . and received with approval . A collection was taken and devoted to the local

nursingfund . In the evening the banquet was held at . the Lamb anA Lark Hotel , the Deputy Prov . Grand Master presiding . There was a large gathering of Brethren .

The toast of King and Craft was proposed from the chair , the Deputy Provincial Grand Master remarking that though they had lost Flis Majesty as Grand Master , they were pleased that he had been good enough to say that he would be their Protector .

The Deputy Provincial Grand Master next proposed the M . W . G . M . H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught . He remarked that as His Majesty resigned the Grand . Mastership a better selection of his successor could not have been made than that of his brother the Duke of Connaught . He

was sure H . R . H . would do his best to follow in the footsteps of his Royal brother , and maintain the honour of their noble Craft to the best of his ability . No doubt many of those whom he was addressing would be present at the installation of the Grand Master .

Bro . C . P . Billing P . Prov . J . G . W . proposed the Grand Officers . Pie remarked that if Somersetshire Freemasons were noted for one thing it was that they were pleased and proud to see visitors among thf Bro . Beilby Past Deputy Grand Master of New Zealand

Somersetshire.

replied . He said that New Zealand had passed through an ordeal which many new countries had to pass through . About ten years ago the question was raised whether New Zealand was able to govern itself in Masonic matters as in

everything else . Although they were severed from the Grand Lodge of England they had the greatest affection for the old Constitution and were as loyal as they had ever been . In the South African war they had sent the flower of their people to fight the old country ' s battles .

The Deputy Provincial G . M . submitted the Prov . G . M . of Somerset the Right Hon . Viscount Dungarvan . He observed that pleasing as the duty was to propose this toast , it would have given him even more delight if his lordship had been able to be present that day . They remembered

that about this time last year they met at Portishead , and that although they did not know but that their Prov . G . M . was away in South Africa , just at the last moment he appeared and presided over them . He was not without hope that his lordship would do the same that . day . On the former

occasion he believed Lord Dungarvan went to South Africa , to a certain extent , for pleasure , but on the present occasion , he understood , he had been called upon to take command of troops . They all hoped he would return in health and strength .

Bro . T . P . Ashley P . P . S . G . W . proposed the Deputy Bro . R . C . Else P . G . D . of England , and said that they in the Province were happy enough to be governed by their rulers in a manner which made them feel that while they upheld the principles of the Order , they also tried to promote the

comfort of every Lodge , and every member . They felt that there was a gloom hanging over them because their Deputy Grand Master had intimated that he thought it was time to retire from the Office —( " No , no " )—which he had held for so many years to the great benefit of the Craft . Some of

them remembered when he first accepted that Office he made it his business to go throughout the whole of the Province , and visit every JLodge , and it might be that though he now thought that he was no longer able to do that work , that was not the opinion of the Brethren . It was not the opinion of

the Freemasons of Somerset that the work v of their-dP-ro ' v : Deputy Grand Master was finished , and they did not want to part with him . It was dangerous to take the keystone from a stately edifice . They all hoped that the Deputy Provincial Grand Master would reconsider the matter , for

they felt that it would be a great blow to the Province—he might almost say a catastrophe—if he were to leave them . The toast having been heartily drunk , the Deputy Prov . G . M ., in reply , acknowledged the kindness that he had received from every Brother in the Province . At the same

time he felt that there must be an end of all things . He felt that he should not be doinp- his duty to Freemasonry in general and to the Province in particular if he continued to occupy a position , the duties of which he was unable properly to fulfil . Therefore he telt that it would be for the benefit

of the Province that he should retire . ( "No . " ) In fact , he had sent in his resignation to the Prov . G . M ., but as he was going to South Africa he had asked him to look after the Province till he came back . He was now considering the subject again .

Bro . H . J . Ker Thompson submitted the toast of the Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge . He expressed the hope that the Deputy Provincial Grand Master would continue to occupy the position which he had adorned for so many ' years . ..

; , Bro . Aplin ' Prov . J . G . V ., and Bro . T . Floyd Norris Past Prov . G . S . of Works responded . The Deputy Provincial Grand Master proposed the W . M . and Officers and Brethren of the St . Keyna Lodge ,

No . 1833 , and acknowledged the excellent arrangements of the Lodge for the reception of Provincial Grand Lodge . In the absence of the W . M . he coupled with the toast the names of Bro . Wiltshire and Bro . Shrapnel ] , who had taken a prominent part in the arrangements for the gathering .

Bro . Wiltshire expressed pleasure on behalf of the St . Keyna Lodge at the visit of Provincial Grand Lodge , to which they had been looking forward for many years . Bro . Shrapnel ! also replied . Bro . Gent Wood gave the Masonic Charities and Bro . Billing and Bro . A . E . Fuller acknowledged the toast