Prosperity Of The Craft.

PROSPERITY OF THE CRAFT .

NO better evidence of the prosperity of English P ' reemasonry can be found than is presented by a study of the doings at the annual meetings of the different Provincial

Grand Lodges , which are more frequent about this time 01 the year than at any other period . On every side satisfaction appears to be mutual : the chiefs of the counties are

able to congratulate the Brethren under their charge , and the Brethren are able to show their approval by marks of loyalty it is impossible to misunderstand , and we can only hope nothing unforseen may occur to disturb what at present

appears to be a most brilliant outlook for the Craft . The resignation by His Majesty of the Grand Mastership has afforded special opportunities for comparing the position of Freemasonry to-day with what it was when he took up

the rulership of the Order , upwards of a quarter of a century back ; the result , well known to most of us , being that in mere numbers of Lodges the records have been about doubled . But this by no means represents the advances

made in Freemasonry ; in many respects the Order is far more than twice as well off as it was when the King , as Prince of Wales , took command ; and this is probably most apparent in the matter of its benevolence . The central

Charities have kept pace with the progress of the Craft , and in addition numerous local Funds have been created by the different Provinces , and are doing an incalculable amount of good in their respective localities .

His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught takes over the Grand Mastership at a time when everything points to continued prosperity and progress . That he may live for

many years to direct that progress , and witness as much prosperity as did his illustrious brother during his Grand Mastership , is certainly the sincere wish of every Mason .

New Hall In Scotland.

NEW HALL IN SCOTLAND .

ON 28 th ult ., the memorial stone of the new Public Hall , Portellen , was laid with lull Masonic honours in brilliant

weather and in presence of a large and representative gathering of the Islay folks . The ceremony was performed oy Sir charles Dalrymple , Bart , M . P ., Past Grand Master of Scotland and Provincial Grand Master of Ars ? vle and the

Isles , assisted by his staff and the local Brethren , of whom Bro . John M'Dougall , of Kilbride , is W . M . The Hall , which is to supply a much-felt want , is being raised to the memory of his late father by Mr . Ian Ramsay of Kildalton . The

architects are Messrs . Sydney Mitchell and Wilson , of Edinburgh , and the building is in the Gothic style of architecture of a capacity sufficient for the requirements of this thriving West Highland villaee . to the west of which it -stanrlc

Sir Charles and the accompanying Brethren travelled from larbert by the steamer Gael , and the ceremony took place immediatel y after arrival . On behalf of her son , who is at present with his regiment in South Africa , Mrs . Ramsay

presented bir Charles Dalrymple with a silver trowel of fine workmanshi p as a memento of the occasion . Sir Charles was also the recipient of a specially built mallet of wood from the 01

a ratters of his mother Lodge , Kilwinning , from the members of the local Lodge . After the laying of the stone a representative company sat down to a cake and wine banquet * n the White Hart Hotel . H

Kent.

KENT .

THE annual meeting of this important division of English Freemasonry was held on Wednesday , at the Town Hall , Dover , under the presidency of Earl Amhert Pro Grand Master of England , who has had charge of this

Province since i 860 . His lordship was supported by his . Deputy Bro . J . Smith Eastes , Bros . W . Russell Prov . G . Treas ., Allred Spencer Prov . G . Sec , F . R . W . Hedges Secretary of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , and a large number of Provincial Officers and other Brethren .

The chiefs of the Province having been saluted in iregular form , the . minutes of the last annual meeting were read and confirmed , and the accounts of the Provincial Treasurer submitted and adopted . Bro . Russell was proposed for re-election as Treasurer ,

and no other name being submitted , Earl Amherst declared him re-elected , with acclamation . Bro . Russell desired to thank Provincial Grand Lodge for the renewed trust reposed in him and expressed the hope that the future might have as

many good things in store for them as they had enjoyed in the past . The Officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge were next r ppointed for the year , as follow :

BRO . W . H . East 199 ... Senior "Warden Maj . V . H . Stallon 158 ... Junior Warden Rev . S . P . H . Statham , M . A ., 2195 ; Chaplain Rev . L . Fry , Al . A ., 2490 ... Ditto W . Russell ( re-elected ) ... Treasurer

A . Spencer 10 & 3 ( rc-appointcd ) ... Secretary E . J . S . Layton 2530 ... Registrar Col . F . W . Frigout 2041 . ... Senior Deacon B . Wadmore 1678 ... Ditto H . F . Whyman 2046 ... Junior Deacon

H . H . Mount 51 ... Ditto W . Burfoot 1223 Supt . of Works D . T . J . Lyle 106 3 ... Dir . of Ceremonies J . D . Webb 1314 Dep . Dir . of Cers . W . D . Ingall 18 37 ... Assist . Dir . of Cert .

W . Hope 503 ••• Ditto N . Grunwell 2200 - - Ditto K . Dann 125 Sword Bearer R . J . Pugh 2147 Standard Bearer G . E . Tournay 972 ... Ditto

E . W . Barclay 120 S ... Organist J . W . Nash 1050 ¦•• Assistant Secretary H . S . Syer 829 Pursuivant G . A . Bun-ell 1424 •¦¦ Assistant Pursuivant I . Turton 615 Steward

J . W . Farmery 1449 D } S . R . Macartney 1464 Ditt 0 W . L . Seyfang 1725 ... Ditto John Barnwell 2099 ¦•• Ditto H . M . Kingsland 2660 ... Ditto W . Austin ( re-appointed ) ... Tyler .

Earl Amherst proposed that the grants recommended by the Charities Committee to the Preparatory meeting be confirmed . These consisted of one grant of £ 10 and six of £ 1 $ each , and they were unanimously agreed to . The Provincial Grand Treasurer proposed that a

perpetual presentation to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls be purchased for 1 , 550 guineas , and that it be named the Earl Amherst Presentation . Most of the Brethren , he said , were well acquainted with the large scheme the Province had been working for for some time past , and which saw its

conclusion in the proposition he had made . It was very pleasing indeed that the Province had been thus enabled to put the top stone on a project raised to mark the appreciation

they evinced towards their beloved Provincial Grand Master . The Deputy Prov . G . M . seconded the proposition , and referred to the great success of the recent Festival of the Girls School , under the presidency of their esteemed ProVi