Kent.

KENT .

THE Provincial Grand Lodge was held at Gravesend , on the nth inst , when Earl Amherst Pro Grand Master of England , the Provincial Grand Master , attended with a large number of present and past Provincial Officers and several representatives of the Lodges of Kent and surrounding districts . The Provincial Lodge was held under the banner

of the Lodge of Freedom , No . 77 , and special efforts were made by the members to make the occasion a success both to commemorate the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the Lodge , and the fortieth year of the reign of Lord Amherst , who was installed as Provincial Grand Master at a meeting of

the Lodge on 22 nd October 1860 . The large Public Hall was engaged , and was prettily decorated with the banners of the various Lodges , nearly every one of which was represented , and the reception Committee must be congratulated upon their endeavours for the comfort and convenience of the .

Brethren . The proceedings commenced shortly after one o ' clock , , when Lord Amherst took the chair and opened the Lodge . His Lordship was supported by Bros . James Smith . Eastes Deputy Provincial Grand Master , H Lovegrove , Felix

Kite , Colonel Gordon , F . S : W . Cornwallis , W . Palmer , John Russell , Rev . Augustus Jackson , William Russell , Major J . N . Newman , Rev- C . M . Bevan , F . R . W . Hedges the Sec . of the Girls School , William Francis , Frederick Francis , Geo . Naylor , Robert J . Beamish , Frank Hitchens , George Masters ,

Henry Doughty , Jonas Hill , T . T . Hogg , William Hawker , Percy White , Fred . Mitchell , S . R . Macartney , J . P . Harding , F . J . Oliver , G . B . Milne , Dr . H . T . Sells , Professor Driver ,

Tom Dutton , A . J . Walklin , J . A . Gillet , T . A . Summery , Percy Bowen , Dr . H . L . Thurnell , E . B . Wilks , H > E . Porter , G . R . Ceiley , J . Flewison , J . N . Willis ( Mayor of Gravesend ) , && , & c .

The minutes of the last Provincial Grand juodge were read , and their correctness confirmed .

The Grand Treasurer presented the accounts , which were received and adopted . Bro . Isaiah Turton proposed the re-election of Bro . Wm . Russell P . G . A . D . C . Eng . as Provincial Grand Treasurer , which was seconded and carried with acclamation .

Lord Amherst re-appointed Bro . J . S . Eastes his Deputy , and the Officers were invested for the ensuing year . Various grants having been made to some distressed

Masons , Lord Amherst proposed that one hundred guineas be given to the South African Masonic Relief Fund , for the relief of those who are suffering from the effects of the war . Needless to say this was carried unanimously .

This concluded the business , and the Lodge was called off , and the meeting adjourned at 2 . 30 to the , Parish Church ( St . George ' s , noted ' as the burial place of the Princess Pocohofitas ) , which had been placed at their disposal by the Rev . E . L . George , M . A ., the Rector of Gravesend .

The service was conducted by Bro . H . Lawrence Fry , M . A ., who wore his collar of Office , and he was assisted by Bro . Augustus Jackson Past Grand Chaplain , who read the

special Lessons selected for the occasion . Admirable assistance was rendered by the choir of the Church , under the direction of Bro . D . J , Williams , the anthem " Praise my soul , the King of Heaven " being beautifully sung .

The text of Bro . Fry ' s sermon was taken from Chronicles II , 2 v .: " And the house which I build is great , for great is pur God above all gods . " The discourse was an excellent specimen of a Masonic sermon , and the concluding words requesting contributions not only for the Masonic Charities , but also for the King Street National Schools , brought forth

Kent.

a liberal , response from the Brethren . The Benediction having been pronounced by the Rev . Mr . George , the congregation dispersed .

The Brethren returned to the Pubac Hall , when votes of thanks were passed to the Rector of Gravesend for the use of the Church , and to the Lodge of Freedom for their very cordial reception .

Provincial Lodge was closed in solemn form , and this portion of the proceedings came to an end . Further particulars will be published in our next issue .

Western Australia.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA .

THE first regular Quarterly Communication of this Grand Lodge was held on Friday , 27 th April . There was a large attendance . The question of fees to be charged in connection with the appointment of Officers occupied a large space of the

evening , with the result that the fees originally suggested by the Committee appointed to report on the question were materially reduced . Directions were given to the Board of General Purposes to consider the question of the most

suitable ritual to be adopted , the Board to report at the next Quarterly Communication . Instructions were similarly given to the Board of Benevolence to prepare a comprehensive benevolent scheme for submission to the same Communication .

It was ordered that a telegram be sent to H . R . H . the Prince of Wales Grand Master of England congratulating him upon . his recent providential escape from the purposes of an intended assassin at Brussels .

The Grand Secretary . was requested to write to the Secretary of the Grand Lodge of England expressing the feelings of the new Grand Lodge on separating from that body . „ ' ,

The . Communication read by the Pro Grand Master stated that there were 38 Lodges affiliated with the Grand Lodge of Western Australia , and that four Lodges were in process of being formed . The Communication also

mentioned the recognition of the new Grand Lodge by New South Wales , and alluded to the expected recognition by the Grand Lodge of Ireland and of other Grand Lodges of Australasia . It is expected that the next Quarterly Communication will be held at Coolgardie or Kalgoorlie .

Dublin Boys School.

DUBLIN BOYS SCHOOL .

npHE annual athletic sports held by the pupils of the JL Masonic Orphans Boys School at Richview , Clonskeagh , during the month of June , are always largely patronised by the- citizens , and for the reunion of Saturday ,

23 rd inst ., an extremely interesting programme , considerably ahead of that for last year , will be presented to visitors . The sports will commence at three o ' clock . The events open to pupils of the Masonic Female Orphan School are a tug-ofwar for the senior girls , and a tug-of war for the junior girls .

The loyalty of the Manchester Brethren , as represented by members of the Freemasons' Club , took the form of a telegram , congratulating Her Most Gracious Majesty upon having recently attained her 81 st birthday , which elicited the following reply , received by Brother William Brookes , Chairman : —

" Buckingham Palace , 30 th May 1900 . The Private Secretary is commanded to express the thanks of the Queen for the kind message of congratulation which you have forwarded to Her Majesty . "