Provincial Grand Lodge Of Kent.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF KENT .

AT this season of the year , when all who have the means and the opportunity flock away from the

" stuffy" City into the invigorating atmosphere of the country , a trip to the sea-side , involving a combination of pleasure with duty , presents an attraction of no ordinary character . Thus , on Wednesday , the 7 th instant , a large number of the brethren , not only resident in "the fairest county of England , " but in

the metropolis also , gladly welcomed the invitation of the Province of Kent to participate in the interesting proceedings which was set down on their annual agenda . Folkestone was the place selected , and never in the history of Freemasonry in Kent has Prov . Grand Lodge been held under more brilliant and successful auspices than it was under the banner of the Temple Lodge , No . 558 . The Provincial Festival Etertainmennt Committee consisted of Bros . P . M . ' s H . Stock , J . Hoad , W . Boutcher , W . L . Earnshaw , S . Penfold , J . Sherwood , J . Kennett , F . Klatfc , A . H . Holbein , W . Francis , G . L . Hart , John English , R . White , 0 . H . Wagner , S . Joseph , A . Petts W . M ., A . J . Crane S . W ., J . G . Robinson J . W ., F . Francis S . D ., G . Spurgen J . D ., H . S . Roberts Org ., H . Clements Assist . Org ., W . Griffin Standard Bearer , W . Drink and L . Banks Stewards , F . Hall , J . G . Cheyney and J . Sherwood jun . All that skill , tact , and taste could devise were brought to bear by these brethren on the arrangements for the day , and it is paying them no empty compliment when we say that the triumphant success which attended their eiforts was most richly deserved . Occasion was taken of comparing this visit of Prov . Grand Lodge with that of nineteen years ago , and the steady growth of Freemasonry in Kent was alluded to in the speeches at the banquet , and it is a matter for congratulation to the Province that not only in point of numbers and influence , but likewise in respect of the support it consistently gives to the Charities , Kent still bears the honoured title of " Invicta . " The weather was all that could have been desired on the occasion of this important gathering , and brethren from all parts of the county flocked into the town at an early hour in the

forenoon , enjoying a ramble on the famous beach , or a blow from the fine marine promenade so familiar to thousands of voyageurs who travel to and from the Continent via the Folkestone and Boulogne route . Provincial Grand Lodge

was opened at the Town Hall , at half-past twelve o ' clock , when , the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master the Earl of Amherst ( Viscount Holmesdale ) -was supported by & brilliant array of Grand and Provincial Grand Officers

deluding—Bros . J . s . Eastes Deputy Prov . G . M ., A . Spencer Prov . G . Secretary , £ •B . Thorpe Prov . G . Treasurer , H . Ward P . P . G . J . W ., R . Harrison ^ . P . GJ . W ., F . Binckes Sec . B . M . I . B ., Jas . Terry Sec . R . M . B . I ., Jas . Jelling jun ., C . Coupland P . P . G . J . W ., A . Penfold , F . W . FrescottJ .

, »•Henning , T . S . Warne , T . H . Simmonds , Emmerson P . P . G . S . D ., £ I gar , G . Blackburn , G . Page P . P . G . S . D ., J . T . Usher P . P . G . Reg ., * ev ^ J . B . Harrison P . P . G . Chap ., G . BairdP . P . G . A . P ., H . Chambers , b . Bird P . P . G . S ., J . M . Browning P . P . G . Supt . of Works , Edward Jure P . P . G . S . B ., P . I . C . May P . P . G . P ., C . G . Long , G . L . Harb , S . ia

? ' « ev . P . J . Syree , Rev . T . S . Cnrteis , G . Kea P . P . G . J . D ., G . f-aamson P . P . G . A . D . C ., G . Page P . P . G . J . D ., W . Wimble , J . Aillud , J- Welsh , R . Derry , J . Plant , E . J . Pennev . S . Gore . H . H . Green . H .

- " , A . W . Duret , H . Bond , A . F . Johnstone , E . Monckton , IT T Dt 35 ° representatives of the 54 Kentish Lodges , including 5 ? e Invicta , 709 , Ashford ; Prince Edwin , 125 , Hythe ; Peace and harmony , 193 , Dover ; St . Augustine , 972 , Canterbury ; Temple , 558 ,

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Kent.

Folkestone ; Sandgate , 1436 ; Cinqno Ports , 1206 , Sandwich ; Gravesend , 77 ; Sittingbourne , 1273 ; Plumstead , 913 ; Bromley 1314 ; DartFord , 299 ; Maidstone , 503 ; Eiverhead 1223 ; Tunbridge , 1578 ; Chatham , 1174 ; Sheerness , 1089 ; Sevenoaks , 1414 ; Canterbury , 31 , & o .

The minutes of the last Prov . Grand Lodge were read and confirmed , after which the roll of the Lodges in the Province was called , the brethren present answering to

their names . The reports of the Finance and Audit Committees were presented , and a prosperous condition of affairs in every respect , showing a steady progress of the Craft in this part of the Kingdom , which must have been eminently satisfactory to the Prov . Grand Master and the brethren generally . The following brethren wore then

appointed and invested as Provincial Orand Officers for the ensuing year : — Bro . J . S . Eastes ... Deputy Grand Master Thos . S . Warne P . M . 20 - - Senior Warden G . Lainson Hart P . M . 558 - Junior Warden Eev . P . J . Syree P . M . 709 - " ) nhnryUina Rev . T . S . Cartels , M . A ., P . M . 1414 j P laiQa B . D . Thorpe ... Treasurer Alfred Spencer ... Secretary Chas . Gray Long P . M . 503 - Registrar Abel Penfold P . M . 913 - - r o' •-n Francis W . Prescott P . M . 199 - j Semor Deacons W . S . Elirs P . M . 874 - - " ) T •-n William Wimble P . M . 1464 - ] Jamor DeaC 0 DS William Watson P . M . 1050 - Superintendent of Works J . G . Henning P . M . 127 - - Director of Ceremonies John Aillud P . M . 614 - •" > * •.. ¦ . t ( f („ John Wolls P . M . 972 . - j Assistanfc Sectors 0 f Cers . Edward Hire P . M . 125 - - Sword Bearer T . H . Symmond P . M . 1107 . " > „ . : , „ Robert Derry P . M . 158 - . j Standard Bearers Joseph Plant P . M . 31 - - Organist E . J . Penney P . M . 1089 - - Assistant Organist G . Blackburn P . M . 429 - - Pursuivant Sydney Gore P . M . 829 . . Assistant Pursuivant H . H . Green P . M . 709 . .-, H . Chambers P . M . 1096 - - . | A . W . Duret P . M . 1223 - - Q , , H . Bond P . M . 1314 - - \ ™ rds A . F . Johnstone P . M . 1424 - j Edward Monckton P . M . 1678 -J After the transaction of some formal business , Prov . Grand Lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to the Parish Church , which had been kindly placed at their disposal by the Rev . M . Woodward , the vicar . Here a shortened evening service was held , followed by an eloquent sermon by the Provincial Grand Chaplain , Bro . P . J . Syree , of Ashford , > vho derived his text from Matt . v . 16 . — " Let your light so shine before men , that they may see

your good works , and glorify your Father which is in heaven . " After church the brethren returned to the Town Hall , when votes of thanks were accorded to tho Mayor ( Bro . Banks ) for the use of the hall , and to the Vicar for

having placed the church at the disposal of the Provincial Grand Lodge for the occasion . Thanks were also tendered to the Provincial Grand Chaplain for his admirable and appropriate discourse . Grand Lodge was then closed in form , and a move was made to the site of the new

Masonic Hall , "where , in the presence of a large concourse of spectators , the memorial stone of the intended structure waa laid by the Provincial Grand Master . After prayer ,

offered by the Grand Chaplain , the ceremony of lowering the stone into its position was performed , Earl Amherst declaring it to have been " well and truly laid . " The stone bears the following inscription : —