Freemasonry & Israelitism.

new face , and to every class of society a new life and spirit . " In this view of the character of the Anglo-Saxon race we have the concurrence of the French Roman Catholic Professor of History , the Abbe Milot ( Pref .

Elements of Hist . Eng . ) After giving a summary of the principal epochs in English history , he observes : " Let us add the detail of those laws , successively established , to form a rampart of liberty and lay the

foundation of public order ; the progress of letters and sciences , so closely connected with the happiness and glory of states ; the singularities of the English genius , profound and contemplative , yet capable © f every

extreme ; the interesting picture of parliamentary debate , fruitful in scenes , the variety and spirit of which equally strike us . The reader will easily conceive that

this history is unparalleled in its kind . In other countries , princes and nobles fill the entire theatre ; here , men , citizens , act a part which is infinitely more interesting to men . "

Wonderful , indeed , appears to have been the providence of God in the leading forth of this extraordinary people , who are destined to become the civilisers and saviours of the world . The hand of God is

clearly to be seen in the history of the Anglo-Saxon race , whose antecedents . under the guidance of that same Providence , had made them the fitting instruments for this

wonderful and beneficent work . Reviewing the history of this people , we are forcibly reminded of God ' s promise to Israel ( Isaiah lx . ) : —

That I may be glorified , The little one shall become a thousand ; And the small one a strong nation : I , the Lord , will hasten it in due time .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Kent.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF KENT .

The annual festival of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Kent was held in Dover on Wednesday se ' nnight , for the first time during fifiteen years , and , notwithstanding the unfavourable weather , was attended by nearly three hundred Freemasons—almost every lodge in the county being represented . The festival was held in the

Refectory Hall at the Priory—a place peculiarly adapted for the purpose . It had been elegantly decorated with trophies of flags , & c , and at one end of the room there was a large design containing the inscription , " May Freemasonry flourish in all parts of the Globe . " What with the regalia , & c , from Lodge 199 ( Dover ) the Refectory presented a very attractive appearance .

Viscount Holmesdale , the Provincial Grand Master of Kent , arrived in Dover by the midday train on the South-Eastern Railway , and was received at the station by Bro . Wilson , the Worshipful Master of Lodge 199 , and Bro . Adamson , P . M . His lordship proceeded to the Refectory in a carriage drawn by two greys ,

with postillion , and he was received at the entrance of the Priory by the Provincial Grand Officers and nearly 300 brethren . The business of the lodge was immediately opened with proper Masonic ceremonies , and was proceeded with . The following gentlemen were appointed Provincial Grand Officers for the ensuing year : —

Bro . Colonel Warde ... Senior Warden . „ Dr . Hunter , Margate Junior Warden . „ Thorpe , Ashford ... Treasurer . „ Ed . Wates , Gravcsend Secretary . „ Hall , Canterbury ... Asst . Secretary . „ Wilson , W . M . 199 ... Sword Bearer . The lodge , at which Major Dickson , M . P .,

was present , was adjourned whilst the brethren attended divine service at St . Mary ' s Church . At half-past one most of the brethren who had assembled at the court , dressed in their regalia and various orders of office , headed by Lord Holmesdale , as the Provincial Grand Master , left the Priory , and marched in procession to

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Kent.

St . Mary ' s Church , where a special service was held . The centre portion of the church was reserved for the Masons , while the galleries and side aisles were filled with a general congregation . The service was full choral . The Rev . Canon Puckle intoned the prayers in admirable style . The Psalms for the day were the 41 st and io ^ th .

Bro . the Rev . G . W . Sicklemore read the first lesson , and Bro . the Rev . Robinson the second . The anthem was Boyce ' s " Great and marvellous are Thy works , " and was sung in splendid harmony by the choir . The hymn before the sermon , taken from "Hymns Ancient and Modern , "

was—Come , gracious Spirit , Heavenly Dove , With light and comfort from above . Bro . the Rev . W . A . Hill , St . Peter ' s , Maidstone , and Provincial Grand Chaplain , preached the sermon .

The preacher took for his text the first verse of the 5 th chapter of the 2 nd Epistle of St . Paul to the Corinthians : " For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God , an house not made with hands , but eternal in the heavens . " He commenced by saying

that on this their anniversary festival , on this day of their solemn meeting , when the members of the mystic Order of Masons met together for counsel , to take stock of their position , and drew nigh together unto the sanctuary to offer up prayer and praise , to obtain the blessing of God upon their

present and future work , they might improve the occasion by keeping prominently in sight the changes which might soon take place in the earthly state of some or of all present , and so look up above to the seat of those foundations , the mystic builder of which was God . The speaker then gave a

lengthy detail of the wonderful creation and attributes of man , remarking what frail creatures we were in ourselves , and how liable we were for a sudden departure from this world . What he had just said would be realised , perhaps , by many there that afternoon . The keepers of the mortal house

would tremble , the muscular arms would wither , and the David who , with a single stone from the brook , could hurl his pellet straight for the centre , would scarcely be able to raise a cup of water to his lips . Yes , the strong man , with energy and activeness , would gradually lose animation and

vigour as he looked out of the window to see always a bitter frost ; the landscape would be deadened in its beauty , imagination would vanish , and he would say to himself , '' I'm old , and must shortly die . " Let us , then , wait calmly , and serve our God while we had time , while we carried our heads erect ,

walking in the path of duty , with the admiration of wise men . Whatsoever we did , let us do it with all our might . The text set forth that while our body was our temporal home , and while the framework of our body was weak , we had a home above that consoled us for it . St . Paul was eminently qualified

as a learned man to teach others . Having the gift of the Holy Spirit breathed upon him he could give double comfort to those who were in trouble . His preaching was a literal theatrical show of what power the Gospel had which he proclaimed to all the world . The chapter preceding the text was a

remarkably graphic description of St . Paul and his companions , and what they underwent . The greater our trials were in this world so much greater would be our glory in the next—things that were seen were temporal , things that were not seen were eternal . St . Paul and his companions were not

solicitous about their own houses , but they were desirous not to be found unlit for their spiritual life . Again , the human body was elegantly made . Don't let us speak meanly of the house in which our spirit was contained . No ; it was wonderful . The entire frame of man was wonderful . The

sight was admirably placed on either side of the face . No sooner were the windows opened than they took in everything with ease and rapidity . The foot had well been termed an admirable contrivance ; nothing like it was to be found among other living creatures . As for the hand , there was

no greater curiosity to be found in the world . Then look as well to man ' s heart and brain and muscles . David , the inspired Psalmist , when looking at his his body , could not help exclaiming , " How wonderful , " & c . ; and he had never looked into the wondrous structure of man the same as our

anatomists of the present day had . He would ask , then , when looking upon ourselves did we not see to some extent the depth of the love of our Maker , and it caused us to exclaim , " Great and marvellous are Thy works Lord God Almighty . " We therefore thought not meanly of our temporal body . But ,

admirable as it was , it was only provisionalit was only for a time . It was intended to fallit must fall to ruins—to set free a bird from its cage , its tenants for an eternal world . Here , then , was there not comfort in the words of St . Paul ? Wc gathered from his teaching that whenever that

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Kent.

change might take place , for us who remained faithful there was a house , not made with hands , built up for us eternal in the heavens . The preacher then likened our bodies to the tabernacle in the wilderness—on the constant move for a better land , and added , when the doorway was shut and the

curtains drawn together , and our spirit taken home , there should come the reconstruction of our bodies by an Almighty hand . The house should be no longer perishable , but in a state for eternal and celestial life . At present the best of men wore garments of mourning ; in heaven all would have

robes of light , magnificent , clean , and fit for the noble society of that beautiful place . No few words from him could paint the picture of the glories there ; nor did he intend to attempt it that afternoon . At that moment the human will should lose its proneness to opposition , and become one

will subdued to God . Then should the spirit bow to its Heavenly origin—cleave to the eternal spirit of God , and the soul should become elevated and purified . We might see in prospect these individual changes—the drowsiness of age , sadness , weakness , and infirmities . All of these trials must come

upon us . We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ , to be each one judged according to the works we had done in the flesh . Let him then solemnly ask them in that ancient sanctuary , where they had been kindly invited to hold their service that day , what were the feelings of all present ?

Did a gloominess come over them ? He hoped not . But to his Masonic brethren he would address a few special words . To those whose boast was that they were the true illuminators of the earth , who professed to be living stones in the Grand Temple above , and who had a craving after the highest influences of the

Holy Ghost , he would put the question , " What was their state ? Were they making progress or not ?" They had heard the solemn charge and address made to them that day . They had heard the Bible solemnly proclaimed as the book in which they were told their duty to God , their neighbour , and

themselves . They had been told to implore his aid in all their undertakings , and look up to Him in every emergency . He asked them whether they really felt these things , or passed through them as mere forms and ceremonies ? Did they measure their religion by their morals ? Did they see in all the

Masonic emblems levels and squares , that ladder which was Christ , and which connected earth with heaven , and made the way for man ' s passage from earth to heaven ? Did they try to give up the evil of their own hearts ? Were they more advanced and more fit to meet their final end than they were

at their last festival twelve months ago ? If not , they were retrograding and going back . Let him convince them that , without personal holiness , they would never attain everlasting life . They must forgive him for putting such bold questions , because they had been asked in all affection towards them .

Let them all turn to Him who died for all men . He entreated them to ponder the text , and make it their consolation . The good things promised us were not for the idler , but for the strenuous and and diligent worker . In conclusion , he would say they had already made an appeal to the brethren

in behalf of the holy cause of charity . Heappealed to them again on behalf of the schools of that parish , as well as for their Masonic Charities . He knew they had in another place already contributed £ 200 , but such a powerful body , with 33 lodges and 1447 members , must do more . He felt sure

they would be true to themselves , and true to their keystone . May each one present hold fast to the faith , and win that crown that was laid up in store for the righteous . The preacher then descended from the pulpit and returned to the altar .

The choir sang with great taste from "Hymns Ancient and Modern " the hymn Pleasant are thy courts above , In the land of light and love .

A collection was then made at the conclusion of the service , and nearly ^ 20 was procured , which sum will be equally divided between the Dover St . Mary ' s School and the Masonic Charities . After church , the procession was reformed and

returned to the lodge , business being at once resumed . On the motion of Viscount Holmesdale , a vote of thanks was passed to the Prov . Grand Chaplain for the excellent and eloquent sermon he had preached that morning . Lord Holmesdale also proposed , and Bro . Dobson , Deputy Prov . Grand Master , seconded , a vote of

thanks to the Rev . Canon Puckle for kindly granting the use of St . Mary ' s Church ; and a vote of thanks was awarded to the President and Council of the Dover College for the use of the Refectory . Bro . Snow , P . M ., submitted a resolution , to the effect that the thanks of the Prov . Grand Lodge be presented to Bro . Wates