United Grand Lodge.

To the report is subjoined a statement of the Grand lodee Accounts at the last meeting of the Finance Committee held on Friday , the nth day of May instant , hewin ° - a balance in the hands of the Grand Treasurer of / -or *? 5 - . * i * ' ancl in ' * " - * hands of the Grand Secretary lot P ctty cash ' ^ ' and for servant wa S esi

Appeal of Bro . J ohn Loclce > w * Master of the Royal Prince of Wales' Lodge , No . 837 , Trinidad , against a sennee of expulsion from the Craft , pronounced upon him , nd the erasure of the lodge , by the District Grand Lodge 0 f Trinadad . Thc annual report of thc Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows of

Freemasons , dated the 17 th of May , 1877 , will be laid before Grand Lodge , and the following proposed alterations in the rules , yvhich was then agreed to , will , in accordance with the laws of the Institution , be submitted for the approval of Grand Lodge , viz : — To add to Laiv 1 , page 15 , after the words "husband's petition" the following : — " And in the event of a widow marrying again being left a yvidon , sheshall still be eligible

to become a candidate . " Proposed motion bv Bro . Benjamin Head , P . G . D .: — That the sum of £ 70 be given from the Fund of General Purposes ; that the money be placed in the hands of the Secretary of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and widows of Freemasons , " to supply the residents of the Institution at Croydon with coals during the yvinter season .

The list of lodges for yvhich warrants have been granted by the M . W . Grand Master since the last Quarterly communication of Grand Lodge , tyventy-five in number , will he given in our next .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Kent.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF KENT .

BY BRO . W . J . HUGH AN . The new bye-layvs have just been issued by the Prov . Grand Lodge of Kent , under the Prov . Mastership of the R . W . Bro . Lord Holmesilale , M . P ., the Deputy Prov . G . Master being the energetic Bro . James Smith Eastes , P . Me 709 , Ashford , P . Prov . P . G . W . of Kent .

Of tbe bye-laws it is not our intention to say much just now , save to note that they are generally yvell arranged , and most suitable for the purpose intended . VVe see that no "fee of honour" is payable on appointment's a Prov . G . Chaplain , but a guinea for that of P . G . Organist . We have known the latter to be balanced by another law , yvhich piovides that on the Prov . Grand

Organist appearing professionally at any Prov . Grand Lodge he shall receive one guinea for his services , thus practically requiring no payment at all . The duties of thc various officers are well defined , and cannot fail to ensure efficiency . The dues appear heavy as compared with other provinces yve knoyv of . Tyvo shillings to the Prov . G . Lodge Fund ,

and two shillings to the Prov . G . Lodge Fund , payable every year for each member of a lodge in the province , making a total of four shillings in a payment , is yve believe , in excess of most provinces , the maximum being generally two shillings . Not that yve object to the raising of the annual payments much , only we think that the class to pay the increase should be the initiates . Many become

initiated , and after taking the Three Degrees , decline to contribute any more , and as those who do contribute are really the main support of the Prov . and Grand Lodges , it hardly seems fair to make them pay the additional . We beg to suggest the payment of five shillings at least on each initiate for the year , especialy as it appears m Kent no payment is levied for them yvhatever , save as yvith the regular subscribing members irom year to year .

I The Prov . Grand Lodge Charity Fund is applied in ob-1 taining for the lodges of the province the advantage of j Life Governorships in the various Masonic Charities as the I Prov . Grand Lodge shall direct . The Prov . Grand Lodge of Kent was constituted in the ycar l Ti 3 > when l " ae Hon . Robert Boyle Walsingham was appointed Prov . Grand Master by thc M . W . G . M ., Lord Pe-tre .

In lhe folloyving year the R . W . Bro . Captain Charles Frederick became the Prov . G . Master ; Captain George Smith yvas installed Prov . G . M . at Chatham on the 7 th July , 1777 , an , l continued as the Masonic chief of Kent for some four years . Captain Smith is well known as the author of the " Use and Abuse of Freemasonry , " published

m London , A . D . 1783 , and likewise as the author of "A Charge to the Lodae of Friendship , " at Dover , December J 7 th , i 778 . 1 he R . W . Bro . yvas Inspector of the Royal Academy at Woolwich , and took an active part in the progress of the Koyal Arch degree in connection yvith the regular ¦ Masons .

In 1783 Colonel Sawbridge was installed in the City ot canterbury , and ten years afterwards a similar honour "as conferred upon the R . W . Bro . William Perfect , M . D . At Maidstone , A . D . 1810 , Sir Walter J . James , Bart ., was saluted as Prov . G . M ., and yvas succeeded in 1814 by eneral Sir Samuel Hulse , yvho was the first Master of We distinguished Prince of Wales' Lodge , London , and took an active part in its eventful career .

Se if H ° " Twislct ° n Fit-lines ( afterwards Lord Saye and . I c ' appointed his successor in 1830 , and was inwiied at Chatham , 10 th August of the following year . ¦ Lord Saye and Sacle died 31 st March , 18 47 , and in f "" S"st following the K . W . Bro . Lebbens Charles Hum-Th D Was placei 1 '" the chair of the Pr ° vince . his 1 u A - Char 'cs Purton Cooper , Q . C , succeeded s brother Q . C . in 1833 , having been installed at Folke-• , -one on the 20 th June . His name is well known to the serine ° c ate Frecmas <> ns' Magazine as the writer of a 'es ot answers to correspondents , many of which

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Kent.

evinced much appreciation of "the character and scope ol the Ancient and Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons . These communications were made subsequent to his resignation of the office of Prov . G . M . in May , i 860 , After which he appears to have resided in France . The successor , happily for the Province , was the able craftsman Viscount Holmesdale , M . P ., installed at

Greenwich , 22 nd October , 1 S 60 . Ten Deputy Grand Masters have been appointed since 1774 to 1859 . In i 860 Bro . William Francis Dobson , M . P ., was invested and installed in that important office , and was succeeded in 1873 by Bro . Edward Water , P . Prov . G . Secretary ; and from 1 S 74 Bro . James Smith Eastes has been the Deputy Prov . Grand Master ( Prov . S . G . W .

i 86 r . ) We are sorry to notice that in i 860 , the Prov . G . M , conferred the rank of Past D . Prov . G . M . on Bro . Thomas Hallows Past Prov . S . G . W ., and that there yvere also other appointments to past rank ,. All such honours are illegal , the Book of Constitutions especially provides that past rank can only be conferred by the M . W . Grand

Master , or the Grand Lodge , and never by a Prov . G . M . or a Prov . G . Lodge . In 186 9 two clergymen yvere Masters of lodges in the province during the year , and yvere appointed Prov . S . G . W . and Prov . J . G . W . at the Prov . Grand Lodge held at Brompton , on July 14 th , 1869 . We do not remember another such series of appointments , and from these

unusual character yve make note thereof , at the same time we hope that tl ] £ recipients of the honour ( Bros , the Rev . G . W . Ticklemore , M . A ., and the Rev . J . H . Timmins , M . A . ) , will be preserved for many years as useful ornaments of the Craft . From 1777 to 1839 the office of Grand Orator has been held by five brethren , the last being Bro . Thomas

Halloyvs , on whom the position of Past Deputy Prov . G . M . was conferred as before noted . It has since 18 / 9 beeu discontinued , and advisedly , as it is not provided for in the Constitutions . The Grand Registrars , now termed Record Keepers , until 18 39 , and in 1 S 31 and 1836 two brethren were appointed Grand Seal Keepers , but since then the office

has been discontinued . From i 860 to 1872 eleven appointments yvere made of Assistant Grand Secretary , but being contrary to the laws , that office has also been shelved . The Grand Superintendents of Works were called Grand Architects until 1839 , anll ffom i 77 ? to 1836 , Grand Architects occur

among the lists of officers . The Grand Directors of Ceremonies were known as Masters of Ceremonies until 18 39 , and the Grand Pursuivants as Inner Guards until 1840 . The number of Grand Stewards of the Province from 1777 to i 860 seem to have been a matter of fancy , sometimes as many as twelve being so honoured , and at other times as few as two .

There have been but six Grand Tylers appointed from 1777 to 1874 , one holding that office for apparently more than half - ¦ . century , and another for fifteen years . After the list of Prov . Grand Officers , is the roll of lodges in Kent for 1876 , numbering in all forty , ten of yvhich were warranted last century and . twenty-tyvo since i 860 , so that the majority of the lodges date from a very late

period . The oldest is the Royal Kent Lodge of Antiquity , chartered originally to meet in London A . D . 1723 . All the following , hoyvever , have wrong dates ascribed to them by the compiler , and doubtless being of the " Athol " Constitution , has led to the error ; the Grand Lodge Calendar leaving their dates of origin blank . Many interpret these blanks to mean ditto , and so insert

the years noted before , on which the moderns yvere granted . 31 Canterbury 1727 should be 1733 123 Hythe 176 3 „ 1771 138 Sheerness 1766 „ 1768-97 184 Brompton 176 9 „ 17 8 7 199 Dover 1771 „ 1791

Those of the Regular Grand Lodge for thc last cen tury , inclusive of No . 20 , Chatham are 20 Chatham 1723 77 Gravesend 1731 127 Margate 176 3 133 Faversham 1764 299 Dartford 1794

From the Provincial Grand Lodge Charity Fund we find that grants of tyventy guineas to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , and ten guineas to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys have been made to seventeen lodges from 1851 to 1862 inclusive , and of £ 20 to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution to thirty-three lodges in the provinces from 1862 to 18 7 6 . Also grants of

twentyguineas to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls thirtyfour times , arid a similar sum thirty-three times to lodges in Kent , and in addition to these grand contributions qualifying the W . M . ' s of such lodges to votes in perpetuity , the Prov . Grand Lodge has given from 1860 to 1876 , in different sums , about £ 650 , making in all a total of nearly £ 2000 . This very large gift , be it

remembered , is exclusive of the donations of the particular lodges and the brethren . All honour to the Prov . Grand Lodge and its members ! At the end of the interesting little book is a record of the Provincial Grand Festivals , and where held from 1777 to 1876 . Chatham comes first , having entertained the Prov . Grand Lodge thirteen times , and is folloyved by Gravesend , and then Faversham and Margate , etc .

The following on the record of No . 20 , as quoted in the Prov . G . Lodge By-Laws and History : — " Whereas it appears by the records of the Grand Lodge that a warrant bearing date the 28 th March , 1723 , was issued under the Seal of Masonry , enabling certain brethren therein named to open and hold a Lodge of Freemasons at the Crown , Cripplegate , London , under , called , or known by the number 13 , and whereas by the general

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Kent.

closing up ofthe list of lodges in the year 1740 , the said lodge became number 12 . In the year 1 748 the same lodge yvas removed to Chatham , in the County of Kent and by the closing up of the list of lodges in the year 1756 it became number 10 , and which lodge , in consequence of the union of the two fraternities ol Freemason *! , on the 37 th day of December , 1873 became and is now

, registered in the books of the United Grand Lodge No . 30 . In the year 1873 , on petition by the lodge a Centenary Charter was granted , with permission to wear the Centenary Jewel . " In conclusion , we should note especially that office has been held on the Prov . Grand Lodge of Kent by two

distinguished brethren , one now numbered with the departed , the other , we are glad to state , active as ever in the interests of Freemasonry—viz ., the Rev . Jethro Inwood , B . A . Prov . G . Chaplain 1806 , and the Rev . Thomas Robinson , M . A . P . M . 88 and 709 Prov . Senior Grand Warden 1874 . We consider the little work reflects great credit on the compilers .

Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

We have seen four very excellent photographs , which yve greatly admire , of Bro . H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught , which have been taken by Bro . Haigh , ( of Haigh and Hemery , 213 , Regent-st . ) We commend them to the notice of our brethren . A meeting of the Grand Lodge of Sussex yvill be held this ( Saturday ) afternoon at 3 . 45 at the

Royal Pavilion , Brighton , for the purpose of the installation of Bro . Sir Walter Wyndham Burrell , Bart ., M . P ., as R . W . Prov . Grand Master of the Province . The ceremonies will be performed under the presidency of V . * Wf , Bro . John Hervey , P . G . D ., Grand Secretary , by members and officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge . A full report of the proceedings yvill be given in our next .

The next meeting of the Original , or Premier Red Cross Conclave of England will be held on Monday next , the 4 th inst ., at the Regent Masonic Hill , 8 , Airstreet , Regent-street , W ., on which occasion V . I . Sir Knt . Rev . Dr . Ernest Brette ( G . H . Prelate ) , will be enthroned as M . P . S .

The regular half-yearly Convocation of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England and Wales , will be held on Tuesday , the 3 th June , at the Freemasons' Tavern , Great Queen-street . Grand Lodge yvill be opened at five o ' clock . The business of the lodge yvill include the installation of the M . W . G . M . for the

ensuing year . A Lodge of Instruction has been formed under the sanction of the Royal Alfred Lodge No . 780 , to meet every Friday evening at 7 30 p . m . at the Star and Garter Hotel , Kew Bridge . The yacht Sunbeam , with Bro . T . Brassey , M . P . for Hastings , Mrs . Brassey , and family on board , arrived off that town between twelve and one on

Saturday last , after accomplishing a trip round the world , the distance traversed being 36 , 000 miles under steam and canvas , the journey occupying forty-six weeks . On Wednesday , the 29 th ult ., a conference and public meeting on the subject of spelling reform were held at the Society of Arts . The conference was presided over by the Rev . A . H . Sayce , Deputy Professor

of Comparative Philology at Oxford University ; and Bro . the Rev . R . Morris , LL . D . ( Head Master Royal Masonie Institution for Boys ) , was chairman in the evening . Among the speakers were Dr . Gladstone , Dr . Angus , Dr . Murray , Sir C . Reed , and Mr . I . Pitman . Letters in support of the movement were read from the Bishop of Exeter and Mr . Lowe . The object of the meeting was to support the resolution of the School Board for London in

favour of a Royal Commission of Inquiry on the subject . Resolutions were passed , and a deputation was appointed to lay them before the Education Department . The consecration of the Stortford Royal Arch Chapter No . 409 will take place on Tuesday next , the 5 th inst ., at the Chequers Hotel , Bishops Stortford , at four o ' clock . The officers designate are Comps . J . B . Scriven , Z . j V W . Taylor , II ; and B . Head , J .

His Royal Highness Prince Leopold arntred in Oxford on Thursday , and at once proceeded to his rooms , in Canterbury Quadrangle , Christ Church , where he will stay for a few days . His Royal Highness was expected to have arrived on Monday to receive a Past Master ' s jeyvel for the Apillo Lodge , but he was unable to attend . —Evening Standard . ORDER OF ST . MICHAEL AND ST . GEORGE . — -

The approaching anniversary of her Majesty ' s birthday yvill be marked by an important extension of the Order of St . Michael and St . George . The several classes of the Order will be enlarged , a step rendered necessary by the growth of the Colonial Empire , and the old offices of Prelate and Chancellor of the Order , which have beeu in . abeyance since the revision of former statues , will be

revived . His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales will , on this occasion , be appointed an Extra Grand Cross of the Order , and there will be an unusually long list of honours conferred on persons who have rendered distinguished services or held high offices in the Colonies . ' His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambride continues to be Grand Master of the Order . Her Majesty has

nominated as Prelate of the Order the Bishop of Lichfield , long eminent as first Bishop of New Zealand . Mr . Charles Cox , yvho has ever held the combined offices of Secretary and Registrar , will be promoted to the office of Chancellor ; Sir Albert Woods will retain the office of King-of-Arms , and Mr . R . G . W . Herbert and the Honourable B . H . Meade , of the Colonial Office , will be appointed respectively Secretary and Registrar of the Order .