Bro. Hughan's " Old Charges Of British Freemasons."

be brought as an offering to the Lord ' s altar , - " therefore , the man with a blind eye must not be offered to the Lord at the Masonic altar . Now , if that is not superstition . . 1 ask what is superstition ; ( To be continued . )

Inauguration Of The Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Kent.

INAUGURATION OF THE PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF KENT .

On Tuesday , the 22 nd instant , the inauguration of the Provincial Grand Lodge for Kent took p lace at the Royal Hotel , Ramsgate , under the auspices of the Holmesdale Lodge , No . 12 9 .

The M . W . G . M . M . M ., the Rev . George Ray mond Portal , ALA ., was present on the occasion , and performed the ceremonies in the mas terly manner for which he is justly celebrated

He was supro . ted by a numerous company of Grand Officers , among whom were Bro . Colonel Burdett , the Prov . G . M . for Middlesex , and Surrey ; Bro . F . Davison , the D . Prov . G . M . for

Middlesex and Surrey ; Bro . Captain hurgess G . Reg . ; Bro . Neall , G . L Works ; Bro . Captain Barlow , P . J . G . W . Middlesex and Surrey ; and Bro . James W . Smith , G . Steward .

A lodge of M . M . M . was opened at a little before live o ' clock , p . m ., by the oliicers of the Holmesdale Lodge , assisted by a goodly array

of brethren from the United Lodge of Benevolence , No . 69 , Chatham , and of the Dover and Cinque Ports Lodge , No . 152 , Dover .

The M . W . G . M . was shortly afterwards announced , and entered the lodge , preceded by the Grand Officers . Bro . Lewis Finch , the W . M . immediately surrendered his gavel to the G . M .,

who took his seat on the throne , and was enthusiastically saluted with "Seven , " in theiv . annet peculiar to Mark . Masons . He then very briefl y

stated the object ' of the meeting , and called on Bro . fames W . Smith , the Acting Prov . G . Secretary , to explain what had been done in furtherance of the constitution of the Prov . G .

Lodge . Bro . Smith then staled thai , in order to promote the interests of Mark Masonry in the Provinces , it had been desired that a Prov . G . Lodge

should be constituted . The members of the Holmesdale Lodge and the Dover and Cinque Ports Lodge had thereupon conferred together , and presented to the M . W . G . M . a joint

petition to that effect , and nominating Bro . the Rev . George W . Sicklemore , M . A ., Vicar of St . Lawrence , Chaplain of the Holmesdale Lodge , for the office of Prov . G . M . It was explained that , at

that time , it was supposed that it would not suit the convenience of the G . M . to constitute the P . G . Lodge , except on a very early date , and therefore the concurrence of the United Lodge

of Benevolence could not be obtained soon enough for its members to join in the petition , though the co-operation of that lodge had since been given . Bro . Smith concluded by saying

that the prayer of the petition haying been granted , and Bro . Sicklemore appointed Prov . G . M ., the brethren had then assembled in order that the act of constitution mi ght be performed ,

and Bro . Sicklemore was present to receive the benefit of installation , having provided himself with officers , selected from the three lodges named , for the purpose of carrying on thedutiesof

Inauguration Of The Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Kent.

the Prov . G . Lodge during the ensuing twelve months . The M . W .-G . M . complimented Bro . Smith on the succinct account which he had g iven of the

preliminary proceedings , and stated his intention to constitute a Grand Lodge for the Province of Kent , appointing , with feelings of great pleasure , Bro . Sicklemore to the office of Prov . G . M .

The Holmesdale Lodge was then declared closed , and the Provincial Grand Lodge opened . An alarm being g iven , and it being declared that Bro . Sicklemore . sought admission as R . W .

Prov . G . M . designate , the Grand Registrar , by command of the Grand Master , read the patent of appointment . A deputation of rive M . M . M . ' s , accompanying the acting Prov . G . D . C , introduced

Bro . Sicklemore . The Grand Master then addressed him . as to the duties of his hig h office , and administered to

him to the OB . of a faithful discharge of those duties , with Masonic allegiance to the Grand Mark Master of England .

The G . M . then placed the Prov . G . M . on the throne , declaring him duly installed , and he was saluted with "Five . " Psalm exxxiii . was then sung as an anthem , and the Prov . Grand Master invested with the

regalia of his office . Bro . Lewis French , W . M . 129 , well known as a most zealous Mason , was , by ballot , unanimously elected P . G . Treasurer .

Bro . George Meagre , 129 , was unanimousl y elected Prov . G . Tyler . The Prov . G . M . nominated , as his Deputy , Bro . Snowden , who was obligated , invested , and saluted with "Three . "

The following brethren were then appointed Prov . Grand Officers , and invested by the R . W . Prov . G . M ., viz . : —

R . J ones Emmerson . 129 ... Prov . G . S . W . Faiitlough , P . M . 152 Prov . G . J . W . George Watson , 6 9 Prov . G . M . O . D . L . Osment , W . M . 152 ... I ' rov . G . S . O .

Henry Wootton , 129 Prov . G . J . O . Lewis Finch , AV . M . 129 ... I'rov . G . Treasurer . Thomas A . Terson , 152 . Prov . G . R . of M ' s . James W . Smith , 129 Prov . G . Secretary Thomas S . Clarke , 129 Prov . G . Asst . Sec . J . J . Darby , 129 Prov . G . S . D .

W . T . C . Harrison , 129 Prov . G . J . D . W . Foster , 152 Prov . G . I . of Wks . Edward T . Smith , 129 Prov . G . D . of C . John Finch , 129 Prov . G . Asst . D . C . George Page , 129 Prov . G . Swd . B .

James D . Terson , ij 2 Prov . G . Stand . B . G . S . Igglesden , 152 Prov . G . Organist . W . A . M . Yalon , 129 Prov . G . Purst .

The Prov . G . M . stated that he had received a letter of apology from Lord Holmesdale , Past G . M . M . M ., regretting his inability to be present ,

and letters to the like effect from Bro . Stevens , PastG . O ., Prov . G . Mark Secretary for Middlesex and Surrey , and Bro . Osmond G . Phi pps , were re . id ,

The G . M . M . then gave a few useful hints with respect to future bye law's , especially suggestingthat Provincial duesshouldbekept aslowas

possible , so as not to be burdensome . He thought that sixpence per annum from each member would be found sufficient for the few expenses of Prov . G , Lodge : but , if not , he would rather

Inauguration Of The Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Kent.

that the fees of honour than the dues should be increased . The P . G . M . then proposed that a vote of

thanks to the M . W . G . M ., for his kind attendance of this occasion , should be recorded on the minutes , and it was carried by acclamation .

The Prov . G . Lodge was closed in due form . The brethren then sat down to a most recherche banquet , served by Bro . Hiscocks , in the fine coffee room of the Royal Hotel . We

need scarcely add that the whole of the arrangements in Bro . Hiscocks' department were perfect . The usual loyal and , Masonic toasts , which

prevail among Mark Masters , were drunk with enthusiasm . Bro . Cozens , of the Macdonald Lodge , 104 , presided at the piano , and sang several songs , in which his fine , well-cultivated

tenor voice gave the greatest pleasure to the company . He was well assisted by some of the Prov . G . Officers , who are amateur vocalists . The Mark Master Masons of Kent must

congratulate themselves on the favourable inauguration of this Provincial Grand Lodge , and particularly on their good fortune in having obtained the services of two such zealous , influential , and

highly esteemed Masons as Bro . the Rev . G . W . Sicklemore , and Bro . T . H . Grove Snowdon , under whose rule , as R . W . P . G . M . andD . P . G . M .,

it may confidentl y be expected that Mark Masonry in Kent will make still more rapid progress than that which has been recentl y observed in the Province .

Brief History Of The Britannic Lodge, No. 33.

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE BRITANNIC LODGE , No . 33 .

Owing to what we conceive to be a mistaken notion , the history of our ancient lodges are generally printed for private circulation only ,

because it is considered that they concern the members alone , and that the fraternity in general do not care to read them ? It is our firm conviction that the real history of our society is to

be found in the lodge records , and therefore , the more widel y we circulate authenticated extracts from these valuable books , the better for the Masonic student of every country , and the more

likely that ultimately a really accurate and comp lete history of Freemasonry in this country will be written by one or more competent brethren . It is idle to theorise when the facts lie around

us , 111 many cases unheeded , and in every instance , ' certainly never examined with the care and attention they deserve at the hands of the Craft . We predict a new career for our Order ,

now that these records are being exhumed and published , and ere long we hope to have the satisfaction of reviewing many more sketches similar to the one whose title is given above .

Our Scottish brethren are alive to the value of such documents , and in a week or two we shall be able to inform our readers of a grand work , illustrative of the history of the "Lodge of

Edinburgh " from the sixteenth century to the present time . Let us not be behind in such a labour of love , but at once seek to make known all facts of interest connected with the progress of Freemasonry in England for the last three

centuries . In The Freemason for October lath will be