Provincial Grand Lodge Of Kent.

Bro . RUSSELL , in responding , said that as their P . G . Treasurer it was a portion of his duty to see to the collection of the dues of the province ; that was , in comparison , an easy task , but he must confess to a certain amount of diffidence in addressing them as a Grand Officer , an honour which had been conferred upon him by his Royal Highness , and of which he was exceedingly proud . He , however , merely looked upon himself as

the instrument through which and vvith which an honour was conferred upon their province . Their province vvas a large one and was presided over by one who , during the 37 years of his rule , had shown the deep interest he took in Masonry , both in and out of the province , by his unflagging exertions for its continued prosperity . He then referred to the honour conferred upon Bro . Coupland , who he knew had for the last 30

years been an active worker in the province , and no one vvas more worthy of the honour than Bro . Coupland . As to the Grand Officers , those who attended Grand Lodge could see for themselves the work done by those officers ; they were men who had done good suit and service for Masonry , and had made it their hobby . For himself , he trusted he had done something in his day and generation for the benefit of Masonry in the Province of Kent .

Bro . COUPLAND said it was very good of the brethren to think of him upon his promotion to grand honours in the Grand Lodgeof England , but he was afraid that Bro . Russell had given him too much credit for any services he might have rendered the province , but he could assure them that if ever he wanted a character he should go to Bro . Russell for it . He represented the Pattison Lodge and always did so with interest and pleasure , and for

his allegiance to the lodge and also to the province he felt that he had been rewarded with grand honours . It was a great honour , but he must say that he was quite content with his office as a Past Warden of the Province of Kent . He trusted to demean himself with humility and not be arrogant in his bearing to the brethren in his new position . No one could expect honours unless they worked for them . He trusted he had done so and would continue so as long as he had health and strength left him .

The D . P . G . M . then said he had the honour to represent their P . G . M . on that occasion , and now from his heart proposed the toast of that beloved brother ' s health . Although his lordship was not present , they would not be one jot the less loyal than if he was present . They rejoiced that he ( Earl Amherst ) was the P . G . M . of Kent , and further that he was D . G . M . of England . In both positions they were proud of him . If they looked back to the earlier days , some 37 years ago , when his lordship first took his high

office , they would find that thc number of Masons in the province numbered something like Soo , vvith some 17 lodges . Novv they had 6 3 lodges and upwards of 4000 members . With regard to the Charities , they all knew the splendid work done by his lordship for the Charities , and how his influence and example had enabled their province to take its place as one of the foremost in the cause of the Charities . They were proud of their Prov . G . M ., and he asked them to drink his health and long life in bumpers .

Bro . SPENCER then proposed the toast of " Bro . James S . Eastes , D . P . G . M ., " and in so doing , said they must all acknowledge that in Bro . Eastes they had a good and true representative of the esteemed Prov . G . Master , and that he vvas the adviser , and advised his lordship in matters Masonic , not only to the advantage of the province , but throughout the

whole breadth and depth of England . It was not for him , however , to enlarge upon the merits , gifts , and virtues of their esteemed Deputy G . M . It was for him to ask them to drink enthusiastically to the health of one who had done so much to represent the interests of Masonry in the Province of Kent .

The DEPUTY PROV . GRAND MASTER , who was received with long-continued cheers , said he felt that Bro . Spencer had flattered him , but he accepted their cordial acknowledgment of the toast as a very great compliment , and thanked them for their great kindness . He had before told them how much he felt the difficulties of the task he had undertaken in representing their Provincial Grand Master that day . They

all loved to see their Prov . G . M . present on these occasions . His lord - ship was one of those genial men who never forgot to make himself at home with the brethren , and it was a great loss to them irot to have him with them that day . For himself he had had 23 years' experience as D . P . G . M ., and felt sure that he bad gained their sympathies . Jand hoped he had their hearty good wishes . No one seemed to be unhappy because he was D . P . G . M ., but

on every side he iiad received the most cordial support in the discharge of the important duties entrusted to him . On the gth of July next there would be a Masonic function at Canterbury in presenting a window to the Dean of Canterbury , and the lodge would meet in the Chapter House of the Cathedral , when their G . M . would give them an address , and would be pleased to see a good muster of the brethren of the province present on that occasion . The window would be a testimonial from the Freemasons of

Kent that would stand in their name from generation to generation , and long after they were gone . They wanted very little more money to complete the cost of the window ; some 50 or 60 pounds would put them right , and they could say to Earl Amherst " now we have the money . " He was glad to say that his health was much better than it had been . His heart was warm for Masonry , and as long as he lived he would do his duty in the proud position he held in the Province of Kent .

The toast cf " The Prov . Grand Officers , Present and Past , followed , and in giving it the D . P . G . M . pointed out the difficulty of choosing the 20 officers required out of the 63 lodges in the province , and felt it right to say that if the Master of a lodge after passing the chair never put in an appearance , but kept away from the lodge , he need not expect to receive honours in the Province of Kent at least .

Bro . LOPE / ., in responding , said he was exceedingly pleased to know that his lordship had honoured him with provincial honours , and also that their D . P . G . M . had coupled the toast with the name of Bro . Butter , because he felt sure that that good brother would do more honour to it in responding than he ( Bro . Lopez ) could . He was proud to say that his family

always had taken great interest in the Province of Kent . He also felt that the honour conferred on him was an honour conferred on the lodge . It was on account cf the lodge that he was selected by Earl Amherst , and he felt great pleasure and satisfaction at being so selected . He thanked them all most cordially for their hearty reception of the toast .

Bro . BUTTER , in the course of a lengthy and eloquent speech , pointed out the analogy between the late grand meeting at the Albert Hall and the Diamond Jubilee cf her Majesty , showing that the parallel ran in the fact that in both cases Masons and nationalities from all over the world had joined together to do honour to either and each . Bro . BROWN , P . G . Std . Br ., responded for " The Visitors , " and was cordially received ¦

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Kent.

Bro . MCLEOD , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . I . B ., in a vigorous speech , responded for " The Masonic Charities , " in putting , which , the D . P . G . M . averred that if every brother in Masonry would subscribe only five shillings per annum there would be no cause for election , but the Charities would be in a position to relieve and accept every well authenticated and deserving candidate at once . Bro . McLeod spoke of the requirements of the old men and

women ' s fund . There were some 500 old people , and at least ^ 16 , 500 was required per annum to keep them going . There were 265 girls and 279 boys who received an education that fitted them for the battle of life . There had been opposition to the removal of the Boys' School , but it was the bark of a dog without the bite , for now he believed that the whole of the brethren were in approval of the removal . Next year would be the

centenary of the Boys' School , and he hoped the funds would then be benefited by the receipt of ; £ 100 , 000 , it was only a guinea a head for each brother to pay , and he knew that the brethren of the Province of Kent would give liberally . He spoke of Bro . Turton ' s ( W . M . 615 ) list of over ^ 200 , of what the brethren of that lodge , helped by others , could do , and he felt sure that brother's list would reach £ 300 before the festival .

Bro . SUMMERS , W . M . 913 , in responding to the toast of " The Entertaining Lodge , " said they had endeavoured to prepare for the comfort and entertainment of Provincial Grand Lodge and were gratified to know that their efforts had been successful . Of course they expected his lordship would have been present , and were thankful that Bro . Eastes could attend . He , and the members of the Pattison Lodge , thanked their P . G . M . for the

honour conferred upon one of their most esteemed Past Masters , Bro . Lopez , and also that through his lordship Grand honours had been given Bro . Coupland , of whom he knew none more worthy . It was 29 years since the Prov . G . Lodge was held in that place , and he trusted that it would not be 29 years before it was held in Plumstead again . Being in the extreme northeast part of the province , he knew the difficulties attending the getting

there , and he also thought that they were somehow forgotten . He hoped they had enjoyed the meeting , and , in the name of the Pattison Lodge , thanked them all for their attendance and support . The D . C . was Bro . R . J . Cook , P . M ., P . P . G . R ., and the Stewards were Bros . Butter , W . C . Taylor , J . O . Cook , J . J . Murphy , E . M . Taylor , W .

Sanders , A . Moore , R . E . Saunders , J . H . Bull , W . H . Chinery , B . Hammond , and J . J . Messent . Some splendid singing and instrumental music added to the charms of the meeting , the artistes being Madame Alice Lovenez ( soprano ) , Miss Edna Riga ( contralto ) , Bro . Herbert Emlyn ( tenor ) , Bro . Arthur Strugnell ( baritone ) , and Bro . Sidney Horton , P . M . 706 , Org . 913 ( accompanyist and violin solo ) .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

The children of this Institution visited the Crystal Palace , on Tuesday , by the kindness of the Stewards of the late festival . The weather was of the finest , and the Palace and grounds in beautiful order . A long and happy day was spent , and the children thoroughly enjoyed themselves . Miss Buck , Miss Redgrave , and nearly the whole of the staff vvere present , together with several ladies who

kindly interest themselves in the school . Bros . Sir John Monckton , Frank Richardson , and James H . Matthews ( of the House Committee ) , with Bro . F . R . W . Hedges , the indefatigable Secretary , were also there , and did their best to contribute to the happiness of the Girls . Bro . Edward Terry , the chairman of the month was , to his regret , kept away by a professional engagement on behalf of a Charily .

Masonic Thanksgiving Service At Battle.

MASONIC THANKSGIVING SERVICE AT BATTLE .

In honour of the Diamond Jubilee of her . Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria , and with the approval of H . R . H . the Dukeof Connaught , Prov . G . M . of Sussex , a Thanksgiving Service was held in the Parish Church of St . Mary's , Battle , on Wednesday evening , the 23 rd ult . The recent service at St . Saviour ' s , Southwark , at which the Dean of Battle was present , and that of the 23 rd ult ., are , we are given to understand , the only Masonic services that have been held in

commemoration of the Queen ' s long and beneficent reign . Invitations to take part in this service had been sent by the Dean to members of the Hastings , Rye , Eastbourne , and Pevensey Lodges , and , with the usual well-known loyalty of thc Craft , the response was a most successful one . Two of the Grand Officers , who vvere literally loaded with jewels , were present , and the Member for the Division ,

Bro . Col . Brookfield , P . P . S . G . W ., showed his interest in the event by attending . Bro . Dr . Trollope , P . G . D ., P . P . S . G . W ., also joined the brethren , who assembled and donned their regalia , & c , in the North Chapel . Bro . F . Gorham Ticehurst , I . P . M ., who had ably assisted the Dean in the arrangements , rendered still further assistance on the occasion by acting as Master of the Ceremonies in the church .

1 he clergy present were ; Bros , the Very Rev . Dean Currie , P . G . Chap ., vvho wore the scarlet habit of a Doctor of Divinity ; Rev . George Hodges , P . P . G . C , rector of St . James ' , Bury St . Edmunds ; Rev . R . W . Loosemore , P . M . 1184 , P . P . G . C , vicar of St . Mary ' s , Salehurst ; Rev . J . Puttick , P . M . 40 , P . P . G . C , Kingston-by-Sea ; and Rev . E . H . Rogers , curate of Battle . Each , in addition to his vestments , wore his Masonic collar .

The choir had been augmented for the occasion by several ladies , and the organ , at which presided Mr . H . Goss Custard , Mus . Bac . Oxon , organist of Holy Trinity Church , Hastings was supplemented by a trombone , two cornets and kettledrums , under the direction of Bandmaster Stutely , of Hastings . Mr . R . Goss Custard , the talented young organist of the church , led the choir in procession and conducted the musical portion of the service . The h

ymn , " God of supreme dominion , " was sung as a processional , thc order of the procession being : The Choir , Churchwardens , the Clergy , and the Masons , headed by Bro . F . Gorham Ticehurst , as under : Junior brethren , Mark , Craft , Abbey Lodge , vvith their banner , officers of the Abbey Lodge , Past Masters , Worshipful Masters , the Master of the Aobey Lodge , and the Provincial Grand Officers , the latter being allotted seats in the chancel . In addition to those already named there

was a large number of brethren present . The DEAN intoned the prayers throughout , the special form of service for Ascension Day ( Sunday ) , being used . Psalms xx . and exxi . were chanted . Bro . the Rev . J . PurncK read the first lesson , the second being read by Bro . the Rev . R . W . LOOSEMORE . For the anthem , the National Anthem , to the accompaniment of organ , brass instruments , and drum , was given , the effect beinc