Provincial Grand Lodge Of Kent.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF KENT .

The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Kent was held on Wednesday last , at the Concert Hall , Maidstone . Loid Holmesdale , Prov . G . Master , presided . Bros . Eastes , Dep . Prov . G . Blaster ; the Rev . W . A . Bid , G . Chaplain of England , Prov . G . Chaplain ; the Rev . J . B . Harrison , Prov . Asst . G . Chap . ; B . K . Thorpe , Prov . G .

Treas . ; Alfred Spencer , Prov . G . Sec . ; Finch , P . 4 . G . D . C . ; and . the other officers occupied their several places . There was a very large attendance of the brethren , among whem Weri Bros . R . P . Newcome , P . P . G . S . B . ; Thos . Waller , : 0 ' , ; W . W . Snell , 503 ; B . Browne , 503 ; J . R . Foord , j ' 03 ; W . Langshaw , 1424 ; J . Saunders , 972 ; J . O . Eve , 1209 ; E . Ashdown , P . G . S . W . ; W . Cox , jun ., 503 ; Geo .

Correll , 303 ; R . M . Trewthick T . Meek , 299 ; E . J . Scars , W . M * . 299 ; H . G . Thompson , P . M . 299 ; Vf . C . Banks , 1223 ; J . Goldford , 133 ; J . C . Hill , 1125 ; J . Tate , 319 ; Joseph Clever , 303 ; H . Gloster , W : M . 1531 ; G . B . Chapman , 299 ; E . Conneve , 91 ?; A . Penfold , ni ^; H . Mutter , 913 ; Jas . Chapman , 913 ; T . 'Cartland , 013 ; W . B . Lloyd , W . M . 913 ; J . P . Hutchings , 1531 * , H .

Simon , 913 ; Thos . Butler , 503 ; W . Kipps , P . P . G . O . ; H . D . M . Williams , T . Burton , 874 ; B . S . Wilmot , P . G . S . ; G . W . Greenhill , P . P . j . D . ; T . Wells , P . M . 30 ^; | . S . Anscomb , P . M . 503 ; Rev . T . Robinson , P . ' P . G . « . W . ; Humphrey Wood , P . P . G . S . W . ; C . G . Lontr , 503 ; F . W . Edwaids . P . P . G . J . W . ; A . Rooper , P . P . G . J . D . ; j ' . H . Griffin , P . A . D . C ; Evans Cronk 1414 ; J . R . Brett , 138 ; E .

Stutely , 138 ; Rob . Derry , 13 8 ; G . Green , 138 ; H . Sale , 153 ; J . W . Menpes , 1725 ; J . F . Hornby , 503 ; R . Clunt , j 2 ; W . A . Rudd , 184 ; H . Black , 1273 ; J . Coupas , 505 ; C . Austen , 158 ; H . J . Navlor , G . Naylor , 20 ; | . Coulter , 20 ; Lewis Finch , P . P . G . D . C ; Thos . Will . . , G . S . W . ; A . VV . Wells , 299 ; J . H . Clarke , D . G . A . O . Bengal ; T . Rowe , 1063 ; J . S . Lowett , 709 ; F . j . C . May , 106 3 ; Jas . Griffin ,

J . W . 1531 ; Herbert Monckton , W . M . 1725 ; A . Gardner , I ' . M . 1206 ; W . S . Monckton , 1063 ; Giodall , Eajtley , Tyler ; and H . Massey ( Freemason ) . After the formal opening of the Grand Lodge , Bro . Spencer , P . G . Sec , read the minutes , which were put and confirmed . The Prov . G . Treasurer ' s accounts were then passed , from which it appeared there was a balance in favour of

the Prov . Grand Lodge Fund of £ 280 ios . 3 d . On the Charity Fund there was a balance of £ 230 12 s . At the election of Prov . Grand Treas ., Bro . B . K . Thorpe was unanimously re-elected , amidst loud applause . The Provincial Grand Master then appointed his officers lor the year as follows : — Bro . V . W . fames Smith Eastes ... Prov . D . G . M . , ' , Rev . W . A . Hill , M . A . (

re-appointed ) ... ... ... Piov . G . Chap . „ J . B . Harrison , M . A Prov . G . Chap . „ B . K . Thorpe ( re-elected ) ... Prov . G . Treas . „ ^ jfred Spencer ( re-appointed ) ... Prov . G . Sec . „ H . Monckton , W . M . 1725 ... Prov . G . S . W . „ F . A . Gange , M . D ., P . M . 133 ... Prov . G . J . W . „ B . S . Wilmot , P . M . 874 '' ... Prov . G . Reg .

„ G . White , P . M . 1174 Prov . G . S . D . „ S . . S . Chancellor , P . M . 127 ... Prov . G . J . D . „ H . S . Neate , P . M . 77 Prov . G . S . of Vf . „ Geo . Pilcher , P . M . 972 Prov . G . D . of C . „ W . Harding , P . M . 784 Prov . G . A . D . of C . „ H . J . Naylor , P . M . 1449 ... Prov . G . S . Br . „ W . C . J . King , P . M . 483 ... Prov . G . Org .

,, W . J . Carpenter , P . M . 158 ... Prov . G . Purst . „ W . A . Smeeth , P . M . 1208 ... Prov . G . A . Purst . Bros . J . Bordeaux , P . M . 199 ; J . R . ~ | Foord , VV . M , 503 ; J . Sherwood , I P . M . 338 ; H . J . Butter , # 13 ; F . f Prov . G . Stewards Baker , P . M . 1206 ; J . L . Worship , | P . Miuu ... ... ... ... J

Bro . R . Eastley Prov . G . Tyler . On the motion of thc Deputy Provincial Grand Master the following recommendations of the Charity Committee were adopted ' . — £ 30 to the widow of a brother of No . 503 ; i ' 10 to a brother of No . 429 ; £ 20 to a brother of No . 1108 ; and £ 10 to the widow of a brother of No . 829 . On the motion ofthe Prov . G . M . £ 105 was voted to the Girls '

School , in the name of the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , to make him Vice-Patron of the Institution . On the motion of the Deputy Provincial Grand Master £ 21 was voted to Lodges 1436 , Sandgate ; 1449 , Canterbury ; 4 * 9 , Ramsgate ; 483 , Milton j und 503 , Maidstone , to wake them Life Governors of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution j £ 21 each to Lodges 1436 , SanJgate ,

and ( 449 , Canterbury , for the Girls' School ; and £ 21 Mcli f „ r 1435 , Sandjjate , and 1449 , Canterbury , for the ¦ % *» ' Schopl . £ 10 ics . each was also voted to Lodges '' 07 , Belvedere ; 1174 , Chatham ; 1206 , Sandwich ; 1208 , Dover ; 1209 , Ramsgate * , and 1223 , Wesletham , to make jfftn Life Subscribers to the Boys' Schopl . Thc Deputy Provincial f * "f . I ) J ., jn moving the last of these grants , said ' we wa ? a mistake in the agenda paper with regard to win

' , as tbey really supplemented gifts of £ 21 each pre'' - > uslv madj * . vyith regard to the endowments of the ! J 'sigf ? K ?^ that-it was a r ule in Kent not to give yjt end qwmmt t 6 a lodge unless it had contributed to one 0 ! tie Masonic Institutions for six years . Grand Lodge * * then called ' off , and ' the brethren proceeded to All 'itU' Church , were a sermon was preached hy the Rev . ¦ *¦ Hill , Grand Chaplain . Lodge was afterwards resinned . ' ¦

'he Prov . G . M . moved , and the Deputy Grantl Master pitied , a vote of thanks to the vicar t > f All Saints' for I * of his church , and to the Rev . W . A . Hill for his , '"e Rev . W . A . Hill , in replying , thanked the brethren am ** attendance , and announced that the collection ( o . ted to £ 16 6 s . 61 ) ., part of which would be devoted if ° nic , and part to local charitU *) . ^• VMJ Lodge will then elpgidi ftnd the btethren djeuf ned

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Kent.

to the Corn Exchange , where , in the fine large hall , a banquet most plentifully supplied by Hubert de Carteret , the manager , was partaken of . The banner of the Douglas Lodge , No . 1723 , vvas behind thc Prov . G . Blaster ' s chair . The banquet vvas held under the joint Committee nf this and the Belvidere Lodge , No . 503 , both of them Maidstone lodges , the latter meeting at the Star Hotel ,

and thc former at the Gateway , Ancient College , Maidstone . A very large number of brethren sat down ti banquet , at which the tables were elegantly dccora ' ed with ferns and flowers , and supplied with a liberal provision of summer fruits . The band of the 86 th Regiment played during dinner the following selections : —1 , Overture , " Tancredi . " 2 .

Selection , " Bohemian Girl . " 3 , Valse , "Distant Shore . " 4 , Selection , " Lombard ! . " 5 , Valse , " Sweethearts . " 6 , Galop , " Festival . " 7 , Vahe , " Messenger of Love . " 8 , Selection , " Lucrezia Borgia . " 9 , & uadrille , " Les Cloches de Corncville . " 10 , Valse , " Les Cloches de Comeville . " At the conclusion of the banquet the usual toasts were proposed , but , as his lordship said there were not only

Masons present , the customary Masonic fire was not given . The toast of " The Queen and the Craft " was therefore honoured with the ordinary outer world hip , hip , hurrah ! In giving thc toast of "The Grand Master , " Lord Holmesdale said that whatever his Royal Highness took up he threw his whole heart into . A great deal of his Royal Highness ' s time was taken up with other business , but he

had greatly assisted Masonry , and it had very much advanced under his auspices . In giving " The Health of the Pro Grand Master , the Deputy Grand Master , and the test of the Grand Officers , " Lord Holmesdale conjoined with the toast the name of the Rev . W . Hill , Grand Chaplain , and said that it was a fitting tribute to the rev . brother ' s worth that he had been

selected to preach the sermon that day at the meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge . The Rev . W . A . Hill responded . He was happy to find that the Prov . G . Master mentioned that the Grantl Officers did their duty . At the last Quarterly Communication he had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of the two ncw chief officers , the Senior and Junior Wardens , and he

found that they were very good samples of Grand Officers . The first was Lord Kensington , and the second Major General Cathorpe , both of whom had served their country , the first in Parliament , the second in arms ; antl both were ready to serve Masonry . His name had been mentioned in connection with thc promotions at Grand Lodge , but he took no credit to himself for such distinction .

because he put it down entirely to the province of Kent . The Prince of Wales found the province had come to the front , antl was improving its position more and more , and , therefore , he appointed him to Grand Offic * . He was very much pleaseel at having been called upon that day to preach at the church in Maidstone , because it gave him * an oppoitunity of meeting many old

friends . For twenty years and upwards hc had been in this place , and had formed the acquaintance of many in the neighbourhood , and he was happy to have seen many of them again this day . The province was making very great advance , and he vvas very glad of it . He had always been taught in Freemasonry to be happy and to communicate happiness . With reference to this subject , he might

mention that the taoles , which had been so elegantly decorated th-it day , had been decorated not by professional horticulturists but by a number of brethren who had supplied the plants from their own gardens . In that way the brethren had been communicating happiness . Wha'ever might happen , hc should always hold the province of Kent in affectionate remembrance , and he hoped and trusted

that he might be spared health antl strength to carry out thc wishes he had for the province . Bro . Eastes , Deputy Prov . G . M ., proposed " The Health of the Prov . G . M . " In doing so he said that this toast vvas invested vvith the greatest interest to all the brethren , because it brought before them in the proper manner the name of Lord Holmesdale , and reminded them of the great

and important services he had performed towards the province . It had been a very eventful period in the history of Freemasonry , as regarded the province , since his lordship had reigned over them . There had been a marked progressive prosperity in the province , on which the biethrcn might congratulate themselves . Refening to facts , he might mention that when the present Prov . Grand

Master was installed , in i 860 , there were only seventeen lodges in the province and less than 800 members . From the last return they found there were upwards of forty lodges and more than 2500 members . All the affairs of Freemasonry in the province were progressing favourably and going along smoothly , and the brethren might well congratulate themselves that they had a nobleman ruling

over the province who was a man of energy . If thc true principles of Freemasonry had not been followed in this province it would not have achieved that splendid result which it had achieved in this province . The Prov . Grand Ma « ter , in responding , said he hoped always to receive the same hearty good wishes ' and greetings at the brethren ' s hands , and he hoped his conduct in

the chair would merit them . As regarded the state of the province , ft was greatly improving , but there was still the same story for it of peace and prosperity . It . was in a very happy state , the same state as it hail been in since he had had the honour to hold the chair . At one time it fell down to small numbers , but in those small numbers there were maintained the principles of the Craft . He was

happy to see that the number of lodges had been raised , and there had been a steady increase , not only io numbers but in respectability . Without respectability they were not worthy to hold their position . The province was now quite strong enough to carry candidates at elections and to assist other provinces , and thc brethren would take care that this state WM not impaired by the admission cf candidate * to the Ordar trho would not be JL credit

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Kent.

to it . He was happy to say that in this province they had no reason to find fault about the quality of the brethren , as it was very good , and he would be very sorry if in admitting a large number they had not regard to quality . The quality of the Craft vvas not deteriorating in the province , and that being so the same story was told—a story of prosperity and success . He coultl only hope that

it would last , and that thc history of the Craft in the province for the next sixty or seventy years would be as famous as it had been , and as it was to day . The day had begun inauspiciously : much rain had fallen , and the brethren thought they would get a wet jacket . However , it had turned out fine , and he hoped it would be so in the Craft . The brethren who struggled in former days in the Craft

might have thought there was nothing for them but failure . That had not been the case . They struggled and they prospered , and they saw before they finished their work that success was in view . That had been realised that day . The dawn w as not bright , but the day had finished well , and he hoped there was in store for Freemasonry in the province even a brighter day than it had yet had . They

mustnotforget , however , in their prosperity what they owed to their predecessors , and he wished that they should show that they had succeeded to the fruits of their predecessors ' labours , and were not ungrateful for them . For himself he might say all his services should be at the disposal of the province , and he hoped he should be able to render them for many years to come . He had always met with

a kind reception at the hands of the brethren , and he doubted not that it would be continued hereafter . The Prov . G . M . next gave "The Health of the Deputy Prov . G . Master , " to which Bro . Hastes replied . He said it was very gratifying to him that the Prov . G . M . and the brethren were pleased with what he had done . The Province of Kent stood out as a great success , and the

brethren had seen it stated on several occasions in the Masonic journals that the system of charity which Kent adopted was inaugurated in I . ancashire about the year i 860 . He was always in favour of paying honour where honour was due , and , therefore , knowing that that was not the case , he would state that the Province of Kent inaugurated the system . In 1830 there was a provincial meeting at Chatham , when Bro . Humphrey introduced the matter . He did

it so admirably that , with his lordship ' s permission , he ( Bro . Eistes ) would like to send a copy of the minutes to the leading journals in Freemasonry , for he did not think it could 1 e put in a more admirable manner . It was a most desirable thing to do . Thirty guineas vvas then raisetl , but now it had reached £ 250 , They began with a good and solid foundation , and there were now thirty lodges in the province that were Vice-Presidents of thc Institutions .

The S . W . responded to the toast of "The Provincial Grand Officers , " and Bro . Alfred Spencer being loudly called for also added a few words , dwelling more particularly on the charitable feature of the province ' s proceedings . The Provincial Grand Master gave " The Masonic Charities , " and regretted that there was not a

representative of one of those Institutions present to respond . The other toasts were given before the brethren separated . Dr . Longhurst presided at the organ in the church , and eight members of the choir of Canterbury Cathedral as sisted in the musical portion of the service . At the dinner Bros . Plant , Moulding , and Rhodes sang .

Lord Tenterden, P.G.M. Of Essex.

LORD TENTERDEN , P . G . M . OF ESSEX .

Charles Stuart Aubrey Abbott , third Baron Tenterden , of Hendon , in the county of Middlesex , was duly installed Prov . Grand Master of Essex on Wednesday , the 2 nd inst ., and , in accordance with our recent promise , we proceed to give a brief sketch of his career . His lordship was bom in the year 18 34 , and is , therefore , in the full vigour

of mature manhood . In 1830 he married his cousin , Penelope , daughter of Major-General Sir J . R . Smyth , K . C . B ., and by her has issue a son and three daughters . Hesucceeded his uncle , John Henry , second baron , in 1870 , the barony having been conferred on Sir Charles Abbott , Knt ., in 1827 , in consideration ot his distinguished services as Lord Chief Justice of the King ' s Bench ; and his

grandson , the present peer , though devoting his talents and energies to an entirely different branch of the public service , has furnished evidence on more than one occasion that hi is not unworthy to follow in the footsteps of so eminent a man . When only a few months turned nineteen years of age Mr . Charles S . A . Abbott , as he then was , was appointed to a supernumerary clerkship in the

Foreign Office , and thenceforward has risen grade by grade to the highest permanent position in that department , namely , the permanent Under-Secretaryship of State , to which he was appointed in the year 1873 . His lordship has also in the course of his long official career enjoyed many special opportunities of displaying his ability . Thus , he was precis writer to Lord

Stanley ( now Earl of Derby ) from July , 1866 , to December , 1868 . He was in attendance on the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Neutrality Laws from February , 186 7 , to May , 1868 , and immediately afterwards was appointed Secretary tothe Royal Commission on the Lawseif Naturalisation and Allegiance . Early in 1871 he was appointetl Secretary to the Joint High Commission , of which the Marquis of Kipon , Past Grind Master of

England , vvas a member for considering various circumstances affecting the relations between Great Britain and the United States of North America . For his services in this capacity he was made a companion of the Civil Division of the most honourable Order of the Bath . In thc autumn ct the same year he attended as Her Majesty ' s agent the Tribunal pi Arbitration on the Alabama claim * tt Geneve- in October , 187 j , ho became , H VI * hava