Provincial Grand Lodge Of Kent.

special privilege to announce to them a very special matter . They had been with the P . G . M . in his trouble and sympathised vvith him , and in his joys they had rejoiced with him . Now he had permission to tell them that his lordship was about to enter into the bonds of matrimony , and he felt sure they would rejoice with his lordship at the fact and join with him ( Bro . Eastes ) in saying— " May T . G . A . O . T . U . preserve them both for many years to be all in all to one another . " The toast was drunk with the utmost enthusiasm , the cheers lasting a long while ,

and breaking out again and again . The P . G . M , in response , said it was impossible not to be deeply touched at the hearty reception of the toast , so kindly proposed by the D . P . G . M , who , he must say , had ever been the same to him in sunshine and in trouble , while he had always had the most sincere sympathy in affliction from every brother in the province , but now he was happy to say that he had had the good luck to win for a wife of intro

the most charming woman in London , and if ever he had the opportunity - ducing his wife to them , they would agree with him that it was a great honour to win such a charming woman . With reference to the province , he had , during the past year , consecrated one new lodge and one new chapter , and had also the satisfaction of consecrating one more of those Masonic temples that were springing up inthe Province of Kent , where the brethren covld meet without trusting to that chance

hospitality that was not at all times all that could be desired . Their rites required a certain amount of quietness and sanctity , and ought not to be carried out in a place that mig ht serve one day a Masonic meeting and the next a bean-feast . Far be it from him to say a word against the licenced victuallers' houses , but they must agree vvith him that it vvas a great and grand thing to have a p lace consecrated to their 1 ites and the quiet performance of their sublime ceremonies . He vvas sorry to say that

one lodge , the West Kent Volunteer Lodge , had left them , and by the approval of the G . M , gone into the London district . The head-quarters ofthe regiment were at Woolwich and Plumstead , and it was only rig ht that they should be near them , and a ' though he was sorry to lose a lodge , yet , as they wanted to go , he could only wish them " God speed " in their new quarters . The new hall at Plumstead was a most handsome and commodious building , and he congratulated the Masons of

that part of the province on their possessing it , although it had been the cause of some trouble to him and . the D . P . G . M . in this way : Some years ago , they , by some means or other , trespassed on the London district by allowing the Plumstead brethren to found a Iodge , the Pattison , within 12 miles of Grand Lodge , as the crow flies ; it was outside the radius by road , and the latter was then considered the right way to measure the distance , then the United Military Lodge vvas founded ,

also at Plumstead , and that was allowed . Then the Plumstead brethren built the temple already spoken of , and the London brethren in Woolwich said— " Here is the place for us , it is within the London district , and vve intend to hold our meetings here . " The case vvas laid before Grand Lodge , and it vvas there and then finally decided that the Pattison and United Military Lodges mig ht still retain their connection with the Province , and meet in the hall , but that in future all lodges

founded within 12 miles of Grand Lodge , " as the crow flies , " shall be Metropolitan lodges , and not provincial , so that the West Kent Volunteer Lodge having gone there , was compelled to leave the province and become a London lodge . He wished it , therefore , distinctly to be understood , that it would be useless to apply to the province for a new lodge in that district , unless without the radius of the Metropolitan area . Now all this caused a little trouble , but if Masonry was not

worth a little trouble , he would like to know how he could ask them , with a clear conscience , to work for him and the interests of the Craft in the province . During the 29 years he had been in the province he had always been received in the heartiest manner , and he should be pleased to tell his future wife how , upon this especial occasion , his name had been received so heartily by the Masons of the Province of Kent .

His lordship then resumed his seat amid the heartiest applause . The next toast was that of "The V . W . Bro . James Smith Eastes , D . P . G . M , " and in putting it , the P . G . M . said it was a toast that was very apropos to a song — "The Postillion" —because it put him in mind of a French officer in the time of Nanoleon the Great , who had to go constantly to all parts of Europe , at the will of the Emperor , and at all hours of the night and day , and who , when

asKt-iif . jr nis epitaph , said Ci git Foucher ; Fouette , cocher— "Goon , Postillion —and that was certainly applicable to the case of Bro . Eastes . In a large provincial lodge it was most essential that they should have a good D . P . G . M , and he could safely say that he never asked Bro . Eastes to do any work for him , or gave him good council , but that he always found his confidence in him fully justified , and he considered it a providential day for him ancl the Province of Kent when he asked Bro . Eastes to take the position of D . P . G . M . and that brother accepted it .

Bro . EASTES , who vvas loudly cheered on rising , said he hardly knew how to thank his lordship and the brethren for their great kindness to him , but so long as he lived , and their P . G . M . appointed him to his present position , so long should he endeavour to carry out the duties entrusted to him to the best of his ability . He had been a Mason for nearly 34 years , and a P . G . O . for over 27 or 28 years , of the

last 15 of which he had been D . P . G . M , and he could say vvith perfect confidence that he had never one single regret for joining the Craft , or working under their excellent Bro . Earl Amherst . He spoke highly of Bros . Thorpe and Spencer , and concluded by assuring them that , in the future , as in the past , he should continue to do all in his power for the good of the province and Masonry generally .

Bro . BOLTON responded for "The P . G . Officers , Present and Past , " saying it was personall y a great honour conferred upon him , but , while doing so , was deeply sensible that it vvas not so much an honour to himself as to the Acacia Lodge , and to those past officers of it , many of whom had already received the purple at the hands of his lordship . They were told that Masonry was a progressive science ; but he never knew what it meant before that day . He could only say that any duty

that devolved upon him at the call of his lordship he vvas willing and ready to do . * Bro . SPENCER also responded , and assured the brethren that he would sooner have the goodwill of the brethren of the Province of Kent than any honour that could be conferred upon him . Although now living out of the province , yet he trusted to be with them often , and could assure them that their many long years of kindness and brotherly regard would never be obliterated from his memory .

Bro . ADAMSON responded for "The Masonic Charities , " and gave a lengthy exposition of the great work done by the province for the Charities during the last

20 years . Bro . SPENCER spoke eloquently of the position the province held in the Masonic world , and of the immediate work done in it , and then the toasts of "The Visitors , " " The Committee of the Acacia Lodge , " and the Tyler ' s toast concluded the proceedings .

Bro . F . H . Cozens , Miss Jessie Griffin , and Bros . J . Brown , E . Dalzell , and C . Ackerman sung ballads and . glees between the speeches splendidly , and , in conclusion , we heartily congratulate the Acacia Lodge on the unqualified success of its entertainment of Provincial Grand Lodge .

CLOTHING . —In former days , and about the time of the revival , Freemasons are said to have had a well-known and special dress , namely , a " skull cap , yellow jacket , ancl blue nether garments , with a leathern apron . " No doubt the old operative Guilds all hacl special dresses . In an old illumination in the British Museum , in which a Master Mason and four Masons appear at work , the Master

has a long blue garment and pink cape , ancl blue hat ; and two of the Masons have pink garments and blue capes , and two have brown garments and pink capes . The proper dress for Freemasons in the lodge , in our humble opinion , is evenin " dress . The word clothing technically also refers to the wearing of an apron , as no Mason can enter a lodge without it , or be said to be " properl y clothed . "Kenning ' s Cyc ' . opcedia of Freemasonry .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Nottinghamshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF NOTTINGHAMSHIRE .

A meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge was held at the Criterion Hall , Workso on Thursday , the 20 th ult , when there were present Bros . Thomas William Tew P . M , P . G . D . England , Prov . G . M . West Yorks , as acting P . G . M ; Henry Smith ' P . M , P . G . D . England , D . P . G . M . West Yorks , as acting D . P . G . M . ; T ' Archbold , P . P . G . S . B , Prov . S . G . W . ; Charles Johnson , P . P . G . S . of W ., p .

J . G . W . ; Rev . E . St . John Morse and T . C . Ewbank , Prov . G . Chaps . ; E r ' Patchitt , P . P . G . Std . Br , Prov . G . Treas . ; John Housley , P . P . G . Stwd , Prov _ ' Reg . ; Henry R . Hatherly , P . P . G . W , Prov . G . Sec ; Robert T . Ingram , P p ' Std . Br , Prov . S . G . D . ; John T . McCraith , Prov . J . G . D . ; Edward Griffiths ' P . P . G . Stwd , Prov . G . S . of W . ; Wm . Joseph Rogerson , P . P . G . Stwd , Prov '

G . D . C ; John Peter Wm . Marx , P . P . G . Stwd , Prov . A . G . D . C ; Joseph Den-v Prov . G . S . B . ; J . Appleton and Hy . Vickers , Prov G . Std . Brs . ; A . H . Bonser Prov . G . Org . ; A . Stubbs , P . P . G . W , Prov . A . G . Sec ; T . Fisher , Prov . G . Purst . ! C . H . Benham , Prov . G . Tyler ; T . Killingley , Prov . A . G . Tyler ; James Josiah Gee , Evan Powell , Henry Saxton , Thomas Thorpe , William Burrows , and | n 0 A . Howitt , Prov . G . Stwds . ; and others .

Prov . Grand Lodge was opened by Bro . THOS . W . TEW , Prov . G . M . of West Yorkshire , who stated that , with the sanction of the Grand Lodge , it had given him much pleasure to accept the invitation of the Prov . G . M . of Notting hamshire to preside over the meeting . The roll of P . G . Officers was called , all being present with the exception of the P . A . G . P , who was unavoidably absent .

The roll of W . M . s and Wardens of lodges in the province was called , all beimr well represented . The minutes of the last meeting of P . G . Lodge , held at Nottingham , December 20 th , 1888 , vvere read and confirmed . The arrival of the D . P . G . M . designate being announced , a deputation was formed , and Bro . Rev . F . Vernon Bussell , M . A , P . G . Chap . England , was presented for installation .

The patent of appointment , dated April Sth , 188 9 , was read b y Bro . J * vo . HOUSLEY , P . G . R . Bro . THOS . WM . TEW , P . G . D , P . G . M , West Yorks , then addressed the P . G . Lodge , and referred in graceful terms to his long acquaintance with Bro . Bussell , and to the great esteem in which he vvas held by all who enjoyed the privilege of his acquaintance ; for himself it was not only a privilege but a very great honour to

be permitted to install so worthy a brother in the office of D . P . G . M . ; he dwelt at some length on the noble principles which underlie Freemasonry , and especially showed how they should influence those placed in authority . He believed the choice which had been made of a successor to the late Bro . John Watson was a happy and judicious one , and that the welfare of the province had been entrusted to ii safe and prudent ruler . Bro . Rev . F . V . Bussell , was then placed in the chair of D . P . G . M . and saluted .

Bro . Rev . F . V . BUSSELL expressed his personal thanks to Bro . Thomas Wm . Tew for his great kindness in visiting the province , and undertaking in so able a manner the duty of his installation , also to the brethren assembled for their presence and for the heartiness of their greeting . He proposed " That the best thanks of this province be given to Bro . Tew and to his Deputy for the able and impressive manner in which his installation had been performed . " This vvas seconded by Bro . COMYN , P . P . G . W , and carried unanimously . The DEPUTY PROV . GRAND MASTER then addressed the brethren . He felt that

amongst the many able and expert brethren in the province , he should always find those who would support and advise him in any matter of difficulty , and he relied on the cordial assistance of zealous officers , of whom he saw many present . He should always endeavour to preserve strict impartiality , and in the discharge of his duties would be influenced by one chief motive—the welfare of the noble and far reaching Order of which he was a member . Nottinghamshire was but a small

province , as compared with West Yorkshire and its roll of 73 lodges , but it would be his earnest wish to develope its influence . He trusted to see Masonry still more advance in Nottinghamshire , since having subsisted from time immemorial , its grand and noble . influence could not be too widely extended . He had a sad and painful duty to perform , and that was in reference to his lamented predecessor . He found it difficult to speak of him in fitting terms , to do justice to the ability , to the courteous and unostentatious manner which their

deceased brother had displayed in the performance of any task devolving on him , whether Masonic or secular . He had gone—leaving them the legacy of his hig h example , his unstinted charity , his ever-glowing kindliness of manner . It vvas well known that the late Bro . John Watson had retained his office only because the Provincial Grand Master had expressed a very strong wish to that effect ; in sp ite of serious illness , he had nobly ancl faithfull y discharged the duties of his oflice , and hacl to the last taken an active interest in all that concerned the welfare of his

province . He moved— " That the Provincial Grand Lodge of Notts desires to place on record its deep sense of the loss it has sustained in the death of Bro . John Watson , its respected and beloved D . P . G . M , and also to express to his widow its heartfelt sympathy with her in her bereavement . " Bro . BERRY , P . P . G . W , seconded . The resolution was carried unanimously .

Bro . HY . GEORGE , P . P . G . D . of C , proposed a vote of congratulation to Bro . Bussell on his appointment to the office of D . P . G . M . The vote vvas seconded b y Bro . KIDD , P . P . G . Treas , and supported by Bro . the Rev . W . F . Boor , W . M . of the Pelham Lodge , and carried unanimously . The DEPUTY PROV . GRAND MASTER cordially expressed his thanks . Certain resolutions were proposed and carried in reference to the Report of the Boys' School .

There being no further business , Prov . G . Lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to a banquet at the Town Hall , where they were most hospitably entertained by the Pelham Lodge , No . 939 . The usual toast list was dul y honoured , and the Deputy Prov . G . M . again received the hearty congratulations of the brethren present .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Suffolk.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF SUFFOLK .

The annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held at ti Town Hall , Beccles , on the 3 rd inst , under the banner of the Apollo Lodge , an under the presidency of the P . G . M , the Right Hon . Lord Henniker . The 1 •• Officers present included Bros , the Rev . C . J . Martyn , D . P . G . M . ; W . Diver ,, !•' * 305 , P . J . G . W . ; Rev . J . B . Beck , 81 , P . G . Chap . ; N . Tracy , P . M . 37 6 , P-P-J ' cVy ' P . G . Sec ; W . Clarke , P . M . 114 , P . G . P . Eng , P . G . D . C ; T . S . Tearne , b- "; 145 1 , P . G . Org . ; J . Hunt , P . M . 376 , P . G . P . ; J . Warren , P . M . 332 , P- ' R ' T . W . Read , P . M . 555 , and W . J . Mason , W . M . 1422 , P . G . Stewards ; Re \ : / . ' Peek , W . M . 93 6 , P . P . G . C ; John M . Canova , P . M . ancl Treas . 3 88 , P-P- ' ° p ' W . W . Walesbv , P . M . 929 , P . P . G . S . of W . ; R . Barker , P . M . 3 88 , P-P- * */ f ' B . Seaman , P . M . 929 , P . P . G . S . B . ; James Tennant , P . M . 71 , P . P . G . S . of W- > . A . Mann , P . M . 1452 , P . P . G . Org . ; J . Napier , P . M . and Sec . 225 , P . P . J- G- - ' . / -. T . Eccleston , P . M . 305 , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; F . Wheeler , P . M . 1224 , P-P- ^' - tli , J . Eastaugh , 1452 , P . P . J . G . D . ; J . M . Harvey , P . M . 936 , P . P . J . G . W . ; E . ^ ., P . M . 81 , P . P . G . P . ; G . F . Crane , 305 , P . P . J . G . W . ; Hugh W . H . Elwes , W-1452 , P . P . J . G . D . ; and B . W . Syer , 376 , P . G . Tyler . The visitors included » '