Annual Festival Of The Provincial Gb.And Lodge Of Kent.

ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF THE PROVINCIAL GB . AND LODGE OF KENT .

The annual grand festival of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of tbe Province of Kent was held at Brompton , on Wednesday , the 14 th itiit ., when a great number ot brethren from all parts of thecounty were present . The proceedings of the day commenced with an excellent breakfast at the Golden

Lion Hotel , to which about 100 brethren sat down , and ample justice was done to the excellent viands provided by the worthy host ( Bro . Wraith ) , whose catering left nothing to be desired . The Provincial Grand Lodge was opened at the head-quarters of the Gillingham Volunteer Artillery

( couiteously p laced at the disposal of Grand Officers l » y Bro . Captain Lock Beverldge ) , by the M . W . Bro . Viscount Holmesdale , M . P ., Prov . Grand Master , who was saluted according to ancient form . Among the Grand Officers present were the V . W . Bro . W . F . Dobson , D . P . G . M .. ; Bro . the Rev . W . A .

Hill ; M . A ., Grand Chaplain ; Bro . the Rev . T . Graham , P . M ., Assistant Grand Chaplain ; Bro . B . Thorpe , P . M ., Grand Treasurer ; Bro . E . Wates , P . M ., Grand Secretary ; Bro . T . S . Warne , P . M ., Assistant Grand Secretary ; Bro . Lierbennan , P . P . G . S . B . ; Bro . Jovner , P . G . J . W . ; Bro . Blakey ,

P . M ., P . P . A . S . W . ; Bro . Martin . P . P . G . S . B . ; Bio Busbridge , P . G . A . S . ; Bro . White , P . G . S . W . ; Bro , Moncton , P . G . D . ; Bro . Sutton , P . A . D . C . ; Bro Spencer , P . GS . ; Bro . Finch , P . P . G D . C . ; Bro . Boys , P . DJP . G . M . ; Bro . Trneman , PG . S . B ; Bro Nettlingliam , P . P . G . S . W . ; Bro . Morris , P . P . G . S . B .

Bro .. Snowilen , P . P G . J . W . ; Bro . Vale , P . P . G . S W . ( Hereford ) ; Bro . Wyles , W . M ., 1051 ?; Bro . Turtle , W . M , 18-1 ; Bro . Burfield , W . M . 20 ; Bro . Elliott , W . M ., 874 ; Bro . Winch , S . D ., 420 , & c , & c . The minutes of the last Provincial Grand Lodge were read and confirmed ; the Provincial Grand

Treasurer was re-elected without opposition ; and thei R . W . P . G . M . then appointed his Grand Officers for tbe year ensuing : — G . S . W . Bro . the . Rev . G . W . Sicklemore , M . A . WM ., 120 !); G . J . W . Bro . the Rev . J . H . Tiinmius , U . A ., W . M ., I 0 G 3 ; G . Reg ., Bro . A . II . Boys ,

W . M ., 127 ; G . A . S .. Bro . T . Wescombe , W . M ., 107 ; G . S . D ., Bro . W . J . Palmer , W . M ., 913 ; G .. I . D ., Bro . T . Wyles , W . M ., 1050 ; G . D . Cr .. Bro . F . Kite , W . M ., 003 ; G . A . D . O , Bro . W . Sheen , W . M ., 77 ; G . Sup . W ., Bro . W . C . Turtle , W . M ., 184 ; G . S . B ., Bro . R . B . Newsome , W . M ., 1223 ; G . Org ., Bro . E .

W . C . Lnforert , W . M ., 1208 ; G . Purs ., Bro . J . O . Rees , 199 . The following were appointed Grand Stewards : —Brs . W . Fleming , W . M ., 1 .. 8 ; E . Mackoey , W . M .. 299 ; B . Elliott , W .. M .. 874 : J . R . Macdonald , W . M ., 1089 ; O . J . Carter , S . AV ., 20 ;

and J . Elleru , S . W .. 1209 . It was afterwards proposed by the R . W . P . G . M ., that the following grants be made from the P . G . Lodge Fund : —To the Zetland Commemcivition Fund , 20 guineas ; to the Old Men ' s Asylum , 20

guineas . Both propositions were carried nem . con ., and the brethren then proceeded in procession to Holy Trinity Church , Brompton , where divine service was celebrated , the prayers being read by the Hev . W . Crabham , of Fnversham , and the first and second lessons by the Revs , tbe S . and J . P . G . Wardens .

Mr . Norman , of Chatham , during the temporary absence of the P . G . Organist , presided at the organ in a very efficient maimer assisted b" the choir of the Royal Dockyard Chapel , of which lie is the Organist ; the service was partly choral , the various chants , eic , being well rendered . For the aiithenr ,

the 207 th hymn was sung , anil the first part of the 19 th psalm was sung before the sermon , which was preached by the P . G . Chaplain , Hro . the Rev . W . A . Hill , J / .. ! ., Vicar of St . Peter ' s , Maidstone , who selected for his text part of the first verse of the 13 th chapter of Ecclesi . istis , "Remember now thy

Creator in the days of thy youth " The preacher delivered an eloquent discourse nppropriat * . lo the occasion for which ihey 1 ml met together , and he was listened to with marked attention throughout ; ho concluded by appealing to , the brethren to aid by their contributions the national schools ofthe parish .

< md the Masonic Charities , for which a collection was made at the conclusion of the sermon by several brethren appointed lot- that duty , a soft voluntary being meanwhile played by the Organist . The opening voluntary plaved " by Mr . Norman was "Ihe . Masonic Festival March" by Bro . Wj-Wk ;

, . and the voluntary plaved while t . ' . e brethren were leaviig the church " was " The March of the Israelites . " The brethren then returned to the lodge-room , when the business of tho Grand Lodge was concluded .

The banquet was held in the National Schoolroom , which had been very tastefully decorated for the occasion , there bein ' an abundance of gay bunting which relieved the otherwise somewhat dreary aspect of tbe room , and caused it to have quite a lesti ve appeal-in ; ce . A very handsome repast was provided by Bro . Wraith , of the Golden Lion Hotel . The wraugcuiehts made for the comfort of the numerous

Annual Festival Of The Provincial Gb.And Lodge Of Kent.

guests , nearly 200 , were as perfect as possible , the only matter of regret being that there was not room toaccomniodatea groat many more who were . anxious to be present . The edibles and wines were of firstclass quality , and Bro . Wraith is deserving of all praise for the very successful manner in which he

carried out the wishes of the committee of manage-¦ nejjf . Bro . Lord . Holmesdale , M . P ., presided , sii ) ported bv the Revs . G . W . Sicklemore , G . S W ., and W . A . H ' ill , G . Chaplain ; Bro . Dobson , D . P . G . M . ; Wates , P . G . Sec . ; Turtle , P . G . Supt . of Works , W . M . 184 ; S . Astin , P . M ., & c .

The band of the Royal Engineers performed during the banquet . The cloth being removed , Lord HOLMESDALE gave "The Queen and Craft , " followed by that of "The Prince and Princess of Wales , " in proposing which , bis lordship remarked that now that the Prince of

Wales had taken the vows ot a Freemason they hoped , at no distant day , to find that he had joined one of the English lodges . ( Cheers . ) Whether , however , he joined his brethren in this country or remained in the outer world , their esteem and respect for his royal highness would remain

undiminished . ( Loud cheers . ) Lord HOLMESDALE next proposed "The Grand Master of the Order , the Earl of Zetland , " and in doing so remarked that his lordship had had the good fortune to hold that appointment for the long period of -la years—a period quite unexampled iu

history of the Craft . Whatever might be their opinion as to the expediency of retaining one person for so long in tbe chair —( hear , bear , )—Lord Zetland mig ht be congratulated at having seen the craft at a rather low ebb and now in the full flood of prosperity , and he was sure they would drink the

health ofthe Ruler of the Craft with the utmost enthusiasm . ( Loud applause . ) The Deputy Provincial Grand Mastrr , Bro . Donstos , in proposing the health of Lord Holmesdale , remarked that they owed their personal thanks to the Earl of Zetland for having appointed Lord ITolniesiIale to be the Provincial Grand Master for

Kent . They did not proceed to the appointment of a Grand Master annually , as was the case in the Grand Lodge , but if they did he felt sure the unanimous voice of the province of Kent would be in favor of Lord Holmesdale , who had comported himself , since his connection with the Provincial Grand

Lodge , so as to win the respect and esteem of the whole ofthe Freemasons over whom be presided in Kent . ( Loud cheers ) His lordship had done eventhinu iu his power to promote the interest of the Craft in the province by bis constant attendance at the meetings of the Grand Lodge , and in every

other way . and it would bean unfortunate thing for Freemasonry if his lordship sh jul-l ever be compelled to sever his connection with the Provincial Grand lodge of Kent . ( Loud applause ) . Lord HOLMESDALE , who was received with rounds of Masonic cheering , in thanking the brethren for

the manner in which they had received the toast , said as year by year rolled round they generally had at their meeting to report a great increase in the number of Freemasons year by year . The past year , however , had provedaiie . vee-fitio'i , but , notwiihsUwding that , they had no fear of going back in the

province . Ou the contrary , he thought they ought rather to congratulate themselves that they had during the last year gone back a little , as it would enable them to take a fresh start for the future . ( Hear , bear ) . But although they had not received an accession of new members they could , nevertheless .

congratulate themselves on the fact of an increase year by year iu the number of lodges , which proved that Freemasonry was advancing steadily and satisfactorily in Kent . ( Cheers ) . It lay iu their own bands whether they would make the Craft respected or the reverse . The outer world knew iit > thiii "

whatever of the inner working of rreeniasonry , ami therefore they could only judge of Freemasonry b y wh t was nppnrtnt and real . If they saw that I'Yeemasons were noted for their loyalty to their country ; for that they were upright , God-fearing citizens , who were actuated by the one object of

doing all the good iu their power to their fellow-men , depend upon it they would see that there was a desire to ilock to the Craft , and to beone with them . ( Cheers ) . Year by year they found tbe old roots ol Freemasoniy fl-wishing , and well-ripened wood springing up . It had beeu his good fortune to see

the Craft flourishing year by year , and it would be bis earnest endeavour that no action of his should mar its continued prosperity or lessen the es ' cein the brethren entertained towards him . ( Cheers ) . Before he sat down he had to propose "Tbe health of Earl de Grey and Ripon , the Deputy Grand Master of England . '' When they found that Lord de Grey

and Ripon had been found worthy to fill the place of al ' abinet Minister , it spoke well for the Ciaft . ( Loud cheers ) . Lord HOLMKSDAI . K next proposed " The health of Bro . Dobson , " and in doing so remarked that year by year as his duties increased , he found tbe value of a right-hand man like Bro . Dobson to assist him . It would be strange if he did not , seeing that Bro .

Annual Festival Of The Provincial Gb.And Lodge Of Kent.

Dobson gave up so much of his time to look after and promote the interests of the Craft . ( Loud cheers ) - Bro . DOBSOJT , who . was loudly cheered , said it was , perhaps , true that he devoted a considerable portion of his time to advance the interests of . Freemasonry in the province , but he could assure them his duties were really a pleasure to him . True , little difficulties

would somitimes creep into lodges , but it was a sound maxim that the minority should always give way to the majority . ( Cheers . ) . Lord Holmesdale had remarked that they had not increased their members to any extent during the past year , but that he considered to be a good feature rather than anything else . His advice ( o all lodges was to like

quality rather than quantity . ( Hear , hear . ) There was always a number of men who were anxious to be allowed to join a Freemasons' lodge , and therefore it behoved them to exercise the greatest caution as to whom they admitted . If they adopted that course the status of the Craft would be raised , and they should con ist . of a respectable intelligent body of

of men rather than a body composed of mere numbers . ( Hear , hear ) After all , Freemasons all over the world could always fall back on what they did . ( Applause . ) Many persons there were who appeared to labour under the delusion that Freeni . » soris assembled only to eat and drink . ( Laughter . ) Fating and drinking were necessary for all persons , aud

he supposed Freemtuons formed no exception to that rule . When they looked at the three great charitaule institutions " supported entirely by Freemasons , and found that after one of their festivals 4 . ' 8 , 0 0 , £ 10 , 000 , and even £ 12 , 000 had been subscribed by those round the table , the outer world might say what they pleased , but Freemasons had the proud

satisfaction of pointing to the results . ( Loud applause . ) Freemasons were justly proud of their three great charitable institutio-s— ( cheers)—whilo they could point to them as being better managed , the funds better •. vdmiiiisteved and economically dispensed , and the results more satisfactory than was the case with any other three similar iin titutions in the

world . ( Loud cheers . ) In the two great schools the boys and girls were brought up to be little gentlemen and ladies , and not one of them h d ever disgraced those institutions . ( Hear , hear . ) In the old men ' s and women ' s asylums , too , they had valuable institutions , and with the frequent vicissitudes of fortune God only knew which of those present Might want to be succoured by it first . ( Hear ,

bear . ) In tbe support rendered to those charities tbe province of Kent had never been appealed to in vain . After an appeal to Masters of lodges to act under the direction of the charity committee in dispensing their funds , Bro . Dobson again thanked the brethren for the manner iu which they had received the toast , and resumed his seat amid loud cheering .

Lord HOLMESDALE proposed " ' The Past and Present Grand Officers , and was gratified to find tlr . it year after year he found a body of gentlemen ready to take office in the province . His Lordship also alluded , as a happy augury , to thecircuinstance that t . vo of the clergy of the Establishment wero

Provincial Grand Officers . Bro . the Hev . G . W . SICKT . KMOUK . S . W ., aiid hennd the other Grand Oflicers foit a pride in being appointed by bis Lordship to even tbe smallest office . They could not do belter than follow the valuable advice which they had heard that day , and the noble sentiments uttered . For himself he felt that since

lie had become a 1 ' reemasoii he felt himself an altogether better man , and better able to do bis duty both to God and also to bis fellow-man . ( Cheers ) . Bro . the Hev . W . A . HILL said they were banded together iu the bonds of brotherhood and holy and charitable purposes . Although they might not havo increased iu their mere 11 umbers , yet they had in

the esteem aud respect of tbe outside world . ( Applause ) . He trusted they would continue to prosper , and that the motto of the Freemasons ot Kent would continue to be Xulli seenndns , ( Cheers . ) Bro . WATTS , Grand Secretary , said although they i' ignt not have increased during the past year , yet , for all that , they still looked exceedingly willin

numbers , while they had attained to that high position that they could now afford to be select . ( Cheers and it laugh ) . His labours as grand secretary wire happily increasing year by year , but be trusted that they would all contrive to work with thai love and harmony which should at all times characterise Freemasons . ( Cheei-s ) .

Lord HOLMESDALK then proposed " The health of Bro . Turtle , W . M ., of 184 . the entertaining lodge , ' * and highly eulogised the effective preparations inudo for the reception of the Grand Lodge . Bro . TURTLE responded in appropriate frrms , in which he expressed the pleasure it afforded the members of that lodge to have entertained the Grand

Lodge . Bro . TunTi . E proposed "The Visitors , " which was responded to by Bro . WHITE , P . G . S . W .. Hants . The " Masonic Charities" were then proposed , which was responded to by Bro BINCKKH , Secretary of the Freemasons' School for Boys . The proceedings were then brought to a close .