Provincial Priory Of Kent And Surrey.

PROVINCIAL PRIORY OF KENT AND SURREY .

The annual meeting of the Provincial Priory of Kent and Surrey was held at the Bridge House Hotel , London Bridge , on Monday , the Sth inst ., when there was a large attendance , and the proceedings were unusually interesting from the fact of the installation of the newly-appointed Provincial Prior , the Right Hon . the Earl of Onslow , being appointed to take place on the same occasion .

The meeting was held under the banner of the Temple Court Preceptory ( of which Lord Onslow is a member ) , which held a meeting of its own for the inception of several candidates , followed by a Priory of Malta , prior to the provincial meeting . The Very Eminent Great Sub-Prior of England and Wales , the Right Hon . the Earl of Euston , who had intended to install the Earl of

Onslow , was unavoidably detained at the last moment by family illness , 'and . the Provincial Prior of East Anglia , Sir Knight Captain Philips , very kindly undertook the duty at the last moment , assisted by Sir Knight the Rev . H . Cummings , P . G . P . Eng . The usual business of Provincial Priory was transacted under the presidency of the Eminent Provincial Sub-Prior , Sir Knight Horatio Ward . The minutes were confirmed , and the accounts passed .

Sir Knight BATEMAN , Prov . Treasurer , stated he had held the combined office of Treasurer and Registrar for eight years , and wished to be relieved of one of them .

A cordial vote of thanks was unanimously accorded to Sir Knight Bateman for his past services . Sir Knight Col . Bircham was elected Prov . Treasurer lor the ensuing year . The Installing Officer , Sir Knight Captain Philips , was then received under the arch of steel , accompanied by the Grand Officers , including Sir Knights R . Loveland Loveland , G . Chancellor ; F . Richardson ,

P . G . M . ; C . F . Matier , K . C . T . ; C . Belton , K . C . T . ; Col . Cook , P . G . C . ; Rev . H . Cummings , P . G . P . ; and others , and having assumed the throne , proceeded to install the Provincial Prior nominate , according to the interesting and elaborate ritual practised on such occasions . After proclamations and salutes , The new PRIOR addressed the knightsfirst thanking the Installing

, Officer for his able performance of the ceremonial , and then referred in feeling terms lo the lamented decease of his predecessor , the able and respected Col . Noel Money , and assured the members of Provincial Priory of his interest in the Order , and that he intended to do all in his power to promote its interests .

The Prov . Prior then appointed and invested his officers as follows :

Sir Knight Horatio Ward ... ... Prov . Sub-Prior . „ Rev . H . Cummings ... ... Prov . Prelate . „ A . H . Bowles ... ... Prov . Chancellor . „ Gen . Cuming ... ... Prov . Constable . „ Col . Bircham ... ... Prov . Treasurer . „ A . H . Bateman ... ... Prov . Registrar

, „ B . R . Bryant ... ... Prov . Sub-Marshal . „ S . J . Brice ... ... Prov . Almoner . „ H . J . Sturgeon ... ... Prov . Herald .

„ B . A . Smith ... ... \ „ R . T . Wheeler ... ... j Prov - - Brs - » R . J . Voisey ... ... Prov . P . Banner Br . „ J . Dimsdale .. . . ... Prov . Swd . Br . „ W . Briant ,.. ,.. Prov . Capt . of Guard . Frater Harrison was elected and invested as Provincial Guard .

After the transaction of the usual icutine business , the Provincial Priory and the Temple Court Preceptory were closed . Sir Knight J . Read , P . A . G . D . C , kindly officiated as Organist , and amongst those present , in addition to the Grand and Provincial Officers already mentioned , were Sir Knights F . Lawrence , P . G . H . Eng . ; Gen . May , V . C . ; R . Clout , R . J . Emmerson , P . G . P . B . B . Eng . ; F . W . Wright , Frank Williams . J . Richmond-Parry , J . G . Dundas , A . G . Patterson , H . H . Parry , J . G . Kirchhc / fer , R . Clowes , and G . E . Todd .

At the conclusion of the business , the sir knights dined together under ^ e presidency of the Provincial Prior , the Right Hon . the Esrl of Onslow , the banquet being exceedingly well served by the host of the Bridge House Hotel , Sir Knight Pearce . We understand a new preceptory is being formed in the province , to meet at Blackheath , several well-known and influential members of the Order being founders . Particulars may by obtained of the Provincial Registrar , Bro . A . H . Bateman , "Amberley , " Rosenthal-road , Catford , O . K .

Consecration Of The Orient Mark Lodge, No. 482, Shanghai.

CONSECRATION OF THE ORIENT MARK LODGE , No . 482 , SHANGHAI .

The 20 th May will be celebrated in the annals of Freemasonry in Shanghai as the date of consecration of the first lodge of Mark Mas ' . cr Masons working under the English Constitution . The new lodge , which has taken for its name the Orient , and which is numbered on the roll of the Grand Lodge No . 482 , owes its origin mainly to the exertions of Bro . F . M . Gratton , Past Master of the Northern Lodge of China , who took the

opportunity of a short visit to England last year to make the preliminary arrangeyrients . These having been completed , and the charter having arrived , in due course arrangements were made to celebrate the consecration of the new lod ge with all due eclat . Some 35 members of the Order , including visitors from the sister lodges , assembled at nine o ' clock at the Masonic Hall ; ° fake part in the ceremony . This was performed by Bro . Cornelius ' horne , Past District Grand Master of English Craft Freemasonry in

, p ° rthern China , acting under dispensation from the Grand Mark Lodge , the ceremony was performed in a peculiarly able manner , the brethren c , e 'ng much struck with the character of the rite . ., yl 'he lodge had been declared open and legally authorised to confer the Degree , Bro . R . j . Sloan , P . M ., took the chair and proceeded to install 'he W . M . elect , Bro . F . M . Gratton , whom the brethren saluted with the "onours of the Dagree .

Consecration Of The Orient Mark Lodge, No. 482, Shanghai.

Bro . Gratton afterwards proceeded to invest the following as his officers for the ensuing year : Bros . J . I . Miller , S . W . ; J . H . P . Parker , J . W . ; L . Moore , M . O . ; D . Hay , S . O . ; A . W . Danforth , J . O . ; C . Thorne , Chap . ; R . S . Ivv , Treas . ; T . W . Kingsmill , R . of M . ; G . R . Wingrove , S . D . ; and R . B . Allen , D . C . After a number of complimentary speeches from the representatives of the lodges of the other Constitutions the meeting was closed .

The brethren then adjourned to a supper , which they found laid out in the Banqueting Hall . " The Health of Bro . Gratton " was subsequently drunk with all the honours . The brethren separated shortly after midnight . The following are the founders of the new lodge , namely , Bros . R . B .

Allen ; N . P . Andersen , P . M . ; A . W . Danforth , P . M . ; J . Fryer , P . D . S . G . W . of N . C . ; F . M . Gratton . P . D . S . G . W . of N . C . ; ' G . de Gmizburg ; D . Hay , P . D . G . Treas . of J . ; R . S . Ivy , D . G . Std . Br . of N . C . ; T . W . Kingsmill , P . A . G . D . of C . ; J . L Miller , D . G . M . of N . C . ; L . Moore , D . D . G . M . of N . C ; J . H . P . Parker . P . M . ; E . C . Pearce , D . G . Treas . of N . C ; R . J . Sloan , P . M . ; and C . Thorne , P . D . G . M . of N . C .

The Lily.

THE LILY .

When boist ' rous winds with force assail , And devastating sweep the vale , Yon lily , bending to the gale , Submissive bows its head .

But passed the storm , and Phcubus brings His cheering rays with Zephyr ' s wings , The flower elastic upward springs , Its fears of danger fled .

So neath the storm of adverse fate , The virtuous heart , in goodness great , With constant hope will patient wait , Whilst heaven is overcast .

Secure , with placid front and mien , Though clouded now , the sun serene Will shed its glory o ' er the scene , When stormy winds are past .

Seed Words.

SEED WORDS .

'Twas nothing—a mere idle word , From careless lips that fell , Forgot , perhaps , as soon as said , And purposeless as well . But yet , as on the passing wind fs borne the little seed , Which blooms unheeded , as a flower , Or as a noisesome weed .

So often will a single word , Unknown , its end fulfil , And bear in seed , the flower and fruit Of actions goof ' , or ill . F . VV . DRIVER , M . A ., P . M . 62 , Lancaster-road , Netting Hill , W .

Consecration Of The St. Andrew's Lodge (S.C), Townsville, North Queensland.

CONSECRATION OF THE ST . ANDREW'S LODGE ( S . C ) , TOWNSVILLE , NORTH QUEENSLAND .

A new Masonic lodge was inaugurated at the Masonic Hall , Townsville , on Monday , the 13 th of May , under dispensation of the Scottish Constitution , and under title of St . Andrew ' s Lodge . To Bro . W . Roberlsm , P . M ., is

due the idea of the formation of the lodge , the foundation members being : Bros . W . Robertson , J . Macdougall , D . Buchanan , M . Jenkin , J . Macdonald , W . Gilliland , D . W . Hastings , VV . Summerfield , A . E . McCreedy , H . Fisher , J . Macintyre , A . M . Gauld , C Caven , and A . Ferguson . The influential gathering of brethren which the ceremonies brought together is an assurance that the new lodge will have a most successful and beneficent

career . At the consecration , which took place at the Masonic Hall , Sturt-street , there were 52 present , there being no less than 23 Past Masters on the dais , while 84 sat down at the banquet in the evening , at Bro . Buchanan ' s

Imperial Hotel . The ceremonies of consecration and installation were performed by Bro . Johns Marsland , P . M ., Acting Dist . G . M . ; assisted by Bros . Walter Thanet Jenkin , P . M . 655 ( 5 . 6 ' . ); and Henry Bleasdale Walker , P . M . 769 ( S . C ) , all the imposing details prescribed bsing strictly carried out .

At the appointed hour ( 3 p . m . ) . the Acting District Grand Officers : Bros . John Marsland , P . M ., Grand Master ; R . Kirkbride , P . M ., Depute Master ; W . Cornelius , P . M ., Substitute Master ; W . T . Jenkin , P . M ., S . W . ; J . Millican , W . M ., J . W . j T . H . Biddingion , Treas . ; S . H .

Ineson , P . M ., Sec . ; A . L . Wilson , P . M ., S . D . ; C . Armstrong , P . M ., J . D . ; A . M . Gauld , P . M ., Chap . ; R . Abraham , P . M ., Org . ; H . B . Walker , P . M ., D . of C ; D . Guthrie , VV . V . Brown , VV . R . Soilleux , John Rixon , and C . G . Hurry , P . M ., Stwds . ; J . W . Jenkin , P . M ., S . B . ; and W . Percy , Tyler , entered in procession , each assuming the office to which he belonged , when the authority to open the lodge was read .

The District Grand Lodge having been opened , ths ACTINC ; DISTRICT GRAND CHAPLAIN offered up prayer , to which the choir and brethren responded— " So mote it be . " After " Grand Honors , " the opening hymn"Great Architect of Heaven and Earth" was sung , and the ACTING DISTRICT GRAND MASTER addressed the brethren upon the object of the meeting .