Provincial.

having been active in the practice of our mysteries , more especially referring to Prince Edwin of Kent , in honour of whom a Lodge in the province was named . The national hymn was sung by the vocalists , under the direction of Bro . Genge . "The Earl of Zetland , the R . W . G . M . of England , " followed in due course ; and to

"The Earl of Yarborough , the D . G . M ., and the rest of the Grand Officers , including Bros . Dr . Howe , John Hervey , and Herbert Lloyd , who were present , '' Bro . Dr . Eowe responded , and seeing so many ladies witnesses of the proceedings , showed them what Masonry did in the case of the Bev . Bro . Hewlett ' s family , when for a bereaved widow and family of nine young children £ 4 , 000 were subscribed by the Masons , * such narratives as this would induce the ladies to say , when they miss the husband from his fireside , " Well , he ' s engaged in a good cause . " In conclusion , Bro . Howe congratulated the Masons of Kent on having such a G . M ., and Bro . Cooper on such an assemblage as was there present to greet him .

Bro . Owen , taking up the gavel provided for the use of the G . M ., which was a carpenter ' s mallet of the largest size , said , If any one doubts our being practical Masons , look at this . ( Laughter . ) The use to which I intend to devote it is not to knock off useless knobs , but to claim your warmest wishes for one who is neither a useless "knob" nor an excrescence , but one of the most practical men living . Your Prov . G . M . was among the first to enter Paris with the allied troops in 1815 , and upon his return to England took : a Double First Class at Oxford ; his career at the Bar was of that distinguished character that he might

have had the Great Seal , had he been willing to sacrifice what sits very light upon some people ; I mean his integrity . At one time he had , under Government , the disposal of some £ 30 , 000 a year , and the only able man he did not seek to provide for—was himself . In mentioning these facts , I think you will agree with me , you have presiding over you a practical and remarkable man , the excellence of whose public character and exuberance of whose private virtues

deserve your warmest applause . ( Loud cheers . ) The Prov . G . M .., in returning thanks , said the only way in which he considered himself to be " remarkable" was his being able to preside with any credit over such a distinguished body as the Masons of Kent : to be their Provincial Grand Master would ever be his greatest boast .

The Prov . Grand Master then gave the Grand Officers , past and present ; to which Bro . Bisgood , the D . Prov . G . M ., said in reply , that Bro . Cooper was so constant and regular in attendance on every occasion , that he literally left his Deputy nothing to do . The Prov . G . M . said he had received a communication which demanded his notice , and the especial attention of all present . A paragraph that he would read

to them had appeared in a Kentish newspaper ; it was headed , " Freemasonry and the Clergy : " " The Provincial Grand Master of Kent lias stated that in his province Clergymen shall have nothing to do with Freemasonry . " Now having heard their Rev . Bro . Owen ' s sermon to-day , who was present at his especial invitation , he left them to judge whether this statement was correct . It had been represented that he had treated the Prov . Grand Chaplain Bro . Jones with disrespect , in objecting to the fee he had been accustomed to receive for his sermon on the Annual

Meetings of the Prov . Grand Lodge , and he therefore craved the attendance of Bro . Owen on this occasion ; he believed the payment of the Prov . Grand Chaplain to be without precedent , but he had decided at present not to fill up that appointment . His efforts had ever been anxiously devoted to induce the Clergy to join the Craft , and a Brother who was now present could testify to his expressing those sentiments at the Meeting of a lame and influential Lodge in . London a few

months since . As the head of a popular body he should ever consider it his pleasure and study to attend to the representations of every Lodge in the province , and there was no subject on which he desired to receive the expression of these opinions so much as for that of the appointment of Prov . Grand Chaplain . ( Applause . ) The Prov . G . M . then gave their honoured guest , who had pro . tcm . discharged