Provincial.

The D . PEOV . G . MASTEE next rose to propose " The Health of the AVorshipful Master and Brethren of the Entertaining Lodge . " He was sure all would agree with him when he said they were all very much indebted to them for the way in which they had that day been received by them . ( Applause . ) Had her most Gracious Majesty been coining to visit Ramsgate the demonstration that had heen made could not have been more universal than it was . It was especially gratifying to Masons to see

these demonstrations , because it proved that the brethren of the Royal Navy Lodge conducted themselves as Masons should do . ( Loud Applause . ) He said it was evident that they conducted themselves well , for if they had not comported themselves as they ought to have done , the townspeople would not have come forward as they had . Had the Masons of Ramsgate been a set of drunken fellows their fellow inhabitants would

not have shown that wonderful token of respect towards the Craft they had shown that day . ( Applause . ) This was another proof that their funds were not all spent in eating and drinking . Had this heen all they assembled for , without having any holier mission , without some object with much deeper root in their heart , they could not expect that the people of Ramsgate would have shown those tokens of respect towards them which they had . He had great pleasure in thanking the members of

the entertaining lodge for the extremely kind way in which they had been received , and he doubted not that they would drink their healths most cordially . To the ' toast he would also add "Prosperity to the Royal Navy Lodge . " Bro . T . H . G . SNOWDEN said that as a Past Master of the Royal Naval Lodge , and also as Chairman of the Committee appointed to carry out tho arrangements for the reception of the other lodgeshe had risen at the request of the brethren

, to return thanks for the kind way in which their health had been proposed . He could inform them that the arrangements for the day had been a source of much anxiety , and that anxiety had been partly caused by the very liberal manner in which they had previously been received at Gravesend , Ashford , and other places which they had visited . They had experienced so much kindness at tho hands of other lodges , that they had had

a great deal of anxiety to discover how to ; repay them . This had also been increased by the limited time which they had had at their disposal . They had done their best to give them a right welcome reception . He hoped their efforts had heen crowned with success . If he might judge from the happy faces he saw around him—if he might form a judgment from that , he should say that the efforts of the committee were such as had given them satisfaction . He could tell them that there was a

ball that evening at the Albion Hotel , and he did hope that those who did and could dance would come and bring their wives , and if need be their sweethearts ( loud applause ) , and show them that ,

" No mortal can more The ladies adore , Than a Free and Accepted Mason . " Then let us go to this ball and prove to them that" AVe are true and sincere And just to the fair ; They may trust us on every occasion . "

( Loud applause . ) He did hope to see many of those whom he saw around him then at the ball that ni ght . He had great pleasure in thanking them for the honour they had done the brethren of the Royal Naval Lodge . The D . PEOV . G . MASTER said he was sure they would not be pleased if he neglected to perform one part of the duty allotted to him . It wastooa most important dutwhich he

, , y was about to name to them . At one of the lodges some time since they had a discussion as to whether they should or should not on their festival go to church in procession . Notwithstanding all the difference of opinion upon the question , there was not the slightest hesitation on the question of their asking God ' s blessing upon their day's work . ( Applause . ) They were always to go to church ; whether they went in procession , or not another

, _ was question . It was then decided that , on their festival , they were to go to church in procession , and there ask the blessing of the Divine Architect . This was all connected with his toast , for he had to propose to them the health of the Provincial Grand Chaplain , who , had not the distance been so far from his home , would have remained at Ramsgate that night . They must all have been gratified to see him amongst them that day , and they were always glad to

recognise in him a brother Mason . Although he had been called away , his place was now filled by a gentleman whom he recognised as a Past Provincial Grand Chaplain . He referred to the Rev . Shirley Woolmer . ( Loud applause . ) He was glad to find that , in Freemasonry , the Church and the laity could gohand in hand together about the same works of benevolence and hospitality . ( Loud applause . ) He had much pleasure in proposing " The Health of the Provincial Grand ChaplainBro

, . Hill , " and coupling with the toast the name of Bro . the Rev . S . AVoolmer . The toast was drunk with enthusiasm . Bro . the Rev . S . WOOLMEE said he had to rise to return thanks for the Provincial Grand Chaplain . He had attended several Masonic festivals , and had always had to return thanks as deputy for some one else . He had great pleasure in returning

thanks on this occasion for Bro . Hill , for when he first entered : Maidstone the first gentleman he knew was Brother Hill ( ap . plause ) , and from that day he had known him as a good brother clergyman and a good Mason . Had Brother Hill been present he would have returned thanks to them much better than he could do for him . He was proud of Ramsgate and of the Royal Navy Lodge for the way in which they had acted that day . Ho

was proud of the spirit they had shown that day , and he predicted glorious things for Ramsgate , not only in Freemasonry , but in the other capacity which it held , that of a watering place—that it might be more important than Brighton ; and he hoped they would soon have an esplanade and carriage drive from the East Gift' across the West Cliff to Pegwell , and round by St . Lawrence to Ramsgate . ( Applause . )

Bro . BEECHING said he should like to make one or two obser * vations , if the Deputy Provincial Grand Master would give him permission . ( Having received the necessary permission , he continued . ) Some years ago he went to the funeral of a brother Mason . He did not know at that time the Rev . S . Woolmer was a Mason , but he knew that the clerk was a Mason and that all round the grave were Masons too . To his surprise , at the end of the service he discovered that the clergyman was likewise

a Mason . He should not have discovered this , but for an expression the Rev . Mr . AVoolmer then made use of . He was so impressed with this ceremony that he believed he should never forget it . ( Applause . ) Bro . the Rev . S . AVOOLMEE said tho only expression he made use of was " Alas , my brother . " Tho D . PEOV . G . MASTEE said , —He had taken upon himself

to propose to them one other toast . It was usual for them to recognise those brethren who did not belong to the province in which thoy were assembled . There were some gentlemen who made it a general rule to be among them on every occasion . One of them was present that evening—he referred to Bro . Binckes , who came before them as the representative of their Boys' School . Bro . Patten , the representative of the Girls ' School was also present , and it was well known to all of them that both those gentlemen came there with an object . They would doubtless tell them the state of the finances of either and

both charities , and if they found it necessary to appeal to them , he was sure that that appeal would not be made in vain . They never had appealed to them in vain , and he hoped they never would have to do so . ( Applause . ) Those gentlemen would doubtless by their eloquence find a way of inserting their hands into the pockets of those who were present . He had much pleasure inproposing "Tlie Health of tbe A'isitors , " andhe should ask the two gentlemen he had named to return thanks

. The toast having been drunk with enthusiasm . Bro . PATTEN , P . G . D ., in returning thanks said , —Bro . Binckes had given way in order that he might address them first . He came among them as the Secretary of one of their Charities , but he had no plea of poverty to put before them that evening , and he knew Bro . Binckes had . Last year they spent £ 600 in enlarging the Girls' Schooland he was to that on

, sorry say comparing the balance sheet of 1863 with that of 1864 there was a deficiency of £ 600 in the receipts , making a total deficiency on the year of £ 1 , 200 and yet so munificently had the funds been previously sustained that he had now no plea of poverty to put before them . ( Applause . ) So long as their balance sheet showed a balance in the hands of the Treasurer , he , as Secretary , said he was perfectly content not to ask them

for any money . He believed there were twelve provinces in the country , and of them he believed the Province of Kent stood third on the list . AVhile they maintained that position and the balance was on the right side , he should be perfectly