Provincial.

Masters V icl , Dodge , P . Binet , Draper , Scott , and about 40 other members were present . The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed . Bros . G . F . Bensa , Pinel Sen ., and P . Le Masurier were examined , entrusted , and dismissed for preparation . The Lodge was opened in the 2 nd degree . Tho Candidates were re-admitted and passed as F . Crafts by the W . M ., the working tools explained by the S . W . The Lodge having been resumed in the 1 st degreethe chair was taken by

, Bro . Schmitt , P . M ., who with his usual skill and energy , performed tho ceremony of initiating Mr . Feray , Bro . Carree , a personal friend of the Candidates , acting as J . D ., and the working tools being explained by the J . W . The chair having been taken by the W . M ., instead of the usual charge , Bro . Schmitt delivered a special and eloquent address on the principles and practice of masonry to the four candidates of the eveningwhich was

lis-, tened to by all with close attention , and elicited marked tokens of approbation . Before sitting down , Bro . Schmitt alluded in complimentary and feeling terms , to the presence of Bro . Dr . Hopkins , his past services when a resident in Jersey , and a subscribing member of the Lodge , and his continued efforts for the benefit of the Craft elsewhere , concluding by proposing his election as an Honorary Member . Bro . Binet , P . M , seconded the

resolution and it was carried by acclamation . Bro . Dr . Hopkira briefly responded and the Lodge was closed at 9 ' 40 . The Brethren then adjourned to the banqueting room for the ordinary moderate refreshment . The writer of this report , a visitor , could not but be struck with the order and regularity of the whole proceedings , the large attendance during the summer season when many Lodges are deserted or closedthe facility

, with which the officers went through their work , the kindly feeling and enthusiam which prevailed . In isolated cases such scenes occur occasionally , but here they appear to be constant , having been sustained through a course of many years , recalling to the mind of the reporter the many occasions in which as a member he had participated in the labours of this large and useful Lodge . Another point especially struck him , namely the

numerous instances of father and son sitting together as brethren , generally the latter having been induced to join the Craft by parental example , but sometimes the reverse being the case , as evinced in one of the initiations of the evening .

Iu the course of the proceedings , printed copies of the following were distributed among the brethren , thus justifying the conduct pursued by the Lodges of Jersey during several past years from 1863 , and which was often commented upon in the pages of the " Freemasons' Magazine . " " Jersey , ISth May , 1871 . " Whereas , on the 12 th day of November 1868 , I , James John Hammond , late Provincial Grand Master of Jersey , did cause to be printed , and cirulated , an advertisement , of which the following is a copy : —

"WILL SHOETLY BE PUBLISHED , A LETTER . ressed to the Members of the Young Men's Christian Association , Being a warning to all Christian Young Men to abstain from joining the Society ( Fraternity ) of Free and Accepted Masons ; proving that the said Society is antagonistic to Christianity

, opposed to the doctrines of the new Testament , eschewing that sacred book from its meetings , and destructive both to body and soul . " I , the undersigned , do hereby solemn ]} ' declare and attest , that when I penned the above , I was labouring under great mental disquietude , greatly affecting my bodily health and spirits . I feel I cannot longer abstain from endeavouring to repair the

great injustice I committed on that occasion , to correct the falsity of the several statements contained in the above circular , and to make as far as possible , a full and entire reparation to every Member , individually and collectively , of the Society of Ancient , Free and Accepted Masons . I do also most emphatically deny that Freemasonry is antagonistic to Christianityit being the very handmaid of religion

, , and that the principles it inculcates are altogether in strict accordance with those contained in the New and Old Testaments . How I came to state that the Bible was excluded from our Meetings , passes my comprehension , as that sacred volume is always open on the pedestal during lodge hours . As to the destruction of body and soul , nothing is further from

the truth , as the doctrines and precepts contained in that Holy Book , are always clearly and forcibly recommended to each novitiate as the unerring guide of his faith and conduct . Witness ray band , this 18 th day of May , 1871 . J . J . HAMMOND , I Late Provincial Grand Master for Jersey . To the Members of the Young Men's Christian Association , St . Helier , Jersey .

ESSEX . MALDON . —Lodge of St . Peter , ( No . 1024 ) . —Tho annual Festival of this Lodge was held at Maldon an Thursday , 20 th ult The brethren assembled at the Masanic Hall , at two . o ' clock , and the usual preliminaries having been gone throngh , Mr . Abraham Francisfarmerof Goldhangerwas dulinitiated

, , , y a member of the craft . Bro . T . C . Wigg , the W . M . Elect , was then installed , the ceremony being impressively performed by Bro . F . G . Green , P . M . The W . M . then proceeded to investhis officers for the ensuing year , as follows : Bros . J . J . Hawkins , S . W . ; J . Quihampton , J . W . ; W . Humpherys , Treasurer ; F . G . Green , Secretary ; J . F . Kemp , S . D . ; R . G . Coombe , J . D . ; I . Ratcliff , I . G . ; and G . HuxtableTyler . The business of the

, Lodge being over , the brethren adjourned to the Blue Boar Hotel , where a sumptuous banquet was excellently served by Bro . W . Hickford , the host . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts followed , and much regret was expressed that several counter attractions , coupled with the fact of the Prov . G . Lodge having been so recently held in Maldon , combined to prevent the attendance of brethren either in Lodor at the festive board ,

many ge The following were present : —Bros . T . C . Wigg , W . M . ; J . J . Hawkins , S . W . ; W . Humpherys , P . M ., Treasurer , F . G . Green , P . M ., Secretary ; J . F . Kemp , S . D . ; S . C . Bastow , T . C . Wigg , G . Aldlnim , R . J . Francis , A . Francis , —Moffatt , and G . Huxtable , 1024 . Visitors—Bros . T . J . Railing , Secy ., and W . S . Sprent , D . C ., 51 ; Jos . Nicholls , S . W . 256 ; W . Calthorpe , W . M . and T . Eustace , J . W . 697 .

KENT . BHOMLEY . —Acacia Lodge ( No . 1314 ) . —The installation meeting of this lodge was held on Tuesday , 11 th inst ., at the Bell , the W . M ., Bro . Alfred Avery , occupied the chair , and was ably supported by Bros . Knott , S . W . ; Williams , Treas . and J . W . pro . tern , ; E . Coste , P . M . Sec ; J . AV . Avery , W . H . Avery , W . H . BaylisW . HollandSuttonLaskeyChubbWyattBailey

, , , , , , Lovett , Jaccard , Boden , Kingston , & c . The Lodge having been opened , the minutes were read and confirmed . Bros . Jaccard , Boden and Kingston , were passed . Bro . Thos . Knott , S . W ., and W . M . elect , was then presented to the lodge , and the ceremony of Instiillation was performed by Bro . Alfred Avery , the retiring W . M ., in a solemn and impressive manner . On the readmission of the brethrenthe newl-installed W . M . having

, y been saluted in the three degrees ; proceeded to invest his Officers as follows , viz ., Bros . Williams , S . W . and Treas . ; S . Wells , J , W . ; E . Coste , P . M ., Hon . Sec ; Manger , S . D . ; Seamen , J . D . ; Deering , I . G . ; Wyre , Dir . of Cers . ; Jordan , Org . ; Bavin , Tyler . The lodge was then closed , and the brethren sat down to an excellent banquet , provided by Bro . Sntton . The room was decorated with ; great taste under the

superintendence of Bros . William Harling Baylis , aud Win . Holland ( who are both members of the Lodge ) . Over the Master ' s chair was placed the Acacia Tree , and above the Royal Standard and the Union Jack entwined , with the words " Success to the Acacia Lodge , " aud medallions of the initials of the W . M . and Past Masters of the Lodge , Bros . Baylis and Holland . Round the room were flags of all nations . On the removal of the cloth , the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were ivenincluding that of the

g , It . W . Prov . G . Master , Viscount Holmesdale ; Bro . Dobson , D . G . M . The toast of the W . M . was proposed in eloquent and flattering terms by Bro . A . Avery , I . P . M ., who suitably returned thanks . Bro . A . Avery received as a mark of regard and also for the high estimation he is held in by every brother in the Lodge , a P . M . Jewel . The visitors were Bros . F . Walters , P . M . 73 D . H . JacobsP . M . 27 FenwickP . M . 429 C . J .

; , ; , ; Sutton , P . M . ; 1 , 107 ; E . Dobson , P . M . ; 72 ; J . Leex , 176 ; W . H . Green , 619 ; Brook , 975 ; White , P . M . 72 ; W . J . Laing , P . M . 15 ; J . H . Wynne , P . M . 101 ; C . Lacey , P . M . 174 ; A . Ransom , W . M . 1050 ; Henry , 19 ; J . Chubb , lfc 6 ; H . Grey , 716 ; R . Fry , 1050 ; J . H . Penfold , 1174 ; Weeks , 742 ; H . Searle , 906 ; Thomas , 1196 ; G . A . Smith , G 19 , and others .