Provincial.

Esq ., whose portrait , painted by Vandyke , adorns the walks of the lodge . Brethren belonging to this lodge have had the honour of representing Poole in the House of Commons , others have distinguished themselves in the high offices of Provincial and Deputy Provincial Grand Master , and there has scarcely been held a Provincial Grand Lodge in the county of Dorset without the Lodge of Amity being represented in the person of some of its officers . Joshua Mauger , a worthy member of this

lodge , was returned to Parliament for Poole in 1768 , and again in 1774 . Bro . John Jeffery was also elected a member of Parliament for this borough in 1802 , and again in 1807 . He was . also installed Provincial Grand Master of the county of Dorset in 1806 . Sir John Lester was also Provincial Grand Master in 1802 . Since the lodge was first started a true Masonic spirit has been evinced in supporting the various Charities connected with the Order . Votes have also been frequently made for local

charitable purposes , and in 1789 an annual subscription was resolved on towards the support of the Sunday Schools connected with St . James ' s Church , and with each of the dissenting chapels in the town . In 1811 the lodge appointed a committee for the purpose of raising subscriptions for the prisoners of war in France , which was very promptly and liberally responded to . A great number of other charitable objects have since received the support of the lodge . During the height of

the last war with France the lodge was in its fullest vigour , many mariners having experienced the advantages of belonging to the Craft , as an instance of which we may relate the following anecdote -. —The ship Oak , of Poole , Bro . Stephen Pack , Master , belonging to Messrs . G . W . Ledgard and J . Goose , was captured on the 13 th December , 1813 , by Captain Jaques de Bon , of the French privateer Junon , whilst on her voyage from Bilboa to

Poole . Captain Pack discovered that the prize master was a brother , and the latter immediately shook him warmly by the hand , and told him he would not take him prisoner to France . After being ordered on board the privateer , he was treated with similar kindness by Captain De Bon , who restored him to his vessel . He observed the Frenchmen putting a little dog into the boat in which he was about to return to his ship , and although he told them he did not want it , yet they persisted in his accepting the present . He afterwards discovered that a

rope yarn was tied round the dog's neck , to which was attached a biscuit . Captain Pack afterwards found that this dog belonged to a Captain Storey , who had a few days previously been captured by De Bon , and similarly liberated . Undoubtedly the brethren are correct in interpreting De Bon's kind action in the case of Captain Pack as an assurance that he would not even keep a brother's dog in bondage , or allow it to want food . As a memento of this and other brotherlacts

y of this same De Bon , the cake of bread has been framed and hung up in the lodge with an appropriate inscription . On the 31 st of May , 1819 , a Provincial Grand Lodge was held at Poole , and the corner-stone of the parish church was laid with the accustomed Masonic honours . In 1815 the Lodge of Amity was , by a warrant from the Provincial Grand Master , adjourned to Blandford for the purpose of establishing a Masonic lodin

ge that town , and in 1851 the lodge adjourned to Bournemouth , in order to open the Lodge of Hengist , which had been removed from Christchurch to this thriving watering-place . The W . M . brought his remarks to a close by saying that but few associations , of the great numbers formed , were carried on continuously for the long period of one hundred years , and enabled to celebrate so auspicious an event as a centenary

anniversary ; and it is a very rare occurrence to find a lodge that has continued in a state of vigour and usefulness at the completion of the hundredth year of its existence . Anniversary celebrations , the W . M . remarked , have become a feature of the present age . It was but recentl y that the three-hundredth birthday of Shakspeare , and the one-hundreth of Handel were observed by means of grand national demonstrationsand

; scarcely less important or noteworthy was the centenary of a body of men whose high aim and pmpose is universal brotherhood . The oldest member of the lodge now living is Bro . John Sydenham , who , in ISIS , was presented with a P . M . ' s jewel in recognition of his services , and , in I 860 , at the request of the brethren , sat for his portrait , in consideration of his having been fifty years a subscribing member of the lod .

ge The address of the W . M . was received with every demonstration of satisfaction and pleasure , and the proceedings at the lodge having been brought to a satisfactory conclusion , the brethren adjourned to the Antelope Hotel to partake of a banquet , which was prepared by Bro . Shepherd in a style to

sustain his good reputation , and receive the unbounded praise of every brother who partook of it . Bro . R . SYDENHAM , AV . M ., occupied the chair , and Bro . E Edsall , S . W ., filled the vice-chair . The W . M . was supported by Bro . the Rev . W . M . Heath , Prov . G . Chap . ; Bro . the Rev . T . Pearce , P . D . Prov . G . M . ; Bro . the Rev . H . Pix , Bro . Captain and Adjutant Barrett , & c . The W . MASTER proposed the usual loyal and Masonic

toasts , the first being " The Queen and the Craft . " The W . M . observed that no order of men were more loyal and devoted to their Queen and country , than Freemasons . The toast was received with the usual honours . The W . MASTER then proposed "The Health of the Earl of Zetland , Grand Master of England . " In the course of his observations he said that every Mason was proud to drink the health of this noblemanwho for twenty-one successive years

, had ruled the Craft so conspicuously , with such credit to himself and advantage to the fraternity at large . The toast was very warmly received . The AV . MASTER then proposed "The Health of the Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Joseph Gundry , " observing that this toast would be received with the greatest enthusiasm . All associations necessarily required a leader , and in the person of

the Provincial Grand Master the brethren of this province possessed a most able leader , who had filled that position since the year 1 S 58 . Public business necessitated his presence elsewhere that'day , otherwise he wonld have been with them . This toast having been duly honoured , The AV . MASTER proposed" The Health of the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Montagu , and the Provincial Grand

Officers . " The toast was responded toby Bro . T . Rickman , Prov . J . G . AV ., and also by the Provincial Graud Chaplain , Bro . the Rev . W . M . Heath . Bro . the Rev . H . Pix next proposed "Prosperity to the Lodge of Amity . " He said that it must always be a pleasure to a member of the Lodge of St . Cuthbei-g . \ to propose this toast , as the Wimborne Lodge owed its existence to the brethren at Poole ; and even if all present had not this filial feeling to the Lodge of Amity , " he Avas sure that they all had a

most fraternal feeling . He remarked that the proceedings that day had been of a most interesting character , and lie especially commented on the fact that their " first resolution" was one of heartfelt thanks to the Divine Being who had hitherto blessed them . After thanking the Master for the very able and deeply-interesting digest he had read to them of tha records of the Poole Lodge during the past hundred years , he concluded by giving the toastadding to it the words" Let

, , brotherly love continue . " Bro . W . M . HEATH , Prov . G . Chap ., wished to connect with this , the toast of the evening , " The Name of the W . M . of the Lodge , Bro . Richard Sydenham . " The W . MASTER , in responding to the toast , expressed himself warmly for the flattering manner in which the toast had been proposed . He hoped the working of the lodge had

justified its name . He bore testimony to the kind and indulgent spirit which had ever actuated the Past Masters of the lodge , whose good example had been imbibed by the Worshipful Masters and officers , thus preserving the spirit as well as the name of Amity . When this was the case prosperity must be the result . He trusted that the joyous enthusiasm manifested that day would impart such impetus to Masonry that the Lod

ge of Amity would never want officers or brethren to carry on and perpetuate Freemasonry in Poole to the end of time . Bro . E . BDSAIX , S . W ., in proposing the next toast , "The Masonic Charities , " was certain it would find an instant echo in the heart of every true Mason , and described them as the base and apex , the centre and circumference , the alpha and omega of Freemasonry .

Bro . HOSKINS , P . M ., proposed " Prosperity to the Lodges of the Province , " in a neat and appropriate speech . The toast AY-SIS responded to by Bro . SMITH , of All Souls' Lodge , AVey mouth ; Bro . POYNTER , of Lodge Unity , Warebam ; and Bro . Low , of Lodge St . Cuthberga , Wimborne . Bro . the Rev . T . PEARCE , P . D . Prov . G . M ., then proposed " Prosperity to the Lodges of the neihbouring Provinces of

g Hants and Wilts , " represented by the Lodge of Hengist ( No . 195 ) , Bournemouth ; and Elias de Derham ( No . 5 SG ) , Salisbury . Bros . JAS . MCWILLIAM , W . M ., of Bournemouth , and C . WYNDIIAAI , W . M . of Salisbury , responded . Bro . S . PETTET proposed " The Health of Bro . the Rev . T .