Provincial.

¦ Friday , the 1 st inst ., to consecrate this new lodge , and to install Bro . C . S . Sutton , P . M ., Prov . G . Dir . of Cers ., the W . M . Designate . Special permission had been obtained to hold this meeting in one of the once palatial and magnificent saloons of Belvidere Castle , a venerable mansion , beautifully situated upon the summit of the hill , some half mile distant from the Belviclere station ; a somewhat steep and circuitous , but charmingly rural , walk of half-an-hour brought the visitors to this lovely spot

, " exempt from public haunt . " By the command of the R . W . Bro . Dobson , Bro . Henry Muggeridge , P . M . 198 , the Preceptor of the Stability Lodge of Instruction , performed the ceremonies of consecration and installation in his wonted , perfect , and impressive manner , ably seconded in the former ceremlmial by the highly esteemed and distinguished Bro . W . A . Hill , Prov . G . Chap . The music of the ceremonial was conducted bBro . G .

y Tedder , in his usual efficient manner . After the installation , the W . M . invested the following brethren as his officers : —Bros . H . Muggeridge , P . M . ; Phipps , S . W . ; Atkins , J . W . ; Henderson , Sec . ; Snow , Treas . ; F . H . Sutton , S . D . ; Lilley , J . D . ; Bloomfield , I . G . After which , Bro . Muggeridge delivered the usual address to the Master , Warden , and brethren . The thanks of the lodge having been voted to Bro . Dobson ,

to the Rev . Bro . W . A . Hill , and to the installing Master , the lodge was closed in due form , and the brethren adjourned to the Belvidere Hotel , where an excellent banquet was provided , at "which the D . Prov . G . M . presided . After grace was said , the CIIAIEMAU proposed the usual loyal and Masonic toasts , to which due honour was given by the brethren . In proposing " The Health of the Provincial Grand Master , "

the CHAIEMAN said : We who live in Kent know how great is the kindness and courtesy of Lord Holmesdale in all his communications with the Craft in the province , and I very much regret that his Lordship could not he here to-day at the consecration of this lodge . Your Worshipful Master received a note from his Lordship , saying that he would have come but that he was then away in Scotland . I the more regret that his Lordship is not here to-dayas he is better able to explain points in

, connection with Masonry than I can . Lord Holmesdale deserves our especial commendation . He was appointed Provincial Grand Master in 1 S 59 , since which time Masonry has made wonderful progress in this province ; whereas , at the time of his appointment there were but sixteen lodges in the province , there are now twenty-six , in which there are more than a thousand contributing members , an increase of more than one hundred per

cent . This I can say most distinctly , without fear of contradiction , that the province of Kent is not behind any in assisting the great Charities of the Order , and though we may not he able to attribute all the success to the Provincial Grand Master , still without a good head neither Masonry nor anything else goes on well . Bro . SNOWDEN , Prov . G . W ., then said : I am told that it is my duty to propose " The Health of the DeputProvincial

y Grand Master . " I was here early this morning , and from what I then heard , was afraid that we should not have the pleasure of seeing him amongst us , and when his name was announced , it was to me , individually , a matter of great gratification to know that he was present . Bro . Dobson on this , as on other occasions , has added eclat to the consecration , and I feel that this meeting would have gone on with eclat in his absence . I call upon you to drink his health with duo honour .

Bro . DOBSON , in reply , said : I am extremely obliged to Bro . Snowden for the compliment he has paid me , but he has attributed more to me than I deserve , in saying that the ceremony of consecration would not have gone off with eclat without me . With regard to my part of the duty , it consisted in directing Bro . Muggeridge to perform his part of the ceremony , and it could not have been better done , neither could the duties of Provincial Grand Chaplain have been more ably performed .

In all the provinces in the country the ceremony of consecration and the service of the lodge could not be better performed than they are in Kent . Much of the impressive character of the ceremouy must be attributed to the solemnity with which Bro . Hill invests it , and to his lonliommie , courtesy , and his general knowledge o ( the human heart and of human nature . As to the ceremony of refreshmentI am always happy to join

, my brother Masons . Masonry and hospitality go hand in hand together , and Masonry is the right hand of hospitality . It is no _ use for people to say that we only meet to eat and drink ; it is not the truth . There may be some lodges where personal gratification is too much attended to , hut this I do

say , without fear of contradiction , it is not the way with the lodges of Kent . It is a fact that no better assistance can be rendered to a lodge than by the Treasurer paying particular attention to his duties , and acting upon the principles upon which Bro . Snow does . Of your contributions to the Charities , one portion is necessarily appropriated by the Grand Lodge of England , and the other portion by the Provincial Grand Lodge , and the Provincial Grand Lodge is always ready

to attend to the claims of every man , woman , aud child who has a legitimate claim to the Charity . I can appeal to my friend Bro . Muggeridge , or to the Secretaries of any of the Charities , if there is any province that performs its duty to the Charities better than we do . In Kent we do carry out the first principles of the Order to the utmost extent . There are no three Charities better sustained than our three Charities ; andas to charity in generalwe can well afford to laugh at all

, , the sneers that % ve " only meet to dine . " We do meet to dine , and upon the simple English principle that a good dinner . is not only a good thing in itself , hut it opens the breeches pocket . There are no better men and better supporters of charities generally than Masons . There is one little point of difficulty in discharging my functions ; it is the little matter of difference between purple and blue . We very easily distributed the offices formerly when the lodges were fewer in

number , but the difficulty increased with the increase in the number of the lodges , and , as my facetious friend on my right onee observed , there are now " more pigs than teats . " The officers are too few , for there is a man in every lodge well worthy of the purple . I endeavour to distribute the offices to tne best of my power , and , although the distribution is apt to make more enemies than friends , I do not succeed in making

enemies . I am surrounded by so many friends that it always makes these meetings most agreeable to me . Song— " Bonnie Ellerslie , " Bro . G . Tedder . Bro . DOBSON next proposed " The Health of the Provincial Grand Chaplain , associated with the Provincial Grand Officers of Kent , " and observed : That the Provincial Grand Chaplain was ready to do good suit and service at all times , and to add solemnity to every ceremony at which he assisted . The Provincial Grand Chaplain ( continued Bro . Dobson ) brings his mind

to bear upon the ceremony , and the able manner m which he to-day expounded the portions of Scripture , off hand , is merely a repetition of many other performances of a similar character , and whether in Provincial Grand ' Lodge , or at the consecration of lodges ; he is always ready to perform his duties with accuracy and ability . With him I have also to associate two Provincial Grand Officers , viz ., my friend Snowden , who came up last evening from Ramsgate expresslthat he might be here to-day .

y It is a great compliment to the Cornwallis Lodge . And my facetious friend in the corner , i \ ho holds what may be called permanent office in the province , as the Provincial Grand Secretary . The laborious duties , with the enormous pay attached to the office of Provincial Grand Secretary and Provincial Grand Treasurer , are no joke , whether in Provincial Grand Lodge or in private lodges . If you had not your circulars

regularly the Secretary would be called "a nasty , disageeable fellow , " and you would be very apt to growl and grumble if the duties were not properly performed . You would scarcely believe the duties he has to perform . He has not only to take the names and addresses of all present and past Grand Officers , hut he has to send out 250 circulars ; and there are other matters which require due attention and preparation . If each officer does not get his circular regularly he considers he is overlooked .

He has also to attend the meeting of the Charity as well as that of other committees , —which ho has never omitted attending ; and I can assure you he has to give up something to come among you . The Rev . Bro . HILL in reply to the last toast said , I cannot help thinking that I should bo very thankful to have the same gift of utterance as that possessed by our distinguished brother

in the chair . I think this has been a very pleasant and satisfactory gathering , and satisfactory entertainment . With regard to the good old mansion where the lodge was held , I visited it with feelings of pain and melancholy ; a stranger could not look at it without reverence and respect , and no man could enter into that room without thinking that it was fit for the reception of lords and ladies , and I hope that brighter days and commercial

prosperity may still restore its former beauty . Let us cast our eyes beyond and congratulate the brethren on the formation of this lodge which started so well to-day , must become an important one . So long as I live I shall always entertain an affection .