Provincial.

in which the meeting of the day bad been held , was next given , and warmly received , and was duly responded to by Bro . Weeks . The Prov . G-. Master said the lodge was a young one , but he had good hopes of seeing it grow a very strong one . The R . W" . Prov . G . M . here left the chair , most loudly cheered by the brethren . In some subsequent speaking , at a later hour , presentthe W . M . and several brethren of No . 1106 the W . M . and

, others of No . 90 , Bro . Weeks entered upon the Grand Lodge Property question , and explained that very little was known of the subject in most of the lodges of the province ; and but for that ignorance the amendment of Bro . Smith would have received more support . For his part , he approved of the plan of Bro . Stephen Barton Wilson , whom he know and had met many times , and whose opinion he would take as soon " as any

man ' s . He also advocated the idea originating with a P . M . of No . 90 , that a general appeal to the Craft for help should be made . The brethren did not eventually break up till an advanced hour of the evening . A special train , provided through the courtesy of the South-Western Railway , was found very convenient for the return home of the brethren coining from the north and southern lodges of the county . The importance of the meeting demanded a full report , but the many demands on our space this week has rendered necessary the summary of many of the speeches .

BASINGSTOKE . —Oakley Lodge ( No . 995 . )—The Quarterly Meeting of the above lodge was held in the Masonic Hall , on the 11 th inst ., when there was a very full attendance of its officers and members under our respected W . M ., Bro . R . S . Hulbert . On this occasion Bro . Capt . J . Wickham , and Bro . C . W . Seymour were raised to the sublime degree of Master Masons , and Bro . G . L . HUlier was passed to the degree of F . C . Mr . , T . Wheeler was initiated into the mysteries and privileges of

the Order , and Bro . G . Oakshot , P . M . 90 , was proposed and seconded as a joining member . After the labours of the evening had been very efficiently performed by the W . M ., the brethren partook of refreshment , and the evening was very agreeably spent , enlivened hy the usual loyal , patriotic , and Masonic speeches and toasts . The vocal powers of several of the brethren were cheerfully granted and as cheerfully acknowledged . Bro . G . Figgins gave the E . A . P . song , assisted by

the chorus of the company . The W . M ., in proposing the health of the newly . initiated , aptly availed himself ot the opportunity to remind him of his obligations and duties , as enumerated in the charge , and the manner in which the advice was received by the novitiate did him much credit , and created a favourable opinion in the brethren , that he would appreciate the value of Freemasonry and indelibly imprint on his heart the sacred dictates of truth , of honour , and of virtue . The health " of the other newly-advanced members being duly drank and acknowledged , the * brethren returned to their respective homes in that peace and harmony of mind which always attend such meetings .

KENT . PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE . On Wednesday , July 9 th , the annual festival of the Ancient , Free , and Accepted Masons of Kent was held at Chatham . The Provincial Grand Lodge assembled at the head-quarters of the 9 th Kent Volunteersa spacious apartmenterected near the

, , station of the London , Chatham , and Dover Railway , and used for the meetings and drill of that effective company . The room was beautifully decorated with devices of various kinds , those formed of bayonets and other warlike appliances contrasting strangel y with the more peaceful emblems of Masonic brotherhood .

I he Grand Lodge was opened in due form by the D . Prov . G . M . Bro . F . Dobson , the P . Prov . G . M . Bro . Jos . Ashley , Bros . Bastes , S . W . ; Gardner , acting as J . W . ; Day , as Purst . The Rev . Bro . Roxburgh , in the absence of the Rev . Bro . Hill , acted as Grand Chaplain . There were about 300 brethren present . The usual salutations having been made , the D . G . M . stated that a telegram had just been received from Lord Holmesdale , to the effect that he expected to arrive by the next train , but requesting that the Grand Lodge would proceed with the usual business in his absence . Bro . Saunders was then unanimousl y elected G . Treas . for the year ensuing .

Provincial.

The following officers were next a 2 ipointed and invested : — Bro . T . F . Nettleingham , W . M . 91 ... Prov . S . G . Warden „ T . H . Gore , W . M . 149 „ J . G . Warden „ Rev . W . A . Hill , M . A „ G . Chap . „ Rev . A . Roxburgh , M . A ., C . 1011 „ A . G . Chap . „ William Saunders , P . M . 90 „ G . Treas . „ B . K . Thorpe , jun ., W . M . 1011 ... „ G . Reg .

„ Charles Isaacs , P . M . 20 „ G . Sec . „ E . Wates , P . M . 91 „ A . G . Sec . „ W . Page , W . M . 741 : „ S . G . Deacon „ A . Hodge , W . M . 184 „ J . G . Deacon ,. A . Gooley , P . M . 50 „ G . D . ofC . „ Edward Tomalin , W . M . 147 , A . G . D . of C . „ Samuel Astin , W . M . 216 „ G . S . of W . „ Noah Martin , P . M . 376 „ G . S . B . „ F . S . Tolputt , W . M . 816 „ G . Org . „ John Coram , S . W . 235 „ G . Purst . „ C . J . Briggs , 741 „ G . Tyler

Bros . F . F . Giraud , W . M . 155 ; White , W . M . 709 ; Pitarc , W . M . S 9 S ; Graydon , W . M . 1215 ; Norris , 91 ; Mudd , 20 , Prov . G . Stewards . The D . G . MASTER said that he had been desired by the G . M . to give Bro . Cooley the rank of P . Prov . G . J . W ., in recognition of his services in the important office of Prov . G . D . of C , an office which it was necessary should not frequently change hands ; and

that in another year it was intended that lie should have two assistants . The sum of thirty guineas was then voted to the Erith Lodge , the last on the rota to give the lodge votes in perpetuity for tha-Boys' and Girls' Schools . The D . G . MASTER then announced that at the preliminarymeeting it had been decided to make all the lodges Perpetual Governors of the Aged Masons' AnnuitFund ; and the funds

y would allow £ 20 each to be now voted to the three lodges which had the largest number of members . Next year a similar vote would be taken for four lodges according to the same rule . The G . SECRETARY then stated that the three largest lodges in the province were the Dover Lodge , which had 81 members ; the Gravesend ( 91 ) , which had 79 members ; and the Ramsgate , which had 72 members . The sum of £ 20 each was then voted to those three lodges

from the Prov . Grand Lodge charity fund . Ten guineas were also voted from the Prov . Grand Lodge fund to the Boys' School . The other routine business having been gone through , the brethren then formed a procession , headed by the 4 th Kent Artillery Volunteer band , to St . Mary ' s Church , each lodge under its respective banner , the route being crowded at every point with eager spectators . Those portions of the church not

occupied hy the brethren were also fully occupied , chiefly by ladies . The prayers were read by the Rev . S . Arnott , M . A .,. vicar of Chatham , and a most impressive sermon was preached by the Rev . Alfred Roxburgh , M . A ., incumbent of Smallhythe , from Luke x ., 37— " Go thou and do likewise . " A collection was made on behalf of the parochial schools and Masonic charities . After the service the brethren returned again in procession , headed hy the hand ( playing an ancient tune peculiar to the

order ) , to the Grand Lodge-room , when the Prov . G . Master , Lord Holmesdale , bavins ; arrived in the meantime , presided . Votes of thanks were unanimously given to the Assistant Grand Chaplain for bis excellent discourse ; to the vicar , the Rev . S . Arnott , for the use of the church ; and to Capt . Brock for the use of the hall in which they were then assembled . A vote of thanks , proposed by Bro . Dobson , and seconded by Bro . Ashley , was also given to the Grand Master , who , in

replying , took the opportunity of apologising for his absence during the earlier part of the proceedings . Bro . BINCKES begged permission , as a visitor , to address the Grand Lodge , in order to express the two-fold gratitude due to the noble lord and the province of Kent from the noble institution ( the Masonic Boys' School ) with which he was more particularly connected . Great praise was due to the province of Kent for the munificent way in which it had responded to his

appeal to them last year at Ashford ; in consequence of which Bro . Dobson bad acted as steward , and the province had contributed the liberal sum of £ 270 to the funds of the charity . ( Cheers . ) A deep debt of gratitude was due also from the stewards to the noble lord in the chair , for when Lord Leigh at the last moment was prevented by a domestic calamity from presiding , the noble lord , without hesitation , consented to take