Provincial.

quet with great ability , and observed , with much gratification , the general custom of the four Worshipful Masters of Lodges in the town being together at these agreeable Masonic reunions .

KENT . MEETING 01 ? THE PROVINCIAL G 1 IAX 1 J LODGK AT MAItOATK . A Provincial Grand Lodge of the Freemasons of this province , was holden on Monday , the 18 th instant , at the Assembly Rooms in Cecilsquare . Owing to tbe fineness of the Aventher there was a large attendance of brethrenincluding visitors from London

, many . The R . AV . Bro . Charles Burton Cooper , Prov . Grand Master , presided ; mid there were also present Bros . S . B . Wilson , P . J . G . D . ; Else and Davies , Past Grand Stewards ; James Delmar , Prov . S . G . W . ; AV . Saunders . Prov . O . Treas . ; Batehelor , Prov . G . Chaplain ; Cooke , P . Prov . S . G . AV . ; Thos . Harvey Boys , P . Prov . S . G . AV . ; Chas . Holtmau , P . Prov . S . G . A \ . ; H . Stock , P . Prov . G . Supt . of AA orics ; Charles Isaac , Prov . G . See . ; Cruttenden , P . M . No . 741 ; Day , P . M . No . 741 ; Currie , P . M . No . 235 ; nderl

A a . yu , P . M . No . 223 : Hoad , AV . M . No . S 16 ; Wveford . P . M . No . 3-1 ; Duke , P . M . No . 35 ; H . AV . Moore , P . M . No . 20 ; George Gore , P . M . No . 709 ; and upwards of a hundred other brethren . Previous to tho opening of tite Provincial Grand Lodge , proclamation was made by the Prov . G . Dir . of Cers ., that all brethren below the rank of AA arden should retire . This was , however , overruled by the K . AV . Prov . Grand Master , Avho said it had not been the custom of the province , during his time , to carry out this regulation . The junior brethren Avere therefore permitted to remain .

The Provincial Grand Lodge was opened in autient and solemn form at high twelve , after which the minutes of the last Prov . Grand Lodge were read and unanimousl y confirmed . The brethren then proceeded to the election of Prov . Grand Treasurer , and that office was again conferred upon Bro . AVilliam Saunders , Avho has filled the post for many years past . Bro . Saunders was dul y invested , after a few complimentary remarks from the Prov . Grand Master . The Prov . Grand Master said that during the seven which had

years passed since his appointment to rule that province , he had remarked that many brethren upon whom the purple had been conferred , had never attended to perform the duties of their respective offices . For himself , he did uot speak—he was aware that no personal disrespect Avas intended to him—he had always endeavoured to rule with the mild authority of a father , and he was bound to say that he bad invariably been treated with almost the affection of sons b y the Kentish Masons . that he should

He hoped not again be called upon to remark upon carelessness or inattention to the duties of' tbe respective offices , and that the new Provincial Grand Officers might be found punctual in attendance and efficient in their working . He should proceed to the appointment and investment of the Provincial 0 rand Officers for the ensuing year , and called upon the Provincial Grand Secretary to rend the patent of appointment of Bro . Harvey Boys to the rank of Deputy Provincial Grand Master .

Bro . Charles Isaac , Prov . G . Sec , having performed this duty , The Prov . Grand Master resumed . He alluded to the great services wliich had been rendered by Bro . Harvey Boys to Craft Masonry , to tbe Royal Arch degree , and in the Mark Lodges ; as also in those high degrees of which he ( the Prov . Grand Master ) had no cognizance . No more worthy Mason could be found in Kent to fill the important office of D . Prov . Grand Master , and he had vevv great pleasure in investing lnmAvith the insignia of that rankat the ' timenotwithstanding

; same , the lustre of Bro . Boys ' s previous career , and the great personal respect he entertained for him , it was his ( the Prov . Grand Master ' s ) intention to spread tins office as much as possible , and brethren must not therefore besurprised if another brother should be appointed next year . He himself should continue to perform all the high duties of las office himself , as he always had done hitherto—this office of Deputy Prov . Grand Master wouldthereforebe merel mark of honouraud

, , y a , a complete sinecure , unless unforeseen circumstances should intervene . The following brethren were reappointed and invested : —Rev . Bro . Batehelor , Prov . G . Chaplain ; and Charles Isaacs ( P . M ., No . 20 ) , . Prov . G . Sec ; the new appointments being Bros . Brook Jones , No . 155 , Prov . S . G . AV . ; Hodge , No . 621 , Prov . J . G . AV . ; Thorpe , No . 7 , 011 , Prov . G . Reg . ; Feakins , No . 149 , Prov . S . G . D . ; Green , No . ISi , Prov . J . G . D . ; GilfordNo . 20 Prov . G . Dir . of Cers . A \ EveristNo 91 Assist

, , ; . , . , . Prov . G . Dir . of Cers . ; Hoad , No . SIS , Prov . G . Supt . of AVorks ; Reynolds , No . 34 , Prov . G . Org . ; A ; mder ] yn , No . 235 , Prov . G . S . B .: G . I'Vverist , No . 91 , Prov . G . Purs . ; and the following as Prov . G . Stewards : Bros . Philcox , JYo . 376 '; Snowden , No . G 21 ; Thome , No . 149 ; Philpott , No . 235 ; Rahles , No . 621 ; and Havecott , No . 741 . Bro . Hoad , the ' newly appointed Prov . Grand Superintendent of Works , is , Ave were informed , a builder at Folkestone .

The Prov . Grand Master , at the request of the brethren of the Union Lodge , then presented au elegant jewel , as a mark of their respect and esteem , to Bro . Wayward , P . M . of that Lodge , and the actual Master of the recently consecrated Lodge at Deal . Bro . Havwan ! returned thanks ma- short but feeling speech , in which he alluded to his having been initiated m that room twenty-live years ago . .. Proceeding to the business on the printed agenda paper , the R . AV . Prov . Grand Master having received the following letter , moved that the same be taken into consideration ;—

" Freemasons' Lfall , London , April ISth , 1 S : > 9 . "Rt . AV . Sir and Brother , —I am commanded by the M . W . Grand Master , to direct your attention to a pamphlet on Provisional Organization , issued by the respective Committees of the Royal Freemasons ' School for Female Children , and the Royal Masonic Institution for the Sons of Indigent and Btceased Freemasons , and Avhich you will receive by the book post . The Grand Master feeling deeply interested in the prosperity of those institutionsrequests the favour of your bringing

, the subject to the notice of the Lodges and . brethren in your province , cither at a meeting of your Prov . Grand Lodge , or in such other way as you may deem best calculated to ensure its being properly considered . ( Signed ) "WM . GRAY CLARKE , G . S . "To Chas . Purton Cooper , Esq ., Q . O ., Prov . G . M . Kent . " The R . AV . Prov . Grand Master said that he had been upon the committee of the . Boys School for many years , and that he had made a point in order

of attending aud voting at the joint committee of the schools , that the brethren at large might know from his statements on that occasion , how great was the liberality of the Kentish brethren , and what an admirable example was set by them to other 2 ) rovmees . He proposed that the Provincial Grand Secretary should forward to the V . AA . Bro . Gray Clarke a return of the sums contributed by the province of Kent to the various Masonic charities ; and that in his opinion irould bo n sufficient answer to the letter of the Grand Secretary . ( Heal-, hear . )

The resolution to that effect was put and carried . Bro . HiilloAves , P . Prov . S . G . AV ., moved a resolution according to notice , to the following effect : — "That article 4 , p . 03 of the Book of Constitutions , in so far as it recommends the payment of five shillings to a provincial fund of beneA'olenee for cveiy person who lias been initiated , and one shilling for every member who has joined any Lodge , be adopted in this province . The time from which , the above payments are to commenceto be decided by the Prov . Grand Masteror if he

, , thinks fit , by the Prov . Grand Lodge . " Bro . Hallowes Avas proceeding Avith a speech in support of this proposition , when The Prov . Grand Master said that there were eight notices of motion upon the paper , some of which would doubtless lead to discussion ; and the time was already past at which it was announced that the brethren were to go to church . He therefore proposed that the remaining business

should be deferred to a Prov . Grand Lodge of Emergency , to be holden on a future day . This proposition Avas carried by acclamation . Bro . Charles Isaac , ProA ' . G . See ., made a poAverful appeal to the brethren to give their support at the ensuing election of the Boys School , to the son of the late Bro . AV . H . Cfli-liii , P . Prov . G . Dir . of Cers . The Prov . Grand Lodge was tben closed in ample form . Tbe brethren , headed by the band of the Anglo-Italian Legion , inarched in procession to the adjoining church , where divine service Avas

performed ; prayers being read by the ReA' . J . Prosser . Tbe Prov . Grand Chaplain then preached a most eloquent sermon from Eccles . ix ., 7 , "Go thy way , eat tli } ' bread Avith joy , and drink thy wine with a merry heart ; for Cod now aeeepteth thy works . " Tbe reverend brother said that it afforded him unmixed satisfaction to meet the brethren of the province at Margate on the occasion , as he regarded a meeting of that nature as n Masonic anniversary in which they were all interested . To reflecting men , a year could never pass

away without some commemoration of God's providential regard , a growing respect for the duties of their daily life , and a more lively sense that the present state only AVUS the one allotted them for action . But in order to guide the brethren to a more devout contemplation of these truths , he should refer them to the words of one who Avas held iu peculiar reverence by Masons , ancl whose Avisdorn came from above ; they would find his advice in Eccles . ix , 7 , S , 9 , 10—how applicable Avere these words to Masons ! As such , they perhaps pursued a different course , one peculiar to their birth , education , and national character , but which they found most conducive to their spiritual and

temporal prosperity , and after all they hoped to reach the Grand Lodge above . To each . Mason , then , he reiterated the words of Solomon , " Go thy way , " but , remember , that to Avalk surely , whatever might be their distinctive creed , they must practise the precepts of Solomon , " eat thy bread with joy , drink thy wine with a merry heart . " He said this precept referred to those necessaries of existence which man sought and required for the sustenance of his daily life ; but to enjoy those blessings " with joy and a merry heart , " tliey must be procured

honestly and partaken of temperately ; aud he showed that Masons must ever remember that they professed to be upright and temperate men . The Prov . G . Chaplain then dwelt upon the other parts in the exhortation , "Letthy garments be always white" "thy head lack no ointment . '' These expressions , he said , symbolically bore testimony to that purity of intention , propriety of behaviour , and regard for that body so fearfully and wonderfully made , which the mighty Architect of Nature expected from his creatures . He then noticed the

domestic duties of the Mason , to " live joyfully with the wife of his youth , " and he showed that , although women were not admitted into their Order , Masonry regarded them with the highest interest , solicitude , and respect , and that it AVUS tbe Mason ' s duty iu particular to make every sacrifice in order to live purely and joyfully with the wife of his youth . Then , said the Prov . G . Chaplain , how conformable to Masonry was the final exhortation of King Solomon , which not only taught men to live , but reminded them that they must die . A ' es ! it is the grave where tbe gavel is no longer heard , "for there is uo work " there—the grave , where our noble science can be no longer pursued , for