Provincial.

we shall have him as one of us in the bond of Freemasonry . Pending that day , I hope you will drink the toast with all the enthusiasm it deserves . The toast was drunk with three times three . After a short pause , The PEOV . G . MASTEE again rose and said , —Brethren , 1 know there is a special train leaving here by the South Eastern line at 6 . 30 , and I am , therefore , somewhat hnrrying on the toasts .

We have drunk the toast of all our luminaries , and I now give you the health of that nobleman who has for several successive years been called to the head of the Craft—the health of Lord Zetland . ^ We ought to drink that toast with gratitude , because under his sway the Craft has prospered in a manner unprecedented . _ ( Applause . ) Those of you , who have had the chance of meeting him , know as I do , that there is no man who , when you go to himwhether it be private mattersor

, upon , upon matters connected with Freemasonry is more courteous and kind . ( Applause . ) I give you " The Health of our Master , Lord Zetland . " ( Loud applause . ) Tho PEOV . G . MASTEE in proposing the next toasts " The Deputy Grand Master of England , " said , —It would have been impossible for Lord Zetland to carry on the affairs of the Craft in the manner he had done , had he not been supported by a superior body of oflicers . The approval of their efforts was the

only reward they could give those officers . As regarded the Right Worshipful the Deputy Grand Master , it was rarely that a gentleman so much occupied with other important duties as Earl de Grey and Ripon was , could find sufficient time to give up to Masonry . He was sure they would all do honour to this toast . Ho saw a gentleman in the room who had filled most of the offices in tho Grand Lodge ; he referred to Bro . Patten , and he should couple his name with tho toast .

The toast having been drunk with enthnsiani , Bro . PATTEN , P . G . D ., rose to return thanks . Ke was sorry that he was the only officer of the Grand Lodge present that evening , for had any other member been present he would have been able to return thanks in more words than he was about to do , although he would not have done it with more sincerity .

AVith regard to the Grand Master , he would only say that he was the right man in the right place . AVith regard to the officers , he had to thank their Chairman for the way in which he had proposed , and them for the way in which they had drank the toast . He could assure them that any services which he could render to the Province of Kent , would be rendered with pleasure , although , perhaps , at some little trouble to himself . ( Loud applause . )

Bro . FOOKES , Prov . S . G . W ., in proposing the next toast , said , — One of the fust duties I have to perform before I introduce the toast I have to propose to you is to see that you are all charged , andnotcharged only , but charged withbumpers . ( Applause . ) That toast , gentlemen , I am satisfied you will anticipate long before it comes from my lips . I have to propose to you "The Health of the gentleman who presides over us this evening . " I am

proud , not having attended at Provincial Grand Lodge for twenty-five years , to see among Masons the old faces I see among them now . ( Applause . ) It is no small matter of congratulation to ourselves that we have tho nobleman at the head of tho table as our Grand Master . ( Loud Applause . ) He comes from a good stock . ( Continued Applause . ) I know that he is a Masonandas a neighbour who lives near himI

, , , say I do not wish for a better . He is described as a man who never did an unkind action —( applause)—and it is no slight thing that we have a gentleman who can spare time from the other pursuits which he has chosen to come here on a great occasion and preside over us . ( Loud Applause . ) I am sure you will cheer this toast to the echo ; and long may our noble Master continue in his career of usefulness , for I feel that we should

never be able to find another gentleman who would carry on the affairs of the lodge as he has done . His time , I know , is short . I do not mean his time for presiding over us as our Master , for may the day be far distant that will separate hiin from us . But there is a train awaiting him , which must take him to other careers , and , as he is anxious to be going , I will not detain you by telling you of those . principles of Freemasonry , of which I hope to hear more this evening . This is the principal toast , and I propose it to you that you may accept it as such .

The toast was drunk with great enthusiasm . _ The PEOV . G . MASTEE rose to return thanks . He said , —I rise , brethren , to return thanks , nay , my sincere thanks , for the very kind manner in whicli your Provincial Grand Warden has

proposed , and the way iu which you , bretnren , have received the toast of my health . Brother Fookes spoke of those pursuits from which I have torn myself away for a short time . I can assure him that it would be no slig ht occasion that would cause me to absent myself from taking the chair at one of these meetings . It is at these meetings that I am enabled to get at the progressive increase of the Craft in Kent . Year hy year I see yom- numbers increase , and j-ear by year the number of your

lodges get greater and greater , and surely wo will be in the position of the "little old woman who lived in a shoe , she had so many children she did not know what to do . " ( Laughter and applause . ) But now it is a matter for serious consideration what we shall do with all our children as their numbers increase , although the summary treatment of tho old woman would not be very palatable to you . ( Laughter . ) Surely , something will have to bo done soon , for we shall suffer so from the plethora of

numbers that we shall not he able to find a place large enough to meet in . However much these numbers may increase , I am sure there is not one present who would not be glad of it . ( Applause . ) I rejoice to see this increase , because you aro enabled to increase the number of votes at each of your Charities , and will in course of time be able to secure relief to any one in the province who is deserving of it . AVhen we aro satisfied that the number in Kent is such that we can without fail secure

, without regarding our neighbours , the return of a candidate or a number of candidates , who may have occasion to seek benefit among us—when we feel we can administer to the relief of all those , then and not till then shall I say that the members of Kent are strong enough . I am afraid that the day is far distant when that may be said of Kent . In the meantime I trust that we may go on and prosper , and I trust that we may year after year rise in influence in the country and throughout the

world . ( Applause . ) I believe that the-county of Kent is one of the first if not the first in the country . And now to return to the toast of my health . It gives me the greatest pleasure to be here to-night amongst you . I am afraid I have been compelled to hurry ou the toasts which I havo had to give from the chair ; but as time and tide wait for no man , the early departure of the train must be my excuse . 1 hope and trust that the next time I shall have the pleasure of meeting you I shall not be

compelled to cut short the evening , but may be able to spend a longer time than I can this evening . Believe me it is a press of business and not my will that calls mo away . ( Loud and protracted applause . ) Silence having been restored , The PEOV . G . MASTEE said he had time to propose one other toast to them before he departed . He felt certain that the toast he was about to propose to them would meet with their

entire satisfaction . He flattered himself and the Province of Kent in having secured the services of a most efficient Deputy Grand Master . Ho thought there was scarcely a lodge in the Province that Bro . Dobson had not visited . Ho could assure them that unless he had his assistance he should not know how to carry on the business of the province . ( Applause . ) He was unable himself to make the acquaintance of each of the lodges , and he therefore know how to value the 1 , 001 services which

that officer rendered to him . He was obliged to rely upon the Deputy Provincial Grand Master to perform those duties which he was unable himself to see about , and he could inform them that thoy had been performed very satisfactorily . ( Loud applause . ) He gave them " The Health of their Deputy Grand Master , " than whom he knew no one better to fill the office . The toast was drunk with cheers . The Prov . G . M . having vacated the chairit was taken b

, y the D . Prov . G . M ., who called for three cheers for his Lordship as he passed down the room , which call was responded to most heartily . The D . Pi ; ov . G . MASTEE , as soon as silence had been restored , said , —The first duty he had to perform on taking the chair was to return thanks for the manner in which they had drunk his health . There was something very suggestive in the toast . Their Prov . G . Master in proposing it , had told them that the

whole of his exertions on behalf of the Craft wero labours of love , and then immediately after they had that sweet piece of music "There is no rest but the grave for the labourer of love . " ( Applause . ) He did not think that this was done by previous arrangement , but it was certainly suggestive . Ho did not know whether there was , or was not any affinity , between him and the province , but so long as he was received in it as he was now , ho should be sorry that anything but the grave should sever him from them . ( Hear . ) Now as to the province itself . They had