Notices Of Meetings.

cau give ; and helieTe me , when I say that T feel very prond of the office . But as my position has improved , so have my responsibilities increased , and with increased responsibility comes increased need of counsel . To yon , Bvo . P . M . 's of tho Union Lodge I shall come in every emergency for advice . On you , Bro . Wardens , 1 depend for assistance in ruling the Lodge , nnd on yon . Brethren

of the Lodge gonerally , I rely for a cordial co-operation in carrying on our work . I am sure you will remember tho Lodge is yonrs . and will take a pride in its reputation . Let me now ask every brother -who has this day been appointed to office , that he will make himself thoroughly acquainted with the dnties appertaining thereto ; that he will consider it a privilege as well as a dnty to oboy all his

Lodge summonses , and be in his place at the appointed time , thus exhibiting tbat punctuality and precision without which ( rood order and good working are alike impossible . I am quite sure they have the princip les of tbe Craft too much in their hearts for them to allow this , my first request , to pass by unheeded . I have one thins moro to say before I sit down : if , daring the ensuing year ,

onr Lodge summonses shonld fail to indicate that we have any of those ceremonies for which we usually meet , the brethren must not conolude we aro going to have a blank evening . I am told some masters of foxhounds , if they expect a visitor of distinction and are especially anxious to give him somo sport , will havo in reserve what they technically call a " Bagman , " so that if the

usual object of pursuit is not discovered , the party in reserve may bo prodnced at the proper moment and the requisite sport obtained ; so with onr Lodge , if th ; re shonld be a dearth of candidates , I shall endeavour , with the assistance of the more energetic brethren , to give lectures , sections , < fcc , and also , if the mnsical brethren will help , some appropriate mnsic I want you all to look forward with

pleasure to onr monthly gatherings , and to feel after they aro past that you really have done something towards carrying out the recommendafion which terminates our beautiful charge to initiates , which advises , " without neglecting the ordinary dnties of life , they will feel themselves called npon to mako a daily advancement in Masonic knowledge . " Bro . C . Smith P . M . proposed " tho Warden s

and other officers of the Lodge of Union , " in a speech replete with good common sense and sound advice . The Senior Warden ( Bro . S . Bradloy ) in responding to the toast of " The Warden and Officers of the Lodge , " said , —That after tho excellent advice of Past Master Smith and the bright example set by the newly installed Master , it behove all the Officers to copy their example , and be believed tbat be could answer for all the other Officors as well ns himself that

they would use their best endeavours to maintaiu tho efficiency of the Lodge . He concluded by thinking them for the cordial manner in which they bad proposed the Officers' health . The "Tyler ' s Toast " bronght to a conclusion ono of tho best meetings of the Lodge that had occurred for many years . The Worshipful Master and Brethren of the Grey Friars' Lodgo 1101 was given by the W . M ., and responded to by Bro . Flanagan W . M . 1101 in a speech full of kindness and brotherly love .

Wiltshire Lodge of Fidelity , No . 683 , Devizes . —The annual meeting took placo at the Town Hall , Devizes , on Tuesday , the 21 st January , for tho purpose of installing as Mastor for tho ensuing year Bro . T . H . Chandler P . M . 355 P . P . S . G . W . Wilts , who had filled the office of S . W . There was a considerable mnster of the brethren to do honour to the much esteemed W . M . elect , including Bros . J . Wilkie Burman , M . D ., W . M ., Harry Howse J . AV , D . A . Gibbs

P . M . Treas ., William Nott P . M . P . P . J . G . W . and P . G . Reg . Wilts Sec , J . A . Randell J . D ., tho Rev . H . Richardson P . M . P . P . G . Ch . Wilts Ch ., G . S . A . Wayleu Steward Rev . S . F . T . Ravensham P . M . P . G . Cb . Eng ., P . P . G . Ch . Wilts , J . Chandler P . M . 355 , 6 G 3 ,

P . P . S . G . W ., J . H . Chandler P . M . P . P . G . S . B . Wilts , Thos . Raymond P . M . P . P . S . G . D . Wilts , H . J . Ward P . M . and other members of the Lodge , whilst amongst the Visitors wero Bros . J . V . Toone P . M . 1478 P . P . J . G . D . Wilts , W . H . Dill P . M . 906 P . P . G . P . Somerset , Quartermaster Serjeant Davis and Serjeant Major Archer of the 99 th Regiment ( from the newly established 38 t , h Brigade Depot at Devizes ) ,

and others . After the usual preliminaries the retiring master Bro . Bnrman duly installed his successor Bro . T . II . Chandler into tho chair of K . S ., in a Board of twelve Installed Masters . The W . M . appointed and invested the Officers of the lodge for the ensiling year , as follow : Dr . Burman I . P . M ., W . H . Burt , S . W ., II . Howse J . W ., Rev . H . Richardson P . M . Chap ., D . A . Gibbs P . M . Treas ., William Nott P . M .

Sec , J . A . Randell S . D ., G . S . A . Wavlen J . D ., S . Badham I . G ., Thos . WaiteP . M . D . C , F . S . Hancock Steward , J . Hay tor Tyler . Addresses to the Officers on their investment weie given by Bro . Nott , and the nsnal addresses to rhe W . M ., Wardens and Brethren by the Installing Master . A cordial vote of thanks was passed to the I . P . M . for his condnct in the chair during the past year . Bro . Notf , on behalf of

his daughter Miss L . r \ ott , presented to tho Lodge a handsome Alms Bag , which she had worked in velvet nnd silver . It was accepted with great pleasure , and the warmest thanks of tho Lodge were ordered to he conveyed to her for the same . Before the Lodge was closed the Alms Bag was sent round , as usual , and the proceeds on this occasion were devoted to the funeral expenses of Alice McIIngh , daughter of a deceased P . M . of this Lodge , who , until her death ou

Christmas morning last , had for some years been maintained by the brethren . After the completion of the business and the closing of the Lodge , the brethren adjonrned t <> the Crown Hotel , where Ero . Raymond had provided an excellent banquet , aided , ns u . snal , by liberal contributions of venison and tame from Bro . Watson Taylor , of Erlestoke Park . Tho nsnal Loyal nnd Masonic toasts wero given and responded to , and a very pleasant evening was spent .

Alliance Lodge , No . 687 . —The monthly meeting was held at the Masonic Temple , Hope-street , Liverpool , on Tuesday , the 21 sf ult . This being tho meeting for installing tho W . M . for the ensning year , there was a large muster of members and visitors . Earlier in the

same day there was held an emergency meeting , for the purpose of conferring advancement on members , & c , initiated under the Mastership of tho retiring W . M . The regular Lodge was opened about 4 p . m . bv Bro . Jno . Ellis W . M ., supported by the following Offio -rs : —G . S . ' Willing * I . P . M ., Henrv Firth S . W ., J . H . Gregory J . W ., T . Peake Sec . T . Ockleshan P . M . Treas ., D . Lloyd S . D ., A . Bueknall

T . D ., R . Fonlds I . O ., James Bailey S . S ., Peter Ball P . G . T . Tyler . Past Masters—Bros . John Devaynes , Jame 3 Bolton , J . E . Jackson P . G . Superintendent of Works , J . E . Skillicorn , W . P . Witter ; and Bros . T . R . Willings , James Loos , S . Williams , T . Rood , W . Bramley , It . Darwin , J . W . Broadbent , J . Barker , J . Beck , R . Elliman , J . Sherwin , T . Henry , J . Levy , T . Mason , D . Fowler , B . C . Catley , J . Callow ,

G . Jackson , R . Wright , R . Morris , J . T . Rogers , William Create , G . W . Webstpr , J . Skeaf P . G . Org ., & c . Visitors—J . I . Knight P . M . 241 . William Tvrer P . P . G . S . W ., J . Bell P . G . Steward P . M . 1609 , 1350 , J . Hocken W . M . 1505 , Alexander Cotter P . M . 1264 , J . Duncan W . M . 1473 , J . Stocker I . P . M . 39 , T . Parker P . M . 613 , J . W . Parker W . M . 1547 . A . Woolrich S . W . 1356 , T . Jackson P . M . 580 , A .

Morrison I . P . M . 1570 , P . B . Gee P . M . 1264 , W . T . May P . M . 673 , J . T . Callow P . G . Treas ., B . Marson P . P . G . Steward P . M . 1356 , S . M . Daviea FKKEMASON ' S CHRONICTE , & C , & C , iu all too nuraerons for us to chroniclo . Tho minutes having been read , the Lodgo was advanced to the second degree , and Bro . G . S . Willings took the ohair , and obligated Bro . Henry Firth the W . M . elect . The Lodgo was worked

up to the third , and in due course Bro . Firth was invested and installed into the ohair of K . S ., and proclaimed tho Worshipful Master of the Alliance Lodgo for the ensuing twelvemonths ; as snoh receiving the salutations of the brethren . Bro . Willings performed the beautiful and impressive coremony with care and ability . Tho VV . M . invested his Officers as follow : —John Ellis I . P . M ., J . II . Grogoi y

S . W ., Thomas Peake J . W ., David Lloyd Sec , T . Ookleshaw P . M . Treas ., A . Bueknall S . D ., R . Fonlds J . D ., Jamos Bailoy I . G ., , Tame 3 Lees S . S ., R . J . Hudson J . S ., Peter Ball P . G . T . Tyler . Bro . Willings then gave the ancient charges very eloquently . The remaining business was a motion by Bro . Witter P . M ., that a sum of five pounds bo voted from the funds of the Lodge towards the relief of the

prevailing distress among the poor of Liverpool . Tho motion was seconded by Bro . Skillicorn P . M ., and c-irried unanimously , a fact which speaks well for the generosity of tho Lodge , and substantiates the universal henevolence of Freemasons . The business so far being ended , tho W . M . instructed the brethren to cease labonr and adjourn to banqnet , which was accordingly done , On tbe removal of tho cloth the W . M .

proposed the first toast—Tho Queen , which was loyally received , the brethren singing the National Anthem . Toast number two—tho health of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , tho Princess of Wales and the rest of the Royal Family—was f qnally well received . Bro . Qneen sang " God Bless the Prince of Wales , " Masonic version , accompanied by Bro . Skeaf on the piano . For the third toast tho W . M . had selected

Lord Skelmersdale Deputy Grand Master , Prov . Grand Master of West Lancashire , and tho rest of Prov . Grand Officors of West Lancashire . The toast was h ° arf . ily received , and followed by Bros . Qneen , Child , Busfield , and Hobart singing a glee , " Hart aud Hind are in their lair . " Bro . Callow responded for Prov . Grind Officers , and complimented the Lodge on having such an able officer as Bro .

Willing , who he was pleased to SPO porform the installation ceremony . Bro . Skeaf ( in responso to tho unanimous call of tho brethren ) also replied , first individually , and then on behalf of Prov . Grand Lodge . Bro . Jackson also replied : He thought that tho brethren had not a propor conception of the mission of the Craft , and regretted tho temerity exhibited by Freemasons with reference to imparting any

information to their families or friends with rogard to the working and principles of tho Order . He thought the mot-i people knew of our Institution the better it wonld be for tho Order , nnd tho more it wonld be appreciated . Ho believed the extraordinary mystery which brethren wished to cast round Freemasonry did more mischief to us as a body than the

ceneral body of tho Craft wore aware of . Other Prov . Grand Officers replied to this toast , but pressnro on our space compels ns to curtail this report . The Worshipful Master next submitted the toast of tho West Lancashire Educational Institution , and in doing so said : It was a toast every Brother was deeply interested in . TI 113 noblo Charity had grown from a small

beginning to a vast and prosperous establishment , having an invested capital of £ 14 , 000 to fall back on . Yet there was room for every brother ' s energy , to further the interests of so good an institution . He next exhorted the brethren to contribute , every man according to his ability ; he nnited with the toast the name ot Bro . . 7 . I . Knight P . M . 241 . The toast was cordially received , and Bro . Queen sati "

a song ( composed by Bro . Skeaf )— "Masonry , Friendshi p , and Brotherly Love . " Bro . J . I . Knight returned thanks ; he characterized our Masonic Charities as the brightest figures on the roll of Freemasonry . He resetted tbat ho had not been advised that he was to respond to so important a toast , as a little preparation would have enabled him to prodnce some interesting statistics . Ho

however m- > de a strong appeal on behalf of the Institution . Tiie W . M . gave the fifth toast on the list , the Hamer Benevolent Fund , which is also a Provincial Charity , worthv of tho cordial support of the brethren . He united the name of Bro . Callow P . G . Ii . with the toast . After a glee by the mnsical brethren , "Tho Mighty Conqueror , " Bro . Callow returned thanks . Ho regretted he was not more

conversant with tho details of this Institution . It was anticipated tho Secretary would have been present . He urged the brethren to greater zeal in contributing to this excellent institution . Trio I . P . M . next proposed the health of tho Worshipful Master , who he was pleased to see in that exalted position in his mother Lodge . Bro . Firth had worked hard , and deserved woll the confidence rep . scd

in him . He had followed him ( the I . P . AI . ) step b y step until he arrived where he was pleased—and he knew all were pleased—to see him tint night . Ho now asked them to drink to his very good health . Song—" Come into tho garden , Mand "—Bro . Bnsfiolil . The W . M . thanked the brethren for the h . monr done him in electing him to his present exalted office , a 3 well as for the manner the toast had