Reports Of Meetings.

GOLD FIELDS LODGE , No . 2478 . THE Installation took place on 25 th Oct ., at the new Masonic Hall , Johannesburg . Although the new building is yet far from completed , work had been pushed forward so as to allow of tho Installation of the second Master taking place within the walls of the large hall . ' Between 300 and 400 Brethren , and no less than thirty-seven Past Masters were present . Probably this is the

largest muster of the Masonic fraternity that has been witnessed in South Africa , says the local " Star . " Certainly , of Past Masters it would be impossible in any other South African city to muster so large a number of rulers of tho Craft , and in very few cities in England would such an assemblage of Past Masters be possible .

There was a large attendance of Brothren belonging to sister Lodges . Each Lodge , with its Master and Officers , was received separately , welcomed by the presiding Master , Bro . S . Herstfield and accorded the usual honours . Bro . Herstfield , before vacating the chair at the termination of his year of office , addressed the Brethren , as follows :

The large number of meetings we have held has not in any way caused our attendance to fall off , as the very large number of Visitors we have had during the past twelve months fully shows . Our signature book bears the names of 1 , 325 , which is sufficient proof also that our work is gradually being appreciated by the Craft ; while there are signatures of 2 , 389 members . This continued

support has enabled us to perform a work which we fully believe to be unparalleled in the annals of Freemasonry . The erection of this magnificent structure , where we are assembled this evening for the first time , by the members of our Lodge , virtually alone and unaided , is the most remarkable proof oi what can be done by united effort . The building , which , when completed , will have cost

about £ 10 , 000 , will be , in every way , not only an ornament to the town , but will be a suitable centre for Freemasonry in the State , replete , as it will be , with every comfort and convenience to our Brethren , and it will ever be a monument of the energy and industry of the members of the Gold Fields Lodge in the first year of its existence .

He added , as a proof of the onerous nature of the Master ' s work during the past year , that he had attended seventy-four regular and emergent meetings , and no less than eighty-seven committee meetings ; that 200 members had been admitted to membership , who had subscribed amorg themselves £ 4 , 0 C 0 in debentures towards tbe new Temple , while the Lodge had contributed £ 1 , CC 0 out of its

funds , and was ready to contribute £ 1 , CC 0 more . All this could not have been accomplished , he said , without cordial co-operation by the Brethren with his Officers and himself , and a unanimity of purpose that could not fail to attain success . He asked fcr his successor in the Chair the same loyalty and generous co-operation , and predicted , if that were so , that at the end of his term of office they would not only be free of debt , but have assets valued at £ 10 , 000 .

Past Master Bro . J . DaSilva then took the chair as Installing Officer , and the W . M .-elect Bro . H . A . Reid having been presented by the Director of Ceremonies , was addressed by the Installing Officer , and having subscribed to the usual questions was duly obligated and installed .

•The newly-installed Master presented to the retiring W . M . a very handsome and massive Past Master ' s jewel , which the Lodge had resolved to present to him in recognition of the services he had rendered to the Lodge . Bro . Herstfield briefly replied , after which founders' medals were presented to the charter members .

Congratulations and hearty good wishes were expressed by the Masters representing the various sister Lodges , and by sundry Brethren , and the proceedings were brought to a close after midnight by a collection in aid of the Benevolent Fund , which totalled nearly £ 10 . o o o

CITADEL LODGE OF INSTRUCTION , No . 1897 . ON the 23 rd ult ., at the Farleigh Hotel , Amhurst Road , Stoke Newington , N ., Bros . F . Dunstan P . M . Preceptor acted as W . M ., Geo . Clark P . M . S . W ., Fred . Kebbell J . W ., T . I . Bird P . M . Treas ., Harry Willsmer Sec , Gaskin P . M . S . D ., Crane P . M . J . D .,

Ball I . G . There were also present Brothers Varley , Richardson , Galley , Whiteside , Palmer , Robinson , Cohen and Cole , with Bros . Lefevre and Priddle Visitors , who were unanimously elected Joining Members .

The minutes of the preliminary meeting held on 13 th , and inauguration meeting held on 23 rd Nov ., were confirmed . The ceremony of Initiation was rehearsed , Bro . Lefevre candidate . Bro . I . P . Cohen ( acting as Preceptor in the unavoidable absence of Bro . Von Holtorp through illness ) with the assistance of the Brethren worked 1 st , 2 nd , and 3 rd sections of the Lecture .

A cordial vote of thanks was proposed by Bro . Bird P . M . and carried unanimously to Brothers Dunstan and Cohen for their admirable working in this Lodge for the first time . o 0 o

ROYAL YORK ( INSTRUCTION ) LODGE , No . 315 .

THE annual dinner took place at the Royal Pavilion , Brighton , last week , when Brother Harry Kent W . M . presided over a company of about thirty . o o o

The Annual supper of the Walthamstow Lodge of Instruction was held on Monday , at the Masonic Hall , "Walthamstow , when a pleasant evening was spent by a large number of Brethren , under the presidency of Bro . W . Shurmur . We shall give a report of the proceedings jo our next issue . '

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

ST . JOHN'S CHAPTER , No . 70 . THE annual meeting was held on the 22 nd ult ., to instal Comps , E . G . Dyke as Z ., Jno . Hicks as H ., and Jno . Goad as J . At the close of the Chapter the Companions adjourned to the refreshment room at the club , where an excellent supper was provided , and , under the presidency of Comp . Dyke , a most enjoyable ovening was passed . o o o

ESSEX CHAPTER , No . 276 . TIlHE quarterly convocation of this Chapter was held on Monday J _ of last week , at Chelmsford , the chairs being occupied respectively by Comps . A . C Durrant , F . H . Meggy and H . Dehane , The business of the evening included the exaltation of Bro . R . Cook J . W . of Lodge 276 . Banquet was afterwards served to the Comps . at the White Hart Hotel .

o o o ROYAL SUSSEX CHAPTER , No . 732 . THE members held their annual Installation in the Royal Pavilion , Brighton , on Thursday , 22 nd ult . Comp . Giles Lockwocd Hawkes was installed M . E . Z ., Alfred Lloyd H ., and W . Bennett J .

After the Installations the Companions sat down to dinner , placed on the tables by Messrs . Booth and Sons , with Companion Hawkes in the chair . The customary toasts were honoured , and a musical programme was sustained by the Lewes Orpheus Glee Union . o o o

DERBY CHAPTER , No . 1055 . THE regular meeting of this Chapter was hold at Chester Bank , Prestwich , " on Thursday , tho 22 nd ult ., when there was a fairly good attendance . The minutes of the last regular meeting having been read and confirmed , and the Auditors' report presented , a ballot was taken for Companion William Midgley , of St . John's Chapter , No . 348 , Salford , which was successful .

The usual festive board followed , when Loyal and R . A . toasts were submitted , the same being relieved by songs , recitations , & c , given by Comps . S . F . Simons Z ., J . Heywood Scribe E ., E . Roberts , and others . o o o

DE LA POLE CHAPTER , No . 1605 . A LARGE and distinguished company assembled in the Masonic Hall , Hull , on Friday of last week , the occasion being the installation of Companion J W . Tindell P . P . G . Assist . D . C . as first Principal of the Chapter for the ensuing year . The ceremony was impressively rendered by Companion R . B ,

Hawley P . Z . P . P . G . S . N . PRESENTATION AT NOTTINGHAM .

ON the 28 th ult . a large number of Brethren mot at the Masonic Hall , Goldsmith Street , for the purpose of making a presentation to Miss Emily Mary Simpson ( second daughter of Mrs . Simpson , of tho Masonic Hall ) on her attaining her twentyfirst birthday . The chair was taken by Bro . Roberts P . M . one of the Directors of the Masonic Hall Company , Ltd ., and ex-chairman of the Masonic Club .

The presentation consisted of a beautiful gold lever watch and chain and a purse of gold , and was made in very appropriate terms by Bro . W . Selby . The watch bore the inscription : —

Presented to Miss E . M . SIMPSON , as a mark of esteem by a number of Masonic friends . Both the chairman and Bro . Selby spoke in the highest terms of

Miss Simpson , paying high compliment to her irreproachable character and her excellent , unassuming manner . The present had been most willingly subscribed for by the Masonic Brethren , a fact which went to show tho esteem in which the young lady and her family are held by members of tho Craft .

After the presentation a musical evening was spent , Bro . Geo . Essex P . G . O . conducting this part of the programme . —" Daily Express . "

A new club has just been added to the many similar institutions in Calcutta , namely a Masonic Club , which for the present will be housed at 9 Municipal Office Street . It has been formed chiefly for the purposes of recreation , and comprises a Billiard Room , Music and Eeading Room . It is hoped that a Masonic Library will

shortly be added , says the " Times of India . " 0 o o Benevolent grants to tho amount of £ 140 were made

during the year ending 17 th ult . by the Provincial Grand Lodge of Glasgow . The reserve fund of the Provincial Grand Lodge Benevolent Scheme amounts to £ 2 . 416 14 s 4 d . .:. * ...