Reports Of Meetings.

REPORTS OF MEETINGS .

We shall be pleased to receive particulars of Masonic meetings for insertion in our columns , and where desired will endeavour to send a representative , to report Lodge or other proceedings .

GRAFT : PROVINCIAL . — : o : — MERCHANTS LODGE , No . 241 . CONSECRATED considerably over a century ago , when the " Mystic Craft" was in the nature of a sealed book to the great proportion o £ the population , the Merchants has always had a position of pre-eminence in the charitable and Masonic records of the Province of West Lancashire .

Its records of deeds of benevolence is highly honourable , its members nave included many names which are warmly cherished and will long be remembered , and its position to-day is recognised as the first of the 120 Lodges in the Province , with over 8 , 000 members , over which the Earl of Lathom , K . C . B ., Pro Grand Master of England and Prov . G . M . presides with so much geniality and earnestness .

The yearly festival on the 28 th ult ., at the Masonic Hall , Hope-street , Liverpool , was marked by the usual fraternal enthusiasm attaching to the Lodge , and the attendance was not only numerous , but thoroughly representative . Bro . W . Jennings W . M . concluded a highly satisfactory year's labour by most efficiently installing Bro . John Laughton as his successor in the chair . In the course of the evening , as a mark of respect and recognition of

valuable services , Bro . Jennings I . P . M . was presented with a Past Master ' s jewel and gold watch , as well as a diamond and ruby ring for Mrs . Jennings . An excellent banquet was served by Messrs . Gait and Capper , and as a pleasant break in the routine of the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts , musical numbers were given by Bros . West , Piatt , Ewart , Haddock , Fairfield , C . Jones , Brown , and the Lyric Glee Singers .

PRUDENCE LODGE , No . 388 . THIS Lodge held its annual meeting on Monday , 27 th ult ., at Hales " worth , when the installation of the Bight Hon . the Earl of Stradbroke as Worshipful Master took place . The ceremony was performed at the Court House , which had been converted into a Lodge Boom . The installation ceremony was performed by Bro . George Andrews P . M . 388 whose admirable working and eloquent rendering of the impressive ceremonial evoked the admiration of all present . The newly-installed W . M . invested his Officers .

The annual banquet took place at the Corn Hall , the chair being occupied by the Earl of Stradbroke , when the usual Loyal and Masonio toasts were honoured .

SOCIAL FRIENDSHIP LODGE , No . 497 . A MEETING of this Lodge , which is one of the few " Military Lodges , " being attached to the Boyal Irish Fusiliers , was held at the George Hotel , Colchester , on Tuesday , 21 st nit ., for the purpose of installing the W . M . for the ensuing year . The meeting was particularly interesting , Masonically , as there are only three Begimental Lodges left on the roll of the English Constitution , this being one of them . The first Warrant granted

to the Regiment was in 1798 , when one was issued by the Irish Grand Lodge , which was allowed to lapse in 1818 . In 1836 a Warrant was applied for to the English Grand Lodge , and , being granted , it continued to work under the name Hibernia till 1844 , when it also dropped . In the same year the 2 nd Battalion ( now stationed in Colchester ) was granted a Warrant ( E . C . ) under which the Lodge is now working , named Social Friendship , and numbered 497 .

The installation of the W . M .-elect , Major A . McD . Moore , was performed by Bro . H . E . Baker I . P . M . 697 , who received the warm commendations oi the Brethren for the ability with which he carried out the duties . The Lodge furniture used on this occasion was lent by the United Lodge , No . 697 . It may be mentioned that this is the second time members of 697 have befriended a Military Lodge , the former being in 1874 , when the 5 th Dragoon Guards' Lodge ( I . C . ) was in Colchester , their Colonel being the W . M .

STANLEY LODGE , No . 1325 . AT the annual meeting at the Masonic Hall , Hope-street , Liverpool , on Monday , 27 th ult ., Bro . G . Barrett was installed W . M . There was a large attendance of members of the Lodge and Visitors , the Provincial Grand Lodge being represented by several Brethren . The installing officers were Bros . T . J . Jarman and T . Guile P . M ., who performed their task in a dignified and impressive manner . At the subsequent banquet the usual Masonic toasts were enthusiastically received , and a pleasing musical programme was provided .

o o o STARKIE LODGE , No . 1634 . ON Wednesday , 22 nd ult ., the members held their annual picnic , the rendezvous being Lathom Park ( by the kind permission of the Earl of Lathom Pro G . M . ) The company included a number of ladies , and the part y was driven from Bamsbottom to Lathom . After spending a few hours in the park the company was driven through Newburgh and Bufford towards Ormskirk , the journey being thoroughly enjoyed .

An excellent dinner was served by Mrs . Taylor , at the Wheat Sheaf . Ihe W . M . Bro . J . Harrison presided , Bro . Hardman J . W . occupying the vicechair . The -usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were honoured , and a welldeserved compliment was paid to last Master Ellison for the admirable arrangements he had made lor the day ' s outing .

Reports Of Meetings.

BROXBOURNE LODGE , No . 2353 . THERE was a large assembly of Brethren on the occasion of the annual festival , whioh cook place at the Red Lion Hotel , Barnet , on Saturday , 25 th ult ., when Bro . E . J . Gittens P . M . P . P . G . Std . B . and a founder of the Lodge was installed as Worshipful Master , and a presentation was made to Bro . E . C . Mulvey P . M . Past Grand Pursuivant of England Prov . A . G . D . of C . Herts , & c , the father of the Lodge .

The Chair was occupied by Bro . O . P . T . Newman W . M ., who was supported by Bros . E . J . Gittens S . W ., J , W . Hunt J . W ., E . C . Mulvey P . M . P . G . P . Treas ., S . Lichtenfeld P . M . P . P . G . S . Sec , T . J . Phillips S . D ., J . Heilbrun J . D ., C . A . H . Hempel A . D . C ., T . J . Patrick I . G ., B . H . Nicholls W . M . 2593 Steward , and Henry Evenden P . M . Tyler .

Among others present were Bros . C . Bullock Prov . G . Sec . Herts , H . Monson P . M ., P . J . Crowther , J . Wright , W . Windsor , R . Ridgway , W . Staples , A . D . Essien , W . C . Mannering , 0 . E . Greening , H . Passenger , W . H . Watson , W . Hall , E . Batcliffe , Max Hummel , G . Angold , H . T . Kobelt , G . Buchner , & c .

The "Visitors included Bros . J . Hamilton Craig A . D . C . 188 , 0 . T . W . Drake 65 , W . Harper P . M . 2182 , James Watts P . M . 179 , W . Stracey 2345 , G . Grant 1765 , G . Evans 1297 , C . H . Bestow P . M . P . G . P . Essex , J . Wynman , and others . The Lodge having been regularly opened , the minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed , whereupon the important and interesting ceremony of Installation was proceeded with , Bro . E . J . Gittens S . W . being presented

by Bro . H . P . Holland P . M . to Bro . E . C . Mulvey , who acted as Installing Officer . The ancient charges and regulations were read by Bro . S . Lichtenfeld P . M . Sec , and agreed to in regular form by Bro . Gittens , who was thereupon obligated . A strong board of Installed Masters was formed , and the W . M .-elect was placed in the chair of K . S . according to the old rites and traditions , and was subsequently saluted in regular form .

The new Master then appointed and invested the following Assistant Officers : Bros . J . W . Hunt S . W ., T . J . Phillips J . W ., E . C . Mulvey P . M ., & c . Treas ., S . Lichtenfeld P . M ., & c . Sec , J . Heilbrun S . D ., T . J . Patrick J . D ., C . A . Hemple I . G ., H . G . Holland P . M . D . C ., G . E . L . Buchner A . D . C , R . H . Nicholls W . M . 2593 Musical Director , H . Bamsbottom and H . Saunion P . M . Stewards , H . Evenden P . M . Tyler .

The addresses to the Worshipful Master , Wardens and Brethren were capitally delivered by Bro . Mulvey , to whom credit is due for his rendering of the ceremony throughout , in a really faultless and perfect manner , and he was warmly applauded on the completion of his duties . The first act of the new Master , after the Installation , was the presentation to Bro . Newman of a very handsome Past Master ' s jewel , and in making the gift he expressed the hope that the recipient might live to wear it in good health for many years to come .

Bro . Newman returned thanks for the presentation , and expressed his gratitude to the W . M . and Brethren for their kindness and consideration during his term of office , aDd especially for the beautiful jewel , which would ever remind him of one of the happiest times in his life—his year of presidency in the Broxbourne Lodge . The Auditors' report was presented and showed a substantial balance to

the credit of the Lodge . It was formally adopted by the members . The ballot was taken for Bev . J . C . B . Wilson ( Native Minister , Buquma , New Calabar , W . C . A . ) , Mr . William Henry De Maid , and Mr . David Stobo Aston , and proving unanimous in their favour they were regularly admitted to a participation in Masonic Light , this early work of the W . M . being well performed .

Following this the Worshipful Master said he had a most pleasant duty to perform , and that was to present , on behalf of the Lodge , Bro . Mulvey with his portrait , in recognition of the valuable services he had rendered to the Lodge , and in commemoration of his year of office as Grand Pursuivant of England . The inscription on the picture was as follows :

Presented by the Brethren of the Broxbourne Lodge , No . 2353 to Worshipful BBO . E . C . MULVEY P . M . P . G . P . G . A . D . C . Herts , A Founder and first Worshipful Master of this Lodge , in commemoration of

his year of Office as Grand Pursuivant of England . 1897-98 . Bro . Mulvey in a most eloquent speech acknowledged his indebtedness to the Worshipful Master and Brethren . He felt it was through Bro . Holland ho had to thank them for the very handsome present they had made him , and which he so greatly appreciated . With their kind permission he would esteem it a great favour if the Broxbourne Lodge would accept the portrait and retain it as part of the furniture of their Lodge room .

The W . M . in turn thanked Bro . Mulvey on behalf of the Lodge , and felt sure he was expressing the feelings of the members when he said they were very proud to accept it . Bro . Holland informed the W . M . and Brethren of the severe illness of a highly esteemed Brother of the Lodge , who , by the Doctor's advice , must reside abroad . Through the Brother ' s illness funds were somewhat short , and Bro . Holland therefore asked the Brethren to do » what lay in their power on behalf of their absent companion .

Bro . Nicholls W . M . of the Hugh Owen Lodge—who is so well known for his charitable disposition—endorsed the remarks of Bro . Holland , and was pleased to say the Hugh Owen Lodge had already acted in a liberal way in this case , and he would be delighted to see the members of tbe Broxbourne Lodge following in the same direction . We are pleased to say that during the evening a most satisfactory response was made to Bro . Holland ' s request , coupled with the very best wishes of the members for the Brother ' s speedy recovery .

A gentleman was proposed as a candidate for initiation , and the proceed ings of the Lodge were brought to a conclusion in the regular way . Previous to the banquet the members and visitors were photographed , and at its conclusion the W . M . proceeded with the toasts customary on such occasions .

With the toast of the Grand Officers was coupled the name of Bro . Mulvey Past Grand Pursuivant , while Bros . C . Bullock Prov . G . Sec . Herts , and S . Lichtenfeld P . P . G . S . were associated , as representatives of Provincial Grand Lodge . The W . M . spoke of all three as hard-working Brethren , who had won distinction by their devotion to the interests of the Craft . The Broxbourne Lodge was very proud of having them as members .

Bro . Mulvey P . G . P . most sincerely thanked the W . M . for having toasted him with the Grand Officers of England . He was very pleased to see that the Grand Officers as a body were always ready and willing to give all the assistance that was required of them , and did everything they could to advance the welfare of Freemasonry . For his own part he could promise to second their efforts . The other Brethren included in the toast also responded .