The City Masonic Club Lifeboat.

THE CITY MASONIC CLUB LIFEBOAT .

FBEEMASONS cannot associate together without soon hnaing some laudable object on which to bestow their charity , says the " City Press , " and all the Lodges and Lodges of Instruction manifest this spirit in some form or other . Twenty-seven years ago the then Secretary of the Eoyal Athelstan Lodge , No . 19 , Bro . E . B . Grabham P . P . S . G . W . Middlesex , with the help of

Bro . A . H . Lilley P . M . Fortitude Lodge , No . 12 , and several other members of City Lodges , joined together in founding the City Masonic Club , for the purpose of Masonic improvement and good fellowship . They firsb met at the Jamaica Coffee House , Cornhill , and subsequently at the White Hart , Abchurch Lane ,

while now their gatherings take place at the Oity Arms Tavern , St . Mary Axe . Here during the winter weekly meetings are held under the Preceptorship of Bro . J . B . Sorrell , many members of the Eoyal Athelstan , the Cordwainer , the John Carpenter , and other City Lodges regularly attending .

A moiety of the Club ' s subscriptions has from the beginning always been allocated to the Eoyal Masonic charities , and in addition for very many years it has been the custom at every meeting for each member present to subscribe the modest sum of three pence towards a lifeboat fund . The sum of £ 500 was in this way raised a year or so ago , bub the difficulty arose oE finding

a home for the boat . A large outlay was , moreover , needed for the establishment of a station and equipments . That difficulty was , however , at last surmounted , a fact , we believe , brought about mainly through the instrumentality of a Past Master of the Eoyal Athelstan Lodge , Bro . J . H . Whadcoat , a member of the Club , and the presiding Master of the Lodge of Amity , No . 137 , at Poole , where he has a residence , and where the Club's lifeboat is

for the future to be stationed . The launching of a lifeboat is not an every day occurence , and Poole was en fete on Thursday of last week to celebrate the useful presentation . A large and enthusiastic meeting of the Masons of Poole , Bournemouth , Eingwood , and the surrounding

district , with a good contingent from the City of London , was held at the Guildhall , Poole , presided over by the Mayor ( Lord Wimborne ) , who was supported by the Mayors of Bournemouth , Christchurch , and Wareham . The formal presentation of the boat then took place .

At the close of the meeting the Brethren , in full Masonic regalia , formed in procession and marched to the new shipway in the harbour , headed by the Chaplains , the Eev . W . Okes Parish and the Eev . W . Mortimer Heath P . M . Prov . G . Chap ., the Mayor immediately following . The dedication service took place , and

the ceremony of christening the boat was performed by Lady Wimborne , who , amidst the hearty cheers of the representative company assembled , named the welcome gift " The City Masonic Club " Lifeboat after its donors . The procession then returned iu marching order to the Masonic Hall and disrobed .

Prior to the Guildhall meeting an emergency meeting of the Lodge of Amity was held , when a resolution was unanimously carried , as follows : " That the best thanks of this Lodge be given to the City Masonic Club , London , for their generosity in providing the lifeboat , ' The City Masonic Club , ' which has this

day been placed on the Poole and Bournemouth station of the National Lifeboat Institution , and is to-day to be launched and christened by the Eight Hon . the Lady Wimborne . Mayoress of Poole , after the great meeting to be held at the Guildhall , Poole , presided over by the Eight Hon . Lord Wimborne , Mayor of Poole " ;

also " That a copy of the foregoing resolution be sent to W . Bro . J . Brockett Sorrell P . M . 176 P . M . and Treasurer 1260 P . Z . and Treasurer of 176 Chapter , fche indefatigable and much respected Secretary and Preceptor of the City Masonic Club , and W . Bro . J . H . Whadcoat W . M . P . M . 19 , a member of that Club . " In the evening a supper was given to the crew .

A Lodge Without A Tyler.

A LODGE WITHOUT A TYLER .

HpHE following experience of an old Past Master in an Indian I Lodge has reached us ( " Indian Freemason " ) . It comes rather opportunely at this time , when the question of a Lodge without a Tyler has been raised : At an election meeting the result did not please some parties . One or two withdrew , but some others waited till the business of the evening was nearly finished , when tbey brought to notice , what they had known all along ,

that there was no Tyler , and tbey said the proceedings were null and void . The W . M . agreed , ancl then ( after asking my opinion , which was the same as he held ) he proceeded to open the Lodge and go through the business de nova ( with a Tyler of course ) . The malcontents objected , but were overruled , and they left the Lodge room and then appealed to D . G . Lodge , which upheld the Master ' s action and censured the appellants for not reporting that there was no Tyler at an earlier date .

Swansea Freemasons will be pleased to learn that Sir John Llewelyn is the only Welshman who holds the Victoria Medal of Honour for Agriculture , says the " South Wales Daily News . "

Reports Of Meetings.

REPORTS OF MEETINGS .

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

OEAFT : PEOYINGIAL

ST . AUBYN LODGE , No .. 954 . THE newly-installed Master Bro . Bev . A . 3 . Hamlyn presided over the annual banquet , held at tlie Masonic Hall , Plymouth , on the 24 th ult ., the company numbering about 120 . The Loyal toasts having been honoured , Bro . Payne gave the Provincial Grand Masters of Devonshire ( Sir Stafford Northcote ) and Cornwall ( the Earl of Mount-Edgcumbe ) , remarking that the two western counties were particularly favoured with excellent Provincial Masters , of whom western Freemasons were justly proud .

Bros . 3 . B . Gover ( Devon ) and Tresize ( Cornwall ) acknowledged the toast ' . j . 5 was universally agreed that the Master Bro . Hamlyn deserved the eulogy that had been bestowed upon him by the members during the time he had been an Officer of Lodge St . Aubyn , but more particularly whilst filling the chairs of Junior and Senior Warden .

Bro . Hedge S . D ., in submitting the health of Bro . Hamlyn , pointed out the many good qualities possessed by hirn . The toast was drunk amid the greatest enthusiasm . Bro . Hamlyn replying , tendered his thanks for the great cordiality shown to him that evening . He hoped that the coming year would , if possible , be even more prosperous than those already passed .

Bro . Hamlyn proceeded to present , on behalf of the Lodge , Bro . Captain Quinn ( who is leaving the district after a connection with St . Aubyn extending over a period of twenty-eight years ) with a solid silver smoker ' s companion , accompanied by an address . The Master enlarged on the many and great capabilities of the recipient , remarking that to know Captain Quinn was to love him .

Bro . Quinn touchingly conveyed his feelings of gratefulness to Bro . Hamlyn and St . Aubyn members for the magnificent gift , and stated that he had endeavoured to carry out his Masonic duties , and to take an active share in the workings of the Lodge , because he was mindful of the honour which the members conferred on him nineteen years since , in unanimously choosing him their Master . Captain Quinn stated that his connection with Lodge St . Aubyn would continue to exist , although removed some miles distant from the neighbourhood .

On Captain Quinn resuming his seat , the Brethren rose and gave him three hearty cheers . The toast list concluded with the Past Masters , the Junior Officers , the Visitors , and Absent Brethren . Bros . Williams , P . Wright , S . Leathwaite , J . Smale , and B . Wright contributed songs . Mr . Pearce ably presided at the piano .

ST . BEDE LODGE , No . 1119 . THE annual meeting was held in the Masonic Hall , Grange Boad , Jarrow , on the 25 th ult . Bro . W . F . Benton W . M . presided , and there was a large attendance of members and visiting brethren . The W . M .-elect Bro . James F . Douglas was presented by Bro . Joseph Bigby to the installing Master Bro . W . F . Benton , and the latter performed the ceremony in an able and impressive manner . Bro . Douglas afterwards appointed and invested his Officers .

The musical portion of the ceremony was admirably rendered by the Lodge choir , Bro . Wilkinson officiating at the organ . Subsequently , the new W . M . presented to Bro . Benton , on behalf of the members of the Lodge , a handsome jewel in recognition of his services to the Lodge as W . M . during the year , and as a mark of esteem and regard . Bro . Benton suitably replied , and the Lodge was closed in due form .

The annual banquet was afterwards held at Bro . Butherford ' s , County Hotel , Ormonde Street , Bro . Douglas W . M . presiding , and Bro . Thomas Bobinson S . W . occupying the vice-chair . An excellent dimmer was served , and the Loyal aud Masonio toasts were honoured , thc proceedings being pleasantly varied by musical contributions from several of the Brethren .

KING HAROLD LODGE , No . 1327 . , rpHE installation meeting was hold at the Four Swans Hotel , Waltham JL Cross , oa Thursday , 19 th ulfc . The W . M . Bro . G . S . Metcalfe presided , and was supported by Bro . Joseph Priddle W . M .-elect , and all the Officers , together with a large number of other members and many visitors .

The Lodge was opened and the minutes were read and confirmed . Mr . John Whyte was initiated and Bro . W . A . Cock elected a joining member . The installation of the W . M .-elect then took place , Bro . J . Bobinson P . M . being the Installing Officer , assisted by Bro . Charles Lacey P . M . as Director of Ceremonies .

The following Officers were then invested : —Bros . G . S . Metcalfe I . P . M ., Henry Park S . W ., Wm . Bangs J . W ., W . A . Sproat P . M . P . P . G . P . Treasurer , Thos . Beilly P . M . P . P . G . P . Sec , Henry Trask P . M . 2372 P . P . G . S . of W . S . D ., E . G . Piatt J . D ., John Bobinson P . M . D . C , Lewis Cohen A . D . C , D . J . Shepherd Organist , D . J . Witte I . G ., G . 3 . Holdsworth and J . W . Crockett Stewards , and A . G . Young Tyler .

There were votes of thanks to the distinguished Brethren who assisted Bro . Bobinson in performing the ceremony of installation . The death of Bro . G . Holdsworth P . M . was reported , and the Secretary was directed to send a letter of condolence to the family of the deceased Brother .

The W . M . then said he had a very pleasing duty to perform , which was to place on the breast of the I . P . M . Bro . G . S . Metcalfe a Past Masters jewel of a most unique character , and one which all admired , and were pleased to see on their worthy Brother ' s breast . The jewel was made in such a way that while it reflected honour on the recipient , it also had a patriotic and loyal allusion to the Diamond Jubilee year of her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen . Bro . Metcalfe was well worthy thc distinguished honour , as he had