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r ^^^^^^^ S23 GREAT QUEEN STREET , W . C .

Installation Meetings, &C.

INSTALLATION MEETINGS , & c .

NEPTUNE LODGE , No . 22 .

IT is scaroely too much to say of this old and highly respected Lodge that it enjoys the reputation not only of supplying us with the best examples we have of perfect working , but that it nnmbers under its banner some of the most sturdy advocates of our Masonic Charities . For a long series of year 3 it has been practically decided that no member who could not readily discharge the

functions of the office should bo privileged to hold the chief honours of tho Lodge ; and thus , by making pnro merit tho ground and test of promotion , the brethren have sncceeded in well maintaining the high level of prestige which Old Neptune has for so many years enjoyed . During the past year Bro . Thomas P . Collings has more

than realised the expectations that were formed of him when he was promoted to the chair of King Solomon , and having well and wisely governed his Lodge , winning golden opinions from brethren who are not lavish of their encomiums unless well deserved , he will carry with him to the Past Masters' da'is the satisfaction that his

endeavours to sustain the dignity of his office have been most oreditable to himself and to tho whole of the brethren . That satisfaction will be enhanced by the consolatory fact that he will be sncceeded in the chair by a gentleman who has well earned the honour , and upom whom the Master ' s mantle will sit gracefully . All those who know Brother George Britton , and have watched his progress in the

soience during the twelve months he has supported Bro . Collings in the Senior Warden ' s chair , will be ready to look forward with confidence that the lustre of the position and the dignity of the Lodge will not suffer in his hands . It was , therefore , with the utmost gratification that at the final meeting for the season , which was held on Thursday , 25 th ult ., at the Guildhall Tavern , Gresham-street ,

Bro . Britton was elected by the unanimous voice of a well-filled Lodge as Worshipful Master for the ensuing year . The brethren assembled at half-past two o ' clock , under the presidency of the retiring W . Master , who was supported by Bros . George Britton S . W ., J . Harper , Ph . D ., J . W ., Isaac Wilcox P . M . Treasurer , T . E . Eames P . M . Hon . Sec , Oliver Cromwell Sargent I . G ., A . B . Neats P . M .

acting as W . S ., Henry Povey acting as S . D ., W . M . Ashwell I . P . M ., E . F . StorrP . M ., Crawford P . M ., James Norman P . M ., Thos . Whiting , Henry Frederick Griffin ( Master of the Fanmakers' Company ) , Wm . John Eden Crane , Alexander Macgregor , Joseph Corbett , John Davidson , Mark Hubbard , W . Cook , E . Hollandt , C . H . Crowe , Benjamin C . Crowe , E . Cutting , John Frost , E . Y . Jolliffe , E . W .

Coulcher , W . Busyard , T . J . Lawrence , and E . Peart . Visitors—Bros . John E . Puttick 81 , G . P . Britton 183 , H . R . Davidson 181 , and Abercorn , of the Archimedes Lodge , Saxony . Lodge having been formally opened , Bro . J . Harper , Ph . D ., was invested as J . W ., that office having become vacant . The ballot was then prepared for Mr . Henry Frederick Griffin ( Master of the Fanmakers' Company ) , on

the nomination of Bro . E . F . Storr P . M ., seconded by the Treasurer ; Mr . William John Eden Crane , proposed by the W . M ., seconded by the Hon . Sec . ; and Mr . Alexander Macgregor , whose sponsors were the Immediate Past Master , Bro . W . M . Ashwell , and Bro . Crawford P . M . All three were unanimously approved , and Messrs . Crane and Macgregor were duly initiated by the W . Master , who acquitted

himself with his accustomed ability . In the case of the Master of the Fanmakers' Company , Bro . E . F . Storr P . M . requested that he might bo allowed the privilege of initiating his nominee , and tho request having been courteously acceded to by the W . Master , Bro . Storr performed the ceremony with an ability and precision which forcibly reminded the brethren of days gone by , when the now

popular Past Master was in the zenith of his activity as Master of the Neptune . Subsequently Lodge was advanced to the third , and Bros . Joseph Corbett and Thomas Whiting were raised to the sublime degree by the W . Master , who delivered the charges in a most able and effective manner . Lodge having been lowered , Bro . George Britton S . W . was unanimously elected W . Master for the

ensuing year , in return for which compliment he thanked the brethren in a few happily-chosen sentences . He was deeply sensible of the great honour which they had conferred upon him , and should endeavour to justify the choice they had made by devoting himself sedulously to promote the best and highest interests of the Lodge . He trusted he might be able to tread in the footsteps of the many

excellent Masters who had preceded him , and by emulating their example , to maintain successfully the prestige which they had secured for the good old Neptune Lodge . Bro . Isaac Wilcox P . M . was unanimously re-elected Treasurer , with cordial thanks for his past services ; and Bro . Parkinson was re-appoiuted Tyler . The sum of five guineas was voted to each of the three Masonic

Institutions , Bro . E . F . Storr P . M . expressing his regret that the brethren conld not see their way to granting double that amount . The proposal to present Bro . Collings with a Past Master ' s jewel , on his retirement from office in January next , met with an enthusiastic response , and the W . Master receive : ! the heartiest congratulations of the brethren upon his success and efficiency in the discharge of his exalted functions . The business of a somewhat formidable

Installation Meetings, &C.

agondn having been concluded , Lodgo was closed in form , and tho brethren ndjourncd to the handsome and spacious throue room of tho hotel , where a recherchd banquet was provided by Bros . Hitter and Clitt ' ord , who well sustained the character of this first-class establishment by tho quality of fhoir wines and cuisine . Tho tables wero decorated with vases and cnergncs of tho choicest

cut flowers , ferns , and ornamental plants , which imparted to tho saloon an aspect of great beanty ; and in his arrangements for the comfort and enjoyment of tho numerous party , Mr . Sherwill gave fresh evidence of that perfection which conies onl y with experience . Bro . Henry Mills personally superintended the waiting , which left nothing to bo desired , aud Bro . J . Marcharn acted

efficiently as toastmaster . At the conclusion of tho repast the W . Master gave tho Loyal toasts , informing the Initiates that such was tho custom amongst Masons , who were always loyal to the Throne and devoted to tho best interests of the Craft . Tho toasts wero received with musical honours , the solos being well sustained by Bro . Mark Hubbard . Bro . Ashwell I . P . M ., in proposing the " Health of the

Worshipful Master , " said he approached that particular toast with a degree of regret , inasmuch as this was tho last time he should have the pleasure of proposing it . To a certain extent he must repeat what he had said in Lodge , and that was they all felt that Bro . Collings had done even more than they expected of him ( and that was a good deal ) when he entered on his year of office . He had

fulfilled every expectation which they had of his capabilities , and thoy would all agree that tho reward they had just agreed to prosent him on his retirement from office did not nearly compensate him for the time and trouble he had spent in farthering tho intorests of the Lodge . For himself he should be sorry to pass away from tho lower ranks of the Past Masters , and ho had heard Bro . Collings say ho

also should rogret to leave the chair . He could hardly believe this , because if he had to spend another year in that position he might perhaps grow a little tired of the very arduous duties which attached to it . The W . Master , who was cordially received , said he had met with so much kindness from his brethren since he had occupied the chair , and he appreciated so deeply the extremely kind way in which

they had received the mention of his name that evening that he hardly know how to express himself in adeqnate terms . All ho could say was that he had done his best to carry out the duties of his office ; and if what he had done had met with their approbation , when he left the chair that would be something to take with him , which he should never forget . He next proposed the " health of the Initiates , "

in doing which he said the brethren ought to be proud of the class of recruits which had como amongst them on that occasion . He thought they might look forward to those initiates as very promising ones . Bro . Griffin , in acknowledging the compliment , thanked the brethren for the kind and hospitable manner in which they had received him and his fellow initiates on this occasion . He accepted with peculiar

pride and pleasure the right hand of fellowship which they had so kindly held out to him . He confessed he had some little fear and diffidence at first , but confidence was inspired by the knowledge that they were in such friendly hands . He trusted that their conduot might be such as to ensnre for them in the future the increasing friendship and respect of the brethren . Bros . Crane and Macgregor

also briefly returned thanks for the honour and privilege of being admitted to a participation in the privileges of the Craft , The W . M . next proposed the " health of the Past Masters , " who were always ready to give what assistance was required of them . It was very fortunate for the W . Master for the time being to have such excellent P . M . ' s to fall back upon ' as this Lodge possessed . There were times

when such counsel and assistance were invaluable , and when it would be difficult to arrive at right conclusions upon ono ' s own responsibility . But when the W . Master knew he would have the best advice —and he had always found his P . M . ' s ready to give freely and voluntarily—it added much to the pleasure of the position he filled , and he now desired to acknowledge with gratitnde the aid he had received

at their hands . Bro . E . F . Storr P . M ., in the course of his response to the toast , said he could not help speaking out on behalf of the Masonic Charities and sticking np for them . The brethren might call him " peppery , " and he might have the name of " Charity Storr " in the Lodge j all he could say he was very proud of it . He hoped the day was far distant when the Charities would not find a friend in

him , or when he should be unable to advocate their noble cause . He was proud of having been able to do some little towards aug . menting the prosperity of the Neptune Lodge . He had brought in to-night , and had had the honour of initiating , through the courtesy of the Worshipful Master , his friend Mr . Henry Frederick Griffin , Master of the Fanmaker ' s Company ; and he need

not say , if he had not considered that gentleman a fit and proper person , worthy to be received into the Lodge , he should not have proposed him . He felt assured that in Bro . Griffin they would find not only an excellent friend and worthy brother , but one who would do his duty ; and , as he sat now on the i-itrht <> f the chair , he would some day work his way into that chair . He hoped he might live to

see the day when Bro . Griffin snonld be installed into the chair of what he considered one of the best Lodges in Masonry . It was his mother Lodge , and he loved it now more than over , and desired to see its prestige and its prosperity still continue to increase . He thanked them for the hearty way in which they had received the toast of the P . M . ' s , and as they had selected him to respond to it , he

would merely say it was a great honour to be associated with such an array of P . M . ' s as they saw around them that evening . Might God grant a long continuance of prosperity to the Neptune Lodge . The W . Master , in proposing the " Health of the Visitors , " said ever since he had been a member of the Lodge it had been one of the cardinal points of their creed to look after their visitors , and this should be

well followed up ; for it made them acquainted with many excellent brethren , whom otherwise they might never have known ; moreover , it kept them on the qui vive as to their working ; and he had always seen the members of this Lodge anxious that the working should pa . = 8 off well before visitors , and that they should be well treated . He loved to see visitors amongst them , for they gave a tone to a Lodge