Installation Meetings, &C.

it had been a source of pleasure to him to see the progress the Neptune Lodge had made . He hoped ifc would continue in tho same state of prosperity , though ho thought tho time approached when ho should relinquish the office he had held in it for so many years . Ho began to think the time had come when he should resign hia duties into younger hands , for however well ono might discharge a duty , ono

nii » ht hold office too long . Ho had thought it over seriously , and merely threw it out as a hint that he hacl occupied the position long enough . As soon as he could see a brother who would undertake the duty , and -would be as constant in hia attendance as he bad been during the many years he had occupied that position , he should ask tho brethren to release him from the post ; and he was sure they

would accept his nomination , because he would not recommend any one as Treasurer who was not a constant attendant afc Lodge . He had been connected with the old Neptune for thirty years , and had only missed four of its meetings during the whole of thafc period . He told them this in order thafc they might nofc be surprised if he stated the time had come when a younger man should bo elected to the office he now filled . Bro . Eames also briefly responded , and said

the work , though onerous , was work that he liked , and the satisfaction of the brethren was his best reward . The W . M . then gavo the Officers of the Lodge , which toasfc was received with the utmost enthusiasm . Bro . J . Harper , in responding , expressed the belief thafc all the Officers wero anxious to maintain the prestige of the Lodge , and to work up gradually to the proud position which the then Wor . Master filled so woll . He was satisfied the Officers would

support the Wor . Master in tho honourable position he hold , and only hoped when he passed up to the chair he should be able to do as Bro . Britton hacl done ; he did nofc wish to do better . The Officers would support him loyally , from beginning to end of his term of office . Bro . J . J . Slater , in returning thanks , also spoke of the excellent working of the Wor . Master , and endorsed the remarks of

tho last speaker as to the support that would be accorded to him by his Officers . For his own part , he should endeavour to do all he could for the interest of the Lodge , and to maintain for it that prestige it had so long enjoyed . It was a source of satisfaction to him , as it must be to every member , to witness the continued progress and prosperity of the Neptune Lodge ; he felt satisfied all

the Officers would support the Worshipful Master in his efforts to sustain the dignity and the onerous conditions of his office . Several complimentary toasts were honoured , amongst whioh thanks were accorded to Bro . Hopper for his valuable assistance at the pianoforte . The Wor , Master took occasion to mention the Masonio Charities , and in the course of an able speech mentioned the splendid result of the

Benevolent Festival on the previous night , at whioh a sum of £ 14 , 250 had been subscribed . He { the speaker ) had the honour of representing the Girls' School , and Bro . Storr the Boys ' , at their next Festivals , He was confident the brethren of his Lodge would rally round them and enable them , as heretofore , to take up respectable lists , and thus maintain the name of the Neptune Lodge for its

munificence in all essential matters of Charity . Several other toasts were honoured , and the proceedings were enlivened by some excellent songs , Bro . Hopper rendering valuable aid as accompanyist on the pianoforte . Bro . Harper sang , iu excellent voice , " Over the garden wall , " the "Sapper brigade , " and the "Old Rhine wine . " Bro .

Henry Povey " Complaints , " the " Lord Mayor ' s Coachman , " and " Quips the Quaker , " all in irresistible style ; Bro . Vane sang " Drink , puppy , drink , " and " Jack ' s yarn 5 " Mr . Mark Hubbard sang " Down amongst the dead men" and "A fresh evening breeze , " while several other singers combined to make up a most pleasant and harmonious evening .

Lodge Of Prosperity, No 65.

LODGE OF PROSPERITY , No 65 .

'JiHE meeting of the members of this excellent Lodge for - * - the election of Worshipful Master , Treasurer and T yler , and for the transaction of other business , was held on Thursday evening , 24 th ulfc ., at the Guildhall Tavern , when there was a very large attendance , under the presidency of Bro . C . E . Ferry W . M . Amongst

jnose also present were Bros . W . Chicken S . W ., J . Roberts J . W fa . T . Brown P . M . Hon . Sec , J . Sheidler S . D ., C . J . Rich J . D ., Louis A . Leins P . M . D . C , G . S . Peirce Steward , Chas . Daniel P . M ., H . J . ^ oodall P . M ., T . Mullett P . M ., & c . Visitors—Bros . Edwd . P . Barlow £ . M . 15 , Jas . Crow 334 , R . Ricking 1227 , W . Twyman 184 , Thomas I * . Davey 1471 , W . A . Simmons 1559 . Lodge was opened afc five 0 clock , in accordance with ancient formalitieswhen the ballot was

, opened for Bro . C . Ansell , merchant , of 32 Colveston-crescent , Ridley - road ( of the Rising Star Lodge , Bloemfontein , O . F . S ., No . 1022 ) , pro . Posed by Bro . Goodall , seconded by the W . M ., as a joining member , ihe voting was unanimousl y in his favour . Lodge was then advanced , and Bros . W . Fencott , H . A . Patience , W . Mattin and R . G .

'~" " were only raised to the sublime degree by the Wor . Master , who performed the ceremony in a most perfect and impressive man ' ner . Bro . W . Chicken was unanimously elected W . M . for the ensuing year , amidst the acclamations of the brethren , and it was resolved to present a P . M . ' s jewel to the retiring Master in token of esteem , and in appreciation of the admirable way in which he had aischarged the duties of bis office . Bro . J . H . Goodwin P . M . was —U eieciea

-. mua , y re- 'i'reasurer , and Bro . U . T . Speight Tyler , t d ! ° bnsine 8 S having been transacted , Lodge was closed , and ne brethren adjourned to a sumptuous banquet , provided in Messrs . «" "er and Clifford ' s best style , and personally superintended by Mr . wirt p « T the conc ' U 8 ion of the repast , the customary loyal waats

~*« -. L were duly Honoured , and a most agreeable and bartons evening was enlivened by some excellent vocal and instrutCi -. "EH - - , installation of Bro . Chicken will take place on ¦ "le last Thursday in March .

tionTtfi ! T ' ™ LP-M * 901 ' rel ] earse the ceremony of installa-DrLrl w « lo , eHU «» Lodge of Instruction , No . 538 , at the Green ra gon , Maddox-streefc , W ., on Wednesday nexfc , 9 th instant .

Gooch Lodge, No. 1238.

GOOCH LODGE , No . 1238 .

THE ANNUAL meeting of this Lodge for tho installation of tho W . M . elect , and tho appointment and investiture of his Officers , was held at fcho Albany Hotel , Twickenham , on Monday , 21 st ult . Bro . Mesronzo W . M . presided nnd was very cordially , as well as numerously , supported by the Officers , thero being likewise tho following strong contingent of visitors , namely : —Bros . W . Whitmarsh 145 , H . Foskett 1612 , J . S . Adkins W . M . 990 , C . A . Walter S . W . 865 , Fred . Dunn P . M . 72 , W . J . Murlis P . M . 1642 , E . M . Lander

I . P . M . 1642 , J . Bartle J . D . 1642 , S . H . Parkhouse P . M . 1642 , W . W . Morgan Secretary 211 , A . Kent 211 , M . Hawkins 1257 , J . Fisher 733 , and H . T . Smith 1257 . After the customary formalities and the minutes of the previous meeting had been read and confirmed , Lodgo was advanced , and Bro . Powell having been interrogated to the satisfaction of the brethren and entrusted , withdrew while the Lodge was raised to tho third . On his re-admission in duo course , the snblimo

degree of M . M . was conferred upon him , tho ceremony being mosfc impressively rendered by Bro . Mesrouze . x \ fter tho necessary arrangements had been completed , Bros . Cooper and Stephenson were passed to the second degree , both ceremonies being worked by Bro . Mesrouze . A ballot was then taken for Messrs . Robert Coomber , and Frederick W . Jackson , which proved satisfactory in both cases . Bro . Mesronzo

having vacated tho chair in favour of Bro . Lonsdale P . G . Std . Middlesex , who had kindly taken upon himself tho duties of Installing Master , Bro . George Capper Harding W . M . elect was presented for the purpose of receiving the benefits of installation . After Brother Harding had signified in tho usual manner his adhesion to both tho letter and the spirit of tbe ancient charges , " and all thoso brethren

below the rank of I . M . had withdrawn , a board of Installed Masters was formed , the Wardens ' chairs being occupied by Bros . E . C . Wood , ward and Freeman respectively , the office of D . of C . being undertaken by Bro . Murlis . The ceremony of installation over , and the new W . M . having been saluted in the several degrees , Bro . Harding proceeded with the appointment and investiture of his Officers for the

year . These were as follow : —Bros . Varley S . W . —in the temporary absence of Bro . Varley , Bro . Coombes was invested with the collar and jewel of the office—Leith J . W ., Baber P . M . Treas ., Laxton P . M . Secretary , Gillingham S . D ., Mayne J . D ., Powell I . G ., Linsdell Std ., and Bowler Tyler . After the usual addresses and congratulations to Bro . Harding , the Report of the Audit Committee , which was in

every respect satisfactory , was submitted and adopted . On the motion of Bro . Lonsdale , seconded by Bro . Mesrouze , Bro . H . C . Levander , Prov . G . Secretary Middlesex , was unanimously , and amid general acclamation elected an honorary member of the Lodge . A proposition for the election of a candidate for the rights and privileges of Freemasonry having been handed in , and the resignation of

two members having been accepted , wifch regret , Lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to an excellent dinner under tho presidency of their newly-installed chief . On the removal of tho cloth , the customary Loyal and Masonic toasts were duly honoured . To Bro . Mesrouze I . P . M ., as of course , was entrusted the duty of proposing the health of the W . M ., and this he did in well-chosen terms thafc

were justly complimentary . Bro . Harding , in response , expressed his sense of gratitude , both for the manner in which his predecessor had proposed his health , and for the reception it had experienced from all present . He should use his best efforts to perform the duties of his high office to the entire satisfaction of the Lodge , and he trusted that when his occupancy of the chair came to an end , ifc would be

found thafc in those efforts he had beeu successful . In conclusion , he proposed the health of the P . M . ' s , and in associating with it the name of Bro . Mesrouze , he not only paid a compliment to the undoubted abilities which thafc estimable brother had shown in the office of W . M ., but he likewise expressed the pleasure which he personally experienced that the first important duty it had fallen to his lot to

discharge was thafc of presenting to Bro . Mesronze the handsome P . M . s jewel , which had been unanimously voted by the Lodge as some slight token of the respect in which he was held , and as a recognition of the able services it had been his fortune to render as Master . When the applause with which Bro . Harding ' s remarks were received had subsided , Bro . Mesrouze , who was much overcome , and had some difficulty in finding words to express his feelings , returned

thanks for his brother P . M . 's , as well as for himself . As to the testimonial he had just received , he should ever regard it with pride and pleasure . Ifc reminded him , he said , of the decoration of the Legion of Honour , which , as they all knew , was one that every Frenchman , who was held worthy of having ifc bestowed upon him , appreciated mosfc highly . The other toasts having been given , the brethren rose and separated , after having spent a thoroughly enjoyable evening .

City of Westminster Lodge , Ho . 1563 . —A meeting was held on Thursday , 24 th Feb ., afc the Regent Masonic Hall , Air-street , Regent-street . Bros . J . E . Shand W . M ., J . Hutchinson S . W ., J . Waugh J . W ., B . H . Swallow P . M . P . G . S . D . Midd . Treas ., E . J . Scott P . M . Sec , Day S . D ., J . Hammond W . M . 1765 J-D ., T . Eastgate I . G ., Potter

P . M . Tyler ; Bros . Edell , Stevens , Bonham , Smith , Taylor , Arnold , Hill , and others . Visitors—Bros . G . W . Reed P . M . 13 , J . Charles P . M . 19 , K . T . E * ed P . M . 193 a * ad 1287 , J . L . Moore P . M . 169 , E . H .

Hoare S . D . 1765 , J . Mills 1765 , and B . Cohen 188 . Mr . W . G . Higgins was duly balloted for and initiated . Bros . Davies , Quested , and Morton were duly passed to the degree of Fellow Craft . Propositions were given for next meeting . Bro . Scott ( Sec . ) expressed a wish to serve as Steward for the Girls '; and the sum of twenty guineas was voted to his list from the funds . The brethren , thirty-five in number ,

afterwards dined at the Cafe Royal . After an excellent dinner the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were given by the W . M ., Bro . Shand . The Initiate responded in well-chosen words . The Visitors expressed themselves pleased with the work of the Lodge room , and eloquently as to the hospitality proffered them . The contribution of songs and music made the evening very enjoyable . The brethren separated after the T y ler' toasfc , about eleven o ' clock , until April .