Notices Of Meetings.

the Craft , still the principles which actuated the brethren must necessarily make them good men and true friends . TTo referred to tho salutary influences which Masonry brought to bear in the various relations of life , and said this was strikingly illustrated in the recent Aldermanic election in tho City , when he presided over a wardmote for the election of a successor to their late esteemed colleague Bro .

Alderman Sir Thomas White . He shonld not soon forget the extent to which Freemasonry seemed to be cultivated , and the manner in which it was carried out amongst the Jews . He had always understood that a great number of Jews were Freemasons , but he was not aware it existed to so largo an extent as was evident to him in the ward of Portsoken . He looked npon Masonry as affording him some

of the happiest hours of his life . He must say that amongst the hospitalities he had received from all classes of his fellow-citizens , none had exceeded those which had been offered him by the fraternity to whioh they all rejoiced to belong . Night after night , almost , he might be a welcome—and he believed an honoured—guest at any of the Lodges . They had come to him from all parts , and his only grief

was that he had been unable to accept fche kind invitations as frequently as he should have liked . He looked upon Freemasonry as an institution which had for its object the benefit of , and the promotion of happiness , amongst mankind . An institution which had this for its object was worthy of all admiration and support , and he should do all he could in the position he held to advance the means of doing

good to his fellow-men . He wished this Lodge every prosperity , and might it continue to flourish to the very end . Bro . Sheriff Savory claimed the indulgence of the brethren , in responding to the toast , for two reasons , first because he was a " fledgeling" in Masonry , though he hoped in time he might become a full-grown bird , and ifc shonld be his endeavour to do his utmost for the cause of

Freemasonry . In the second place , this toasfc was so often proposed , that he found ifc difficult to find suitable terms in which to acknowledge it . He was struck with the pertinent remarks which had fallen from the Worshipful Master , bearing npon the principles of the Craft , amongst ; which he said law and order were engrained in the heart of every Freemason . He regretted the absence of his colleague ,

Bro . Alderman De Keyser , who was spending a short holiday in Belgium j but they both esteemed it a privilege to rank with the Lord Mayor in the cause of Freemasonry . Bro . J . Harper , Immediate Past Master , in proposing the health of the Worshipful Master , referred to the admirable manner in whioh Brother Povey discharged the duties of the chair , and as the Lord Mayor

had referred to the traditional history , which was ignored in many of tbe Lodges , he might be allowed to say that was a point on which the brethren of the Neptune prided themselves upon having done thoroughly . It took time to make themselves proficient in the ritual , but their predecessors had done it , and Bro . Povey had proved himself as able in this as in all the other branches of his work . The

W . M . thanked the brethren for the kind response they had made to his appeal on behalf / of the Institution for Girls , and said through their instrumentality he should be able to take up a list in every way worthy of the good old Neptune Lodge . With respect to himself , his whole heart waa in the working of the three degrees , and he should feel it no honour to be Master of a Lodge unless he did the work .

Two gentlemen had been nominated as candidates for their next meeting , and nothing would give him greater pleasure than to initiate them . In conclusion , he proposed the Visitors , the toast being most cordially received . Bro . Allcroft , after acknowledging the hospitality extended to the guests , said he should have been pleased to witness some working by the Officers and brethren . Tbe reputation of the

Neptune for hospitality had been maintained to a high degree . If the old original Neptune treated everybody as well as did the Lodge bearing his name , Sir Edward Watkin wonld have little need of boring a tunnel underneath the English Channel . Bro . Sir John Bennett , after some humorous prefatory remarks , said it was delightful to follow so high an authority in the Craft as Bro . John Derby

Allcroft . Though , unfortunatel y , it had never been his privilege or good fortune to take a leading part in Masonry , yefc from his early days his friends had been in the midst of it , and he had been full of the purposes and the traditions of the Craft , whioh came home to him as historical matters of the most momentous character . For thirty years , though persistently declining office , he had regarded with

interest and respect the marvellous current of Freemasonry . Within fche lasfc 3000 years everything had been in revolution , and nothing maintained its unaltered supremacy like the Craffc . Throngh evil and good report , it had passed throngh the dark ages , and though dynasties had risen and fallen , and even though forms of theology had come and passed away , still the steady march of tbe Craffc

advanced unchanged , through all the vicissitudes of surrounding Institntions . Freemasonry now , as ever , was hearty and vigorous in the performance of its beneficial designs . Its aim was to better tho condition of suffering humanity ; its motto was that of Christianity itself—namely , liberty , equality and fraternity . Its highest honours were given to its most devoted members on the true

ground of merit , without regard for the man s position , or the -want of position , in the outer world . Wherever the Masonic body could gather up the elements of progress and improvement , they gave a hearty concurrence , and strove to make them available for the good of human civilisation . Their past history showed this , and for the future they were as determined to add to those forces from time to

time , most conducive to the freedom and welfare of the greatest number , in mind body , and estate . For this the world had ever been grateful to the Craft , and had ever appreciated , though it could not fully comprehend , the great principles which lay at the very root of humanity . They might be thankful to the G . A . O . T . U . that Freemasonry knew none of the creeds and disputations by which the

world had been racked m the past centuries of its history ,- no political party spirit , no theological creed entered into the Craft itself ; and its sole object was to make the world live better tomorrow than it did to-day . He was glad to congratulate this Lodge upon its vitality , and wished for ifc a long career of future prosperity . The Worshipful Master then proposed the health of tho Past Masters

with which toast he associated the name of Bro . Isaac Wilcox , who had ably officiated ns * Treasurer of the Lodge for twenty-seven years Bro . Wilcox P . M ., said nothing conld be more gratifying to the Past Masters than to find the brethren of the Lodge emulating the ex . ample of their predecessors , and striving after the position which their Worshipful Master well occupied to-night . He ( the speaker )

had been a member of this Lodge thirty-three years , and he was now its senior member . It was a great source of satisfaction to him to know he enjoyed tho esteem of the brethren . He had endeavoured , during the twenty-seven years he acted as Treasurer , to keep them in a good sailing condition , and during the whole of that period they had never been indebted to the tavern for a shilling , and had never

sat down to a dinner without its liabilities being discharged . He looked npon that with some satisfaction , because he felt they were independent of the proprietor nnder whose roof they were entertained , and they commanded more respect than if they were £ 200 or £ 300 in debt . Economy , prudence and caution were as necessary in Masonry as in commercial matters ; and it was a pleasure to know

tbat fche Lodge bad risen by prudence , care and economy to its present high position in the Craft . The brethren did him honour , in January last , when he retired from office , to present him with an acknowledgment of his humble services , and he regarded ifc as the high . est honour any Lodge conld possible bestow npon a brother connected with it . He was sure in his nomination of Brother Storr

as his successor he was quite justified , for that brother was remark , able for his punctuality and regularity of attendance . He held ifc as one of the greatest requisites that the brother who held the office of Treasurer should be regular in attendance , and for this Bro . Storr was proverbial ; therefore ifc was with pleasure he recommended him , and he was sure the Lodge would never regret having received him .

The Worshipful Master next proposed the health of the Treasurer and Secretary , and spoke in highly complimentary terms of the manner in which the duties of these offices were discharged by Bro . E . F . Storr P . M . and Brother George Britton P . M . Brother Storr thanked the brethren for the hearty reception they had given to the toast , and expressed his gratification afc the success oi their

gathering , and the attendance of their illustrious visitors . He -was rejoiced to meet the Grand Treasurer elect , and said the blue collar should nofc be held in perpetuity by any brother , however worthy . Brother Colonel Creaton deserved well of the Craft for his services as Grand Treasurer , but there were many men equally worthy of the hononr , as there were many coming on equally as dis .

tinguished as Brother John Derby Allcroft . He trusted the office would be handed down year by year to those who had done service to Masonry in their day and generation . His love for Masonry was innate , and charity was a tonchstone to him . He thanked them for sending him to fche Benevolent Institution with such a noble list , and now he asked them for all fche Boys' and Girls '

votes they could spare for deserving cases . He was pleased that Bro . Wilcox ' s mantle had fallen upon him , and he should strive to discharge the duties of his office to their satisfaction . Bro . Britton was exceedingly delighted at the success of the evening , and thanked their Treasurer for the energy he had displayed in bringing about this much-to-be-desired visit of such distinguished personages as tbe

Lord Mayor and Sheriff of London , fche Grand Treasurer elect , and other Officers of Grand Lodge . The good fellowship and intercourse of Freemasonry had been well exemplified on that occasion , and he should be glad to use every effort to promote the interests of the Lodge . The W . M . thon proposed the Officers of the Lodge , with thanks for fche ability with which they supported him in carrying on his duties . Bro . J . J . Slater , in returning thanks , said this evening

had been a proud one for the Lodge , and he was rejoiced afc meeting so many distinguished visitors . He and all the other Officers were united in furthering the besfc interests of the Neptune Lodge , and in maintaining the high position ifc had attained in the Craffc . The proceedings were shortly afterwards olosed with fche Tyler ' s toasfc . There was an abundance of excellent music and singing , to whioh contributions were made by Bros . Britton , Hopper , Fitzgerald , Taylor , McGregor , Charles , Light , and Vane .

Percy Lodge of Instruction , No . 198 . —At the meeting at fche Jolly Farmers , Southgate-road , Islington , on Saturday , fche 31 st March , there were present—Bros . Weeden W . M ., Dixie S . W ., Marks J . W ., Ashton S . D ., Woolf J . D ., Birch I . G ., Pearcy Preceptor , Lorkin Treasurer , Galer Secretary ; also Bros . Spencer , Houghton , Hatch , Brasted , Moss , Wright , Fenner , Glass , Bevan , and Manger .

Lodge was opened in due form , and the minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed . Lodge was opened in the second degree , and Brother Brasted offered himself as candidate for raising ; he was examined and entrusted . Lodge opened in the third degree , and the ceremony of raising was rehearsed , the Worshipfnl Master giving the traditional history . Lodge was resumed , and the ceremony of

passing rehearsed , Brother Lorkin candidate . Brother Dixie was unanimously elected W . M . for the ensuing week . Lodge was then closed and adjourned . The members of the above Lodge have accepted invitations to work the Fifteen Sections at the Royal Standard Lodge of Instruction , on the 27 th instant , and at the Upton Lodge of Instruction , on the second Thursday in May .

Dalhousie Lodge of Instruction , No . 860 . —Held at Bro . Smyth's , Sisters' Tavern , Pownall-road , Dalston , on Tuesday , 3 rd inst . Bros . Young W . M ., Gushing S . W ., Wardell J . W ., Christian S . D ., Bunker J . D ., Gray I . G ., F . Carr Secretary , Brasted acting Preceptor ; also Bros . Allen , Smyth , Wallington , Ames , & c . Lodge

was opened in due form , and minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed . The ceremony of initiation was rehearsed , Brother Smyth candidate . Bro . Christian worked the first , second and third sections of the lecture , assisted by tho brethren . Bro . Gushing was elected W . M . for the ensuing week , and appointed his OtBcers in rotation . Lodge was then closed , and adjourned .