Reports Of Meetings.

OGMORE LODGE , No . 1752 . THE annual meeting was held on Monday , 26 th ult ., at Bridgend , when Brother R . G . Pugh was installed as Worshipful Master . A number of visiting Brethren attended . The W . M . having invested his Officers , a drive was taken round the coast , and in the evening the annual banquet was held at the York Hotel .

CROOK LODGE , No . 2019 . THE annual Provincial visit to this Lodge was made on Wednesday , 28 th ult ., afc the Freemasons' Hall , Crook . There was a large muster of members to welcome the visitors , who included Bro . R . Hudson P . G . Std . B . Eng . Prbv . G . Sec . Various interesting items were included in the work of the day . Jewels

were presented to Bro . R . Hudson , and the Worshipful Master Bro . J . H . Pollard presented a banner to the Lodge . Other presentations were made by Bros . T . Hardy P . P . G . P ., E . Milburn P . M . P . P . G . S . D ., and W . T . Wanless P . M ., each of whom gave to the Crook Lodge a portrait of himself . Afterwards a sumptuous banquet was provided for visitors and members .

HORSA LODGE , No . 2208 . A VERY enjoyable summer outing took place on Wednesday , 28 th ult ., when Lulworth was visited . The party , numbering nearly sixty , and including the W . M . Bro . 0 . Pearce and a number of ladies , left ' shortly after 8 a . m ., the doubtful weather being responsible for the absence of a few of the Brethren . A change of horses took place at Wareham , and after

leaving that place the weather cleared up , and was very fine for the remainder of the day . Luncheon and tea were served on the lawn of the Cove Hotel by Mr . j . Boyd ; and in the course of the afternoon a most successful photograph of the party was taken by Bro . S . G . Witcomb . There were no speeches at the lunch , but the W . M ., in a few well-chosen words ,

bade the Brethren and visitors welcome , and expressed the hope that , in view of the success of that mosfc enjoyable trip , a summer outing would henceforth be considered a fixture . The return journey was commenced about 6-30 , and , after another delightful drive , home was reached at ten o ' clock .

WESTERN DISTRICT UNITED SERVICE LODGE , No . 2258 . THE Worshipful Master Bro . Capt . Thos . Reynolds , Devon Begiment , presided over the installation banquet held on Wednesday , 21 st ult ., at Bro . Boutley ' s Farley Hotel , Plymouth . The President was supported by a distinguished gathering of Masons , consisting principally of those serving in the army and navy .

After the loyal toasts , Bro . Brebner gave the Master Bro . Captain Reynolds . He remarked that the members of the Lodge were glad to have such , a distinguished Brother at their head . Captain' Reynolds returned' thanks , stating that he was proud of tho marked unanimity that existed amongst the Brethren .

CORINTHIAN LODGE , No . 2350 . THE-annual pic-nic of the members was held on Wednesday , 21 st ult ., Bro . Jas . Rothwell W . M . being in charge . Waggonettes were at the Bird-i ' - th ' -Hand Hotel , Hindley , at 7-30 a . m ., and carried the party , numbering about thirty , consisting of the members , their wives , and friends , to the L . and N . W . Railway Station , Wigan . Train for Chester was taken , the

city being reached by 9-50 . The Pied Bull Hotel was made the headquarters . The ancient city was explored , the various attractions being very interesting . An excellent dinner was served at the hotel at half-past twelve , after which the party were conveyed by waggonettes to the river Dee , on which a most enjoyable trip was made . Eton Hall Gardens were visited and

admired by all . Waggonettes were again in waiting , and conveyed the party from Eton to Hawarden and back to Chester . Expectations were entertained of gaining a glimpse of Mr . and Mrs . Gladstone , but a few only accidentally saw the G . O . M . being conveyed in his carriage from home to somewhere

beyond the precincts of Hawarden . Tea was provided about 5-30 , and the return journey was commenced by the 7-45 train , Hindley being . reached by waggonettes from Wigan shortly before ten o ' clock . The pic-nic was most enjoyable , and gave great satisfaction .

TRISTRAM LODGE , No . 2415 . THE members met at Shildon , on Friday , 23 rd ult ., when the Lodge was visited by the Officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge , there being a very large attendance of Officers and members to welcome the visitors . The W . M . Bro . Jos . Henderson presided . The proceedings were of an interesting character , and nearly 120 Brethren were present . ¦;'• ¦ ¦ '• .

MAEK MASONEY .

CHARITY LODGE , No . 76 . THE annual meeting was held at the Freemasons' Hall , Plymouth , on Thursday , 22 nd ult ., when Bro . W . Biscombe was installed W . M . The ceremony was conducted by Bro . J . R . Lord P . P . G . J . W ., and Bro . J . Gidley Prov . G . Treas . After the formal business the Brethren were entertained at supper by the W . M . The usual toasts were honoured , and a pleasant evening was spent under the genial presidency of the W . M .

Whitehaven Freemasons And Their Caretaker.

WHITEHAVEN FREEMASONS AND THEIR CARETAKER .

THE permanent committee of the Sun , Square and Compasses Lodge , Whitehaven , brought an action against Bd . L . Knntsford to recover possession of the rooms which he occupied in his former capacity of care- ' aker . Mr . J . L . Paitson appeared for the plaintiffs and stated that

Whitehaven Freemasons And Their Caretaker.

defendant , who was formally appointed by the Committee as caretaker , received notice to leave in March last , and to give up the rooms as soon as possible on the termination of that notice . This notice was sent to defendant by the Secretary , Mr . W . Hastwell , in pursuance of a resolution passed by the committee , bufc he had failed to leave the rooms in reasonable time , hence the present action . Defendant contended that the Secretary had no authority to turn him out , as he was not his landlord . The committee , too , had not acted in accordance with the rules of the Lodge .

They owed him money but he could get nothing from them . His Honour : Have you had notice that your services were no longer required ? Defendant : Yes . Then why didn't you get off the premises ? They would not pay me my money . Defendant went on to say he himself had been a member of the Lodge sixteen years . His Honour said that did not matter , Ifc had nothing to do with his office as caretaker , and having received notice to leave he ought to have given up the rooms . Defendant : I will go as soon as I can get a house convenient . His Honour made an order upon defendant to give up possession in seven days . — " Whitehaven Advertiser . "

Is There A Cycle Slump ?

IS THERE A CYCLE SLUMP ?

IN view of the statements recently widely circulated , and bearing in mind the large amount of capital invested in Cycle industries , the answer to the above question has become a matter of concern to a very large number of people . The John Griffiths Cycle Corporation Limited , speaking as a firm . " admitted to be the ' World ' s largest Cycle dealers' " say : " We have so far this season done a larger volume of business than at any time in our history . We might give strong evidence in support of this , but a much better criterion of the present state of the Cycle trade is afforded by the recent

speech of the Chairman of the Dunlop Pneumatic Tyro Co ., Ltd . ( Mr . Harvey du Cros sen . ) , afc the ordinary general meeting of the Company , on the 21 st ult ., when handling a balance sheet showing almost one million profit in eighteen months . As is well known , fully 90 per cent . —if not more —of English-made cycles are fitted with the Dunlop Tyre , so thafc it will be readily understood how well qualified the Chairman of this concern is to properly pronounce as to the true state of affairs in the cycle trade . " We quote that portion of Mr . Harvey du Cros' speech which deals more particularly with the subject :

Now , ladies and gentlemen , it may interest you if we look for a moment at the Cycle trade , with which this Company is very intimately connected . A great many people are writing about the Cycle trade just now , and I think some of the gentlemen who are writing do not quite understand the subject . In fact , it brings to my mind the words that Gilbert puts in the mouths of his three little girls from school— " Life is a joke which is just begun . " I think a great many people seem to think that the Cycle trade is a sort of

joke or swindle which has just begun ; but . let me tell you that the Cycle trade is a great English industry—an industry which has been extending for years , and will extend for years . People are talking about a slump in Cycles . I do not know anything about Cycle finance . There may be a slump in Cycle finance , but in the Cycle trade there cannot be a slump . The history of the Cycle trade is simply this , that it started in a very small way , but with the advent of the pneumatic tyre , which made riding a Cycle

a luxury , it began to expand , and it does expand each year , and will expand each year . But the Cycle trade , by reason of the seasons , is sometimes subject to a temporary check in connection with the output , but that check is purely temporary , and it is more a question for the agent than for the manufacturer . It is my opinion that in the Cycle trade very large profits have been made during the year 1897 , and I think it only remains for those afc the head of these businesses to deal with their profits in a proper manner

by paying reasonable dividends and building up large reserves ; and those engaged making the great brands of machines should be careful to make their expansion gradual , as I believe fchey always have done , and are doing . I think I can illustrate my view of the Cycle trade by an incident which happened yesterday . There was a very interesting meeting of the Swift Cycle Company . The directors were complaining of a very ample interpretation placed by their managing director upon the fifth Commandment , and

the managing director gave the directors a photograph and some figures . I have not got the photograph , bufc I have the figures . They show thafc in the year 1894 the turnover of that company was £ 50 , 000 , in 1896 £ 200 , 000 , and for ten months of this year £ 225 , 000 . I happen to know something about this company , and all that £ 225 , 000 worth of machines has been sold , and they are all to be paid for . Now , you will observe that there is an expansion from one year to the other , and that is where the possibility of a season ' s

check comes in . This £ 225 , 000 worth of machines havo been made and sold , but that manufacturer now holds his hand , and if the agents want more machines , they shall have thern , but if they do not want more , then the works shall remain idle . That is the extent of the slump in the Cycle trade . If it is a good season , they make a great expansion ; if ifc is a bad season , the expansion is limited . I think that is the true position of the \ development of the Cycle trade .

Ad01102

Just published , ISmo ., Cloth , 1 / -, post free . LEXICON of FREEMASONRY , a small and reliable pocket book , of value to young Masons . Full information on matters connected with the Bitual and Customs of the Order . Revised edition , by W . J . Morris . 12 mo ., blue cloth , red edges , 5 / -, post free . TEXT BOOK OF FREEMASONRY ( Craffc ) . Complete Handbook of Instruction to all workings in the various Mysteries and Ceremonies of Craft Masonry , & c . Another edition , printed on thin paper and bound in leather pocket book style , price 5 / -, post free . Crown Svo ., cloth , 10 / - ( or in leather , gilt edges , 15 / - ) , post free . TEXT BOOK OF ADVANCED FREEMASONRY , containing the complete Rituals of tho Higher Degrees , with other matters . London : WILLIAM REEVES , 185 Fleet Street , E . C .

Ad01105

§ B £ Sg |§ iSS ^ ^ HENNIG BROS ., Jp lBBi | pMBS 33 ff BILLIARD TABLE MAKERS , «^ W % a || ' ^& W ^ BM Manufacturers of the H * t « bi-ohc < i mfia . PATENT LOW FROST-PROOF CUSHIONS . 29 HIGH STREET , LONDON , W . C .