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personally congratulated on his preferment , while at the same time he congratulated the Lodge , on having . chosen so worthy a Brother to fill the office of Worshipful Master . He was ' an excellent worker , and he felt all would join him in wishing the new chief a-most successful year of office . Bro . Haynes replied . The way in which the toast had been proposed , the good ;¦ Masonic feeling with' which' is i had been received , - and the unanimous vote , by , which- | he . had } been-, elected , all convinced him he enjoyed thegood feeling of the Brethren ol the Lodge . He was not a , talker , yet felt he conld

contmue-fdra -very long time thanking them for their kindnesses . He hoped , however , to do better , and show them-during his year of office the work he was really capable of—he felt he did understand the Lodge work , and hoped the members would put candidates , before him-so that he could demonstrate his ability in that direction . He should endeavour to follow the good examples of the Past Masters of the Lodge , and , hoped to hand the gavel on to his successor as unsullied as he was receiving it from the present Worshipful Master .

The W . M . now handed over the , gavel to his I . PM . Bro . Jull ,. being unable-to- stay any 'longer , and , 'in doing so he said he felt Bro . Jull knew well how to wield the authority of the chair . He wished all the . Brethren a very good evening and a continuation of pleasurable enjoyment . Whilst the W-. M . was leaving , ; the Brethren joined in . according him musical honours . Bro . Jull said that in the absence of the W . M . he had very much pleasure in-giving the toast of the Visitors . He . regretted their W . M . had had to

leave ( before proposing this toasfc , which , he always gave m so eloquent a mapnerf'but he could assure the guests that the Chough Lodge was proud of seeing so excellent a company of visitors , all of whom might always be sure of a hearty welcome should they have the opportunity of again attending . the Lodge . He hoped the guests of the evening . had enjoyed themselves , and had much pleasure in coupling with the toast the names of Bro . Percy Gray Secretary of the Duke of Cornwall Lodge of Instruction , Bro . Sykes , and Bro . Frances .

^ Bro .- Sykes tendered his thanks for being associated with the toast of the visitors ; Ifc was the first time he had visited . the Lodge , but he hoped it would not be the last , as he had not alone enjoyed the working in the £ odge , but also the splendid entertainment provided afterwards . Bro . Frances hoped he would have the pleasure of attending again . It had been his misfortune , not his fault , that he had not been present at the Lodge before . The working he had had the pleasure of witnessing had been carried

out to perfection , and there was , much to admire . The Lodge of Instruction-of which Bro . Percy Gray was the Secretary was to be commended , not alone for the excellence of the . . work / done , " but also for the noble Charitable Association attached to the Lodge , and to which Bro . Gray devoted so much ' of his time and . attention . He , considered that Lodges of Instruction were most inportant adjuncts to Freemasonry . Speaking of Bro . Haynes 'WiM .-elect , he felt sure that Brother , would give all the satisfaction thafc was expected of a Worshipful Master . .

Bro .- Gray thanked the acting WM . forhis kind remarks in proposing the toast . ' The way in which the visitors had been received and entertained was something to be proud of . He . especially . congratulated themembers of the . Lodge on having elected such an excellent worker as Bro . Haynes as Worshipful Master of the Lodge . . As reference had been made to the Charity Association attached to their Lodge of Instruction , Bro . Gray gave full details of its working , and . said he looked to the Brethren of the Chough Lodge to continue to support such funds in . the future , as liberally as they had done in the past .

Bro . Jull next gave the toast of the Past Masters , including the Treasurer and ; Secretary , and in doing so he referred to the loss recently sustained by the Lodge , in the death of one of its most respected members . Bro . Edwards said he could say very much in reference to the untimely death of Bro . Piggott , in whom they had lost a friend and Brother , and he a

companion of over twenty years acquaintance . Every one loved Brother Piggott , forhis charitable disposition was unbounded , and it could truly be said that in him the Brethren of the Chough Lodge had lost a faithful friend and Brother . He was one of the founders of the Lodge , and had done much for it since its consecration . He should feel a mournful pleasure in conveying to the widow the expression of the sympathy of , the Brethren , and was sure

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that under the circumstances she would appreciate the sentiments of Brotherly regard . . Bro . Dewsnap endorsed what Bro . Edwards had said in reference to their departed friend , and referred yet more fully to the good he had done in their midst .

The toast of the Officers was now given , the President excusing any further remarks from the W . M .-elect their Brother Junior Warden , but saying how . pleased they would be to hear from Bro . Smith , who had acted as S ; W . in so satisfactory a manner that evening , and other of the Officers . Bro . Smith ¦ said he was pleased he had been able to render the Lodge a little , assistance , and would be happy to do so again whenever it was required .

Bro . Frohlick said he was sure he and the other Officers would endeavour to give the same support to the new Master as they had to those who had gone before . Bro . Schneider thanked the W . M ., and was pleased he had given

satisfaction as acting I . G . that evening . He also thanked them for acknowledging his services as Steward of the Lodge , an office in which he strove to give satisfaction , and at the same time study the interests of the Lodge , and the noble Charities it strove to support . The Tyler ' s toast concluded a most enjoyable evening .

As usual at the meetings of this Lodge the musical arrangements were of the highest order , under the direction of Bro . Turle Lee , who was well supported by Bro . David Zeldenrust , whose talent is well known , and whose fine tenor voice brought him more than one encore ; Miss Annie McBride , and Miss Florence Ogilvy .

HAMPSTEAD LODGE , No . 2408 . A VERY successful meeting was held at the Vestry Hall , Hampstead , on Tuesday , 21 st ult ., under tbe presidency of Bro . R . Cromwell Edwards W . M . The Lodge was opened in due form , and Bro . Whitaker was passed to tbe second degree . The W . M . Bro . Edwards then initiated the Rev . J . M . Acland and Mr . H . Devenish Harben . The charge was delivered by the W . M . with great impressiveness .

The Brethren afterwards dined together in the small hall , and an enjoyable evening was spent , Bro . Harrington contributing some excellent violin solos . With the initiation of Bro . H . D . Harben , three generations of his family are now represented in the Lodge , and it is hoped that Sir Henry Harben will be able to be present on the occasion of his grandson being raised to the degree of a Master Mason .

Instruction.

INSTRUCTION .

ROYAL ALFRED LODGE , No . 780 . A T the Star and Garter Hotel , Kew Bridge , on the 23 rd ult ., Bros . E . C . J \ . St . Aubyn W . M ., H . J . Worth S . W ., H . T . Johnson . J . W ., R . H . Williams P . M . Prec , J . H . Gumming P . M . Sec , E . H . Wilcox S . D ., Hart Davis J . D ., C . E . Dowling I . G ., and several others . After opening the Lodge the W . M . vacated the chair in favour of Bro . Gumming P . M ., who rehearsed the ceremony of initiation , Bro . E . H . Wilcox acting as candidate . The W . M . opened the Lodge to the third degree , and closed down .

Bro . Worth was unanimously elected to act as W . M . on the following Thursday . The W . M . drew the attention of the Brethren to the case of Marguerite Knott , as the selected candidate of the West London Masonic Election Association , the election taking place on 13 th April .

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RoyalMasonicInstitutionforBoys, WOOD GREEN , LONDON ^ N . SUPPORTED BY VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS . Grand Patron—HER MAJESTY THE •QUEEN , Presidejit— H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES , K . G ., M . W . G . M . . , _ . . , ( THE RT . HON . THE EARL AMHERST , M . W . PRO G . M . Patrons ( ex-officio)—^^ RT HQN THE EARL 0 F WARWICK , R . W . DEP . G . M . Treasurer— CHARLES E . KEYSER , ESQ ., P . G . DEACON , PATRON OF INSTITUTION . Bankers—LONDON & WESTMINSTER BANK LTD . ( BLOOMSBURY BRANCH ) HlGH HOLBORN , LONDON , W . C . 2337 Boys hatfe received the benefits of the Institution since its foundation in 1798 . 283 Boys are novO being Educated , Clothed , and Maintained , and special grants are also made to 17 unsuccessful candidates at the Centenary elections . The ONE HUNDRED AND FIRST ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL will be held on 28 th June 1899 , under fche Presidency of W.BROTHERCHARLESE.KEYSER,M.A.,F.S.A.,J.P.,PASTGRANDDEACON, Treasurer and Patron of the Institution . The services of Brethren as Stewards ( representing Lodges or Provinces ) and Ladies , are earnestly requested , and will be gratefully acknowledged . CONTRIBUTIONS EARNESTLY SOLICITED . Secretary—J . MORRISON McLEOD , VICE PATRON , 6 FREEMASONS' HALL , LONDON , W . C .