Reports Of Meetings.

"Here ' s to his health" ond " The devout lover , " by Bro . R . W . Nuttall , Integrity Lodge , No . 163 ; " The promise of lifo " and " The land of home , " by Miss Hooson ; violin solos , " Romance " ( Svensden ) , "Cavatina" ( Raff ) , and '' Tarantella" ( Papini ) , by Mr . J . B . Booth ; and recitations , "The Water Mill " and " Scenes from Shakespeare , " by Bro . Samuel Gaskell P . M .

163 . By the kind permission of Bro . J . Dean P . M ., two artistes from the Manchester Grand Theatre of Varieties contributed songs of the usual kind . Altogether a very pleasant , although essentially teetotal , evening was spent . Besides those above-mentioned we noticed the presence of Bros . Joseph Pogson , E . B . Siddell , Jno . Stephens , Joseph Ridgway , A . T . Siddell , and James Spencer .

Visitors .-Bros . N . Dumville P . M . 2156 P . P . G . S ., A . W . Sidebottom I . P . M . 852 , E . Webb P . M . 1134 , Edward Boberts P . M . 1459 , H . Bushworth Org . 325 , and W . Hughes 2447 . Amongst the letters of apology for nonattendance was the following from the Prov . J . G . W . ( East Lanes . ) : — 1 st May 1897 .

DEAR BRO . HARRIS , —I regret exceedingly at the last moment to inform you it is impossible for me to keep my engagement with you for this afternoon , a private appointment I had overlooked I find I cannot put off . Please express to your incoming W . M . my best wishes for a very happy and prosperous year of office , and to you and the Brethren I wish a very pleasant afternoon and evening . With kind regards , Very fraternally yours , C . D . CHEETHAM .

WEST LANCASHIRE CENTURY LODGE , No . 2349 . rFIHE annual meeting took place in the Masonic Hall , South Shore , I Blackpool , on the 26 th ult ., when the various Officers for the year were invested . Bro . Chas . R . Hardman W . M ., assisted by Bro . Heywood , was the Installing Master , and he regularly placed Bro . Edmund Taylor P . M . in the chair of the Lodge .

After the business the members adjourned to the South Shore Hotel , where an excellent repast was provided by Host Harrison . An interesting toast list was afterwards gone through .

MINNEHAHA MINSTREL LODGE , No . 2363 . THE regular meeting took place at the Victoria Hotel , Manchester , on Monday , the 26 th ult ., Bro . Fred Hilton P . M . P . P . G . D . C . W . M . There was a good attendance . After the reading and confirmation of minutes , Bro . F . W . Wollaston P . M . P . P . G . A . D . C . Chaplain read one of the ancient Constitutional charges , this being followed by the passing of Bro . Frank Albert Slowe to the degree of F . C . by the W . M .

At the festive board , the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were proposed and enthusiastically received , that of the candidate being introduced by Bro . M . Thomas P . M . P . P . G . D . Secretary , who , after stating that Freemasonry was one of the finest institutions ever invented , considered that what Bro . Slowe had gone through ought to be a lesson to him , as showing that nothing was likely to befall him which he need fear ; he would in fact even have something to guide him aright . Bro . Slowe responded .

Amongst other toasts , the W . M . proposed that of the Officers , and took the opportunity of thanking them for the support they had given him . Bros . Edwyn A . Smith S . W ., and F . Todd I . G . responded . Bros . Wollaston , Todd , Sam Luke S . D ., S . H . Stubbs J . D ., W . H . Purdy Organist , 0 . Mercer , G . R . Ward , and Edwd . Boberts P . M . 1459 , contributed songs , an exceedingly joyous evening being spent .

TRAVELLERS LODGE , No . 2609 . THE members celebrated the first installation since the consecration in May last , by Bro . E . Letchworth Grand Secretary , on Saturday , 24 th ult ., at the Masonic Hall , Chester , the new W . M . being Bro . Thomas Owen P . M . 1432 P . P . G . A . S . Salop . Bro . Owen , who served the office of S . W . in the year just closed , and who

was unanimously elected Master at the March Lodge , was presented by Bro . Alfd . Parkes P . P . G . S . Wks . acting I . P . M ., to Bro . Wm . Peers P . G . S . D ., who conducted the whole of the installation ceremony in an impressive manner in the presence of nearly every member of the Lodge , and of a goodly number of visitors .

Letters containing good wishes were read from the Grand Secretary of England , the Provincial Grand Master Lord Egerton of Tatton , the Deputy P . G . M . Sir Horatio Lloyd , the Prov . Grand Secretary Bro . Richard Newhouse , and Bro . Geo . H . Brown P . G . S . W ., the latter of whom sent a liberal donation for the charity box .

At the conclusion of the installation ceremony , the W . M . invested his Officers for the year . The usual installation banquet followed . After the toast of the Prince of Wales M . W . G . M . had been honoured in customary fashion , Bro . Owen called for a shilling collection in aid of the Prince of Wales Diamond Jubilee Nursing Fund , to be sent through the "Daily Telegraph . " Every one of the 49 brethren present responded to the invitation .

Later in the proceedings the W . M ., on behalf of the Officers and brethren , presented Bro . Peers with a beautiful jewel as a mark of the Lodge ' s appreciation of his signal services as first Master . The jewel , which was of gold , had upon it representations of a train and a steamship—in allusion to the title of the Lodge—and constituted a really artistic decoration . Before

Bro . Peers was allowed to express his acknowledgments , Bro . M . C . Sunter rose , and on behalf of himself and seven other brethren who had been initiated , passed , and raised by Bro . Peers , asked his acceptance of an umbrella , with ivory handle and silver mounting , and of a malacca cane , also with silver mounting and ivory handle , bearing the inscription :

To BRO . PEEKS . First W . M . of 2609 , from Initiates , 1896-97 . Bro . Sunter , in allusion to the recent Town Hall fire , expressed a hope that the umbrella would prove impervious to the downpours even of the Chester Fire Brigade . As to the stick , that had been a favourite form of presentation from earliest times , for did they not read that Eve presented Adam with a little walking Cain ? Bro . W . Peers , who was not a little touched by the kindness of the brethren , expressed his thanks .

Reports Of Meetings.

Several toasts followed , and during the evening the W . M . announced that the first year of the Lodge's existence had resulted in eight initiates and six joining members being added to the roll . The toast list was interspersed with some capital songs .

Metropolitan.

METROPOLITAN .

WELLINGTON LODGE , No . 548 . THE last regular meeting for the session was held on Wednesday , 14 th ult ., at Cannon Street Hotel , under the presidency of Bro . H . W . Wybourn W . M . The ceremonies of the three degrees were duly worked . Several candidates were proposed for initiation , and the Lodge voted five guineas to the Prince of Wales Hospital Fund . At the close the Brethren sat down to refreshment , the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts being honoured .

BISHOPSGATE LODGE , No . 2396 . rj ^ HE annual installation meeting was held on Monday , 26 th ult ., at the I Great Eastern Hotel , under the presidency of Bro . D . A . Romain Worshipful Master . There was a large attendance of other members , and several visitors . After the formal opening of the Lodge , and the adoption of the report of the Audit Committee , which was highly favourable , Bro . T . Bobinson proposed , and Bro . W . Newman J . W . and W . M .-elect seconded , the following

motion : — " That a testimonial be presented to W . Bro . Milton Smith hy the Brethren , and that the Lodge do contribute the sum of ten guineas to the fund to be raised . " The motion , which was carried unanimously , was the outcome of a resolution passed at the last meeting of the Lodge to present the retiring Secretary Bro . Milton Smith with a testimonial in recognition of his valued services during the first six years of the existence of the Lodge . The speeches in the proposing and seconding of the resolution were highly complimentary , says the " City Press , " and testified to the untiring energy and laborious exertions of Bro . Milton Smith on behalf of the Lodge .

After this duty had been performed , Bro . Robert Larchm was asked by the W . M . to perform the ceremony of installation . Bro . Larchin therefore took the chair , and installed Bro . William Newman J . W . as Master of the Lodge for the ensuing twelve months . Bro . D . A . Romain was invested with the collar of Immediate Past Master , and afterwards was presented with a valuable jewel of a P . M . Bro . Bomain acted as Director of Ceremonies throughout the installation .

The Brethren invested as the Officers for the year were Bros . Woolf Jacobs S . W ., Edgar H . Mead J . W ., Rev . J . L . Davids Chaplain , A . J . Hollington , C . O ., Treasurer , A . E . Pridmore , CO ., Secretary , Gilbert Mead S . D ., T . Robinson J . D ., C . Jarrattl . G ., W . R . Caldwell Moore , CO ., D . C ., Dr . F . J . Haskins P . G . Org . Herts P . P . G . Org . Essex Organist , A . P . Little Std ., and R . H . Goddard P . M . Tyler .

Before the Lodge was closed , Bro . Jacobs P . M . proposed , and Bro . T . Bobinson J . D . seconded the Bishop of Marlborough , rector of St . Botolph , Bishopsgate , as a joining member of the Lodge . This concluded the Lodge business , and the company adjourned to an excellent banquet . The toast of the Queen and the Craft led the W . M . to say that Masonic loyalty caused the Brethren to desire that the Great Architect of the Universe might pour down on the Queen the continual dew of His blessing , and grant Her many years of peace .

In giving the toast of the Grand Master , the W . M . expressed the hope that the Brethren would not forget the " Diamond Jubilee baby" ( the Duohess of York ' s daughter , born last Sunday ) . Bro . C . F . Hogard responded to the toast which included the Grand Officers present and past , and said that he thought it would be found when

the list of new Grand Officers to he appointed the next Wednesday was made known that the Prince of Wales had made a good selection . Another Masonic celebration would take place later on , when His Royal Highness would appoint several Brethren to past rank , and he hoped that some of the Brethren whom he saw now before him would be among the recipients of the honour .

Bro . D . A . Romain I . P . M ., in proposing the health of the W . M ., described Bro . Newman as a highly esteemed Mason . To every Bishopsgate man Brother Newman was as well known as the perennial quarter day ; he came regularly , and as regularly as quarter day came Brother Newman was to be seen . Brother Newman was known to everyone throughout the ward , not only in his public but in his private capacity , and in both capacities he was beloved and respected . Ho

had known Bro . Newman for as many years as he had been in the ward of Bishopsgate , and he had known hirn only in one way , as a thoroughly upright man , a man whose word could be taken , a man whose word was to be trusted . It was such men as he that they required to fill the position of W . M . of the Bishopsgate Lodge , because the Bishopsgate boys were proud of their ward , and everything associated with it . The choice that had fallen on Brother

Newman he was sure they would not regret , as Bro . Newman would use every effort in his power to make the Lodge a success . He had been a member of the Lodge from the very first , and was one of the first initiates . Since then he had been a regular attendant at all the meetings of the Lodge , and bad taken a keen interest in everything appertaining to it . In conclusion , the speaker prophesied for the W . M . a very brilliant year of office .

Bro . Newman W . M ., m acknowledging the toast , said that whatever he undertook to do he did it with earnestness , and that carried him through . The honour which the Brethren had conferred upon him was the hi ghest honour they could confer upon any Brother . He felt it as such , and he realised the responsibilities cast upon him . During his year of office he should do his very best , weak and feeble although his effort might be , to further the interests of the Lodge . He relied on every Brother to assist

him . He was born in Bishopsgate , almost on the spot on which he now stood ; and he was a Bishopsgate Mason because of the Bishopsgate Lodge . He doubted if he should have been a Freemason if the Bishopsgate Lodge had not been founded . Bro . Larchin responded to the toast of the Installing Master . Bro . Church , Bro . Gerrish , and the Bishop of Marlborough responded to

the toast of the Visitors , the last-named Brother thanking Bro . Bobinson , churchwarden , for introducing him to the Lodge . Ho trusted that the Brethren would extend to him Brotherly kindness , good-will , and love , just so long as , and no longer than he proved himself to bo a faithful servant of the Great Architect of the Universe , and a true Brother among themselves . Bro . D . A . Bomain responded to the toast of the I . P . M . and the Past