Fowey Lodge, No. 977.

FOWEY LODGE , No . 977 .

THE election meeting of this Lodge was held at the Masonic Hall , Fowey , on Monday , when the following were elected for tho ensuing year : Brothors S . Galo S . W . as W . M ., J . P . Isboll P . M .. Treasurer , W . B « al Tyler . o o 0

ZETLAND LODGE , No . 1071 .

THE Installation took place at Saltash , on the 3 rd inst , when Brother F . A . Bawling S . W . P . M . P . P . G . A . S . Cornwall was installed by his brother , Bro . W . R . Rawling P . M . 1071 and Bro . Dr . Meadows the retiring Master , assisted by a strong Board of

Installed Masters . The ceremony was ably and impressively performed . Bro . W . R . Rawling expressed his obligations to Brother Meadows for tho kindly spirit displayed by him iu asking him to instal his brother . o o 0

HUYSHE LODGE , No . 1099 .

THE annual banquet was held at the Freemasons' Club , Ply - mouth , on Thursday , 29 th ult ., under the presidency of the W . M . Bro . S . Fry . About seventy Brethren were present . The usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were honoured , and were interspersed with songs and recitations . The banquet was served in an admirable manner by Bro . Harvey , Steward of the club .

o o o SEMPER FIDELIS LODGE , No . 1254 . THE Annual Installation took place at the Masonic Hall , Exeter , on Monday evening . Bro . J . Tucker , of Exeter , was

ably installed by P . M . E . T . Fulford P . P . G . Treasurer . The retiring Master Bro . R . Groves , of Exmouth , was presented with a Past Master ' s Jewel and an illuminated scroll . o o o

FITZ-ALAN LODGE , No . 1432 .

THE festival of St . John and installation of W . M . took placo at Oswestry , Bro . T . Owen ( Chester ) boing installed according to ancient rites for the ensuing twelve months . The ceremony of Installation being concluded , the usual

banquet was held . The Masonic toasts were honoured , in the course of which the W-M . referred to that being the twenty-first anniversary of the Lodge . Having attained its majority , he hoped it would continue prospering .

o o o ST . MARGARET LODGE , No . 1452 . THE Installation meeting took place on Monday , when Brother Kerry Rix was placed in the chair .

The ceremony was performed by Brother the Rev . H . S . Hume , M . A ., P . P . G . Chaplain ( Somerset ) , in a manner which from its impressiveness and completeness left nothing to be desired . The W . M . subsequently appointed his Officers .

The banquet followed at the Royal Hotel , where the Lodge is now held , says the "Norfolk Standard , " the newly-installed W . M . presiding , with Bro . James S . W . as vice-chairman . The dinner was served in a manner which elicited much praise of Bro . Whaley , and the musical arrangements wero very satisfactory .

The toast list was of the usual character , the most striking points of which were the praise bestowed upon the Installing Master and the excellent speeches in support of the Charities made by Bros . W . J . Wilton and J . W . Brooke . o o o

LODGE OF TRUTH , No . 1458 .

rpHE annual meeting and Festival of St . John in connection with I the above Lodge took place on Saturday , the 1 st inst . The summons had announced the * meeting to bo held at the Wheat Sheaf Hotel , High Street , but in consequence of the severe illness of the host , Bro . Tom Wood , the sanction of Col . Starkie the

Grand Master of the Province , and other Provincial Officers was obtained for the Charter to be temporarily transferred to the Manchester Masonic Hall , where the ceremony of installing into the chair of K . S . Bro . E . M . Shepherd S . W . was performed .

The proceedings commenced early m the afternoon , and almost as soon as the vibrations of the Town Hall clock , which announced the hour of four , had died away , a Board of Installed -Masters was formed , consisting of Bros . Alfred Hebden P . M . P . P . G . D . D . C . D . of C . Installing Master , Jas . W . Abbott P . M . J 030 and 1459

P . P . G . D . C . S . W ., W . B . Russell P . M . 1219 P . P . G . D . D . C . J . W ., Fred Hilton P . M . P . P . G . D . C . Deacon , and Edward Roberts P . M . 1459 I . G .

It is at all times a pleasure to witness the work of Brother Hebden , which careful study has stamped with the seal of indefectibility , and , to our thinking , the amplitude and beauty of the room , Vfith its essentially Masonic surroundings , had an inspiriting effect , for he acquitted himself with a zeal and " empressement" which

we scarcely expeoted even from him . Bro . Hobden received very able assistance from Bro . Abbott , who addressed the Wardens ; Bro . Fred Hilton , who presented and explained the Working Tools of the various degrees , and invested and addressed the Secretary and Deacons ; and Bro . Buckley Carr P . M . who also took a prominent part in the investiture of Officers .

. Subjoined is a list of the latter for 1894-5 :--W . H . Worsley S . W , T . P . Cooper J . W ., F . Hilton P . M . P . P . G . D . C . Treasurer , T . H . Hall P . M . Secretary , A . B . Taylor S . D ., L . Hisrch J . D ., A . Hebden P . M . P , P ; D . G . D ; C , D . of C , J , H . Sandiford Organist , J . J . Dean I . G ., G . W . Kempston , S . Drew , H . Hellewoll Stewards , James Hyde Tyler . '

Fowey Lodge, No. 977.

Before tho meeting was closed , Bro . Thos . H . Hall P . M . Sec gave a very interesting account of the Lodge . Ho said : — " This is a great event in the history of the Truth Lodge , for to-day we attain ouv majority . On 8 rd Decombcr 1873 ( twenty-one years ago ) , this

Lodge was consecratod at the Lamb Inn , Oldham Road , by Bro . W . Romaino Callender P . D . G . M ., who was acting for the Prov . Grand Master . Bros . J . W . Turner was the first W . M ., Robert Caldwell I . P . M ., Jas . Hall S . W ., Henry Smith J . W ., and G . H . Needle S . D .

" Bros . Caldwell , Needle , and Needham Past Masters , who were present at the Consecration , are , wo are pleased to say , still with us , and rank 1 , 2 , 3 on our books . The first regular meeting of the Lodge was held on 6 th December , three days after the Consecration , at which meeting Bro . Williams

presented our Bible . The other business was a propositon for Initiation , and propositions for joining members , the first Initiation ( performed by the W . M . ) being on 3 rd January 1874 . At the March meeting , Bro . Caldwell started his labours for the Lodge , by passing the first Initiate , since which time Bro . Caldwell has been one of our best workers .

" At the April meeting , Bro . Tom Wood P . M . joined the Lodge , and I am sorry to annouuee that through severe illness he is absent from our midst this evening . " Bro . Davies P . M . ovidontly knew the Lodge in its infancy , for I find it recorded that he paid visits to its May and June meetings . Bro . Iliff P . M ., who joined on 5 th September 1874 , is still with us , and is a good mombor .

" On 4 th July 1874 , a removal of the Lodge took place to the Royal Archer Hotel , Dale Street . On 5 th February 1876 the Lodge was again removed , on this occasion to private rooms , at the Conservative Club , Oldham Road . That day a very important incident occurred in connection with the Truth Lodge . Brother

Hebden , now a Past Master , and Past Provincial Officer , was initiated into tho mysteries of Freemasonry , and ha has been a shining light in this Lodge ever since . I also find that we had a musical service on 23 rd January 1881 , whioh resulted in a oollection of £ 20 , this sum being handed over to the Charities , through the energy of Bro . Iliff P . M .

" We appear to havo had Provincial honours twioa during our younger days . "At the present time there are ten Past Masters who are subscribing members , and who have all occupied the chair of K . S . with satisfaction to tho Brethren . We have also three affiliated Past Masters who have done good service , and of the eleven missing ones , some have resigned , and others havo gone to the Grand Lodge above .

"We have had seven preliminary meetings , and 225 regular meetings in the twenty-one years which have passed , and my earnest desire is that we may all be here to celebrate our golden birthday . " A banquet had been provided in the large dining room of the hall , to which the Brethren subsequently sat down , this being followed by Loyal and Masonic toasts of the orthodox character .

Bro . Abbott , in responding for the Provincial Officers , thanked Bro . Buckley Carr for the feeling way in which he had introduced this toast . He spoke of the respect universally entertained for Bro . Georgo Mellor Prov . D . G . M ., and said that it had alw . ays been a pleasure for him to accompany that Brother while discharging duties which were now becoming difficult for him , and it was a

matter of sincere regret to many that Bro . Mellor could not be seen oftener . However , the Provincial Officers were one and all ready to perform any duties which they might be called upon to do . Bro . Abbott spoko of the old days of the Truth Lodge , and the active part taken in it by Bro . Caldwell , who at one time often performed ceremonies in other Lodges . He regretted the absence

of Bro . Caldwell , for whom he had a great respect , and hoped for his speedy return to good health , that he might take his accustomed place amongst them . Brother Hebden said he was proud that he had worked the ceremony on the 21 st birthday of the Truth Lodge . It was perhaps fitting that the Installation should havo been performed by him , as

he was the oldest Initiate . He explained at length his connection with the Lodge , and reverted in enthusiastic terms to the assistance which from time to time had been rendered by Brothers Abbott , Warburton , and Caldwell . Although the oldest Initiate he felt quite young yet , and confidently hoped to double the period . Bros . Hilton and Russell also responded .

Bro . Fred Hilton proposed the health of the W M ., saying that in a previous speech ne had reverted to the absence of Brother Shepherd , who had been compelled to leave the meeting through a domestic affliction . In assuming the position which the latter ought to have occupied , he felt the duties weigh heavily upon him . They were aware that through the dangerous illness of Brother Tom

Wood it had been necessary to transfer the Lodge to the hall m which they were then assembled . All present must regret the circumstance , and it was with a desire to learn his present condition that a Brother had made a visit to Mrs . Wood , and in an informal mannor conveyed the sympathy which they all felt for her . The domestic affliction which had caused the W . M . to retire was equally unfortunate , but he expressed a fervent hope that the

clouds might soon be dispelled , so that he could return to perform the duties of the office which he had so recently attained , and of which his former efforts had been so good an augury . Bro . Hilton also proposed the health of the I . P . M . Bro . H . L . Burgess , and spoke very highly of the work which he had done , taking the opportunity of presenting to him , in appreciation of the satisfaction with which he was regarded by the Brethren , a very beautiful gold jewel , which bore the following inscription : —

Presented to BRO . HAMLET L . BURGESS I . P . M ., by the Brethren of the Truth Lodgo , No . 1458 1 st December 1894 .