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The Freemason's Chronicle . A Weekly Record of Masonic Intelligence . — : o : — Published every Saturday , Prico 3 d . — : o : — THE FREEMASON'S CHRONICLE will be forwarded direct from the Office , Fleet Works , Bulwer Eoad , New Barnet , on receipt of remittance for the amount . The Terms of Subscription ( payable in advance ) are—Twelve Months , post free ... ... £ 0 13 6 Postal Orders to be made payable to W . W . MORGAN , at the New Barnet Office . Cheques crossed " London and South Western Bank . " — : o : — Scale of Charges for Advertisements . Page ... ... ... ... ... £ 10 10 0 Births , Marriages , and Deaths , ls per line . General Advertisements , Trade Announcements , Seo ., harrow column , 5 s per inch . News column Advertisements ls per line . Special terms for a series of insertions or special positions on applicat on . OLD Books and Curiosities relating to Freemasonry or other Secret Societies wanted . Address , W . W . Morgan , New Barnet .

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MW ^^ JW-W * J . ^ tt ° m \ W . — - ¦ egg ? ' ^ - ffTrt ^^ -NTHE / _ < itD " *> r- . yh . 1 . EH a ^ pQ ^^ p ^^ a SATUEDAY , 9 TH OCTOBER 1897 .

The Real Cogra Moss Blend.

THE REAL COGRA MOSS BLEND .

I SEE that the members of the Egremont District Council , or , at least , a section of them , have got themselves into an awkward corner . There is to . be a great gathering of Freemasons at Egremont on the 15 th of next month , and they wish to have the Market Hall for a banquet to be held on the occasion . But the caretaker oi the hall has general instructions not to let the hall for any purpose connected with which there is to be

consumption of intoxicating liquors ; and the Masons will not have the Hall unless they can have the intoxicating liquors . The difficulty came before the Egremont Council on Friday evening , when Mr . J . J . "Wilson , who was in the chair , got up and calmly proposed , in effect , that the instruction to the caretaker should be set aside in the interests of the Freemasons , and this was seconded by Dr . Braithwaite .

Of course an instruetion to the caretaker of the Egremont Market Hall is not like the laws of the Medes and Persians . It may be altered ; but the majority of the members felt that they would be absolutely stultifying themselves if they agreed to alter it for that occasion only . The Chairman midly suggested that a banquet without permission to use intoxicating liquors would be

a very tame affair ; and he subsequently mentioned the interesting fact that he saw people there the other night drinking healths . Perhaps , however , the Chairman was under some mistake as to the liquid which was then being used . Perhaps it was only " the Beal Cogra Moss Blend , " and not Glenlivet at all . Mr . S . Braithwaite , the caretaker , assured the Council tbat he does not

permit the use of intoxicants , but , of course , as he says , he does not search the pockets of those who go in . For anything he knows to the contrary , those who go to the hall may have considerable quantities of consumable liquors concealed about their persons ; and thus the solemn "instruction " of the Egremont District Council is set at defiance .

It may be all very well for Brown , Jones and Bobinson to carry flasks with them into the Mai ket Hall ; but it would be clearly ifra dig . for the Brethren of the mystic tie to resort to such a device on the occasion of a great function ; and I do not think that most of them would be inclined to consent to the

adoption of the Chairman's proposal that if the instruction is not suspended for that occasion , there should be a vigorous winking of the eye . Beading between the lines of the speeches made at the last meeting of the Egremont Council , I am afraid that the instruction of the Council is of little real value , and the members would do well if they could modify it into such a form that it

would at least be workable . A law of which the law-makers can witness the systematic infringement without taking steps for its enforcement must be as nearly as possible valueless . Meanwhile , the Egremont Council decline to give their formal sanction to the use of intoxicants by the Freemasons in the Market Hall . — " Whitehaven Advertiser . "

Reports Of Meetings.

REPORTS OF MEETINGS .

"We shall toe pleased to receive particulars of Masonic meetings for insertion in our columns , and where desired will endeavour to send a representative to report Lodge or other proceedings .

CRAFT : METROPOLITAN .

Brethren : 3 . H . Hawkins P . P . G . D . C . Surrey P . M ., F . Osmond Carr P . P . J . G . W . Cambs . P . M ., "Walter Clifford P . M ., Dr . James E . Coulson , John A . Atkin , F . Dangerfield , M . A . Clarke , S . W . H . Dixon , Thomas Fraser , J . W . Clark , A . J . Thomas P . M ., Harry Eeece , J . Ivimey , F . W . Sears , Alfred Ellis , M . J . Shepherd , A . Eomano , W . E . Garstin , Sydney Jousiffe , C . A . Hooper , Bertie Whyte , R . S . King , W . H . Baylis P . M ., and H . J . Homer .

ECCENTRIC LODGE , No . 2488 . AM ONG the most pleasurable functions of the year the Installation Festival of this popular and flourishing Lodge takes a high place . It was not therefore surprising that the annual gathering was more numerously attended than usual by the Brethren on the lst inst ., when the Lodge met ( by dispensation of Grand Lodge ) at the Cafe Eoyal , Regent Street , W . Bro . John A . Harrison W . M . presided for tbe last time at the expiration of his year of office , and was supported by his Officers and the following

The Lodge was opened in due form , when the minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed . The following Brethren were balloted for and admitted as Joining Members : —Henry Thomas Brickwell P . M . 2455 , Frederick Dangerfield P . M . 1260 , Joseph Weiner 1987 , Frederick William Sears 1987 , Auguste Oddenino 1624 , Arthur H . Beard 101 , and Albert H . Collings 211 .

Bro . William Singleton Hooper having been elected as Worshipful Master for the ensuing year was presented by Bro . J . E . Cleave P . M ., but as he is already W . M . of the Strand Lodge for a few weeks longer , it became necessary to obtain a dispensation from Grand Lodge for his installation , as no Brother is allowed to be Master of more than one Lodge at the same time . The dispensation was read , and the ceremony was proceeded with . Bro . Hooper signified his assent to the ancient charges and regulations , and was duly

obligated , after which Bro . Courtice Pound sang the anthem " Be thou faithful unto death , " from Mendelssohn ' s oratorio of " St . Paul , " with admirable effect , and added considerable impressiveness to the ceremony . The Brethren having retired , a Board of Installed Masters was formed , when Bro . Hooper was placed in the chair with the customary ceremony . Upon the re-admission of the Brethren the new Master was proclaimed

and saluted in the various degrees . The following Officers were appointed , to all of whom Bro . Hooper offered a few words of congratulation and advice : Bros . J . A . Harrison I . P . M ., John Foss S . W ., Lionel W . Harris J . W ., W . J . W . Beard P . M . Treasurer , Will E . Chapman P . M . P . A . G . D . C . P . P . S . G . W . Bucks Secretary , W . Sergeant Lea S . D ., G . P . Hadley J . D ., Thomas Fraser I . G ., J . E . Cleave P . M . D . C , Arthur Tite , Frank Parker , W . E . Garstin , and R . S . King Stewards , and J . Ellis Tyler .

Bro . Harrison then delivered the beautiful addresses to the Master , Wardens , and Brethren generally , which were listened to with rapt attention , indeed the entire ceremony was admirably carried out , and reflected the highest credit upon the Installing Master . The musical arrangements were under the able management of Bro . James Kift .

Upon the proposition of Bro . Harrison , seconded by Bro . Cleave , and supported by Bros . Reece , Jousiffe , Dixon , Bfiard and Clifford , it was decided to remove the Lodge to tbe Cafe Royal , where a new Temple is in course of construction , and the bye-law relating to the place of meeting was altered accordingly .

Bro . Hooper then rose and expressed his thanks to Bro . Harrison tor the highly efficient manner in which the installation ceremony had been performed , and , in the name of the Lodge , asked his acceptance of a Past Master's jewel as a slight recognition of their goodwill , and appreciation of the able manner in which he had carried out the duties of Master during the past year .

Bro . Harrison is not often nonplussed for words , but on this occasion merely said , " I beg to thank you , Worshipful Master and Brethren , for this beautiful mark of your esteem . " What he thought and what he felt may be imagined . Letters were then read from many distinguished Brethren , regretting their inability to be present , among whom were Bros . E . Letchworth , Eobert Grey , Frank Richardson , J . Studholme Brownrigg , Alderman Vaughan Morgan , Sheriff Frank Green , and Sir John B . Monckton .

The Treasurer announced that their funds were in so flourishing a condition that it had been determined to invest £ 200 in Government Stock , to form the nucleus of a Benevolent Fund . Bro . Hooper announced his intention of going up as a Steward at the next Festival of the " Old People , " and would be glad to receive donations for that purpose .

The resignation of one member on account of ill-health was received with regret , . but his loss was compensated by the proposition of another candidate for initiation at tho next meeting . The Master having received tho hearty good wishes of the visiting Brethren , the Lodge was duly closed , and the company adjourned . Tho banquet room presented a really beautiful spectacle , the fine hall

being brilliant with electric lamps and candles , while the tables wore effectively decorated with choice flowers placed in call stands of exquisite design and workmanship . Bro . Auguste Oddenino was evidently on his mettle , and quite surpassed himself with a choice dinner of the highest class . The menu card was artistically designed by an "Eccentric , " and will doubtless be prized as a souvenir of the occasion . The company numbered about a hundred Brethren .

Full justice having been done to the excellent repast , Bro . Hooper , amid the long continued applause of those present , rose to give the toast of the Queen , which , needless to say , was drank with respectful enthusiasm . That of tho Grand Master was no less heartily welcomed , while that of the Grand Officers , stimulated no doubt by the fact of so many being present , was greeted with a roar that made the rafters ring .

Bro . Sir Joseph Dimsdale acknowledged the toast , ancl said both his colleagues and himself sincerely appreciated the graceful terms in which it had been submitted by the Worshiptul Master . Freemasonry was not onl y