Notices Of Meetings.

ASHBURY LODGE , No . 1459 . THE annual meeting and festival of St . John in connection with this Lodge took place at West Gorton , on Thursday , 16 th November , Bro . William Drabble W . M . Over 50 brethren were in attendance , the following being amongst the number , viz ., Bros . J . W . Abbott P . M . P . P . G . D . of C , Wm . Bee P . M . P . P . G . S ., C . Walworth

P . M ., S . C . Richardson P . M ., W . H . Beastow P . M ., Thos . Aspinall P . M ., Ja <» . Wright P . M ., Thos . Hughes P . M ., S . Chamberlain , J . T . Trotter , J . Jee , G . W . Davies , W . Dyson , A . Barber , W . Ashley , W . Williamson . Visitors : —Bros . Fred Hilton P . M . 1458 Prov . G . Dir . of Cer ., Councillor Thos . Uttley W . M . 2164 , Walter Newton P . M . 1322 P . P . G . J . D ., G . W . Barnes W . M . 681 , Geo . Parker W . M . 1083 ,

W . J . Melling P . M . 2185 , J . Forman P . M . 210 , W . Goodman 2185 , Chas . Jackson 2156 , and Chas . Griffiths 581 . Our representative ( Bro . E . Roberts P . M . ) who had been to another meeting , and who consequently did not arrive at this nntil a late hour , has furnished us with tbe following particulars . After the confirmation of minutes the ceremony of initiating Mr .

Tom Wm . Downs was performed by Bro . Richardson , the working tools being presented by Bro . Walworth acting S . W . By th * * time the Worshipfnl Master elect ( Bro . John Smith S . W . ) who h ' boon confined to his house by illness , arrived by special carriage , ia . •« ame having been fitted up with warming apparatus for the occasion . Bro . Wm . Bee Worshipful Installing Master , having taken the

principal ohair , appointed his Installing Officers , as follow : —Bro . Richardson S . W ., Bro . Wright J . W ., and Bro . Wall worth Deaoon . Bro . Smith having been duly presented , obligated , and installed , he invested Bro . Drabble as I . P . M ., the latter ultimately explaining the jewel . Bro . Drabble also explained the working tools to each degree , while the address to the W . M . was given by Bro .

Richardson , and those to the Wardens and brethren generally by Bro . Abbott . . Bro . Bee invested the Officers . We ought to mention tbat a vote of thanks was unanimonsly accorded to Bro . Davies Sec , for the very admirable manner in which his books had been kept . The festival of St . John subsequently took place , Loyal and Masonio

toasts being submitted by Bros . Wright , Beastow , Trotter , Davies , and others , the same being duly responded to . Bro . Beastow presented to Bro . Drabble I . P . M ., on behalf of the Lodge , a splendid Past Master ' s jewel , which the recipient fittingly acknowledged . Bro . Wallworth being afterwards called upon to present to Bro . Wright a Past Treasurer ' s jewel , did so , saying that he

had had many pleasant dnties allotted to him in Lodge during the last ten years , but none bad been so pleasurable as that whioh he was just about to perform . The speaker dilated upon Bro . Wright's past services , whioh he said were worthy of recognition , and concluded by hoping that the latter would live long to wear the jewel , and favour

the Ashbury Lodgo with his presence oftener than he had done latterly . Bio . Hughes afterwards presented to Bro . Richardson a similar jewel , and did so in a very neat and appropriate speech , drawing attention to his constant efforts to improve the Lodge . The words npon the jewel were : —

Presented By the Brethren of the ASHBUBY LODGE , NO . 1459 , to Bro . S . C . RICHARDSON P . M ., For services rendered as Treasurer , 1889-1893 . Songs , sketches , and instrumental pieces were contributed by various brethren , a very pleasant evening being spent .

KING'S CROSS LODGE , No . 1732 . ON Saturday , 18 th ult ., at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet Street , Bro . G . R . Bolton W . M ., R . Palmer I . P . M ., Soffe S . W ., W . M . Stiles Treasurer , Fletcher Secretary , Jacoby S . D ., Puiles J . D ., Pettitt Steward , P . M . Solomon and Bros . Leaver and Underbill . Brothers Reece and Leaver answered the questions leading to the second degree , were entrusted , and passed by the W . M . in a most perfect

and earnest manner . After the business of the day the brethren adjourned to refreshment , and were highly pleased with Brother 1 Clemow for the care with whioh he studied their comfort . Brother Clemow was once again deserving of being congratulated on his successful catering . '

"TheW . M ., in giving the toasts , observed that brevity was the order of the evening , and the brethren were to be brief in their . responses , whioh was admirably carried out . Harmony was the strong point , and Bros . P . M . Solomon , Mote , Stiles , Reece , Leaver , ' Purles , and Hall were very successful in their songi . E

Bro . P . M . Stiles , in returning thanks for the Past Masters , impressed on the Officers the necessity of making themselves per- f feet masters of their work , the better to keep up the high reputation of the Lodge . The toast of the Officers and the Tyler's toast concluded a very successful and harmonious meeting .

ALBERT VICTOR LODGE , No . 1773 . THE annual meeting and festival of St . John took placo at the £ Pendleton Town Hall , on Friday , 17 th November , Thos . Threlfall j WM f * hn fnllnwine were also oresent : —Bros . J . L . Smith I . P . M .. t-

Thos . T . Sefton S . W ., Wm . Mosley J . W ., Samuel Statham P . M . P . P . G . Treas . Chap ., J . Clough Secy ., J . Clarkson S . D ., Thos . M . Brown J . D ., Wm . Hardcastle P . M . P . P . G . D . of C . D . of C , Wm . Lambert I . G ., Wm . Thos . Blense and Wm . Allen Smith Stewards , B . VV . Sefton P . M ., E . Winterbottom P . M ., J . Harrop P . M . P . P . G . D ., R . Duxbnry P M P . P . G . Swd Br ., Thos . Kay P . M ., Ed . Holland P . M ., F . Townson

P . M ., Edward Roberts P . M . Asst . Prov . G . T . ( FREEMASON ' S ] CHRONICLE ) , John Harwood , Richard Hilton , W . H . Landless , R . H . , Berry , P . G . Hayden , J . Handley , Wm . Woodeson , Aid . Richard c Mottram . Visitors : —Bros . J . Crompton Wood 2363 P . G . Asst . D . of f

C E . Williams P . M . 325 P . P . G . Spt . of Works , W . R . Sharp W . M . 325 , Jas . Beardmoro W . M . 852 , R . Thomas W . M . 935 , John Ramsbottom P . M . 325 , E . Webb P . M . 1134 , W . Hawkins 992 . Aftsr the ordinary business had been disposed of , Bro . J . Harrop , assisted by several Past Master * of the Lodge , proceeded to install Bro . Thos . T . Sefton S . W . as Worshipful Master . Bro . Threlfall

presented Bro . Sefton and he was duly obligated and installed , the proclamations in the E . W . and S . were made by Bro . Hardcastle , the working tools in the several degrees explained by Bro . J . L . Smith , the address to the W . M . given by Bro . Statham , that to the ' Wardeng by Bro . Winterbottom , and that to tHe brethren generally by Bro . Townson .

The following Officers were invested by Bro . Duxbnry , Bro . Saml . Statham P . M . Chaplain , Wm . Mosley S . W ., J . Clough J . W ., F . Townson P . M . Treas ., J . Clarkson Secy ., W . Hardcastle P . M . D . C .. T . M . Brown S . D ., W . Lambert J . D ., W . T . Blease I . G ., and W . Allen Smith , W . Branaby , Rd . Hilton , and W . Woodeson Stewards . The festival of S . John afterwards took place , whioh in turn waa

succeeded by a festive board , where the usual loyal and Masonio toasts were indulged in . Bro . J . Crompton Wood , in responding on behalf of the Provincial Officers , contrasted the work of that day with some whioh he had seen . He also mentioned several glaring abuses whioh had insiduously crept into the management of certain Lodges . For obvious reasons we cannot print his remarks , although if we oould

they would deserve to be produced in letters of gold . It will be suffioient to say that he gave one or two Lodges a severe oastigation , but by witholding their names left his hearers in doubt whioh he referred to . If Bro . Wood could be induced to repeat his expressions in other Lodges they might ultimately reach the oars of those for whom they were intended , and have a most salutary effect .

Bro , Threlfall proposed the health of the Worshi pful Master , saying that the brethren had considerably lightened his labours by hav ing received the toast so enthusiastically . It was by a sort of unwritten law that the duty of submitting this particular toast generally fell to the lot of tho retiring Master , und it was a practice which he advooated , because the I . P . M . could enter into the spirit of it much more

feelingly and sympathetically than others could do . Bro . Sefton was thoroughly capable of maintaining bis position , but what they had seen of him in the past would only strengthen their belief that he would perform his manifold duties with zeal and efficiency , for the interest whioh he had previously taken in Masonio matters had constituted him an authority .

The Worahipful M . responding said that he appreciated the position in which they had placed him , and he alsn recognised the responsibilities which such a position entailed . He had important ceremonies in anticipation , but promised that they should be reverently performed . With regard to the ordinary business of the Lodge , it was sometimes difficult to regulate things satisfactorily , there were so

: many differences of opinion , but he wonld try to bring these latter under one common control . His experience in matters connected with the social board had been limited , perhaps it was because his nature was of the quiet kind , but he appealed to the brethren to help him by offering their services when required . He was afraid tbat this particular feature of Masonry was sometimes overdone , but he

' hoped the members of his Lodgo would mind this , and think more about upholding the beautiful principles of the Craft as his predecessor ( Bro . Threlfall ) had done , and for which ho had the pleasure of presenting him with a token of respect . In placing upon his breast the beautiful jewel , whicb , as the inscription denoted , was the gift of the brethren of the Albert Victor Lodge , he did so with pleasure ,

convey-I j ing to him at the same time the hearty good wishes of the donors . Bro . Threlfall I . P . M . said in reply that judging from the speeches of the W . M . the latter seemed made for the ohair . It was with mixed feelings of satisfaction and regret that he ( Bro . Threlfall ) relinquished the position which ho had held for 12 months—satisfaction because he could look back with pleasure upon the pleasant time he

. , . had spent , aud the assistance whioh had been rendered to him by the Past Masters and brethren—and with regret because he was compelled to leave them after such kindness . There had not been much work during his period of Mastership , but the lack of quantity waa compensated for by the quality , for Bros . Harwood and Mottram , their new members , were an acquisition which they might all bo proud of .

. . He reverted to the soiree and picnic which he said had both been successful . During the year several presents had been made to the Lodge , whioh was now well furnished , and throngh the instrumentality of Bro . Berry Treasurer , they were now out of debt . He congratulated the Worshipful Master upon possessing a good set of officers , who would be zealous in the performance of their duties . In

conclusion he said that he had had many kindnesses bestowed upon him , and aa one good turn deserved another , he would offer to the Lodge a souvenir , at the same time handing a splendidly framed portrait of himself done in oils . Bro . Sefton W . M ., in accepting the gift on behalf of the Lodge , suggested that they should form a permanent portrait gallery of Past

. | Masters . The toast of tho Visitors was allotted to Bro . Saml . Statham P . M . P . P . Grand Treasurer , who in a few introductory remarks expressed his thankfulness that after a severe illness he shonld have the pleasure afforded him of being present upon another of these interesting occasions . After paying a well deserved compliment to Bro .

t ] t Harrop P . M . for the very able and perfect manner in which the ceremony of installation had been performed , and also to tho W . M . for his thoughtful and intelligent speech , Bro . Statham said—It is with unfeigned pleasure that I propose tho next toast , that of our friends the Visiting Brethren , and it ia one irhich accords with tho principle aud spirit of oar noble Craft .

; i As Freemasons we aro cemented together by the indissoluble ties of brotherly lovo and friendship . True wo are divided into various Lodges , Chapters , & c , but this is rather a necessity of convenience j we cannot all assemble round one bright , cheery fireside , but as tbe members of families re-assemble round the family board at Christmastide , so we as members of the great and gloriona Masonio family can