Instruction.

J . D ., Thomas I . G ., Miller W . M . 2362 , T . Mogford I . P . M . 2362 , 0 . Brown W . M . 733 , G . Knight P . M ., F . Beesley , F . Block , Bookman , Matthews , C . Halston , J . Wynman , and others . Visitor : —G . H . J . Nethercotte , Bangalore Lodge , No . 1043 , Bangalore and 1906 , Madras .

Ths Lodge was opened in regular form and advanced to the second degree , when the W . M . intimated his intention of rehearsing the ceremony of raising , for which Bro . Rockman offered himself as candidate . He having answered the usual questions was entrusted , the Lodge was advanced , and the ceremony was rehearsed .

The W . M . resumed the Lodge to the first degree , and called off . The W . M . kindly vacated the chair in favour of Bro . Miller , who intimated his intention of rehearsing the second degree , for which Bro . Matthews offered himself as candidate . The Lodge was opened in the second degree and the ceremony of passing was rehearsed . Bro . G . Weaver was elected W . M . for Tuesday , 22 nd inst ., next Tuesday being Officers' night .

Bro . F . Brock and T . Matthews were elected members , which compliment was duly acknowledged .

WANDSWORTH LODGE , No . 1044 . THE annual gathering of this Lodge of Instruction , supper and concert , took place at the Spread Eagle Hotel Assembly Rooms , Wandsworth , on Friday , 4 th inst ., when some sixty Brethren assembled to do justice to the excellent supper provided by Bro . Stewart , the new proprietor , and to enjoy the music so bountifully provided by the Committee . Bro . J . Carter P . M- was in the chair , and Bro . A . Higerty P . M . P . P . G . W . Berks in the vice-chair .

Bro . Higerty , in giving the toast of the Chairman , gave expression to the feelings of all who had the pleasure of knowing Bro . Carter when he said that no truer friend and Brother was to be found than he . The toast was accorded musical honours , and Bro . Carter responded in feeling terms , thanking his friend for the good things he had said of him , and the Brethren for their hearty good wishes .

Bro . Higerty at this point desired to leave , in consequence of delicate health , but the Chairman would not allow him to withdraw until his health had been honoured . This was done with musical honours , and Bro . Higerty suitably responded . Bro . Clark proposed the toast of Bro . Stewart , the new proprietor of the Hotel , and who had supplied them with such an excellent supper .

He thought that the way Bro . Stewart had placed that supper before them and catered for their comfort and wants that evening was a happy augury for the future prosperity of that ancient hostelry . The toast was received with acclamation . Bro . Stewart , in an excellent speech , thanked the Brethren for their

kind expressions of satisfaction at what he had had the pleasure of doing for them that evening . He should be pleased at all times to identify himself with anything that they might undertake , and as he hoped to be resident among them for years he looked forward with much pleasure to the prospect of meeting them all again " many times and oft . "

The toast of the Committee who had arranged the evening's entertainment was next proposed ,, and duly honoured , to which Bro . Strong and the other members of the Committee responded .

WOODROW LODGE , No . 1708 . ON Monday , 7 th inst ., at Stone's Restaurant , Panton Sheet , W ., Bro . F . Walker W . M ., H . Wood S-W ., W . West J . W ., J . E . Culverhouse S . D ., A . Butcher J . D ., E . Wavell P . M . I . G ., C . Woodrow P . M . Preceptor , I . W . Simeons Secretary , W . H . G . Rudderforth P . M ., F . G . Hyem , G . L . Baker , J . Morris , H . Williamson , and others .

The ceremony of initiation was rehearsed , Bro . Hyem candidate . The W . M . then vacated the chair for Bro . Simeons , who rehearsed a passing , Bro . F . Walker candidate . Bro . Simeons vacated the chair for Bro . Walker , who closed the Lodge in the two degrees .

Bro . W . West was elected to the chair for next Monday afternoon . o o o BROMLEY ST . LEONARD LODGE ; No . 1805 . AT the Bow Bells , Bow Eoad , on Wednesday , 9 th inst ., Bros . W . Boyce P . M . W . M ., Owers S . W ., F . A . Slater J . W ., W . Johnson S . D ., Soar J . D ., Butcher I . G ., De Casseres P . M . Preceptor , Thornton Secretary , Bradford , Warn P . M ., Gibbs P . M .

The Lodge being opened , Bro . Bradford answered the questions leading to the second degree , and the ceremony of passing was rehearsed . The Brethren assisted Bro . De Casseres to work the first , second , third , and fourth sections of the lecture . Bro . Owers was elected to the chair for Wednesday next .

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

UNION LODGE , No . 38 . THE Brethren held their installation meeting at Chichester , on Thursday , 3 rd inst ., when Bro . D . Waddington was installed W . M . in succession to Bro . C . E . B . Knight . In tile evenin S annual banquet was held in the Assembly Eooms , the new Master being supported by a goodly muster of Brethren of the Lodge , as well as visiting Craftsmen . During the course of the posfc prandial proceedings the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were honoured , and an excellent programme of music was carried out .

ROYAL CUMBERLAND LODGE , No . 41 . THE annual installation festival was held at the Masonic Hall , Bath , on Thursday , 3 rd inst ., when the Worshipful Master Bro . George Norman was supported by a very full Lodge . The installation ceremony was performed by the Worshipful Master , and at its conclusion Bro . A . W . Huff W . M . appointed and invested his Officers .

Provincial.

At the termination of the business of the evening the Brethren adjourned to the annual banquet .

HARMONY LODGE , No . 156 . THE annual banquet was held on the 9 th inst ., at the Freemasons' Hall , Princess Square , Plymouth , and was a very agreeable and successful function . Bro . E . T . Clemens , the popular W . M ., presided , and there was a very large attendance , which included many visiting Brethren . The dinner was admirably laid and served , and for this Bro . and Mrs . Bachelor , the Steward and Stewardess of the Club , were specially thanked .

The usual Masonic toasts were given , the health of the W . M . being proposed in complimentary terms by the S . W . Bro . W . E . Hill , who remarked that so long as men like Bro . Clemens were ready to associate themselves with the excellent work done under the banner of Freemasonry , so long they would have reason to rejoice that such an institution as Freemasonry existed . Much depended upon the men who filled responsible positions in the Order , and given good leaders , such as Bro . Clemens had proved to be , there were certain to be good and loyal followers .

Bro . Clemens , in response , said he feared he was but a poor successor to Bro . Stebbing , who had just vacated the chair , and who had done such noble work for the Order in Devonshire , but he hoped he had a full sense of the responsibility attaching to the position he now occupied , and he would certainly do his best to maintain the reputation which the Lodge had so long enjoyed as being amongst the most prominent and influential in the Province .

The W . M . proposed the health of Bro . Chas . Stuart Stebbing I . P . M ., and the Past Masters of the Lodge , and in connection with the toast made a presentation to Bro . Stebbing . He explained that it had been usual in Lodge Harmony , whenever the W . M . had discharged his duties to the satisfaction of the Brethren , to present him with a Past Master ' s jewel , in recognition of his services . But the services which Bro . Stebbing had

rendered to the Lodge and to Freemasonry were of a special character , and they proposed to recognise it in a special manner . Bro . Stebbing had twice filled the office of W . M ., and on the first occasion he set himself to work to do something more for the Masonic Charities than had been done up to that time . He was not at that time the Lodge ' s Charity Steward , and there was , therefore , no obligation on him to make any special effort on behalf of the

Charities ; but notwithstanding this he went to work with so much energy and zeal that at the close of his year of office he collected no less a sum than £ 100 . Then the Charity Steward resigned , in consequence of leaving the neighbourhood , and Bro . Stebbing readily and willingly accepted the office , with a result that they all knew . He broke the record of the previous year , and when he was elected for the second time to the office of VV . M . of

the Lodge he retained the position of Charity Steward , and so earnestly did he work last year that he brought his total receipts for charitable purposes up to the magnificent total of £ 200 , making , in the short space of three years , over £ 400 collected on behalf of charity and placed to the credit of Harmony Lodge . The Lodge felt that these were services that deserved special recognition , and he had , therefore , great pleasure in asking Bro . Stebbing ' s acceptance of a valuable gold watch , which bore the inscription

Presented to BEO . 0 . S . STEBBING I . P . M . and Charity Steward , by the Brethren of Lodge Harmony , No . 156 , Plymouth , as a token of esteem and appreciation of his services during his second Mastership , and of his indefatigable efforts as Charity Steward , whereby the Lodge obtained the record in the Province of Devonshire in the cause of

charity . 9 th February 1898 . Bro . Stebbing , in acknowledging the gift , said he feared the Brethren were disposed to exaggerate the services he had rendered , but he was one of those who held that Freemasonry carried with it great and responsible duties , and that those who accepted oflice in the Order were bound to recognise those responsibilities in a practical manner . It was true that there

was a social side to Freemasonry , and very properly so , but this should be subordinate to the practical work which Freemasonry aimed at carrying out , and he was glad to know that Lodgo Harmony was doing , and was prepared to do , its full part in this important work . The presentation made to him that evening would be a stimulus to him to work even harder in the future , as he was sure that in doing this he should have the support and sympathy of every member of the Lodge . Other toasts followed .

o o o ST . JOHN LODGE , No . 328 . ON Monday , 7 th inst ., at Torquay , there was a considerable gathering of Brethren from neighbouring Lodges at the installation of Bro . F . J . W . Crowe P . Prov . G . D . as W . M . Bro . Crowe is a well-known Masonic author and collector , says the

" Western Morning News , " some of his books on Masonic clothing and regalia being regarded as standard works , while articles from his pen have appeared in Masonic publications both on the Continent and in America . After the installation a banquet was held at the Lecture Hall of the Natural History Society ' s Museum .

SINCERITY LODGE , No . 428 . ON Monday , 7 th inst ., the St . John ' s Festival was held at Northwich . There was a large attendance , the visitors including members of Lodges at Manchester , Salford , Middlewich , Burslem , Longport , Chorlton , Euncorn , Knutsford , & c . The Lodge was opened by the Worshipful Master Bro . John Chamberlain , and Bro . Sir John T . Brunner , Bart ., M . P ., was duly installed according to anoient custom .

BARNARD LODGE , No . 1230 . THE annual festival was held on Friday , 4 th inst ., at the Masonic Hall , Barnard Castle , when Bro . J . W . B . Heslop was installed into the chair of K . S . The ceremony vvas very impressively performed by Bro . Richard Luck , M . A ., LL . M ., P . G . D . of England . After the ceremony of installation and other business were concluded the Brethren adjourned to the King ' s Head Hotel , whore the annual banquet was held and the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were honoured .