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Reports Of Meetings.

REPORTS OF MEETINGS .

We shall be 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 .

Installations.

INSTALLATIONS .

EMPIRE CHAPTER , Ho . 2108 . Installation of Companion James Speller . nnHE annual festival of this Chapter was held on Friday of I last week , at the Criterion , Piccadilly , W ., when the Principals and Officers for the ensuing year were installed and

invested . The convocation assembled soon after 5 o clock , when Comps . Hermann Klein M . E . Z . Past Grand Organist , James Speller H ., and E . E . Harding J . formally opened the Chapter , and the business was immediately proceeded with .

After the minutes of the previous meeting had been , read and confirmed the ballot was taken on behalf of three distinguished Masons , as candidates for exaltation , viz . His Highness Baj Kumar Sirdah Singh , Alfred August Rothschild , and Sydney Bothschild , all members of the Empire Lodge and , being well

known , they were unanimously approved . They were admitted and regularly exalted to the Supreme Degree . The ceremony was beautifully rendered by Comp . Klein and his Officers , especially Comp . Bassett Hopkins , whose delivery of the speeches of the P . S . met with considerable commendation . The lectures

were given by Comps . James Speller and James Terry P . G . St . B . A conclave of Installed Principals was then formed , presided over by Comp . Klein , who next proceeded to instal his successor Comp . James Speller as Z . of the Chapter , and that worthy Companion in turn installed Comp . E . E . Harding to succeed

him in the chair of H . The Installation of Comp . J . Sefton Mayors as J . was kindly undertaken by Comp . James Terry , and needless to say was performed in a masterly manner . The following Officers had been elected , and those who were present were then invested by the M . E . Z .: —Comps . William Shurmur

P . G . Std . B . focnbe E ., Bassett Hopkins Scribe N ., Hermann Klein I . P . Z . Treasurer , Franz Deutsch P . S ., Frank P . Eider and C . B . Valentine Assistants , E . Warden Denniss P . Z . D . C ., Benno Schonberger Organist , Albert Cohn and Oscar Goldstein Stewards , and R . W . Edgeley Janitor .

In the name of the Chapter the M . E . Z . then presented Comp . Hermann Klein with a very handsome P . Z . ' s jewel , with an additional bar , which Comp . Speller said was to mark the

appreciation of the members of the services rendered by him for two successive years as their First Principal . Comp . Klein expressed his thanks for the really beautiful present , which he would ever regard as a mark of their friendship and esteem .

The Audit Committee reported that the finances of the Chapter were in a very flourishing condition , whereupon the Treasurer proposed that a grant of five guineas might very

appropriately be made by the Empire Chapter to the South African Belief Fund , which was cordially approved , and a cheque for that amount was directed to be sent to Comp . George Bichards District Grand Superintendent of the Transvaal .

The resignation of two members was accepted with regret , and this concluding the business of the evening the Companions adjourned for refreshment . A very elegant banquet was provided by Messrs . Spiers and Pond , under the superintendence of the Manager , Bro . Thierry ,

and the programme of the menu , toasts and music was beautifully designed by Comp . Speller , and will doubtless be kept as a pleasing souvenir of the occasion . The " firing glasses " used at the table were presented to the Empire Lodge by Bro . and Comp . Albert Cohn . The toasts of the Queen and the Grand Z . were drank with enthusiasm . Comp . A . J . R , Trendell P . G . Std . B . responded for the Grand Officers , and remarked upon the strenuous vitality of this

Installations.

comparatively young Chapter , which had now passed into a great success . He was sure there was a good future before it when he saw the excellent work of the Officers that evening . Comp . Hermann Klein proposed the M . E . Z ., and bore testimony to the good service rendered by Comp . Speller at a time when they sorely needed the assistance of an experienced and worthy Companion .

Comp . Speller , in tho course of his reply , said that he deemed it a great honour when they elected him as an Honorary Member of the Chapter , but he thought he could be of more use as a Subscribing member , and he had been rewarded fov * any services he had rendered by being elected as their First Principal .

He thanked them for all the kindness that had been extended to him , and hoped he might be with them for many years to come . In acknowledging the toast of H . and J ., Comps . Harding and Sefton Mayors both confessed that the ceremonies of the evening had revealed matters to them of which they had no previous idea , and were gratified at being elected to their positions .

The Exaltees next came on for recognition , and met with a flattering reception . Comp . Sirdah Singh said he might consider himself a fortunate Freemason , as he was initiated in the Order before he came of age , by a dispensation from Grand Lodge , and ' now that he had been exalted to this Supreme Degree he would endeavour to show his countrymen the teachings and benefits of Freemasomy .

Comp . Alfred Bothschild said it was an extreme pleasure to him to be received into the Chapter . He was rather an old Mason , as it was over thirty years ago since he was initiated into the privileges of the Craft at Bloemfontein ; but the beautiful ceremony that evening had made a great impression upon him , and what he had now learned in the autumn of life would ever be remembered until he paid the last debt of nature .

Comp . Sydney Rothschild said that his father had always impressed upon him the beautiful teachings of Freemasonry , and he considered the Eoyal Arch degree was like a handsome frame to a grand picture .

Comps . James Terry , Dr . A . G . Sandberg P . G . D . O . and T . G . Lynde ( of the Scottish Grand Chapter in India ) responded for the Visitors .

The Past Principals and the Officers were also honoured , and this very pleasant evening was brought to a close with the Janitor ' s toast , delivered by Comp . Edgeley . An excellent musical entertainment was given between the speeches , the artistes being Miss Edith Clegg , Miss Lilian Courtenay , and Mr . Montague Borwell , while Comps . Hermann Klein P . G . Org . and W . H . Thomas P . G . Org . assisted at the piano .

ROYAL COMMEMORATION . DODGE , M " . 1585 . Installation of Brother C . C . Barber . THE above well known Lodge deservedly bears a good name for its excellent rendering of the ritual , as well as its genial hospitality , and under Worshipful Master Bro . A . E . W .

MacCamley these excellent Masonic qualities have been worthily upheld during the past year ; in fact , Bro . MacCamley can look back on his term of Office with pardonable pride , alike at the amount of work done , as well as its quality .

It was therefore with no feelings of surprise that we found a crowded Lodge , on attending at the Masonic Temple of the Holborn Bestaurant , on Wednesday , 2 nd inst . A large number of visitors put in an appearance , among them being Bros . W .

Whiteside W . M . 1897 , Jos . J . Trenner W . M . 205 , Gordon Earner W . M . 1326 , Harold Griffiths I . P . M . 1347 , J . W . Facey I . P . M . 1767 , C . J . Simmons-Jaques 1524 , Saffeld Foot 862 , J . Freeman 55 , & c .

As the Agenda showed , a large amount of business was set down , and the proceedings were promptly commenced at 4 - 15 by Bro . MacCamley W . M ., who was supported by the following :

Bros . C . C . Barber S . W ., G . W . Fortescue P . M . J . W ., B . B . Collide P . Mi Treasurer , J . W . Robinson P . M . Secretary , R . M . Sharpin S . D ., F . A . Sier J . D ., J . H . MacNaughton I . G ., John Cox Organist , Pardoe , D . W . B . Swain , Thomas P . M ., Keene

P . M ., Coombes P . M ., and about sixty other Brethren . After the minutes of the last regular Lodge had been read and confirmed , the W . M . raised Bros . Smith , Pease , and Villiers , and passed Bros . Brown , Osborne , Willcoeks , and Lewis . Having declared all Offices vacant , the W . M . proceeded to the

ceremony of installation , for which Bro . C . C . Barber was presented as the W . M .-elect . Bro . MacCamley impressively addressed the incoming Master on the duties of the high office to which he had been unanimously elected , and Bro . Barber signified his assent to the Ancient Charges , and took the customary obligation .

A Board of Installed Masters having been formed , Bro . Barber was duly installed in the chair of . King Solomon , in accordance with ancient custom . The Brethren were re-admitted , and the new Master proclaimed and saluted ; the entire ceremony being effectively performed .