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 .

CRAFT : METROPOLITAN .

CRYSTAL PALACE LODGE , No . 742 . THE first regular meeting after the installation took place on Thursday , 3 rd inst ., at the popular Crystal Palace , Sydenham , under the presidency of Bro . F . Wilkinson W . M ., with Bro . Robert Eddie I . P . M ., C . H . Lawrence S . W ., H . Tull J . W ., F . Purkiss P . M . Treas ., C . 3 . Grove P . M . Sec , G . Paxton S . D ., H . C . Wootton J . D ., E . Tallin I . G ., W . Larkin P . M . D . C , Seymour Smith Org ., J . Garland and H . B . Haylock Stewards , H . Martin P . M . Tyler , T . W . Blott P . M ., A . J . Manning P . M ., John Taft , John Bull ,

F . Blundell , 3 . Woodcock , & c . Amongst the visitors were Bros . Fred Brook , J . Thompson , T . Steers , & c . The Lodge being formed , Bro . 0 . J . Grove P . M . read the minutes of the last meeting , which were confirmed . The W . M . opened tho Lodge in the second degree and Bro . John Bull answered the questions leading to the

third , in a manner which reflected groat credit on himself and his proposer . By especial desire of Bro . F . Purkiss Treasurer the W . M . kindly vacated the chair in his favour , and he conferred the third degree upon Bro . Bull , who is his son-in-law . We need hardly allude to Bro . Purkiss's working , further than to say that the ceremony and the traditional history were most perfectly rendered .

The W . M . having again taken the chair resumed the Lodge to the first degree and summoned the Tyler Bro . Martin , who advanced in due form . The W . M . then addressed Bro . Martin on the duties of the office , and had much pleasure in investing him with the collar of Tyler of the Lodge , feeling sure he would give the same satisfaction as the late Bro-. R . Morley had done . Bro . Martin having given the assurance retired .

The Secretary read letters of regret from absent Brethren , and there being no other business to transact the Lodge was closed , and the Brethren adjourned to the banqueting room . The usual Loyal and Fraternal toasts were afterwards given , and received in cordial manner . An excellent entertainment was furnished , among those who contributed

being Miss Irene Blott ( eldest daughter of one of the Past Masters of the Lodge ) , who gave some excellent songs , and was deservedly encored ; Bro . John Bull gave some pleasing solos on the ' violin , while Bro . Thompson and several other Brethren added greatly to the enjoyment of the company by giving songs or recitations . Bro . Seymour Smith was as usual well to the front as pianist , & c .

INSTRUCTION .

— : o : — CHISWICK LODGE , No . 2012 . ON the 29 th ult ., at the Windsor Castle Hotel , Hammersmith , Bros . Arthur Williams P . M . W . M ., K . M . Ross S . W ., G . T . Meek J . W ., F . Craggs P . M , Treas ., J . H . Gumming P . M . acting Sec , L . Walsh S . D ., H . J . Cousens J . D ., H . Bone I . G ., Bobert Reid acting Prec , P . Cronin P . M ., C . Hopkins , W . Atkinson , and several others .

Lodge was opened to the second degree , and Bro . Ross was obligated as W . M .-elect . All the Brethren below the rank of W . M . then retired , and Bro . Gumming was installed in the chair of K . S . The Board of Installed Masters was closed , and after the Lodge was resumed to the third degree Bro . Gumming vacated the chair in favour of Bro . Ross , who went through the ceremony of investing his staff of Officers .

Lodge was resumed to the first degree , and Bro . Ross elected to occupy the chair at the next meeting . Bro . Arthur Williams was thanked for carrying out the duties of D . C . in an efficient manner .

ON the 5 th inst ., Bros . Kenneth M . Ross W . M ., H . J . Cousens S . W ., G . T . Meek J . W ., J . H . Gumming P . M . acting Sec , R . Reid S . D ., P . Cronin P . M . J . D ., F . Craggs P . M . I . G ., W . Jeffries . The ceremony of initiation was rehearsed , Bro . Jeffries as candidate , after which the Brethren worked the second section of the first degree , under the direction of the Preceptor . Bro . Cousens W . M . of the Old Concord Lodge was unanimously chosen to act as W . M . at the next meeting .

PROVINCIAL . — : n !—

ST . LUKE LODGE , No . 225 „ NEARLY forty members drove on Thursday , 3 rd inst ., in brakes to Bawdsey , and sat down to a "lobster tea , " at the Ferry Inn . A telegram was received from Sir Cuthbert Quilter , Bart ., M . P ., extending a Kind invitation to the party to look over his grounds and mansion , whioh was thoroughly appreciated . The party returned to the Halberd Inn , Northgate street , Ipswich , from whence the excellent brakes were supplied , having spent an . enjoyable outing .

EVERTON LODGE , No . 823 . f \ N Wednesday evening , 19 th ult ., at the Masonio Hall , Hope Street , ITT ljlver P > the members of this Lodge met in strong force for the purpose of assisting at tho installation of the Worshipful Master for the wrung year . Thero were present about 130 Brethren connects wit * thn

TWr' as well as representatives of the Grand Lodge , Provincial Grand ¦ Liooge of West Lancashire , and other leading Masonic bodies iu the district . After the transaction of some formal business , the retiring W . M Bro L chi t , ? y effecUvely inste . lled Bro . John A . Griffiths as bis successor in the n » et chair of the Lodge , which has a long and honourable history .

Reports Of Meetings.

In the course of tho evening a P . M . 's jewel and gold watch and chain were presented to Bro . Davey , as a mark of the esteem in which he is held by the members of the Lodge . Bro . Casey supplied the banquet , and afterwards a varied musical programme was given by Bros . M . Cox , G . Smith , W . Hudson , E . Batty , G . Greene , and Sam Parr .

Never Should Have Become Masons.

NEVER SHOULD HAVE BECOME MASONS .

THEEB are some men , fortunately for tbe fraternity they are not numerous , who have simply wasted time and money in joining a Masonic Lodge . ' They never attend its meetings , and why they pay dues has always been a mystery as profound as the mysteries they never learned . They do not appreciate in anv sense the beauties of the work or the lessons they have been

taught . They rather sneer at the morality of the doctrines and scoff at the religious vim that runs through the tenets . Brotherly love is as unknown to them as Choctaw ; relief as foreign to their natures as it would be to a South Sea cannibal , and truth never had a dwelling place in their hearts , and is not found in their

vocabulary . They flippantly characterise Masonic lectures as " sermons , " and ridicule everything that tends to elevate the moral tone of society . Why such men should waste their money in paying dues is a conundrum . And yet some of these same men flourish the biggest and most obtrusive Masonic jewellery , and

if adversity should overtake them they would fly at once to the Lodge and ask relief from the very Institution and men they had so openly ridiculed . That it the only excuse that can Ije offered for their keeping up their membership in the Lodge , that some untoward circumstances may make it useful to them . — " Masonic Sun . "

The North-East Corner.

THE NORTH-EAST CORNER .

A LODGE is au oblong , and Brethren soon familiarise themselves with the points of the compass therein . The East —the point at which the letter "G" glistens , the seat of light and authority—is the " Mecca " toward which the Brotherhood turn with longing eve , if uot with feverish hope . There is a

vaststretch of land between the East and the North-east corner of a Lodge . The East , however , with all its brilliancy , is no more honourable than the North-east corner , where stands the youngest Mason of the Lodge , upright as a man and a Mason .

No one remains long in the North-east corner of the Lodge , for Masonry is a progressive science , and taught by degrees only . While occupying the North-east corner , the Mason is without spot or blemish . He 1 aa just been made . Ambition , gratified or defeated , has not defaced his Masonic character . Pride of

knowledge , accentuated by promotion from floor to official station , has not handicapped him . What a future awaits him ! Before him are not only the revelations of the Second Degree , with its profound teachings as to the several sciences , but the sublime Third , with its magnificent ritual , splendid principles , elegant ceremonies , and impressive lessons .

Stepping from the North-east corner , and advancing by degrees to the exalted station of a Master Mason , the novitiate enters a new world . How will he conduct himself ? What effect will the -elevating teachings and ennobling influences of Masonry have upon him ? Will he become a better man as he

progresses ? Will he illustrate a higher type of character as a citizen ? Will he grow more lovable as a husband aud father ? Who can tell ? As he stands in the North-east corner of the Lodge he is the personification of everything promising . He is humble , teachable and wonderfully obedient to orders .

Some of us have to go back over a stretch of years to see ourselves as we stood erect , for the first time in the Lodge , in our young manhood . Like others , we were , at that time , ' * buds of promise . " Now that we have effloresced , we are anything but what we imagined we would be . What it may be with others ,

we know not . It is a fact that many of us would like to stand again in the North-east corner , and have life stretching out befpre us as it did aforetime way back in the sixties . We cannot be gratified on these lines , for there is no going back iu Masonry , for it is a progressive science . — " Trestle Board . "

Volubility.

VOLUBILITY .

IT would be well if that epigrammatic piece of advice once given to a candidate for Governor of the State of Pennsylvania , " Dear B , don ' t talk , " were more frequently acted upon by many Freemasons . To the profane , especially , should the lips be

sealed . No matter what the provocation , don't talk . When the insinuating interviewer shows you a paragraph that some one is about to expose the secrets of Freemasonry , don ' t talk . When you are asked as to the truth of the story that some one high in the world ' s regard is about to be initiated in the mysteries of the