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 . — : o : — CRAET : METEOPOLITAN .

ROYAL ATHELSTAN LODGE , No . 19 . A' SUMMER outing of the members , with their friends , took place on Tuesday , 2 nd inst ., under the auspices of the W . M . Bro . Milton Smith . The party proceeded in saloon carriages to Henley-on-Thames , where two electric launches— " Viscountess Bury " and " Flosshilde "—were in waiting to convey them to Windsor . During the river journey an excellent luncheon and a variety of light refreshments were provided , and on arrival at Windsor dinner was served at the White Hart Hotel , the party returning to town by

train . After dinner the toasts of the Queen , the Ladies , the Visitors , and the Worshipful Master wero honoured , says the " City Press , " Mr . J . H . Merrett responding for the Ladies , ancl Mr . A . E . Pridmore for the Visitors . Fine weather favoured the trip , and the arrangements were carried out in every respect without hitch , the whole party making themselves thoroughly at home .

It was the first occasion for some eleven years that the Lodgo had had a summer gathering , and expressions of the greatest satisfaction and pleasure were universal , the W . M . being highly complimented on the great success of his efforts .

ABBEY ( WESTMINSTER ) LODGE OF INSTRUCTION , No . 2030

ON Thursday , 27 th ult ., an excursion in connection with this Lodge took place under tho arrangement of Bros . Mountain , Squires and Poole ( Secretary ) . The party met at Vauxhall Station , proceeded in saloon carriages to Windsor , and boarded the Steam Launch " Windsor Castle . " Light refreshments were provided during the journey . The company , to the number of eighty-one , landed at the Quarry Hotel , Bourne End , where an excellent dinner was provided , precaution having been taken to wire the exact number on arrival at Windsor . Great credit is due to Brother E . Butler , the proprietor of the Hotel , for tho manner in whioh the dinner was served .

Bro . G . Holland , Preceptor of the Wanderers Lodge of Instruction , No . 1604 , occupied the chair in the unavoidable absence of Bro . J . Gibson , tho Preceptor ; Bros . Mountain , Squires and Poole occupying tho vice-chairs . The toast of the Queen was appropriately proposed by the Chairman , and suitably responded to . . Bro . Hamborg moved a vote of congratulation to

the Committee , on behalf of the company , for the perfect arrangements . A photograph was taken of the company on the lawn of tho Hotel , as well as on the Launch , and excellent pictures were produced by Messrs . Daniels and Blaber . The Launch then continued the journey to Great Marlow , tea being provided on the return journey to Windsor , which was reached in time to catch the 8-35 express to London .

Mrs . Gee presided at the pianoforte , ancl a good selection of songs was performed by Bros . Montague and G . Thatcher , Mr . Frank Hobbs , Mrs . Montague and Miss Cocks . Everyone present seemed to have thoroughly enjoyed the trip and anxiously enquired when the next excursion would take place .

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PROVINCIAL .

— : o : — LODGE OF PEACE , No . 149 .

ON Saturday , Gth inst ., an interesting ceremony took place in the presentation of a portrait of himself to Brother Charles Rayner P . M . P . P . G . D . C , in recognition of his long and eminent services to the Lodge . Bro . F . W . Lewis W . M . was in the chair . The portrait has been subscribed for by a large number of members of tho Lodge , and it is an excellent work of art , as well as an exceedingly good likeness , says the " Huddersfield Chronicle . "

The W . M . called upon Brother William Ramsden P . M . P . P . G . Reg . to make the presentation . Bro . Ramsden , after expressing the gratification he felt in making the presentation in consequence of the ' pleasant Masonic associations between Bro . Rayner and himself in former years , referred to the zeal which Bro . Rayner had shown in Masonry , and particularly in the instructing of the younger Brethren in the Masonic art . He believed that

most of the present generation of Freemasons in tbe Lodge of Peace entirely owed their proficiency in the Craft either directly or indirectly to Brother Rayner , who had been the guide and friend of all who required his assistance . He referred to Bro . Rayner ' s zeal for the maintenance of old traditions and for the purity of working which distinguished the Lodge of Peace . He was one of the oldest trustees of the Lodge property . He also mentioned two or

three occasions when Bro Rayner particularly distinguished himself : at the celebration of the centenary of the Lodge in 1877 ; the consecration of the Colne Valley Lodge , Slaithwaite , in the same year ; and the foundation laying of the new Masonic Hall in Meltham . He acted as Prov . Grand D . C . at tha foundation stone laying of a new church near Pontefract , on all of which occasions the Prov . Grand Lodge took part . He was present and

joined in the great Masonic gathering on the 28 th of October 1868 , when the Marquis of Ripon , surrounded by the Prov . Grand Lodge , laid the foundation stone of the Convalescent Home at Meltham . He had been a member of the Charity Committee of the Province , representing his Lodge there for many years . After referring to the esteem in which Bro . Rayner was held , not

only in his own Lodge , but throughout the Province , he concluded by presenting the portrait , and expressed a hope that he wonld have long life and health and further usefulness in his Masonic career , and that in after yri \ rs 'his portrait mipht remind his successors of the respect and affection in which he was held by thc Brethren of his Lodge .

Bro . Rayner , who was much effected , hi his reply said that he thanked Bro . Ramsden from his heart for his outspoken and unhalting recognition of the services he had rendered to the Lodge , and assured him that the words he had uttered that day would never be erased from his memory , that they

Provincial.

would be treasured up in it to tho end of his days . He accepted tho gift as au honour intended for him by its promoters , and he looked upon it as a rich reward for what he had done for the Lodge . He also thanked Bro . Morton for the active part he had taken in furthering the object , also those Brethren who had so kindly and courageously contributed their money towards its

accomplishment . He thanked the subscribers one and all with feelings of the deepest gratitude . He said that his reward came to him from ° the Province in April 1880 . That day , fifteen years later , it came to him in his own Lodge , and although it came late it was none the less welcome nor any the less thankfully received . He then said he was not going to weary them

with an interminable speech , but would at once come to the most pleasing of the duties he had to perform that day . He had very great pleasure indeed in presenting to the Lodge the portrait that had just been presented to him by Ramsden did with that it ht be

Bro . . He so a hope mig permitted to hang in a prominent place in the Lodge Room as a token of the long years he had laboured for the good of the Lodge , and as an incentive to members of the Lodge in future generations to do likewise .

A resolution was then moved by Bro . William Ramsden , and seconded by Bro . James Kilburn , J . P ., C . A ., P . M .. "That the Lodge gratefully accepts Bro . Rayner ' s gift of the portrait to the Lodge , and that the portrait be henceforth hung on the walls of the Lodge Room . " It was carried unanimously and the proceedings then closed .

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SINCERITY LODGE , No . 189 . THE annual installation and banquet was held at the Town Hall Stonehouse , on the Sth inst ., when Bro . John Parker S . W . was installed as W . M . After the banquet the usual toasts wero honoured .

RURAL PHILANTHROPIC LODGE , No . 291 . ON Friday , Sth inst ., Bro . J . H . Sharp , of Huntspill , was installed W . M , as successor to Bro . A . Burnett . There was a good muster of Brethren the ceremony being performed by Bro . R . 0 . Else D . P . Q . M .

CONSTITUTIONAL LODGE , No . 294 . ON the 4 th" inst ., the Earl of Londesborough attended at the Masonic Hall , Beverley , for the purpose of presenting the Lodge with a handsome new banner . The centenary of the Lodge was celebrated in 1893 , during which year the noble Earl was the Worshipful Master , and in order to

mark the event his lordship has had specially designed a new banner , a duplicate of which he has also presented to the Liberty Lodge , of Beverly , Mass ., U . S . A ., the latter Lodge having considerately sent a magnificent Silver Loving Cup during the centenary celebration as a mark of their esteem .

The Worshipfnl Master Bro . J . R . Lane presided , and he was supported by the Earl of Londesborough , Tom Turner ( ex-Mayor of Beverley ) , J . Willis Mills ( Town Clerk ) , G . H . Knight ( Superintendent of Police ) , and many others . On being called upon to make the presentation , Lord Londesborough

referred to the pleasant and happy associations connected with the old school-days , boyish haunts , the old homesteads , and last , but not least , the happy associations ^ connected with a visit to one's own Mother Lodge . He next reverted to the princely gift of the American Brethren to the Constitutional Lodgo during his Mastership in 1893 , when the centenary was

celebrated , and he had , after consultation with several Brethren , thought it fitting that he should show their regard and esteem by presenting to thc Liberty Lodge a facsimile of the old Constitutional Lodge banner ; and as he further ascertained that this banner was in a dilapidated condition , he had had specially designed and prepared the new banner which they then saw

before them . Upon it were woven the beavers of the American Beverly Lodge and of their own Lodge , as showing the fraternal regard existing between the two . The American Brethren had received their banner , and he had now the greatest possible pleasure in asking the Worshipful Master to accept on behalf of the Brethren of his Mother Lodge the banner , bearing the following inscription : —

Constitutional Lodge , No . 294 . Founded 6 th March 1793 . Adversa Virtute Repello . Presented by R . W . BRO . LONDESBOROUGH W . M . 1893 P . G . W . of

England . Tho banner was then presented amidst very hearty cheers , ancl on the motion of the W . M ., seconded by Bros . Kemp and Marshall , his lordship's gift was accepted with hearty thanks .

At the banquet which followed , Lord Londesborough proposed the Liberty Lodge of Beverly , Mass ., U . S . A ., and the Brethren , in enthusiastically responding to the toast , respectfully turned westward . Other toasts followed .

DOWNSHIRE LODGE , No . 594 . THE annual installation picnic was held on Thursday , 4 th inst ., at Clough Hall , Harecastle . Upwards of 100 members ancl friends left Lime Street Station , Liverpool , at 9 . 45 a . m . After a stroll through the lovely grounds the company sat down to dinner , admirably served by Bro . Bailey .

After dinner the majority of the party were conveyed to the very extensive pottery works of Messrs . Josiah Wedgewood and Co ., Etruria , where they witnessed the whole interesting process of manufacture . They returned to Clough Hall for tea , and then finished the day by boating on the picturesque lake , & c , and finally returned to Liverpool by special train , arriving at Lime Street at 10 . 30 p . m .

CARNARVON LODGE , No . 804 . THE annual meeting was held at Freemasons' Hall , Waterloo Road , Havant , on the 2 nd inst . There was a fair attendance of members . The Lodge having been opened at 4 o'clock , and the usual preliminary business being disposed of , the W . M . Brother G . Cox proceeded to instal nis successor , Bro . Harry Nelson Price P . M . 177 , who had been unanimously elected to fill the chair of his mother Lodge for the ensuing year .

The Board of Installed Masters was composed of the following Brethren J . Purnell P . P . G . Std . B ., T . Francis P . P . G . W ., H . W . Smith Parson s P . P . G . Purs ., S . E . Spriging Prov . G . Purst ., J . T . Slade , J . U . Godfrey , Visitors : —W . Baker W . M . 1831 , C . F . Charge P . M . 38 , A . Howell P . M . 18 d * i