Reports Of Meetings.

REPORTS OF MEETINGS .

We shall be pleased to receive particulars of Masonic meetings tor insertion in our columns , and where desired will endeavour to send a representative , to report Lodge or other proceedings . We do not sanction anyone attending Lodge meetings as our repre . tentative without a specific invitation .

CRAFT : PROVINCIAL .

Number Lodge , No . 5 7 . ON Thursday , 27 th ult ., the annual picnic in connection with this Lodge was held in Bolton Woods . Shortly after seven o'clock

the Worshipful Master Bro . J . Drasdo and a party numbering nearly ninety assembled at the Paragon Station , where three saloon carriages were in readiness to convey them to Ilkley . On arriving at their destination breakfast was partaken of at the Lister ' s Arms Hotel .

After breakfast char-a-bancs were requisitioned to convey the party to Barden Towers , and after partaking of refreshments the greater portion of the party walked through the woods by the riverside , enjoying to the utmost the delightful shade and beautiful scenery .

On arrival at " The Strid , " which was safely jumped by several , an inspection of the Abbey was made . The Committee who had the arrangements in hand are to be congratulated on the success which attended their efforts , and no doubt the outing of 1901 will be remembered as one of the most successful ever held .

********** Merchants Lodge , No . 241 . INSTALLATION OF BROTHER WILLIAM BURGESS . AN interesting installation meeting took place on the 25 th ult ., at the Craft headquarters in Hope Street , Liverpool , where the Brethren of this Lod ge gathered in strong force to assist at the chairing ceremony . There were about 120 Brethren of various

ranks present from Liverpool . and surrounding districts , and the proceedings at the commencement were under the direction of Bro . Robert W . Richards W . M ., who concluded a successful year ' s work by effectively installing Bro . William Burgess as his successor in the chief position in the Lodge .

In the course of the after proceedings the I . P . M . Bro . Richards was the recipient of a Past Master ' s jewel and a silver tea and coffee service in recognition of valuable services . The after-dinner programme was furnished by Bros . Owen , Barlow , Redmond , Ewart , and the Minster Quartett .

*******•# * Mariners Lodge , No . 249 . INSTALLATION OF BRO . THOMAS LAWTON . THERE was a numerous and representative gathering at the Hall

Masonic , Hope Street , Liverpool , on the 4 th inst , when the annual installation took place under most auspicious circumstances . The Lodge obtained its Centenary Warrant eighteen years ago , having been consecrated in 178 3 , and ranking at present as one of a group of six of the oldest Lodges in West Lancashire .

The charr was occupied by Bro . J . O . Moulsdale-Williams W . M ., and he installed Bro . Thomas Lawton as his successor . A valuable jewel was presented to the I . P . M ., and after dinner a musical programme was gone through .

********** Minerva Lodge , No . 250

INSTALLATION OF BRO . B . M . STOAKES . THE installation of Bro . Stoakes as Worshipful Master took place on the anniversary festival of St . John , in the Masonic Hall , Dagger Lane , Hull , on the 24 th ult . The ceremony of installation was impressively performed by Bro . Frank Hall the rotin ' nrr Af . nsfpr who urac « cC ; Ci »/ i u ,, i 3 .- ^

„ R- R . Hawlev P . M ., H . Haigh P . M ., and J . A . Brown P . M . After the ceremony Bro . B . M . Stoakes invested his Officers for the ensuing year . The installation banquet was provided by Bro . H . Feller , of the Imperial Hotel , and was served up in the banqueting room of the Lodge , the new Master occupying the chair .

Bro . H . Haigh P . M ., in submitting the toast of the new W . AI ? r the Afinerva Lodge and his newl y-appointed Officers , described m eulogistic terms the qualifications of Bro . Stoakes and his Principal Officers for the respective positions to which they had been appointed , and predicted a very successful year . The toast was urunk with musical honours .

The W . M ., m acknowledging the compliment , said they had conferred on him the highest honour it was in their power to Destow . It entailed great responsibilities , and no man could say ™ at n was for his personal gratification , but to do the best he could i ° r the Lodge . Their selection of him for the chair was not due . < j - w . * .. * , * * wo . mv , V . 1 UIU VVtlO aut uuc

any merit , but to their kindness and esteem . It was ' not in the Power of any Master to command success , but by the aid of his pacers and their support he should endeavour to do his utmost to ^ ustain the high reputation of the Minerva Lod ge among the sister J-ociges of the city . He . was following one whom it was difficult to ouow , but he should endeavour , as far as he could , to emulate

Reports Of Meetings.

The Senior and Junior Wardens ( Bros . Wanless and Witty ) also responded . Bro . Whiteside P . M . next gave the sentiment of the I . P . M . and the retiring Officers . He said their anticipations of Bro . F .

Hall , when they selected him for the chair , had been fully realised . He had performed his duties with distinction , and never had the Minerva Lodge a Master and Officers who had performed their duties so well . Bro . Hall responded , and other toasts followed . **********

Prudence Lodge , No . 1550 . INSTALLATION OF BRO . J . E . BONE

THERE was a crowded attendance at the Freemasons' Hall , Plymouth , on Saturday evening , 6 th inst ., the occasion being the installation of Bro . J . E . Bone as W . M . of this Lodge . Bro . R . E . Arnold W . M . presided , and a Board of nearly fifty Installed Masters assisted in the ceremony .

At the supper which followed the meeting Bro . Bone presided , and was supported by a large number of jjresent and past Prov . Grand Officers . The toast of the Grand Lodge of England was proposed by Brother C . Mutten , and was in due course acknowledged by Brother F . B . Westlake , who gave most interesting information of the

splendid work being clone by the great Masonic Charities , the influence of which , he said , was often * seen outside Freemasonry . As an instance of this he mentioned that at a recent meeting of the Commercial Travellers Benevolent Institution the Chairman was a gentleman who , as a lad , was trained and educated at the Masonic Institution for Boys .

The health of the W . M ., proposed by Bro . Wilton S . W ., was drunk with great heartiness ; and Bro . Bone , in reply , said he was sure the Brethren would be glad to know that in addition to the honour they had conferred upon him by electing him as their W . M ., he had that day received an appointment as purveyor of bread to his Majesty the King . Other toasts followed , and during the evening a cordial welcome

was given to Bro . J . J . Avery , a former resident of Plymouth , and one . of the Founders and first Treasurer of Lodge Prudence . Bro . Avery , responding to the toast of the visitors , said that was the first time for twenty-five years that he had been able to attend a Masonic Lodge meeting in Devonshire , and he was especially glad that the opportunity was given him of renewing valued personal friendships through the medium of Prudence Lodge .

********** Border Lodge , No . 2 745 . THERE was an interesting gathering of the members , at Blackwater , on Tuesday evening , 25 th ult ., for the purpose of according a heary welcome to Bro . Horace Manders , the first Master of the Lodge , on his return from South Africa , where he has been serving with the Imperial Yeomanry . The W . M . Bro . F . J . Hurlock presided .

As soon as the Lodge was opened the Worshipful Master , in the name of the Brethren , bade a hearty welcome home to Dr . Manders , and spoke of the good work he did as the first Master of the Lodge . Bros , the Rev . F . M . Middleton , T . Martin , G . Doman and Clemetson each spoke a few words expressive of the pleasure the Lodge felt at seeing Dr . Manders home again .

Bro . Manders suitably acknowledged the kind remarks made . A banquet followed , and at this the W . M ., who presided , gave the health of Bro . Manders after the usual Masonic toasts had been honoured . In the course of his reply , the guest of the evening interested the company with some of his experiences in South Africa . Later on Dr . Manders proposed success to the Lodge , to which Bro . Hurlock suitably replied .

********** St . John ' s Thanet Lodge , No . 2753 . INSTALLATION OF BRO . WILLIAM H . HUGHES . THE members of this Lodge , which was consecrated in 1899 , held their third annual installation on Monday , 1 st inst ., at the Masonic Temple , New Cross Street , Margate , by dispensation of Grand Lodge , the regular date of meeting being fixed for Sr \ John ' s Day . The meeting passed off with considerable eclat , there

being a numerous attendance of Provincial Grand Officers , besides Past Masters , Brethren and Visitors from London and Provincial Lodges . The Master-elect , Bio . William H . Hughes , is Mayor of Margate for the present year , and it was therefore not surprising that such a distinguished company gathered round him on

so auspicious an occasion . The Lodge was opened by Bro ! J . Brighurst P . P . J . G . W , acting as W . M ., and he received the support of Bros . F . Stanley P . P . G . S . of Works , W . H . Hughes W . M .-elect J . W ., J . L . Hume P . M . Secretary , W . H . White S . D ., Albert Tannenbaum J . D ., J . Hosking P . P . G . Stcl . Br . D . C ., F . Boulanger A . D . C ., W . H . Bennett

I . G ., E . Robertson Steward , Padget Org ., G . Laurence Tyler ; L . Hill P . M . 127 , E . Tomlin Bugden W . M . 127 , T . Carter , J . Baker , A . Bunting , H . Bamber r . M . 127 , G . Gaskin W . M . 1449 , H . Broughton I . P . M . 1449 , A . H . Anderson W . M . 927 , W . Franklin P . M . 127 , A . H . Hales I . P . M . 429 , T . W . Allen i \ M .

733 , J . Hennmg i' . P . G . D . C , B . Thomas P . P . G . D . C , E . L . Dixson'P . M . 127 , E . H . White P . M . 2448 , F . Bennett P . M . 7 8 7 , F . L . Pettman W . M . 429 , W . Clark 597 , E . Bryant 127 , J . Jacob S 29 , A . A . Barnaschins 2448 , A . Palmer Palmer 127 , A . H . Clark 2448 , W . E . Seeker 2448 , J . A . Aalbregt 2448 , J . Hanna 1021 . C . Perret 137 , J . Hay 137 , F , Humphries 1298 , W . S . Call 429 , ' E ,