Reports Of Meetings.

REPORTS OF MEETINGS .

We shall be pleased to receive particulars of Masonic meetings for injsertion in our columns , and -w-here desired will endeavour to s , end a representative to report Lodge or other proceedings .

— : o : — HIGHGATE CHAPTER , No . 1366 . THS regular convocation was held at Beale ' s Restaurant , Holloway Road , u ^ der the , p ? esidenpy of Cpmp . R . Pain Walkden M . E . Z . The Chapta-r lieing opened , the minutes were read and confirmed . Bros . William fJealje afld Ellis yyere duly exalted , the ballot being unanimous , by Comp . W ^ ikden in a very impressive and earnest manner , and from the deep

EOYAL AECH .

attention paid by the . candidates they evidently felt the obligation they were taking upon themselves , " and were very much impressed with the beautiful ceremony . This being election meeting , Comp . Walkden was unanimously re-elected , thus proving the great esteem in which he is held by the Companions of the Chapter , and an acknowledgment of his zeal on its behalf .

The M . E . Z . thanked the Companions for their support and confidence , and expressed a desire that the Chapter would prosper in its new home . The Chapter was then closed , and the Companions adjourned to an excellent banquet UAder the personal superintendence of Comp . W . Be » . le , and that they fully appreciated the service was evident by the unstinted praise they expressed . rllUn TYT T ? ' TT ' ;» ^/ iniv . * . 4-V . t . Innnl . mnn I ... ; .. ? \ x . tt- 4-n Hn -ni . wv . Ann i ill YYtiiuuoi iu \ 3

xuo iTj .. ^ . ^ j ,, giviug vuc uuasuo , a , uuu uuo yu . yyjaK . Past Principal Yeates proposed the toast of the M . E . Z . He had given a specimen of his working by the perfect and impressive manner in which he had discharged his duties that day . In replying , the M . E . Z . said they knew he took great interest in the welfare of the Chapter " , and was very desirous of its success . They had been for many years at the Gatehouse , Highgate , but the Companions thought a change desirable . The Mother Lodge had removed to the Midland Grand

Hotel , with advantage , and he hoped the same success would attend the Chapter in its ' new ' home . Comp . Beale was anxious to give them every convenience and comfort , ' and they had seen how very admirably the rooms were suited to Masonic purposes . He thought there was a great future for the Chapter . ' The M . E . Z ., in proposing the toast of the Visitors , regretted there were not more , but those present were very valued Companions , and all grand workers'in the Royal Arch ; he felt very proud to welcome them to the Highgate Chapter .

Comps . Bailey , Walter George , Fred Varley , and Rothschild replied in terms complimentary to the M . E . Z ., on the perfect way in which he had discharged his duties ; and congratulated him on his re-election . Comp . George , when replying , said the Companions had an excellent opportunity to learn the beautiful ceremony by attending the North London Chapter of Improvement , where they would be received with the greatest courtesy .

The toast of the Officers followed , and the Janitor's toast closed a very happy and successful evening .

TRUTH CHAPTER , No . 1458 . THE first annual meeting was held at the Mosley Hotel , Manchester , on Thursday , 23 th ult ., Comp . Buckley Carr P . Z . 993 P . P . G . D . C . Z . The Companions were duly installed into the several positions , viz . : Councillor Samuel Irvine Mills as Z ., Robert Caldwell as H ., and George T . Lenard as J ., the Installing Principal being Comp . Carr , who also delivered the lectures .

A very pleasing incident of the evening was the presentation of a jewel to Comp . Carr , being that of First Principal and Founder combined . Comp . Mills made the presentation , and spoke in very graceful terms of the work which Comp . Carr had performed , not only in connection with Royal Arch Masonry , but also in the Craft . The jewel , whioh was a very handsome one , bore the following inscription : —

Presented by the Companions to Ex . COMP . BUCKLEY CAKE P . Z . P . P . G . D . C , for services rendered as First Z . of the Chapter . 28 th October 1897 .

A capital banquet followed , Loyal and Royal Arch toasts being agreeably relieved by songs , recitations , & e ., given by members and visitors alike . Among the latter we noticed Comps . John Williams P . Z . 955 P . P . S . B , C W . Godby P . Z . 325 P . Prov . lst A . S ., D . Conway P . Z . 152 , Charles Swinn P . Z . 204 P . P . G . S . Br ., W . B . Midgley Z . 1055 .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

ALDERSHOT MILITARY LODGE , No . 54 . A MEETING of the members was held at the Masonic Hall , Aldershot , on the 21 st ult . The agenda contained the names of six candidates for advancement . Three of the six , Bros . Clarke , Hodges , and Foster , were present , each being a Master Mascn of Aldershot Camp Lodge , No . 1331 . Additional interest was given to this meeting by tho prospect of hearing the

new W . M . Bro . John Jenkins-Kcnnett perform tbe ceremony for the first time during his year of office , and certainly the promise given by his work during the time that he had fulfilled the subordinate Offices in the Lodge was amply realised on this occasion , says the " Aldershot News , " and many of the veteran Past Masters , Bros . Richardson , Lehmann , and Solomon , were loud in their praises of the work .

Bro . A Milne , who represented the Lodge at the Provincial Grand Lodge meeting was then invested as a Provincial Grand Inner Guard , in recognition of his zealous and constant endeavours to promote the general interests of the Degree . This honour , which gives general satisfaction to the Brethren

Mark Masonry.

of his Lodge , is well merited . A new feature was the enjoyable after meeting , at which the majority assisted , and at which all old friends were remembered and many new ones made . o > o o

COPLEY LODGE , No . 111 . AT a meeting held at the Masonic Hall , Great George Street , Leeds , on Tuesday , 2 nd inst ., Brother James Wood Blackburn was installed as W . M . for the ensuing year by Bro . Wm . Flockton P . M . P . P . G . S . O . The Provincial Grand Master , his Deputy , the Prov . Grand Secretary , and other Provincial Officers were present , also several other Visitors .

Craft: Provincial.

CRAFT : PROVINCIAL .

LODGE OF INTEGRITY , No . 163 . IT had been arranged that at the close of the regular business of the above Lodge , held at the Freemasons' Hall , Manchester , on Wednesday , the 27 th ult . ; the remainder of the evening should assume that of a musical character , with a sufficient interlude for an excellent supper . Lady and gentlemen friends' had been invited , the company numbering between eighty and ninety , and the time passed merrily away .

At the onset , Bro . Herbert A . Owles W . M . cordially welcomed those present on behalf of hinjself and members of the Lodge . He reverted to the long programme which had been carefully prepared , and hoped the items composing it would be enjoyed by all . He said it was not often they had the pleasure of seeing ladies among them—in fact , during his membership of the Lodge he could not remember a similar instance , but having happily commenced this new departure , he sincerely hoped it would be the

forerunner of many a similar enjoyable gathering . In this go-ahead 19 th century , the fair sex seemed to vie with that of the stronger in every phase of life , and it might not be improbable to see in the future a lady Worshipful Master . If such an eventuality should occur , and the lady performed the duties with credit to the Lodge , and to herself , he failed to see what there could be to grumble at . In the hallowed chamber where they were assembled the walls were practically festooned with secrets , and it might be

possible for their lady guests to satisfy their curiosity , and learn something before they departed . He might add for the information of the curious that the torture chamber was close by , where the victim , or candidate , passed a preparatory purgatory before being admitted into the sanctuary—this no doubt would interest them . He again expressed great pleasure in seeing the ladies , with their Masonic and other friends , and hoped the evening would be an enjoyable one to all concerned .

The programme was then proceeded with , tbe first item being a pianoforte duet ( Masaniello overture ) by Mrs . and Bro . R . W . Nuttall . This was followed by the well-known glee " Who will o'er the downs , " by the Integrity choir , after which the services of Bro . Nuttall were again requisitioned in the song "Thy sentinel am I . " Then the " Come sweet morning " of Miss Teggin , a young lady who is well-known at the Manchester concerts as a semi-professional singer , was rendered in a voice of extraordinary sweetness and plagency . Bro . Fred M . Whittle added a little surprise by

way of an oboe solo ( Fantasie ) , which was well given . The only recitation of the evening was that demanded at a moment ' s notice from Bro . J . M . H . Blarney P . M ., the subject being the late Professor Aytoun's " Charles Edward at Versailles . " Bro . Blarney has a dignified presence , and is a perfect master of elocution , and the concluding lines of this remarkable soliloquy : " Bitter tears and sobs of anguish , Unavailing though they be , Oh ! the brave—the brave and noble—That have died in vain for me ! "

sent a visible thrill through a rapt and appreciative audience , who cheered him to the echo at the close . Bro . Ben Willams P . M . has often treated us to the song " Queen of the Earth " at former meetings in connection with the Lodge , but probably he was never heard to better advantage than on this occasion . Bro . F . Simpson was also at home in a brilliant pianoforte solo from " Faust . " The "Kerry Dance , " a song given by Mrs . S . Williams , was rendered with great taste , and received a hearty encore , a similar reception being accorded to the song

of Mrs . Nuttall , entitled " The gift . " The song , " Uncle John , " by Mrs . Scott , was a very engaging specimen of the old ballad , and gave great satisfaction . A vocal duet from " Maritana , " entitled " Of Fairy wand , " fully tested the operatic powers of Bro . Owles W . M . and Miss Teggin , and was a great success . The commanding appearance of Bro . Owles stood in great contrast to that of Miss Teggin , who seemed , by comparison , one of those little editions of female kind bound in duodecimo , pleasing and ever acceptable to the studious .

Several other numbers were given , including a vocal duet , songs , trios , and glees , the various accompanists being Bros . Nuttall , Simpson , and Bridge Hopkinson P . M . ° Toasts of the Queen , our guests , and the W . M . were honoured and duly responded to .

Bro . R . Alf . Hepworth P . M ., in welcoming the Visitors , did so in his usual felicitious manner . Bro . Whittle proposed the health of the W . M ., explaining that as he ( Bro . Whittle ) had personally some interest in preparing the programme , he was desirous that it should be carried out satisfactorily , and he believed that

there were very few who would go away dissatisfied . To Bro . Owles he gave a great amount of credit for the success of the evening , for his zeal had been beyond all praise . There was another whose name ought not to be omitted , to whom their thanks were largely due for the pleasant function of that evening , namely the Secretary Bro . J . H . Studd .

The W . M ., in reply , pointed out tbat Bro . Whittle had discharged his portion of the work in connection with the meeting in a very excellent manner , and he deserved every praise . He had been told that it was twenty years ago since ladies had been invited to lend their graceful presence to a Masonic meeting in connection with the Lodge of Integrity , but if it rested with him , such a lapse should not occur again . Bro . B . Wilmot responded to the toast of the Ladies , in a speech which was full of humour and apt references .

Among the Visitors we noticed Bros . Thomas Threlfall P . M . 1773 992 P . P . G . S ., Thomas T . Sefton P . M . 1773 , J . H . Waddington Chap . 2363 , and W . Hughes 2447 . We understand that the ladios have prevailed upon Bro . Owles to hold a soiree or ball before his period of Mastership terminates , which will be duly announced . *