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Ferris , W . S . Jones 753 , H . Jenkins 23 61 , J . H . Duckham P . M . 1593 , and others . At the conclusion of the banquet the W . M . proposed the toast of the King and the Craft , expressing the wish that His Majesty might enjoy long life and a prosperous reign . As Freemasons they recognised the honour conferred upon the Order by His Majesty , who was so long at its head .

The Grand Master H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught was next honoured , and then the other Officers of Grand Lodge . The W . M . said he was sure their new ruler would look after the interests of the Craft as ably and zealously as did his Brother when he ruled over it .

Bro . Carroll next assumed the gavel . He said the only toast he should have the privilege of proposing that night was that of the W . M . of the Lodge—a Brother who gave great promise for the future . Bro . Thomson was initiated at the meeting immediately following his admission into the Lodge ; they had worked together since . If the Brethren would only give to the new Master the same

hearty support as they . had accorded him during the past year he felt convinced they would please their new ruler , and find , at the close of his term of Office , that he had not only kept up the reputation of the Lodge , but had even added to its present lustre—he predicted they would find it a year hence in an even better condition than it was at the present time . The toast was heartily received .

The W . M . replied , tendering thanks to the I . P . M . and the Brethren , for the proposition and reception of the toast . He had always striven to do his best from the first day when he was appointed to Office in their Lodge , as Assistant Director of

Ceremonies , and should endeavour to do so in the high position in which he now found himself . He hoped he might be able to conduct the affairs of the Lodge in such a way as to maintain , and even add to the reputation gained for it by the Masters who had preceded him in the chair .

The W . M . next proposed the toast of the worthy Installing and Immediate Past Master of the Lodge , Bro . W . J . Carroll—whose popularitv among the Brethren was manifested by the marked compliment paid to the mention of his name . 1 lie Worshipful Master said that Bro . Carroll—as they all knew—had just vacated the chair after a verv successful term of Office . He had initiated

seventeen or eighteen new members into the Lodge , and his general success as ruler had been great . He had secured the honourable position he then occupied by hard work , both in their Lodge , and in Freemasonry generally . They trusted he might be spared , in

health and strength , for many years to be among them . A pleasing duty now devolved upon him , as he had the pleasure of asking Bro . Carroll ' s acceptance—from the members of the Lodge—of a diamond ring for Mrs . Carroll , as a mark of the esteem in ' which the members of the Upton Lodge regarded her husband in Freemasonry .

Bro . Noble S . W . then , on behalf of the Officers of the Lodge during Bro . Carroll's year of Mastership , presented him with a miniature gold Past Master ' s jewel with best wishes , and sincere desires that Bro . Carroll would accept and wear it in the same spirit as his Brother Officers had provided and presented it .

Yet anotner gift had to be made to the I . P . M . —this time on behalf of the Brethren he had initiated during his term of Office . The Brother who acted as spokesman on behalf of the new members said that since he joined the Lodge , now a few months back , he had spent some very pleasant hours among the members , but no more pleasurable time had fallen to his lot than the present , when he was asked to express the thanks of Bro . Carroll ' s initiates for the

way in which they had been conducted through the three trying ordeals most of them had experienced at his hands in connection with' the ceremonies of the Craft . The present provided by the younger Brethren took the form of a gold ring , with square and compasses set in diamonds , and the donors hoped Bro . Carroll would be pleased to accept it , and wear it as a memento of the kind sentiments he had won from the Brethren he had initiated .

Bro . Carroll—who was evidently- impressed with the many compliments paid him—said he could assure the W . M . and Brethren that they had taken him somewhat b y surprise . It was true they had always given the ladies something , and he was aware of what was in store for his wife , and he hoped the Brethren would believe that he highly appreciated their action in that direction ; but the other two handsome presentations he was wholly unaware of ; he

was surprised to find how quiet it had been possible for the Brethren to keep in regard to them , as he was so often in the company of many who must have known what was being clone . He feared he did not deserve all the good things that had been said of him that evening , and this made him all the more heartily thank them for their kind actions , and the good feeling evinced towards him . He hoped to long continue a member of the Lod ge and so enjoy the association of its members for many years to come .

The W . M . next proposed what he considered a very important toast—that of the Brethren admitted into the Lodge that evening . He trusted they would never regret the step they had taken in becoming members of the Craft of Freemasonry in the Upton Lodge . Bro . Frank Binns said he could not find words to properly express his feelings . He had attained that night a position he had long desired , and was proud of having been admitted a member of the Craft .

Bro . Joseph Brickland said it had also afforded him considerable pleasure to have been made a Mason . Bro . C . N . Cox added his thanks , and trusted he might become a good Mason , and a credit to the Brethren of the Lodge who had been

good enough to admit him among them . Now came the toast of the Visitors , proposed by Bro . Jeffrey Past Master at the request of the W . M . The toast , he said , was always well received in the Upton Lodge , and would be , he was convinced , on the present occasion , when they were honoured with

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the attendance of so many guests . He mig ht claim for the Upton that no Lodge in the kingdom gave a . heartier welcome to visitors than they did . He could hardly ask all the guests to respond , but coupled some half dozen names with the toast . Bro . Leroy said he had had the pleasure of witnessing the work of Bro . Carroll on many occasions in Lodges of Instruction , and

he was not at all surprised at the brilliant way in which he had acquitted himself in the Lodge that day , not only performing the first and third ceremonies of the Craft , but installing his successor in most brilliant style . The members of the Lodge over which he presided—the Burclett Coutts , No . 127 S—looked upon the Upton as associated

really a sister Lodge , the two having been very closely with each other for many years , particularly through their respective Lodges of Instruction , and on that account it afforded him particular pleasure to be with them that day , and tender thanks for the toast and congratulations on behalf of the visitors at the marked success of the Lodge .

Bro . Joseph P . P . G . D . Warwickshire next responded . He had also experienced great pleasure in being present that evening , and had to specially thank Bro . Carroll for the invitation—which he was delighted he had been able to accept . Generally he had to thank the members of the Lodge for the hearty hospitality they had displayed . It was usual on such occasions for the visiting Brethren

to say something complimentary as to the working , but he could conscientiously say that after forty-three years experience he had never seen work clone better than had been the case that day in the Upton Lodge . The present Worshipful Master gave promise of being a worthy successor to their Bro . Carroll , and he wished him every success during the term of his Mastership . He felt it spoke

a great deal for M ' asonry and its universality , when they saw so large a number of Brethren—strangers as it were—assembled at a Lodge and welcomed as the visitors had been that clay . He should like to see any of the Brethren who could make it convenient to be present at his Lodge—the St . Paul , at Birmingham . On behalf of the visitors he thanked them most heartily .

Bro . Petch P . r \ G . Standard Bearer Herts also responded . He was proud indeed to have visited the Upton Lodge that night . He had had experience of Freemasonry 'for a quarter of a century , and had visited many Lodges . With that experience he could assure the members that the working of their Lodge had been such as to win general admiration . Particularly was this the case in 'regard

to the work of the Installing Master , which was indeed excellent from so young a man as the I . P . M . of the Lodge . No wonder the Lodge was a success—as evidenced by the presence of so many Brethren that day and the fact , which he had gleaned from their Treasurer , that the membership included some eighty Brethren . While

Masonry was worked on the lines of allowing young men with ambition to attain to the position of Worshipful Master—as was done in the Upton Lodge—he had little fear but that it would go on and continue to prove itself one of the grandest Institutions ever devised .

Other toasts were given and responded to , the whole of the proceedings being most enjoyable . The musical arrangements were , as usual , in the hands of the Organist of the Lodge , and the artistes engaged acquitted themselves to the entire satisfaction of the compan ) -. **********

Metropolitan: Instruction.

METROPOLITAN : INSTRUCTION .

Robert Burns Lodge , No . 25 . ON Tuesday , at the Frascati Restaurant , Oxford Street , Bros . E . F . Groom W . M ., W . H . Snoden S . W ., T . Kelly J . W ., E . C . Mulvey P . G . P . Preceptor , Harry Jones Secretary , C . S . Collins S . D ., Jos . Lieven J . D ., J . Sweeney I . G ., C . N . Moclena , J . Kenny , T .

Robinson , W . Pearman , W . G . Evans , Ross , Carbar , J . Wynman . The Lodge being formed and the minutes confirmed , the W . M . proceeded to rehearse the ceremony of initiation , Bro . James Kenny acting as candidate . Bro . Evans S . D . 1732 answered the questions and was entrusted . The ceremony of passing was gone through , including the full explanation of the working tools .

Bros . W . G . Evans S . D . 1732 and T . Robinson were elected members , and Bro . W . H . Snoden chosen to preside on Tuesday next .

** * ******* Friendship Lodge , No . 206 . ON Monday , at 5 . 30 , at Simpson ' s Restaurant , Bird-in-Hand Court , Cheapside , the second meeting for the winter season was held , and we were pleased to notice a great improvement in the attendance ; the Lodge deserves well , the working being all that could be desired , and the hour and place of assembly so convenient for city Brethren .

The minutes having been confirmed the ceremony of initiation was rehearsed , Bro . Christy Clark acting as candidate . The perfect working of Bro . Patten was highly appreciated . The Lodge was called off , and on resumption was opened in the second and third degrees , then resumed to the first . The motion submitted by Bro . C . S . Lepine , that the Lodge should meet in future at 5 . 30 , instead of 5 o ' clock , will remain for the present in abeyance .

Bro . Smiles was elected W . M . for Monday , and his ability as a worker being well known we expect an exceptional Masonic treat will be experienced by any who are able to attend .

********** Upton Lod ^ e , No . 12 27 . ON Monday , at ^ the Great Eastern Hotel , Liverpool Street , there was an exceptional good attendance to witness a 'rehearsal of the installation ceremony , Bro , H , Hyde P . M , 1227 officiated ,