Reports Of Meetings.

Owen , Silvester P . M ., Brooks and Jules Guitton ; Mr . Walter Gay , Mr . Harry Hall , Master Bishop , and Master Bert Nevill . The new Worshipful Master Bro . Edward Pennock was born on the 28 th March 1858 , at Folkestone , Kent , and was initiated on 12 th April 1887

in the Lodge of which he is now the ruler . He was exalted into Royal Arch Masonry in the Mount Lebanon Chapter , No . 73 , and at the present time fills the office of Steward therein . He has qualified as a Life Subscriber to each of the three Institutions , and has signified his intention of acting as a Steward at the Centenary Festival of the Boys School .

ST . MICHAEL LODGE , No . 211 . AN ordinary meeting of this Lodge was held at the Albion , Aldersgate Street , E . G ., onr Tuesday , when the W . M . Bro . A . B . Spawforth presided , and was supported by Bros . Albert Collings S . W ., Ernest Collings J . W ., Alfred Green P . M . Treasurer , William Eadcliffe P . M . Secretary , Orlton Cooper P . M . acting as I . P . M ., F . W . Berry S . D ., C . J . Pinnell J . D ., G . F . Johnson I . G .

There were also present Bros . P . J . King P . M ., D . F . Latham , W . J . Dyer P . M ., H . E . Mullins , G . T . Augspurg I . P . M . 538 , C . J . Hosford 13 , A . Butteriss 13 , 0 . Davidson 1472 , C Morell I'll , J . S . Goldstein J . D . 2265 , F . H . Cheesewright P . M . 907 , J . A . Collings 1693 .

After the minutes of the previous meeting had been read and confirmed , Bro . Loverseed proved his proficiency as a Craftsman , and was regularly raised to the sublime degree , taking his seat in the Lodge as a Master Mason . The ceremony was admirably rendered by Bro . Spawfortb , who gave the whole of the traditional history , and the lecture on the third tracing board .

This being election night according to the bye-laws , the ballot was taken for the new Master , and the choice of the Brethren fell upon Bro . Albert H . Collings S . W ., who returned thanks for the honour conferred . Bro . Alfred Green was unanimously re-elected Treasurer of the Lodge , and Bro . W . Barnes was re-appointed as Tyler .

A Past Master's jewel was voted to Bro . Spawforth , in recognition of his distinguished services as Master of the Lodge for the last two years . The resignation of a member was received with regret , and a candidate was proposed for initiation at the next meeting . Bro . Eadcliffe reported that he had attended at the Board of Benevolence to support the application of a distressed Brother , for whom he had obtained some relief , although he had been assisted on two previous occasions .

This concluding the business of the evening the Lodge was closed , and the Brethren adjourned to supper . A capital entertainment was provided by the W . M ., among the artistes appearing being Bro . Fred Cheesewright , Bro . F . Tree , Miss Constantine , and Mr . Blackmore .

LA TOLERANCE LODGE , No . 538 . THE annual festival of this old Huguenot Lodge was held on Thursday , 6 th inst ., at the Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen Street , W . C , when a large number of Brethren assembled to take part in this always interesting occasion . The outgoing Master Bro . Guillermo T . Augspurg presided , and was

supported by Bros . Jas . Kench P . M . P . G . P ., T . W . Smale P . M ., W . Webb P . M ., Fred Cambridge P . P . G . O . Surrey , John Skinner P . M ., J . J . Pittman I . P . M ., S . Eldridge P . M ., Walter Hooker P . M ., W . S . Fenn P . M . Grand Steward , T . H . Clear S . W ., Thos . A . Tidy J . W ., G . A . Sturgess J . D ., E . Hopf I . G ., H . Eivett , John Gumming , F . J . Pittman , H . T . Hipwell .

Tbe Visitors included Dr . Fred Nicholls P . G . D . Surrey , C . W . Saffell W . M . 860 , Henry Massey P . M . 619 and 1928 , D . Belinfante P . M . 435 , M . B . Skedden , of Strict Observance Lodge of Canada , Geo . F . Smith S . W . 1910 , John Paul P . M . 1287 ( Preceptor of La Tolerance Lodge of Instruction ) , H . Whitney P . M . 861 , Bupert Smyth J . W . 1657 , John Hopkins 753 , L . Greaves I . G . 861 , E . M . Hammond 19 , John Thompson W . M . 2242 , J . W . Peters 1275 , H . Leslie Smith Organist 1556 , Henry Cattermole P . M . 1839 , Fred Batcheler 19 , Henry Lewis P . M . 2191 , OrV . on Cooper P . M . 211 , & c .

The Lodge was opened in due form , when the minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed . The report of the Audit Committee was received and adopted . Bro . Herbert Bivett having proved his proficiency , was passed to the degree of a Craftsman . Mr . Gustav Junius , who had already been proposed and approved , was then introduced , and initiated into the mysteries and privileges of the Craft .

Bro . Thos . Hy . Clear , who was unanimously elected as W . M . for the ensuing year , was then presented by Bro . P . M . Kench , and signified his assent to the necessary regulations . The Brethren then retired , when a Board of Installed Masters was formed , and Bro . Clear was regularly installed in the chair according to ancient custom . The whole of the ceremonies were ably carried out by Bro . Augspurg , who received the congratulations of the Brethren .

The members were then re-admitted , when the new Master was saluted in the various degrees by the Brethren , and duly proclaimed by Bro . Karoch , after which the following Officers were invested : Bros . T . A . Tidy S . W ., John Gumming J . W ., James Kench ( for thirtieth year ) Treasurer , T . W . Smale Secretary , G . A . Sturgess S . D ., R . Hopf J . D ., H . Hipwell I . G ., Fred Cambridge Organist , J . J . Pittman D . C , John Skinner and F . J . Pittman Stewards , Thomas Bowler Tyler . '

The ancient charges to the Master , Wardens , and the Brethren generally , were capitally delivered by P . M . Kench , and elicited the hearty applause of the Lodge . Telegrams and letters of apology for absence were read by the Secretary , and fie W . M . having received the congratulations of the visitors , the Lodge was closed in perfect harmony , and the Brethren adjourned to the handsome Crown Hall , where a recherche banquet was served by Messrs . Spiers and Pond .

The speeches were rather above the average , and we regret that pressure on our space will not permit of an extended report . The W . M ., in proposing the first toast customary at all Masonic gatherings , referred to Her Majesty ' s long and prosperous reign , and said fche Sacred Writings enjoined us fco " Honour the king and love the brotherhood . "

Thus we proved our loyalty to the throne and our devotion fco the Craft . With reference to the Craft , Bro . Clear said that the Prince of Wales was not Grand Master bv Divine Right , but by fche affectionate esteem of fche Brethren , who re-elected him to that pisition year after year . He was a good worker in the Craft , and no Brother took greater interest in Freemasonry .

Bro . James Kench P . G . P . responded for the Grand Officers , whom , he said , were at all times happy to take up matters of interest to the Craft , and were always ready fco do whatever was required of them , which was eminently characteristic of Freemasons . Bro . G . T . Augspurg I . P . M . submitted ' . the health of the new Master , in

Reports Of Meetings.

courteous and complimentary terms , whicb were re-echoed by the Brethren . Bro . Clear was fully up in the work pertaining to the chair and the science of Freemasonry ; he was a true and trusty Mason , who had the esteem of every member of tho Lodge , and he had uo doubt that he would have a very prosperous year of office .

Bro . Clear , who met with an enthusiastic reception , said he felt great diffidence in rising to return thanks for their kindness , but he thought it should be the aspiration of every Mason to become Master of his mother Lodge . That evening was the eighth anniversary of his initiation , and that happy event was now crowned by his installation . His constant endeavour would be to maintain the ancient traditions of the Lodge , and he was sure that if earnestness would ensure success , he should be successful .

In proposing tho toast of his predecessor Bro . Clear paid a high tribute to the excellent work performed by Bro . Augspurg in spite of the difficulty he had in learning the ritual in a language not his own . Ho had filled the office of Master with conspicuous ability , had given every satisfaction to the Lodge , and had concluded his year of office in a very proper manner by

installing his successor . Bro . Augspurg represented the Lodge at the Albert HaU and St . Paul ' s celebrations , and it was with much pleasure that the Lodge voted him the only recompense in their power , by asking his acceptance of the Past Master ' s jewel , as a souvenir of a happy year of office . Bro . Clear then pinned the jewel on Bro . Augspurg ' s breast amid the applause of all present .

The happy recipient modestly returned thanks for the honour conferred , and said if he had carried out the work to the satisfaction of the Lodge he was quite satisfied . He was a great admirer of the Craffc , and regretted that his position was not commensurate with his desires to promote its interests . Freemasonry had been able to resist the attacks of all its enemies , and its tenets might be summed up as a recognition of the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of man .

Bro . Gustav Junius mado so excellent a speech in response to the health of the Initiate , that we reproduce it verbatim . He said " With all my heart I thank you for fche great honour you have done me in receiving me into your Brotherhood . I shall never forget in all my life the imposing ceremony I have gone through . God is my witness that I intend to keep the vows I took upon me . I trust the Great Maker of the Universe will assist me in trying to fulfil my duties . "

Bros . Thompson , Batcheler , G . F . Smith , W . M . Clear , Cattermole and Paul responded for the Visitors . The Officers of the Lodge were duly complimented , and after their acknowledgment Bro . Bowler gave the Tyler ' s toast , and the interesting proceedings were brought to a close .

During tbe evening Bro . Fred Cambridge introduced a programme of music , in which Miss Alice Mottervvay , Miss Florence Venning , and Bros . F . J . Pittman and H . T . Hipwell took part .

Bro . Thomas Henry Clear , the new Master of Lodge La Tolerance , was born in London , on 17 th August 1855 , and was initiated in the Order at the Lodge Festival on 2 nd January 1890 . He has served all the principal Offices of the Lodge , and is well skilled in the ancient science . We heartily wish him a happy and successful year of office .

WESTBOURNE LODGE , No . 733 . AN emergency meeting of this prosperous Lodge took place on Thursday , at the Holborn Restaurant , Holborn , when there were present Bros . C . T . Brown W . M ., F . Wortbam W . M .-eleet S . W ., George Weaver J . W ., S . B . Walker P . M . Sec , C . E . Lilly S . D ., W . Busby J . D ., H . H . Bagnall I . G , Fred Beesley and E . Thomas Stewards , 0 . White , J . S . Beckham , H . Phipps , F . W . Bock , M . Bookman , J . Woodford , J . Gale , 0 . Halston , N . Eolles , J . W . Norris , G . Butcher , A . Clare , and others . Past Masters W . M . Eoberts I . P . M ., A . Arrowsmith , K . J . Rogers , J . W . Allen .

Visitors : G . Smith Hughes 1541 , Harry Bolles 1381 , Charles Patrick P . M . 1227 . The Lodge was opened in the first and second degrees , and Brothers Rockman , Brock and Woodford wore presented to be raised fco the third . Having answered the usual questions to the satisfaction of the Brethren they were entrusted and retired . The Lodge was opened in the third degree and those Brethren were subsequently raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason .

The W . M . resumed the Lodge to the first degree , and the ballot was taken for Messrs . James Alfred Atheenton , Edwin Ambrose Richard Tompkins , Thomas George Matthews , Arthur Stevens Pemberton , and Bobt . Gillings . The ballot proved to be unanimous in their favour , and alter the usual formalities those gentlemen were initiated into the mysteries of ancient Freemasonry , the W . M . being ably assisted by the Past Masters and Officers . Both the ceremonies were rendered in such a manner as would do credit to any Lodge .

No further business being on the programme hearty good wishes were tendered , and the Lodge was closed in due form .

UPTON LODGE , No . 1227 . THE Brethren of this Lodge re-assembled for an ordinary meeting on Thursday , at tho Groat Eastern Hotel , Liverpool Street , E . G ., and were received by the W . M . Bro . Henry Hyde , with greetings and hearty good wishes for the New Year . The Lodgo was opened by Bro . Hyde soon after five o ' clock , when he was supported by Bros . W . Athol Bray S . W ., H . J . Bowberry acting J . W ., G .

A . Peters I . P . M ., Charles Gieseke P . M . Treasurer , Charles J . Free P . M . Secretary , A . A . Butcher S . D ., A . B . Noble J . D ., and Walter J . Carroll I . G . There were also present Bros . S . M . Jeffery P . M ., Samuel Toye P . M ., John Stroud P . M ., Charles Schmidt P . M ., Edwin Hill P . M ., E . F . Thomson D . C , G . A . Fischer , E . S . Chapman , G . Scharer , W . Prior , John Baker , Fredk . White , J . Bell , E . 0 . Holmes , N . Anstey , W . Hurley , O . Greenland , W . E . Greenhouse , C . VV . Cooper , I . Angles .

The visitors were Bros . F . B . Gurney S . D . 204 , C . Scales P . M . 1507 , J . Halliday 2308 , Geo . F . Miles S . W . 1351 , Geo . Steven 2432 . The minutes of the last meeting , on llth November 1897 , were read and confirmed . Mr . Robert Joseph Burridge , a candidate for initiation , was then balloted for and approved , and being in attendance was formally admitted and received the light of Freemasonry according to ancient custom . The ceremony was rendered in a very perfect manner by Bro . Hyde , who was rewarded by tbe hearty applause of the Brethren .

Bro . Bowberry stated that an Australian Brother who had been welcomed on a previous occasion was anxious to express his appreciation of the reception so kindly accorded to him by making a donation to the Lodge Benevolent Fund . Upon the proposition of Bro . P . M . Stroud , seconded by