Confidence Lodge Ladies Night.

CONFIDENCE LODGE LADIES NIGHT .

THIS Lodge—which has long enjoyed a distinction for unbounded hospitality—held its annual Ladies Banquet on Wednesday , at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet Street , when a more than ordinarily large number of Brethren , Ladies , and friends gathered together .

The scene was a bright and pleasant one , the dresses of the ladies lending a brilliant colouring to the ordinary black of the gentlemen , and everything passed off so successfully as to induce the general verdict that the assembly was worthy of being recorded as one of the notable events in the history of this ancient Lodge .

The Worshipful Master Bro . John Wyatt Simeons received the company with his accustomed geniality , and after brief introductions in the reception room an adjournment was made to the banquet room , where the tables were found to be elegantly decorated with flowers , & c . The dinner was served under the direction of the popular host Bro . Robert H . Clemow , who used every effort to secure the comfort and enjoyment of the party .

At the conclusion of the banquet the W . M . proposed the toast of the Queen and the Craft , expressing the opinion that among her many subjects Her Majesty had none more devoted or more loyal than the members of the Craft . For the information of the ladies

and other guests present he referred to the fact that the Queen was the Grand Patroness of the Order and a liberal supporter of its Charitable Institutions . The National Anthem was sung , Mrs . Owen taking the solo and the ladies as well as the Brethren heartily joining in .

In dealing with the toast of the Grand Master the W . M . referred to the services the Prince of Wales rendered to the Craft . Master Reginald Hambler sang the solo of " God bless the Prince of Wales . "

Bro . George Spice proposed the toast of the W . M . in a short but eloquent speech , in which he said he had had the pleasure of being friends with Bro . Simeons from boyhood . They had followed each other step by step in Freemasonry ; ' they were both bachelors ; and both

were bashful together . Their Worshi pful Master did not alone study the pleasures of Freemasonry , but was a prominent supporter of its Charity also , and he was proud to say that under his rule the Confidence Lodge stood well among the supporters of the different Charitable Institutions .

Bro . Simeons was most heartily received on rising to respond . He said he had done that night what he had done ever- since he had joined the Craft—and that was to strive to give satisfaction , and he hoped he had been so far successful as to cause the whole of the company to thoroughly enjoy themselves .

Bro . Kington P . M . submitted the health of the Ladies . He rose , he took it , to propose the toast of the evening and he felt shy , as a young Past Master , in proposing it . If the ladies only knew what an effect their presence had on the members—and the faces of the Brethren might be taken as an index thereof—he felt they would be delighted to come more often than they did .

Bro . Green responded . He could assure them he felt highly honoured in being asked to return thanks on behalf of the ladies for the enthusiastic and gracious manner in which they had received the toast and drunk to their health , and also for the kind manner in which the toast had been proposed . It had been his lot on similar festive occasions to propose such a toast , and he must confess he

now felt rather at sea in responding . However , as he looked around and gazed on the kindly faces of the ladies who graced the table that night their encouraging smiles seemed to have a message toward him , and he read it to be the wish of the ladies that he should tell the Brethren the } - were thoroughly enjoying themselves

and looking forward with " Confidence" to a merry trip on the boards . In fact the ladies were only waiting for the Worshipful Master to pipe the merry crew to the saloon below , where they would all do their utmost to help fill the Brethren ' s cup of enjoyment to the brim . On behalf of the ladies , whose presence gladdened their hearts that night , he again thanked them .

Bro . John E . i ells P . M . Treasurer submitted the toast of the visitors . He was delighted to see such a nice gathering of ladies and gentlemen friends as they had there that night . They had Brethren from Heme Bay , Windsor , Yorkshire , and other parts of England , and the Lodge accorded one and all of them the most hearty welcome , with the hope that they would come again . Their

worthy Secretary Bro . Davey had worked very hard to get so sociable a company together ; it was a great credit to him . He sincerely hoped the ladies had not only enjoyed themselves at the banquet table , but that they would continue to enjoy themselves in the ball room . He further hoped to see them again—at the summer outing of the Lodge .

Bro . R . D . Heckels P . M . 1601 had much pleasure in responding to the toast , as in his own Lodge—the Ravensbourne—they had not yet attained to the height of the Confidence Lodge and instituted a Ladies night ; therefore such an opportunity as he then enjoyed did not always occur . He thanked the proposer of the toast for the kind manner in which he had given it , and the Brethren for its reception . He wished all the ladies to take home a lesson that

night . They had seen that the Worshipful Master was implicitly obeyed , so that if they should happen to be the head of the family , in a domestic sense—and some men were not fit for that postthey must see that they were obeyed ; but should the husband be the head of the family , as was only right and proper , then they should obey . Masonry , although flourishing in a monarchial country , was a pure republic , and from it the ladies would probably be able to learn much .

The music was under the direction of Bro . E . H . Lough Organist of the Lodge and was sustained by Mrs . Owen , Miss Edith Chapman , Master Reginald Hamber , Bro . George Barratt , and Bro . Lough himself . By special desire of the W . M . the two Misses Rawson

Confidence Lodge Ladies Night.

sang duets in the ball room , and were deservedly encored . Dancing was kept up until an early hour . The Worshipful Master of the Lodge made a present to each lady , of a handsome plush bag , as a souvenir of the occasion , and in many other ways worked to ensure the enjoyment of the fair guests and other visitors of the , Lodge .

The company included Mrs . Buick , Miss Smith , Mr . and Mrs . Mason , Mr . Mrs . and two Misses Rawson , Bro . and Mrs . Noel , Bro . Ollington , Bro . and Miss Chilcott , Mr . and Mrs . Spencer , Mr . and Mrs . Sharpin , Bro . and Mrs . Bushell J . D ., Miss Vellum , Bro . G . Spice I . P . M . and his sister Mrs . Grier , Mr . and Mrs . Buckman , Bro . and Mrs . Green , Bro . Carr , Bro . Barratt , Bro . Davey Sec ,

Mr . and Mrs . Harnack , Bro . and Mrs . Pribull and daughter , Mr . and Mrs . Pribull jun ., Bro . and Mrs . Turner , Bro . and Mrs . Owen , Bro . and Mrs . Scones , Bro . and Mrs . Geddes , Bro . and Mrs . Gosheron , Bro . and Mrs . Brain , Bro . and Airs . Taylor , Bro . Mrs . and Miss King , Bro . and Mrs . Hattersley , Bro . and Mrs . Foreman ,

Bro . Baillie and Friends , Bro . A . E . Green , Bro . F . W . Clarke and Friends , Bro . T . Kington and Friends , Bro . and Mrs . S . W . Fells , Bro . and Mrs . J . E . Fells and daughters , Bro . and Mrs . Whiffin S . D ., Bro . J . Wynman , Mr . C . G . Willmore , Bro . and Mrs . F . W . Sharpe , Bro . H . Lynn , Bro . W . E . Kington I . P . M . Windsor Castle Lodge , Bro . D . Luker , Bro . G . Kington , Bro . T . E . C . Scoones , & c .

are to be congratulated upon the result achieved . Miss Maud Jeffries is admirable as Marianne ; her transition from the loving wife to the sister loathing her brother ' s murderer was finely depicted . These two characters are the central figures , but the subordinate parts are ably filled by Miss Bateman , Herod's Mother ; Miss

Her Majesty ' s Theatre—The fiftieth performance of " Herod " took place on Wednesday evening , and was received with every expression of gratification' by a crowded audience . Mr . Stephen Phillips is indeed fortunate in having Mr . Beerbohm Tree as the exponent of his hero , and , while from an historical point of view we may differ from both author and actor on certain points , both

Eleanor Calhoun , capital as Salome ; Mr . Norman Tharp , Aristobulus ; and Mr . F . H . Macklin , Sohemus . As a spectacle the stage setting is magnificent , though there is but one scene , but the varied glow of colour as the sun rises and sets is beautifully and tastefully managed . " Herod '' is a play to be seen .

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GRAND TREASURERSHIP 1901 ; CANDIDATE : W . BRO . CAPT . JOHN BARLOW , J . P ., P . M . 1260 , 1012 , & c , & c . CHAIRMAN OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE : W . BRO . JAMES IRVINE P . M ., & c . Brother BARLOW is the LONDON Representative for the Craft , and Bros . WALTER POTTER , 442 Kingsland Road , N . E . and C . D . CHEETHAM , 7 Mosley Street , Manchester , having consented to act as Hon . Secretaries for LONDON and the PROVINCES , respectively , will be pleased to furnish any further information that may be desired .

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Just published , ISmo ., Cloth 1 / -, post free . LEXICON of FREEMASONRY , a small and reliable pocket book , ot value to young Masons . Pull information on matters connected with the Ritual and Customs of the Order . Revised edition by W . J . Morris . 12 mo ., blue cloth , red edges , 5 / -, post free ( or blue limp calf , 10 / 6 ) . TEXT BOOK OE FREEMASONRY ( Craft ) . Complete Handbook of Instruction to all workings in the various Mysteries and Ceremonies of Craft Masonry , & c . Another edition , printed on thin paper and bound in leather , pocket book style , price 5 / -, post free . Crown 8 vo ., cloth , 10 / - ( or in leather , gilt edges , 15 / - ) , post free TEXT BOOK OE ADVANCED PREEXIASONRY , containing tno complete Rituals of the Higher Degrees , with other matters . London : WILLIAM REEVES , S 3 Charing Cross Road , W . C .

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THE CASTLE HOTEL , EAST MOLESEY , Adjoining Hampton Court Station , FACING THE RIVER AND PALACE . Special Provision for Lodge and other meetings , including A MASOMC TEMPLE with ample Ante-Rooms , Banquet Hall , and every convenience FIVE LODGES ALREADY MEET HERE . Ample accommodation in the new wing of this old-established and noted Riverside Hotel for Banquets for any number up to ICO . Every convenience for Ladies ' Gatherings . Spacious landing to river , whence Steam Launches can start . Specimens of Menus , with prices , sent on application . TWO BILLIARD TABLES . GOOD STABLING ACCOMMODATION STEAM LAUNCHES AND SCULLING BOATS provided at the shortest notice . Tariff , & c , of Bro . JOHN MAYO , Proprietor ,