Reports Of Meetings.

REPORTS OF MEETINGS .

— o : — We shall be pleased to receive particulars of Masonic meetings for insertion in our columns , and where desired will endeavour to send a representative , to report Lodge or other proceedings . — : o : — GRAFT : METEOPOLITAN .

—; o : — Confidence Lodge , No . 19 3 . THE annual election meeting was held on Monday , at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet Street , those present including Bros . John Wyatt Simeons W . M ., George Spice I . P . M ., Sydney tells S . W ., Metcalfe Baillie J . W ., John E . Fells P . M . Treas ., E . J . Davey P . M . Sec , B . Houghton acting S . D ., A . E . Green acting J . D ., G . H . Lough A . D . C . and Org ., G . Carr acting I . G ., Reinhardt Tyler ; Past

Masters E . Pennock , Francis Haines , S . Smither , A . Cubitt ; also Bros . W . Martin , John Done , W . Osborne , S . Geddes , John A . Bigg , G . Kimber , W . Johnson , H . Jones , G . Barlow , F . W . Jisbury , R . C . Schnitzer , J . C . Turner , H . King , G . H . Brain , E . Goscheron , A . L . Scott , T . C . Scoones , C . Leopard , B . G . Aylett , G . Barratt , & c .

Amongst the visitors we had the pleasure of seeing Bros . J . Mears P . M . of the Crescent Lodge , No . 788 , W . Chilcott 788 , E . G . Bygrave 7 SS , R . P . Morris J . W . 7 8 S , A . Lord 469 , G . J . North J . W . 2272 , J . Wynman , and several others . The minutes were confirmed and the Lodge was opened in the

second degree , when Bros . Samuel Geddes and E . G . Bygrave ( initiated in the Crescent Lodge , and passed in the Confidence Lodge ) were examined and entrusted . The Lodge was advanced to the third degree and in due course the two Brethren were raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason .

The Lodge was resumed to the first degree , and Bros . A . Wise , F . W . Tisbury and R . C . Schnitzer having answered the questions to the satisfaction of the W . M . were entrusted . The Lodge was opened in the second degree and those Brethren were duly passed Fellow Craft .

The Lodge was again resumed to the first degree , and the W . M . anounced that the ballot would be taken for Mr . John James Grundy as a candidate for initiation . This proved to be unanimous in his favour and he was regularly and impressively introduced into the mysteries of Ancient Freemasonry .

The annual elections now took place , and we were pleased to hear the announcement from the chair that Bro . Sydney Fells ( son of the popular Treasurer of the Lodge ) was unanimously elected as Master for the ensuing twelve months . The W . M ., in announcing the election of the S . W ., said he was well aware that the unanimously elected Master was fully qualified to perfectly perform the work of his Office . He trusted the Great Architect of the Universe

would give him health and strength to fulfil the duties of his high station with satisfaction to himself and advantage to the Lodge . Bro . Fells thanked the W . M . and Brethren for the unanimous vote , and promised that he would endeavour to fulfil every duty that was expected of him . Bro . John E . Fells was re-elected Treasurer , and Bro . Reinhardt Tyler , while Bros . G . Carr and T . T . C . Scoones were appointed Auditors .

A proposal was brought forward by Bro . G . Spice I . P . M . that the sum of ten guineas be voted from the Benevolent Fund of the Lodge , to be placed on the list of Bro . S . Fells W . M .-elect , who is going up as a Steward on behalf of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution in February next , which vote was unanimously agreed to . Bro . Spice again rose , and said that before the W . M . closed the Lodge he had a most pleasant duty to perform , and that was

to propose that a ten guinea jewel should be presented to their Worshipful Master on his retirement from the chair , the duties of which he had fulfilled during the past year to the honour of the Lodge , and his personal credit . The proposition was enthusiastically received and agreed to with entire unanimity . The W . M . acknowledged the vote in his usual quiet way , and in well chosen words .

After some other Masonic transactions the Lodge was closed and the Brethren repaired to the banquet room , where a nice repast was provided , served in the usual satisfactory manner we are accustomed to at this establishment . It was an agreeable pleasure to many of the older members to see the proprietoi- , Bro . R . H . Clemow , personally supervising the arrangements made for the comfort of the company .

After the repast the W . M . submitted the usual Loyal toast , which , he said , was always received with acclamation by Freemasons . They all knew the trying time Her Majesty had recently passed through . The losses she had experienced about her own person—independent of her anxiety for her soldiers and their families—had been a very severe ordeal , and for a lady of her age was a serious matter . They hoped the G . A . O . T . U . would give her health and strength to continue her reign for many years yet to come .

After the toast of the Grand Master , Bro . Spice I . P . M . proposed that of the Worshipful Master . The way in which the W . M . had fulfilled the duties of the chair was a great credit to the Lodge and the Master personally .

Bro . Simeons said it was with regret and also with pleasure he replied to the toast for the last time as Master of the Lodge ; regret for the very many happy hours he had spent in it . and pleasure at the way his humble efforts had been received . He was sure he could but thank them one and all for the success that had attended

Reports Of Meetings.

his year of Office . A Master could not alone make his Lodge go ; it was owing to all of the Brethren that the year had been so successful . No quarrel , pique or misunderstanding had been known among them ; they had all been united , and he sincerely trusted they would extend the same friendship to his successor . He

thanked them all for a very happy year of Office . The W . M . next proposed the toast of the I . P . M ., whom he described as a Brother always willing to help . He had received great help and continued support from him during the past year ; whenever he was in trouble Bro . Spice had proved ready to assist

him . , Bro . Spice replied . If every Past Master had as little to do as he had had that night it would be most satisfactory . He thanked the Brethren for their kind reception on all occasions . x Bro . Spice next gave the toast of the W . M .-elect . He knew that in Bro . Fells the Lodge would have a good ruler and a very

good worker . His father was a Past Master and Treasurer of their Lodge , so that they knew the son as coming from a good stock . He had the honour of being Preceptor of the Confidence Lodge of Instruction , and from the way in which Bro . Fells had done the work there he knew he would prove a good Master—one who knew the ritual of Freemasonry thoroughly .

Bro . S . Fells said he was delighted and proud of being elected W . M . for the ensuing year . He should endeavour to give every satisfaction , by faithfully carrying out every duty required of a Worshipful Master . The next toast was that of the Initiate , to whom the W . M . gave a hearty welcome . Bro . J . J . Grundy made suitable response .

The toast of the Visitors was now given , the W . M . particularly thanking Bro . Past Master Mears for his visit . That Brother returned thanks . He had thoroughly enjoyed the working in the Lodge . He had previous experience of the knowledge of the W . M . in the ritual of Freemasonrv , having met him in the Instruction

Lodge of which Bro . Spice was the Preceptor , but he had never heard the W . M . work the three degrees so well as he had done that night—he was , in fact , delighted with the working of the Lodge and its Officers , and if the W . M . and Brethren would accept him as a Joining Member he should be pleased to become more intimately associated with the Lodge .

Bro . R . P . Morris J . W . 7 88 also praised the working in Lodge ; he had enjoyed it very much , and was particularly struck at the way in which the Officers had performed their respective duties . Bro . North endorsed the remarks of his fellow visitors . He

was delighted to see father and son—their Brothers Fells—taking so prominent a part in the affairs of the Lodge . In propo'sing the Treasurer , Secretary , and Past Masters the W . M . said—in first speaking of the Treasurer—" good wine needs no bush . " They certainly required no bush hanging out to intimate that their Bro . Fells was a good fellow ; always looking after the

£ . s . d ., and carefully pulling the string of his purse when necessary . Of the " Handy Man " of the Lodge he could truly say he was " Multum in parvo . " He was all round good , and if some of the Brethren only knew the trouble they caused him by not filling up the oost cards sent to them , he was sure they would no

longer hesitate to return them as they were asked . To some 160 notices sent out , only some thirty-three replies were received ; consequently , should any of them be disappointed at not being able to get seats allotted to their liking on the occasion of the ball they must not blame the Secretary .

Bro . Fells Treasurer said it was his happiest moment in Freemasonry to see his son elected Worshipful Master of the Lodge ; he felt sure he would give satisfaction . As to his own Office of Treasurer , he had to thank the Brethren for having re-elected him and promised to continue to do his utmost to give satisfaction . He was happy to say the Lodge was on a good " Confidential " footing . Bro . Davev Secretary said Freemasonry was a glorious

Institution . He could assure the initiate it was a great Fraternity , and if he travelled about he would find Freemasons all over the globe who would meet him with a free hand and sure fellowship . He spoke from experience ; if the candidates acted up to the lessons taught them that day they would be sure to make good Masons . Speaking of the Secretaryship—he could assure them that was a labour of love ; whatever he could do for the Lodge he would cheerfully undertake .

Bro . Haines P . M ., responding as one of the Past Masters , said he had belonged to the Lodge for man ) - years . It was always hands together and true fellowship there . He greatly admired the work of the W . M ., and trusted the members would render all the assistance possible .

In proposing the toast of the Officers the W . M . particularly referred to the services rendered by the Steward of the Lodge , who was a curio worthy of the British Museum , and had proved himself

a gem . Some excellent songs were rendered during the evening . •The annual Ladies night and ball took place on Wednesday , and is reported elsewhere in this issue . * * »

Upton Lodge , No . 1227 . IN order to clear off the accumulation of work previous to the regular meeting in January , on which occasion it is intended to hold the annual Ladies' Night , an emergency meeting was held on Thursday evening , at the Great Eastern Hotel , Liverpool Street , E . G . Bro . Walter James Carroll W . M . presided , and was supported

by his Officers : Bros . R . F . Thomson S . W ., A . B . Noble J . W ., C . Gieseke P . M . Treasurer , C . J . Free P . M . Secretary , G . W . Flatman S . D ., C . W . Cooper J . D ., Thos . Hustwayte I . G ., Henry Hyde P . M . D . C ., and E . C . Holmes Organist , together with a large muster of the members . The Lodge being formally opened the ballot was taken ; and