Metropolitan.

was provided , one of those entertainments for which the establishment is so highly renowned . At the conclusion of the dinner grace was

sung . The W . M ., on rising to give the first toast , said it used to be the Queen and the Craft , but since it had pleased the Great Architect of the Universe to take Her Majesty away from them they had a

very good substitute in the noble King who had succeeded her , and who was now the Protector of Freemasonry . Might God bless him with health and strength to reign in prosperity for many years to come was their sincere prayer . The National Anthem was sung by Miss Stella Maris , the Brethren loyally joining in the chorus .

Bro . Strutt subsequently rose , and received quite an ovation . He said for the first time in his Masonic career he had the honour and

privilege to submit the toast of the Worshipful Master . The Brethren would agree that he had installed a Brother who knew his duty as W . M ., and was worthy of the position they had placed him in . He was sure their W . M . would give the satisfaction that was anticipated . He was the son of a worthy and distinguished Mason ; he had passed through the school of the Royal Masonic Institution for

Boystogether with his brother , who was a visitor that evening—with credit , and as Masonry had done so much for him as a boy he thought it his duty as a man to enter Freemasonry , and work his way up to the proud position he now occupied ; he had qualified as a Life Governor of the School . Bro . Strutt was sure the Brethren would one and all join in the toast , and wish him long life and a prosperous year of Office .

The W . M ., on rising to respond , had a most hearty reception , and it was quite a few moments before he had the opportunity of replying . He said he sincerely thanked the Brethren for having elected him to the highest Office in their Lodge . He and his brother were Life Subscribers of the Benevolent Institution ; they had both been through the Masonic School , and had there gained the

knowledge they then possessed . The Hygeia Lodge was founded on exceptional lines ; he had had the honour of being one of the founders ; and they had succeeded in their endeavours . Sir Ben . Wray Richardson iwas to have been the first Master , but death supervened . The Lodge was founded by Sanitary Inspectors , and he , as

its present ruler , was exceedingly proud of it . He sincerely hoped to maintain the good reputation which it possessed , and trusted he might continue to enjoy the good opinion of the Brethren which he hoped he had at present . He assured them he would do everything in his power for the welfare and prosperity of the Lodge .

The toast of the Initiates was next given , and in proposing it the W . M . said they required new blood . No Lodge could exist without candidates , members who in time to come would be able to fill those places which would become vacant in due course . He could

assure the Brethren they had just admitted two worthy members , whom he congratulated upon being initiated by so good a Master as their I . P . M . By the great attention they had paid to the ceremony he was sure they would become creditable to the Lodge , and on behalf of the members he gave them a most hearty welcome .

Bro . Dr . A . P . Woodforde cordially thanked the Brethren for electing him a member of the Lodge that evening , and ' for the hearty welcome they had given him . He hoped and trusted he might be able to uphold the high reputation of the Hygeia Lodge , and promised to do his best to become a good and worthy Mason .

Bro . J . Sanderson said it was with the greatest of pleasure he responded to the toast . It had been his intention to join Freemasonry for a long time , and he was pleased he was now a Brother amongst them . He cordially thanked the members for their kind reception , and in . time to come hoped to prove himself worthy of their confidence . The toast of the Installing and Immediate Past Master was given

by the W . M ., who said it was not alone , a pleasure , but an honour to give it . He felt that if he should then sit down , without saying any more , the toast would be just as cordially received as it would be were he to make the most lengthy speech . Bro . Strutt was a wonder . He had that evening worked the three degrees and the whole of the Installation ceremony— -the inner working in connection

with which he was not at liberty to divulge , and which of course had been strange to him ; but he could tell them it had been clone jjerfectly . Bro . Strutt ' s year of Office had been a remarkable success ; he was the first Worshipful Master who had represented the Hygeia Lodge at the Festivals on behalf of . the Old Peoples Institution ; and if they only heard half of what outside friends said in regard to what he had

done they would not only be surprised , but also delighted . He was a good Worshipful Master , in fact one of the very best , and personally he might say he was very proud of having Bro . Strutt on his left as Immediate Past Master . Without further comment he called upon them to drink the toast of his health , which was done , and honoured with real good Masonic fire .

Bro . Strutt I . P . M . thanked the W . M . for his flattering remarks , and the Brethren for receiving the toast in so cordial and hearty a manner . He had endeavoured to do his duty , and was more than rewarded by knowing he had given satisfaction . He assured them he should continue to do his duty in the new position he occupied . He had had the honour of representing the Hygeia Lodge at the Festival

of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons , and had contributed a sum of ^ 92 10 s < kl (& n announcement that called forth hearty marks of approbation ) . He did not think that was bad for a young Lodgs . He sincerely hoped the Lodge would continue to enjoy prosperity , and again thanked the Brethren for their hearty reception of him on that occasion .

In proposing the health of the visitors the W . M . characterised the toast as a most important one , for the reason that the Hygeia Lodge took credit to itself for making a feature of according a hearty welcome 10 its guests . Brother G . Blake Spicer P . M . 1891 first responded . He owed his invitation to the I . P . M . Brother Strutt , whose working—excellent though it had been—was no more than he had expected ; he knew grp , Strutt would give the company a Masonic treat , and guch jjacl

Metropolitan.

proved to be the case , particularly the inner working of the installation ceremony . It was not the first time he had had the pleasure of visiting the Lodge , and he hoped it would not be the last . He trusted the other visitors had enjoyed themselves as he had done , and sincerely thanked the W . M . and members for their cordial reception . Bro . W . R . Palmer P . M . P . Z . P . P . G . R . Middx . thanked the

W . M . for his hearty welcome . It was certainly a record evening . He visited many ; Lodges durine the year , but very seldom—he might say never—had he seen the working better done ; it was carried out from the commencement to the finish most perfectly . It had been a pleasure to him to witness the different ceremonies . The W . M . had most able Officers , and he wished him a prosperous year of Office .

Bro . C . J . Jones 2442 said it was with exceptional pride and a pleasant feeling that he had received the invitation of the Worshipful Master ( his brother ) . He might claim to be an older Mason than the W . M ., but never was such a persevering Mason as he , otherwise he would have been a little higher in the Order than he was . He was more than pleased to see his brother in the honourable position of Master , and to witness the able manner in which he had fulfilled the duties of Senior Warden and afterwards invest his Officers .

Bro . C . B . Wood J . D . 1977 also thanked the W . M . for his kind reception . The work he had witnessed' was a real Masonic treat ; it was most creditable to the I . P . M ., and also to the W . M ., who had most ably invested the Officers . Bro . E . Life 2528 and others also acknowledged the compliment paid the visitors .

Now came the toast of the Treasurer and Secretary . The W . M . said he hoped Bro . Watson P . M . would be their Treasurer for many years to come , as the funds could not be in better hands . The reason Bro . Tidman , their late Secretary , had been displaced was because he wished to work up for the chair of W . M . ; Bro . Strutt had kindly accepted the position , and was duly invested as their Secretary .

The toast of the Past Masters and Officers was then given , and the closing sentiment by the Tyler fBro . T . Williams concluded a most happy and enjoyable meeting . During the evening some excellent songs were rendered , among those who contributed being Miss Stella Maris , Mr . Ernest Pike ,

Miss Hope Jackson , and Bro . Louis Breeze . Bro . I . Young sung the Initiate ' s Song , whilst Bro . J . I . Roberts ( professionally known as Karl Kaps , the popular composer and musical director ) played an excellent solo on the violin ; and Bro . Percy Gayer a solo on the clarionet . Bros . Sidney Roberts and Alfred Martin ably officiated at the piano . v

THE last meeting for this winter was held at Anderton ' s Hotel , on Monday , nth inst . All the Officers were present , and carried out their duties in a satisfactory manner . A large number of members assembled , and the visitors included Bros . Morant , Wyatt , Pitt , Parsons , Brandenberg , Penny , Stratford , Waite , and King .

* « * Confidence Lodge , No . 19 3 .

Three applications for relief came before the Lodge ; for all of which grants were made . Afterwards a most enjoyable evening was spent in the large dining hall . Bro . Fells W . M . made a grand speech in proposing the toast of the King .

Bro . Simeons , in replying to the toast of the I . P . M ., spoke in eloquent terms and alluded to the three jewels he was wearing that evening—the Centenary , the Charity , and the rast Master's ; the one reminded him of his connection with such an ancient Institution , the second the distinguishing characteristic of the Freemason ' s heart , and the third of the honourable position in which the Brethren had placed him .

The remaining toasts were : Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen and the other members of the Royal Family , His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught M . W . G . M .-elect , and the present and past Grand Officers , the Initiates , the Visitors , the Past Masters and Officers of the Lodge , and the Tyler's toast .

INSTRUCTION .

Earl's Court Lodge , No . 27 65 . AT the Greyhound Hotel , Kensington Square , W ., on Thursday , 7 th inst ., Bros . C . G . Hatt P . M . W . M ., S , Mussell S . W . , H . G . Cux J . W ., Thomas acting Sec , H . J . Cousetts P . M . acting Prec K . Von Donat S . D ., W . Binfield J . D ., W . James I . G ., G . Stevenson Steward .

The Lodge was opened with the usual formalities and advanced to the second degree , when Bro . Stevenson answered the questions and was entrusted . The Lodge having been opened in the third degree the raising ceremony was rehearsed , Bro . Stevenson candidate . The Lodge being resumed to the first degree the initiation ceremony

was gone through , Bro . James candidate . We may mention that Bro . Hatt attained the position of P . M . in his Mother Lodge some years ago , and as he will probably occupy the W . M . ' s chair in a Lodge he has helped to found in a short time , it is pleasing to note how efficiently he is able to carry Out the duties of Master at a moment ' s notice .

In responding to the toast of the Visitors grand old Bro . Pitt dwelt strongly on the advantages of the Confidence Lodge of Instruction and the many wonderful Masons he had under his tuition ; he invited those Brethren who were not members of the Instruction Lodge to attend .

The musical portion of the programme was greatly appreciated , Miss Florence Hunt w , as in splendid voice , and her first song " Beloved it is morn " had a well-deserved encore , also extended to her other songs . Bro . Chas . E . Nott was very amusing with his quick change sketch , " Fancy Faces , " and his burlesque sketch in four spasms . Bro . Lough ( Organist of the Lodge ) and others also contributed . # # *