Installation Meetings, &C.

INSTALLATION MEETINGS , & c .

DOMATIC LODGE , No . 17 ? . THERE is au idea prevailing in many quarters that a Masonic Lodge cannot be carried on comfortably or harmoniously when the number of its members exceeds some fifty or sixty ; indeed there are many brethren who will declare that the only Lodges for true enjoyment are those which are limited to say thirty or forty members . While we are ready to admit that in some cases increase of

numerical strength means a decrease in the pleasures of Masonic work , we are yet able to point to instances wherein the direct opposite is the case , and are therefore able to affirm that the rale of small Lodges for the most enjoyment is not a hard and fast one , but is one which , under proper management , is capable of direct contradiction .

We cannot do better , in support of our view , than refer to the Domatic Lodge , which is one of the strongest , in point of numbers on the Register of the Grand Lodge of England . Its prominent position ia not confined to number of members alone , for in many other ways the Domatic Lodge occupies a proud place in English

Freemasonry , and we trust will continue so to do while Freemasonry itself lasts . How is this success secured ?—may be the query of those who have found themselves , if we may so term it , in the cold in Lodges only one-third or even one-fourth as numerous , and we answer , without hesitation , by good management , and by

good management alone . The Domatic Lodge appears to be particularly fortunate in the brethren who are selected to rule over its destinies , they make good Masters dnring their respective terms of office , and after that they appear if anything to greater advantage as Past Masters . Then the permanent officials of the Lodge—the

Treasurer and Secretary ; it is difficult to say how much of the success of the Lodge does not depend on them . It is invidious to make comparisons , bat in this case we feel justified in so doing . There may be Lodges which possess Officers of equal ability , but we rery much doubt if any can show more capable ones ; and those who

know anything of the inner working of the Lodge , and at the same time remember its numerical strength , must fully endorse our opinion . This year's installation marks the commencement of the ninety-ninth year of the Lodge's existence and as favourable a start has been made as any one could desire . It is certainly not the case that the

Domatic is getting old and stupid , but then perhaps a century or so does not have the same effect on a Lodge as about half that period does on some men . It may , indeed be that a hundred years' life entitles a Lodge to be looked upon as having reached the years of discretion , but the past career of the Domatic will not allow this

assumption ; it has long since attained the reputation of being a success , and is now but continuing its prosperity . This year's installation took place on Friday , 9 th inst ., at Anderton's Hotel , Fleet-street , and was numerously attended , the following Officers being amonst those who were present : —Bros . Foxcroft W . M .,

Pierpoint S . W ., Price J . W ., Everett P . M . Treas ., Morris Sec , Simner S . D ., Montague J . D ., Chapman I . G ., Harvey D . C , Sadler Wood Stewart , Eiechelmann Org . ; P . M . ' s Bros . Herbage , Ferguson , Foulger , McLean , Enseal ! , Walford , Bowman Spink , and Kent . The business of the day comprised the confirmation of the minutes and

the Auditors' report , which items disposed of , tbe Lodge was advanced , and Bros . W . E . Spindler and J . H . Selby were passed . Next came the installation of Bro . Robert Pierpoint , the W . M . elect , and this ceremony was most ably performed by Bro . W . Herbage P . M . In due course the new W . M . was saluted , and he then invested

the following brethren as Officers for the ensuing year .: —W . M . Foxcroft Immediate Past Master , Harry Price Senior Warden , A . Simner J . W ., Geo . Everett P . M . Treasurer , T . Morris Secretary , Robert Montague S . D ., H . J . Chapman J . D ., Richard Harvey I . G :., C . Eiechelmann Organist , J . Sadler Wood D . C , N . Salmon Steward .

The installation ceremony having been completed , the W . M . at once started work by initiating Messrs G . A . Weston , A . Grace , J . Tingley , and J . H . Ellis into the mysteries of the Order . Installation night is looked upon as a bad one for initiates , as there is generally too much other work to be got through , but the four

gentlemen initiated on Friday lost nothing by selecting an annual meeting night for their admission to the light of Masonry . Brother John Barnett jun . was elected a joining member of the Lodge , three candidates were proposed for the next meeting , and other business having been transacted ,

the Lodge was closed . A banquet followed , and indue course the customary toasts were honoured . The Queen and the Craft having been well received , the W . M . gave the health of the M . W . the Grand Master . His Eoyal Highness the Prince of Wales had done more for English Freemasonry than any one who had previously occupied

the position of Grand Master . Wherever he went he commanded respect—not only from his Masonic brethren , but from all classes of the nation , and it was not too much to say that he made friends of all with whom he came into contact . There was no question as to his desire to advance the interests of the country , or of the institutions

which were so dear to its people , nor that , in his attempts to do so , he did not work as hard as any man in Europe . The coming of age of their Grand Master ' s eldest son must be a source of gratification tc all true Masons , as it was to all Englishmen throughout the world . After a song , tbe toast of the Pro Grand Masterthe Deputy

, Grand Master , and the Grand Officers was proposed , the W . M . paying _ well deserved compliments both to the noblemen who assist in ruling the destinies of the Order and the Grand Officers who so ably support them . Bro . Hill , Grand Steward , replied to the toast . He believed he might say that all the Grand Officers of

England , except perhaps the section to which he had the honour to belong , had earned and thoroughly deserved the distinction conferred on them . No better illustration of the high estimation in which Freemasonry was held by the rulers of the Order could be given than that such patriotic men as the Earl of Carnarvon should spare time to

Installation Meetings, &C.

attend to the work of the Craft . His doing so proved that he felt the importance of Freemasonry in the social life of the country . Bro . Foxcroft I . P . M . next proposed the health of tho W . M . Their present ruler had been initiated in the Domatic Lodge some ten years since . In a Lodge numbering something like ono hundred and fifty

members , as the Domatic Lodge did , for any one to attain to the Chair in so short a time proved him to be a man of some esteem among his brethren , and endowed in no small way with the spirit of perseverance . There was no post iu tbe Lodge that Bro . Pierpoint had filled wherein he had not worked to the satisfaction of the

members , while the way in which he had performed the initiation ceremony that evening proved he would not be found deficient in the work of his latest appointment . He felt assured that Bro . Pierpoint would become a Master of whom the Domatic Lodge would have reason to be proud . In reply , the W . M . said he should not be telling

the truth if he said he was not proud of his position . When he occupied the chair of initiate at the banquet which followed his admission to the Lodge—a position he well remembered—he was told he would never again occupy that place , but he felt it was possible to occupy the next to it , and that chair he had always striven to secure . He

now had the honour of occupying it , and felt the great importance of the trust reposed in him . He hoped , during tho time he should fill it , he would give satisfaction to every member of the Lodge . Ho then proposed the health of the I . P . M . During his year of office Bro . Foxcroft had striven to perform tho duties of the chair to the

best of his ability , and he had succeeded , as was evidenced by the way in which the Ledge had voted him a Past Master's jewel . He richly deserved the gift , and it afforded him ( the speaker ) much pleasure to place it on his breast . He hoped that Bro . Foxcroft would long enjoy good health , and that he would always be borne in

the same esteem by the members of the Domatic Lodge as he was at that monent . In reply the I . P . M . tendered his sincere thanks to the members of the Lodge . If he had failed in anything during the past year , it had been not from any neglect on his part , but from inability or from the more pressing demands of business . The

brethren had been most kind to him during the past year , the Past Masters , the Officers , and every member having striven to help him in every possible manner . The next best thing to being installed into the chair was to retire therefrom with honour , and he flattered himself that he had some honour attached to his term of office . The

toast of the initiates was next proposed . The W . M . had that night had the gratification of admitting four gentleman into the mysteries of Freemasonry . Three of them were old personal friends , one he might say being an acquaintance of 30 years' standing , while their fourth new member came well and worthily recommended .

All would doubtless prove a benefit to Freemasonry in general and the Domatic Lodge in particular . Bro . Tingley expressed the pleasure he felt in being admitted . He could but appreciate the warmth of the reception accorded him and his fellow initiates that night . Bro . Grace followed in similar strains . Bro . Weston considered it

a great privilege to bo initiated , and an especial pleasure that so old and dear a friend of his as the present W . Master should have performed that duty . Ho and Bro . Pierpoint were not only personal friends , but so closely associated with each other in their daily avocation as to render the events of the day even more pleasing than

they would otherwise have been . The toast of the Visitors next received attention , and to this Bros . Harper , Spiller , Stiles , and others responded . The W . M . in submitting the toast of the Past Masters felt sux-e it was one which could be heartily received , as it

deserved to be . The Domatic Lodge could not get on without its Past Masters . They seemed to vie with each other as to who should do most for the Lodge and its members . They were kind and considerate to all , and had thoroughly earned the respect that was felt for them . After a brief allusion to each of the brethren

present who had filled the chair , the W . M . called upon Bro . Herbage to reply , remarking in so doing that the way in which that brother had performed the ceremony of installation was particularly gratifying to them all . Bro . Herbage felt that in joining the ranks of full-fledged Past Masters he had become one of a noble band . He

should do all he could to follow m the footsteps of those who had preceded him . Indeed , he had that evening made an attempt to copy his predecessors in the way in which he had worked the ceremony of installation . The ceremonies of Freemasonry were such that a brother might give his very best attention to , them , while the

interest of the members of the Lodge in its work induced a man to strive his utmost in any work which might fall to his lot . The W . M ., before proposing the health of the Treasurer and Secretary , stated he had omitted to mention that one of their most esteemed Past Masters—Bro . J , Willing—who was then at Plymouth , had sent his

fraternal greetings and best wishes for the prosperity of the Lodge . The Treasurer of the Lodge , said the W . M ., was too well known to the members to need any very lengthened remarks from him when pro . posing his health . It might truly be said that Bro . Everett had at all times the interest of the Lodge at heart . The way in which he

looked after their comforts at the banquet table added not a little to their enjoyment , although it was purchased , perhaps , at the expense of Bro . Everett ' s personal comfort . It was also a fact that Bro . Morris , their Secretary , deserved all tho good things that could be said of him . His was no light duty , but so efficiently did he perform

his work that he might truly be termed the walking Encyclopoedia of the Domatic Lodge . Of tho 150 or so members it seemed there was not one but Bro . Morris could not give his address at a moment ' s notice ; this alone proved he threw his heart into his work . Bro . Everett thanked the W . M . and brethren most heartily . He had the

p ]< asure of initiating the present W . M ., as well as some others of the Officers appointed that evening , and in looking round on them felt quite proud of his boys . As regards Bro . Pierpoint , he had long looked forward to the time when he should be among them in

the East , as he felt that although they had had many distinguished brethren in the chair of the Domatic Lodge there was no one who would give more satisfaction than would Bro . Pierpoint . He should be only too happy to continue his office of Treasurer so long as he