Reports Of Meetings.

REPORTS OF MEETINGS .

. u ;—CKAET : METROPOLITAN' . — : o : —

THOMAS-A-BECKET LODGE , No . 2754 . THE Worshipful Master Bro . H . Carman P . M . 548 442 2535 P . P . G . Org . Norths and Hunts and one of the numerous Founders of the Lodge presided at the regular meeting held at Bro . George W . Duck's , the Thomasa-Becket Tavern , Old Kent Road , S . B ., on Thursday , 8 th inst ., and received the able assistance of Bros . G . Duck P . M . 1475 acting I . P . M ., A . E . Remington I . P . M . and Sec . 30 S . W ., X . Gibbs P . M . 1696 J . W ., G . W . Duck P . M . Treasurer , Monis Davis P . M . 141 Secretary , George Brown J . W . 902 S . D ., Max Wartman P . M . 1687 J . D ., J . P . Torlowsky I . G ., A . J . Squires and F . W . B . Watts Stewards , H . Martin P . M . Tyler .

There were also present Bros . E . W . Craddook , H . R . Boyles , D . Rosenberg , E . Jones—all these Brethren being the Founders of the Lodge—also Bro . H . Groom . Visitors : G . Ballard 2345 , J . Wynman , and others . The Lodge being formed the minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed . The Lodge was then opened in the second degree , and Bro . H . Groom was examined and entrusted . The Lodge was advanced to the

third degree , and in due course that Brother was raised as a Master Mason . The Lodge was resumed to the first degree and the ballot was taken for Messrs . Henry Robert Alford and Harry Lapsley , which proving unanimous in their favour in due course they were initiated into the mysteries of Ancient Freemasonry . The working of the Worshipful Master was perfectly and impressively rendered .

There were several communications read from Grand Lodge and other quarters . The W . M . informed the Brethren that he had the pleasure of handing over to the Benevolent Institution the sum of £ 34 2 s 6 d , also that the Treasurer Bro . G . W . Duck presented that Institution with the sum of £ 10 10 s , which announcement was received with approbation . The W . M .

also informed the Brethren that he should like to represent the Lodge at the next Festival , but if any other Brother wished to do so he would be very pleased to give that Brother the opportunity ; to which the Brethren replied that the duty could not be in better hands . The W . M . thanked the Brethren for their confidence , and hoped to receive the same support as had been accorded him on the last occasion .

All Masonic business being attended to the Lodge was closed in harmony , but not before the W . M . had received well earned hearty good wishes from members and visitors alike . The Brethren now adjourned to partake of an excellent repast , which reflected great credit on the esteemed host and hostess Bro . and Mrs . George W . Duck .

At the conclusion of the dinner the W . M . in eloquent style gave the toast of the Queen . At her great age to honour her loving people by driving through the town at that time of the year was a further proof of her regard for the nation . The toast was drunk with great enthusiasm , and Bro . A . E . Remington sang " God save the Queen . "

The W . M . next proceeded to give the toast of tho M . W . G . M . the Prince of Wales , which was also received with enthusiasm . Bro . Ballard sang " God bless the Prince of Wales . " Bro . G . Duck I . PM . proposed the toast of the Worshipful Master . He was sorry that such an important matter was not entrusted to better hands ,

but the working the W . M . had done that evening spoke well for him anj 3 also for the Lodge . It was an excellent example for the Officers , and he felt they could not have found a better ruler throughout the United Kingdom than Bro . Carman . He asked the Brethren to give an exceptional Masonic fire , to which call the Brethren most heartily responded .

The W . M . received further proof of his popularity in the Lodge on rising to respond . He sincerely thanked Bro . Duck . He had done his best , and was sure that the Thomas-a-Becket would be a prosperous Lodge . It was only consecrated last June , and contained good and true Masons . As the first W . M . of the Lodge h ' e was proud to say they had a nice little sum in hand , and that was very pleasant for

a young Lodge ; also he was proud to say that the Officers did everything in their power to make the Lodge a great success . Their Senior Warden , who was also a Past Master , was an excellent worker , and he knew that when he came to be elected W . M . of the Lodge he would give still greater satisfaction than he did in his present position . He assured the Brethren that whatever he could do for the welfare of the Lodge he would most willingly undertake .

The W . M . next proposed the toast of the Initiates , who , by the attention they had paid to the ceremony had given evidence of a desire to do their very best to become acquisitions to the Lodge . They did not seek large numbers , but rather required quality ; and that they had found it in their two newly made Brethren he was satisfied . Bro . Alford , in response , thanked the W . M . for having initiated him in such an impressive manner ; he also thanked the members for the kind way in which they had received him , and assured all that he should never forget his Obligation and the proceedings of that day .

Bro . Lapsley also thanked the W . M . and Brethren for having accepted him as a Mason amongst them . In time to oome he hoped to give proof that their confidence was not misplaced . Bro . H . Martin P . M . gave the Initiate ' s song , the W . M . showing his proficiency as an artist at the piano . The W . M . next in eloquent terms proposed the toast of the Visitors , and accorded them a most hearty welcome .

Bro . Ballard thanked the W . M . and Brethren for their very kind reception . It was not the first time he had visited the Lodge , and he hoped it would not be the last . The working he had witnessed was most perfectly and impressively rendered , and he felt sure that the Lodge would become one of the most prosperous in the district , and , by adding an Instruction Lodge had met a great need . Other visitors responded .

The W . M . rose again , and said he could not let the opportunity pass without congratulating Bro . E . M . Jones , who as Chairman of the Licensed Victualler ' s Asylum during the year 1899 was the previous evening entertained at dinner , and during the evening wns presented with a silver salver , tea and coffee service , together with a diamond bracelet for Mrs . Jones , in recognition of the great services he had rendered during his year of office . The W . M . sincerely congratulated him , and said it was very gratifying to have such a noble Brother amongst them .

Bro . Jones suid he was taken by surprise , and really dH not know how to thank the W . M . for his hearty congratulations and very kind remarks . He most sincerely thanked them all for the way in which they had received the toast .

Reports Of Meetings.

The W . M . paid a well deserved tribute to the Officers , of whom he was proud ; every one of them knew his working to perfection . Being rather late he would call upon Bro . Davis the Secretary to respond . The Secretary , on behalf of himself and the Officers generally , acknowledged the compliment , and congratulated the W . M . on his perfect working that evening . When he ( Bro . Davis ) was initiated he made up his mind to be Worshipful Master of the Faith Lodge ; he was proud to say he

had succeeded . As the Secretary of their Lodge he thanked them for the compliment they had paid to the Officers , and he assured the W . M . all would do everything in their power to make the Lodge prosperous . He also reminded the initiates that the Instruction Lodge was held there , at the Thomas-a-Becket Hotel , every Thursday at eight o ' clock . Bro . A . E . Remington the S . W . was the Preceptor , and to find a better one it would be diffioult .

Several Brethren added greatly to the enjoyment of the evening with some excellent songs , whilst Bro . M . Davis gave a very humorous recitation , and Mrs . G . W . Duck accompanied on several occasions on the piano , in perfect style . The Tyler ' s toast brought the proceedings to a close . Bro . Henry Carman , the first Master of this new Lodge , was initiated in the Wellington Lodge , No . 548 , on 14 th January 1879 , was regularly passed ,

and raised to the third degree on the 11 th March following . He rose to the dignity of Master of the Lodge in 1887 . He was exalted in the Wellington Chapter , No . 548 , on 27 th April 1880 , and filled the chair of Z . in 1889 . He has become a joining member of the St . Peter Lodge , No . 442 ; the Fellowship Lodfje , No . 2535 ; and the Frederick Chapter of Unity , No . 452 . He was appointed Provincial Grand Organist of Norths and Hunts in 1895 , and acted as a Special Steward at both the Jubilee celebrations , in 1887 and 1897 .

Bro . Carman has been a warm supporter of the Charities , and has served no less tban twenty-four Stewardships on behalf of the different Institutions , his personal qualifications in connection therewith being : Vice Patron of the Boys , of the Girls , and the Benevolent Institution . He was advanced as a Mark Mason in the Bon Accord Lodge , in 1887 , and filled its chair in 1897 ; admitted as a Royal Ark Mariner in the Prince

of Wales Lodge , in 1890 ; Allied Degrees—Rose and Lily Council , No . 15 , 1889 ; Royal and Select Master—Grand Master's Council , No . 1 , 1888 ; Select Master—Alfred Meadows Conclave , 1888 ; Knight Templar—St . George Preceptory , 1889 ; Knight of Malta—1889 ; 18 ° —Rose and Lily , 1888 ; 309 —1891 ; Grand Tyler of King Solomon , 1893 ; Red Cross of Constantine—St . Andrew , 1892 ; K . H . S . Holy Order of St . John the Evangelist , 1894 .

HYGEIA LODGE , No . 2664 . Installation of Brother Thomas Frederick Strutt . THE annual installation festival of this young Lodge , which was consecrated on the 14 th July 1897 , and now numbers over forty members , took place on Saturday , 10 th inst ., at the Holborn Restaurant , High Holborn , with considerable success . Bro . William Hill Watson W . M . presided for the last time during his year as Master , and was supported by the following Officers : T . F . Strutt W . M .-elect S . W ., J . M . Jones J . W ., C . W . Raymond

P . M . Treas ., B . Tidman Sec , W . E . Groom S . D ., I . Young J . D ., J . W . Metcalf I . G ., A . Taylor and T . G . Dee Stewards , T . Williams Tyler ; with W . Boyce I . P . M ., and the following members : Frank Richardson P . G . D . ( Honorary ) , Dr . Francis John Allan , W . W . West , F . Barth , A . Sanders , R . Butland , W . J . Gathercole , S . Fairchild , S . Crane , A . MoNair , W . H . Grigg , G . Lill , JE . P . Ward , F . Aris , G . W . Branson , J . P . Folland . E . W . Robinson , H . Herriott , A . J . Bobbitt , R . H . Ellis , H . Body , J . C . Webb , F . J . Anthony , J . Williams , H . Marrable , & c .

Amongst the Visitors vi e had the pleasure of seeing Bros . C . Papworth 2472 , G . A . Westrope W . M . 1741 , J . Shuttle 1329 , J . A . Wilson I . G . 1732 , T . Tucker S . D . 1320 , H . W . Page 1679 , H . Hudson S . W . 141 , W . Willshire J . W . 1602 , J . H . Moore 1767 , W . S . Masters 2346 , C . B . Wood 1977 , T . Archer 142 , A . Garton P . M . 192 , & c , J . Wynman , F . Love . W . R . Love , C . Kemp I . P . M . 27 . The Lodge was formally opened and tho minutes of the last regular

meeting were read and confirmed . The Lodge was then opened in the second de « ree and Bro . A . J . Bobbitt and R . H . Ellis having very well answered the questions leading to the third degree were entrusted and retired . The Lodge was opened in the third degree , and those Brethren were raised as Master Masons , the ceremony being very ably and impressively performed by Bro . Watson .

The Lodge was resumed to the second degree ; the W . M . declared all Offices vacant , and Bro . Thomas Frederick Strutt W . M .-elect was presented by Bro . W . Boyce and signified his assent to the ancient charges and regulations . The lay Brethren were requested to retire , and a Board of Installed Masters was formed , presided ov « r by Bro . Frank Richardson P . G . D ., who performed the installation ceremony , and placed Bro . Strutt in the chair of K . S . in accordance with the old traditions . Bro . Watson was invested as

I . P . M . Upon the re-admission of the Brethren the new W . M . was regularly proclaimed and saluted , and then proceeded to appoint and invest his Officers , viz . : J . M . Jones S . W ., W . E . Groom J . W ., C . W . Raymond P . M . Treas ., E . Tidman Secretary , I . Young 8 . D ., J . W . Metcalfe J . D ., A . Taylor I . G ., W . Boyce P . M . D . C ., W . G . Lacy Org ., T . G . Dee and W . H . Grigg Stewards , T . Williams Tyler .

After the completion of the work of installation the W . M . proceeded to examine Bro . Ernest Paul Ward , who , having answered the questions leading to the second degree , was entrusted ; the Lodge was opened in the second degree , and in due course that Brother was passed as a Fellow Graft . That the Lodge was more than justified in the choice made in electing Bro . Strutt as ruler for the ensuing year was evidenced by the extremely fine manner in which he delivered the obligation .

In eloquent and brief well chosen sentences the W . M . presented , on behalf of the Lodge , Bro . William Hill Watson with a Past Master ' s jewel , and expressed the hope that he would long live to wear it . It had been well earned . The Past Master's jewel bore the following legend : —

Presented to BEO . WILLIAM HILL WATSON . Unanimously voted by the members of the Hygeia Lodge , in acknowledgment of the very satisfactory manner in which the duties of the Lodge were discharged ,

1899-1900 . Bro . Watson acknowledged the gift in suitable terms . The installation banquet was held immediately after the Lodge was closed , and after ample justice had been done to the excellent repast the W . M . gave the toast of the Queen and tho Craft . The Queen was the grand