The Great City Lodge, No. 1426.

Master . He could not havo performed his task as he had done had he been half-hearted in the work . It was also a pleasnre to witness th" way in which the members tried to relieve the wants of their fellows , the mere mention of distress appeared to stir np the best feelings of their hearts . The Master next proposed the health of

their I . P . M—the Installing Master of tho day—Bro . Baber . Ho felt justified in saying that Bro . Baber had sivon satisfaction to every member of the Lodge , and only hoped that when the end of his year of office came he should be able to instal his successor as well

as Bro . Baber had done . He had pleasure in presenting to his predecessor the Past Master ' s jewel voted by tho members of tho Lodge , and in doing so trusted the recipient might bo spared for many years to come among thorn—in the enjoyment of health and happiness . Tho jewel bore the following inscription : —

On the front TriK GREAT CITY LODGE , No . 1126 . On the reverse :

Presented to Bro . Wnr , iAM BAISEK , with the thanks of the Brethren , On the termination of his year of office ,

as 12 th Worshipful Master ' 10 th October 1885 . The I . P . M . tendered his thanks , both for the reception which had been accorded to the foist and for the very flattering references which had been made to the way in which he had performed the

work of his term of office . Ho had done his duty to the best of his ability , and was very pleased to think ho had done so to tho satisfaction of tho brethren . He thanked them for the very handsome jewel they had awarded him . Ho thnnght ho might say that if he was ppared it would seldom be absent from the meet ' ngs of Tho Great

City Lodge . The Worshipful Master gave the toast of tho Past Masters . He was pleased to see so many present that night . The Past Masters had done good suit and service to the Lodge , and had proved themselves of advantage to Freemasonry in genera ! . Bro . Stevons was the first to reply . Ho expressed his gratitude for the

way in which the brethren had listened to bis appeal in tho Lodge , and for the way in whioh they had always received their Past Masters . Bro . Headon desired to once more thank the brethren for associating his name with the toast of the Past Masters . He fully recognised the kind way in which they were always rpceived in

The Great City Lodge . Bros . Sccx , Stanway , and Blackie followed Bro . Blackie was proud of being a Past Master of The Great City Lodge , and also proud of being able to respond without having to look forward to a = seciation with a toast later on—that of the Secretary . He had fulfilled the dnties of that office as long as

ho bad been able to do so , and as well as ho could . If his successor desired any help which it was in his power to afford ho should be most happy to give it . Tho other claims on his time prevented his giving that attention to the duties of Secretary which the offico demanded . Bros . Kibble and KcobJo came next . The fatter said he

had felt very proud when ho was placed at tho head of the Lodgo , and now felt equally proud in taking his position on tho lowest ronnd among tho Past Masters . The next duty of tho W . M . was a very pleasing one—the proposition of the health of the Treasurer and Secretary . In their Treasurer

they had a very old and tried servant , ono who was always ready to give his services for the good of the Lodge , and always read } ' to do his utmost to advance its welfare . Tu their Secretary they bad a new hand—not new to the Lodge , bnt new to the office . The W . M . felt that their new Secretary would follow in the steps of his

predecessors , but warned him he had no light task to rcrfonn when trying to emulate them . Bro . Headon tendered his thanks . There had not been a meeting of The Great Cit y Lodge , at which its Treasurer had not been present , and ho hoped it might always be so , so long as he filled the office . He had always taken a groat interest

in the Lodge , and trusted his interest in it might never be less than it then was . He desired to refer to an important matter which would occupy the attention of the Craft ere long—the election of Grand Treasurer for the ensuing year . They wore all aware The Groat City Lodge hud taken a grpat interest in the movement which

had brought about an annual transfer of the collar of Grand Treasurer . First , the brethren of the City had secured the election of Bro . AHcroft—a City man , widely known and well entitled to the honour conferred on him . Some little distrust had been felt lest by some slip tho election of a brother hardly worthy of the honour

might bring discredit on the amendment which had been carrier ] into effect . This was not likely during the current year , if they were successful in securing the election of Bro . Martin—also a well-known City man—who had consented io allow himself to be prifc in nomination for the office . Ho was a brother well fitted for the appointment

and worthy the snpport of the wVole Craft . He trnsted the London ' brethren would rally round and support him to the best of their ability . The position Bro . Martin held in the City of London was such as to warrant them in recommending hirn for the office , which , with the help of London Masons , thev honed to secure for him . Brother

Keeble thanked the brethren for receiving him so heartilv as their I Secretary . ITe felt he could but feebly carry o-r the work so ably j cmidnefed by Bro . Blackie dnring tho past five years , hut at the same I timi > he felt that as Bro . Blackie had proved himself efficient in !

the work he had an extra good example to imitate . The W . M . proposed the health of the Officers of the Lodge . This was n very comprehensive toast , especially so on the present occasion when there had bepn so many new brethren appointed to office . The ability of the older Officers was well-known ; while as

regarded the new ones , the brethren knew sufficient of them i ¦ . . - ' re . their confidence in the selection which had been made . Bro . Potfcpr returned thanks ; he felt that all who had that day been appointed to office wonld endeavour to do f h ? : r duty to the satisfaction of the members ; the bright example set by the Officers who had preceded them would be an incentive for 6 xtra

The Great City Lodge, No. 1426.

endeavours , and he hoped in duo course they would merit the reward of promotion . Each of th" Officer- ' having responded , tho Tyler ' s torsfc was given , and the proceedings wero bnnght to a conclusion . Among the Visitors wem Brno . H . Hubbard 9 , T . Fletcher 33 , J . Tatlock W . M . 142 . Jimns Hill f . P . M . 183 , J . G . Newton 569 , T . Poore

P . M . 720 , F . II . Cozns O-ganist 907 , T . Harper P . M . 1216 , G . Col - lins 1260 , E . Ddzell S . W . 1519 , VV . Med » vin P . M . 1613 , J . Gibbs W . M . el-et 1613 , R , V . Harman W . M . 1692 , and M . Brown 1997 . Tho musical arrangements were entrusted to Bro . H . F . Frost , who was supported by Bros . IT . VV . Sclnrtan , Edward DnheU , F . S . Cozeris and F . Bevau .

West Middlesex Lodge, No. 1612.

WEST MIDDLESEX LODGE , No . 1612 .

j ' THIE annual meeting of this Lodge was held at the Lyric Hall , ( ' Ealing , on Satnrday last , tho 10 th inst . Tbo Lodge was opened ; by tho W . M ., Bro . VV . Seward , who was supported by his Past 1 Masters , Officer .- - , and the following brethren : Bros . J . A . Fleok 172 ,

, C . T . Fleck D . C . 172 , J . Bastard 1566 P . P . G . Org . Berks and Bucks , I E . A . Tilbury 975 , L . Stm'l 55 , II . S . Hill P . M . 223 , T . Drowbear W . M . 1584 , E . Home P . M . 1887 , J . M . Longhnrst P . M . 133 , 1273 , W . W . Morgan I . P . M . 211 , W . J . London S . D . 2077 , P . A . Latham W . M . 2022 , Jas Chapman P . M . 191 , G . F . Nixon P . M . 76 , James

Fisher P . M . 2022 , E . C . Ma

been read and confirmed , the report of the Audit C mimittee was presented , and after fnll consideration it was adopted . Several important communications worn brought iiudor tho notice of the brethren , and these received full attention . Brother E . J . Aoworth , the Master elect , was then formally presented for the

benefit of installation , and was obligator ] by Bro . Seward . After the brethren under tho degree of Installed Master had retired , the chair was taken by Bro . Henry Kawer P . M ., who , before proceeding with the ceremony , read a telegram announcing the success , that day , of a daughter of their lato Bro . Tncker P . M ., as a candidate for the Roval Masonic Institution for Girls . Brother Acworth was then

installed , end having received the congratulations of the brethren assembled , appointed the following as tho Officers : —Bros . J . W , Fisher S . W ., W . Nye J . W ., IT . Ki . sner P . M . Treasurer , A . J . Burr P . M . Secretary , G . S . Wright S . D ., E . C . Porter J D ., J . L . Hamilton

I . G ., F . Delevanto Organist , VV . Meadows Assistant Organist , J . Wells and A . Pooley Stewards , G . Coop D . C , and G . Harrison Tyler . The routine work having already been disposed of , the W . M . made the nsual inqniries , and then proceeded to close the Lodge . Tho brethren afterwards assembled in tbo beantifnl ball o ? the establishment .

The banquet was served in a most complete aud ample form , with oro / y regard to comfort , and reflected tho highest credit on Brother Stephens , the proprietor . The innal toasts were honoured . Her Majesty tho Queen recognised Freemasons as a truly loyal body . In proposing the health of the Grand Master tho W . M . remarked upon

the hold Froemasonry had taken on the Royal Family , and that , as it was descending from father to son , he thought Freemasons might congratulate themselves upon tho prospect of having royalty at the head of the Craft for many years to come . With the health of the Grand Officers Present and Past the W . M .

associated tho name of Brother Roebuck , and on behalf of the West Middlesex Lodge tendered him the hearty thanks of the members for the valuable help he had given thorn in securing the election of tho candidate Tncker , already referred to . Brother William Roebuck , Past Grand Steward , in tho course of his reply

said , that he had had the privilege of being in Grand Lodge when Lor 1 Carnarvon was presiding , aud he did not kuow his lordship ' s equal for such a duty . As regarded tho D .-pufcy G . Master , Lord Lathom was always ready to come forward when required ; and as regarded the Grand Officers Present and Past , he believed tbey

desuvd to render the brethren all the assistance they could . At the conse . sration of new Lodges some of them were invariably present . He thanked the W . M . for coupling his name with the toast , and on behalf of the Grand Officers he thanked the brethren for the compliment paid them . Bro . Seward proposed the health of the W . M .

Bro . Acworth was one not altogether unknown to them ; he was initiated in the West Middlesex , but had served as the W . M . of atiother Lodge . He was ono whom they all knew and greatly respected ; he wonld ask them to drink to the health of the W . M . and wish him a prosperous and a happy year of office . Bro . Acworth did not feel the

same difficulty in asking the brethren to drink tho health of others as he did to rotnrn thanks himself . He did not know how sufficiently to thank those present for conferring upon him the Mastership , 'flic West Middlesex Lodge hid been known for years past , first for its good working , secondly for its benevolence , and thirdly for the

good , kind-hearted feeling that prevailed amongst its members . He now found himself in the position of head of tho Lodge , and ho could only say that tie hoped to ho ablo at the end of his year of office to give a good account of his Stewardship . The Past Masters was the next toa-t proposed . The W . M . said that in drinking this toast the

brethren must carry their minds back to the commencement of the Lodge , and consider all the difficulties a yonng Lodge had to contend with . They had hail the goad fortune to havo able Masters , and as these had b irue the burden and heat of the day , it was becoming that they should he locked np to on account of

the services they had ron dered . By tho tin \> . he became one himself he hoped to ni"rir the g- -ol op ' nio .-i of the „ : ' , ;¦¦¦ i '! l ; t Masters , and of every member of the Lo ! gc : but lie could not conceal from

himself that his year of office would not b ; an easy ono . Before he sat down he had a duty to perform ; this < :-, v ; , on behalf of the Lodge , to present to the I . P . M . a Past . Master ' s jewel , tt had been most worthily deserved , and he believed he might say that the brethren