Installation Meetings.

INSTALLATION MEETINGS .

The Great City Lodge , No . 1426 . —The installation meeting of this Lodge was held on Saturday , the 12 th inst ., at tho Cannon-street Hotel , E . C . The Lodge was formally opened by the W . M . Bro . R . Stanway , supported by Bivs . J . Freeman and G . W . Blackie Senior and Junior Wardens respectively ; Bros . R . J . Simpson P . G . C . Chaplain , N . B . Headon P . M . Treas ., E . Moody P . M . Sec , J . Sees

P . M ., J . Stevens P . M ., J . II . Townend P . M ., W . H . Catchpole S . D ., T . Hamer J . D ., W . F . Kibble D . of C , G . Jenkins Org ., C . Taylor I . G ., W . H . Hook Steward . The emergency meeting of the previous Saturday having disposed of tho business that would otherwise have been brought forward , the way was left clear for the installation to be proceeded with . Accordingly , tho minutes having been confirmed ,

Bro . J . Freeman was duly presented , and obligated . Tho Lodge was advanced , and he was placed in the chair ofK . S . in regular form . The Officers for tho year were appointed as follow : —Bros . G . W . Blackie S . W ., W . H . Catchpole J . W . " Rev . It . J . Simpson Chap ., N . B . Headon Treas ., E . Moody Sec , T . Hamer S . D ., C . Taylor J . D ., W . Kibble I . G ., W . II . Hook D . of C , R . Hooker and F . T . C . Keeble

Stewards , G . Jenkins Organist , Steedman P . M . Tyler . The Auditors ' report was then presented . From it we learn that the Lodge has the following balances : —General Fund , £ 52 16 s 6 cl ; Benevoleut Fund , £ 109 15 s ( id ; Samaritan Fund , £ 23 3 s ; ancl Reserve Fuud , £ 14 4 s . Bro . J . Stevens proposed that tho balance sheet be received and entered on the minutes , this was seconded , and , on being put to

the Lodge , was carried uniinimously . A pioposition for initiation was handed in , and the visiting brethren having tendered their good wishes , tho W . M . closed the Lodge . Tho brethren then adjourned to banquet in the great hall of the Hotel aud commenced a very pleasant evening , under tho presidency of the newly installed Master . After grace , the W . M . gave the health of the Queen . As Masons , ho said ,

we should especially honour this toast . The brethren having given it a hearty reception , the W . M . gavo that of the M . W . the Grand Master H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , which was also received iu a hearty manner . In giving the next on the list , the Pro G . M ., the D . G . M . and the rest of the Grand Officers Past aud Present , the W . M . expressed his pleasure at having two Past Grand Officers

among them . He considered those two brethren wero worthy members of a most infloential body . They had each worked iu their time for the good of tho Craft , and he doubted not would never flag in so continuing to work . He would ask tho brethren to evince their good opinion of Grand Lodgo by giving a hearty reception to the toast . Bro . Simpson , in reply , considered ,

with reference to the heads of Grand Lodge , that their praises were so often sung it was hardly necessary for him to refer to them . Suffice it to say , that whatever they havo in hand they carry out in a most straightforward manner . As for himself , ho had to thank tho W . M . for having reinvested him as Chaplain of tho Lodge . Ho heard , not many years ago , that Masonry had been tho turning point of a

brother ' s life , and that turning point arose from the perfect way in which tho ceremony was performed . Wero he free to give that brother ' s name , it would reveal ono of tho most prominent Masons of the day . Our rev . brother further referred to various matters in connection with Freemasonry , more especially regarding the firm stand it had maintained . Bro . Fenn also responded ; ho said that while

Freemasonry supported tho throne and religion as it did , it could not fail to prosper . Bro . Stanway next assumed the gavel . In proposing tho health of the newly installed Master , he did so with especial gratification , as that brother had taken a part iu introducing him ( Bro . Stanway ) into Freemasonry . Ho was pleased he had that night had the pleasure of returning that kindness by installing Bro .

Freeman into tho chair . He hoped their W . M . would remember this ceremony with the same gratification as ho did that of initiation . The W . M ., in feeling terms , returned thanks for the way in which his health had been proposed . Ho felt that the members would excuse his shortcomings when they considered tho responsibility entailed by his being appointed to rule so large a Lodge as The Great City . He

hoped for the support of the members and officers in the carrying out of his duties . He next gave the health of tho Immediate Past Master , and the other P . M . ' s of the Lodge . Before giving tho toast he had a pleasing duty to perform , viz . —to present to Bro . Stanway a P . M . ' s jewel , which he hoped that brother would long bo iu a position to wear among them . Bro . Stanway , in responding , said he

would not detain them long in detailing what should bo done in and out of Freemasonry . He had to thank the members for the kind support he had received during his year of office . To the Officers he waa especially indebted . To them , aud indeed to members generally , he owed his most sincere thauks . He considered ho could , at the end of this , his year of office , say , it was well finished . Ho accepted the

jewel as a memento of what would never be effaced from his memory . Bro . Stevens followed . He referred the company back to the time of their inauguration , five years since , and felt sure tho members wonld agree with him that so i ' ur The Great City Lodge had carried out its programme . He spoke at some length of tho letter which appeared in our last issue , under tho signature " Peter , " and

explained the matters therein referred to . Bro . Freeman next gave the toast of the Visitors . The Great City were always pleased to see among them a goodly array of Visitors , and hoped their gatherings would always be gvacecl ^ by some . Tho W . M . here announced that the Charity box had returned to him with £ 4 2 s as tho result of us journey round lite table . Bro . Edmonstou , in responding for the Visitors , considered it a great compliment being selected from

so many to respond to the toast . It gave him great pleasure to he present at iheir meeiiug . He considered ; i compliment had been paid the Royal Leopold Lodge , of which he hud tho pleasure of being Senior Warden , in mentioning the members thereof specially in the toast . Bro . Dakers also replied . Ho was extremely gratifled at what he had seen during the evening . Bro . Preston followed ; he tendered his meed of piaise . The W . M . next proposed the health pi the Treasurer aad Secretary . Ho . felt that they bad brethren

Installation Meetings.

filling these offices who were far in advance of those occupying similar positions in other Lodges . Bro . Headon , the Treasurer , was gratified that his offico entailed so little talking . Ho was pleased if ho had filled the office of Treasnrer of the Lodge to the satisfaction of tho members . Ho then referred to tho letter on which Bro . Stevens had commented . He thought that the balance

sheet of the Lodge would satisfy all the requirements or our correspondent . He hoped the Master would beforo long express it as hia intention to represent , on behalf of the Lodge , one of the Charities . Should ho do so , ho ( Bro . Headon ) would guarantee that the Lodge would not be backward in supporting him ; in fact , ho would now offer to propose that such a sum bo voted as would be a credit to the

Lodge . He felt sure the members would handsomely support the Master . Bro . Moody also spoke at some length on what ho considered the intrusion of our correspondent . He felt that The Great City Lodge did' not want any suggestions as to what they should do . Ho thought their work in the cause of Charity , which , in the columns of the journal he was now

alluding to , had lately been held up as an example , would amply answer any remarks of such correspondents as " Peter . " We regret that Bro . Moody ' s " annual lecture " was here brought to an abrupt termination , on " a question of order , " as we think that The Great City Lodge has , during its short existence , had suggestions made , as well as faults pointed out , at these installation meetings by their

worthy Secretary . However , he promised an exhaustive " sermon at the next gathering , when he specially invited the members to attend . The W . M . next gavo the toast of the Officers , to which the S . W . responded . It was then proposod that the thanks of the meeting be giveu to Bro . Bertram , for the satisfactory way in which ho had carried out the musical arrangements of the evening .

Nor would it be just to omit mention ot Bro . Harper s solo on tho trumpet . As our readers are aware , Bro . Harper is tho trumpeter par excellence of the day . Whether he is one and the samo with the celebrated trumpeter of the Comic Latin Grammar , " Trumpeter unus erat , qui coatum scarlet habebat , " we aro not prepared to say ; but as to the unapproachable

merits or his performance there can be no question . Among the Visitors were Bros . T . Fenn P . G . D ., W . H . Perryman P . M . 3 , J . Walker P . M . 27 , S . W . Sutton P . M . 73 , E . W . Davis P . M . 95 , 172 , R . Jackson P . M . 104 , G . Pritchard P . M . 117 , A . D . Kerrell 145 , L . Binet 179 , G . Kenning P . M . 192 , J . R . Green 228 , E . Mackney P . M . 299 P . P . G . O . Kent , G . W . Chnrchley W . M . 615 , M . J . O'Connor 63 H , T .

Binsted 657 , C . P . McKay W . M . 720 , G . Light 959 , G . Alcock 1149 , G . W . Saul S . W . 1201 , C . Fountain S . W . 1216 , T . Harper J . D . 1216 , F . Le Rossignol 1216 , 0 . Latreille 1260 , E . Lane 1275 , J . W . Sanders 1293 , W . Manger 1314 , W . W . Morgan jun . 1385 , P . Thomas 1396 , A . Vernon 1441 , W . D . Partridge 1445 , Joseph Lake 1471 , J . J . Reading 1475 , T . Eastgate 1563 , J . W . Medwin 1613 , T . Edmonston W . M . 1658 , W . Richardson 1658 , P . Dakers Treas . 1669 , A . Bradley J . W . 1669 , T . Preston Sec . 1669 , E . Baup , & c .

west Middlesex Lodge , No . 1612 . —The duty of writing notices of meetings is , as regards its monotony , one not well calculated to excite a very considerable amount of enthusiasm , bat there are cases in which the recording ono or other of . our Lodge meetings is attended with a great deal of pleasure . This is essentially the caso with young and vigorous Lodges , whose

history is of yesterday , but whoso members have shown from the very outset that they aro animated by the true Masonio spirit , and that they are in fact what our American cousins are , we believe , in the habit of describing as " real grit . " This is particularly the case with the West Middlesex Lodge , which , throughout the brief period of its existence , has proved itself to be an

eminently good working Lodge , full of spirit aud energy , and fully actuated by the most generous of Masonic principles . We do not say this in any spirit of flattery , but because we know it has been and is the case . The Officers do their duty admirably , and the members second their efforts to promoto the success of the Lodge most laudably . Moro than this it would be impossible to say , so , without

further preface , we announce that on Saturday last the members met at tho Ealing Institute , under the presidency of the W . M ., Bro . A . Beasley , supported by Bros . Kasner and Burr , who filled the chairs of Senior and Junior Wardens , Bro . J , Chambers Roe P . M . Secretary , Bro . T . Kingston the W . M . elect , a strong muster of the members , and the following Visitors : —Bros .

W . Goss I . P . M . 780 , T . Cull J . W . 1416 , John Johnson 475 , W . W . Trtimau I . G . 1560 , A . Kent 1425 , S . T . Kingston 1269 , John March 27 , W . S . Cantrell jun . P . G . D . Berks and Bucks , R . E . Hannis 771 , W . T . Wrightou 23 , W . Heath 1681 , W . W . Morgan 211 , J . Collinson 862 , W . J . Murlis P . M . 1489 and 1642 , T . J . Robinson 1589 , M . Rickwood J . W . 192 , B . E . Blasby J . W . 7 S 0 , George Wells 7 S 0 ,

G . F . Heanio 733 , S . J . Dowsing 1 G 7 , & o . Tho Lodgo was opened at two o ' clock , when the minutes wero read and confirmed . The Report of the Audit Committee was next received , and unanimously adopted . The ceremonial poition of the day ' s proceedings then commenced . Brother E . T . B . Allen was examined as to his proficiency in tho second , he aspirin"

to be raised to tho snblime degree . The knowledge he displayed warranted his claim for advancement , and the Worshipful Master worked tho ceremony with the impressiveness we are so accustomed to from him . Bro . W . J . Bloomfield , atauclidate for passing , was next introduced ; he complied with the requisite formalities , and Bro . Beasley instructed him in his second step in Freemasonry . A notice of motion—That the Initiation Fee be raked to

ten guineas , and the Joniing Fee to six guineas—was then consideri-d ; tho result , however , was a foregone conclusion , as it Imd been arranged by the Founders this increase should be made to soon as the muster roll of members hud reached a certain number , which mimber had already been exceeded . We need , therefore , only state that the motion was carried . Wo now come to what , unquestionably , was the events of the day , —the installation , of the W . M .