Installation Meetings, &C.

Mariners' was the ono which took tho leading part . The Royal Naval Lodge , No . 59 , was the othor , bnt the chief instrumentality came from the United Mariners' . Therefore , he was thankful to say , that as long as these Institutions existed , and as long as this-Lodge lasted , so also would the history of the Institutions be closely allied to , and connected with , the history of their Lodge . Ho had to

thank them very much indeed for the handsome donation of fifteen guineas which they had voted to the E . M . B . I . thafc evening , and th < - brethren also aronnd tho table , who had contributed liberally to the funds of that Charity . During the whole history of Freemasonry , so far as regarded our Institutions , there had never been such a list of candidates for the benefits of the Benevolent Institution as would be

exhibited at the election in May next . When he told them that the list closed last Wednesday , and they had then no less than 136 candidates seeking admission , whereas there were Only thirteen vacancies , he ventured to say it was a ' state of things unparalleled in the history of the Craft . The help afforded by this Lodge , therefore , came with double force to that Institution , and he was certain that

when he could produce such facts as these before them he should always have their support , " never mind whether it might be " the Old People ' s turn" or not . He made an eloquent appeal in behalf of fche funds of thafc Institution , which so sorely needed help , to enable it to meet the urgent cases before it , and exhorted the brethren to do all they could to assist thoso who

were too old and feeble to support themselves . The health of the Officers of the Lodge came next , and Bro . T . E . Davey S . W . briefly replied , the official list being olosed with the Tyler ' s toasfc . Dnring the evening some excellent songs were sung by Bros . Gill P . M ., Harling P . M ., Gray , Morgan and others , and Bro . Driscoll gave a pathetic recitation , which was much admired . Altogether a very happy and enjoyable evening was passed .

Domatic Lodge, No. 177.

DOMATIC LODGE , No . 177 .

rpHE annual meeting of this Lodge was held on Friday , 12 th inst ., J- afc Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet-streefc , and , as usual on such occasjons , was numerously attended both by members of tbe Lodge and visitors . _ Bro . James McLean , the W . M . of the past year , presided at fche opening of fche Lodge , and dnring the proceedings the following Officers were present : —Bros . W . Herbage S . W ., W . M . Foxcroft

J . W ., G . Everett P . M . Treasurer , Thomas Morris Sec , P . Pierpoint S . D ., A . Skinner Steward , Harry Price M . C , W . Harris I . P . M ., W . J . Ferguson P . M ., H . Bowman Spink P . M ., Edward White P . M ., W . F . Smith P . M ., Isaac Buscall P . M ., J . E . Walford P . M ., Frederick Kent P . M . Among the Visitors to the Lodge were Bros . Reichelmann P . M . S 15 , Alfred H . Bisley 901 , W . H . Harrison I . G . 1895 , B . Lyons

P . M . 1227 , Robert Thornton 217 , Samuel Brooks P . M . 1608 , Thomas Read 1420 , C . Donaldson 17 fi 3 , J . T . Pilditch P . M . 1420 , W . Banberry 217 , Robert George 1524 , G . W . Clement Smith 1319 , B . Simner P . M . 1405 , 1096 P . D . G . Warden British Burmah , W . Iron S . W . 1579 , H . Stiles W . M . 1507 , J . Van Essen 171 , C . Parsons Steward 1637 , C . H . Everett 1507 , F . Crockford P . M . 515 P . D . G . R , Malta , W . P .

Webb W . M . 1381 , CM . Gray I . G . 1706 , 0 . Phillips I . P . M . 820 , A . Ercoll I . P . M . 1593 , T . Fenn P . M . 259 P . G . D ., G . P . Brother ! rl _ o 1649 , W . Rudsell P . M . 77 , James Terry P . M . 228 Sec . R . M . B . I ., H . E . Tucker W . M . 1612 , G . H . Finch 1586 , H . Massey P . M . 619 1928 , F . East 1678 , J . Smith 1602 , R . Underwood 780 , J . Batting P . M . 1501 P . G . Rog . Berks and Bucks , B . Phillips W . M . 1305 , J . Clarey 511 , W . M . Stiles I . P . M . 1507 , W . W . Morgan inn . J . W . 1107 , J . Plenderleeth

1898 , E . Bowles 1056 , J . F . Hallefc 907 , T . W . Williams 1601 , F . Briggs 25 , T . C . Edmonds I . G . 1507 , H . Reynolds 1772 , H . Cox 144 , C H . Abrams 511 , J . Coppen 1719 , & c . The agenda paper shewed a full complement of business , the three degrees being set clown for working , in addition to the installation ceremonv . After tho formal

opening of the Lodge , Bros . F . Colo and A . H . Wilson were raised to the sublime degree of M . M ., and Bros . T . D . Scott , L . Busmer , and J . E . Spurrell were passed , after which the ceremony of instal . lation was proceeded witb , Brother William Herbage being placed in the chair of K . S . by Brother Edward White P . M ., in a most impressive manner . After the customary formalities , the following

were appointed and invested as the Officers for the year , viz .: —W . M Foxcroft S . W ., R . Pierpoint J . W ., George Everett P . M . Treasurer , T . Morris Secretary , H . Price S . D ., A . Simner Junior Deacon , Montague I . G ., Chapman M . C , and Harvey Steward . The ceremonial of tho installation was then completed . The newly-installed WM . afc once had an opportunity of showing his ability for office , Walter

Mr . Bonwick , an approved candidate for Freemasonry , offering himself as candidate for the . first degree , Bro . Herbage conferred on him the benefit of Masonic light , performing this firsfc task in a most gratifying manner , and showing by his style thafc he was competent to fulfil the duties of W . M . Among other matters of business brought before the Lodgo previous to its being closed was a proposal

to vote the sum of twenfcy-five guineas towards tho funds of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , which proposition was carried . The Lodge having been closed , the brethren proceeded to the banquet hall , and there engaged in one of the most successful gatherings we remember taking part in . The Master had provided a first-class musical programme , and everything was clone to ensure the

enjoyment of all present . At tho conclusion of the banquet the usual toasts were given . The first on the list , the W . M . said , was ono that WQs always acceptable to Freemasons , and indeed to all Englishmen . All knew tho gracious way in which the Qncon had discharged her duties in every sphere , whether as mother or as Queen . Of her ifc had trul y and justly been

written' / Her Court was pure , her lifo serene , God gave her peace , her land reposed ; A thousand claims to reverenco closed In her as Mother , Wife , and Queen . " As regarded the Craffc , which ib was customary to couple with the

Domatic Lodge, No. 177.

toast of the Queen , tho brethren one and all know sufficient of its merits to warrant them joining heartily in tho toast . Aftor the singing of the National Anthem , tho health of the Princo of Wales M . W . G . M . was proposed . As brethren of tho Craft they conld but feel a deep debt of obligation to tho Grand Master for tho manner in which he performed every work connected with the Order , and the

. reat lustre ho had shed upon it . The next toast—that of tho Pro Grand Master , the Deputy Grand Master and the rest of tho Grand Officers Past and Present—the Master felt it a p-refit honour to pronose . Tho manner in which tho Officers of Grand Lodge did their duty was an example every fjodge might feci proud to emulate . They had that night the honour of nnmbering Bro . Fenn , a Past

Grand Officer , among them . The W . M . felfc he need say little in connection with that brother ' s name to ensure a welcome to tbe toasfc ; the kind way in which he always tendered his services towards tho diffusion of Masonic knowledge was well known . He had always done it in such a manner that thoso whom ho instructed became in themselves centres of Masonic light . Bro . Fenn tendered his thanks for

iho cordial manner in which tho toast of the Grand Officers had been given and received . He felt especially gratified to feel that tbe poor services some of them were able to render to the Craft were appreciated . It was a matter of nineteen years sinco he had received fche honours of Grand Lodge office , and since th nt timo ho had done what lay in his power for the welfare of tho Craft , a course which shonld

bo pursued by each of tho Grand Officers , although ifc must be admitted that somo of them felt their work was done as soon as their year of office had expired . He might refer to Brother Brett , a member of the Domatic Lodge , as an example of the opposite kind , who had devoted his time to Freemasonry ever since his connection with it , and was as active now in

advancing its welfare as ever . To such a class he ( Bro . Fenn ) hoped to belong . As ono of the Committee of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , he felt extremely gratified to be present afc the installation of one of its pupils . Bro . Herbage had long been known at its meetings , and was efficient in its style of working . He had heard that evening the ceremonies most efficiently performed , especially thafc of

installation , but in many respects they had differed from what he was accustomed to . Still , though he had been born and bred under fche wing of the Emulation Lodge , he was not so blind as to be unable to appreciate the beauties of other workings , especially when they were rendered as Bro . White had that evening done fchem . Bro . McLean I . P . M . proposed the health of the W . M ., assuring the

brethren they had elected a brother who would do them credit , and perform the duties of the chair to the satisfaction of all . The W . M . heartily returned thanks . He called to mind the moment when , seated on the right of his present position , he firsfc returned thanks in the Domatic Lodge , and remembered how thafc then he looked ¦

upon Freemasonry as a glorious institution an opinion which after experiences had confirmed . He should endeavour to perform the work to the satisfaction of all , and hoped afc the conclusion of his term of office he might have obtained , in the words of

Shakspeare" Honour , love , obedience , and troops of friends . The next toast on the list was a most important one—that of the Installing Master and tho rest of the Past Masters . Bro . Fenn , in tho course of his remarks , had most kindly and warmly called attention to fho way in which Brother White , the Installing Master , had performed his work , and ho ( tho W . M . ) felt sure that no words of

his wonld carry moro w . ishfc than curl those of Brother Fenn . The other Masters had done well iu the past year , as indeed they had always done , and he hoped thoy would one and all be spared for many years to be present at the meetings of the Lodge . Brother White replied . With so many Past Masters around him he felfc ifc a mere accident that ho had been called upon to discharge the

duties of Installing Master that evening , and felfc thafc every ofcher member of the board could have worked the ceremony equally as satisfactorily as ho had done . Bro . Ferguson also replied ; after which tho W . M . rose—it was his pleasing duty to attach to fche breast of the I . P . M . the jewel which the members of the Lodge had been good enough to vote him , in recognition of his services during

the past year . All knew what he had done , and all thanked him for the attention ho had sriven to tho duties of his office . The brethren hoped he might long livn to weir the jewel as the unanimous expression of the good feeling which was always felt towards him . Bro . McLean returned thanks , assuring the brethren he greatly appreciated the kindness they had shown him . He had

endeavoured , during the past year , to perform the duties of his office to the besfc of his ability , and be hoped he bad given some amount of satisfaction . As regarded tho future , ifc would be his endeavour to advance tho interests of the Craft generally , but moro particularly to promote tho welfare of the Domatic Lodge . Tho next toasfc was one always well received in tho Domatic Lodge .

If there was one thing that Freemasons delighted to houour ifc was the toast of the Visitors , and more particularly was this the case ia the Domatic Lodgo , tho tneotin . s of which were usually attended hy a goodly array of guests . Tho W . M . considered that Visitors to a Lodge shed a light and lustre on tho meeting which nothing else conld supply . With tho toast was coupled the names of Brothers

Phillips Worshipfnl Master 1305 , ancl Tucker Worshipful Master 1612 . Tho former brother expressed the pleasure he , in company with the other visitors , felt , in boing present , ancl witnessing the working of the Lodgo . He was also very pleased to see Bro . White acting as Installing Master . Twice bo ( Bro . Phillips ) had boon installed by Bro . White into tho chair of a Lodge , ancl now as W . M . of the St .

Marylebono Lodge , he hoped ere long to perform a like task for him , he being tho present S . W . He looked npon Bro . White as a credit ; to any Lodge . Bro . Tucker followed , congratulating the members on tho prosperity of the Lod £ c , and wishing them every success in tho future . Bro . Webb , of tho Kennington Lodge , also responded to the toast , and then the W . M . gave that of the Charities . This he considered a toast , which , whenever proposed , reached the heart ; of every