Installation Meetings, &C.

INSTALLATION MEETINGS , & c .

ST . JOHN'S LODGE , No . 104 , STOCKPORT ,

THE Annual Festival of St . John , in connection with the above Lodge , was celebrated on Monday , the 8 th December , at its place of meeting , Ashton-house , Greek . street , Stockport , when , in addition to its own members , the Lodge was honoured by the presence of many distinguished visitors . Thero being a pressure of business on hand , a morning session was held , at which the report of

the Charity Committee for the past year was adopted . The following extract from it speaks for itself of the good work done by the Lodge in this direction , viz .: — " Your Committee have during the year devoted £ 126 to the Boyal Masonio Institution for Girls , £ 10 10 s to tbe Cheshire Educational Institution , £ 5 5 s to assist an aged member of the Lodge of Concord 323 in obtaining a Royal

Masonio Benevolent Institution annuity , and £ 23 in relief of local cases of distress ; altogether a total of £ 161 15 s . Towards this amount the Lodge Fund has been taxed to the extent of twenty-five guineas only , tho remainder having been derived from tho regular Charity receipts , supplemented by the voluntary donations of the brethren . " Tbo acceptance of this report was followed by the

initiation of two brethren , and Bro . Major Francis Preston , C . E ., was raised to the completion of his degrees . It may also be stated that a very worthy and distinguished Mason—Bro . Captain Henry Turner P . M . 62 and 654 P . P . G . S . W . Derbyshire—was dnly elected as a joining member . After a short adjournment , the important event of the day—viz ., the Installation of Bro . Henry Collier S . W . and W . M . elect

—was then commenced , the ceremony being in the hands ot Bro . Herbert Finch , a P . M . of the Lodge , P . G . D . of C . Cheshire , who appointed , for tbe purpose of the ceremony , Installed Masters to tho several positions in the Lodge , viz .: —Bros . Captain H . Turner P . P . S . G . W . Derbyshire S . W ., Alderman Havdon P . P . S . G . D . East Lancashire J . W ., Dr . T . Smith P . P . J . G . D . Cheshire Chaplain ,

C . Pearson P . M . 10-1 and 1077 Secretary , W . Harrison P . S . G . D . Cheshire S . D ., W . Hickton P . J . G . D . Cheshire J . D ., T . Brooks P . G . A . D . C . Cheshire D . of C , Lieut .-Col . Wilkinson ( Mayor of Stockport ) P . P . S . G . D . Cheshire Organist , C . Booth W . M . 287 I . G . The presentation of the W . M . elect was now proceeded with , and on its completion the Lodge was opened in the third degree , the M . M . ' s

retired from the Lodge , and a Board of Installed Masters was opened in ample form . Bro . Collier then received the full benefit of Installation , being , according to ancient custom , placed in the chair of King Solomon . Tho Board was then closed in as complete form as in oponing . Tho brethren , on their re-admission , saluted their newlyinstalled W . M ., who now named his Officers for the ensuing year , viz .:

—Bros . W . Harrison P . S . G . D . Cheshire I . P . M ., Councillor T . Burrows S . W ., William Booth J . W ., W . W . Skelmerdine Treasurer ( re-elected ) , G . Balfe S . D ., T . Bullock J . D ., H . Finch P . M . P . G . D . C . Cheshire D . of C , E . Stevens Assistant D . of C , H . W . Mather I . G ., J . Fox aud W . Bradley Stowards , J . Meadows Tyler . Tho investiture was , in each case , made by the Installing Masier ( Bro . Finch ) , and

accompanied with full explanation of the various jewels worn by them , Bro . Finch being himself invested as Director of Ceremonies by the W . M . Tho necessary nddresses to tho W . M ., his Wardens and brethren brought to a close as grand a ceremony as it is possible to hare tbe privilege oF witnessing . Bro . Finch was undoubtedl y in his best form , and was very ably supported by tho Installed Masters

before named . Tho W . M . said he had great pleasure in presenting the I . P . M ., on behalf of the brethren , with a P . M . ' s jewel . He had well earned the good-will of the brethren , and thoy hoped ho might long be spared to wear it . Bro . Harrison I . P . M . acknowledged it , in appropriate terms . He Bhould always be glad to serve the St . John ' s Lodge . A vote of thnuks , amidst applause , was accorded to

the Installing Master for his perfect rendering of this beautiful ceremony . Bro . Finch , in reply , said he was obliged for their generous expressions of feeling . Whatever was worth doing at all in Masonry was worth doing well . In endeavouring to do this he was simply discharging his duty as a Mason , The Lodgo was closed in ancient form , and the brethren were served with a banquetwhichafter

, , the labours of the day , was not unwelcome . The usual loyal toasts were given and properly honoured . "The R . W . D . P . G . M . ( Bro . W . Egertou Esq . M . P . ) and the rest of the P . G . Officers , past and present " was proposed by tho W . M . and responded to b y Bros . Lieut .-Colonel Wilkinson P . P . S . G . D . Cheshire , Dr . T . Smith P . P . J . G . D . Cheshire , and T . Brookes P . G . A . D . C . Cheshire . The toast of the P . G . Officers

of the neighbouring Provinces was proposed by Bro . Burrows S . W ., and responded to by Bros . Alderman E . Hardon P . P . S . G . D . East Lancashire and Captniu H . Turner P . P . S . G . W . Derbyshire . That of the W . M . was proposed by tho I . P . M . In reply , Bro . Collier said his best services should be given to the Lodge , and he hoped the Officers and brethren would support him as they had other W . M . ' s in the

past . Their continued prosperity was then certain . A very enjoyable evening was spent , n marked feature being the choice selection of glees , which were well sung bv Bros . Edmondson 287 , Gaskell 101 , Pearson P . M . 101 and 1077 , W . AlcockS . D . 322 , W . Booth J . W . 101 , G . Balfe S . D . 101 . The effect of the Installation was greatly enhanced by the same vocalists rendering tho choral service arranged for it by

the Installing Master . In addition to tho brethren already mentioned , there were present—Bros . Alderman J . L . Vaughan P . M . 1030 ( ex-Mayor of Stockport ) , Major Staples W . M . 1030 , J . Worsnup W . M 322 , G . Atkinson W . M . 323 , T . Wilkinson P . M . 1126 , E . R . Lisenden 317 . J . Lciffh S . W . 2 R 7 P . O . KfnwoWi n ,. n » ,-i ™ T > \ r QOO nr n

W . M . elect 093 , Bowden P . M . 336 , and the following members of the Lodge , viz .: —Bros . H . W . Warren , A . Gaskell , G . Atherton , W . Eayuor , G . Nayler , J . Eaton , J . Bell , J . Wood , T . Taylor , W Gleave , T . Torkington , T . Sutton , B . S . Smith , M . B . Sutton , H . Seel , J . Stafford , T . Davies , A . G . Gumming , & c .

York Lodge, No. 236.

YORK LODGE , No . 236 .

THE Installation Meeting of this Lodge was held at the Masonio Hall , Dnncombe-place , York , on Monday evening , loth inst . The W . M . ( Bro . A . Buckle , B . A . ) presided , and was supported by the following Officers and brethren : —Bros . Rev . W . Valentino P . P . G . C . I . P . M ., Sir James Meek P . P . S . G . W . P . M ., William Lawton P . P . G . Reg . P . M ., Rev . J . E . M . Young P . M . P . P . G . C . Chaplain , Joseph Todd P . M . P . P . G . Registrar Treasurer , George Balmford P . M . P . P . G . O . as S . W .,

William Henry Gainforth J . W ., George Kirby Secretary , John Tissiman S . D ., Mark Rooke J . D ., Thomas S . Camidgo P . P . G . O . Organist , William Powell M . C ., George Garbutt I . G ., Thomas G . Hodgson Steward ; Bros . Joseph Hollins , William Wilson , E . Houldon , William Smith , Alfred Hanson , James Redfare , Henry C . Camidgo , W . T . Gowland , Thomas W . Wilson , George K . Hitchcook , Joseph Sykes

Rymer , William Draper , John Ward , Thomas Hopkins , and Rev . A . B . Day . Visitors—Bros . J . Hanley W . M . St . Patriok's Lodge No . 295 ( I . C ) , Major Shaw Hellier I . P . M . St . Patrick ' s Lodge No . 295 , Cap . tain Murphy W . M . elect St . Patrick ' s Lodge No . 295 , William Harris Secretary St . Patrick ' s Lodge No . 295 , John B . Somerset S . D . St . Patrick ' s Lodge No . 295 , W . P . Hnsband Eboracnm Lodge No . 1611 ,

Whitmore York Eboracnm Lodge No . lfill , Paul Pearson Eboracnm Lodge No . 1611 , L . Ward St . Augustine No . 972 , J . Webstor Leopold Lodge No . 1760 , W . Nicholson Polham Pillar Lodge No . 792 . Tho Lodge having been duly opened and the minutes of the previous meeting confirmed , tho W . M . addressed the brethren , thanking tbem for tho hearty support accorded to him during the year he had presided over the Lodge , and afterwards requested Bro . Todd P . M .

P . P . G . Registrar to take the chair as Installing Master . The Lodge was then opened in tho second degree , when Bro . W . H . Gainforth J . W ., the W . M . elect , was presented by the two senior Past Mastors present—Bros . W . Lawton aud Sir James Meek—to the Installing Master , by whom tho ceremony of Installation was ably and impressively rendered . After the newly-installed W . M . had been duly proclaimed and sainted in the three degrees , he appointed and invested the following brethren as his Officers : —Bros . A . Buckle

I . P . M ., M . Rooke S . W ., Joseph S . Rymer J . W ., Rev . A . B . Day Chaplain , Joseph Todd P . M . Treasurer , George Kirby Secretary , George Garbutt S . D ., William Draper J . D ., Thomas Hopkins Organist , Thomas G . Hodgson M . C ., William Powell I . G ., John Young and William Smith Stewards , William G . Calvort Tyler . The Lodge will celebrate the Festival of St . John the Evangelist on Wednesday , tho 7 th January next .

Arthur John Brogden Lodge, No. 1715, Grange Over Sands.

ARTHUR JOHN BROGDEN LODGE , No . 1715 , GRANGE OVER SANDS .

WE had the honour of an invitation to the Installation meeting of this prosperous Lodge , which was held on Wednesday , tho 10 th of December , at 2 . 30 p . m ., in the Masonic-hall . At the time appointed we made our way to the Masonic-hall , escorted by our old friend the W . M . elect , and punctual to tho minute tho W . M ., Bro Thomas Ashley , opened the Lodge with solemn prayer . Minutes

were read and confirmed . The ballot was then taken for a joining member , also for a gentleman for initiation , both being favourable . The initiation ceremony was most efficiently performed by the W . M ., and wo were surprised by the impressiveness he gave to tho ceremony . The next business being the installation of the W . M . elect , after the obligation , and the retirement of tho brethren below the

rank of Installed Masters , a Lodgo of Installed Masters was opened , tho W . M . was presented , and the ceremony being completed , the Lodge of Installed Masters closed , the brethren were again admitted , and tbe several Officors invested . The following is the list of Officers for the ensuing year : —Bros . John Mossop W . M ., Thomas Ashley I . P . M ., T . Westwood S . W ., W . Postlethwaite J . W ., Jamos

Askew Treasurer , T . Ashley Secretary , W . Bnckel S . D ., S . Affleck J . D ., A . Slater I . G ., J . Cleminson Org ., J . W . Jopson Steward . The Installing Officer was Bro . T . Dodgson P . P . G . Pursuivant Cumberland and Westmoreland P . M . P . Z . 995 , & o ., assisted by Bro . Cornfield P . M . P . Z . P . P . G . P . West Lancashire . The Installation ceremony and investment of Officers was done in a most perfect manner .

so much so that we were dolighted to find such perfect work so far north , and it is highly creditable to the two brethren for the pains they have taken to reduce the ceremony to such perfection ; we are sure the respective Provinces have done well to secure such enthusiastic brethren on the roll of Prov . G . Officers ; merit and ability having gained them the honour , it would bo a step in the right

direction if some neighbouring Provinces would take the same course , and grant more Provincial honours to meritorious brethren , and not let subscriptions to our Charities bo tho only test for preferment . We were remarkably struck with the kind and genial manner which seems to pervade this Lodge , the motto being , " to be happy our . selves and promote the happiness of others , " which is ably carried

out . The business of the meeting being concluded , the Lodge was closed , and tho brethren adjourned to Rigg ' s Grange Hotel , where an excellent banquet was provided , aud was fully appreciated and full justice done to it . The usual Masonic toasts were proposed and responded to . Many of the visitors having to leave early by train caused the proposal and response to their toast brief , but nevertheless

to the point . In conclusion , we can look back on our visit to the Arthur John Brogden Lodge with a vast amount of satisfaction and pleasure , and trust we may havo tbe happiness to meet its members again . This being its third year , —it i 3 comparatively young , —but we are convinced of its success , and that it will be one of the

lights m tho Province of West Lancashire . We sincerely trust the Province will soon acknowledge its worth . We aro unable to give a full list of Visitors , but we noticed , amongst others , Bros . John Case P . M . P . Z . & c . 995 , Paxton S . W . 995 , T . Dodgson P . P . G . P . P . M . P . Z . 995 , Installing Officer ; Cornfield P . P . G . P . P . M . P . Z ., from Barrow : John W . Turner P . M . 521 P . Z . 290 .