Reports Of Meetings.

in the S . E . being delivered by Brother Grimshaw S . W ., and the working tools by Bro . Gadd J . W . The election of Officers then took place with tho following result : for W . M . Brother Grimshaw S . W ., Seuior Warden Bro . Gadd J . W ., Treasurer Bro . Berry P . M ., Auditors Bros . Lean and Russell .

After the close of the Lodge , the Brethren partook of an excellent tea , being joined for the first time by their lady friends , the latter also having the privilege of participating in tho enjoyment of the festive board which subsequently followed . The usual Loyal and Masonic toasts having been disposed of , Bro . Phythian proposed the health of Bro . Coatman , explaining that he was now more than half way through his degrees . Theie

was something to be learned in whatever degree was taken , and he commended to his careful consideration the various lessons which had been taught him With regard to the ladies , he admitted that many had formed wrong impressions of their ceremonials ; they were here , however , this night , and could see for themselves their mode of procedure ; concluding with a request that they should join the Brethren in drinking the health of their newlypassed Brother .

Bro . Coatman , in , response said he was pleased to have advanced another stop in Masonry , and expressed his thanks to the Brethren for the favour they had conferred upon him . ' Bro . Grimshaw proposed the health of the W . M ., coupling with it the name of Mrs . Uttley . Ihe speaker said he was in duty bound to give a tribute where a tribute was due . Bro . Uttley must

not be allowed to \ acate the principal chair which he had filled with such conspicuous ability , without receiving proper recognition . In conjunction with Past Masters Lean , Phythian , Berry , and others , he had piloted them through their first y ear in a manner which had been highly creditable , for to his wonderful ability in

managing Lodge business he had added a great amount of diplomacy . He possessed a great number of virtues with but veiy few faults , and had performed the ceremonies in a superb manner . If the ladies only knew what those ceremonies were they would feel equally as delighted as himself with Bro . Uttley .

The W . M ., in response , thanked Bro . Grimshaw for the kind expressions which he had uttered with regard to himself and wife . He explained his position with regard to the Lodge and its formation , and expressed himself to the effect that he was never so much at home as in Masonry . * Like a soldier , he went where duty called him , and he had experienced much pleasure in being connected with the Longsight Lodge , and in the work he had done

on its behalf . During his year of Office no dissatisfaction had arisen , there had been no friction , and their meetings seemed like family gatherings . He had thought it advisable to have the ladies present upon the last evening of his Mastership , so that they might see what was done . He commended his various Officers , saying that a better set no W . M . could possibly possess . When visitors had been present in their Lodge they had always applauded and gone away satisfied .

Other toasts followed , which were pleasantly relieved by songs , recitations , & c , rendered by Mrs . Robinson , Mrs . Brown , Miss Bowman , the Misses Dearden ( who played amongst other pieces selections on the mandolin from the opera of the Bohemian Girl ) , Bros . Chas Coatman , Jones , Baron , E . H . Ritson , Jas . Robinson P . M ., Ed . Roberts P . M .

During the evening Bro . Uttley W . M . took occasion to deliver to those assembled the following , culled principally from an oration by Bro . Thomas Wm . Tew , late Provincial Grand Master of West Yoiks . He said : —I trust you will permit me to take advantage of this gathering to state to the guests who are as yet non-members of the Craft , a few of the principles which regulate the existence of

Masonry , the reasons which have led to the establishment of a Lodge here , and the good results which I hope may arise therefrom . There exists in many minds considerable ignorance respecting the real character of Freemasonry , and very amusing are some of the popular conjectures respecting its supposed secrets , methods of initiation , & c . It is a common opinion that Freemasons in their

Lodges raise his Satanic Majesty in a circle , and then , when they have done with him , they lay him again with a noise or a hush as they please . Another idea is that in order to give a newly-made Mason the faculty of taciturnity , we make an indelible print upon some part of his body with a gridiron or with a cook's red-hot Salamander , or poker .

Such absurdities might , in a superstitious age , create a certain feeling of awe for tho mysterious fellowship ; but in the present time can only provoke a laugh amongst wise men . If tacitly allowed by the Order , it might have a tendency , however , to rob our Institution of that veneration which I think it may justly claim ,

a veneration founded upon that marvellous bond of union w Inch , existing for 3 , 000 years , still flourishes and keeps stiong amongst men of all climes , all races , all sects . True , its character may in some respects have changed , yet it still retains the essential part of its original spirit .

Taking its rise in remote ages , it was possibly at first but a society of builders and artificers , or more conectly perhaps a union of Masons and Architects . We know that the custom of different

Crafts binding themsehes together to the exclusion from employment of any but their regularly initiated membeis was common in ancient times , that it is even yet retained on the continent , and exists to some extent also amongst ourselves as in some of tho learned . professions . In accordance with the spirit of the age ,

members of these communities were bound to secrecy as to their modes of working ; they were also bound as Brethren to assist one another in difficulty and distress , and employed signs , tokens , and particular words , which , when reciprocally given , served to distinguish them by night as well as by day .

I daresay that all present have heard of the Egyptian mysteriep , All branches of learning and science in the remote ages were kept secret in the hands of the priesthood and of the initiated . Mathematics , geometry , astronomy , architecture , nay even music , rhetoric , and logic were taught by them , as well as religion , ethics , and history . Aftor a lapse of centuries , a body separated them-

Reports Of Meetings.

selves for the more exclusive practice of constructing temples and stadia , and passed over into Ionia more than a thousand yeara before the christian era . -Those men are regarded as the first founders of Freemasonry as a distinct society . The King of Tyre , who assisted King Solomon in the building of his 1 emple , is said to have been the Grand Master of these

Ionian artificers . To King Solomon himself was attributed pur piesent system of constitution . The Brethren of the middle ages alone constructed all the ecclesiastical buildings of the pointed and Noiman styles . As the architects of our magnificent cathtdralsand abbeys , we owe to their organisation as Freemasons a deep debt of gratitude .

Then , the high estimation in which the Craft was held , induced kings , emperors , and nobles to seek admission as honorary members , and by degrees , thiough the changes which took place mpblitlcikl and social life , its existence as an operative booy , ceased . But though we are no longer able builders , or skilful handicraftsmen , or the sole depositaries of architectural knowledge , yet our ancient formulas are still preserved , —formulas which bind all Masons together in Brotherly love , relief , and truth .

Though now shadows of the past , the retention of the old ceremonies is interesting in the eyes of the antiquarian , as being a kind of title deed showing our ancient and honourable origin . As a cotmopolitan society for the practice of benevolence , we claim your consideration in the present day . The amount of sorrow Masonic compassion has relieved , the opportune assistance

it has rendered , the anxious and terrified households which it has prevented from being broken up , —these are the retults of the system which the " gieat dby " can alone fully disclose . What we want is not intellect , enterprise , earnestness , business activity , —these aie aheady conspicuous in this locality ; but ' what we need is more cordiality between man and man , ' greater

consideration for others , less reference to self , more unity of purpose , a greater disposition to forget differences . These are the lessons which Masonry inculcates largely , perpetually , emphatically , and to disseminate these principles Has this Lodge been formed . And holding as I do the principles 1 haiye enunciated , can I do otherwise than echo the aspiration , ' " jUTtae world a Lodge , and every man a Brother 1 "

HADRIAN LODGE , No . 2483 . THE Annual Installation meeting was held on Wednesday afternoon , at the Drill Hall , Westham , Pevensey . The Lodge was opened by the W . M . Bro . Edward W . Stillwell , who was well supported . The chief business of the meeting was the Installation of Bro .

H . J . Capon as W . M . for the ensuing year , the ceremony being admirably performed by the retiring W . M ., and the charges being impressively delivered by Bro . W . E . Morrison P . P . G . W . The W . M . appointed his Officers , and those piesent were invested with the insignia of their respective posts .

The retiring W . M . was presented with a Past Master's gold jewel , in appreciation of the admirable manner in which he had carried out the duties during the past year . The Lodge having been closed , the Brethren sat down to banquet under the presidency of tho newly Installed Brother H . J . Capon .

The customary Loyal and Masonic toasts were proposed by the W . M . and duly honoured , the Provincial Grand Secretary responding for the Officers of Grand Lodge Present and Past , while' Bros . R . W . Loosemore and W . E . Morrison acknowledged the Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge Present and Past .

Bro . E . W . Stillwell I . P . M ., in proposing the Worshipful Master , said that on vacating the chair he had the hondu ' t of installing Bro . H . J . Capon as W . M . for the ensuing year . He had experienced great pleasure in doing so , for he felt that he was installing a Brother in whose hands the prestige and credit of tne

Lodge were safe for another year . It had been said that Brother Capon was a young Mason , but , though young , he was a worthy , well-tried man , and the Brethren were all proud of him . lh submitting the toast he was sure all present would heartily wish Bro . Capon a year of satisfaction and pleasure both to himself and the Lodge .

The W . M ., who was warmly applauded on rising to respond , thanked the Brethren for the cordial manner in which they had received the too flattering remarks of Bro . Stillwell . He would , he said , do his utmost to maintain the high character of the Lodge , but remarked that though he had been fortunate in teeing tho

admirable work of Bio . Stillwell , he was unfortunate in having to preserve the high level attained by that Brother . It had been truly said that he was a young Mason , but he was sure the Brethren would bear with him , and assist him in carrying out the duties of his high office .

Several toasts of a complimentary character were afterwards submitted , Bros . J . C . Foran and T . W . Dean responding for the Visitors ; Bro . E . W . Stillwell acknowledging the Immediate Past Master ; Bros . R . Francis and W . R . Griffin replying on behalf of the Officers of tho Lodge . Tho Tyler ' s toast brought the gathering to a close . o o o

THOMAS RALLING LODGE , No . 2508 . THIS Lodge held its last regular meeting of the first session of its existence on Saturday , 15 th inst ., when Brother Frank Griffiths was raised to the sublime degree of . M . M . by the Worshipful Master Bro . T . J . Railing P . A . G . D . C . and Prov . Grand Sec , after whom the Lodge is named . The election of W . M . for the ensuing year followed , and Bro . E . C . Lewis S . W . was unanimously chosen . The Brethren afterwards dined together .