Reports Of Meetings.

REPORTS OF MEETINGS .

We shall be pleased to receive particulars of Masonic meetings for insertion in our columns , and where desired will endeavour to send a representative to report Lodge or other proceedings .

CEAFT : MBTBOPOLITAN .

SINCERITY LODGE , No . 174 . THE l 29 th anniversary of this excellent Lodge took place at the Guildhall Tavern , Gresham Street , E . G ., on Wednesday , the 20 th inst . The W . M . Bro . William Harvey occupied the chair , and was assisted by his Officers and the following Brethren : —John Newton P . G . P ., Charles Lacey

P . M ., C . H . Webb P . M ., John Buhner P . M ., H . Jaye P . M ., W . J . Higgs P . M ., W . ' G . Norman P . M ., H . Magee P . M ., Walter Phillips P . M ., W . Butcher P . M . P . P . G . D . Essex , G . J . Hilliard P . B 1 ., G . T . H . Seddon P . M ., 0 . Cunningham , Thomas Baillie , J . H . Keeble , Captain James Smith , W . C . Noma , Gilbert H . Blade , & c .

The visiting Brethren were J . C . Yeoman P . M . 1685 , J . Tyson 1445 , A . B . Clayton 1686 , H . H . Maloney W . M . 2504 , G . Cunningham 1343 , Orlton Cooper P . M . 211 , A . R . Jackson 1922 , John E . Waters 27 , H . C . Lonsdale W . M . 1743 , E . C . Kenny 700 , J . W . Mclntyre 1670 , J . D . Grey 55 , Harvey West 55 , and J . F . Bullied . The Lodge was opened at four o ' clock , as the Agenda paper contained

a large amount of business , contrary to the usual custom on the installation night . After the minutes were read and confirmed the Lodge was opened in the second degree , when Bro . John C . Dunningham answered the questions and proved his proficiency as a Craftsman . The Lodge was then opened in the third degree , when Bro . Dunningham was raised to the rank of a Blaster Mason , and took his place in the Lodge .

The next business was the installation of Bro . Joseph Bayley J . W ., who had been unanimously elected as W . M . at the previous meeting , Bro . Mustart S . W . being unfortunately prevented by ill-health from taking the office . Bro . Bayley was presented by Bro . P . M . Lacey , and took the usual obligations . A Board of eighteen Installed Masters was then formed , when

Bro . Bayley was regularly installed into the chair according to ancient rites . Both these ceremonies were admirably rendered by Bro . Harvey , although suffering from the trying effects of the weather . The addresses were very ably delivered by Bro . C . H . Webb P . M ., and elicited the hearty approval of the Brethren .

The new Master appointed and invested his Officers as follow : —Bro . James J . Mustart S . W ., G . A . Griffiths J . W ., Charles Lacoy P . M . ( re-elected for the sixteenth year ) Treasurer , C . H . Webb P . M . ( who enters upon the duties of his office for the twelfth time ) Secretary , W . J . Derby S . D ., W . J . Jones J . D ., Alfred Cocks I . G ., J . H . Buhner P . M . D . C , W . Jones Organist , Francis Harvey Steward , and Samuel Ellis elected Tyler for the first time .

The ballot was taken and proved unanimous in favour of Messrs . Walter Thomas Fraser , Harry Laundy , and John Iggleden , as candidates for Freemasonry . These gentlemen being in attendance were then introduced , and formally admitted into the mysteries and privileges of the Order . The ceremony was worked by Bro . Bayley in a most perfect manner , proving most conclusively his fitness for the position . The W . M . having announced

his intention of acting as Steward for the Old People's Institution , the Lodge voted sums amounting altogether to twenty guineas for his list . A very handsome Past Master ' s jewel of double the usual value was presented by Bro . Bayley , in the name of the Lodge , to Bro . P . M . Harvey , who modestly returned thanks , and hoped he might long be spared to be of assistance to the Brethren . The jewel bore the following inscription : —

Presented by the Lodge oi Sincerity , No . 174 , to WOBSHIPTUL BBO . WILLIAM HABVEY , as a slight testimonial for the able and efficient manner he discharged the duties of W . M . during the 128 th year of the Lodge . 1896-97 .

There being no further business the Lodge was closed in perfect harmony , and the Brethren adjourned to the banquet , after which the usual complimentary speeches were made , and were interspersed by a capital musical programme provided by Bro . William J . Derby , who was assisted by Misses Alice Motterway and Miriam Becket , and Bros . Louis Breeze , Tom Taylor , and T . F . Noakes .

Bro . Joseph Bayley , the new Blaster of the Lodge , was born at Stepney , London , in 1858 , and was initiated in the Lodge on 6 th October 1886 . He has served all the Offices , with the exception of S . W ., and is a constant attendant at the Lodge of Instruction , at which he has shown himself a proficient member . His year of office is therefore likely to be a happy one . As announced above he will go up as Steward at the next festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution .

CONFIDENCE LODGE , No . 193 . AN Australian lecturer , whose remarks we have recently , by special request , reproduced in our pages , gave in illustration of some of his views a brief sketch of the kinds of Brethren he had met at different Lodges . At one the members were solemn in demeanour , and viewed the monthly meetings through sombre-coloured spectacles ; at another they wero energetic men in the full enjojment of the fire and zeal of adolescence ,

determined that their Lodge should be ne plus ultra ; and so on , through the different grades of gay and grave . Bfuch the same might be written of the Lodges in this country , which are as varied as different tastes can make them , although always based on the special characteristics of Freemasonry , and generally presenting some particular feature of attraction for the student

of Masonic nature . No doubt there are many Brethren who could refer to this Lodge or that as an exemplification of the sombre or the zealous , the grave or the gay , and if we were asked to point to one as a pattern of joviality , good feeling and true Brotherhood , we do not think we could do much better than turn to the Confidence , No . 193 , founded in 1790 , which is certainly as fair an example of a happy family as could be found in our midst .

Such must certainly be the opinion of those who were present at the annual installation meeting of the Lodge , held on Monday , the 11 th inst ., at Anderton's Hotel , Fleet Street , when there was an exceptionally large attendance of members and visitors , nearly a hundred in number , to welcome Bro . Thomas Kington as the new Blaster , and speed Bro . F . S . Plowright as the retiring onfe .

Reports Of Meetings.

The Lodge was opened by the I . P . M . of the year Bro . F . Haines , and after the usual preliminaries had been observed that Brother advanced the Lodge to the second degree and pissed Bro . Speller . The W . M . Bro . F . S . Plowright then assumed charge of the Lodge , which was advanced to the third degree , the ceremony of which was worked in favour of Bro . Ash , who was regularly raised to the dignity of a Blaster Mason .

The W . M .-elect Bro . Thomas Kington was then presented for the benefit of installation , and he was regularly inducted into the chair by his predecessor , the following being appointed as the assistant Officers of the year : —Bros . E . Pennock S . W ., Geo . Spice J . W ., B . D . Kershaw P . B 1 . Treas ., E . J . Davey P . M . Sec , John W . Simeons S . D ., Walter Cutting J . D ., Sidney W . Fells I . G ., E . H . Lough Organist , W . A . Cubitt P . B 1 . D . C , John E . Fells P . M . Steward , Metcalfe Baillie A . D . C , Thomas Wiffen Assist . Steward , L . G . Reinhardt Tyler .

The customary addresses were afterwards given , the whole work of the installation being admirably carried through by Bro . Plowright , who was warmly congratulated on his performance . The Lodge was shortly afterwards closed , and the Brethren repaired to the banquet , served in excellent style in the Pillar Hall of the Hotel . At the conclusion of the banquet grace was sung by the choir , and then the Worshipful Blaster proceeded with the customary toast list , coupling the name of Dr . Blickley P . A . G . D . C with that of the Grand Officers o £ England .

Brother Blickley considered it a very pleasing duty to be asked to respond to this call , for no toast was so warmly and heartily given , or so enthusiastically received as that of the Grand Officers . He had been associated with the Craft for twenty-eight years , and having taken a very great interest in all that pertained to Freemasonry he considered it a great honour to have been added to the roll of the Grand Officers . While thanking the Brethren for their reception of the toast he took the opportunity of personally congratulating the Blaster on his accession to the chair of that old and important Lodge .

Bro . F . S . Plowright I . P . M . now assumed the gavel , for the purpose of submitting the next toast . He felt sure the Brethren of the Lodge would give the " old fossil " of the evening their attention for a few moments while he proposed the toast of the Worshipful Blaster . In the ordinary way he was not a prophet , but he was about to make a prophesy , and that was that the Worshipful Blaster would make as good a ruler as they had ever had in the Confidence Lodge . The vocation of a prophet was a very onerous one , and nobody should prophesy unless he knew , yet he felt

no trepidation in giving his opinion on that occasion , for he knew what the present Blaster had done in the minor offices , and could on that account guage what he was capable of in his present one . He had been an exemplary Mason and a zealous worker in the Craft , and that all went to prove that he would make an excellent Master . He felt there was no necessity to say more , further than to submit the toast of the Worshipful Master of the Confidence Lodge , wishing him health and every success in his important position . The toast met an enthusiastic reception .

The Worshipful Master tendered his sincere thanks for the toast . Up to the present he had done nothing he knew of that would justify the very heart } ' reception that had been accorded him that evening , and he feared he could not do anything that would justify the very sanguine prophesy of the Immediate Past Blaster ; but he assured them that he would do his very utmost to carry out the duties of his office to their satisfaction , and hoped it would be his good fortune to accomplish sufficient to warrant some part of the very good opinions that had just been expressed in regard to him being repeated at the close of his term of Mastership .

The next toast , said the Worshipful Blaster , was the one they always treated , in the Confidence Lodge , as the toast of the evening—the health of the Visitors . The Brethren of the Lodge were particularly pleased on that occasion to see so many visitors , and he , as Master , had the greatest pleasure in tendering them all a hearty welcome , hoping they had so enjoyed themselves that evening that they would be anxious to pay another visit at an early date . He should be very pleased if each of the Worshipful Masters among them would say a few words in answer to the toast .

Bro . Walter Dennis W . M . No . 9 was the first to respond , and on behalf of the Visitors he returned sincere and hearty thanks for the proposition of the toast and its hearty reception . He had had the pleasure of hearing the Immediate Past Blaster raise a Brother , and also instal his successor ; doubtless all the Visitors were , like himself , so highly delighted with the working of the I . P . M . that they felt regret when the ceremonies were completed . Then , after the working in the Lodge , they had had a

grand treat at the festive board , and had witnessed much that went to prove the fraternal character of the Lodge and its members . No doubt the Brethren of the Confidence Lodge were proud of its old traditions , but , no matter whether one belonged to an old Lodge or a new one , it was all the same so long as they were really members of tbe grand old Craft of Blasonry , and it seemed to him the Brethren who had entertained them that night were really worthy of being so regarded .

Bro . Marshall W . M . of the Windsor Castle Lodge followed . From the moment of entering the Lodge until that time he had enjoyed a grand Blasonic treat . He specially referred to Bro . Plowright's rendering of the ceremony of the third degree , which , he thought , was absolutely perfect . Bro . Marshall then referred to the handsome temple owned by his Lodge , which , he said , was in many respects unique ; should any of those around him have an opportunity of paying it a visit he felt they would be able to see much to interest them .

Bro . Witthaus W . B 1 . 2509 said he and other visitors from the Barnet Lodge had the pleasure of knowing what Bro . Plowright could do in the work of Freemasonry , 'but he might say the I . P . M . had really excelled himself that night . There was another feature in connection with the Lodge that was also worthy of mention—he had never seen the work of the junior Officers better done than had been the case at that meeting , aud no doubt tbe knowledge of what his subordinates were capable of had much to do with

the efficient rendering of the ceremonies by Bro . Plowright . Bro . J . K . Pitt also responded , being called upon by a large number of the members . The installation meeting of the Confidence Lodge was to him a very important event , and he was always pleased to have the opportunity of being present . He trusted the Confidence Lodge might go on and prosper ,

and in the future be regarded as one of the most important Lodges of the city of London . The Initiates of the Lodge often favoured the Confidence Lodge of Instruction with their presence , and there found themselves under the preceptorship of R . n able Brother , in the person of Bro . Belchamber , one of the best known and best appreciated Past Blasters of the Lodge they were now celebrating the anniversary of .

Bro . Rev . W . Russell Fmlay W . M . of the Sterndale Bennett Lodge also expressed the pleasure he felt in being present on that occasion . He had had frequent invitations to the Lodge , but that was the first time he had been able to attend . He was so pleased with his experience , and so