The Power Of Freemasonry.

that would provo an accoptablo shado on a sunny day , resembled a j colander with tho wator dripping through it on to the few brave bnt luckless passengers huddled beneath it . A more wretched spectacle conld hardly bo imagined ; our hearts sank within us , our spirits wont to zero , and wo decided that " it was not good enough . " We saw the steamer off , which quickly vanished from our gaze into the

rainy mist , and then sought sheltor with a good friend and brother dose at hand , whero wo tried tho real Hibernian remedy of " keeping our spirits up by pouring spirits down . " Repeated application ? of tho " reniody , " coupled with consoling cigars , soon brought us to a more Masonic frame of mind , and we began to think how we coald pass tho day . Tho rain ceasing for a few rniuutes , we gallic ! forth

for tho purpose of viewing the docks , and inspecting one or more of the magnificent steamers of the "Orient" Company . The aqueous cessation , however , proved but another little joke on the part of J . Pluvins , Esq . —for as soon as we were comfortably away from our shelter , and congratulating ourselves that we were nuvkiug the best of a bad job , down camo the rain again , and wo had to run for

refuge to fh ~ Restaurant at the Tilbury Dock Station . Here it was that w covered the power of Freemasonry . No sooner had we entere .. . 0 Messrs . Truman , Hanbury and Co . ' s comfortable looking building than wo were greeted in the heartiest manner and with old fashioned courtesy by the manager Mr . F . Salter , who , claiming us as brothers , placed himself at our disposal . Bad weather

as a rule—unless you are on the briny—has no ill efleets upon the appetite , but , au contraire , rather tends to predispose tbe mind and body , by favourable anticipation , to tho more hearty enjoyment of the fourth degree . Certain it is that , after some really hot soup , an excellent bottle of sherry , a lobster salad , and a prime chicken , cooked to a nicety , we found ourselveB congratulating

one another that our lines had , aftor all , fallen in pleasant places . Wo pitied the poor people who had braved tbe weather and the ocean only to be deprived of their day ' s pleasure , and complimented each othor on our discretion , which had proved the "better part . " Having heartily enjoyed our meal , and feeling as contented as all true Masons should , we called for our reckoning . On its being presented ,

we imagined for a moment that the schoolmaster was abroad in that district , and that the art of the third R was here nnknovm . Each of our party having checked it , and found it correct , we commented on the modesty of the total , and calling for tbe worthy manager we gently remonstrated with him for letting us off so easily . Brother Salter , however , assured us that he had charged the usual tariff ,

so we all mado mental notes , and added the " Station Canteen at Tilbury to the list of our popular places where to dine . Oar genial host then descended into the bowels of the dock , and subsequently roappeared with " a flask of his best" Scotoh whisky—which proved worthy to rank with , but after , the dinner . Onr natnral modesty precludes us from recording the number of " samples " necessary for

arriving at this decision . Suffice it to say that our libations at length propitiated " the watery god , " that the weather lifted to enable us to make n tour of the docks , and that eventually we found ourselves at the superb hotol faoiug the rivor . Here is presented a luxnrionsnesa that needs only to be known by our brethren to secure their attendance for installation dinners and summer outings—there is a

splendid Lodge room , handsomely furnished , and every accommodation uecossary for tho practice of the secret art . The present manager is Mr . Robt . E . Sexton , who is working hard to secure a public recognition of its merits . A military band discourses sweet music in the beautifully laid out grounds every Saturday afternoon , and a trip to sea is also arranged for on fine Sundays , in a privato steamer . It is said that the world knows little of its greatest

mendid the British public bat know the attractions that lie almost at their doors , wo need have no fear for the fntnre of Tilbury . By this time the gallant steamer " Halcyon" had returned from Margate , so we had tho satisfaction of being convoyed by the special traiu to town , having spent a most enjoyablo day , the prime features of which were due to brethren who had recognised the duties and carried out the privileges of Freemasonry .

Notices Of Meetings.

NOTICES OF MEETINGS .

CENTENARY CELEBRATION OF ST . JOHN'S LODGE , No . 279 .

IT is intended to celebrate the Centenary Anniversary of this Lodge - by attending Divine Service at St . George ' s Church , Leicester , on Sunday , the 31 st inst . ( tho 31 st August 1790 being tho dato of tho Warrant of the Lodge ) . Very Worshipful the ilev . Uhas . J . Mattyu , M . A ., Rector of Lung Melford , Past Grand Chaplain of England , Deputy Provincial Grand Master ol Suffolk , aud Honorary Chaplain

to Her Majesty the Queen , will , by the kind permission of tbe Vicar , the iluv . II . F . Fortosoue , M . A ., preaci . on the occasion . By the unanimous desire of tho brethren of St . John ' s Lodge , brethren gonurally of the Province of Leicestershire aud Rutland and of the adjoining Provinces aro invited to join in the forthcoming service ,

and it is hoped that there will be a large gathering of the brethren . Tho brethren will assemble at Freemasons' Hall at 1030 a . m ., and will walk in procession to tho Church . The Right Honourable the Marl Ferrers Provincial Grand Master , and the Deputy Provincial Grand Master Samuel Steads Partridge , Nsq ., P . A . G . U . C . England have intimated their intention Lo be present . Tho offertory will bo

devoted to the Leicester Children .-1 Hospital , tho foundation stone of which wus laid with full Masonic honours on Dth October LS 1 S 8 , and it , is earnestly hoped that by the liberal contributions of the brethren that excellent Institution will be materially benefited . Wo learn also that , the Centenary of tbe Lodge will be further celebrated under the sanction of Provincial Grand Lodgo by a b . 'mquel , on tho 11 tli November next ( that , day in 17110 being tho date of tho C ' ont < curat ion of the Lodge and tho installation of its first Master ) .

Notices Of Meetings.

CAMBRIAN LODGE , No . 464 .

AN emorgency meeting of the above Lodge was held at the Masonic Hall , Haverfordwest , on Wednesday , the 13 th inst ., for the purpose of raising four brethren . Lodge was opened by the Worshipful Master Bio . W . Howell Walters , and raised to the second degree , whon Bros . Mumford , Phillips , Thomas , and Evans were examined and entrusted , and wore requested to retire Lodge having

been opened in the third degree , the candidates wore regnlarly introduced and raised by tho Worshipful Master , assisted by Brothers P . M . J . Hood Williams P . P . G . Snpt . of Works , and P . M . Levi Harries P . P . G . D . C . Lodge was closed , aud the brethren onjoyed an

hour of sooial recreation . Much gratification was felt npon hearing that the Provincial Grand Master ( Lord Kensington ) had offered the collar of Giand Senior Warden in the Province of the Western Division of South Wales to the Worshipful Master of tho Cambrian Lodge .

DUKE OP EDINBURGH LODGE , No . 1182 . BRO . WILLIAM RAWSTHORNE was , on the 14 th inst ., at the Masonio Temple , Hope Street , duly installed as Worshipful

Master for the ensuing year . The ceremony was very efficientl y performed by Bro . Edwards , who retired from the chair after a most successful year of office . Bro . Rawsthorne invested his Officers , as follow : —Bros . John Edwards I . P . M ., Andrew Morris S . W ., W . F . Ferguson J . W ., A . D . Hesketh P . M . P . P . G . S . B . Treasurer , R . Tunnioliil ' e Secretary , D . Lothian S . D ., J . T . Shntt J . D ., J . H . Mills I . G . , A . H . Nicholas S ., Thomas Holme S ., Dr . George Johnson S ., H . B

Wright Organist , and A . Barclay P . M . D . C . The brethren subse . quently sat down to the annual installation banquet , supplied by Bro . James Casey , the houso steward . The evening ' s proceedings were pleasantly enlivened by the musical contributions of Bros . J . Lane , W . Lewis , T . Fargher , W . H . Latham , R . A . Parkin , H . Round , Webster Williams , W . Hudson , J . Busfield , and H . J . Nichols , Bro . H . J . Wright officiating as accompanist .

DENISON LODGE . No . 1248

THE members met at the Masonio Club , St . Nicholas Cliff , Scar , borough , on Wednesday , the 13 th inst ., for the purpose of con . gratulating Bro . H . J . Morton on the celebration of his golden wedding . There was a vory large attendance of brethren , The W . M . Bro . Martin presented Bro . Morton , in the name of tbe Lodge , with a handsome dinner table ornament , of Cobarg ware , the design being a shell supported by chaste figures . Bro . Morton returned suitable thanks .

AGRICOLA LODGE , No . 1991

THE members and friends had an excursion to Bolton Woods on Wednesday last . Tho party numbered over a score , and an early start was made from York , via Leeds . The morning was very gloomy , and a deluging rain , whioh fell until aftor the arrival at Ilkley , boded ill for tho day's anticipated pleasure . Shortly after tho conclusion of the breakfast , tho weather brightened , aud ultimately

the sun shone , and tho excursionists had a vory enjoyable outing . Convoyences took them to the famous woods , and tho Strid and othor places of iuterest were viBited . There was a heavy and rapidly HR ' " HOW of water , which mado the leap of the Strid an undertaking

of considerable danger , and lower down hid the far-famed stepping stonos . The arrangemouLS wero of the most complete character , and were well curried out by Bros . J . E . Wilkinson Worshipful Master , T . Laverack Secretary , and J . MoGee .

ETHELBERT LODGE . No . 2099

HpHE installation meeting was hold at the Masonic Rooms , in Beach J- Street , Heme Bay , on Tuesday , 12 th instant . There was au unnsnaily large assembly of brethren , including visitors from Cauterbnry , Whitstable , Ashford , A : a . The W . M . Bro . J . S . White opened tho proceedings with solemn prayer , and then passed Bro . G . F .

Bagley to the degree of Fellow Craft . The next business was tbe ceremony of installation , Bro . E . A . C . Larkin succeeding to the important 0 H 100 of Worshipful Master for the ensuing year . The I . P . M . Bro . Whito was invested with a Past Master ' s jewel , in consideration of the valuable and substantial sorvicos ho had rendered

to the Lodge during his year of office . The new W . M . next proceeded to appoint his Officers , as follow : —Bros . C . Salari S . W ., C . W . Welby J . W ., E . C . Feuoulhet P . M ., J . Barnwell Secretary , Kev . J . It . Buchanan Chaplain , II . C . Jones P . M . D . C , T . E . Dilnot S . D ., W . T . England J . D ., " Hellyar I . G ., W . J . Flower

Senior Steward , G . Upex Junior Stoward , A . Carey Organist , and U . Griggs Tyler . The services of the Officers resigned were dnly acknowledged , particularly those of the ex-Treasnrer Bro . E . T . J . Adams , by whose assidnity the finances of the Lodge have been brought to a highly satisfactory condition . The report of the Audit Committee having been passed , tho Lodgo was closed with prayor ,

after which the brethren repaired to tho new dining room of the Dolphin Hotel , whero a banquet awaited them . A most enjoyable evening was afterwards spent , iu which the Loyal and Masonio toasts wers dnly honoured ; and at intervals , a programme of music was capitally rendered by Messrs . Byron Dewhurst and C . Kenningham , of Canterbury Cathedral Choir .

CRAY VALLEY LODGE , No . 2147

fill IE members of this lodge , with their wives and frionds , together i- numbering about 60 , on the 13 th inst ., by invitation of Cap tain Itolf , enjoyed a sail round the Noro lightship and up the river in t'le staamer Champion . The trip proved a very delightful one , even tho experience of spending a couplo of hours aground a sandbank neaI Southend proving amusing . Among tho party were Messrs . Harry Georgo , Tyrcr , U . Pollard , Whnr ( Cliislehurst ) , Couksou ( Cray ) , » urt Rock ( Cliislehurst ) .