Temple Bar Lodge, No. 1728.

TEMPLE BAR LODGE , No . 1728 .

THE annual meeting of this Lodgo was held afc Anderton s Hotel , Fleet-street , on Thursday , fcho loth inst ., on whioh occasion Bro . Geo . S . Recknell was installed W . M . for tho year . Tho Lodge having been opened , under tho presidency of Bro . T . W . Casburn Bnsb , and tho minutes confirmed , waa regularly advanced to the third degree , and Bro . John Wobb raised in dno form . Mr . Frederick

Clark was nexfc initiated into tho mysteries of Freenmsonrv , Bro . A . McDowall P . M . 1902 , P . P . G . D . C . Berks ancl Bucks performing the ceremony by request of the W . M ., who was suffering from severe indisposition . The initiation completed , Bro . T . Fonn P . G . D . President B . G . P . assumed the chair , and installed the Master

for the ensuing year . In due order that brother appointed the following as his officers : —T . W . C . Bush I . P . M . and Sec , Richard Kempton S . W ., A . R . Carter J . W ., B . Bnckworth P . M . Treas ., J . Rexworthy S . D ., H . J . Rolls J . D ., G . J . Garland I . G ., A . R . Harris D . C , C . S . Williams Org ., W . J . Weatmore and

A . G . Watkinson Stewards , A . B . Chnrch Tyler . The other business of the meeting having been disposed of , the Lodge was closed and the brethren proceeded to banquet . A most enjoyable repast having been done justice to , the W . M . proposed tho usual toasts . Thoso of the Queen and tho Craft ancl tho Grand Master

having been honoured , the W . M . proposed that of tho Grand Officers . They were singularly favoured that nighfc in having among them two of tho most distinguished of tho Grand Officers of England , Bro . the Rev . R . J . Simpson and Bro . T . Fenn . Tho W . M . and members were pleased to see them , ancl hoped they wonld

favour the Lodge with tneir presence on many future occasions . The Grand Officers as a body were most assiduous in their attention to the Craft , taking every advantage of performing the duties attached to their respective offices to the best of their ability . Bro . Simpson was the firsfc to respond . He thanked the W . M .

and brethren for the kind manner in whioh they had honoured the constitutional toast of tho Grand Officers . Grand Lodge , no doubt , had many virtues , but it also had its failings . Tho W . M . had proved himself a true Mason , by using language which showed he considered they were called upon charitably to believe all

things and endure all things . From tho recent meetings of Graud Lodge ib was clear they mnst hope and believe much , while from the awful crush fchey had experienced ifc was clear fchey must endure much . The Grand Officers would continue to do their duty in the state of life to which it had pleased God to call them .

Ifc had been a great pleasure to him to attend the consecration of fche Temple Bar Lodge , and he had likewise experienced great pleasure in repeating his visit , afc what ; he might now call the Old Temple Bar Lodge . They had that night seen an old and well tried Master retire from the chair , and ono who seemed well

up to the mark installed in his place . Brother T . Fenn followed . Since his accession to his present office bo had had many opportunities of intercourse with the Pro Grand Master , the Earl of Carnarvon , aud ho was surprised and pleased beyond measure at the great interest he took in all tbat concerned Freemasonry . Ho

need scarcely have referred to this subject , because many of tho brethren were present in Grand Lodge when Lord Carnarvon came down , at great personal inconvenience , and supported , by his observations , the admirable letter written to tho Grand Lodge of Qnebec by the Grand Master , which showed that , notwithstanding the

threats of the Grand Lodge of Quebec , His Royal Highness intended cordially and loyally to sustain those Lodges in their position which maintained their allegiance to the Grand Lodge of England . With regard to the Grand Officers , tho majority of them wero ready on all occasions to do all in their power to assist and support the

interests of the Craffc . Many privileges were possessed by Past Grand Officers which Masons in general little conceived ; but their duties were many , and they gave up their time ancl abilities to them without grudging , ancl they were very pleased when , as on this occasion , their services were appreciated . Bro . Bush nexfc assumed

the gavel . It fell to his lot that night to perform a very pleasing duty , and one that for five years he had nofc had tbe hononr of proposing—the health of the brother installed thafc night . His doing so recalled to his mind the firsfc meeting of this Lodge , since the brother who had jnst ; been installed was a candidate for initiation

on thafc occasion . For this reason , and from the fact that he was the son of a Mason , Bro . Recknell had claimed priority of the other four candidates , and was thus tho first initiate in tho Lodge . His bearing in tho Lodge at thafc time , and ever since , gave promise that he would eventually rise to the office ho then occupied . Bro . Bush

felfc sure their W . M ., dnring his year of office , wonld provo himself worthy of his place , and that in his new position , as iu his old , ho wonld do his work with credit to himself and satisfaction to tho Lodge . Bro . Bush tendered his thanks to Bro . Fenn , who had kindly performed tho Installation ceremony for him afc a time when ill health

prevented his doing so , and then called on tho brethren to hononr the toast of the W . M . Bro . Recknell said it was with no ordinary sense of weight of responsibility that he returned thanks for the kind sentiments expressed that night . Ho wished he could apply them all to himself . He well remembered that on tho occasion of his

initiation he , being the son of a Mason , was selected as the first initiate , and to that circumstance he owed his present position of W . M . in advance of bis brother initiates of thafc night . He was deeply indebted to the I . P . M . and the brethren for many things , bnfc particularly for the way in which they had elected him to " fiIl the

Chair of the Lodge . He should endeavour to solve fcho difficulties attached to his office with all the ability at his command , devoting caro and attention to tbe business required of him . Ifc had been truly said tbat he who did bis besfc did well . Ho did not say lie should do well

, but he assured the brethren that he should do his best , and hoped that he might succeed . He bad very much to thank the brethren for in the past , and felt that with the confidence he had secured from them ho shonld be in a position to carry out the duties of the Chair . He hoped thafc during his term of office tho duties of

Temple Bar Lodge, No. 1728.

the Lodgo would be performed as well as thoy had been in tho past , and that tho Lodge would continue its prosperous career . Ho nexfc proposed tho toast of the Installing Officer , saying how extremely grateful they all were to Bro . Fenn for tho way in which ho had performed the ceremony that night , at very short notice , owing to the

ill-health of Brother Bush . Bro . Fonn replied . It afforded him groat satisfaction to bo of any use to the Temple Bar Lodge . The W . M . was quite right in saying ho was animated with tho best of spirit towards tho Lodge . Very particular interest attached to their present W . M ., inasmuch as ho had been educated at fche Masonic Boys' School . Ho ( Bro . Fenn ) had often wondered why it was he did

not see boys educated at the Masonic School coming to the fore in Freemasonry . He had often been surprised , he might say pained , afc the lack of interest manifested by old pupils , but now ho was pleased to meet with an exception , and it had afforded him additional pleasure to have had the opportunity of installing their brother into tho chair of his mother Lodge . Tho W . M . next -rave the health of the I . P . M . Bro . Bush . This was a

toast it afforded him great pleasure to propose . It was a very important one , made more important from the fact that tho brethren intended to mark the retirement of Bro . Bush by the presentation to hiin of a valuable testimonial . Tho W . M . felt there wero many present who , knowing more of the ability of Bro . Bush , could have

made the presentation iu much more suitable terms , but none could make ifc with better will than he did . The Lodge was consecrated in 1878 , and at that timo Bro . Bush was J . W . Sinco that timo he had , in addition to other duties , filled the office of Secretary for a period of four years . Dnring the whole of thafc time he had studied

the requirements of the Lodge to the best of his ability , and had ably succeeded in what he had undertaken . As Steward to the Charities , on bohalf of the Lodge , he had collected upwards of -61 , 000 , whica from so young a Lodge reflected the greatest credit on him . They could but regret the cause which had prevented his performing the

ceremonies of initiation and installation that nighfc , and hoped ho might soon bo restored to the blessing of health . Tho W . M . then presented to Bro . Bush tho testimonial of the brethren , which consisted of a handsome tea and coffee service , together with a portrait in oil of the recipient himself ( painted by Bro . Cyril Stanley

Williams , Organist of the Lodge ) . Bro . Bush tendered his hearty thanks . He felt unable to express his appreciation of the kindness he had received at their hands that nighfc and in the past . The present was a very proud moment in his life—a moment when he felt he possessed the good opinion and esteem of every brother

in the Lodge . Whatever services be had been able to render had been performed as true labours of love . As a founder of thia Lodge , he had felt that those associated with him were of a class who would always cause the Lodgo to be looked up to , and it had been his endeavour also to add to its reputation . He felfc thafc

tho presentation of so splendid a testimonial as ho had that night received was o snro sign ho was not considered the worst man in tho universe . He hoped to be spared to be associated with the Lodge for many years to come . Tho toast of the Visitors was next honoured , and to this Bros . McDowell and Bailey responded .

The initiate waa toasted , and suitably replied to the toasfc proposed in his honour , after which the health of the Past Masters was given , Bro . Butcher replying . Tho toast of tho Masonic Institntions was forcibly given by tho W . M ., and as forcibly responded to by Bro . Terry , after which the proceedings were brought to a conclusion .

Honor Oak Lodge, No. 1986.

HONOR OAK LODGE , No . 1986 .

A REGULAR meeting of this Lodgo was held afc the Moore Park Hotel , Honor Oak , on Wednesday , 11 th January . Being an " oft ' -night , " with bnfc lifctlo work outhe agenda , there was nob the customary largo attendance . Among thoso present wero Bros . Phillips W . M ., Hopekirk I . P . M . and Treasurer , Maunder Williams S . W ., Henry Stokes J . W ., Langley acting Secretary , Rev . Wilson

Haffenden Chaplain , Hartley S . D ., Hooper J . D ., Knight I . G ., Augustus Darel Director of Ceremonies , France W . S ., ancl Thomas Tyler ; also Bros . Jas . Worstencroft , Wootteu , Bartlett , Pearson , Alfred Pitman , Bye , & c . The Visitors were Bros . James Stevens P . M . 720 , 1216 , 1420 , & c , ancl E . A . Francis 1 G 58 . Tbe minutes

were read and confirmed . Lodge was raised to the third degree ancl closed down . The attendance of a candidate accepted at a previous meeting- was confidently expected , but afc the lasfc moment intimation of inability to attend was handed to the W . M . The election of W . M . and Treasurer for tho ensuing year was therefore at once proceeded

with , and Bro . H . Maunder Williams , one of the Founders of the Lodgo , and a highly esteemed brother amongst the members , was unanimously elected to the former position , ancl Bro . Hopekirk P . M . was re-elected Treasurer . Both brethren returned thanks in very appropriate tonus . Bro . Thomas was re-elected Tyler , after

proposition in terms of earnest appreciation of his attention and courtesy as Outer Guard , A Past Master's jewel of the Lodgo pattern waa voted by acclamation to Bro . Phillips W . M ., for presentation afc ensuing meeting . On the recommendation of ono of the Visitors , a

money vote in aid of a distressed brother of the Mariners Lodge , No . 219 , Liverpool , was granted , and the Lodge was thou closed . The installation of Bro . Williams , the W . M . elect , will take place on the second Wednesday in February .

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FUNERALS . Bros . W . K . I . & Or . A . HUTTOJ , COFFIN MAKERS & UNDERTAKERS , 17 SEIVCASTIE STREET , STUANB , W . C . Ami iii 30 VOBESX HISJIJ BOAD , PEfKHAM BTE , S . E .