Reports Of Meetings.

ANNUAL DINNER OF THE KENTISH CLUB . THE fourth annual dinner of the Kentish Club of Instruction took place on Wednesday , 14 th inst ., in the banqueting hall of the Restaurant Frascati , Oxford Street . For the first time in the Club ' s history ladies were invited to the banquet , and a large number of them availed themselves of the invitation , assisting to make the dinner one of the most successful yet held . Bro . Chas . F . Quicke—the founder of the Club—presided , having on his right Mrs . Quicke .

The President struck a most welcome keynote at the commencement of the after-dinner proceedings , in desiring that the speeches should be brief . Acting upon the hint , he himself proposed the usual toasts and the toast of the evening , the Kentish Club , in short but capital speeches . As to the latter ha remarked that having ladies present at the dinner was one of the finest innovations connected with the Club , and next year he hoped that the dinner would be succeeded by a dance . He coupled with the toast the name of Bro . Cox .

The response of the Treasurer showed that a splendid work had been done by the Club , whicfh had taught the tenets of Freemasonry to hundreds of young Masons who had gone away all the better for the tuition they had received . Neither had the benevolent side of Freemasonry been neglected by the Club , which had done its part in helping to raise the £ 60 , 000 and more required every year for the Masonic Charities .

Then came a feature of the evening , a presentation to the Chairman , which was made by the Vice-Chairman , in very graceful and complimentary terms . It took the form of an illuminated vellum of artistic design , in massive gilt frame , and set forth the Club's grateful recognition of Bro . Quicke ' s service as founder and Preceptor of the Club , and the desire of the members to evince their appreciation of his unvarying courtesy and of his

painstaking and conscientious efforts to inculcate the tenets and principles of the Craft in its highest logical conception . The addresB was signed by Bros . H . Pickett , J . M . Smith , G . F . Wheeler , Alf . Cox , and Joseph Dawson . Bro Pickett also handed to Mrs . Quicke a brooch set in pearls , remarking that it showed she was not forgotten by the members of the Club , who were aware that she was often deprived of her husband ' s society in consequence of his services to Freemasonry .

The presentation excited much enthusiasm , and the President , in his response , said the address should have a place of honour and prominence in his home . The remaining toast , says the " St . Pancras Gazette , " was the'Ladies , proposed by Bro . Muir Smith , and responded to by Bro . H . Davenall .

PROVINCIAL .

LODGE OF SYMPATHY , No . 483 . AN ordinary meeting of this prosperous Lodge , which is rapidly rising to a foremost position in the Province of Kent , was held at the Royal Clarendon Hotel , Gravesend , on the 14 th inst . The Worshipful Master Bro . William Hawker , presided , and was supported by his Officers : Bros . Chas . Matthews S . W ., John N . Willis J . W .,

T . T . Hogg P . M . Treasurer , Arthur Ronaldson P . M . Secretary , A . J . Walklin S . D ., W . S . Bovven J . D ., Ernest Ingman D . C ., J . A . Gillett A . D . C ., T . W . Galler I . G ., T . Smith Steward , also Bros . R . J . Beamish P . P . G . D . C ., Henry Doughty P . P . G . S . B ., Thos . H . Lygo P . M ., Henry Forss I . P . M ., T . A . Mummery , T . D . Gee , H . Drake , G . A . Grant , B . A ., H . White , H . Andrews , and many others .

The Visiting . Brethren included Charles Westwood Prov . G . D . C . Essex , George Naylor P . P . G . D . C . Kent P . M . 20 , H . Pressley 653 , Robert Matthews , W . Gunn , J . G . Prevost , and H . J . Russell , all of Lodge No . 77 , & c . The Lodge having been opened the minutes were read and confirmed , and the Treasurer ' s report , showing a highly satisfactory balance without liabilities , was received .

The ballot was then taken for the following candidates : —Dr . Herbert Leslie ThurnelJ , Mr . Thomas Henry Mason , Mr . < James Hewison and Mr . Edward Paramor , which proved unanimous in their favour . The first three named gentlemen being present were admitted , and regularly initiated into the mysteries and privileges of the Craft .

Bros . Geo . Chaney , Herbert Andrews , John Wm . Sweet , and A . G . Knight ( the latter at the request of the W . M . of the St . John Lodge , of Grays ) being candidates for the sublime degree were duly raised , and took their seats in the Lodge as Master Masons . Both ceremonies were creditably performed by Bro . Hawker .

Bro . H . Forss I . P . M . proposed that a Benevolent Fund be established in connection with the Lodge , and that a sum of ten guineas be voted from the Lodge funds to form its nucleus . This was seconded by Bro . Hawker and carried . It was further decided that Bro . P . M . Lygo and the Worshipful Master of the year be the Trustees for the administration of the Fund . There being no further business , the Lodge was closed in perfect harmony , and the Brethren adjourned to supper .

PERSEVERANCE LODGE , No . 573 . THE annual festival was celebrated under the most favourable circumstances , in the Masonic Hall , Halesowen , on Tuesday , ' 13 th inst ., Bro . E . Underwood W . M . being in the chair . There was a large attendance of Brethren belonging to the Provinces of Worcestershire , Staffordshire , and Warwickshire . Bro . H . W . Hughes , mining engineer , of Dudley , was installed W . M ., the ceremony being ably performed by Bro . W . Waldron P . P . G . S . W .

At the conclusion of the business the Brethren adjourned to the Drill Hall , where a banquet was provided .

ZION LODGE , No . 1798 . THE regular meeting was held at the Grand Hotel , Manchester , on Wednesday , the 14 th inst ., Bro . Joseph Gershon W . M . After the reading and confirmation of minutes , successful ballots were taken for Bro . Aubrey Franks , optician , Manchester , and Messrs . Jacques Higham Phillips , wine agent , and Abraham Altaras , merchant , the former as a joining member , and the latter as initiates . Subsequently Bro . Harry Levy was raised to the degree of M . M . The respective ceremonies were performed by Past Masters Leon Levy ,- George

Reports Of Meetings.

Board P . P . G . D ., and S . Mamelok , assisted by Bro . B . Steel S . W ., who presented and explained the working tools . ¦ . At the festive board which followed , Loyal and Masonic toasts were varied by songs , several of the Brethren being called into requisition .

ST . DAVID LODGE , ' No . 2226 . A MOST successful festival was b * ld on Thursday , 15 th inst ., when Bro . John Randall P . G . S , was installed W . M . for . the enduing year . The Installing Master was the retiring W . M . Bro . Thomas Edwards , who

performed the ceremony in a manner that called forth general encomiums Among the visitors were the D . P . G . M . of Monmouthshire Lieutenant Colonel Lyne . . . '• ... ' . ' ^ . In the evening a banquet was held at the Royal Hotel . , , ¦ ,: ,

ZODIAC LODGE , ; No . 2615 . A MEETING was held oh the 7 th inst ., at ' the Denmark Hotel , East Ham . The W . M . Bro . B . C . Curtis P . M . 'P . Z . . 1472 presided , and the other ohairs were occupied by Bros . T . Cowell S . W ., and Wm . W ., lyes J . W . There was a large attendance of Officers and Brethren , including several visitors .

Messrs . T . C . Stokes , R . 'B . Martin , James Taylor , and G . S . Smith wer . e initiated into the mysteries of the Craft , and Bros . Drake , Tydeman , and Thomson were passed . The respective ceremonies were ablv performed bv the W . M . ¦ _ ' ' . ' ¦ Bro . Dr . Hill ( North Woolwich ) was elected as a joining member .

The Brethren subsequently sat down to a capital repast , prepared by Bro . G . A . Smith , after which the regular preliminary toasts were happil y proposed by the W . M .,- whose health was afterwards submitted by Bro . Bromhead I . P . M ., who . referred to the correctness with which Bro . Ottrfcis adhered to the ritual of the Craft , and to the high esteem in which he was held by the Brethren . .. ' ¦ ' .

ROYAL ARCH

TRUTH INSTRUCTION CHAPTER , No . 1458 . THE first meeting of this Chapter was held at the Mosley Hotel , Manchester , on Tuesday , the 13 th inst . As our readers are aware , the late respected and lamented Companion James Hill Sillitoe . had been appointed Preceptor , but his sudden death compelled other arrangements the Grand Superintendent of the Province of East Lancashire Col . Le Gendre N . Starkie therefore approved of the following appointments , viz ., Comp Arthur H . Jefferis P . Z . 645 P . P . G . J . Preceptor , Buckley Carr P . Z . 993 P p G . D . C ., and Charles Swinn P . Z . 204 P . P . G . StandiB . Assistant Preceptors ' and Fletcher Armstrong P . Z . 935 P . P . G . AlD . C . Director of Ceremonies '

' We think the initial meeting may be voted a successful one , from a numerical point o [ view , ' fifteen being present , who manifested great enthusiasm as to the ultimate prospects of the Chapter . It is undoubtedly a much needed institution , and we shall be very much surprised if it does not become very popular throughout East Lancashire and neighbouring Provinces . Its primary object is to establish a uniformity of ceremonial on the " Metropolitan System ; " the subscription is very small , and the meetings held during nine months of the year , will not make any very great exactions ' upon the time of those whose heart and soul are in the work of the Supreme Degree . '

Those present were Companions A . H . Jefferis Preceptor , B . Carr Asst Preceptor , Wm . Booth P . Z . 323 , Jas . Cookson P . Z . 323 , Dr . Thos D Foreman P . Z . 210 , J . S . Derbyshire P . S . 1045 , E . A . Bhlinger Z . 993 , Councl Saml I Mills J . 1458 , H . Hellawell S . E . 1458 , Thos . Hunter S . W . 993 , W . Allen Smith 1458 , J . J . Dean 1458 , Walter Cockerham 993 , and Edwd Roberts 1055 Visitor , Comp . Fred Batty 1730 . ' .

MARK MASONRY

HENGIST LODGE , No . 125 . AT a largely-attended meetingof this Lodge , held at Bournemouth , on Wednesday , 14 th inst ., an illuminated address was presented to Bro J . B . Atkinson P . G . Std . B . Eng . and P . P . S . G . W . Hants and Isle of Wight , in recognition of his zealous and devoted services to the Lodge as its Secretary during the past twenty-one years .

The presentation was made on behalf of the members by the W . M . Bro . J . J . Brazier , and it was stated in the course of the proceedings that during the whole period of twenty-one years Bro . Atkinson had not missed a single Lodge meeting . The address , which was beautifully illuminated , was supplied by Bro . H . J . Atkins .

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