Reports Of Meetings.

of his life . In connection with the profession to which he belonged he had gone through the Presidential chair , but felt that the position which he had attained that evening had conferred even a greater honour upon him than the other had done . He hoped the confidence placed in him as W . M . would also confer upon him the power to rule with an iron hand , which should be tempered with the velvet glove . Bro . Plumpton referred to the formation of the Lodge , traced its steady progress and development , and concluded by

saying that he hoped the Brethren would endeavour to extend those beautiful tenets of Masonry which were brought before them in so many ways . The Master then proposed the health of the newly-initiated Brother , explaining that it was the fact of the impending adjournment alone which had induced them to undertake a ceremony on the day of their annual festival , many o £ them feeling very unwilling that Bro . Williams should be kept out so long from their Masonic privileges .

Bro . Williams , who in the course of his reply said that last year he was a founder of a Manchester Bicycle Club , and now was a member of The Manchester Lodge of Freemasons , made a very effective speech . The W . M ., in proposing the health of the Installing Master and the rest of the Past Masters , said it was not necessary to add anything about Bro . Jefferis , for his name was a proverbialism throughout the land for effective working , and it was a sincere pleasure for him to have been installed by such a worthy Brother .

Bro . Jefferis responded , saying the Brethren had that evening created another Past Master of the Lodge . He had undertaken the ceremony by special request of the W . M ., and trusted he had satisfied those who had witnessed it . He hoped the Lodge would be prosperous and have many candidates .

Bro . Akerman said that , as first I . P . M . of the Lodge he was pleased , and could promise that his successor would carry out the duties devolving upon him , successfully and well . Bro . Arnold wished success to the W . M ., who , he said , had the heartfelt wishes of members and Officers alike .

Bro . William A . Boyer J . W ., in reply to the toast of the Masonic Charities , said if the Brethren would only respond as loyally as they had previously done it would be of great benefit to the Masonic Institutions . Bro . Francis J . Burt , who responded on behalf of the Officers , made a speech which , as a tentative Lodge effort , was not only excellent , but was listened to with very great pleasure , being warmly applauded at its close . During the evening a very elegant jewel was presented to the retiring W . M ., which bore the following inscription : —

Presented by the Brethren of The Manchester Lodge , No . 2554 , to W . BBO . WILLIAM BAKEB AKEBMAN P . M . No . 317 . The first W . M ., for valuable services rendered during his year of office 12 th June 1896 .

An excellent glee company , composed of Bros . Geo . Sam Smith P . M 1134 P . P . G . Org ., Wm . Dumville P . M . Sec . 2156 , John W . Maltby 1219 Cuthbert Blacow 2156 , and Edwd . Royles 1392 , discoursed some well-known airs , being accompanied on the pianoforte by Bro . Shaw 2359 . Besides those mentioned above , we noticed in the Lodge or at the

banquet , the following , viz ., Bros . Wm . Goldthorpe P . M . 2156 P . P . G . Reg ., G . V . Blackie P . M . 152 P . G . S ., Nathan Heywood P . M . 44 , Robt . Thomson P . M . 44 , E . Webb P . M . 163 and 1134 Clare Edgar Towell P . M . 2387 2359 , Alfred Allen W . M . 317 , J . M . Veal W . M . 2359 , Councl . Saml . I . Mills W . M . 2584 , Edwd . Chiswell J . D . 645 , Robert Plumpton I . G . 481 , and others to the number of fifty-two .

Various letters of apology for non-attendance had been forwarded , notably by Bros . Col . Le Gendre N . Starkie Prov . Grand Master E . L ., R . H . Holmes Deputy Prov . Grand Master Northumberland , J . H . Sillitoe P . G . Std . Br . Eng ., W . Goodacre P . G . Std . Br . Eng . Prov . G . Sec . W . L ., John Wm . Maclure , M . P ., Past G . D . Eng ., Dr . D . J . Leech P . S . G . W ., C . D . Cheetham P . J . G . W ., Geo . Lingard Vaughan Prov . D . G . Reg ., E . G . Harwood P . P . G . W ., and Rev . J . W . Challenor P . P . G . Chaplain .

Bro . Thomas Plumpton W . M ., whose portrait we give as a supplement to this issue , has since his initiation , which took place in 1887 , in the Alexandra Lodge , No . 993 , had a very successful and distinguished Masonio career . During his six or seven years membership of that Lodge he loyally went through the ranks into every position until he attained that of Secretary . In 1891 he joined the Affability Lodge , No . 317 , and in 1893 became one of tbe Founders of the Longsight Lodge , No . 2464 , where , with commendable

considerateness towards other Brethren , he refrained from accepting office . In the formation of the new Manchester Lodge , No . 2554 ( last year ) , Bro . Plumpton stood prominently forward as one of the principal Founders , and the position of Senior Warden was assigned to him , which , as will be seen by our report , has now culminated in that of Worshipful Master—a position which all who know him intimately will admit that he eminently deserves . Through this Lodge he has qualified as a Life Governor of the East Lancashire Systematic Masonic Educational and Benevolent Institution .

With regard to Royal Arch Masonry , Bro . Plumpton is now S . E .-elect in the Virtue Chapter , No . 152 . He is a member of the County Palatine Mark Lodge , No . 156 , holding the office of J . W . In this degree his enthusiasm has not gone unrecognised , for he has had conferred upon him the Provincial honour of Grand Steward . His alliance with the higher forms of Freemasonry is varied . He has had all the Allied Degrees conferred upon him , with the exception of High Priest ; his connection

with the Secret Monitor induced his services as representative of the Champion Conclave , No . 26 , at a meeting hold in London ( in the capacity of Grand Steward for the year ) , when he performed yoeman service . He also took an active part , in founding the Humphrey Chetham Rose Croix Chapter , in which he at present performs the duties of Recorder . A full account of the consecration of this Chapter will be found in our issue of 7 th March last .

Having said so much of his Masonic attainments , let us turn for a few moments to his business qualifications . " Thomas Plumpton , Chartered Accountant , " and the location of his offices , "No . 3 Cooper Street , Manchester , " are well-known in the north of England , for the subject of our remarks has been actively connected with the profession for upwards of twenty years , his name being a very synonym for integrity . For a

period of nearly ten years he has been in evidence as a lecturer , the subjects being as diverse as they were interesting and useful . Lectures on the " Practice of Auditing , " ancl a series on " Costings , " in connection with the engineering and shipbuilding , were so well received in the profession and attained such popularity outside of it , that many of the systems which he advocated have beon adopted by steel firms in Sheffield , and also by engineering firms in Manchester .

Reports Of Meetings.

As a means of recreation and amusement for the students , which should combine at the same time the utilitarian principle of instruction and tuition , Bro . Plumpton has formulated and carried into practice " mock shareholders' " and " mock creditors' meetings , " in imitation we suppose of those occasional forensic attempts which we sometimes read of but seldom have the opportunity of witnessing . Bro . Plumpton has also reached the Ultima Thule of every accountant student ' s ambition—he having passed through the chair of the Chartered Accountant Students' Society .

Neither his Masonic nor professional work is yet complete , so like Icarus we leave him still soaring to something higher , and we venture to assert something nobler , feeling sure that immoderate ambition will never , as it did with Daedalus' son , interrupt Bro . Plumpton ' s hitherto fearless and forthright course .

INSTRUCTION

LONDESBOROUGH LODGE , No . 1681 . THE regular meeting was held on Wednesday , at Bro . F . H . Vant ' s , the Berkeley Arms , John Street , Mayfair , Bro . John Lewis W . M ., Joseph Wall S . W ., Nice J . W ., G . Johnstone S . D ., Ed . Lewis J . D ., G . Wood P . M . Preceptor , R . Corry P . M . Sec , F . H . Vant I . G . The W . M . opened the Lodge to the second degree , and Bro . Mills ,

having offered himself as candidate , and answering the usual questions leading to the third degree in a most satisfactory manner , that ceremony was rehearsed . The W . M . resumed the Lodge to the first degree , and Bro . Joseph Wall was unanimously elected W . M . for next meeting . There were also present Bros . T . Kelly , E . C . Mulvey P . M ., C . Ogg , J . Wynman , F , Mills , and others .

BROMLEY ST . LEONARD LODGE , No . 1805 . AT the Bow Bells , Bow Road , on Wednesday , 24 th inst ., Bro . G . Fennell W . M ., S . H . Weeks S . W ., H . M . Pollock J . W ., W . Joss S . D ., F . A . Slater J . D ., W . Boyce P . M . I . G ., J . De Casseres P . M . Preceptor , F . Thornton Secretary , Napthali .

The W . M . rehearsed the ceremony of initiation , Bro . Napthali candidate . The Brethren assisted Bro . Boyce to work the third , fourth and fifth sections of the lecture . Bro . Weeks was elected to occupy the chair for Wednesday next .

A circular was read from the Emblematic Lodge of Instruction , No . 1321 , announcing that Bro . James Terry P . G . Sword Br . will rehearsa the ceremonies of Consecration and Installation at the St . James ' s Restaurant , on Tuesday , 30 th inst ., at 7 * 30 , when the Brethren are invited to attend . Masonic clothing will be worn .

CITADEL LODGE , No . 1897 . AT the Farleigh Hotel , Amherst Road , Stoke Newington , on the 19 th inst ., Bro . I . P . Cohen P . M . W . M ., Mason S . W ., T . Matthews J . W ., Dunstan P . M ., & c ., Preceptor , Willsmer Secretary , Alderman S . D ., Bishop J . D ., Feistel I . G ., and Lamigeon W . M . 2551 .

The ceremony of Initiation was rehearsed . Bro . Lamigeon candidate . Bro . Alderman answered the necessary questions and the ceremony of passing was rehearsed . Bro . Lamigeon answered the questions and the ceremony of raising was rehearsed . Bro . Lamer was elected a member , and Bro . Mason W . M . for next meeting .

MARK MASONRY

JORDAN LODGE , No . 319 . THE annual medting was held at the Masonic Hall , Torquay , on Thursday , 18 th inst ., when Bro . George West was ably installed by Bro . John Lane P . G . S . O . Eng . The annual meeting of the Ark Mariners followed , at which Bro . Samuel Wills was installed as W . C . N , by Bro . J . Taylor P . C . N .

A cold collation , provided by Bro . Nosworthy , followed , at which Bro . Taylor received the congratulations of the Brethren on the honour that had been conferred upon him by his appointment to the distinguished position of A . G . D . C . in the Mark Grand Lodge of England .

A W . M ., in the course or investing his Ofheers on the night of installation , said : — " Bro . A ., I have much pleasure in investing you with the collar of J . W . It is part of your duty to keep the sun at its meridian , so that profit and pleasure may be the result . " We have no trustworthy information as to the rank

that Joshua held in Lodge , but we should fancy from the above he must have been Junior Warden . We also heard a W . M . open his Lodge in the second degree with a prayer that " the rays of heaven might enlighten them in the paths of virtue and vice ! "" Indian Masonic Eeview . "

THE existing state of affairs in South Africa has naturally caused mining investors aud speculators to look out for a safer field of operations , and this they appear to have found in New Zealand . In this colony there are plenty of splendid properties which for some time have been utterly neglected by the public . Taking one case in point , the East Hauraki mine on the Coromandel Range , and only two miles distant from Coromandel Harbour . This Company owns thirty acres , with no fewer than twenty reefs running

through the property . From different parts of the estate excellent results have been obtained , 20 tons of ore yielded 4 , 000 ounces in one instance , while from another sample of 40 tons , 1 , 000 ounces of gold was extracted . In a third instance 20 ounces per ton is recorded . Why the shares of the East Hauraki Company should stand as low as 7 s is more or less of a mystery , and it is equally mysterious why the existence of so much wealth in one of our own colonies should for so long a time have been almost ignored . ¦