Installation Festivities.

INSTALLATION FESTIVITIES .

THE Brethren who came to town for the Duke of Connaughfc ' s installation were much in evidence at the big restaurants later in the evening . One of the most distinguished of such parties was at Claridge ' s , where the Duke of

Abercorn Grand Master of Ireland , the Marquess of Hamilton , the Earl oi Mayo , and several of the Officers of Grand Lodge , who were , according to Masonic precedence , the most exalted visitors at Wednesday ' s function , were entertained at dinner by the Grand Treasurer of Ireland Bro . Keatinge Clay .

. he Brethren of Hull and the Yorkshire Lodges were in strong force , and after the ceremony a large number of them , with members of the Craft from most of the other Provinces of England , adjourned to the Holborn Restaurant

for dinner , the large dining nail being crowded . During the repast the band struck up the well known " Entered Apprentices' Song "—following with the National /\ nthem , after which there was such a scene of Masonic enthusiasm and loyalty as very much astonished tae non-Masons present .

Cheshire Charities.

CHESHIRE CHARITIES .

A JOINT Festival in connection with the Cheshire Masonic Educational and Benevolent Institutions was held

at Knutsford on Saturday , 20 th inst . The gardens at Tatton Park were , throueh the kindness of Earl Egerton of Tatton , thrown open , and a large number of Brethren and their lady friends availed themselves of the opportunity of a visit .

In the afternoon a banquet was held at the Town Hall , presided over by Bro . Tatton Egerton , M . P ., Provincial Grand Master , supported by Bros . Henry Jackson Chairman of the

Institution , H . Gordon Small Prov . G . D . C , F . K . Stevenson Hon . Secretary , F . Broadsmith P . P . G . W ., R . Newhouse Prov . G . Sec , and between 300 and 400 Stewards from all parts of the Province .

After the Loyal toasts had been honoured , the Prov . G . Secretary read a list of Stewards , together with their amounts , in all £ 2 , 063 , or about £ 500 more than last year . Bro . Broadsmith , in proposing the health of the Prov . Grand Master , said that the Benevolent Institution had been

formed within the past fifteen years in order to provide for the old men and women until they could be placed on the Central Institution in London , and their Chairman had by virtue of his office become President , and had done his utmost to further the objects of both Institutions .

The Chairman responded , and proposed success to the Masonic Charitable Institutions of the Province , and eulogised the services rendered by the Joint Committee under the leadership of Bro . Jackson . Bro . Jackson responded , and stated that they had twelve or fourteen Annuitants on the Cheshire Benevolent Fund .

Bro . F . K . Stevenson , who has been Hon . Secretary of the Educational Fund for thirty-three years , said they had now fifty-four children who were being clothed and educated on

their books , which this year would require something like £ 500 , and as the permanent income was only £ 150 he earnestly appealed to the urelhren in the Province to supply the deficiency .

Devon Charity.

DEVON CHARITY .

IT is intended by the Brethren of the Province of Devonshire to hold a grand united Masonic Picnic on Bank

Holidaynext , 5 th August , at Lanhydrock , kindly lent for the occasion h y Bro . the Viscount Clifden . The object is to . hear an address by Bro . Broad , as Charity Steward , on behalf of the Charities , and also to give Brethren an opportunity of meeting

Devon Charity.

and getting better acquainted with each other . There will be a luncheon in the open air , and high tea at five o ' clock . There will be various amusements , and a band will be in attendance . ******************

Suffolk.

SUFFOLK .

TFIE annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge was held at Eye Town Hall , on Friday , 19 th inst ., there being a fair muster of Provincial Officers and Brethren . Bro . A . Gibb presided at the outset , and after the Lodge had been

opened he invested Bro . N . Tracy as Deputy Prov . Grand Master , Lord Henniker being unable to be present to perform the ceremony . After the usual reports of the Board of General Purposes and the Suffolk Masonic Charity Association had been considered , the Deputy . Grand Master invested the Officers , as follow :

Bro . Rev . J . H . Pilkington ... Senior Warden Harry Jones ... Junior Warden Rev . H . Carter ... Chaplain Rev . R . O . Davis ... Ditto W . G . Woollett ... Treasurer

Percy Hay ward •¦• Registrar S . R . Anness ... Secretary W . G . Patrick ... Senior Deacon F . Curry ... Junior Deacon

G . Stevenson ... Supt . of Works George Booth jun . ... Dir . of Ceremonies W . H . Hunt ... Asst . Dir . of Cers . H . Calver ... Sword Bearer Thomas Stevenson ... Standard Bearer

W . G . Normandale ... Ditto F . W . Bray ¦ ... Organist E . Hills Assistant Secretary J . Hardwick ... Pursuivant

H . C . Rancc Assistant Pursuivant D . W . Curtis ... Steward E . A . Onvon Ditto W . James ... Ditto W . B . Syer ... Tyler .

The Brethren afterwards proceeded in processional order to the Parish Church , where an appropriate service was held , and the Rev . H . Carter preached . An offertory was taken on behalf of the Eye Ladies' Sick Visiting Fund .

On returning from Church the Lodge was duly closed , and the members repaired to the White Lion Hotel , for the annual banquet , where the usual Masonic and other toasts were honoured .

****************** The Woodrow Lodge of Instruction has been adjourned for the summer until Monday , 30 th September next , when we hope the weekly meetings will prove as popular as hitherto

at Stone ' s Restaurant , 24 Panton Street , Iiaymarket , S . W . We understand our old friend Bro . Rudderforth or his representative will still be " en evidence " at his popular establishment , although the members of the Lodge of Instruction have decided on taking a holiday .

********** The members of the Bowen Lodge , No . 2816 , celebrated their first anniversary at the Town Hall , Chesham , on

Saturday , 20 th inst , when Bro . Percy G . Mallory was installed as second Master of the Lodge by his predecessor in Office Bro . F . S . Priest P . M . 16 37 Prov . G . St . B . Bucks . We propose to give a fuller report of the proceedings in our next issue .

********** It would be difficult to enumerate the number of picnics which are taking place in connection with Lancashire and

Cheshire Lodges at the present time , says the " Manchester Guardian . " The ladies now have an innings , and the fine weather has lent an additional zest to a most admirable adjunct to Freemasonry .