Random Notes And Reflections.

merit of the tail of Mr . Bacon ' s lease , and other matters entailing the expenditure of money upon building operations . Beyond all this there are questions demanding the attention of the brethreu , and not the least among them ought to be the one with regard to the destroyed portraits .

Then there is the matter of the Library and Museum , and a proper waiting room . The decoration of the Temple is something more than an architectural question ; the means of cultivating a knowledge of the literature of the Craft is beyond the builder ' s genius , and the collection aud

storing of mementoes of the past is a work which the learned of the Fraternity alone are fitted to perform . They all involve the outlay of money , and the question ariseswhether it is not better to meet the case as a whole now rather than spend our substance entirely upon bricks and

mortar , and relegate to a future generation the duty we owe to the memory of our predecessors , to those seeking the means of Masonic knowledge , and to those who desire to preserve whatever is left to us and can be gathered

of the past . We think the wiser course would be to consider the matter as a whole , to prepare alternate schemes . At any rate , it is imperative that if a large outlay is incurred , some of it should go to the cultivation of the head aa well as to the gratification of the stomach .

The Duke and Duchess of Albany terminated their visit to Huddersfield in excellent style . Before leaving the town the Masons of West Yorkshire determined to give H . R . H . Brother the Duke of Albany , the R . W . P . G . M . Oxfordshire , a loyal welcome . Accordingly , the brethren assembled in

large numbers m the Town Hall , to which they invited the Duke just before his departure , to receive an address at their hands , and the welcome of fraternal fellowship . The

occasion was made a red-letter day in the annals of the Craft of the Province . Over a thousand brethren obeyed the summons of the R . W . P . G . M . of West Yorkshire , Bro . Sir Henry Edwards .

The illustrious visitor was received by the Mayor Bro . Brigg , the Town Clerk Bro . Batley , and by the Masters of the five Lodges in Hnddersfield . Prior to this the Lodge was officered by the following brethren : Rev . J . P . Pearce 275 W . M ., W . B . Wall 299 S . W ., W . H . Jessop 521 J . W .,

B . Hutchinson 1514 S . D ., Wm . Pitton 1783 J . D ., Wm . Harrop P . M . 290 I . G . Bro . Allan Haigh W . M . 1514 acted as D . C . After the Lodge had been formed it was converted into a special Provincial Grand Lodge , when the R . W . P . G . M . Bro . Sir Henry Edwards presided . The

address , which was signed by him , by Bro . Thos . Tew D . P . G . M . West Yorkshire and S . G . D . Grand Lodge of England , and the W . M . ' s of the five Lodges already mentioned , expressed pleasure at the opportunity that had been afforded of welcoming their Royal Highnesses to

Hnddersfield ; it offered their homage of loyalty and affection to the Queen and the royal family , and referred to the position his R . H . occupied in the Craft , to the prospect of his residing at the Festival of the Boys' School next year , and to his talents and abilities . The address concluded as follows :

We acknowledge with pride and gratitude onr fraternal attachment to your person , as well as our loyal obedience to you and His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , our Most Worshipful Grand Master of Freemasons in England , as recognised heads of onr ancient and

honourable Institution . We devoutly pray that your Royal Highness may be long spared to adorn the Craffc , and that fche principles of brotherly love , relief , and truth may take deep root , not only in the hearts of all Masons , but in the hearts of all men .

His Royal Highness replied in brief but happy terms , and was loudly cheered . — : o : — The R . W . P . G . M . thanked His Royal Highness for receiving the address , and after singing an appropiiate hymn , the brethren formed in procession , and accompanied

the Duke and Duchess ( who was in waiting ) to the station . The brethren marched in their full Masonic costume , ancl ° n returning to the Hall , thanks were given to the Mayor

and Corporation , and to the chief of Police Bro . Ward , We should state that Bro . Joshua Marshall P . P . G . O ., presided most ably at the organ .

We read of a fiddle being used in one . Scotch Lodge to furnish the requisite musical accompaniment to the ceremonies ; we have not , however , heard of the bagpipes doing similar duty . Perhaps those instruments—we wore

Random Notes And Reflections.

going to say of torture , but having the fear of our worthy Scotch brethren before our eyes , we will say—of primitive music , ivere considered too noisy . They are all very well for pibroch , reel and strathspey , but for the solemnities of the Lodge room they would be to ogreat an innovation

even for the most go-ahead Yankee . Speaking of music , we have too little of it , arising from various causes . Sometimes the Organist of a Lod ge fails to put in an appearance too late to be of service , or absents himself altogether . The office being an honorary one , nothing can be said to

him that would be likely to cause him to amend his ways , unless indeed there were more than one brother prepared to perform the duties . Then it sometimes happens that the ceremonies are too much hurried , not only to permit of the playing of appropriate music , but also to the

detriment of the beautiful language of the Institution . Iu some Lodges they open and close with singing . This is a charming adjunct to the service of the Craft , and we should be glad to see it more generally

adopted . It aids to form a devotional frame of mind , and tends to a wider interest in the proceedings . It makes each member a partaker of the ceremonies , and assuredly enhances the sublimit y and bearing of the whole proceedings .

Installation Meetings, &C.

INSTALLATION MEETINGS , & c .

ST . JOHN'S LODGE , No . 795 .

THE installation meeting of the above Lodge was held on Wednesday , 17 th October , at the Raymead Hotel , Maidenhead , A numerous array of brethren and visitors left town by the 1 * 10 train in a splendidly appointed saloon carriage , kindly placed at the disposal of the brethren by Bro . Hart , the courteous station master at Paddington , arriving afc Maidenhead about two p . m . Here carriages were in readiness to convey the party to the Raymead Hotel ,

most charmingly situate on the banks of the Thames , the surrounding beauty of the scenery and the autumnal tints on the foliage being greatly admired and enjoyed by all present , fche day being excep . tionally fine and summer-like . After luncheon was partaken of , Lodge was opened , and the installation of Bro . T . B . Linscott proceeded with , the addresses being admirably delivered by Bro . Allen

P . M . Lodge was closed , and the brethren sat down to a sumptuous banquet and dessert , mosfc excellently served by the host , Bro . Deacon . The usual toasts were given , thafc of the Visitors being responded to by Bros . Mason , Johnstone , and Osborn ; and the Officers by Bro . J . Greenfield J . W . The brethren lef b for town about

nine o clock , having spent a most enjoyable day . , The Visitors were Bros . J . Mason P . P . G . D . Middlesex , A . T . Lewis 140 , J . Norrington 1669 , T . Grove P . M . 1769 , G . Croxton J . W . 1769 , W . G . Dickins P . M . 860 , J . Osborn P . M . 1602 , 0 . Dearing 1602 , E . Woodman J . W . 1950 , H . W . Mayes Assistant G . P . Middlesex , H . Price 55 , J . Johnstone

W . M . 55 , J . EdmonstoTie P . M . 1658 , J . Blyth 173 , A . J . Hopkins 173

Eleanor Cross Lodge, No. 1764.

ELEANOR CROSS LODGE , No . 1764 .

THE annual Festival of this prosperous and popular Lodge was held at the Masonio Hall , Abington-sfcreet , Northampton , on Tuesday , 16 th inst . Lodge was opened at five o ' clock , by the Worshipful Master Bro . Henry Hill P . P . G . O ., assisted by the Officers and brethren , and after the transaction of business routine and ceremonial , Bro . Henry Spoor Provincial Grand Sword Bearer , was duly

installed , according to ancient custom , W . M . for the ensuing year , by his predecessor , assisted by Bro . Henry Brown P . P . G . J . W . The W . M . then appointed and invested bis Officers as follow ;—Bros . H . Hill I . P . M ., E . Morris S . W ., Rev . T . 0 . Beasley P . P . G . O . J . W ., R . Taylor Treasnrer , T . Emery Secretary , G . Butcher S . D ., S . J .

Newman J . D ., A . Jones M . O ., R . Croft Organist , J . Currall I . G ., H . V . Tebbutfc S . S ., W . Goldney J . S ., C . Dean and W . Kirby Tylers . In addition to the above-named , the following occupied places in the Lodge : —Bros . Butler Wilkins Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Frederick Binckes P . M . Grand Stewards' Lodge , H . J . Atkins

P . P . G . D . P . M ., G . Ellard Prov . G . D . C . P . M . 3 G 0 , Rev . S . W . Wigg P . P . G . C . W . M . 1911 , J . L . Spoor , H . Roberts , H . Hodges , B . Thomp - fcon , T . P . Dorman , J . A . . Jowett , W . J . Howe , F . Laycock , R . Abel , W . J . Clarke , J . Gold , J . J . Harb P . P . G . P . S . W . 360 , G . L . Michel P . P . G . D . 360 , E . Fletcher 360 , Ward 1564 , & c . A vote of thanks to Rro . Rev . S . J . W . Sanders P . M ., for his valued services to tho Lodge as Treasurer , was unanimously carried ; and , after the acceptance of

the Auditors' report Ledge waa closed , and the brethren adjourned to banquet , which was admirably served by Mrs . Forth , of the Peacock Hotel , aud to which fail justice w-. i ? done . The usual toast list waa presented—the Qneen auci fcho Craft , the Mosfc Worshipful the Grand Master H . U .. H . the Prince ot" Wales , the Grand Lodge and Officers wero submitted in truly Masouic spirit by the Worshipful Master , who fchen proposed fcho Right Worshipful the Provincial Grand Master

His Grace tha Duke of Manchester , the Worshipful the Deputy Provincial Grand Mauler Rro . Butler Wilkins and the Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge . Bro . Butler Wilkins highly appreciated fche reception accorded to the toa ^ b , aud regretted that tho many public engagements of hia Grace prevented him oftenor meeting his brethren , bufc trusted thafc as tho noxfc Provincial Grand Lodge would bo mmraouod fco raoeh under fche banner of fcho Eleanor Cross , whioh