Installation Meetings, &C.

INSTALLATION MEETINGS , & c .

ALBERT VICTOR LODGE , No . 1773 .

THE third Installation in connection with the Albert victor Lodge took place ou Friday , tho 19 fch inst ., at _ tho Town Hall , Pendleton , Manchester , ou which occasion Bro . Daniel Asquith , tho S . W . of the past year , was placed in the chair . The proceedings passed off in a manner reflecting tho greatest credit on those who had been entrusted with tho arrangements , not a single hitch occurring

throughout the day . Tho Lodge was opened by Bro . J . Lees the W . M ., who was supported by Bro . S . Statham I . P . M ., D . Asquith S . W ., E . Winterbottom J . W ., W . Hardcastlo Sec , J . W . Almond S . D ., C . Oldham J . D ., F . A . Dale Org ., J . Statham I . G ., Thomas Kay and Thomas Hewitt Stewards ; most of tho remaining members of

the Lodge , and tho following Visitors : Ellis Jones 1147 P . G . T ., William H . Baynes 1341 , 1814 P . M ., J . J . Meakin 992 W . M ., C . W . Bayley Sec . 1345 , J . Salmon 163 P . P . G . D . C , S . Y . B . Bradshaw 1009 P . P . G . Chap ., G . Fisher 129 P . M ., G . Mellor 300 , 64 D . P . G . M ., John Chadwick Prov . G . Sec , G . F . Smith P . M . 1009 ,

1045 , W . Nicholl S . W . 317 , J . Ogden 1357 , F . H . A . Wright P . P . G . C .,

B . Taylor P . P . G . T ., J . M . Smith , W . W . Morgan Jun . 1385 , F . Douglas 287 , S . Mooro P . M . 992 , James Lowndes 163 , 999 , T . J . Hooper P . P . G . T . 1633 , J . Bowkor , J . D . Nowell 521 , E . Carr 1170 , F . P . Morris 563 New York , J . 11 . Lowndes 154 , & c . The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed , the W . M . advanced the Lodge to tho second degree , when Bro . S . Statham

assumed the chair , and tho W . M . elect having been presented , he proceeded to obligate him in due form . A board of Installed Masters having been formed , Bro . Asquith was placed in the chair with the customary forms . Tho brethren were then admitted , and the newly installed Master was saluted and proclaimed in the three degrees . Bro . Jos . Harrop P . M . then invested the following

brethren as Officers for the year : Bros . Winterbottom S . W ., Hardcastle J . W ., Oldham Sec , Almond S . D ., J . Sfcathnm J . D ., Dale Organist , Kay I . G ., Hewitt and Moffatt Stewards , J . B . Kirk ( re-elected ) Tyler . The W . M . personally invested Bro . Harrop with the collar of Treas ., he having been elected by the brethren to that position . The three addresses were then given ; that to the

Master by Bro . E . Williams P . M ., that to the Wardens by Bro . J . Lees I . P . M ., and thafc to the brethren by Bro . Rev . Dr . Brown P . M . P . P . G . C . The W . M . then proceeded to close the Lodge , one proposition for joining , and one for initiation , having been handed in previous to his so doing . The brethren then repaired to the banquet room , where a splendid repast

awaited them ; there were fifty-two brethren in all around the festive board , and each thoroughly enjoyed the entertainment provided . The W . M . was particularly happy in the way in which he presided , treating all those present in such a manner as to render ifc impossible for any to feel strange , and this notwithstanding the fact that the visitors far outnumbered the members . But as in this

life all good things must come to an end , so did this installation banquet , and then the brethren again repaired fco the Lodge room which , in the interval , had undergone a great change ; there dessert was served , and the social part of the day's proceedings commenced . The W . M . in appropriate terms gave the usual Loyal toasts , the brethren honouring that of the Queen and the Craft with a fire of twenty-one .

and singing the National Anthem , and that of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , with twenty and one , followed by " God bless the Prince of Wales . " In quick succession followed fche toasts in hononr of the Pro Grand Master and the Deputy Grand Master , with the rest of the Grand Officers , each of which received due amount of attention at the hands of both the Master and brethren . Bro . Samnel Statham

P . P . G . T ., the first W . M . of the Lodge , then rose to propose the health of the Worshipful Prov . Grand Master of East Lancashire , Col . Le Gendre N . Starkie . He had heard it said that any one rising to address an assembly should be possessed of three qualifications ; he should have a full head , a ready tongue , and a warm heart . Now as regarded the firsfc , he dared nofc lay claim to any such

endowment j as regarded the second , all must know there were times when the little member would not act as glibly as one could wish ; but as regarded the third , there he felt particularly at home . He had within him a heart that warmed to anything connected with the Masonic Institution . He felt they must all be gratified at the assembly of the day , and the great success it had been . On the occasion of the con

secration ot the Lodge , the Prov . Grand Master had said thafc he was father of twelve Masonic children , the Albert Victor being the twelfth . He ( the speaker ) did not know how many he had at fche present time , but he felt every one must hope that all of them were in a prosperous state , aud that each might become fathers of healthy members of Freemasonry . Tho present aspect of the Craft in tho

Province of East Lancashire led to the supposition thafc tho Prov . G . Master was truly wedded to the Order , and all felt confident that no bill of divorcement would ever be required , but that the happy alliance would continue until death did them part . The members of tho Lodge could but gratefully acknowledge the advice given to them by the Provincial ruler as to the introduction of members , which

advice they had endeavoured to act up to . Before concluding this toast , Bro . Statham felfc he must express his hearty congratulations to all concerned on fche accession to fche chair of the Lodge of one who was truly worthy of the honour . It could but be the hope of all thafc he would have a successful year , aud that at its conclusion he would be able to congratulate himself on having added lustre to tho

Albert Victor Loclgo , which he hoped would ever continue to be a Lodge abounding in peace , good temper , and enjoyment . Brother Brooks next gave the Deputy Provincial Graud Master , Brother George Mellor , and tho rest of the Provincial Grand Officers Present and Past . He was extremely sorry that tho Deputy Provincial Grand Master had not been able to stay to the after dinner proceedings , but ho felt sure ho must have carried away from tho meeting a feeling

Installation Meetings, &C.

of delight . If they had not been honoured , as they had expected to be , with tho company of the Prov . Grand Master himself , they had had his Deputy , whom they were all very pleased to welcome whenever he was able to attend any of thoir meetings . As regarded the other Provincial Grand Officers , he hoped they had been pleased at what had boon done , he assured them that at all times they would

be most heartily welcome at the Albert Victor Lodge . With tho toast was coupled the name of Bro . Hine , and that brother , after a song by Bro . Dale , tho Organist of the Lodge , proceeded to reply . Every man , he said , who entered Freemasonry was to a certain extent ambitious . In tho first place , he was ambitious to fill office in his own Lodge , and after that ho felt ambitious to wear a different

apron to that of his fellows ; a very laudable ambition too . It was but natural that a Provincial Grand Master should desire to find out for himself the respective merits of those ho had appointed to fill tho various offices , and ifc was for fche Grand Officers fco show that tho Prov . Grand Master had not made a mistake in selecting them , or that they wore unmindful of the compliment that had been paid them .

Of the brethren who rose to the toast there wore six Past Grand Treasurers ; thev were Provincial Officers appointed by the voice of the brethren themselves , and even though he was personally one of tho number , ho could but say they had dono their duty . Bro . John Lees rose to propose the health of the W . M . Ho was sure it was a toast which would be received with the greatest enthusiasm . Up to

the present time they had been going through what he might y term Wonderland , now they were about to do honour to one of their own number . The enthusiasm with which the brethren had received the mention of the Master ' s name was just what might have been expected , and he felt that no words were necessary from him to induce them to heartily respond to the toast . It had been his

lot to be connected with Bro . Asquith for many years , and he had found him what ho might term a practical Mason . If there was one point specially required to endear him to the Lodge it had been found at the time of the consecration . Since that time he had fulfilled the duties of the various offices be had undertaken in a manner calling for the warmest thanks . The

brethren honoured the toast iu the heartiest manner , and the W . M ., on rising to respond , again received a round of applause . He felfc he could not find words adequately to thank the brethreu for the way iu which they had received him . He little thought when he entered Freemasonry that he should ever occupy the position he filled that nighfc . Thafc day was certainly one of the red-letter days of his

life . He trusted that at the end of his term of office he might leave the chair of the Lodge as unsullied as he had that day entered upon it . He next proposed the health of the I . P . M . Bro . Lees . He was sure that he uttered the sentiments of all when he said ^ that Bro . Lees had been , during his Mastership , one of those shining stars so seldom met with in the chair . of K . S . They could nofc certainly

boast of a great number of initiates during his term of office , but that was no disadvantage j they did not want initiates , if they wonld in any way affect fche harmony of the Lodge . The I . P . M . had fulfilled the dnties of the chair most efficiently , and it would be his ( the Wor . Master ' s ) endeavour to carry on the work on similar lines . As a token of the appreciation of the brethren , he was instructed to

present to Bro . Lees a Past Master ' s jewel , and he trusted that his health would be such as to enable him to attend the meetings of the Lodge for many years to come . After a song , the I . P . M . returned his thanks . He felfc sure he need hardly say he was more than grateful for the way in which the toast had been received . He had endeavoured to carry out the duties required by the Lodge to the best of

his ability , and if he had given satisfaction he was gratified . He had to thank the Past Masters for the assistance they had rendered him . He felt that the brethren had not only expressed their satisfaction , but by the gift of the Past Master ' s jewel that had just been presented him had proved they were sincere in their expressions . Although he now retired among the Pasfc Masters ,

he hoped he should still have opportunities , and should on many occasions act for the benefit of the brethren . Bro . Harrop was entrusted with the proposition of the next toast—that of the Visiting Brethren . He knew it would need very few words from him to recommend ifc to tbe brethren of fche Lodge , as ifc was always an acceptable one . He trusted all would unite in the grand design of

being happy and communicating happ iness . On looking round he felfc they had been endeavouring to do this , for he saw in the face of each an appearance of having thoroughly enjoyed themselves . He felt that the mystic ties of Freemasonry would prove a great power in the future , aud would be of great advantage to coming generations . In support of this , he referred to the great number of Masons all over

the world , but more particularly in the United States of America , where there were no less than half a million members ia the various Lodges . They had among them a Brother from that part of the world , another from the Grand Lodge of Scotland , and others who were associated with their own centre , all of whom they were pleased to hononr and welcome among them . Bro . Fisher assured

the brethren he rose with pleasure , and felt honoured at being called upon to respond to this toasfc . As an Officer of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , he would crave the indulgence of the brethren while ho placed before them some particulars of the position at present occupied by that Grand Lodge . He know ifc would not vie with that of England ; but during the last few years it had been speedily

recovering from the effects of past misfortunes . The Masons of Scotland had been endeavouring fco raise their Grand Lodge from fche chaos into which it had been plunged , and under the present Grand Master—Sir Michael Shaw-Stewart—they were progressing most satisfactorily . He hoped this improvement would continue , and that , by degrees , they would be able to improve tbe position of Scotch Masonry . Bro .

Bradshaw also replied . Bro . Allen P . M . proposed the Masonic Charities . All Masons , he said , took a deep interest in tho great Charities associated with the Order . Although they had not yefc had occasion to appeal to either of them on behalf of any of their members , he was pleased to think there were many really worthy brethren who were relieved by their moans . Bro . Hine responded . He referred