Reports Of Meetings.

absence , the other had performed the Installation ceremony for them that night , but had loft at the conclusion of the Lodge proceedings , so that it was impossible for him to speak in reply to the toast . But the ono who was present was a host in himself , and was generally appreciated .

The I . P . M . acknowledged tho toast , and tendered his thanks for tho handsome jewel presented to him in Lodge . He had promised , when elected to fill the chair of the Lodge , to do his best to uphold its dignity , and he had ever striven to do this . If his small efforts had merited their approval he was much gratified . The very handsome jewel they had been pleased to present him with was a tangible expression of the approval he had been striving

to win during the past year . He then referred to his Stewardship for the Girls School , and thanked tho Lodge for its vote on that behalf , which vote he hoped would be supplemented by many others from individual members . Ho also spoke of the special Masonic service to be held at Sfc . Botolph ' s Church in the evening of Ascension Day , when the body of the church would bo reserved for Brethren in Masonic clothing—the necessary dispensation having been given for the public display .

The joint toast of the Treasurer , Secretary and Director of Ceremonies was next given . They all regretted the circumstances that kept thoir Treasnrer away from the meeting that day . The Secretary was one of the best Officers it was possible to find , his only real fault being—if fault it was—that he was ready to do

everybody ' s work , that of the Worshipful Master and all thrown in , but there was no fear of his having to do this in the present case ; they might rather rely on his striving to do everything in his power on their behalf , and they were reaping tho benefit of his efforts . Tho Master also spoke a few words in praise of the D . C .

The Secretary replied , tendering thanks for the very kinds words said in praise of those included in the toast , some of which he felt were unmerited . They all regretted the absence of ' tho Treasurer , who had been associated with the Craft for a period of 38 yearsthe most of any of the members of the Lodge . The Master had spoken of the work attached to the Secretaryship , undoubtedly

there was some , but his experience of it was that it more resembled the peaceful gliding of a barque along a flowing stream under easy sail than anything of a troublesome character . Thoir Lodge had made steady progress . It started with sixteen founders , and at the close of tho first year had twenty-eight members , at the end of the second year there were thirty-one , and now they had thirtysix . Doubtless they could have made it a much larger Lodge

had they desired to do so , but they had preferred to follow tho advice of their Consecrating Officer—Bro . Shadwell H . Gierketo study quality first and quantity afterwards . Eight of the members of the Lodge had each seen twenty-eight years service in tlie Craft , and many others could boast of an almost equally long experience , so that the Lodge , though young in itself , possessed some experienced Masons , which was a safeguard that they wero nofc likely to get into trouble .

Bro . Mead D . C also lamented the absence of tho Treasurer . Ho had virtually given up Freemasonry , but being so closely associated with the district from which tho Lodge took its name he had not been able to resist associating himself with it , with the result that he had found all his old interest in Freemasonry return and he felt quite capable of doing what he hoped to accomplish in the way of helping to bring the Lodge to perfection .

The toast of the Officers concluded the programme , and m proposing this the Master referred to the past experiences of several of those in Office in the Lodge , who had passed the chair in other places , while as regarded the yonngor ones coming on he believed they were anxious to do what their elders had accomplished , or even excel them .

The two Wardens acknowledged , and then the Tyler gave the concluding toast , bringing a very pleasant evening to a termination at an early hour . Not the least enjoyable part of the proceedings was the

excellent programme of music arranged under the direction of Dr . Haskins Organist of the Lodge , the artistes being Miss Ethel Winn , Miss Hermione Hamilton , Miss Alice Andrews , Miss Ethel Bevans , Bro . Charles Butler , Bro . W . H . Webb and Bro . Schartau ( in place of Bro . James Kift , who was indisposed ) . o o o

/ ESCULAPIUS LODGE , No . 2410 . THE concluding meeting of a most successful Masonic year was held , says the " Lancet , " at the Cafe Royal , Regent Street , on the 11 th inst ., the Worshipful Master , E . Ernest Pocock , M . D ., presiding . Jacob Pickett , M . D ., was unanimously elected Master for tlie ensuing year . G . Danford Thomas , M . D ., and Thomas Dufcton , M . D ., were re-elected Treasurer and Secretary respectively .

F . Harry Simpson and James Crooks , M . D ., were admitted to the third degree , and J . Routledge Bosworth , M . R . C . S ., to the second . W . Arbuthnot Lane , M . S ., and C Luxmoro Drew , M . B ., Barrister-at Law , were appointed auditors to examine the accounts , which , the Treasurer stated , were in a satisfactory condition .

The Brethren , after the Masonic business was concluded , sat down to a very enjoyable dinner and spent a pleasant evening . Professor G . Hare Philipson , M . D ., D . C . L ., made an eloquent speech in response to the hearty manner his health was drunk , and , as an apology for not being a regular attendant at the Lodge meet-. ngs , pleaded distance as his excuse .

o o o We learn that a Warrant has been granted for a new Lodge to meet at New Barnet , under the title of the Barnet Lodge , No . 2509 , and that the consecration will probably take place on the 28 th of May . Brother

J . M . McLeod , Secretary R . M . I , for Boys , will be the first Master .

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

— : o : — HENGIST LODGE , No . 195 . AT tho meeting on the Sth inst ., an uncommon and interesting ceremony took place , the presentation of a handsome Volume of the Sacred Law to each of tho Boys who recently carried tho Bible in the procession of Freemasons at the laying of the foundation stone of St . John ' s Church , at Boscombe . In presenting the

volumes the Worshipful Master Dr . W . R . Thomas P . M . P . P . G . S . D . West Yorks , said : —Master Vye , Master Preston , and Masters Hawker , you are sons of respected Masons , and as such you were lately permitted to take part in a procession of Freemasons , when

engaged in a sacred and holy work . You had tho honour of conveying the Volume of the Sacred Law to its new resting place at Boscombe , where an edifice is being raised in which tho words contained in that Sacred Volume will be preached for many many years , and to generations yet unborn .

In commemoration of the interesting event , it was decided by Provincial Grand Lodge that a copy of tho Bible should be presented to each one of you . You are Lewises . The word Lewis denotes strength ; and to Masons , tlio son of a Mason . As a Lewis , it is the duty of each one of you to honour your father and mother ; to

help them , if necessary , to bear the heat and burthen of the day ; and to assist in rendering their declining years happy and comfortable . As tho Worshipful Master of tho oldest Lodge in Bournemouth , I have the pleasure of presenting to each one of you a copy of the Holy Bible , and I trust that it will be your constant

companion through life . By it , you will be taught your duty to God , to your neighbour , and to yourself . To God , by never mentioning His name , save with that awe and reverence which aro duo from tho creature to tho Creator ; to your neighbour , by doing unto him as you would that he , under similar circumstances , should do unto you ; and to yourself , by never doing anything of which you

need be ashamed , ever remembering that His all-seeing eye beholds you , and that He is always watching and caring for you . I trust that you , in after years , will , after living a good and well spent life , ho able to look back with pleasure , to the few happy moments you spent ' as boys' in a Mason's Lodge , and that the presentation of this grand old work will influence your whole career ia life . o o o

STAFFORDSHIRE KNOT LODGE , No . 726 . THE installation was held on Wednesday , the 18 th inst ., at the Lodge Room , Swan Hotel , Stafford . There was a large attendance of Brethren , including Lieut .-Col . Bindley Deputy Provincial Grand Master in charge of the Province , to witness the installation of Bro . George Wormal , the present Mayor of Stafford , as Master for the year .

The Lodge was opened by the W . M ., Bro . C . J . Nevitt , and , as had been confidently expected , he admirably performed the whole of the ceremonies and addresses with marked effect . The business of tho evening being concluded , the Brethren adjourned to the banquet room , where a superb repast was served under the personal superintendence of Miss Perks , in her usual satisfactory manner .

The usual Loyal toasts having been honoured , those of Grand and Provincial Grand Lodges were given by the newly installed W . Master , and ably responded to by Lieut .-Col . Bindley , who , in the course of his remarks , mado special reference to the installation in Juno next of Brother the Earl of Dartmouth Provincial Grand Master Designate , and hoped all would make effort to attend . Bro ,

Wooldridge Prov . G . D . C ., in proposing the health of tho newly made W . M ., said it was a particularly pleasant duty to propose the toast . He had watched from time to time the career and steady progress made by their W . M ., and they all knew tho unique and popular position ho held as' chief magistrate of the borough and

now W . M . of No . 726 . Regarding the latter honour , which had been conferred upon him that day , and speaking for himself , he was perfectly sure the Brethren would confirm it when he said they were proud to acknowledge him , because ho was beloved by all .

The toast was drunk with much enthusiasm , and the W . M . on rising to respond was greeted with a hearty welcome . The Masonio Charities was proposed by Rev . S . Wickham Jones ( in the unavoidable absence of Bro . M . Barker , the President of the Staffordshire

Masonic Association , and who had attended specially , but was compelled to leave by an early train ) , who stated that the Staffordshire Knot Lodge very nearly headed the list in the Province , only one other Lodge subscribing more . The W . M ., who is also Charity Steward , responded . Other toasts followed . o o o

LEWIS LODGE , No . 872 . ON the 16 th inst ., the fraternity mustered in strong force at the Lodge Room , Duke Street , Whitehaven , to do honour to the I . P . M ., Brother Archibald William Johnston . There are black sheep in every flock , and although all belonged to the mystic tie the " secret" oozed out that something beyond the ordinary business of tho evening was to be transacted , hence the large number of visitors and Brethren .

The Lodge was opened by the esteemed W . M . J . A . Fowler who said it gave him much pleasure to see such a large , influential , and representative gathering of Brethren as were present that evening . He knew that they had assembled in such numbers to show their appreciation of the skill , ability , and zeal which Bro . Johnston had displaved during the year as W . M .

To him it was a great treat to scan the roll of illustrious Masters , who had so worthily filled the chair recently vacated by Brother Johnston .