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his great popularity among the Brethren . He first called upon the Brethren to drink in silence to the memory of their late beloved Queen . The next toast he had the great honour to ' propose was given for the first time in the history of the New Concord Lodge ; it was the health of His Majesty the King and success to the Craft . His

Majesty had resigned as Most Worshipful Grand Master , but they were proud to have their King as Protector of English Freemasonry . The toast was most loyally honoured ; Mr . Wills-Page singing the National Anthem . In proposing the toast of the Duke of Connaught M . W . Grand Master-elect , the W . M . said no words were needed to convince the

Brethren that the Duke was fully qualified for the high Office . 1 he members of the Craft were proud and happy tohave him as Grand Master , and trusted his Mastership might be as prosperous as had been his brothers for twenty-six years in the past . He was sure their new M . W . G . M . would follow in the footsteps of his brother . This toast was followed by that of the Grand Officers .

Bro . W . M . Johnson I . P . M . said it was his privilege and pleasure to propose a toast which he was sure would be well received , and that was the health of their Worshipful Master . They had in Brother Howard a most efficient and popular Master , one who knew the working to perfection . He was well to the front in everything he undertook . No doubt he would arrange for a summer outing , which , he was sure , could not be in better hands . He concluded by wishing Bro . Howard a successful and prosperous year of Office .

The W . M ., on rising to respond , received quite an ovation . He thanked the Brethren for the hearty and sincere way in which they had honoured the toast . He had been working hard to rise to the honourable position in which he had been placed that evening . He was initiated eight years since . He often asked himself—what is Freemasonry ? He replied , find it out for yourself and you will soon

learn . He did , land if they dived into ireemasonry they would do the same . The fourth year in his Masonic career he received his first collar , the seventh year saw him S . W ., by the eighth he was duly qualified , and there he was as W . M . It was worth working for ; he strongly advised the younger Brethren to attend Lodges of Instruction as he hmd done in his short career , and hoped they would be equally successful . He regarded the Brethren in the S . E . corner

as the chief supporters of the Lodge , and assured the Brethren he should do all he could to follow the example of those predecessors . He should do evervthing in his power for the welfare and prosperity of FYeemasonry in general , and for the New Concord Lodge in particular . He sincerely thanked the I . P . M . for his very kind remarks ; he had said they had a good Master , and he would give them proof of his words .

Bro . Johnson had been an example to the Lodge . When he was elected W . M . he said he was not prepared , but he stuck to it , land his performance had been a credit to him ; he had done his work well , and he was sure he would have installed him that evening , but for a slight indisposition , which prevented his doing so . Now that

Bro . Johnson had passed over to the S . E . corner of the Lodge he had a most pleasant duty to perform , which was to present him with the Past Master ' s jewel which he had so well earned , and he hoped he would wear it in health and prosperity for many years to come , and in his old age would look upon it as a pleasing memento in connection with the New Concord Lodge .

In response , Bro . Johnson thanked . all , the Brethren for their great kindness and forbearance towards him during his year of Office . He should always regard the handsome jewel just given him as the greatest compliment he had ever received . He had tried hard to

give satisfaction and was pleased to hear he had done so . They had rewarded him with the jewel , and he hoped to wear it for many years to come in the New Concord Lodge . The elegant jewel , which was worked by the well known firm of Bro . C . Weeden and Son , 2 Rydon Crescent , Clerkenwell , bore the following inscription :

Presented to BRO . WM . J OHNSON W . M . of New Concord Lodge , No . 813 , in appreciation of zeal and assiduity displayed by him as W . M

1900-1901 . The next toast on the list was that of the Installing Master . The W . M . said he was well aware that Bro . Weeden did not wish to be praised too much , but he must say his working had been grand , and he was delighted he had installed him ; the service had been highly appreciated by him , and he was sure it was by the Brethren also .

Bro . C . Weeden P . M . thanked the W . M . for his kind remarks . He said what he had done was merely a labour of love ; the I . P . M . asked him to perform the ceremony for him , because he did not feel well . He had been connected with the Lodge for over twenty-five years , and was ( always willing to do everything in his power for its

welfare . Bro . Johnson had been a good Master , and had done his work well during his year of Office . Unforseen circumstances had occurred , over which he had no control , otherwise Bro . Johnson would have installed his successor equally as well , if not better , than himself . Whatever he could do in the future for the Lodge he should be most happy to undertake .

The next toast was that of the visitors , and it afforded the W . M . much , pleasure to propose it . The members of the New Concord Lodge were always pleased to see guests among them , and any Brethren who might favour them with a visit mi ght rely on receiving a most hearty welcome .

Bro . C . J . ' Vanderpump P . M . 1 S 6 3 , in responding said : Among the many advantages of Freemasonry he supposed there should not be reckoned least in pleasure , that of giving and receiving hospitality ; but included in those advantages there was no fertile field suggestive of novelty of observation in -returning thanks for the toast of the Visitors . It had g iven him great pleasure to partake of their hospital-

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ity at the invitation of their dear Brother Past Master Potter , arid the delight had been the more pleasurable as until that night he had not seen Bro . Potter for fifteen years . He trusted they would not allow the meagreness of his remarks to be a measure of his sincerity in thanking them very much indeed .

Bro . Gush P . M . 1541 did not know why he was called upon to respond , although he was pleased the W . M . had coupled his name with the toast . He was pleased to say he had been connected with them for twenty-five years , as the Preceptor of the New Concord Lodge of Instruction . The present W . M . had been a constant and regular attendant thereat , . and it had always been his desire to work

up to the proud position he occupied at that moment . He was an excellent worker , and knew the ritual of Freemasonry to perfection ; the manner in which he had invested the Officers was sufficient proof of his ability . He was also sure that the Officers he had invested that night would give every support and satisfaction . It had been a great p leasure to him to see his old and esteemed friend Bro . Weeden instal the W . M . ; the work had been admirably done . As mentioned

before he was the Preceptor of the Instruction Lodge , and naturally took great interest in Lodge work ; he strongly advised the Brethren to attend the Instruction meetings , as without a great deal of practice they would find great difficulty in gaining the position they all probably hoped to arrive ia . t in . due time . As the W . M . had said he was , comparatively speaking , only a young member , but through his attendance and practice he had worked his way up to the top of the ladder .

The W . M . next gave the toast of the Past Masters , and Bro . H . Sprake P . M ., in reply , said he was rather bashful , but he would try to get over that . He thanked the W . M . for the kind remarks concerning the Past Masters : they were all pleased to see the W . M . in the cha ' ir as ruler of the Lodge . If the W . M . could remember when they first met he told him he would make rapid progress , because

he had shown ability in each degree . He was sure the W . M . would give every satisfaction . Of course it was needless for him to say that whatever he could do for the welfare of the Lodge he certainly would do ; he should like to attend more regularly , but important business prevented his doing so ; however , his heart and soul were always with the New Concord Lodge .

The W . M . in highly complimentary terms gave the toast of the Officers , and Bro . Keiser S . W . replied . In whatever place of honour he might be placed he would endeavour to discharge the duties thereof , and would render all the assistance that was required of him . His desire was in time to come to rise to the honourable position ithe W . M . was placed in that evening .

Bro . R . Fletcher thanked the W . M . for having placed him in the proud position of J . W ., and assured the W . M . he would continue to improve his Masonic knowledge ; he hoped to be perfect by the next meeting , so that the W . M . and Brethren would be satisfied with his assistance . The enjoyable proceedings were brought to a happy and pleasant termination by the Tyler ' s toast .

The musical entertainment was far above the average , and was under the direction of Bro . R . H . Tickle . The artistes were Miss Emily Foxcroft , Miss Jessie Mayell , Bros . Wallis , Arthur Kennafd ( court illusionist ) , Mr . Wills-Page , and others .

Chaucer Lodge , No . 1540 . ON Monday . 25 th inst ., the regular meeting was well attended at the St . James ' s Restaurant . There were present , among others , Bros . W . Miles W . M ., J . Genese I . P . M ., A . J . Barclay S . W ., A . Sarjiant J . W ., Rev . S . J . Roco Chap ., A . J . Bailey P . M . Treas ., L . Weil P . M . Sec , S . Russe . ll S . D ., E . H . Parry J . D ., G . W . Cooper Org ., C .

Graham P . M . I . G ., W . Klingenstein P . M ., J . Polak P . M ., Dr . H . Oppenheimer P . M ., H . Vassmore , W . Gradenwitz , E . S . Cook , S . L . Heymann , H . Oppenheimer , E . Oppenheimer , H . De Vries , G . Reid , H . V . Purvis , I . Behr , H . W . Janisch , J . R . Woodley , J . G . DaCosta , O . Reichenbach , Macdonald Brown P . M . 2408 , E . Theodore Smith P . M . 176 S , E . N . Isaacs P . M . 141 , Carl Von Buch S . W . 235 , E . C . Haram 1872 , and F . Rayden 73 .

The Lodge having been opened and the minutes read and confirmed , Bros . Janisch , Woodley , and DaCosta were entrusted and raised to the degree of Master Mason . The W . M . informed the Brethren that he attended the Festival of the Benevolent Institution , and that the total his list amounted tc was ^ 88 3 s , monies all subscribed by the Brethren of the Chaucer Lodge .

The Lodge was closed , and after the Brethren had dined the W . M . gave the usual Loyal toasts , specially referring to H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught as M . W . G . M .-elect . The other usual toasts followed , and were interspered with music , recitations and singing , under the direction of Bro . G . W . Cooper Organist .

In replying to the toast of the Worshipful Master , Bro . W . Miles said it was a pleasure to him to hear that the Brethren were so pleased with the way in which the working of the Lodge had been carried out , and he wished to thank his Officers for the good work they had done . Bro . Macdonald Brown , in replying for the Visitors , congratulated the Brethren of the Lodge on having as their W . M . such an earnest and excellent worker as Bro . M'iles . The Tyler ' s toast concluded a very enjoyable gathering .

Royal Lodge , No . 1585 . A VERY enjoyable function in connection with this flourishing Lodge was the Ladies' night held at the Holborn Restaurant , on Wednesday evening , 20 th inst ., under the presidency of Bro . C . C . Barber W . M ., supported by the Officers of the Lodge and a large number of ladies and gentlemen . The guests were received by the Worshipful Master and Mrs , Barber , and afterwards ; adjourned to the banqueting room .