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of office which the lodge had just passed through , and sincerely hoped that , although Bro . Watts was retiring into the ranks of the Past Masters , he would long continue a member of the Leopold Lodge , and continue to give it the benefit of his Masonic experience . On behalf of the Iodge , he ( the VV . M . ) had much pleasure in presenting to Bro . Watts a Past Master's jewel , as a token of the esteem in which he was held by the brethren of the Leopold Lodge , and as a souvenir of his year of office , and which he trus'ed he might long be spared to wear .

Bro . Watts , in reply , was deeply sensible ot the honour conferred upon him , and returned bis grateful acknowledgments for the goodwill of the brethren , and for the handsome jewel presented to him , which he should highly prize . His year of office had been a very pleassnt one , and he was glad to think that it had been a fruitful one , having served as Steward on behalf of the lodge at the last Festivalof the Boys' Institution . For the hearty co-nperation of the brethren he was very thankful , and assured tha brethren that anything he could do to further the prosperity of th 3 lodge wis at thair service .

In proposing "The Installing Master , the W . M . referred to the excellent minner in which Bro . W . Carev , P . M ., Treis ., had carried out his duties , and his willingness at all times to do what he could for the lodge . Rf plying to the toast , Bro . Carey said that it was a great pleasure for him to instal Bro . Meadows , who had proved himself a worthy member of the lodge , into the chair of K . S . If his Sfiv ' rfs * as Installing Master had given satisfaction he was fully gratified , and sincerely hoped that the pleasant ties existing among the members of the lodge might be strengthened with advancing ye & rs , and that the lodge might continue to prosper in every respect .

" The Initiates" followed , Bios . Talbot and Manley suitably replying , and expressing the hope that they might be found useful and worthy members of the Fraternity into which they had that night been admitted . "The Visitors" receivrd a warm welcome at the hands of the W . M ., who was pleased to see such a large and distinguished muster . The toast , as usu- > l , was heartilv pledged , and Bros . W . J . Spratling , P . P . G . Treas . Middx . ; Purkiss , VV . M . 879 ; H . T . Thompson , P . M . 742 ; and VV . F . Darnell , P . M . iGo 7 and 1679 , replied , refarring to the excellent working of the Iodge , and the hearty reception accorded to the visitors .

"The Masonic Institutions " next claimed attention at the hands of the W . M ., who left the Charities to be dealt with by Bro . J . M . McLeod , who was with them that evening . In rej ly , the Secretary of the Boys' School dwelt on the good which the three Institutions were doing , and felt sensible of tbe honour done to the "Boys" in having a Steward from the Leopold Lodge two years in succession . He sincerely hoped that the members of the lodge would send thtir W . M . fortified with a handsome list at the next Festival , over which Bro . his Grace the Duke of Devonshire would preside , and

concluded an elrquent appeal by wishing all prosperity to the Leopold Lodge . Responding on behalf of "The Past Masters , " Bro . Edmund J . Morgan , Secretary , regretted the absence of several Past Masters through business engagements . He rrrgislulaled the W . M . en his election to the chair , which he had so deservedly earned . He premised for Ihe Past Masters their hearty support and co-operation , and earnestly trusted that the sertimenrsof the installation ceremony , so feelingly given expression to by Bro . Casey , P . M ., might find not only a fleeting , but an abiding place in their heaits .

For " The OfFcers of the Lodge" Bros . Hampson , S . VV ., and McKenzie , Asst . Stwd ., returned thanks , promising a regular attendance and hearty support to the W . M . The Tyler ' s toast brought a very successful and enjoyable evening to a close . The musical arrsngemtnts were in charge of Bro . Arthur Strugnell ; Madame Edna Riga , Bros . H . Lewis Thomas , H . Mervyn , George Pritchard , P . M ., P . Z , Ward and Stiugnell contifouling to the harmony of the evening .

Abbey Lodge , No . 2120 . On Wednesday evering , the Sth ult ., there was a very numerous gathering of brethren at the Masonic Hall , Chertsey , the occasion being the installation of Bro . James VVebb as W . M . for the year ensuing . The dutiee of the outgoing P . M ., or to •¦ peak more corrcc ly , the I . P . M ., Bro . T . Dix , were efficiently carried out . The office of installation having been gone through with that excellence of working for which the

lndge is famous , Bro . Webb invested his officers as follows * . Bros . Thomas Dm , l . P . M . j Frank Harper , S . W . j William Brooks , J . VV . ; H . C . Leigh-Bennett , P . P . S . G . W ., Treas . j H . J . Bidwell , P . P . G . D . C , Secj Rev . E . R . Parr , M . A ., Chap . j A . McCormick , S . D . j A . G . Hutchins , J . D . j H . G . Nesmyth , I . G . j J . F . Bailey , Org . j Charles Head , D . Cj R . J . Hunt and E . Squire , Stwds . j andG . J . Mason , Tyler . Alter the installation the brethren sat down to a banquet , which quite eclipsed Bro . Mason's usual successful attempts at catering j indeed , as Bro . Gould , P . G . D ., stated during the speeches , after the repast , visitors had to confess that for good catering they

had to give the palm to Bro . Mason . Amcng those present at the banquet besides the officers alluded to above were Bros . W . H . Gardner , P . M . j A . W . Crewdson , P . M . ; E . T . Madeley , P . M . ; J . Wilson , P . M . ; A . W . Gerrard , P . M . ; A . Reed , V . J . Bradbury , J . Hunt , G . Gardener , G . Fletcher , J . F . Bailv , J . Bower Binns , F . J . Winkworth , A . Althorpe , E . Squire , J . Martin , VV . Bates , and T . J . Rawlings . The visitors were Bros .. R . F . Gould , P . G . D . 92 ; J . W . H . Littleboy , W . M . ; J . H . Askham , P . M . ; J . B . S . Lancaster ,

P . M ., P . P . G . S . B . ; H . VV . Gloster , 2317 ; J . J . Watts , 370 ; Fredk . Thomas , J . W . j A . Grace , 2521 ; W . Goodman , J . Goring , 1900 ; J . J . Robertson , Dr . Floyer , E . Jukes , 24 G 0 ; T . Spyers , 47 , N . Z . ; E . Head , 16 S 1 ; J . Farmer , and Chapman , 4 G 7 . The banqueting hall was very beautifully decorated . At the ends of the room were scrolls bearing the following words : "Abbey Lodge , 2120 , Bro . Webb , W . M . " and '' Success to the Abbey Lodge and Chapier . "

Tie following were the toasts : " The Oueen and the Craft ; " " The M . W . the Grand Master , H . R . H . the Prince cf Wales , K . G . ; " "The M . W . Pro Grand Master , the Deputy Grand Master , and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " given by the Worshipful Master , and the last responded to by Bro . Gould , P . G . D . ; ' * The R . W . Pre v . Giand Master , the Deputy Prov . Grand Master , and the rest of the Prov . Grand Officers , Present and Past , " , proposed by the Worshioful Master , and

responded toby Bros . Rev . E . R . Parr , M . A ., and E . T . Madeley j "The Worshipful Master" was given by the LP M ., Bro . T . Dix , and vociferously received j "The Visitors , " responded to by Bros . Littleboy , 2317 , J . J . Watts , 370 , VV . Goodman , W . M . i ( , oo , W . Thomas , 2 5 21 , and Dr . Floyer , 24 G 0 ; "The Past Alasters " was responded to by Bros . W . H . Gardener and T . Dixj "The Treasurer and Secretary" by Bro . Bidwell , in the absence of Bro . Bennett j and "The Officers of the Lodge" by Bros . F . Harper and W . Brooks .

During the evening some capital songs and recitations were given by Bros . Squire , Bailey , Chapman , Welch , Harper , Thomas , Head , Grace , Gerrard , and othsrs .

Scots Lodge , No . 2319 . The January meeling of this lodge , at which the brethren alwiys celebrate the Burrs' Anniversary , was held on the 23 rd ult . at the Scottish Corporation Hill , Cranecourt , London . Bro . Joseph J . Whitehead , W . M ., presided . There was a large attendance of brethren and visitors . Bro . Robert Russell Paton , 16 75 , was elected a joining member , and Bros . George

Guastalla and Edmund Watts were pasted to the Second Degree . On the motion of Ihe VV . M ., seconded by Bro . D . F . Gellion , a vote of thanks was passed to Bro . the Ven . Archdeacon William Macdonald Sinclair , U . D ., Chaplain of the lodge , and Past Grand Chaplain , for the visit of the brethren of the lodge , at his invitation , to St . Paul ' s Cathedral to view the mosaics and other objects of interest there . The brethren were reminded of the ladies' night on the 7 th instant at the Holborn Restaurant , and were besought to make it as great a success as the similar meeting of 1395 .

I he brethren then closed the lodge and banqueted , and afterwards there was some capital singing by Bros . Grant , P . M . j Thomas Charterisj Gellion , P . M . ; Laurie ; and James Thomson , S . VV . ; and some grand recitations by Bro . Reynolds . Bro . Thomas Grant , P . M ., in proposing the toast of " The W . M ., " slid that every brolher of Ihe Scots Lodge admired his VV . M ., who , although a comparatively young Mason , did his work well , and did not iorget the undertaking he had given to bring the ladies ' night of February 7 th to a successful issue . Us hopad that the officers would rally round the W . M . on that occasion , give him a jolly good evening , and bring as many ladies and brethren as they could . Bro . Whitehead , W . M ., in acknowledging the toast , said that whatever he had done or might do was for the benefit of thc Scots Lodge . During his year of oflice it had

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been his aim to do the best he could for its welfare , and no brother who followed him would fail to do that , because with so much enthusiasm in the lodge , every Master would be well supported . With reference to the ladies' night , he might say that unless every brother gave his most hearty support it could not . be a success , and thus would be a detriment , not only to the brethren , hut to the lodge itself . Therefore , he would impress upon the brethren the necessity of supporting it . He should do his best , and he hoped every brother would do the same . He then called upon Bro . J . Nicol to propose " The Immortal Memory of Bro . Robert Burns . "

Bro . J . Nicol , in responding to the W . M . ' s call , said he looked upon it as a great honour to be asked by the W . M . to propose " The Sacred Memory of Burns , " but he wished that he had been given time to prepare something on the occasion . However , he thought he should be unworthy of the character of a Scotchman if he was not able to say a word in appreciation of the name they all honoured and reverenced so much as that ot Robert Burns . It would be difficult to find any new words or anything fresh to say on the subject . Bro . Burns' fame had increased , although he was born 100 years

ago . Of late years there had been a tendency among a certain class of speakers on these festive occasions not to criticise his work and its merits or to look on his demerits as to point out that it was an excuse for festivities . But they as Scotchmen as well as all the world knew the work he had done . He thought that on the anniversary of Burns ' birth they would rather be with the multitude who might be supposed to sin than with the few who were described by Burns as " the unco guid . " Burns was always against hypocrisy ; he was a true man , a man of the people , and he was always with his humble poor . This was evidenced in his Cotter ' s Saturday Night . He was there ;

he assisted ; he was with the humble one making their life sweeeter , their toil pleasanter j everything he touched was affected with the magic of his wonderful mind j everything seemed transported into beauty and glory ; the beautiful songs he sang seemed like larks soaring up into the heavens that all the world might hear . They knew that the works of Burns would never die , they could never die . His life was not a prosperous one , but the feeling which seemed to upset him on many occasions both in his fortune and his health was an incentive to bring forth a beautiful song ( which he was bound to produce—a song that never failed him . He was almost a credit to us all as well as an incentive to us all , for even amidst all his troubles he could

sing" Give me a cannie oor at e en , Ma alims aboot ma dearie o' , An' warldly cares an' warldly men May a' gang tapsie tearie 0 ' . " Burns never thought amidst all his depression of the baautifu ! works naturally engrafted

into his life—the beautiful mountain stream , everything seemed to fertilise and baiutify . Although nations envied us and had jealousies the works of the poet Burns were doing more to cultivate that true fellowship of men throughout the whole world than any man who ever lived . He did not think it possible that the works of any man had done more to bring men together than the songs of Bro . Burns . Take for instance the lines

" When man to man the warld o er Shall brithers be , and a' that . " Bro . Joseph J . Whitehead , VV . M ., in proposing "The Past Masters , " said that of Bros . Thomas Grant and Gellion , who were the only Past Misters present , he could say as of the other Past Masters of the lodge , that they had the confidence of every member of the lodge . They rendered every assistance they could and they were regular attendants there and at the lodge of instruction . He was sorry that Bros . Page and John Whitehead , who were very busy , were not present .

Bros . Grant , P . M , and Gellion , P . M ., replied , expressing the pleasure they had in being present and assisting at the ceremonies and helping the pleasure of the mseting , and Bro . Gellion stated that he was only too pleased , in his humble way , to contribute to the comfort of the brethren . He hoped he might be spared for many years to be among the brethren . He was very pleased to find that although an old min he always received a hearty welcome from the brethren .

Bros . Edward Watts and George Guastalla responded to the toast of "The Initiates , " they having been admitted at an emergency meeting , and Bros . Gandy ( Canada ) , Reynolds , Bond , Coleman , and Spooner to that of "' The Visitors , " and Bros . D . A . Ross and James Thomson to the toast of " The Officers , " the Tyler ' s toist closing the proceedings .

Acacia Lodge , No . 2321 . The regular meeting of this lodge was held recently , at the Masonic Hall , Dirleystreet , Bradford , when Bro . S . Robinson , VV . M ., was supported by Bros . j . Niven , as I . P . M . ; S . A . Bailey , P . M ., Treasurer ; J . T . Last , P . M ., Secretary ; J . Haigh , P . M . ; J . B . Fearnley , S . W . ; R . S . Hird , J . W . j J . A . Drake , S . D . j J . Bland , J . D . j J . Morton , asl . G . j H . Holmes , Tyler j and a number of thebrethren . Visitors : Bros . Rev . C . E . L . Wright , M . A ., Prov . G . Chap . N . and E .

Yorks ; A . Sutcliffe , P . M . 30 S ; E . Lord , P . M . 010 , P . P . G . D . C ; F . Read , P . M . 1648 , Prov . J . G . D . ; S . A . Auty , P . M . 3 S 7 ; H . Henry , Goo ; and W . Bailey , S . D . 1248 . 'The lodge was opened , and the minutes of the last meeting were confirmed . The distinguished visitors were saluted according to their rank . Bro . Peat was passed to the Degree of F . C by Bro . Bailey , P . M ., Treas ., the working tools being explained by Bro . Hird , J . W ., and the charge delivered by Bro . Fearnley , S . W . The sum of £ To ios . was voted fiom the lodge funds towards the " Henry Smith Testimonial Fund . " The

Secretary reported , for the information of the brethren , that on the followinc ; evening t he Prince of Wales Lodge , No . 16 4 8 , would present a founders' jewel to Bro . Alfred Stephenson , P . M ., P . P . G . D . C , Prov . S . G . D ., the senior P . M ., and sole surviving founder of that lodge . As Bro . Stephenson was a founder and senior P . M . of this lodge , the announcement was received with much gratification by the brethren . Apologies were tendered for the unavoidable absence of a nun ' oar of tha brethran , and , after * ' Hearty good wishes " from the visitors , the lodge was closed . After refreshment , the usual loyal and Misonic toasts were duly honoured .

In submitting the toast of "The Visitors , " Bro . List , P . M ., Sec , stated that the lodge was honoured that evening by receiving a visit from brethren from Scarborough , York , Pontefiact , Southampton , and Eastwood , amongst them beingthe Prov . G . Chap , of North and East Yorks and the Prov . J . G . D . of VVest Yorks , to all of whom he , on behalf of the lodge , gave a very cordial welcome .

Bro . Rev . C . E . L . Wright , M . A ., P . M . 2328 , Prov . G . Chap . N . and E . Yorks , responded , and expressed the pleasure it had afforded him to breik his journey fro * n the North and visit the lodge that evening , and he appreciated the compliment the brethren had paid him in the lodge . He experienced much pleasure from visiting lodges . Thit evening the visitors had been most kindly received and hospitably entertained .

Bro . E . Lord , P . M . 910 , P . P . G . D . C , also responded , and stated thit he wis glad to have an opportunity of acknowledging the hearty manner in which both the toast and the visitors had been received and entertained . He had journeyed that diy from Pontefract to be present at the lodge , and had been much gratified , both in the lodge , where all the officers had so efficiently discharged their respective duties , as well as at

refreshment , with the ample provision made . He had had a long Masonic experience , and had often proved the goodfellowship displayed in Freemasonry—it had again been illustrated that evening , inasmuch as he cama amongst them an entire stranger to almost all the members , yet from the kindly manner he had been received , he felt perfectly at his ease , and hoped to have the opportunity of again visiting them on a

luture occasion . Bro . S . A . Auty , P . M . 3 S 7 , in proposing the toast of " The W . M ., " referred to his own previous connection wiyth the lodge and his cegcet at having severed it owing to increasing duties , which prevented his attending the lodge . He wished it every success , and had much pleasure in having the privilege of proposing "The W . M . 's Health , " which was very cordially received .

Bro . S . Robinson , W . M ., thanked the brethren for the hearty manner the toast had b ; cn received . He was pleased to have been honoured by the presence of so many visitors that evening , amongst them his old friend , Bro . F . Read , Prov . S . G . D ., who was initiated the same evening as himself , nearly 20 years ago , in the Eccleshill Lodge , No . 1034 . Other toasts followed . Bros . Fearnley , Smith , Last , and Dccksey contributed songs and music to the harmony of the evening .