Masonic New Century Banquet At Portsmouth.

The P . G . M ., Bro . the Right Hon . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., presided , and was supported by Bros . Edgar Goble , Dep . P . G . M . ; D . Mayer , G . D . Eng . ; H . R Pink , P . S . G . W . ; J . Brickwood , P . P . G . W . ; T . A . Bramsdon , P . P . G . W . ; H L .. Watts , P . G . C ; W . C Hawksley , P . P . G . C . ; G . E . Kent , P . P . G . W . ; and J . Haydon , P . P . J . G . W . There were also present a large number of other Past and Present Prov . Grand Oflicers , and most of the Worshipful Masters and officers of the Portsmouth and district lodges .

As the brethren took their seats , a beautiful souvenir of the unique gathering was handed them . H took the form of an artistically arranged book , which contained the badges and the names of the W . Ms , of the various lodges in Portsmouth and the district , as well as an interesting histcrical sketch of Freemasonry in Portsmouth during the 19 th century , compiled by Bro . G . F . Lancaster , P . M . 903 , and other interesting details . The souvenir was the work of Messrs . Charpentier and Co ., of High-street , Portsmouth , Mr . H . Innes ' eing the artist responsible for the design .

Diving the banquet the string band of the Royal Marine Artillery , under Bro . T . Holding , discoursed a-miscellaneous programme of music . The whole ol the arrangements , which gave general satisfaction , were made by and reflected great credit upon Bros . G . W . Edmonds , 257 ; H . G . Fryer , 487 ; W . E . Duck , 1834 ; G . F . Lancaster , 903 ; E . H . Cooper , 309 ; W . A . Rowe , 903 ; C . Attree , 1069 ; and A . E . Spence , 1834 .

The toast lisl was necessarily brief , but the . speeches were nevertheless very interesting , not only to the brethren assembled , but to the guests who crowded the galleries . The PROV . G . MASTER , of course , submitted the first toast— "The Queen and the Craft , " and he expressed a hope that our beloved Sovereign , notwithstanding the many trials she had suffered , would be spared to reign over this country for many years to come . The toast was enthusiastically drunk with musical honours .

The Dep . Prov . Grand Master , Bro . E . GOBLE , next submitted the toast of " . The Most Worshipful the Grand Master of England , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales . * ' Looking back to the beginning of the last century , he mentioned that in the year 1800 Prince George of Wales was the Grand Master of England , and from 1782 to 1843 they had had reigning over them as brethren of the Order one of the family of the Sovereign of England . This was a matter for great congratulation to them as Masons , and it showed them that their Order was one to be proud of . ( Applause . ) From 1844 to 1870 the Grand Master was the Earl

of Zetland , while from 18 70 to 18 74 the Marquis of Ripon occupied the position . In 1874 their present Grand Master was appointed , and from that time he had been their ruler , so that he had reigned over them for 27 years , while Prince George of Wales had occupied the position for 23 years . The possession of such heads as these could not fail to add to the lustre and power that Masonry possessed throughout the world . He spoke in felicitous terms of the Grand Master , who , he said , was respected , esteemed , and loved throughout the Order .

The toast of the evening , " Success to Freemasonry in Portsmouth and Neighbourhood , " was next appropriately proposed by the Puov . GR * . ND MASTER . He remarked that they had met to celebnte the existence of Freemasonry and the progress it had made during the century that had passed . The advent of another century led them to think of the great and remote antiquity of the Order . No trace whatever could be found ot its commencement , but from the remotest ages its secrets had been handed down from generation to generation .

In whatever country or land where knowledge existed , there also rreemasonry existed , and its principles and tenets had been preserved and handed down by their ancestors as unimpaired as they desired they should be handed down to those who would follow . ( Applause . ) In England Freemasonry had existed for over eight centuries , and during that time it had made great progress . It was not for him to dilate upon the many excellences of the Constitution , but he might say that those who had carried out to the full the noble principles

of benevolence and charity upon which it was founded had done a good deal for their generation . ( Applause . ) He referred especially to the work which was being done in connection with the various Charitable Institutions of the Order and said that these bore testimony to the fact that they had not been Unmindful ol their duties or of the noble example of their ancestors . They had their Institutions in which the education of their boys and girls was looked after ; they had also an asylum to which old Freemasons and their widows could go and

spend their declining years if necessity arose . In these directions Masonry had done a great work , and they had every reason to congratulate themselves , not only upon their progress , but upon their present flourishing condition . The P . G . M . next referred to the large portion uf the Hants and Isle of Wight Province which was comprised of the lodges in the Portsmouth district . Considering what a large and populous neighbourhood it was , it was not surprising that many Masons should have joined , and that the district numbered many

excellent brethren who had done their duty to the Craft and brought credit upon it . There were no less than 18 lodges in Portsmouth and the district , and the members of them had invariably done their utmost to shed influence and lustre upon the Craft in the province and throughout the country . He congratulated them upon the manner in which they had conducted their business in the locality , and trusted that for many a year to come Freemasonry would retain the same credit in the province as it had in former years . ( Cheers . )

The toast was enthusiastically honoured , and Bro . T . A . BRAMSDON responded , remarking that they in Portsmouth greatly appreciated the manner in which tbe toast had been proposed . Refe'ring to the great antiquity of Freemasonry , he remarked that in Portsmouth there were four separate Masonic bodies , all of which were over 100 years old , meeting in the same building . These were the Phcenix Lodge , the Royal Arch Chapter Friendship ( which was the senior chapter on the roll ) , a Mark lodge , and a lodge of Knights l ' emplar . He

thought this was unique in the history of Freemasonry . Another interesting incident to them was that Hampshire and the Isle of Wight was one of the most popular provinces in England , and that Portsmouth was one of the most popular and populous ports of the country . ( Applause . ) From the Portsmouth lodges many brethren went abroad , and were enabled to inculcate and promulgate the principles and tenets which they had learned in Portsmouth and all parts of the world , and much of the success which

had attended Masonry in the Colonies was due to the fact that it comprised a large number of earnest brethren who had learnt the principles of the Craft in Portsmouth . ( Applause . ) During the 30 years their Prov . G . Master had reigned over them their progress had been most marked . Under his popular regime the number of the lodges in the province had exactly doubled , and

applications for -still lurther additions had been refused . It would have been impossible for Masonry to have continued so long , so successfully , and so satisfactorily were it not for the principles underlying the Order . ( Applause . ) There was something at the bottom of it that united them together as brethren and as men . ( Applause . ) He believed Masonry had now arrived at the zenith of its success , and he hoped it would continue as it was now for many years to come .

Bro . H . R . PINK , P . S . G . W ., was entrusted with "The Health of the Provincial Grand Master , '' and he spoke in warmly eulogistic terms of that ( . niltnan ' s services . Bro . Beach , he said , was selected fur the oflice he now held in 1869 , and he had reigned over the province ever since . No one had worked harder , more zealously , or mora faithfully than he . ( Applause . ) They all knew , too , the interest Bro . Beach took in other matters , and that he was at the

Masonic New Century Banquet At Portsmouth.

present time the Father of the House of Commons . They all hoped that he would be spared for many years to continue to hold his present positions . The sentiment was honoured musically , and the PROV . G . MASTER briefly responded , and felicitously commented upon the assistance rendered him by the Prov . G . Lodge Officers . This concluded the toast list , and subsequently an enjoyable musical

programme , which had been arranged by Bro . H . G . Fryer , 487 , was carried out . Songs were rendered by Bros . G . F . Lancaster , P . P . G . Reg ., J . W . Peters , J . W . Adams , A . Puzey , and C . Attree , and Mr . J . A . Gould ( humorous ) , while Bro . Dr . J . Kyffin gave a couple of whistling solos . Bro . George Washington Allen , in his inimitable style , contributed two recitations , and Bro . T . Holding gave a saxophone solo . Bro . J . H . Cowan , A . R . C . O ., was the accompanyist , and ably discharged his duties .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

York Lodge , No . 236 . INSTALLATION OF BRO . EDWARD S . ROBINSON . ABANDONMENT OF THE BANQUET . At a meeting of the above lodge , held in the lodge room , Duncombe-place , York , on Monday , the 21 st ult ., Bro . Edward S . Robinson was duly installed in the chair ot K . S . for the year ensuing . The chair at the opening of the lodge was occupied by Bro . John A . Askew , W . M ., and there were al ? o present Bros , the Very Rev . the Dean o

York , P . M ., P . G . Chap . Eng . ; T . B . Whytehead , P . G . S . B . ; M . C . Peck , P . G . S . B ., Prov . G . Sec ; Cowper , P . G . Std . Br ., Charity Representative N . and E . Yorks ; Sir J . Sykes Rymer , P . M .. P . P . G . Ree ; ., P . S . G . W . ; G . Potter Kirby , P . M ., P . P . G . D . of C ; H . Foster , P . M ., P . P . G . D . of C . ; S . Border , P . P . G .. Reg . ; A . Jones , P . P . G . Treas . ; A . Procter , P . M . ; F . W . Laughton , P . M . ; Bryson , P . M . ; B . Kilvington , W . M . 1611 , P . G . Ore ; . , * Grant , P . M . 973 ; Gill , W . M . 1991 ; J . H . Hastings , F . A . Camidee , A . H . Fletcher , H . Scott , D . Lockwood , Geo . Sykes , D .

Carter , C . H . Morgan , W . Hirst , G . Hirst , G . Sharp , G . H . Osborne , N . T . Crombie , T . Parker , and others . The ceremony of installation was impressively performed by Bro . Askew , assisted by Bros . Potter-Kirby , Procter , and Laughton . Bro . E . S . Robinson appointed tha following officers and invested them with their collars : Bros . O . G . Taylor , S . W . ; I . 3 . Shannon , J . W . ; the Very Rev . the Dean of York , P . M ., P . G . C , Chaplain ; G . Potter-Kirby , P . M ., P . P . G . D . C , Treas . ; T . C Thompson , Sec ; A . G . Ravner ,

i . p . j F . W . Cull , J . D . ; Watson Hirst , D . C ; A . Sample , O .-g . ; J . H . Wray , I . G . ; D . C . Larg and A . H . Barron , Stwds . ; J . Hall , Tyler ; W . Laley , Asst . Tyler ; J . H . Wray , Almoner ; Sir J . Sykes Rymer , P . M ., P . P . G . Reg ., P . S . G . W ., Charity Representative ; and A . H . Furnish , Librarian . Bro . A . Procter , P . M ., was appointed Preceptor of the lodge of instruction . Before the lodee closed , Bro . Potter-Kirby moved the following resolution : ' * That the Worshipful Master , Wardens , and brethren of the York Lodge of Freemasons , No , 236 , desire to offer to Bro . Sir Joseph Sykes Rymer , P . M ., P . S . G . W . of North and

East Yorkshire , and Charity Representative of the Lodge , their heirty cnsfntulations upon the honours of knighthood conferred on him by her Majesty the Oueen . " He spoke of the valuable services which Bro . Sir J . Sykes Rymer had rendered to the city and to Freemasonry , and said how warmly his brethren of the lodge congratulated him upon the honour which the Queen had conferred upon him . He alluded to the deep sorrow they all felt at the precarious state of health of the Qoeen . Bro . H . Foster seconded the resolution , which was supoortei by Bro . S . Border , and carried with

acclamation . Bro . Sir J . Sykes Rymsi acknowledged the compliment , and ¦ jreitly as he prized the honour conferred upon him by her Majjsty he valued even more the esteem and approbation of his fellow citizens . ( Applause . ) The W . M . announced that owing to the serious illness of the Queen it had been thought fit that they should abandon the installation banquet . ( " Hear , hear . " ) They

all were deeply sorry to hear thit her Majesty was in sucn a critical state , and he called on the brethren to sing the National Anthem , a call which was feelingly responded to . Bro . Thompson , Sec , read a number of letters of apology for non-attendance , amongst them beine Bros . R . F . Gould , W . J . Hughan , E . Letchworth , G . Sec . ; E . Lawson , I . P . M . rjioj J . Melrose , 232 S ; J . G . Butcher , Q . C , M . P . ; G . Faber , M . P . ; A . H . Furnish , the Rev . A . J . Chambers , and others .

Eccleston Lod ere , No . 1624

LADIES' BANQUET . One of the most successful ladies' nights held in connection with this IoJjfe took place at the Criterion , Piccadilly , on the 16 th ult . Adequate arrangements had b-sn made for the comfort of themembirs and their lady visitors by the W .. VI ., Bro . E . J , Badderley , the indefatigable S : cretary , Brn . W . Smith , P . M ., and the Stewirds . The guests were welcomed on arrival by the W . M ., and after a brief interval an adjournment was made to the banquet , which wis well-served and heartilj enj oyed .

" The Queen and Koyal Family " was the first toast afterwards given by the Chairman .

Bro . W . E . Lane , I . P . M ., then proposed "The Chairman , and said he was sure the company present would receive it with the greatest pleasure ani enthusiasm . Of course , the members would be well aware how dilli : ult it was for him to say anything that evening with respect to their Chairman , but they would all appreciate his efforts in making their gathering such a successful one . They knew that Bro . Badderley would make an excellent Chairman , and that under his genial sway they would have a pleasurable and enjoyable tune .

Bro . E . J . Badderley , W . M ., returned thanks , remarking that his was a position which only came once in a lifetime—to preside over their annual gathering . Hi wis delighted to find they had such a large number present . He hoped they had enj > yed themselves , and would enjoy themselves in tne ballroom later on , and that tn ; y . voilj all be spared to meet again . The Chairman then gave " The Ladies , " and in reply Bro . E . Nice said that , like the clown in the pantomime , he might say " Here we ars again 1 " He felt that the

ladies had played him out . He had been called upon to respond to this toast , and to acknowledge his humiliation in failing in the first and most important duty in life . He would try to mend in the future . There were certain component parts in chemistry , perfectly harmless in themselves , but which when mixed together became an explosive and most terrible force , and so it was in life . There was no douot love was perfectly harmless in itself . There was no doubt that disappointment was harmless in itself , but wisn

ihey mixed the two together they became a powerof such terrili : force that an explosion took place . He was afraid , speaking for the bachelors , that they had suff . red from minor explosions , but having been able to collect the scattered Darts off-red tnen t > the ladies for acceptance . He was pleased to see so many ladies present—hoped these gatherings would continue for many years , even if he had to pay the penalty and get up to respond .

Bro . Harry Line , 22 GG , replied for " The Visitors " in an excellent sp . ech . He felt proud at having his name associated with the toast . The visitors had spent a most enjoyable evening , and he felt sure he was but echoing their wishes when he said he hoped they would be invited again . Several excellent musical items were well rendered by Miss Lillian M tyes , Miss J . Worsell , and Miss Bertha Barnes , and U . * os . Kruse and Field . Bro . E . J . liidierley ( the W . M . ' s eldest son ) also contributed a violin solo .

Dancing was kept up with zest until a late hour , Bro . C . Longworth rendering efficient service as M . C Amongst the company present were Bro . E . J . Badderley , W . M . ; Bro . and Mrs . W . E . Lane ; Bro . and Mrs . G . Lane ; Bro . and Mrs . Wm . Smith ; Bro . and Mrs . Scarman ; Bro . Moorman , P . M . ; Bro . and Mrs . Bignold , P . M . ; Bro . Coulthard , P . M ., Treas . ; Bro . and Mrs . W . Parsons ; Bro . H . Line and Miss Line ; Bro . J , Lawson ; Bro . W . Chilcott and Miss Chilcott ; riro . and Mrs . W . Butler ; Bro . and Mrs . J . Sheard ; Bros . E . Nice , Hellyar , P . M . ; Thompson , and others .