Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

putting him in that position . His progress up to the chair seemed to have come on him very quickly , and hc vvas sorry to have had no svork to do . The VV . M . then proposed the toast of "The VV . M . elect , " reminding the brethren that up to the present he had acquitted himself svith the greatest credit in each of the offices he had held , and referred to his late father , svho had

been so good a Mason , and svas so highly esteemed by all in the lodge svho had knosvn him . Bro . Wormull , VV . M . elect , thanked thc lodge for the very kind ss'ay they had received him , and said it did not seem io years ago since he joined . He trusted that next year , svhen his duties commenced , that he svould be able to do all that svas svished of him . He at any rate svould do

his best . The toast of "The Past Masters" vvas replied to by Bro . Coredroy , P . M ., svho said the Past Masters svere only too happy on all occasions to do svhat they could for the lodge . The toast of "The Treasurer and Secretary" follosved . Bro . Byss-ater , P . M ., P . G . S . B ., Treas ., in responding , referred to the great exertions of Bro . Barnes , the Secretary ,

svho svas every day at his post , and svas alsvays warm in the svork of the lodge . Bro . H . Glenn , P . M ., informed thebrethren that since the adjournment of the lodge he had induced Bro . Green to serve thc office of Stesvard to the Benevolent Institution , and hoped the brethren would support him well . The next toast was "The Officers . "

Bro . Bilby , J . W ., said it afforded him the greatest pleasure to see Bro . Wormull coming forsvard to the chair for he ss'as quite competent to take the position . He ss * as himself anxious to apologise for not attending every lodge night , but hoped to attend regularly in the future . He had had tsvo years of bad health , and had been Master of another lodge during the year , the tsvo meetings coming one night

after the other . He assured the brethren it svould be his greatest possible study to do justice to that , his mother lodge . He thanked them sincerely for their kindness , and svished all the brethren " A Merry Christmas . " Bro . Ramsey , S . D ., considered it a great honour to respond for the officers of No . 19 . He svas afraid he had done his duty but very badly , still in the distant future , by the time he hoped to find himself in the chair , he trusted

to be able to fill that position vvith satisfaction . Bro . Green , I . G ., said the officers of the Royal Athelstan Lodge had alsvays done their work well , and he svas quite certain the coming officers would fulfil their duties vvith credit to themselves and to the lodge . The musical arrangements of the evening were conducted by Bro . Moser , whose efforts added considerable pleasure to the meeting , assisted by Bros . Corderoy , P . M . ; Milton Smith , Young , and Ramsey .

Waldeck Lodge ( No . 1969 ) . —The installation meeting of the above lodge ss * as held at Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen-street , W . C , on Tuesday , December ioth , svhen , after a brother had been raised by the VV . M ., Bro . C . Quitmann , Bro . Col . Shadsvell H . Clerke , Grand Secretary , at the ' request of the VV . M . and P . M . ' s , took the chair , and installed Bro . E . C . Voss as W . M . for the year ensuing ,

vvho thereupon invested the officers as follosvs : Bros . Max Lindlar , S . VV . ; J . Schuller , J . W . ; Julius Ouitmann , P . M ., Treas . ; Emil Schott , P . M ., Sec . ; J . B ^ Holland , S . D . ; J . D . Seifert , J . D . ; A . Hohley , I . G . ; and Ad . Henner , D . of C . The Installing Officer then gave the addresses svith his usual ability , after which the W . M . presented the Past Master ' s jesvel of the lodge to Bro . C . Ouitmann .

The lodge having been closed , the brethren adjourned to the Freemasons' Tavern , and enjoyed a very agreeable evening , the pleasures of svhich svere much enhanced by some excellent vocal and instrumental talent .

Provincial Meetings.

PROVINCIAL MEETINGS .

BATTLE . Abbey Lodge ( No . 1184 ) . —A meeting of this lodge svas held on Thursday , the 19 th December , at the Masonic Hall , svhen there svere present Bros . R . T . Davison , M . D ., W . M . j W . A . Raper , S . W . j J . B . Foster , J . VV . j J . Fielding , Org . j H . G . F . Wells , P . M ., P . P . G . P ., Treas .,- R . Hughes , P . M ., P . G . Std . Br ., Sec ; I . W .

Pepper , S . D . ; D . White , J . D . ; B . H . Thorpe , P . M ., P . P . S . G . D ., D . C ; T . W . Avis , I . G . j C . Leary , acting 'T yler ; W . T . Jordan , I . P . M ; W . Lamborn , P . M ., P . P . G . P , ; T . J . Walder , George Smith , J . Belchamber , J . Hodson , L . F . St . John , and others . After the usual preliminaries , the W . M . proceeded to pass Bro . St . John to the Degree of F . C , after svhich Bro .

Jordan , I . P . M ., delivered the explanation of the second tracing board . A dispensation from Provincial Grand Lodge svas then read , authorising the lodge to initiate , pass , and raise Mr . William Newman as a serving brother , and he having been balloted for and declared duly elected , svas then initiated , the ceremonies of the evening being very ably performed . The VV . M ., svith

the approval of the brethren , then called in Bro . Leary , the late Tyler , and very felicitousl y congratulated him on the able and satisfactory manner in svhich he had performed his duties during the period he had been Tyler of the lodge , and expressed the regret of the brethren at losing those services . The W . M . also took the opportunity

of explaining to Bro . Nesvman , the Tyler , some of the duties of a good Mason outside the precincts of the lodge , and after some excellent advice had been tendered , concluded by svarning young Masons generally against beingled into discussions whereby any part of the ss-orking of the Craft mi g ht be inadvertently disclosed to the outside svorld . All business being ended , the lodge svas closed .

BEAMINSTER . Beaminster Manor Lodge ( No . 1367 ) . — J he members of this lodge held an emergency meeting at tlie White Hart Hotel on 'Tuesday evening , December 17 th . t he officers and brethren present included Bros . C . Toleman , W . M . j R . Toleman , I . P . M . j H . Maunder , S . VV . j R .

R . Samson , J . VV . j j . Andresvs , P . M ., Treas . ; A . Hann , gee ; 0 . Beament , S . D . ; R . England , J . D . ; C . G . Purkis , P . M ., D . C ; W . Oxley , I . G . j S . Cox , P . M ., ffwd . j J . Keech , Tyler ; S . R . Baskett , P . M . ; C . ii ™" ' E ' M' - A - Paul » G - Roberts , and Bro . J . C . Collie , KM ., P . P . G . O . Wilts ( visitor ) . ,. * -he lodge having been opened , a ballot vvas taken for »"' . ti . A . P . Genge , which proving unanimous , he vvas

Provincial Meetings.

initiated in a very able and impressive manner by the VV . M . The charges svere given by the I . P . M . and Bro . S . R . Baskett , P . P . G . R . Dorset . All Masonic business being concluded , the lodge svas closed , and the brethren adjourned for their customary refreshment . After the tables had been cleared , the toast of " 'The Oueen and thc Craft" svas duly given and honoured .

The W . M . gave " 'The Initiate , " svhich svas suitably acknosvledged by Bro . Genge . Through inadvertence , the name of Bro . C . Hann , P . M ., svas omitted from the list of brethren attending this lodge on December ioth , and in the Committee elected to audit the accounts for the current year the name of Bro . C . Hann , P . M ., should have appeared in the place of Bro . C . Toleman , W . M .

HANLEY . Menturia Lodge ( No . 418 ) . —The annual Festival of St . John and the installation of the VV . M . took place on December 17 th , at the Masonic Hall , Cheapside , svhen a highly successful gathering svas held , there being a

large attendance of members , in addition to a number of visiting brethren from neighbouring lodges . The lodge svas opened , svhen Bro . J . Robinson svas installed VV . M . for the ensuing year in succession to Bro . Herbert Windle . The nesvly-elected VV . M . svas installed by Bro . Windle , assisted by Bros . T . Bickley , P . P . S . G . W . ; E . V . Greatbatch ,

P . P . A . G . D . C ; J . S . dapper , P . P . A . G . D . C . j E . B . Jackson , P . M . ; and VV . H . Hales , P . P . S . G . W . After the installation ceremony , which svas performed in an impressive manner , the W . M . installed the follosving as his officers : Bros . VV . Hampton , S . W . ; J . B . Devereux , J . VV . ; Rev . A . S . Walters , Chap . ; W . H . Hales . Treas . ; D . Jones , Sec . J . Barlow , S . D . ; E . Jones , J . D . ; E . V .

Greatbatch , D . C ; J . Goodson , I . G . ; W . Jones and M . Tunnicliffe , Stsvds . ; and VV . Wood , Tyler . In addition to the brethren already named , the follosving , among other brethren , were present : Bros . F . Mountford , 460 , P . S . G . D . ; J . Bromlev , P . P . S . G . W . ; T . Ashsvorth , P . P . G . R . ; F . Brandon , P . P . G . R . ; J . Stringer , P . P . A . G . Purst . ; D . Smith , VV . M . 2214 , P . M . 637 , P . P . S . G . D . ;

R . Tooth , 6 57 and 2214 , P . P . G . R . ; F . Weston , gS , P . P . G . S . B . ; J . Webberley , 54 6 , P . P . G . R . ; M . Barker , 1792 , P . P . S . G . W . ; J . Ryder , 1792 , P . P . G . S . B . ; R . Bebbington , 3 6 S , P . P . G . P . Cheshire ; J . Godwin , W . M . 9 S , P . G . S . ; J . Davenport , 451 ; F . Skerrett , VV . M . 4 60 ; T . Barker , W . M . 1942 ; G . W . Hancock , W . M . 6 37 ; G . Smith , P . M . 2064 ; A . S . Walters , P . M . 546 ; P . Bennion ,

VV . M . 54 G j J . Eardley , P . M . 637 ; W . Tunnicliffe , P . M . ; S . Lawton , P . M . ; T . H . Beardmore , P . M . ; G . Pitchford , P . M . ; E . Pearson , S . W . 9 S ; W . H . Bamber , S . W . 637 ; A . Mear , S . W . 54 G ; H . Bonser , S . W . 460 ; W . R . Tooth , S . D . 22 I 4 J D . Shersvin , I . G . 2064 , - VV . Burt , J . D . G 37 j T . R . Yoxall , LG . 637 j E . Jones , 460 j J . Forster , 4 60 j T . C . Wright , 1942 , * G . H . Walker ,

1942 ; C Luke , 451 ; G . Smith , 2064 ; J . H . Collings , 54 6 ; S . Till , 2214 ; J . H . Fradley , 2214 ; T . Masters , 637 ; Mellor , C 37 ; and Bourner , 2149 . The lodge having been closed , the brethren adjourned to the Tosvn Hall , svhere about S 6 sat dosvn to a banquet provided by Bro . J . Munro .

Ihe W . M . presided , and , " The Queen " having been honoured , proposed "The Most VVorshipfuI his Royal Highness the Prince of VVales , Grand Master of England ; the Princess of Wales , and the rest of the Royal Family , " speaking of the attention that the Prince of VVales devoted to Freemasonry , and the great interest he took in the Craft .

" 1 he Pro Grand Master , the Earl of Carnarvon ; the Deputy Grand Master , the Earl of Lathom ; and the Officers of the Grand Lodge , Present and Past , " having been proposed also from the chair , Bro . Bickley submitted " Bro . Col . Foster Gough , the Prov . Grand Master of Staffordshire . " Bro . Bickley said he svas sure every brother in the province vvas proud of the present position which Col . Gough occupied , and they

all svished him long life and good health to perform the duties pertaining to the office . Bro . Tunnicliffe next gas'e " Bro . Lieut .-Col . Bindley , Deputy Prov . Grand Master , and the rest of the Provincial Grand Officers , Present and Past . " In doing so , he expressed a hope that Bro . Bindley would soon visit the north of the province , svhen he could assure him of a hearty svelcome . Bro . Pitchford having acknosvledged the toast ,

Bro . Windle proceeded to propose the toast of the evening , "Bro . J . Robinson , " W . M . for the ensuing year . In a eulogistic speech , Bro . Windle said in Bro . Robinson they had no ordinary Master . He svas gifted vvith gifts above many of the brethren , and he felt sure he svould use those gifts to the advantage of the Menturia Lodge . Bro .

Robinson had been a member of the Iodge for a considerable number of years , and during that time he had done credit to himself and to the lodge , in which he had filled many offices , and he had no fear he would fill svith credit the chair svhich he had been elected to fill that day . The toast svas then drunk in true hearty Masonic fashion .

Ihe W . M . responded in a very appropriate speech , and thanked the brethren from his heart for the reception they had given him . He should like to say that if he had not felt capable of fulfilling the office of VV . M . he should not have been occupying the position that night . It svould be his earnest endeavour to carry out the duties of

the office to svhich they had done him the honour of electing him to the best of his ability . He looked forsvard svith confidence to the support of his officers during the ensuingyear . Bro . Bromley next gave "The Health of the Visiting - Brethren . "

Bro . Barker first responded . Hc said he found a fire , a force , and a vigour in Masonry in Hanley , and it svas a source of congratulation to find so many Past Masters in attendance , as well as the distinction which the Menturia Lodge had attained in the province . He further congratulated the lodge upon its position in the benevolent portion of

Masonry , and the free and open manner in svhich the brethren of that lodge had contributed in times past . Bro . Smith also responded , acknosvledging the kind and generous hospitality shosvn that evening to the visitors , and expressed his satisfaction and congratulation on seeing the confidence reposed in Bro . Robinson by the members of the Menturia Lodge .

The VV . M . next proposed " Ihe Health of the I . P . M ., Bro . Windle , " and spoke of the latter as a brother svho had a great interest in the progress of Masonry . ,

Provincial Meetings.

Bro . Windle returned thanks in a suitable manner , after svhich he submitted the toast of " The Masonic Charities , " svhich svas responded to by Bro . Ryder , the Secretary of the Staffordshire Masonic Charitable Association , vvho said that the Menturia Lodge stood very nearly in the premier position as regarded the amount of contributions to the Masonic Charities . He referred svith satisfaction to the

action taken by Bros . Greatbatch and Tunnicliffe in regard to the inquiry in respect to the conduct of the Masonic Institution for Boys . Alluding to the Secretary of that Institution , Bro . Binckes , he said that the pension proposed to be granted to that brother svould not trench on the funds of the Institution . Bro . Greatbatch also replied , and thoroughly justified the

action that had been taken in regard to the institution referred to . A clean ssveep of the officials had been made , svith the exception of the Secretary , and he believed the result svould be that the Boys' Institution svould in the future raise the credit of the Craft .

The remaining toasts svere "'The Past Masters of the Lodge , " The Officers of the Lodge , " " The Ladies , " and "All Poor and Distressed Masons . " During the evening a capital musical programme , arranged by Bro . Baker , svas gone through , the members of the lodge contributing to it .

HULL . Kingston Lodge ( No . ioio ) .--The installation meeting of this lodge svas held at the Masonic Hall , Kingston-square , on Wednesday , December 14 th , svhen Bro . J . G . Smithson vvas installed VV . M . of the lodge for the ensuing year . There svas a very large gathering of brethren from the sister lodges , and amongst those svho signed the

attendance-book svere Bros . John Bilson , W . M . ; H . Fasvcett Pudsey , I . P . M . ; F . S . Brodrick , S . W . ; H . Woodhouse , M . A ., j . W . ; Canon McCormick , D . D ., P . P . G . C , Chap . ; F . Fullerton , P . M ., P . G . Reg ., L . M . ; J . Carlill Savill , Sec ; H . H . Briggs , S . D . ; F . C Bishop , J . D . ; J . G . Smithson , D . C ; F . Bentley , Mus . Bac . Org . ; T . A . Baldsvin , M . D ., I . G . ; F . 1 . Lambert , P . G . Tyler , Tyler ;

C . H . Johnson , P . M . ; VV . H . Wellsted , P . M . ; H . Forder , P . VI ., P . P . G . D ; B . S . Jacobs , P . M . ; D . J . O'Donoghue , P . M . 57 , P . P . G . W . ; E . Corris , P . M . 57 , P . P . G . D . j W . Tesseyman , P . M . 57 , P . P . G . S . of W . j J . R . Ansdell , P . M . 1605 , P . P . G . D . C ,- VV . D . Keyworth , P . M . 57 , P . P . G . S . of W . j S . Rutter , W . M . 57 j J . W . Burton , W . M . 250 j VV . Stratford , VV . M ., 1605 ;

J . VV . lindeli , S . VV . 1605 ; H . Manning , J . VV . 1 O 05 ; VV . Woodall , VV . M . 2134 j G . VV . Greensvood , J . W . 2134 ; J . Mackiall , P . M . 2134 , P . G . S . B . ; S . Gaskell , VV . M . 1511 ; J . Foley , S . W . 294 ; T . A . Haigh , S . VV . 1511 ; F . Carter , J . W . 1511 ; J . Sugden , P . M . 1379 ; Staff-Surgeon Corril , R . N ., 257 ; F . Long , Silsvan Lodge j and others . Letters of apology for non-attendance svere received from Bros , the Hon . VV . T . Orde-Posvlett ,

D . P . G . M . j M . C . Peck , P . M ., P . G . S . B . Eng ., P . G . Sec . j Walter Reynolds , P . G . Treas .,- John Sherburn , M . D . ( Mayor of Hull ) j and W . J . Hughan . The installation ceremony vvas performed in a most impressive manner by Bro . John Bilson , the retiring VV . M . The officers for the year were then presented , and installed by the VV . M ., the selection being as follosvs : Bras . John

Bilson , I . P . M . j G . H . Lodge , S . W . j F . C . Bishop , J . W . j Rev . Canon J . McCormick , D . D ., P . P . G . C , Chap . j F . Fullerton , P . M ., P . G . Reg ., L . M . j H . Forder , P . M ., P . P . G . D ., Treas . j J . Carlill Savil , Sec . j T . A . Baldwin , M . D ., S . D . j Jas . Foster , J . D . ; F . S . Brodrick , D . C . ; VV . D . Keyworth , P . M . 57 , P . P . G . S . of VV ., Almoner pro tern . ; F . Bentley , Mus . Bac , Org . j

George Lamb , M . D ., I . G . ; R . Carson , W . J . Close , and A . E . White , Stsvd * . ; and F . J . Lambert , P . G . Tyler , Tyler . Thc banquet was held subsequently in the dining hall under the presidency of the VV . M ., Bro . Smithson , svho svas supported by the I . P . M ., the Worshipful Masters of the sister lodges , and several Provincial Grand Officers . The VV . M . proposed "The Oueen and the Craft , " and " The M . W . the Grand Master . "

The VV . M ., in giving " The Prov . G . M . and D . P . G . M ., " expressed the deep regret felt by the brethren at the cause of the absence of Bro . the Hon . W . T . Orde-Powlett , D . L ., D . P . G . M . —namely , blood-poisoning . They tendered to their distinguished brother their heartfelt and fraternal sympathy in his allliction , and hoped the G . A . O . T . U . svould speedily restore him to health .

Bro . I ' . rullerton , P . M ., P . G . Reg ., in acknosvledging the toast , thanked the brethren for their hearty reception . Although the P . G . M ., Bro . the Earl of Zetland , had been called by her Majesty to Dublin Castle , there svas no reason to fear that he svould relinquish the interest he had ever

taken in the Craft . To the D . P . G . M . they also osved a debt of gratitude for the energy he had displayed fn furthering * Masonry in the North and East Yorks Province . Bro . C . IT . Johnson , P . M ., submitted "The W . M , and his Officers . " He said Bro . Smithson had shown such a

zeal for Freemasonry , and had so efficiently discharged his minor offices , that they had no fear that the Kingston Lodge under his charge svould suffer . He congratulated him upon the proud position in svhich the brethren had placed him . But , in electing him to the highest office in the lodge , he reminded the brethren that they had honoured themselves by so doing . Bro . Smithson had displayed

svisdom and tact in the selection of his officers , and he had no doubt they svould render their Master every assistance possible . The VV . M ., in responding , said there svere no nesv tracks to beat out , no nesv plans or schemes to adopt and carry out —his duty svas simply to carry on the svork svhere his predecessor had left off . He felt the responsibility of his

important position , but the unanimous vote svhich had been accorded him at his election , and the cordial support svhich had invariably been given to the previous Masters , gave him no little encouragement in accepting the chair . He impressed upon the younger brethren the absolute necessity tor prompt attendance at the meetings and the lodges of instruction , and he concluded a very neat and well-delivered speech by enforcing upon the brethren thc necessity of

cultivating those three proud tenets of our Order—Brotherly Love , Relief , and Truth . Bro . Lieut .-Col . H . Fasvcett Pudsey , P . M ., submitted " The Health of the retiring VV . M . and his Officers . " In eulogising the excellent services performed by Bro . Bilson during his term of office , he said that through the efforts of Bro . Bilson and his colleagues a very large sum had been realised in the lodge tosvards the Educational Fund of North