Ladies' Night Of The Selywn Lodge, No. 1901.

gathering , the meeting would be incomplete without them , and the brethren poor mortals indeed . He hoped the same welcome and invitation would be accorded them in the future , and that they would most readily accept it . They were very pleased for the entertainment given them , and desired to spend the remaining few hours in the ball-room , where a number of dances had been arranged to the sweet strains of Thorp ' s Quadrille Band . The M . Cs . were Bros . J . Lightfoot and W . Wills .

Bro . F . E . Pow , I . P . M ., next proposed the toist of " The W . M ., Bro . F . H . Ford , " in terms of great cordiality , and also for his presidency over the large assemblage with so much ability . In the W . M . were bound up many sterling qualities , and one and all congratulated him upon his restoration to health after a somewhat serious illness . He asked the brethren to drink to the toast with

acclamation . The W . M . in reply most heartily thanked Bro . Pow for proposing and saying such kind words of him , and also for the cordial reception by the brethren . It was indeed a proud moment to preside over such a gathering , and he might say his year of oflice which was now drawing to a close was one of the happiest years of his life . He took that opportunity of thanking the oflicers and brethren who had so ably assisted him in the arrangements and bringing the gathering to so successful an issue .

The toast of " The Visitors , " received at the hands of the W . M . that most cordial welcome which is the characteristic of the brethren of the Selwyn Lodge and he hoped they would have a thoroughly enjoyable evening . This was very ably responded to by Bro . F . FLOOD , P . Prov . G . S . B . Surrey . The concert was nicely arranged by Bros . E . C . L . Hawley and P . E . Wiberg .

Among the artistes were Miss Beatrice May ( who was loudly encored ) , Bro . J . Graham , P . Prov . G . Org . Surrey and Middx . ( humorous ) , and Mr . E . Wiberg , who played with ability a composition of his own upon tft " e piano , and also a valse specially written for the occasion . Both pieces were ably executed and much admired .

Expressions of sympathy were extended to Bro . A . H . Fraser , P . M . ; Mrs Pow , wife of the esteemed I . P . M . ; and Bro . Hawley , who were unavoidably absent through suffering from influenza . The Stewards , who worked admirably , were Bros . A . H . Fraser , P . M . ; J . S Pointon , J . W . ; E . A . Pow , LP . M . ; R . Weddall Thomas , S . W . ; J . Frampton , and R . Woodgate .

Annual Ladies' Night Of The Scots Lodge, No. 2319.

ANNUAL LADIES' NIGHT OF THE SCOTS LODGE , No . 2319 .

The annual ladies' night given by the above lodge was held on Friday , the 17 th ultimo , when a company of 200 ladies and brethren assembled at the Holborn Restaurant to do honour to the occasion A reception took place at 6 . 30 in thc evening in the ante-room of the King ' s Hall , when the company was received by Bro . D . Robertson Duncan , W . M ., and Mrs . Duncan . The following members of the lodge were present ; Bros . John Whitehead , P . M . ; John Page , P . M . ; Thomas Grant , P . M . ; Joseph James Whitehead , P . M . ; James Thomson , P . M . ; Dr . D . M . Forbes , I . P . M . ; E . J . Gordon , S . W . ; Wm . Craig , J . W . ; D . A .

Ross , Sec . ; T . Sandilands , J . Duncan Balfour , T . Charteris , J . M . Barclay , J . Macgregor , J . Plenderleith , J . Bennett , J . Anderson , W . Bailey Smith , John Imray , J . Gemmell , W . C . Vince , P . G . Mallory , C . Thwaites , T . B . Barrett , R . Watts , A . McNeish , W . Bain , R . S . Darling , F . Inman , and others . After the reception the company proceeded to the King ' s Hall , where a magnificent banquet was provided , thc W . M . presiding . After the banquet the following three toasts were proposed : " The Queen and Royal Family " ; " The Ladies" ; and "The W . M . "

The j W . M . proposed the first two toasts , and expressed his regret at the absence through illness of Bros . D . F . Gellion , P . M ., and Alex Ritchie , J . P ., C . C ., Treas .

Bro . J IMRAY , M . A ., in replying to the toast , said , he considered itahigh honour to be asked to return thanks for the ladies . Bro . Dr . D . M . FORHES , I . P . M ., proposed "The Worshipful Master . " The Chairman was beloved by the members of the Scots Lodge ; he was well known for his skill in working the ritual and for his interest in the cause of Freemasonry and its Charitable Institutions , and he asked the W . M . to accept from him a souvenir of that event in the shape of a handsomely-framed photograph of a picture of the mother lodge of Scotland which Bro . A . Ritchie , J . P ., CC , had asked him to present in his enforced absence through illness .

Bro . D . ROBERTSON DUNCAN , W . M ., returned thanks for thc toast and presentation , and referred to the assistance he had received from the Secretary , Bro . D . Angus Ross . He announced that the donations received towards the Charity Fund amounted to £ 0 gs , In the interval between the speeches Miss Grainger Kerr and Mr . Swabey Russell entertained the company by singing several Scotch songs . Bro . Sergt . Peter McLean , piper of the lodge , and two boy pupils of the Royal Caledonian Asylum contributed greatly to the success of the evening by their pipe music .

Dancing commenced at 10 p . m ., and was kept up with unflagging energy until four in the morning . Mr . J . Poughet ' s " Bijou " orchestra played selections during the dinner , and the dance music .

Ladies' Night Of Sir Walter Raleigh Lodge, No. 2432.

LADIES' NIGHT OF SIR WALTER RALEIGH LODGE , No . 2432 .

The seventh annual banquet , concert , and ball of the above lodge was given at Freemasons' Tavern , on the 22 nd ult . The lodge , which was established in connection with that important industry , the tobacco trade , in 1802 , established

concurrently with it this entertainment of the ladies of the families of the brethren , and , although at first it was but a small affair , it has grown year by year until it has now assumed considerable dimensions , and on the 22 nd ult . over 100 ladies and gentlemen assembled , under the presidency of Bro . W . F . Bates , P . M . 1507 and 2550 , W . M ., to do honour to the occasion .

Among the other members of the party were Bros . E . G . Grahnert , Geo . Ransford , E . Van Raalte , David Phillip , S . H . Rose , J . Thompson , W . Foyle , T . H . Francott , H . Muspratt , T . A . Gill , L . S . Benjamin , F . S . Benjamin , J . Berrie , A . S . Benjamin , B . Berrie , J . Parkiss , S . Behr , W . Schubach , Percy Wood , Geo . Emblin , Geo . Southee , Thos . Raynor , H . Cosins , J . H . Butt , G . II . Lawes , C . H .

J . Uanslord , A . Schoenfeld , A . Hardy , F . Smith , W . H . Bullock , M . Lowry , A . Simpson , Alexander Jones , C . H . Peddell , and W . Curry ; Mrs . and Miss Zachc ; Bros . Pearson and S . F . Atkins ; Mr . and Mrs . Fleming ; Bro . F . Thorpe and Mrs . Thorpe . ; Bro . W . Northern and Mrs . Northern ; Miss Winnie Southee ; Bro . H . Vandersfoot ; the Misses Bullock ; and Bro . H . Massey , P . M . 619 , 1928 , and Miss Massey .

Bro . William H . Lowry , P . M . 1839 , > s t " LP . M . of the lodge , and the other brethren holding office are Bros . C . H . I . Ransford , S . W . ; T . Rayner J W . George Ransford , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B . Middx ., Treas . ; W . H . Bullock , P . M ., Sec . '

Ladies' Night Of Sir Walter Raleigh Lodge, No. 2432.

Rev . R . J . Simpson , M . A ., P . G . C , Chap . ; A . S . Benjamin , S . D . ; O . C . Moore J . D . ; A . F . Jones , I . G . ; G . Emblin , P . M ., D . C . ; H . Cosins , E . G . Grahnert , W . C . Lightfoot , and S . Maier , Stwds . ; T . H . Yeldham , Org . ; and Henry Evenden , P . M ., Tyler . During the dinner the band of Mr . A . W . Hulley ( late and Life Guards )

played a beautiful selection of music . The dinner was admirably chosen and gave every satisfaction . At the conclusion of the repast , a few words were said in proposing and responding to the shortest possible list of toasts . The toast of " The Queen and the Craft " was first drunk .

Bro . W . H . LOWRY , I . P . M ., proposed " The W . M ., " which the W . M . very nearly blotted out by starting to propose "The Ladies , " but Bro . Lowry quickly stopped the irregularity by proposing that the company should diink with the greatest enthusiasm , " Bro . W . F . Bates , W . M . " Bro . BATES , W . M ., thanked the brethren from his heart , and said he had had great pleasure in meeting all the brethren and ladies . He then proposed " The Ladies , " who could not be admitted to lodges , and the brethren had , therefore ,

great pleasure in meeting them at banquets , concerts , balls , and garden parties . Whenever they did so they tried to make the ladies comfortable . In every society where ladies were present they graced it and everything went on with more success than it otherwise would . The more the brethren saw of them the better , and the more they had of their company the more pleasure they derived . Quoting Milton ' s lines of God's last and greatest gifts to man being woman , he said that was what Masonry taught ; did they not think it was a very good lesson ?

Bro . PARKINS replied for the ladies , and in the course of his remarks said the ladies thanked the W . M . very much for his most acceptable present of a scent bottle to each of them .

Bro . DAVID PHILLIPS , P . M ., proposed "The Visitors . " Bro . CURRY replied , and said he was at the consecration of the lodge , and had been absent from only one or two meetings since . The party then adjourned to a short concert , and afterwards engaged in dancing until an advanced hour on the Friday morning , and when they separated expressed their great satisfaction with the pleasant evening provided by the brethren . The dance Stewards were Bros . George Ransford , P . M ., Treas , ; Charles Ransford , Thomas Rayner , A . S . Benjamin , Alexander Jones , and A . Simpson ; and Bro . Henry Cosins was Master of the Ceremonies .

Masonic Ball Of The Nelson Lodge, No. 700.

MASONIC BALL OF THE NELSON LODGE , No . 700 .

The ball of the season was undoubtedl y the magnificent one given by the Nelson Lodge , and which took place on Wednesday evening , the 32 nd ult ., at the Masonic Hall , Mount Pleasant , Plumstead , when upwards of 120 ladies and gentlemen assembled to enjoy the festivities so lavishly prepared for them by the brethren .

The large and spacious upper room of the hall was especially prepared for the dancing , the floor being well waxed , while around the walls were handsome flowers and brilliantly-coloured lanterns , flags , & c . The platform was a mass of floral beauty , beautifully arranged . The stairs were prettily carpeted , and , indeed , the whole of the decorations made a charming scene of taste and beauty . The

brilliant assembly of the brethren in full Masonic costume , gleaming in purple and gold , flashing jewels on their breasts , and spinning through the mazy intricacies of the dance ; the enchanting music , lights , and merry chatter made a scene of loveliness , enhanced as it was by the exquisite dresses of the ladies , not often seen in the midst of our throbbing hive of toil .

The banquet was splendidly served in the lower hall by Bro . G . Mitchell . The tables were exquisitely dressed , and the viands were of the choicest , admirably cooked and garnished . Bro . W . Chambers , J . W . of the lodge , catered for the wines and bibulents generally , and certainly did wonders for the success of the gastronomic and quenching operations .

The W . M . of the lodge , Bro . Sydney Smith , presided genially , and by the side of every lady ' s plate was a handsome bottle of rare scent , presented by Bro . Smith as a souvenir of the occasion .

Among the brethren and guests present were Bros . Sydney Smith , wife daughter , and two sons ; W . Long , S . W . and wife ; W . Chambers , J . W ., wife , son , and daughter ; Carter , J . D ., and wife ; H . Pamment , P . M ., the most genial of M . Cs . ; Folkes , I . G ,, and wife ; W . Lawson , P . M ., Sec , and wife j Taylor , P . M ., and wife ; J . Sanderson , P . M . ; G . Davis , P . M . ( hon . ) j G . H . Nichols , P . M ., P . P . G . D . C . Middx . ; G . H . Porter , P . M . ; Walkling and daughter ; G

. Lawrance and wife ; Crone and wife ; Mettrop and wife j West and wife ; Sandford , wife , and daughter ; A . McQueen , W . M . 13 } Coombes and wife ; Chapman and wife ; Alford , wife and daughter ; E . Mathews and Miss Nellie Mathews ; Bremer and wife ; G . Cashfield , P . M . 615 , and Mrs . Cashfield ; J . Stratton , wife and son ; Mann and wife ; Grant and wife ; Mr . and Mrs . Tom Mann .

Bro . C . Jolly called and had a look at the magic scene , and then slowly turned and went a sadder and bolder man . ' The only toasts given at the banquet were " The Queen and the Craft " " , The W . M ., " " The Ladies , " and " The Visitors . ' The affair will long be remembered with pleasure b y all who were privileged to bc present .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . LORD HERSCHELL , P . G . W .

We refer elsewhere to the loss which the Craft has sustained by the sudden death at Washington , U . S . A ., on Wednesday , of Bro . the Right Hon . Lord Herschell , ex-Lord High Chancellor of England , who was serving at the time as President of the English Commission which had been appointed to act in conjunction with a similar Commission appointed of the United States , with a view to arranging , if possible , the several matters in dispute between Canada and the

United States . His lordship a short time previousl y had met with a somewhat serious accident , but though he had been confined to his bed , his progress towards recovery was most satisfactory , when on the morning of the ist instant , his death occurred , after a few hours' illness . Bro . Lord Herschell was among the earlier candidates for initiation in the Northern Bar Lodge , No . 1610 , and after the lapse of few elected and installed

a years , was as W . Master . In 1886 , he was appointed to the chair of S . G . Warden , it being the first occasion on which such an honour was conferred upon a Lord Chancellor . But his lordshi p ' s official duties prevented his taking a very active part in Masonry , and we complete his record as a member of our Order by adding that he was a Life Governor of the Boys' School and a Life Subscriber of the Girls' School .