Provincial Grand Lodge Of Middlesex.

of all good Freemasons , For coupling his name with the toast he returned cpecial thanks , at the same time he could not but feel that he was a most unworthy representative of Grand Lodge on the present occason . At tVe head of the Grand Officers present was B o . Ftnn , who had done so much for Freemasonry , that it was difficult to know where to begin in referring to his Masonic services . There was also Bro . Sir Trueman Wood , so

distinguished in arts and sciences , and what would the Province of Middlesex have been without Bro . Thrupp ? Bro . Terry was also present , and what would the aged Freemasons have done without him ? It was impossible to say anything about Bro . Rjom , for the brethren had shown their appreciation cf him . In returning tracks again , he ( B-o . Horton Smith ) assured them he should not be likely lo forget that before he became Djputy Grand Kcs'strar of England he was their Grand Registrar of Middlesex .

Bro . RAYMOND H . THRUPP , D . P . G . M ., said he rose to propose the next toast— "The Health of the R . W . Prov . Grand Master" —with a light heart , for every brother in the province would fully appreciate the toast , and g ive it a hearty and cordial reception . Their Prov . Grand Master had now been with them for some years . It was true he did not come amongst them so often as they could wish , but when the brelhren remembered that Bro .

L-ord George Hamilton was one of her Majesty ' s Secretaries of State , and that his services were required elsewhere , thev would appreciate the fact that he had attended to preside over them that day . There was one thing he especially wished to call tht ir attention to , and that was to assure the Prov . Grand Master that they did not only show their esteem and respect and their love for him by hands and voices , for in February last Ihey evinced it in a

practical form by subscribing the largest sum at the Benevolent Institution Festival ever sent by any province . Their Prov . Grand Master appreciated and was grateful for that result , for he wrote the next morning expressing his delight . They were all proud to have such a distinguished nobleman to preside over them , and tusted he would be spared for many years to be their Prov . Grand Master .

The PROV . G . MASTER thanked the brethren for the cordiality with which they had received the toast and also the Deputy Prov . Grand Master for his kindly expressions of good feeling . His rule in life had been never to take any post unless he had time and opportunity to perform the duties , and when he became Prov . Grand Master he did not expect to become one of the principal Secretaries of State . The Deputy P . G . M . had alluded to

the festival in February at which he presided and at which they beat the record . That festival was a great success arid that so large a sum was mainly due to the energy with which he was supported by his officers . It was gratifying to Harrow to know that the Harrow lodges contributed no less than £ 621 . When they recollected that the Provinceof Middlesex was not one ot the largest provinces and that many of the brethren also belonged

to London , they must congratulate themselves on having beat the great counties like Lancashire and Yorkshire . As they were aware Saturday was the only holiday for members of Parliament and Ministerialists and if he left before the proceedings were over he hoped they would not attribute it to any want of courtesy . Before he left he especially desired to propose the next toast , " The Deputy Prov . G . M . " They had had a very satisfactory

meetirg that day and the Province of Middlesex worked with such ease and all its wheels were so well greased that he , as Prov . Grand Master , had only to preside on such occasions as these . This was mainly due to Bro . Thrupp and other brethren who had been associated together for many years . It was indeed a matter for congratulation that having attained a hi gh standard of excellence the province was in no way falling from it .

Ihe DEPUTY PROV . G . MASTER , in response , said he should continue to discharge his duties to the best of his ability and in conjunction with his colleagues support the Prov . G ' . Master . "'the Prov . Grand Officers" was next given and briefly replied to by Bros . THOS . FENN , P . P . B . G . P ., and Col . BLUNT , after which the Prov .

G . Tyler s toast concluded the proceedings . The arrangements for the comfort of the brethren reflected the hi ghest credit on all concerned and the same remark applies to the musical programme under the direction of Bro . R . F . Tyler , P . P . G . Org ., who was ably assisted by . Bros . C . Butler , Avalon Collard , Frank Swinford , Prov . G . Org ., and Geo . Robins .

Summer Outing Of The Leopold Lodge, No. 1571.

SUMMER OUTING OF THE LEOPOLD LODGE , No . 1571 .

When the brethren of the Leopold Lodge decided to invite their lad y friends to a summer outing , in place of the ladies' night which had been successfully held for the past two years , a new departure was inaugurated , which , it is hoped , will become a standing function in connection with the lodge . Wednesday , the 2 ) tn ult ., having bcen fixed upon , the brethren and their ladies assembled at

Pad"ington Station in time to journey to Windsor by the 9 . 40 a . m . train , to which saloon carriages had bcen attached . Windsor was shortly reached , but not before a few showers had descended . These only tended , however , to refresh the surrounding country , and before leaving for Marlow , King Sol had asserted himself , making happy and contented the assembled company . The " May Queen " steamed

way at 10 . 45 , the lovely scenery , for which the Thames is noted , being highly - 'Ppreciated , and equally so the bountiful refreshments provided by the Committee . Marlow was reached at 2 o ' clock , and the Crown Hotel shortly afterwards , where dinner was served , the catering giving every satisfaction . Among the company , numbering 71 , were the following : ! w ° * Meadows , W . M ., and Miss Mortimore ; Bro . Watts , I . P . M ., and Mrs . Ur V , ' HamPSon , S . W ., Mrs . Hampson , and Misses A . and B . Hampson ; uro . Morgan , P . M .. Sec : Bro . Morris . 1 . 1 *) .. and Mrs . Mnrris- R ™ \ Pi < -h .

• v-N Uro . Hall , A . D . C , and Miss Hall ; Bro . McKenzie , Stwd ., and Miss B , r ,, ; Bro * Clarke , Org ., and Mrs . Clarke ; Bro . Barnes and Mrs . p . " **' ' Uro - B "H > Bro . J . B . Paine , and Mrs . Paine ; Mr . and Mrs . Peters ; Bro . ind M- Mrs ' ™ * Bro - Whitefield and Miss Tomkins ; Bro . Pitt , P . M ., MiJr t ; Br ° - Barker and Mrs . Barker ; Bro . Groves , P . M ., Mrs . and and M r ° ,. - . * Bentle yi P ' 'I Brc - Gladwell and Mrs . Gladwell ; Bro . Eadie 1 ) ' .. * " l * . adle ; Bro . Saunion . P . M . : Mr . Klpmincr Mrs . "inH Miss Klpmlnir .

MilU » ,. Mrs * Duffell ; Mr . and Mrs . Wickham j Bro . Miller and Mrs . I-inchi M jss R 1 : e >* * Bro . Wills ; Bro . Mun . furJ and Mrs . Mumford ; Bro . Mrs Bro . Coimack and Mrs . Cormatk ; Bro . Itei / . ' . ey j and ' MrD ° i Bro * Anson and Mrs - Anson ; Bro . A . Paine , and Mr . W . '" re . 1 ame ; Mr . and Mrs . Bridgland ,- and others . " - " ¦ ace having been said ,

Summer Outing Of The Leopold Lodge, No. 1571.

The WORSHIPFUL MASTER submitted "The ( Jueen and the Craft , " which was heartily received . Bro . A . WATTS , I . P . M ., in asking the company to drink to the health of the W . M ., Bro . Meadows , said that the brethren were indebted to him for thc sacrifice he had made in giving up his visit to Brighton as Steward to the Festival of the Boys' School that day , which the brethren much appreciated , und tendered to the W . M . the hearty good wishes of all present .

Bro . MEADOWS , W . M ., who met with a hearty reception , thanked the company for the cordial manner in which he had been received . They had been favoured with delightful weather , and he sincerely hoped that the gathering that day was only one of many yet to be enjoyed together by the members of the Leopold Lodge and their friends . " The Ladies" was next proposed by- Bro . EDMUND J . MORGAN , P . M ., and Secretary of the lodge . He sincerely thanked the ladies for gracing the outing

with their presence , and regretted that they could not invite them to their lodge meetings . Unfortunately for the ladies , the fiat had gone forth that , for the present at least , the secrets of Freemasonry were to be confined to the masculine gender . Whether it was that man , the more receptive creature , could better be entrusted to keep a secret than more confiding woman , he dare not , in the presence of the wives of so many Masons , affirm , while , on the other hand , what the possibilities for the ladies mi >? lit be , even in Freemasonry , in the age of the

new woman , which had only just dawned , it was not for him to say . One thing , however , was certain—nothing was more appreciated by the weary Mason after his arduous labours in lodge than the welcome smile of his better half . It was comforting to Freemasons to know that all ladies were not like poor Mrs . Caudle , whose only ambition in life appeared to be to wring from her ill-used husband the fascinating secrets of Freemasonry . There were thousands of ladies who held a high opinion of the Craft , and so long as Freemasons made the ladies sharers in

their pleasures and enjoyments as well as providing for them in the hour of their distress , so long would chey have them on their side . Others far abler than he had sung their praises . Scott , in estimating the worth of woman , had said : O , woman , in our hours of ease , Uncertain , coy , and hard to please , And variable as the shade , By the light quivering aspen made ,

When pain and anguish wring the brow , A ministering angel thou . While Graham had beautifully sung'Tis thine to curb the passion ' s maddening sway , And wipe the mourner ' s bitter tear away , 'Tis thine to soothe when hope itself has fled , And cheer with angel smile the sufferer's bed :

To give to earth its charms , to life its zsst , One only task to bless and to be blest . The ladies were then very heartily toasted , and the hope expressed by Bro . Morgan that the Leopold Lodge might have the pleasure of their company on many future summer outings . Bro . PERCY LEACH , I . G ., championed the cause of the ladies , in reply , thanking the proposer of the toast for his eulogy of the gentler sex , and the warm and hearty reception given to his lady friends . To admit that the kind things just

said of them were not deserved would be mere affectation . The poetical quotations recited by Bro . Morgan were none too highly embellished , and he ( the mouthpiece of the fair sex ) would be delightfully candid , and admit it up to the hilt . Slightly altering Longfellow , he would say— " What would the world be to us if the ladies were no more . " In conclusion , he sincerely thanked the brethren of the Leopold Lodge for their kind invitation to the ladies that day , and hoped that , as the years rolled on , they might , at least , once a year meet the ladies , as they had done on the present occasion .

"The Visitors " was suitably responded to by Bro . W . R . BENTLEY , P . M . Last , but not least , " The Health of the Secretary of the Outing , Bro . John Hampson , S . W . of the Lodge , " was given in felicitous terms by the W . M ., who paid a graceful compliment , well deserved , to Bro . Hampson , who had devoted much time and trouble to make that day ' s gathering a great success , which was clearly indicated by the pleasing countenances of all present .

Bro . HAMPSON , in reply , was warmly received . Thoroughly appreciating the kind words of the W . M ., he had done what he could to contribute to the success of the outing , and if his efforts , supplemented by the ready help of the Committee , had been productive of a pleasant day ' s enjoyment , he and they had been well repaid for any trouble that had been taken . He only hoped that this would be

by no means the last occasion on which they would meet the " Ladies , " and if possible he would like to see it become a hardy annual with the Leopold Lodge . The ladies and brethren subsequently repaired to the grounds , where they were photographed by the kindness of Bro . W . L . Barker , S . W . ot the Loyalty Lodge .

Time , waiting for no man , caused the company speedily to prepare for the return journey , which was most thoroughly enjoyed , the ladies contributing to the harmony of the occasion . Windsor was reached in time for the 9 . 40 train , and many were the expressions of hope on leavetaking at Paddington that the Leopold Lodge would not fail to hold their second summer outing .

The arrangements of the outing were in the hands of a Committee , consisting of Bros . H . T . Meadows , W . M . ; John Hampson , S . W . ( Secretary of the Outing ) ; Edmund J . Morgan , P . M . ; Arthur Watts , I . P . M . ; C . M . Morris , J . D . ; Percy Leach , I . G . ; George Hall , A . D . C . ; John McKenzie Stwd . ; and R . W . Clarke , Org . ; and were everything that could be desired .

Summer Outing Of Mount Calvary Encampment Of Knights Templar.

SUMMER OUTING OF MOUNT CALVARY ENCAMPMENT OF KNIGHTS TEMPLAR .

The summer outing of this old encampment was held at the celebrated riverside hostelry , the Mitre , Hampton Court , on the 16 th ult . Among the members present were Sir Knights Rev . R . C . Fillingham , M . A ., B . C . ; Capt . T . C . Walls , P . G . C . of Guards , Reg . ; Basil Stewart , Expert ; W . Maple , I . P . E . C . j F . W . Driver , M . A ., P . E . C ; H . J . Lardner , P . E . C . ; C . Slater , P . E . C ; N . Prower , P . E . C . ; E . F . Roberts , Org . ; A . R . Carter , and J . R . Ubsden ; the visitors being Bros . T . Simpson , P . M . ; D . Jackson , P . M . ; C . H . Kiihler , P . M . ; Trchearne , P . M . ; Chapman , P . M . ; and Harvey , P . M .

The banquet was served in the manner which has made this old house of public entertainment world renowned . The Eminent Commander , who posed simply as the chairman over the pleasant gathering , was exceedingly happy in his several utterances . The visitors , too , wcre not to be outshone by their host . They all rose to the occasion and their remarks were of a witty nature .

The whole proceedings were altogether successful—first the banquet and wines were good , secondly the weather was all that could be desired , thirdly , the fast-prandial utterances were far above the average , and lastly music exercised its charms , as Bro . Egbert Roberts was in goad form and kept the brethren amused from " start to finish . ' * The executive are to be congratulated on the success that attended their efforts to render the day ' s entertainment a success .