The Craft Abroad.

The various items on the programme were enlivened by music , and had it not been for the undue haste practised by the Consecrating Officer , the proceedings would have been far more impressive and dignified , and have met with a greater share of appreciation from the brethren . On the conclusion of the consecration ceremony , Bro . Boyes proceeded

to install Bro . Wallis as Master of the lodge . The moment this was completed , the INSTALLING OITICER explained that it was necessary for himself and his party to get back to Johannesburg , and that consequently they could not remain to partake of the hospitality of the lodge by attending the banquet . They accordingly marched off , much to the surprise and disappo ' ntmont of the members .

The W . M . then re-arranged the offices , and the work proceeded without delay or hilch . The business was confined to the foundation members , of whom there were present , besides the W . M ., Bros . R . H . White , W . J . P . Kelly , J . McCallum , C . Coles , T . H . Garland , and J . S . Dawning . Thirty odd brethren were proposed as joining members , and about half-a-dozen gentlemen as candidates .

It was decided that the bye-laws should be considered at the first general meeting to be held in May , and that joining members and candidates be balloted for then . Congratulations were offered to the W . M . by Bros . J LLOYD , I . P . M ., J AMES , P . M ., and a number of other visitors .

One very interesting and gratifying feature of the proceedings was the presentation to the VV . M . on behalf of Bro . Hocking , of the Boscawen l . cdge , of a beautifully-worked copy of the trowel given to 11 R . H . the Prince of Wales on the occasion of his installation as M . W . G . M .

Bro . LLOYD presented the handsome trophy in appropriate terms , and Bro . WALLIS feelingly replied . It was announced that at the first regular meeting the officers would be invested . The complete list of the first officers is as follows : Bros . R . F , Wallis , W . M . ; F . VV . Bawden , I . P . M . ; A . A . Hazlewood , S . W . ; C . W . Deecker , J . W . ; Geo . Dehn , S . D . ; A . Koefoed , J . D . ; R . H . White ,

Treas . ; W . J . P . Kelly . Sec . ; G . C . Penny , Org . ; J . Downing , I . G . ; G . Hosking , C . Coles , VV . L . Stacpcole , and VV . Henderson , Stwds . ; and J . T . Soundy , Tyler . An adjournment was then made to the Grand Hotel , where a banquet worthy of the excellent reputation of host Edgson awaited the brethren .

The large dining-hall was admirably suited to the purpose , ard the menu provided included everything to tempt the taste of the most fastidious . Bro . Wallis occupied Ihe chair and was supported by Bros . Lloyd , Smith , Howard Harris , Seehoff , and other distinguished guests . The vice-chairs were taken by the S . W . and J . W . elect respectively . On the removal of the cloth ,

Bro . WALLIS , W . M ., proposed the toasts of "His Honour , the President , " and "The Queen . " " The Health ol the Prince of Wales . M . W . G . M ., " was drunk with musical honours . The W . M . then proposed " W . Bro . G . Richards , the D . G . M ., and the District Grand Lodge . " In doing so , he paid a high tribute of respect to Bro . Richards , who took a great interest in . the Craft , and was a most excellent example for every brother to follow .

Bro . LLOYD , in reply , regretted that the Consecrating Officer and those who came wiih him had to leave without having the pleasure of attending the banquet . Bro . Geo . Richards would , he felt sure , have been glad to have come over if he had been in the country . With regard lo Bro . Da Silva , the D . G . S ., who was to have performed the ceremony , and who took

a great interest in the formation of the lodge , he knew that they all sympathised with him on the fact that he was kept away by serious domestic affliction . The lodge had the best wishes of the District Grand Lodge for its future , and he was certain that under Bro . Wallis—who had fulfilled all expectations formed of him—the lodge would be a grand success . After Bro . Howard Harris had rendered a song ,

Bro . LLOYD proposed " The VV . M . of the Royal George Lodge . " He had known Bro . Wallis for many years , both as a Mason and in private life , and had always found him one of the best of men . He attended the inaugural meeting held as a lodge of instntction under the Roodepcort Lodge , and was pleased at the rapid advance which had been made b y the VV . M . and his officers . He was highly satisfied with their progress . But

they must all remember that the Master could not do everything by himself . He must be well backed up by the officers and brethren . Without co-operaiion they could not have a successful lodge . Their aim should not be so much quantity as quality . If they were careful in regard to the admission of members , and all worked together in harmony , the Royal George would become one of the best in the Transvaal . He was pleased to see the

good feeling manifested between the members of the local lodges . Bro . i-eehoff , of the Libertas Ledge , bad shown a good spirit in the cordial manner in which he had expressed himself in the afternoon about the Royal George . He reciprocated those views , and trusted to find the same principles enunciated by members of all lodges . Bros . FOSTER and NUNNS having Loth given musical contributions ,

Bro . WALLIS rose to thank the proposer of his health and the company for the hearty manner in which they had received it . He should always aim at making the lodge as useful and perfect as possible . I le did not approve of adding numbers to the lodge irrespective of quality . He wanted to have every member a Mason at heart . With the Libertas Lodge he svas pleased lo say they had woiked in the greatest harmony , and he trusted they would continue to do so . During his acting Mastership all had

cooperated with him for the advancement of peace and harmony . Numbers of difficulties had beset their path , but they had ovetcome them all , and he hoped to have the lodge in full working order , carried on in such a manner as to be a credit to the Craft . Before the end of his term he would try to bring it to a high state of perfection and have his ollicers so well up to their work that they could satisfactoril y fill any office in the lodge . He solicited the support of all in order to secure that success .

• Bro . SEEIIOIT , P . M ., proposed in a few appropriate words " The Installing Officers , " and testified to having enjoyed the ceremony , and in fact , the whole of the proceedings . lie had every gcod feeling' towards the Royal George , and hoped it would prosper . Bro . HOWARD HARRIS , in the course of a very humorous reply ,

apologised for the shortcomings of himself and other officers at tho ceremony and expressed his regret that the District Grand Lodge as a body had not wailed for the banquet ., He had a wife to go home to as well as they , but she knew she was a Mason ' s wife , and burglars would respect the occasion . He had not attended lodge for many years for sundry gocd reasons , although a thorough Mason at heart , who joined the Craft over . ; = ; years

The Craft Abroad.

ago . He thought they in South Africa took more interest in Masonry , and worked their lodges better than they did in the old country . He was to be installed as Master of a lodge at the Springs in the course of a month , and it afforded him pleasure to extend a hearty welcome to all who would honour him with a visit on the occasion . Bro . HAZLEWOOD proposed " The Visitors , " and was pleased to see such a number of them present on that occasion .

Bro . J AMES , P . M ., in response , said he was intending to be a member of the Royal George , but a sudden call home prevented it now . He , however , hoped to return again and join . He complimented the VV . M . and officers on the advancement they had made , and hoped to find the lodge ere long among the foremost in the Slate . "The Officers Elect " was proposed by Bro . LLOYD , on whose behalf Bro . DEECKER responded .

During the evening several songs were capitally rendered by some of the brethren . A . very successful day ' s proceedings was brought to a close by the Tyler ' s toast , given by the Dist . G . Tyler , according to lime-honoured custom . The banquet terminated by singing " God Bless the Prince of Wales . "

Bulwer Lodge. No. 1068.

Bulwer Lodge . No . 1068 .

On April 24 th the above ledge held a most successful meeting , the occasion being the installation of Bro . Major-General Rundle , C . M . G ., D . S . O ., as W . M . The meeting was attended by over So brethren , and the Hoard of Installed Masters consisted of 24 of that rank , the largest that we have ever seen assembled in Egypt , Bros . Idris Bey Ragheb , M . W . G . M . of Egypt , and Major-General Sir Herbert Kitchener , K . C . B ., K . C . M . G ., being among the members .

Before the installatron ceremony , Bro . Bailey assumed the chair temporarily , in OTdec to initiate a candidate . On the completion 01 this ceremony , the outgoing VV . M ., Bro . Bain , resumed the chair , and performed the ceremony of installing Bro . Rundle in a most perfect manner , Bro . Walker assisting by delivering the concluding addresses in such excellent style as elicited the applause of his audience . The ceremony of investing his officers was then proceeded with by Bro . Rundle , who showed in his performance of

that duty that he possessed in an eminent degree the required ( jualilicatrons—courteous in manner and easy oi address . The following is a list of the officers : Bros . Bain , I . P . M . and Treas . ; Pheasant , S . W . ; W . Staveley Gordon , J . W . ; Grassland , Sec Woodhead , S . D . ; Bid , J . D . ; Crozier , D . C : Hutton , I . G . j Rev . R . Stuart Patterson , Chap . ; Woods , Yate ? , and Griffith , Stewards ; and Hasted , acting Tyler .

On the labours of the evening being terminated , the brethren adjourned to refreshment at the Bristol Hotel . 'I he usual loyal and Masonic toasts were duly honoured , the W . M . proving himself as excellent an after-dinner speaker as he has proved his skill and gallantry as a soldier . With the Tyler ' s toast the proceedings closed shortly before midnight , and one of the most brilliant of the Masonic functions we have been privileged to attend in Egypt became a thing of the past .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Clapton Lodge , No . 1365 . The election meeting of this distinguished City lodge was h eld at the Great Eastern Hotel , Liverpool-street , on the 20 th ult ., when there were present Bros . A . H . Church , VV . M . ; F . C . Lintott , S . W . ; W . Banks , J . W . ; VV . Blackburn , P . M ., Treas . ; F . Orfeur , J . D . ; G . Schilling , Stwd . ; W . D . Church , P . M ., Sec ; W . Pinch , P . M . ;

D . Campbell , P . M . ; E . S . White , VV . Pox , C . G . Diamond , A . W . Diamond , VV . D Seaton , P . Brown , Hattogs , E . J . II . Livett , J . E . Zoers , II . A . Zoers , D . G . Zoers . F VV . Moore , E . Wildash , R . II . Chessum , W . R . O . Cathrow , P . Becker , E . G . Stinger , S . T . Green , J . II . Shipman , J . Parlitt , J . VV . Vaugban , and E . Mallett , P . M ., Tyler , Visitors : Bros . E . A . Baldwin , 216 s ; E . Urch , 715 ; Ino . Ortner , 1707 ; I . Bunker . P . M . 11 5 S : and R . T . West , 1744 .

Ihe lodge having been opened and the minutes of the previous meeting confirmed , theW . M ., Bro . A . 11 . Church , raised Bros . P . VV . Moore , S . T . Green , J . E . Zoers , II . A . Zoers , and D . G . Zoers to the Third Degree . The working of the VV . M . was don ; in a manner that made it impossible to have been better performed . Bro . F . C . Lintott , S . W ., was unanimously elected W . M . ; Bro . W . Blackburn , P . M ., re-elected Treasurer ; and Bro . Ii . Mallett , P . M ., again appointed Tyler . The Audit Committee having been appointed , a Past Master ' s jewel wis voted to the W . M ., Bro . A . II , Church , for his excellent services in the chair . It was unanimously resolved to have a

summer outing to entertain the ladies , and a Committee was appointed , with Bro . J . Banks , J . W ., as Hon . Sec , to make the necessary arrangements . Bro . D . Campbell , P . M ., here rose and said : Although at the end ot a long and arduous ceremonial you must be anxious for the closing of the lodge , yet I feel sure you will pardon me for a few moments while 1 call your attention to a matter in which we take the deepest interest . This is a red-letter day for the Clapton Lodge , beciuse wi have our Worshipful Master again with us . Some few montns ago we had a black-letter day when we were listening with hushed breath to the report of his father , our worthy Secretary , on his and illness

severe dangerous , and fearing lest we might not have the privilege of seeing him again , and on that occasion we sent him a message of sincere condolence . But " now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer " by this worthy son of a worthy father . Now , he has come back to us , not creeping , nor limping on crutches , as one barely escaped from the hand of death ; but full of life , full of strength and vigour ; able , as he has shown us this evening to undertake labours mare arduous than usually fall to the lot of a Master of a lodge ; able and willing , nay eager , to guide and govern us as heretofore , and to lead us in the right way ; and 1 ask you to join with me in presenting to him our hearty congratulations . ( Great applaus ; . ) Brethren

, those acclamations show that it is unnecessary to bring this to your notice in a more formal manner . The VV . M ., Bro . A . II . Church , on rising , had an ovation , lie thanked Bro . D . Campbell , P . M ., from the bottom of his heart for his very kind words anil the members for their manifestation . At one tim J he thought he would never be able to b ; with them again , but the Great Architect had spared him . The Secretary reported that Bro . Henry C . Muckley , I . G ., was ill , which was the reison for his absence thatevening and he was directed to convey to Bro . Muckley the sincere regret of the mj . nbirs , and their earnest wish for his speedy restoration to health . A gentleman was proposed for initiation at the next meeting .

Ihe lodge was then closed , and the brethren adjourned to a supirb banquet , admirably served , for which Bro . Becker was responsible . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts having been duly honoured , In the unavoidable absence of the I . P . M ., llro . Geddes , llro . D . Campbell , P . M ., proposed " l'he Health of the VV . M ., Bro . A . II . Church . " lie stated that it would not be necessary for him to repeat what he had said in the lodge , except to add that they were all delighted to have him back amongst them .

In response , Bro . A . II . Church , VV . M ., said that he would rather work three Degrees in Masonry than make a speech , especially about himsslf . His year of otlice was drawing painfully to a close , but he had only missed attending one meeting , and that was through Ins illness , and he thanked them all for their kindness tohin . lie took that opportunity el referring to the presence of Bro . W . Fox , who had been absent from tlie lodge lor years in India , but they were glad to welcome him back to his old roost .

Ihe VV . M . gave "The Visitors , " whom he cordially welcomed . He hoped the lodge had not lost any of its old hospitality , a > d , in referring to each of the visitors by name , he made special mention of Bro . J . Bunker , P . M ., who was a very old friend of theirs ; he was always there , but ever welcome , and pcrhips some day he might become a joining member .