Provincial Grand Lodge Of Forfarshire.

Lord SALTOUN , in ihe name of tbe brethren of the province , presented Bro . Berry with a silver tea tray , as a mark of the respect in which he was held . Bro . BERRY feelingly returned thanks . Prov . Grand Lodge was afterwards closed . In the evening the brethren sat down to dinner in the grand hall of the hotel in honour of Lord Saltoun ' s visit . Bro . James Berry presided .

Ladies' Night Of The Pantiles Lodge, No. 2200, At Tunbridge Wells.

LADIES' NIGHT OF THE PANTILES LODGE , No . 2200 , AT TUNBRIDGE WELLS .

A SUCCESSFUL RE-UNION . The second of the ladies' evenings in connection with the above lodge came off On the 25 th ult ., at the Pump Room , and was in every respect a grand success . The W . M ., Bro . Wm Rule , had spared neither effort nor expense to attain this e ; sd , and in it he was well supported by his officers and a special committee of brethren .

The brethren met for the ordinary business of the lodge at half-past four , when there was a good attendance . At half-past five the W . M . and officers received and welcomed the guests in the Nevill Club Reading Room , and shortly after six o ' clock the Mayor and other of the principal guests having arrived , an adjournment was made to the Pump

Room for the banquet . The room had been very nicely decorated lor the occasion with plants and drapery , and the tables having been nicely set cit by Mr . Adams , the caterer , the effect produced was very fine . The brethren appeared " clothed , " a special dispensation having been obtained from the D . G . M ., Bro . Earl Amherst . The toilettes of the ladies also added brilliantly to the scene .

The W . M ., Bro . Rule , occupied the chair , the several vice-chairs being filled by his principal officers : Bros . T . Best , S . W . ; E . O . Howis , J . W . ; E . Westbrook , S . D . ; W . H . Downs , D . C . ; and F . L Williams , I . G . Amongst those present were Mrs . Rule , thc Mayor ( Bro . F . W . Stone ) , Bro . C . ] . and Mrs . Gallard ; Bro . J . and Mrs . Terry , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . B . I . ; Bro . N . and Nrs . Grunwell , Bro . L . and Mrs . Beale ; Bro . and Mrs . Burslem ; Bro . T . and Mrs . Ryder ; Bro . T . and Mrs . Potter ; Bro . R . and Mrs . Stevenson ; Bro .

J . and Mrs . Corfield ; Bro . T . Burton , Bro . R . Clements , Bro . E . E . and Mrs . Fenwick ; Bro . H . C . and Mrs . Gain ; Bro . Roger and Mrs . Waymark ; Bro . M . A . H . and Mrs . Edwardes ; Bro . T . E . and Mrs . Collins ; Bro . F . H . and Mrs . Hobbs ; Bro . C . J . and Mrs . Ellis ; Bro . E . C . Sanderson and Miss Potter ; Bro . A . and Mrs . Oliver ; Bro . Fincham , Bro . C . Y . and Mrs . Ellis ; Bro . W . J . and Mrs . Gane ; Bro . E . and Mrs . Catchpole ; Bro . L . and Mrs . Edwards ; Bro . R . and Mrs . Callingham ; Mrs . Urquhart , Bro . A . G . and

Mrs . Nye ; Bro . Wall , Bro . J . W . and Mrs . Slack ; Bro . Minns and . Miss Wallond ; Biro . J . Jones , Bro . H . Harris , Bro . Adkin , Bro . H . and Mrs , Hewett ; Bro . M . D . Brown , Miss Hewett , Bro . G . and Airs . Smith ; Miss Gardener , Mrs . Harmer , BrO . Fred and Mrs . Davis ; Bro . Denyer , Miss Banning , Bro . and Mrs . Combley , Mrs . Westbrook , Uro . C . and Mrs . Dudeney ; Bro . J .

W . and Mrs . Warwick ; Bro . A . E . and Mrs . Hobbs ; Bro . Perry , Bro . Llewelyn , Bro . I . Race and Miss Race ; Bro . and Mrs . Brice ; Bro . H . and Mrs . Adams ; Bro . G . Glanville , Bro . Dunkley , Bro . D . B . Harrison , Bro . G . Paine , Bro . Chapman , and others . A capital banquet having been served and excellent wines provided by Uro . M . D . Brown , the following short toast list was gone through .

"The Ladies , " of course , on a ladies' evening being one of the chief items . This toast was entrusted to Bro . J . Burton , whose remarks elicited much laughter . The W . M ., in a couple of exceptionally neat speeches , proposed "The Oueen and the Craft , " and "The M . W . the Grand Master , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , " which were received most loyally . Bro . J . BURTON , J . P ., P . M ., P . P . G . Reg ., in one of his humorous speeches , next proposed " The Health of the Ladies . " This was , he said , a very important

toast , and would , he was certain , receive due recognition . It might be asked , lie said , how it was in these days of women's rights , an age when the male sex had to take back seats and allow the ladies to be " lords" of the creation to go to the front ; when women were Masters of Art , Bachelors of Science , doctors and journalists , in fact , elbowing the poor unfortunate man out of eveiything ; when ladies had their clubs , political and social , and where they carried on , hchad been told , " high jinks , " singing " when man was lord of creation , but is not so now " ;

when women appeared on public platforms , teaching man everything , even to the cut of his inexpressibles ; when they scorched through the country on their bikes , to the serious enlargement of their carcasses—the last word had " proved a slip " —he meant the serious enlargement of the back parts of their extremities ; when they did al ! this , the wonder was that they had not formed a female Masonic lodge . ( Laughter . ) They could fancy how jolly it would be for the man to be invited to a gentleman ' s evening , relieved from thc task of proposing toasts ,

simply to eat , drink , and to listen to what the up-to-date female Mason had to say about the poor effete man . In the Masonic ritual they were told who were " fit and proper persons" to be made Masons , and , in truth , which he might say was characteristic of his profession , women were not mentioned . That , to his mind , must have been an inadvertence , owing to he fact , no doubt , that in the good old days long ago , to which their ritua ! dated , women loss asserted themselves thin at present . He had debated the matter in his own mind whether woman was a

fit and proper person to be made a Mason , and lie had come to the conclusion that she was , and for three reasons , which were most essential points in Masonic ritual . She could eat , drink , and talk . No one could gainsay that after they had heard a " curtain lecture . ' Then as to Charity , which was the brightest jewel in the crown of Freemasonry ; why women had been known to be so charitable as to give away her best friend . ( Laughter . ) Then as to secrecy , the keystone o ' Freemasonry . Could a woman keep a secret r If woman meant it , not even rack and thumbscrew would extract a secret from a womin . For these reasons

he submitted women were entitled to be enrolled as freemasons , and if they were in fear of the proverbial red-hot poker , why , they could use it cold . ( Laughter . ) He coupled with the toast , in the absence of Bro . A . T . Simpson , Bros . Roger C . D . Wayworkand E . C . Sanderson , both of whom gallantly responded . Bro . A . BUKSI . KM , l . l ' . M ., proposed "The Health ol the W . M . "—a toast always received , he said , with acclamation and enthusiasm . He was pleased also to mention in connection with the toast the name of Mrs . Rule , who had so

kindly graced their proceedings . He could assure her it gave the members of the Pantiles Lodge exceeding pleasure to see her present . ( Hear , hear . ) They had to congratulate their W . M . on two things--that he had so far recovered from his indisposition as to be able to be pnsent , and upon such a magnificent and successful gathering . It would be waste of words at such a gathering for him to attempt to extol the praises and the virtues of their W . M ., his pood qualities , his pei . ial good nature , especially his zeal and interest in . Misonic Charities , ( Cheers . ) The W . M ., in response , said he was pleased with the gathering . The work of arranging had not been of a sinecure nature , but he had been well backed up by

Ladies' Night Of The Pantiles Lodge, No. 2200, At Tunbridge Wells.

his officers , and especially his indefatigable Secretary , Bro . Rufus Stevenson . He felt it a high honour to be elected W . JI . of such a prosperous lodge , and he hoped the success which had attended this , the second [ of the ladies' evenings , would ensure its being made an " annual . " ( Hear , hear . ) His Worship the Mayor ( Bro . F . W . STONE , P . M ., P . P . S . G . W . ) proposed " The Masonic Charities . " It was a proud privilege for a Mason to address such an assembly of ladies and brethren . Ladies they knew were boiling over with Charity ami love ,-and , therefore , he knew they would respond heartily to his toast .

Although it would not be right for brethren to divulge Masonic secrets , they could freely tell their wives all about their Masonic Charities . The past year had been a record one in the cause of Masonic Charities . As Bro . Terry , an olH : er of the Grand Lodge , who had honoured them with his presence that evening , would tell them , they had subscribed no less a sum than . £ 160 , 003 or . £ 170 , 000 for their boys and girls and those aged Masons and widows who required assistance . ( Cheers . ) He , therefore , asked for a hearty response to the toast of the Masonic Charities .

Bro . J . TERRY , P . M ., P . Z ., P . G . S . B . Sec . R . M . B . L , responded . He thanked Bro . Stone for thc way he had introduced the toast , and the admirable way in which Bro . Burton had thought fit to develope the peculiar proclivities of the ladies , who if not having sufficient money to give to Charity would give their dearest friends away . The unfortunate part was ladies were not so convertible into stock as money , and it was a wonderful thing how Bro . Burton had made it clear to his own mind what was to become of the ladies when converted . The

great thing was to transform them into mothers , and , as time goes by , into grandmothers . He had not the slightest doubt when man and woman were first created it never struck Adam how he should convert Eve . He did not suppose it ever entered his head ( laughter ) , and aitnough he had heard it said that gardening was the oldest business extant , he ventured to think there was one earlier , because they read that Adam and Eve went about seeking aprons to put on . ( Laughter . ) Millinery , therefore , he contended was about the

first trade , and there was not the slightest doubt it had thrived well ever since . He ventured to think the toast 01 tho Masonic Charities was appreciated by everybody . As his Worship the Mayor had said , 1 S 9 S had beei a record year in the history of Freemasonry . They had raised something like , £ 170 , 000 , ; £ iJ 4 , ooo of which was contributed in one night , when they met under thc presidency of the Prince of Wales . They had 275 girls which they educited and clothed at their schools ; they had 2 S 3 boys which they also clothed , maintained ,

and educated , and put out into the world in su : h a rmnner as to fit them to take their places as citizens of the world . Kent had contributed nably . The Old People ' s Institution , with which he was more directlyconcerned , was not so attractive as the Schools for boys and girls , but they had 475 annuitants on the fund , who were continually praising God there was such an Institution as Freemasonry . It was no uncommon thing to hear of boys and girls being adopted , but he ventured to think no one ever thought of adopting an old man or an old woman .

( Hear , hear . ) He thanked the lodge for its donation of 10 guineas that day , and expressed the hope that when they had another ladies' evening he should be invited . In conclusion , he would say , love the girls as much as you like , but honour your fathers and mothers that their days miy hi long in the land , and you will never regret having given them the mjans to enjoy themselves in their old age . _ The company then separated .

During thc dinner Mr . Donovan sang several songs , Mr . Johnson accompanying . After the banquet , members with their wives and friends inspected tho lodgeroom and its appointments , in which the ladies especially expressed a considerable amount of curiosity . By nine o ' clock the banqucting-room had been completely transformed , the tables were cleared , the lloors swept and polished , Prince ' s Scarlet Band struck up a warning note , and the dance was at once in full swing .

There was a large attendance at the dance , the arrangements for which were excellent , the M . Cs . being Bros . E . O . Howis , J . W . ; E . E . Fendick , J . D . ; H . C Gain , S . ; and E . A . Sanderson .

The Craft Abroad.

The Craft Abroad .

RETURN HOME OF BRO . HON . C . E . DAVIES , M . L . C ., M . W . G . M . TASMANIA .

Bro . the Hon . C . E . Davies , M . L . C ., rccompanied by Mrs . and Miss Davies reached Launceston on his return to Tasmania by the Patccna , on the loth December . From a health point of view he has benefited very much , and he speaks highly of the courtesy and hospitality shown him in all the leading centres of Great Britain . On arrival he was met by thc oliicers of the Grand Lodge of Tasmania , and with Mrs . and Miss Davits was heartily welcomed back , and congratulated on his restoration to health .

A more formal welcome took place later at the Brisbane Hotel , where the leading members of the Masonic Craft in the North assembled , and over a glass of wine assured thc Grind Mister of the pleasure th iy felt at his return , and at the benefit and enjoyment he had secured from his holiday . The M . W . Pro Grand Master , Bro . R . J . S idler , preside 1 , and among those present were Bros . J .

II . Room , P . M . W . Pro G . M . ; W . R . Lisbcy , R . W . S . G . W . ; J . Brickhill , V . W D . G . S . ; W . Scott , W . G . S . D . ; W . Aikenhead ( Devonport ) , P . M . ; G . Gragg , W . M . ; A . J . R . Lamer , W . M . ; W . G . Wilkinson , W . M . ; L . P . Collins , C . H . Hogg , M . D ., 1 * . R . Unsworth , A . Jones , F . J . Prichard , and J . C . Ferguson . Glasses having been charged ,

Ihe PRO GRAND MASTER said they had met together to welcome back thc Grand Master of Tasmania to his native land . ( Applause . ) It had been their intention to entertain him at a banquet , but , unfortunately , owing to circumstances over which they had no control , their arrangements had fallen through , but they hoped on some future occasion when he came to the North to give him a loyal welcome , and show him how much lie was appreciated by tbe Masons in Ibis part

of the island . He need hirdly lull him ( the Grand Mister ) of the satisfaction they all fell at the worthy manner in which he hid represented the Grand Lodge of Tasmania in Great Britain , as he felt sure that scarcely anyone else could have done so with cq'iil dignity and credK ( Appl ntsj . ) Their Grand Mister had been honoured in England by the Prince of Wales and other dignitaries 01 the Craft , and although lie had all these honours heaped upon him , they must

lake a Utile credit to themselves thit be was the r .-presen ' . ativc of lasmmia , and in consequence a certain portion of these honours came back to them . He was sure the Grand Master would not gru lge thit . ( Hear , hear ) However , they now extended to their Grand Master , . Mrs . D . ivies , and Miss Davies a hearty welcome . Wi h tlie other brethren he was pleased he had come back in good health and spirits , and it was their earnest wish that he might be long spired to occupy