Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

The lodge having been opened by the VV . M . and the Auditor ' s report adopted , Bro . J . C . Gillman , the Installing Master , took the chair , and Bro . J . T . Brierley , W . M . elect , was presented for the benefit of installation . A Board of Installed Masters was formed , and Bro . Brierley was duly placed in thc chair of K . S ., and the brethren being admitted was proclaimed and saluted in ancient form . The

VV . M . then proceeded to invest his officers as follows : Bros . J . McGarth , I . P . M . ; Burslem , S . W . ; G . Johnson , J . W . ; VV . S . Watson , P . M ., Treas . ; C . VV . Maybury , Sec . ; B . Halliwell , S . D . ; Biggs , J . D . ; ] . Blum , I . G . ; Pugh , Org . ; S . D . McKellen , D . C ; W . Hill , Tylcr ; Carter , Kershaw , and Davies , Stewards . At the close of the ceremony the brethren repaired to the Albion Hotel , Piccadilly , where , with the addition of several

brethren to those mentioned above , they sat down to a splendid banquet . Upon the cloth being removed , the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given from the chair . To the toast of " The Prov . Grand Master and Grand Officers of West Lancashire , Present and Past , " Bro . J . C . Gillman , P . P . G . S . D ., responded . The I . P . M . then , in eulogistic terms , proposed " The

Health of thc Newly-Installed VV . M . " which was honoured with great enthusiasm . In responding , the Worshipful Master thanked the brethren for the honour they had conferred upon him and expressed his determination to fulfil his onerous duties to the satisfaction of the lodge . In conclusion he proposed "The Health of the I . P . M . " which was also received

with every expression of good feeling . Bro . McKellen , P . M ., proposed "The Visiting Brethren , " to whicii Bros . Dawson , Buckley , Moseley , Challen , Ward , and others responded . Bro . Burslem , S . W ., gave " The Health of the Installing Master , Bro . Gillman , " and , referring to the services rendered by that distinguished brother to the Trafford

Lodge , mentioned that he had installed every Master of the lodge since it was consecrated . Amid the applause of the brethren he expressed the hope that " the father of the Trafford Lodge " would long be spared to give his children the benefit of his advice , experience , and assistance . Bro . Gillman , replied , observing that although there were many brethren in the lodge who were better able than himself to do such a ceremony as that which he had performed

that day , yet he hoped , as long as he was spared , or as long as he was a member of that lodge , to have the honour of installing its Master . Bro . Jones , P . M ., proposed " The Masonic Charities , " to which Bro . Dawson , P . M ., responded in an eloquent speech . " The Health of the Newly-invested Officers" was given by Bro . Johnson , P . M ., and each officer responded

in turn . Bro . G . Johnson , J . VV ., proposed the toast of "The Past Masters of the Trafford Lodge , " to which those brethren responded , and the Tyler ' s toast brought a most enjoyable evening to a close . The toasts were interspersed with some excellent songs and recitations by Bros . A . Lewtas , the W . M ., Maybury , Chadwick , McKellen , and others . The musical portion of the proceedings was ably carried out by Bro . Pugh , Organist .

LIVERPOOL . —Dramatic Lodge ( No . 1609 ) . — The members of this prosperous and most popular lodge gathered in strong force at the Masonic Hall , Hope-street , on Tuesday , the 25 th ult ., when Bro . J . L . Shrapnell was duly installed Worshipful Master for the ensuing year . The personal esteem felt for the new Master , and the fact that the Dramatic holds one of the first places in the long

roll of lodges in the Province of West Lancashire , were sufficient to secure a numerous attendance , and the whole of the day's proceedings must have conclusively proved that the lodge merits the good name which it has received in every division of the province , more especially in thc neighbourhood of Liverpool . The Liverpool Dramatic Lodge , since its consecration in the year 1 S 76 , has enjoyed

an amount of prosperity which has not been equalled by any other in the province of West Lancashire , and the interest and enthusiasm which usually attach toils ordinary meetings were especially displayed in connection with the annual meeting . As its name implies , the lodge was originally consecrated for the purpose of giving brethren connected with the stage , music , literalure , and medicine

opportunity to attend to their Masonic duties without interfering with tlieir ordinary business avocations ; and the fact that more than 100 members out of about 1 S 0 on the roll are professional brethren shows that the lodge has fully- justified its institution . The Charities have been liberally supported b y the members of the Dramatic Lodge , and the brotherly feeling and excellent working of the

business part of the proceedings have been cordially recognised throughout the length and breadth of the province . As as evidence of the charitable constitution of the lodge it may be stated that during the seven years of its existence the contributions to the prominent Masonic Charities have amounted to not less than £ 600 , and the Dramatic Lodge last year had again the special pride and privilege

of finding itself at the head of the subscription lists of the So lodges in West Lancashire with the very substantial sum of £ 70 . The prosperity of the lodge seems to increase with its years , and additional value is given to its affluence by the fact that it has largely contributed in more than one instance to the election of children to the Boys' and Girls ' Schools ( notably in the case of the child of the late Bro .

George Belmore ) , and that it has been the means of greatly increasing brotherly feeling amongst those withinits borders . Although not yet favouredby the recognition of Prov . Grand Lodge in connection with the honours which ought to be distributed as the result of good charitable labour and excellent working , the members of No . 1 C 09 seem determined to hold their own in every respect in the Lathom

province , and there is little doubt that the returns for the Charities during the coming year will again show the same liberality as in tliose which have preceded . As is usual with this lodge , on account of many of the members having to fulfil dramatic and other engagements in the eveninc , the business of the meeting beean before noon

when the VV . M ., Pro . VV . Savage , took the chair , and assisted by his Wardens and other officers , duly initiated a well-known Liverpool gentleman into the mysteries of Freemasonry . The officers who assisted in the work were Bros . J . L . Shrapnell , S . W . ; R . Burgess , J . W . ; VV . VV . Sandbrook , P . M ., D . C . ; J . B . M'Kenzie , P . M ., Treas . ; J . M . Boyd , Sec . ; O . W . Sanderson , S . D . ; VV . A . Whittle , J'D . ; J . O . Marples , I . G . ; II . Round , S . ; C Buchanan , - •/ j . J . Monk , Org . ; J . Cantor , Asst . Org . ; J . Bell ,

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

P . M . ; J . Atkinson , I . P . M . ; and J . Skeaf , P . P . G . O . Thc attendance list of members likewise included the names of Bros . Parker , \ V . Hildyard , I . Jacobs , J . Rawsthorne , O . Dacroy , Tudor Rogers , D . T . Fleming , Ben Hughes , J . F . Ainsco-v , A . Beddoe , J . Galloway , J . S . Bramlcy , ) . Craft , VV . Anderton , A . Hines , P . M . 10 ^ 2 ; J . Fineberg , j . Skeaf , P . G . O . ; P . Buck , F . Neubert , E . ' Brammall , T . L . Duncan , D . Gumming , I . Knott , I . Ballard , S . Mattison , E . Cotton .

J . Boardman , W . S . Cook , Eaton Batty , H . Cooke , W . J . Champion , j . E . Jackson , P . P . G . S . of VV . ; J . Reay , W . C . Fane , H . Bennett , E . H . Allen , J . B . Macpherson , G . E . Redmond , Edgar Wilson , J . Mossop , F . J . Stimson , A . H . Harrison , F . Macpherson , and S . Mattison . Amongst the visitors during the meeting were Bros . Captain Washington Pirrie , No . 7 , New York : T . VV . Thompson , 537 ; John Houlding , P . P . G . Reg . ; A . Child , 1505 ; C S .

Deane , VV . M . 12 S 9 ; P . Gibson , S . S . 1299 ; J . Lawrenson , 190 , I . C ; J . Whittaker , P . M . 1256 ; Whittaker Bond , S . D . 1256 ; J . F . Cottier , 673 ; H . Hatch , P . M . 220 ; VV . Lewis , 203 ; VV . Rawsthorne , 1082 ; John Cobban , P . M . 241 ; D . Morris , 1570 ; A . Bucknall , VV . M . 66 7 ; VV . Brackenbury , P . P . G . A . D . C ; R . Casson , P . M . 095 ; G . VV . Dobler , 349 ; T . O . Dutton , P . M . 11 S 2 ; J . Galloway , 203 ; J . Hunter , 1570 ; J . Muir , 203 ; and H .

Williams , P . P . G . A . D . C . The initiation ceremony having been performed , Bro . J . L . Shrapnell , the VV . M . elect , was presented to the lodge by Bros . Past Masters Atkinson and Sandbrook , and was installed into the chair of the lodge by the retiring VV . M ., Bro . Savage , who discharged the onerous duties of his ofiice in a most impressive manner , for whicii he was afterwards congratulated by several of the older Masons present .

After the installation , Bro . Shrapnell , the W . M ., invested his officers as follows : Bros . William Savage , I . P . M . ; VV . W . Sandbrook , P . M ., D . C ; R . Burgess , S . W . ; J . M . Boyd , J . VV . ; J . B . Mackenzie , P . M ., Treas . ( re-elected ); J osef Cantor , Sec . ; O . W . Sanderson , S . D . ; Dr . VV . A . Whittle , J . D . ; J . O . Marples , I . G . ; J . I . Monk , Org . ; H . Round , S . S . ; C . Buchanan , J . S . ; W . Parker , A . S . ; E . H . Allen , W . S . ; and VV . H . Ball , Tyler ( re-elected ) .

In presenting a very artistic Past Master ' s jewel to Bro . Savage ( the jewel being specially manufactured by Bro . George Kenning ) the Worshipful Master said : Bro . I . P . M ., it is to me a special pleasure as the very first act of my occupancy of the chair , to be the means of presenting you with a Past Master ' s jewel as an evidence of the esteem in which you are held by every member of the Dramatic Lodge . The success which has attended the past year in

the lodge ' s history has been largely owing to the urbanity and other excellent qualities you have shown as VV . M ., and 1 am sure my brethren present to-day earnestly desire you may long have health and strength given you while wearing this jewel which I now attach to your breast , adding my best thanks to you for to-day ' s services as Installing Master . Bro . Savage acknowledged the gift in suitable terms ,

adding that he would hand the jewel down to his children with pride and a lively recollection of that day ' s proceedings . The lodge was then closed according to ancient form . About 100 brethren after business adjourned to the dining room of the hall , where a banquet of unusual excellence was served by Bro . W . S . Vines , P . P . G . D . C , whose catering on this occasion added grealty to his

wellestablished reputation . The waiting and first class quality of the dinner elicited high commendation from every one at the table . In proposing the toast of "The Queen , " the VV . M . said : Our loyalty as Masons calls upon ~ us to drink this toast with enthusiasm . Her Majesty is the first lady in the land , the first in ourhearts , and the only sovereign we never wish to change . " The Queen , " and long life to her . The Worshipful Master next rose and said : Brethren , I

now give you " Bro . H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , Most Worshipful Grand Master ; ' the Princess of Wales , and the Rest of the Royal Family , " I am sure comment is needless in this instance as in the last . The Prince of Wales is a model Mason ; the Princess as good and beautiful as she is charming ; and the other members of the royal family are patterns of English men and English women . With respect to the Earl of Carnarvon , Pro G . M ., and the Grand

Officers , who are placed in royal company on our toast list , 1 have only to say they do their duty in a manner whicii deserves the admiration of every section of the Alasonic community . Bro . Atkinson , P . M ., gave the toast of the V . VV . D . G . M . and R . W . Prov . G . M ., Bro . he Right Hon . the Earl of Lathom ; the W . D . Prov . G . M ., Bro . the Right Hon . Col . Stanley ; and the Officers of the Prov . Grand Lodge ,

Present and Past , " to which Bro . John Houlding , P . P . G . R ., responded . In giving the toast of " The Worshipful Master , " which was most enthusiastically received , Bro . Savage paid a high compliment to Bro . Shrapnell , and referred to his many excellent qualities as a Mason , and remarked that the brethren were specially fortunate in liaving such a Master . Bro . Shrapnell in acknowledging the toast said : I thank

you , brethren , for the honour conferred upon me ; first , in having elected me to the chair , and now in receiving the toast of my health so cordially after the too flattering way in whicii it has been proposed by the I . P . M . There are certain honours in this life which are worthy of the hi ghest ambition , and I cannot conceive any rank more honourable than that of the Worshipful Master of a lodge—let me say more especially of the Dramatic Lodge . My intention is

to strive to do my duty in the best possible manner , maintaining the dignity of my honourable office , preserving " pure and unsullied " the charter you have this day entrusted to my keeping , and striving to secure the peace and harmony which should at all times distinguish us as men and Masons . If at the end of my year ' s occupancy of the Master ' s chair you feel that I have in some measure justified your choice and satisfied your expectationsthen I

, shall retire with the satisfactory feeling that my labour has not been in vain . Now , brethren , turning from what is purely personal , I have another pleasant duty to perform ; in fact , all my work to-day seems to be of a peculiarly pleasant nature , and that is to propose the toast of " Bro . Savage , the Installing Master . " His admirable services in that capacity , I am sure , have been observed and

appreciated by you all ; but , Bro . Savage , the brethren cannot allow you to pass into the " Old Ladies' " corner ( as the Past Masters' chairs are sometimes irreverently called ) without giving you a tangible expression of the admiration they feel for you as a man ; their sense of gratitude for your valuable services in the chair , and their gratification with the unbroken peace and harmony which have marked

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

your year of office . In the name of my brethren I have now to present you with this dining room ' clock and illuminated address , and along with these we ask you to convey this suite of jewellery to Mrs . Savage , with our warmest greeting and best wishes . Before " drinking tho toast I call upon the Secretary to read thc terms ^ o ' f the address . Bro . Josef Cantor , Secretary , then read the address ,

splendidly illuminated by liro . J . O . Marples , the I . G ., which was as follows : " To Bro . William Savage , I . P . M . 1609 . Dear Sir and Brother , on your retirement from the Worshipful Master ' s chair of thc Liverpool Dramatic Lodge , No . 1609 , ive desire to offer you our sincere congratulations on the prosperit y and unanimity which have characterisedyotirycar ' s occupancy of the important office . 1 hese essential elements of our noble Order have been

largely due to the excellent tact and admirable discretion which have marked your government of the lodge , and we heartily congratulate you on the superior manner in whicii all the work appertaining to your | office has been discharged . On retiring from the chair we ask you to accept our most earnest desire that health and happiness may be long enjoyed by you and your family , and as a further evidence of our good will we present to you a timepiece

and to Mrs . Savage the accompanying suite of jewellery . With fraternal greeting we remain , yours most faithfully , Jas . L . Shrapnell , VV . M . ; W . VV . Sandbrook , M . C ; R . Burgess , S . W . ; J . M . Boyd . J . VV . ; J . B . Mackenzie , P . M ., Treas . ; Josef Cantor , Sec ; O . VV . Sanderson , S . D . ; W . II . Whittle , LD . ; Jas . Orr Marples , I . G . ; Jas . J . Monk , Org . ; H . Round , S . S . ; C H . Buchanan , J . S . ; William Parker , E . II . Allen , Win . H . Ball .

Liverpool , September 25 th , 1 SS 3 . " The Worshipful Master : Now , brethren , "Health , happiness , and long continued domestic and business prosperity to the Installing Master , Bro . Savage . " The toast was most cordially honoured . * In giving "Our Newly Initiated Brother , " the Worshipful Master remarked : Brethren , again I must ask you to join me in a toast of importance

, "Our Newly Initiated Brother . " I first saw Masonic light in the "Dramatic , " and I do hope that the brother who has to-day enjoyed a like privilege will have as little reason to regret the step as 1 have had . We welcome you , newly-initiated brother , into our ranks , and trust that Freemasonry may prove to you a true source of delight and advancement . Brethren , drink heartily to the toast , "The Newly Initiated . "

Bro . Lewis Hughes , the latest Dramatic apprentice , responded in suitable terms . " Our Visiting Brethren , " given by Bro . Sandbrook , was suitably acknowledged by Bros . J . Cobham , T . VV . Thompson , and R . Casson . Bro . J . B . Mackenzie , P . M ., Treasurer , gave "Thc Masonic Charities , " which was coupled with the name of Bro . J . Houlding , P . P . G . R .

" Ihe Past Masters " followed , and The Worshipful Master subsequently gave "The Officers of the Lodge . " In doing so , he said : Brethren , it has been more than once said to me , " Bro . Shrapnell , you are a lucky fellow . You ' ve got the finest officers ever possessed by any Afaster , " and I have always replied in the words of poor old Grinnedge , in "Green Bushes , " "I believe you , my boy . " There is Bro . Savage , fresh from

past year ' s successes ; the S . VV ., who has shown in a lower chair he is a capital Mason as well as a musician ; the J . VV ,, whom we may call a veritable secretary of secretaries , followed by Bro . Cantor , who , in a canter , is sure to be well up to the winning post at the finish . Mac , the only orator , and what can you wish for more , except that Scotchman like , he is always hunting after the bawbees ; two Deacons , who have already proved adepts in

their ollices ; an Organist already tried and not found wanting ; an Inner Guard who perfectly adorns , if he does not illuminate , the post he holds at the door with that instrument of condign punishment in his hand ; and a band of Stewards whose zeal and attention well entitle them to consideration at the hands of those who come after me in the chair of this lodge . Brethren who form the rank and file of the " Dramatic , " along with our

visitors , I ask you to drink to the health of as fine a crew as ever manned a Masonic "craft . " Bro . Cantor , Secretary , responded , and "The . Musical Brethren " ( acknowledged by Bro . J . Muir ) and the Tyler ' s toast , proposed by -Bro . J . M . Boyd , J . VV ., brought the meeting to a close . Much additional interest was given to the installation proceedings by a most impressive rendering of Bro . H . Round ' s

anthem ( conducted by the composer ) , entitled " Behold , how good , " thc vocalists and instrumentalists including Bros . Child , Cantor , Muir , Lewis , Edgar Wilson , Stone , Batty , Cottier , Neubert , Lawson , Cruft , Vetter , Monk , Skeaf , Chambers , and Martin . The same brethren , with the addition of Bro . F . J . Stimson , furnished an after-banquet musical programme of unusual excellence , the whole meeting being voted a brilliant success .

YORK . —Eboracum Lodge ( No . 1611 ) . —The annual meeting of this lod ge for the election of Master was held on Monday evening . The lodge room was crowded , amongst those present being Bros . M . Millington , W . M . j G . Simpson , I . P . M . ; T . B . Whytehead , P . M . ; J . S . Cumberland , P . M . ; C G . Padel , P . M . ; J . T . Seller , P . M . ; G . Balmford , P . M . and Treas . ; W . P . Moat , P . M . ( Auckland , New Zealand ); Rev . W . C . Lukis , P . M . 837 ; J . BenkinS . VV . ; A . T . B . Turner

, , J . W . ; and many other members and visiting brethren from the York and Agricola lodges . The first business after a successful ballot for a candidate was the raising of Bro . Wigglesworth to the Degree of a Master Mason , which was performed by theW . M . ; the traditional history being given by Bro . T . B . Whytehead . The report of the Auditors was brought up and adopted , the W . M . congratulating the lodge upon its excellent

financial position . The report of the Hall Proprietary Fund was also brought up and was considered satisfactory . The election of Master then took place , and the unanimous vote of the lodge fell upon Bro . J . Blenkin , S . W . Bro . G . Balmford , P . M ., was unanimously re-elected Treasurer , and Bro . P . Pearson , Tvler .

On the motion of Bro . Whytehead , seconded by the W . M ., Bro . the Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , Past G . Chap ., and editor of the Freemason , was elected an honorary member of the lodge . A congratulatory telegram was ordered to be sent to the Minerva Lodge , No . 250 , Hull , whicii was that night celebrating its centenary of existence .