Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

George Smith , jun ., I . P . M . 1 S 39 ; G . T . Carter , P . M . 3 S 2 ; J . Paige , 1573 » ' W . McMurdoch , 1426 ; J . Baldwins , 1692 ; B . Haynes , 27 ; Charles James , 15 ; Harold Levett , 452 ; E . Stimson , 15 ; F . Plummer , 15 ; Herbert H . Cooper , 27 ; G . Thomas , 1194 ; John A . J . Woodward , I 94 J J- J- Reisley , 534 ; John Grey , g 33 ; W . W . Morgan , 211 ; J . D . E . Farr , 1293 ; F . C . Dixie , 453 ; A . Field , 30 ; John Edwards , 449 ; T . W . Legge , is ;

H . J . Dutton , 1706 ; P . S . Villiers , Sg ; J . VV . " Hanson , 1706 ; and E . C . Massey ( Freemason ) . After dinner the customary loyal and Craft toasts were proposed from the chair and duly honoured . In proposing "The Health of the R . W . Pro Grand Master , Deputy Grand Master , and the rest of the Grand Officers " Bro . Robertson said that it was a standard toast which it was quite unnecessary for him to dilate upon with

a view of claiming ifrom them that recognition which it deserved . It was in appreciation ! of those distinguished brethren who b y effect of their eminent services had been raised to ofiice in Grand Lodge . They were honoured tonight b y tbe presence of a distinguished Grand Officer , Bro . Philbrick , P . G . D ., and who was not only distinguished in the Masonic world , but was also eminent outside of it , in fact he must call him a shining luminary .

Bro . Philbrick in replying said he was sure that it must be a proud thing for any Mason to respond to a toast that had been honoured as that which the brethren had just drunk . He could not attempt , nor would he for one moment wish to suppose that the coupling of his name with it by his old friend , whom he rejoiced to see in the chair of that lodge that evening , had anything to do with the reception of it . But he could say on behalf of those

very distinguished noblemen that not only had they worked hard in the interests of the Craft , but that they well deserved their brethren's recognition and esteem and trust . He trusted he might be pardoned for saying that it was not merely a discharge of official duties ( which involved official attendance ) and acting as mere ornamental figures in distinguished posts , that the Pro Grand Master and Deputy Grand Master had each of them won the regard of

their brother Masons ; and he had himself known and seen when the Provincial Grand Master was holding the seals of the Foreign Office , that Lord Carnarvon at anxious times in connection with the affairs of the nation ; when his own time was of the very briefest , the first sacrifice of the time was always made in the cause of Masonry ; no wonder then that the Craft progressed ; no wonder that its interests were thoroughly cared for when they were able to have the

services of such distinguished noblemen , at whose heart the cause of Freemasonry was ever present . For the rest of the Grand Officers he returned his thanks . He ventured to say that they thoroughly deserved the recognition the brethren had just given them . They had that evening heard the W . M . state to the J . VV . that it would now become a privilege and duty of his to attend the Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge . He would find that an

important matter was still before Grand Lodge , namely , the discussions upon the Constitutions of the Order . They had to see what was for the good of Freemasonry in the time coming , to try to put matters straight as far as they could be put straight . They were , not to think that the Masons of this generation were wiser than the Masons of the past , or that they are immutable . He felt it a solemn and a serious duty which was cast upon Masons of thc present

time , so to model and so to leave the Constitutions to the Masons who must succeed that the book must be handed down with their great traditions preserved , but above all unity preserved , the ancient landmarks respected , and that Masonry as it was in the past , as it is in the present , might so long remain in the future . It was a great pleasure to him to come as a visitor to a lodge prospering as this was prospering , and

which bid fair to march on its way adequately representing the great principle of the Order . He congratulated the lodge upon the accession to office of his friend the W . M . ; he would not anticipate what some other speakers would refer to , further than to say that when he saw the manner in which the W . M . took up his work he could not but think that it was very clear that the suffrages of the brethren had fallen upon the right man .

Bro . Smith , I . P . M ., in proposing the next toast said that a very delightful task devolved upon him as I . P . M ., but he almost wished that it had . been in . the hands of some one more competent than himself . His duty was now to propose " The Health of their Newly-Installed W . M . " Actions spoke louder that words , and his action had demonstrated the prudence of the brethren in putting him into the chair , and it only now remained for him as I . P . M ., to ask the

brethren to drink Bro . Robertson ' s vcry good health , and wish him a prosperous year of office . In replying , the Worshipful Master said that he proposed to reply to the toast which so nearly affected himself in as few words as would adequately convey his sense of the very kind way in which it had been proposed and the hearty recognition it had met with from the brethren . He believed it was customary on occasions of this kind

for an incoming Master to state in somewhat explicit terms the manner in which he meant to carry out his duties in the ensuing year . If from his manner to-night the brethren thoug ht he should perform his duties properly , hc hoped they would accept that manner as an earnest in that direction . He would merely now thank them vcry heartily for the way in which the toast had been proposed and received .

The next toast the W . M . said was that of the " I . P . M . * nd the Installing Master . " He was under the impression mat their I . P . M . would have performed the ceremony , j"id it was onl y about a fortnight back that Bro . Smith had declared his intention of not performing it . As far as the I . P . M . was concerned , his disinclination probably oily arose from that nervousness to whicii Bro . Smith had fold him he was subjectas he felt confident that he could

, "ave performed it perfectly . Bro . Smith had worked extremely hard during the past year , and had given a great Ueal of time and attention to the perfecting of these ceremonies , and he ( the W . M . ) asked the brethren to drink " ro Smith ' s health with all the honours as a man who had "one his duty . The W . M . said he had been obliged to

couple the Installing Master with this toast , and he would "" -refore ask them to connect with this toast the health of . ' ?• Charles Williams , who was a founder of this lodge , n " of tn < - ' worthy Treasurer . f Ur ° ' Smith , I . P . M ., in replying , thanked the brethren a L , . J 'y manner in whicii the toast had been received , rW ' l , at ne had felt it a great privilege to occupy the Rair """ ng the past year . It had been his study to do

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

his best , and he was sorry that he had often felt his shortcomings . He had also to thank them for the very handsome jewel which they had placed upon his breast . He should always wear it with pleasure when occasion offered . He had worn medals before , but he had never received one with more pleasure than he had experienced that evening . Bro . Chas . Williams said that he could not adequately express his sincere appreciation of the honour the brethren

had done him , not only in coupling his name with the toast , but more especially for having permitted him to perform the ceremony of initiation in so distinguished a lodge , and he felt some diffidence in having to perform it . It was not the first time he had been permitted to perform that important ceremony , and personally speaking he hoped that it would not be the last . His services in any capacity were always at the command of the brethren of the St .

Martin's-le-Grand Lodge . In proposing " The Health of the Visitors" the Worshipful Master said it was so very important a toast that he was almost iuclined to call it the toast of the evening , ln saying that he was not casting any slight upon the distinguished brother who had just sat down , because he was included among the visitors . There was a goodly nnmber of visitors present , including many distinguished brethren .

He had no doubt that each of those brethren would be delighted to respond ; but he intended to begin as he meant to go on , namely , to ask only one visitor to respond to this toast , and the fact that hcshould this evening call upon two must be taken as the exception that was to prove his rule . He would therefore couple with this toast the names of Bros . Cordwell , a Provincial Grand Officer , and Villiers . Bros . Cordwell and Villiers having both replied , the

W . M . next proposed the health of " The Past Masters , the Treasurer , and Secretary of the Lodge . " The Past Masters had deserved well of the lodge , which was not a very old one , having been consecrated in 1 S 75 , but that it had prospered was evident from the number of brethren whom they saw assembled that evening . The Treasurer was a vcry old friend of his , and had initiated him . He was sorry to see that he fBro . Major Williams ) had been

obliged to leave them . The Secretary , Bro . Hookey , was one who devoted himself to the interests of the lodge in every possible way , and was thoroughly appreciated by the brethren . He was sure the brethren would receive the toast with hearty acclamation . He would ask Bro . Woodward and the Secretary to respond . Bro . Woodward , while expressing his thanks for the honour done those to whom the toast referred , also

regretted the absence of the Treasurer , and said his absence rendered it more necessary for him to remind the brethren that the Treasurer had rendered them great services when the lodge was formed , as he had advanced the necessary funds ; that debt had long since been paid off , and they had now £ 100 in hand . The Secretary having also responded , Bro . Philbrick said he owed the brethren an apology for

again intruding himself upon the brethren , but the W . M . had entrusted him with the gavel for the purpose of proposing an important toast— " The Masonic Charities . " No one regretted more than he did the absence of Bro . Goddard , for no one more than Bro . Goddard could appreciate and describe the efforts that had been made to bring about that desirable period in the world ' s history—the arrival of the millenium . Despite these efforts , however ,

the millenium had not come . With all their efforts there was still poverty , there was still woe . What the Craft did in the cause of charity was one of their chief glories . No body in any part of the world could point to their institutions and say these are supported by our free-will offerings , and they rival the Charities of the Masons . Bro . Philbrick went on to refer to the results of the last festival of the Boys '

School , and referred in high terms to Bro . Binckes in connection with the result . He went on to say that he had heard with pride and pleasure that their newly installed W . M . on that occasion took up the very best of all the lists that were taken up , showing a sum of over £ 200 . That showed that in this lodge the principles were recognised and carried out with the most generous warmth of heart . In proposing this toast he coupled with it the name of Bro .

Binckes , who was a honoured guest on this occasion . Bro . Binckes in replying , said that he highly appreciated the honour of having his name coupled with this toast . There was no greater Masonic charm than Masonic charity . Being so frequently called upon in connection with this toast put him in the difficulty of having to be always striving after new ideas in which to convey his acknowledgments . The speech of the proposer on this

occasion having been of so exhaustive a character relieved him of the necessity of saying very much . They were near the election times of the two Educational Institutions , and many took an interest in the results who had not hitherto contributed anything to their support ; and to these brethren he made an appeal . The blue ribbon of the year in point of amount collected had been won by their W . M ., to whom he tendered his warmest thanks . He

had several invitations for the evening , but seeing that this was his first invitation to this lodge and also regarding the fact that he owed his personal thanks to their Master for what he had done , he had felt that his first duty to-night was to the St . Martins-le-Grand Lodge , who in the list they had sent up had indeed proved

their lodge "le grand . " Other toasts were honoured , including "The Masonic Press , " "The Musical Artists , " under the direction of Bro . Smith , whose name was coupled with the toast , and " The Officers of the Lodge ; " and the Tyler ' s toast concluding the proceedings was not given until a late hour . The meeting was in the highest degree successful .

ROYAL COMMEMORATION LODGE ( No . 15 S 5 ) . —A meeting of this lodge was held at the Fox and Hounds Hotel , Putney , on Wednesday , the 3 rd inst . Bro . G . Mansell occupied the chair , and there were also present Bros . Smith , I . P . M . ; Whittey , P . M ., S . W . ; Pardoe , J . W . ; Collick , S . D . ; Williams , J . D . ; Watkins , Treas . ; Robinson , P . M ., Sec . ; Collings , P . M ., D . C . ; Stacey ,

P . M ., Org . ; Strong , I . G . ; and a good number of brethren and visitors , amongst the latter being Bros . Walter , P . M . ; Clarkson , Dunlop , Leger , and others . The business of the evening was to initiate Messrs . Wing , Coombe , and Colman . The I . P . M ., representing this lodge at the last anniversary of the Boys' School , thanked the brethren for the kindness shown him , and stated that his list amounted to over 100 guineas .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

ALDERSGATE LODGE ( No . 1657 ) . —A meeting of this lodge was held on Monday , thc Sth inst ., at thc Castle and I'alcon Hotel , Aldersgate-street , when there were present Bros . Dr . Samuel Benton , VV . M . ; Samuel White , S . W . ; E . Y . Jolliffe , J . W . ; Rev . Richard Lee , Chap . ; I . D . Allcroft , P . M ., Treas . ; Rev . Dr . P . H . E . Brette , P . M . Sec ; W . H . Froom , S . D . ; Edward Anderton , J . D . ; Renals Thomas

Joseph , D . C ; Benskin , D . C ; George Vickery , I G . ; A . B . Hudson and M . R . Webb , Stwds . ; Fred Crockford , W . S . ; Alfred Brookman , I . P . M . ; Dr . Alder Smith , John Larkin , Thomas George Vickery , Geo . Rawlinson , Win . Wilberforce Thompson , James Shotter , Charles William Lovett , and H . Thomas , Tyler . Visitors : Bros . J . H . Puleston , M . P ., VV . M . 21 s ; lohn S . Tvler W . M . 1460 ; VV . P . Roberts , P . M . , Si anil , 60 . ; W * G

Johnson , g- ; J . Tickle , 1702 , P . G . R . Middx . ; and E . West , P . M . 4 , P . G . R . Surrey . After the usual business of the lodge , Bros . VV . W . Thompson and James Shotter were raised to the Third Degree , and Bro . Charles Wm . Lovett passed to the Second Degree , thc ceremony in both cases being most ably performed by the W . AL and officers . The brethren afterwards dined together .

ALL SAINTS LODGE ( No . 1716 ) . —The installation meeting of this lodge took place on Friday , the 5 th inst ., Bro . J . House , W . lvl ., presiding , supported by the following officers , brethren , and visitors : Bros . T . L . Kennett , S . W . ; H . J . Hancock , J . VV . ; J . A . Alloway , Chap . ; VV . G . Wilshaw , Sec ; VV . J . Rundcll , S . D . ; E . Witherstone , j . D . ; J . Grout , Org . ; J . C . PittamI . G .

, W . C Young , P . M . ; J . Kemp Coleman , P . M . ; Leonard Potts , P . M . ; VV . H . Farnfield , P . M . ; J . Smith , E . C . Knowles , VVm . Mills , A . H . Bond , R . Nichols , R . H . Harland , W . Pearson , T . Johnson , W . J . Sampson , Geo . Harrison , Tyler . Visitors : Bros . VV . Clarke , P . G . P . ; A . VV . Ellingford , P . M . S 34 ; F . Robinson , S . VV . 781 ; R . K . Bull , D . C 7 S 1 ; H . Kemp , 1776 ; AsherJ . VV . 1339 ;

, Wainright , P . M . 33 ; F . H . Cozens , Org . 907 ; and several others . The minutes of the previous meeting having been confirmed , the annual accounts and the report of the Audit Committee werc read and unanimously received and adopted , disclosing a very satisfactory state of affairs , there being a substantial balance in the hands of the

Treasurer after every liability had been discharged . In connection with the Benevolent Fund recently constituted on the initiative of the W . M ., the sum of five guineas was voted from the lodge funds and a donation of three guineas was given by Bro . House , VV . M ., as a commencement of the voluntary offerings to this fund . The initiation of Mr . VV . Sampson was then proceeded with , the ceremony being

most impressively rendered by Bro . House . Bro . T . L . Kennett was next presented as Worshipful Master for the ensuing year , and a Board of Installed Masters having been formed he was duly installed into the chair , the ceremony being carried out most impressively and ably by the retiring Master , Bro . J . House , who also gave the various addresses . Bro . Kennett then invested his officers

as follows : Bros . H . J . Hancock , S . W . ; W . J . Rundell , J . W . ; VV . H . Farnfield , P . M ., Treas . ; J . A . Alloway ) Chap . ; R . H . Harland , Sec . ; E . Witherstone , S . D . ; J . C Pittam , J . D . ; E . C . Knowles , D . C . ; VV . G . Wilshaw , I . G . ; J . Grout , Org . ; and J . Harrison , T yler . Bro . VV . Clarke , P . G . P ., acted as Director of Ceremonies , carrying out the duties of that position in such a manner as to

receive a very cordial vote of thanks for the valuable assistance and pleasure he had afforded the W . M . and brethren . On the motion of Bro . J . Kemp Coleman , P . M ., seconded by Bro . Leonard Potts , P . M ., and supported by Bro . J . House , I . P . M ., a vote of thanks was passed to Bro . Wilshaw on his retirement from the office of Secretary . After some other business of a formal character liiad been

transacted the lodge was closed in due form and the majority or the officers , brethren , and visitors reassembled at the Three Nuns Hotel , Aldgate , for the annual banquet . Thc newly-installed W . M ., Bro . Kennett , occupied the chair , ably supported by the Past Masters of the lodge , fulfilling the arduous duties of that position with the utmost geniality and tact .

The usual Masonic toasts were duly honoured , that of " The Officers of Grand Lodge , Present and Past , " being responded to by Bro . W . Clarke , P . G . P ., who in the course of his speech claimed the attention of the brethren to some of the changes contemplated in the Book of

Constitutions and to the rebuilding of Freemasons' Hall . In the course of the evening the Worshipful Master in felicitous terms presented a gold Past Master's jewel , of the value of £ 10 ios ., to Bro . J . House , I . P . M ., as a token of the appreciation in which his services had been esteemed by the brethren .

The musical arrangements were under the able care of Bros . F . H . Cozens and J . Grout , Organist of the lodge , supplemented by the kind help of other members of the lodge . ST . LEONARD LODGE ( No . 1766 ) . —The first monthly meeting after the vacation of this lodge was held at the Town Hall , Shoreditch , on the 3 rd inst . Bro . J . A .

Jones , W . M ., occupied the chair , and was supported by Bros . E . Benjamin , I . P . M . ; L . Stean , P . M . ; C F . Barham , P . M . ; A . A . Clement , S . W . ; Jas . Funston , J . W . ; Rev . H . G . Henderson , M . A ., Chap . ; J . Cox , Sec ; E . Walker , S . D . ; F . Matthews , J . D . ; H . J . Thrower , D . C . ; G . C . Young , Org . ; L . A . Harrison and E . T . Clark , Stewards ; and j . Very , Tyler . The

members present were Bros . E . T . Henman , H . VVaynforth , T . Douglas , S . Fennell , E . T . Henman , jun ., VV . Strickland , J . VV . Griffiths , Dr . Holt , F . Meriton , B . Nicholson , A . Rogers , Jas . Roberts , G . Short , and T . Weatherley . Among the visitors were Bros . J . VV . Long , P . M . Fitzroy Lodge ; J . Smith , W . M . 193 ; J . Little , 1607 ; G . J , Musto , S 13 ; E . Seymour , 1 SS 2 ; W . Shearman , 13 S 2 ; and B . Legg , 15 .

The lodge liaving been opened and the usual business transacted , a ballot was taken for Mr . Alfred James Heard , who was unanimously elected , and duly initiated into the mysteries of the Order . Other matters connected with the interests of the lodge were disposed of , after which the lodge was closed in ancient form , and the brethren retired to refreshment . During the subsequent speeches reference was made to the capital working of the Master and his officers and to the amounts contributed to the . Masonic Charities for so young a lodge .