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Craft Masonry.
The Immediate Past Master , in proposing "The Health of the W . M ., " said he was sure that Bro . Fitch felt honoured at being installed W . M . of his mother lodge . He had had the pleasure of serving with the W . M . as a brother officer for some years in the lodge , and had found him most loyal , and that being the case , Bro . Fitch would look , and would not look in vain , for a similar carrying out of
commands . Whilst they had in the chair of the lodge one who took such a great interest in Masonry , they couid not fail to do well , and although they had done well in the past , they would under such auspices do still better in the future . They were all aware of the interest taken by the W . M . in the lodge , how he had invited the Past Masters to meet together and discuss questions for its benefit , and how good
he had been in presenting the lodge with a new set of officers' collars . There was no doubt the toast would be received with the same pleasure as that in which it was given . Bro . E . F . Fitch , W . M ., thanked the [ . P . M . and brethren for the kind manner in which the toast of his health had been proposed and received . The present was an important event in his lifetime . He was initiated in the lodge some
few years ago and had risen , step by step until by their kind and cordial election he had been placed in the important position of W . M . He had taken great interest in Masonry , and more particularly in his mother lodge . It was not easy for him to say all he could wish , but he thanked them for the kindness with which he had been received , and as far as the interests of the lodge were concerned no efforts on his part would be wanting to merit a continuance of their
kindness . Bra . J . Perry Godfrey , I . P . M ., responded for "The Past Masters , " and said the brethren knew how well the Past Masters had served the lodge and given satisfaction to the members . He thanked the brethren exceedingly for the very kind support rendered him during his year as W . M ., and for the handsome Past Master ' s jewel which he should
always honour and never forget . The Worshi p ful Master then gave "The Installing Master , Bro . Sir John Monckton , P . M ., " and said it was not the first time that distinguished brother had been thanked for offices performed , for they had seen him install the Masters in that lodge for some years past . He ( the W . M ) begged to thank him personally for so kindly
installing him that evening , and which he regarded as a great honour , and also for the kindly advice he had at all times most readily given . He regretted he could not give expression to his feelings in words which would meet the merits of the case , but he hoped Bro . Sir John Monckton would accept his few halting remarks in the spirit in which they were intended .
Bro . Sir John Monckton , P . G . W ., in reply , said that by the favour of the lodge it had been his privilege to install the Worshipful Masters for some years past , and he supposed it had been somewhat of filial affection as one who stood in the position of father of the lodge . He had installed 103 Masters previous to the installation that evening—and if there should be another 104 he should be pleased—for when
a brother knew the ceremony it was as simple as shelling peas . That lodge was now attaining some little age , having been started some eight or ten years ago , and had gone on steadily and well . There had only been one little trouble , and that was their installation night had always fallen on the same evening as the Grand Chapter . The S . W . had given notice of motion that evening which would put their
meeting forward just one week-, and , if carried , they would on their next installation night have a goodly array of Grand Officers present . He was glad to install a brother that evening who would be an excellent Mason in the chair , for Bro . Fitch had all the attributes a good Mason should have , and would prove a worthy Master of the lodge . Bros . E . Letchworth , P . G . D ., and S . Gamman , P . M .
206 , returned thanks for "The Visitors , " and "The Officers " having been duly honoured , the Tyler ' s toast concluded the proceedings . A choice selection of music was performed under the direction of Bro . F . A . Jewson , Org ., assisted by Miss Laura Brown , Madame Raymond , Mr . Ritchie Ling , and Bro . A . Strugnell . The jewel was manufactured by Bro . George Kenning .
Gallery Lodge ( No . 1928 ) . —The ordinary meeting of this lodge was held at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet-street , on Saturday , the ist inst ., when there were present Bros . Herbert Wright , W . M . ; W . T . Perkins S . W . ; J . C . Mainwaring , acting J . W . ; H . Massey , P . M ., Treas . ; Thos . Minstrell , Sec . ; Basil Cooke , S . D . ; E . E . Peacock , J . D . ; Percy Wallace , Org . ; C Lock and H . I .
Saunderson , Stewards ; H . Bussey , P . M . ; J . C Duckworth , P . M . ; W . Potts , George Tarran , John Allan , Jas . Walker , S . James , G . E . Saunders , Thos . " G . Scott , A . F . Robbins , Geo . Ribbons , Bell , H . J . Fisher , Brodie , J . D . Irvine , Dodds , and W . T . Massey . Visitors : Bros . Edgar , G 2 ( S . C . ) , and Cox , 1 G 05 . The lodge having been duly opened , Mr . W . Geo . Kirby
was elected as an initiate , Bro . Dodds was passed to the Second Degree , and Bro . Irvine raised to the Sublime Degree of a M . M . Mr . Kirby was afterwards initiated , the three Degrees being worked with great care and impressiveness by the W . M ., ably assisted by the Wardens and Deacons . Bro . Perl , ins , S . W ., was unanimously elected W . M ., and Bros . H . Massey and Very as Treasurer
and Tyler respectively . The Audit Committee having been appointed , Bros . Robbins , Tarran , and Lock were elected on the Permanent Committee—an important body entrusted with the administration of the lodge Benevolent Fund . On the motion of Bro . Bussey , P . M ., seconded by Bro . Perkins , S . W ., W . M . elect , a Past Master ' s jewel was voted to the outgoing W . M .
After some other business the lodge was closed , and the brethren sat down to an excellent supper . The Worshipful Master , in responding to the toast of his health , thanked Bro . Massey for the kind manner in which he had proposed his health , and the brethren for their cordial reception of it . He was , as they were aware , the first initiate of the lodge , and during his year of office he
had received great sympathy and support from all the officers and brethren , for which he thanked them most deeply . During the year they had moved away from their original home at Brixton Hall , and that step had been attended by a success which had exceeded his own
expectation , although he was the prime insti gator of the change . He thanked them all most heartily . The W . M . concluded by proposing "The Health of the Initiate , " whom he was sure would do honour to the lod ge . Bro . Kirby was personally known to most of the brethren , and they knew that he would be a worthy member of the Craft .
Craft Masonry.
Bro . Kirby briefly responded , remarking that what struck him most was the practical illustration of the Masonic virtue of Charity he had seen in the concluding business of the lodge , when the brethren had dealt with two cases of distress with promptness and generosity . The Worshipful Master , in proposing what he remarked on that occasion m ust be considered the toast of the evening ,
viz ., "The W . M . elect , " said that his mind went back nine years , when himself and four others , including- Bro . Perkins , were initiated as the first initiates . Of those five , three were present that evening . As he had had the honour to be placed in the front , he was at the top of the table , and Bro . Perkins at the bottom , but they were twin brothers in Masonry , and had worked together and gone on step by
step since the commencement . In electing Bro . Perkins as their next Master , the brethren had done honour to themselves and an honour to a hard-working Mason . He looked for great things from Bro . Perkins next year , and the task of installing him would be one of peculiar pleasure . Bro . Perkins , S . W ., W . M . elect , said he returned his sincere thanks for the great compliment they had paid him
by electing him to the chair of K . S ., and it would be his earnest endeavour to fulfil the duties of that supreme office in a Craft lodge . The Gallery I odge was now getting old enough to have traditions , and it was pleasing to find that the Gallery Lodge had taken a prominent part in Masonic Charity . It would be his most constant desire to continue that special tradition . He hoped they would all strive to
attain to the most excellent Masonic work , and they had that day seen their W . M . perf jrm the three Degrees in a manner that could be hardly surpassed in any lodge . He should be content if he could succeed as we ' ll as the VV . M . The first essential in a lodge was sympathy , for without sympathy Masonic work was almost a farce . That lodge had played a useful part in softening the asperities of Press
life . He had had much pleasure in working under the present W . M . and many of the Past Masters , and he trusted the brethren would rally round him , so that they might have good and agreeable meetings and profitable work . The Worshipful Master , in proposing "The Officers , "
regretted the absence through illness of Bro . Albery , the J . W ., who , as one of the founders and for some time the Secretary , had worked hard and done great service to the lodge . Other toasts followed , and a most enjoyable evening was spent .
Quatuor Coronati Lodge ( No . 2076 ) . — This lodge met at Freemasons' Hall on Saturday , the Sth inst ., when there were present Bros . R . F . Gould , P . G . D ., as VV . M . ; VV . M . hywater , P . G . S . B ., S . W . ; Dr . W . Wynn Westcott , as J . W . ; G . W . Speth , Sec . ; Rev . J . C . Baer , J . D . ; W . M . Williams , Stwd . ; VV . H . Rylands , P . G . Stwd . ; S . T . Klein , Dr . B . W . Richardson , C .
Kupferschmidt , and E . J . Castle , Q . C ; and of the Correspondence Circle Bros . S . Richardson , F . Schnitger , C . N . Mclntyre North , C . P . Dyke , Rev . H . C . Houndle , E . L . G . Houndle , C . B . Barnes , ] . Seymour , W . H . Lee , Dr . VV . H . Kempster , Col . M . Petrie , R . Roy , J . A . Goold , Major G . Lambert , P . G . S . B . ; G . Greiner , VV . M . Graham , VV . G . P . Gilbert , W . Maitland , G . Gregson , E .
T . Edwards , Dr . W . R . Woodman , P . G . S . B . ; R . Greenwood , G . W . Taylor , Dr . W . A . Barrett , P . G . O . ; Prof . F . VV . Driver , H . Lovegrove , VV . Wingham , W . T . Warner , and Max Mendelssohn . Visitors : Bros . Dr . G . G . Griffiths , P . M . 2000 ; W . G . Lemon , A . G . D . C . ; H . Hughes , P . M . S 69 ; J . H . Hughes , 404 ; C Lambert , 19 S ; G . James , G . R . Langley , P . M . 1 S 3 ; W . T . Barr , P . M . 435 ; M .
Smith , 19 ; C R . Sayer , 107 G ; Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , G . Sec ; Magnus Ohren , P . A . G . D . C ; J . C . Jackson , P . M . 1232 ; E . Edwards , S . D . 226 4 ; Col . J . Robertson , P « M . 459 5 and J . Walker , 459 . 1 The following two Grand Lodges , four lodges , and 16 brethren were admitted to the Correspondence Circle : — The Grand Lodge of Victoria , Melbourne , and the Grand
Lodge of New York ; Probity Lodge , No . 61 ; Lodge of Harmony , No . 133 ; Archimides zer den , 3 , Reissbretern , Altenburg , Germany ; Astraea Lodge , No . 1376 , Thayetrige , Burma ; Bros . F . D . MacMillan , 744 ( S . C . ) , and Lars Pedersen , 175 ( S . C ) , both of Johannesburg , Africa ; J . B . Parker , 102 , New Orleans ; T . J . Dewitt , P . D . G . M ., of South Dakota ; J . I . MacDougafl , 3 J- ( S . C . ) ; VV . P .
Cochrane , C 02 ; T . Purvis , 4 S 1 ; T . Dinning , 4 S 1 , P . P . A . G . D . C . Northumberland ; F . S . Cowper , W . M . 2039 ; J . France , 904 ; E . J . Hubbard , 904 ; G . H . Goold , 493 ; J . A . Goold , 493 J T . Cohu , P . M . 192 ; J . M . McLeod , Sec . R . M . I . B . ; and C R . Sayers , 107 G—thus raising the total of intrants to 1034 . Bro . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , G . Sec , was unanimously
elected an honorary member of the lodge , and expressed his appreciation of the honour conferred upon him . Bro . S . Richardson , acting D . C , having presented Bro . VV . M . Bywater , P . G . S . B ., S . W ., for installation , he was placed in the chair of K . S . with the usual formalities by Bro . R . F . Gould , P . M . The officers for the year are Bros . R . F . Gould , P . G . D ., I . P . M . ; Prof . T . Hayter Lewis , R . I . B . A .,
S . W . ; Dr . W . Wynn Westcott , J . W . ; Walter Besant , Treas . ; G . W . Speth , Sec . ; Rev . J . C . Baer , S . D . ; E . Macbean , J . D . ; VV . M . Williams , l . G . ; and C . Kupferschmidt , Steward . The W . M . delivered a long and interesting address from the chair , recounting the progress of the lodg ' c , the advance made in its special objects , and sketching out the hopes of the brethren for the future . In
the absence of Bro . Macbean , his paper on the " Formation of the Grand Lodge of Scotland " was read by the Secretary . This did not allow of a discussion , and a vote of thanks was unanimously passed to the author . The brethren then adjourned to the Hoiborn Restaurant . In proposing "The Health of the VV . M ., " Bro . Gould said : Brethren , —In the absence of the I . P . M ., the duty
devolves upon myself of proposing what on these occasions is rightly deemed the toast of the evening , that is to say the health of the worthy and distinguished brother whom we have just placed in the chair , and whose mission it will be to preside over the destinies of the lodge until the Festival of the Four Crowned Martyrs once more comes round , at the close of which period it will fall to his lot to oc . upy the position I am filling - at this moment , when I-trust he may
be able to predict , wtth the same confidence that I now do , a happy and prosperous year of office for the newly-installed Master , together with a steady advance by the lodge towards a full realisation of the various aims for which it was called into existence . These are sanguine anticipations , but I shall hope in some measure at least to justify the prognostication which has been laid before you , by at once proceeding with what I have been able to glean of our W . M . ' s
Craft Masonry.
Masonic record in the past , from which , if I do not greatly err , you will , I think , deduce as a conclusion that a continuance of the zeal and assiduity which has hitherto distinguished him may be confidently relied upon in the future . Bro . Bywater saw the light of Masonry in November , 1 S 4 G . The Royal Athelstan , No . 19 , was his mother lodge , and to this , after the lapse of 44 years , he still
belongs . Its Mastership he served in 1 S 53 , was for iG years its Secretary , and is at the present moment its Treasurer . Attached to the Royal Athelstan Lodge , is the Mount Sinai Chapter , also of course No . 19 , and it almost goes without saying that so exemplary a Past Master of the lodge became in due course a P . Z . of the chapter . But his interest in the Royal Arch Degree was
not yet slaked , so to the duties of Secretary to the Royal Athelstan Lod ^ e he added those of Scribe E . to the Mount Sinai Chapter . Nor was this enough for him . He became Secretary of the Percy Lodge of Instruction , and continued to act as such for many years . The brethren are aware that besides what are called the Craft Degrees , or the Degrees of Free and Ancient Freemasonry , there are many
rites and orders the membership of which is restricted to Freemasons , and in a number of them our VV . M . has played a distinguished part . At the services rendered by him to these associations I shall presently take a parting glance , but I must now pass on to what ( with only one possible exception of very recent date ) may be described as the crowning honour of his Masonic career . In April , 1 SS 7 ,
our brother was invested with the collar of Grand Sword Bearer , and it consequently fell to his lot to bear the sword before H . R . H . the Grand Master in the following June at the great assembly of Freemasons held at the Royal Albert Hall in celebration of the Queen ' s Jubilee . In the same year he was appointed Grand Standard Bearer in Grand Chapter . Bro . Bywater has been elected a member of the
Board of General Purposes no less than five times . He has served twice on the Board of Benevolence . A long list of Stewardships attests his warm interest in the three Charitable Institutions , which are the pride of English Freemasons , and I must not forget to state that he is a Vice-President of them all . Our brother is an active member of several arch ; co-Iogical and other societies , and is a Past Master of the
Patten Makers Company . But unless I am to go on addressing ^ you for the remainder of the evening , I must pass very lightly over all these portions of our Worshipful Master ' s career , which have no direct bearing upon his services as a Freemason . The point I am next coming to is our brother ' s connection with this lodge . He was an original member of the Masonic Archaeological Institute . His first
contribution to the literature of the Craft was a history of the Royal Athelstan Lodge , No . 19 ; his second , that charming little book , " Notes on Laurence Dermott and his Work "; and his third , if I may venture to draw an inference from the initials which correspond with his own , appended to a most interesting memoir of the famous Grand Secretary of the Schismatics or Seceders , which will be
found in the Dictionary of National Biography . When this lodge was established Bro . Bywater naturally became a member of it , and was the first brother who joined us . I am not forgetting that Bro . Simpson is apparently the first joining member , but this brother we have always regarded as a founder , because the petition for a warrant would have borne his signature had he not been absent at the time as a
war correspondent . I he lodge was consecrated on the 12 th January , 1 SS 6 , and in the April following we elected the first batch oE joining members . Our " Transactions " tell us that on the 7 th April , 1 SS 6 , " The lodge met at F . M . H . There were present Bro . the Rev . A . F . A . Woodford in the chair ; Bros . VV . H . Rylands , R . F . Gould , and G . W . Speth . Bro . VV . M . Bywater was admitted in the course of
the evening . " But I maybe permitted to add that does not appear in the printed record of our proceedings , and which I think will amuse you . As acting Secretary at the time , I had written to the manager of the house we are now in , engaging a private room for our lodge dinner , and guaranteeing a minimum attendance of 14 . When the day arrived , however , even with the presence of Bro . Bywater , we were
only five all-told in the lodge , and as Bro . Rylands could not stay to dine , we were only four instead of 14 for the banquet . In this difficulty 1 went to the manager , who at once cancelled the arrangement for a private room , and the first night of our settling down to regular work as a lodge was ended by Bros . Woodford , Speth , Bywater , and myself sitting down to dinner , a little party of four , at one of the
tables in the public room . Since then many things have happened , but 1 do not think that the extraordinary success achieved by the lodge during the four-and-a-half years we have been fairly at work can be brought home to you more effectively than by asking each of you to picture in his mind ' s eye the somewhat unpromising condition under which for the first time after the consecration of the lodge
we sat down as members to a common meet . But our first joining member was not the sort of man to despair of the commonwealth . At the next meeting he showed the courage of his opinions by expressing his confident belief that the lodge had a great future before it , and at the following one he presented us with these beautiful gavels of ivory and ebony , one of which was placed in his hand this
night as an emblem of his authority—being the same I am now privileged to wield while performing the task which has devolved upon me . From what I have already told you , you will be aware that our W . M . is one of those brethren to whom no labour of a Masonic character comes amiss . But I shall wind up with the fullest recital in my power of the duties which are at present undertaken—and 1 need hardly
add performed—by Bro . Bywater . To begin with-our brother is W . M . of this lodge , and he is also VV . M . of the Bon Accord Mark Lodge for the second year . He is I reasurer of the Royal Athelstan Lodge , No . 19 , and the Invicta Rose Croix Chapter . He likewise holds office in the Cyrus Royal Arch Chapter , No . 21 , and the Stuart Encampment of Knights Templar ; lastly , he is a member of the
31 , A and A . S . R . Viewing all these circumstances , and bearing in mind that whatever the scope of our inquiries , our proceedings as a lodge must always be strictly regulated by the laws of the Society , and I think we should congratulate ourselves in havijg placed in the chair a brother who is nut only a Masonic student , but to whom all the diversified features of lodge work are familiarand
, whose past experience as a Master , Treasurer , and Secretary cannot but be in the highest degree beneficial to the Quatuor Coronati Lodge . In conclusion , and 1 here come to considerations which are more easily felt than described , our bro her has shown us that he regards the tie of brotherhood subsisting between the members of this lodge as one of a very binding character indeed . Originating with Bro .
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Craft Masonry.
The Immediate Past Master , in proposing "The Health of the W . M ., " said he was sure that Bro . Fitch felt honoured at being installed W . M . of his mother lodge . He had had the pleasure of serving with the W . M . as a brother officer for some years in the lodge , and had found him most loyal , and that being the case , Bro . Fitch would look , and would not look in vain , for a similar carrying out of
commands . Whilst they had in the chair of the lodge one who took such a great interest in Masonry , they couid not fail to do well , and although they had done well in the past , they would under such auspices do still better in the future . They were all aware of the interest taken by the W . M . in the lodge , how he had invited the Past Masters to meet together and discuss questions for its benefit , and how good
he had been in presenting the lodge with a new set of officers' collars . There was no doubt the toast would be received with the same pleasure as that in which it was given . Bro . E . F . Fitch , W . M ., thanked the [ . P . M . and brethren for the kind manner in which the toast of his health had been proposed and received . The present was an important event in his lifetime . He was initiated in the lodge some
few years ago and had risen , step by step until by their kind and cordial election he had been placed in the important position of W . M . He had taken great interest in Masonry , and more particularly in his mother lodge . It was not easy for him to say all he could wish , but he thanked them for the kindness with which he had been received , and as far as the interests of the lodge were concerned no efforts on his part would be wanting to merit a continuance of their
kindness . Bra . J . Perry Godfrey , I . P . M ., responded for "The Past Masters , " and said the brethren knew how well the Past Masters had served the lodge and given satisfaction to the members . He thanked the brethren exceedingly for the very kind support rendered him during his year as W . M ., and for the handsome Past Master ' s jewel which he should
always honour and never forget . The Worshi p ful Master then gave "The Installing Master , Bro . Sir John Monckton , P . M ., " and said it was not the first time that distinguished brother had been thanked for offices performed , for they had seen him install the Masters in that lodge for some years past . He ( the W . M ) begged to thank him personally for so kindly
installing him that evening , and which he regarded as a great honour , and also for the kindly advice he had at all times most readily given . He regretted he could not give expression to his feelings in words which would meet the merits of the case , but he hoped Bro . Sir John Monckton would accept his few halting remarks in the spirit in which they were intended .
Bro . Sir John Monckton , P . G . W ., in reply , said that by the favour of the lodge it had been his privilege to install the Worshipful Masters for some years past , and he supposed it had been somewhat of filial affection as one who stood in the position of father of the lodge . He had installed 103 Masters previous to the installation that evening—and if there should be another 104 he should be pleased—for when
a brother knew the ceremony it was as simple as shelling peas . That lodge was now attaining some little age , having been started some eight or ten years ago , and had gone on steadily and well . There had only been one little trouble , and that was their installation night had always fallen on the same evening as the Grand Chapter . The S . W . had given notice of motion that evening which would put their
meeting forward just one week-, and , if carried , they would on their next installation night have a goodly array of Grand Officers present . He was glad to install a brother that evening who would be an excellent Mason in the chair , for Bro . Fitch had all the attributes a good Mason should have , and would prove a worthy Master of the lodge . Bros . E . Letchworth , P . G . D ., and S . Gamman , P . M .
206 , returned thanks for "The Visitors , " and "The Officers " having been duly honoured , the Tyler ' s toast concluded the proceedings . A choice selection of music was performed under the direction of Bro . F . A . Jewson , Org ., assisted by Miss Laura Brown , Madame Raymond , Mr . Ritchie Ling , and Bro . A . Strugnell . The jewel was manufactured by Bro . George Kenning .
Gallery Lodge ( No . 1928 ) . —The ordinary meeting of this lodge was held at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet-street , on Saturday , the ist inst ., when there were present Bros . Herbert Wright , W . M . ; W . T . Perkins S . W . ; J . C . Mainwaring , acting J . W . ; H . Massey , P . M ., Treas . ; Thos . Minstrell , Sec . ; Basil Cooke , S . D . ; E . E . Peacock , J . D . ; Percy Wallace , Org . ; C Lock and H . I .
Saunderson , Stewards ; H . Bussey , P . M . ; J . C Duckworth , P . M . ; W . Potts , George Tarran , John Allan , Jas . Walker , S . James , G . E . Saunders , Thos . " G . Scott , A . F . Robbins , Geo . Ribbons , Bell , H . J . Fisher , Brodie , J . D . Irvine , Dodds , and W . T . Massey . Visitors : Bros . Edgar , G 2 ( S . C . ) , and Cox , 1 G 05 . The lodge having been duly opened , Mr . W . Geo . Kirby
was elected as an initiate , Bro . Dodds was passed to the Second Degree , and Bro . Irvine raised to the Sublime Degree of a M . M . Mr . Kirby was afterwards initiated , the three Degrees being worked with great care and impressiveness by the W . M ., ably assisted by the Wardens and Deacons . Bro . Perl , ins , S . W ., was unanimously elected W . M ., and Bros . H . Massey and Very as Treasurer
and Tyler respectively . The Audit Committee having been appointed , Bros . Robbins , Tarran , and Lock were elected on the Permanent Committee—an important body entrusted with the administration of the lodge Benevolent Fund . On the motion of Bro . Bussey , P . M ., seconded by Bro . Perkins , S . W ., W . M . elect , a Past Master ' s jewel was voted to the outgoing W . M .
After some other business the lodge was closed , and the brethren sat down to an excellent supper . The Worshipful Master , in responding to the toast of his health , thanked Bro . Massey for the kind manner in which he had proposed his health , and the brethren for their cordial reception of it . He was , as they were aware , the first initiate of the lodge , and during his year of office he
had received great sympathy and support from all the officers and brethren , for which he thanked them most deeply . During the year they had moved away from their original home at Brixton Hall , and that step had been attended by a success which had exceeded his own
expectation , although he was the prime insti gator of the change . He thanked them all most heartily . The W . M . concluded by proposing "The Health of the Initiate , " whom he was sure would do honour to the lod ge . Bro . Kirby was personally known to most of the brethren , and they knew that he would be a worthy member of the Craft .
Craft Masonry.
Bro . Kirby briefly responded , remarking that what struck him most was the practical illustration of the Masonic virtue of Charity he had seen in the concluding business of the lodge , when the brethren had dealt with two cases of distress with promptness and generosity . The Worshipful Master , in proposing what he remarked on that occasion m ust be considered the toast of the evening ,
viz ., "The W . M . elect , " said that his mind went back nine years , when himself and four others , including- Bro . Perkins , were initiated as the first initiates . Of those five , three were present that evening . As he had had the honour to be placed in the front , he was at the top of the table , and Bro . Perkins at the bottom , but they were twin brothers in Masonry , and had worked together and gone on step by
step since the commencement . In electing Bro . Perkins as their next Master , the brethren had done honour to themselves and an honour to a hard-working Mason . He looked for great things from Bro . Perkins next year , and the task of installing him would be one of peculiar pleasure . Bro . Perkins , S . W ., W . M . elect , said he returned his sincere thanks for the great compliment they had paid him
by electing him to the chair of K . S ., and it would be his earnest endeavour to fulfil the duties of that supreme office in a Craft lodge . The Gallery I odge was now getting old enough to have traditions , and it was pleasing to find that the Gallery Lodge had taken a prominent part in Masonic Charity . It would be his most constant desire to continue that special tradition . He hoped they would all strive to
attain to the most excellent Masonic work , and they had that day seen their W . M . perf jrm the three Degrees in a manner that could be hardly surpassed in any lodge . He should be content if he could succeed as we ' ll as the VV . M . The first essential in a lodge was sympathy , for without sympathy Masonic work was almost a farce . That lodge had played a useful part in softening the asperities of Press
life . He had had much pleasure in working under the present W . M . and many of the Past Masters , and he trusted the brethren would rally round him , so that they might have good and agreeable meetings and profitable work . The Worshipful Master , in proposing "The Officers , "
regretted the absence through illness of Bro . Albery , the J . W ., who , as one of the founders and for some time the Secretary , had worked hard and done great service to the lodge . Other toasts followed , and a most enjoyable evening was spent .
Quatuor Coronati Lodge ( No . 2076 ) . — This lodge met at Freemasons' Hall on Saturday , the Sth inst ., when there were present Bros . R . F . Gould , P . G . D ., as VV . M . ; VV . M . hywater , P . G . S . B ., S . W . ; Dr . W . Wynn Westcott , as J . W . ; G . W . Speth , Sec . ; Rev . J . C . Baer , J . D . ; W . M . Williams , Stwd . ; VV . H . Rylands , P . G . Stwd . ; S . T . Klein , Dr . B . W . Richardson , C .
Kupferschmidt , and E . J . Castle , Q . C ; and of the Correspondence Circle Bros . S . Richardson , F . Schnitger , C . N . Mclntyre North , C . P . Dyke , Rev . H . C . Houndle , E . L . G . Houndle , C . B . Barnes , ] . Seymour , W . H . Lee , Dr . VV . H . Kempster , Col . M . Petrie , R . Roy , J . A . Goold , Major G . Lambert , P . G . S . B . ; G . Greiner , VV . M . Graham , VV . G . P . Gilbert , W . Maitland , G . Gregson , E .
T . Edwards , Dr . W . R . Woodman , P . G . S . B . ; R . Greenwood , G . W . Taylor , Dr . W . A . Barrett , P . G . O . ; Prof . F . VV . Driver , H . Lovegrove , VV . Wingham , W . T . Warner , and Max Mendelssohn . Visitors : Bros . Dr . G . G . Griffiths , P . M . 2000 ; W . G . Lemon , A . G . D . C . ; H . Hughes , P . M . S 69 ; J . H . Hughes , 404 ; C Lambert , 19 S ; G . James , G . R . Langley , P . M . 1 S 3 ; W . T . Barr , P . M . 435 ; M .
Smith , 19 ; C R . Sayer , 107 G ; Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , G . Sec ; Magnus Ohren , P . A . G . D . C ; J . C . Jackson , P . M . 1232 ; E . Edwards , S . D . 226 4 ; Col . J . Robertson , P « M . 459 5 and J . Walker , 459 . 1 The following two Grand Lodges , four lodges , and 16 brethren were admitted to the Correspondence Circle : — The Grand Lodge of Victoria , Melbourne , and the Grand
Lodge of New York ; Probity Lodge , No . 61 ; Lodge of Harmony , No . 133 ; Archimides zer den , 3 , Reissbretern , Altenburg , Germany ; Astraea Lodge , No . 1376 , Thayetrige , Burma ; Bros . F . D . MacMillan , 744 ( S . C . ) , and Lars Pedersen , 175 ( S . C ) , both of Johannesburg , Africa ; J . B . Parker , 102 , New Orleans ; T . J . Dewitt , P . D . G . M ., of South Dakota ; J . I . MacDougafl , 3 J- ( S . C . ) ; VV . P .
Cochrane , C 02 ; T . Purvis , 4 S 1 ; T . Dinning , 4 S 1 , P . P . A . G . D . C . Northumberland ; F . S . Cowper , W . M . 2039 ; J . France , 904 ; E . J . Hubbard , 904 ; G . H . Goold , 493 ; J . A . Goold , 493 J T . Cohu , P . M . 192 ; J . M . McLeod , Sec . R . M . I . B . ; and C R . Sayers , 107 G—thus raising the total of intrants to 1034 . Bro . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , G . Sec , was unanimously
elected an honorary member of the lodge , and expressed his appreciation of the honour conferred upon him . Bro . S . Richardson , acting D . C , having presented Bro . VV . M . Bywater , P . G . S . B ., S . W ., for installation , he was placed in the chair of K . S . with the usual formalities by Bro . R . F . Gould , P . M . The officers for the year are Bros . R . F . Gould , P . G . D ., I . P . M . ; Prof . T . Hayter Lewis , R . I . B . A .,
S . W . ; Dr . W . Wynn Westcott , J . W . ; Walter Besant , Treas . ; G . W . Speth , Sec . ; Rev . J . C . Baer , S . D . ; E . Macbean , J . D . ; VV . M . Williams , l . G . ; and C . Kupferschmidt , Steward . The W . M . delivered a long and interesting address from the chair , recounting the progress of the lodg ' c , the advance made in its special objects , and sketching out the hopes of the brethren for the future . In
the absence of Bro . Macbean , his paper on the " Formation of the Grand Lodge of Scotland " was read by the Secretary . This did not allow of a discussion , and a vote of thanks was unanimously passed to the author . The brethren then adjourned to the Hoiborn Restaurant . In proposing "The Health of the VV . M ., " Bro . Gould said : Brethren , —In the absence of the I . P . M ., the duty
devolves upon myself of proposing what on these occasions is rightly deemed the toast of the evening , that is to say the health of the worthy and distinguished brother whom we have just placed in the chair , and whose mission it will be to preside over the destinies of the lodge until the Festival of the Four Crowned Martyrs once more comes round , at the close of which period it will fall to his lot to oc . upy the position I am filling - at this moment , when I-trust he may
be able to predict , wtth the same confidence that I now do , a happy and prosperous year of office for the newly-installed Master , together with a steady advance by the lodge towards a full realisation of the various aims for which it was called into existence . These are sanguine anticipations , but I shall hope in some measure at least to justify the prognostication which has been laid before you , by at once proceeding with what I have been able to glean of our W . M . ' s
Craft Masonry.
Masonic record in the past , from which , if I do not greatly err , you will , I think , deduce as a conclusion that a continuance of the zeal and assiduity which has hitherto distinguished him may be confidently relied upon in the future . Bro . Bywater saw the light of Masonry in November , 1 S 4 G . The Royal Athelstan , No . 19 , was his mother lodge , and to this , after the lapse of 44 years , he still
belongs . Its Mastership he served in 1 S 53 , was for iG years its Secretary , and is at the present moment its Treasurer . Attached to the Royal Athelstan Lodge , is the Mount Sinai Chapter , also of course No . 19 , and it almost goes without saying that so exemplary a Past Master of the lodge became in due course a P . Z . of the chapter . But his interest in the Royal Arch Degree was
not yet slaked , so to the duties of Secretary to the Royal Athelstan Lod ^ e he added those of Scribe E . to the Mount Sinai Chapter . Nor was this enough for him . He became Secretary of the Percy Lodge of Instruction , and continued to act as such for many years . The brethren are aware that besides what are called the Craft Degrees , or the Degrees of Free and Ancient Freemasonry , there are many
rites and orders the membership of which is restricted to Freemasons , and in a number of them our VV . M . has played a distinguished part . At the services rendered by him to these associations I shall presently take a parting glance , but I must now pass on to what ( with only one possible exception of very recent date ) may be described as the crowning honour of his Masonic career . In April , 1 SS 7 ,
our brother was invested with the collar of Grand Sword Bearer , and it consequently fell to his lot to bear the sword before H . R . H . the Grand Master in the following June at the great assembly of Freemasons held at the Royal Albert Hall in celebration of the Queen ' s Jubilee . In the same year he was appointed Grand Standard Bearer in Grand Chapter . Bro . Bywater has been elected a member of the
Board of General Purposes no less than five times . He has served twice on the Board of Benevolence . A long list of Stewardships attests his warm interest in the three Charitable Institutions , which are the pride of English Freemasons , and I must not forget to state that he is a Vice-President of them all . Our brother is an active member of several arch ; co-Iogical and other societies , and is a Past Master of the
Patten Makers Company . But unless I am to go on addressing ^ you for the remainder of the evening , I must pass very lightly over all these portions of our Worshipful Master ' s career , which have no direct bearing upon his services as a Freemason . The point I am next coming to is our brother ' s connection with this lodge . He was an original member of the Masonic Archaeological Institute . His first
contribution to the literature of the Craft was a history of the Royal Athelstan Lodge , No . 19 ; his second , that charming little book , " Notes on Laurence Dermott and his Work "; and his third , if I may venture to draw an inference from the initials which correspond with his own , appended to a most interesting memoir of the famous Grand Secretary of the Schismatics or Seceders , which will be
found in the Dictionary of National Biography . When this lodge was established Bro . Bywater naturally became a member of it , and was the first brother who joined us . I am not forgetting that Bro . Simpson is apparently the first joining member , but this brother we have always regarded as a founder , because the petition for a warrant would have borne his signature had he not been absent at the time as a
war correspondent . I he lodge was consecrated on the 12 th January , 1 SS 6 , and in the April following we elected the first batch oE joining members . Our " Transactions " tell us that on the 7 th April , 1 SS 6 , " The lodge met at F . M . H . There were present Bro . the Rev . A . F . A . Woodford in the chair ; Bros . VV . H . Rylands , R . F . Gould , and G . W . Speth . Bro . VV . M . Bywater was admitted in the course of
the evening . " But I maybe permitted to add that does not appear in the printed record of our proceedings , and which I think will amuse you . As acting Secretary at the time , I had written to the manager of the house we are now in , engaging a private room for our lodge dinner , and guaranteeing a minimum attendance of 14 . When the day arrived , however , even with the presence of Bro . Bywater , we were
only five all-told in the lodge , and as Bro . Rylands could not stay to dine , we were only four instead of 14 for the banquet . In this difficulty 1 went to the manager , who at once cancelled the arrangement for a private room , and the first night of our settling down to regular work as a lodge was ended by Bros . Woodford , Speth , Bywater , and myself sitting down to dinner , a little party of four , at one of the
tables in the public room . Since then many things have happened , but 1 do not think that the extraordinary success achieved by the lodge during the four-and-a-half years we have been fairly at work can be brought home to you more effectively than by asking each of you to picture in his mind ' s eye the somewhat unpromising condition under which for the first time after the consecration of the lodge
we sat down as members to a common meet . But our first joining member was not the sort of man to despair of the commonwealth . At the next meeting he showed the courage of his opinions by expressing his confident belief that the lodge had a great future before it , and at the following one he presented us with these beautiful gavels of ivory and ebony , one of which was placed in his hand this
night as an emblem of his authority—being the same I am now privileged to wield while performing the task which has devolved upon me . From what I have already told you , you will be aware that our W . M . is one of those brethren to whom no labour of a Masonic character comes amiss . But I shall wind up with the fullest recital in my power of the duties which are at present undertaken—and 1 need hardly
add performed—by Bro . Bywater . To begin with-our brother is W . M . of this lodge , and he is also VV . M . of the Bon Accord Mark Lodge for the second year . He is I reasurer of the Royal Athelstan Lodge , No . 19 , and the Invicta Rose Croix Chapter . He likewise holds office in the Cyrus Royal Arch Chapter , No . 21 , and the Stuart Encampment of Knights Templar ; lastly , he is a member of the
31 , A and A . S . R . Viewing all these circumstances , and bearing in mind that whatever the scope of our inquiries , our proceedings as a lodge must always be strictly regulated by the laws of the Society , and I think we should congratulate ourselves in havijg placed in the chair a brother who is nut only a Masonic student , but to whom all the diversified features of lodge work are familiarand
, whose past experience as a Master , Treasurer , and Secretary cannot but be in the highest degree beneficial to the Quatuor Coronati Lodge . In conclusion , and 1 here come to considerations which are more easily felt than described , our bro her has shown us that he regards the tie of brotherhood subsisting between the members of this lodge as one of a very binding character indeed . Originating with Bro .