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to mention names , but there was one worthy Past Master of the lodge , Bro . Ferguson , who \ vas especially deserving of mention . Then , again , their dear and excellent friend , Bro . G . Everett , Treasurer of the Domatic Lodge . Now , catering for a lodge of this description , with their limited subscription , required an extraordinary amount of tact and common sense . But the worthy

Treasurer had materially lightened the burdens of the Worshipful Master during the past year , and there was no one present more delighted to see Bro . Everett ' s happy face again than he ( the speaker ) was . He again thanked the Past Masters and the brethren generally for the kind support they had accorded to him during his year of office , and said the jewel with which he had been that night presented to him would be worn as a memento of their esteem , affection , and regard , which would last with bim as long as life

itself . The Worshipful Master then gave " The Healths of the Initiates , " in doing which he observed that Masonic lodges could not progress without an infusion of new blood ; and so without initiates lodges would become fossilised . Two of the brethren who had been initiated that evening were personal friends of his own , and he hoped they and the others would work hard and persevere . If they did so , in due time

they would occupy the chair which he had now the honour to fill . He urged upon them the importance of attending the lodge of instruction , where they would obtain a knowledge of the whole of the beautiful ritual , only a portion of which they had heard this evening . Bro . Smith , in returning thanks , said he had long looked forward to that event with pleasurable anticipations , and he thanked the W . M . for having nominated him as a member of that lodge . The W . M . had warned him that there

were other duties connected with the Cralt which they had yet to learn ; but , being only an infant in the lodge , he did not know much about them . He should , however , endeavour to acquire those duties as speedily and thoroughly as possible , and if called upon at any time to perform them , he would do so to the best of his ability . The W . M . had held out hopes to the initiates that some day they would reach the chair ; but he was of opinion he was that night much nearer the chair than he should be again for some

time to come . The other Initiates having briefly responded to the ^ toast , The Worshipful Master proposed " The Masonic Charities , " in doing which he referred to the three splendid Institutions of the Craft , which were designed for the maintenance and education of the helpless young , and for the assistance of those who were no longer able to help themselves . There were many who , from unforeseen

circumstances of misfortune and calamity , were reduced to the lowest depths of poverty and distress , and the existence of this magnificent Institution had assisted very materially to ease their downward path of life , and to allow them to pass their declining days in comfort and comparative happiness . He had pleasure in seeing Bro . James Terry , Secretary of the Benevolent Institution , amongst them , and would leave it in his hands to give them some detailed account of the

work done by that noble Masonic Charity . He ( the speaker ) was to represent that lodge at the Festival in February , and he asked the brethren , in so important a year as the present , being the centenary of the lodge , to make his list worthy of so important an event . They had always done their best in aid of the Masonic Institutions , and he hoped this would be an exceptionally good year . Bro . J . Terry , in the course of a lengthy and eloquent

reply , said no doubt the W . M . had done good suit and service to his list by proposing this toast so early in the evening , and somewhat out of the course prescribed for it , because it was often irksome to make an appeal to empty benches , when the meeting had lost much of its vitality . No doubt the Worshipful Master desired to take up as large a list as he possibly could at the forthcoming Festival of the Benevolent Institution , and he reminded the brethren that

this was a most important year in the history of their lodge . They would next month complete the tooth year of their existence , and that-night they had installed the tooth Master of the Domatic Lodge ; and he ventured to say that , large as had been the donations sent up in previous years in behalf of the Masonic Charities , they would be far surpassed this year , to mark an important epoch in the history of the lodge . He had often suggested that lodges

should send up as many pounds as the number they represented on the roll , and they should therefore send up £ 177 upon the hundreth anniversary of the Domatic Lodge . It was no great stretch of imagination to suggest this , because in a lodge of 13 s members if every one put £ 1 down , supplemented as the list would be in many ways , the thing would be accomplished . They had but to see the idea and they would grasp it at once . On behalf of the number of

candidates who would come before them for election in May—no fewer than 130—on behalf of many who had sat with them at the banquet table , and whose widows were now in receipt of the bounty of the Craft , he made an earnest appeal to them for help . One of the widows of a late member of this lodge was elected in May last , and how keenly she appreciated the benefit could only be seen on the first of the quarter , when she came to receive her

annuity . He asked those present to remember the circumstances of their initiation and to leave behind them , on this occasion at least , a portion of the money they had brought with them , in aid of the Benevolent Institution . If they did so he was certain they would never repent it . This was the commencement of a new year ; it was a new epoch in the existence of this lodge ; therefore he ventured to think , while thcv had the opportunity and privilege of being permitted

to subscribe to these Institutions , they would gladly avail themselves of it . Do not let it now be said of them that such an opportunity presented itself , and that they shut their ears to it , for he assured them the money they contributed would be wisely applied , as it would be considerately bestowed and gratefully accepted by those who received it . Their W . M . had entered upon a glorious year ; let him if possible , reach the apex of its glory in being able to say that , much as he might prize the privilege of being when he left

Master of this old and prosperous lodge , yet the chair he should be able to say the greatest pride he had was in the amount the brethren allowed him to take up as a Steward for the Benevolent Institution . Bros . Purnell , Lester , Boys , G . Price , Stunt , and Potter severally responded for " The Visitors , " to whom a splendid welcome was extended ; and the list also included " The Past Masters ; " "The Treasurer and Secretary ; " and "The Officers of the Lodge ; " the official programme being fittingly closed by the Tyler . During the evening a choice selection of vocal and in-

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

strumental music was given , under the direction of the Organist of the Lodge , Bro . C . Richielmann , who was assisted bv Mrs . Richielmann , Miss'A . Bocquet , Bro . J . Webster , Mr . R . E . Miles , and Bro . Rintoul . Altogether a most enjoyable evening was spent , and the brethren are looking forward with considerable interest to the centenary banquet on the 7 th of February .

CONFIDENCE LODGE ( No . 193 ) . — The installation meeting of this sound and flourishing old lodge was held on Monday , the nth inst ., at Anderton's Hotel , Fleet Street , when there was , as usual , a goodly muster of the brethren and visitors , under the able presidency of Bro . W . A . Cubitt , W . M . He was supported by Bros . W . Saint , S . W . and W . M . elect ; F . Silvester , J . W . ; G . P . Niehtingale , S . D . ; S . Smither , J . D . ; Walter Wood , I . P . M . ; Past Masters B . D . Renshaw , Treas . ;

J . Shackell , Sec . ; F . Biddle , J . E . Fells , Samuel Webb , J . Smith , and F . Warne ; J . Gildersieve , acting as i . G . ; L . G . Reinhardt , Tyler ; and about 40 other brethren . The visitors included Bros . G . H . Stephens , P . M . 1623 ; J . C . Cross , 902 ; W . Reynolds and W . Graves , 16 S 5 ; J . F . Simpson , 17 CG : A . Bishop , 1 S 92 ; VV . E . Johnson , 107 C ; A . G . Watkinson , 172 S ; J . Dale and G . J . Freeman , 1613 ; J . P . Omer , 1259 ; W . C .

Schneberger , 172 ; H . J . Rose , iSgt ; C . H . Kelsey , 1227 ; J . VV . Weston , 127 S ; C . J . Woodward , 1365 ; and others . The lodge was duly opened , and the minutes of the preceding meeting having been read and confirmed , Bro . Joseph Hart was raised to the Third Degree , and Bro . Fredk . Hemings was passed to the Degree of F . C . It was announced with regret that Mr . Henry Middleton Alston , who was balloted for and accepted at the last

meeting of the lodge , had died somewhat suddenly , the melancholy event occurring on December 27 th . On the nomination of the Secretary , seconded by the Worshipful Master , Bro . W . Belchamber , of the Southern Star Lodge , No . 1158 , was unanimously elected a joining member . Bro . W . Saint was then presented as the W . M . elect , and a Board of Installed Matters having been formed , he was formally installed into the chair of K . S ., the

ceremony being most ably carried out by Bro . Cubitt , I . P . M ., assisted by Bro . Samuel Webb , P . M . The collars for the year were thus bestowed : —Bros . W . A . Cubitt , I . P . M . ; F . Silvester , S . W . ; G . P . Nightingale , J . W . ; B . D . Kershaw . P . M ., Treas . ; J . Shackell , P . M ., Sec . ; S . Smither , S . D . ; H . Freeman , J . D . ; E . J . Davey , I . G . ; S . Webb , P . M ., D . of C . ; and L . G . Reinhardt , Tyler .

On the motion of Bro . Walter Webb , P . M ., seconded by Bro . S . Webb , P . M ., it was unanimously resolved to vote twenty guineas out of the funds of the lodge in aid of the three Masonic Charities . After some other business lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to the Pillar Room of the hotel , where Bro . Clemow , with his usual ability and taste , provided a really magnificent banquet , with the whole of the arrangements of which the brethren

expressed their unqualified satisfaction . After dessert the usual loyal and Craft toasts were proposed from the chair and duly honoured . Bro . W . A . Cubitt , I . P . M ., rose , and said the duty devolved upon him of proposing the next teast , and he did not intend to dilate at any great length upon it as time was on the wing . He should content himself with proposing "The Health of their Worshipful Master , " whose

qualifications for the office were well known and admitted by all present . Bro . Saint might appear to be a little diffident and confused that evening , as the position he now occupied was new to him , therefore he hoped the brethren would bear with him as far as they possibl y could . _ They knew from having met him at lodges of instruction that Bro . Saint was a Mason , heart and soul , and a most conscientious worker , and during his year of office he would not be

backward in rendering himself proficient in those duties which it would be his duty to perform . He trusted their W . M . might have a happy and successful year , and he had every reason to believe , from what he had heard outside , that he was likely to realise that wish . He hoped Bro . Saint would have the pleasure of meeting a constant attendance of brethren , and as many visitors as they could bring , because visitors were always cordially welcomed at

the Confidence Lodge . He concluded by expressing the hope that Bro . Saint ' s year might be a happy and prosperous one in every respect . Bro . Saint , W . M ., in acknowledging the cordiality with which the toast had been received , said their excellent I . P . M . had spoken many kindly words as to his capabilities , and so on , and he could only hope that during his year of office he should be able to prove that he was equal

to what he had been represented to be , and that he might give satisfaction to the brethren . It was a grand thing , when they met in society and in the Masonic world , to be able to speak of each other in a friendly spirit ; and he must say he had received from Bro . Cubitt , the Past Masters , and the brethren generally , the kindest welcome , and an expression of the best intentions which it was possible for any man to expect . He felt grateful to his

heart ' s content , after having been so many years in that lodge , that he should be placed in the proud position which he now occupied , and to receive the congratulations of the brethren around him . He would assure them his position in the chair was not sought for , but as a Past Master in the lodge placed him in office without even consulting him , he accepted the responsibility and did the best he could . He felt he should be able to work his way through , although

he was not so proficient as he hoped to become ; and he should yet have to learn as well as to practise . He was there that night by the good wishes and the good-will of every one present ; and he was sure that from their I . P . M . he had received the greatest kindness which-could possibly be expressed by any living man . He thanked Bro . Cubitt and the brethren generally most heartily for the way in which they had received the mention of his name on this ,

to him , most auspicious occasion . "The Healths of the Visitors" was the next toast given from the chair , and , in proposing it , the W . M . said they had a goodly array of visitors that evening , and , but for the exceedingly bad weather , they would have had many more . They were always pleased to see visitors , and they

were ever treated with that welcome to which they were entitled in the Confidence Lodge . But there was another reason why they were pleased to see visitors , and that was because they were proud of the way in which the Lodge of Confidence was conducted . He was proud of the good feeling and unanimity which prevailed among the members , so that when they met outside the lodge they could say

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" Brother " in the same spirit as they did in it . That was an especial reason why they were pleased and proud to meet visitors at their meetings and banquets . Bro . J . Freeman , 1 G 13 , after returning thanks for the hearty welcome that had been extended to the visitor ? , said this was his first visit to the Confidence Lodge , but if his invitations to it were as numerous in the future as they had been in the past , he should accept them more

frequently . Bro . Stephens , P . M . 1 G 23 , thanked the brethren heartily for the rich treat they had afforded the visitors , both in the lodge-room and at the subsequent festive board . He offered to the W . M . and the brethren generally a hearty New Year ' s greeting , and hoped his friend , Bro . Saint , might have a happy and successful year of office . He trusted that the Confidence Lodge might prosper in the future as it had done in the pastand continue to merit the

, confidence of every member of the Craft . Bro . VV . E . Johnson , 1076 , hoped that the brethren generally would emulate the example of the Confidence Lodge , and carry with them the good wishes they had heard expressed here into their own lodges , especially for the benefit of the Benevolent Institution , of which they

were so proud , and in which they all felt so deep an interest . He hoped the W . M . might have a satisfactory year of office , and he thanked them all for the cordial welcome they had given to him and to his bfolher visitors . Bro . J , C . Cross , 902 , also briefly responded in suitable terms .

The Worshipful Master then proposed "The Health of the I . P . M . and Installing Master , " in doing which he paid a deservedly high tribute to the zeal , assiduity , and ability of Bro . Cubitt , who , during his very successful year of office , had done so much to uphold the prestige of the lodge and extend its usefulness . He felt perfectly certain that in his I . P . M . he should find every assistance he might require in the discharge of his onerous duties , and on

behalf of the brethren he asked Bro . Cubitt ' s acceptance of a valuable Past Master ' s jewel , which he had richly earned by his unwearying efforts for the promotion of the welfare of the Confidence Lodge . The jewel was a very handsome and massive one . On the bars were the words , "Confidence Lodge , 95 th Master ; " and on the reverse side was the inscription : — " Presented to Bro . William Cubitt by the Confidence Lod

ge , No . 193 , as a mark of esteem , and in recognition of able services rendered to the lodge , 1 SS 5-6 . " Bro . Cubitt , I . P . M ., returned his very sincere thanks for the very kind manner in which the W . M . had proposed the toast , and the brethren for the cordiality with which they received it , and also for the generous manner in which they had been pleased to vote him this handsome Past Master ' s jewel on his retirement from the chair . He knew it had

been an established custom in that lodge to pay a similar compliment to Masters when they retired from that position , and he had often heard them declare that when they received the jewel , it was the "happiest moment" of their lives . He was not going to follow in the footsteps of those who had spoken in such terms , but he was very proud indeed to receive this jewel as a Past Master of the lodge . He thanked them for the unanimous manner in which it

was voted , and he valued that more than he did the jewel itself . Its intrinsic value was not a great deal , but he esteemed most highly the feelings which had prompted the gift . During his year of office he had tried to please every member , so far as laid in his power ; he had studied the various brethren , and above all he had studied the position of Master of the lodge . He had shown favour to no one , but had worked in a way which he thousht everv

conscientious and independent Master should do . When he had come into the banquet room he had known to a shilling what the banquet and wines would cost . 'That was the duty of the Master , to know the position of his lodge , and not to encroach upon its finances . Unfortunately , this year they had been without a W . S ., and consequently a great deal of the duty had fallen upon himself . He sincerely regretted the loss of their old Past MasterBro . Webb

, , whom they hoped had gone to the " better land , " to the Grand Lodge above . With reference to himself , as Master of the lodge he had done all he could to give satisfaction . He had initiated and advanced ten brethren , of whom they had reason to be proud , and if his small efforts had met with their approval he was abundantly rewarded . The Worshipful Master , in proposing " The Health of the Past Masters , " said the toast was one which involved a

great amount of goodwill . They had a goodly number of Past Mastets present that night , and he repeated that during the years he had been connected with that lodge he had ever received from them the utmost courtesy , kindness , and good feeling . That being the case , he was only too pleased and happy to have the opportunity of expressing his gratitude to them for the services they had rendered him . It was a great acquisition to a Master in the chair to

have Past Masters around him who were willing to support him and uphold him in the dignity of that position . Of course , he considered the duties of the Mastership should be carried out in a way that was becoming and dignified , combined with respect and good feeling , without which they could not have unanimity in the lodge . It should be his duty to promote a feeling of goodwill amongst the members during his year of office , and especially to work in harmonv

with the Past Masters . Bro . Walter VVood , P . M ., returned thanks . The rest of the Past Masters had placed upon his shoulders the duty of responding to the toast , and whether it was because he was one of the youngest P . M . ' s , whether he was more capable of work , or whether they were so laden with honours that he should obtain a share of that honour by a display of his oratorical powers , he could not say . He could not but thank

the company for the hearty manner in which the toast had been received . Every speaker had observed that it was too late to say everything he intended to say ; and with such excellent examples before him it would be rash on his part to attempt a lengthy speech . Therefore , sheltering himself under their excuses , he would merely say the Past Masters of the Confidence Lodge had in the past done all in their power to forward its interests , and nothing on their parts

would be wanting in the future in the same direction . The centenary of the lodge was drawing close upon them , and the Charities would be filled by that date . But he felt sure the Confidence Lodge would fill a position equal to some , and surpassed by none , upon the roll of Grand Lodge . The Worshipful Master then proposed " 'The Treasurer and Secretary , " speaking of the attention and assiduity with which they had carried out their respective duties ; and the toast having been heartily received ,