The Drury Lane Lodge, No. 2127.

THE DRURY LANE LODGE , No . 2127 .

INSTALLATION OF BRO . ADMIRAL SIR E . A . INGLEFIELD AS W . M .

The installation meeting of the Drury Lane Lodge , No . 2127 , was held on Tuesday last . The lodge was formally opened by the W . M . shortly after three o ' clock , when the Grand Saloon was well filled by a thoroughly representative gathering of Masons . The Grand Officers entered in procession , marshalled by Bro . Jas . H . Matthews , P . G . Std . Br ., vvho efficiently

acted as D . C . ( assisted by Bro . C . F . Matier , P . G . Std . Br . ) throughout the ceremonials , and under their guidance they were saluted in Masonic form . The minutes of the last meeting were read by the SECRETARY , and confirmed , and the Audit Report , showing a balance of £ 142 17 s . 8 d . to the credit of the lodge fund , was received and adopted .

The W . M . then asked Bro . Thos . Fenn , Pres . Board of Gen . Purps ., and Bro . Robt . Grey , Pres . Board of Benevolence , to assume the S . W . and J . W . chairs respectively , and the lodge was opened in the Second Degree . Bro . J . C . Parkinson , P . G . D ., then took the chair , by permission of the W . M ., and the installation ceremony was commenced by the presentation of Bro . Admiral Sir E . A . Inglefield , K . C . B ., D . C . L ., as the W . M . elect .

A very numerously attended Board of Installed Masters was formed , and Bro . Admiral Sir E . A . Inglefield vvas impressively installed into the chair according to ancient custom . The newly-installed W . M . appointed and invested the following officers : Bros . Sir John E . Gorst , O . C , M . P ., I . P . M . ; Alderman Sir Henry

Isaacs . S . W . ; James Fernandez , J . W . ; J . S . Fleming , Treas . ; A . M . Broadley , P . M ., P . D . D . G . M . Malta , Sec ; Rev . C . J . Martyn , P . G . C , Chap . ; S . B . Bancroft , S . D . ; Harry Nicholls , J . D . ; Thomas Catling , I . G . ; G . F . Bashford , D . C . ; Oscar Barrett and C . J . Phipps , Stwds . ; Alfred Caldicott , Mus . Bac , Org . ; and R . Goddard , Tyler .

The customary addresses vvere delivered by the Installing Master , Bro . J . C . PARKINSON , P . G . D ., with the impressiveness and earnestness characteristic of his Masonic work . The WORSHIPFUL MASTER , addressing Bro . Sir John Gorst , I . P . M ., then said : I derive great satisfaction in feeling that the first duty I have to perform as W . M . of the Drury Lane Lodge is to present you with a jewel from the members of this lodge . I know what brethren present may not all

know , that Bro . Sir John Gorst has come aconsiderable distance to be present , and the manner in which he

has conducted his duties as W . M . is a sufficient guarantee that he will always be ready to assist us in times of necessity ,

although a Past Master of the lodge . I have much pleasure in presenting him with thr jewel ( manufacturer ! by Bro . George

Kenning ) , and it is quitunnecessary for me to say anything fuither than to express the hope that he will long continue to carry out

the duties of Masonry . I shall feel happy if I can only credit myself with one half of the ability and zeal he

has displayed whilst acting as W . Master . Several propositions were received for joining members and initiates , and , there beinr / no further business

BRO . SIR E . A . INGLEFIELD , K . C . B ., D . C . I .., W . M .

for transaction , the lodge was closed in due form . The members and guests then adjourned to the Great Hall of Freemasons' Tavern , where an excellent banquet vvas served by Messrs . Spiers and Pond , under the personal superintendence of Bro . Madell . The usual toasts were subsequently honoured , and received , at the request of the W . M ., vviihout the customary Masonic honours .

The WORSHIPFUL MASTER , without further comment , gave "The Queen and the Crait . " Victoria , the Sovereign of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland , Empress of India , and Mistress of the Seas . ( Loud cheers . ) The National Anthem was heartily received by all present . The W . MASTER then said : The next toast is "The M . W . Grand Master . " The toast of H . R . H . is always well received amongst every company of Englishmen , and we , as Masons , ought to feel double

enthusiasm in drinking the health of our M . W . G . Master —( cheers)—for his whole life seems to be occupied in performing those acts of Charity and kindliness which ought to be the especial distinction of Masons . We therefore feel proud in being able to call H . R . H . our M . W . Grand Master . ( Cheers . ) It has been said that we should do well to make our toasts as short as possible , and therefore , although this is a toast on which I could say much more , I will simply ask you to drink the toast . ( Cheers . ) " God bless the Prince of Wales" having been rendered by the band ,

The W . MASTER said : The next toast I have to propose is " The Pro G . M ., the Dep . G . M ., and Grand Ofiicers , Present and Past . " We are honoured by the presence of several Provincial Grand Masters . I may mention especially the Prov . G . Masters of Hertfordshire , Worcestershire ,

Bro . Lord Euston , Prov . G . M . of Norths and Hunts , the Prov . G . M . of the Isle of Man , and many other distinguished Masons —( applause)—and I feel sure you will be plrased if I make my speech as short as possible , that you may listen ^ o these eminent Mason * . I couple with the toast the name ot Bro . r . F . Halsey , M . P ., Prov . G . M . Herts . ( Cheers . )

Bro . T . F . HALSEY , M . P ., Prov . G . M . Herts , said : I have , on behalf of the distinguished brethren with whom my name was unworthily coupled , to return heartfelt thanks for the cordiality of our reception , and at the same

The Drury Lane Lodge, No. 2127.

time , I must thank you , W . Master , for the example you have set , which has relieved me of considerable anxiety—that of brevity . ( Laughter . ) I can only say on behalf of my brother Prov . Grand Masters—those young men from the country —( laughter)—who have come up to partake of your hospitality , we thank you most heartily , and hope that on another occasion we may have the opportunity of thanking you for a similar cordial reception . ( Applause . )

Bro . Sir W . T . MARRIOTT , Q . C , M . P ., said : I have been asked to propose , and I have great pleasure in proposing , the toast of our brother , "The Earl of Onslow . K . C . M . G ., Governor of New Zealand , P . G . Warden . " ( Cheers . ) I have no doubt that why this toast has been put in its present position , and why it is now proposed , is that our brother , the Earl of Onslow , is about to leave these shores for a very far distant Colony ,

where he is about to take up the position of Governor . Well , brethren , it is not for me to quarrel with any appointment that the Prime Minister of England chooses to make , but I am certain of this—and Bro . Lord Onslow will endorse what I say—that I shall consider his appointment as Governor of New Zealand a doubtful blessing for civilisation . ( Laughter . ) It is an excellent thing for the New Zealanders ; they will gain especially if they

have good appetites and appreciate good wines— - ( laughter)—but Londoners will lose , Englishmen will lose —( applause)— and I think civilisation will lose . I am sure that those pleasant gatherings which have taken place so frequently at Richmond Terrace , where the finest principles of civilisation are assimilated with the best of political ideas and the best of claret —( laughter)—will be lost , and will be transferred to the New

Zealanders . It is a matter of gain and loss , and I think civilisation loses by the loss of the Earl of Onslow . I think I need say no more about this toast . The life of the Earl of Onslow has been written by the greatest historian of modern times in the greatest of histories of modern times . You know who is the greatest historian of modern days—our Bro . Broadley , the Secretary of the Drury Lane Lodge —( laughter)—and lhe greatest history of these days is The World . If you have not read an account of the Earl

of Onslow , I refer you to the sketch of his career—written I believe , by Bro . Broadley not many months ago . Every word of that is true , and I have the greatest pleasure in proposing the health of the Earl of Onslow . ( Cheers . ) May he have a splendid five years , and vvhen he comes back may he bring some nevv dishes , and may he lay some wine vvhich will be fit to drink five years hence , ( Laughter and cheers . ) Bro . the Earl of

ONSLOW , K . C . M . G ., Governor of New Zealand , P . G . Warden , in reply , said : I am afraid that I must confess that the frequency vvith which I have had to return

thanks for this toast during the past few days render it difficult ' for me not to repeat myself . 1 am , as Bro . Sir W . Marriott has

told you , going away lor a few years to a country where there is a splendid climate , and where if you want snow you have to go

to it . ( Laughter . ) You ( Sir VV . Marriott ) have been good enough to refer to certain very pleasing occasions vvhich have taken place in the

neighbourhood of Westminster . I , in my time , have had the good fortune to fill many offices , as we are told that many men have to fill ; many parts . I have had , , •" «""/ parts . I have had

BRO . ALDERMAN SIR HENRY ISAACS , S . W . some experience of Colonies and Colonists at the Foreign Office , and with our great trade and commerce at the Board of Trade , and have even had some experience in a Home for Lost and Starving Dogs . Amongst these experiences I have found the truth of what was said by an American philosopher—that there is a great deal of human nature in most people .

( Applause . ) I think I may say that where kindlv feeling is shown it is responded to , and you have been good enough yourselves to show that in this toast it may be a good augury for the brethren on the other side of the world . I have spent many happy years in this country , but none have been pleasanter than those I have spent in Drury Lane Theatre , and none have been pleasanter than the present occasion . ( Cheers . ) I hope you will not

think me ungrateful if I say that I suffer from the exhibition of kindly feeling on your part . I may say I suffer physically , and I suffer a little from the magnificence of the entertainment to-ni ght , and I suffer mentally for I feel I am leaving many good men and true friends , and among the future hopes and aspirations , which under such circumstances one may cherish , one cannot help feeling present regrets . I shall leave this country vvith a kindly feeling of the way in vvhich my friends have come forward

during the last few days . I cannot help believing that most of them are anxious to see the last of me —( no , no)—but I can say that the feelings I have in leaving are compensated for—as compensation is given in this world in all things , at least to sinners , if not publicans—( laughter)—by your kind feelings , and that I am looking forward to a renewal of those pleasant times in years to come vvhen I may return to the pleasant shores of old England . ( Loud cheers . )

Bro . J . C . PARKINSON , P . G . D ., said : By the favour of your W . M ., I am allowed to propose his health , and to wish him in your name a p leasant and prosperous year of office . Freemasonry is wide—aye , wide as the Catholic Church itself —( cheers)—and rejoices to include in its ranks and to see in its high places the most varied and brilliant personalities , who in their turn are proud to conform to its rules and teaching —( hear , hear )—and whatever their position in the outer world may be , to leave it behind them at the door of the lodge , to work on equal terms with their Masonic