The Drury Lane Lodge, No. 2127.

the Masonic body . ( Cheers . ) I will go further , and say that , although we may not have the means to enable us to pursue that unbounded Charity which is associated vvith Masonry , as far as our means go we are at all times willing to assist poorer brethren in distress . ( Applause . ) I beg to thank you , brethren , on behalf of the Corporation of the City , because I

feel that , although the toast is nominally that of my own health , it is intended as a compliment to the great body to which I have the honour to belong ; and I can assure you that ,, so far as I am concerned , and so far as the Corporation is concerned , you may always ; depend upon us to do our utmost to sustain , the honour , dignity , and welfare of this United ! Kingdom . ( Loud cheers . ) Bro . Lord ALCESTER also responded .

Bro . Rev . Dr . KYNASTON said : I can assureyou I esteem it an honour , but an unexpected ! honour , that my name is coupled with the toast ,, but all the greater honour , as I find myself rowing in the same boat between three distinguished ' Masons . It is [ a very p leasing thing to be a visitor anywhere . It is a most pleasing thing

to be a visitor at a lodge of Freemasons , but it is a most pleasing thing to be a visitor at the Drury Lane Lodge . ( Applause . ) I am certain lhat the fact of being Freemasons must prove of advantage to brethren in their un-Masonic work , and I feel that one of the first things I shall do , now that I am vicar of a parish , will be to find out all my parishioners who are Freemasons , for I know that from them I shall receive assistance in my work . ( Applause . )

Bro . CATLING , I G ., in proposing the next toast , said : I have an unexpected honour thrust upon me , literally at one minute ' s notice , which has left me , in a measure , breathless vvith suspense . But I should be unworthy of the confidence reposed in me by the founders of the lodge , when they received me as one of the first batch of initiates , if I did not respond to the

BRO . H . NICHOLLS , J . D .

call of duty , and endeavour to put belore you , in the worthiest manner I can—though that must be an unworthy manner—the toast of " The Past Masters " of the Drury Lane Lodge . ( Cheers . ) Coming into this lodge under the auspices of Lord Londesborough , who gave so much energy and attention , and everything that could foster , or encourage , a new lodge to the sympathies of this great world of London , we have found the distinguished Earl—the representative of a line of nobility—followed by one equally distinguished , in a measure representative , because allied vvith a name in which this lodge appeals , not only to the world of Masonry ,

but to the outside world . We need onl y mention the name of Bro . Augustus Harris . ( Applause . ) We have known him as a good and true man , and vve have known him as one of the most enterprising managers ever conducting the affairs of that great National theatre , and one ever anxious to appeal to the world in the broadest sense . Then vve find Bro , Sir John Gorst , I . P . M ., the representative of a Ministry vvhich , in a time of great peril and dangerhas come to the front and saved usand

, , vvhich if it continues to rule with wisdom will be productive of great results . ( Applause . ) VVe have found him putting aside his ministerial duties and performing the duties in the lodge , including every minor detail , with a regularity which I am sure the Prov . Grand Masters present would be the first to recognise . For that reason I have much pleasure in proposing the toast of the Past Masters , and couple vvith it the name of Bro . Sir John

Gorst , I . P . M . - . Bro . Sir J OHNGORST ; M . P ., l . P . M ., said : The W . M . and his predecessors have been distinguished for the brevity of their speeches , and I will therefore only detain you for the few moments necessary to thank the members of this lodge , and especially the officers , for the way in vvhich I have been supported during my year . I envy my successor the pleasure before

him—( cheers)—and I can assure him that in being W . M . of this lodge there is only one drop of bitterness , and that is that , like all earthly pleasures , it passes away . I hope that the W . M . may enjoy the same amount of support and good feeling of all the members as 1 have , and I am sure that if they give him the same support given me he will look back upon his year as one of the pleasantest experiences of his life . ( Cheers . )

Bro . AUGUSTUS HARRIS , P . M ., said : I feel 1 must apologise for appearing before you in deshabille , but , rather than not appear at all , I thought I would rush on from other duties and come here at the earliest moment . I have changed places in a minor degree with the Lord Mayor , for , while he has been here with our worthy S . W ., Bro . Sir Henry Isaacs , I have been in the Council Chamber at Guildhall , starving and thirsty . It is a very dry

place —{ laughter)—but the talk was very liquid , for it ran on and on , and you would imagine there was never going to be an end of it—and all about nothing . ( Laughter . ) I may say that were the business of this lodge conducted as the business has been conducted at the few meetings that have taken place of the County Council , we should not be here to-night . ( Cheers . ) This lodge vvould be a thing of the past . I hope we shall mend

our ways now that we have an estimable Chairman in Lord Rosebery and a good Vice-Chairman in Sir John Lubbock . I am not here to speak of matters connected vvith buildings , and such matters , but to propose " The Health of the Officers . " ( Cheers . ) I can assure you nothing can give me greater pleasure than it should be so . I feel sure our new W . M . must feel proud of the officers of the lodge to serve him during his term of office .

There are few lodges in this kingdom that can boast of such a list of officers . When we have the future Lord Mayor of London in the chair of Senior Warden —( cheers)—and when we have such eminent workers as Bros . Fernandez , Bancroft , and others , ali men who have made their mark , I do not know a lodge where you will find such representative men . I believe that the good old ship—Drury Lane Lodge—is in good repair , and that it

has been built on the best and most approved model —( laughter )—and I fetl that our worthy Admiral will have no fault to find with the ship or the crew . ( Applause . ) I am sure the W . M . will grace the chair as our worthy Immediate Past Master graced it last year . I feel I have nothing more to say , except that you will excuse my rambling remarks , and put down my hestitation to lack of nourishment . " ( Laughter . ) I propose the health of the officers , coupled with the name of Bro . Sir H . Isaacs , S . W .

The Drury Lane Lodge, No. 2127.

Bro . Sir HENRY ISAACS , S . W ., said •I rise with a great deal of pleasure to return thanks . I do not think I can do better than adopt the tone of our W . Master , and tell you how exceedingly proud we all areas officers under so excellent a commander . I do not doubt for an instant that the cruise will be a happy and prosperous one . It gives me great pleasure to be the

first officer of such a Craft , and , although only first officer , I am proud to say I hold a Master ' s certificate . ( Laughter . ) I trust I shall so discharge my important duties as first officer , that at the end of the year I may have some good marks , and no bad ones , as to the manner in

which I have done my work . I cannot but feel exceedingly grateful to Bro . Fernandez for retaining his position as second officer , in order that I might have the privilege of being the first officer , and he has acted in a very Masonic spirit in all that he has done . I thank

you , W . Master , tor the great compliment paid me , and also Bro . Augustus Harris forthe kind things said of me ; and I trust that vvhen this good ship returns from her annual cruise , you will all feel that the first officer has so conducted himself that you will entrust him . with the command . ( Cheers . )

Bro . BANCROFT , S . D ., also replied . He said -. A mine has been sprung upon me by the S . W ., vvho has asked me to say a few words . On behalf of the officers I may say it has been a great pleasure during the past year to serve under such a W . Master as Bro . Sir John Gorst , and it would be a hard thing indeed if , under such a command , vve did not loyally discharge our duties . I am sure we shall endeavour to do our utmost under the command of our good friend Sir E . Inglefield . Bro . Earl of EUSTON , Prov . G . M . Norths and Hunts , said : I can assure you that vvhen I came here , on the invitation extended to me , to attend your banquet , as I had the honour of doing- last vear , I had very little idea I should be

called upon to say anything , but I have been told that I was given a chance , for this reason—that I have to preside , on the 27 th inst ., at the Festival of Aged Masons and Widows of Freemasons . ( Cheers . ) I will say that I have the greatest pleasure in proposing " The Masonic Charities , " and I do not think any toast could have given me greater pleasure to propose , for I think , and every right thinking Mason thinks , that from the beginning to the end of Masonry one great word ought to go through it—and that is Charity . ( Applause . ) In the beginning , we are told and taught that the object of the whole

organisation of this grand Constitution is Charity , and we join it and go on with it in that idea . We have proved on many and various occasions what we can do when called upon . VVe have only to look back a few months to the Centenary of the Girls' School , when £ 50 , 600 was raised by Masons , the largest sum ever subscribed for any one Institution . It is an event to be looked back upon by all Masons , and particularly by this lodge , for it then headed the list with ^ 552 . ( Cheers . ) Will you excuse me it I ask you , as I hear

there is no Steward coming forward to represent the lodge for the Festival of the Benevolent Institution , will you find one ? One old lady told me she had been living for 25 years on the annuity given by that Institution , and there are those who prefer to live amongst their friends and pay their own rent out of their annuity . When you count up the numbers relieved I think you will say it is a wall-governed Institution , for those who have

come down in the world are contented and happy . Although the two other Institutions , the Girls' and the Boys' Schools , are in want of support , I need not remind you that as Masonry increases and new lodges come into existence it always runs the risk of drawing on this Institution . I am sure that vve as Masons will not allow our Masonic Charities to go down , for all -sums given will be thankfully received and faithfully applied . I will ask you to drink to the Masonic Charities , and I hope this lodge will not be absent

on the 27 th inst . I will call upon Bro . Hedges to reply . Bro . HEDGES , Sec . Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , returned thanks more particularly on behalf of the Institution with which he was most intimately connected . Lord Euston had reminded them of that glorious Centenary Festival which took p lace as recently as June last , under the presidency of the Prince of Wales and his Majesty the Kingol Sweden ,

when nearly 1500 Stewards collected nearly ^ 51 , 000 . It went without saying that in the good work this lodge took a large share , and he had the great privilege to be able in the name of the Girls' School to tender heartfelt thanks . Of the three largest lists represented this lodge was among them , and he might go further and say that of the Stewards who represented a single lodge only , the list of this lodge was the highest , thanks to the indomitable perseverance of their good friend Bro . Broadley ,

assisted by the liberality of the members . If he could trespass on their time for one moment longer he would ask them to bear in mind the speech of the Earl of Euston , in which he spoke of his intended presidency at the Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . With these few words he once more thanked them on behalf of the three great Charitable Institutions of the Craft . The Tyler ' s toast then closed the proceedings .

The following is a list of the brethren present—Bros . Sir E . A . Inglefield , K . C . B ., VV . M . ; Sir H . Isaacs , S . VV . ; J . Fernandez , J . W . j J . S . Fleming , Treas . ; A . M . Broadley , Sec .: S . B . Bancroft , S . D . ; Harry Nicholls , J . D . ; G . F . Bashford , D . C . ; Catling , l . G . ; Oicar Barrett and C . J . Phipps , Stwds . ; T . F . Halsey , M . P ., Prov . G . M . Herts ; Sir E . Ltchmere , M . P ., Prov . G . M . Worcestershire ; Lord Alcester ; Major I . D . Goldie Taubman , Prov . G . M . Isle of Man

Earl of Euston , Prov . G . M . Norths and Hunts ; Lord Claud Hamilton , Hugh D . Sandeman , P . D . G . M . Bengal ; A . Barfield , G . Treas . j R . Eve , P . G . Treas . ; Dr . E . E . VVendt , G . Sec . German Correspondence ; Sir C . H . Gregory , P . G . D . ; J . M . Case , P . G . D . ; J . M . P . Montague , P . G . D . ; R . Gooding , P . G . D . ; Lurd Valentia , Rev . C . J . Martyn , P . G . C ; Sir John Gorst , Q . C , M . P ., I , P . M . ; the Lord Mayor , J . C . Parkinson , P . G . U . ; Lord George Hamilton , M . P . ; Augustus Harris , P . M . ; Bart

Earl of Onslow , P . G . W . ; Lord Henry Thynne , P . G . W . ; Sir J . W . Ellis , ., M . P ., P . G . W . ; Sir R . Fowler , Bait ., M . P ., P . G . W . ; Sir J . B . Monckton , P . G . W . ; Rev . J . A . Lloyd , G . Chap . ; Rev . G . W . Weldon , P . G . Chap . ; F . A . Philbrick , G . Reg . ; T . Fenn , P . S . of G . P . ; Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , G . Sec . ; R . Grey , P . B . of B . ; C . A . Murton , P . G . D . ; P . de L . Long , P . G . D . ; John Aird , M . P . ; Edmund Yates , Sic Oscar Clayton , Sir R . Howard , J . G . D . ; R . Berridge , J . G . D . ; Col . R . W . Edis , G . S . of Wks . ; Col . I . Davis , D . G . D . C ; W . E . Stewart , P . A . G . D . C ; VV-