Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

tions , & c , from Bros . J , E . Ashton , Fred Gordon , Cuthbert Blacow , T . R . Peel , R . R . Lisenden , and others . The jewel before mentioned as having been subscribed for and intended for presentation to Bro . Ishmael Davies , P . M ., was manufactured by Bro . George Kenning , 47 ,

Bridge-street . It was made of iS carat gold , and had a handsome monogram on the ribbon enamelled in blue and crimson . The top part of jewel was a scroll-bar , on which was the name of thelodge in burnished gold letters ; suspended from this bar was a gold square and problem , and from that a handsomely chased pair of gold keys .

SEAFORTH . —Skelmersdale Lodge ( No . 1380 ) . —The above lodge celebrated its anniversary on the 6 th inst . at Lathom Hall , when Bro . VV . H . Edwardes was installed W . M . for the ensuing 12 months . The lodge was consecrated 16 years ago by Bro . the Right Hon . the Earl of Lathom , then Lord Skelmersdale , and D . P . G . M . of YVest Lancashire . His lordship , after whom the lodge was

called , became one of its first members , and from that time up to the present the lodge has pursued a career of much usefulness in the province . The lodge was opened by the outgoing W . M ., Bro . Peter Blackburn , assisted by Bros . R . A . Davies , P . M ., P . P . G . T . ; Alderman J . P . M'Arthur , P . P . J . G . W . ; Edward Ford , P . M ., Treas . ; T . A . Ryder , P . M . 1357 acting S . W . ; W . H . Edwardes , J . W . ; J .

, Gregson , Secj P . Sword , S . D . j G . Broadbridge , P . M ., P . P . G . T ., D . C . j S . J . Eastwood , Org . ; J . C Langley , I . G . j E . Roberts , Steward ; and VV . H . Ball , Tyler . Amongst the visitors from other lodges were Bros . R . J . Wishart , P . M . 17 S 9 ; A . Cross , P . M . 1713 ; T . Salter , P . P . J . G . D . j R . Armitage , P . M . 1620 ; D . M . Haskin , Prov . G . Treas . ; and E . Sherwood , I . P . M . 786 .

Preliminary business having been disposed of , the W . M . elect , Bro . Edwardes , was presented for installation by Bros . G . Broadbridge and R . A . Davies , and the task was efficiently performed by Bro . Blackburn . Subsequently the new W . M . invested his officers for the year as under Bros . P . Blackburn , I . P . M . ; J . Gregson , S . VV . ; P . Sword , J . W . ; E . Ford , P . M ., Treas . ( re-elected ); J . Christie

Sec ; J . C Langley , S . D . ; K . Roberts , J . D . ; G . B . Watts , I . G . ; E . L . Lewis and T . T . Darby , Stewards ; S . J . Eastwood , Org . ( re-elected ); Geo . Broadbridge , P . M ., D . C '; and W . H . Ball , Tyler ( re-elected ) . Before the closing of the lodge Bro . Edwardes , W . M ., presented his predecessor , Bro . Blackburn , with a chaste jewel , on behalf of the members of the lodge . The brethren afterwards partook of dinner together .

WIDNES . —Equity Lodge ( No . 1384 ) . —The members of this lodge celebrated the Festival of St . John on Thursday , the 2 nd instant , at the Masonic Rooms , Central Hotel , Bro . John Patten , VV . M ., in the chair , when Bro . Dr . Cooper was duly installed the W . M . for the ensuing 12 months according to ancient custom . The installation ceremony was performed by Bro . J . White , P . M .

There was a good attendance of brethren . Amongst the visitors were the following : Bros . W . Barnes , S . 941 ; "W . Taylor , P . M . 1250 ; S . H . Hartley , P . M . 86 , P . G . S . ; J . Leatherbarrow , W . M . 86 , S 97 ; A . Johnstone , S 97 ; T . H . Hitchen , W . M . 190 S ; C . H . Lewin , S . W . 190 S ; G . H . Danby , P . S . G . D . Chester ; J . W . White , J . D . 1908 j and J . Dobson , 1250 .

The newly-installed VV . M . appointed the following brethren as his officers for the ensuing 12 months : Bros . J . Patten , I . P . M . ; T . VVilliams , S . W . j G . Claye , J . W . j A . G . Kyle , Treas . j J . Goff , Secj W . White , S . D . j W . Walker , J . D . ; Shepherd , I . G . j Saye , Stwd . j Holt , Tyler j and J . White , P . M ., D . C . _ The ceremony of installation being over , the brethren

dined together at Bro . Parkes ' , under the presidency of the newly-installed W . M . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were duly given and responded to . During the evening a P . M . ' s iS carat gold jewel was presented to Bro . J . Patten from the brethren of the lodge in appreciation of his services as VV . M .

Bro . Patten suitably responded , thanking the brethren for their kindness , and stating that his services had been a pleasure to him , and he hoped the lodge would have a prosperous future . A iS carat gold Jubilee jewel , subscribed by members of thelodge , was presented to Bro . ] . White , P . M ., for his services to the lodge during the last 15 years . Bro . White thanked the brethren for so marked an

appreciation of his services . Much as he prized his P . M . 's jewel , he valued much more the one presented to him by the initiates during his year of office as W . M ., but both had been eclipsed by the beautiful jewel now presented to him . He felt how little he deserved it , but hoped to merit it by future services to his lodge . The jewels were manufactured by Bro . George Kenning , 2 , Monument-place , Liverpool .

NORTH WOOLWICH . —Henley Lodge ( No . 1472 ) . —The election meeting of the above lodge took place on Tuesday , the 7 th inst ., at the Three Crowns Hotel , Bro . J . Paul , W . M ., in the chair , supported by the following Past Masters , officers , and others -. J . A . Elder , P . M . ; C . Lewis , P . M ., W . M . Victorian Jubilee Lodge ; A . T . Ives , P . M . ; E . West , P . M ., P . P . S . G . D . Herts ; Dr . VV .

Vance , P . M ., Treas . ; C . Jolly , P . M ., Sec . ; J . Savage , S . W . ; CH . Canning , J . W . ; C . J . Jones , S . D . ; C Wood , J . D . ; A . Knight , I . G . ; C . J . Powling , D . C . ; and some thirty members of the lodge . The visitors included Bros . G . Kenneday , P . M . 1536 , P . G . Stwd . ; G . H . Porter , 700 ; and S . Jones , 511 . . The lodge having been opened and the minutes confirmed

the ballot was taken for Messrs . G , Harnwell and J . R . Bond , and , proving unanimous , they were duly initiated . Bro . Harris was then raised . Both ceremonies being ably worked by the W . M . and his officers . The election for W . M ., Treas ., Tyler , and Auditors followed , and Bro . J . Savage , S . VV ., was unanimously elected W . M . for the ensuing year ; Bro . Dr . Vance was re-elected Treas . ; Bro .

Gaskell , P . M . 1076 , Tyler ; and Bros . Curtis and Turvey , Auditors . The usual P . M . ' s jewel was voted to Bro . Paul , and then the lodge was closed . After indulging in one of Bro . West ' s well-served suppers , the brethren re-assembled round the social board , and with toast and song passed away a few happy hours .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

SHANKLIN . —Chine Lodge ( No . 1884 ) . —The installation meeting of this lodge took place at the Masonic Hall , on Thursday , the 26 th ult . The W . M ., Bro . Alfred Greenham , P . M ., occupied the chair , and there were also present Bros . John Bailey , P . P . G . D . C ; F . Rayner , S . W . ; Francis Cooper , P . M ., W . M . elect ; Lewis Colenutt , Sec . ; A . Svvayne , S . D . ; H . A . Matthews , J . D . ;

Robert Greenham , I . G . ; R . Young and G . Matthews , Stwds . ; Mark Linfield , P . M . ; VV . J . Mew , Tyler ; J . Cantlow , G . G . Boehme , T . A . Rayner , R . Kearns , C . Riddick , F . P . Ansle , S . VV . 551 ; T . G . Addley , 1 S 69 ; O . B . Gabell , W . M . j Charles Carter , I . P . M . ; J . Ellery , Sec ; Charles Langdon and Miah Willis , 175 ; G . A . Brannon , J . W . 151 ; and Alfred Dashwood , I . P . M .

69 S . The lodge having been opened , and the minutes read , the ballot was taken for the election as honorary members for Bros . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., Prov . G . M . ; J . E . Le Feuvre , J . P ., P . G . D . Eng ., Dep . Prov . G . M . j E . Goble , Prov . G . Secj William James Hughan , P . G . Swd . Br . Eng ., P . G . W . Egypt , P . S . G . D . Eng ., P . P . S . G . W . Cornwall , & c , & c , the Masonic Historian of England j and

George Taylor , P . P . S . G . W ., and P . G . Sec . of Worcestershire ; as a mark of the lodge ' s appreciation , and to recognise in some slight degree the valuable help , the many and unprecedentedly kind services rendered to Chine Lodge , in connection with the Masonic Exhibition of 1 SS 6 , and the Jubilee Memorial Fund , proposed by Bro . Alfred Greenham , P . M ., W . M ., and seconded by Bro . John

Bailey , I . P . M ., P . P . A . G . D . C , and proved unanimous in their favour . The framed photograph of Bro . W . J . Hughan was presented from him by the W . M ., Bro . A . Greenham , who said it was scarcely necessary for him to say a word beyond howjpleased he was to present it , and he felt sure every brother would be proud to have it within the lodge . Bro .

Hughan's kindness to the lodge and to him would always endear his name to them , and by his generosity they had the nucleus of a very good library . The vote of thanks proposed by the W . M . was carried , and the Secretary directed to express his appreciation of the lodge to Bro . Hughan . The Worshipful Master then proposed that the lodge join

the Correspondence Circle of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge , No . 2076 , and said the brethren were well aware of his views on this subject , as he had given them at length , at their Lodge of Instruction meetings , and pressed the subject on them , and he was quite sure it would prove very beneficial to the lodge . Bro . R . Young seconded , and said the members were

happy in their possessions , happy in association , and happy in their fraternal intercourse ; but the purpose of that new departure was to cement friendships and to promote intelligent enquiry into the literature of Freemasonry , to edify , to amuse , and to establish a principle of mutual benefit upon simple and unpretentious lines that should be accessible to the lodge at all times , but particularly

acceptable at the weekly meetings if opportunity or inclination should dispose the brethren to hear or read IVIasonic lore from the pens of present and past masters of the art . The work hada reputation of high literary value , and might well supply subjects of deep research , but as a less ambitious aim , if one brother would undertake to read only one subject well

and become the vocal interpreter of its author to the rest of the brethren , a pleasant , profitable , and amusing halfhour would amply afford recompense to all . He had hope of much sound instruction to be imparted with most congenial method , and he cordially seconded their ambitious Master ' s views by seconding his propositions .

The W . M ., Bro . Greenham , then proposed that the sum of £ i 5 S . gd . handed over to the Treasurer be considered the * ' Exhibition Library Fund , " as it partly accrued from it . If he Exhibition did not make as much money as he expected , owing to the unfortunate weather that prevailed , it had exceeded in other ways his expectations . They had a library worth nearly £ 30 as part of its proceeds , besides

that sum , and he should from time to time hand over other sums of money that would accrue to that fund , so that he should regard the Exhibition in future as a success so far as that lodge was concerned . It was most desirable that they should have a library , and when no ceremony was taking place , he trusted the time would be used in reading papers on Masonry culled from their own library .

Bro . R . Young seconded , and said the Exhibition Library Fund was essentially connected with the Coronati scope of reading , and covered the ground of its operations by supplying fresh sources of knowledge . But he wished to make a reference there of almost personal point . The Shanklin Masonic Exhibition drew its patronage from far and near , and accomplished magnificent success upon its mtrits .

However , financially , the results were a little depressing to their untiring VV . M ., who calculated upon a more immediate outcome of relief to the Building Fund of Chine Lodge . But that the real effects of the Exhibition were far reaching , they had ample evidence in the honorary distinction of Bro . Alfred Greenham alone ; and if nothing more than the creation of that fund had been the outcome of his labours , their VV . M .

would have deserved well of the brethren of the Chine Lodge . He offered him his individual congratulations , and proposed a vote of hearty appreciation and thanks , while he seconded his proposition to establish that Library Fund . The W . M ., Bro . Greenham , then said he had two personal presentations to make , one to the W . M . elect , Bro . F . Cooper , P . M ., and the other to Bro . F . Rayner

, S . W . He asked them to accept from him an exhibition medal as a slight token of his regard and appreciation of their kind help when the exhibition was held . Bros . Cooper and Rayner had felt unable to assist him in the literary or organising part of the work , but when the exhibits arrived they daily gave their services for a fortnight in unpacking and watching over them . The willingness

with which they all helped him on that occasion he should never forget , the undertaking was great , but the members nobly did their duty then to the lodge . Other members whose help he had not yet recognised must not think they were forgotten , at some future time he trusted to have the opportunity to recognise them in the same way . He thanked Bros . F . Cooper and Rayner for their kindly aid ,

and asked to be allowed to ] pin the medal ( which was engraved by Bro . George Kenning ) with a suitable inscription , on their breast , and expressed a hope that inasmuch as at present it commemorated the largest exhibition yet held they would be proud to wear it . Bro . F . Cooper , P . M ., said the presentation was a complete surprise to him , but he should notice it and wear it with pleasure . He had endeavoured to do his best for the

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

Chine Lodge since it was founded , and tried to help the W . M . in all that he promoted for its benefit . He looked upon the exhibition as a great day in the history of the lodge , and was proud to be associated with it . He thanked the W . M . for the presentation and for the kind way his services were acknowledged . Bro . F . Rayner , S . W ., thanked the W . M . very much for

the medal he had just presented and pinned to his breast , and accepted it with much pleasure coming from one from whom he entertained the hi g hest personal esteem and fraternal regard . He accepted it as recognising and appreciating the services it was his privilege and pleasure to render him during the time he had occupied the chair of the lodge . He should prize it as commemorative of that

great event in which the W . M . played the leading part , an event which would ever be associated with his first year ' s Mastership , and ever redound to his credit and honour . Before theW . M ., Bro . Greenham , commenced the installation ceremony , he unveiled , on the north wall , a hand , some tablet , in white , light blue , and gold , bearing the names of the Past Masters of the lodge , with the years

filled in for 50 , but a blank space for the names , and said , Brethren , in presenting the Chine Lodge Roll of Past Masters as a parting gift as W . M ., he did so with peculiar pleasure , as it bears upon a phase of Masonry which he had endeavoured to encourage in that lodge , and which , he believed , would have an influence on its career , and tend to create a desire for all their members to wish to place their

names on the Past Masters' Roll . Whatever he had given to the lodge had always been with the idea of developing its prestige , and making members feel they have something tangible to bequeath to their successors . Depend upon if , if they were not—and they were not—an old lodge , with ancient traditions to be proud of , and a long list of Past Masters to refer to , then he would say do something that

those who come after them will be proud of , and feel it an honour to be a member of their lodge . If tbey had the chance to consolidate their lodge—its interests , its harmony , its pride of itself , and its determination to succeed—then that chance , that opportunity was given to each W . M . to initiate , to promote , and to lead forward all movements for its welfare . It had been his peculiar province , that while

he had endeavoured to enrich the lodge in its present day , yet , to associate with those gifts a developing interest in itself , which , he trusted , the next generation will be proud of , and it was his firm belief that the prosperity of that small lodge will be considerably influenced in the future by what they madeitthatday . There was therefore a chance for each of them not only to place their names upon that Roll ,

but to hand the lodge on to their successors something better than they found it . For a few moments he would review those whose names appeared there . Their first W . M ., Dr . Dabbs , has justified their choice in placing him in that honoured position , for his acts , if not all written in the minute book of the lodge , are indelibly imprinted in their memories . He had laboured often and hard for the benefit

of the lodge ; he had given the best products of his fertile brain for its welfare , and he ventured to make a prediction , that when the 50 years Roll of their Past Masters is filled up , his literary genius , which was only budding that day , will have blossomed and borne fruit , far and away outside the Island ' s precincts , and so long as that was a lodge , so long would they ever be proud of him as their first VV . M .

Of their second W . M ., Bro . F . Newman , he had on previous occasions tried to the best of his ability to convey theirs and his appreciation of his ( Bro . Greenham ' s ) services and sacrifices for that lodge during its first five years . He did not believe that the records of any Mason in the Province of Hants would show a greater zeal and untiring energy than his , nor spread over so many years and connected with so many

lodges . He brought their lodge through its most critical times , and through some of its greatest difficulties , with a patience and kindness which was most exemplary . The older members of their lodge would never forget his kindness , and would always appreciate what he did for them , and if ever the historians sit down to write the history of Island Masons , and Island Masonry , he would weave round

his name a renown , and his services to Chine Lodge would form one of its brighest and most lustrous parts . Of Bro , Cooper , it would be unnecessary to speak , after what he had said previously . Bro . Bailey ' s year of office marked the commencement of the prosperity of that lodge , and until now he had laboured in every way to promote its success , and during his ( Bro . Greenham ' s ) two years of office he had had a most zealous worker in those

undertakings , which he knew had brought honour to their lodge , viz ., the Masonic Exhibition and Jubilee Memorial . He asked the brethren to accept the gift , and in doing so thanked them , one and all , for their exceedingly kind help to further all he had undertaken . Bro . F . Rayner , S . VV ., rose and proposed that the best thanks of the lodge be given to the W . M . for his handsome gift , and said the W . M . had never during the last two years allowed an opportunity to pass without recognising

a proper manner any service rendered to him by any brother , or any presentation to the lodge through him . They , as officers and brethren , had also on many occasions had to express their grateful acknowledgments for the very many presents made during his two years of office . They would remember almost immediately after he was installed , two years ago , he inaugurated a custom in the lodge of

drinking the initiate ' s health at the banquet , and for that purpose gave a handsome loving cup . Following close upon that he gave a nicely framed unique document , the old bylaws signed by the P . G . M ., which had mysteriously disappeared , and then a framed record of the Exhibition , and two similarly framed photographs of the Exhibition , the archive box , the pretty Charity bag , and several other

things , but that day he had performed the crowning act of his Mastership in presenting the P . M . ' s roll . It would not only serve the purpose intended , but would in future years be an enduring monument to one whose great ambition had been to place the lodge in the position it now held in the roll of Masonic lodges , whose unselfish generosity and unceasing energy and zeal had ever been devoted to further

the prosperity and interest of Chine Lodge , and whose highest aim had been to promote harmony and brotherly love . However feebly he had expressed the gratitude of the brethren , they were at least genuine and sincere . Bro . M . Lindlield , P . M ., seconded the resolution with

pleasure . He had only joined the lodge a little over a year , but he was proud to belong to it , and all that had been said of the W . M . was thoroughly deserved . He had carried out the duties of the lodge to their entire satisfaction . He was able to do any of the ceremonies , and was most generous in his gifts to the lodge and the time he devoted to its interests .