Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

I can assure you that your officers will use their utmost endeavours to support you , and it shall be no light matter that keeps them from their post the lodge nig hts . AVe accept in the spirit in which it is g iven , the straig ht forward and manly advice given by the W . AL to his oflicers ; and 1

beg in thanking you again , AVorshipful Sir , to repeat the assurance that thc officers will remember their obligations and do their part towards making the yearof J . Halford ' s reign a mostsuccessful oneintheannalsofthe Commercial Lodge . Thetoastof the Sister Lodges was acknowledged

by Bro . S . S . Partridge who made special reference to the truly Alasonic character of Bro . J . AVd Johnston ' s speech . Responding for the " ladies " at the command of the W . M ., Bro . E . H . Butler in warmly thanking the brethren , said the very handsome manner with which they had received the

toast , was only in accordance with the high duties which were imposed upon the Craft , by acknowledging those to whom they were so much indebted , not only for their personal comfort , but for the dearest of their domestic and social ties , and of whom one had truly said .

" When pain and anguish wrung the brow , A ministering angel thou . " The exalted position which the ladies occupied in their affections , he felt sure , were materially enhanced by the fact , that at the Installation of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , last week , H . R . H .

announced that our beloved Sovereign had most graciously become the Patroness of Alasonry , he need hardly add that while this imported additional lustre and brilliancy to the toast he had been called upon to respond to , it increased the difficulty in which he felt himself placed .

In conclusion he hoped that those of the fairer portion of creation , who hael not yet passed the matrimonial Rubicon , would ere long be raised from " the wicked world " of single blessedness to the " happy land " ( great laughter and cheers ) of convivial felicity , where no " Lord

Chamberlain could exercise his censorship , and where only the rude hand of death , or the demoralising atmosphere of the Divorce Court could pronounce a lasting separation . ( Applause . ) For those , who in the order of affairs might fail to attain the height of conjugal happiness ( so

much to be desired ) he would ask those brethren by whom he was surrounded , that in all their transactions with them , the words of Hood , so eloquently , but yet so pathetically rendered by Bro . Alatts that evening , should ever be borne in mind .

" Take her up tenderly , Lift her with care . Fashioned so slenderly , Young and so fair . " ( Loud Applause ) . The brethren were greatly in

debted , and the enjoyment of the evening greatly enhanced , by the songs beautifully rendered b y the Bros . Wykes , Tebbutt , and Chamberlin , and the recitations given by Bro . Alatts , and others . The Ty ler ' s toast brought the meeting to a close .

ERA LODGE , No . 1423 . —The first meeting of this lodge , since its consecration , was held on Saturday , 5 th inst ., at thc King ' s Anns Hotel , Hampton Court . Punctually at four o ' clock , p . m ., the time appointed for tlie meeting , the lodge was

opened by Bro . J . T . Moss , P . G . S . D . Middlesex , P . M ., AV . AL The minutes of the previous meeting were read and unanimously confirmed . The ballots for the six gentlemen , who were candidates for initiation were declared in each instance to be unanimousin favour of their admission . Bros .

R . Limpus , T . B . Yeoman , and S . Kisch , were unanimously elected joining members . The Prov . G . M . of Aliddlesex , Bro . Col . F . Burdett , then arrived , and was received with all due honor and respect . Three gentlemen being in attendance , they were admitted separately , and most

impressivel y initiated into ancient Freemasonry . The ceremony was beautifully rendered and admirabl y done . All present expressed the gratification they felt at hearing and seeing such good working . The bye-laws were then agreed to . The initiation fee being made seven guineas for

the lirst few who may join—it being understood that it would be increased to ten guineas—the joining fee to be the same amount as the initiation . Some gentlemen were proposed for initiation and amongst them were officers of the Navy and Army . 'Bro . J . S . Sweasey , J . D ., had promise

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

of good support for his list as the first Steward to represent the lodge at the Girls' School Letters of apology for non-attendance were received from Bros . R . W . Little , Secretary , and W . Smeed , P . G . J . W ., & c . who were absent from causes beyond their own contraband the lodge was

closed . It was arranged to hold an emergency meeting on Saturday , May 16 th . Banquet followed ; it was well served , and proved that the hostess Airs . Luce ( widow of the lateesteemed and respected Bro . Luce , P . M . ) intended to make the members comfortable in that

all-important part of the business . The usual loyal toasts were given and responded to , and the zest with which the AI . AV . P . G . M ., Col . Burdetfs name was received proved how popular he is . It was the toast eif the evening . The Initiates found an able responder in Bro . W . C . Devereux , R . N .

( an author of note , in Naval circles ) , who , in a well worded speech , fully acknowledged the handsome manner he had been received as well as his friends , who were now brothers . There were present besides those members already named : —Bros . H . T . Dubois , S . AV . ; T . W .

Baldwin , J . AV . ; T . J . Sabine , P . AL , Treasurer ; K . Walters , P . AL , Secretary ; E . H . Thiellay , S . D . ; J . S . Sweasey , J . D . ; J . Baxter Langley , I . G . The A'isitors were : —Bros . AV . Long , P . AI . 569 ; and H . Keeble , AV . M . 1275 , and others .

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PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF CHESHIRE AND NORTH AVALES .

A very uncommon and beautiful ceremony was witnessed on Saturday , the 5 th inst ., a the Town Hall , Altrincham by a large number of Mark Alasons from all parts of Lancashire , Cheshire , and North AVales , at the installation of the Rig ht AVorshi pful the Hon . Wilbraham Egerton , M . P ., as Provincial Grand Alark Alaster Mason of the new Province of Cheshire and

North AVales . l'he ceremony was performed by the Rig ht AVorshipful Bro . Willam Romaine Callender , Prov . Grand Alark Alaster of the County Palatine of Lancaster . The Stamford Alark Lodge , No . 141 , was opened by Bro . James A . Birch , W . M ., at half-past one and beinrr informed the Provincial Grand Alaster of

Lancashire and his officers sought admittance they were at once received and saluted with Grand and Royal honours . Bro . Callender then called on Brei . lohn Chadwick , Provincial Grand

Secretary to read the Dispensation granted by the Grand Alaster authorising him to proceed to Altrincham and there install Bro . the Hon . Wilbraham Egerton , ALP ., in the chair as tlie Provincial Grand Alark Alaster Mason of the

new Province ot Cheshire and Forth AVales . Having opened the Provincial Grand Lodge , Bro . Egerton was conducted into the Lodge and presented by the Ri g ht AVorshipful Bro . C . F . Alatier , Deputy Provincial Grand Alaster , and Junior AVarden of England . After receiving the

obligation he was duly installed and saluted with Grand and Royal honours nine times . Bro . Egerton then nominated and invested the following Brethren as his Provincial Grand Officers , Bro . the Rev . Charles AVilliam Spencer Stanhope , R . AV . D . P . G . Master ; Bro . AVilliam

Bulkley Hughes , M . P ., P . G . S . AV ; Bro . AVilliam Bulley , P . G . J . AV . ; Bro . Lieut .-Col . AVilkinson , P . G . AI . O . ; Bro . Joseph Sillatoe , P . G . S . O . ; Bro . Gaptain James Watson , P . G . J . O . ; Bro . the Rev . J . Newell Tanner , P . G . Chaplain ; Bro . Thomas Piatt , P . G . Treasurer ; Bro . Richard

Newhouse , P . G . Secretary ; Bro . Thomas Forshaw , P . G . Registrar ; Bro F ' rederick K . Stevenson , P . G . S . D . ; Bro . Major Piatt . P . G . J . D . ; Bro . Captain Hampton Lewis , P . G . Inspector of AVorks ; Bro . Edward Friend , P . G . D . C ; Bro . George L . AVoodley , Prov . Grand Assistant Director of Ceremonies ; Bro . Charles H . Coates ,

Prov . Grand Sword Bearer ; Bro . Geo . Higgins , Prov . Grand Standard Bearer ; Bro . John AI . Bentley , Prov . Grantl Organist ; Bro . John S . Alort , Prov . Grand Pursuivant ; Bro . J ohn Worthington , Prov . Grand T yler ; and Bros . Richard Baker , Thomas Kent , George H . Wilson , and James Heap , as Prov . Grand Stewards . Other business being done , the Prov . Grand

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Lodge was closed , and a large number of the brethren sat down to a splendid banquet provided b y the host , Bro . James Harney . The chair was taken by Bro . the Hon . J . AVilbraham Errerton , ALP ., P . G . M . M . He gave the first

toast , " The Queen , " which was received with great enthusiasm ; the next" H . R . H . Bro . Albert Edward , Prince of AVales , H . R . H . the Princess of Wales , and the rest ofthe Royal Family , " and in dtiinp- so remarked that Masons had cause to

be true and loyal to their Prince ; there had been no occasion on which Masons had called on him to exercise the influence of his exalted position for the benefit of the Craft that he had failed to do so , and we had now a further proof of the interest ? te took in Masonry ,

as he was shortly about to be installed as Grand Master of the Knights Templar . Bro . Birch sang with great feeling , " God Bless the Prince of Wales . " The next toast was "The M . W . Bro . the Rev . George Raymond Portal , M . A . G . M . M . M . " followed by "TheV . AV . Bro . The

Earl Percy , G . A 1 . M . M . Elect , The V . W . Bro . The Earl of Limerick , Deputy G . M . M . M ., and the rest of the Grand Officers , " which was replied to by Bro . Alatier . The next toast was the toast of the evening , "The Health ofthe R . W . Bro . The Hon . AVilbraham Egerton , ALP ., Prov .

Grand Master of Cheshire and North AVales , " which was given by f he R . AV . Bro . William Romaine Callender , who , on rising , was received with round after mund of applause . He spoke in the highest possible terms of Bro . Egerton as a man and a Alason , and delighted the Brethren

with a speech of more than his usual eloquence . Then followed the song of the evening by Bro J . AI . Bentley , Prov . Grand Org . The song ( a Alasonic one ) was composed by himself , and sting with great feeling , and was received with great applause . Bro . Egerton , who was received

with great enthusiasm , replied , thanking the Brethren , in a speech of great feeling , and with his usual good taste proposed " The health of Bro . Cullender , " who replieel ; and after other toasts hael been proposed and replied to , the Brethren separated at seven o ' clock in peace and

harmony , amid mutual congratulations on the enjoyable afternoon they had spent . LEICESTER . —Fowke Lodge of Alark Alasters ( No . 19 ) . —Tlie lodge assembled at an earlier hour than usual on the 27 th ult ., to transact ordinary business , to receive the Provincial

Grand Master and Officers , and to celebrate the annual festival of the lodge . There were present : —Bros . S . S . Partridge , W . AL , Prov . Grand Secretary ; Wm . Weare , AV . M . elect ; Q . Toller , Al . O . ; AV . Sculthorpe , S . O . ; C . Stretton , Treasurer ; J . AlacAllister , Secretary ; W . T .

Rowlett , R . M . ; R . A . Barber , S . D . ; E . J . Crow , J . D . ; and T . A . AVykes , Organist . The lodge having been opened , and the preliminary business despatched , the Right Worshipful Bro . W . Kell y F . R . Hist . S ., Prov . G . M . anel hi ? Officers were > received and saluted in clue form . The

Provincial Grand Lodge was then opened , and the Reports received from the several lodges in the province were highly satisfactory ; more esj ecia'ly the report from the Fowke Lodge , which indicated great vitality during the past year under the able presidency of Bro . Partridge ; there being an unusual increase in the number of

advancements , without any diminution in the numberof subscribing members . Bro . C . Stretton was unanimously elected the representative Grand Steward , an honour most heartily accorded to that deserving brother . The R . AV . P . G . M ., Alaster appointed Bro . AlacAllister , to the vacant

office of Inspector of Works . Perhaps no brother in the province is working more zealousl y and devotedly for Alasonic interests than Bro . AlacAllister , and to confer an honour upon him , is but a dutiful acknowledgment of his various and manifold labours . Other acts of

benevolence and charity having received the attention of the Prov . G . M . Master and brethren , the Prov . Grand Lodge was closed . Bro . S . S . Partridge , resumed the chair , and in an admirable manner conducted the ceremony of Installation ,

including the impressive chargts to the principal officers . Bro . W . Wejare , tbe newly Installed Alaster then proceeded to appoint and invest his oflicers as follows . —Bro . G . Toller , S . W . ; Bro . J . Al . AlacAllister , J . W . ; Bro . AV . Sculthorp , Al . O . ; Bro . L . L . Attwood , S . O . i Bro . R . A .