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in which the AV . M . had carried out the duties of his previous offices and the way in which he had that evening entered upon the important duties of his high office , the guidance of the lodge was in safe hands . Hc hoped thc VV . M . would have more to do than had fallen to his lot , and he was quite sure that when it was the turn of Bro . Pickering to hand the gavel to his successor they would all feel that the year

had been one of prosperity and usefulness . The toast was received with great enthusiasm . In returning thanks , the Worshipful Master said he felt how much it was a matter for congratulation that the lodge was in such a prosperous condition and thorough good order , and that it was recognised so by thc Craft was proved by the number of distinguished visiting biethren who had

honoured the lodge by their company there that day . He heartily thanked all the brethren for the extremely kind way they had received the toast , and he assured them that it would he his constant aim and effort to promote the welfare and unanimity of his lodge , and that when the time came to hand over the jewel which had been entrusted to him that day it would be as pure and unsullied as when he received it .

Bro . jefferd , P . M ., ably proposed the toast of the Wardens and Assistant Officers of the Lodge , " which was cordially received and suitably responded to by Bros . Derrick , Reece , and other officers . The Worshipful Master supplemented the remarks of Bro . Jefferd by particularly referring to the great and zealous services of the late Secretary , Bro . Reece , who

had during the last three years so ably and satisfactorily conducted the business of the lodge . He had hoped to have had his assistance in that capacity during the coming year , but he was sorry to find that owing to the new regulations he would not be able to fill two offices . He also tendered the thanks of the lodge to the retiring Treasurer . He regretted Bro . Harris found himself unable to devote

the necessary time to the office , but he felt that in the two brethren who had succeeded them they had efficient officers and well-proved Masons . He wished to pay the highest tribute of honour and affection to the Organist , the senior member of the lodge , whose services to Masonry were too well known in this and the neighbouring provinces to render anv eulosrium on his part necessary , and as regards the

D . C . his skill in the Craft and Masonic enthusiasm were so well known that he felt perfectly sure that the ceremonies of the lodge could not be under safer guidance . " The Health of the Visitors , " given by the chair , was warmly received by the members of the lodge , and ably responded to by several brethren .

Ihe grand old Masonic sentiment "To all poor and distressed Masons , " by the Tyler , concluded the toast list . During the course of the evening several capital songs were rendered by Bros . Pickering , Forward , Stevens , Derrick , Gater , and others ; a most enjoyable evening was spent , and harmony teigned supreme .

ST . AUSTELL . —Peace and Harmony Lodge ( No . 49 ( 1 ) . —The annual meeting of this lodge to commemorate the Festival of St . John was held at the Masonic Hall , on the gth inst . The first business was to confer the Second Degree on a brother , and then the W . M . elect , Bro . John Brewer , was most ably and impressively installed by W . Bro . John YV . Higman , I . P . M ., in the presence of the

following Board of Installed Masters : YV . Bros . Sir Charles Brune Graves - Sawle , Bart ., D . P . G . M . ; Thomas C . Stephens , 11 5 1 , P . P . G . J . W . ; Rev . F . B . Paul , 49 C 1 , P . P . G . C ; Wm . Guy , 49 G , P . P . G . D . C ; Jonathan Hugill , S 56 , P . P . G . D . C . ; Thomas H . Lukes , 496 , P . P . G . A . D . C ; Charles Truscott , jun ., 496 , P . P . G . S . B . ; Philip Giles , 406 , P . P . G . S . ; YVm . Mason , 499 , P . G . S . ; Thomas J .

Smith , P . M . 49 G ; and George Varcoe , VV . M . 977 . The YV . M . appointed and invested the following brethren his officers for the ensuing year : W . Bro . Charles Tozer , I . P . M . ; Bros . Houseley , S . W . ; Wm . J . Tredinnick , J . W . ; W . Bros . Rev . F . B . Paul , Chap . ; YV . Guy , Treas . ; Bros . YV J . Watts , Sec ; J . G . Bunt , S . D . ; H . Harris , J . D . ; J . McTurk , I . G . ; J . Blunt , D . C . ; S .

Truscott , Org-. ; S . Tank , S . S . ; J Connett , J . S . ; and Wm . Real , Tyler . W . Bro . Guy was re-elected Steward of the Cornwall Masonic Annuity and Benevolent Fund . Among the visiting brethren , in addition to those before mentioned , were Bros . J . Doney , S . W ., and G . Louth , S 56 ; and Richard Parson , J . VV . 9 S 7 . 'The banquet , wliich was well attended , was served at W . Bro . Luke ' s , White Hart Hotel .

CHESTER—Independence Lodge ( No . 721 ) . —The Festival of St . John was celebrated at the Masonic Chambers , Eastgate-row , on the Sth inst ., when the following brethren were present : Bros . T . E . Nabb , YV . M . ; H . J . Lloyd , I . P . M . ; R . C . Edwards , P . M . ; J . Dennis , P . M . ; YVm . Johnson , P . M . ; Herbert Ellis , S . VV . ; T . Knowles , J . W . ; W . H . Finchett , Treas . ; John Edwards , Sec . ;

Anthony Stevenson , S . D . ; Wm . Hughes , J . D . ; I . M . Jones , l . G . ; John Humphreys , Org . ; F . Thomas , Stwd . ; fi . Jones , Tyler ; and twenty-five other brethren . Visitors Bros . Donald Fraser , P . M . 477 ; Thos . Hart Davies , 477 ; S . Spencer , W . M . 425 ; E . Cuzner , P . M . 425 , P . P . G . O . 1 W . M . Lightfoot , P . M . 425 j Jas . Salmon , P . M . 425 , P . P . G . S . D . ; C . W . Duncan , S . YV . 42 s ; C . W . Seller , I . G .

435 ; A . Parkes , 425 ; J . M . M . Smith , YV . M . 133 G ; E . Smith , P . M . 133 G , P . P . A . D . C North Wales ; John Williams , Treas . 133 G ; J . Chadwick , j . D . 1336 *; j . F . Edisbury , S . W . 133 G ; S . Whaley , S 23 ; H . J . Little , l . G . 16 74 ; H . A . Steer , J . W . 1674 ; W . Hackforth , J . W . 1 G 74 ; J . S . Swift , W . M . 1477 ; G . H . Adams , S . W . 1477 ; and Chas . Dutton , P . M . 425 , P . P . G . S . W . The lodge was opened a' 4 P . m . by the VV . M ., in ancient

form . The installation of the W . M . elect , Bro . Herbert Ellis , S . W ., was then proceeded with by Bro . H . J . Lloyd , I . P . M ., who performed the ceremony in a most efficient manner . The W . M . then elected the following brethren as hisofficers for the ensuing year : Bros . T . E . Nabb , I . P . M . ; T . Knowles , S . W . ; Anthony Stevenson , J . W . ; John Edwards , Secretary ; W . H . Finchett , Treasurer ; Wm . Hughes , S . D . ; I . M . Jones , J . D . ; Felix Thomas , I . G . ; l / lnn !^ .. t-nr \ lli * . > , re Ctm ^ ntnt n-. A C 0 . _ ... n _ . I . . 17 I _ T 1 ^_ 11 _ . lumuim mmiu

....... . , ; . , v _ -. £ ___ . _ . _ . O IC Will U j VV . 11 . I ^ Cliy , I . S . _ W Irtl . nm . n O of farnmnnia , . V \ . U Ol ^ l .... 1

Almoner ; Edward Jones , T y ler . At the close of the lodge the W . M . presented Bro . Nabb with a very handsome P . M . jewel on behalf of the lodge , as a token of their appreciation of his conduct in the chair during the past twelvemonths . A banquet of a most recherche character was afterwards held in the Town Hall . After the removal of the cloth the Worshipful Master

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proposed the following toasts : " The Oueen , " "H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M . of England , " H . R . H . the Princess of YValcs , and the rest of the Royal Family , " and "The R . W . P . G . M ., Lord de Tabley , and the Ofiicers of the Prov . Grand Lodge . " In proposing the latter toast the W . M . expressed his regret at the continued illness of the Prov . G . M ., and felt sure that

all the brethren had bcen pleased at the receipt of the gracious message from him that evening ; they also all cordially hoped that his health would by the divine goodness of the Great Architect of thc Universe continue to improve , so that he might be so far convalescent as to be able to join them at tlieir Provincial Grand Meeting in September next .

This toast was very heartily responded to by the brethren . The I . P . M . had | charge of the next toast , "The W . M ., " whicli was duly responded to . The Worshipful Master , in proposing "The Installing Master , " referred to his exemplary zeal as a Mason , and to the excellent way in which he had performed the ceremony that evening .

Bro . Lloyd appropriately responded . The Junior Warden proposed "The Health of the Visiting Brethren " in a neat speech , in wliich he expressed the pleasure their lodge always had in fulfilling the hospitable part of tlieir duties . Bros . Spencer , W . M ., and C . YV . Duncan , VV . M . elect of Lodge No . 425 , and Hackford , J . W . of Caradoc Lodge , Rhyl , responded , and expressed their delight at the hospitable manner in which they had been entertained .

" "I he Ofiicers of the Lodge was proposed by the VV . M ., and responded to by the Junior and Senior Wardens . In proposing "The Health of the Past Masters , " the YV . M . thanked them all for the assistance they had rendered him , and more especially were his thanks due to the I . P . M . for his helpful services in the arrangement of the proceedings of that evening . The toast was responded to by the I . P . M . and Bros . Dennis and Cunnah .

" The Masonic Charities , proposed by the Installing Master , Bro . H . J . Lloyd , was thc next toast , in submitting wliich Bro . Lloyd referred to the London Charities . 'The Lodge of Independence , Chester , he said , although doing its duty towards those Charities , threw its energies into supporting the local charities , and more especially the Cheshire Educational Masonic Institution , of which , as most of the brethren would be aware , they were large

supporters . Bro . J . J . Cunnah responded to the toast , and referred to what the lodge had done in the past for the above mentioned Institution , of which he himself was a Vice-President , and of which nearly thirty of their members were Life Governors . He hoped the brethren generally would assist Bro . Lloyd in endeavouring to return as large a subscription as they had done in past years . The speaker said

he was proud to say that he had taken up as much as 100 guineas as the result of one year's exertions . Bro . Johnson , P . M ., proposed " The Ladies , " on whose behalf Bros . Yardley and Powell replied . 'The Tyler's toast brought a very pleasant and successful meeting to a close .

During the evening the pleasure of the brethren was greatly enhanced by the selection of a number of beautiful glees and songs by Bro . John Humphreys ( who had the charge of the musical arrangements ) , Bro . E . Cuzner , and Messrs . Millward and Robinson , of the Cathedral Choir , whose services were highly appreciated .

SALFORD . —Zetland Lodge ( No . S 52 ) . —The installation meeting of this lodge and St . John ' s Festival was celebrated on Wednesday , the 10 th inst ., at the Masonic Hall , Peel-crescent . Bros . Jas . Corney , VV . M . ; J . Heyworth , I . P . M . ; G . VV . Bingham , S . W . ; J . G . Edge , Treas . ; Thos . Batley , Sec ; C . H . Wheeler , S . D . ; Jos . Young , J . D . ; S . VV . Ballantync , I . G . ; Wm . Carter , Chap . ; Wm . Riddell , P . M . Tyler ; Uriah Nicholls , P . M .,

P . P . G . P . ; Robt . Holland , P . M . ; G . A . Packwood , P . M ., P . P . A . G . D . C ; R . J . Richardson , P . M .: Thos . Pike , Peter Hackin , R . A . Wooley , VV . Lee , J . YV . Booth , W . H . Fulford , T . Coster , W . Barrington , J . W . Porter , Wm . Eyan , S . H . Smith , John Blackwell , John Hamer , R . VV . Bowring , T . Williams , Walter Briggs , L . Hughes , J . Westall , John Barnes , J . A . Smith , W . Rowlinson , John Knott , T . W . Porter , and Joseph Ogden . Visitors : Bros .

I . H . P . Leresche , P . P . G . Reg . ; J . L . Hine , VV . M . 1009 , P . P . G . S . VV . ; A . H . Allen , P . M . 325 ; W . Hardcastle , VV . M . 1773 ; Forrester Fothergill , P . M ., D . C . 78 ; J . VV . Nicholls , S . YV . 1134 ; Elias Nathan , P . M . 179 S ; J . S . Nutchin , 1773 ; Wm . Oilier , W . M . 935 ; C . Schofield , VV . M . 1219 ; C . J . Burch , 555 ; Allen Avison , and R . R . Lisenden , S . D . 317 ( F ' reemason ) . No better accomodation could be provided anywhere than

that which is enjoyed at the Salford Masonic Hall , for there visitors may enjoy the sight and comfort of a commodious lodge room , well furnished , and when labour is finished may retire to an equally large banquet room , where the good things of this fife are dispensed with ah ungrudging hand by a thoughtful and experienced committee , who purchase the various requirements themselves , and thus effect a considerable saving . The committee

have also erected a kitchen , where the culinary art is practised with great skill . The cost of converting the original building into a Masonic Hall , together with the plate , cutlery , linen , & c , has been considerable , no less a sum than £ 400 having been expended , mainly contributed by various members , who necessarily became shareholders . Bros . G . A . Packwood , P . M ., P . P . G . A . D . of C , and Jas . Corney , P . M ., have been perhaps most prominent in

bringing about this desideratum , and have spared neither time or labour for months in ensuring such satisfactory results . To mark their appreciation of Bro . Packwood ' s assiduity and zeal the members of the club presented him with a handsome tea and coffe service some two months since , an account of which appeared in the Freemason shortly afterwards . We wish the lodge every success in its venture , and should certainly like to hear of other lodges following the

example . The lodge was opened at 3 . 30 , and the minutes of the previous meeting read and confirmed . After the usual proceedings the chair was vacated by the VV . M ., Bro . Corney , in favour of the Installing Master , Bro . Uriah Nicholls , P . M ., P . P . G . P . The retiring W . M ., Bro . Corney , then presented the W . M . elect , Bro . G . YV . Bingham , to the Installing

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Master , who , after the usual preliminaries and with dne rite and ceremony , inducted him into the chair of K . S . After the installation Bro . Bingham was duly proclaimed and saluted . The following brethren were appointed officers for the year and were invested as follows : Bros . C . H . Wheeler , SAV . ; J . Young , J . W . ; J . H . Edge , Treas . ; 1 . Pike , Sec ; G . A . Packwood P . M .

, , P . P . G . A . D . C , D . C . ; S . Ballantync , S . D . ; Walter Lee , J . D . ; J . Westall , I . G . ; YV . H . Fulford , Chap . ; Walter Briggs and R . A . WooUey , Stewards ; Wm . Riddell , P . M ., 'T yler . The addresses were afterwards delivered by Bros . Nicholls , Packwood , and Holland , and the ceremony terminated .

Hearty good wishes were expressed by the visitors , awl the lodge was closed in peace and harmonv . The brethren afterwards celebrated the Festival of St . John , and when dinner was finished the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were proposed and responded to . In proposing "The Health of the VV . M ., " Bro . J . L . Hine , P . P . S . G . W ., said the toast was one quite comprehensive enough for him to grapple with , but it woultl

have been more so if he had had a longer acquaintance with Bro . Bingham . Unfortunately he did not know anything of the W . M . ' s antecedents , but apprehended the brethren would not have placed him in that position if they had not found him worthy of it . His duties were certainly onerous , and the honour and reputation of the lodge materially depended on the manner in which the VV . M . managed its concerns , co nsequently they must give him due credit for

all hc did , and neither be too particular or critical with the work done . Bro . Hine went on to say he had been associated with the Zetland Lodge since its commencement . The ship , he continued , was launched twenty-two years ago , and the captain ( Bro . Leresche ) was now present . Bro Hine concluded by remarking that though he was not often present amongst them he always tooka ' great interest in the lodge , and assured them be felt very glad when he

heard that the members had a home of their own , and consequently would reap more ad vantages than lodges which were held in hotels , and was sure the difference to them would be very marked . He hoped the members would enjoy their meetings in that hall for many years to come , and he would at any time do what he could to promote the interests of their lodge . Bro . Hine finished by wishing the YV . M . every success .

After the brethren had responded to the toast , the W . M . said that in acknowledging the toast of his health , which had been so ably proposed by their esteemed Bro . Hine , he would only say as he had said when they elected him to the honourable position he now occupied , that he would endeavour to do his duty with honesty of heart and principle , and if he did that well he trusted well would be thought of him .

Bro . Uriah Nicholls , P . M ., P . P . G . P ., in proposing "The Health of Bro . Jas . Corney , I . P . M ., " said he did so with some diffidence , inasmuch as he felt there were others who could do more justice to it . He felt , however , much pleasure in giving utterance to his feelings respecting Bro . Corney ' s merits ; and he felt sure in becoming an addition to the roll of Past Masters their I . P . M . would prove a very valuable addition indeed , and if others would only follow in

Bro . Corney ' s footsteps they would do very well , as he had striven hard to make the lodge a success , and had not spared his time or labour to bring that result about . Bro . Nicholls went on to say that no YV . M . could do more than Bro . Corney had done , and if future W . Ms , could be relied upon to do as much for the lodge it would be sure to prosper . In conclusion , Bro . Nicholls said he would call upon Bro . Packwood to say a few words on the same subject .

Bro . Packwood accordingly rose , and said he would much rather the last speaker had finished commenting on the health of Bro . Corney , as no one could do it better . However , in supplementing Bro . NichoIIs ' s remarks , he would say that he felt certain all the brethren dul y appreciated the many valuable services that Bro . Corney had rendered to the lodge , and their appreciation had taken a tangible form in the shape of a handsome Past Master's gold jewel ,

which , in the name of them all , hc had much p leasure in presenting him ; and , addressing Bro . Corney while pinning the jewel on his breast , said : No one is more entitled to this mark of our esteem than yourself , and no one has worked more zealously and arduousl y for it , and I earnestly hope that you and your good wife may enjoy many years of happiness and prosperity .

The jewel , which was much admired and made of iS-carat gold , was manufactured by Bro . George Kenning , 47 , Bridge-street , Manchester . The concluding words of Bro . Packwood were received with loud applause from the brethren , which having subsided Bro . Corney rose and said thatwas the first time in his life he felt the want of words to express his feelings , but after the kind rema rks that had failed from Bros .

Nicholls and Packwood he felt very proud indeed . Bro . Corney then gave a resu me of his Masonic career , relating how he and two other brothren were initiated some years back , that the two brethren took their degree before him , but although in that respect they were in advance of him , he mentally resolved in future he would be in advance of them , and told the brethren as much at the social board , in response to the toast of his health . Bro . Corney

continuing said the sequel proved he was correct , inasmuch that after he had taken his Third Degree , he was appointed I . G ., and had the satisfaction of admitting his two confreres to take their Second Degree , they having been somewhat tardy in putting in an appearance for that event ; and from that time he had steadily advanced until he became YV . M . of the lodge . His reason for giving these details was to encourage the younger brethren to

persevere in tlieir efforts to reach the goal , which laudable aim should be ever prevalent in every true-hearted Mason's breast . In conclusion , Bro . Corney said he had never been absent from the lodge but once since he joined it ; and , reverting to the handsome jewel which had been just presented him , said that if his services to the lodge had been appreciated and valued by the members , as the inscription on the jewel implied , it would be a greater satisfaction to

him than the jewel itself . Bro . Hardy , P . M ., proposed "The Health of the Installing Master , Bro . Uriah Nicholls , " and said the ceremony of installation had been performed that day in a highly creditable manner , and if the brethren had noticed the working of their Installing Master as he ( Bro . Hardy ) had done , they would come to the same conclusion as himself , viz ., that his whole heart and soul was given to the prosperity of the Zetland Lodge , and in asking the brethren