Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

1362 ; Alfred Smythson , 1670 : W . Senior , 2190 ; Edgar Barnes , 1262 ; Edwin Pintman , I . G . 1362 ; and Thomas Catling , W . M . 2190 . At the conclusion of the dinner which succeeded the lodge meeting , the customary loyal and Masonic toasts were proposed , and duly honoured by the brethren present . In proposing the first toast , Bro . Herbert Wright said that

he rose to propose what vvas always on these occasions the first sentiment , namely , the toast to the gracious lady who vvas at once the Sovereign of this realm and the patroness of the Order . He gave them "The Queen and the Craft . " Rising again , Bro : Wright said that the next toast which it was his duty to honour vvas "The M . W . G . M . " After having honoured the Sovereign of the realm , it was desirable

that they should honour the Sovereign of the Craft . He vvould , therefore , ask them to be upstanding to drink to the health of the Grand Master , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales . ¦ In proposing the next toast , the W . M . said it vvas now his duty to propose the toastof ''TheM . W . Pro Grand Master , the Earl of Carnarvon ; the Deputy Grand Master , the Earl of Lathom ; and the rest of the Grand Officers

Present and Past . " They had a Grand Officer and a Provincial Grand Officer with them on that occasion , and he ( Bro . Wright ) had hoped to see others also . He was sorry that those others were unable to be present , and in proposing that toast he should couple with it the name of Bro . Dr . Barrett , P . G . Org . in replying , Bro . Dr . Barrett , on behalf of the whole of

the Grand Officers who vvere included in this comprehensive toast , begged to return his heartiest thanks for the compliment that had been paid them . There vvere a number of Grand Officers of various Degrees in Grand Lodge . They all having had the purple conferred on them ' , vvere in a Masonic sense to be considered equal . But there were some who by the position they hold in the outer world vvere men

of greater dignity than others . Those men carried their position into Grand Lod ge , and conferred a status upon it . He vvas proud of the office which he himself held in Grand Lodge , which he considered to be one of great importance . He vvas sorry there vvere not other Grand Officers present , as , had there been , more justice vvould have been done to that toast . In the name of the Grand Officers , he returned

his hearty thanks for the honour done to them in the drinking of that toast . Bro . Dr . Griffiths , I . P . M ., in rising to propose " The Health of the W . M ., " said a great many years ago there was a man called David , and there was a friend of his called Jonathan . It struck him , although it did not bear on the matter now on hand , that Mr . David knew a few more

things than Mr . Jonathan knew ; at all events , his vvas the winning hand . But- although Jonathan vvas the loser he vvas true to David to the last , and David himself admitted that Jonathan had always been very pleasant to him , and had for him wonderful love , passing the love of women . Bro . Griffiths said he vvould say the same of his brother in the chair . He had known Bro . Herbert Wright for a great

number , of years—they vvere , in fact , like David and Jonathan . Jonathan knew that David vvas to be king , and he desired that it should be so , and in like manner nothing could give him ( Bro . Griffiths ) greater pleasure than to see Bro . Herbert Wright put into the chair of King Solomon , and he vvas quite sure that it vvas not only his desire , but the hope of every brother in the room that Bro . Herbert

Wright should have a very happy and prosperous year of office . But he wished the Master to bear in mind that it vvas necessary to look to the financial question in governing a _ lodge ; it vvas necessary to see that everybody paid up his dues , or trouble vvould come of it . Bro Griffiths concluded by asking the brethren to join him in drinking to the health of Bro . Herbert Wright and a happy and prosperous

reign to him . Bro . Wright , in reply , said that he could not sufficiently thank Bro . Griffiths and the brethren for the very kind manner in which the toast of his health had been proposed and received . There were times in one ' s life which one vvas apt to say vvere the proudest moments of life , and if he vvere now to say that that was the proudest moment ol his life

he should have a fair excuse for using that expression . The lodge , which began under such happy auspices eight or nine years ago , when the present Installing- Master was placed in the chair of K . S ., had had a worthy and prosperous career , and that career had culminated in an event of especial importance that evening . And he would tell them why the event of that evening vvas of esoecial

imnortance . lt vvas because he who vvas now installed vvas the first initiate in that lodge , so that the lodge had now a Alason of their own manufacture presiding over it . He had always considered that he enjoyed a very high honour and distinction in being the first initiate in the lodge , and the brethren might well conceive that his cup of honour and distinction vvas running over vvhen he found himself called

upon to take the chair . He hoped that during his year of office he should be called upon to do something that vvould make the lodge even more popular than when he entered it , so that vvhen he went out of office he might have the assurance that he had filled his position to the greatest satisfaction of those who elected him to it . He did not know that his Bro . Griffiths' financial hints were altogether justified .

I'or his own part , he had the greatest confidence in the Iodge—that every brother would cash up ; and he had every possible confidence that at the end of his year of oflice they vvould find themselves in even a better position than they vvere now . Bro . Wri ght then touched upon the proceedings of the coming year in regard to its social entertainments , and trusted that they might at least come up to the successes

achieved by the lodge in that direction in former . years . He concluded by saying that there vvas one duty which he must discharge before sitting down , and that was to propose "The Health of the I . P . M ., " who he hoped they vvould long see in their ever-lengthening line of Past Masters . Bro . Griffiths having returned thanks , The VV . AI . said he would now ask them to drink a toast

which was always welcome , and that vvas "The Health of the Initiates . " They were peculiarly fortunate in the initiates who had been introduced that evening into the lodge . He thought that they vvere calculated to do honour to the lodge and to the Craft in general . Bros . Ribbons and Bell having acknowledged the compliment , and expressed the hope that they might never do

anything to bring discredit on the lodge , The Worshipful Master proposed "The Health of the Visitors , " calling on Bros . Senior , 2190 ; Albert , VV . M . ' 949 ; and Alartin , 26 , to reply , and those brethren having returned thanks for their entertainment , and expressed the pleasure they had had in witnessing the interesting ceremonies of the day ,

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

Bro . Wright rose to propose " The Health of the Installing Master , " in doing which he said they had heard encomiums justly bestowed on the admirable manner in which Bro . Massey performed the ceremonies that evening ' . They all honoured and esteemed Bro . Massey for his intrinsic merits , but he had a peculiar claim on their regard , for he was not only a brother of the lodge but the father of

it as well . And whatever duty was put on Bro . Massey vvas always well performed . Bro . Massey , in reply , said it was a gratification to him that he had performed the ceremony of initiation upon the first candidate for initiation in the lodge , and now that initiate he had that afternoon had the further pleasure of installing into the chair of K . S . But he most sincerely hoped

that that vvould prove to be the last occasion upon which he should be called upon to perform that ceremony . He entertained that hope for the sake of the honour , reputation , and usefulness of the lodge , because the AIaster of a lodge ought to consider it not only an honour but a duty incumbent upon him to install his successor . No greater honour could be achieved by a Master than to install his successor .

He had always objected to there being a regular Installing Master in a lodge , and he hoped that Bro . Wright vvould install Bro . Perkins . It vvould , of course , afford him ( Bro . Massey ) the greatest pleasure to install Bro . Perkins , but he hoped Bro . Wright would consider it to be one of the duties of Master , as AIaster of the lodge , to install his successor . Hitherto , almost every Alasler of the Gallery

Lodge had installed his successor , one had not lived to do so , and the others had taken a prominent part in the ceremony . He returned his hearty thanks for the cordial manner in which the toast of his health had been received . The Worshipful Master proposed " The Health of the Past Masters , " for whom Bro . Harry Bussey responded .

" The Health of the Officers of the Lodge " was acknowledged by Bros . Perkins , S . VV ., and Abbey , J . W ., and then the Tyler ' s toast brought the proceedings of a very pleasant evening to a close . In the intervals between the speeches some capital songs vvere contributed by various brethren , Bro . Alfred Smythson officiating as accompanist .

Provincial Meetings.

Provincial Meetings .

CHINGFORD . Warner-Lodge ( No . 2256 ) . —The first meeting of the lodge under the Mastership of Bro . Courtenay Warner vvas held on Tuesday , the ioth inst ., ' at the Forest Hotel , when the following vvere present : Bros . C . Warner , W . AI . ; Lennox Browne , I . P . M . ; S . Jackson , S . W . ; J . Briginshaw , J . W . ; Rev . M . Rees , Chaplain ; W . Shurmur ,

Treas . ; H . Cousins , Sec . ; J . Horton , S . D . ; J . Speller , J . D . ; VV . Hurley , D . C . ; G . Cackett , I . G . ; Kershaw , Calver , Farquharson , Wildash , Griffiths , Finch , Long , Cutchey , Taylor , Hanks , Ogilvie , and Young . The lodge having been opened , Bro . Taylor vvas raised to the Third Degree . Bro . Courtenay Warner was elected Steward for the next Festival of the R . M . I . G .

Following the example of the P . G . M ., Bro . Lord Brooke , who recently entertained the brethren of the province , the W . M . invited all the brethren to dine at his residence—The Highams , Woodford Green . A magnificent banquet vvas served , and , after the usual loyal toasts , The W . M . proposed "The Health of the Prov . Grand Master , " associating with it the name of Bro . Lennox

Browne , who had since the last meeting taken a holiday trip to South Africa and back . Bro . Lennox Browne , in responding-, informed the brethren of the splendid reception he had received at the Cape , and how splendidly Masonry vvas progressing under the banners of the English and Scotch Constitutions . He then proposed " The Health of the W . AI ., " which vvas cordially acknowledged . During the evening a preliminary list for Bro . Warner ' s Stewardship realised at the table close upon £ 150 .

DARLINGTON . Marquess of Ripon Lodge ( No . 1379 ) . —The installation meeting of this lodge vvas held on Thursday , the 5 th instant , at the Masonic Hall , Archer-street . The chair , in the unavoidable absence of the W . M ., Bro J . M . While , vvas occupied by Bro . T . M . Barron , P . M ., P . P . G . R . The following visitors were present : Bros . J . S .

Nichols , P . M . 1244 ; Geo . Longbotham , W . AI . 1 S 4 S ; R . M . Wilkes , VV . M . elect , 111 ; G . J . Leatham , 124 ; E . J . Boynes , 1650 ; and others . The lodge being opened , and the minutes read , the Prov . G . Master , the Deputy Prov . G . Alaster , and other Provincial Grand Officers were announced , and then entered the lodge in the following order : Bros . R .

Singleton , P P . J . G . D ., acting as D- of C ; C . AI . Wake , P . G . S . of VV . ; H . H . Pinkney , P . j . G . D . ; H . B . Olsen , P . J . G . D . ; R . W . Halfnight , P . G . Treas . ; Rev . C . G . Davis , P . P . G . Chap . ; J . Bailey , P . P . J . G . W . ; C . H . Backhouse , P . P . J . G . W . ; Canon Tristram , D . P . G . M . ; J . Robinson , P . G . Std . Br . ; R . Hauxwell , P . G . S . B . ; and the Prov . G . M ., Sir Hedworth Williamson , Bart .

The Prov . G . Master at once took the chair . Bro . T . M . Barron , P . M ., in an able manner installed the Worshipful Master elect , Bro . C . D . Hill Drury , M . D ., P . M . 85 , into the chair of K . S . The VV . M . then invested his officers as follows : Bros . T . Howlett , S . VV . ; J . Lawrence , M . D ., J . VV . ; Rev . C . J . Davis , B . A ., Chap . ; J . Forster , M . A ., P . M ., P . P . G . R ., Treas . ; T .

Watson , P . M . 111 , P . P . G . Treas ., Sec . ; E . Ensor , B . A ., S . D . ; Layfield , J . D . ; T . M . Barron , P . M ., P . P . G . R ., D . of C ; H . E . O . Miiller , Ph . D ., P . M ., P . P . G . O ., Org . ; H . Waldy , I . C ; W . Waldy and J . Putnam , Stwds . ; and T . Prince , Tyler . In investing the Treasurer , the VV . M . remarked that he had ahvays held a strong opinion that three officers of the lodge , viz ., the Treasurer , Secretary , and Director of Ceremonies , should be Past Masters , and he vvas

glad to be able to gratify that opinion that night . A candidate for initiation being proposed , the Prov . G . Master addressed the Iodge , congratulating the new VV . AI . and wishing the lodge a prosperous year under his guidance . The Worshipful Master having thanked the Prov . G . Alaster for his attendance and good wishes , and hearty greetings having been tendered by the visiting brethren , the lodge vvas closed , and the brethren adjourned to the banqueting room to celebrate the annual Festival of St . John the Evangelist .

Provincial Meetings.

' Ihe W . M . proposed "Thc Health of the Oueen , " and said that vvhen she first ascended the throne her welcome vvas acclaimed by thousands of loyal voices , and now , after more than fifty eventful years , she reigned Queen of the hearts of millions of loyal subjects , children of an Empire on which the sun never sets , and , as loyalty vvas part of their

Masonic profession , he would ask them to drink the health of her Most Gracious Majesty , the Patron of our Order . In proposing " The Health of the Prince ot Wales , M . W . G . M ., and the rest of the Royal Family , " the W . M . spoke of the unprecedented success and prosperity of the Order which the last few years had witnessed , and attributed it to the abilities of the Prince as a ruler and his

unbounded popularity , which ensured the success cf all he took in hand . The toast of "The Pro Grand Master , the Earl of Carnarvon ; the D . G . Master , the Earl of Lathom ; and the Officers of Grand Lodge , Present and Past , " was next given , and the W . M ., in coupling with itthenameof Canon Tristram , a Past Grand Chaplain , said that no other

province possessed so eminent a Deputy Prov . Grand Alaster as the Province of Durham did , for besides beingadignitary of the Church , he held a high position in the educated world , as a man of letters and a scientist , a F . R . S ., and a Masonic archaeologist and antiquarian , a brother honoured by the whole Craft . Bro . Canon Tristram , in reply , referred to the large amount of work now devolving on Grand Lodge , and the energy of

its principal officers . The VV . M ., in giving "The Health of the Prov . Grand Master , and officers of Prov . Grand Lodge , " said as their chief the brethren of the Durham Province had a most energetic , hard-working Mason , one second to none in the kingdom for untiring energy and the watchful interest he took in the work of every lodge under his charge , and

regretted that he had been unable to stay to the banquet . The Provincial Grand Treasurer , Bro . Halfnight , and Bro . H . H . Pinkney , P . J . G . D ., responded for the Officers of Prov . Grand Lodge . Bro . T . Hewlett , S . VV ., then rose to propose " The Health of the W . M . of the Alarquess of Ripon Lodge . " He said that in the new W . AI . they had a Alason whose

conspicuous abilities vvere well known throughout the whole province , vvho vvas an authority in all mattersof Alasonic ritual and who , with one exception , had worked harder and done more for Masonic Charities than anyone in the district . He vvas a Life Governor of all the Masonic Institutions , and had served several Stewardships . To his energy , in a great measure , they owed the splendid banqueting-room in which

they now sat . He had been VV . M . of his mother lodge for tvyo successive years , and felt sure the brethren would find him a worthy successor to the brethren who had preceded him in the chair . TheW . M ., in responding , referred to the generosity of the brethren of his motherlodgeinelectinghim for two successive years as their W . M . and undercircumstanCes which prevented

him attending the lodge with that regularity which their kindness merited , and said that no position vvas so honourable , or one of which a man might be more proud , than that to which he had been elected by the voice of his fellows , and he vvas proud to occupy the chair that night ; but he vvas deeply sensible of the obligations devolving upon him , and his measure of responsibility for the success of the lodge

during the year on which they had just entered , and , feeling - that responsibility , and , remembering the worthy brethren who had preceded him vvould stimulate him to exert his best energies in the interest of the Craft , the peace and happiness of the brethren , and the maintenance of the well-earned traditions of the Marquess of Ripon Lodge . He thanked them for the honour they had done him , and for the cordial

way in which they had received the toast of his health . Bro . Muller , P . M ., said that ever since the lodge had been established they had never had to go outside its doors for an Installing Master . For the last two years Bro . Barron , who had always taken an active interest in Masonry , had installed , and he asked them to drink his health . Bro . Barron , P . AI ., thanked the brethren for their

reception of the toast , and , alluding to his interest in Masonry , said that , as Chairman of the School Board and a member of the Council , he so arranged that , while he never neglected the claims of his constituents , he took care that their interests should not interfere with his lodge duties , and vvhen some time since a proposal vvas made in the Council that the monthly meeting should be held on the Thursday

evening on which the lodge met , he said plainly that if the change were made he should be obliged to place his resignation in their hands , and their W . M ., Bro . Hill-Drury , told them the same . His duties that night had been comparatively light , owing to their VV . M . having formerly been in the chair of another lodge , but he would have been equally pleased if the work had been more arduous to assist in any

way they required of him . Bro . " Forster , P . M ., proposed "The Health of the I . P . M ., " and , regretting that he was absent that night owing to a break-down of machinery at his works , said that at the February meeting he hoped to have the pleasure of presenting him with a Past Alaster's jewel which the brethren had subscribed for .

"The Visitors , " "The Newly-appointed Officers , " and the Tyler ' s toast concluded a most successful meeting , Bro . Leatham , of the Durham Cathedral choir , and other brethren contributing to the harmony of the evening .

DERBY . Arboretum Lodge ( No . 731 ) . —The usual monthly meeting vvas held at the Masonic Hall , on Wednesday , the nth inst . Present : Bros . S . Taylor , VV . AI . ; J . VV . Brigg , I . P . M . ; J . Walker , S . VV . ; G . Sutherland , J . W . ; Rev . T . Orrell , Chap . ; VV . H . Wright , Sec . ; J . Jones , S . D . ; G . H . Ward , D . C ; A . Smith , I . G . ; VV .

W . Haywood and G . C . Copestick , Stewards ; T . Day , Tyler ; G . T . Wright , P . M ., P . P . S . G . W . ; Thos . Cox , P . M ., P . G . T ., P . P . S . G . W . ; A . Woodiwiss , P . M ., Prov . S . G . W . ; J . Bland , P . M ., P . P . J . G . D . ; E . Home , P . M ., P . P . G . R . ; J . C . Merry , P . AI ., P . P . G . D . C . ; F . Ball , J . Melrose , W . Forman , A . Butterworth , D . Wollatt , D . Ottevvell , and others . Visitors : Bros . H . Carr , P . M . 108 5 ; G . T . Denison , 1085 ; L . Russell , S . D . 10 S 5 ; A . Worsnop ,

10 S 5 ; and I ' . Baker , S 02 . The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed , the ballot was taken for Air . VV . N . Toft , and , being unanimous , he vvas duly initiated by the VV . M . in his usual able manner , the charge being given in a very impressive style by the J . VV . The ' W . M . announced to the brethren that Bro . j . M . McLeod , P . M . SS 4 , vvas a candidate for the post of Secretary to the R . M . I . B ., and proposed with