Installation Of The Prov. Prior Of Devonshire.

Euston , took upon himself the duty of Installing Officer , and with the exception of Sir Reginald Hanson , Bart ., M . P ., who , being abroad , was unable to take part in the proceedings , the stall which attended his lordship was the same as at the recent installation of Sir Knight the Hon . Alan de

latton Egerton , M . P ., as Prov . Prior of Cheshire , namely , Sir Knig hts Dr . Balfour Cockburn , Charles Belton , Great Sub-Marshal , and C . F . Matier , Vice-Chancellor . A large contingent of sir kni g hts attended from Plymouth and Exeter , and it is needless to say that in the hands of the Great Sub-Prior everything passed off most satisfactorily .

Prov . Priory having been opened , and the muster roll of Prov . Offi cers having been called , the minutes of the previous meeting , at Plymouth , in June , 1893 , were read and confirmed . The Great Sub-Prior having been announced , was received under the Arch of Steel , and assumed the throne . The arrival of Sir Knight Major G . C Davie , G . Marshal , Prov . Prior designate , was announced by the G . Sub-Marshal , and on his admission ,

The GREAT SUB-PRIOR demanded his patent , which was handed in and read , and the ceremony of installation was proceeded with , the Prov . Prior being obligated in the usual manner , and conducted under the Arch of Steel to the throne , invested with the insignia of his office , and installed . The Prelate having given the Benediction , the Prov . Prior was proclaimed and saluted , and the Great Sub-Prior and his officers retired .

The business of Prov . Priory was then transacted , and the Prov . Officers for the ensuing year having been appointed and invested , Prov . Priory was closed , and the Sir Knights dined together in honour of the occasion , under the presidency of the new chief .

Annual Supper Of The Langton Lodge Of Instruction, No. 1673.

ANNUAL SUPPER OF THE LANGTON LODGE OF INSTRUCTION , No . 1673 .

The annual supper of this lodge of instruction took place at the White Hart , Abchurch-lane , E . C ., on Thursday , the 5 th inst ., under the presidency of Bro . F . A . Philbrick , Q . C , G . Reg ., who was supported by Bros . Richard Creed , G . Stwd . ; E . M . Morriss , P . G . Stwd . ; G . Anderson , P . G . Stwd . ; G . F . Marshall , P . M ., Preceptor ; H . M . Hobbs , P . P . G . W . Surrey , member of the Committee and Past Preceptor ; C . W . Mapleton , P . M ., Treas . ; C . J . Matrrisn , Sec . ; Chns . Butler , P . M . ; Robert Stuart , H . D . Blake , R . E . H . Fisher , A . C . Fisher , George Black , R . L . Franks , E . May , E . R . A . Adams , and others .

Apologies for unavoidable absence were received from Bros . R . Clay Sudlow , P . G . Std . Br ., Vice-President ; E . P . Debenham , P . P . G . Reg . Herts , Preceptor ; and J . D . Langton , P . P . G . W . Surrey . After full justice bad been done to a very excellent repast , the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were duly honoured .

The PRESIDENT , in proposing " Success to the Langton Lodge of Instruction , " dwelt on the admirable work accomplished year after year by this and similar odges , and gave another proof of the great interest he takes in the " Langton " by kindly promising to attend again at an earl y date in the New Year to rehearse the ceremony of consecration .

Bro . PHILBRICK , Q . C , G . Reg ., also complimented the lodge on the good average attendance that was maintained at the weekly meetings , and on the spirit of good-fellowship that was noticeable amongst the members . Bro . MARSHALL , Preceptor , in reply , while deploring the unavoidable absence of his colleague , Bro . Debenham , asserted that during the many years he had occupied the Preceptor ' s chair , he never recollected a period when the lodge numbered amongst its members so many promising young Masons as at the present time .

Bro . Homis likewise replied , regretting that owing to ill-health he had been unable to continue to act as Preceptor , an office he had held in the past with so much pleasure in conjunction with Bro . Marshall . In response to the toast of " The Treasurer and Secretary , " Bro . MAPLETON said that the fact of the finances of the lodge being in such a very satisfactory

condition was greatly owing to the kindness of their landlord , Bro . Geo . Anderson , P . G . Stwd . The lodge always had a substantial balance in hand , which was devoted entirely to Charity . Their Secretary , Bro . Chas . Marrian , was going up as Steward for the Girls' School next May , and in due course he , as Treasurer , would move that a sum of 10 guineas be placed on Bro . Marrian ' s list for that Institution .

It may be mentioned that the Degree worked each Thursday evening at the Langton Lodge is that appointed for the following evening at the Emulation Lodge of Improvement . The meetings last from 5 . 30 p . m . till 6 . 45 , and a plain dinner is served each evening after lodge is closed , for the convenience of those brethren who are unable to stay .

The Prince Of Wales And The Imperial Institute.

THE PRINCE OF WALES AND THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE .

On Monday afternoon , the 16 th inst ., Bro . Lord Herschell delivered an address at ihe Imperial Institute on the work of the Institute . H . R . H . the Prince of Wales presided , and among those present were Prince Nicholas of Greece , the Marquis of Lome , Bro . the Duke of Fife , Lord G . Hamilton , Lord Playfair , Lord Thring , Bro . Sir Fred , Abel , and others .

Lord HERSCIIELL stated that the object of his lecture was to answer the question -What was the use of the Imperial Institute ? He accordingly proceeded to give a sketch of its work during the last three years . The collections contributed by the Colonies , represented by many thousands of specimens at the Institute , presented great interest to the merchant , the manufacturer , and the inquiring public , as illustrating the natural products of each country

and the most important materials exported by each . They were , however , in several instances , very far from complete . The galleries , which were open to the public daily , were frequented not merely by casual visitors , from motive of curiosity or from general interest or a desire for the acquisition of knowledge of the resources of the Colonies ; many persons who contemplated emigration availed themselves of the privileges of free admission to the collections , with a view to acquire special information . The

The Prince Of Wales And The Imperial Institute.

opening up of new sources of trade had also , on more than one occasion , to the knowledgeof the Institute authorities , resulted from the information disseminated . Lord Herschell gave an account of the scientific examination of many of the products of the Colonies in the Research Department of the Institute . The inquiries bearing upon commercial , industrial and other subjects were remarkable in their variety . The library of the Institute numbered over 10 , 000 volumes , and the Chart Room contained about 800 maps . The Institute was but at the

beginning of its operations . As to its finances , he said although they had put aside as an endowment fund more than a third of the total contributions , the income derived from that endowment did little more than pay rates and taxes . Their main source of income was the subscriptions of Fellows , of whom there were 8000 . He wished the Fellows numbered 20 . 000 . Other countries were following our example in having Imperial Institutes . At the conclusion of the address ,

H . R . H . the Prince of W ALES said : Ladies and gentlemen , —I feel it would not be right if we were to separate without my expressing , on my own and on your behalf , our thanks to Lord Herschell for his most interesting address . He has gone most carefully , and as thoroughly as time would allow , through all the different points in connection with this institution , and given you a clear account of what we consider its usefulness , and of work we have done since its existence . I think you will agree with me that , though it is a young

institution , we have not been idle , and we trust that after what has been heard today the public at large may think we have to some extent given them cause to think that this institution has not been useless . Most earnestly do I trust that we may get more Fellows . That is of the greatest importance as regards th e work and the increase of our finances . It is also satisfactory to learn that this

institution has become the parent of similar institutions in other countries . In conclusion , I wish to tender our grateful thanks to Lord Herschell , Sir F . Abel , Sir Somers Vine , and those other gentlemen who usually act under them for the indefatigable zeal they have given to the interests of this institution , and for having given so much of their valuable time . The proceedings then terminated .

Masonic Presentation To Bro. Dr. And Mrs. Williams Cock.

MASONIC PRESENTATION TO BRO . DR . AND MRS . WILLIAMS COCK .

A massive solid silver punch bowl was presented on Friday evening , the 13 th instant , to Bro . Dr . and Mrs . Williams Cock , of 147 , Queen ' s-road , Peckham , on the occasion of the celebration of their silver wedding . This gift , subscribed for at a few days' notice only , and confined to members of the Masonic Fraternity connected with the Rye Lodge and Rye Chapter ( of both of which Bro . Dr . Cock was a Sounder ) , is handsome and valuable evidence of the high regard and

hearty affection in which he is deservedly held not only by his Masonic brethren , but also by all who have the privilege of his acquaintance . By the position which he has attained in Freemasonry , and the services he has rendered to the cause , Bro . Dr . Cock has made a name for himself in the annals of the Craft . He is a P . M . of hismother lodge ( the Musgrave , No . 1597 ) , P . M . of the RaymondThrupp Lodge , P . Z . of the Brooke Chapter , and P . Z . of the West Kent Chapter . He is

now occupying the First Principal ' s chair in the Rye Chapter for the third year in succession ( an honour rarely conferred ) . He was a founder of the Cornish Lodge ( he being a Cornishman ) , and was advanced to the Mark Degree in the Hiram Lodge . He is a member of the Grand Metropolitan Chapter of the Rose Croix Degree , and a Life Governor of all the Masonic Charities , having served several Stewardships to each . Bro . Dr . Cock can , therefore , lay claim to no slight

recognition and esteem on the part of those who truly love Freemasonry . The intrinsic worth of this offering is , alter all , only a slight indication of the degree of admiration and respect entertained for him as " a man and a Mason " by the leading inhabitants of his neighbourhood , while the spontaneous support and cordial spirit with which the presentation was sprung as a total surprise upon the

unsuspecting recipients , speaks well for the worthy way in which the secrets of the Craft are kept by its votaries . The numerous friends of the doctor and his good lady will doubtless feel gratified to hear of this pleasing expression of warm esteem and hearty good wishes for a long continuance of their united happiness and prosperity . The bowl , which is of a rich , yet chaste , Jacobean design , bears an appropriate inscription .

Ladies' Night Of The Albion Lodge, No. 9.

LADIES' NIGHT OF THE ALBION LODGE , No . 9

It is an interesting fact worthy of notice that several of the oldest lodges in the Craft have taken a leading part in introducing a ladies' night as an annual fixture amongst the lodge meetings . This introduction has of recent years been steadily growing in popularity , and in many lodges the ladies' night is regarded by the members as certainly not the least enjoyable of the periodical gatherings .

As one of the pioneers in this movement must be mentioned , the Albion Lodge , No . 9 , which , with a strong executive—not forgetting an indefatigable Secretary , Bro . W . L . Harvey , P . M . —annually records a successful gathering of ladies , brethren , and visitors , and the greatest . testimony that can be borne to the complete success of these meetings is the unanimous verdict that each function has been more enjoyable than the preceding one .

The ladies' night of the present season was held at the Holborn Restaurant on Tuesday , the ioth inst ., when Bro . E . Stratton Gerrish , W . M ., was supported by about ioo ladies and brethren , including Bro . H . S . Friend , P . MTreas ., and Miss Friend ; Bro . W . L . Harvey , P . M ., Sec ; Mrs . and Bro . S . H .

Myers , S . W ., W . M . elect ; Mrs . and Bro . W . Dcnniss , J . W . ; Bro . H . J . Cam , S . D . ; Mrs . and Bro . V . Evans , J . D . ; Mrs . and Bro . J . R . Francis , I . G . ; Mrs . and Bro . Russell Beardmore , l . P . M . ; Bro . S . Vallentine , P . G . P . ; Mrs . and Bro . Tijou , P . A . G . P . ; Mrs . and Bro . G . Pritchard , P . M . ; Mrs . and Bro . Foan , P . M- i Mrs . and Bro . W . W . Lee , Prov . G . Stwd . Middx . ; and many others .

The visitors found , on their arrival , that every possible arrangement had bet " made to ensure a pleasant evening . A reception was first held by Mrs , and Bro . Stratton Gerrish , W . M ,, and on the announcement being made that dinner was ready , friendly greetings and introductions were suspended , and an adjournment made to the banquet room . A choice menu was served in a manner that reflected the highest credit on all concerned . , At its conclusion the brethren were allowed to indulge in the soothing and fragrant weed , whilst the ladies enjoyed the consolation of adelicbus bottle ° '