Craft Masonry.

At the subsequent banquet the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were duly honoured . The toast of "The W . M . " was proposed by the I . P . M . in an able speech , and responded to by the VV . M . " The Initiate " was duly honoured , and the toast of " The Installing Master and LP . M . " was well received by the brethren . In response the I . P . M . reiterated the interest he took in the lodge , and hoped it would prosper as well in the second year of its existence as it had in the year just ended .

The toast of " The Visitors " was responded to by all the visitors , and that of ' The Officers " by the S . VV ., J . VV ., Treasurer , Secretary , S . D ., and Stewards . During the banquet excellent music was given by Miss Amy Fletcher , Miss Florence Roper , and Bros . Wheeler and Powell , under the direction of Bro . A . Briscoe , P . P . G . O . Surrey .

Warrant Officers Lodge , No . 2346 . Tte 10 h installation meeting of the above successful lodge , numbering on its bocks 140 numbers , teck place at Freemasons' Hall , Lrndon , W . C , on Friday , the 17 th inst . The lodge was opened by the W . M ., Bro . J . D . Lidbury , P . M . 24 S 4 , and the minutes of ( he previous and emergency meetings having been confirmed , the ballot was taken for Messis . C . H . Griggs , R . Edmonds , and J . W . Hicks , which proved unanimous in their favour , and with Mr . W . Betts—who had been previously balloted for—they wete initiat sd

into Fieemasonry . Bro . R . Jennings , P . M ., Treas ., acting as D . C , then presented Bro . J . P . Newsham , S . VV ., W . M . elect , to the Installing Officer , Bro . J . D . Lidbury , P . M ., to receive at his hands the benefits of installation , and Bros . Newsham was duly installed , proclaimed , and saluted . The following officers were then invested : Bros . J . D . Lidbury , as I . P . M . ; W . H . Smith , S . W . ; G . Gale , J . W . ; R . Jennings , P . M ., Treas . ; W . F . Cheesman , P . M ., Sec ; W . J . Boyle , S . D . ; W . E . Bailey , J . D . ; J . Betts , I . G . ; J . A . Dent , D . C . ; Jos . Williams , A . D . C . ; E . Arnold and L . Solomon . Stwds . ; Lde Winter , Org . ; . R . McGill , Asst . Org . ; and A . G . Young ,

Tyler . The addresses were then eloquently rendered by the Installing Officer , and the ceremony of installation concluded . Bro . J . D . Lidbury was presented with a handsome Past Master ' s jewel and collar of the value of 10 guineas . The Auditors ' report and balance sheet were then received and adopted , a high eulogium being paid to Bro . W . F . Cheesman , P . M ., Sec , for the admirable manner in which the accounts were presrnled to the Audit Committee , the whole audit being completed in 55 minutes . Bros . Iggulden , Remain , George , and Copsey , were elected to serve for 12 months on the Reference and Audit Committee . Two candidates were proposed for initiation at the next meeting , and the lodge was closed .

The brethren adjourned to the Freemasons' Tavern for the banquet , which was served in the handsome Crown Room , the brethren finding Messrs . Spiers and Pond at their best . The toasts were of the usual order— " The Queen and the Craft , " the solo being sung by Bro . F . VV . Cheeseman ; " H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , Grand Master , " * ' God bless the Prince of Wales " being sung by Bro . E . Walford , the chorus being heartily responded to by the brethren .

The LP . M . proposed "The Health of the W . M ., " and theW . M . returned the compliment , and we all felt sure when it was over that two better Masons never lived . The I . P . M ., in response , said he felt proud to be in the position to state that he stood second on the list of P . Ms , in regard to the number of initiates passing through their hands in any one year , the highest number being 30 , and he had initiated 29 , and wished he could have broken the record , which he hoped the present W . M . would try and do .

Replying to the toast of "The Initiates "—there being eight in number , four having been initiated on the ioth inst ;—each promised to do his best to become worthy of thtir pioposers , and to aim at the W . M . ' s chair . Six of the visitors responded to their toast , and were unanimous in declaring they had never seen the work done better , if so well . The Past Masters had a turn at speechmaking , and it was nice to hear them declare their delihgts at being " the back bone " of the lodge , and how that , as long as they lived , they would uphold the dignity and prestige of the lodge .

Thus , the time passed delightfully away , song and sentiment , kind and brotherly recognitions , and an earnest desire to make and enjoy happiness filled up the passing hours , till the Tyler ' s toast warned the brethren that the time had come when they were "happy to meet , happy to pait , and happy to meet again . " ' the musical arrangements reflected great credit on Bro . VV . F . Cheesman ,

bandmaster , the energetic Secretary , and was carried to a successful issue by the following artistes : Miss E . Bray and Miss Jesse Lingwood , sopranos ; Messrs . E . Walford and Frank Cheesman , tenors ; A . Cranch , baritone ; A . Lunnon and W . F . Cheesman , comedians ; C de Wir . ter , violin ; and Bro . J . de Winter , Organist , assisted by Master Lewis Cheesman , played thc accompaniments .

The visitors werc Bros . A . ) . Marden , 1 S 17 , 2717 , P . M ., P . P . A . G . D . C . Essex ; A . E . Sayer , VV . M . 2203 ; W . Wakefield , 1503 ; VV . Smoothy , 24 S 4 ; G . J . Rossiter , W . M . 007 ; R . A . Thompson , VV . M . 2502 ; J . E . Tuffee , S . W . 2372 ; J . VV . Simpson , P . M . 907 ; C . J . Downton , 457 ; J . Smart , J . W . 65 : F . Williams , VV . M . 24 S 4 ; Id . VV . Boorer , 1 S 05 ; G . R . Nichols , 700 , P . G . D . C . Middx . ; G . R . Davies , P . M . 13 ; !• W . Sparrow , P . M . 14 S 0 ; VV . A . Martin , P . G . P . Eng . ; A . Bodekor , P . M . ty . - j ; H . Trimmell , J . D . 15 S 0 ; J . M . Ensell , 1541 ; H . Ensoll , P . M . 007 ; F . Green , G 5 ; H . Cheesman , 2030 ; and E . J . Walford , 1275 .

Manchester Lodge , No . 2554 . The usual monthly meeting of this prosperous lodge took place at the Freemasons ' Hall , Manchester , on the ioth instant , under the presidency of Bro . William Alderley Boyer , VV . M ., who was supported by his oflicers and a large number of brethren and visitors . The ledge was opened , and the minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed , Bro . F . J . Burt , J . D ., read four of the antient constitutional cra'ges in a most impressive manner . A pleasing ceremony was then performed , which

was lhat of investing the VV . M . with a beautiful chain of oflice , which was composed of solid silver links emblematical of the Order , and with the monogram of the lodge wrought inthem ; the medallion a'tached to the chain was very massive , and of solid silver , with the design of the lodge founders'jewels enamelled in suitable colours . Bro . William Charlton , J . P ., LP . M ., when putting the chain round the neck of Bro . Boyer , explained the gift was Ihe result of a sum of money placed in the hands of the W . M . by admiring friends to commemorate his year of office as VV . M . Engraved on thc back of

the medallion was the following inscription : "Presented to the Minchester Lodge , No . 2554 , by friends cf Bro . VV . A . Boyer , a founder , and the present Worshipful Master , lor the use of himself and his successors in Office , loth Maich , lSyj . " Bro . Boyer , W . M ., in his reply to the remarks of Bro . Charlton , said he hoped that thc chain might be worn by worthy successors in office , who would value it , not for its intrinsic woith alone , but as an emblem ofthe exalted position held by the brother whose neck it might be destined to adorn . The usual social board followed , the toasts being interspersed with songs , recita-

Craft Masonry.

tions , & c , which were rendered by Bros . A . B . Smith , J . W . ; Chas . Jordan , Org . ; W . H . Crawford , H . Walmsley , P . M . 317 , P . P . A . G . D . C Eng . ; E . Roberts , P . M . 1459 ; and A . G . Lunn , 317 . The silver chain collar was designed and executed by Bros . George Kenning and Son , Manchester .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . F . A . WHITE , P . M ., P . Z ., P . PROV . G . REG . ESSEX . It is with much regret we announce the death , on Sunday , the 19 th instant , of Bro . F . A . White , of Blackheath , S . E . Bro . White was a prominent member of the Craft in Essex . He occupied the Master ' s chair of the Liberty of Havering Lodge , No . 1437 ,, Romford , in the years 1 S 82 and 18 S 3 , and was Past Prov . G . Registrar of Essex . In Royal Arch Masonry he was founder and first

M . E Z . of the Francis White Chapter , No . 1437 , Romford , and had served the office of Third Principal in the Prov . G . Chapter of Essex . He was a staunch supporter of our Institutions , a member of the Essex Charity Committee , Vice Patron of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , and Vice President of the Boys' and Girls' Schools , and , in addit ' on , had served some nine Stewardships for the Old People , five for the Girls' School , and at the Centenary Boys' School last year .

BRO . A . STUBBS , PROV . G . SEC . NOTTS . The late Bro . Arthur Stubbs , to whose services to the Craft in Notts allusion is made in our Notes , was initiated in the St . Oswald Lodge , No . 850 , Derby , in 1 S 73 , and had the honour of being installed W . M . in 18 77 . Two years later his services were recognised by his appointment as Grand A . D . C . of the Prov . G . Lodge of Derbyshire , while in 1 SS 0 he secured the collar of the more important

post of Prov . G . Registrar . But his best vvork has been done in behalf of the Province of Nottinghamshire , in the Prov . G . Lodge of which he was appointed Prov . J . G . Warden as far back as 18 S 4 , while in 18 S 5 he took upon himself the duties cf Prov . Asst . G . Secretary . In 18 SS he presided as VV . M . over the Royal Sussex Lodge , No . 402 , Nottingham , and in 188 S he was elected to the ollice of Prov . G . Secretary , and has held it uninterruptedly ever since , so much to the

satisfaction of the late Prov . G . M . ( Bro . the Duke of St . Albans ) , that in iSg 6 his Grace selected him to receive the brevet rank of Past Prov . S . G . Warden , in commemoration of the 21 st installation of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales as M . W . G . Master . Bro . Stubbs was exalted a Royal Arch Mason in the Abbey Chapter , No . 47 , Nottingham , in 1 S 79 , ^ ' 1 S 81 assisted in founding the Royal Sussex Chapter , No . 402 , of which the year following he was installed in the chair of

First Principal . In 1882 he took a prominent part in promoting the establishment of a Prov . G . Chapter for Nottinghamshire , a * -d the late Comp . Sir Henry Bromley , Bart ., who was installed as G . Supt ., singled him out for the office of Prov . G . Scribe E ., in which he continued his labours till his decease , while in 1 S 92 he served as Prov . G . H . His services to Royal Arch Masonry in this province have , indeed , been of great value , as he has helped in the formation of nearly all the chapters on the roll of Prov . G . Chapter , and it is mainly through

his exertions that the number of Royal Arch Masons in Notts has been more than trebled during the last 15 years , having in that time been augmented from 74 to 252 . Thus , his appointment in 1897 as 2 r > d G . Standard Bearer in Supreme Grand Chapter was richly deserved , and was made the subject of hearty congratulations among his Notts companions . Be it added , thai Bro . Stubbs was a Life Governor of our three Institutions , and had served three Stewardships in their behalf .

BRO . JAS . WRIGHT , P . M . The Masonic fraternity of Bradford , Yorkshire , have sustained a severe loss by the death of Bro . Jas . Wright , P . M ., of the Lodge of Harmony , No . 600 , which took place at his residence on the 14 th instant , after a short illness of only two days' duration . For over 30 years he was a subscribing member to his mother lodge , passing through all the various ofiices , twice being elected W . M ., viz ., in

1871 and 1 SS 2 . He also took a deep interest in the other Degrees , being P . Z . of the Chapter of Sincerity , had passed through the chair of the Mark Degree , and was P . P . G . P . of West Yorkshire . He was besides a J . P . of the city , and spent several years in the City Council . In all matters appertaining to the Craft he especially took the liveliest interest , and his loss will long be felt by those who

have had the privilege of his acquaintance both in Freemasonry and out of it . He passed to his rest at the age of 68 years , his obsequies being largely attended by the business community of his native town . A large number of brethren from his own lodge were also present , a beautiful discourse being pronounced at the grave side by an old Masonic brother and contemporary , Bro . Thos . Riley , P . M . 600 .

BRO . H . J . BARTER , P . M . 1247 . The death occurred last week at his residence , 75 , King-gardens , Plymouth of Bro . Henry J . Barter , Registrar of Births and Deaths for the sub-district of St ! Andrew ' s Parish . Bro . Barter , who was 54 years old , had enjoyed excellent health up to within a few weeks ago , although the fact that in his youth he had suffered from rheumatic fever led the doctors to declare that he suffered from

heart disease , and he found it impossible , in consequence , to effect any insurance on his life . Bro . Barter , however , always ridiculed the idea that his heart was in anyway affected , but less than a fortnight ago he was stricken down with an ill . ness which attacked the heart , and although he fought bravely against it the doctors soon found that his case was hopeless . The deceased received his early

training in Devonport Dockyard , and was a contemporary of Sir W . H . White K . C . B ., Assistant Controller and Director of Nival Construction ; Mr . G . Stanbury , now Assistant Chief Constructor at Lloyd ' s ; and Mr . George Crocker , at present acting as Civil Assistant to the Admiral . Superintendent of Devonport Dockyard . Relinquishing his position in the dockyard , he for some years filled

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