Masonic Banquet At The Mansion House.

The LORD MAYOR next proposed " The M . W . Pro G . M ., the R . W . Dep . G . M ., and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " and said it was not long since the brethren had occasion to offer their sympathy to the Pro G . M . in a bereavement which befell him and his family . Now they had as brethren to offer him their sympathy in an illness which had overtaken him , and they sincerely trusted that in a very short time he would

be restored to health . ( Hear , hear . ) They were glad to know that their Pro G . Master was a man of many parts , and he thought the brethren would agree with Viim when he said that no part had been played in life better than that of Lord Great Chamberlain to the Oueen . He could not help thinking that in that office his tenure of it had greatly conduced to the efficiency of that great office . There was

a peculiar fitness in the Mansion House receiving Grand Lodge of Freemasons , 'as there were few older institutions than the Corporation of London and Freemasonry . Masonry was older than the Corporation of London , and he was deeply grateful and proud of occupying the position of Chief Magistrate of the City of London , and he was proud of having conferred upon him the Grand Office bestowed in Grand Lodge by the M . W . G . M .

He sometimes felt , as Lord Mayor occupying the Mansion House , that he was capable not only of holding a court of his own , but it reminded him that he might hold a Masonic lodge with closed doors . He had all the facilities ; he had all the officers . He would be no doubt a fairly good Master ; he had two excellent Wardens in his Sheriff Alliston and the Grand Treasurer . Then he had his Chaplain , his officers , Sword and Mace would

make excellent Senior and Junior Deacons , and his Marshal would know how to act as I . G . He was pleased to return the kindness of Grand Lodge by asking the brethren fraternally to join with him in a banquet . He was pleased to meet them as brethren , and hoped that the cordial relations between Grand Lodge and the Corporation of London might long continue , and that such succeeding Lord Mayors as were Freemasons , would have

conferred upon them the same Masonic dignity as hadbeen conferred upon him . Bro . the Earl of HALSDURY ( Lord Chancellor ) , P . G . W ., responded , and said that before doing so he could not forbear from saying one word with regard to the loving remarks of the Lord Mayor about the Pro Grand Master . There was no one who had had the high privilege and honour that he had had for some years of friendship with Lord Lathom who did not teel

the deepest anxiety as to the state of his health . Those who had the great honour and privilege ot knowing the departed lady , whose lamented death a year ago sent a thrill of horror among all those who knew her , could not fail to observe how deeply Lord Lathom had suffered from that great misfortune , and to which he ( Lord Halsbury ) believed the illness he was at present suffering might be attributed . Ail they could do as Masons—indeed ,

he believed , outside Masonry—was to offer their sincere wishes that he might be restored to health and to the performance of those offices the Lord Mayor had said he was so well and eminently qualified to fill . With reference to what the Lord Mayor had said of the Grand Officers , no doubt those brethren had to perform arduous duties , and they performed them to the best of their ability ; if in so doing they had secured the confidence and

friendship of their brethren in Masonry , they had accomplished all that they could well accomplish in this world . ( Applause . ) Bro . J USTICE BRUCE , P . G . W ., proposed " The Provincial and District Grand Masters . " The fabric of Masonry was managed by these brethren , The increase in the number and importance of District Grand Lodges was one of the indications of the increase of modern Masonry . Under their

jurisdiction there were no less than 120 , 000 brethren . This showed that to their careful attention to the duties of their office Masonic extension was mainly due . It was their energy , vigour , and discretion that made Masonry increase in in every part of the world . Masonry was as wide as the world itself . He was happy to see that they had present the District Grand Master of the Transvaal , who was a light in Masonry . ( Cheers ) .

Bro . W . W . B . BEACH , M . P ., Prov . G . M . for Hants and the Isle of Wight , in reply , said no doubt the Provincial and District Grand Masters had important duties to perform in their respective provinces and districts , and they endeavoured to instil by precept and example the pure principles of the Craft in every brother in their jurisdictions . The Craft had increased to an enormous extent , and it would not have done that if the Provincial and

District Grand Masters had not tried to impress every individual member of the Order with the necessity of conveying in his own person the fact that he was a creditable member of the Order , and that he was never to accept any Freemason who was unworthy . ( Hear , hear . ) It was the pride of Masons to point to their Masonic Charities as an exemplification of the manner in which Masons acted up to their obligation , the splendid way in

which those Charities were supported , and the result that had been attained . But that contribution to the Charities did not alone constitute Masonry , which consisted also of bringing its principles to apply in every-day life ; bringing to bear a charitable view to the failings of a brother , to try in their day and generation to rub away the asperities of our daily life and promote

the good and the happiness of all . The Provincial and District Grand Masters thanked the Lord Mayor for the happy thought that had occurred Io him of entertaining the Masonic brethren at the Mansion House during his mayoralty . ( Applause . ) Bro . Col . LE GKNDRE N . STARKIE , Prov . G . M . for East Lancashire , proposed the toast of " The Lord Mayor . " In responding , the LORD MAYOR said : I thank you most sincerely for the very kind manner in which you have received this toast . Something

Masonic Banquet At The Mansion House.

has been said of charity , I desire to say , as the head of the Corporation of the City of London , that no one knows the real meaning of Charity better than I do . ( Hear , hear . ) The Corporation , like your Craft , has its Institution for boys , its institution for girls , and it has its institution for the aged . Well may it be said that the Corporation of the City of London and Masonry walk side by side in all matters appertaining to

Charity—( applause)—and I sincerely trust in other good works . I am about to retire from the great office which I have so nearly filled , but it will not be a retirement into private life , for every step in life that I take I find that the work becomes harder and harder . While I have the health nothing shall induce me to retire into private life . ( Hear , hear . ) There is much work

tojoe done in this world and every man ought to take his part , whether publicly or privately , I have always endeavoured to take rny p 3 rt ; I hope I always shall until the end of the chapter . ( Loud applause . 1 I thank you , brethren , for your kind reception of this toast . The proceedings then terminated .

Red Cross Of Rome & Constantine.

Red Cross of Rome & Constantine .

Plantaganet Conclave , No . 2 . The regular meeting was held at the Holborn Restaurant on Wednesday , the 12 th inst . Present : Sir Knights Wm . Briggs , G . P ., M . P . S . ; W . J Armita » e , V . E . ; R H . Adie . S . G . ; J . G . Marsh , P . G . A ., H . P . ; E . M . Money , P . G . P ., Recorder ; J . Briggs , Prefect ; H . Tipper , F . A . Jewson , P . G . O . ; 1 . C . Edmonds , Sentinel ; and S . Earl , P . S . 2 , as a visitor . The conclave having been opened , the minutes of the last regular and emergency meetings were read and confirmed . The candidate on the summons not being present

, a ballot for the election of officers for the ensuing year took place as follows : Sir Knights W . J . Armitage , M . A ., as M . P . S . ; R . H . Adie , M . A ., as V . E . ; E . M . Money , as Treasurer ; and T . C Edmonds ( re-elected ) , Sentinel . A P . SJ ' s jewel was voted by acclamation to Sir Knight Wm . Briggs , M . A ., LL . M ., for the zeal and energy he had displayed and the excellent work he had done in the conclave during his tenure of the office of Sovereign . Sir Knight Money proposed , and Sir Knight Armitage

seconded—I hat in consideration of his valued services to the conclave , extending to 35 years , Sir Knight J . G . Marsh , P . S ., P . G . A ., be elected an honorary member of the conclave . " This was carried unanimously . The Recorder announced that the vote of two guineas hy the conclave to the R . M . I . B . ( Centenary Fund ) had been increased by two of the members to 10 guineas , and that the M . P . S . of the conclave was now in possession of a vote for life . The conclave was then closed , and the knights adjourned to dinner .

Instruction.

Instruction .

PERCY LODGE , No . 70 3 . This lodge , which for nearly 21 years met at the Jolly Farmers , Southgate-road , was compelled to migrate , owing to a change of proprietorship . It now meets at the Perseverance Hotel , in the Southgate-road , N ., where the host , Bro . Hollinbury , exerts himself to the utmost in providing accommodation for the lodge meetings , as also for the comfort of the brethren who attend , and his kindness ia this respect is heartily appreciated by the brethren .

The lodge met on Saturday , the 15 th inst ., when the newly-elected Preceptor , Bro . J . A . Powell , occupied the chair of K . S ., being supported by Bros . H . Park , S . W . ; A . H . Harris , J . W . ; Bescoby , I . P . M . ; H . Stallard , Sec . ; 1 . Anley , Treas . j W . E . leanes , S . D . ; J . Jacobs , J . D . ; C Ornstein , I . G . ; A . W . Fenner , J . G . Hodges . W . J . Harris , G . Peters , P . H . Recknell , H . Jackson , and H . Reed . The lodge was opened in due form , and the minutes of the last meeting read and confirmed . _ The lodge was advanced a Degree , when Bro . H . Jackson answered the usual to the lmrd

questions leading Degree , and was entrusted . 1 he lodge was opened in the Third Degree , and the ceremony of raising was rehearsed in a very impressive manner , Bro . Powell including the traditional history , also explaining the working tools at length , after which the lodge was closed down in the two Degrees . Bro . H . Park was elected VV . M . for the next meeting . A very hearty vote of thants was cordially voted to Bro . Powell foi the excellent manner he had performed the ceremony . Bro . J . Anley was unanimously elected an honorary member on his being elected Treasurer at the last meeting . The lodge was then closed .

'I he attendance of all brethren in the North of London who are working up in their lodges is cordially invited ; they will receive all the Masonic instruction they m ay need to fit them for any office in a lodge .

Ad01405

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COUNTY ——_ = Z = T ~~ , _^ FOUNDED 1807 . 50 REGENT ST ., W , & FI-RE _™—14 CCLL , E . C , LONDON . OFFICE , The Distinguishing Feature of this Office is THE RETURN SYSTEM . On Ordinary Insurances , under which Policyholders who have been insured for Seven Years and who continue insured—whether inder an Annual or Septennial Policy—become entitled to a RETURN OF 25 PER CENT , of the Premiums they have paid during each Seven Years , provided no loss lias arisen under their Policies in that Period . Insurances on 'Farming Slocks and on other than Ordinary Risks do not participate in the Returns , nor are the Returns given on amounts which , being in excess of its owu holding , arc not retained b y the Oihee . Policics „ nisiy bo _ clTectc ( l or transferred without , any extra expenses . G . W . STEVENS , ) join ( gccretaries . " B , E . RATMFFE , j