Ladies' Night Of The Wycombe Lodge, No. 1501.

LADIES' NIGHT OF THE WYCOMBE LODGE , No . 1501 .

The Wycombe brethren , by general consent , scored heavily by their " ladies evening , " on the 19 th inst . A more enjoyable gathering has certainly never bsen held in Wycombe . The plan of combining a concert and a dance proved a great success , and everything went off with a smoothness that showed how much care

had been expended on the arrangements . Geniality and good-fellowship are Masonic characteristics , and these proved the keynote of the whole proceedings . There are some balls where stiffness reigns supreme , and the room is visibly divided into cliques . There was no trace of that kind of thing on this occasion , but instead an unaffected and general cordiality .

Some very pretty toilettes appeared among the brethren's guests , while an unusual element of picturesqueness % vas found in the fact that many of the brethren wore their aprons , collars , and other insignia . For this purpose a special dispensation had been obtained fron the Provincial Grand Master . The brilliant colours had a very pretty effect when moving in the figures of a dance , while as for the jewels worn some of the ladies looked upon their Masonic hosts with envious eyes . Altogether the social season of 1897 may be said to have begun exceptionally well .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Derwent Lodge , No . 40 . The installation meeting of this old lodge was held at the Castle Hotel . Hastings , on Monday , the nth inst . Amongst those present were Bros . L . J . Jukes , W . M . ; E . J . McCormick , S . W . ; H . Boyce . J . W . ; F . Rossiter , P . M ., P . P . G . D ., Treas .-, F C . Edwards , P . M ., P . P . G . Std . Br ., Sec . ; C . E . Borley , P . M ., S . D . ; T . South . combe , J . D . ; C . W . Duke , P . M ., P . P . S . G . W ., D . C . ; G . Randell , P . M ., P . P . A . G D . C , A . D . C . ; I . Baker Guy , Org . ; A . Jones , I . G . ; H . E . Smith and H . A .

Stratford , Steward- ;; C . J . Ticehurst , I . P . M . ; J . Pearce , P . M .. P . P . G . S . B . ; W . Limborn . P . M ., P . P . G . P . ; T . H . Cole , P . M ., P . P . A . G . D . C ; F . H . Hallett , P . P . CO . ; W . H . Russell , P . M ., P . P . A . G . D . C ; G . H . Gaze . P . M . ; J . B . Foster , P . M ., P . A . G . P . ; J . Trinder , P . M ., P . P . G . D . C . Gloucestershire ; A . S . Randle . T . Wilson , P . Beer , W . J . Bourn , A . G . S-nythe , J . T . Piper , W . Ray , C . H . Cartwright , W . E . Brown , N . ( "hennells , F . G . Tyrrell , J . ' lnman , L . O . Glenister , R . VV . Redman , J . P . Bertel . J . T . Tremble . ^ S ( S . C . ); VV . D . Sims , 120 S ; F . G . Ticehurst , I . P . M . .. o .. 1 rr c T „ - .. o .. n T U — 1 .. \\ r \/ r .. o .. T \\ r \ ..: * p \ n .. Q .. ot 1 IAtJll ! Cll lVlIt 3 itii iu

I IU . J . , L .. , " . . JUlill , I 04 , V ., J . | ,, VV .. O ^ . , x . »» . nv ., ... ^ , W . R . Griffin . W . M . 2481 ; W . Goddard , 24 S 3 ; W . N . Oldham , 24 S 3 ; Rev . A . J . W . Crosse , W . M . 341 ; J . H . Smith , W . M . 732 ; H . A . Chaplin , W . M . 1 S 42 ; K . H . Thorpe , 1 S 42 ; F . Duke , 1 S 42 ; W . Carless , P . M . 1842 ; A . G . Telling , S 7 q ; W . W . Smith , S 51 ; A . C . Treadaway , 127 S ; J . W . Reeves , 795 ; F . Attenborough , 1551 ; F . Carr , 14 GG ; W . F . Teydell , W . M . 2434 ; I . S . Fletcher , P . M . 2200 ; C . Braid , P . M . ng 6 ; A . Fish , P . M . 1366 ; and G . T . Hillrard , P . M . 174 . The lodge was opened and the minutes of the last meeting read and confirmed . Letters expressing inability to be present were received from Bro . Col . Egerton on behalf

of H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught , P . G . M . ; Bros . Sir William Marriott , Q . C ., D . P . G . M . ; V . P . Freeman , Prov . G . Sec . ; and others . A ballot was taken for Mr . Stephen Bumstead , a candidate for initiation , and hi was unanimously elected . The report of the Audit Committee and balance sheet were presented and read _ by the Treasurer , Bro . Rossiter , P . M ., and showed the lodge to be in its usual flourishing condition . Bro . E . J . McCormick , S . W ., was then installed in the chair of K . S ., the ceremony being performed in a most able manner by Bro . L . J . Jukes , assisted by Bros . C . W . Duke , P . M ., and G . Randell , P . M . The W . M . then appointed and invested his officers as follows : Bros . H . Boyce , S . W . j C . E . Botley , P . M ., J . W . ; Rev . J . Puttick , P . M ., P . P . G . C , Chap .: F . Rossiter , P . M ., P . P . G . D ., Treas . ; P . Beer , Sec . J T .

Southcombe , S . D . ; A . Jones , J . D . ; C . W . Duke , P . M ., P . P . S . G . W ., D . C ; G . Randell , P . M ., P . P . A . G . D . C , A . D . C ; J . Baker Guy , Org . ; H . A . Stratford , I . G . ; H . G . Smith and W . J . Bourn , Stwds . ; and W . Leslie , Tyler . The W . M . then presented , on behalf of the lodge , a Past Master's jewel to the I . P . M ., Bro . L . J . Jukes , as a token of the esteem in which the I . P . M . wis held by the brethren and in recognition of the admirable manner in which he had discharged the duties of his office . The sum of

10 guineas was voted fromthe lodge funds for the R . M . B . I ., to be placed on Bro . Bcyce's list for the forthcoming festival . All business being ended and the lodge closed , the brethren sat down to an excellent banquet , served in a manner which elicited the greatest praise from all present . The musical arrangements , which were under ths able direction of Bro . J . Biker Guy , Assoc . Voc , T . C . L ., Organist of the lodge , added in no small degree to the success of the meeting .

La Tolerance Lodge , No . 538 . The installation meeting of this lodge was held on the 7 th inst ., at Freemasons Hall , Bro , J . J . Pittman , W . M . presiding . Among other brethren present were Bros . R Hogg , P . M . ; John Cuming , P . M . ; H . T . Hipwell , P . M . ; John Skinner , P . M . j J . W . Elvin , P . M . ; F . Cambridge , P . M ., P . G . O . Surre »; F . J . Pittman , P . M . ; H , H . Perry , P . M . ; J . B . Sly , P . M . ; and W . E . Wiliby , P . M . Visitors . Bros . B ,

Colbron , P . P . A . G . P . Surrey ; B . A . Williams , P . G . D . Surrey ; W . J . Stahlschmidt , P . M . 765 ; J . Paul , P . M . 12 S 7 ; Herbert Goodwin , P . M . 2095 ; B . Pollard , P . M . 858 and 1694 ; John Hoddinott , P . M . 901 ; M . B , Skidden ( Canada ); H . Massey , P . M . 619 and 192 S ; Orlton Cooper P . M . 211 ; E . G . Easton , 2512 ; J . B . Pinchbeck 2202 ; H . C Parker , I . G . 975 ; T . C Cole , 2047 > J . M . Newnham , 153 6 ; and John Hopkins , 753 .

After the transaction of the formal business of the meeting , Bro . Pittman proceeded to insta ! Bro . Guillermo T . Augspurg , S . W . and W . M . elect , as W . M . for the current year . Bro . James Kench , P . M ., P . G P . Treas ., completed the ceremony , and Bro . Pittman , to whom was presented a Past Master ' s jewel , was invested as I . P . M . The officers of the lodge for the year were Bros . T . H . Clear , S . W . ; T . A . Tidy , J . W .

James Kench , P . M ., P . G . P ., Treas . ; T . W . Smale , P . M ., Sec . ; S . A . Cross , S . D . ; G . A . Sturgess , J . D . ; R . Hoof , I . G . ; F . Cambridge , P . P . G . Org . Surrey , Org . ; J . W . Elvin , P . M ., D . C . ; W . E . Wiliby , P . M ., A . D . C ; W . G . Fenn , P . M ., P . P . S . G . D . Surrey , H . M . Parry , and H . Hipwell , Stwds . ; and Thomas Bowler , Tyler . The brethren , after closing lodge , banqueted at Freemasons' Tavern , and honoured the customary tcasts .

Bro . Kerch , Treas ., P . G . P ., responded to the toast which included "The Grand Officer . " Bro . J . J . Pittman , I . P . M ,, in proposing "The W . M ., " said he thought when he la t addressed the brethren it was the last time he should have to inflict upon them one 01 h s orations , but this evening it fell to his lot to propose the health of the W . M . He was confident ihe brethren did not require a long speech to commend the toast to them as ihey knew Bro . Augspurg well—that his heart was in the right place , and that during

h ' s year of office he would do his best to promote the welfare of Lodge La Tolerance ard to fulfil his duties in his high station with that ability which had characterised him in his other offices . Unfortunately Bro . Augspurg was notan Englishman and therefore m ' ght labour under some difficulty in speech , but every member of the lodge would bear with him , although probably he might not Le able to make himself quite so clear to them as he would if he was an Englishman bred and born ; still they must look to him as a man whose heart was in the right place , as Master ot La Tolerance determined to

do his best . Bro . G . T . Augspurg , W . M ., in reply , said he was at a loss how to express his feelings of gratitude for the exceedingly kind words which had fallen from Bro . Pittman ' s lips and for the very warm reception the brethren had given them . Since his initiation he had been du ' y impressed by the solemn rites and ceremonies of the ancient Craft , and he was a great admirer of the wonderful rituals and tenets of the Order . Cculd there be anything grander than the beautiful , edifying principles on which the Order was founded and which taught them to put their trust , whenever in difficulty and

Craft Masonry.

danger , in God , to put their confidence in the brethren , to assist them in poverty and distress . always to uphold morality , and to show uprightness and justice in their life and actions ? In spite of that , the brethren knew that the Craft was very severelv criticised and misjudged by their fellow beings . Let them not , however , be discouraged by that ; let them be true and brave men and prove themselves in that capacity to the outer world ; let them be loyal subjects to their ruler and to their fellow beings , and

then they would probably convert the sceptics and opponents of the Craft . With that design in view , he was sure they would be successful in their efforts . He was fully aware of the great responsibilities that now rested on his shoulders in the exalted position the brethren had elected him to ; but they might be sure that whatever he could do would be done to uphold the rites and principles of the Craft , and his brother officers would be most anxious to give him assistance in that direction .

Bro . G . T . Augspurg , W . M ., next proposed " The I . P . M ., Bro . J . J . Pittman , " who they all knew was a downright jolly good fellow in every sense of the word . Bro . Pittman was a perfect Mason , and had carried out and discharged his duties in so able a manner that he had deserved the full appreciation and admiration of every brother ; he was a worthy occupant of King Solomon's chair , and would now reign and figure prominently amongst the most able and eminent of the Past Masters who had presided in that lodge , and wisely ruled over its destinies . To show him the appreciation of the lodge the brethren presented him with a Past Master ' s jewel , which he ( Bro . Augspurg ) had the special favour of now affixing to Bro . Pittman ' s breast .

Bro . J . J . Pittman , I . P . M ., on rising to respond met with an enthusiastic reception . He said he could assure the brethren that he scarcely knew how to frame words to thank the brethren for the very kind manner with which they had responded to the toast so ably and genially proposed by the W . M . He was relinquishing the office of Master of that lodge with a great many feelings of pleasure . During his year it had been his intense delight to go up from time to time and meet so many good and estimable brethren , who had done all they could to make the task of a W . M . easy to him . It

had been a work of love from the moment he first entered the lodge and took a minor office ; it had been his ambition to be W . M ., and when he entered upon the office he did so with great fear and trembling . But after he had been in it some time , from the assistance he had from the Past Masters , officers , and brethren of the lodge , he felt that the office after all was not a difficult one—it was made a most pleasurable one altogether . On leaving it he felt deeply grateful to every brother of the lodge , whether a P . M ., an officer , or a lay brother , for the assistance rendered to him . In the jewel

there was a recognition , which was sometim es given in lodges as a matter of course , but he did not look upon it in that light ; he estima ted it as the expression of a feeling of gratitude of the brethren for services rendered . He h ad tried to do his duty , and with such P . Ms ., who had passed the chair with such credit to themselves , he felt he could not do less than follow their example . He felt confident that every brother who occupied the chair after him would do the same as he had done , and not in any shape or form fall short of the example set them . At that particular juncture of the lodge it behoved

every P . M . and every member to promote the lodge . They were passing through an epoch when they found two P . Ms , and another brother who felt it incumbent on them to retire from the active list , and therefore the other brethren ought to stick to the ship and not let it be lost for the want of guidance . He should do not only his best to serve the brethren to the utmost , but he should assist the W . M . to make his year a success in every way . For many , many years to come he hoped to promote the interest of his mother lodge .

Bros . Eastman , Coleman , Orlton Cooper , Paul , Cole , Skidden , and others responded to the toast of "The Visitors , " and Bros . Elvin , Skinner , Hopper , and Wiliby to that of "The Past Masters . " Bros . Clear , Tidy , Cambridge , and Cross having responded for " The Officers , " Bro . G . A . Sturgess , J . D ., said : Worshipful Master , Grand Lodge Officers , Past Masters , and brethren , —I thank you , sir , for calling upon me to respond to the toast of the officers . I look upon Past Masters as retired captains , but to whom we apprentices

may always go and get help and assistance and sound advice . Then as to our I . P . M . we all know what a jolly good fellow he has been . We know that every yacht must have a commander , and a right good one we have got in you , sir , and I classify our visitors as passengers . Any time they like to come and join us in out hearty welcome they will find our grand old pilot , Bro . Massey , ready to land them safely into port . Worshipful Sir , I thank you . The Tyler ' s toast closed the proceedings .

During the evening an excellent musical entertainment was given by Miss Alice Motterway , Bro . Arthur Barry , and Mr . H . Greene , under the direction of Bro . F . Cambridge , Mus . Bac , Organist of the lodge .

Islington Lodge , No . 1471 . The regular meeting ot the above lodge was held on Thursday , the 14 th inst ., at the Cock Tavern , Highbury , and was attended by the following brethren—Bros . D . C Ritchie , W . M . ; J . A . Blount , S . W . ; E . J . Harrison , J . W . ; A . Cox , I . P . M . ; S . Napper , P . M ., Treas . ; E . Blinkhorn , P . M ., W . M . 2278 , Sec . ; C . Isler , S . D . ; C , Hirst , J . D . ; W . Taylor , I . G . ; C M . Coxon , P . M ., P . P . G . D Herts , D . C . ; H . S .

Trego ( Mus . Bac . Oxon ) , Org . ; G . E . Walker , Stwd . ; G . Couchman , Tyler ; H . Cox , P . M ., P . P . G . S . of Wks . Herts ; R . Loomes , P . M . ; H . B . Harding , P . M . ; A . Henning , R . Blunden , F . Simmonds , J . launcey , G . Fullbrook , J . H . Thurman , 1 . Lefever , G . A . Hopkins , T . E . Newman , G . Yexley , J . Johnson , E . Bury , J . Amand , W . Pannell , D . C Attwater , L . Dinielssjn , W . A . Goring , J . R . White , VI . T . Roberts , and others . Visitors : Bros . W . Hancock , P . M . 2191 ; R . M . H . Griffiths , 1677 : J . R . Carter , 2501 ; and R . Eddie , J . W . 742 .

The first business done was the raising of Bro . Danielsson , and afterwards the passing of Bros . Fullbrook and Blu « den . Bro . J . A . Blount , S . W ., was elected W . M . for the ensuing year ; Bro . S . Napper , P . M ., was re-elected Treasurer , and Bro . Couchman was re-elected Tyler . An Audit Committee was then appointed and a candidate proposed for initiation . One guinea was unanimously voted towards the Guy's Hospital Re-Endowment Fund , and a Past Master ' s jewel of the usual pattern and value voted to Bro . Ritchie in recognition of his services during the past year . Other routine business having been transacted , the lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to an excellent banquet .

Short speeches and a long programme followed , the latter under the direction of Bro . Newman , whose services in providing entertainment for the brethren cannot be too highly spoken of . Bros . Standing , Roberts , Henning , and Goring very ably assisted , and Bro . D . C . Attwater secured enthusiastic applause for the admirable rendering of his songs . Bro . Henning gave a recitation which was much appreciated .

Leopold Lodge , No . 1571 . The zist installation meeting of the above lodge was held at the Bridge House Hotel , Londjn Bridge , on Wedneslay , the 20 th instant . A goodly number of brethren and visitors assembled in honour of the occasion . But for the inclemency of the weather the gathering would hive been materially increased , letters and telegrams of regret pouring in at the last moment from those wh > had promised to attend . The lodge was opened under the Mastership of Bro . Hsnry T . Meadows , supported by Bros . A , Watts , I . P . M . ; J . Hampson , S . W . ; F . P . Langford , J . W . ; William Carey , P . M ., I reas . ; Edmund J . Morgan P . M ., Sec . ; G . Horwill , S . D . ; C M . Morris , J . D . ; Percy Leach , I . G . ; R . W . Clarke , Ore .: T . Duffield . P . M .. T ) . C . T r .. nr < r « Hall .

A . D . C ; Farmer , Goad , Pummel ! , Truckell , Pain , Davy , Elliott , Maud , Whitefield , Barnes , Bull , and Presland ; also the following visitors : Bros . Dr . Lovett , P . M . and u n - c ? , ' I' Thompson P . M . 742 ; J . Mason , P . P . S . G . W . Middx . ; W . Crawford , P . P . G . S . B . Kent ; F . W . Rote , P . M . 1607 ; W . L . Barker , S . W . 1 G 07 ; G . Cunnington , S . D . 1 G 07 ; J . K . Put , P . M . 4 G 3 ; D . Harlow , P . M . 65 ; R . E . Lanes , W . M . 1441 ; h . A . Anson , 212 S ; G . Mills , 147 ; Kinniple , S . W . 65 ; E . Parsons , 1627 ; J . A . Clarke , SS ; A . Ingleton , W . M . 1 G 25 ; W . Dennis , W . M . 9 ; T . S . Hewett , S . W . 917 ; D . Reekie , 511 ; J . Holmes , 1310 ; and E . M . Tayler , 911 .

ihe minutes of the last lodge meeting having bejn confirmed and the accounts of the lodge as audited , showing a substantial balance in hand , received and adopted , Bro . John Hampson , S . W ., W . M . elect , was presented by Bro . Duffield , P . M ., D . C , to the W . M . to receive the benefit of installation . After subscribing to the usual obligation Bro , Hampson was duly installed into the chair of Kinrr Solomon , and

appointed and invested his officers as follows : Bros . H . T . Meadows , I . P . M . ; F . P . Langford , S . W . ; G . Horwill , J . W . ; William Carey , P . M ., Treas . ' ; ' Edmund J . Morgan , P . M ., Sec . ; C . M . Morris , S . D . ; Percy Leach , J . D . ; George Hall , I . G . ; R . W . Clarke , Org . ; T . Duffield , P . M ., D . C ; J . McKenzie , A . D . C ; R . Lee and J . B . U . Pain , Stwds . ; and Vounj , Tyler . Ihe addresses to the W . M ., Wardens ,