Kingsway Lodge, No. 3027.

Kingsway Lodge , No . 3027 .

INSTALLATION OF W . BRO . THOAIAS GOWER BERGIN .

'"pHE third Installation Meeting of this popular lodge , I which was held at Mark Alasons' Hall on Wednesday , May 2 nd , when W . Bro . Bergin was installed in the Chair by W . Bro . Maule , proved not a whit less successful than that of former years .

Kingsway is one of the three temperance lodges that has sprung up in the Afetropolis during recent years , and judging from its steadily increasing roll of members , and the general enthusiasm displayed by the brethren present , it is safe to predict for this lodge a continuance of the prosperity with

which it has been favoured since its inception . On the lodge being opened , the minutes of the last regular and emergency meetings were read and confirmed . Alessrs . Samuel Baylis and Richard James Gadd were admitted into the Craft . The W . M . was subsequently installed into the

Chair by Bro . Maule , and appointed the following brethren as officers for the ensuing year . Bros . John William Webster , William Edward Davis Harry Bladon , Edward James Mills , Walter James Powell , John Bernard Herbert , Chas . William Cole , Herbert Hodge

, Horace G . Holme , James Underhay Uglow , G . Ernest Clark , John G . Wright Cooper , Edward Willis , F . H . Searle , H . J . A . Bennett . A Past Alaster's Jewel was presented to Bro . Maule , I . P . M ., by the W . M .

A very pleasing incident was the presentation to W . Bro . Chas . Cole of a silver tea service as a token of the high esteem in which he was held by the members of Kingsway .

At the subsequent banquet held at the Holborn Restaurant , the toast of " His Alajesty the King " was proposed by the W . M ., and was enthustically received . W . Bro . Chas . W . Cole was entrusted with the toast of " The M . W . The Grand Master , H . R . H . The Duke of Connaught and Strathearn , K . G ., " and said that there was

very little that was fresh which he could add , at the same time they would be found wanting in courtesy if they failed to appreciate the Masonic services rendered by His Royal Highness . W . Bro . H . Bristow-Wallen in proposing the " M . W .

Pro Grand Master , the R . W . Deputy-Grand Master , and the Rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " said that only those who were privileged to attend Grand Lodge Meetings could rightly appreciate what we owed to our Grand Officers . He was always struck when he attended Grand Lodge to see

how wonderfully Freemasonry was represented in all circles of life ; Art , Literature , the Church , Army and Navy—all were represented by the Grand Officers , and it is one of the most interesting and inspiring sight to see that procession of Grand Officers as they enter Grand Lodge . Earl Amherst was , indeed , a splendid Pro Grand Master , and upon him , of course , must fall the heat and burden of the day .

W . Bro . J . T . Maule , the I . P . M ., said it was to him a most pleasing duty and privilege to propose what must be , on an occasion like this , the toast of the evening—the health of their esteemed W . M " . W . Bro . Bergin was a well qualified and competent Mason , and would discharge the important duties of his high office to the entire satisfaction of

the Brethren , and would maintain those excellent traditions which were set them by their first W . M . The W . AL , in replying , said that those who had passed the Chair would agree with him that the most trying time of their Masonic career was when they were asked to reply to

this toast for the first time . He thought he would experience some difficulty in following in the footsteps of Bro . Afaule ; the higher the standard that was set up in the Lodge the more difficult it would be for subsequent Alasters to maintain that standard . He would advise all young Freemasons to attend a Lodge of Instruction . He owed liis present position to the fact that he took advice , and as

soon as he was initiated he joined a Lodge of Instruction . It was a particular proud moment in any Mason ' s life to reach the Chair . He looked forward to his year of office because he anticipated doing good work . The W . M . proposed the toast of the Worshipful Masters

of King Solomon and Aldwych Lodges , W . Bros . Newnham and Rigg which was received with great enthusiasm . Bro . Newnham said it was very easy for him to reply to the toast because he could with truth say that the Members of his Lodge entertained nothing but the most hearty

goodwill towards the sister lodges . He was very pleased to see the progress they were making and to see them so strong . He was much impressed by the excellent way in which the ceremony of installation had been clone . He thanked them for their kind reception , and said it was always a-pleasure to be with them .

Bro . Rigg said he could re-echo every word uttered by Bro . Newnham with regard to the feeling of friendliness that existed between the total abstinence Lodges in the great Metropolis . He sometimes felt that as an honorary member of Kingsway : " How happy could he be with either were t'other clear charmer away . " They were Freemasons first ,

and total abstainers afterwards ; but were not ashamed on every occasion to stand firmly by their total abstinence principles . He was sure that when other Masons , who were what the Frenchman called " moderate drunkards "

came more into contact with them , they would find they were not the hopeless cranks and incurable faddists that so many people imagined . They were firmly determined by the influence of these Lodges to liberate Freemasonary from a slur which it had too long undeservedly borne . They were indeed fortunate in having W . Bro . Cole as first Master ,

and also appreciated the admirable work that day of Bro . W . Alaule , who like himself took unto himself a wife during his year of office with the same happy results . He felt assured their W . M . would have the successful year of office he so richly deserved .

Bro . Cole in proposing the toast of " The Initiates " said it was exceedingly gracious on the part of the W . AL to allow him the privilege of proposing the toast . He took a great interest in what he would term , baby-Masons . It sometimes occurred to him that young Masons

might be led to feel that their first Alasonic Lodge was controlled by the few . That of necessity must be so for the reason that it took a long time to become experienced in Masonry . On behalf of the Kingsway Lodge who extended a very hearty welcome , he was glad to see them here and felt

sure they would make excellent men and that Kingsway would never regret having admitted them as members of their Lodge .

The Initiates having responded , the W . AI . said the next toast was that of " The Visitors " ; Kingsway Lodge was favoured in having a long list of distinguished visitors , and although he would have liked them all to have spoken , time would not permit . On behalf of Kingsway Lodge he welcomed them most heartily . They were , he said , a source of great

strength to them because they could attend and see their method of working and then at the Banquet they were kind enough to criticise , and after all was said and done , criticisms should be given and received with great kindness . The Visitors replied .

The W . AL proposed the " The Installing Masters and the other Officers of the Lodge , " and paid a high tribute to the manner in which W . Bro . Afaule had placed him in the Chair , and W . Bros . Cole and Bristow Wallen delivered the addresses to the Officers .

Bros . Alaule and Cole briefly replied . " The Tyler's Toast " concluded a most enjoyable evening .