London Welsh Lodge, No. 2867,

London Welsh Lodge , No . 2867 ,

ANOTHER proof of the success attending provincial lodges in London , if any further are needed , was affirmed by the prosperity which has attended the " London Welsh Lodge , No . 2867 , " whose third installation meeting was held on Friday , 2 nd October , at the " Criterion Restaurant , " and was attended by many distinguished Welsh

Masons , some of whom had travelled from distant parts of Wales to be present . The outgoing Master , Wor . Bro . E . R . Cleaton , P . P . G . D . Essex , installed his successor , Bro . John Hinds , into the Worshipful Master's chair in a very able and impressive manner , assisted b y Bro . W . R . King , P . M . 1671 .

During the ceremony the new Worshipful Master received a congratulatory telegram from the lodge in his native town , " Carmarthen . " The following officers were appointed and invested for the ensuing year : —Bros . D . H . Trename , S . W . ; Dr . D . L .

Thomas , J . W . ; T . Davies , Treas . ; J Foulkes-Jones , Secretary ; J . T . Lewis , S . D . ; Thomas Hinds , J . D . ; Herbert Emlyn , I . G . ; David Lewis , D . C . ; Evan Richards , A . D . C . ; W . Merlin Morgan , Organist ; John W . T . Rowland , Steward ; E . Edward Jenkins , Steward ; J . Owain Evans , Steward ; Thomas Williams , Tyler .

liliO . JOHX HINDS . The Worshipful Master , on behalf of the lodge , presented a handsome P . M . jewel of characteristic design to the outgoing Master , Bro . E . R . Cleaton , in happy and eulogistic terms .

Bro . E . R . Cleaton expressed his deep appreciation of this mark of their favour , and to commemorate his departure from the office of Master of the lodge , he presented an alms box in the form of a broken column , which the Worshipful Master accepted with gratitude on behalf of the lodge , and

had no doubt it would be the means of fulfilling Bro . E . R . Cleaton's desire of founding a charity fund in the lodge . The lodge was then closed , and at the banquet which followed , the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were dishonoured .

In proposing the toast of "The Worshipful Master , " the I . P . M ., Wor . Bro . E . R . Cleaton , said that although Past Masters had been compared by so eminent a Mason as the Provincial Grand Master for Essex as extinct volcanoes , he for one felt full of life and capable of performing his duty

among them , that of proposing the most popular toast of their Worshipful Master . He knew it was the custom sometimes to invent qualifications for a Worshipful Master , but lie had no necessity to do so that evening . When he had been installed into the chair , his predecessor , Wor . Bro . Sir John Ptileslon , had attributed to him qualifications impossible

for one mortal to contain , and he would not attempt toemulate his flights of oratory . The Worshipful Master had won their esteem and approbation by the way he had worked in the two offices he had previously held . He was a man of strong character and unusual ability , in every way qualified , for the highly honourable , and at the same time onerous ,

position he had that night attained . He deserved and would receive the cordial support of every member of the lodge ,, who were animated with feelings of affection and loyalt y , and there would be no lack of support from the P . Ms . and . other veterans in the lodge . The Worshipful Master , replying , appreciated the kind

words which had fallen from the I . P . M . He did not feel equal to the praise showered upon him as Worshipful . Master , but he would do his best , being certain of the good Avill of the members , whose Celtic hearts were beating true and bubbling over with the lire of zeal . He was proud tobe Master of a national lodge . They were like the children

of Israal in Babylon , the salt of the earth , purifying all round . With their co-operation , which he Avas sure of receiving , he hoped at the end of his year of office they would be able to say to him , " Good and Faithful Servant thou hasdone thy best . "

In proposing the toast of "The Initiates , " the Worshipful Master said that they were four good men and true from Wales , who had already made their mark in London , and he could tell them that if they lived up to the ideals of Freemasonry they would be good men indeed . He spoke as a Masonic enthusiast , because he believed it to be a great

aid to various religions . The four initiates brielly replied . The toast of " The Visitors , " of whom there were thirtytwo , was next proposed by the W . M . He extended to them a hearty welcome , and was glad to see so many from the

Principality and from his mother lodge , " Mizpah . " Among those from the old country he was delighted to see his old schoolmaster , Bro . J . B . Williams . Bro . Williams , replying on behalf of the visitors , had particular pleasure in seeing his old scholar , Bro . John Hinds ,

installed into the high position of Worshipful Master of the " London Welsh Lodge , " on this his first visit to a lodge in London . He found Masons , whether Welsh or English ,, kind hearted and generous . Their Worshipful Master had risen by force of character , even as a boy he found him

topossess those qualities which had since stood him in good stead , unswerving integrity and perseverance , and he hoped he Avould live long to enjoy the prosperity he so well deserved .

Bros . Bergmann , Darby , Artemiss Jones and Dr . Owen also replied . The Worshipful Master proposed the toast of " Wor . Bro . King , " who assisted in the ceremony of installation , thanking him for his kind services , to Avhich Bro . King replied .

Proposing the toast of "The I . P . M ., Bro . E . R . Cleaton , " the Worshipful Master congratulated him upon the splendid year of office he had had . No Master could have done more , neither could a Master display greater energy in the foundation of a lodge . He was glad that he should have him at his left hand during his year of office . He also

coupled with the toast the names of their lirst Masters , that well-known and respected Welsh Mason , Sir John Puleston , and Wor . Bro . Worsnam .

J he I . P . M ., Bro . Cleaton , replying , said he had passed through a pleasant year of office , although his sad family bereavement had prevented him attending one of the meetings , and an illness had also kept him away on another occasion . He had been gratified with the feelings expressed towards him by the lodge . The duties that he terminated that night had been a pleasure , and he trusted he had dis-