Royal Albert Hall Lodge, No. 2986.

would long remember the beautiful work that lie had done which could not have been in ; i more able manner . All knew there was a great deal of work to be done in Grand Lodge , and the principal was done by him . His genial , kind , and generous manner had drawn all to himand he

, hoped he might long hc spared to them . Bro . Sir E . Letchworth , in reply , said in view of the programme he would not take up their time other than to thank them for their reception of the toast . It seemed to him but the other day he took part in the consecration of the

lodge . It was a great satisfaction that his prophecy had not been falsified . Me was sure ( he lodge would have a very successful future . The I . P . M .. in proposing " The Worshi pful Master , " said he was quite prepared for and expected the loasl would be

received with acclamation . The Worshipful Master was a brother who had the true principles of Masonry in him . They could look forward to a very successful year , and that he would advance the lodge in every particular . The Worshipful Master , in replying , said he thanked

them very sincerely and ( lie I . P . M . for the kind references to himself . None but an Irishman could have proposed it as he had done , and , being an Irishman himself , lie ( lie more appreciated it . He had yet as a Worshipful Master to win his spurs , and he hoped at the end of the year to have won them ; at any rate , he would spare no pains on his part to do

so . The Worshipful Master went on to propose '' The Immediate Past Master , " saying all those who could claim intimacy with him knew him to be a good friend and thorough Mason . He was one of 'the principal promoters of the lodge , and he had more than succeeded in his year .

He had the greatest pleasure in presenting him with the P . M . ' s jewel , with the sincere wishes that he might long be spared to wear it . The I . P . M . thanked him for the flattering and all too kind terms used towards himself . He highly appreciated their

kindness , and took that opportunity to thank the officers for their support . His health had been precarious , but he gave in to no one in his enthusiasm on behalf of Freemasonry . He thanked them for the jewel , which he would hand down in his family as a mark of the esteem he had gained during

his year of office . Bros . Webster and Harvey Du Cros replied for the visitors , the latter W . M . of the Empire Lodge and brother of the W . M . congratulated him in a special manner as hewas his oldest living friend . He did not suggest that he

had been or was a prodigal son , but he had certainly killed the fatted calf in entertaining them that evening , and in doing so had endeared himself more than ever to him as his oldest friend .

The Tyler ' s toast closed a most successful evening .

Duke Of Connaught Lodge, No. 1524.

Duke of Connaught Lodge , No . 1524 .

''PHE first Ladies' Night of the above lodge was held at the J [ Gaiety Restaurant , on Saturday , October 28 th . After a fully attended reception by the W . M ., Bro . W . W . and Mrs . Robinson , the company numbering no less than 150 , sat clown to a sumptuous banquet , during which the Gaietv Orchestra played a selection of music .

The W . M . in proposing the toast of "The King" said , that Freemasons were proud of their King . He had endeared himself to the nation at large . The country had never at any time felt such a sense of comfort and safety as thev did under him .

Bro . H . Hollingshurst , I . P . M ., in proposing the health of the W . M ., said to the brethren he needed no introduction for he always did his work with tact and circumspection . He had been the first to inaugurate a ladies' night , which had proved such a success . His amiability had carried him through every Masonic difficulty , and in fact every other .

He had the pleasure to propose the ( oast of " The W . M ., ' otherwise known as " Sunny Jim of fifteen stone solidity and of amiability . " All knew his energy , which , when once started was bound to succeed . He had made up his mind to have a ladies' night , and when lie Jiml made up his

mind it was best to let him do it . If this was a sample he would say let them have more of them . It was one of the pleasures of Freemasonry to meet their non-Masonic friends at these gatherings . The W . M . on rising to reply was received with musical

honours , and good humouredly frowned all round to stop the cheers with which he was received . He thanked them for the flattering way the toast was proposed and acclaimed and was very gratified to see so many present , and he could onl y express his pleasure in presiding over such a " bevy of

beauty . " He made up his mind years ago , that when be came to the chair to have such a ni ght . He was reminded that some time ago he was watching a brother who after the dinner took some of the flowers from the table . He asked him why he took them ? and he replied , they were a peace

offering to his wife , and besides his mother-in-law was staying with them . He was sure there were none of that kind present that evening . He was proud of the fact that he was

one of four fathers present who each had a son in the lodge . He thought that spoke well for Masonry , for a father would not take his son where he should not go . He hoped this would become an annual meeting . Bro . E . J . Turnbull in proposing the toast of "The Ladies , " said , all would agree with him that it was a very

important one . 111 lact the most important . It was one that bristled with possibilities of saying sweet things , and for this reason he was sorry that it was entrusted to his care , as although he was very capable of thinking all manner of sweet things about the ladies , he was not so capable , he feared , of putting them into language . He contended that a

ladies' night should commend itself to all men , particularly Masons , as it proved that we are not so selfish as generally supposed , it also was a great help , masonically particularl y , to the married brethren , as their wives were more ready to forgive their coming home a bit lateand to believe the usual

, ' ( rue story " of much hard work , etc ., so familiar to them . The ladies might believe him that that ni ght was a specimen of some of the "hard work" they had to get through , and take his word for it , they could ' do a lot of it . " They hoped

to have a yearly renewal of this happy event . His experience showed him that this toast was usually received with three degrees of enthusiasm . First , the young unmarried members , who received it most enthusiastically , owing no doubt to the pleasure of anticipation . Second , the married

members who received it with due reverence and decorum owing to the close proximity of their own or some one else ' s wife , and their knowled ge of realisation ; and third , the old fossils or unmarried members who received it in a more or less stately manner to show their knowled ge of the world in

general , and of women in particular . They had several fine specimens of these first and third degrees amongst them , whom he could strongly recommend to their kindly consideration , and he should be very glad to enter them for the matrimonial stakes . He would not inflict anything in the

way of a speech upon the ladies , far be it from him any such unworthy motive as they would be much better pleased in taking part in ( he dance which was to follow , so would conclude by expressing a hope that every lady present might