Lodge Meetings Next Week.

was responded to by Bro . Ayton P . M . Treasurer , and Bro . Calver P . M . Secretary . The next toast from the chair was that of the Visitors , and this was responded to by Bro . Roll , Mr . Hodsoll , and Mr . Reece . In the courso of the evening the W . M . received a message from the father of the Lodge , Bro . Barnes P . M ., who regretted his inability to be present again , but expressed a wish that the Brethren would take wine with him at a given time , and this was done by the W . M . and all present , says the "East London Observer . "

During the evening there was capital vocalisation contributed by Miss Edith Payne , Bro . E . Ohatterton P . M ., Bro . Malcom Johnston , Bro . H . J . Chatterton , Mr . T . Slayton Reader , Mr . Richard Reader , Miss Ella Johnston , and Bro . Tom Burgess . Bro . E . Chatterton P . M . Organist was accompanist throughout , and had arranged , as Director of the Musical Ceremonies , an enjoyable programme .

SKELMERSDALE LODGE , No . 1658 . THE W . M .-elect of this Lodge , Bro . W . Croxson , is such an extremely popular Craftsman that a successful gathering was confidently anticipated on the occasion of his installation—an expectation which was fully realised on Thursday of last week . Owing to the considerable extent of the business on the summons , the Lodge was called for 3 . 30 p . m ., the Officers , members and visitors present then and during the afternoon being Bros . Erie Douglas Side W . M ., W . Croxson S . W ., R . Gabell J . W ., W . H . Boys Sec , T . J . Rawlings S . D ., J .

Farmer J . D ., W . E . Bennett D . C , A . E . Kipps Org ., E . S . Rice I . G ., R . Rowlands P . M ., H . Cohen P . M ., H . B . Buckeridge P . M ., C . W . Lubbock , E . H . Smyth , F . M . Nilen , J . B . Thorneloe , B . Cohen , W . H . Kuypers , J . W . Sandel ' l , D . Gunton , E . A . Wass , C . H . Sisman , J . S . Smith , S . Morris , T . S . Defeher , J . Pickering , H . L . Briggs , T . A . Jones , R . S . Buckeridge , J . Hibble , J . Gibbs , C . Davis , A . E . Evans , W . J . Perrin , A . Emary , W . F . Biles , W . B . Hummerstone , J . Humphries , H . C . Davies , F . Marlow , P . Twitchin , C . Emmett , H . Levy , A . A . Logette .

Visitors : —H . E . Sanders P . M ., E . H . Mundv Org ., H . C . Parker S . D ., P . H . Dalbiac , M . P ., P . M ., A . H . Hasting I . G ., t . Hobby , H . Cornford , F . W . Trotter , G . White P . M ., J . P . Readshaw , W . E . Groom S . D , T . West , J , M . Jones J . W ., W . Guilford , F . C . Fleming , J . Stanton , O . F . Mack way P . M ., Ez ' ekiel I . G ., Bruce , Perkins , & c . On the Lodge being opened , the W . M . proceeded , after the usual initial business , to raise Bro . F . M . Nilen .

Tho W . M . then installed his successor into the chair of K . S ., the work being done in a most satisfactory manner . The newly-appointed W . M . Bro . W . Croxson afterwards invested the following Officers : R . Gabell S . W ., T . J . Rawlings J . W ., J . Hill P . M . Treasurer , W . H . Boys P . M . See ., J . Farmer S . D ., E . A . Rice J . D ., J . B . Thorneloe I . G ., W . Bennett D . C , A . A . Logette Assistant D . C , J . W . Sandell Steward , F . Lloyd Assistant Steward , A . E . Kipps Org ., H . Thomas Tyler .

The universal testimony was that Worshipful Master Croxson showed a perfect knowledge of his duties when , immediately after his installation , he was called upon to initiate Mr . Joseph Humphries , Mr . James Alexander Frasier , Mr . William Biles , Mr . William Robert Hummerstone , and Mr . John Charles Davies into the mysteries of Freemasonry . A splendid jewel was presented to the I . P . M . Bro . Side , by the Lodge , while the initiates of his year of office presented him with a collar .

The subsequent business included the proposition of five candidates for the next meeting , by which it will be seen that the prospects of the Lodge are very encouraging indeed . An adjournment was made to the dining room , where universallyesteemed Mrs . Venables provided an admirable banquet for the Brethren . At its conclusion , the hour being late , the Queen and Craft , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales Grand Master , and the Pro Grand Master and the rest of the Grand Officers , were briefly and cordially toasted .

The I . P . M . very gracefully proposed the toast of the Worshipful Master . This was , he said a popular toast , and the incoming Master was a popular man . He had a happy face , and his chief delight was to see people happy around him . All the Lodge was glad to see him in the position he now occupied . No Mason had striven more to make himself worthy of that high position . Tho way he had filled the different chairs in the Lodge—which left nothing to be desired- and the brilliant manner in which he had worked the initiation ceremony that evening , under the specially difficult

circumstance of having five initiates , and on an occasion when a man might reasonably feel nervous , showed that he had only accepted a responsibility that night he was well qualified to carry out . He had been unanimously elected , and would be as unanimously supported during his year of office . The speaker knew well that the present Master had determined to go one better than any of his predecessors , but of this the I . P . M . was sure , no one would ever regret having elected Bro . Croxson as Master of the Skelmersdale Lodge . He called upon the Brethren to drink the toast in the heartiest of bumpers .

The W . M ., on rising to reply , received a most enthusiastic ovation , for which he warmly thanked the Brethren . Having acknowledged also tho kindly words of the I . P . M ., he referred to that Brother ' s successful year , and said he had received a great incentive to go on and emulate the work of the outgoing Master . He had had five initiates that night , who were only the pioneers of tho twenty he hoped to have during his year of office . Still , the speaker ' s idea was not to establish a record , but to do the best he could

during his year , and to cherish the hope that his successor would surpass him . He hoped the Brethren would assist him in the work of the Lodge by coming early to its gatherings . The initiates they had , and the five candidates proposed that evening , would necessitate an emergency meeting in April , but he should not be content unless in May he had more , and so reach the summit of a Master's ambition , and work all the three degrees in one evening . He had already anticipated their wishes by engaging the big hall for the Ladies night next year , but in the meantime he thought they

might arrange for an up-river summer outing . He suggested a Committee should be formed to carry out details , and while he hoped that the outing might result in a profit to buy votes for the Lodge , if it did not he would indemnify the Lodge against any loss . He warmly thanked the Lodge for the honour done bim , and would do his very best to justify their choice . Tho W . M . now very cordially proposed the I . P . M ., enlarging upon the able manner in which Bro . Side had filled the chair , his mastery of the work , and the eloquence he had displayed on all occasions .

The I . P . M ., in reply , fully justified the allusion to his excellence as a speaker . Having reviewed the progress of the Lodge during his occupancy of the chair , he humorously appealed to the " South London Chronicle " not to record too fully the good things said of him , as it had a large circulation in tho district in which he lived , and his relatives would hardl y be able to

Lodge Meetings Next Week.

believe its representations . He heartily promised his successor loyal support and sat down amidst applause . The Initiates were then toasted , at the instance of the W . M ., and suitably responded ; after which the Visitors was given , among the respondents being Bro . Col . Dalbiac , M . P ., P . M . The Past Masters and Officers were also cordially honoured .

Excellent songs were given during the evening by Miss Helen Murby , Bro . Frank Nilen , Miss Annie Cheal , Bro . E . T . Walford , Bro . Fred Evorill , Mr . Edwin Crofton , Bro . Robert Rolands P . M . ( Initiate ' s Song ) , Bro . Richard Fowler , and Bro . W . Perrin . Bro . H . Cohen P . M . gave a stirring recitation . Everyone had a good word to say of Bro . Kipps for his admirable work in the Lodge and out , as Organist and Musical Director , Bro . Kipps is a most genial , good hearted Mason , and much esteemed in the Lodge .

HYGEIA LODGE , No . 2664 . ON Saturday , 11 th ult ., at the meeting held in the Masonio Rooms at the Holborn Restaurant , there was conferred upon Bro . William Hill Watson the highest honour the Brethren of the Lodge could bestow , and doubtless the great ability and perseverance which he has shown in his public capacity will prove as useful to himself and the members of his Lodge as it has in his various walks in life in the past . After the ceremony the Brethren sat down to a banquet , the new Master presiding over a gathering of fifty-three members and visitors .

The Worshipful Master , in proposing the toast of the Queen , said that in asking the Brethren to honour the toast many words could not express more than that which was contained in tho very true expression , " That as mother , as wife , as Queen , Her Most Gracious Majesty fulfilled each position with grace and ability unsurpassable . " In offering the toast of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales as Grand Master of their Ancient Order , Bro . Watson felt that he was presenting the assembled Brethren with an opportunity of once again honouring as loyal Masons a worthy head .

The W . M ., in proposing the Grand Lodge Officers , stated that the presence of two Past Grand Officers amongst them that evening , one of whom , Bro . Gardiner , had assisted at the consecration of the Lodge , showed that young as Hygeia was she was known to be working in the plane of true Masonic influence , and to be aiming to fulfil the ancient traditions of the Order .

Bro . Gardiner Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies , in responding , said that looking around him at the Brethren he could not feel otherwise than gratified that he had been so fortunate as to be able to lay claim to the maternity of so promising a child . He trusted that he should be enabled to see this lusty offspring develop into a full maturity , and still walking in the onward track guided by and following the landmarks of the Order .

Bro . Boyce I . P . M . said it gave him great pleasure to propose what to the Lodge was the toast of the evening—the health of the W . M . Bro . W . H . Watson . Ho knew that in Bro . Watson the Brethren would find a Master worthy of their choice , one who would fulfil the duties of the office faithfully and honourably , reflecting credit upon the position , and pass on , unsullied , to his successor the duties and privileges of his exalted position .

Bro . Watson , in acknowledging the honour done him , stated that in following the footsteps of Bro . Boyce , and in having such an able Immediate Past Master on whom to rely , he felt able to attempt to carry out the duties of the high office he had been elected to , well knowing that in every case of difficulty he would have the assistance of a capable Brother to fall back

upon ; so that in no case would the Lodge suffer by any failing on his part . He thanked the Brethren , and promised them that no effort of his should be wanting to enchance the well-being of Hygeia Lodge . In response to the toast of the Immediate Past Master , Bro . Boyce expressed his thanks for the assistance of all present during his year of office , and promised to aid to the uttermost the future welfare of the Lodge .

In answer to the toast of the Visitors , ably proposed by the W . M ., Past Master Monson said that as a visitor he was very pleased to be present under the presidency of Bro . Watson , whom he had had the honour of knowing for many years , and he felt that under his guidance members of and visitors to Hygeia would have much to be thankful for .

Rev . Bro . Chambers said that he was pleased as a clergyman of the Church of England to be able to take his place amongst them as a man and a Mason , and aptly put as his expression of feeling in meeting the members of Hygeia Lodge , that "he had been there and still would go , 'twas like a little heaven below . " Other toasts were given , and a very enjoyable evening was spent .

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

INDUSTRY LODGE , No . 48 . THE annual meeting was held on Monday , 27 th ult ., in the Masonic Hall , Jackson Street , Gateshead . There was a large attendance of members and visitors from other Lodges . Bro . John Armstrong was installed W . M . for the ensuing year , the installing Officer being Bro . W . 0 . A . Hopzapfel

P . M . In the evening the Brethren partook of a dinner in the banqueting hall of the Lodge , presided over by the Worshipful Master . The usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were given .

METHAM LODGE , No . 1205 . THE members met on the 20 th ult ., at Stonehouse , the S . W . Bro . Robert Stoneman being installed W . M . for the ensuing year .

MISTLEY LODGE , No . 2339 . SPECIAL interest attached to the monthly meeting of this Lodge , on Thursday , 23 rd ult ., from the fact that the opportunity was . taken to bid farewell to Bro . the Rev . Wm . Cree Chaplain of the Lodge and Provincial Grand Chaplain of Essex , who has resigned the Vicarage of Manningtree , and is leaving for another sphere of work in London .

The W . M . Bro . I . B . Burton expressed the great regret of all the members of No . 2339 at losing a Brother who had been a consistent Mason amongst them ever since he came to Manningtree . No Lodge could afford to lose such a Brother , and they felt they could not let him depart without some