Reports Of Meetings.

The banquet was celebrated in the banquetting hall , where , after the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts had been honoured , Bro . E . Corns proposed the toast of the evening , tho Worshipful Master and Officers . In doing so he said that was one of the red-letter days of the Lodge . The Worshipful Master took up the reins of office from one who had done his duty in a most able manner . The new Master started on a new voyage with an excellent crew ; he bad any number of charts and guiding lights to enable him to steer

his ship along , but sometimes the unexpected happened—a Craft not knowing the rules of the road came into collision . However , he did not expect the " unexpected , " or even that a collision would occur during Bro . Milestone ' s year of office . After a poetical and flowery speech , Bro . Corris proposed the Master's health , and said that , as he knew he would promote in overy way the well-being of the Lodge , they looked forward to a reasonable measure of success during 1897 .

Bro . Milestone W . M . responded , and thanked the Brethren for the enthusiastic manner in which they had received the toast . He said he had had difficulties to surmount in the past , and he would try to perform the arduous duties he would be called upon for . He had done his best in the selection of his Officers , and they would constitute a good crew . He looked

for the support of the Past Masters and Brethren generally , which would ensure success . Be would maintain the prestige and integrity of the Lodge as in the past , and would do his level best—speaking was not his forte , " work " being more in his line . He was delighted with the encouragement given him by the splendid attendance of members and visiting Brothers .

Bro . H . Glassman S . W . and Bro . W . C . Thornton J . W . also replied . The toast of the Immediate Past Master Bro . T . Morrill and Officers was enthusiastically received and duly acknowledged by the recipients . Other toasts followed . Bro . J . R . Stringer P . P . G . O . arranged a very interesting musical programme .

Bro . George Everingham ( tho chief steward ) purveyed in recherche style , and Bro . H . J . Oldroyd discharged the duties as Director of Ceremonies in an efficient manner .

LODGE OF FREEDOM , No . 77 . THE usual monthly meeting of this old Lodge was held at the New Falcon Hotel , Gravesend , on Monday , 21 st ult . Bro . Robert C . Fowle W . M . presided , and he was assisted by his Officers : William Gunn S . W ., George Blasters J . W ., John Solomon S . D ., Joseph Davis J . D ., E . B . Wilks I . G ., George Rackstraw P . M . Treas ., J . 0 . Biggs P . M . Secretary , Frank Hitchens

P . M . D . C , F . W . Martin A . D . C ., R . Ceiley Organist , R . Matthews Steward . There were also present Past Masters G . T . King , Thomas Deane , Joseph Solomon , Rev . Augustus Jackson , Thomas Nettlingham , W . Barlow , J . P . White D . G ., James A . Whitfield I . P . M . ; Bros . H . Sandford-, R . Bill , A . Prevost , W . H . Loft , J . Mason , T . Sandford . Visitors : —J . N . Willis J . W . 483 , and E . Ingman J . D . 483 .

The Lodge was opened in due form , the minutes were read , and the Treasurer ' s report was presented . Bro . Arthur Fowle being a candidate for the third degree , proved his proficiency as a Fellow Craft , and was regularly raised to the sublime degree , and took his seat in the Lodge as a Master Mason . The ceremony was admirably rendered by the Worshipful Master .

Upon the proposition of Bro . Biggs the following sums were voted from the Lodge funds for the local charities : —Christmas dinner to the poor 21 s , Breakfasts to poor children 21 s , Gravesend Hospital £ 2 2 s , Public Soup Kitchen 21 s , Home for Destitute Children 21 s .

Two candidates were proposed for initiation at the next meeting , and there being no further business the Lodge was closed and the Brethren adjourned to supper , the principal item of which was two fine turkeys presented by the Master . A very pleasant evening was afterwards spent , and the company separated with hearty good wishes for the new year .

RESTORATION LODGE , No . 111 . THE members assembled on the 30 th ult ., at the Freemasons' Hall , Darlington , to assist at the installation of Bro . John Broughton into the chair of K . S ., the ceremony being very impressively performed by Bro . Richard Luck P . M . P . P . S . G . W . A banquet was subsequently held in the banqueting hall of the Lodge , which was attended by upwards of fifty Brethren .

The usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were honoured . During the evening a very beautiful jewel was presented to Bro . C . J . Walton , for his valuable services rendered to the Lodge during the past year .

FRIENDSHIP LODGE , No . 202 . THE installation banquet took place at the Freemasons' Club , Plymouth , on Thursday , 31 st ult . Bro . George Collins W . M . presided , and was well supported . In proposing the toast of the Grand Master of Devon Sir Stafford Northcote , Bart ., M . P ., a tribute was paid to his high qualities as a gentleman and Mason .

Much pleasure was expressed at the presence of Bro . Westlake , and , in responding , Bro . Westlake gave a very interesting account of the various charities . The toast of the W . M . of Lodge Friendship was warmly received , and , in reply , he hoped he should deserve the eulogies passed upon him that evening . In proposing " Absent Brethren , " the W . M . remarked that as Friendship

had a large number of Brethren of both services as members , it was a toast which appealed to their sympathies , and the naval and military Brethren would know that although absent they were never forgotten at the festive board . Brother Allsford proposed Lodge . Friendship , in felicitous terms , stating that this day was tbc 125 th anniversary of the issue of the Lodge ' s charter , and gave an account of some interesting incidents of its early history .

MOIRA LODGE , No . 324 . rTlHE annual meeting and festival of St . John took place at the Wellington JL Inn , Caroline Street , Stalybridge , on Thursday , the 10 th ult ., a large number of members and visitors being present . Lodge was opened at an early hour by Bro . Wm . Higson W . M . The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed , after' which the Auditors presented their report . This was highly satisfactory , showing a handsome balance in the hands of the Treasurer : it was adopted .

Then followed the real business of the day—that of installing into the chair of K . S . Bro . Walter Barrow W . M .-elect , the ceremony being performed by Brother John Bottomley P . P . G . Swd . Br ., he being very abl y assisted by Past Masters Daniel Holt Sec as S . W ., Rev . J . Grant Bird

Reports Of Meetings.

P . P . G . O . as J . W ., and Stanley Robinson as I . G . Bro . Higson W . M . presented tho Worshipful Master-elect to receive the benefits of installation , and after having been duly obligated he retired until the formation of a Board of Installed ^ Masters , when the ceremony was proceeded with . The ' following is a list of Officers invested by the Installing Master , who fully described their jewelsand explained their duties : Bros . William Higson I . P . M ., Samuel Hall S . W ., Robt . Newton J . W ., Rev . J . Grant Bird

P . M .-P . P . G . O . Chaplain , Daniel Holt P . M . Sec , Alfred Webb Treas ., J . Bottomley P . M . P . P . G . S . B . Dir . of Cers . and Charity Representative , E . Andrew P . M . P . P . G . O- Org ., Lewis Buckley S . D :, Henry Jones J . D ., Saml . Higson I . G ., W . Higson and James Sykes Stewards , Jos . Marsden P . M . Tyler . Lodge Moira is to be congratulated upon the fact of possessing such a competent Installing Master as Bro . Bottomley , his proclamations being eclipsed only by the masterly way in which he delivered the addresses to the Master , Wardens and Brethren respectively . And if confirmation of this

fact were needed , it was supplied by the words of Bro . Richard Newhouse D . G . S . Br . England P . G . Secretary , who , having to catch an early train asked permission to speak before retiring . Bro . Newhouse paid a very high tribute of praise and approbation to Bro . Bottomley for the very able and impressive manner in which the ceremony had been performed , and also complimented Bro . Holt P . M . upon his lucid , effective , and eloquent explanation of the working tools , adding that he took it to be an honour having been invited to witness such splendid working . The speaker closed his remarks by adverting to the good work of the charities .

A very excellent banquet was subsequently served in the Lodge room , under the presidency of Bro . Barrow W . M . ( host ) . The usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were submitted , they being pleasantly varied by songs , sketches , and instrumental music , contributed by Bros . J . Bottomley P . M ., A . Hagne , W . Higson , H . Jones , D . Holt , A . Yarwood , R . Firth S . W . 1218 , R . Stanley 1408 , and others .

Bro . William Higson I . P . M . proposed the toast of the W . M . in eulogistic terms and referred to the many good qualities which Bro . Barrow possessed , wishing him a happy and successful year of office . He further said he fel t sure that when his term of office expired the Brethren would have no cause to regret having installed him into the chair that day . Bra D . Higson P . M . P . G . St . B . then sang " The Master ' s Toast , " by Bro . E . Andrew P . P . G . O .

The W . M . rose to respond , and judging from the manner in which he was received , his popularity is already assured . After tendering his thanks for the good words of the proposer of the toast , and to the Brethren generally for the honour conferred on him , he referred to his connection with the Moira Lodge , and of his deep attachment to Masonry , saying that the more he knew of it the better he liked it , and the higher he went the greater his zeal , not only in the Craft but in the superior branches of Freemasonry .

He made an earnest appeal to his younger Brethren not to be content with the outer " Crust , " but to get to the " Kernel , " and soar to the highest pinnacles of Masonry . He expressed his dislike of those persons who joined in order to become possessed of the secrets alone , so as to bear the name of a Mason , and then leave it . As for himself , he was determined to go on , and " go up " till he attained the summit of Masonry , and to do his duty well , so that his life and actions might testify to the principles of the Institution , which honoured him as one of its rulers that day .

Bro . John Clayton P . M . 89 P . P . G . S . W . proposed the health of Colonel LeGendre N . Starkie P . G . M . Bast Lancashire and the Provincial Officers , coupling with it the name of Bro . Dr . T . D . Foreman P . M . P . P . G . S . D . After extolling their many qualifications and abilities he made an urgent appeal for the Charities , which had effected so much good and were the envy of the whole world . ¦ ¦ ¦

Dr . Foreman , in response , thanked the Worshipiul Master for his invitation . It was not that alone which had induced him to attend , but there was another great attraction to him and that was to see his old friend Bro . John Bottomley perform his work . He desired to say that of all the Brethren with whom he had come in contact there was none appreciated

more than Bro . Bottomley . He had heard him perform his work in the Craft before , and also in the higher degrees , and the masterly way in which he did his work in those degrees was in every way a credit to him . Bro . Foreman strongly recommended all Brethren to join the higher branches , of Masonry . The way that Bro . Bottomley had performed his work on the first occasion in those branches was in every sense a pleasure to witness .

Bro , D . Higson P . M ., in proposing the Installing Masters , spoke of the great ability , " natural and acquired , " of Bros . Bottomley and Holt , both of whom had earned the honour , esteem , and affection of every Brother in the Lodge . He trusted the day was far distant when their great services would be lost to them . Such noble examples as were set them would live till time ceased to roll .

Bro . Bottomley , on rising to respond , was received with vociferous applause , and , after thanking the proposer and the Brethren for the compliment , said the work which he had done that day had been a pleasure to him , as it was indeed a labour of love . He well remembered some eight years ago when he had the pleasing privilege to second the proposition of

Bro . Barrow as a candidate for Freemasonry . He afterwards initiated , passed , and raised him , so that it was a most pleasing duty that day to confer upon him the highest honour the Craft could bestow , by placing him in the chair of K . S ., and he felt sure Bro . Barrow would do his duty , faithfully fulfil every pledge which he had given , and would govern the Lodge so as to gain the esteem of the Brethren , and merit the testimony of a good

conscience . Bro . Holt P . M . Secretary , in also returning thanks , spoke of the small part he and Bro . Bird ( Chaplain of the Lodge ) had taken in the Installation ceremony . He went on to say that Lodge Moira was in a most unique and happy possession of such a member as Installing Master Bottomley , who was without doubt a host in himself , and from the prodigious amount of work he

had done for many years now past was well and properly designated the Father of the Lodge . His working of the installation , the investiture of Officers , and the giving of the addresses , spoke volumes ; and those who had had the extreme pleasure of witnessing the whole could well . understand the genuine pride every member of Lodge Moira felt in their esteemed Bro . Bottomley . The good wishes expressed for the W . M . he cordially re-echoed , each and every one .

Besides those already mentioned , there were present Past Masters Wm . Dyson P . P . G . S ., Saml . Marsden P . P . G . S ., and H . Fielden ; Bros . H . Blocksage , T . Bradbury , R . Wharam , Matthew Stringer , Walter Cooper , A . E . Charlesworth , and James Renwick . Visitors : —Bros . Saml . N . Brooks P . M . 361 P . P . G . D . D . C , Jas . Fitton

P . M . 268 P . G . S ., Tom Simpson P . M . 1088 , George Wagstaff P . M . 1088 , Reuben Firth P . M . 1218 , Joseph Rowland P . M . 1218 , J . Mercer Jones P . M . 1322 , Elias Wild P . M . 1408 , Ralph Garside P . M . 1428 , Jas . Harding W . M . 461 , Harry Binns W . M . 1088 , Samuel Grundy W . M . 1322 , A . B . Pownall S . D . 268 , Jas . R . Norman I . G , 89 , and many others .