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KINGSHALLROOMS, For Banquets , Balls , ana Concerts . HOLBORNRESTAURANT. ONE OF THE SIGHTS AND ONE OF THE COMFORTS OF LONDON .

Reports Of Meetings.

REPORTS OF MEETINGS .

We shall be pleased to receive particulars of Masonic meetings for insertion in our columns , and where desired will endeavour to send a representative , to report Lodge or other proceedings .

CRAFT : METROPOLITAN . — : o •—DALHOUSIE LODGE , No . 865 . THE social side of Freemasonry is seldom more pronounced than when it becomes possible to associate a trip into the country with the regular duties of a Lodge meeting , and more particularly is this the case when it is in the spring time of the year that the dual enjoyment occurs . It is true the month just concluded has been far from perfect from a meterological point of view , and on the

occasion of our visit to the Dalhousie Lodge , at Hampton Court , the cold wind somewhat militated against the enjoyment of the trip by road , although the drive through Bushey Park , even with the drawback we refer to , was most enjoyable , the scene being one of the finest to be found anywhere around the great metropolis , and a

p leasant relief to the monotony of brick and mortar so many of us have been surrounded by during the dreary months of winter ; while the end of the journey , as we turned into the comfortable quarters of the Lodge at the Greyhound Hotel , was such as to inspire anyone with enthusiasm .

The occasion was the annual election meeting of the Lodge , held on Wednesday , 16 th ult ., at the Greyhound Hotel , Hampton Court , where the Brethren were welcomed on arrival by the Proprietor , Bro . E . Beltramo , in a most hearty manner , and at once proceeded to the Masonic Temple when , under the presidency of Bro . Edward John

Green W . M . a pleasant meeting was held . The W . M . was supported by Bros . J . C . Dyer S . W ., John Lewarne J . W ., E . Clare P . M . P . P . A . G . D . C Treas ., Charles G . Hatt P . M . P . Z . P . P . G . D . C . Sec , John Bell S . D ., P . Howard J . D ., W . Lewis acting I . G ., Shirl Mussell Org ., John Gilbert Tyler , C . E . Betts

I . P . M ., J . Cox P . M . P . G . J . D ., S . W . Keen P . M . P P . G . P ., W . Essex P . M . ; also Bros . E . Johnson Medford , John Radshaw , T . Spring , F . G . Waters , T . Cox , R . Kew , J . Harris , T . J . Liley , John Kench , E . Athol Dew Jones , Geo . Aggett , Alex . Dormon , J . W . P . Turner , H . L . Poole , t . Peard , Fred Trist , Edward Wilby and several others .

The visitors were Bros . H . Essex 511 , Alfred Collman W . M . 1425 , Edward Lawri 248 S , J . Wynman , & c . The Lodge being regularly formed the minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed , and then the Lodge was opened in the second degree . Bros . Thos . Peard and J . W . Turner being present as candidates for raising , they were . examined , and proved their proficiency to the satisfaction of the W . M ., who proceeded to entrust them for the higher privileges .

The Lodge was opened in the third degree , and Bros . Peard and Turner were raised as Master Masons , the W . M . rendering the ceremony in an impressive and really excellent manner . The Lodge was resumed to the first degree and the Bye-laws were read , after which the annual elections were proceeded with . Bro . J . C . Dyer was the next in rotation for election as Worshipful Master of the Lodge , and the time honoured system of promotion

byseniority was observed in his case , the announcement from the chair after the ballot being that the unanimous vote of the Brethren had been recorded on behalf of Bro . Dyer as Master for the ensuing year . This verdict was received with acclamation , and was suitably acknowledged by Bro . Dyer , who thanked the W . M . and Brethren of the Lodge for the compliment they had paid him in promoting him to the highest dignity of the Lodge .

Bros . E . Wilby , H . L . Poole , and Fred Tnst were appointed the'Auditors of the Lodge . The I . P . M . Bro . C . E . Betts proposed that a gold jewel of Past Master should be presented to Bro . E . J . Green , on his retirement from office later in the present month , and the proposition met the unanimous support of the members .

Bro . Betts also proposed that a jewel should be presented on the night of installation to Bro . Charles G . Hatt , . their worthy Secretary , who had most carefully fulfilled the onerous duties of the office for the past six years , and in a manner that had given the

greatest satisfaction . He thought the good services rendered by Brother Secretary should be recognised . The W . M . waxed eloquent in seconding the proposition , paying a deserved compliment to the Secretary , and the motion having been regularly brought forward was unanimously carried .

Reports Of Meetings.

Bro . Hatt , with his usual flow of lanuage , sincerely thanked the W . M . and Brethren for ; their great kindness , but he assured them his work as Secretary was really a labour of love ; still , he was very pleased to hear that he had given them satisfaction , and hoped to continue doing so for many years yet to come .

The Secretary now informed the W . M . that the proposition made at the last meeting , to assist a Brother , was duly carried out to the order of the Lodge . The charitable disposition of the members was further evinced on this occasion when , on the proposition of Bro . J . Cox P . M ., a little further assistance was rendered to the same Brother , in the form of another grant of two guineas , which suggestion was unanimously agreed to . The letter from Grand Lodge ,

asking for assistance on behalf of the loyal Brethern in South Africa , was received , and the W . M .-elect , in a stirring speech , urged the members to do something towards so important a Fund as that mentioned by Grand Lodge . Bro . Hatt informed the Master that the Benevolent Fund was in a good condition , and that they could well afford to do something . The W . M . proposed that the sum of five guineas should be sent towards the Fund , which was unanimously approved of .

This concluded the business of the meeting , and the Lodge was thereupon closed in harmony , the Brethren adjourning to the banquet room , where a most enjoyable dinner was provided under the personal supervision of the proprietor Bro . E . < Beltramo , who attended to the wants and comforts of the company in a manner which not only won him approval , but reflected credit on his well known establishment . The dinner , the wines , and the cigars were of the finest , and all present appeared to thoroughly enjoy the repast .

At the conclusion of the dinner the Worshi pful Master proposed the toast of the Queen and the Craft , which was accorded full musical honours .

The toast of the Grand Master was received with hearty greetings , as also was that of the Grand Officers , with which latter the W . M- had much pleasure in coupling the names of Bro . Cox Prov . J . G . D ., their Secretary Bro . Hatt P . P . G . D . C , their Treasurer Bro . E . Clare P . P . A . G . D . C , and Bro . S . W . Keen P . P . G . P . Bro . Cox responded to the toast .

Bro . Betts I . P . M . then rose to propose the health of the Worshipful Master . The way in which their W . M . had filled the chair during the year was most satisfactory , and he felt he was but echoing the sentiments of the Brethren when he said they hoped Bro . Green would be amongst them as a Past Master of the Lodge for many years to come .

The W . M . met a hearty reception on rising to respond . He could not thank Bro . Betts too much for his kind remarks , or the Brethren for their reception of them . He was glad to hear that he had given satisfaction during his year of office . It would be his greatest pleasure to render any assistance that might be required of him .

The Visitors were next toasted , and Bro . Essex , in response , said he had enjoyed himself very much , and felt sure his fellow guests had also . He had been extremely pleased to see the working done in so perfect a manner as it had been that day , and complimented the Worshipful Master 011 the assistance he had received from his Officers . Bro . Lauri also paid a compliment to the Master , congratulating him on the ability he had displayed in the Lodge , and characterising the display as a real Masonic treat . Other visitors also replied .

In proposing the toast of the Past Masters the W . M . said no Lodge could boast of better Brethren in this connection than the Dalhousie . The Immediate Past Master was , as they all knew , an expert in Masonic working , and he could assure them he had been a great support to him during the year , as whenever he was in trouble with the work the I . P . M . was always read y and willing to help . He felt confidence in asking the Brethren to honour the toast with extra enthusiasm .

Bro . Betts , in reply , said that if every Immediate Past Master had as little to do as he had had during the year that body of Brethren might well be pleased . The working of the Worshipful Master had really been so perfect that he had not required any assistance from his predecessors .

Bro . Essex P . M . said it was a pleasure to respond as a Past Master , one and all of whom would always be happy to render any assistance that was required . Past Masters Cox , Clare , and Hatt also made suitable response . The next toast was that of the Treasurer and Secretary , and in reply thereto Bro . Clare ( Treasurer ) thanked the W . M . for the kind

way in which he had brought the toast forward , and the Brethern for receiving it in so cordial a manner . He also thanked them for having re-elected him Treasurer of the Lod ge . He had worked with the W . M . in a most harmonious manner , and he hoped to do so with the W . M .-elect . They had to cut their coat according to their stuff , and just lately they had had" some heavy calls . He looked forward to having an even happier year in the future than the one just concluded . Hatt

Bro . ( Secretary ) also thanked the W . M . and Officers for their kind reception . He had endeavoured to do his duty as Secretary during the past six years , and if he should be re-appointed he would endeavour to do equally well , and hoped to win equally satisfactory commendation . He was pleased to say the Brethern of the Dalhousie Lodge attended to the question of dues in grand form . He could not forget the jewel they had been pleased to vote him , and once again desired to thank them all most sincerely for it .

The W . M . next proposed the toast of the Officers , and was proud to say the Brethren who had assisted him during the year were a most efficient body , knowing their work , and performing it in a manner any Lodge might be proud of . Bro . Dyer W . M .-elect thanked the W . M . for his very kind remarks in

regard to the Officers , and informed the Brethren that that night was his Masonic birthday . Nine years ago he was initiated , and he had not forgotten the impressions made upon him on that occasion . He hoped to emulate the excellent example set him by his predecessors , and follow in the footsteps of the worthy Master who initiated him . They had been good enough to eject him that