Reports Of Meetings.

The Officers appointed for the year were invested by Bro . Silverwood in a most original manner , his humorous remarks as each came before him causing much merriment . They wero Bros . Charles Asplin S . W ., P . Atkins J . W ., Rev . F . Haslock Chaplain , Charles Westwood Treasurer , H . C . Borradaile Secretary , R . Walker S . D ., J . Melvin J . D ., W . Dorman I . G ., F . W . Pelling D . C , R . Matthews Organist , W . H . Brough , G . H . Jones , and B . D . Borradaile Stewards , George Martin Tyler .

The addresses were creditably delivered by Bro . Weymouth , after which the Past Master ' s collar and the Lodge jewel were presented to him , for whioh he returned his grateful thanks . The new W . M . having presented the Lodge with new gauntlets for the principal Officers , was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for the same . Bro . T . Railing announced the Earl of Warwick had decided to hold the Provincial Grand Lodge at Tilbury , on 26 th July next , and he hoped there would be a good attendance .

Bro . Ayres proposed and Bro . Pelling seconded a cordial vote of thanks to Bro . Weymouth , for his services as Installing Master , which was acknowledged by the I . P . M . in feeling terms . This concluding tho business of the evening , the Visitors tendered their congratulations , the closing hymn was sung , and the Brethren adjourned to the Queen ' s Hotel , where the banquet was served .

ARCHITECT LODGE , No . 1375 . THE regular meeting was held at the Masonic Hall , Chorlton-cum-Hardy , on Friday , 5 fch ult ., Bro . John Mann Crone Worshipful Master . In lieu of other ceremonial , the traditional history , and explanation of tracing board in the third degree were rendered by Bro . Cyril H . Beever P . M . Charity Representative , principally for the benefit of Bros . T . C Tallent-Bateman and G . H . Smith , to whom also Grand Lodge certificates were presented .

The fact was mentioned that Bro . Oliphant O . Brown had recently lost his father by death , and the Secretary was instructed to forward a letter ol condolence to him . Bro . Crono W . M . informed the members that Bro . Henry Nail P . M . P . P . G . Treas ., unavoidably absent that night on business connected with the mercantile progress of Manchester , was about to proceed abroad for the benefit of his health , and asked the Brethren to join with him in wishing Bro . Nail a pleasant journey , restored energy , and a safe return to England . This proposition was enthusiastically accepted .

The festive board followed , Loyal and Masonic toasts being relieved , by songs , & c , given by Bros . Wm . Rushton J . W ., A . Redfearn Treas ., W . T . Hesketh P . M . Sec , W . Lea S . D ., T . C Tallent-Bateman Org ., Wm . Moult , and Edward Roberts P . M . 1459 . The function mentioned above was that of formally opening a new warehouse which has been erected at the corner of Princess Street and Whitworth Street , Manchester , for Lloyd ' s Packing Warehouses , Limited .

Colonel Mellor , M . P ., performed the ceremony . The building is seven storeys high , and is divided into twelve suites of rooms , each comprising a wareroom and set of offices . These apartments will be let to business firms . The basement is fitted up with modern appliances for the packing of goods for export . The machinery is worked by hydraulic and electric power , and the building lighted by electricity . Passenger and goods lifts are provided , and protection against fire is afforded by the installation of an automatic sprinkler .

The completion of this building , which bears the name of the Whitworth House , brings the total number of packing warehouses owned by the Company in the city up to ten . The architect is Bro . I . R . E . Birkett I . P . M . 1375 , and Messrs . William Southern and Sons , of Salford , have carried out the building contract . Mr . Allan Norbury , one of the Directors of the Company , is the

manager of the new warehouse . In addition to Colonel Mellor , the principal shareholder of the Company , there were present at Friday ' s function Messrs . William Wadsworth Chairman of the Company , Alfred Watkin Vice-Chairman , T . Davenport , W . L . and A . F . Norbury , John Louden , Bro . Hy . Nail P . M . 1375 2363 P . P . G . Treas ., T . Maybrick , R . M . Johnson Directors , and Mr . E . W . Mellor . The company made an inspection of the new building .

Colonel Mellor , 'in proposing the toasfc of success to Lloyd ' s Packing Warehouses , at the dinner at the Grand Hotel , which followed the formal opening , said that no finer establishment existed for the special business for which the warehouse was intended , and no business in Lancashire was controlled by a more capable board of Directors . He thought the Company might confidently look forward to a future of solid prosperity . They neither expected nor desired fco make excessive or phenomenal profits , for such results

were neither good for proprietors nor employes , and a career of excessive prosperity was generally transient . But with first-class premises , ample resources , and honest management they might depend upon permanent prosperity so long as the textile trade of the county lasted . Several considerations seemed to point to as great and prosperous a future for Lancashire as anything she had seen in the past . The one great necessity was the maintenance of the peace of the world , especially between tho Great Powers .

Those relations were at present on a friendly footing , and there seemed every prospect that they would remain so . He had travelled in Upper Egypt , and Nubia , and had even penetrated some little distance into tbe Soudan , and he could testify that there was plenty of room for Manchester calicoes in that region ; in fact , the absence of textile fabrics in those parts had sometimes been positively embarrassing . There was a large field out there to which Lloyd's Packing Warehouses might send their bales , for to provide even the

most elementary garments would keep them busy for a long time . Reverting to the management of the trade and manufactures of Lancashire , Colonel Mellor said that if strikes were to be resorted to every time a dispute arose they might as well put up their shutters and write " Ichabod " over their portals . Happily , in one most important branch of the textile trade , he meant the spinning department , a strike had been averted by mutual and

timely concessions . How the crisis in the weaving department would end he could not say . There the interests were varied ; in some branches of manufacturing there had been prosperity , in others serious losses were encountered . He hoped that by mutual forbearance the calamity of a strike might be averted . Happily the trade of the country as a whole had prospered , and in that prosperity the working people had shared .

ALBERT VICTOR LODGE , No . 1773 . rpiHE regular meeting was held at the Town Hall , Pendleton , on Friday X 19 th ult ., Bro . W . Thos . Biease Worshipful Master . As there was very little business to transact , an early adjournment was made to supper , this being followed by the festive board , where Loyal and Masonic toasts were relieved by songs , recitations , & c , the contributaries being Brothers the W . M ., A . T . Mills , Rev . W . G . E . Rces , M . A ., J . Hart , and Edward Roberts P . M .

Reports Of Meetings.

The toasfc of fche Provincial Officers was proposed by fche W . M ., who spoke of the recent honour conferred upon the Albert Victor Lodge , at the Oldham meeting , held a couple of days previously . Bros . Thomas Threlfall P . M . Provincial Gr . P ., and Edward Roberts P . M . Prov . Gr . Tylor responded , the former giving a short and interesting account of his connection with Freemasonry .

Bro . William Mosley P . M . proposed the health of the visitor , which was duly responded to by Bro . Robert Clayton , Harmony Lodge , No . 935 , who , in a capital speech , complimented the members of the Albert Victor Lodge upon their admirable method of working , stating at the same time that he had that evening learned a great deal which was new to him .

ZION LODGE , No . 1798 . THE regular meeting was held at the Grand Hotel , Manchester , on Wednesday , 10 th ult ., Bro . Mark Steel W . M . The minutes of the former meeting having been read and confirmed , Brothers W . G . Lamb and Arthur Eppinger were raised to the sublime degree of M . M ., the former by the W . M ., and the latter by Bro . Bernhard Steel

I . P . M ., who also presented and explained the working tools to the candidates . At the festive board which followed , Loyal and Masonic toasts were given and responded to , varied by songs , & c , rendered by Bros . J . H . Phillips Sec , Hy . Norris S . D ., J . B . Levey , S . Jacobson , and Harry 0 . Goldman J . D . 323 , the latter also treating the company to a clever thought-reading exhibition .

THE MANCHESTER LODGE , No . 2554 . THE regular meeting was held at the Freemasons' Hall , Manchester , on Friday , 12 th ult ., Bro . Wm . Alderley Boyer W . M . Although there was no work of any importance to be transacted in Lodge , the W . M . was well supported by his Officers , and also by an array of influential visitors , among the latter being Brothers James Newton P . M . Past Gr . Sword Bearer Prov . G . Sec , 0 . D . Cheetham P . M . 993 P . P . G . W ., Buckley

Carr P . M . 1161 P . P . G . D . C , G . L . Vaughan P . M . 1030 P . P . G . Reg ., H . J . Cutter P . M . 44 P . P . G . S . D ., W . H . Jones Org . 2447 , and W . J . Sherlock 2109 . Afc the festive board Bro . Newton , who has only recently received the more distinctive honour , responded on behalf of Grand Lodge in a very interesting speech , Bros . Cheetham and Carr more particularly representing Prov . Grand Lodge .

Bro . Wm . Charlton , J . P ., I . P . M . proposed the health of the Worshipful Master , while Bro . W . Akerman P . M . Prov . G . A . D . C D . of C . introduced that of the Officers , both receiving fitting responses .

WYTHENSHAWE LODGE , No . 2688 . rPIHE Brethren held their Festival of St . John at the Tatton Arms Hotel , _ L Northenden , on Wednesday , 17 th ult . Tbe Lodge was consecrated in May last , by the Right Hon . Earl Egerton , Bro . T . W . Markland P . P . G . R . being installed its first W . M . Beyond observing , however , that the benediction of the G . M . of the Province has been bountifully supplemented by the blessing of the Great Architect of

the Universe , and that the Lodge is consequently in a highly progressive condition , further reference to its formation and consecration is here unnecessary . Suffice to say that its first installation meeting since that eventful time furnishes a warranty for the continued hope that the Lodge will have a long and prosperous career in this salubrious section of the Province .

It was a regrettable circumstance that so many Brethren who had signified their intention of being present were prevented through sickness and other unavoidable causes from taking any part in the installation , especially as the Brother elected to the dignity of Master was the popular and esteemed member of the Craft Bro . Mark Oliver , who , as S . W . of the Lodge had unquestionably proved his worthiness for the higher position .

Bro . A . Keymer P . M . and CR . was the Installing Master , and in his delicate and impressive manner performed the duty without a hitch . The Lodge business concluded , the Brethren sat down to the orthodox banquet , the tabling and serving of which did high credit fco Bro . A . C . Flint . The toast list was an exhaustive one , fche W . M . first submitting the loyal list , and , later on , in proposing the Earl of Egerton , referring in highly eulogistic terms to the services that nobleman had rendered to Freemasonry generally , and to that Province in particular .

The Worshipful Master proposed the Immediate Past Master Brother T . W . Markland P . P . G . R ., to whom in the name of the Lodge he presented a very handsome Past Master's Jewel , its engraved inscription in solid gold back explaining that it was presented to Bro . Markland by the Brethren of the Wythenshawe Lodge , as its first Master , and as a mark of esteem and respect .

In thanking the Brethren for this further mark of their goodwill , Bro . Markland , who had just returned from a long journey , taken with a view of recruiting his health , which , in parenthesis , we were glad to hear him say had largely accomplished that purpose , incidentally referred to the fact that he had discovered Masonio friends in Morocco , although they could only exchange signs , thug substantiating the legitimacy of the claim to an everpresent meridian sunshine on Freemasonry .

Austen-Gwelo, Rhodesia .

AUSTEN-GWELO , RHODESIA .

AMONG Rhodesian shares we have frequently called attention to those of the Austen-Gwelo Development Syndicate ( Limited ) as being well worth attention . As we predicted , they havo risen in price , and look like going much higher . During the past week they have been largely dealt in by some of the most important members of the London Stock Exchange , and owing to the excellent reports coming forward both by cable and letter from

the company ' s manager at the mines in Rhodesia , these shares closed better on the week . The total capital of the company is only £ 50 , 000 in shares of £ 1 each , fully paid , and it owns a farm of 6 , 000 acres and five hundred and seven claims in the best-known and most important gold mining districts of Rhodesia . In addition to the above very satisfactory information , intelligence

has come to hand showing that as sinking proceeds the mines develop greater richness . Arrangements are being made to float one set of these claims as a company , which will enable tbe Austen ( Gwelo ) Development Syndicate ( Limited ) to pay a handsome dividend . Speculative investors might do worse than pick up these shares at the present price of about £ 2 2 s 6 d , afc which they are now dealt in on the London Stock Exchange .