Reports Of Meetings.

REPORTS OF MEETINGS .

— : o : — GRAFT : PROVINCIAL .

WAVERLEY LODGE , No . 1322 . THE regular meeting was held afc the Masonic Rooms , Queen's Arms , Ashton-under-Lyne , on Thursday , 27 th April , Bro . Alfred Cooper presiding over a very large number of Brethren and Visitors . The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed . Bro .

Alfred Chapman expressed his desire to be passed to the second degree , and was entrusted . The Lodge was opened in the second degree and Bro . Jno . Smith P . M . P . P . J . G . D . passed Bro . Chapman , wifch his usual impressiveness and dignity . Bro . the Rev . Wm . Titfcerington Chaplain of the Lodge gave the charge , with his usual eloquence .

After all business had been attended to and " Hearty Good Wishes been expressed by the numerous visitors present , the Lodge was closed . Among those present were Bros . A . Cooper W . M ., 3 . Travis S . W ., Tom Ogden J . W ., M . Newman I . P . M ., J . Riley P . M ., A . Sumner P . M ., A . B . Wilkinson P . M ., Alfred Adams Sec , A . Chapman , A . Slater S . D ., Geo . Parry J . D ., 3 . T . Coles

I . G ., John Gamble , Jas . W . Hunstone , Arnold E . Fowden , George W . Davies P . M ., Harry Andrew , Walter Scholes , Charles Plant , and Dan Birkby Tyler . Visiting Brethren : John Bottomley P . M . 324 P . P . G . S . B ., Herbert Fuller 324 , J . O . Lowton P . M . 1408 , Tom Cheetham I . P . M 89 , Joe Horsfall 430 , H . K . Bradley 430 , William Farrell 2156 , and Charles Saunders 730 .

At the festive board , the usual Loyal and Masonio toasts were given and responded to with requisite honours . Towards the close , and at the call of the W . M . Bro . J . Mercer Jones P . M . P . P . G . A . P . proposed a special toast , viz ., the health of Bro . Samuel Grundy P . M ., in the following terms : The toast to which I have the pleasure to invite you fco drink might justly be termed the toast of the evening , and will , I am sure , be received with acclamation . It is a toast in honour of one of the Past Masters of this

Lodge , who has endeared himself to the hearts and affections of all his Brethren by his affability , candour , sincerity and simplicity—which seem to be some of the striking features of his character . Since his initiation , ten years ago , Bro . Grundy P . M . has been a pattern to us all , in uprightness , wisdom , and zeal ; his virtues , which are many , are fragrant wifch fche odour of good deeds . As a man he is gentle and kind , sincere and faithful as a friend , of the most restless energy , and never wearying industry , of

irreproachable integrity , and undaunted fortitude , and when occasion offers he displays the most determined bravery and masterly soldiership . This was amply verified in the Lodge on one occasion when he was the Inner Guard . At our annual festival of Sfc . John in the year 1891 , when I had the honour to be installed into the chair of K . S ., it was my misfortune to be deprived of the guidance and assistance of our highly esteemed and much

respected Schoolmaster Bro . Newton P . M ., who is prevented from being with us to-night by sickness , which we all regret . Then he gave us an example of his untiring energy . Bnt as some of the best and sweetest songs are the expressions of truth wrung from the human heart in the agony , and the excitement of the battle of life , so , Brethren , was tho toast of " the Boys of our Young Brigade , " the result of the anguish of my soul on that memorable day . I do not regret that event , Brethren , as since that night Bio . Grundy and I have been faithful companions and friends in the cause of Masonry .

He was afterwards appointed " Captain of the Young Brigade " which position he held with credit and honour , until he because the Commander in Chief of all the forces of the Waverley Lodge ; and the more I know of him as a Brother Mason , and the moro closely I am associated with him as a friend , the greater is my confidence in inviting you , one and all , to heartily drink with me long life , health , and happiness to our Brother Past Master Samuel Grundy . The toast was received with loud applause . The Brethren

heartily sang " Auld Lang Lyne , " when Bro . Jones continued : Brethren , one thing more , not having a record of the genealogy of our Brother Samuel I am unable to give you his pedigree , so as to trace his lineage in tho direct line back to " Samuel , " of ancient historical fame , but we have only to look at his benign and cheerful countenance , to preceive that he is a worthy son of a noble ancestry .- And tq-nighfc we do not drink to his health in mere words

alone , we are prepared to prove our affection for him in a more solid and tangible form . I therefore have very much pleasure to call upon Bro . Grundy to rise and to receive at my hands , in the name and on behalf of every Brother of Lodge "Waverley , this handsome Past Master ' s jewel , of solid gold , of beautiful design and exquisite workmanship , on the back of which is engraved the following inscription , viz : —

Presented to BBO . SAMUEL GBUNDY P . M . by the Brethren of the Lodge , as a mark of esteem . 27 th April 1899 , as some token of our regard , and I can assure you , Bro . Grundy , it is a most pleasurable duty fco pin this jewel on your breast ; and may the G . A . O . T . U . grant unto you many years of life to wear this ornament , in honour of this day , and in memory of your Brethren of the Waverley Lodge .

A letter which was received from Brother Nawton , the Mayor of Ashton was read , as follows : — '

To fche WOBSHIPFUL MASTEB , Waverley Lodge , No . 1322 . DBAB SIB AND BBOTHBB , —One more disappointment , another apology , I am tired of them , I cannot tell you and fche Brethren how disappointed I am in consequence of my absence from the Lodge to-night . However , if I am not with you in the flesh , consider that I am not far from you , and that my with know toni !

thoughts aro you . I -gh ; is bo be of an exceptional character , honour is to be done to one of our Past Maskers , by the presentation to him of a P . M . ' s jewel . I should have been proud of being present , and to have pinned that jewel to his breast and fco have said to him , " Well done thou good and faithful servant , " and to all those below the salt , " go ye and do likewfse " if you desire and deserve it .

Bro . Grundy is deserving of fche honour conferred upon him to-night . He fulfilled the respective offices which he held below the chair , and discharged the duties appertaining to each office with every satisfaction to his superiors , ° as to merit the distinguished honour of being appointed " Captain of the Young Brigade , " which position he occupied with distinction until he was elevated and transferred from the West to the East ( never to return ) .

Reports Of Meetings.

As Master he was efficient , performing the different ceremonies required of him with precision and exactness ; as President of the social board rather impetuous , ignoring the Prince of Wales , Grand , and Prov . Grand Officers , and even at times omitting to sing one verse of the Queen , to the great disgust of Bro . Jones , ever anxious was he that the Brethren might smoke . Well , with all his faults we love him still .

Then , as Installing Master , installing his successor in such a masterly manner , with every satisfaction to all present , especially to the members of Waverley , and more particularly to the Schoolmaster . This is strong proof that we have another Pillar , to which the Young Brigade can look up to for strength and support , and the Lodge another Rock and Foundation to give it strength to continue to be the best and most efficient Lodge in the town , —nulli secundus .

Brethren , I hope you will have a very happy and enjoyable evening , and beg to say farewell , good-night , good-nighfc , once more repeat the faieweU strain , happy to meet , sorry to part , and happy to meet again .

I am , Yours fraternally , WALTEB NEWTON P . M . Treasurer D . of C . P . P . J . G . D . E . L . Richmond Hill , Ashton-under-Lyne , 27 th April 1899 . The W . M . next called upon Bro . the Rev . W . Titterington Chaplain of the Lodge to utter a few words . Brother Titterington said—Worshipful Master , Senior and Junior Wardens , and Brethren all . It is with feelings of peculiar

and most intense satisfaction that I rise at the command of the W . M . to say a few words on this very interesting occasion . There are several reasons why I am proud to take a part iu the proceedings this evening . In the first place I owe my introduction to this Lodge to Bro . S . Grundy , and to him I am also indebted for the privilege and honour of now being a member of Waverley . From him I received for the first time the solemn charge when I was appointed by the I . P . M . the Chaplain of this Lodge . But besides all this

Bro . Grundy is a member of the congregation in Dukinfield whom it is my delight to serve in the gospel . In our hymn book there occurs this line — " If one member honoured be , all rejoice most heartily . " This is true of the members of that church wifch which we are connected—the church of the United Brethren , or Moravians—and ifc is also true of the members of that ancient and honourable Fraternity met here to-night . Once when Christ was upon earth some people came to Him asking Him to confer a great

blessing upon one whom they respected , and the argument they used was "He is worthy for whom He should do this thing . " We use the same argument in reference to Bro . Grundy , and we say he is worthy of this honour . This sentiment will be shared not only by the members of Waverley Lodge present , but also by the members of the various other Lodges so largely represented here , all of whom we are glad to see . I feel that the honour

which is being done to Bro . Grundy to-night is richly deserved , and is in a way whioh I cannot well express in words an honour done to my foster-father in Freemasonry , as well as to a member of my congregation , and therefore an honour' conferred indirectly upon myself . I rejoice , too , to think that the secret of our special festivities this evening , which we have known for two months , has been kept with Masonic precision .

Brother Grundy , in responding , said : Brethren , if ever a person was placed in a most embarassing position it is the humble individual who is now attempting to address you . I naturally assumed that the prefatory observations of Brother Jones alluded to our esteemed Pasfc Master Brother Nawton , who is , much to our regret , confined to his house through a renewed attack of illness , but who is happily making rapid progress towards recovery ; and I cheered Bro . Jones ' s observations accordingly . As , however , he proceeded

with his speech , and most pointedly alluded to me , I imagined that with his accustomed facetiousness he intended to trespass on your time and patience to pay me the compliment of asking you to drmk to my health , which 1 did not think vvas at all advisable or necessary , having regard to the musical talent here assembled . Our Chaplain has said that the secret of the presentation of this jewel to me has been kept with Masonic precision , and I can testify fco the accuracy of that utterance . Until the moment Bro . Jones pinned this

handsome jewel upon my breast I had not the least idea that you intended to confer upon me so great and undeserved an honour . The eulogistic sentiments which have been given expression to both by Bro . Jones and our Chaplain to-night have been beyond my deserts , and I would venture to add , with all deference to them , altogether unmerited . I look back , Brethren , to the time when I made my advent into this Lodge , and I say that the years I have been connected with it always bring to my mind the most pleasant

recollections . I well remember taking a somewhat prominent part in conjunction with our late and much lamented friend Bro . Wright Wood , when the Brethren of this Lodge presented Bro . Jones with a Past Master ' s jewel , and to the delight whioh that ceremony afforded us . Brethren , I cannot adequately express to you my deep sense of gratitude , at the totally unexpected honour

you have conferred upon me to-night , an honour which , allow me to say again , was as unmerited as it is undeserved . But I accept it with gratefulness , and as a token of your kindly feeling towards me which I can never forget ; and rest assured that this jewel will ever be treasured by me , my wife , and my family , and that this night will never be effaced from my memory . — Brethren , I thank you .

ST . JOHN'S LODGE , No . 1343 . THE annual festival of this- prosperous and flourishing Lodge took place on Wednesday , 25 th ult ., at the Public Hall , Grays , Essex , a special dispensation having been granted for this purpose . Bro . Joseph Weymouth the outgoing Master presided , and among those present were Bros . Thos . J . Railing P . A . G . D . C . Provincial Grand Secretary , George Harlow 2147 P . G . S . B . Kent , J . W . Armour 2707 P . G . S . B . Essex , J . J . Hollis P . G . D . Kent , William J . Emberson W . M . 1817 , B . G . Thomas W . M .

160 , Charles Westwood P . P . G . D . C , F . W . Pelling Prov . J . G . D ., F . S . Guy P . P . J . G . W ., Edward Ayres P . M ., H . C . Borradaile P . P . G . S . B ., Thos . P . Trounce W . M . 453 , W . J . Barnes I . P . M . 2501 , Henry Hide I . P . M . 1227 , C . J . Smith I . P . M . 2648 , D . Harlow P . M . 65 , S . G . Thorne 1425 , Geo . R . Ceiley 1464 , P . VV . Wilson , J . W . Johnson , A . G . Knight , John Higgins , H . W . P . Hunt , H . T . Bisher , J . W . Bowton , B . Thomas , W . White , A . F . Blake , W . Mitchell , H . Tuson , 3 . Melvin , W . H . Brough , G . H . Jones , & c .

Upon this occasion the Lodge had wisely ordained that the only business to be transacted was that of tho installation , and therefore after the minutes had been confirmed the Lodgo was opened in the second degree , when Bro . Pelling presented Bro . George H . Silverwood , M . A ., LL . B ., the W . M .-elect , to his predecessor , to receive at his hands the benefit of installation . Having addressed the Brethren as has been the custom from time immemorial , Bro . Weymouth proceeded with the ceremony upon the usual lines , and placed Bro . Silverwood in the chair of the Lodge , and all present re-echoed the sentiment expressed that he would have a happy year of office .