Installation Meetings, &C.

INSTALLATION MEETINGS , & c .

STOUR VALLEY LODGE , No . 1224 . A NOTABLE gathering of Suffolk Freemasons and visitors from London , together with representatives of Lodges in adjoining Provinces , cook place at Sudbury , on the 25 th ultimo , on which occasion Bro . William Inglis Mason , M . D ., was installed by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master into the chair of K . S . in tho Stonr Valley Lodgo , No . 1224 . The ntmost resources of tho Freemasons '

Hall and its contiguous apartments wero called into requisition , and by tho good management of thoso entrusted with the arrangements for the meeting tho lai * go company enjoyed the advantage of an orderly celebration of the nineteenth anniversary of tho establishment of tho Lodge . Amongst the numerous brethren assembled were

Bros . Henry C . Pratt W . M ., W . Inglis Mason , M . D ., S . W ., C . Joslin J . W ., V . W . the Rev . 0 . J . Martyn P . G . C . D . P . G . M . P . M . Chaplain . M . Reid J . D ., C . M . Mauldon Dir . of Cers ., B . H . Hurst Organist , W , Bailey I . G ., F . Wheeler P . M . P . P . G . Reg . Suffolk Secretary , J . Hills P . M . P . P . J . G . W . Treasurer , F . W . Jennings P . M . P . P . G . S ., W . G . Watford P . M ., C . W . Grim wood P . M . P . G . S ., ' II . Wei ham P . M . P . G . S .,

W . H . Smith P . M . P . P . G . S . B ., D . Alston I . P . M ., G . II . Grimwood P . M . P . P . G . S ., H . S . Oliver , J . S . Stuart , E . Andrews , W . T . Salzmann , G . G . Wherlow , S . Carlton , E . S . Garret , G . Whittle , Napoleon Aprile , W . Lambton Lewis , G . Grant , G . Murrells , C . H . Sewell , R . S . Joy ( Mayor of Sudbury ) , J . C . Sheehan , C . A . Row , W . Simpson , A . Grimwood , W . J . Moye , T . Grimwood , and other Lodge members .

The Visitors' list included Bros . W . Cuthbert Quilter , M . P ., Fredk Binckes P . G . S . P . G . S . B . Sec . R . M . I . B ., James Terry P . G . S . B . Sec R . M . B . I ., Clarke P . G . P . P . P . G . D . C . Suffolk , James Stevens P . M . P . Z . John G . Oliver P . P . G . S . W ., C . Cooke P . P . G . J . D ., Z . Hunt , E . H Inman , R . G . Killett and G . Corpus of 2154 , C . E . Porter 879 , B . B

Syer 1823 , J . 0 . Green W . M . and E . W . Moore of 388 , F . C Akinson 376 , E . W . Nunn and J . Hodges of 1592 , A . Taylor and S . Honeywill of 332 , S . B . Sparling , J . J . C . Tnrner and C . Osmond of 51 , A . Penraven 114 , E . Gowers 1024 , C . A . Adams G 3 , J . T . Gaul 959 , W , Clarke 115 , J . H . Batty 22 , H . J . H . Ward , J . II . Vaux and J . A . Grew

of 650 , R . Bullen 943 , R . J . Symonds and Henry Youens , besides several others who omitted to sign the attendance book . A procession having been formed by Bro . Clarke , tho brethren entered the Lodge , room , whilst Bro . Hnrst played a grand march on tho organ , and the Lodge was immediately thereafter opened in dne form . The

minutes of the previous Lodge meeting were confirmed , and the Lodge being properly advanced , Bro . W . T . Salzmaim was raised to the degree of Master Mason . Tho Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Bro . tho Rov . C . J . Martyn , then assumed tho chair of K . S ., and installed as W . M . for the ensuing year Bro . William Iuodis

Mason , the Board of Installed Masters numbering twenty-five , and tbe work being admirably performed , Bro . Clarke acting as Director of Ceremonies , while the Wardens' chairs wero occupied by Brothers G . H . Grimwood and C . Emmerson respectively . The W . M . Brother Mason after having received enthusiastic greetings and

congratulations appointed and invested his Officers , in the following order , viz . : —Bros . Joslin S . W ., Lord J . W ., tho Rev . C . J . Martyn " Chap . ; Hills Treasurer , Wheeler Secretary , Reid S . D ., Bailey J . D ., Mouldon D . C , Andrews I . G ., George Steward , Hurst Organist , Shell Tyler . The following gentlemen wero then introduced and received the

benefit of initiation , in the following order : —The Rev . David Hughes , B . A ., Clerk iu Holy Orders and Vicar of Long Waldingfiold , iuitTafced by tho W . M . ; Harris Hills , initiated by Bro . Pratt ; and the Rev . William Edmund Dixon , Curate of Long Melford , initiated by his Rector , the D . P . G . M ., who subsequently delivered the charge to the

neophytes . The performance of theso ceremonies , in most careful style , with excellent musical accompaniment , and reverential attention to the sublime ritual , made a deep impression alike on the newly initiated members , as on all others who had the qualification of hearing and witnessing the proceedings . The claim

for the " poor and distressed " was made in open Lodge , and was liberally answered by all who at that " moment" were in a position to practise charity . By the very thoughtful arrangements of the installing Master , the three Initiates of tho evening hacl the opportunity of hearing the admirable addresses to the " Principal

Officers and Brethren with which tho ceremony of installation terminates , and shortly , after hearty good wishes had been tendered , the Lodge was closed with solemn prayer and sacred music , and the brethren for a brief while separated . The banquet was provided nnder the direction and supervision of Bro . Joseph George one of

the Stewards of the Lodge , and the much respected proprietor of the " Rose and Crown" Hotel , at which place the members of , and Visitors to , tbe Lodge assembled . In the large and very tastefully decorated ball-room , the tables had been profusely ornamented with flowers , choice plants , and an exquisite device , forming an inscription

of the name of the Lodge in varegated leaves ; and the general effect on entry deserved tbe expressions of satisfaction with the admirable taste of whoever might have carried out that portion of the decorations . Nor did the " good things , " which were almost immediately placed on the tables , diminish in the least the favonrable

anticipations of really choice and well selected viands and of highest class wines . In a word the banquet was a success in every respect , and reflected the greatest credit ou the purveyor , the management , the cuisine , and the service of one of the most comfortabFe Hotels in Suffolk . A splendid liberality pervaded the whole business of dining

and cheerfulness and hilarity marked the opening of the Post prandial proceedings . Want of space will interfere with any lengthened report of the speeches , which strnck us as being , on this occasion , more than customarily effective and to the

purpose . In proposing the Loyal toasts tho W . M . referred to the " unswerving loyalty " of the Craft to the Throne , and the devotion of the M . W . G . M to the welfare of the people , as evidenced by the time given by him in presiding over assemblages whereat his presence and

Installation Meetings, &C.

patronage would promote the interest of the middle classes , and his later proposal for a liberal grant from Grand Lodge at this season of necessary assistance for the unemployed and poorer fellow creatures . A touching allusion was made by the W . M . to the regretted illness of Bro . the Crown Prince of Prussia , and the hopes he expressed for his

recovery wero earnestly endorsed by all present . Tho purely Masonic toists were mostly entrusted to brethren below ^ the Chair , the W . M . adopting a system which should , in our opinion , find greater favour than it doea throughout the Craft . The continued utterances of one speaker , no matter how eloquent aud elegant

his language may bo , somewhat tires his hearers in the course of a long evening's toast list , aud Bro . Mason ' s distribution of the toasts gavo opportunity for the display of other talent , lessened the strain upon his own power of endurance , and gave general satisfaction to his guests . Bro . J . F . Hills proposed "Tho M . W . Pro G . M . the

Earl of Carnarvon , the R . W . D . G . M . the Earl of Lathom , and Grand Officers present and past , " and , after eulogizing the efforts of the Principal Officers on behalf of the Order , expressed hia gratification that in the persons of the Dep . P . G . M . Bro . Martyn , Bros . Binckes and Terry , and Bro . Clarke , the Stonr Valley Lodge was graced by the

presence of four Grand Officers as probably no other Lodge in Suffolk had hitherto been . Bro . Clarke returned thanks on behalf of the Grand Officers , remarking that this year conld never be forgotten in Masonry , if only from the fact that so many illustrious Masons had been admitted to the roll of highest Masonic honour in the

Jubilee year of our Most Gracious Patroness the Queen . Bro . Joslin , proposed "The R . W . Prov . Grand Master of Suffolk the Right Hon . Lord Henniker P . G . S . W . ; the V . W . D . P . G . M . the Rev . C . J . Martyn P . G . Chaplain , and the rest of the Prov . Grand Officers , present and past , " particularly complimenting the Dep . G . M . on all

the many acts of kindness and generosity performed by him with respect to the Suffolk Lodges but more especially in connection with the Stour Valloy Lodge ; to which toast Bro . Martyn responded , expressing regret for the unavoidable absence of the Prov . Grand Master whose engagements were at this time very numerous , but

who had promised attendance at an early opportunity . The toast , said Bro . Martyn , was a most comprehensive one in connection with which personally he might observe " the least said the soonest mended . " Well he could not be otherwise than grateful for all tho encouragement he had received from this Lodge , which of all

others knew how much his heart was in Freemasonry and he hoped to be able to continue his efforts both in behalf of the Province arid the Lodge for a long timo to come . Of the Prov . G . Officers generally ho desired to speak highly , as a body of excellent and efficient men , of whom a good sample are members of the

Stour Valley Lodge . It had given them great pleasure to havo enrolled amongst their ranks Bro . Body , who had been appointed as one of the Jubilee Officers , in recognition of the great labour and consideration he had given to the good and welfare of the Masonic Charitable Institutions . For each and all he tendered

sincere thanks for the acknowledgment of the toast . Bro . Henry C . Pratt proposed the health of the W . M . Bro . W . Inglis Mason , of whom ho said it was difficult to speak in terms of sufficient commendation for all he had done for tho Lodge since his initiation . Though " made " a Mason but five years ago , as shown by the register of the

Lodge proceedings , there was another register not far away which recorded that he was " born " a Mason somo forty years since , and whether before or subsequent to his connection with the Stour Valley Lodge , his record as a thorough good Mason by name and nature alike was established . No better evidence of his popularity was

needed than that of his present surroundings , and the regard of his numerous friends testified to the quality of his principles , whilst his work in the Lodge made manifest the quality of his ritual . That his year of Office would add considerably to tho welfare of the Lodge and redound highly to his credit there could be no doubt . He was

skilful , just and generous ; a Doctor moreover , and that might be useful—and he felt sure would add a lustre to all Masonic under , takings within his province . Bro . Pratt concluded a very cheery speech , which was heartily received , by calling for an enthusiastic reception of his proposal . There was no mistake about the character

of the greeting the W . M . received on rising to reply , for the applause was again and again renewed . When he could at length obtain a hearing , he modestly deprecated what he was pleased to term the over-praise of his good friend and Brother Pratt , stating however that it had been his great wish to become the W . M . of Stonr Valley

Lodge , in order that what he might be able to do in promoting its welfare , prosperity and progress , he should have the opportunity to carry into effect . His year of office shonld speak for itself when the proper time came . His besfc should be done , and he trusted that best would be good for the Lodge and all concerned ,

and givo satisfaction . Bro . Mason spoke briefly , but very earnestly , and was warmly cheered on resuming his seat . The health of the Installing Master was proposed as a separate toast , aud Bro . Martyn , referring to a song which Bro . Gowers had sung in the interval , " Bid me discourse , " said he should not take that as a

a hint to extend his remarks , for he thought he had discoursed quite enough for the day both in and out of Lodge , aud to be called upon to return thanks twice in one evening was somewhat of a " strong order , " and one which he wonld prefer reduced to a single line . He could but repeat in tho words , "I thank you , " all he had

previously uttered in reference to himself . But he had now the opportunity to speak of another good brother , and to give honour to a man to whom honour is justly due . Everything under his rule had gone smoothly and successfully , and spite of all the good qualities his successor undoubtedly possessed , he ( the present W . M . ) would have

something to do to break the record . To perform thoroughly the dnties of a Worshipful Master is nofc at all times an easy task , bufc Bro . Pratt went into the work heart and soul , and all knew how

dnring his year of office he had stuck to it . Deeds more than words had characterised his labours , and now let deeds more than words reward him . He ( Bro . Martyn ) was for the moment the mouthpiece of the members o £ the Lodge , their Deputy in another