Notices Of Meetings.

position ; while on my loft are three Post Masters who took part in the various ceremoaiea connected therewith . Bro . Oldham initiated me ; I was passed by Bro . Winterbottom ; and raised by our respected Bro . Harrop , and I do not forget the impression which the latter ceremony made upon me . I soon felt the influence derived from the teachings of Freemasonry , aud I can honestly say that

I am at this moment a better man for having joined so ancient and honourable a society . I remember thinking , after the able manner in which Bro . Harrop performed tho ceremony of raising , that I had made one great mistake in my life , one , however , which was more my misfortune than my fault , namely , that I had not joined Freemasonry before . AU I can aay is , better late than never . I am

pleased to testify that I have never had one regret in having become a Mason ; on the contrary , I have made many friends ( not merely acquaintances ) , bat real friends , and I am assured that I have many such amongst the members of this Lodge . I cannot say that during the early portion of my membership I had any ambition to occupy this post , for the reason that I feared the duties and requirements

wonld be more than my abilities were capable of ; but after a timo , having got on the rungs of the lavrter aa Steward , and by steady advancement attaining successively the post of I . G ., S . D ., J . W ., and S . W ., I found that eaoh offico I filled gave me greater confidence , and inspired me with an ambition which I cannot but consider is right for every Officer to foster . I may say here that my

responsibilities as W . M . will bo considerably lightened by my fortunate possession of au excellent staff of Officers , every one of whom will take a delight in doing bis duty thoroughly , and when the time arrives for auy of them to fill this otaair , they will carry out its traditions with satisfaction to themselves , and with credit to tbe Lodge . The next toast oa the list was the Immediate Past Master ;

this was most ably proposed . Bro . Threlfall said : —I have very great pleasure in proposing what we may call the toaat of the evening , namely , tho health of Bro . Smith I . P . M ., and my duty in this respect has been somewhat lightened by the hearty manner in whioh it has been received . I say this ia the toast of the evening because io ia a . sort of tbankofferiog for services rendered , and

rendered too in a most efficient and satisfactory manner to the Craft generally , but more particularly to the Albert Victor Lodge . On behalf of the brethren I tender to Bro . Smith our warmest thanks for the very able and efficient manner in which he has discharged his duties in the capacity of W . M . for the last twelve months , and to show onr appreciation ot * those services , I am deputed to present him

W ) th a handsome Past Master ' s jewel , and I trust he may wear it for many years . In replying , Bro . Smith said he must first thank the brethren for the kind reception which they had given to the toast , He stood there with mixed feelings , the most predominant being that of satisfaction that a great responsibility had been removed from his shoulders . He had set himself to do many things during hia year

of office , and if they had been performed in any way indifferently he must throw himself upon their charity . He reverted to the many social evenings whioh he had spent with the brethren and thanked them for presenting to him such a beautiful jewel . They had always been very kind to him in any little troubles which might bave occurred , and he fully acknowledged and appreciated

this outward expression of good feeling on their part . Bro . E . Holland P . M . proposed the toast of tho Installing Master . He said that from his advent into tho Lodge , many years ago , he had alwaya found Bro . Hardoastle a good brother , and a goo I i ' rieud . Reverting fcj the ceremony , Bro . Holland characterised it us having been done beautifully . Bro . Hardcastle replied ; though he would like to do

so , he did nofc feel equal to tbo occas . ou of doing proper justice to the toast . Throughout the ceremony he had experienced a norvons intensity of feeling which it hud been impossible tj suppress . He commented on tho brilliant assembly that had witnessed the installation , and said that no man had ever beeu more eager , more anxious , aud more wishful than himself that all should be done perfectly . In

conclusion he hoped that the corning year might be to the Worshipful Master as bright and successful aa he could desire . Brother F . Towuaon Past jMaster proposed the next toasttbat of the Masouic Charities . He said he was proud to be the Charity Representative of a Lodge which , though comparatively

small iu uumbei ' ii , was huge in generosity ; this bad beeu ovinced by the brethren duriug tbe past year . Beneficence and benevolence were words often heard iu a Masonic Lodge , but whilst one signified feeling , the other meant giving . Beneficence and benevolence must go hand in hand .

'Tis not enough that we with sorrow sigh , That we in sympathy with sufferers feel , Nor hear a grief without a wish to heal , But seek tbo dnty , —nay prevent the need ; Her utmost aid to every ill applies , Aud plants relief for coming distress ?

Bro . Townson briefly referred to the Masouic Charities , and made especial mention of th » Royal Masonic Benevolent Institntion , which , he said , appealed to him most strongly , because it applied to the time when the . applicants for the charity had " passed the noon of life , "

When wasting age , aud wearying strife , Have sapped the leaning walls of life ; When the Jast tottering pillars fall , Aud darkness gathers over ail . Masonry was a great and a glorious Institution , and would stand the test of time : not becauseprinces had been promoters of the art

nor because of the large numbers ranging under its banners , but because its branches were spread over the four quarters of the globs ; it embraced charity , mercy , forbearance and brotherly love . To propose the toast of the Visiting Brethreu fell to the lot of Bro . S . Statham P . M . The following is au abstract of hia remarks—He was pleased aud thankful to be permitted to be present on another Qf these interesting occasions , He sincerely joined ia ail the hearty

Notices Of Meetings.

congratulations of the brethren to their newly installed Worshipfnl Muster and his Officers . He confidently hoped they might have a happy and a prosperous year , and if they exceeded ia ability their pre Jecessors , then the Albert Viotor Lodge would indeed have goo 3 reason to be proud . It was exceedingly gratifying to know that thero was such an excellent Masonio feeling pervading the Lodrje ,

each brother seeming to entertain the warmest fraternal regard and esteem for his brethren . Bro . Statham congratulated the W . M . aud the Lodge on being honoured witb suoh a numerous and brilliant company of distinguished Visitors , and in complimentary terms , assured them of a hearty welcome , and tendered fraternal good wishes from every member of the Lodge . He thus concluded , —We

cannot too highly value the virtues of our noble Craft . Tbe three grand principles whioh govern the glorious institution of Freemasonry , are " Brotherly love , relief , and truth , "—a blessed Fraternity consecrated by faith , supported by hope , and cemented by universal charity . These principles are immutable , and eternal aa the Great Architect of the Universe Himself . These are the brilliants that

lustre her coronet , and adorn her with an imperial beanty . In the past they havo been her safeguard j in the present they are her strength ; and in the future they will be her glory . And what is the aim of Freemasonry but to give these principles a practical embodiment P They are to be incarnate in every brother of the Craft . Do not our noble Masonio Charities recognise thisj

are they not making these principles into influential living powers r Brethren , the Shibboleth of Masonry to-day ie not ao much words , words , as deeds , deeds : living , noble , and eternal deeds . Then let us strive to practise these principles , worthily wear the symbols we have received , and hand them down to posterity bright and untarnished . Bat if we would do this , we mast feed the hungry ,

clothe the naked , visit tbe sick , and at all points strictly adhere to the holy teachings of Masonry . Let every brother lift his eyes to the bright morning star , the emblem of peace and the source of light ; let him so live as to secure for himself a residence in those blessed and immortal mansions whence all goodness emanates . Speak gently , act humanely , commiserate the destitute , fling wide

the doors of hospitality , waft around you the soft , balmy breezes of charity , for they may fan some burning brow , they may ease some aching heart , they may lift the sombre cloud away from some dark home , they may save some poor brother from being shipwrecked on the treacherous sands of difficulty or the bleak rooks of misfortune

and despair , they may dry up some scalding tears , and bind np some bleeding spirit , whioh shall rise np to call yon blessed when the monumental stone shall cover your mouldering dust . And having performed our allotted task , with fidelity and obedience , when the last sammons shall have come , when

The signs in the west shall bid us prepare , To gather our working tools and be tried by the square , when we shall stand before the Grand Master of the Lodge Omega , then may we hope to hear him say , " Well done , thou good and faithful servant . " Other toasts comprised the Past Masters , proposed by Bro . T . T . Sefton S . W ., and responded to by Bro . E . Winterbottom

P . M . ; the newly-iuvesfced Officers , proposed by Bro . Threlfall W . M . ; prosperity to the Albert Victor Lodge , proposed by Bro . R . H . Berry , and responded to by Bro . Thos . Kay P . M ., wbo said he would give place to no one in the regularity of his attendance . The prosperity of the Albert Victor Lodge was dear to hi-a heart ; ' he had not missed

two meetings since its formation . At the close of these proceedings 1 , 14 brethren availed themselvoj of an invitation given by Brother Stath m to dine with him at bis residence , some short distance away . Cabs were waiting to convey the visitors , who spent a few hours in a very pleasant manner .

ACACIA LODGE , No . 2321 ( BRADFORD )

A LODGE of emergency was held on Thursday , tbe 24 th ult ., when there were present Bros . John Niven W . M ., J . T . Last 1 ' reasnrer , S . A . Auty P . M . Chaplain , Alfred Stephenson P . M . P . P . G . D . C . D . C , E . Pearson Peterson , F . S . A ., I . P . M ., Joseph Wilson P . M . P . P . G . S . B ., S . A . Bailey P . M ., John Thornton S . W ., A . J . Boyle J . W ., J . B . Fearnley Secretary , C . E . Ellis S . D ., Sam . Robinson J . D .,

ft . S . Hird I . G ., J . M . H . Holmes Tyler , 0 . Wood , J . Harland , and R . Harland ; Visitors—Bros . F . Conobar 1648 , aud F . W . Turner P . M . 403 P . P . G . P . The third degree was conferred on Bros . Richard and John Harland , the latter by Bro . Bailey , and the former by Brother

Stephenson . Bro . Last ( Treasurer ) explained in a masterly manner ( . networking tools to the two brothers raised , and the charge was given by the Worshipful . Master . After hearty good wishes the Lodge was closed .

TRISTRAM LODGE , No . 2415

ON Friday evening , the 25 th ult ., the installation of Brother John Barnet W . M . elect was the occasion of a large gathering of the Craft . The installation ceremony was impressively performed by Bro . Thomas Dunn 124 P . M . Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies , assisted by a board of Installed Masters . On being duly installed into the chair of K . S ., Bro . Barnet W . M . invested the following

Officers to act for the ensuing year : —Broit . John Reed I . P . M ., E . H . Mutimer S . W ., S . Fielden , M . D ,, J . W ., B , ev . T . E . Lord Chaplain , Thomas Tarn Treasurer , S . Titlcttsrjn Secretary , George C . Askew 8 . D ., William A . Mason J . D ., Joseph Headerson LG ., John Hogg Dir . of Cers ., Thomas William Richardson Organist , J . T . Coates and

1 " . Jackson Stewards , Robert Storey Tyler . After the ceremony of installation and other Masouic business had been concluded , the brethren adjourned to a banquet in celebration of the annual festival of Saint John the Evangelist , where the remainder of the evening was pleasantly spent , interspersed with appropriate Masonio toasts , songs , and sentitaentSi