Reports Of Meetings.

FORTITUDE LODGE , No . 105 . ON the 9 th ult . the members unanimously elected Bro . R . Robinson Rodd jun . S . W . as W . M ., and in the course of the evening gave expression to the regret felt that Bro . Roberts , superintendent of Devon Constabulary , for some years stationed at Stonehouse , was about to leave the township .

Bro . Rodd bore testimony to the sterling worth of Bro . Roberts under varying and trying circumstances Four years ago he came to Stonehouse a complete stranger , and took over the charge of the district under conditions that made it no light task ; but now he was leaving with the esteem of one and all , Viavinir won their confidence bv his able administration , and greatly endeared

himself to the whole community by his consideration and courtesy . Torquay was to be congratulated upon having secured the services of so efficient and urbane an Officer , and they wished , him a long and happy service there . These remarks were heartily endorsed , and Bro . Roberts expressed his thanks .

MOUNT SINAI LODGE , No . 121 . A T the regular meeting , held at Penzance , on Wednesday , 18 th , Bro . R . _ c \_ Pearce Crouch was elected W . M ., and Bro . G . H . Small was re-elected Treasurer . ¦ . . .

LENNOX LODGE , No . 123 . THE annual installation took place at Richmond , Yorks , on the 27 th ult ., when Brother Frederick Gilling S . W . was installed by Brother William Hutchinson P . M ., assisted by Bro . Anderson I . P . M . 1418 P . G . S . D . The Brethren and visitors afterwards adjourned to a banquet at the King ' s Head Hotel .

PRINCE EDWIN LODGE , No . 125 . BRO . G . S . Wilks was installed W . M . on Thursday , 12 th ult ., at Hythe A banquet was subsequently given at the Swan Hotel , where the catering of Bro . Elliott gave every satisfaction .

ALL SOULS LODGE , No . 170 . ON Friday , 27 th ult ., Bro . Hetley S . W . was installed Worshipful Master at Weymouth . The ceremony was performed by Brother J . Howard Bowen W . M . of the past year .

FRIENDSHIP LODGE , Np . 202 . THE annual meeting was held on Friday , 27 th ult ., at the Masonic Hall , Devonport , when Bro . Martin Axworthy was installed W . M ., the ceremony being ably conducted by Bro . W- Allsford P . P . G . T . The annual supper was afterwards served in the dining hall , the usual toasts being honoured .

FIDELITY LODGE , No . 230 . THE annual meeting was held at the Masonic Hall , Granby Street , Devonport , on the 19 th ult ., when Bro . R . H . Gardner was installed W . M . by Bros . Bromley , Cawsey , Pike , and Littleton , the ceremony being very ably conducted .

After the Lodge business , the Brethren adjourned to the Granby Hall , where over 100 were hospitably entertained by the W . M . The usual toasts were interspersed with songs and recitations . The popularity of the W . M . secured one of the largest gatherings that has ever attended an installation in the Province of Devon .

TRUE LOVE AND UNITY LODGE , No . 248 . AT a regular meeting held at the Freemasons' Hall , Brixham , on Monday , 16 th ult ., Bro . W . J . Sanders S . W . was unanimously elected W . M . foe the ensuing year . Brother W . C . Gregory P . M . was , for the tenth successive year , elected Treasurer , and J . Scivill Tyler .

LOYAL LODGE , No . 251 . THE annual installation took place on the 27 th ult ., at Barnstaple , when Bro . H . Brooks was installed by Brother G . 0 . Davie P . A . G . D . Cers . Eng . D . P . G . M . Devon . The annual banquet was afterwards held at the Fortescue Hotel .

LODGE OF GOOD FELLOWSHIP , No . 276 . ON Thursday , 19 th ult ., the Earl of Warwick the Provincial Grand Master of Essex visited Chelmsford for the purpose of being present at the 108 th anniversary meeting of this Lodge . His lordship , who travelled direct from Warwick Castle , reached Chelmsford at 3-23 and was met at the

, Railway Station by the Provincial Grand Secretary Bro . T . J . Railing and the W . M .-elect of the Good Fellowship Lodge , Bro . Robert Cook , and was by them conducted to Brother Spalding ' s handsome assembly rooms at Crane Court , where the meeting had been arranged to take place .

The Lodge was opened by the Worshipful Master Bro . G . W . Pascal ! , and on the Prov . Grand Master entering , accompanied by his Officers , his lordship was received with the honours due to his rank in the Craft . After the transaction of some preliminary business , Bros . Ernest West and Sidney A . Mugford were raised to the degree of M M ., the work being jointly performed by the W . M . and Bro . F . H . Meggy P . M . P . P . A . G . D . C .

The more immediate object of the meeting , the installation of Brother Robert Cook , was then proceeded with . The ceremony had been undertaken by the D . P . G . M . His Honour Judge Philbrick . but almost at the last moment he was obliged to communicate his inability to carry out his

promise . In this emergency , the W . M .-elect invited Bro . T . Rymer Jarvis P . M . of the Lodge and P . P . G . D . to perform tbe ceremony , which he did in a manner that called forth the encomiums of all present—twenty-eight of whom were Past Masters . At the close of the ceremony the new W . M . appointed and invested his Officers . On the motion of the I . P . M . the Worshipful Master was unanimously elected to represent the Lodge on the Essex Provincial Charity Committee .

Reports Of Meetings.

The W . M . said his first and most pleasing duty was to propose a hearty vote of thanks to the Installing Master , both for his kindness in undertaking at practically a moment ' s notice the important ceremony of installation , and for the great ability with which he had carried it out . As they all knew , it had been the intention of their respected Deputy Provincial Grand Master to perform the ceremony , but he had written to say that unfortunately he had an appointment to keep , which , to his great regret , would prevent his attendance . They were therefore all the more indebted to Brother Jarvis for discharging the duties .

The Senior Warden Bro . Tomlinson seconded the motion , which was carried unanimously , and briefly acknowledged by Bro . Jarvis . The motion had scarcely been passed when the Deputy Provincial Grand Master was announced . Upon entering the Lodge his Honour was loudly applauded , and subsequently saluted according to ancient form . Tho Worshipful Master then rose and proposed a very hearty vote of

thanks to the Prov . G . Master for the honour his lordship had paid he and the members of the Lodge by attending their installation meeting . They were glad to have the privilege and pleasure of seeing the noble earl amongst them , and when he added that his lordship had travelled from Warwick that morning in order to bo present , they would , he was sure , thank him the more heartily .

The Immediate Past Master seconded the motion in a few appropriate words , and it was carried amidst renewed applause . The Prov . Grand Master , upon rising to reply , was most cordially received . His lordship said : I thank you very much indeed for this hearty vote of thanks , which you have just carried so unanimously , especially as it gives me the pleasure of offering you , Sir , my most hearty congratulations on this occasion . I know you so well , and I appreciate so very fully , as

everyone who lives in Essex does , your ability , energy and great organising capacity , that I have no doubt whatever that your year of office will be most pleasanb to yourself and a credit to your Lodge . You have the privilege of presiding over one of the oldest Lodges in this Province , and I am sure you will carry out to the fullest extent , not only the ancient traditions of our Order , but also the ancient traditions of this Lodge in particular . I must congratulate you upon the admirable manner in which the work has been

performed to-night . It would be invidious to mention anyone for especial commendation , as no fault could be found with the work of anyone . I must also congratulate you on the large attendance of Brethren , and particularly of Past Masters , there being nearly thirty Past Masters , I believe , in the room . It is only an honour you deserve—that you should have such a large attendance on this occasion . With regard to my coming from Warwickshire ,

I sometimes have to wear a collar different to this one ( the noble Earl is Mayor of Warwick ) and that occasionally keeps me busily occupied . But the facilities for railway travelling are now so great , and the charge for the carriage of luggage is so small , that there was nothing to deter me from coming from the Midland counties . I assure you I am very glad indeed to be present ; and I also look forward with very great pleasure to drinking your health , Sir , at the banquet a little later on .

The Worshipful Master proposed a cordial vote of thanks to the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , telling Bro . Philbrick how much they regretted he was not able to be there in time to perform , the installation ceremony , but assuring him that the duties had been carried out most satisfactorily by Bro . Jarvis . The Immediate Past Master seconded the motion , and it was carried unanimously .

The Deputy Provincial Grand Master , who was warmly received , in reply said : You overwhelm me almost by your kindness in passing the vote that you have kindly received with so much good feeling . I am , perhaps , an instance , not of " The Woman who did " but of " The Deputy who didn't , " according to the modern phase of things . Had it been possible I should have been here ; yet I am in one sense glad I was not here , for , as an old Freemason , I always think it is the very best form when the Lodge itself ,

within its own members , performs all the rites , including the greatest—the ceremony of installation—which pertains to our Order . And I am quite sure—and scarcely wanted the testimony of our esteemed Provincial Grand Master—when I heard that Bro . Jarvis had undertaken the task , I knew that the work had been done in a true Masonic spirit , and with absolute fidelity to the great ritual of our Order . I may be permitted to add what infinite pleasure it gives me to come and see the faces of my Essex Brethren in Freemasonry .

Lodge was then closed , and the Brethren adjourned to the White Hart Hotel , where an excellent banquet was served by Mr . St . Chad Boscawen . The W . M . presided , supported by the Provincial Grand Master , the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , the Prov . Grand Secretary and about fifty other Brethren . The usual preliminary toasts having been drunk , the Prov . G . M ., who met with a most flattering reception , responded to the toast of his health , and alluded in most complimentary terms to his good friend the Worshipful Master .

The Deputy Provincial Grand Master , responding on behalf of the Provincial Grand Officers , said that since the Earl of Warwick had been at their head , the number of Lodges in the Province had increased from 19 to 38 , and the number of individual members had also , he believed , doubled ; and a great deal of that success had been achieved under the banners of " Brooke " and " Warwick . " Alluding to his appointment in Dorsetshire , he said he believed that under the orders of the Lord Chancellor he was to go

" towards the West . " And , if they asked him , did not they think that they could supply him with an answer to the question , " Where did the wise men come from ? " But they must not be too self-satisfied , because the sharp West countrymen might reply , •' How did they prove their knowledge ? They didn't stop in the East ! " But no such double edgedness could be applied to the spirit in which they met round tho Masonic board . As to

himself , he hoped that every Essex Mason would believe that his labour amongst them had been a labour of love , encouraged , as he had been , by the confidence , kindness , and truly Masonic feeling of the Brethren . No one on earth would regret more deeply than himself if that tie were ever to be severed or weakened , and he hoped he might live long to see the Province continue its progress , under their beloved Provincial Grand Master .

The Immediate Past Master , in highly complimentary terms , proposed the Worshipful Master , whose health was warmly drunk , he responding in a practical speech . The Installing Master was also cordially honoured . The toast of the Visitors was coupled with the names of Bros . Orttewell , John Taylor , H . Cousens , and H . N . Crazier .

The Prov . Grand Secretary proposed the Masonic Charities , mentioning that they supported between 200 and 300 girls , between 200 and 300 boys , and about the same number of old men and women . Incidentally he expressed the pleasure it gave him to see Bro . the Rev . F . B . Shepherd amongst them again . Bro . E . Shodd , in responding , expressed the hope that more members in