Reports Of Meetings.

REPORTS OF MEETINGS .

We shall be pleased to receive particulars of Masonic meetings for insertion in our columns , and where desired will endeavour to send a representative to report Lodge or other proceedings . — . ' n _ —

CRAET : METROPOLITAN .

DORIC LODGE , No . 933 . A MEETING was held on Tuesday , 9 th ult ., at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet Street , Bro . W . Caslake W . M . being supported by Bros . Rushforth S . W ., Hine J . W ., R . Ayton P . M . Treasurer , A . Calver P . M . Secretary , Past Masters Barnes , John West , James Smith , J . H . Brown , Moss , Scott , and nrmnv nthfirs .

The business included the initiation of Mr . T . B . Russell , and the raising of Bros . Liddiard and Watkins , both ceremonies being carried through with praiseworthy promptitude and completeness . The formal duties of the Lodge having been attended to , the Brethren adjourned to an excellently-served supper , after which the customary toasts were honoured , and the proceedings agreeably varied with some capital singing and recitations .

INSTRUCTION

LANGTHORNE LODGE , No . 1421 . THE fifth annual dinner of this Lodge of Instruction was held on Wednesday , 18 th ult ., at the Angel Hotel , Ilford , under the presidency of Bro . W . R . Simmonds Worshipful Master-elect of the Mother Lodge . There was a large attendance of Brethren . After an excellent dinner the toast of the Mother Lodge was proposed by Bro . Johnson , and suitably acknowledged by Bro . F . Evans the present W . M .

The toast of Worshipful Master was next honoured , with unmistakable warmth and cordiality , and Bro . Simmonds responded . Bro . Gilson proposed the Lodge of Instruction , and spoke of the very gratifying results attending the election of Bro . Johnson to the office of Preceptor . Some two or three years ago , he said , the Lodge was almost in a condition of collapse , and the attendance was often insufficient to form a

Lodge , but under the able and energetic direction of Bro . Johnson a vast improvement had been brought about , not only in the number of Brethren who attended the weekly meetings , but also in the character of the work done , and at the present time the Langthorne Lodge of Instruction was in a most flourishing condition . He coupled with the toast the name of Bro . Johnson , who briefly replied , and who obviously enjoys the esteem and goodwill of the members in a very full degree .

In the course of the evening several excellent songs were very successfully rendered by Bros . Goddard , Evans , Gould , and others , and the gathering proved an undoubted success in every particular , says the " Essex Times . " The meetings are held at the Angel Hotel , every Wednesday evening , and a Masonic Benevolent Association formed in connection with the Lodge has been the means of collecting a very considerable amount for the three Institutions .

PRIORY LODGE , No . 1996 . THE members of this Lodge of Instruction held their annual supper at the Berrymead Priory , on Thursday , 19 th ult . Bro . Fred Botley P . M . Preceptor presided , and was supported by Bro . Bayman as S . W ., and Bro . Bardrick as J . W . After the usual Loyal toasts had been duly honoured , Brother Sutton proposed success to the Priory Lodge of Instruction , coupled with the name of the Preceptor .

The toast was received with acclamation , and Bro . Botley , in replying , said he was glad to be supported by so many Brethren . He was proud to say that , like a schoolmaster who issues his prospectus showing how many good men he had turned out , he could look round the table and find several who had studied and grasped the tenets of the Craft , and by their own attention reflected credit on him .

PROVINCIAL ,

RELIEF LODGE , No . 42 . THE St . John's Festival meeting of this old and distinguished Lodge was held on Thursday , 19 th ult . ( by dispensation from the Prov . G . M . of East Lancashire ) , at the Philip ' s Hall , Garden Street , Bury . The Lodge was opened at 2-45 p . m ., and the minutes of the last meeting having been confirmed , the ballot was taken for Mr . Thomas Douglas , who being unanimously elected , was duly initiated into Masonry , by Bro . P . Allen W . M ., the Working Tools being explained by Bro . V . Brown J . W .

The . bodge was then opened in the 2 nd degree , and according to ancient usage and established custom , Bro . Vincent Brown J . W . W . M .-elect was presented by Bro . Thomas Rigby P . M . P . G . S . B . E . L . for installation , and having assented to the antient charges , was dulv obligated bv Bro . P . Allen

W . M . The chair was then taken by Bro . John Redfern P . M . P . P . G . P . E . L ., who rendered the installation ceremony in a very masterly and impressive manner , and Bro . Brown was duly installed into the chair of K . S . with great dignity , and saluted by twenty-four Past Masters present . After the usual formulae the Brethren were admitted , and Bro . Vincent Brown W . M . was proclaimed Master , and due honour was done him under the direction of Bro . Redfern , who also presented the working tools , and gave the addresses to the W . M .. Wardens , and Brethren i-esnentivnlv _

The W . M . then invested the I . P . M ., who , in response , said it gave him very great pleasure to hand over the Centenary Jewel of the Lodge to the new W . M ., which he did very gracefully . Bro . Thomas Rigby P . M . P . G . S B . E . L . then invested ( and also explained thi- jewels and duties in a most efficient manner ) the following Officers for tbe ensuing year : —Bros . Oswald Wild S . W ., John Booth J . W ., Henry Pollard Chaplain , Thomas H . Sleigh P . M . Treasurer , Thomas Carter P . M . P . P . G . O . E . L . Secretary , Fred B . Barlow S . D ., Walter Spencer J . D ., Thomas

Rigby P . M . P . G . S . B . E . L . D . C , Chas . R . Scholes Org ., Wm . E . HaU I . G ., Henry Matthews and William Nabb Stewards , Daniel Rowland Tyler , and Sam Cox P . M . Almoner . The installation ceremony being concluded , the remaining Lodge business was conducted under the gavel of the W . M . Hearty good wishes were expressed from the numerous Visitors present , which included : —Bros . M . Stansfield J . D . 78 ; Thomas Pye W . M ., James Nuttall P . M . 128 ; James Frost W . M . P . G . A . D . C . E . L ., John Bullivant

I . P . M ., William Barritt P . M . P . G . J . D . E . L ., Oliver Crompton P . M ., Walter Bell Organist , William Dickson Steward , Harry Hall , Roger Wood 191 ; James Lord I . P . M ., James Mawdsley P . M . 286 ; J . H . Mills W . M . 854 ; B . Hopkinson P . M . 1140 ; Fred . Renshaw P . M . 1887 ; T . J . Hutchinson W . M ., Robert Hall P . M . 1392 ; Samuel Porritt P . M . P . P . G . D . C . E . L ., William Hardman J . D . 1634 ; William Cranshaw 1948 ; Thomas Hamnett S . D . 2363 ; Oswald Dearden S . D . 2482 ; Thomas Mellor W . M ., William Noar Chaplain , Robert Bridge J . D . 2560 , & c .

A candidate was proposed for initiation at the next Lodge meeting , and as there will be three Craftings and one Raising due in addition , it augurs well for a busy and successful year for the new Master . The Lodge being duly closed , the Brethren , who numbered about eighty , proceeded to the Grey Mare Hotel , and partook of a superb banquet , which was served in Bro . L . R . and Mrs . Duckworth's best style . The usual Masonic toasts were honoured and responded to during the evening , and everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves .

The followning contributed to the evening's enjoyment : —Bros . T , Carter , J . Chadwick , H . Matthews , R . Gregson , W . R . Buxton , W . Dickson , W . Bell , E . Royle , R . Blackburn , Dr . T . Mellor , Roger Wood , T . Hamnett ( Manchester ) , and M . Stansfield ( Middleton ) .

HUMBER LODGE , No . 57 . ON the 27 th ult . the Brethren , according to ancient custom , assembled at their Masonic Hall , Hull , on the Festivity of St . John the Evangelist , to instal their Worshipful Master for the ensuing year . The Brethren had accorded their votes in favour of Bro . Thomas Morrill ( eldest son of the present Sheriff ) , and the extremely beautiful ritual of the Craft was rendered in an impressive manner by Bro . George Wilson P . M . P . P . G . D ., who was ably assisted by other Past Masters .

Bro . T . Morrill W . M . proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the Installing Officer , who , he said , was a tower of strength to the members ; they trusted he might long be spared to continue his invaluable services to the Lodge . Bro . Martensen having seconded the motion , it was carried with acclamation . Bro . Councillor Atkinson S . W ., in graceful terms , presented to the Immediate Past Master Bro . Martensen , on behalf of the members , a Past Master ' s jewel , as a token of their sincerity and respect and esteem , expressing the hone that he might long be snared to wear it .

Bro . Martensen , in reply , sincerely thanked the Brethren , and assured them that so long as he had health and strength he would continue his best services to his Mother Lodge . The Brethren then adjourned to the magnificent banqueting hall for the celebration of the annual banquet , after which the usual toasts were honoured .

ST . JOHN LODGE , No . 70 . THE annual meeting was held at the Freemasons' Hall , Plymouth , on St . John ' s day , the 27 th ult ., when Bro . Mark Jacobs was installed W . M . The ceremony was impressively rendered by Bros . G . R . Stanlake W . M ., J . Gaud , C . G . Withell , J . Hicks , and T . B . Gover . The Officers were appointed and invested for the ensuing year . Brother W . J . Hughan P . G . D . England said he was glad to have the opportunity of addressing the members of the old Lodge of St . John , of

which he was a member , but could so seldom visit . He was glad to know that it was prosperous , and so generously supported the noble charities of the Order , and the Worshipful Master , the Treasurer , and Secretary had done their duty faithfully and well . He suggested that as in Scotland they had an old Lodge called Mother Kilwinning , they might well call this Lodge Mother St . John , as she was the undoubted parent of several prosperous Lodges in the neighbourhood , notably the St . John ' s Lodge , No . 1247 . In these days

of political excitement it was well to know there were at present over ft million of Freemasons owning allegiance to the British Crown . Since the advent of tho Prince of Wales as Grand Master their numbers had rapidly advanced . Numbers , however , did not always mean success , and therefore great caution should be exercised in admitting candidates , but when he called to mind that many noble and talented men , the best in every rank of society , had joined the Order , he felt confident that all Lodges would continue to be

as faithful to their duty of strict supervision as they had hitherto been . In the United States of America there were also over a million Freemasons , good men and true , and he hoped that this bond of Brotherhood would do much to smooth over any apparent present difficulties . In the event of war , which he earnestly prayed would be averted , it would be expected that each would do his duty for his native land , but even then the principles of their noble Order would soften asperities and lead to that peace which every true

Brother wished for . The Secretary Bro . Gover , by request of the other Officers of the Lodge , announced that in appreciation of the admirable manner in which Bro . G . R . Stanlake had conducted its affairs during the year , the Brethren had decided that a group of the Officers , with himself , would prove an acceptable memorial of his year of office . It was an unusual departure , but the conduct

of affairs was also unusual , for in every case of importance the W . M . had invited for consultation every Officer of the Lodge , and the result was a year of unanimity , improvement in working , and prosperity . It was a thankoffering which they hoped would long adorn Bro . Stanlake ' s home , and that Mrs . Stanlake , who did so much to help in any good work , would be pleased to know how much their help was appreciated .

Bro . G . R . Stanlake , in reply , said the many kindnesses ho had received from the Brethren during the past year bad placed him . under a deep debt of gratitude . The present occasion had added one more debt to that list , which he could only hope to be partially able to repay , and this he would endeavour to do by actions rather than words . But the credit for a successful year really belonged to the Officers of the Lodge , who had worked together with a unanimity , harmony , and concord which he believed would justify them in claiming to be second to no other Lodge in the Province .

During the evening Bro . J . Jacobs presented 100 copies of the new musical setting of the hymns and chants used in the ceremonies , artistically printed and bound by Bro . Westcott . All the music has been composed by Bro . J . Hicks , and in some cases the words are also his own . Bro . J . Jacobs was thanked for his generous gift , and Bro . Hicks for the time and talent he had devoted to the work .