Reports Of Meetings.

MINNEHAHA MINSTREL LODGE , No . 2363 . THE regular meeting was held at the Victoria Hotel , Manchester , on Monday , the 23 rd ult ., Bro . Henry Nail P . M . 1375 Prov . Gr . Treasurer ( W . L . ) Worship ful Master . There was a good attendance of members and visitors , which may probably be ascribed to the fact that two well-known and popular gentlemen

were announced for initiation . These were Messrs . Robert Beilby Estill jun ., Winton , Patricrbft , and William John Brooke , Stockport , the respective ceremonies being undertaken by the W . M ., and Bro . C . H . Beever I . P . M ., the working tools being presented and explained by Bro . E . A . Smith J . W .

IONIC LODGE , No . 2405 . ON Tuesday , 24 th ult ., Bro . Bernard Smith was installed at the Masonic Hall , Hall Street , St . Helens , by Bro . F . A . R . Neill W . M .

QUEEN VICTORIA LODGE , No . 2584 . THE regular meeting was held at the Conservative Club , Cheetham , on Tuesday , the 17 th ult ., Bro . Councillor Samuel I . Mills W . M . There was a capital attendance of members and visitors , prominent among the latter being Bros . Dr . C . H . Braddon P . M . 62 P . P . G . S . D ., John Cliffe P . M . 204 P . P . G . D . C ., J . M . Veal W . M . 2359 , Robert Leech P . M . 1055 1219 , J . H . Fitzsimmons S . W . 2387 , and Cuthbert Blacow 2156 .

After the reading and confirmation of minutes , a ballot , which was successful , was taken for Mr . Edmund Arthur Windridge Wragg , who was afterwards initiated by Bro . C . W . Godby I . P . M . Treasurer . This was followed by the passing to the degree of F . C . of Bro . Harry Simon Hiles , the duty being undertaken by the W . M . This , in turn , waa succeeded by the

raising to the sublime degree of M . M . of Bro . John Newell by Bro . A . T . McGregor P . M . P . P . G . D . Derbyshire D . C . The ancient charge in the first degree was rendered by Bro . J . Pollitt P . M ., while the presentation and explanation of the working tools in each degree was reserved for Bro . Thomas Nesbitt J . W .

At the festive board the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were given , relieved by dramatic sketches contributed by Bro . Fitzsimmons , and songs by Bro . Blacow .

INSTALLED MASTERS LODGE OF INSTRUCTION . THE last regular meeting of the session was held at the Old Boar ' s Head Hotel , Withy Grove , Manchester , on Friday , the 20 th ult ., Bro . James W . Abbott P . P . G . D . C . Preceptor . There were also present the following acting Officers , viz ., Bros . G . T . Lenard Treas ., Alfred Hebden P . P . G . D . D . C .

Secretary , George Parker as W . M ., Charles Swinn 2387 S . W ., John Horsfield J . W ., G . W . Davies S . D ., J . Glennie 1774 P . P . G . Std . B . J . D ., E . Loebell I . G ., and also Bros . William Bee Prov . G . A . D . C , F . G . Berry , Nathl . Jones , John Scarratt 477 , A . Eichholz 430 , and several others whose names we did not obtain .

The proceedings were opened by Bro . Parker at 7 ' 30 , and the Secretary read the minutes of the previous meeting , which were confirmed , the Lodge being then advanced to the second degree . Bro . Hebden assumed the principal chair , and Bro . Abbott , acting as D . C , presented Bro . Swinn

( W . M .-elect ) , who was duly installed . The various addresses were delivered as follow : —that to the W . M . by Brother Lenard , to the Wardens by Brother Horsfield , to the Brethren generally by Bro . Abbott , whilst the working tools of the three degrees were presented and explained by Bro . Loebell , the investitures being divided between Bros . Bee and Lenard .

The chair was then resumed by Bro . Hebden , and the election of Officers for the ensuing session took place . Bros . Abbott , Lenard , and Hebden being retained in their relative positions of Preceptor , Treasurer , and Secretary by the unanimous vote of those present . Bro . Abbott Preceptor made the important announcement that in future

the Installed Masters Lodge of Instruction would be open to all Installed Masters belonging to this or any other Province , the subscription for the session of six meetings being 3 s . The names of several Brethren were handed in as joining members for the forthcoming session , which commences on Friday , 18 th September .

An Installed Masters Instruction Lodge , judging from some slipshod attempts to which our attention has occasionally been drawn , is certainly a desideratum , and to those Officers who are ambitious of performing good and praiseworthy work in their various Lodges here is the very medium open to them . With such facilities excellent ceremonial at the yearly Lodge meetings ought in future to be even more the rule than now .

ROYAL ARCH .

HENRY COOK CHAPTER , No . 1021 . THE annual installation was held at the Masonic Hall , Abbey Road , Barrow-in-Furness , on Tuesday , 24 th ult ., when a large number of Companions were present , under the presidency of Comp . J . Waddington M . E . Z ., who conducted the installation , assisted by Comp . J . F . Davison I . P . Z ., who placed the Officers in their respective positions with suitable exhortations to each .

The proceedings were brought to a conclusion by Comp . Henry Cook P . Z ., who , after pronouncing the Benediction , presented Comp . J . Waddington with a very handsome P . Z . jewel , voted by the Companions of the Chapter as a mark of their appreciation of his sterling Masonic worth and ability .

SHURMUR CHAPTER , No . 2374 . THIS popular and rapidly increasing Chapter , which , under the careful supervision of that good and true Mason , William Shurmur , is making a proud position in the Province of Essex , held its vernal Convocation on Thursday of last week , at the Royal Forest Hotel , Chingford . Comp . James Speller Prov . G . A . S . presided , the other chairs being

occupied by Comps . John Byford and Ben Johnson respectively . There were also present : —Comps . W . Shurmur P . Z ., George Graveley P . Z ., Jas . Pinder P . Z ., W . Gower S . N ., C . H . Bestow P . S ., Percy Trickett 1 st A . S ., S . P . Pointer 2 nd A . S ., G . Weeden 813 , Orlton Cooper 1928 , M . Siegenberg 188 , Snowden Kirk 1716 , M . Bleick , Archdeacon C . G . Dunbar , J . C . Francis , A .

Reports Of Meetings.

C . Lowry , S . C . Kaufmann , G . R . Bigg , J . J . Lowman , John R . Carter , W . H . Graveley , A . Oakden , J . H . Wildash 141 , W . T . Legg , and others . The Chapter having been formally opened , the minutes of the last Convocation were read and confirmed . The ballot was then taken for Bro . Henry Bobert Baxter , of Lodge No . 898 , which proving unanimous

he was admitted , and regularly received as a Companion of the Chapter . The ceremony was admirably rendered by Principal James Speller , who also delivered the symbolical lecture . The other lectures were delivered by Comps . Shurmur and Graveley . Upon the termination of the business the Chapter was closed in solemn form , and the Companions adjourned to dinner , a pleasant evening being spent .

MARK MASONRY .

ROBINSON LODGE , No . 255 . THE installation meeting was held on Tuesday , 24 th ult ., at the Freemason ' s Hall , Maidstone , when Bro . W . P . Dickinson W . M .-eleot was installed by Bro . W . Wright P . M . P . G . J . W . During the evening the health of Bro . G . F . Baker , the out-going Master , was given by the W . M ., who said that the Mark Masons desired to show their

appreciation of the manner in which Bro . Baker and his wife had carried out the duties of Mayor and Mayoress of Maidstone , as well as Bro . Baker ' s excellent work as Master of the Lodge , by asking their acceptance of a piece of plate , as a memento of their year of office . The plate bore the following inscription : — The Robinson Lodge of Mark Masons , No . 255 ,

to BRO . G . F . BAKER , J . P ., W . M ., 1895 , and MRS . BAKER , Mayor and Mayoress of Maidstone , 1895 . Presented by the Brethren , 24 th March 1896 .

Portsmouth Freemasons Club.

PORTSMOUTH FREEMASONS CLUB .

THE annual meeting of the shareholders was held on Wednesday , 25 th ult ., Mr . H . Croucher President in the chair . On the proposition of Mr . Buckle , seconded by Lieutenant T . Cowd , R . N ., the whole of the retiring Directors were re-elected , and Mr . T . P . Hall was appointed to fill a vacancy on the directorate , caused by tho death of the late Mr . W . Gunnell . Messrs . Casey and Windsor were re-appointed Auditors .

Law Of Masonic Charity.

LAW OF MASONIC CHARITY .

MASONIC charity is purely voluntary , and every Mason is to be regarded as one of a common brotherhood . It may be said that this is applicable to permanent as well as temporary relief , to ordinary , equal with extraordinary , expenditure . It appears to us that it is fair to say there are grades or distinctions in the element of Masonic helpfulness . We are not unwarranted in the view that a Lodge has a special obligation towards those

of its own household , and that relief is not curtailed to the limitation of its own immediate jurisdiction . The fraternal feeling at attachment should follow them wherever they go . The universal tie of obligation actuates the Brethren of any locality in helping those who may be temporarily within the circle of their jurisdiction ; bat that help is not to be measured or made mention of ; it is but the discharge of a bounden duty . It seems to us ,

however , that the universality of Masonry should not require that one Lodge should bear the burden of another Lodge , when that Lodge is abundantly able to care for its own . The question is as to what extent , and that authority shall have been previously given for relief in extreme cases . This does not appear to require any Grand Lodge legalisation , for assuredly full authority is vested in every Grand Lodge to compel any of its subordinates to fulfil an agreement of this character . —JESSIE B . ANTHONY , of New York .

Ad00902

Candidates for the Institutions . Announcements are inserted under this head at the rate of five shillings per inch , to appear each week from trie time the ballot papers are issued up to the day of election , for cash . with , order . — : o : — BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION . Votes and Interest are earnestly solicited on behalf of BRO . THOMAS J . MAIDWELL , Aged 64 . Formerly Licensed Victualler , who has served three Stewardships , and is himself and family of five Life Governors of all the Masonic Institutions . The case is most earnestly recommended and strongly supported . Address T . J . Maidwell P . M . 27 P . Z . 1549 P . G . S . B . Middlesex , 81 Greenwood Road , Dalston , N . E .

Ad00904

BOYS SCHOOL . Votes and interest are respectfully solicited in favour of ARNOLD BEVERLY MINERS , Eldest son of the late Bro . Harold Beverly Miners , who died suddenly from the effects of bursting a blood vessel on the brain , leaving a widow and four hildren totally unprovided for . Bro . Miners was , at the time of his death , the Senior Warden of the St . James's Union Lodge , No . 180 , in which he was initiated in 1890 . The case is strongly recommended by several Brethren , among them all the Past Masters , Wardens and Brethren of the St . James ' s Union Lodge . Promises of support and proxies will be thankfully received by Bro . W . C . Parsons P . M . Sec . 180 P . M . and P . Sec . 1687 P . Z . 180 and 735 , 4 Mount Street , W . Proxies for other Institutions acceptable for purposes of exchange .

Ad00903

BOOKBINDING in all its branches . Price list on application . Morgan Fleet Worts , Bulwer Road , New Barnet ,