Lodge Of Fidelity, No. 663, Wiltshire.

LODGE OF FIDELITY , No . 663 , WILTSHIRE .

THE Installation Meeting took place on Tuesday , 18 th January , at the Town Hall , Devizes . Owing to the tremendous snow storm which prevailed on that day , none but the members of the Lodge aotnally resident in tho town , were able to attend , the roads being blocked in every direction . The gathering therefore was a very small one . The W . M . elect , Bro . Harry Howse , who had filled the office of S . W . for the past year , was duly installed in the chair of

K . S . by the Provincial Grand Registrar of Wiltshire , Bro . William Nott P . P . G . W ., who afterwards delivered the customary addresses to tho W . M ., Wardens , and Brethren . The Officers for the coming year were installed and invested as follows : —Bros . W . H . Burt I . P . M ., J . A . Randell S . W ., G . S . A . Waylen J . W ., D . A . Gibbs P . M . Treas ., W . Nott P . M . Sec , S . M . Badham S . D ., W . H . Bnsh J . D ., T . Waite

P . M . M . C ., F . S . Hancock I . G ., T . C . Hopkins and W . H . Butoher Stewards , J . Hayter Tyler . A brother from Canada was proposed as a joining member , and after the alms bag had as usual been sent round in aid of the Lodge Charity Fund , the Lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to their annual banquet at the Crown Hotel , to whioh , with his acoustomed liberality , Bro . S . Watson Taylor , of Erlestoke Park , contributed a liberal supply of venison and game .

Royal Alfred Lodge , No 780 . —An emergency meeting was held at the Star and Garter Hotel , Kew Bridge , on Friday , the 28 th of January . At 2 p . m . the brethren assembled , under the presidency of the W . M ., Bro . B . E . Blasby ; the S . W . ( Bro . C . Costelow ) was unavoidably absent , but the other Officers ably supported the W . M . The first business was to ballot for , as a joining

member , Bro . Alfred Kent , of the St . Michael ' s Lodge , No . 211 . The ballot was unanimous in his favour , and Bro . Kent took his seat as a member . Three brethren—Alexander George Emmerson , Joseph Hughes , and Joseph James Barnes—ably sustained their claim for preferment , and were raised to the sublime degree . Threo candidates for passing—Bros . George John Lees , Walter John Sperring ,

and Willie Clarke Daniell—were also advanced a step ; and the ballot was brought into requisition for Mr . Samuel Blasby , No . 31 Glonoester . place , Kew , who was proposed by Bro . Blasby W . M ., and seconded by Bro . W . Goss P . M . ; for Mr . Charles Thomas James Hildersley , of the Market-place , Brentford , proposed by Bro . Arnold , and seconded by Bro . Metcalfe ; and for Mr . J . Moore Lucas , of

Rose Cottage , Kew-road , Richmond , who had for his sponsors the W . M . and Bro . Maton . This proved successful in each case , and , accordingly , the several gentlemen were duly initiated into the mysteries of the first degree in Freemasonry . The whole of the work was done by the Worshipful Master , and done in so able and impressive manner as to elioifc the warm applause of all who were

present . The remaining business was then disposed of , and Lodge having been closed with the accustomed formalities , the brethren adjourned to a capital banquet , under the presidency of the Worshipful Master . Ample justice having been done to the good things provided , the cloth was removed , and the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were proposed and honoured . The I . P . M ., in terms of

wellmerited compliment , gave the health of the Worshipful Master , making special reference to the arduous duties he had been called upon to falfil that evening , and the earnest and intelligent manner in which he had performed them . The heartiness of the applause which greeted the I . P . M . 's remarks was of itself a sufficient testimony to their truth , thongh the Worshipful Master , in his reply ,

very modestly disclaimed having done anything more than attempt to emulate the brilliant working of his predecessors . The toast of the Initiates was heartily received , and briefly but appropriately responded to . To the Visitors , too , was extended in word , as it had previously been in deed , a thoroughly Masonic welcome , which they were not slow or niggardly in acknowledging . The Tyler's toast

concluded the festive portion of the proceedings , which enjoyed the further advantage of being enlivened , in the intervals between the speeches , by songs , recitations , & c . We must not let slip the opportunity of speaking a few words of praise as to the conduct of business in the Lodge . Thanks to a very able and enthusiastic body of Past Masters , and zo the knowledge obtainable at the well-ordered

and intelligent Lodge of Instruction , which works in complete harmony with the mother Lodge , the Officers are remarkably able and zealous in the discharge of their appointed functions : there are , indeed , few of the Lodges we have visited in which the work in all the degrees is better done . In saying this we are anxious to pay the

Lodge , not a mere empty compliment , but the tribute of praise to which it is entitled . Among those present were Bros . Blasby W . M ., Franckel J . W ., Goss P . M . Treasurer , W . Hilton P . M . Secretary , Gunner S . D ., Kent Organist , Tarling S . ; Past Masters Littlewood and Chambers Roe ; and Visitors—Broa . Reynolds 820 , Dallman 1414 , Morgan Sec . 211 , W . Boll 1024 .

Tredegar Lodge of Instruction , No . 1625 . —A meeting was held on Monday , 31 sfc January , at the Royal Hotel , Mile-endroad . Bros . Hammond 1278 W . M ., C . Kendall 1625 S . W ., Wooding 130 G J . W ., Barnes P . M . 554 aud 933 Treas ., Stewart 1278 Sec , Stnrtevant 1278 S . D ., Brittain 1278 J . D ., Hubbert 1625 I . G ., P . M . ' s Bros . Magrath 1306 , Clements 1306 , Coote 1278 , Bonner 1278 .

After preliminaries , the cremouy of initiation was rehearsed , Bro . Magrath candidate . The first , second , and third sections of the lecture were worked by Bro . Wooding , assisted by the brethren . Bros . Brittain and Stnrtevant , both of 1278 , were elected members . Bro . Barnes announced , in very feeling terms , that Bro . G . H . Stephens had met with a heavy calamity in the death of his wife . He proposed

that a letter of condolence be written to Bro . Stephens by the Secretary on behalf of the Lodge . This was seconded by Bro . Hubbert , and carried unanimously . A letter was also ordered to be written to Bro . Preceptor Hogg , condoling with him on the loss ho has sustained by the death of his father-in-law , who was frozen to death during the late severe weather .

Lodge Of Fidelity, No. 663, Wiltshire.

Eboracum Chapter , No . 1611 . —The annnal meating of thia Chapter took place on Tuesday , at York , the following Companions being present : —T . B . Whytehead Z ., J . S . Cumberland H ., J . Todd P . Z . as J ., J . Kay Scribe E ., C . G . Padel S . N ., M . Millington P . S ., J . T . Soller 1 st Asst . Soj ., A . T . B . Turner 2 nd Asst . Soj ., R . Ware , T . Humphries , J . Laokenby , W . Girling , & c . Comp . W .

Lawton P . Z . and Comp . G . Balmford Z . elect of tho Zetland Chapter were also present . Tho chief bnsiness consisted of the installation of Principals . E . Comp . J . S . Cumberland was installed Z ., by E . Comp . T . B . Whytehead , who was then himself placed in the chair of H . by tho newly-installed Z . Comp . C . G . Padel was then introduced and installed in tho third chair by Comp . Wbytohoad . The Companions

wero then admitted , and tho following wero invested : —J . Kay S . E ., J . T . Seller S . N ., M . Millington P . S . The P . S . then appointed Comps . A . T . B . Turner and T . Humphries as his Assistants ; Comp . Pearson was appointed Janitor , and the Chapter was closed . The accounts were audited , with a satisfactory result , and the brethren spent a pleasant evening at refreshment , tho usual toasts being duly honoured .

Burdett Coutts Lodge of Instruction , No . 1278 . — A meeting was held on Wednesday , 2 nd inst ., at the Lamb Tavern , opposite Befchnal-green Junction Railway Station . Present : —Bros . Christian W . M ., Abrahams S . W ., Chitson J . W ., Hand Secretary , Ward S . D ., Stnrtevant J . D ., Clark I . G . ; also Bros . Anderson , Dr . Defriez , Collins , Loveday , Veal , Magrath , Stewart . Lodge was opened by tbe W . M . and the minntes of previous meeting were read and

confirmed . The ceremony of initiation was rehearsed , Bro . Magrath acting as candidate . Lodge opened in the second degree , and Bro . Wooding worked the fi rst section of the leotnre , assisted by the brethren . Lodge resumed ; Bro . Wooding worked the third , fourth and fifth sections of the first leotnre , assisted by the brethren . Bros . Hand , Rink , and Magrath 1306 were elected members . Bro Abrahams will preside next week .

Islington Lodge of Instruction , No . 1471 . —On Tuesday , 1 st Febrnary , at the Moorgate , Finsbury-pavement . Bros . Cuthbertson W . M ., Webb S . W ., Pitt J . W ., J . L . Mather Preceptor , Sparrow Sec , Halestrap S . D ., Couchman I . G ., and several others , After preliminaries , the ceremony of initiation was rehearsed , Bro .

Batty candidate . This was followed by the rehearsal of the ceremony of passing , same brother acting as candidate . Bro . Sanders was elected W . M . for tbe ensuing week . Lodge closed and adjourned Bro . J . L . Mather , the Preceptor , will work the ceremony of installation on Tuesday next , the 8 th instant .

United Masonic Ball.

UNITED MASONIC BALL .

THK third annual ball in connection with the Finsbury Park and Crusaders' Lodges , Nos . 1 , 288 and 1 , 677 , took place at Freemasons ' Hall , Great Queen-street , on Monday , when a large and fashionable company were present . Dancing commenced about half-past nine . At half-past twelve the company adjourned to the Crown Room , where supper was admirably served under the superintendence of

Bro . E . Dawkms , and to which full justice was done . The banqnet was presided over by the two Worshipful Masters , Bros . A . Mullord , of Lodge 1 , 288 , and W . J . Simmonds , of Lodge 1 , 677 . At the conclusion of the repast the president , Bro . Mullord proposed the first toast , " The Queen and the Craft , " which was followed by that of

" Success to the United Masonic Ball , " ably responned to by Bro . Simmonds . The toast of " The Ladies " was proposed in felicitous terms by Bro . Price , and heartily received by the brethren . The company then returned to the ball-rooms , were dancing was renewed , and kept np with great vigour till after four o ' clock .

We hear that Bro . Terry s Board of Stewards for the approaching Anniversary Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution already n ambers over 300 brethren , of whom a round ninety hail from the Province of West Yorkshire , whose distinguished Chief , Sir Henry Edwards ,

Barfc ., has kindly undertaken to preside . There is , of course , ample time yet for even this unusually large number to be increased , as the Festival is fixed for Wednesday , the 23 rd insfc ., or more than a fortnight hence . We heartily

congratulate Bro . Terry on the success which has thus far attended his zealous advocacy of the claims of the R . M . B . I . to the support of the Craft , and we trust the pecuniary result will be commensurate with the numerical strength of tbe Board of Stewards .

It will be seen from an announcement we publish elsewhere , that our worthy brother G . H . Stephens has recently sustained an irreparable domestic loss , his wife having , a few days since , succumbed to a painful malad y from which she had been long suffering . We respectfull y offer to our brother , in this moment of severe trial , our sincere condolence .

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DANCING . —Bro .. JACQUES WYNMAN , Professor of Dancing , gives daily instruction in all the fashionable Dances to those who are without previous knowledge . Private lessons at any time , by appointment . Fumilios attended . Balls conducted , and first class Bands provided if desired . Assemblies every Mondav and Thursday , at Eight o'CIock . PROSPECTUS OK APPLICATION . ACADEMY—74 NEWMAN STREET , OXFORD STREET , W .