Reports Of Meetings.

The toast was heartily honoured , with it being coupled the names of Bros . Harris , Chant , and Ball , who responded . The toast of the Past Masters was next honoured , that being followed by " The Treasurer and Secretary , " " The Officers , ' and the Tyler's toast , which concluded the proceedings .

The musical arrangements were of exceptional excellence—even for the Chough Lodge . Bro . Turle Lee Organist had the management , and was ably supported by Miss Maggie Purvis , Miss Emily Foxcroft , Bro . Herbert Emlyn . Bro . John Sandbrook , and Bro . Harry Hawkes ( humourist ) . Not the least attractive item on the programme was a display of sleight of hand by Bro . Fred . Moore , whose manipulation of a pack of cards more than ever convinced

the company that it is very unwise to say what is possible and what is impossible with the " pieces of pasteboard . " If a Brother at a Masonic meeting can make certain cards stand up out of the pack , from an empty glass , how easy must it be for a " sharp ' ' to manipulate the cards just as he wishes . Truly there is a useful lesson to be learnt even from exhibition ' s of this kind—they should certainly impress upon one the need for caution when " playing" with strantrers .

********** Skelmersdale Lodge , No . 1658 . IF Brotherly Love , harmony , and judicious supervision can influence the future of a Lodge , and add to its usefulness , then the Skelmersdale members should congratulate themselves on the most satisfactory of outlooks . All appears to be in favour of progress and popularity at the present time , and everything seems to point

to continued success in the future . We have the pleasure of intimate ' acquaintance with man } ' members of No . 1658 , and on that account viewed our journey up from Broadstairs on Thursday of last week , for the purpose of attending the regular meeting of the Lodge at the Surrey Masonic Hall , Camberwell , as the prelude to yet greater enjoyment , for we must confess that we derived no inconsiderable pleasure from the trip through the " garden of England , " sandwiched as it was with us between two important

Masonic functions . The Skelmersdale meeting attracted a large attendance of members and visitors , and—as so usual at this Lodge—there was a full agenda of business requiring attention : no less than five candidates for raising , four for passing , and one for initiation , this latter the son of the highly esteemed Bro . E . H . Smyth D . C .

Recognising that with so much to do a punctual start was most desirable , the W . M . Bro . T . J . Rawlings opened the proceedings at the appointed hour , being supported during the meeting by Bros . R . Gabell I . P . M ., W . J . Farmer S . W ., E . S . Rice J . W ., W . Croxson P . M . Treasurer , W . H . Boys P . M . Secretary , S . Claire Hill P . G . Chap . Chaplain , John W . Sandell S . D ., W . E . Bennett J . D ., B . Cohen acting I . G ., C . H . Smyth D . C , Herbert Townsend

Organist , Charles Plant P . M . Tyler ; Past Masters Earle Douglas Side , R . Rowland , Humphrey Cohen , Henry B . Buckeridge , and James Litchford ; with Bros . J . Smith , W . Biles , W . Rose , J . Down , M . Leighton , G . E . Laughlin , E . Castleman , S . May , C . F . Tavener , W . R . Hummerston , J . W . Tredwen , R . Edwards , F . A .

Marlow , S . Morris , C . Martin , J . Thorneloe , F . Hardy , John Gibbs , J . Shaw , F . O . Bridge . W . Watts , T . A . Rawlings , C . Emmett D . Gould , A . Tinley , W . Tredwen , H . Levy , W . J . Perrin , S . P . Smeltzer , C . Sisman , T . Defeher . Frank Nilen , F . Penny , A . Logette , W . Foster , Frank Lloyd , R . D . Godefroy , W . R . Knapman , H . Gibbons . C . Martin , H . C . Smyth , and others .

The visitors included Bros . S . Panter 1287 , W . D . H . Key 1992 , T . Weary 1986 , C . Emmett S . D . 2523 , A . O . Sides P . M . 18 3 , J . M . Jones W . M . 2664 , J Wynman , and others . The Lodge being formed the minutes of the last meeting were

read and confirmed . The Lodge was opened in the second degree , and Bros . T . A . Rawlings , M . Leighton , W . C . Watts , J . H . Down , and G . Laughlin having answered the questions , were entrusted and retired . The Lodge was opened in the third degree , and those Brethren were raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason .

The Lodge was resumed to the first degree and Bros . J . W . Tredwen , D . Gould , A . Tinley , and C Miartin , who had been initiated at the previous meeting , answered the questions and were entrusted . The Lodge was resumed to the second degree , and those Brethren were passed Fellow Crafts .

The Lodge was again resumed to the first degree , and the ballot was taken for Mr . Edwin Charles Smyth as a candidate for initiation . The test proved unanimous in his favour , and in due course he had the pleasure of being admitted a member of the Craft in the Skelmersdale Lodge .

The members evidently intend to keep their W . M . busy during his year of Office , and before he is enabled to number himself among the fossils of the Lodge expect him to give ample proof of his ability , as on this occasion two gentlemen were proposed for initiation at the next meeting . After some discussion it was decided that the annual Ladies

Banquet , Ball , and Concert should take place in January next . The high reputation the W . M . has gained in the Lodge for his firmness and cautious manner , also for his excellent working , was again highly appreciated by the Brethren . After the Lodge was closed an excellent dinner was provided , Mrs . Venables the proprietress showing that she had studied the palates of the Brethren to the utmost .

After the Loyal toasts Bro . Gabell I . P . M . in his usual able manner gave the health of the W . M ., who , he said , had done a great deal of work that evening and had done it to perfection . The performances were a great credit to the Skelmersdale Lodge , and to the Master . During the vacation the W . M . fiad kindly

invited the Officers of the Lodge to spend a day at the Reculvers , Heme Bay , and he was proud to say it had proved a very happy day . Their Master ' s hospitality was unbounded , and in regard to the kindness of Mrs . Rawlings there could not be said too much ; it had been a great pleasure to them all to have been in such

Reports Of Meetings.

cheerful company . On behalf of the Officers he sincerely thanked the W . M . and his wife for their very cordial reception on that

. The W . M ., in acknowledgment , thanked the I . P . M . for his kind remarks . He was pleased to hear that his working had given satisfaction . To work the three degrees was a tax , but he was pleased to do it that day , as he liked the working of the Craft . But he would certainly esteem it a favour if Brethren would refrain

from speaking during the ceremonies ; it upset the W . M . and the Officers , it took the mind away when the W . M . had to call the Brethren to order , and it detracted from the impressiveness of the ritual and the work . He did not speak individually ; personally he had the same respect for an Initiate as for an old member , and he hoped all would strictly observe what he had said .

The next toast the W . M . had much pleasure in giving was that of the candidate , Bro . Smyth , who had been initiated that evening . Every member of the Lodge knew that Brother ' s father , who was a good Junior Deacon and a good Mason . By the strict attention the initiate had paid to the ceremony that evening he felt sure he would follow the example set by his father and become a worthy Mason among them . He accorded him a most hearty welcome amongst the members of the Skelmersdale Lodge .

Bro . Smyth jun . thanked the W . M . for his 'remarks and said it had long been his ambition to become a Freemason ; especially knowing his father to be a member of the Lodge . That was a great encouragement to him . In every way he wished to follow in his father ' s footsteps . He sincerely thanked all for having accepted him as a Brother amongst them , and had much pleasure in drinking prosperity to the Lodge , and health to its members .

The toast of the visitors was next given , and was responded to by Bros . Jones W . M . 2664 , A . O . Sides P . M . 1 S 3 , and W . D . H . Key 1992 . The next toast the W . M . had much pleasure to give , it being the Past Masters of the Lodge . In some Lodges the Past Masters

showed some neglect , but it was not so in the Skelmersdjjje Lodge , where they always rendered the greatest assistance to every member . As W . M . of the Lodge he thanked Bro . Gabell the I . P . M . for the excellent support he had rendered him that evening , and in conclusion called upon the Brethren to receive the toast with extra Masonic fire .

This having been attended to , Bro . Croxson P . M . Treasurer , on behalf of the Past Masters , acknowledged the compliment . As Treasurer he was pleased to say the Lodge was in a very prosperous condition , as evidence of which he might tell them their worthy Secretary Bro . Boys had told him that over ^ 100 had been received that evening .

The W . M . proposed the health of the Officers of the Lodge , particularly thanking those Brethren who had kindly assisted the Deacons during the ceremonies . Bro . Farmer S . W . suitably responded to the toast . Bro . Frank Lloyd was heartily congratulated on his safe return from his honeymoon .

The musical programme was at high pitch , the following Brethren adding greatly to the enjoyment of the evening with musical talent : Bros . Frank Nilen , R . Rowland P . M ., W . Croxson P . M ., and E , D . Side P . M . Bro . Humphrey Cohen P . M . was in grand form with some excellent recitations .

********** Duke of Connaught Lodge , No . 15 24 . As would be expected in a Lodge bearing the name of the Grand Master there is a large membership roll for number 1524 , a very capable head in Bro . Albert Smith , and a first rate Secretary in Bro . C Lorkin P . M . But we fear it must be confessed that the Junior Officers and unofficial members do not give to their chiefs the personal support which they deserve .

It was a pleasure for our representative to attend the meeting of the Lodge at Anderton ' s Hotel on Thursday of last week , and witness the three degrees administered with almost perfect accuracy , so far as the principal Officers were concerned ; but the ceremonies were shorn of much solemnity by the carelessness of the Deacons . Constant correction of the Diaconate is painful and puzzling to

candidates , especially Initiates ; and it almost amounts to a scandal when a large Lodge , with its own school of instruction , has no power to insist upon junior Officers paying careful attention to their duties . The present I . G . of this Lodge gives promise of better thines ; but he is at a disadvantage owing to the unpunctual rank and file demanding admittance at unseasonable moments .

The proceedings began on Thursday soon after 4 p . m ., the first business being the raising of Bros . Adlington and Parsons , followed by the passing of Bro . Francis , and the initiation of Messrs . A . W . Viney and Arthur Fielding . But in each degree the obligation ceremonies were interrupted at supreme moments not only by belated Brethren seeking admission for the first time , but by the going and returning of impatient Brethren who had missed the true inwardness of Masonic research .

That the older members of the Lodge are aware of this lack of discipline was painfully apparent , both from the Secretarial notices and from the observations of several Past Masters when the W . M . rose for the second and third time . We cordially support the suggestion of an advisory board of Past Masters ; for something ought clearly to be done quickly to bring matters to a better condition .

That the " fourth degree " went well goes without saying , considering the venue of the Lodge ; and a word of praise is clue to the excellent musical programme provided—but these things , however pleasant , are not Masonry ; and we confidently hope that these observations , and those made within the Lodge in the hearing of the delinquents , may cause the members—old and new—to desire and aim at more worthy behaviour in a Lodge so a \ ispiciously named ,