Reports Of Meetings.

ELLESMERE LODGE , No : 758 . AT the quarterly meeting , held at Runcorn , Bro . John Littler was raised to tho third degree , the ceremony being most impressively performed by the Worshipful Master Bro . H . Branch . Subsequently an interesting presentation took place , Bros . W . R . Wass

P . M . and W . Mellor P . M . handing over to the Lodge three antique oak chairs , of a design in harmony with the rest of the furniture of the room , and they were accepted for the uso of the Deacons and the Inner Guard . A vote of thanks was accorded to the donors , and it was resolved to affix to each chair a silver plate recording the gift .

COPE LODGE , No . 1357 . THE annual festival took place on Friday evening , 21 st ult ., at Brooklands Hotel , Sale , when Brother G . Shapland was installed W . M . Bro . Campbell Charity Representative called attention to an application he had received from the widow of a late Brother , who required assistance , and intimated that he had received £ 5 from Brethren of the Lodge towards

helping her , but he would require the sanction of the Brethren to submit her name to the London authorities to have her placed on the list for permanent assistance . This was at once given , and he stated the matter would now receive his best attention , and that he would also bring the case before the Cheshire Benevolent Committee .

CONCORD LODGE , No . 1534 . THB annual meeting and Festival of St . John was held in the Lodge Room , Prestwich , on Thursday , 20 th ult ., Bro . H . B . Fawssett W . M . The principal business of the day was that of installing Brother Dr . F . Stephenson S . W . into the chair of . K . S ., the ceremony being performed by the retiring W . M ., assisted by Past Masters of the Lodge .

The Officers for tbe ensuing year are : Bros . 3 . Kershaw S . W ., Geo . H . Nield J . W ., Jno . W . Thompson P . P . G . St . B . Treas ., J . D . Ramage Sec , Ashton Whitworth S . D ., D . McCarthy J . D ., T . Lindon Wyatt I . G-., W . H . Norton P . P . G . D . D . C , S . F . Simons P . M . Org ., Thos . E . Collier S . S ., W . Soutban A . S ., Hy . Pleasance A . S ., W . Hallard A . S ., R . Hothersall P . P . G . A . D . C . C . R .

After the close of Lodge business the Brethren adjourned to the Liberal Club , an adjoining building where a sumptuous banquet had been provided . Loyal and Masonic toasts were submitted , and duly responded to , these being pleasantly varied by songs from Bro . Cuthbert Blacow , and sketches from Bro . Lindon Wyatt , < fcc .

Bro . Stephenson W . M ., in proposing the health of the I . P . M ., presented to him , on behalf of the members , a handsome jewel bearing the following inscription : —

Presented by the Brethren of the Concord Lodge , No , 1534 , Prestwich , to BEO . H . B . FAWSSETT W . M . 1897-8 . 20 th October 1898 .

Reports Of Meetings.

ALBERT VICTOR LODGE , No . 1773 . THE regular meeting was held at the Town HaU , Pendleton , on Friday , 21 st ult . Bro . Wm . Lambert W . M . furnished a treat to the Brethren in the form of a lecture on the Third Tracing Board . Being the penultimate meeting of the financial year , the election of Officers took place , with the result that Bro . W . T . Blease S . W . was unanimously chosen as W . M .-elect . Bro . F . Townson P . M . was chosen as Treasurer .

The harmony at the festive board was provided by Bros . Kenyon , Mills , S . Gaskill P . M . 163 , and others , a very pleasant evening being spent .

SMITH CHILD LODGE , No . 2064 . ON Wednesday afternoon , 26 th ult ., the installation of the Worshipful Master took place at Tunstall Town Hall . Bro . Joseph Adams was installed for the ensuing twelve months , the ceremony being performed by the Immediate Past Master , assisted by other Past Masters of the Lodge . Several propositions were made at the close of the appointment of Officers , and the Lodge appeared to have prospect of a successful year .

After the business proceedings the Brethren adjourned for refreshment , following which tbe usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were honoured , and songs were contributed by the Tunstall Glee Party . There was a large attendance of members of the Lodge , and also of visitors from other Lodges in the Potteries .

MANCHESTER LODGE , No . 2554 . THE annual meeting and Festival of St . John took place at the Freemasons' Hall , Cooper Street , Manchester , on Friday , 14 th ult ., Brother William Charlton , J . P ., Worshipful Master . After the reading and confirmation of minutes , Brother William Alderley

Boyer S . W . Worshipful Master-elect was regularly installed into the chair of K . S . by Bro . Arthur H . Jefferies P . M . P . P . G . W ., assisted by Past Masters of the Lodge . The ceremony was a musical one , and was excellently rendered by Bros . Wm . Booth P . M . 104 2156 , Mark Stafford P . M . 361 P . P . G . S ., N . Dumville P . M . 2156 P . P . G . S ., and Wm . Dumville P . M . 2156 .

A list of Officers for the ensuing year is subjoined : Bros . A . C . K . Smith S . W ., A . B . Smith J . W ., W . B . Davies Treas ., J . A . Thompson Sec , F . J . Large S . D ., F . J . Burt J . D ., P . Z . da Cunah I . G ., W . B . Akerman P . M . Prov . G . A . D . C . D . of C , C . Jordan Org ., C . Wroe , W . H . Ashworth , and W . J . Charlton Stewards . Lodge was closed at an early hour , and the Brethren adjourned to an excellent banquet , a pleasant evening being spent .

Among the numerous visitors we noticed Bros . Capt . C . R . N . Beswicke-Royds , Fortitude , 64 , Deputy Provincial Grand Master ( E . L . ) , Nathan Heywood P . M . 44 P . P . G . Reg ., Arthur Middleton P . M . 645 P . P . G . D ., H . 3 . Cutter P . M . 44 P . P . G . D ., Saml . Moore P . M . 992 P . P . G . S . W ., Buckley Carr P . M . 1161 1458 P . P . G . D . C ., Geo . W . Belshaw I . P . M . 1219 , Robt . Thomson P . M . 44 , Ed . Webb P . M . 163 1134 , W . Joseph Sherlock 2109 , Geo . B . Black 2387 , and others .

Ad01002

Co-operatioe Cruises and Cours , ORGANIZED BY HENRY S . LUNN , M . D . * B . Ch ., F . R . G . S ., and CONNOR F . S . PEROWNE . SPECIAL MASONIC CRUISE TO THE HOLY LAND . A Month ' s Cruise for Twenty-five Guineas , visiting Athens , Constantinople , the Holy Land , and Egypt . Chaplains : Rett . Canon Child , G . C ., and Rett . Canon Bullock , P . G . C . Wednesday , January 11 th - - - Leave London , via Dover , Calais , Paris . Thursday , January 12 th - - - Leave Marseilles . Saturday , January 14 th - - - At Naples . Tuesday , January 17 th - - - At Athens . Wednesday , January 18 th At Athens . Saturday , January 21 st - - - Arrive Jaffa , for Jerusalem . After landing passengers , the vessel will proceed to Sunday , January 22 nd - - - Arrive Port Said . [ Port Said . Tuesday , January 24 th - - . Depart Port Said . Wednesday , January 25 th - - - Arrive Jaffa to embark passengers from Jerusalem . Thursday , January 26 th - - - Arrive Alexandria for Cairo . Tuesday , January 31 st - - - Depart Alexandria . Friday , February 3 rd ... Arrive Malta , afternoon . Saturday , February 4 th - - - At Malta , leaving at midnight . Monday , February 6 th - - . Arrive Naples , mid-day . Tuesday , February 7 th Depart Naples , mid-day . Thursday , February 9 th - - - Arrive Marseilles . Friday , February 10 th - - . Arrive London . The fare includes a second-class return ticket from London to Marseilles , via Dover and Calais . First class , £ 2 12 s 6 d extra . Those who start from Marseilles will pay £ 5 5 s less . Special arrangements will be made for those passengers who desire to travel from Naples via Eome , Florence , and Venice to England . i ull details of Land Excursions , with plan of Steamer , on application . £ 10 10 : £ 13 13 : and £ 18 18 : ROME TOURS . £ 10 10 s Skating and Toboganning Winter Parties . For full particulars , apply Secretary , 5 Endsleigh Gardens , London , N . W .