Reports Of Meetings.

Balance Sheet of the year affords evidence that the members are working to clear off what we imagine is responsibility under that head . This is a most laudable desire on their part , and wo hope the day is not far distant when they will be able to point to the Hall in which they meet as their own property , free from any liability . Beyond this advantage the Lodge has enjoyed an equal

one during the past year in having had a thoroughly good Master to preside over its destinies , while there is every prospect that his successor who was installed last week will follow in the same way , and add to the good reputation the Lodge already enjoys . The desire to press onward to better things is strong among the members , and in such a case progress is almost assured .

The proceedings of the Annual meeting commenced with the usual formalities , under the presidency of Bro . E . H . White W . M ., who was supported by Bros . Geo . Blackburn I . P . M ., Julian Horrcll S . W ., A . G . Harvey J . W ., Rev . R . A . Fawssett Chap ., A . H . Hale P . M . Treas ., J . T . May P . M . Sec , G . J . Hamilton S . D ., Walter Cowoll J . D ., Alfred H . Hardy D . C , D . W . Lott Org ., N . F .

Merriman andF . Brightman Stewards , Thos . Martin Tyler , T . P . Swaine , Robert Barlow , Thos Lawrence , R . Thurlow Baker , R . Morley P . P . G . A . D . C ., T . Holbourn , Henry Biddle , W . H . White , H . S . West , F . T . Humphreys , George Hiller P . M ., Henry R . Willats , Wm . Nation , W . F . Whiting , W . T . Dunn , J . J . Roach , A . T-Holt , W . Latchford , & c , while among the Visitors were : Bros . G .

Goodbourn I . P . M . 429 , C J . Elliott W . M . 429 , G . J . Baldwin S . W . 1209 , W . F . Gadd A . D . C . 1209 , John Moore S . W . 127 , W . J . Clarke P . M . 133 , A . W . Southwell W . M . 1915 , George Lawrence 127 , C . F . J . Briggs 429 , S . Davies 172 , Harold Woodward 127 , E . Stuart Turner 860 , Fredk . Stanley P . M . Sec . 127 , T . Jephcott , Steward 127 , E . Crosier W . M . 127 , H . Lyon 150 , J . Hosking I . P . M . 127 , Chas . W . Hudson P . P . G . W . Sussex , Walter Searles 127 , Geo . Chapman

W . M . 1209 , C . Warren 1209 , Holyer 127 , A . R . Smith W . M . 44 ( I . C . ) , & c . Having confirmed tho Minutes and passed the accounts of the year , Bro . H . Lyon , of the Perfect Unanimity Lodge , No . 150 , Madras , was regularly accepted as a Joining Member . The Installation of Bro . Arthur George Harvey , the J . W . of the past year , was next proceeded with , Bro . E . H . White , the outgoing

Master , performing the ceremony without a hitch , and giving the different addresses in excellent style . The new Officers were invested , a Charity Representative and an Almoner elected , and tbe work of the day was brought to a conclusion , the Brethren afterwards adjourning to the Jubilee Schoolroom for the annual banquet , which was served by Mr . A . T . Lord in good style .

Bro . White was presented with a Past Master ' s jewel by the W . M ., on behalf of the members of the Lodge , and in making the presentation the Master referred to the strenuous efforts Brother White had made to promote the interests of the Lodge and of the Craft in general . In evidence that those efforts were not entirely unappreciated he might mention that the jewel had been subscribed for by the members , without inteifering with Lodge funds . Bro . White made a suitable response .

Mr . H . B . Langham , Architect , of Broadstairs , was proposed as a candidate for Initiation .

The toast list was opened with the usual sentiment of the Queen and the Craft , the Master saying it must be a source of gratification to Her Majesty to know that so many Freemasons in all parts of the Empire— the most loyal among her subjects—were continually honouring the mention of her name and pledging the toast in honour of the Queen .

This was followed by the toast of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales Grand Master , also well received . The Senior Warden submitted the toast of the Pro G . M ., the Deputy G . M . and the rest of the Grand Officers . As a young Mason he did not feel qualified to offer many remarks on this subject , but the Brethren included in the toast were so well known as to render any laudatory comment unnecessary .

Tho toasts of the Provincial Grand Master , the Deputy , and the other Prov . G . Officers was given from the chair . Bro . Blackburn , the first Master of the Lodge , responding as one of the latter , referred to the presence of the Provincial Grand Master two years previously at the consecration of the Lodge , and expressed the regret of all that he was not among them that day to

see the progress that had been made . The interest Earl Amherst took in the affairs of his Province was matter of general knowledge , and he seized the opportunity of proving that interest by attending their meetings as often as possible . Bro . Blackburn then spoke of the consecration shortly to take place of the Shirley Woolmer Lodge , No . 2530 , which , as would be seen , bore a number nearly

one hundred in advance of their own , although it was but two years since they had been established . This largo increase gave evidence of the progress of Freemasonry in general , while the fact that it would also belong to the Province of Kent was proof that the Order was flourishing in their immedediate district . But apart from these features the new Lodge ho referred to interested them

on account of the association of their Rev . Bro . Chaplain with its first Master , the sponsor of the Lodge , Bro . Shirley Woolmer , who was nearly related to Brother Fawssett . He concluded with expressions of regret that Bro . Eastes Deputy of the Province and other members of the Prov . Grand Lodge had not been able to attend the meeting that day .

Bro . I . P . M . White submitted the toast of the W . M ., who had been installed that day amid the good wishes of the members of the Lodge , all of whom hoped—as he was sure would be the case—that Bro . Harvey would carry out the work of the Lodge to their satisfaction . Of one thing they could be sure Bro . Harvey would do all that lay in his power to advance the Lodge , add to its reputation and

promote the comfort of the members . Their Lodge was essentially a progressive one , an evidence of which was to be found that day in the introduction of music with their ceremonies for the first time , and no doubt Bro . Harvey would find some opportunity of making further progress during his term of office . It behoved them , as good Masons , to give him a hearty reception and their loyal support .

Reports Of Meetings.

Tho W . M . tendered his thanks . He did not intend to reply at any length , but hoped to prove himself a good and faithful Master , one who would merit all the kind things that had been said in his favour . The Secretary ( Bro . P . M . May ) proposed the toast of the Visitors , offering them a hearty welcome .

Bro . Hudson was the first to reply , and tendered the heartiest thanks on his own and the other guests ' s behalf . He wished to say that of all the ceremonies he had been present at he never recollected seeing the work carried out more smoothly and satisfactorily , and he was quite sure the other Visitors would agree with his opinion on that point . Bro . Hudson referred to his candidature

for the Grand Treasurership , and spoke of the staunch support he received from Kent—solid Kent—on that occasion . He felt very proud that so many votes were polled on his behalf , as it must be borne in mind that every Brother who voted for him had to attend personally , and could only do so at considerable expense and inconvenience , as the whole of his support was derived from the Provinces . He thought this was a condition of affairs that should

be altered , and that in future it should not be necessary to attend personally for such a purpose as recording one ' s vote in the election of a Grand Treasurer , as it placed a Provincial candidate in a very unfavourable position , compared with one who drew his support wholly or mainly from London . He hoped to see some alteration made in . the near future , so as to render proxy voting permissible in such matters .

Bros . Crosier W . M . 127 , Elliott W . M . 429 and Chapman W . M . 1209 also responded . The next toast was that of the Installing Master and the P . Ms , proposed by Bro . Fawssett Chaplain . He said Bro . White might not have been universally popular , and probably did not so much aim at that as he did at thoroughness in the work of the Lodge .

In other words he had not sacrificed duty to a desire to win mere applause , and his success had been all the more marked as a consequence . Our Reverend Brother gave a most amusing account of the severe discipline he had been under at the hands of the late ruler of the Lodge , one of whose mottos appeared to have been " aut Csesar aut nullus , " and it might be said there had been a great deal of " Csesar , " with very little of the " nullus " during the

year ; indeed it might be that somo of the members would have cause for congratulating themselves on the termination of the hard rule they had been under since Bro . White had been at their head , but however much this might be the case they could not overlook the zeal and assiduity their late chief had displayed . In concluding , Bro . Fawssett called attention to the fact that the toast was not exclusively Bro . White ' s , but included the Past Masters generally .

Bro . V \ hite replied . It was a great gratification to him that his work appeared to have been so much appreciated . He could truly say he had done his very best , since his elevation to the chair , to advance the welfare of the Lodge , and he thought from what had just been said he could give himself credit for having succeeded in those endeavours . He thanked them all very much for the cordial support they had given him and hoped it would be extended

to those who came after him in the chair of the Lodge . He took a great interest in the Craft and felt he always should do so . As theirs was essentially a progressive Lodge it behoved others to also display personal interest in its welfare and endeavour to do something to urge it on to the goal they aimed at . His views of Freemasonry were fully expressed in the following lines ^ iich had recently come under his notice , with the title " Freemasonry Triumphant "

" Like as a rock on whom the angry sea Dashes and charges with vehement roar ; Repelling still in steadfast majesty—Standing erect and noble as before . So is our Art on Whom its foes would frown : ¦

~~ — ~— — — — " - ~ *~ . It little recks the battle-cry of men Who knowing not its lustre and renown Can ne ' er discern it with Masonic ken , It bids defiance to the selfish weak—Surviving all their paltry scoffs and sneers , And casts its Light on darkened ones who seek

To find its Virtues known three thousand years , Unblemished yet and soaring Heavenwards still For on it smiles divine Great God ' s all perfect will !"

The toast of the Charities was heartily given , and was responded to by Bro . West , who alluded to the efforts that had been made to secure an annuity for the widow of a late Brother , and expressed his determination of never relaxing his efforts until the desired pension had been secured .

The Masonic Press was toasted , and in acknowledgment reference was made to some of the topics of the day in Freemasonry , and the part the Press should play in bringing them under the notice of members of the Order .

The Officers of the Lodge were toasted on the proposition of the W . M ., who made a witty speech , in which he touched upon the varied occupations of thoso included in the toast . He felt he had a strong body of Officers , and that they would do their duty as zealously as those Who had worked under his predecessors .

Several of the Officers responded , and the proceedings were brought to a conclusion with the Tyler's toast . Before concluding our report of this most enjoyable meeting we must not omit to mention Bro . Thurlow Baker's unique

ventriloquial entertainment , in which he introduced a song entitled " Brother Harvey " ( the new W . M . ) , which was received with loud laughter , tbe many local and topical allusions to Broadstairs in general , and the Craft in particular , being much above the average of amateur efforts .

Other songs were given during the evening , the Artistes including Mr . Fred . Everill , Bros . G . H . Dawson , F . Stanley , Donald W . Lott , Miss Jennings , and Masters H . Harvey aud H . E . White , the two latter being the BOUB of the W . M . and I . P . M .