Reports Of Meetings.

BEPOBTS OF MEETINGS .

— : o : — METROPOLITAN .

TEMPERANCE IN THE EAST LODGE , No . 898 . FOR the first time since its establishment , now many years ago , says the " East London Observer , " this Lodge has taken a

vacation of a few months . Its opening meeting took place on Wednesday of last week . That its vigour was by no means impaired by its temporary rest was shown by the full attendance of Officers and members . Bro . E . F . Williams W . M . occupied the chair , and was loyally supported by Past Masters , Officers and Brethren , together with several Visitors .

Lodge having been opened , Mr . Alfred Haman Warren was initiated , Bros . Anderson and Barnett passed , and Bro . Regan raised . After other business the Lodge was closed , and the Brethren adjourned to the pleasures of the fourth degree .

The Loyal toasts having been honoured with the usual warmth , Bro . Bigg proposed the W . M ., and alluded to the very worthy manner in which Bro . Williams had fulfilled his duties , adding that he followed a good lino of W . Ms , and would prove himself worthy to be in such company . He would only add that for his own part he would support him to his utmost ability .

Bro . Williams having suitably replied , he proposed the P . Ms , of the Lodge , thanking them for their support . Bros . P . Ms . Rogers , Williams , Pulsford , Armstrong , Shearer , and Duck responded . The Initiate replied in well-measured terms , and for tho Officers , Bros . Duck , Legg , Shapland , and Puddick fitly responded .

o o o ROTHESAY LODGE , No . 1687 . IT seems but a very short time since we had occasion to congratulate Bro . Louis Beck , the first Master of this Lodgo , on the success that attended its consecration , while a year later we well remember being present and joining in tho good wishes that

followed him into the chair of first Past Master . That meeting is particularly fresh in our memory , and really seems to have occurred but a few months back , yet we find on reference to our report that sixteen years have since passed over our head—with the vicissituues and changes that are inseparable from such a lengthy period . In one respect , however , there appears to have been little or no

change—the Lodge was started with the object of specially upholding the principle of Masonic Benevolence , and has not only done so in a very marked degree during its seventeen years existence , but stands out to-day as one of tho most consistent and zealous supporters of tho three Institutions among the many Lodges of tho metropolis .

A noticeable feature in this connection is the fact that the Secretary of the Lodge has usually been the one who has taken tho lead in the good work—Bro . Parsons specially devoting himself to it in tho earlier days of tho Lodge to which we havo just referred , while Bro . E . L . P . Valeriani , the present holder of the office , and a well-known enthusiast in the work of the Institutions , does so

today , and secures tho very best results as the outcome of his endeavours . But in making these observations it must not be supposed we imagine Brother Parsons has relaxed his efforts in this direction ; he is as enthusiastic as ever , as is evidenced by the fact of his having acted as a Steward at the Benevolent Festival this year , when , with the Rothesay Lodge vote of ten guineas and other contributions , he took up upwards of £ 55 as representative of this

and another Lodge with which he is associated , while the example he and other members have set in the Lodge i « likely to be followed in the future , as proved by the acceptance by the new Master of a Stewardship on behalf of the Boys School , and the immediate voting of ten guineas from the Lodge funds in suppport of his list , and , as we mention later on , Bro . Parsons is also continuing the good work in the same direction .

The Installation meeting of tho present year was held at the Frascati Restaurant , Oxfoid Street , on Wednesday , under the presidency of Bro . W . A . Shaw W . M ., who was supported by Bros . F . Gallizia S . W ., A . E . Clements J . W ., W . Adams P . M . Treas ., E . L . P . Valeriani P . M . Sec , John Conning P . M ., H . Gros P . M ., W . C . Parsons P . M ., Z H . Lafontaine S . D ., W . H . Watson J . D .,

F . Henstone I . G ., T . J . Bolton D . C , several members of the Lodge , and the following Visitors : V . P . Freeman P . G . D . PrOv . G . Sec . Sussex , E . St . Claire W . M . 14 P . G . Steward , J . M . McLeod P . P . S . G . W . Derbys . Sec . R . M . I . Boys , Jas . Stephens P . M . 753 , & c . P . P . S . G . D . Bucks ., N . Dukas 2398 , W . P . Fernandez 871 , A . E . Dvke 2045 , W . Harris Treas . 1310 , J . Parker 2 C 06 , J . W . Simeons

193 , T . S . Wyard 2182 , C . Woodrow 1708 , W . E . Willby I . P . M . 538 , A . A . Nottingham 704 , R . L . Warner I . G . 1987 , H . F . Nash P . M . 1769 , W . W . Morgan 177 , S . J . Skelton 2021 , J . J . Debley 180 , H . Monson S . W . 2353 , Jas . Peyton 172 , C . Gwinnell 1681 , J . L . Colsi 1550 , H . Fonseca S . W . 1563 , G . A . Payne 933 , A . Butcher 1227 , S . Fonseca 1563 , H . Wortham 2117 .

The minutes having been confirmed Lodge was opened up , and Bro . George Herbert Burns was raised , after which the W . M .-elect ( Bro . Gallizia S . W . ) was duly installed by his predecessor , the work being splendidly performed . Having invested his Officers tho new W . M . proceeded to initiate three candidates ( of four who had been

previously balloted for and accepted ) : Mr . James Pearce , Mr . E . James Mills and Mr . John Frederick Bates , and in doing so he gave evidence of a knowledge of the ritual and the work of Freemasonry that promises well for the Lodge during the time it is under his rule . His working was , indeed , a credit to anyone , but

Reports Of Meetings.

bearing iu mind that he is a foreigner it was all the more noticeable , and gives proof of the greatest desire on his part to do the work properly . The Report of tho Audit Committee was introduced in such a way as to occasion some alarm , for it was pointed out that the Lodge expenditure of the year had exceeded tho income by nearly

£ 20 , and the way in which this deficiency was attacked by Brother Valeriani and some others led us to believe that the Lodge was really in a bad way , but this idea was speedily dispelled when we saw by the Balance Sheet that the Lodge had given £ 10 10 s to each of the three Institutions during the year , and finished up with a balance of £ 169 2 s lid on its General Fund , an additional £ 115 18 s Id on its Benevolent Fund , and £ 14 Assets

outstanding against Liabilities nil . Altogether a most satisfactory position to be in and one of which any Lodgo might be proud , few being able to show such figures ; but the fact remained that the year started with a balance of £ 188 3 s 8 d and ended nearly £ 20 short of that sum , a result which we are convinced will not be repeated this year if the Secretary has his way , although , as he plainly pointed out , retrenchment must not be attempted in connection with the Lodge votes to the Masonic Institutions .

Before closing his Lodge the Master tendered a cordial welcome to Bro . A . Albert , who had that night been accepted as a Joining Member , and then announced his intention of acting as Steward for the next year ' s Festival of the Boys School , upon which a vote of ten guineas was immediately made from the Lodgo funds to head his list .

The Brethren subsequently dined together , and after the banquet the usual Loyal toasts wero honoured , the Grand Master being referred to by some of the older members as the Duke of Rothesay , the Prince of Wales having given sanction for the Lodgo to bo named after this one of his titles , and allowed the arms of tho Dukedom to bo used on the banner and other property of the Lodge . Bro . Freeman responded for the Grand Officers .

The I . P . M ., in submitting the toast of the Worshipful Master , said it was a toast that would meet with general approbation in the Rothesay Lodge , the members of which knew their present ruler as a most zealous Mason , who had already won distinction and would , he was sure , rise to much higher things . They must all be aware of the difficulties a Master had to contend with under

ordinary circumstances , but when , in addition , he was a foreigner and not a complete master of the language the difficulties wero increased . Their Master must not only have had courage but also indomitable perseverance to have gained his present position and worked with such credit to himself as he had just done . Not only had he invested his Officers most ably , but had followed on by

Initiating three gentlemen into the Order , nervousness in his new position apparently having no effect upon him , although it was no uncommon thing to see others in like positions display a considerable amount of it . In conclusion he thought they had a Master who would reflect credit on the Lodge and gain additional credit for himself .

Tho W . M . tendered thanks . He felt he was in a very difficult position having to follow such a ruler as I . P . M . Shaw , who , like a good Mason , always over-estimated the capabilities of a Brother . He was not a born orator , but he claimed to be a worker—they would , indeed , have to judge him rather by his actions than by his words . He should always remember the events of that day as among the most pleasant of his life .

Bro . Gros P . M . proposed the Initiates . The W . M . had said his capabilities had been over-estimated , but the fact of his having initiated three gentlemen on the first night of his presidency in so able a manner as he had done was ample proof of his ability . Speaking to the Initiates Bro . Gros said no doubt they had heard much of Freemasonry previous to their Initiation . Its votaries and

those outside of it presented some very different views of its principles and its advantages . When thoy left that hall they would say that Masons wore a jovial lot , but as they learnt more of the Craft'they would know better what it taught . It was true no man could bo found fully up to tho standard taught by

Freemasonry , but they could all strive to do as much as lay in their power . In the name of the members he welcomed the Initiates to the Lodge , hoped they would long belong to it , and that they might each , if they so desired , rise to the position of the Brother who had so ably initiated them that evening .

Bro . Pearce tendered his thanks . He had been very much impressed that night and should endeavour , as long as ho lived , to do justice to his initiation . Bro . Mills felt much indebted to the W . M . and Brethren for the

kindness shown him that day . Every opportunity that presented itself he should be pleased to follow up . in the interests of Freemasonry , and he promised to do all he could to advance tho Craft . Bro . Bates also tendered thanks .

Bro . Valeriani was entrusted with the toast of tho Masonic Institutions . He felt the Master might have chosen one who could speak the language better , but he could not have chosen one who had the toast more at heart . He was glad the Master had put down Masonic " Institutions , " as he hated the word " Charity" in connection with what the Brethren did in this direction . It must

be borne in mind it was only by supporting the Institutions they could have the benefits they were able to dispense . It was very hard to fight at the elections , where it often seemed those got on the best who had done the least . Bro . Valeriani referred to the work done by the Past Masters of the Lodge for the Institutions , and appealed to the members to support their present Master in his Stewardship for the Boys School . He considered they had no

right to touch Initiation or Joining fees for the ordinary expenses of the Lodge , and if they worked on that principle they would be able to send a Steward every year to each of the three Institutions . Tlie Rothesay Lodge was one of the first supporters of the Institutions , and although the Past Masters did not wish to drive or force the members to give , they yet hoped they would be able to lead them to do so . Ho spoko of tho absence of Bro . Terry who , ha