St. George's Lodge, No. 1723, Bolton.

ST . GEORGE'S LODGE , No . 1723 , BOLTON .

THE first meeting after the vacation was held on Wednesday , the 27 fch September , at tbe Commercial Hotfd , Bolton , at half past six o ' clock in the evenine * . Bros . William Court W . M ., Latham S . W ., Cosgrave as J . W ., N . Nicholson P . M . Secretary , J . W . Taylor M . C , T . E . Smith Organist , Priestley as Chaplain , T . B . Tong I . G ., J . W . Roiley Tyler . P . M . ' s Bros . G . P . Brockbank P . Prov . S . G . D ., J . Morris , J . M . Rutter , J . H . Greenhalgh ; Derhatn , Parkinson , Morris ,

Naylor , Bardsley , Gonlburn . The minutes of the last meeting having been read and confirmed , it was resolved to contribute tho sum of £ 1 Is to the John Hervey Testimonial Fnnd . An address of condolence was agreed to be sent to the widow of Bro . T . T . Holt , late Organist of the Lodge , who had , during his brief career as a Mason , made himself exceedingly usef nl—particularly in regard to the

musical arrangements—in conducting the proceedings of the Lodge . The sympathy of tho brethren was also conveyed to the Senior Warden , who since fche last meeting had been bereaved of his wife and child . It was resolved that the congratulations of this Lodge , as the youngest , be cordially conveyed , on the occasion of tho Sesqui-Centemrial meeting on tbe 23 rd October 1882 , to tho members of

the Anchor and Hope Lodge , No . 37 , being the oldest Lodge in the town , and also in the Provinces in England , which has continued to meet uninterruptedly for a period of 150 years . Bro . Blain I . P . M . delivered the lecture on the tracing board in the Grst degree , and was highly complimented by the Past Masters and other brethren for the

pleasing and effective manner in which he conveyed his information . He was requested to continue his efforts to introduce this method of Masonic instruction to tho brethren . Lodge closed at 8 p . m . The brethren adjourned to banquet , the after proceedings being considerably enlivened by the assistance of Bro . Smith and other brethren who displayed considerable musical talent .

Skelmersdale Lodge , No . 1858 . —The first regnlar meeting of the above excellent working Lodge was held on the 28 tb ult ., at the Surrey Masonio Hall , Camberwell . The Lodge was draped in black , and the brethren wore Masonic mourning , out of respect to tb * i memory of a late member of the Lodge , Bro . E . E . Levy . There was a full attendance of members and visit ors . Amongst the latter were Bros .

Rusk 1051 , G . Stokes I . G . 1558 , R . P . Hart 1348 . E . P . Storr P . M . 22 . A . Marston 158 , J . Watts P . M . 507 , H . M . Levy P . M . 188 . The W . M . Bro . Albert Storr occupied fche chair ; he was supported by Bros . J . Cox S . W ., S . Boys J . W ., Earney P . M . Treas ., J . Hill Sea , J . Darwin S . D ., Smith M . C , P . M . ' s J . Thorp , Larlham , Earney , & e . The Lodge was formally opened , and the minutes of the last regnlar .

and emergenoy meeting on the 22 nd June , were read and confirmed . Bro . F . J . Tull was passed to the second degree , and Bro . H . C . Hill was raised to the third . Both ceremonies were perfectly and impressively conducted by the W . M ., while the assistance rendered by the Officers left nothing to be desired . Ballots were taken for tbe admission of Messrs . H . Seabonrne , A . M . Leach , and F . F . Leach . The candidates

were nofc present , but were accepted and will be initiated afc a future meeting . Mr . H . F . Phillips was named as a candidate for initiation . Bro . Hill Sec . proposed that a letter of condolence be sent to tho widow and family of fche late Bro . E . E . Levy , expressing the Lodge's sympathy with them in their bereavement . The W . M . said he fully supplemented the kind remarks of the proposer and

seoonder ; the lato Bro . Levy was one whom they all respected Bro . J . Hill Seoretary proposed , and Bro . H . Cohen seconded , that the first paragraph of Bye Law No . 8 should be amended as follows : " That the initiation fee shall be £ o 5 s , and the joining fee £ 3 3 s afc Inch times as tbe number of members shall not exceed 30 . Whpn mora tban thirty , and nofc exceeding 50 , the initiation fee shall be £ 7 7 s , and

the joining fee £ 4 4 s , and when over fifty and not exceeding seventy , then the initiation fee shall be £ 9 9 s , and the joining fee £ 5 5 s . Afc snch times as fche number of members shall excped seventy the initiation fee shall be £ 12 12 s , and the joining fee £ 8 8 s . " This was carried unanimously . That the sixth paragraph of Bve . law No . 8 shall read— "The ' visitors' fee for the installation shall be 12 s 6 d , and for

refreshment on other evenings 5 s , and any brother introducing a visitor shall be responsible for the payment of fche fee for the same . " That the seventh paragraph of Bye-law No . 8 shall be altered as nnder— " The W . Master shall be privileged to invite two visitors to banquet or refreshment at the expense of the Lodge . At the installation meeting , the W . Master and the W . Master elect shall each be

entitled to invite two visitors to the banquet , and if the out-going Master does nofc instal his successor , the brother who may be called npon ^ to officiate as Installing Master shall have tho privilege of inviting one gnesfc to the banqnet afc the expense of the Lod ge . " Both these amendments wero likewise assented to . mat

¦ anew Bye-law , No . 8 A , shall be inserted as follows : — " That OHO guinea shall be deducted from each and every Initiation-fee , throughout the current year , if the funds will allow it , aud also that » s be taken from every member's paid annnal subscription to form n Benevolent Fund : ' also that when tho balanco at the end of the

year , after all and every liability have been paid , shall exceed twenty Pounds , that the sum of ten guineas shall bo placed to the account ot the Benevolent Fund , and that votes in different Miisonic Charities ° e obtained in its name by the Lodge . That a book si . all be kenfc by e Secretary for recording tho account of the Benevolent Fnnd , i'h the names and addresses of tho brethren , and full particulars of h

of their votes , which may and have been obtained by this Bye-• Thia proposition was also carried . Hearty good wishes a er * 3 tendered by the Visitors , and the brethren sat down to WAr ° exce ^* enfc dinner , ably supplied by Bro . Variables . Tbr jrl . ^ ° vevy genially presided , proposed tho nsnal Loyal and "some toasts in brief but appropriate terms . Bro . Thorp I . P . M . £ "Posed the health of the W . M . Thev bad not all seen how ablv

? ear f' * " ^' ; orr naf ^ discharged the duties of the chair during bis = u , . < j Sice , bnt they bad seen how bo had performed the cerelea of raising and passing . He hoped they wonld give the toast

St. George's Lodge, No. 1723, Bolton.

the reception it merited . The W . M ., in reply , said ho conld nofc but be thankful for their kind expressions . In the year 1877 a few brethren established this Lodge . It wns agreed that it shonld be called after Lord Skelmersdale , onr worthy Deputy Grand Master , who had given the members permission to uso his coat of arms . They never

expected in such a short spaco of timo to seo tho Lodge so prosperons , nor conld they havo anticipated tho acquisition of such brethren as constituted its members . Personally , he was proud to soo how it bad progressed , and he would say , God speed the Lodgo . Tho W . M . then proposed the toasfc of the Visitors , they wero honoured by the presence of manv brethren who wero distinguished in

Freemasonry . Ho would call on Bros . H . M . Lovy P . M . 188 , Storr P . M . 22 , Watts P . M . 507 to respond . These brethren severally replied . Bro . Storr dwelt especially on the notice of motion for a Benevolent Fund to be attached to the Lodge , and warmly advocated tho claims of the three Masonic Charities . The W . M . then proposed the toast of the Past Masters ; they were nofc

numerous , but they are patterns for imitation . While they had snob P . M . ' s as Bros . Thorpe , Earney , Larlham , and Cass , the Lodge must prosper . Bro . Earney P . M . said it was a great pleasure to see a Lodge only five years old establishing a Benevolent Fnnd . He was sure it would bo a BUCCOSS ; anything that he and the P . M . ' s could do for the advancement and tho interests of the members would be will .

ingly undertaken . Tho W . M ., in proposing the toasfc of the Wardens and Officers , said tho S . W . and J . W . had dono their duty well , and he looked forward to see some excellent working in the Lodge . As to the worthy Secretary , Bro . Hill , the members were all greatly indebted to him , and hoped eventually to see him attain the proud position of tho chair . The toasfc was ably responded to by the Senior

and Junior Wardens . Bro . Earney P . M . Treasnrer also acknowledged tbe compliment . The W . M . informed the brethren that the Lodge of Instruction meets every Friday evening , at the Surrey Masonic Hall , where Bro . Hill is the Preceptor . He ( tho W . M . ) was always ready to assist Bro . Hill , and thus enable the brethren to become perfect in the working . Before parting ho had much pleasure

in proposing the health of those who had so ably contributed to the harmony of the evening . Bro . Benjamin ' s splendid singing , accom . panied by Bro . Zucker , and Bro . Humphrey Cohen ' s reoital of Bro , G . R . Sims' " Christmas Day in the Workhouse , " and a selection from " Pickwick , " ifc bad been a pleasu o to listen to . The Tyler ' s toasfc completed the business of the evening .

Brixton Lodge of Instruction , No . 1949 . —On Tuesday , the 3 rd inst ., afc Bro . Monck ' s , Prince Regent , Dnlwioh-road , East Brixton . There was a good attendance of brethren , including Bros . Poore W . M ., C . H . Phillips S . W ., G . W . Knight J . W ., E . A . Francis Preceptor , Hy . M . Williams Secretary , H . Stokes S . D ., H . Durham J . D ., J . E . Farr I . G . , * also Bros . W . Lucas , Croucher , Albert , Pooler , Axford , Bigg , Serjeant , and J . V . Henirich . The work comprised tbe

rehearsal of the ceremony of initiation , which was ably dono by the W . M ., with Bro . Bigg as candidate . Bro . Albert proved his proficiency , and was entrusted . Lodgo was opened in the second degree , and the ceremony of passing was creditably rehearsed by the W . M ., with Bro . Albert as candidate . Lodge was closed in the second degree . Three new members were unanimously elected , and B * ro . Phillips was elected W . M . for the ensuing week .

Rothesay Lodge No. 1687.

ROTHESAY LODGE No . 1687 .

HELD its sixth installation meeting afc the Inns of Conrfc Hotel , Lincoln ' s-Inn-Fields , on the 4 th inst . A prominent feature was t he Lodge banner , with arms of H . R . H . the M . W . G . M ., this being one of the Prince of Wales ' s titles . Tho chair was occupied by Bro . Dooker I . P . M ., in the nnavoidablo absence of the W . M ., Bro . Crossland , who is now sojourning in Canada . Bros . Durefc S . W ., L . Beck P . P . G . O . Middlesex Treasurer , W . C . Parsona P . M . Secretary , F . Green sen .

S . D , Valcriani J . D ., F . V . Green I . G . ; P . M . J . Hancock , and a goodly attendance of members and brethren ; amongst the latter being Bros . Raynbam W . Stewart P . G . D ., L . de Stephani W . M . II Dovere I . Lngani , Dr . Ramsay P . P . G . S . D . Middlesex , H . Harvey 749 , L . Ruf P . M . 12 , Warner P . G . S ., Festa W . M . elect 1900 , Blackie 1426 , Simms 207 , Hobbs 209 , Gro ? an 256 , Cloots , Higgins 1563 , Strong ,

G . Solomon 9 , H . M . Levy P . M . 188 . Lodge was opened , and the minutes were confirmed . A Board of Installed Masters was opened , and Bro . W . C . Parsons P . M . and Secretary of the Lodge was inducted into the chair by Bro . Docker I . P . M ., whose working in tho Lodge for two j r ears has been so uniformly good that every brother fully anticipated a display of ability on his under .

taking the ceremony of installation . Bro . Docker , on its conclusion , received tho applause of tho brethren and Visitors , after ths customary salutations , which were given in ancient form , tho newly-installed Blaster appointed and invested his Officer ? . Brother L . Beck P . M . and Founder , P . P . G . O . Middlesex I . P . M . acted as M . C .: —Bros . Durefc S . W ., Green eon . J . W ., L . Beck Treas .,

Docker Sec , Valerinni S . D ., Green jun . J . D ., Monle I . G ., J . Smith A . M . C ., Potter Tyler . Tho applause ; that followed tho appointment cf each Officer showed the WM . had selected thoso brethren who , liko himself , wonld work for tho credit of tbo Order . The W . M , - > tatcd that a member of Hie Lodgo had recently diod in distressed circumstances , and n sum of five pounds was voted , to be given

to tho widow , fro n tho B . incvolent Fund . This being the first application for the benefits it wa 3 established to dispense . Bro . Valeriani S . D . annonnced his intention to serve as Steward afc the nest Anniversary Festival of the Boys' School ; he hopod to have -he co-operation of the brethren , and to take up a good list . Hearty

good wishes were given by tho numerous visitors , and the brethren , 39 in number , sat down to a very excellent banquet and dessert provided by Bro . Gosden , and superintended by Bro . Smith . The W . M . in eulogistic terms proposed tho toast of the Queen and tho Craffc , Bro . Beaumont and Miss Beck singing the solo verso * of the National