Reports Of Meetings.

stated he would adorn tho ranks of the " Young Brigade , " and ultimately worthily fill the Master's chair . Brother Coles , the candidate , who was cordially received , thanked tho Brethren for the hearty manner in which they had icspondcd to the toast of his health . It gave him great pleasure to be received into tho Craft with

such hououv , and he should remember the impressive ceremony of his initiation throughout the whole of his life . He believed if one would only beat * in mind the words of that ceremony and endeavour to act up to them , he would make a better citizen , and stand a better chance of reaching the land above . He had looked into an Encyclopaedia , with regard to Masonry , and found it went back to the dark ages . It was probable that the Tower of

Babel was built by Masons , and as the Crafts aud Guilds of those days were confiued to a secret Order , the members of it would not care to impart their secrets to those who had not served their apprenticeship . Ho had not joined the Craft , to obtain the secrets and then leave it , but he had a desire for many years of becoming a Mason , and it was his intention to remain in the Craft as a subscribing Brother .

Brother Samuel Grundy S . W . then proposed the health of the Visitors , and mentioned the fact that four of them were Senior Wardens in active office in neighbouring Lodges . The toast was responded to by all the Visiting Brethren .

The toast of the Past Masters of the Lodge was proposed by Brother A . Adams , and subsequently that of tho Officers and Members of the " Young Brigade , " all of which were suitably replied to . The Tyler then gave the last toast , and a very successful and enjoyable evening was brought to a termination .

The musical part of the programme was rendered by Bros . Enos Andrew , Cooper , Ogden , aud Newton . Brother Wood P . M . gave a recitation in his usual eloquent style .

BALDWIN LODGE , No . 1398 . IJTiREEMASONRY at Dalton is making progressive strides , says a local ? contemporary , and on Wednesday , 13 th ult ., after the usual routine business had been gono through at the Baldwin Lodge , held at the Castle , a presentation was made which will help to perpetuate tho memory of one of tho Founders of the Lodge and a Brother who throughout his life was one of tho most active and useful of the Brethren .

Brother W . E . Whiteside P . M . presented the Lodge with two globes , terrestrial and celestial , mounted on mahogany , and carved stands , with compass attached , in memory of his father , the late Bro . W . Whiteside P . M . and P . P . G . S . B . West Lancashire . Tho globes were beautifully inscribed , as follows : —

Presented to the Baldwin Lodge , No . 1398 , in memory of BRO . WILLIAM WHITESIDE P . M . P . P . G . S . B . West Lancashire , by his son BRO . W . E . WHITESIDE P . M . 13 th November 1895 .

Tho Worshipful Master Bro . Deason , tho Senior Warden Bro . Rev . J . M . Morgan P . P . G . Chaplain , and tho Junior Warden Bro . George Bush , accepted tho present on behalf of the Lodge , and expressed their pleasure that tho memory of an old and valued Brother Mason should thus be kept green within the precincts of the room in which he had done such signal Masonic sorvico .

Bro . C . C . Smith Organist proposed that the best thanks of the Brethren be given to Bro . W . E . Whiteside , for the valuable and interesting piesont he had mado . Bro . Mildrcn seconded , aud said he had always enjoyed Masonry at Dalton when the Lodge was under the presidency and guidance of tho late Bco . VV . Whiteside .

Bro . E . N . Lewis supported the resolution , which was unanimously adopted . Bro . W . E . Whiteside briefly returned thanks . The globes were fixed in their proper position in the Lodge Room , and now add very materially to tho completeness of the Masonic fittings which are essential to a well-appointed Lodge .

FITZ-ALAN LODGE , No . 1432 . fTlHE annual Festival was held on Thursday , 21 st ult ., at the Wynnstay B Arms Hotel , Oswestry , when Brother E . M . Gardner was installed Worshipful Master for the ensuing year by Bro . T . Owen , assisted by Bros . Martin and Johnson .

At the close of tho business the Brethren sat down to banquet , provided by Bro . C . Drew , after which the usual toasts were honoured . Sympathetic references were made by Brothers Andrew and W . Aylmer Lewis , to the recent bereavement sustained by Bro . R . G . Venables Deputy Prov . Grand Master , and occasion was also taken by Brother T . Owen to congratulate Bro . C . E . Williams ou his appointment to the Mayoralty .

ASHBURY LODGE , No . 1459 . npHE annual festival of St . John , and installation of Bro . John Ormc S . W ., I took place on Thursday , the 21 st ult ., at the Justice Birch Hotel , West Gorton . Prior to tiie installation , the minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed , and , after election , Mr . Edward Leigh Matthews , Engineer , Nutsford Vale , Longsight , was initiated into antient Freemasonry

by Bro . S . C . Richardson P . M ., after winch tho ceremony of installation began , the Worshipful Master ( Bro . George W . Davies ) being the Installing Master , Brothers Fred Hilton P . M . 1458 P . P . G . D . O . acting as S . W ., W . H . Beastow P . M . P . G . S . as J . W ., 0 . Wallworth P . M . P . G . S . as I . G ., and Wm . Bee P . M . P . G . A . D . C . as Installing Deacon .

The installation eeremony was performed by the W . M . in a manner which reflected the highest credit upon him . The proclamations and address to the W . M . were given by Bro . Bee , who also invested the following Officer * , or at least those of them who were not absent on account of illness or business engagements , viz ., Bros . G . W . Davies I . P . M ., J . Jec S . W ., J . Townley Trotter J . W ., Oglesby Chaplain , W . H . Beastow P . M . Treasurer , F .

W . Burgess Secretary , H . E . Massio Asst . Secretary , A . E . Burgess S . D ., I . Hurlow J . D ., W . Bee P . M . P . G . A . D . C . D . C . T . Downs Organist , G . Watson I . G ., G . Robinson , A . Biirber , Thompson Stewards , and W . Drabble P . M . Charity Representative . The addresses to tlio Wardens and Brethren were in the capable hands of Bro . Jas . W . Abbott P . M . P . P . G . D . O .

Reports Of Meetings.

Tiie Festival of St . John succeeded Lodge business , and was a great success . Loyal and Masonic toasts were duly honoured , Bro . Davies I . P . M . proposing those connected with the Province of East Lancashire , to which Brothers Dr . Foreman P . M . 210 P . G . S . D ., William Gouldtborpe P . M . 2156

P . P . G . R ., and Councillor Thomas Hassall P . M . 1083 P . P . G . D . O . responded . The toast of the Worship ful Master was g . ven by Bro . Oglesby P . M . who , in tho course of his remarks , reverted to tho fact that through his instrumentality the W . M . had been introduced into the Lodge , and there initiated .

Bro Orme W . M . responded by saying that if attention to the duties and interest in the Lodge ensured a successful year , he promised that ho would try to attain such an end . Ho hoped during tlio term of his office to havo many opportunities of addressing them more fully .

Brother Wm . Wright P . M . proposed the health of tho newly-initiated Brother , whom he had known for many years , as also his father ( an old Mason ) , and he believed that Bro . Matthews wndd be found a worthy son of a worthy sire , and an acquisition to the Lodge . The candidate responded in a few well-chosen words .

Bro . Beastow then proposed the health of the I . P . M ., who had so ably presided over the Lodge during the past year , aud so creditably installed his successor . His Masonic character , his ability , and his charities wero duly oxtolled , Bro . Beastow adding that it was his proud privilege to acknowledge those services in a tangible form , by being tho mouthpiece of the Brethren ,

and presenting a Past Master's jewel to Bro . Davies , in appreciation of services rendered . Those services , he remarked , wore not confined to his Mother Lodge , as he was a member of Craft Lodge Waverley , 1322 , at

Ashton-under-Lyne , and also a member and Officer in the Mark , Arch , Knights Templar , and , he believed , most of tho Allied Degrees . Brother Beastow ' s remarks were uttered with visiblo emotion . The jewel was inscribed as follows : —

Ashbury Lodgo , 1459 . Presented by the Brethren , to BRO . GEORGE WENHAM DAVIES P . M ., for services rendered as W . M . during 1894-5 21 st November 1895 .

Bro . Davies , in responding , said the past year had beon to him a very pleasant one , with plenty of work , and ho had been most ably supported by the Past Masters , Officers , and Brethren of the Lodge . The period had been rendered eventful by tho efforts of tho Brethren in raising by a dramatic entertainment , and with the aid of seven Stewards , a sum of £ 70 for the

festival held at the Botanical Gardens in July last . He assured them that his interest in Masonry had deepened almost overy year since he was initiated , E . nd he hoped , health and means allowing , during the coming year to be found at tho W . M . ' s left hand and ever associated with the Ashbury Lodge Their present to him would be treasured as a memorial of many happy hours spent in connection with Freemasonry .

Bro . Davies then proposed the health of the Visiting Brethren , tho same being responded to by Bros . Millward P . M . Prov . G . S . of W ., Harrison W . M , 581 , and Grundy S . W . 1322 , the latter expressing the pleasure it gave him to

hear a Brother of whom they were proud as a member of Waverley Lodge , so highly spoken of in tho Ashbury , and to see his work so much appreciated . He could only say that in the former Lodge Bro . Davies was always willing to take any position , from W . M . to that of junior Steward .

Other speeches followed , being varied by songs and recitations rendered by Bros . Righton , Beastow , Hughes , Hilton , Past Masters Griffiths 581 , Thompson , and Trotter . Besides thoso mentioned above , there wero present at the Lodge and

banquet : —Bros . J . Smith P . M ., Aspmall P . M ., Findlay , Spence , Wilkinson , and Cooper . Visitors : —Bros . E . Alf Hepworth W . M . 163 , G . B . Goodfellow W . M . 1030 , R . Lingard W . M . 1083 , G . T . Lenard W . M . 1077 , E . Shepherd W . M . 1458 , Brierley S . W . 1077 , Swain 152 , and others .

DUKE OF CORNWALL LODGE , No . 1529 . AT St . Columb , on Wednesday , 27 th ult ., Brother George Burrow was installed W . M . by Bro . F . E . Remfry P . P . S . G . W . of South Wales . The banquet was served by Brother T . Liddicoat at the Railway and Commercial Hotel .

KIRKDALE LODGE , No . 1756 . THE annual installation meeting was held on the 27 th ult ., at Skelmersdale Hall , Liverpool , where there was an attendance of about 170 Brethren , amongst whom was a large representation of P . G . Officers , W . Ms ., P . Ms ., and Officers from city Lodges .

The chair was occupied by Bro . Dr . Joseph Ricketts W . M ., who closed his successful year of office by impressively installing Bro . Charles F . Reid as Worshipful Master for tho ensuing year . After dinner , Bvo . Ricketts was presented with a Past Master's jewel and apron , a silver tea and coffee service , a cruet stand , and a portrait of himself , in recognition of his earnest and helpful services to the Lodge .

LANDPORT LODGE , No . 1776 . AT the meeting held at tho Masonic Hall , Landport , on Thursday , 21 st ult ., in tho presence of a representative gathering of Provincial Officers , Past Masters of other Lodges , and other members of the Craft , Bro . Herbert E . Windsor was installed as Worshipful Master by Bro . E . Godwin W . M ., who was subsequently presented witli a Past Master's jewel , in recognition of his services .

At the close of the proceedings an excellent banquet was served by the Steward of the Hall , and the remainder of the evoning was spent in conviviality .

EDEN LODGE , No . 2285 . ri'lHE annual meeting was held on Thursday , 14 th ult ., when Bro . George JL Atkinson was installed as Master for the ensuing year . Brother J . C . Thompson ably performed the duties of Installing Master , and after the ccremonv of installation the W . M . appointed his Officers .

After hearty good wishes , the Lodge was closed , and , at the invitation of the W . M ., the assembled Brethren adjourned to the Central Hotel , and there enjoyed an excellent banquet provided by Mrs . Atkinson , which reflected the highest credit upon the hostess .