Reports Of Meetings.

Bro . Thain candidate . The Lodge was called off , and on resumption the W . M . vacated the chair in favour of Bro . Thomson W . M . of the Mother Lodge , who rehearsed the ceremony of initiation , Bros . Godfrey and Joyce acting as candidates . B . ro . Cooper was elected W . M . for Monday next .

We were pleased to see so young a Mason as Bro . H . Cohnwho has only recently been passed to the second degree—taking the duties of Inner Guard on this occasion , and are of opinion that in Lodges of Instruction the practice of allowing junior members to actually do some of the work might not be the least likely way of arousing their interest and enthusiasm in Freemasonry . Of course we should ocassionally witness some unusual situations , but as

Instruction Lodges are intended for practice and improvement little harm would be done ; in fact the lessons might easily become more impressive if novelty was more frequently introduced into them . Bro . Cohn was well able to fulfil the duties of his position , and , we venture to say , knows more now of what is required on entering a Lodge than he would be likely to learn at a dozen meetings at which he was only an ordinary spectator .

# »** # »»** # Friars Lodge , No . 1349 . As usual at this Lodge , there was a good attendance on Thursday , at the house of Bro . Ben DaCosta P . M ., the Three

Crowns , High Street , Stoke Newmgton . Bro . M . Moses officiated as W . M ., assisted by Bros . S . Emden S . W ., Myers J . W ., L . Da Costa P . M . Preceptor , I . Davies Secretary , J . Richmond S . D ., H . Davies J . D ., M . Miller I . G ., D . Moss P . P . G . StdBr ., B . DaCosta , M . DaCosta , J . Oxley P . M ., J . Abrahams P . M .

The ceremony of initiation was rehearsed , Bro . Halliday candidate , and that Brother afterwards gave the ancient charge . Next Thursday being Officers' night Bro . A . E . Crabb" W . M . of the Mother Lodge will officiate . Bro . Emden was elected W . M . for Thursday , 19 th inst ., and we expect on that occasion to see a large attendance , he being well known and deservedly popular .

A ballot in connection with the Benevolent Association was taken for a Life Governorship of ten guineas , and resulted in favour of Bro . G . Bowman .

Stuart Lodge , No . 1032 . ON Friday of last week a very good meeting was held at the Deacons Restaurant , Walbrook , E . G ., when Bro . W . Yetton , one of the most capable pupils of Israel Lodge of Instruction , officiated

as W . M ., with Bros . Metcalfe Baillie S . W ., H . E . Whitstone J . W ., H . Hyde P . M . Preceptor , R . J . A . Bennett Treasurer , J . T . Whitehead Secretary , C . A . Brooke W . M . of the Mother Lodge S . D ., R . S . Cobden J . D ., C . Farrow I . G ., W . J . Carroll I . P . M . 1227 , R .., F . Thomson W . M . 1227 , E . Brook J . W . 1632 , W . J . Yardley , J . Wynman , H . Stratford , J . Phipps .

The second ceremony was rehearsed , with Bro . W . J . Carroll acting as the candidate , and then followed the ceremony of raising , with Bro . Brook candidate . Brothers H . Stratford 168 5 and J . Phipps 2501 were elected members , and Bro . Metcalfe Baillie chosen W . M . for next meeting .

¦ Vi iV . V " " " ** " " " Wft WHItltH XXR Wood row Lodge , No . 2271 . ON Monday , at Bro . Rudderforth ' s ( Stone ' s ) Restaurant , Panton Street , Haymarket , Bros . G . Yeowell W . M ., J . G . Lobb S . W ., A . A . Grille J . W ., J . E . Culverhouse acting Preceptor with consent of

Bro . W . H . Making P . M . Dep . Preceptor , J . W . Simeons P . M . Secretary , C . Blake S . D ., B . A . Calot J . D ., G . Jacquin I . G ., Nat Wood , G . W . Lacy ; H . Getliffe , W . E . Smith , T . Jouleyre , Percival Smith , J . Cunningham , E . J . Mills W . M . 1687 , J- Wynman , and others .

The ceremony of initiation was rehearsed , Bro . Nat . Wood candidate . The W . M . vacated the chair in favour of Bro . E . J . Mills , who called upon Bros . Percival Smith and H . Getliffe as initiates to answer the questions leading to the second degree , which they did , with marked ability . Bro . Yeowell was entrusted , and the ceremony proceeded with . Lod ge was resumed to the first degree .

Bro . Simeons P . M . Secretary proposed . that a hearty vote of thanks be passed and 'recorded on the minutes for the excellent manner in which Bro . Mills had rendered the ceremony of passing . Bro . Simeons remarked that Bro . Mills was an old member of the Lodge , but had absented himself for some years ; now he was W . M . of his Lodge and he tendered him hearty congratulations , with the hope that he would continue to visit the Wood-row Lodge .

Bro . Mills , in reply , thanked Bro . Simeons and the Brethren for their kindness , also Bro . Yeowell for having vacated the chair in his favour . He was pleased to hear he had given satisfaction , and would attend now more regularly . He thanked the Brethren for their hearty reception . Bro . Lobb S . W . was elected W . M . for Monday .

********** Earls Court Lodge , No . 27 65 . A WELL attended meeting was held on Thursday , 28 th ult ., at the Greyhound Hotel , Kensington Square , the chair being taken by Bro . C . G . Hatt P . M ., who was supported by Bros . M . J . R . R .

Spring S . W ., S . L . Stephens J . W ., M . Davis P . M . acting Preceptor , J . H . Gumming P . M . acting Secretary , W . McNaughten S . D . R R . Young J . D ., F . L . Thwaites I . G ., W . Binfield , J . Slater , F ! Stephens , and others . *¦ The initiation ceremony was rehearsed , the candidate ' s place

Reports Of Meetings.

being taken by Bro . Binfield . Bro . F . Stephens was examined and entrusted and the passing ceremony was gone through . Bro . Spring was elected to occupy the chair at the next weekly meeting . The Office of Treasurer being declared vacant , it was resolved to fill it at the next meeting .

The duties of the chair were carried out in a faultless manner by the veteran Bro . C . G . Hatt , who is noted throughout the Royal Borough of Kensington and neighbourhood as being one of the finest exponents of the beautiful Craft and Royal Arch rituals .

UUMMUMUm » M M « M « M M U t * KflKH XffTlltn R X R If R H H HB List of Lodges for which Warrants have been granted by the M . W . Grand Master since the September Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge . No . 2871 . —The Federation Lodge , Killerpore , Calcutta . 2872 . —The Egremont Lodge , Liscard , Cheshire .

2873 . —The Nanango Lodge , Nanango , Queensland . 2874 . —The Robert Freke Gould Lodge , Gibraltar . 2875 . —The Maiden Lodge , New Maiden , Surrey . 2876 . —The Temperance Lodge , Birkenhead , Cheshire . 2877 . —The Khartoum Lodge , Khartoum , Soudan . 2878 . —The Bridge Trust Lodge , Handsworth , Staffordshire . 2879 . —The Ceres Lodge , Swaffham , Norfolk . Lincoln

2880 . —The St . Guthlac Lodge , Market Deeping , . 2881 . —The Incorporated Society of Musicians Lodge , London . 2882 . —The Westminster City Council Lodge , London . 2883 . —The Wrekin Lodge , London . 2884 . —The Borough of Stepney Lodge , London . 2885 . —The Deo Dante Dedi Lodge , London .

BOOKS OF THE DAY . — : o : — ¦¦• k > , Mnile , fto . intended for review , should be addressed to the Editor » f tke Freemason ' s Chronicle , at Fleet Works , new Barnet . — : o : — A Kentucky Cardinal and Aftermath . By James Lane Allen . With illustrations by Hugh Thomson ( 6 s ) . —Macmillan and Co ., Limited .

To say that an edition de luxe of a story by James Lane Allen , with illustrations by Hugh Thomson , is a choice and dainty thing in literature is to state what most folk take for granted before seeing the volume . There is a lightness of touch and an idyllic gracefulness , in this story which it is not easy to adequately analyse . We feel , indeed , that the charms of Mr . Allen's thought and style

are elusive charms , and that even the most elaborately scientific criticism would fail to show of what those charms consist . A style which is half Stevenson and half George Sand ; a freedom of egotistical presentation which is half Werter and half Thoreau ; a gift for spiritual epigram which now savours of Emerson and now of Chateaubriand : these are affinities which occur to one when

reading " A Kentucky Cardinal , " but which leave the merits of the book still unexplained . The characters in the story are certainly children of nature , men and women free from cant , open to those sweet influences still operative in a world that is yet fragrant to the senses of such who would have it so . We may , perhaps , inform

our readers that the " Kentucky Cardinal" is a bird , and a very insignificant item in the drama ; but Mr . Allen contrives to write some pretty sentences about him , as he does about so much else . This beautiful edition is very suitable for presentation , being , externally and internally , sans reproche . We heartily wish it long life , and an immense circulation .

Stories from South African History . Edited by Wm . Moxon . Illustrated ( 3 s 6 d ) . —Griffith Farran Browne and Co ., Limited . WE must speak of this volume with due ; respect , for it is ably edited ; but we should like it better if the Jingo politics of the writer or' writers were a little less obvious . We ought , by this time , to

have reached to higher aims in literature than the imputation of dishonourable motives ; but there are remarks in the volume before us which hardly encourage us in the belief that we have done so indeed . One of the chief propositions insisted upon in these " stories" is that which assures us that we are indeed lords over God ' s heritage , and that we may go where we will and do as we

please . The account of the Matabele campaign has forcibly reminded us of an article which appeared some years ago in the " Fortnightly Review , " under the title " How we entered Mashonaland . : i The same bias is present in both narratives—the same sublime indifference to-prior territorial rights . We happen , like many men , to have read a little here and there at times ; and we

therefore , while perusing " The Story of the Matabele , " had painful memories touching the origin of that memorable strife .. The Matabele , too , have wives and daughters and cattle—but we had better let the subject rest . Politics , fortunately , need . spoil no narrative in the eyes of the young , who will find much in this volume of great interest .

The Age of Chaucer ( 1346-1400 ) . By F . J . Snell , M . A ., late scholar of Balliol College , Oxford . With an introduction by J . W . Hales , Professor of English literature at King ' s College , London ; formerly Fellow and how honorary Fellow of Christ ' s College , Cambridge . —Geo . Bell and Sons . MR . SNELL has provided us with an excellent light to guide our footsteps through what is a dark and somewhat perilous journey ,,