Royal Oak Lodge, No. 871.

supported and signed by nearly all who were present , supplemented by votes from the Benevolent Fund of the Lodgo amounting to a littlo over £ 10 . The name of ono gentlomau was given in for initiation afc tho uexfc Lodgo meeting . The successful result of the hard work of Bro . James George Thomas , who had represented this Lodgo as its Steward at tho Festival of fcho Royal Benevolent

Institution for Aged Freemasons was announced . His list was a longway above the average . Ho was warmly congratulated at his success . All business boing ended , tho Lodgo was closed , aud adjourned to meet on Thursday , 24 th April . There woro present , besides thoso mentioned -. —Bros . 11 . A . Colliugton P . M ., J . Truelovo P . M ., J . Woollott , It . J . Harvey , J . Ronnie , R . T . Stringer , II . W . Fellows ,

J . W . Cadington , 0 . F . Bidder , W . Simmons , W . Abbott , G . Wildersmith , J . Bnchale , J . Sandors , G . C . Whibley , E . G . G . Barr , G . Hill , itc . Amongst a large number of Tisitors wo noticed Bros C . BredanW . M . 781 , J . Lightfoot P . M . 147 , J . Mofct 147 , J . Dawkins J . D . 79 , J . Warcup 143 , R . W . Robinson 879 , J . M . Hunt I . G . 1662 , A . Cunningham 1625 , & c , & c . A splendid banquet , which reflected

tho greatest credit on Bro . Morgan , tho host , was served under his personal » uperintendance . All wero pleased with it . Tho nsual Loyal toasts wero giveu and responded to . Songs , recitations , & c , wero indulged in , and brought to a close a pleasant evening , when the brethren separated to enjoy " Tired Natnre ' s sweefc reposebalmy sleep . "

Gooch Lodge, No, 1238.

GOOCH LODGE , No , 1238 .

rilHlS prosperous young Lodge held its installation meeting ou X Monday , the 17 th xdo ., at the Albany Hotel , Twickenham . The Lodge was opened by Bro . Townsend W . M ., who waa supported by his Officers ; P . M . 's A . W . G . Weeks , F . Honeyman , R . Lonsdale , W . F . Laxton , and a good attendance of fcho members ; thero was also present a large array of Tisifcors , amongst whom we may enumerato Bros . E . Collins P . M . 733 , John Williams J . W . 1791 , Wm . Stophens

P . M . 1489 , W . J . Murlis P . M . 1642 , S . H . Parkhouso W . M . 1612 , Henry Cox 114 , J . M . Stedwell G . S . 23 , George Penn P . M . 1042 , J . Flood 201 , W . Coombes P . G . S . B . Midd ., W . W . Morgan Sec . 211 , J . R . Ward 382 . Tho prolimiuary business having been disposed of , Bro . C . E . Woodward P . M . 382 , 1637 , & c was presented to Bro . Townsend , who had undortakeu the duties of Installing Master , and

in duo course was placed in tho chair as W . M . of the Gooeh Lodge for tho onsuiug twelve months . Bro . Woodward appointed his Officers , and Bro . Townsend completed his labours by most , effectively delivering the addresses . Routine business was then proceeded with , and , alter hearty good wishes had been expressed by the Tisitors , Lodge was closed . A capital banquet was uow served by

tho proprietor of tho Albany , aud DO it tho guests did ample justice On tho removal of the clotli , Bro . Woodward , wiio througiuml . tin proceedings displayed his wonted energy and large-heurtedness , in . troduuud the several toasts ; tho Loyal ones woro most heartily received , and due honour was dono to the Pro Grand Muster , and tin-Grand Officers . To this latter toast Bro . Stedwell replied . Mo

conld seo around the table many who wero as well acquainted with tbo special qualifications of thoso rofcrred to as ho was himself . Lord Carnarvon , notwithstanding the multifarious duties thai devolved on him , never missed au opportunity to support and sustain tho best interests of Freemasonry . He ( Bro . Steitwell ) considered it a great , hononr to havo his name associated with this toast . The noxt

toa 3 t Bro . Woodward brought uuclor tha notice of the brethren camo nearer home to them ; ifc was the health of their esteemed and popular Provincial Grand Master , Col . Burdett . All knew how the Colonel looked after Masonry iu his province . With tho toast he would couple tho rest of tho Prov . Grand Oliicers , and he would call on Bros . Laxton and Coombas to reply . Bro . Laxton thanked tho W . M . for his

kindness in associating his name with the toast , lie , witn many ot those assembled , regretted the absence of Bro . Levauder , who conld more ably havo responded . On behalf of the Prov . Grand bodge he thanked the brethren for the way t-hey had received the toast . Bro . Coombes remarked that it afforded hun infinite pleasure to be present . He regretted the abseuco ot the Provincial Grand Master , and trusted

the Lodgo under Bro . Woodward ' s rule would meet with great prosperity . Aftor a lew words from Bro . Stedwell , Bro . Townsend rose to propose the health of the Worshipful Master . He referred to Brother Woodward ' * mauy qua ' ties ; to tho liberal way iu Which ho supported tho Charities , and to his uniform zeal and activity in all matters Masonic . Bro . Woodward , on rising to reply ,

said ho was pleased to seo around him so many of his old and tried friends . Our worthy brother took a retrospective glance , ami spoke of his early associatos iuthe Craft . He then forcibly nrged the claims of the Charities on all true-hearted Masons , anil spoku with great satisfaction of the way the Craft had sustained tho claims of the Benevolent Institution at the late Festival . Bro . Woodward

concluded by thanking tho brethren for the way they had received tho toast . The remaining toasts comprised tho Installing Master , the Initiate of the evenint , the Past Masters , md the several Officers of the Lodge ; to all of fcj-. cse replies were briefly mado , and a hurried summons for tho Tyler , to meet the exigencies of train service , closed the proceedings .

Royal Standard Lodge, No. 1298

ROYAL STANDARD LODGE , No . 1298

rTTHE annual instalh-. tiou meeting of this Lodge took place at the -L Wellington Clnb , Wellington-street , Islington , on Tuesday , 4 th instant . Iu consequence of the absence through illness of W . M . Bro . W . LI . Cohen , the Lodge was opened by Bro . Peter Dickinson , Past Master of the Lodgo , whose first duty on this occasion was to put the minutes to tho Lodge for confirmation . Having received the assent of tho brethren these wero duly signed , and then the report of tho auditors and balance sheet for the past year were submitted .

Royal Standard Lodge, No. 1298

The latter shows that tho Lodgo has a larger balance in hand than was the case afc tho beginning of tho financial year , aud records the payment of what appears to be threo old accounts , so that tho brethren may be oongrntnlate'd on tho way thoir funds havo been dispensed during the past twelve months . It is impossible to form any opinion of tho financial slate of tho Lodge , as no account is

given of its assets and liabilities . In this respect tho Royal Standard stands very nrneh in the same condition as most other Lodges whoso members , unless thoy are present when the finances arc explained , or take the tronble to investigate them personally , aro frequently totally ignorant of the stale of tho funds . Wo wonld suggest thafc tho good wholesome rule— " no friendship in business ,

especially financial "—should be more generally adopted ; if auditors looked npon their task more in tho shape of a duty than a bore , this might bo remedied , and fewer Lodges would havo to face a deficiency ; which , however , wo trust the members of this Lodge havo not now before thom . Theso matters completing the minor business of tho meeting , the Lodgo was advanced , Bro . II . W . Gladwell tho W . M .

olect introduced , and formally obligated by Bro . Dickinson , who , later on , with tho assistance nf a Board of Installed Masters , regularly placed Brother Gladwell in the chair of tho Lodge . During this portion of tho work tho Senior and Junior Warden chairs wore occupied by Bros ? . Poynter and Wright respectively . Bro . Farthing aoted efficiently as D . C . Tho ceremony being completed , and the usual proclamations , & c made , Bro . Gladwell appointed and invested

the following brethren as his Officers , viz .: —Georgo II . Hnnter S . W ., Lonis Bnderus J . W ., Georgo Allison Treas ., George S . Bigley Sec , Augustus J . Stevens S . D ., Baldwin J . D ., Wilson I . G ., Ernest Edward Stroafc D . C ., John Blay and Godfrey Wakefield Stewards , and Marsh Tyler . Bro . Marshall now presented to the Lodgo a chair for the Senior Warden , aud wo are pleased to announce that the other members between them have dono a like service for the Junior

Warden . A vote of thanks was passed by tho mombcrs to Bro . Marshall for his gift , the same to be recorded on the minutes . The resignation of ono member was announced , the vi .-ufciug brethren tendered their good wishes , and tho Lodge was closed . The banquet which followed was supplied by Bro . Mitchell , of Camdon-road , aud wo must accord n word of praise for the mniiuor in which it was

placed on the table . At its conclusion the W . M . gave tho usual toasts , referring in a few woll-ohoseii words to t . ho efficiency displayed by our rulers--National a * well as Masonio- —and calliug on the brethren fo heartily drink the toasts proposed in their honour . Bro . P . M . Dickinson proposed the health of the W . M . lie had great pleasure in being onl rusted with I lie emblem of nuthnritv for such a

purpose , lie wm sure their W . M . had the good wishes of all his brethren ; his efforts had ever been directed for the welfare of tho Lodge now under hi .-t rule , and Bro . Dickinson felt i-. ouviuced that he would strive ID mako its success ecilniii during I he coming year , and thereby keep up the ,, / ¦ , ' .

company with a very liiiinoiii-ou . ' ; Iri . sli snug , and ( lien Bro . Gladwell acknowledged the kind sentiniunts which had linen expressed . Ho trusted that I'm . Dickinson might prove a true prophet , and that the Lodge would prosper under his rule , thus ensuring him a pleasant " year or office . Bro . Wigginlon P . M . P . P . G . D . C . Woreosfcoi-shiiv had the authority of the W . M . to give tho next toast . He considered il , a great privilege to have the opportunity of

referring to tho ability of his Brother Dickinson , who had that evening so efficiently performed the duties of Installing Master . Bro . Wiggington felt , that ho could boast , some experience , and assured the members that ho had never seen the ceremony carried onl , with greater ability , lie thought the members had seen and heard enough that evening to show their opinion of Brother Dickinson without further remarks : so he would call on them to

drink hii good health . lire . Dickinson hardly considered liia services as Installing Master were of . sufficient , merit to warrant his name being separated from the toast of the Past Mastors ; still , as the brethren had so far honoured him , he must acknowledge that he felt the compliment the more . The ceremony he had undertaken that evening was at all times a beautiful and

itupressivo one , and if he were able to add anything to it by his rendering , ho was only too pleased to be utile to do so . He concluded by thanking the brethren for their attention in the I judge ami their marks of appreciation afterwards . The toast of tin- Visitors was next given , jthe . W . M . expressing the , pride , he . ami the members of his Lodge folt in welcoming and entertaining any who might from time

to time pay them a visit . Bro . Dickinson having given " Tho Holy Friar , " l . ros . Poynter and Farthing responded on behalf of tbe guests of the evening , each doing so in most eloquent terms . After another song , the health of tho Past Masters was proposed , aud tho toast , was acknowledged by Bros . Dickinson and Wright . To tbe Treasnrer and Secretary the W . M . paid high compliments ; he hoped

he should have their assistance during the term of his Mastership . Several of the members did their utmost to aid in the enjoyment of those assembled by giving songs , < feo ., between the toasts , which were fully appreciated . The brethren separated aftor the U 3 ual closing toast , having spent a most enjovablB evening . Among tho

visitors present were Bros . R . Bonfellow 2 o , W . T . Farthing P . M . 5 o , H . Shanley 2 U 5 , W . W . Morgan 211 , F . G . Bailey 231 , J . Eld ridge P . M . 167 , S . Poynter 902 , F . Eckstein J . W . 1196 , A . W . Duret W . M , 1223 , F . Sabel 1491 , W . Mc Butt 1623 , C . G . Sparrow P . M . 1743 , J . F . Van Raalte , < S-o .

Notice.—Back Numbers

NOTICE . —BACK NUMBERS

Brethren who desire , to complete their sets of the I ' KEEMASON ' CHKUXICLE , should make early application for Back Numbers . At present till are in print , but of some we have only a few copies left . Casus for binding the several volumes can be had at the Office . U 7 JJurbicuu ,