Reports Of Meetings.

REPORTS OF MEETINGS .

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CRAFT : METROPOLITAN . ¦

v Henry Muggeridge Lodge , No . 1679 . INSTALLATION OF BRO . ROBERT MORRIS CROMPTON

VV E have so often had to record pleasant doings at this Lodge , and the reputation it enjoys throughout the metropolis is so favourable , that we might reasonably be accused of ' wasteful and ridiculous excess ' '' were we to attempt any laudatory description of the annual meeting held on Saturday ol last week , at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet Street . The gathering was as much a success as any

of those we have previously recorded in connection with this Lodge , indeed the members and visitors seemed to make special effort to welcome the coming Master—in the person of Bro . Robert Morris Crompton—and speed the parting ruler—in the person of Bro . T . F . Strutt . They succeeded most admirably , and everyone appeared to thoroughly enjoy himself .

The vv . iVl . Bro . T . F . Strutt presided , and was supported by Bros . J . Worthington I . P . M ., R . i \ L Crompton W . M .-elect S . W ., C . W . Hiscock J . W ., A . Sack P . M . Treas ., W . Boyce P . M . Sec , Percy Gayer acting S . D ., P . Page J . D ., R . W . Duce acting I . G ., Sidney Roberts Org ., J . Rawles Tyler ; Past Masters J . W . Gomm ,

C . J . Sowton , T . Sibley , S . Stampfer , A . J . Street and G . Clark , with Bros . F . W . Herring , C . Mangen , S . Wiedemann , J . Gayer , E . Smith , W . Stanley , j . W . Sudbury , F . W . Kingsbury , G . B . Annegarn , W . Richmond , W . Tipton , C . Smallman , R . Cox , W . Roberts , G . White , J . Williams , H . Page , H . R . Edwards , T . P . Baragwanath , T . Kottaun , W . H . Sims , A . J . Croft , and others .

Among the Visitors were Bros . W . Spearing P . P . G . S . B . Middx ., W . Caseby P . P . G . Chap . Herts ., H . W . Watson P . M . and Treas . 2664 , E . - Keates S . W . 26 3 , W . McKay S 53 , J . W . Turner S . D . 2571 , C . W . Bellchamber W . M . 765 , F . B . Amos S . D . 1662 , H . Key 27 66 , G .. W . Barker 2374 , J . H . Adcock S . W . 1744 , D . W . Bongard 2699 , W . Yeo P . G . Std . Br . Bucks ., C . Best Folkes 1716 , J . Wynman , and others .

The Lodge being formed , the minutes were read and confirmed . A communication was ordered to be sent to the W . M . of the Budapest Lodge , in Hungary , responding to the hearty greetings conveyed to the Henry Muggeridge Lodge through the S . W . Bro .

Crompton , during his recent visit to Hungary , when he was a specially invited guest to the Diplomacy Lodge , of Budapest . The report of the Audit Committee , which was presented and adopted , showed that the cause of charitv was fully recognised by the members .

The Lodge was opened in the second degree and Bros . F . W . Herring , A . J . Croft , and Manger ( Bro . S . Wiedemann being unavoidably prevented from being present at the appointed time ) were examined and entrusted . The Lodge was opened in the third degree , and those Brethren were raised as Master Masons .

The Lodge was resumed to the first degree , and Bros . E . T . Smith , J . W . Sudbury and F . W . Kingsbury were examined . Having answered the questions in a faultless manner they were entrusted . The Lodge was resumed to the second degree , and in due course those Brethren were passed as Fellow Crafts . The Lodge was again resumed to the first degree , and the ballot was taken for Messrs . Thomas Kottaun and William Herbert

Sims . It proved unanimous m their favour , and in due course they had the privilege of being admitted to the earlier mysteries of the Craft . The principal business of the evening was next proceeded with . The Worshipful Master declared all Offices vacant , and requested Bros . T . Sibley and G . Clark P . M . to assist him as

Wardens and Bro . J . W . Gomm P . M . as I . G . The Lodge was again opened in the second degree , and Bro . Robert Morris Crompton W . M .-elect was presented by Bro . A . J . Street P . M . and duly signified his assent to the ancient charges and regulations . After the obligation Bro . T . W . Turner sang the Anthem in a

most impressive manner , which considerably enhanced the solemnity of the proceedings . The Brethren under the rank of Master were requested to retire , a Board of about twenty Installed Brethren was formed , and Bro . Crompton was formally inducted in the chair of the Lodge , as ruler for the ensuing twelve months .

The Brethren having been re-admitted , the new ruler wai saluted in the various degrees . The subsequent delivery of * ne addresses elicited the hearty appreciation of all present , the faultless working of Bro . Strutt—so well displayed in this Lodge , as well as in the Hygeia Lodge—being particularl y marked on this occasion . The new Master invested the following Officers : Bros . C . W .

Hiscock S . W ., Percy Gayer J . W ., Alfred Sack P . M . Treasurer ! William Boyce P . M . Secretary , W . S . Devin S . D ., P Page J D Horace Page I . G ., A . J . Street P . M . D . C ., Sidney Roberts Org !! Sigismond Stampfer P . M ., H . R . Edward and W . Tipton Stewards J . Rawles Tyler , ' Bro . Alfred Sack P . M . Treasurer proposed that a donation of tr-n guineas be given to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls He said the Lodge was in a flourishing condition , and could well

Reports Of Meetings.

afford that little amount . The grant was immediately agreed to . Other Lodge business was brought forward and disposed of . Two propositions for initiation were submitted for acceptance at the next meeting , and the new Master having received congratulations and hearty good wishes the Lodge was closed and the Brethren retired to the banquet .

. On account of the long programme of music which had been arranged the W . M . desired that the speeches should be as short as possible , and so he briefly introduced the usual Loyal sentiments . Bro . Strutt submitted the health of the Worshipful Master who ,

he said , had shown by the way in which he had appointed the Officers that he was a Master of the Art . He felt he might congratulate the members on having elected so well qualified a Brother , and predicted a successful year in the Lodge under Bro . Crompton ' s rule .

Bro . Crompton was most heartily received , and in very earnest terms he thanked the Brethren for their welcome . His heart was too full to allow him to express his feelings , indeed the words he had intended to say were lost to him . The prosperity of the Lodge would be his aim and ambition during the year , and his earnest desire would be to maintain the family character of the Lodge . He trusted nothing would occur to destroy the Brotherly affection

which now existed . He hoped the increase in their membership would not result in the creation of those cliques which were occasionally found in large Lodges . He relied on having the support of the Immediate Past Master and the Officers of the Lodge , and felt sure it would be cheerfully given . He looked forward with pleasure to the discharge of the new duties he had undertaken , and trusted he might fulfil them with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of the Brethren .

The W . M . next proposed what he regarded as the toast of the evening—the health of the initiates . He could but congratulate the new Brethren upon being introduced into Freemasonry , and he trusted the career they had entered upon that night mi ght result in not only making them good and excellent members of the Lodge , but also honoured and distinguished ornaments to the Craft .

Bro . Thomas Kottaun assured the W . M . that he was pleased to respond to the toast . He had four good reasons for joining Freemasonry : firstly , to please his father who was a Freemason ; scondly , to please Bro . Devin who had kindl y introduced him ; thirdly , because he considered that every upright man should become a Freemason : and fourthly , in the hope of pleasing them all , by being present at every meeting , if possible . He thanked

the W . M . and Brethren for the honour they had bestowed upon him . Bro . William Herbert Sims desired to act up to what the W . M . had said—make short speeches . Right glad was he to make a maiden speech as a Freemason . They all knew it was not easy , but he could truly say he was very much impressed with the ceremony , and thanked the Immediate Past Master Bro . Strutt for having introduced him . He would certainly attend the meetings of the Lodge as often as possible .

The W . M . said he had now a most pleasing duty—to present to their Immediate P . M . the Past Master ' s jewel provided by the Lodge . Turning to Bro . Strutt he said the decorating him with the jewel afforded him the greatest amount of pleasure . The token of their regard hardly represented the value placed upon his services by the members of the Lodge , but it was a tangible

expression of their sentiments , and he trusted the Immediate Past Master would accept it as an evidence of the goodwill , respect , and even love of the members . No previous Master of the Lodge had more richly deserved such a presentation than Bro . Strutt , as under his guidance the Lodge had risen to a hi gher position than it had ever before attained . Not only did they know this

among themselves , but it was also manifest outside , for the name of the Henry Muggeridge Lodge was always received with the greatest respect wherever it was mentioned . Bro . Strutt had increased the membership of the Lodge and extended its usefulness , by the infusion of new blood into it—young blood , such as all must desire who wished to see the Lodge prosper in . the

futureand he was sure the members would agree with him when he said they were indeed proud of having had Bro . Strutt as Master of the Lodge . Personally he felt especially proud in being entrusted with the presentation to the I . P . M . of the souvenir which the Lodge had provided to mark the completion of a most successful

year in its career . He presented the jewel with the best wishes of the Lodge , and personally congratulated his predecessor in the chair on the completion of a most successful year of Office . The jewel bore the following inscription : Presented by the Henry Muggeridge Lodge , No . 1670

to BRO . THOMAS FREDERICK STRUTT P . M . as a mark of esteem in recognition of the able and efficient manner in which he discharged the duties of Worshipful Master during his year of Office . A . L . 5901 . June ist . A . D . 1901 .

Bro . Strutt replied , and it was certainly a new experience for those who have known him in the past to ' find him at a loss for words ; he was—like the ordinary mortals among us—overcome by his feelings ; and it must have been a certain satisfaction to those

of his audience who have occasionall y found themselves " stranded , " when asked to respond to a personal toast , to find that even the Immediate Past Master of this Lodge , he who was so ready with well rounded sentences when speaking in reference to others , had to hesitate and halt in speaking for himself . He well deserved