Reports Of Meetings.

as the candidate . Bro . L . DaCosta worked the first and third sections of the lecture . Bro . E . H . Norden was elected W . M . for Tuesday , which compliment was highly appreciated . Bro . L . Da Costa proposed that a hearty vote of thanks be recorded ort the minutes for the very able manner in which the W . M .

had occupied the chair for the first time in the Lodge . Considering the present W . M . was a Past Master he was not so surprised to see the working so perfectly rendered as had been done that day . The W . M . thanked the Brethren for their kindness and encouragement ; he had not fulfilled the duties of W . M . for nearly twenty years , therefore he was a little rusty , but next time he hoped to give still greater satisfaction .

The Lodge being closed , Miss Maud Butlin gave a few excellent solos on the piano , for which she was complimented ; whilst Bro . Andrews obliged the Brethren . with some good songs , which the Ladies and Brethren heartily enjoyed .

City of London Lodge , No . 901 . AFTER a short rest during the summer holidays , the members returned in good number to resume their Masonic duties for the winter season on Tuesday , at 6 . 30 , at the King ' s Arms , Shoreditch , when we had the pleasure of seeing Bro . W . H . Jeffries acting

as W . M ., with Bros . W . H . Haylock W . M . 901 S . W ., W . Reeve J . W .. W . R . Haylock P . M . Preceptor acting as Secretary , W . Grant J . B .. F . W . Henderson I . G ., J . Hatton I . P . M . of the Mother Lodge , A . E . 1 'urkiss P . M . 1314 , G . Smith , A . P . Hill , J . Bull , J . Almond , J . Wynman , and T . Lingley .

The W . M . rehearsed the ceremony of initiation , for which Bro . Purkiss P . M . kindly offered himself as candidate . The ceremony being completed , the same Brother answered the questions leading to the second degree , and was entrusted . Bro . A . Payne was asked act

to as Deacon , and the ceremony of passing was gone through , after which the W . M . kindly vacated the chair . in favour of Bro . J . Hatton I . P . M . of the Mother Lodge , who proceeded to rehearse the ceremony of raising , Bro . J . Almond acting as candidate and Bro . W . Grant as S . D .

We need hardly allude to the excellent working , the capabilities of Bro . T- Hatton being so well known , especially among the Brethren of the City of London Lodge . High praise is also clue to Brother Jeffries for the able manner in which he rendered the ceremonies of initiation and passing .

Bro . W . H . Haylock W . M . of the Mother Lodge was elected W . M . for Tuesday next , and the capable working of that Brother being well known we expect ¦ 'to see a very good meeting . We are sure visiting Brethren would receive a real Masonic treat . We again remind our readers that this Lodge meets every Tuesday , at 6 . 30 , and Brethren in the nei ghbourhood could not do better than visit it , Bro . W . R . Haylock P . M . being a most able Preceptor .

West Smithfield Lodge , No . 1623 . A CAPITAL meeting took place on Wednesday , 29 th ult ., at the XX City Scotch Stores , 27 Knightrider Street , E . G ., on which occasion the ceremony of Installation was worked bv Bro . H . Clinch I . P . M . 1623 . J The Lodge was opened with the usual promtitude at 7 p . m ., and there were m all twenty-three Brethren present . Bro . J . C . Pratt 3 was m the chairBro - c - Barter W . M .-Eacted as SW

;; „ ; , , , ' . .., I . Waldvogcl P . M . 1828 J . W ., F . P . Weinel P . M . 1828 Preceptor and D . C ., George Henrich S . D ., G . Harris J . D ., J . Paget I G J A . Hoffmann Secretary . The other Brethren were : Bros . Tohn Gordon M . D ., P . M . 176 9 and 1924 P . Z . 140 , W . R . Witt P . M . 174 c , J . H . Af . nter , D . F . Weiste , Tas . Brown , Stan . Galpin , Leo . Harris Chas . Riemann , E . Hipwell , W . H . Linsdell , A . E . Milne , W H Hayward , and J . R . L . Daish , & c .

The Master-elect Bro . C . Barter was duly presented and obligated The Brethren below the rank of I . M . retired and returned when the "Inner Working" had been completed . The W . M . was then respectively proclaimed and greeted in the three different degrees whereupon he invested his Officers

. The I . M . Bro . H . Clinch then addressed the W . M ., the Wardens and the Brethren consecutively in a most perfect and impressive manner , well meriting the hearty vote of thanks which was later in the evening proposed by P M Weinel and seconded by P . M . Gordon .

Four new members having been unanimously elected , the Lodge was closed in due form and with solemn prayer at 9 p . m .. As already announced , this Lodge has been newly furnished throughout , which should prove an attraction for strong attendances , not only on the part of the members , but also of Visitors , who are at all times most cordially invited .

The Inauguration Supper of the winter session takes place on the 26 th inst ., at 6 , 30 p . m . Tickets , 3 s 6 d each , may be had from the Secretary ; Bro . J , A . Hoffmann D . C . 1623 , 30-31 Queen Street , E C .

* » * Royai Victorian Jubilee Lodge , No . 2184 , LATE TERRIERS . O N Wednesday afternoon , at 3 o'clock , a meeting Was held at the Dover Castle Hotel , Westminster Bridge Road , those present including Bros , F , Allen W . M , , B . Cohen S . W ., J . Wynman J . W ,, A . Darch P . M . Preceptor , W , J , Newstead Secretary and S . D ., H > Dunyer I . G .

The ceremony of initiation was rehearsed , Bro . Dunyer acting as candidate , The Lodge was opened in the second degree , and by desire of the W , M , Bro . A . Cohen , with the assistance of the Brethren , worked the first section . Bro , Cohen was elected W . M . for Wednesday next .

Reports Of Meetings.

Bro . Darch proposed that a hearty vote of thanks be recorded on the minutes for the efficient manner in which the W . M . had rehearsed the ceremon" of initiation for the first time in the Lodge , which compliment was duly acknowledged .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

MASONIC HALLS IN ENGLAND . To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I have often thought of writing to you to question an opinion you seem to entertain in regard to the number of Masonic Halls to be found in this country . Your remarks from time to time in connection with this subject would seem to imply that there are very few Masonic Halls in which the Lodges of England

hold their meetings , in fact that such accommodation is met with on very rare occasions . My experience is entirely in an opposite direction , and I think it would be found on analysis that in a very large majority of cases separate Halls are available for the meetings of the Brethren , and further that in a large number of places where this is not the case sisecial accommodation , in the form of Masonic

rooms , is provided , wholly or in part distinct from Hotel surroundings . As I have said , I have often thought of writing challenging your ouinion on this point , but have not seen my way clear to produce evidence in support of my opinion , although I suppose a summary of the information contained in the Freemasons' Calendar would have helped me . Now , however , I have only to refer you to your own pages

to , I think , successfully combat you . Last week you gave your usual Diary of coming events in a new form , adding jslace of meeting in most cases , and I think if you refer thereto , a , nd regard that week ' s instalment as a fair specimen of the whole—and I think you may reasonably do so—you will admit you hold a wrong opinion in imagining we English Freemasons are deficient in Masonic Halls .

I hope you will continue the publication of these fuller particulars week by week , same as you did last week , as it makes the list of coming events far more useful , while , in addition , it has provided me the means of , I trust , convincing you on a point on which I imagine you were at least a trifle wrong . Yours fraternally ,

ON THE ROAD . Margate , 3 rd September 1900 . [ Our correspondent is certainly correct in his surmise that we have always regarded Masonic Halls as a rarity in this country , comparatively speaking ; and we agree he has also made out a strong case in support of his opposite view . We

shall certainly now look more fully into the matter , and if , as he suggests , our last week ' s diary is a fair specimen of the whole , then we shall most certainly have to thank him for putting us right on a point upon which we had hitherto been somewhat astray . We cannot understand why our opinion should so long have been at variance with what appears to be the actual state of affairs . —Ed . F . C . ]

Crystal Palace . —On the terrace at the Crystal Palace can be witnessed each afternoon and evening for the next week a highly interesting display by the team of the Kansas City Fire Brigade , who recently secured the Challenge Cup at the Paris Exhibition . When an international contest was announced , the Association of Firemen Engineers of America selected Commander Hale and

his men , from Kansas City , as their champions , with the result that they easily beat all comers ; the second team , hailing from Italy , occupying nearly three times as long in carrying out the task ordained for the competitors . It is not , however , only the men who are smart . They have brought with them two grey horses , most intelligent animals , that at the sound of the bugle perform a number

of feats with notable precision . Placed at varying distances from the engine , they gallop straight to their harness , always keeping together , and reaching the goal at the same time . These horses , too , engage in races with the nremen , and though starting from different points contrive always to reach the harness at the same moment . They likewise execute various figures without any prompting , and jump

over hurdles , set on fire and surrounded by a blazing flame , placed between them and the engine . As a wind-up to the display , of which a private view was given on Thursday , the horses drew the engine 200 yards along the terrace , the engine was then put into service , the hose was run out , and the-water projected in under 40 seconds , Altogether , the American party fairly earned the congratulations of

a large number of onlookers . An Indian troupe , also from the Paris Exhibition , has likewise been secured by Mr . Gillman for the Crystal Palace . An elderly and genial member of the company , which has , by the way , been drawn from various parts of India , executes some remarkably clever tricks with eggs , and is successful in re-establishing in a dry form the powders he has previously immersed in a bowl of water . Of interest are the feats of

swordsmanship in the Indian style , particularly as regards sword v . stick , and sword v . handkerchief . Then there is a patient but enterprising individual who , having swallowed a ball of thread , makes an incision in his side , from which his companion draws yard after yard of the missing yarn . A troupe of acrobats offer a number of novel feats , Which are executed with unfailing neatness and dexterity , and there are other attractive items in the entertainment that should be appreciated by visitors tg the Sydenham pleasure-house .