Notices Of Meetings.

Ford , on rising to respond , was received wifch enthusiasm . He referred , in an able speech , to the continuons interest H . R H . the Dnke of Connaught took iu fche Province of Sussex ; to the excellent support whioh he , himself , hid received from the Provinciil Grand Officers , and to the gratification ho felt at the kind manner in which

he had been welcomed by the brethren of the various Lodges he had been able to visit . He had been highly pie isod with the work he had witnessed in tbe Sfc . Cecilia Lodge that afternoon . It had been performed adnrrably , and he had been much impressed by the harmony , cohesion , and gentlemanly tone which characterised the

brethren . He sincerely wished continued prosperity to the Lodge under its newly-installed W . M . Bro . Heald proposed the Worshipful Master of the Lodge . He had , he said , known Bro . Edwarda for many years , and had seen his able work in the varions offices he had filled in the Lodge . His excellent work that afternoon foreshadowed

a successful year , and he trusted that Bro . Edward ' , in visiting the other Lodges in fche county , would experience fche pleasure he himself had felfc in attending their meetings . Bro . Edwards rose to respond amidst hearty and prolonged applause . Ho said he felt deeply the hononr whioh tho Lodge had conferred npon him—a

oomparafcivdy yonng Freemason . He referred fco the pleasant gatheringa tbey had had in conjunction with the brethren of the Royal Brunswick Lodge , and to the excellent working of the recently established St . Cecilia Lodge of Instruction . He would , he said , work assiduously fco maintain tho prestige of the Lodge and to contribute to its success .

He then proposed the Masonic Charities , to which Bro . Binckes responded ; and fche Pasfc Masters of fche Lodge , which was acknowledged by Bro . Heald . Bro . Cole proposed the Visitors , responses being given by Bros . Smith , Botting , aud Denman . Bro . E . Broadbridge gave the Initiates , to which Bros . Upton , Huckell , Gregory ,

Wood , and Dorey responded . The Officers of the Lodge , given by Bro . Balchin , was acknowledged by Broa . Isworth and Bostel . The Tyler ' s toasfc completed the list . During the evening a very pleasing programme of vocal music , arranged by Bro . Cole , was admirably

sustained by Misa Minnie Freeman , Miaa Maud Bond , Bros . Broadbridge , Collins , Huckell , and Cole ; the dutiea of accompanist being a bly carried out by Bro . W . N . Roe . Bro . Knhe alao kindly contributed a pianoforte solo , which waa warmly appreciated .

DUKE OF CONNAUGHT LODGE , No . 1524

THIS Lodge , whioh , since its Consecration in 1874 , has successfully encountered that share of vicissitudes whioh seems to be the fate of most of those aspiring fco Masonio fame , held its annual meeting on Thursday , the 31 st ult ., when the result of fche meeting convinced all who might otherwise have been sceptical thafc the

brethren who now conduct its affairs are travelling on well . laid and substantial lines . Lodge was opened by the W . M . Bro . George Ferrar , who was well supported by his Officers , Past Masters and a goodly array of Visitors;—we give the names below . After Lodge opened , and the minutes of the regular and emergency meeting bad

been read and confirmed , the Auditors' report , which showed substantial balances to the credit of both Lodge and Benevolent Funds , was received and unanimously adopted . The W . M . then vacated the chair in favour of Bro . W . H . Lee P . M . P . P . G . D . Middlesex , who had undertaken to perform the installation ceremony . Bro . A . R . Olley

was presented as W . M . elect , and regularly installed in the chair in the presence of a numerous Board of Installed Masters , who congratulated him on fche attainment of thia well-deserved honour . The Officers were subsequently appointed and invested , as follow : —Bros . W . Beasley S . W ., James H . Rich J . W .,

Wm . H . Brand P . M . Treasnrer , W . H . Lee P . M . Secretary , W . Simpson , S . D ., J . Robinson J . D ., F . A . Caperoe I . G ., E . Winch D . C , E . Frisby Organist , S . A . East and P . W . Rogers Stewards . The addres es were then eloquently delivered by the Installing Master , Brother W . H . Leo P . M . The I . P . M ., Brother George

Ferrar , was presented with a P . M . a jewel , and he acknowledged the good wishes of the brethren . The brethren then adjourned to the banqnet room , where an excellent repast was supplied by Bro . Clemow . The Worshipful Master , in propo 8 iug the Grand Officers , said tbe brethren were deeply indebted to that distinguished body ( or fche

valuable time they devoted to the business of the Order , and for the interest tbey at all times evinced to further the progress of the Craft . While such able and distinguished men as the Grand Officers took a deep interest in Freemasonry it would continue to flourish . Brother C . A . Cottebrnne P . G . P . replied . He had had the pleasure of visiting

tbe Lodge when it had fallen to the lot of an old friend to r 3 spond for this toast , but , unfortunately , he was stricken by infirmity , and was unable to be present . He referred to Bro . Buss . He had nofc sufficient eloquence to do justice to the response , but in a few words he would express his thanks for fche kind reception given him as one of

the visitors , and for the great treat they had witnessed in the Lodge , in the able manner in which Bro . W . H . Lee had installed the W . M . From what he had seen of Bro . Olley , he waa sure the Lodge would have an excellent W . M . Bro . Geo . Ferrar I . P . M . proposed the health of the W . M . ( Bro . Ferrar ); the brethren would receive most heartily

the toast with which he was entrusted . It was a very great pleasure for him to see Bro . Olley in the chair j he had proposed him for initiation , and had been closely followed by Bro . Olley through the various offices . As there was a long programme to be carried out that evening , he would simply ask the brethren to drink to the health

of the W . M . Bro . Olley thanked the brethren sincerely for the flattering manner in which the toast had been submitted and received . He need not tell - . hem he should do his utmost to deserve the confidence reposed in him , and would to the best of his ability maintain tbo traditions of the Craft and the harmony of tbe Lodge . At present he had had

no opportunity of proving hia worthiness tor the position ho held , beyond filling every office in fche Lodge ; but he hoped to initiate a few members dnring his year of office . He could assure them he was not

an advocate for a great number of new members . He preferred a few , and those they would be proud to associate witb , and who would be a credit to the Craft . His heart was in fche work he had under . taken , and if he could perform ifc to their satisfaction he should be

Notices Of Meetings.

content . The Visitors was the next toast ; the W . M ., in the name of the Lodge , offered them a hearty welcome . It was one of the great privileges of Freemasonry to be able to offer hospitality to , and make rhe acquaintance cf , brethren from other Lodges . He trusted their visitors ha 1 been pleased , not only with the working , but with the

hospitality shown at the banquet table , and thafc they would go away with a good opinion and a happy recollection of their visit to the Lodge . Bro . Christian P . M . 860 said he had known the W . M . for many years , and , having seen him frequently at a Lodge of Instruction in which they both took deep interest , felt he could predict for

the Lodge a good future under such an able W . M . Bro . R . S . Cush . ing P . M . 1607 , said he considered it a great honour to be associated with the toast ; as the W . M . had been personally known to him for some years past . He had been struck with the few remarks made by the W . M . that evening , one of whioh he did

not agree with ;—he had told them he had not yefc proved himself worthy of the position he occupied . The brethren in thafc Lodge had had ample opportunities of knowing thafc Bro . Olley had nofc only proved himself worthy , but had shown thafc he was thoroughly efficient . He , with other Visitors , had been looking

forward with delight to the prospect of attending Bro . Olley ' s installation , and they were certain that when the time arrived for him to show hia ability he would nofc only reflect credit on the Duke of Connaught Lodge , but would give complete satisfaction fco all the membera . In concluding , he congratulated the W . M ., and sincerely

hoped he would have a good year . After other Visitors had expressed themselves , the W . M . proposed the Past Masters ; it was at all times a source of congratulation to a new W . M . to feel that he had a body of Past Masters on whom he could rely for assistance , and he knew that fche P . M . 's of their Lodge had always evinced fche utmost willing .

ness to assist when required . Their I . P . M . had had a successful year of office , and had performed his duties in a most efficient man . ner . He took that opportunity of congratulating Bro . G . Ferrar on the happy termination of his term . Bros . G . Ferrar and 0 . Lorkin responded on behalf of the Past Masters . Bro . W . H . Brand P . M .

Treasurer , in reply to the toast of the Treasnrer and Secretary , remarked that the Worshipful Master was correct in saying that the Secretary , Bro . W . H . Lee P . M ., was the Father of the Lodge , whilst he ( Bro . Brand ) was his eldest son . He had worked hard in times gone by in assisting to bring the Duke of Connaught Lodge

to its present position , and he felt proud afc having been able to place before them thafc evening a really good balance-sheet . He thought that but . for the exertions of the P . M . 'a that very desirable result would nofc have been attained . Whether he was with them a long or a shorb time they could depend upon it his heart would be

with them , for he should never forget the Lodge wherein he first saw the light of Masonry . Bro . W . H . Lee P . M . Seo . said thafc , as Father of fche Lodge , it had given him a great amount of pleasure and satisfaction to witness the proceedings of that day ; iu his opinion it had been a most successful gathering . In the first place he had had the

pleasure of installing into the chair a brother with whom he had been associated for many years . He had known Bro . Olley from the time he was initiated , and had been in constant communication with him since , and he could cordially endorse the remarks of the visitors thafc a worthier Mason and a better man it would be impossible to find .

Under the favourable auspices with which the W . M . had begun his year , he was assured he would have a successful reign , and at the end of the year 1889 they would be able to congratulate themselves upon having elected Bro . Olley . Something had been said hoping their VV . M . might have plenty of work during his year . With that remark he

agreed , but at the same time , although thoy were pleased to see the influx of new members , they were nofc in such a hurry that fchey should care fco introduce membera with whom the whole of the brethren of the Lodge would not wish to associate . He hoped they had arrived at thafc stage when they could afford to wait . They did not want a rush of

new members , or any brought in whoas adnrvsaiou thay would rogret . He thanked the W . M . and brethren , and hoped the Lodge had a successful future before it . After some other toasts the proceedings were bronght to a close in the usual way . Amongst the visitors present were Bros . A . Jackson 90 ( Grand Lod » e

Scotland ) , C A . Cottebrnne P . G . P ., J . Doyle 1926 , Charles Bennett Secretary 279 , H . Lynn J . W . 217 , Joseph Webber 1436 , A . E . Wood J . W . 554 , W . W . Morgan P . M 211 , H . J . Wheeler 72 , F . Carr P . M . 1607 , F . Fisher S . D . 1984 , E . Moffatt ; 2266 , E . Matthew Secretary 1915 , Thos . Clark P . M . 1178 , E . Amos J . D . 860 , J . Rose J . D . 1607 ,

J . H . T . Hoifc P . P . G . S . B . Cornwall , W . Carey I . P . M . 1571 , F . VV . Reddall J . W . 1679 , M . Christian P . M . 800 , W . Darnell P . M . 1607 , W . W . Lee 1897 , R . S . Gushing P . M . 1607 , W . D . Orange 1697 , Jas . Rowe 2191 , F . Master P . M . 1766 , J . McLaren P . M . 1805 , A . Cook S . D . 1366 , L . G . Barlow 860 , J . Crichmore 1158 , G . H . VV Grace , & c

Besides the Past Masters of the Lodge previously mentioned were A . Ferrar , John L . Payne , R . Polak , Charles Lorkin , andE . Dignam . The musical arrangements of the evening were carried out by Bro . A . F , Grainger , F . S . Sc , who was assisted by Merars . J . B . Hardwicke , J . E . Phillips , and fche Misses Nellie Oliver and M . Lorkin .

MINERVA LODGE , No . 1942 . THE annnal Festival of St . John , and the installation of the W . M ., in connection with this Lodge , took place on the 29 th ult ., afc the Lodge Room , Public Hall , Fenton . Tho Lodge assembled at three o'clock , when Bro . Thomas Barker was installed W . M . for fcho ensuing year , the ceremony being impressively performed by Bro . J . Dugan , fche retiring W . M . After the ceremony of installation , the

W . M . proceeded to invest his Officers , aa follow : — Bros . Jabez Stevenson S . W ., Enoch Hallam J . W ., Uallam Treas ., Strange Sec , Wagstaffo Organist , Woo ' riclge S . D ., Forster J . D ., Grove D . C . ' Taylor I . G ., Day nnd Hindle Steward ? , tin 1 Warren Tyler . Previous

fco the elo .-ing of the Lodge Bro . Dmj . in presented Bro . Peake with a P . M . ' s collar and j <* wel , on bohalf of f ho brethren of tho Lodge . This having been snitibly acknowledged by Bro . Peake , the Lodge waa closed , and the brethren proceeded by special car to the Crown and Anchor Hotel , Longton , where an excellent banquet waa partaken of