Reports Of Meetings.

I . G . ; Past Masters H . H . Warburton P . P . S . G . D ., Joseph Wildgoose P . P J . G . D ., John Studd P . P . G . D . C , B . Williams , Richard Simister , S . Williams , B . L . McMillan , Edward Roberts 1459 ; Bros . Robert Bace , G . R . Jury , H . E . Massie , Bichard Higham , J . C Grime , and others .

Visitors : —Past Masters Fred Broadsmith 2447 1045 1166 P . P . G . B . Cheshire , Geo . R . Lloyd 1730 P . P . G . Treas . West Lanes ., Ed . L . Littler 1730 P . P . G . P ., William Bee 1459 Prov . G . A . D . C , Thomas Hassall 1213 P . P . G . A . D . C , J . Bullivant 191 , J . G . Bromley 1375 , John Bowers 1730 , W . J . Herring 815 , and others .

Four ceremonies were due , of which three were performed , viz ., the initiation of Mr . Joshua Howarth Boydell , merchant tailor , Cross Street , Manchester , and the raising to the sublime degree of M . M . of Bros . Benjamin Wilmot and Francis Simpson . The first was in the capable hands of Bro . Hepworth I . P . M ., assisted by Bro . Fred Walmsley J . W ., who delivered the antient charge , the latter being divided between Past Masters Sinclair and Warburton respectively , who acquitted themselves in that excellently characteristic manner which has often been reverted to in these columns .

At the festive board which followed , many of the Brethren were laid under contribution for songs and sketches , a very pleasant evening being spent . Bro . Owles J . W . was especially felicitous in his selections , and was alluded to by oue of the visitors as the Signor Foli of singers .

LODGE OF INSTRUCTION , No . 581 . THE regular meeting was held at the Old Boar ' s Head , Withy Grove , Manchester , on Tuesday , 28 th ult ., Brother James W . Abbott P . M . P . P . G . D . C . Preceptor . There was a good attendance of members , the principal business of the evening being a rehearsal of the third degree . Bro . Cockerham having consented to act as candidate , he was duly raised by Bro . Wm . Bee P . M . Prov . G . A . D . C .

The next meeting will take place on Thursday , the 14 th inst ., when the first and second ceremonies will be rehearsed .

LEWIS LODGE , No . 872 . ON Monday , 20 th ult ., there was an enthusiastic gathering of the members at Whitehaven , to do honour to one of the Past Masters . All , with the exception of Bro . Joseph Matthews , were in the secret , which , in keeping with the true Masonic virtue , had been kept from him , says the " Free Press . " After the usual business had been transacted the W . M . Bro . J . M . Clark

rose to present a Past Master s jewel to Bro . Matthews . In the course of his remarks he said Bro . Matthews was not one of those who carried their Freemasonry on their sleeve , but the genuine principles of the Craft were shown in his life . On behalf of the Officers , who had served under him , he had the greatest possible pleasure in presenting him with a Past Master ' s jewel , which he pinned on his breast , amidst a round of applause .

Bro . Matthews , in touching and suitable terms , feelingly acknowledged the gift . The jewel bore on the obverse side the square and the forty-seventh proposition of the first book of Euclid , and on the reverse the following : —

Presented to BBO . JOSEPH MATTHEWS P . M . by his Officers , as a token of regard . It may be added this is not the first presentation Bro . Matthews has been the recipient of . On leaving Bosario he was presented with a beautifully illuminated address by the Brethren there .

o o o ARCHITECT LODGE , No . 1375 . npHE regular meeting was held at the Masonic Hall , Chorlton-cum-Hardy , JL on Friday , 1 st inst ., Bro . Charles Bawle | W . M ., there being a good attendance of members and visitors .

The principal business was the delivery of the Traditional History , and explanation of the Tracing Board in the third degree , these duties being undertaken by Bro . Hy . Hall P . M . Prov . G . Treas ., who acquitted himself in a manner which could not fail to be a rememberable one in the Masonic experiences of Bros . Klindworth andDr . Denholm , for whom these concluding portions of the ceremony of raising had primarily been prepared .

During the evening Bro . Pickford I . P . M . presented to the Lodge a framed photographic group of the Architect members , taken last year while on their pic-nic to Matlock . Bro . A . A . Moss P . M . D . C , on behalf of the Lodge , thanked the donor for his present .

ROSE OF RABY LODGE , No . 1650 . ON Tuesday , £ 8 th ult ., a large gathering of the Brethren of Darlington and district , including visitors from South Durham and North Yorkshire , took place at the Masonic Hall , Darlington , to assist in the installation of Bro . Jonathan E . Backhouse as Worshipful Master . Amongst those present was the Deputy Prov . Grand Master the Bev . Canon Tristram .

The Installing Master was Bro . 0 . H . Backhouse W . M . of the Beresford-Pierse Lodge . After the . ceremony the new Worshipful Master appointed his Officers .

EOYAL AECH

DE LAMBTON CHAPTER , No . 94 . THE annual meeting for the installation of Principals and investiture of Officers was held in the Freemasons' Hall , Queen Street , Sundeiland , on Tuesday , 28 th ult . Interest in the event was supplemented by a visit from the Officers of the Provincial Grand Chapter of Durham . The first Principal-elect Comp . J . D . Todd was installed by Ccrnp . Robert Hudson Prov . S . E ., and the second Principal Ccmp . G . W . Hetermaton . and

third Principal Comp . Wm . Watson by J . D . Todd , who also invested the Officers for the coming year . The Provincial Grend Office of Director of Ceremonies having been vacant by the death of T . Dunn , of Bishop Auckland , the occasion was taken as a fitting opportunity to invest his successor , sndby direction of Sir Hedworth Williamson , Bart ., Grand Superintendent of the Province , the Provincial Grand S . E . was deputed to invest Ccmp . Thomas P . Jobson I . P . Z . of thc Industry Chapter , Gateshead , with the insignia of office .

Reports Of Meetings.

VICTORIAN CHAPTER , No . 2184 . OWIN G to the regular convocation of this Chapter falling at Easter , when few of the Companions were able to attend , an emergency meeting was held on Thursday of last week , at the Phcenix Hotel , Bainham , Essex . Comp . Charles Jolly presided as M . E . Z ., assisted by Comps . Thomas Bingrose asH .,

and J . G . Milbourn as J . There were also present Comps . T . J . Balling Prov . G . ScnbeE . of Essex , F . J . Eedle I . P . Z ., William Harvey S . E ., Edward C . Talbot P . S ., James Block P . Z . 73 , Geo . B . Nichols H . 913 , W . 0 . Haley 1789 , Henry F . Cain 9 , Benjamin Thomas 1000 , Harold E . Smith 1437 . Orlton Cooper 1928 , John Ivey Janitor .

The agenda paper bore the extraordinary number of twenty-eight names of candidates for exaltation , but only six attended , viz ., Bros . John William Joyce , John Hills , James Millen , Edward James Couves , Thomas Welch , and Walter Reynolds , who , being introduced , were regularly exalted to the supreme degree . The ceremony was admirably rendered by Comps . Jolly and Talbot . After the investment the usual lectures were given by Comp . Milbourn , who delivered tbe Historical , Comp . James Block the Symbolical , and Comp . Jolly the Mystical .

Comps . George Wyatt , of the Star Chapter , and Charles H . Canning , of the Henley Chapter , were admitted as joining Companions . Comp . William Harvey referred to a Masonic Service that was proposed to be held shortly at the Old Parish Church at Rainham , in aid of the Restoration Fund , and requested the assistance of the Companions . The

movement had the support of the Venerable Archdeacon Stevens Grand Chaplain . Bro . Haslock Prov . G . C of Essex had promised to preach the sermon . He might also state that the various Lodges in the district would be represented on the occasion . Comp . Eedle thereupon proposed , and Comp . Bingrose seconded , that application be made to the Provincial Grand Superintendent to allow B . A . clothing to be worn .

The M . E . Z . warmly welcomed Comp . T . J . Railing , and hoped he would frequently be able to come among them . Comp . Balling , in reply , said that when he heard of the large amount of work that was probable he had immediately offered his services , though they had not been required . He had been greatly pleased at the working of the ritual , and was glad to find the

Officers were so well up to their work . He should certainly report to the Grand Superintendent of the Province the excellent manner in which the ceremony had been conducted . The visiting Companions having offered their congratulations to the M . E . Z ., the Chapter was closed in due form and the Companions adjourned to dinner .

MAEK MASONEY

BOSCAWEN LODGE , No . 101 THE members met at the Masonic Booms , St . Day , on Monday , 27 th ult ., when Bro . Fitton S . W . was unanimously elected W . M . for the coming year . Bro . W . A . Bennett P . M . P . P . G . I . W ., was re-elected Treasurer , and Bro . John Paull Tyler . The meeting for installation will be held at Chacewater in June .

The Boyal Ark Mariners Lodge attached to the Boscawen also held their usual meeting on Monday , when Bro . Major Shanks was elected W . C . N , for the coming year . Bro . W . A . Bennett was re-elected Treasurer , and Bro . John Paul Warden . The meeting for installation of the W . C . N , takes place in June .

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

"A SPRIG OF ACACIA . "

WE are sorry to record the death of Bro . Thomas Bamsay P . M . Prov . J . G . D ., Manager of the Theatre Eoyal , Manchester , which took place at his residence , Croft ' s Bank Eoad , Urmston , on Tuesday morning , 21 st ult . At the time of his death Bro . Bamsay was connected with the Manchester Dramatic Lodge , Mo . 2387 ( having been one of its founders ) , and

his interest in Freemasonry made him so prominent that only twelve months ago , at the meeting held in Denton , Bro . Col . Le Gendre N . Starkie Provincial Grand Master bestowed upon him Provincial honours , as indicated above . The subject of our notice , whose Manchester management marks a period of ten years , had a most successful theatrical career , having been

prominently identified with such artistes as Sir Henry Irving , Messrs . George Alexander , Wilson Barrett , P . E . Benson , Beerbohm Tree , J . L . Toole , and , indeed , nearly all the leading actors and actresses of the day . As vice-president of the Provincial Theatre Managers' Association , and a member of the Council of the Actors' Association , he was deservedly respected ,

and no wonder that his funeral , which took place at the Southern Cemetery , Withington , on Friday , 24 th ult ., should be well attended both by members of the Craft and the theatrical profession . Among many others present were Bros . P . G . Cooper , C . Svvinn P . M ., Thos . Cavanah , J . B . Eichardson P . M . P . P . G . J . W ., E . G . Simpson and J . Simpson , representing the

Dramatic Lodge , J . Pitt Hardacre ( Comedy Theatre ) , Albert Jarrett , W . D . Holbrook , H . Brook , and Thos . Black P . M ., Messrs . T . H . Birch and Capt . J . Barlow ( from the directorate of the Theatre Eoyal ) , A . D . Corry ( acting manager ) , T . Manchester ( Prince ' s Theatre ) , Eichard Flanagan ( Queen ' s Theatre ) , Peter Wateon ( Palace Theatre of Varieties ) , E . V .

Campbell , Bobert Comtneidge , George Scott , Capt . W . Eose , D . Cloran ( representing Mr . "Willie Edouin ) , Councillor Joshua Hampson , and William Wade . A laige number of wreaths , some of very beautiful device , testified to the respect in which the deceased Brother had been held . The funeral arrangements were conducted by Bro . Geo . T . Lenard P . M . Wilton Lodge , No . 1077 , Long Millgate , Manchester .