Craft : Metropolitan.

The W . M . then announced he had a very pleasant duty to perform , which was to present to Bro . Past Master Rowland a gold watch , as a recognition of the valuable services he had rendered to the Lodge .

Bro . Rowland said he was lost in words to express his gratitude . He felt it a great honour to receive so handsome a present , and felt that whenever he had occasion to look at the time he should be reminded of the many happy hours he had spent , and hoped to spend in the future , in the Skelmersdale Lodge .

This concluding the business , Lodge was closed , anl the Brethren adjourned to the banquet room , where an excellent repast was provided by the genial hostess , Mrs . Venables . After dinner the Charity box was passed round , and a liberal contribution collected therein .

The usual Loyal toasts were given by the W . M ., the National Anthem being sung in excellent style by Miss Ethel Hunt , and the Brethren joining in the chorus with truly patriotic fervour . Bro . Croxson I . P . M . submitted the toast of the Worshipful Master , and expressed the pleasure it afforded him to propose it . He spoke of the work done by their presiding Officer that day ,

and said it was a credit alike to the Master and to the Lodge . By the ability he had displayed that day the Master had proved to the Brethren that at their last meeting they had installed another good worker as president of the Lodge . The ceremonies of ' raising and passing had been rendered in grand style . The

Master had not required any assistance from his predecessor , and he almost regretted there were no initiates , as then they would have had additional gratification . He felt the members of the Lodge could not give their W . M . too much work , but rather , the more he had to do the better he would like it . He called upon them to salute the Master with a good fire , which was done .

Bro . Gabell ' s rising to respond was the signal for another outburst of enthusiasm from the Brethren . He thanked Brother Croxson for giving the toast in the kindly way in which he had proposed it , and the Brethren for receiving it in so cordial a manner . The members were always very kind to the Masters of the Skelmersdale Lodge . He was very pleased the ceremonies he

had rendered that evening had given satisfaction ; he was heart and soul with the Lodge , and assured the members they could not give him too much work . If the Brethren had the opportunity of introducing new members they might rely on his doing the work in the several ceremonies . Again he thanked them all for the cdrdia ! reception of the toast .

The health of the Visitors—of whom there were a goodly numbers-was next proposed , and cordially received by the Brethren . Bro . Carpenter W . M . 15 , in reply , sincerely thanked the Master and Brethren for their very kind reception . He also congratulated the Worshipful Master on the skill he had exhibited

that day in the work of the two degrees that had fallen upon him . He had heard of the excellent way in which the Masters of the Skelmersdale Lodge fulfilled their duties , but what he had ''' witnessed that evening- had surpassed all his ariticipations . He was among so many friends that evening that he felt like one quite at home , rather than as a visitor to the Lodge .

Bro . Alvarez 147 also replied , thanking the W . M . for coupling his name with the toast . He had greatly admired the working of the W . M ., and hoped it would not be any long time before he joined the Skelmersdale Lodge . Bro . G . White P . M . and several others also responded .

The next toast the W . M . had very much pleasure to submit , being that of the Immediate Past Master . Their Brother Croxson had done a great deal for the Lodge ; he had had three times the number of initiates of any of the Past Masters , and had done his work in an exceptionally good style . That he might be with them for many a vear to come was their ardent desire .

Bro . Croxson was heartily received on rising to respond . He thanked the W . M . for the very kind way in which he had submitted the toast , and the Brethren for receiving it so heartily . He was very proud of the position of Treasurer , to which he had been elected , and assured the Brethren he should take very great care of

the . cash . Bro . Rowland , to whom they had presented a souvenir that evening was one of the pioneers of the Lodge , and , as had been said before , other Past Masters of the Lodge had been presented with testimonials , therefore it was but right they should thus honour Brother Rowland , and the Brethren thereby show their appreciation of what he had done .

The toast of the Past Masters and Officers of the Lodge was responded to by all of those Brethren who were present . The Tyler ' s toast brought to a conclusion an exceptionally enjoyable meeting , during the latter portion of which some excellent

songs were rendered by Miss Ethel Hunt , Miss Mary Gilmour , Bros . Frank Nilen , W . R . Cullingford , J . Shaw , and several others . Bro . A . E . Kipps presided at the piano and ably displayed his musical ability . * * *

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

THE MANCHESTER LODGE , No . 25 B 4 . THE regular meeting was held at the Freemasons' Hall , Manchester , on Friday , nth ult ., Bro . Arthur C . K . Smith Worshipful Master . The fact that Brother Charles Neufeld was about to be raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason attracted a very large

number of visitors , among whom we noticed Bros . C . D . Cheetham P . M . 993 P . P . J . G . W ., W . F . Farrington P . M . 16 33 Prov . G . Reg ., Nathan Heywood P . M . 44 P . P . G . Reg ., Geo . L . Vaughan P . M . [ 030 P . i . G . Reg .. C . S . Abbott P . M . 1009 P . P . S . G . D ., Robert Thomson P . M .- 44 , W . Brocklehurst I . P . M . 317 , Chas . H . Griffiths I . P . M . 581 , S . Staton P . M . 317 , F . S . Arnold P . M . 370 , Cyril H .

Provincial.

Beever P . M . 1375 2363 , Jas . W . Berra P . M . 2109 , Geo . J . Critchley 1161 , and W . J . Sherlock 2109 . After the reading and confirmation of minutes , a successful ballot was taken for Bro . Frederick Thomas P . M . 2359 , who was desirous of becoming a joining member . Lodge was then opened

up , and Bro . William Roland West was passed to the degree of F . C . The regular constitutional questions having been satisfactorily . . answered by Bro . Neufeld he was raised to the superior degree . Bro . Smith W . M . performed both ceremonies , being assisted in the second degree by Bros . A . B . Smith S . W ., and W . E . Davies

J . W . At the festive board , Loyal and Masonic toasts were proposed and responded to , but on this occasion as a matter of course the centre of interest was Bro . Neufeld , who treated his auditors to a further account of his sufferings while a prisoner of the Khalifa in the Soudan . He also dilated upon many other matters ,

including the physical and social aspects of the country and concluded by calling upon those assembled to join hands , and sing as with one voice , England's national anthem , the words of which he said were known throughout the world . A very enjoyable evening thus came to a close amidst demonstrations of enthusiasm .

WALTHAM ABBEY LODGE , No . 2750 . ON the 17 th ult ., at the Cock Hotel , Waltham Abbey , Bros . Jas . Graham P . M . 6 52 Prov . Grand Steward W . M ., H . A . Baxter S . W ., J . H . Kirby J . W ., T . P . Trounce Prov . Grand Treas . Treas ., W . B . Rutherford Sec , Jas . Speller P . M . P . P . J . G . D ., Harry Palmer S . D ., W . C . Goulding I . G ., Geo . Richards P . M . D . C .

Visitors : E . J . Everdell P . P . G . Std . Br . Middlesex , W . Gate P . P . D . G . D . C Middlesex , J . N . Codling x' . P . G . Assist . Org . Herts , Kinniple P . M . 65 , J . A . Tavener P . M . 1237 , G . H . Fell S . W . 251 S , Downs SID . 65 , Cook ' J . D . 754 , Shaw D . C . 1950 , Weston D . C . 157 , Bunage 2411 , Hall 1309 , Gearing 95 .

After the minutes had been read and confirmed , the W . M . reported that he had applied for and received a dispensation from the r / rovincial Grand Master to initiate , if elected , six candidates that evening . The dispensation being read , the ballot was taken for Bro . Wm . Metcalfe r . M . 1327 2372 , P . P . G . P . Herts ., as a joining member , and six candidates for initiation , all of whom were duly elected .

The Worshipful Master initiated the first three , Messrs . Thos . Carr , J . T . Rockford , and J . T . Briscoe ; and the I . P . M . Bro . Speller the remaining three , Messrs . E . J . Everdell , W . J . Matthew's , and Jas . Carr . Bro . Graham W . M . subsequently giving the address , working tools , and the ancient charge to all the six candidates .

We might add that one of the initiates , Bro . Jas . Carr , is the son of the late Bro . Jas . Carr , J . P ., Waltham Abbey , one of the petitioners for the formation of the Lodge , but who died very suddenly from heart disease , previous to the Consecration . Other two candidates for initiation , and two for joining , were proposed for the next meeting , to be held this month . * * *

Instruction.

INSTRUCTION .

KENSINGTON LODGE , No . 1767 . ON Tuesday , 15 th ult ., at the Town Hall Tavern , Kensington , Bros . B . H . Meyer W . M ., W . H . Cave S . W ., W . G . Cave J . W ., W . Hillier P . M . Free , W . B . Neville P . M . S . D ., W . Brown J . D ., J . H . Gumming P . M . I . G ., F . Craggs P . M . Sec , J . H . Catten , and others .

Having opened the Lodge in the first and second degrees the W . M . proceeded to examine Bro . Catten , which proving satisfactory that Brother was entrusted , after which the Lodge was opened in the third degree , and the ceremony of raising was gone through , the W . M . being highly complimented on the excellent manner in which he delivered the traditional history .

The Lodge was resumed to the first degree and closed , to allow the Committee of the W . L . Masonic Election Association to hold their monthly meeting .

HAMMERSMITH LODGE , No . 2090 . THE meeting held on Wednesday , 16 fch ult ., at Wycombe House , the Broadway , W ., was very numerously attended , amongst those present being Bros . E . W . Scolding W . M ., W . Handover S . W ., H . Warren J . W ., W . Hillier P . M . Prec , T . G . Hodgson W . M . of the Mother Lodge Sec , Rev . T . Greenwood S . D ., H . A . Barnett J . D ., W . Youngsen I . G ., Arthur Williams P . M ., J . H . Gumming P . M ., W . Cave , A . Ingledew , G . W . Turner , Gale , Claret , Thomas Chamberlain .

This Lodge of Instruction being noted for commencing its proceedings with punctuality ( a virtue on which some in the district cannot bo complimented ) the W . M . sounded his gavel at 7 . 45 , and opened the Lodga with the usual formalities . Bro . Meek answered the necessary questions and

¦ was entrusted , after which the Lodge was advanced to the second degree , and the ceremony of passing was rehearsed . Lodge was called off and on , opened in the third degree and closed in that and the second . The Brethren , under the direction of the worthy Preceptor , worked the second section of the first lecture in a satisfactory manner .

We may mention that this Lodge of Instruction meets every Wednesday during the year , and is largely attended by Brethren who represent tha different Wards of the Parish on the Vestry , and their parochial duties frequently finish just in time to enable them to walk over the road from the newly built Town Hall .

Bros . Robert Manuel and Arthur George Duck cordially thank every Brother who successfully supported their candidature for election as members of the Board of General Purposes .