Reports Of Meetings.

REPORTS OF MEETINGS .

— : o : — We shall be pleased to receive particulars of Masonic meetings for insertion in our columns , and where desired will endeavour to send a representative , to report Lodge or other proceedings .

CRAFT : PROVINCIAL .

ST . JOHN LODGE , No . 328 . ON Monday , 5 th ult ., at the Masonic Hall , Torquay , Bro . John Chapman P . P . G . D . was installed W . M ., the ceremony being ably performed by the retiring Master Bro . Fred . J . W . Crowe P . P . G . O . Specially subscribed for by members of the Lodge , a handsome Past Master ' s jewel was presented on behalf of the Lodge to Bro . Crowe P . P . G . O ., for the very able manner in which he had discharged his duties during the past two years as W . M .

In consideration of the general public depression caused by the South African war , the installation banquet was not held , a collation being provided instead . The usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were duly observed . Bro . Crowe proposed the health of the W . M ., who , he said , was initiated into Freemasonry thirty years ago , and subsequently founded the Jordan Lodge . A generous supporter of the Charities , he was Vice President of both the B . M . I , for Boys and the B . M . I , for Girls , as well as Vice Patron of the B . M . B . I ., holding altogether some 300 votes .

The W . M ., in replying , said he greatly appreciated the high honour which the Brethren had conferred on him , and promised to do his best during his year of office . In deference to the general depression that prevailed he had abandoned the usual banquet , and instead of having the

regular collection for the Charities , he appealed to the Brethren to contribute to the Syracusa Convalescent Home for the heroes invalided home from the war , for he was confident that British soldiers were equal if not superior to traditional history in point of valour . The collection , which was then taken , totalled £ 15 5 s , including five guineas from the W . M .

ARCHITECT LODGE , No . 1375 . rpHE annual meeting and Festival of St . John of Jerusalem took place at JL the Masonic Hall , Chorlton-cum-Hardy , on Friday , 2 nd inst ., the principal business being that of installing Bro . Hugh W . Bloomer S . W . into the chair of K . S . Bro . John Mann Crone , the retiring Worshipful Master , performed the ceremony , assisted by Past Masters Henry Nail P . P . G . T ., Cyril H . Beever Charity Bepresentative , Alfred Pickford D . O ., I . B . E . Birkett , and Arthur A . Moss P . P . G . D .

We were present during the whole of the proceedings , and in justice to those who took part we must admit that a more finished performance we never witnessed . Bro . Crone , who seems to have gracefully retired from his position of Blaster while the bloom was , to him , on the Masonic rye , fully

deserved the neatly expressed panegyric of Bro . William Goodacre Provincial Grand Secretary . Bro . Crone ' s popularity , however , had long preceded this spontaneous tribute to his efficiency , but the kind words of Bro . Goodacre helped to confirm the good opinion which the Brethren had already formed of him .

A beautiful Past Master ' s jewel was presented to him on behalf of the members , by the newly-installed Worshipful Master , and bore the following legend : — Presented to Brto . JOHN MANN CHONB P . M ., by the Brethren of the Architect Lodge , 1375 , as a token of the recognition of his valuable services 1899-1900 .

2 nd March 1900 . This by fno means exhausted the presents which his enthusiasm in Masonic work had galvanized into reality , for Bro . A . G . Collins P . M . P . P . G . D . C , on the attainment of his 21 st year of Masonry , and also to perpetuate Bro . Crone's occupancy of the principal chair , had forwarded a very appropriate Tripod , which contained a suitable inscription ; Bro . Pickford

gave a valuable book ; the Deacons presented a pair of handsome Wands ; whilst the Secretary had prepared a very elaborate Chart of Lodge Officers , ranging from the Consecration to the present time , with provision for a continuance of the idea until the year 1921 . On the other hand , Bro . Crone presented to the members a new attendance book and a very handsome silver chain ( the latter worn for the first time by Bro . Bloomer W . M . ) , upon the apex of which was inscribed : —

Architect Lodge , 1375 . Presented by W . Bno . Joins MMN CHOSE , as a slight token of appreciation of the goodwill of his Brethren during his year of office as W . M .

1899-1900 . The following Officers being present were invested and addressed , viz ., Bros . William Bushton S . W ., William Lea J . W ., A . Bedfearn Treasurer , Dr . Andrew Denholm S . D ., A . V . Sharratt J . D ., Alfred Pickford P . M . D . C ., C . T . Tallent-Baleman Organist , William Moult I . G ., G . H . Smith , J . Lingard , C . J . H . Gradisky , W . P . Bellerby Stewards .

Bro . Cyril H . Beever P . M . was again appointed Charity Representative , to the evident delight of the Brethren , and Bro . Moult was heartily congratulated upon taking office after several years of quiescence . The Festival of St . John was a very successful function , and the earlier contingent of the feast , which consisted of Loyal toasts , was in the capable hands of Bro . Bloomer W . M . Speaking of the Queen he said that Her

Majesty ' s glorious reign had been a record of records in the history of the world . No other monarch had ever been the recipient of so much spontaneous loyalty , and the loyalty of Her Majesty to her people and her empire and her home ( he used the word home in its truest and best sense ) , had not been exceeded even by the loyalty of her people to herself . The deep

sympathy which she had always evinced with the sufferings of her subjects , from the highest to the lowest , was very touching , and if anything were wanting to bind our hearts more devotedly to her , that want had been supplied in the acute feeling she had displayed whilst undergoing the terrible losses which she and we had sustained during the recent troublous times . In speaking of the Prince of Wales Bro . Bloomer said that the admirable

Reports Of Meetings.

manner in which His Boyal Highness the Most Worshipful Grand Master had presided over the destinies of Freemasonry in this country for so long a time proved that he had the best interests of the Craft at heart . The careers of those Brethren whom he had appointed to preside over us proved that he possessed that most necessary quality required in a ruler—tact .

Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales was not forgotten , nor were the rulers of the Craft , in the persons of Earl Amherst Pro Grand Master , the Earl of Warwick Deputy and the other Grand Officers , the Earl of Lathora Provincial Grand Master , Eobert Wylie Deputy Provincial Grand Master , & c .

The health of the Worshipful Master was proposed by Bro . John Mann Ciono I . P . M ., who said : in proposing the . health of Bro . Bloomer he performed an action which was one of the most pleasing in his Masonic experience ; and he did it , not only on account of the deep friendship which existed between them , but because he was convinced that in choosing him as his successor in the chair of K . S . the Brethren had not only selected a good and capable man , but they had added lustre to the position by their action . From his knowledge of Bro . Bloomer he . regarded him as one who knew how to make the

best of every circumstance . He might not be very demonstrative , but he was indeed true and devoted in his friendships , and he was not only kind and good-natured , but was singularly sensitivo of any kindness shown to him by others . He believed that he would add to the wealth and strength of the Architect Lodge , and- possibly to its life , and he could imagine no brighter and more brilliant example than that of the Brethren that afternoon—in the way in which the portals of that assembly had rolled back to admit and welcome a worthy and respected man to the very first rank which it was in the power of the Brethren to bestow .

Bro . Bloomer W . M . replied , thanking Bro . Crone and the Brethren for the kindly way in which the toast of his health had been proposed , and also for the hearty reception of it . He stated that from the time of his initiation into the Lodge he had been the recipient of a vast amount of kindness ; he had received unstinted encouragement and assistance in every Office to which he had been appointed , and that night they had crowned all by placing him in the proud position of Worshipful Master of his Mother Lodge . He had a

very lively recollection of the time when he stood at the corner of that table replying to the toast of his health on the occasion of his being raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason , and had rather boastfully asserted that he looked forward to the time when he might occupy the chair of K . S . Since then he had learned somewhat of the qualifications necessary for the position , and he sincerely hoped the educational process had not been wasted upon him . He was well aware the position of W . M . in the Architect Lodge was

no sinecure , and he quite appreciated the responsibilities attaching to the Office . His predecessors had raised the Lodge from a position of comparative obscurity to that which it now held , and that was one of importance in the Province of West Lancashire . He reverted to the fact of one Past Master who , with a few hours notice , had taken a prominent part in that day's

ceremonial . He quite recognised the fact that to uphold tne traditions of the Lodge would require his best efforts , but nevertheless he looked forward to his year of Office with confidence , being assured of the advice and encouragement of the Past Masters , and the loyal support of a bodyot Officers of whom any Worshipful Master might justly be proud . He hoped that when he vacated that chair he might merit the admission that it had lost none of its

lustre . In proposing the health of the visitors , Bro . Bloomer said he voiced the feeling of every member of the Architect Lodge when he said they were proud of the honour conferred upon them by the presence of so large and distinguished a company of guests . He could assure them that if it had afforded

them as much pleasure as they themselves had derived from their presence , they must be delighted . His former speeches had been charterised by brevity , and he would not deviate from his previous method . Without further comment therefore he called upon the members to stand to their glasses , and make up in the enthusiasm of their reception of the toast what he had lacked in eloquence in proposing it .

The responses were given by Bros . Aid . J . Lumley Cross 2360 P . G . J . D ., Councillor Hy . Wilcox P . M . 564 P . P . G . D ., J . L . Brayshaw P . M . 2091 P . P . G . D ., Aid . Snape P . M . 1055 , and Kossuth Bloomer J . D . 2184 . The health of the Installing Master and Past Masters , proposed by Bro . William Bushton S . W ., received a response from Bro . Crone I . P . M . If he might ] udge by the many expressions of kindliness which had from time to time been tendered to him , he must have been a successful Master among

them . They showed at any rate they had appreciated his efforts , small though they may have been , and for this ho felt grateful . No one had thought of alluding to his faults , which had been many , and for that omission he did not know that he was particularly grateful , as he would have liked to see himself " as ithers saw him . " He left his position with pleasure and regret ; pleasure because he had met so many kind friends who had not only advised him on

various matters , but who had rendered him very valuable assistance in other ways ; and of regret that he should have to relinquish the brief power which afforded him the opportunity of keeping all of them in order . The regret was tempered by the fact that he was making way for such a worthy successor as the Brother he had installed that day , and that he should have the opportunity of supporting him during his year of office in a mariner of which he would not have cause to complain .

Bro . Crone ' s speeches , apt , sturdy , breezy , and exhilarating , were characterised by one visitor as splendid efforts , and hy another as containing the true ring of sincerity . Many other toasts were submitted , the whole being very agreeably intermixed with songs , recitations , & c , rendered by Bros . Bushton , Beever , Leo , Fred Morgan W . M . 2359 , C . Bygrave P . M . 2091 , and others .

Among the numerous visitors we noticed Bros . Archie Wilson P . M . 633 Prov . G . D . C . B . L ., Tlios . Brayshaw P . M . 2091 P . P . G . B . W . Y ., John Slyman P . M . 1730 P . F . G . D . C , S . Locke P . M . 1387 P . P . S . G . D ., J . H . Studd W . M . 163 , Wm . Richmond P . M . 267 P . P . G . S ., John Travers P . M . 1387 , and Sam Luke W . M . 2363 . We may mention that a cordial invitation given to members of the Castleberg Lodge , No . 2091 , Settle , met with a generous response , a large contingent being present .

GALLERY LODGE , No . 1928 . nnHB annual ladies' night entertainment in connection with this Lodge I took place on Saturday , 24 th ult ., at And-rton's Hotel , Fleet Street . The W . M . Bro . Fredk . Wm . Broilie presided , and more than 100 ladies and Brethren attended . An interesting feature in the proceedings was the presentation of a

o o o METROPOLITAN .