Reports Of Meetings.

REPORTS OF MEETINGS .

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 .

'OB AFT : METROPOLITAN .

Upton Lodge , No . 1227 . THERE was a most enthusiastic gathering of Brethren at the ordinary meeting of this Lodge , , held on Thursday , at the Great Eastern Hotel , Liverpool Street , ' when Bro . W . J . Carroll , the new W . M ., had ample opportunity of showing his ability as a ruler in the Craft , the ceremonies of the three degreea having to be conferred on different candidates , of whom there were four for raising , two for passing , and five for initiation .

Those present included Bros . W . J . Carroll W . M ., R . 1 < Thomson S . W ., Alfred B . Noble J . W ., C . Giescke P . M . Treas ., C . J . Free P . M . Sec , H . J . Rowberry I . P . M ., Edwin Hill P . M ., John Stroud P . M ., W . Athol Bray P . M ., G . W . Flatman S . D ., C . W . Coope J . D ., W . T . Hustwayte I . G ., H . Hyde P . M . D . C ., E . C . Holmes Org ., W . Hartwell , T . G . Gunn , and J . G . Lover Stewards ;

several other members of the Lodge , and the- following Visitors : A . Greenwood 2346 , Samuel E . Coad 2744 , G . B . Mansfield 871 , C . Britton 1448 , ¥ . J . Robinson 1897 , E . S . Collins 1950 , C . Morgan 108 , W . Barnes P . P . G . S . B . Essex P . M . and-Treas . 2501 , R . H . Sleeman . J . D . 7 S 8 , F . M . Noble I . G . 2504 , H . Saunion P . M . 1423 , J . Mears x ' . M . 7 88 , F . C . Jacob 16 S 1 , T . G . Henrich S . W . 1623 , A . Calver P . M . 933 , T . Feistel W . M . 266 3 , E . F . Barnes W . M .

276 3 , Joseph C . Smith 1668 , J . H . Sansome P . M . 1364 , J . W . Ward 2535 , G . W . Foord W . M . 1238 , A . R . Macadam 12 * 8 . W . G . Fay J . W . 2504 , W . W . Morgan 177 , F-. Britton 463 , C : J . Do ' wnton 457 . The Lodge having been opened and the minutes read , ths ballot was brought into requisition , and the five gentlemen proposed for initiation were regularly elected . These were Mr . Arthur Ekins , Mr . Thomas Dorrnan Carter , Mr . Charles Jacint Gilmer , Mr . Morris C . Cole , and Mr . Frederick Herbert Toplis . Bros . William Farrier and Samuel Charles Farrow were

examm ' ed as candidates for the second degree , and , the Lodge being opened up , they were regularly passed as Fellow Craft . The candidates for the third degree— -Bros . Thomas Conrad Neill , Herbert W , Walker , George William Codd , and Harry Charles Godfrey—were next examined and entrusted . The Lodge

was opened uv > , and the four Brethren were regularly raised to the sublime degree . Lodge was now resumed to the first degree , and called off . On resumption the W . M . proceeded to initiate four of the accepted candidates , Mr . Toplis being unfortunately prevented from attending .

Three gentlemen were proposed for initiation at the next meeting and other Lodge business was attended to . Bro . Jeffries P . M . proposed that a Ladies Night be held in connection with the Lodge meeting in January , and explained that the Committee appointed to consider the matter had fixed the price of tickets for visitors at 12 s 6 d- -each ,- and for Ladies at 10 s 6 d . The

W . M . added that the idea was to have the gathering on the regular Lodge night , so that all the members of the . Lodge would have the right to participate ' without charge .. He did not intend to undertake any ceremonial work on the occasion , but to hold a Lodge of emergency beforehand , so as to clear off anything which might present itself . He hoped the gathering would prove an exceptional success , and would be largely attended .

The Lodge having been closed the Brethren adjourned to the new Abercorn Rooms of the Great Eastern Hotel for dinner , and it will no doubt be a source of gratification to the management that this—about the first important function in the new buildingpassed off most successfully , and gave promise of great things for the future . New brooms proverbially sweep clean , and we believe

a new chef was answerable for Thursday's dinner : it was excellent , but , if we may be allowed to say so , was heavily handicapped in the service . Metropolitan Freemasons have become so accustomed to the different items in the menu being sent up on separate plates that we fear few of them appreciated the newly tried plan of serving

en masse on salvers , although that system may possess the merit of allowing each guest to select portions suited to his own taste . Freemasons are averse to changes , and we' shall be surprised if this innovation is long continued at the fine new buildings which are so rapidly approaching completion at the Great Eastern Terminus .

At the conclusion of the dinner the W . M . proposed the toast of the Queen , followed by that of the Grand Master the Prince of Wales—the head of all Freemasonry in England and the best among the many Brethren in the country . In proposing the toast of the Grand Officers the W . M . said that , thanks to the invitation of Bro . Gunnhe had had the pleasure

, of attending the consecration of a new Lodge a few days previously , and was pleased indeed to see how well the Grand Officers performed their work on that occasion . He had had previous experience of their capabilities , when he had attended Grand Lodge , but it was particularly gratifying to find them so capable in performing work outside the routine of the Quarterly Communications .

The Immediate Past Master Bro . Rowberry gave the health of the W . M . He felt the toast deserved special attention , as being the chief one of the evening . They had , following in his footsteps in the Mastership of the Upton Lodge , one who was a typical young

Reports Of Meetings.

English gentleman , and he felt that anything they could do—and in this he was sure the Past Masters and the other members of the Lodge were united—in support of Bro . Carroll during his Mastership would be cheerfully undertaken . He felt it impossible to compliment the W . M . too much on , his working that day ; he had

shown the visitors and the members of his Lodge what he could do in the work of Freemasonry , and had indeed proved his proficiency in the Craft . He hoped for a hearty reception of the toast , and this was certainly accorded it , visitors and members alike testifying their appreciation of Bro . Carroll ' s excellent working .

The W . M . tendered his thanks for the flattering remarks of the Immediate Past Master ,. but he f eared they were not all deserved . The * members knew he hg . d always striven to do his very best for the Upton Lodge , and he could promise them he should endeavour to continue ' doing so . ' The hearty reception of the toast on that occasion would certainly encourage him to even try and do better in the- future .

Bro . Carroll next proposed the health of the Initiates . They had four gentlemen who had been initiated there that evening who he was sure would become worthy members of the Lodge . He could assure them that if they only acted up to the lessons taught them that day in the Upton Lodge they would never regret having joined Freemasonry . Bro . Arthur Ekins tendered his thanks . The initiates had all

been impressed by the interesting ceremony they had gone through . He hoped he should become a good and worthy member among them . Bro . T . D . Carter was indeed pleased to be one of the four new Brethren admitted in the Lodge that day , and hoped the members might never have occasion to regret having admitted him as a Brother among them .

Bro . C . J . Gilmer hoped he might live for many days to enjoy the work of Freemasonry . and the jovial company of his fellow members in the Upton Lodge . Bro . M . C . Cole tendered hearty thanks indeed for the reception accorded him . He was proud of being a Mason , His dear old

father was one among them , and if he could see him standing there for the first time as a Brother Mason he was sure he would be as proud as he personally , felt at the moment . He thanked the Brethren from the bottom of his heart for the very kind reception accorded him that evening . ,

The W . M . here announced that the contents of the Charity Box , which had been passed round among the members , amounted to £ l 10 s . - - He next proposed the toast of the Visitors . On behalf of the Upton Lodge he tendered the guests a very hearty welcome . The Lodge , was , he thought , noted for . the reception it accorded to

visitors . He specially hoped all of their guests had thoroughly enjoyed themselves that night . They had twenty-six visitors at their meeting , and he thanked every one of them for their company . Bro . Barnes replied . Sitting there that night on the right of the W . M . reminded . Mm of some thirteen years ago , when Bro .

Free occupied the chair , and he again sat on its immediate right , but that time as the Initiate of the Lodge . He saw only three other Brethren present that night of the members who were present at his initiation—the worthy Treasurer and Secretary of the Lodge , and Past Master Hill . He was proud to see his old Mother Lodge in such a prosperous condition as it presented that evening .

Bro . Calver endorsed every sentiment which had been expressed that day in regard to the W . M . and the admirable way in which he had carried out the duties , of shis Office ; his conduct in the chair really made him an example worthy to be copied . He .. would even do more , and , taking up the thread , would bear testimony not only to the admirable way in which the Mjaster had carried out his

duties , but also the Officers . He felt all ' who aspired to Office should qualify themselves for the work , as if a Brother waited until he had got an appointment , rather than previously qualify himself for the work , his occupation would be , a failure . This . was not the case with the Officers of the Upton Lodge , and he might truly say he had not been in a Lodge for many a day where he had been so pleased with the general conduct of tile work .

Capt . Mansfield was pleased of the' opportunity : of adding his thanks . The Lodge certainly did its best to make its visitors welcome .

The toast of the Past Masters was next given . The W . M . felt the members all knew what the Past Masters of the Upton Lodge could do . Each one of them had done his duty in turn , and that accounted for the success of the Lodge at the present time . Bio . Rowberry I . P . M . was very pleased that his name had been coupled with the toast , and that he now ranked as one of the Past

Masters of the Lodge . If he had done sufficient—and he was told he had—to deserve being honoured as a Past Master of the Lodge he was indeed proud . He held the Institution of Freemasonry in great esteem , and since his initiation in that Lodge he had never missed one meeting , while he had only been late on one occasion ,

and that was unpreventable through a matter of urgent business . He mentioned this with the view of strongly urging on the initiates the desirability of punctuality , and he further urged the younger members especially to stick to the old Upton motto , to follow well in the footsteps of those who had worked before them in the Lodge .

The W . M . said a good many of them were aware—or perhaps were not aware—that Bro . Gunn had recently been married . He had very ereat pleasure in asking their worthy Brother to accept a little gift in commemoration of the event , in the form of the clock that was before them , and he asked Bro . Gunn to accept it as a

little mark of the love and esteem entertained towards him by the members of the Upton Lodge . He trusted that whenever Bro . Gunn looked upon the clock he would call to mind the kindly sentiments felt towards him by his Brethren in the Upton Lodge . The clock , with massive marble stand , was a splendid example of workmanshi p ^ just such as we should look for from Bro . Carroll ' s -stock , whence