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tha Masonic ICbarities , reminding his auditors that charity was : the ruling characteristic of a Freemason ' s heart . The various charitable funds in connection with the Order were described by him as noble institutions , and he added that outside of these there were many acts of Masonio charity performed which . never saw the light , these perhaps being the best kind . The

admirable peroration with which he closed his remarks reminded us of the words of Bishop Hall , " If I do but little good to others by my endeavours , yet this is great good to me , that by my labour , I keep myself from hurt . " Bro . Nail advised his listeners to kindly construe the acts of every Brother , lor it was a high and noble teaching to lean kindly to the faults of others . ¦

-. : Bro . Beever responded , saying that in the ; glorious result of last year ( the Boys Centenary ) the Architect Lodge shaped well . He explained that there were many good institutions connected with the Province of West Lancashire , and if the Brethren gave a guinea they might rest assured that it would all be spent in charity , and not in bricks and mortar . He was reminded of a saying to the effect that " money was like manure—it does no good unless you spread it , " and , as Charity Representative , if they only gave him the money , he would see that it was judiciously spread .

Bro . J . G . Bromley P . M ., in introducing the toast of the newly-invested Officers , mentioned them individually , and enumerated their various qualities , adding that he did not think any Worshipful Master was now , or ever had been supported by a more intellectual and efficient body of men . Bros . Rushworth S . W ., Denholm J . W ., and Tallent-Bateman Org . responded . Other toasts followed .

The contributaries to the harmony of the evening were Bros . Nail , who gave the W . M . ' s song ; Rushton , who rendered the solo God Save the Queen , the song , Alice , where art thou ? and also joined Bro . Nail in a duet The Veteran ' s toast ; Hesketh , who gave the song God bless the Prince of Wales ; Charles Shaw I . P . M . 1147 , with topical and other amusing ditties ; C . E .

Bygrave P . M . 2091 , in the song , I want to be popular ; Dr . Denholm , in When twilight comes ; Beever , in Fairy Bells , on the auto harp ; Robert Dottie P . M .. 1161 , with a selection from Elijer Goff , The great fite ; and Thomas Hamnett W . M . 2363 , whose ventriloquial sketch , fashioned on some peculiarities observed during the evening , was excruciatingly funny .

We must not omit a word of praise to the printer of the beautiful menu card , which was adorned with striking portraits of Bros . Crone W . M ., Bloomer S . W ., and Rushton J . W-, and liberally interspersed with pertinent Masonic sentiments .

Besides those already mentioned , there were present Bros . T . A . Holland P . M ., E ; M . Beebee , John Webster . Visitors : Bros . H . G . Ward I . P . M . 998 , Jas . Ormrod I . P . M . 1730 , Thos . Shaw I . P . M . 1387 , J . F . Murphy P . M . 467 , C . W . Buck P . M . 2091 , T . E . Purdy W . M . 1140 , J . Kennerley W . M . 1387 , R . H . Ibbotson W . M . 1588 , John Spilsbury W . M . 2109 , Joseph Ward W . M . 2359 , H . B . Shepherd P . M . 2091 , and many others .

BRO . JOHN MANN CRONE

W . M . OF THE ARCHITECT LODGE , No . 1375 . Brother John Mann Crone Worshipful Master , the subject of our notice , and whose portrait we here re-produce , is comparativel y a young man , having been born in Liverpool , 15 th October 1859 . A sound education

imparted at the Royal Grammar School , Lancaster , furnished him with the necessary equipment for entering into an apprenticeshi p at the General Stores , Settle , in conjunction with one who , but for his untimely death in 1896 , would probably have become a shining light in the Province of West Lancashire , we allude to Brother W , Dyson Fryer P . M . This friendship .

Reports Of Meetings.

which without outward demonstration was fervent , was destined to have continuous results , for Bros . Gcorie and Fryer ultimately made their advent into Manchester , accepting lucrative positions with a well-known and reputable firm of wholesale tea dealers , of which , the lattor ' s father was a partner . ,

But Bro . Crone ' s restless momentum increased with his years . Desiring a more extended sphere of action , he , in October 1882 , accepted a position offered by an uncle ,- one of the partners in the firm of Jas . Helms and-Co ., Halton Mills , Lancaster , and became their Manchester representative for the sale of oil-cloths , etc ., vchioh position ha still retains . He represented this

firm at the last Paris Exhibition , and in' 1887 went to Africa , where he made a lengthened stay . In the summer of 1894 he , together with Brother Fry ^ r , travelled to Norway , ' andit was oh this occasion that he made his'first ; and only abstention from his Masonic Lodge , but to show that he' had not'forgotton his Brethren in England , sent a telegram containing "hearty good wishes " from a very remote village in that country .

Bio . Crone was married in the winter of 1895 , the partner of his joys being Mis * Cor * , Sheard , youngest daughter of the late Frank Sheard , Esq ., of the firm of Griffin and Sheard , Printers , & c , Ashton-under-Lyrie ' . On that occasion , as fully described in these columns , the wedding presents were both numerous and costly , and included one from the Architect Lodge , No . 1375 .

Bro . Crone ' s Masonic career has not been a lengthy one , nor has it been phenomenally varied , but his interests in the Craft have been absorbing , and he has cultivated and sustained them , as is proved by the fact that in less than seven years he has risen to the highest position which it is in the power of the Lodge to ba » tow . We were present in the Architect Lodge when he was initiated on the 6 th May 1892 , and remember the eulogistic words of his proposer , Bro . Fryer , who was then Worshipful Master , and of Bro . Jas Laidlaw P . M . P . P . G . D ., his seconder .

He seems to have almost reverential affection for Freemasonry , for on 19 th December 1893 he was exalted into tho Chorlton Chapter , No . 1387 , and became a member of the Crawford Rose Croix Chapter , No . 114 , on 9 th Fabruary 1895 . On 4 th April of the same year he joined the Castleberg

Lodge , No . 2091 , and is also a member of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge , No . 2076 , London . So far , we have not revertsd to the charitable side of his nature , but the fact that he acted as Steward on the occasion of the Boys Centenary of last year , is mfficient proof that his Freemasonry is governed by mora abiding standards than the mora desire for office .

Bro . Crone has great possibilities before him , but he ii sturdy , vigorous , and enthusiastic , and as one of his especial felicities is that of courtesy , be is likely to have a stimulating influence upon those Officers who now support him , and whose ambition is probably that of reaohing the proud position which he has just attained .

LIVERPOOL DRAMATIC LODGE , No . 1609 . INTEREST and prominent Masonic spirit was displayed on Tuesday , 28 th ult ., at the Masonic Hall , Hope Street , Liverpool , the Brethren attached to this Lodge assembling in strong force at the early hour , of one o ' clock to assist in the active functions of tbe day .

Upwards of seventy members and visitors assembled to witness the working of the Lodge , which deservedly holds a high position in this respect in tbe extensive Province of West Lancashire . It was expected that the three degrees would have to be performed , but for the second time a candidate proposed for the first failed to turn up , without any apology being sent to the proper authority .

The Worshipful Master Bro . Eustace Baxter was in his place with promptitude , and in a most effective manner Bros . R . B . Haddock and W .. T . Thompson ( Prince of Wales ' s Theatre ) were passed to the second degree . Bros . W . R . Greenwood and W . T . Lloyd were raised to the rank of M . M .

After the final routine businets the Brethren sat down to dinner in the large Banqueting Room , where the best of Brotherly feeling prevailed . A vocal and elocutionary programme of the best class was afterwards furnished . Besidei the usual collection for the benevolent box , a substantial sum was subscribed in aid of a " poor and distressed " musical Brother .

LODGE OF SYMPATHY , No . 483 . A MEETING of this prosperous Lodge was held on Wednesday , at the Royal Clarendon Hotel , Gra ^ esend , when all the three degrees were worked . In the unavoidable absence of Bro . Alfred J . Walklin W . M ., the Lodge was opened by Bro . R . J . Beamish P . Prov . G . D . C , after which the minutes were read and confirmed . The ballot was taken and proved unanimous in

favour of Mr . Alfred Charles Watkihs , as a candidate for initiation . The Lodge was then opened in the second degree , when Bro . James George Browne proved his proficiency as a Craftsman , and being subsequently raised to the sublime degree , was invested as a Master Mason and took his seat in the Lodge . Bros . C . E . Mitchell , J . A . Smith and A . Tulk answered the usual questions in a very perfect manner , and thus demonstrated the proof of

their attendance at the Lodge of Instruction . The Lodge was resumed . to the second degree , when these candidates were regularly passed as Craftsmen . The Lodge was resumed to the first degree , and Mr . Alfred Charles W . atkips being in attendance was admitted , and duly initiated as a member of tide Fraternity . All the ceremonies were admirably rendered by Bro . Beamisb , as befits a Preceptor of the ritual , and gave general satisfaction to ttie Brethren .

The votes of the Brethren were requested for an old Past Master , who had fallen into distressed circumstances , and who is now a candidate at the next election of the Benevolent Institution . The Lodge was the recipient of two elegant presents , viz ., a lamp for the purposes of the third degree , and an easel for the purpose of displaying tibe Tracing Boards . Votes of thanks were passed to the Brethren , who presented the articles .

There being no further business , the Lodge was closed' in perfect harmony , and the Brethren adjourned to supper . Among those present wore Bros . J . N . "Willis S . W ., C . Spencer Bowen J . W ., Thos . T . Hogg P . Prov . G . S . B . Treasurer , Arthur Ronaldson P . Prov . G .

Registrar Secretary ,- Henry Forss P . M ., W . Hawkey P . M ., Ernest Ingrnan S . D ., J . A . Gillett J . D ., J . Axcell . D . C , F . Smith , I . G ., 0 . Percy Bowen , Jus . Hewison , G . A . Grant , and T . A . Mummery Stewards , Robert Matthews Organist , A . E . Lockhart , E . Blandford , J . W . Sweet , G . Grant , Realf , J . W . Prior , F . Webber , J . A . Smith , H . Drake , T . Kemp , Jas . Silvester . Visitors ;— -Bros . F . W . Martin S . D . 77 , F . S . Sutton 1329 , S . Wright J . D . 2740 . '