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knew , his connection with the Dramatic Lodge was from the first , and since then he had never missed a meeting , but had done his level best to make the Lodge a success . He was one of those who recommended that the Warrant should be granted , and although the consecration was a proud day for him , that day of his installation was a prouder , and he should do his utmost to

make that Lodgo one of the best in the Province . He would not say anything of the past , nor would ho prophesy as to the future , but , as far OB he was concerned , he should do his best to add lustre to the chair in which he had been installed that day , and it was also his earnest hope that they might meet together for manv years to come .

In proposing the health of Bro . J . M . Simpson I . P . M . Bro . Swinn congratulated that Brother on the admirable services he had rendered to the Manchester Dramatic Lodge since its formation . During his year of office their financial position had attained strength ; they were now solvent , and his proposition that they should make a grant to the East Lancashire Fund was much to be encouraged , as it would commend itself to them to give something to charity .

The toast having been duly honoured , Bro . J . M . Simpson responded . He said he rejoiced that he had such an excellent successor in Bro . Swinn , who , he was sure , would make them a worthy and excellent Master , and he wished him a prosperous and pleasant year of office . He also thanked the Brethren for the manner in which they had responded to the toast , and concluded with some excellent advice to the junior Officers , as to Lodges of Instruction in the future .

Bro . Swinn said he had the greatest pleasure in proposing the health of a gentleman with whom he had been associated since fche founding of the Lodge , aud in the closest bonds of amity—and that was the health of Bro . Ramsay the Installing Master . Those who had worked with Bro . Ramsay knew that during the first year of his mastership he enjoyed indifferent health , and he was , on his return to this country , elected for a second term

Bro . Ramsay himself , Bro . Simpson , Bro . Cavanah , and others had seen that Lodge through troublous times . There were ways and means to be found , but they had got over them and Bro . Ramsay had installed him that day , for which he publicly thanked him . He would not say a word derogatory to him when he said that it was at Bro . Richardson's request that Bro . Ramsay undertook to do the ceremony that day . He need not remind

them of his virtues and qualities . He was a founder , and had done his level best to make the Lodge what it was that day . He in his position could not hope to make it a success unless he had the support of the dramatic element . That Lodge was instituted for a special purpose—that was to enable thoso to meet in the afternoon who could not attend in the evening , on account of

their professional engagements . If , therefore , the dramatic element did not support it , it ceased to have a reason for its existence . Bro . Ramsay could give them a lot of assistance in that direction , and he vvas sure he would do BO , not only during his year of office , but also during that of his successors . The toast was received with much enthusiasm .

Bro . Ramsay said he was deeply grateful to them for the kind manner in whioh they had drunk his health . As far as he was concerned , he had only been too proud , and he felt it a very great honour indeed , to have placed Bro . Swinn in the chair , as ho felt himself that no Master of any Lodge had done his duty until he had performed the installation ceremony . He could only say that he was very pleased to havo the opportunity of doing it , and as

far as his humble efforts were concerned he did his best . He would be also very glad , as far as he was concerned , to make the Dramatic a big success . He was surprised to find when he came to Manchester that there was no Dramatic Lodge , while in Liverpool they had one with perhaps 100 or 200 members , and to him that appeared to be an injustice to Manchester . From his first coming to that city it was his desire and wish to have founded a

Dramatic Lodge , and ultimately with fche help of a few Brethren they had that Lodge consecrated , so as to enable them to attend their work in the evening . They had a great many dramatic Brethren who would be excellent and worthy Masons if they had more opportunity . He had had the pleasure , as they all knew , of being W . M . of that Lodge for two years , and ho

thoroughly appreciated the honour bestowed upon him , and did his best to fulfil the duties required of him , and at the close of his term to instal his successor . He was not content , but would do all he could to further the interests of the Manchester Dramatic Lodge , and to do what vjp , s required of him . He concluded by again thanking them very sincerely for the manner in which they had drunk his health .

Bro . Swinn said he omitted to state in his remarks that Bro . Ramsay was Prov . G . J . D . Designate of East Lancashire for the ensuing 12 months , an announcement which was received with applause and musical honours . Bro . Hart proposed the health of the Past Masters , to which Bro . Cavanah replied . The other toasts were the Visiting Brethren , the Officers of the Lodge , the Masonic Charities , and the Tyler's toast . In the course of the evening the proceedings were pleasantly varied by songs and recitations .

LONGSIGHT LODGE , No . 2464 . A MEETING of this Lodge was held at the Club House , Birch Lane , Longsight , on Wednesday , 1 st inst ., Bro . Henry Grimshaw W . M . There was a good attendance of members both in Lodge and at the festive board , the latter being of an enjoyable kind . Songs , recitations , & c , were given by Bros . F . W . Lean P . M . P . P . S . G . D . D . C , Ed . Roberts P . M ., C . S . Cotton I . G ., Henry Wood , Andrew Ellor , C . Coalman , and E . Ireland , a Visitor from the Lodgo of Virtue , No . 152 .

IXION LODGE , No . 2501 . THE installation meeting was held on the 2 nd inst ., at the Roebuck Hotel , Buckhurst Hill , under the presidency of the Worshipful Master , Bro . H . Ffrench Bromhead P . M . Past Provincial Grand Superintendent of Works Essex . There was a very large attendance of Brethren , says the " Walthamstow and Leyton Guardian , " the Lodge having made great progress since its consecration twelve months ago , when Bro . Bromhead was installed as first Master .

The worth of the Lodge was testified to on Wednesday week by Supreme Grand Chapter , which , on the recommendation of the Committee of General Purposes , granted a Warrant for a Royal Arch Chapter to be attached to the Lodge , although the usual practice is that a Lodge thall not have a Chapter until it is three years old .

After the formal opening Bro . Bromhead passed Bro . Flight to the Second Degree , and afterwards initiated Messrs . Thomas Tarminter Fosse , Edward Wilmot , and Victor Taylor . Bro . Nathaniel Fortescue , CO ., P . M . 2374 was elected a Joining member . Bro . Bromhead installed Bro . Henry Edward Herman Senior Waidcnas Worshipful Master lor the year ensuing . The brethren appointed to office

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were : Bro . W . Gower Senior Warden , Clement Spurgeon Junior Warden , Ven . Archdeacon Dunbar Chaplain , Richard Sandal ! Treasurer , George T . Peall Secretary , W . J . Barnes Senior Deacon , T . H . Lloyd Junior Deacon , J . R , Carter Inner Guard , F . Gemmell Director of Ceremonies , G . Taylor Assist ant Director of Ceremonies , G . E . Gratton Organist , H . Miller , B . G . Jones , F . X . Zimmerli , and B . Dietrich Stewards , David Legg Past Master 1227 Tyler .

Bro . Bromhead was presented with a Past Master ' s jewel in recognition of his great services to the Lodge during his year of office . The Earl of Warwick was elected an honorary member , and was voted thanks for the honour he had done the Lodge by attending , for which purpose he had made a journey from Warwick . His lordship acknowledged the compliment , and expressed his regret that he was absent when the Lodge was consecrated

but his absence was necessitated by a business engagement in America . He was delighted to see the Lodge had made such progress , and he was proud of it , as he was of all the Lodges in his Province , which were never wanting in their working , in their desire to promote the cause of Freemasonry , and in their support of the great work of charity . The Worshipful Master then announced

that he would be Steward of the Lodge at the next festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , and on the motion of Bro . Bromhead , seconded by Bro . 0 . J . R . Tijou P . A . G . P ., ten guineas was voted to his list from the Lodgo funds , and ten guineas from the Benevolent Fund of the Lodge . The Lodge had given twenty-five guineas to Bro . Bromhead ' s list as steward for the Girls School at the last festival .

The Lodge was then closed , and tho Brethren adjourned to a choice banquet provided by Bro . A . C . Smith , of the Roebuck Hotel . Before the banquet the Earl of Warwick , in the name of the Brethren , presented to Bro . Bromhead a momento of his year of office in the shape of a valuable set of table cutlery aud plate , and a costly bracelet for Mrs . Bromhead . Tho noble Earl said it was a token of the high esteem in which Bro . Bromhead was held by the Brethren .

Bro . Bromhead said it was a great pride to him to occupy the chair as first Master of the Ixion Lodge . The gift now made to him would remain a happy memory , aa long as he lived , of the esteem in which he had been held by the Brethren . After the banquet the usual toasts were proposed and honoured .

Bro . Thomas J . Railing Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies Prov . Grand Secretary Essex responded to the toasfc of the Grand Officers . As the Brother who consecrated the Lodge a year ago , he was very glad to find it had taken such root in the neighbourhood . Bro . Herman W . M . proposed the health of the Earl of Warwick , observing that he was a Provincial Grand Master of whom they were all proud .

Whenever the Earl of Warwick was called upon fco perform a duty he performed it even at great personal inconvenience , an instance of which they had that day , as his lordship had come all fche way from Warwickshire to attend that meeting . This showed fche great interest he took in his Province . His lordship had been thirteen years their Grand Master , and during his reign the number of Lodges in Essex had been doubled .

The Earl of Warwick said , although no one in the room was keener in regard to Freemasonry than himself , no ono was more aware of his deficiencies . It had been a great pleasure to him to be present among the Essex Brethren . He had watched with great interest the progress of Masonry in the Province , both as regarded the number of Lodges and the number of members of the Order . It had been his endeavour , supported by his Officers , to promote

Lodges only where he found there was a necessity for them . Fortunately , all the Lodges in Essex wero in a state of excellence , which was most creditable . Every ono of them held high the banner of Masonic Charity . Masonry promoted this object in a very marked degree , and benevolence was always first and foremost in a Mason ' s mind . Essex was not a rich Province , but whenever he , as their Provincial Grand Master , took a leading part in

the cause of the charities the Brethren had come forward and placed him in a leading position . Of this he had felt very proud , and if in the future it should occur that he was called upon to take a prominent part for any one of the Masonic charities , he felt sure he had only to appeal to the Essex Brethren to supply him with a good list . In conclusion he expressed his sense of the admirable working of the Lodge that day by Bro . Bromhead .

The Earl of Warwick next proposed the health of the Deputy Provincial Grand Master Bro . Philbrick , and with it he coupled the toast of the Worshipful Master . He regretted the absence of Bro . Philbrick through illness , and wished him speedy restoration to health . For the Worshipful Master he wished every success during his year of office , and he hoped the

Brethren of the Lodge would all give him their support and loyalty . Bro . Herman would doubtless carry on the duties of his office with credit to himself , to the Brethren , and to the Province . Speaking of the banquet , his lordship said he had never partaken of a better repast than that provided by Bro . Smith .

Bro . Herman W . M . said he could only repeat the hope expressed by the Earl of Warwick , that he should have the loyal support of every Brother of the Lodge . He had had the privilege of being initiated under the hands of Bro . Shurmur , in the Province of Essex , and the first chair of Worshipful Master he was installed in was in the Province of Essex . He could only trust that when he should be relegated to the class of Past Masters , called fossils , he should carry with him the goodwill and esteem of the Brethren .

The Earl of Warwick then left , drinking , first of all , to " our next merry meeting . " Bro . Shurmur responded to the toast of the Provincial Grand Officers , and said that while he was Provincial Grand Treasurer he had a most happy year of office . He asked the Brethren to support the candidature of Brother Nathaniel Fortescue for the office of Provincial Grand Treasurer .

Bro . Bromhead , in replying to the toast of the Installing Master , again thanked the Brethren for the handsome present they had made him and his dear wife . The present Worshipful Master was initiated in the Shurmur Lodge , and the Officers and Brethren of the Lodge were many of them from the Shurmur Lodge , men who had proved themselves efficient Freemasons , gentlemen , and true men in every sense of the word .

The toasts of the Visitors , and the Officers of the Lodge , were given and responded to , and the Tyler ' s toast closed the proceedings . Interspersed with the toasts , an excellent selection of music was given under the direction of Bro . T . H . Lloyd J . D . Mrs . Charlton Kelly and Mr . Henry Thorn sang some solos and duets with admirable taste , and they were assisted in the quartettes by Miss Marggraf and Bro . H . Marggraf .

Rose Croix.

ROSE CROIX .

AT the regular meeting of the Rougemont and Corytou Chapter , No . 2 , held at the Masonic Hall , Exeter , last week , Bro . John Taylor 30 , J . P ., F . C . S ., of Torquay , was unanimously elected M . W . S . for the ensuing year .