Installation Meetings, &C.

INSTALLATION MEETINGS , & c .

STRONG MAN LODGE . No . 45 .

rnHE members of this Lodgo met at Masons' Hall , Masons' -avonue , -L on Thursday , the 3 rd inst ., in full force to do honour to tho incoming of Bro . Symons as W . M . Tho meeting was called for four o ' clock . Bro . A . A . Wing presided , assisted by Bros . Symons S . W ., Halle J . W .. Follitt P . M . Treas ., G . II . T . Dyer P . M . Sec , Cordingly S . D ., Horno J . D ., Deane I . G ., Steed Ty ler . Tho following P . M . ' s

woro also present : —H . Moss , J . Vass , C . Driver , E . J . Read , A . Pilbeam and J . G . Defriez . Lodgo was duly opened , and tho minutes of last meeting woro confirmed . Tho ballot was taken for the admission of Mr . II . N . Symons ; it proved unanimous , and that gentleman being in attendance was regularly initiated into Freemasonry . Bro . Sharp , a candidate for passing , gavo proofs of his

proficiency , and was ontrnsted . Tho Lodgo was opened up , aud Bro . Sharp was duly passed . Bro . H . Moss now presented Bro . Symons tho W . M . elect to receive tho benefit of installation , and Bro . Wing performed tho ceremony in a manner which reflected great credit for tho attention ho must have paid to tho study of this beautiful

ceremony . The newly-installed W . M . appointed and invested his Officers as follows : —Bros . Halle S . W ., Follitt P . M . Treas ., A . A . Wing P . M . Sec , Horno S . D ., Deane J . D ., W . A . S . Humphries I . G ., Stoed Tyler , Smith and Bigg Stewards , Nell D . C . Tho brethren adjourned to banquet , where jnstice was done to tho good cheer provided by mine hosts , Bros . Wood and Remain . When the cloth had been

removed , the W . M . gavo the Loyal and Patriotic toasts in a condensed form . Loyalty to tho Throne and Prosperity to tho Craft was greeted with full honours . " God Save the Queen " was sung by the brethren . Bro . Wing I . P . M . then proposed the health of the W . M . It was tho first time ho had held the gavel for this purpose , aud ho felt his task a difficult one ; ho felt as if ho ought

to say a great deal , both in praiso of tho Worshipful Master and of the P . M . ' s ; however , ho felt assured that every member would appreciate his feelings . IIo had experienced great pleasure in receiving support from the P . M . ' s , and ho hoped tho W . M . would receive the same assistance he had ; from what he knew of Bro . Symons he felt confident tho Lodgo would gain considerably by having placed him in

his honourable position . Ho called upon the brethren to do honour to the toast , and the call was heartily responded to . The W . M . replied , observing it was a most difficult task to return thanks for the kind manner this toast had been received . The song Bro . Vass had favoured them with that evening--The Jelly Young Watermanhe had heard some six years since , and this brought him to tho period

of his initiation . From that time he determined ho would do everything to uphold tho Ledge , mud now he was W . M . he would endeavour to meet tho wi .-hes of tin ; brethren , and still further sustain its prestige . He felt pi-mid of the unanimity which prevailed in tho Lodge , and hoped at the end of bin year of office ho would be enabled to instal his successor in as able a manner as Bro . Wing had performed the like

task this evening , lie would endeavour to please all , and he thanked them for i he high position they had placed him in . The W . M . now proposed the health of the Initiate ; the toast to him was a peculiar one , as the Initiate was his own brother . lie would , therefore , simply ask the brethren to drink to his welfare . Bro . Initiate thanked the brethren fur having received him so cordially , and for admitting him

into this ancient Lodge ; he trusted he would prove himself worthy of their confidence . The W . M . now proposed the health of the I . P . M . ; they all knew Bro . Wing well , the toast needed but few remarks from him . It was , however , one of the most pleasing incidents of his life to invest Bro . Wing with a P . M . ' s jewel—a jewel he had well earned .

He presented it in tho name of the Strong Man Lodge , and in placing it on Bro . Wing's breast , ho trusted that ho would live for many years to wear it . Bro . P . M . Wing returned his sincere thanks . It had been the summit of his wishes to preside over this Lodge , and it gave him a vast amount of pleasure during his year of office , inasmuch as he believed his efforts had been crowned with sue .

cess . He had received such conrtesy and good feeling from the brethren of tho Lodge that ho felt justified in thinking his endeavours to please had met with their approbation . Bvory W . M . should study the wishes of the brethren , nnd they would be more than repaid by kindliness of feeling ; he felt doubly proud at being presented with a P . M . ' s jewel , and hoped the Strong Man Lodge would prosper ,

and would unite in being happy and promote happiness . The health of the P . M . ' s was the next toast on the list . The W . M . remarked that he looked to them to assist him in his duties ; they had carried the Strong Man Lodge through many difficulties . Ho coupled with the toast the name of Bro . H . Moss , the father of tho Lodge . Bro . Moss returned thanks for his name being coupled with tho toast . He had

beeu forty years a member of the Lodge ; ho assured the brethren that he never heard the beautiful ceremony of installation more effectively rendered than it was this evening by Bro . P . M . Wing . Nothing was more pleasing to him than to assist the W . M . for lhe time being , and to see the duties of tho chair conducted properly . Ho hoped tbe present W . M . would go through his year of office with honour' as his

predecessors had done . The Visitors'toast was next proposed . The W . M . remarked they were always glad to see visitors ; thoy had two P . M . ' s , and several other members who held important offices iu Lodges ; ho gave them hearty welcome . Bro . Tolmie acted as Spokesmen for tho Visitors . However , ho felt physically unequal to the task . Ho thanked the brethren for tho cordial mariner all

had been received , and the pleasure en joyed from tlio excellent working of lhe Lodge , particularly referring to tho manner in which the installation ceremony had beeu conducted by Bto . Wing . Tho W . M ., in proposing the health of the Ollicers , said it was a toast he offered with some anxiety , as he wished it clearly to he understood that tho brethren wero not chosen for ollice by rotation , but from their capabilities . Ho hoped they wonld assist him , and help

Installation Meetings, &C.

to sustain the reputation of the Strong Man Lodge , and ho assured the brethren that by attending Lodges of Instruction they would gain that knowledge which was BO essential to tho honour aud credit of Mother Lodges . To this tho Treasurer responded . The Tyler ' s toast concluded tho evening , aud the brethren separated at rather a lato hour , after having spent a very comfortable evening . The

following were the Visitors : —H . Higgins P . M . 1381 , R . G . Tolmie W . M . 801 , D . F . Gillien W . M . 1425 , John Hill S . W . 140 , A . W . Fenner S . D . 1227 , Thos . Harnson 1045 , W . Craig S . D . 1125 , James Starkoy USD , Thomas Richardson 159 D , H . A . Watson 1707 , H . Ampfield 3 G 4 . Tho W . M . ( Bro . Symons ) . Bros . Halle and Voss contributed to the harmony of tho evening by somo excellent songs and recitations .

Merchant Navy Lodge, No. 781.

MERCHANT NAVY LODGE , No . 781 .

THE installation of Bro . J . J . Gavin as the W . M . of this popular East-end Lodge took placo on Wednesday evening at tho Silver Tavern , Burdett-road , under the most gratifying aud brilliant auspices . Not only was there a full attendance of the members of the Lodgo but a fair sprinkling of the purple gave additional zest to the proceedings . Soon after four o ' clock the Lodgo was opened in accordance with ancient formalities , tho retiring W . M . Bro . C . Breden occupying tho

chair . He was supported by Bros . Gavin S . W ., A . Scheerboom J . W ., J . W . Wright P . M . Treas ., E . T . Read P . M . Sec , B . C . Rawe S . D ., R . F . Ould J . D ., W . Steedman P . M . Tyler , etc . Amongst the Past Masters present wo observed Bros . J . W . Reeves , T . Neville , E . Killick , W . J . Helps , J . Kinfred , W . J . Mediand ; and there were also present—Bros . J . Lax , T . D . Salter , R . H . Bennett , F . Robinson , G . Walker ,

A . G . Williams , S . Chapman , T . Hitchman , W . Lukes , J . TV . Chapman , T . Gaisford , T . Huctt , J . E . Ives , W . H . Crowlejj , H . J . Dickson , J . Bloy , G . C . Cannon , H . D . Gibbs , J , Bernhardt , J . T . Moore , G . W . Jones , G . Simmonds , T . Hallett , Thos . Hudson , aud with the visitors were—Bros . C . R . Bennett P . M . 1382 , W . C . Barlow 174 , W . J . Cowper 1 GG 8 , Thos . Cull 1446 , H . J .

Amphlett loll , M . Rosenheim 27 , James Emer 1250 , J . A . Keeble 174 , W . Watkius 107 G , etc . The usual formalities having been observed aud some preliminary business transacted , tho Lodge was temporarily closed during tho sitting of the Board of Installed Masters , and ou the re-admission of the brethren the ceremony of installation was performed in masterly style by Bro . J . Terry

P . G . J . W . of Hertfordshire , the well-known and highly esteemed Secretary of our Masonic Institution for Aged Masons . It was not merely a recital of an ancient rite , impressive nnder any circumstances , but a spleudid elocutionary banquet , which held and riveted the attention of the brethren , aud elicited a glow of pride that the Merchant Navy Lodge should possess au honorary member

of such calibre as our Bro . Terry . The Charges wore given in a manner that was simply faultless , and the whole of the working was such as redounded to the utmost credit on the Officers who assisted in their respective spheres . Duo honours wore accorded to the newly installed W . M ., whoso demeanour in the chair gave excellent promise of his wisdom to discern and power to execute his important

duties , and tire salutations having ended , ho proceeded to invest his Ollicers for the year , Bro . Terry disposing of tbe collars with a few happily-chosen sentences to each . We can hardly forbear quoting , * trom memory , ouo of theso . In " collaring" the Steward , Bro . Terry gave him a brief exordium on the virtues of self-denial which would be the lot of Bro . Robinson to practice , adding that if he

should succeed iu pleasing everybody , see that each brother had precisely and all that he required at the table , and was assailed with no fault finding whatever , he would be able to congratulate himself upon beiug a model Steward , and the most fortunate man in tho world—to whom tho brethren would say with one veieo " Well done , good aud faithful [ servant . " Tho Officers on whom tho collars wero

bestowed arc—Bros . A . Scheerboom S . W ., B . C . Rawe J . W ., J . W . Wright P . M . Treas ., E . T . Read P . M . Sec , R , F . Onld S . D ., Everett J . D ., J . E . Ives I . G ., J . Lax D . C , F . Robinson Steward , Palmer Organist , and W . Steedman P . M . Tyler . Bro . Wright , with characteristic humour , acknowledged the compliment which had been paid to him by his re-election to tho office of Treasurer , and assured the

brethren who were in arrears—if , indeed , there were any—that the funds weulcl bear tho additional pressure to which thoy would bo subjected by their polite attention . The remark , of course , evoked spoutaneotts merriment , and following immediately after Bro . Read thanked tho Lodge for the renewal of its confidence by re-electing him Secretary , and said ho would take this opportunity of publicly

acknowledging the kind assistance he had received from Bro . Terry at the recent election to tho R . M . Benevolent Institution , when they succeeded in getting iu Bro . Shoring . He was vastly indebted to Bro . Terry , aud he sincerely trusted the members of this Lodgo would assist him to tho utmost of their power iu repaying the votes which had beeu so generously lent him , aud which had

resulted in such a gratifying success to their Lodge . Several applications for relief were considered , and the deserving found true personification of Masonic Charity at tho hands of tho Merchant Navy Lodge . There were one or two striking instances of necessity , and it was a gratifying feature of this meeting to notice tho sturdy and robust manner iu which these claims were met .

Equally commendable , incur opinion , was the refusal of ono demand , which should never have been permitted to como before tho Lodge . After the transaction of some other routine business , the Lodge was closed , and subsequently tho brethren sat down to a sumptuous banquet , which was provided iu excellent style by Bro . Gicgory . Admirable arrangements were made for tho comfort and convenience of the

numerous company , aud elicited deserved expressions of satisfaction from the brethren present . At the conclusion of the repast the Loyal and Masonic toasts were given briefly aud pithily from tho chair , and received with enthusiasm , Bro . Palmer rendering efficient assistance as accompuuyist on the pianoforte . Bro . Wri ght responded iu felicitous terms to the toast of our Prov . rulers , after which Bro , 0 .