Centenary Of The Lodge Of Confidence, No. 193.

localities in which the Lodge had assembled were not regarded with particular favour at the present time ; they mnst not forget , however , that times had very much altered , how much it waa almost impossible to imagine , but the list he was about to read would give them some idea to work upon . It might also enable them to form some opinion of what Freemasonry was in days gone by .

The earliest records in connection with tho Lodgo took them back to 15 th February 1790 , when a warrant was granted by the " Atholl , " or " Ancient" Grand Lodgo for its establishment , the place of meeting then being given as tho Dolphin , Red Lion-street , Holborn . Since then it had shifted on fifteen occasions , the full list of its places of meeting , as given in Bro . Lane's " Masonio Records , "

being as follow : — 1790 Dolphin , Read Lyon Street , Holborn . 1790 Bell , Bank Bridge ( or Battle Bridge ) . 1793 Old Swau , Batcher Row , Temple Bar . 1797 Sheers , Chequer Alley , Old Street . 1799 Queen's Head , White Cross Street .

1800 Blue Last , Ludgate Hill . 1801 Horse Shoo and Magpie , Strand . 1802 Coach ancl Horses , St . Martin's Lano . 1807 Porcupine , Newport Street , Leicester Fields . 1820 The Porcupine , Newgate Street .

1829 Bedford Head Tavorn , Maiden Lano , Covout Garden . 1831 Crown Tavern , Clifford ' s Inn Passage . 1843 Crown Tavern , Back Hill , Hatton Garden . 1846 Colosseum Hotel , Portland Road , Regent's Park . 1848 Whito Lion Tavern , Brick Lane , St . Luke ' s . 1851 Anderton's Hotel , Fleet Street .

He felt sure that when , one hundred years back , thoir ancient brethren established their Lodge—which , by tho way , assumed its present name in 1820—they had little idea of snch a meeting as was assembled that day to celebrate the centenary of its establishment . He felt that the providence that watches over those who do right had watched over the Lodge of Confidence , which had gone on regularly

meeting for a full century without a slur or a blemish on its reputation . To show how well their affairs had been managed , ho had only to point to the fact that the Grand Master had granted their request for a centenary warrant without any demur , although the privileges auoh a warrant conferred were most jealously guarded , and only awarded to thoso who had an indisputable claim to them . He hoped

every member of the Lodge would look npon the event thoy had that night met to celebrate in the same light as he did , and would consider it an hononr to belong to a Lodge that could boast so long and BO distinguished a career . Turning to personal matters , Bro . Webb observed that ho might say a few words in regard to his loug association with the Lodge . He was proposed as a member by the late

Bro . Frank Clemow , in 1859 , and was . initiatod on 11 th April of that year . Ho rose to the dignity of Master of the Lodge in 1 SG 7 , and had 13 initiates during his term of office , while , what was a novelty at tbat time , he installed his successor when tho time camo round for him to vacate the chair . This ceremony had previously been performed — so far as he could discover , with but one exception

—by some outside Craftsman , moro proficient than tho actual members of tho Lodge . Since then ho had placed 15 of the rulers of tho Lodge in its chair , not becauso he had desired to push himself forward for tho work , but at the earnest request of the different Masters who had passed through tho chair . He was very pleased to think how much ho had been honoured in being allowed to do so .

He referred to the formation of the Groat Northern Lodge , in 18 / 0 , as an offshoot of the Confidence Lodge , and felt tho members of tho parent might be almost as proud of their offspring as of their own career . Bro . Smither I . P . M . submitted the health of the Worshipful Master . It was one of those toasts sure of a hearty welcome in a Masonio Lodge . The present ruler of their Lodge was placed in a position

more honourable than that enjoyed by any of his predecessors in the chair—he was ruling over the Lodgo dnring its one hundredth year of existence . This hononr descended to all who were intimately associated with it . For himself he felt great pleasure in proposing the health of the Centennial Master . The present Master was anxious to do all that was required of him , and the older mem .

bers of the Lodge only hoped that he might have as much success dnring his term of office as had attended any of them in their presidency . In reply , the Master tendered bis thanks . No harm could come to any man throngh association with Freemasonry ; on the contrary , it was likely to improve all who became associated with it , and lead its votaries to become better men , better husband ? , and

better citizens . The toast of tho Ladies was entrusted to Bro . Hart J . W . He considered it a toast any Mason shonld bo proud to give in any Masonic assembly . The members of tho Confidence Lodge had great pleasure in welcoming their lady friends on the present occasion , and he felt the galaxy of beauty around them would be looked back upon as marking a red-letter day in the history of the

Lodge . He could not help thinking that Freemasons wero a littlo selfish in taking so much time to themselves . However , thoy had given the ladies an opportunity of seeing a little of what wont on in the Craft , and he hoped they would go away with a favourable impression of tbo Confidence Lodge and Freemasonry in general . The main object of tho Order was to advance the welfare of- their

fellowcreatures ; to render help to the aged , tho widow , and tho orphan in distress among them , and generally promote tho good of mankind . Ho hoped their gathering that night would lead to ultimate joy and rejoicing among those in need of help . Bro . Nightingale replied , and then the toast of the Visitors was given . To this Bros . Dodson , Storr , and Lindfield responded . Tho Past Masters , the Treasurer , tho

Secretary , and the Officers wero duly honoured with special toasts , after which the meeting waa brought to a eor . elusion . Tlio musical arrangements were under tho direction of Bro . J . Aelhei Collings , who was assisted by Miss Alice Sugden , Miss Flora Edwards , Mr . W . H . Lloyd , Bros . Barry Linden and Arthur Fiye . Several of the songs were encored . Bro . Frye ' s veutriloquial sketch was particularly good .

Notices Of Meetings.

NOTICES OF MEETINGS .

— : u ;—ST . MICHAEL'S LODGE , No . 211 . fHEIE regular meeting of this Lodge , on Tuesday last , nt the J- Albion , Aldersgate Street , wns well attended . Thoro woro present Bros . Harry Nash W . M ., P . J . King S . W ., Orlton Cooper J . W ., Alfred Green P . M . Treasnrer , W . Radoliffe P . M . Secretary ; Usher Back , Henry Lindfield , F . J . Hentsch , \ V . W . Morgan , Past Masters j W . Kirkland S . D ., C . Skipp I . G ., B . Banks Tyler . Visitors : — Bros . J . C . J . Burt , W . G . Jennings , C . Everett 1507 , J . L . Mather

P . A . G . D . C ., Frederick Binckes P . G . Sword Bearer , J . A . Collings 1950 . After the minutes of last meeting had been read and con . firmed , the ballot was taken for Mr . Alfred Morgan Kingston , proposed by the W . M . as a candidate for initiation , seconded by the Secretary ; also for Mr . Albert Usher , who was proposed by the Secretary , and seconded by the W . M . This resulted favourably in each caso .

There was also a candidate who desired to join 211 , viz ., Bro . Thomas Hewitt , and he came forward under the same sponsors who had acted for Mr . Usher . Here again the result was favourable . The two gentleman named above wero then introduced , and thc ceremony was carried out in an eminently satisfactory manner by tho W . M . This completing thebusineaa , Lodge waa closed , and tho brethren

dined together . After the Loyal toasts had been done honour to , the I . P . M . Bro . Lindfield proposed tho health of the Worshipful Master . If any doubt had existed in the minds of the members as to how Bro . Nash would be able to discharge tbe dnties of the office it had been dispelled that day , when they had seen him initiate two gentlemen into the Lodge in a really impressive manner . The

Worshipfnl Master replied . It was a source of great pleasure to him to know that the members of his Lodge were satisfied with what he had been able to do . He hoped he should continue his work in suoh a way as to deserve their approval throughout hia year of office . The toast of the initiates was heartily proposed , the Master feeling that tho two gentlemen admitted that day would

prove acquisitions to the Lodgo . He trusted- that what they had seen that night would induce them to toko an interest in Freemasonry , and [ arouse in them a desire to push forward in its teachings . Replying , Bro . Kingston expressed the pleasure he felt in being now numbered among the free and accepted of the Masonio body . He hoped he and his brother initiate would show by their actions

that the hononr of admitting them had not been misplaced . Brother Usher followed . He had been greatly interested in what he had seen that day in Freemasonry , and already longed to know more of its lessons . He hoped to deserve advancement at no very distant date . In proposing the health of tho Visitors , the Master said he did not think the Lodge had mot any time within the memory

of its present membera without entertaining guests . He was very pleased to see thoso who wore present that evening , and assured them that ho wished them all a safe return to their homes , and a speedy re-appearance in the St . Michael ' s Lodge , if thoy desired it . Each of tho visitors responded in turn , Bro . Fred . Binckes making o most forcible speech , and referring in an

interesting way to the question of Lodges of Instruction , which had been spoken of by ono of the former speakers in somewhat unusual terms . Tho brother we refer to adopted the somewhat novel course of finding fanlt with Lodges of Instruction , which ho designated as schools for teaching a gabbling and senseless knowledge of tho

ritnal . ' Needless to say he was not supported by any of the other speakers , as wo think it is all but generally iccognised that oral tuition , with actual practice in a properly constituted Lodgo of Instruction , is the best of all means of acquiring proficiency in tho work of Freemasonry .

Loyal Monmouth Lodge, No. 457.

LOYAL MONMOUTH LODGE , No . 457 .

I ^ HE members held their Lodge meeting on Tuesday , the 1 st inst ., - at the Masonic Institute , North Parade , Monmouth . A banquet was afterwards givon , at the King ' s Head Hotol , to mark the return to England of Major W . F . N . Nool , R . E ., from the Mauritius ,

where he had been stationed since 1886 , at which time he relin . quished the appointment of Adjutant of tho R . M . E . M . Major Noel is a P . M . of the Monmouth Lodge , and the respect and esteem in which ho is so deservedly held by his brother Masons is fully shared by tho public of Monmouth .

Covent Garden Lodge of Instruction , No . 1614 . — At the Criterion , Piccadilly , S . W ., on tho 3 rd instant , there were present : —Bros . R . E . Cursons W . M ., F . M . Noakes S . W ., G . H . Foan J . W ., W . Brindley Preceptor , Joseph Green way Deputy Preceptor , G . Reynolds Treasurer and Secretary , H . Hoggins S . D ., C . Rotter J . D ., J . D . Rymer I . G ., J . Gluckstein , J . Laurence , S . Moss ,

A . Davis , | G . A . Bergholtz , T . C . Seagg ,- E . Tooley , and G . H . Reynolds . The Lodge was opened in due form , and the minutes of tho last meeting read and confirmed . Tbe Lodge was opened in the second degree . Bro . F . Fort offered himself as a candidate to be raised , and was duly examined . The Lodge was opened in tho third , and the W . M . rehearsed the ceremony . Tho Preceptor worked the second

section , and the Deputy Preceptor the third section of the third lecture . Lodge was closed in the third and second degrees . Bro . E . P . Day , Windsor Castle Lodgo , No . 771 , was elected a member . Bro . F . M . Noakes was unanimonsly elected W . M . for tho ensuing week , when the ceremony of initiation will bo rehearsed . Nothing further oft ' erincr , Lodge was closed and adjourned .

TMFORTANT NOTICE . —Confidential Advice free per post to all J . in weak and failing health , with loss of strength and vitality . Fifty years experience in Nervous Ailments . Address , Tho Secretary , 3 Fitzallan Square , Sheffield . Form of Correspondence Fro Write to-day .