Reports Of Meetings.

Brethren adjourned to the banquet , served iu perfect style and reflecting the greatest credit on the establishment . The Loyal toasts were duly honoured . Bro . P . M . Lane , in proposing the health of the W . M ., alluded to the excellent manner in which he had carried out his duties , and said they one

and all were proud to have so good and genial a Master . Ho was courteous , kind , and gave his time and study for the benefit of tho Lodge . They must acknowledge that by his exertions the Lodge was most prosperous and flourishing . The toast was received very heartily . The W . M ., in response , said ho was very pleased to be present .

The W . M . was very genial in proposing tho toast of the Past Masters , saying the members had been gratified to see the work done in so perfect a

manner . Brother Burroughs responded for the guests , and expressed the great pleasure they felt in visiting tho Lodgo . They had been most courteously received , the working of the ceremony was beautifully carried out , they were delighted with their visit , and trusted to have the pleasure to attend again .

Brother C . Sheppard replied for the Secretary and Treasurer . He was p leased that tho Lodgo was going on so prosperously , and regretted exceedingly that a serious illness prevented their esteemed Treasurer Brother Dr . N . Goodchild from being present . Other toasts followed . The evening was enlivened with some excellent music and songs by the Brethren , the Tyler's toast closing a very successful meeting .

ECCENTRIC LODGE , No . 2488 . ONLY two years have elapsed since the Consecration of this Lodge , yet such hai been its success that it uow boasts upwards of sixty members . This proves excellent work on the part of those responsible for the good ruling and management oi tire Lodge , and it may be imagined that there is nothing eccentric to be met with within its doors beyond its name . Tho third year of its existence was inaugurated on the 4 th inst ., when the members assembled at the Criterion Restaurant , Piccadilly Circus , W ., to celebrate the annual festival .

The Worshipful Master Bro . F . Osmond Carr Prov . G . J . W . Cambridgeshire presided , and among those present were the following Brethren : —Lord Dungarvan Prov . Grand Master Somerset , Sir John B . Monckton P . G . W ., Will E . Chapman Prov . S . G . W . Bucks , J . D . Langton Prov . G D . Surrey , E . S . Maderley Prov . G . S . B . Somerset , E . W . Harris P . M . 158 ( Irish Constitution ) , J . H . Hawkins P . M . 1690 , W . Sergeant Lee P . M . 1201 , L . W . Thomas P . M . 227 , W . J . W . Beard P . M ., James Herron P . M . 206 , Thomas Haydon

P . M . 752 , Harry Nicholls P . M . 2190 , Henry Neville 2127 , James Dangerfield P . M . 2244 , L . W . Harris P . M . 168 , Charles Gross P . M . 2033 , G . Howich P . M . 1044 , W . C . Page P . M . 1475 , J . C . Strong P . M . 91 , H . D . Maclure P . M . 176 , J . B . Mulholland 1494 , Frank Wheeler 639 , W . H . White 55 , G . Dodd 206 , Aubrey Garston 18 , E . Loxley 1421 , John Woodhouse 165 , Dr . Thomas Wholey 2470 , W . H . Williams 1671 , J . M . Grant 176 , V . B . Zanchi , E . J . Saunders 227 , & c

After the Lodge had been opened the minutes of the last regular meeting and of the emergency meeting held 5 th April were confirmed . The principal business before the Lodge was the installation of Bro . Walter Clifford , who had been previously elected by the Brethren as Worshipful Master . He was presented by Bro . J . H . Hawkins P . M ., and signified his assent to the ancient charges and regulations . A Board of Installed Masters was constituted , when Bro . Clifford was placed in the chair of K . S . with the usual ceremony by Bro . Osmond Carr .

On the re-admission of the Brethren the new Master was regularly saluted , and afterwards invested the following Officers : —W . S . Hooper S . W ., J . A . Harrison J . W ., W . J . W . Beard P . M . Treasurer , WillE . Chapman P . M . Secretary , John Foss S . D ., L . W . Harris J . D ., James Wyatt I . G ., W . Sergeant Lee D . C , John Lang Organist , Arthur Tite and Gordon Harvey Stewards , Thomas Ellis P . M . Tyler . The customary addresses to the W . M ., the Wardens , and the Brethren were delivered by Bro . Osmond Carr .

The Secretary presented his report , which bore out our introductory remarks ; he also referred to the death of Bro . Thomas Beard P . M ., whose loss is deeply and sincerely felt by every member . The accounts showed a highly satisfactory state of affairs , and prove the prosperity of the Lodge . Both reports were accepted and ordered to be entered on the minutes .

Bro . Clifford presented the I . P . M . with a handsome Past Master's jewel that had been voted by the Lodge . Bro . Carr suitably returned thanks , and said he should ever regard the beautiful present as a souvenir of a very happy term of office . Three candidates were proposed for initiation at the next meeting , and a vote of thanks was passed to Bro . John Crook for his services as Organist of the Lodge , he having tendered his resignation .

The W . M . having received the congratulations of the Visitors , the Lodge was closed and the Brethren adjourned to the banquet room . After the banquet the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were submitted , an excellent example being stt by Bro . Clifford , and one worthy of imitation in the brevity of his speeches . Lord Dungarvan responded for the Grand Officers .

Bro . Osmond Carr in feircrtous terms proposed the health of tho new Master , who in response said ho feit greatly handicapped in following suoh an excellent workman as Bro . Carr , but he had only one aim , and that was the prosperity of the Lodge . He hoped with tho assistance of the Brethren to carry out his duties to their satisfaction . Tho Installing Master , the Officers , and tho Visitors were also complimented .

During the evening a capital entertainment was given by several of the Brethren , including W . C . Page , J . L . Shine , Arthur Strugnell , Turle Lee , and Jack Harrison , who sang a new Masonic song written by Brother W . S . Hooper S . W ., which we venture to predict will soon be in great demand at Masonic gatherings .

An " eccentricity peculiar to the Lodge is the sale by auction of tho Charity Box after it has been passed round , and considerable amusement is caused by the spirit of emulation which animates the Brethren to become its possessor . On this occasion Bro . Arthur Tite was the fortunate individual , who only secured the prize after severe competition .

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

DORIC LODGE , No . 81 . ON Wednesday , 2 nd inst ., the members of this , a Lodge that of late years has thrown off its olcl time lethargy , and to-day stands noted for its increasing vitality , says the " Eastern Daily Press , " met for the special object

Provincial.

of seeing their new W . M . Bro . G . C . Maynard installed . In addrtron to a good number of the Brethren of No . 1193 , there were not a few visitors , prominent among them being the Deputy Prov . G . M . Brother Hamou le Strange . The ceremony of installation was impressively performed by Bro . le Strange , and the Master having been saluted in the customary manner , invested his Officers ,

The Lodge having been closed , the Brethren sat down to a banquet served in well-known style by Bro . John Hare . In felicitous terms Bro . Maynard submitted tho usual opening toasts . Responding on behalf of the Provincial Grand Officers present and past ,

Bro . Hamon le Strange expressed the pleasure that was felt by Masons throughout tho Province to find that the Prov . G . M . Lord Suffield was now enjoying greatly improved health . Speaking for himself , he need hardly say that Le always enjoyed a visit to the Doric , where the work was carried out so satisfactorily .

Brother George Johnson P . M . Prov . S . G . D . also replied for present Officers . With much heartiness the health of the Visitors was received , and Bros . Baxter , Mills , and Campling were the replicants . At the instance of Bro . Payne , the health of the W . M . of Doric Lodge was drunk with great enthusiasm .

Bro . Maynard suitably acknowledged this gratifying exhibition of good feeling , and before resuming his seat proposed Bro . Payne ' s good health . On behalf of the members of Doric ho presented him with a handsome Past Master ' s jewel , a gift for which the recipient offered his warmest thanks .

Other toasts followed , and a very pleasant evening was spent , some excellent music being given by Mr . H . Brummage , Bros . J . Brummage , W . G , Perfitt , G . Hare , and G . Baxter . It should be mentioned that the lastnamed was , as ever , an exemplary D . C .

COMBERMERE LODGE OF UNITY , No . 295 . rpHE ordinary monthly meeting of this Lodge was held at the Masonio JL Hall , Macclesfield Arms Hotel , Macclesfield , on 3 rd inst . Brother Joseph Isaac Brunt W . M . was supported by the following members of the Lodge : J . Fred May P . M . P . G . Registrar , R . Brown P . M . P . P . G . Std ., James Needham P . M . P . P . G . S . D ., W . Whiston P . M . P . P . G . S . W ., Thomas Lookitt , J . P ., P . M . P . P . G . Senior Deacon Treasurer , T . P . Dunkerley I . P . M ., Walter

Brown P . P . G . Std . Senior Warden , Edwin Moreton P . G . Std . Junior Warden , John H . Brookes P . M . P . P . G . Asst . Seo . Secretary , P . Davenport S . D ., T . W . Sheldon J . D ., A . Plant I . G ., James Stevens P . G . Organist Organist , D . Masons Tyler , F . Hulme Assistant Tyler , Chas . F . Forshaw , LL . D ., D . D . S ., W . Smith , J . J . Mason , B . Pownall , Joseph Westwood , A . H . Whittaker , J . L . Stebbens .

Visitors : —Bros . George Fountain P . M . 267 P . P . G . Swd . Br ., A . Cockayne P . M . 267 P . P . G . Asst . D . C , R . Edwards P . M . 267 , B . W . Hind 1219 . The Lodge was opened and advanced . Brother A . H . Whittaker waa passed , and the Working Tools explained to him in a masterly manner by Brother Thomas Lockitt , J . P .

The Lodge was closed in peace and harmony , after which the Brethren , adjourned for refreshment , when the usual toasts were given and responded to . It is not often in a Masonic Lodge that a member of it receives the distinction of being the recipient of a special toast . This honour , howevar , fell to Brother Dr . Forshaw on this occasion . Brother R . Brown P . M . P . P . G . Std . was entrusted with the gavel and said that a pleasing duty was

his . He had to propose the health of Bro . Forshaw , who , though a member of the Lodge , had not visited for two years . Dr . Forshaw was a Mason whom all delighted to honour and it was an honour to Combermere to have him associated with the Lodge . If it was only for the Masonic Centenary ode which the Doctor had written and which he read in Lodge on the occasion of the Centenary in 1893 , his name would be

indelibly associated with Combermere , and with the county of Cheshire . In replying , Brother Forshaw said that the toast was unexpected , unprecedented and undeserved , but that if the Brethren thought it an honour for him to be one of them , he esteemed it a far greater honour to be able to say that ho was a member of 295 . He only wished that he did not live so far away , so that he could attend more frequently .

Songs were given by Brothers Stevens , Cockayne , E . Moreton , P Davenport , Sec .

ALFRED LODGE , No . 306 . THIS year being the centenary of the formation of this Lodge , it is being marked in an especial manner by the Brethren . Through the exertions of Brother VV . Blackburn , of Crofton Tower , near Wakefield , Worshipful Master , the Brethren have raised during the year the handsome sum of 500 guineas towards the Masonic Charities .

Bro . Blackburn's term of office as Worshipful Master will shortly close , and the members , on Friday , 4 th inst ., assembled in the Masonio Hall , Great Georgo Street , Leeds , and presented him with a handsome testimonial in recognition of his services during the centenary year , and in token of the

esteem m which he is held by the Brethren . The presentation consisted of an illuminated address in book form , bound in blue and adorned with Masonic emblems and Brother Blackburn ' s crest ; five massive silver fruit dishes , weighing 185 ounces ; a gold and enamelled Past Master ' s jowel ; and a diamond crescent-shaped brooch for Mrs . Blackburn .

The Brethren had arranged for a ladies night , and nearly 100 ladies and Brethren were present , among them being Brothers H . Smith Deputy Prov . G . M . West Yorks ., H . G . E . Green Prov . G . Sec , Jos . Matthewmau Prov . G . Assistant Sec , W . Smithson P . G . D ., J . 0 . Malcom Prov . G . R ., & c . Tho Worshipful Master presided during tho early portion of the proceedings , when the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were honoured . Bro . J . C . Malcolm then took the chair , and , in a short speech , remarked that

there wero thirteen Lodges in the Province of West Yorkshire which had celebrated their centenary Of these the Alfred Lodge was the third in Leeds , in three years . Mrs . John Dyson adorned Mrs . Blackburn with tho brooch , and the Deputy Prov . Grand- Master made the presentation of the other articles to tho Worshipful Master , who suitably acknowledged tho testimonial . The proceedings were of a very enthusiastic character , says the " Leeds Mercury . "

ST . CUTHBERT LODGE , No . 630 . ON the 3 rd inst ., the annual Festival was held in the Masonic Hall , Howden , when Bro . G . H . Anderton , J . P ., P . M . P . J . G . W . was installed into the chair for the ensuing year .