Summer Festival Of The Paxton Lodge, No. 1686.

SUMMER FESTIVAL OF THE PAXTON LODGE , No . 1686 .

THIS agreeable event took place on Wednesday last , afc tho Grand Saloon , Crystal Palace . The arrangements wero admirably carried out by the following Stewards : —Bros . J . M . Klenck W . M ., F . W . Goddard S . AV ., C . II . Henham J . W ., aud II . E . Frances P . P . G . S . D . Sec . and Treas . Just twelve months since ifc was

our pleasurable duty to chronicle the consecration of this Lodge , which ceremony was performed by our esteemed Bro . H . E . Frances , who was assisted by Bro . tho Rev . It . J . Simpson P . G . Chaplain . The proceedings ou that day wore carried out iu nn eminently satisfactory way , and the several speakers were unanimous in expressing thoir conviction that a happy future was before the Fusion Lodgo .

These anticipations have been amply realised , and the first anniversary was celebrated under equally auspicious circumstances . The coinpany assembled at half-past four , when wo recognised tho following members of the Craft : —Bros . J . M . Klenck , F . W . Goddard , G . R . Dodds , H . E . Frances , Coward P . G . Organist , F . J Sawyer , N . J . Basuotfc , W . S . S . Walker , A . W . S . Turner , W . G . Brighton , Frank

Goddard , Dr . Cntmore , II . Massey , W . W . Morgan ; amunsst the ladies were Mesdames Klenck , Goddard , Turner , Dodd , Basuctt , Walker , Sawyer , Massey , Morgan , Miss Macrae , etc . An excellent dinner was served , tho table being florally decorated with admirable taste . After ample justice had been done to tho viands , the Chairman , Bro . Klenck , rose and proposed tho first customary toast , —the

Queen and tho Craft—and , in doing so , congratulated tho guests on their pleasant gathering . He Unpad that all would thoroughly enjoy themselves , especially as ho was fully sensible that the Stewards had done their best to make the occasion a success . He hoped that the ladies present would bo induced , by what thoy had seen of Craftsmen , to carrv awny with them a favourable i lea of

1 reemasonry . In connection with the toast of the Grand Master , the W . M . referred to His }{<\ vil Highness ' .- ? interest in til ! things relating to the Craft , and likewise to the fact of the Duke of Connaught ' s presidency at the Boys' Festival , on Monday , boin <; a further testimony to the Royal interest taken in the Royal Art . The toast of the Pro Grand Master , the Deputy Grand Master ,

& c , Sec , followed , and as a matter of course , reference was made to the circumstance of Lord Skelmersdale having that very day taken the chief part in launching the Albert Edward Lifeboat at Clacton-on-Sea . To that toast Bro . James Coward P . G . Organist suitably replied . Bro . Klenck most cordially acknowledged the toast of his health , which was proposed by Bro . Francos P . M . Treas . and

Sec , and expressed the satisfaction ho felt at having been able to promote tho pleasure of tho guests . Ho also referred to tho Masonic Charities , which he said wore worthy of tho support of all Masons . Bros . Levander and Brighten responded for the Visitors , and tho latter alluded , in tho course of his speech , to the important services the Albert Edward Lifeboat , though formally launched only that day ,

had already rendered . Some time since , when he was out for a cruise , for tho purpose of testing tho qualities of a schooner yacht , some dirty weather sprang tip , and noticing a brig in distress , he proposed launching a boat and going to her assistance . At this moment ho was gratified , on looking shorewnrds , to find tliat the Lifeboat was being launched , and thus the Albert Edward

had an opportunity of proving her worth by rescuing tho crew , nine in number , of a brig who , but for the unexpected aid thus rendered , would have been very seriously imperilled . The other toasts included " The Stewards , " " The Ladies , " and " The Press , " after which the company separated . The musical anangements—in which Mrs . Klenck , Miss Macrae , and Bros . Goddard , Brighten , and Coward took part—gave unmitigated pleasure . Bro .

Coward ' s impromptus and accompaniments on tho pianoforte were of the most brilliant description , while Bro . Goddard was very effective in a burlesque recitation with which ho favoured the company . Letters of apology for their inability to be present were read from Bros . Col . Burdett . Alderman Hadley , J . E . Saunders , F . W . Masters 1339 , R . Vincent 72 , J . Smith P . G . Purs ., Dr . Kempster , J . Macrae , J . Taylor P . M . 933 , Gibson , and Dodson P . M . 72 .

Launch Of The Freemasons' Lifeboat At Clacton-On-Sea.

LAUNCH OF THE FREEMASONS' LIFEBOAT AT CLACTON-ON-SEA .

ON Wednesday last tho Prov . Grand Lodgo of Essex held an especial Grand Lodge at Clacton-ou-Sea , under the presidency of the Right Hon . Lord Skelmersdale Dep . G . M . of England , for the purpose of formally inaugurating the station and launching one of tho lifeboats presented by the Freemasons of England in commemoration of the safe return of the Grand Master from India .

Prov . Grand Lodge was formally opened und then adjourned , when the brethren , headed by the mayors and corporations of Maldon , Harwich , Ipswich , and Colchester , & c , marched iu procession to the boat-house , where memorial stones were laid . The procession then reformed and proceeded with the boat and crew to the beach , where

Lord Skelmersdale formally presented tlie boat to the Institution and consecrated it with Masonic honours . The gift of the boat having been suitably acknowledged by the representative of the Lifeboat Association and the chairman of the local committee , it was , after an oration and prayer b y Prov . Grand Chaplain , christened and launched . Provincial Grand Lodge having been re-opened ,

the Secretary announced the receipt of regrets for absence from the Prov . G . M ., Lord Waveney , Sir Albert Woods , Bros . Arnold , Martyn . Hervey , Binckes , Sec . A proposition , thanking Lcrd Skelmersdale for having presided on tbe occasion , was duly made and unanimousl y carried , and was suitably acknowledged by him . Among his many duties , this was $ e first occasion oil which ho , ha . c \ assisted at the ; ki . nn . cli of a

Launch Of The Freemasons' Lifeboat At Clacton-On-Sea.

boat with Masonic honours . Ho regretted ho was only tho represen tativo of the Grand Master , who he felt sure would have been most happy to have attended had his duties permitted it . Prov . G . Ledge having been closed , the brethren separated . A luncheon was afterwards served , at which Lord Skelmersdale presided . Wo aro nofc aware whether the arrangements of tho day wero conducted by the

Life-boat Association or not ; for tho credit of tho Institution , wo hope otherwise . But whoever may have had tho appointment of the Committee can scarcely bo congratulated on their selection , either for tho ability or courtesy displayed by that body , especially with reference to tho Masonic visitors . For ourselves , we attended but to report the proceedings ; still , wo cannot understand why Prov . Grand Officers , who travelled many miles iu order to officiate on the

occasion , should be mado nse of , and afterwards , so to speak , ignored . Such was the treatment accorded those who represented the donors . Wo hope that the boat will prove of more value than the executive seem to attach to it , and that in cases of danger on the coast it is destined to protect , but few of onr ship , wrecked follow creatures will not have au opportunity of returning thanks for tho foresight of our brethren .

Committee Meeting Of The Boys' School.

COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE BOYS ' SCHOOL .

rnilfcj monthly meeting of the General Committee of the Royal L Masonic Institution for . Boys was held , ou Saturday last , afc Freemasons' Hall . Tho brrcthrou present were Bros . Chancellor ( Chairman ) , Browse , Dewar , J . H . Cox , Raynham Stewart , Winter , Rawson , Row , Joyce Murray , Dr . Morris , Matier , Pillin , R . li . Webster , Benjamin Head , M : is ? ey , Adlard , Gallant , Blyih , Ferryman , Rushworth , and Binckes ( Seeretarv ) . There wero seventeen petitions for

consideration , and ot these only one was rejected . Tho list of candidates for the October election was settled at sixty-eight , and this list was recommended to the next Quarterly Court . Eleven vacan - cies wero declared . Three ontfits were granted to ex-pnpils , who are now in situations , and notice of motion was given by Bro . Jesse Turner for the next Conrt for an alteration in Rule 70 of tho Institu . tion . This concluded tho business of the meeting .

Committee Meeting Of The Benevolent Institution.

COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

THE Committee of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution met on Wednesday at Freemasons'Hall , nnder the presidency of Col . Creaton . The brethren who attended were Bros . S . Rawson , J . M . Case , Erasmus Wilson , J . G . Stevens , W . Stephens , W . Hale , C . F . Hogard , J . Farnfield , W . Hyde Pnlleu , Thos . Cnbitt , F . Adlard , Joseph Smith , C . J . Perceval , James Willing jun ., L . Stean , E . J . Barron , James

Brett , Rev . Dr . Ace , Joshua Nunn , and James Terry Secretary , who reported tho death of two annuitants . The committee , on tho recommendation of Bro . J . E . Saur . ders , agreed to accept twentyguineas in lieu of the nse of a small slip of the field in front of tho Asylum , the Brighton Railway taking the slip . The Committeo also resolved to build a Gardener ' s Lodge afc the entrance

to the Asylum , and appointed Col . Creaton , Joseph Smith and Thos . Cnbitfc a Committee for carrying out tho work . Ib was resolved also , on the advice of Bro . Barron , to take counsel ' s opinion as to proving against the estate of Bro . Samuel Tomkins . On the motion of Bro . W . Stephens , seconded by Bro . W . Hale , Bro . Cutbush

was elected an honorary Life Governor of the Institution , accom . panied by a vote of thanks to him for his numerous presents of plants for the garden of the Asylum . Afterwards , at a special meeting , on the motion of Bro . Rawson , seconded by Bro . Joseph Smith , the subscriptions to tho Institution , as far as affects Life Governors , were altered from pounds to guineas ,

Freemasonry In Lincolnshire.

FREEMASONRY IN LINCOLNSHIRE .

O . v Wednesday a deputation consisting of E . Locock Esq . J . P . Grand Master , aud F . D . Marsden Esq . Provincial Grand Secretary , waited upon W . H . Smyth Esq . J . P . ( of Elkingtoii Hall , Louth ) who was recently appointed by tho Prince of Wales to the office of Grand Master of Lincolnshire , to present him with an address of congratulation on his appointment to thafc honourable position . The

address , which is written on parchment , and signed by the Grand Master on behalf of tho Lodgo , has been beautifully illuminated by Mr . W . L . Davis , o Louth , the border being a remarkably pretty one , in the conventional style of the lGth century . Tho address is as follows : — " At a Lodge of Emergency , held in the Masonic Hall , Louth , this 5 th day of July 1878 , resolved unanimously that tho

sincere and nearly congratulations of this Lodge be presented to our esteemed and highly respected brother , William Henry Smyth , of Elkingtou Hall , on his appointment by the M . W . G . M . of England H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , to the high office of Provincial Grand Master of Lincolnshire , an honour well merited and justly earned , by fourteen years of devoted and unceasing attention to the Masonic

interests of the Province , while acting as the Deputy of his Grace the Duke of St . Albans . The Lodge feels deeply gratified at the appointment of ono of its most honoured and valued members to this distinguished office , and earnestly trnsts thafc it may please the G . A . O . T . U . to grant that tbe Province may long enjoy the beneficial ipfl . H § H 99 of W . Wl ?§ ?> M temperate jrqle , "