Laying The Foundation Stone Of St. Agnes' Church, Moseley.

when sho was discovered it was decided that sho should be initiated a member , and she seemed to have no dread of the ordeal , but went through the ceremony , and became a trno and hearty member of the Craft , and ho believed that was the only instance on record of a lady becoming a Freemason . But although , he could not reveal the secrets of tho Order , there were circumstances connected

with Freemasonry which might be freely discussed , and one of them was the historical connection of Masonry with some of the most interesting buildings in tho country . Perhaps some of those present wero hardly aware that in mediaeval times some of the groat dignitaries of the time were either Masons or graat patrons of Masonry . Kings and princes of the country had also been great patrons of

Masons . Queen Elizabeth was one of the first sovereigns who had suspicions of the Masons , and , being extremely anxious , entrusted ono of her councillors to find out and report their secrets . He did not reveal their secrets , but he told her what they did , and she was so struck that sho at once declared that she considered them men who cultivated friendship , brotherly love , and peace , and who did

not meddle with affairs of Church or State . Charles I . was a great patron of Masonry , aud his great architect , Inigo Jonos , was a Mason , as was also Sir Christoper Wren , in the reign of Charles II . But the work of the Masonic body in modem times had been more of an educational and charitable character—such as the Masonic Schools , accommodating 215 boys and 230 girls—the Institution for Aged

Freemasons , which provides for over' 400 candidates , the males receiving £ 40 per annum each , and the females £ 32 each . Locally , Freemasonry had hacl a great influence , having contributed largely to the restoration of Worcester and Gloucester Cathedrals , Tewkesbury Abbey , and other sacred buildings . Their Lodges , too , opened and closed with prayer , and at every Lodge the Bible was open . They could

not admit an unbeliever or an Atheist , and though the privileges of tho Legislature might at some day be opeu to Atheists , the Lodges of the Freemasons never could . The Freemasons of Worcestershire were glad to be present that day , and congratulate Mr . Colmore on having so many willing hands to help him in the work that had been begun . He was gratified at seeing so many Masons present at the ceremony

in spite of the inclemency of the weather , and also at being able to announce that tho collections of the day amounted to £ 140 . They were acting , he was glad to seo , on the principle adopted by the church builders of old , not to attempt too much at once , but to begin with fche mosb sacred parts , leaving for future years , and perhaps for future generations , any extensions that might be desirable . He

trusted that not only tbe partial erection of the building wonld be carried out , but that before long the scheme would be carried our to its completion . It had given him great pleasure to be present , and he thanked them for inviting him- It was his hearty wish and prayer that God wonld prosper the work , and that the new church might be a blessing aud comfort for future

generations . The Chairman then proposed Colonel Machen Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Warwickshire , and the Freemasons of the Province . He regretted that Lord Leigh , the Provincial Grancl Master of Warwickshire , was nnable to be with them on thafc occa . sion , but they had tho pleasure of the presence of Colonel Machen , who had , however , been compelled to leave by an early train .

He should , therefore , call upon the Provincial Grand Secretary of Warwickshire , Brother George Beech , to respond . Bro . Beech expressed thanks on behalf of Colonel Machen , who was reluctantly compelled to leave . He was sure that Lord Leigh regretted that he was unable to be present . For himself , he could only say that he was glad to be able to be present and take part in so

good a work ; and he might say thafc had it not been for the inclemency of the weather there wonld have been a much larger attendance . He could only hope that the work they had commenced would prosper , and that the seed they had sown that day would quickly germinate and bear good fruit . Bro . Charles Williams proposed the Visitors . He said wheu it was recollected that daring the past twelve mouths the Masonic body had raised over £ 50 , 000 for their

Charities alone , no one could be surprised if he was anxious ta see the Brotherhood strengthened in that district by the formation of a Lodge in Moseley . He hoped that if a request was made , that the Worshipful Grand Master would grant it . Bro . Joseph Rowlands and Bro . John Simcox briefly responded . The Rev . A . J . Smith proposed the Ladies , which was responded to by Mr . John Wilmot , and then the proceedings terminated .

Installation Meetings, &C.

INSTALLATION MEETINGS , & c .

ST . MARTIN'S-LE-GRAND LODGE , No . 1538 .

THE annnal meeting was held on Wednesday , at tbe Guildhall Tavern , Gresham-streot , E . C . Bro . William Smith presided , and he was supported by Past Masters J . Hookey ( Secretary ) , George Gregory , A . C . Woodward , W . Gibbs , A . C . Moffatt , Major Williams ( Treasurer ) , & c . Amongst the Visitors present were Bros . F . A . Philbriek , Q . C , P . G . D ., D . P . G . M . EssexF . Binckes

, P . G . S . Sen . R . M . I . B ., C . F . Matier P . G . W . Greece , John Paige 1572 A . Durrant P . M . 569 , W . Mardbell 1426 , Geo . Corbie P . M . 453 , J . W Baldwin 1692 , E . 0 . Massey P . M . 1297 , Bentley Haynes J . W . 27 Robert J . Cook P . M . 913 , C . James J . D . 15 , Harold Levett 452 , E . T Edwards P . M . 788 , E . A . Wells P . M . 15 , E . Stiroson S . W . 15 , F . H Plummer J . W . 15 , H . H . Cooper Alliance , G . Thomas 1194 , J . A . J

Woodward 194 , Biintz S . W . 534 , W . W . Morgan S . W . 211 , W . Lancaster P . M . 1194 , J . D . E . Tarr I . G . 1293 , J . Glass W . M . 453 , C . Woolmer Williams P . M . 1275 , F . 0 . Dixie 453 , A . Field 30 , J . Edwards 449 , T . W . Legge J . W . 15 , C . E . Tinney J . W . 1319 , H . J . Dutfcon 1706 , J . W . Robins P . M . 25 , John Grey 933 . Tbe minutes of the last regular meeting aud of emergency meetings were read and confirmed . Bro . Tee , a candidate for raising , was

Installation Meetings, &C.

then introduced , and the W . M . conferred the third degree on him . The Auditors' Report , which was now presented , showed the Lodge had a balance in its favour of over a hundred pounds . The Charity Fund also was in a healthy condition , £ 22 15 s 2 d standing to credit sido of the account . Some discussion arose as to whether any transfer of monies should be made from the former of these funds to the

latter , but in the end it was arranged that matters should stand oyer . The W . M . now vacated the chair in favour of Bro . Charles Williams , who bad undertaken the duty of Installing Master . The W . M . elect , Bro . Thomas J . Robertson , was presented , and the ceremony was at once commenced . In dne course the Board of Installed Masters did their share in the proceedings , and then the brethren not yet entitled

to" mount the levels " were admitted , and the new W . M . was saluted in ihe three degrees . The Officers were appointed as follows : — J . P . Parkes S . W ., Hatch J . W ., Williams P . M . Treasurer , Hookey P . M . Secretary , Liversedge S . D ., T . G . Fluok J . D ., Da-fid Barnett I . G ., John Gilbert Tyler . Bro . Williams then delivered tho addresses , and on taking his seat a hearty vote of thanks waa

passed to him for his services . This compliment having been acknowledged , tbe elegant Past Master's jewel was presented to Bro . W . Smith , and pleasing reference made to the services he had rendered to the Lodge . Bro . Smith replied , thanking the brethren , for their gift , and then it was proposed thafc a letter of condolence shonld be sent to the family of the lato Bro . Mutter , an esteemed

member of tbe Lodge . Some resignations were announced , and the name of a candidate handed in for initiation , aud soon afterwards Lodge was closed . The banquet was admirably served under the personal superintendence of Bro . Henry Mills , and on the removal of the cloth the W . M . proposed the toasts . After that of the Queen and the Craft , the National Anthem was sung . In speaking of the

Most Worshipful the Grand Master , the W . M . said the Craft were indeed honoured by having for its ruler so genial , so ardent , and so esteemed a Mason as his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales . In speaking to the toast of the Grand Officers , the Worshipful Master said this was a standard toast . It was quite unnecessary for him to debate on the merits of those who held these high offices .

With the toast he would couple the name of Bro . Philbriek P . G . D . Brother Philbriek was sure that ifc must be a proud thing for any Mason to respond to a toasfc that had been honoured as that whioh the brethren hacl just drunk . He could nofc attempt , nor would he for one moment wish to suppose that the coupling of his name with it by his old friend , whom he rejoiced to see in the chair of that

Lodge that evening , had anything to do with the reception of it . Bnt he could say on behalf of the distinguished noblemen referred to by the Worshipful Master , that nofc only had they worked hard in the interests of the Craft , but that they well deserved their brethren ' s recognition and esteem and trust . He trusted he might be pardoned for saying that ifc was not merely a discharge of official duties and

the acting as mere ornamental figures ; the Pro Grand Master and Deputy Grand Master had each of them won fche regard of their brother Masons ; and he had himself known and seen , when the Provincial Grand Master was holding the seals of . the Foreign Office , that Lord Carnarvon at anxious times in connection with the affairs of the nation ; when his own time was of the very briefest , the first

sacrifice of his time was always made in the cause of Masonry ; no wonder that its interests were thoroughly cared for when they were able to have the services of such distinguished noblemen , in whoae hearts the cause of Freemasonry was ever present . For the rest of the Grand Officers , he returned his thanks . He ventured to say they thoroughly deserved the recognition the brethren had

given tbem . Tbe W . M . had stated to the Junior Warden that it would now become a privilege and duty of his to attend the Quarterly Com . munications of Grand Lodge . He would find that an important matter was still before Grand Lodge , namely , the discussion upon the Constitutions of the Order . They had to see what was for the

good of Freemasonry in the time coming , and to try to put matters straight as far as they conld be put straight . They were not to think that the Masons of this generation were wiser than the Masons of the past , or that they were immutable . He felt a solemn and a serious duty was cast upon Masons of the present time , so to model and so to leave the Constitutions to the Masons who must

succeed them ; the book must be handed down with their great traditions preserved , but above all with unity preserved , the ancient landmarks respected , and that Masonry as it was in tbe past , as it is iu the present , might long remain in the future . It was a great pleasure to him to come as a Visitor to a Lodge prospering as this was prospering , and which bid fair to march on its way adequately representing

the great principles of the Order . He congratulated fche Lodge upon the accession to office of his friend the W . M . ; he would nofc anticipate what some other speakers would refer to , further than to say that when he saw the manner in which tho W . M . take np his work he could not bat think that it was very clear that the suffrages of the brethren had fallen upon the right man . The health of the

W . Master was proposed by Bro . Smith , and Bro . Robertson said , in replying to the toast which so nearly affected himself in as few words as would adequately convey hia sense of the very kind way in which it had been proposed and the hearty recognition ifc had met with from the brethren , he believed it was customary on occasions of this kind for an incoming Master to state in somewhat

explicit terms the manner in which he meant to carry oub his duties in the ensuing year . If from his manner to-night tbe brethren thought he should perform his duties properly , he hoped they would accept that manner as an earnest in thafc direction . He would merely now thank them very heartily for ^ the way in which the toasfc had been proposed and received .

Tbe next toast combined the Immediate Past Master and the Installing Officer of the day . Both these brethren acknowledged the compliment paid them . In proposing the health of the Visitors , the W . M . said ifc wns so important a toasfc that he was almost inclined to call it the toast of the evening . In saying that he was not casting any slight npon the accomplished brother who had just sat d 0 *? * because he was included among fche visitors . There was a goodly