Reports Of Meetings.

Skelmersdale Lodge , No . 1658 . W ORSHIPFUL Master Bro . Robert Gabell presided at the regular meeting of this Lodge , held at the Surrey Masonic Hall , Camberwell New Road , on Thursday , 27 th ult , and was supported by Bros . William Croxson I . P . M . and Treasurer , R . Rowlands P . M ., Henry Buckeridge P . M ., Erie Side P . M ., Humphrey Cohen P . M ., . B . Cohen acting S . W ., James Palmer J . W ., W . H .

Boys P . M . Sec , E . S . Rice S . D ., J . B . Thorneloe J . D ., W . E . Bennett I . G ., J . W . Sandell D . C , F . Lloyd A . D . C , E . H . Smyth Steward , A . E . Kipps Organist , and C Plant P . M . Tyler ; and the following among other members of the Lodge : Bros . G . F . Taverner , T . Morris , R . Symons , J . C . Davis , C H . Smyth , P .

Nilen , J . Shaw , W . Hammerton , W . Biles , Frank Nilen , E . Wass , W . J . Bishop . F . G . Penny , G . Cully , F . Bridge , G . Potter , H . Gibbons , W . Rose , W . Edwards , C . Atkinson , W . Perrin , Jos . Atkinson , F . A . Martin , J . R . Papworth , J . Hibble , C . Sisman , J . Gibbs , W . H . Greenfield , & c , & c .

The Visitors included Bros . Alfred E . Britton 901 , Joseph Purdue 1722 , J . W . Jones S . W . 2664 , F . Carpenter 2411 , W . J . Holt 1366 , T . Cutlin 1772 , F . Collins 1609 , H . P . White S . D . 1541 , R . Ramsden 87 , G . White P . M . 977 , W . Williams 1287 , J . Wynman and others .

The Lodge was called for half past four , and the preliminaries having been observed , the minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed , after which the Lodge was opened in the second degree , and Bros . W . J . Bishop , F . O . Bridge , H . Gibbons , and J . Shaw—candidates for raising—who had been passed at the last meeting , were examined and entrusted . The Lodge was opened up in the sublime degree , and the four Brethren named were regularly raised to the dignity of Master Mason .

The Lodge was resumed to the first degree , and the ballot having been proved favourable on behalf of Messrs . George Cully , George Potter , William Rose , Frederick Charles Atkinson , and Joseph Atkinson , those gentlemen were regularly admitted , and had

the honour of being initiated into the mysteries of the Craft by the Worshipful Master , who , we are pleased to say , fulfilled the duties of his station in a really satisfactory manner , thereby winning the approval of the assembled Brethren . Bro . Humphrey Cohen ± \ M . gave the charge .

Various communications to the Lodge having been dealt with the Lodge was closed , and the company sat down to an excellent repast , modestly put down on the programme as " refreshment , " but which deserved a better description , and which was well served by the hostess Mrs . Venables .

At its conclusion the W . M . submitted the usual introductory toasts , which were heartily received and accorded musical honours . Bro . Croxson I . P . M . proposed the health of the Worshipful Master , considering it the most important toast of the evening .

Their W . M . had had a busy day , having raised four Brethren , and initiated five gentlemen into Freemasonry , and he felt perfectly justified in saying the working had been done in such a way as to be a credit alike to their chief and to the Lodge . The toast met a hearty reception .

The W . M . responded , tendering his thanks . It was not for himself alone he was pleased the work of the day had given satisfaction , but for his Officers also , for they had certainly rendered good service that evening , especially Bro . B . Cohen , who had been unexpectedly called upon to act as Senior Warden , and was certainly deserving of compliment for the way in which he had carried out the duties of that station .

The W . M . next proposed the toast of the Initiates , and said that while it was true no Lodge could prosper without the introduction of new members , they of the Skelmersdale looked for quality rather than quantity . Members of the Craft in general had to be very particular as to whom they admitted into the Order , but he had no hesitation in saying the gentlemen they had admitted that night were

desirable acquisitions . They had come to the Lodge with excellent recommendations , and he was sure they would prove themselves good and true members of the Masonic Brotherhood . He urged them to remember that the motto of Freemasonry was Brotherly Love , Relief and Truth , as he felt that if every man kept that in mind they would make good Masons , good husbands , and true friends and Brothers .

Bro . F . C . Atkinson regarded it as a red letter day in his career . He considered a great honour had been conferred upon him by his initiation into Freemasonry , and was delighted with the cordial reception the Brethren had given him . He specially thanked Bro . J . C . Davis , who had proposed him , and Bro . J . Shaw for seconding the nomination .

Bro . Joseph Atkinson tendered his thanks . He had been very much impressed with the ceremony , and pledged himself that so long as he lived he would not forget his obligation . He also had to thank Bro . Davis for his introduction into the Lodge . Bro . George Potter said he was pleased to have been initiated .

He had been very much impressed with the ceremony , and in due time he hoped to prove to the Brethren that he would make a worthy member of the Craft . He should certainly try to gain the confidence of the members , whom he sincerely thanked for admitting him into the Lodge .

Bro . William Rose said he did not know what to say after the able speeches of his predecessors , but he promised that whatever he could do for the welfare of the Lodge he would be most happy to undertake .

Bro . George Cully also responded , acknowledging the compliments paid him and also promising to do everything in his power to deserve the confidence they had reposed in him by accepting him as a member amongst them . The Visitors were next toasted , the W . M . hoping their reception that night would be so cordial as to induce them to again wish to visit the Skelmersdale Lodge , the members of which were always

Reports Of Meetings.

pleased to see guests , and were ever ready to accord them a hearty welcome . Bro . George White , in reply , said he was sorry he had not been able to attend in time to see the raisings , but he had been amply repaid for his attendance in witnessing the splendid working of the ceremony of initiation , which had been gone through in such a way as to reflect credit on the Master , the Officers and the Lodge generally .

Bro . H . P . White S . D . 1541 was pleased for two reasons that he was present that evening . He had enjoyed the working immenselyit had reallv been done to perfection—and he had had the pleasure of seeing a dear old friend , Bro . H . Gibbons , raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason . In him the members would find a true and faithful Brother .

Bro . J . W . Jones S . W . 2664 and several other visitors also replied , returning thanks for the hospitality shown them . The Past Masters' toast was next given , the W . M . thanking them for the assistance they had rendered , and as they had that night four candidates for raising and five for initiation that was no light matter , in fact , it would have been very difficult to have done without them ; but the Past Masters of the Skelmersdale Lodge were

always ready and willing to render any service required of them . They had all of them been good Officers in their turn and it was indeed a difficult matter to have to follow such a body of men , and keep up the reputation of the Lodge—in fact he regarded it as somewhat of a misfortune , a statement met with an emphatic No ! No ! from the Brethren . He was pleased to have the approval of the members , and promised to do his utmost to continue to give them satisfaction .

Bro . W . H . Boys P . M . Secretary thanked the W . M . for having coupled his name with the toast . He was very pleased to see such a good gathering of members and visitors to the Lodge , and hoped the Brethren would always come forward in such force . The Lodge was now twenty-four years old , and in that time they had had two hundred members , many of whom , to their regret , they had lost

through death and other misfortunes ; but he was pleased to say that at present they had about one hundred on their roll . He congratulated the W . M . on following so closely in the footsteps of their Bro . Croxson—that night they had » added five members to the roll . He was pleased to say the Lodge was in a very sound financial position , indeed the pockets of their worthy Treasurer were well filled on both sides .

Bro . Croxson P . M . Treas . said the W . M . did not require any assistance from the Past Masters , as he was well up in the work , and was a Brother who might be relied on to do his very best for the Lodge and its members . He felt convinced the present W . M . would pass him in regard to the amount of work done during his term of Mastership . He was pleased to endorse what their Secretary had said concerning the financial position of the Lodge—he was proud to say the Lodge was in a very good condition .

Bro . Humphrey Cohen felt doubly gratified at the success of the W . M ., having not only a fraternal , but also a paternal interest in him , he being one of the initiates of his own year of Office . It was very gratifying to the old Past Masters to see the Lodge so flourishing , as they had stood by it through thick and thin in the past .

Bro . Erie Side followed . He was particularly pleased to see the Deacons had fulfilled their duties in a most admirable manner , and congratulated Past Master Cohen on the ability he had displayed as a deputy in the chair of S . W . The musical arrangements of the evening were in the hands of Bro . Kipps Organist of the Lodge , and gave great satisfaction .

Among those who contributed to the harmony were Miss Ethel Hunt , Miss Ettie Croft , Bro . J . Shaw , Bro . R . Rowlands P . M . ( who sang the Initiate's song ) , Bro . Humphrey Cohen ( who recited " Not in the programme , " with good effect ) and others . As visual at this' Lodge the Charity Box was passed round , with the result that £ 1 10 s 6 d was collected .

Confidence Lodge , No . 193 . THE members of this old Lodge met after the summer vacation on Monday , at Anderton's Hotel , Fleet Street , under the presidencv of the Worshipful Master Bro . Tohn Wvatt Simeons .

who was supported by Bros . Sidney Fells S . W ., Metcalfe Baillie J . ., Fells P . M . Treasurer , E . J . Davey P . M . Secretary , W . A . Cubitt P . M ., S . Smithers P . M ., F . Haines P . M . Steward , F . S . Plowright P . M ., T . Kington P . M . D . C , E . Pennock P . M ., G . Spice I . P . M ., G . Baker acting S . D ., G . Bushell J . D ., Carr acting I . ( T .

Among the Visitors we noticed Bros . J . S . Vigo P . M . 16 71 , W . H . Snowdon J . W . 2599 , A . W . Vincent 95 8 , W . Wolley 1259 , G . Hawking 198 , L . Sassisienne 1349 , A . T . M . Kroenig 2206 , C . King 1624 , and others . Bro . W . H . Johnson was raised to the degree of a M . M . Bro .

S . Geddis was initiated . Two other members were balloted , for , and the names of two gentlemen were given in for the next meeting . Two cases of distress were investigated , and relief ordered to be given . Notice of Motion for a grant of ^ 10 10 s for children of a late Brother was also given .

A letter was read from the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , stating that a lad named Hall had shown such abilities that the Institution was keeping him on for a superior education , which information was received with pleasure , and a letter was ordered to be written and sent to the boy , congratulating him on his success accompanied by a present .

The members and visitors , to the number of severity , afterwards sat down to their usual supper . The Masonic toasts were done honour to , intermingled with harmony , under the direction of Bro . Lough Organist of the Lodge . The members adjourned at 11 . 15 , all agreeing , they had spent a most enjoyable evening .