Reports Of Meetings.

REPORTS OF MEETINGS .

We shall be pleased to receive particulars of Masonic meetings -for insertion in our columns , and where desired will . endeavour . to send a representative , to report . Lodge or other proceedings .

CEAET : METEOPOLITAN .

Eccentric Lodge , No . 2488 . ^ INSTALLATION OF B ROTHER T HOMAS F RASER .

¦ WH-E . history of-the Eccentric Lodge is interesting and instructive , J- because its truly marvellous success is an impressive object lesson . to all present and future Lodges . From a comparatively small circle , s ^ nce , every candidate for the Lodge must , of necessity be a member of the Eccentric Club , the founders have drawn some

of the best known men in artistic London , all of whom are animated with the praiseworthy desire-to make the Lodge as nigh perfection as is possible . An admirable Lodge of . Instruction , with proficient Preceptors , affords the opportunity of learning the ritual , and the wise regulation of the Selection Committee , that no member shall become' an Officer until he is perfect in his duties , spurs the Brethren to make every endeavour for that purpose . This excellent

spirit . of emulation tends to ensure a thorough and intelligent rendering of our beautiful ceremonies and , as a consequence , a higher appreciation ' of Freemasonry . It is this knowledge that causes us a lively gratification whenever we are called upon'to visit the -Eccentric Lodge , and it was with the pleasurable anticipation of "a Masonic . treat" that we attended on Friday of last -week , at the Cafe Royal , Regent Street , W ., to take part in the annual installation ceremony .

Bro . W . Sergeant Lee , the outgoing Worshipful Master , is a practised elocutionist and an experienced Freemason—he has already occupied . the Chair of the Lodge of Progress , No . 176 S—and . on this occasion he excelled himself , - but we must not anticipate ..

The Lodge was opened with "eccentric" punctuality , i . e ., at the time stated on the summons ( to ensure which the visitors were invited to attend a quarter of an hour earlier , a pardonable eccentricity ) , when the W . M . was supported by his Officers and a large number of other Brethren .

" After the opening Hymn had been cordially sang , the minutes . of the previous meeting were read and confirmed . The report of ithe Audit Committee , showing a large increase in the funds of the iLodge , was presented and adopted . We may here remark , in continuation of our previous observations , that the members by no means neglect their duty to the

Masonic and other Charities , as will be seen from the following figures . Although established but seven years the Lodge has made grants to the Girls School of ^ 52 IOS , Boys School £ 47 5 s , Old People £ -26 5 s , the "Daily Telegraph" War Fund £ 70 13 s ( the second largest amount contributed by a Lodge ) , " Our Brothers '

Bed ^ 5 5 s , and Prince , of Wales ' s Hospital Fund ^ 15 . 15 s . Truly a worthy record . The Funds are ably administered by Bro . W . Beard , who has been Treasurer of the Lodge since its inception , and although nearly a hundred pounds have been devoted to charitable purposes during the past year , the members have at present over / 5 00 in hand .

Brothers Walter de Frece and William Henry White were accepted as joining members , and some other details having been disposed of , the principal part of the business was arriyed at . Considerable interest was aroused from the fact that Bro . Thomas Fraser was one of the first initiates of the Lodge , and no little curiosity was evinced as to how he would disport himself as its ruler .

Brother Sergeant Lee declared all Offices vacant , and then requested Bros . J . H . Hawkins P . M ., H . T . Culliford P . M ., C A . Hooper P . M ., and Fred . Dangerfield P . M . to assist him as Wardens , D . C . and I . G . respectively . The Lodge was opened in the second degree , when Bro . Fraser was presented by Bro . Claude Hooper , as W . M . select , and the ceremony proceeded on the usual lines .

In accordance with the custom of the Eccentric Lodge , the beautiful solo "Be thou faithful" was sung after -the . Obligation , and was very finely rendered by Bro . Herbert Grover . A Board of Installed Masters was subsequently formed , when Bro . Fraser was placed in the Chair in accordance with ancient traditionand

, was cordially congratulated b y those present upon the distinction that had been conferred upon him . Having invested his predecessor as I . P . M . the Board was closed , and the Brethren were readmitted , when the new Master was proclaimed and saluted in the three degrees .

The following Officers were then appointed and invested : — J . R . Cleave S . W ., W . E . Garstin J . W ., W . J . W . Beard Treas . W . Singleton Hooper Secretary , R . S . King S . D ., H . J . Horner J . D ., Claude A . Hooper D . C , W . Drew I . G ., James Kift Organist , Arthur Tite ,. E . R . Pugh , H . S . Simmonds , and E . Lockwood Stewards , and Samuel Ellis Tyler .

Then followed the finest delivery of the Addresses to which it has ever been our pleasure to listen . It is no flattery to sav that Bro . Sergeant Lee ' s rendition was absolutely perfect . Spoken with deliberation , with fine emphasis and faultless elocution , Bro . Lee to

appeared give an altogether different interpretation of the beautiful words : and it was the opinion of many Past Masters , who had heard them over and over again , and many who had themselves delivered them , that it was not possible to surpass him . The final Lecture had such an effect upon the Brethren that the usual

Reports Of Meetings.

Masonic applause was forgotten , and the Master , carried away by emotion , did not wait till the usual time , but proceeded immediately to present the Past Master ' s jewel to Bro . Lee , that had been voted by the Lodge . We can cordially endorse the remarks of Brother Fraser in making the presentation , " that if all succeeding Masters carried out their duties like . Bro . Sergeant Lee , the Eccentric Lodge would never suffer from inefficient direction . "

The I . P . M . briefly returned thanks , and said he had tried to serve the Lodge to the best of his ability , and if he had succeeded in meriting the approbation of the Brethren he was amply repaid . The resignation of four members was accepted with regret , but on the other hand one joining member , and one candidate were proposed for acceptance at the next meeting . The Visiting Brethren having tendered their congratulations , this very interesting meeting was brought to a close .

The Installation Banquet was held in the large Hall , and was worthy the reputation of Bro . A . Oddenino , who , himself a member of the Club and Lodge , always gives of his best . Each Master of the Eccentric Lodge endeavours to present a novelty in the shape of the menu , and this year Bro . Fraser designed a very handsome cover , which , though a trifle large for the table , will doubtless be kept by those present as a souvenir of a very memorable Masonic gathering .

Bro . Fraser proved a very masterful Master , and lost no time in getting to work , setting an excellent example in the brevity of his remarks . Immediately Grace had been sung , he proposed the Queen and the Craft , which was followed by the National Anthem . The M . W . the Grand Master H . R . H . the Prince of Wales constituted the

second toast , but the Spartan brevity of the announcement in no wise detracted from the Eccentric " enthusm " of its reception . Brp . the Rev . A . W . Oxford acknowledged the compliment to the Officers of Grand Lodge in the eccentric spirit of the evening , since he declared-that our qualifications are nil , and our virtues still less . " Eccentricity was the dominant feature of the speeches , but under

the levity and the laughter was the true Masonic spirit and sincerity which characterises the members of this Lodge . A report of the words would convey nothing of the manner of the delivery ; to pur readers , and we therefore record the bare facts that the customary complimentary toasts were proposed and acknowledged , and that universal harmony prevailed .

Bros . J . D . Langton and T . H . Gardiner , both P . A . G . D . C . of E . ngland , attired in . their . official uniform , as Llnder Sheriffs . of the city , arrived late in the evening , and were accorded hearty welcome . The musical programme arranged by Bro . James Kift was as usual a prominent feature of the evening's entertainment . Upon

this occasion he was assisted by Brothers Herbert Grover , Arthur Strugnell , Edward Lauri , W . R . Maxwell , and Frank Tebbutt , all of whom were in excellent voice , while Bro . Walter Churcher gave some of his humourous recitations . The pleasant evening caused us to regret its termination . J

Among those present were the following : Brothers Charles Belton P . G . D ., V . P . Freeman P . G . D . Provincial Grand Secretary of Sussex , Rev . A . W " . Oxford P . G . D ., Imre Kiralfy P . A . G . D . C , C . F . Matier P . G . S . B ., Major C . W . Carrell P . G . S . B ., Dr . A . King P . CO ., T . Phipps Dorman A . G . D . C , General Astley Terry P . P . G . S . B . Cheshire , Captain J . Barlow P . P . G . W . E . Lanes ., A .

Conyers Havcraft P . M . 2424 , Fred . Nield P . M . 235 , George Briggs P . M . 1572 , Harry Nicholls P . M . 2127 , Oakley Welsford P . M . 132-1 , Col . Newnham-Davis , A . W . Boote W . M . 617 , E . H . Harris P . M . . 15 8 , Charles Kiralfy W . M . 2581 , G . D . Coleman W . M .-elect 2581 , Henry Watts W . M . 10 S , Harry Homer W . M . 156 3 , George Beeching

W . M . 2430 , J . Sefton Mayors W . M . 2108 , Herman Klein P . CO ., H . T . Brickwell -P . M ., A . J . Thomas P . M ., J . R . Cleave P . M ., Frank Boor , Charles Danby , F . Dangerfield P . M ., J . Denby Hare , Albert H . Collings P . M . 211 , C H . Mansfield , Frank Curzan , Vernon Dowsett , Harry Peck , and several others , the company numbering over a -hundred .

Bro . Thomas Fraser , the new Master , was initiated , passed and raised in the Lodge of which he is now the head , in 1 S 93 , and was exalted into the Royal Arch in the Eccentric Chapter . He was a founder of the Dramatic Mark Lodge , No . 4 S 7 , and also of the Empress Mark Lodge , No . 533 , and is at present S . O . of the former and D . C . of the latter . He has also taken some of the higher

degrees , and is at present a member of the Eureka Chapter , No . 43 , Rose Croix 18 th degree ; Eminent Preceptor of the Holy Palestine Preceptory , London ; Member of the De Warrenne Preceptory , Brighton ; and Prov . Captain of the Guard in the Sussex Province of Knights Templar ; and also E . Prior of the Holy Palestine Priory , Knights of Malta , No . 120 ., London .

* * Hampden Lodge , No . 2427 . INSTALLATION OF BROTHER A . C . WEDB .

L ONDON has undergone many changes within the memory of the present generation , but it is probable that in no other part of the great metropolis has a more -radical alteration taken place than in the nei

ghbourhood of St . Pancras and Somers Town . We do not propose to go back to the time when those were popular suburbs of the great city ; suffice it for our purpose to call the neighbourhood to mind as •we knew it in our younger days , when the frontage now occupied by the palatial Midland Grand . Hotel presented a substantial row of comfortable dwelling . houses , with iong front gardens , many of which were given over to the stone and

monumental masons who were so numerous at this spot in those days ; while just behind was the busy and sadly over-crowded district of Somers Town . All , or nearly all of this has been swept away to make room for the handsome passenger station , goods depot , and coal yards of the Midland Railway Company , and what we can well remember as one of the busiest spots of the preat metropolis is now to all intents and purposes little more than a desert , covered , how .