Notices Of Meetings.

witnessed Bro . Burdett-Coutts ' working ; he had fulfilled his dnties in a proper manner ; in fact he ( Bro . Spink ) had rarely seen them done so well . The members had reason to be proud of their Worshipful Master , both for his work and for the way he carried out that Masonio duty—Charity—the corner-stone of tbe fabric , tbo bright jewel that adorned the whole erection . He was sure Bro .

Burdett-Coutts was proud of being Master of the Lodge . Nobody conld possibly help being proud of being first Master of a Lodgo whose success was without example in the history of Metropolitan Lodges or in the wide range of English Freemasonry . Having had less than a twelve months existence it had 55 or 56 members ; the W . Master had initiated 24 or 25 ; and raised and passed 23 or 24 .

The Worshipful Master in reply said it was extremely difficult for him to express the great feeling of appreciation he had of the way in whioh his name had been received by the brethren . He hoped the working wonld always be a great object in the Lodge . It had been a certain amount of labour to him to get it up , for whioh he did not take to himself any credit , but he advanced it as a proof of his love

of the work , and his respect for the Institution . He was very much indebted to his Officers , because the greater part of the excellence of his work was effected by them . With respect to Masonio Charity , the Lodge had done well , and the contribntions to his list as Steward for the Girls' School were most hearty and loyal . Ho was prond to reflect npon the extraordinary snccess of the Lodge , which had been

referred to by Bro . Spink . Although it was not unprecedented , it waa unusual , and he did not know to what to attribute it , except to the fact that in Westminster there was a combination of circumstances whioh showed there was a necessity for suoh a Lodge . This had been proved by the fact of suoh a large nnmber of brethren wishing to join , and of gentlemen wishing to be initiated . He hoped

he should be excused if he ventured to think that the name he bore had to a certain extent created a prejadioe in favour of the Lodge . He was sorry to have been absent from the last meeting of the Lodge , but he was grateful to Bro . Spink for having done his work . He ( the W . M . ) was then in Ireland with the Baroness Burdett-Coutts , and the visit was interesting for many reasons . The Bironess

had long before been connected with Ireland by her good works . On this , their first visit to that country , he was glad to say tho Baroness was received , even in those parts with whioh sho had not been personally connected , most cordially . When they went down to the south-west , through a bleak and Atlantic-beaten coast , whioh stood like a sentinel facing towards

the west—nothing bnt 3000 miles of the ocean between it and America—the Baroness met with a reception that was one of the most extraordinary scenes he bad ever realized . He had seen her received in London , by crowds stretching from Piccadilly to St . Pauls , with continuous shouting and cheering ; by a Provincial town in the North , with 100 , 000 cheering ; but that was nothing to the warmth ,

enthusiasm and devotion which was shown by those wild , uncouth inhabitants of the south-west of Ireland . There was certainly a cause for it , for four or five years ago she set on foot a system of assisting these people . Off the coast was an enormous quantity of mackerel , which vessels from England , Scotland , and France were sent to catch . These vessels took the fish , which were really a fortune , and

the inhabitants of the Irish coast—rough , hardy and brave menwere compelled year after year , np to five years ago , to sit idly look , ing on at these foreigners taking away the harvest of the sea , be . cause they had no boats to go out to sea in . The Baroness started a system of providing them with boats , on strictly commercial principles . The consequence was that a town that seven or eight years

ago was in an extremely destitute condition was now practically on the road to prosperity . Companies had sprung np ; the fishermen had in that short space of time been able to make sufficient money to improve their dwellings and buy land , and also to buy boats for themselves . Yet all the time they had done this they had been scrupulous in paying back their loans , and at the present time there was not

£ 5 outstanding . In concluding , he trusted the Lodge would always cherish the traditions of the Craft and those feelings of sympathy whioh seemed to him the most charming element in their meetings . In speaking to the toast of the Initiates , the W . M . said he had not the pleasure of knowing all of them , but one he had known for many years ; he referred to Bro . Hodges . He , with the other initiates was

welcome to the Lodge . Brother Hodges eloquently responded ; he felt it an honour to be initiated by bis esteemed friend the W . M . He regretted he had been so long without being a member of the Order . He was followed by Bros . Hillier and White . The W . M . next proposed the toast of the Visitors , and Bros . Jarrett P . P . D . G . M . Herts , Jas . Terry P . P . G . J . D . Herts , Ferguson P . M . 1691 , and Brother

Sutton responded . In the course of his remarks Bro . Jas . Terry said he , as a member of the Burdett-Coutts Lodge , No . 1278 , fnlly appreciated the unbounded liberality of that noble lady the Baroness Burdett-Coutts . Especially he thanked the Senior Warden , who had proposed the snm of £ 2 2 s in aid of the Christmas Entertainment to the inmates of the Institution at Croydon . In proposing the

health of the Past Masters , the W . M . referred to the great assistance he had received at the hands of Bro . Spink . This compliment having been gracefully acknowledged , Bros . Rogers ( Treasnrer ) , Shand ( Secretary ) , Baker ( S . W . ) , and Seager-Hunt in sequence made a few remarks , and the proceedings closed . During the evening Bros . Cantle , Baker , and Hanson contributed to the harmony .

Justice Lodge of Instruction , No . 147 . —On Thursday , the 11 th instant , at the Brown Bear , High-street , Deptford . Bros . Cooper W . M ., Stringer S . W ., J . J . Pitt J . W ., Banks Treas ., Speight P . M . Sec , Dale S . D ., Prior J . D ., Penrose I . G ., Hutchings P . M . Preceptor , also Bros . J . Bedford Williams , H . G . Pitt , Penney , Dixon ,

and Emblin . The work comprised the rehearsal of the ceremony of initiation , Bro . J . B . Williams personating the candidate . Lodge was then called off , and on resuming Bro . H . G . Pitt answered the questions leading to the degree of F . C . in a very satisfactory manner . Lodge was opened in the second , and the ceremony of

Notices Of Meetings.

passing rehearsed . Lodge was closed in the second degree . Bro . Stringer S . W . was elected W . M . for the ensuing Thnrsday .

Royal Alfred Lodge of Instruction , No . 780 . —A meeting was held on Friday , 28 th Nov ., at the Star and Garter Hotel , Kew Bridge . Present : —Bros . Monson jun . W . M ., Wing S . W ., Edmeston J . W ., F . Botley S . D ., Thomas J . D ., Andrews Preceptor , C . E . Botloy I . G . and ' Secretary . P . M . ' s Bros . Hodges , Tyler , Gunner , Goss , Hilton , Blasby , Sugg ; and Bros . Gillett , Turner , Edwards , Coombes , Strong , Maton , Sapsworth , S . Blasby , Brill .

Visitors—Bros . Morton 1818 , Clarkson 1604 , R . C . Coombes 1585 . The only business consisted in opening the Lodgo , reading and confirming the minutes of the last meeting , and closing ; after whioh the brethren sat down to the Annual Supper , which was excellently served by Bro . Brill , and a most enjoyable evening was spent . After the usual Loyal and Masonio toasts , harmony was indulged in . Bros

Wing , Thomas , Gillett , Strong , Brill , F . Botley , andC . E . Botley assisting . Bro . E . H . Sngg at the pianoforte . On Friday , 5 th inst ., Bros . Valentine Wing W . M ., F . Botley S . W ., Thomas J . W .. C . E . Botley Sec , Turner J . D ., Andrews Preceptor , Bailey I . G . Visitor Bro . R . Norton 1818 . Lodge was opened and the minntes were read , confirmed , and signed . Lodge was then opened to the third degree , closed in third , and resumed to first . The

initiation ceremony was then rehearsed , Bro . C . E . Botley candidate , Bro . Norton at swered the questions leading to second degree . Bro . C . E . Botley and the brethren worked the first section of tbe first Lecture , and Bro . Preceptor and the brethren worked the second section . Bro . Norton of the Clapham Lodge , No . 1818 , waa elected a member , and Bro . F . Botley was appointed W . M . for 12 th December .

New Concord Lodge of Instruction , No . 813 . —At the Jolly Farmers' Tavern , Southgate-road , N ., on Wednesday , 10 th instant , Bros . Smith W . M ., Langdale S . W ., Weeden J . W ., Western S . D ., Warner J . D ., Dixie I . G ., Cusworth P . M . Preceptor , Conrad Acting Secretary . Lodge was opened in due form and the minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed . The

ceremony of initiation was rehearsed , Bro . Potter candidate . Bro . Potter answered the questions leading to second degree , was entrusted , and the ceremony of passing rehearsed . It was proposed and carried nnanimously that the nnnnal supper be held on Wednesday , the 21 st January 1885 , at the Jolly Farmers' , at 8 o ' clock , Nothing further having been offered for the good of Freemasonry , Lodge was closed in due form and adjourned .

To-day ( Saturday ) the installation meeting of the Gallery Lodge , No . 1928 , will be held , when Bro . Minstrell W . M . will instal hia successor , Bro . Duckworth . A valuable Past Master ' s jewel has been voted to Brother Minstrell , and we understand that , as a mark of esteem and

regard for the outgoing Master , the members of the Lodge will present a valuable gold bracelet , suitably engraved , to Mrs . Minstrell . Owing to the exertions of the retiring Worshipful Master , the foundation expenses of tbe

Lodge have all but been extinguished , and the Lodge , which has more than answered the anticipations of success of tbe Founders , will at the close of next year have a considerable balance , it is confidently expected , in hand .

Bro . Thomas Minstrell W . M . Gallery Lodge , No . 1928 , J . W . Vitruvian , No . 87 , and Z . of Gallery Chapter , Bro . P . M . Massey H . Gallery Chapter , and Bros . Hecksher , Herbert Wright , and Coulter represented the Reporters ' Gallery of the House of Commons at the funeral , on

Wednesday , at Brompton Cemetery , of Mr . Charles Ross , who for thirty years was leader of the Times Corps , and who had been connected with Parliamentary reporting since 1820 . Mr . Ross was the principal witness against

O'Connell when indicted for treason , he having taken the notes upon which the prosecution was founded . A splendid wreath was placed upon the coffin by Bro . Hecksher , on behalf of his colleagues and those they represented .

A Convocation of the Nortb London Chapter of Improvement was held at the Alwyne Castle Tavern , St . Paul ' sroad , Canonbury , on Thursday , 11 th inst . Comps . W . H . Dean M . E . Z . Provincial Grand Registrar of Dorset , A . Hubbard H ., T . Minstrell J ., Sheffield S . E ., Radcliffe S . N ..

Gregory P . S ., Edmonds Preceptor . Much of the snccess which has attended this Chapter of Improvement is due to the untiring energy and zeal of Comp . Edmonds , the highly respected Preceptor , whose exertions tbe Companions frequenting this Chapter never fail to recognise and acknowledge .

Ad01102

FUNERALS—Bros . "W . K . L . & G . A . HUTTOM * . Coffin Makers and Undertakers , 17 Newcastle Street , Strand , "W . O , and 30 Forest Hill Road , Peckham Rye , S . E .