Reports Of Meetings.

have much pleasure in presenting to our readers , was born on the 21 sfc Jannary 1850 , at Southwark . He was initiated into Freemasonry in the Lodge of which he is now the President , in October 1892 , and was exalted into the Arch in the Fellowship Chapter , No . 2535 . Bro . Spice was a Steward on behalf of the Boys School at the Festival of 1895 , for the Girls in 1896 ,

and a second time for the Boys at the Centenary celebration of last year . We wish him health and strength to perform the duties of his high office , and join our sympathy to that expressed by the members of his Lodge at the loss he has just sustained , and which compelled him to absent himself from the annual Festival of his Lodge .

ST . MICHAEL LODGE , No . 211 . AN ordinary meeting of this ancient Lodge was held at the Albion , Aldersgate Street , E . C , on Tuesday , over which Bro . Albert Collings W . M . presided . There were also present Bros . Alfred Green P . M . Treasurer , W . Radcliffe

P . M . Secretary , A . B . Spawforth I . P . M ., E . 0 . Collings S . W ., F . W . Berry J . W ., H . E . Mullins J . D ., 0 . J . Pennell I . G ., Wm . Sutton Organist , P . 3 . King , D . F . Latham , James Loverseed , E . T . Stainforth , E . E . Berry , & o . Also the following visitors : Bros . G . W . Goss 176 , F . J . Burton P . M . 1672 , T . E . Boberts 1672 , Harry Nash P . P . G . B . Cheshire , Herbert Linwood Organist 1381 , Wallis Arthur 1706 , and J . A . Collings 2705 .

After the Lodge had been opened the minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed . The ballot was then taken for Mr . Joseph Spawforth , as a candidate , which proved unanimous . As this gentleman was a brother of the I . P . M . Bro . Collings courteously resigned the chair in favour of Bro . A . B . Spawforth , who thereupon initiated the candidate into the privileges of the Craft , and made him a Brother in a double sense .

This being election night according to the Bye-laws the ballot was taken for Master and Treasurer , the choice of the Brethren falling upon Bro . Ernest C . Collings as W . M . for the succeeding year . Bro . Alfred Green was re-elected as Treasurer , and Bro . J . Barnes P . M . upon a show of hands was appointed as Tyler .

The installation will take place on the Feast of St . Valentine , 14 th prox . Several letters of interest to fche Lodge were read by the Secretary , and the business being ended the Lodge was closed , and the Brethren adjourned to supper . A pleasant convivial evening was subsequently spent .

LA TOLERANCE LODGE , No . 538 . THE installation meeting was held on the 5 th insfc ., at the Freemasons ' Hall , Great Queen Street , W ; C . Bro . Thomas Henry Clear W . M . presided for the last time at the termination of his year of office , and was supported by Bros . James Kench P . M . P . G . P ., John Skinner P . M ., T . W . Smale P . M ., G . T . Augspurg P . M ., Fred Cambridge P . P . G . O . Surrey , J . J . Pittman P . M ., S . 0 . Cross , F . J . Pittman , J . H . Harrington , G . A . Sturgess , H . Bivett , A . H . Heron , H . Hipweli , J . Leather , Sec .

The following visitors were also present : Bros . Herbert Kershaw P . P . G . D . Essex , Dr . Fred Nicholls P . P . G . D . C . Surrey , Henry Massey P . M . 1928 , Frank Hall P . M . 403 , H . Whitney P . M . 861 , Joseph Pike P . M . 1639 , John Paul P . M . 1287 , James Manning P . M . 2298 , W . J . Greig P . M . 65 , 0 . B . Wilkinson P . M . 335 , John Rickwood P . M . 192 , J . W . Elvin W . M . 2395 , Orlton Cooper P . M . 211 , William James 1471 , L . A . Lockwood 2509 , H . E . Mullins J . D . 211 , W . E . Jones 206 , Percy Jakins 1385 , E . H . Thompsett J . W . 1505 , A . H . Jones S . W . 206 , J . B . Pinchbeck 2202 , C . W . Safiell 860 .

The Lodge was duly opened , and the minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed . The Beport of the Audit Committee was' received and adopted . Bros . J . Bannister Howard and F . A . Zeppenfeld , of the Playgoers Lodge , No . 2705 , and Bro . Joseph Leather , of the Great Northern Lodge , No .

1207 , were accepted as joining members . Bros . Walter Hooker and William Webb , two old Past Masters of the Lodge , were elected as country members . The ballot was taken for Mr . Edward James Whittle and Mr . Sidney Worpell Harrington , who , having been regularly approved , were admitted and duly initiated into the mysteries and privileges of the Craft by Bro . Clear .

The W . M . then vacated the chair in favour of Bro . P . M . Kench , who had kindly consented to perform the installation ceremony . Bro . Thomas Alfred Tidy was presented by his predecessor , and , having been duly obligated , was inducted into the chair of the Lodge , and the Warrant delivered into his keeping .

The Officers were invested as follow : J . Gumming S . W ., G . A . Sturgess J . W ., J . Kench Treasurer , T . W . Smale Secretary , Fred Cambridge Organist , 3 . 3 . Pittman D . O ., G . T . Augspurg Steward , H . T . Hipweli S . D ., S . 0 . Cross J . D ., F . J . Pittman I . G ., T . Bowler Tyler . There being no other business of importance , the new Master received the congratulations of those present , and the Lodge was closed .

An excellent dinner followed , and during the evening a Past Master ' s jewel was presented to Bro . Clear , as a mark of appreciation of the able manner in which he had carried out his duties during his Mastership . A still more interesting episode was the presentation of a handsome silver salver to Bro . James Kencb , the Father of the Lodge , and Treasurer for the last thirty years , in recognition of the high esteem in which he is held by the Brethrfln .

A capital musical programme was provided by Bro . Cambridge , in which Miss Jessie Ho tine , Miss Emily Foxcroft , Bros . Mandeno , Jackson and James Kift took part .

Provincial .

PROVINCIAL .

INTEGRITY LODGE , No . 163 . THE regular meeting was held at the Freemasons' Hall , Cooper Street , Manchester , on Wednesday , 28 th ult . Lodge was opened at the early hour of 5 p . m ., and an election of Officers took place , the result being that Bro . Hy . R . Yates S . W . was unanimously chosen as W . M .-elect , Bro . J . H . Scholfield P . M . P . P . G . R . was successfully balloted for as Treasurer , whilst Bro . H . H . Warburton P . M . P . P . S . G . D . was elected Charity Representative of the Lodge . The installation of Bro . Yates will take place on Wednesday , 25 th inst .

At 6 . 30 Bro . Frederic Walmsley Worshipful Master and his ^ Officers held a reception of members and friends ( including ladies ) , who had " been invited to participate in the pleasures ot a social evening . Bro . Walmsley , in a few well-chosen phrases , offered a cordial welcome to the visitors , whose hearty

Provincial .

acceptance of his complaisance proved that they were disposed to make themselves thoroughly at home . The various selections were very charming , and deserve a permanent place in the records of the Lodge . The opening pianoforte duet " Qui Vive , " by Bros , F . Simpson , and R . W . Nuttall J . D ., was followed by songs " I'll sing thee songs of Araby , " and "Angus McDonald , " rendered respectively by Bro . Ben Williams P . M ., and Mrs . S . Williams , the latter delighting the

audience later on by " Wishes and Fishes . " Bro . Fred M . Whittle Organist gave an oboe solo " Fantasie , " with a daintiness of execution whioh invariably characterises his efforts on this instrument . Mrs . Nuttall ' s song " Daddy " was in pleasing contrast to fche humorous eccentricity " Moriarty , " of Bro . Fred W . Millington . Bro . Alfred Eastwood , one of the latest

additions to the Lodge of Integrity , sang " I trust you still , " and further distinguished himself with Bro . Nuttall in a duet " The battle eve , " whilst Bro . Herbert A . Owles I . P . M . sang the seasonable " Christmas comes but onoe a year " in his usual breezy style . To Bro . Samuel Gaskill P . M . was assigned the dramatic portion of the programme , his recitation " The Game of Life " being very well received .

An excellent supper was sandwiched into the proceedings , the segregated portion of the evening being afterwards spent in dancing . The toasts were very limited in number , and with the exception of that devoted to the visitors , were proposed by the W . M . Bro . Yates S . W . introduced the latter , which also included the fair sex , being responded to by Bro . B . Wilmot . The speaker said thafc having performed this duty last year , he could scarcely tell why he was called upon to repeat it , unless it waa because he had then made a pledge that he would not remain in the position of single blessedness .

As representing the ladies he added the latter were always willing to visit such meetings , so that they might see in what company their husbands mixed . He explained that he had not yet become a Benedict , but , being interrogated by Bro . Robert Race Secretary , as to whether he would renew his pledge of last year , dared not to make fche venture . The ladies were very much obliged to the W ; M . and his Officers for providing such an excellent entertainment , and he took that opportunity of thanking them . Bro . Ben Done also said a few words on behalf of the visitors .

Before closing our report , we must not omit to add a word of praise on behalf of the Committee instrumental in furnishing the admirably designed programme . The colours , which were not in excess , were nicely blended , the whole being to our mind a work of art .

LODGE OF FAITH , No . 581 . THE annual meeting and Festival of St . John took place at the Bradford Hotel , Mill Street , Manchester , on Wednesday , 21 st ult ., Bro . Robert Adshead W . M . There was a very good attendance both of members and visitors . The principal business of the afternoon was that of installing Bro . Chas . H . Griffiths J . W . as Worshipful Master of the Lodge . Bro . Joseph Truelove

Richardson P . M . P . P . S . G . D . took the W . M . 's chair afc an early hour , and was supported by the following Installing Officers , viz ., Past Masters George W . Scott as S . W ., John Greenup as J . W ., R . Adshead as I . G ., and Thomas Tyers P . P . G . Swd . Br . as Deacon . The ceremonial as performed by Bro . Richardson has so often been reverted to in these columns that further comment is unnecessary , other than to say that on this occasion he fully maintained his reputation .

The working tools of each degree were presented and explained by Bro . William Jones P . M . Bro . Griffiths the newly-installed W . M . invested the Officers , whilst Bro . J . H . Smith P . M . P . D . G . S . B . ( Bombay ) explained the various jewels . Subjoined is a list of the new Officers , viz ; Bros . Dr . E . E . Jones S . W ., S . Andrews J . W ., Hy . B . Brown P . M . Treasurer , George Ogden Secretary , J . Greenup P . M . Dir . of Cer ., Arthur Mellor Organist , Jos . Harrison S . D ., Matthew Goth J . D ., 0 . Carruthers I . G ' ., 3 . Hutchison , F . Andrews , T . G . Swarbrick , J . T . Wilkinson Stewards .

The Festival of St . John was afterwards held in the Lodge room , whioh had been handsomely decorated , and presented altogether an affluent appearance , the banquet being served with a sumptuousness , with a luxury and recherche , which left no doubt as to the good intentions of the host Mr . Whittaker .

Loyal and Masonic toasts were pleasantly varied by the musical and recitative efforts of Bros . J . T . Moorhouse , M ~ . Goth , Edward Boberts P . M . 1459 , Henry Bentley 1459 , Kenneth Stewart J . W . 1140 , and others , the accompanist being Bro . Arthur Mellor . Bro . Capfc . 0 . R . N . Beswicke-Royds P . M . 64 Deputy Provincial Grand Master ( E . L . ) responded to the toast of the Grand Officers in a very excellent speech , which , from the exalted position he holds in the Province , was naturally of a didactic character .

The health of the Installing Master was proposed by Bro . Scott , and duly responded to by Bro . Richardson , who , in the course of his remarks , said he had been initiated in the Lodge of Faith in the year 1863 , that he had been their Worshipful Master three times , and had performed the ceremony of installation on many occasions . He was glad to hear that he had given

satisfaction , and at any future time he would willingly lend them what assistance he could . He had done much for Freemasonry , was a Grand Officer , and had passed through many of the higher degrees , hut he could assure the Brethren that if he had his time to go over again , he would try to do even more than he had already achieved .

In responding to the toast of his health , Bro . Griffiths W . M . said he was not by any means an old Mason , having been initiated by Bro . Barnes only six years ago , his rise in the Lodge had therefore been a very rapid one . Many of the Officers appointed that day were particular friends of his , and he therefore had no misgivings with regard to the forthcoming twelve months . Unfortunately they had been without ceremonial for some little time , and they might be a bit rusty , but they would soon have a chance of some work , and , he contended , this was a happy augury for the new year .

Bro . Griffiths then proposed the health of the I . P . M ., and reverted in warm terms to the excellent service he had rendered the Lodge . It had been the usual custom to present a gold jewel to the retiring Master , and on this occasion it was not intended to make any new departure . Bro . Griffiths then pinned a handsome Past Master's jewel upon the breast of Bro . Adshead , expressing a sincere hope that his good lady might cherish it when he took it home , and that he himself might live many years to wear it .

Bro . Adshead I . P . M . said , in reply , that he received the jewel with the greatest amount of gratification , feeling assured that the Brethren would not have presented it to him if he had not deserved it . He would therefore go from that meeting filled with delight in the knowledge that they had appreciated the conduct of their late Worshipful Master . Amongst other toasts which followed was one to the host and hostess