Notices Of Meetings

Unity Lodge , No . 132 . —The centenary meeting was held at Ringwood , on Tuesday , 26 th June . An interesting feature of the day ' s proceeding's was the reading of a hNtorv of the Lodge , com - piled from the minute-books , by the W . M . Bro . H . G . Dyer . He said that in 1764 . the Lodge was held at Lymington , and np till 27 th December 1777 , when it was removed to Ringwood . In 1798 , a Bro .

Moses Near ^ waa initiated , and passed and raised on the same night ono week afterwards . In 1800 the Lodsre does not seem to have been in very affluent circumstances , for it was resolved that they could not afford more than one shilling to any travelling brother in distress . The Masonic School is first mentioned in 1806 , to which Institution the Lodge subscribed £ 1 Is , ancl everv newly joininsr

Brother 5 s . In 1814 , three brethren were initiated , passed nnd raised on the same night ; on 22 nd December , in the same year , there wad initiated a Brother at the age of 25 ( Bro . Cull . ) who has bnt jnst passed away from ns , in hia 88 th year . On 27 th April 1820 , waa initiated the greatest Masonio light he supposed Ringwood had ever seen — Bro . William Jones . In 1824 , a circumstance

happened which never baa occurred in thia Lodge since , and he hoped never wonld—a candidate balloted for and rejected three times . On 11 th June 1838 , the Lodsre waa opened at a farmer ' s house at Harbridge—a hamlet four miles from her«—for the purpose of assisting at the ceremony of laving the foundation stone of the church there , a church with which Ringwood makes the living

of Ringwood and Harbridge . On the 26 th June 1839 , Grand Lodge was held at Ringwood for the first time , nnder the presidency of Deputy Prov . Grand Master Admiral Sir Lucins Curtis . The foun . dation stone of the Ringwood Almshouses waa laid with great form and Masonio ceremony on 16 th May 1843 by Bro . Jones , the W . M ., in the presence of a great number of people . Provincial Grand Lodge waa

again held here on 2 Bth September 1848 ; the R . W . Prov . Grand Master , Sir Lucius Curtis , again waa present , and on thia occasion laid the foundation stone of onr National Schools . In 1850 the foundation atone of onr Infant School wan laid by Brother Jones P . P . S . G . W ., with Masonic ceremony , a dispensation having been obtained for the brethren to appear in

clothing . On 16 th June 1853 , Lodge Unity and Bro . Jones parformed alike their last public ceremony—that of laying the foundation stone at the restoration of our Parish Chnrch . For some years the Lodge was virtually in abeyance , bnt revived in 1870 , through the exertions of Bros . Major-General Michell and Brouncker . The seven sections were worked for the first time in 1871 , since which

period it has been prosperous in every way—in numbers , work , and funds . At the close of the Lodge business the brethren sat down to a banqnet in the Corn Exchange , provided by Bro . E . Low P . M . 132 . The chair was taken by the W . M ., Bro . H . G . Dyer , who was sup . ported by Bro . Hickman D . P . G . M ., Bro . Abraham ( Mayor of

Southampton ) P . G . S . W ., Bro . M . E . Frost P . G . T ., and several other Provincial Officers , the Past Masters of the Lodge , and the Wardens . The room waa very * nicely decorated for the occasion , and on the removal of the cloth the usual Loyal and Masonio toasts were given . ' —Portsmouth Times and Naval Gazette .

St . John ' s Lodge , No . 187 . —This Lodge held its regular meeting on Tuesday , the 10 th instant , at the Holly Bush Tavern , Hampstead . Present—Bros . John Eldridge W . M ., J . T . Rowe S . W ., J . Teomans J . W ., J . R . Thomson Secretary , H . Cornick Treasurer , 0 . A . Muller S . D ., William Keil J . D ., F . Adlard D . C , G . Davies I . G ., W . Steedman Tyler . P . M . ' s Bros . T . M . Jackson , T . A . Adams , Geo .

Pritchard and E . Barge . Visitors—Bros . Frederick Keeble 1426 , W . Paxon P . M ., S . Beattie 1507 , E . M . Haigh 29 , P . G . Steward , S . W . 1607 , W . W . Morgan jun . 1385 . The business of the evening , which comprised the raising of Bro . C . M . Robinson , the passing of Bro . F . Clark , and the initiation of Mr . Gustave Charpentier , was carried out in a manner which reflected great credit on the W . M ., who worked

the whole of the three ceremonies m good stylo . Bro . J . J . Gawith , of the Zetland Lodge , No . 511 , was balloted for as a joining member , and dnly elected . The work having been completed , the Lodge was formally closed , and the brethren adjourned to banquet , which was very well served . We would mention that , should any of our London brethren be thinking of changing their quarters , they should ,

before deciding , pay a visit to Hampstead , where they will find a very nice Lodge and dining-rooms , and we feel sure would be satisfied with the catering of the host , Mr . H . Baker . The banquet having been disposed of , tbe W . M . rose and proposed the toast of the Queen and the Craft . As there were other matters that evening to engage their attention , he would not trouble

them with a long speech , but merely call npon them to drink the toast with enthusiasm . This was followed by the toasts of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales M . W . G . M . ; the Pro G . M ., D . G . M ., and all Past and Present Grand Officers . With the latter , he had the pleasure of coupling the name of Bro . P . M . T . Adams , who in reply thanked the brethren , ou behalf of the Grand Officers , for tho very kind

manner in which they had received the toast , he wished some others had been present to witness the working of the Lodge . It mast be very gratifying to the Master to know that he waa well supported by his officers , all of whom had carried out their duties with satisfaclion . He had been a member of the Lodge for a quarter of a centnry , and never knew it in a more prosperous condition than at the present

time . He was always ready to be of assistance to the St . John ' s Lodgo . Bro . T . M . Jackson , the I . P . M ., being now entrusted with the gavel , proposed the health of the W . M ., who , he said , they all looked upon aa the right man in the right place ; the longer you know him , the more yon will like him . The toast having ben honoured , the W . M . thanked the brethren for the kind manner in which they

had responded ; he wished to give every satisfaction , ancl hoped to do everything to their wishes . He then proposed tho toast of the Initiates , he was sure it waa a great pleasure to add to the strength of the St . John ' s Lodge , which still carries the good name it has done for over a centnry . Bro . Adlard having sung the "Enter'd Apprentice" song , Bro . Charpentier acknowledged the toaat . He waa

Notices Of Meetings

mneh pleased with the proceedings of the evening , and mnoh obliged to the brethren for the way in which they had received him . The W . M . next proposed the Visitors , it was very gratifying to the members to have visitors among them , and he waa pleased to say they wero se'dom without . On the present occasion thev had more than nsnal , he gave them a hearty welcome , and concluded by

callingon the brethren to drink their health . Bro . Paxon replied , he said he considered himself quite at home in the St . John ' s Lodge , of which he had long been a Past Master ; it waa now upwards of half a oentnry since be had become amember of the Lodge . He was extremely pleased to be present that evening , aa he had witnessed the re-ap - pearance of an old Lodge Tracing board ( which we may remark ia a

very fine painting , and in splendid preservation ) , thia he believed had not been seen for close on 25 years ; it had lately been found , and he hoped would now be constantly used . The next duty the W . M . had to perform was , he said , a most pleasing one , being the presentation to the I . P . M . of a richly deserved Past Master ' s jewel . Bro . Jackson had worked in all the offices , and he presented the jewel

with tho greatest pleasure j he hoped their I . P . M . might live to be among them for many years , and have good health . Bro . Jackson re . turned hia sincere thanks for the honour conferred on him ; he prized it the more , feeling that what he had done for the Lodgo was not done as he ought to have done ic , although he could assure them if he had not shown ability , he had always entered on the work with all his

heart . He could not devote much time to Masonry , but what ho had attempted he had done to the best of hia ability , and he considered he had worked a wonder if he had merited their satisfaction . He had seen tlie duties performed much better than he had ever been able to do , and felt sure that as he had not pleased himself he could not have pleased the Lodge . The presentation was an honour

he had never expected to obtain , nor , when he entered their Lodge , had he the slightest idea of ever becoming one of its Past Masters . He should prize the jewel they had presented to him so long as he lived , not merely for its intrinsic value , bnt more for the pleasant memories it would ever bring . The W . M . said he had now a most awkward , thongh pleasing dnty to perform , which was to present , on

behalf of the Lodge , a testimonial to their worthy Bro . F . Adlard , who had for so many years served the office of Director of Ceremonies ., In that position all had received from hia hands great kindness ; he had always studied to make them happy and comfortable . The comfort of their visitors had ever been specially looked after by Bro . Adlard . He was sure all wonld join with him in

heartily drinking his health , and wishing him prosperity . The tesfci . monial took the form of a silver sugar basin and cream jug , * and a life-like medallion portrait , executed by Lawrence Hale , from a photo by Bro . Haigh . Bro . Adlard rose to return thanks for the testimonial . Heconsidered it noeasytasktoacknowledgethevory kind way in which the W . M . had made the presentation . He had occupied the position

of D . of 0 . for the past twenty years , and during that time it had ever been his greatest study to assist the W . M . He had always found a place for the visitors , many of whom liked to sit with their friends , but in every instance he hoped he had satisfied them all . He had now had some little experience of the office—he having occupied the post for 17 years in Lodge No . 7 ; he was also assistant

Director of Ceremonies for the province of Essex , ancl he felt the greatest satisfaction in knowing that these services were appreciated . He had been connected with Masonry 45 years , and therefore could not hope to be with them as long again . The present was , ho was pleased to say the fourth—and a most imposing testimonial—it had been his good fortune to have presented to him . He thanked the

W . M . most sincerely for what he had clone in connection with the testimonial ; also Bros . Cornick and Pritchard , for what they had done in the matter . During hia long connection with the Lodgo he had experienced nothing but the warmest affection . Bro . Pritchard now rose and stated that there was one thing the W . M . had forgotten ; this was the cause that had induced the members

to make the presentation . This he was pleased to say waa Bro . Adlard ' s self-denial ; he had been content to see all kinds of people pass him to the chair , and if anything was said in reference to it , he always stated that he had a seat at Grand Lodge , and did not want more . He would have been in the chair of the St . John ' s Lodge many years since , had it not been that ho

always allowed some Bro . to step over him . If he received the present with half the pleasure they experienced in giving it , thoy would be satisfied . In proposing the toast of the Secretary and Treasurer , the W . M . stated that no Lodge could boast of better officers than the St . John ' s , he considered it the duty of the members to drink their health , aud thank them for the way in which they

condncted the business of the Lodge . Tho Treasurer stated he was only too pleased to be able to say a few words . He was iu a position to give them the usual report , as to the flourishing condition of the Lodge , and considered it ever his duty to study its interests . He was pleased to be able to refer to the Benevolent Fund in connection with the Lodge ; such funds , although not usual in

Lodges , were being more generally formed ; theirs , he was glad to say , amounted to something like £ 150 , all of which had been subscribed , by the members . It waa a source of great delight ; more especially when we find a brother down in the world ; then it is good to be in a position to hold out a helping hand . Ho was one of tho founders of the fund , and considered it a great credit to Lodges to have such a

fund ; he hoped that many others would at once start them . The Secretary felt bound to thank the members most cordially for their general good feeling . He was pleased to seo that tho testimonial to Bro . Adlard , which had been spoken of for 4 or 5 years , had at last been presented . He was glad to welcome their late Master , Bro . Jackson , among them as a Past Master . The to st of tho Past