Reports Of Meetings.

REPORTS OF MEETINGS .

PROSPERITY LODGE , No . 65 . THE members held their annual outing and Ladies' day at Brighton , on the 4 th inst . At two o ' clock the company , numbering 130 , sat down to an elegant banquet in the Banqueting Room , Royal Pavilion , under the presidency of the W . M . of the Lodge , Bro . Harlowe . Among

those who supported the Chairman was Bro . John Sayers W . M . St , Cecilia Lodge , No . 1636 , who is an old member of the Prosperity . After the banquet several of the company drove to Rottingdean . Vocal and instrumental selections in the South Drawing Room added to the pleasures of the gathering . o o o

SINCERITY LODGE , No . 189 . THE Annual meeting was held on tho 9 th inst ., at the Masonic Temple , Town Hall , Stonehouse , to instal Bro . Frank E . Sach as W . M . The ceremony was ably performed by tbe * retiring W . M . Bro . George Dunsterville , assisted by Bros , the Rev . T . W . Lemon , D . D ., P . P . G . J . W . P . G . Chap ., and others . Bro . Rev . Dr . Lemon was unanimously re-elected representative on the Committee of Petitions , and A . S . Hendry P . M . P . G . S . D .

Charity Steward . The Auditor ( Bro . S . H . Duff ) reported a small adverse balance in consequence of the Lodge having expended about £ ' 50 in thc re-decoration of the Lodge room . Bro . G . Dunsterville the retiring W . M . then presented to the Lodge a very handsome gold frame , containing sixteen portraits oi

the P . Masters of the Lodge , commencing from the Earl of Mount-Edgcumbe P . G . M . of Cornwall , Deputy Grand Master of England . Bro . A . S . Hendry proposed that the best thanks ofthe Lodge be given to Bro . G . Dunsterville for his gift . Bro . G . Hawken , in seconding , said the Brethren might well feel proud of the handsome appearance of their Lodge room . The motion was unanimously carried .

In the evening the annual banquet took place at the Masonic Club , Plymouth . The W . M . Bro . F . E . Sach presided , and having given the toast of the Queen , proposed the G . M . of England and Officers of the Grand Lodge . He said that they were proud of the fact that the Deputy Grand Master of England was the oldest P . M . of Lodge Sincerity .

In submitting the toast of the P . G . M . of Devon and the P . G . Lodge , tho W . M . said the P . G . Lodge was not held so often at Plymouth as was desirable or as they could wish . Lord Ebrington filled his position with dignity and ability . During the past year the P . G . M had'conferred a collar on one of their most esteemed

Brethren in tbe person of Bro . Hendry . The latter made a most suitable response . Bro . J . Parker , in giving the health of the W . M ., congratulated him on the fact that he was installed on his birthday , which was

rather a remarkable coincidence . Bro . Sach had carried out the duties of the various offices to which he had been appointed in a most excellent manner , and he had no doubt that during the coming year he would fill tbe chair with credit to himself and honour- to thc Lodge .

Bro . F . E . Sach , in response , said he was pleased that the toast was proposed by his old friend , Bro . Parker , and he was more than grateful to Bro . F . R . Thomas P . M . for having initiated him into Fret masonry . Since he had joined the Lodge had improved in social intercourse and knowledge , and he should do his best to advance and promote the cause of Freemasonry , and especially the interests of Lodge Sincerity .

Bro . Moulder proposed the health of the I . P . M ., and said he deserved their thanks for the admirable way in which he had governed the Lodge during the past year . Bro . Dunsterville having acknowledged the toast , Bro . H . \ Y . Mayne gave the P . Ms , of Sincerity .

Bro . Dr . Jackson P . M . 189 , in acknowledgment , presented tho Lodge with a copy oi an ancient Masonic Mosaic , which was found in the explorations of Pompeii in a Masonic Lodge there . Bro . S . Hugh Duff gave the Treasurer and Secretary , and said they were reasonably proud of having two such Brethren to fill the posts as Bros . Hendry and Hawken .

The two last named Brethren replied , and said they were proud to be connected with the Lodge . The W . M ., in proposing the S . and J . Wardens and Assistant Officers , said that Bros . John Parker and T . Peain had proved themselves excellent Masons . Responses having been made , Brother J . W . Bickle gave the Visitors .

Other toasts followed . During the evening Bro . R . A . Roberts ( of Maskelyne and Cooke ' s ) , 757 , Edinburgh , gave one of his inimitable drawing-room sketches , his facial contortions and character impersonations being remarkably fine . o o o

RURAL PHILANTHROPIC LODGE , No . 291 . rilHE Annual Festival was held nt the Railway Hotel , High-_ L bridge , on Friday , 6 th inst ., when Bro . E . A . Burnett S . W . was installed as W . M . for the ensuing year , as successor to Bio . J . Tyler , the Installation ceremony being performed by the D . P . G . M . Bro . R . C . Else P . G . D . of England . There was an unusually large muster of Brethren .

Votes of thanks were accorded to the retiring W . M ., thc Treasurer and the Secretary , for thc able way in which they had discharged their duties during the past year . Jho customary banquet was afterwards held .

Reports Of Meetings.

APOLLO LODGE , No . 305 . ON the 5 th inst . was celebrated the 100 th Anniversary of the Lodge , when Bro " . Joseph Foyster was installed W . M . for the ensuing year , by the late W . M . Bro . T . A . Woodroffe . In the evening the Brethren sat down to a banquet at the King's Head Hotel . O O O

LODGE OF FAITH , No . 581 . rj ~ lO effectually work three representative ceremonies of Craft JL Masonry at one assembly denotes fairly heavy business , but this performance was effected at the last meeting of the above Lodge , held on the 20 th ult . The proceedings commenced at 4 o'clock in tbe afternoon , and after the confirmation of minutes , tho

name of Mr . Christopher Carruthers , Surgeon , Openshaw , was submitted to the ballot . This being in . his favour , he was duly initiated by Bro . Henry B . Brown W . M ., who was assisted by Bro . H . J . Harrison S . W ., the latter presenting and explaining the working tools .

Bro . Georgo E . Mellor , who had expressed a desire to make further progress in the science , was questioned as to his proficiency , and having answered in a satisfactory manner , was prepared and passed to the degree of F . C ., this ceremony also being worked by the W . M . and S . W .

It was now the turn of Bro . Jabez Hibbs to be questioned as to his knowledge of the former degrees , and having satisfied the requirements which the exactions of Masonry impose upon candidates , ho was raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason by Bro . G . H . Barnes I . P . M ., the working tools in this instance being presented by Bro . B . Swift P . M .

At the festive board which succeeded , Loyal and Masonic toasts were honoured . Bro . Brown W . M ., in proposing tho health of tho newly-initiated Brother , said that it was always a pleasure to welcome new members amongst them , especially when they happened to be the right sorf , of which class he was convinced that Bro . Carruthers was ono . He could therefore cordially recommend him to tho Brethren .

Bro . Carruthers responded , saying that he thanked thern very sincerely for the kindness which they had displayed towards him that day , and trusted that with the advance of time he might fully realise the solemnity of the undertakings connected with the various degrees .

The W . M . then proposed the health ofthe newly-passe 1 Brother , saying that he had appeared to be very observant , and had thoroughly appreciated the ceremonies through which he had passed . He hoped that ' as he progressed his appreciation would increase correspondingly .

Bro . Mellor , in reply , said that ho was thankful he had passed another degree , and from what he had heard of the third , felt very anxious to get it over . The time , however , would not be long before this occurred , upon which occasion he would be enabled to exprass himself more fully than he could do at the present time .

The W . M . next proposed the health of the newly-raised Brother , saying that although Bro . Hibbs had got through the initial difficulties connected with his entry into Masonry , yet he could promise him , that should he aspire to occupy the position which he himself held , some good hard work would confront him . Such a contingency as that he had mentioned was not impossible , and he hoped to see the day when he could congratulate him upon thc attainment of the office .

Bro . Hibbs thanked them all for the enthusiastic way in which they had drunk his health . He assured them he had felt very much impressed by the ceremony through which he had passed , not having had the slightest idea that there was anything like it in Masonic ritual .

Other toasts followed , which were agreeably relieved by songs , recitations , & c , given by Bros . J . G . Hewson , Dr . E . E . Jones , G . E . Mellor , Chas . Griffiths and Edward Roberts P . M . ( FBEEJIASON ' CHRONICLE ) . Besides those mentioned above , there were present : —Bros . Wm .

Jones S . D ., Robert Adshead J . D ., George H . ScottI . G ., J . C . Brown Treasurer , J . M . Frost Secretary , J . Chadderton Std ., Samuel Andrew , Walter Taylor , J . T . Moorhouse , W . H . Wagstaff , H . B . Glcave . Visitors : —Bros . Ernest Hampson S . W . 1166 , E . Southern 1219 , Henry Bently 1009 , and others . o o o

LODGE OF INSTRUCTION , No . 581 . A MEETING of this Lodge was- hold in thc Masouic Hall , Old Boar's . Head Hotel , Manchester , on Tuesday , tlio 26 th tilt ., Bro . Jas . W . Abbott P . M . P . P . G . D . C . Preceptor . ' In previous years an adjournment has taken place in May , and

continued until September , but this year only two months are devoted to holidays , and as the experiment of adding the meetings of another month has met with a fair measure of success , it is likely that such experiment may be repeated .

Bro . Robt . Lingard accepted the position of W ' . M . tho otlzcr Officers being as follow : Bro . J . J . Dean S . W ., H . G . Jackson J . W ., Geo . T . Lenard Treas . S . D ., Chas . Slee J . D ., Hough I . G . There

were also present : —Bros . Alfred Hebden P . M . P . P . G . D . D . C . Secy ., G . R . Berry , Allan Phillips , Ed . Roberts P . M ., E . Nickson , F . ti . Johnson , Fletcher , & c . Visitors : —Bros . Jonathan Whittaker and Edward Whittaker 815 .

A candidate having been provided in the person of Bro . Berry , thc princij al chair was then assumed by Bro . ' Lenard , who rehearsed the certmony of raising . He " also presented and explained the Working Tools , and delivered the Traditioral History in his usual quiet but forcible manner . Tho L dgie now stands adjourned until Thursday , 13 th Sept ., with six ballots already in prospect .