Reports Of Meetings.

REPORTS OF MEETINGS .

"We snail 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 . — : o ;—CRAFT : METROPOLITAN .

ECCENTRIC LODGE , No . 2488 . WE must sincerely congratulate Bro . John A . Harrison upon the altogether admirable manner in which he presided over this Lodge as "VV . M . at the first meeting after his installation , which was held at the Masonic Temple , Criterion Restaurant , on the Gth . Bro . Harrison was ably supported by his Officers , who contributed to the general effect by the perfect -way in which their duties were performed . They were Bros . Walter Clifford I . P . M ., W . 0 . Hooper S . W ., John Foss J . W ., Walter J . W . Beard P . M . Treasurer , Will E . Chapman P . A . D . C . Secretary , Lionel W . Harris S . D ., W . Sergeant Lee D . C , and G . P . Hadley I . G .

There was a full attendance of the members of the Lodge , and the following visitors were also present : —Bros . Imre Kiralfy W . M .-elect of the Empress Lodge 2581 , F . Driver P . M . 45 , ' R . J . C . Davis P . M . 1694 , Frederick Long I . P . M . 143 , Dr . T . Wholey W . M . 2470 , Arthur Cohen 180 , J . K . Frost 1673 , Sidney H . Baker 2265 , Orlton Cooper P . M . 211 , and others .

It was a somewhat trying ordeal for the new Master , seeing that the entire three ceremonies had to be performed , but Bro . Harrison proved more than equal to the occasion , for not only did he work tho prescribed ritual in the three degrees , but closed down the Lodge , and would doubtless have given the addresses to the candidates but time and circumstances did not permit .

Bro . George Marlow Pratt was raised in the third degree , and took his seat as a Master Mason ; Bro . Osmond was passed as a Fellow Craft ; and Messrs . Samuel Garcia Asher , Robert Green , R . V . Shone , and Dr . Herbert White having been duly approved were regularly initiated into the mysteries and privileges of tbe Order . Bro . Edmund Emiiius Parsons Ludlow , of the St . Mark's Lodge , No . 857 , was admitted as a joining member . Bro . Austin J . D . having resigned , the W . M . appointed and invested Bro . W . Sergeant Lee in his stead , and Bro . P . M . Cleave was appointed as D . C .

Bro . H . Thompson Lyne presented the Lodge with a splendid album , and Bro . Harrison humourously expressed the hope that all the members would send their " effigies , " in order that they might be identified in case of emergency . A vote of congratulation was accorded to Bro . Will E . Chapman upon his promotion to tbe rank of Grand Officer , and he was duly saluted by the Brethren , for which he briefly returned thanks .

With reference to the gift of thirty guineas so pleasingly bestowed by Bro . Imre Kiralfy to the Lodge Benevolent Fund , as recorded in these columns , it was resolved that an additional thirty guineas be given by the Lodge , so as to make it a Life Subscriber to the three Masonic Charities . Past Master ' s collars and jewels were ordered for the use of Bros . Osmond Carr and Walter Clifford .

There being no other business the Lodge was closed in perfect harmony , and the Brethren adjourned to refreshment . The excellent work of the Master was the topic of the evening , and all the visiting Past Masters were unanimous in their opinion that their visit had proved a Masonic treat . With such a talented company it is needless to say that the postprandial entertainment was a success , each of the initiates distinguishing himself either with songs , recitations or piano performances .

PROVINCIAL

LODGE OF INTEGRITY , No . 163 . THE regular meeting was held at the Freemasons' Hall , Cooper Street , Manchester , on Wednesday , the 28 th ult ., Bro . Saml . Gaskill W . M . The principal business of the evening was that of initiating Mr . Joseph

Wmson Scott , Engineer , Newton Heatb . Bro . R . Alf . Hepworth I . P . M . performed the ceromony , with the assistance of Bro . Herbert A . Owles S . W ., who delivered the ancient charge to the candidate in his own peculiarly impressive manner .

Subsequently the Brethren adjourned to the festive board , where a very pleasant evening was spent , the Loyal and Masonic toasts being relieved by songs , recitations , & c , given by Bros " John Studd P . M . P . P . G . D . C , J . M . H . Blamey P . M ., E . Roberts P . M ., J . G . Mead Sec , Nattn . ll , Simpson , J . S . Derbyshire I . G . 1045 , and J . G . Pittam Org . 1993 .

HUMPHREY CHETHAM LODGE , No . 645 . rpHE regular meeting was held at the Freemasons' Hall , Manchester , on _ L Wednesday , 4 th inst ., Bro . James Andrew Orrell W . M ., there being a good attendance . As indicated by the summons , there was not only a

ballot due for a joining member , but also a ceremony in each of the degrees . Of the latter , however , only two were taken , viz ., the initiation of Mr . Samuel Faulkner Orrell , and the raising to the sublime degree of Bro . Roger Neale Carter , after which the Brethren adjourned .

PELHAM PILLAR LODGE , No . 792 . THE annual installation took place at the Masonic Hall , Grimsby , on Thursday , 5 th inst ., the Prov . Grand Master the Earl of Yarborough being amongst those present . The W . M . Bro . Charles Maddison P . S . G . W . was succeeded by Bro . William Hill .

PRINCE OF WALES LODGE , No . 959 : THE annual installation festival was held at the Masonic Hall , Ipswich , on Monday , 2 nd inst ., when Bro . Thomas Normandale was installed as Worshipful Master for the ensuing year , by Bro . R . H . Unsworth W . M .

Reports Of Meetings.

After the conclusion of the business of the Lodge , the Brethren adjourned to the banqueting hall , where an excellent dinner was provided , and the customary toasts honoured .

WAVERLEY LODGE , No . 1322 . THE twenty-sixth installation of this Lodge was held on Thursday , 29 th ult ., at the Queen ' s Arms Hotel , Ashton-under-Lyne , there being present the largest number of Brethren ever seen in the Lodge . Immediately after the time appointed , Bro . J . Mercer Jones P . M . acting W . M . opened the proceedings , when the minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed , after which Bro . Wright Wood P . M . presented Bro . Samuel Grundy S . W . ( who had been unanimously appointed W . M .-elect ) to receive the benefit of installation , the ceremony of which was ably performed by Bro .

Jones , assisted by Past Masters Walter Newton P . P . G . J . D . as S . W ., John Smith P . P . G . J . D . as J . W ., Enos Andrew P . P . G . O . Cheshire as Organist , G . W . Davies Prov . Grand Steward as I . G . Tho ceremony , which was a musical one , was rendered in a very efficient manner . The new W . M . invested Bro . Walter Rawlinson as the I . P . M ., and explained his jewel to him . He also performed the whole of the cereinony and investiture with respect to all other Officers , explaining fully the duties to each of them in a most able and impressive manner .

The following is a list of the Officers appointed and invested : —Bros . M . Newman S . W ., A . Cooper J . W ., W . Neivton P . M . ' . P . P . G . J . D . Treasurer , W . Eastwood P . P . G . S . Sec , W . Newton P . M . P . P . G . J . D . D . C , J . Mercer Jones P . M . Assistant D . C , Enos Andrew , Mus . D ., P . P . G . O . Cheshire Org ., Samuel Kirk Assistant Organist , James Travis S . D ., Tom Ogden J . D ., Robert Wood I . G ., Augustus R . Hooper and George Parry Stewards , Dan Birkby Tyler .

Bro . Walter Newton presented the Working Tools in the three degrees ; Bro . W . Eastwood delivered the addresses to the Master , Wardens , and Brethren generally ; and Bro . John Smith gave the concluding prayer , with which the installation ceremony was brought to a close . After all business had been disposed of , and hearty good wishes expressed by the large number of visiting Brethren for the new W . M ., the Lodge was closed .

Subsequently an excellent banquet was served , presided over by Brother Samuel Grundy W . M ., Loyal and Masonic toasts being drunk most heartily . A delightful entertainment had been provided , Bro . John Dronsfield reciting in his inimitable manner several sketches in the Lancashire dialect from the works of Edwin Waugh and Bro . Ben Brierley , which created much merriment . Bros . James Schofield , T . Ogden , H . Green and A . Cooper ably contributed to the vocal portion of the entertainment , assisted by Bro . E . Andrew at the pianoforte .

Bro . W . Rawlinson I . P . M . proposed the toast of the evening , the newlymade W . M ., in a very neat speech , and spoke in high praise of the manner in which he had performed the whole of his duties in the Lodge , further adding that the Brethren felt proud of having that day placed Bro . Grundy in the high position he then occupied , and predicted a successful year of office both for him and the Lodge . These remarks were received with manifest approbation .

The song " Here ' s to his health" was excellently rendered by Bro . Green , the chorus at the finish of the last verse being repeated several times . After another song from Bro . Ogden , Bro . Samuel Grundy W . M , who was received with vociferous applause , responded , and thanked Bro . Rawlinson for his felicitous remarks , and the Brethren for the hearty response they had given to the toast of his health . He was aware the position of Worshipful Master carried with it duties and responsibilities which he assured them he would not shirk , and relying as he felt sure he could on the hearty co-operation

and assistance of all the Brethren of tbe Waverley , and particularly of the Officers , he would do his utmost to maintain , if not to increase , its prestige as a Lodge for efficiency in working , and sincerely hoped that when he vacated the chair he should do so with honour to the Lodge and to himself , and that it might be truly said that amongst the many happy and prosperous years Waverley Lodge had seen , that under his rule might not be reckoned as the least of them . The speech was happily given and very warmly applauded .

Bro . Grundy then proposed the health of the I . P . M . and Installing Masters , and said he felt sure he expressed the unanimous wish of all the Brethren to see the former more often among them ( he living at Grimsby ) , and as to the latter , their work might be equalled , but few could excel it , and so long as the Lodge had Officers of such undoubted ability , its reputation would be maintained .

Bro . Jones , in reply , referred to the junior Brethren having , in the transference of the W . M . from the position of S . W ., lost their Captain , and said that the W . M . had that day been appointed Commander in Chief to the whole of the Lodge . The toasts of the Provincial Officers and Visiting Brethren were

afterwards given and responded to , the latter being proposed by Bro . G . W . Davies , who said the W . M . ought to feel both proud and honoured by the brilliant assemblage gathered there , purposely to testify to him their appreciation of his fitness for the position of Master . The proceedings were shortly after brought to a close .

It should be mentioned that the floor was entirely covered with a new and beautiful Brussels carpet , of Masonic design , the Lodge room looking superb by its new adornment . It was the unanimous opinion of the Brethren that this was par excellence the most successful gathering in connection with the Waverley Lodge . A communication from one of the visitors whioh it has been our privilege to see , congratulates Bro . Grundy upon his advent into the chair ,

and endorses all the flattering things uttered in his favour on this night . It further a-ids that Bro . Grundy acquitted himself most worthily , his investiture of the Officers being so well done tbat it was a real surprise to the visiting Brethren . " The Lodge , " it says , " seems to have a good future before it , your good humour and genial presence being likely to help it on . It struck me on Thursday night that I ought to feel glad that I was not

following close on your heels , tor I am sure you have set a precedent which the junior Officers will not all be able to follow . I must sympathise with the ' young Brigade ' at the loss of their Captain . Seeing the affliction is only temporary , they will soon get over the trouble in their strife for higher honours . I noticed some of the ' Old Brigade ' are getting weak and feeble , and will soon require a Captain .

The new carpet is the nicest I have seen , and the menu card is simply a work of art . I was so pleased with it that I took one away . The dinner was also well served , in fact the best I ever sat down to . " Besides those previously mentioned , the following were present at the opening of the Lodge , viz ., Brcs . Albert Sumner P . M ., Joseph Riley P . M ., John Miller P . M ., Geo . Manwood , Joseph Taylor , John T . Coles , Sam Moss , Alfred Adams , James Kershaw 300 P . P . G . D ., W . Kenworth y 89 P . P . G . D . C ,