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ZETLAND LODGE , No . 1071 . THE annual meeting was held at the Masonic Hall , Saltash , on Monday , 2 nd , when Brother J . Brooking S . VV . was installed as W . M . by the outgoing Master Bro . F . A . Bawling P . P . G . A . Sec .

ABERYSTWITH LODGE , No . 1072 . THE installation meeting was held at the Masonic Hall , Aberystwith , when Brother D . C . Roberts S . W . was installed into the chair for the ensuing year , the Installing Master being Bro . J . R . Rees . Subsequently the members , about fifty in number , adjourned to a banquet at the Talbot Hotel .

SEMPER FIDELIS LODGE , No . 1254 . THE installation meeting was held in the Public Booms , Exeter , on Monday , 2 nd inst . Bro . E . T . Fulford presented , and Bro . W . A . Gregory installed as W . M .

Bro . F . J . Shapcott , who appointed the Officers . The annual banquet was held at the Rougemont Hotel and was largely attended .

RYBURN LODGE , No . 1283 . THE annual meeting was held on Wednesday , 27 th ult ., at the Freemasons' Hall , Eagle's Cliffe , Sowerby Bridge , when there was a good attendance of members and visitors .

After the ordinary business of the Lodge had been transacted Bro . W . Barratt Richards S . W . was installed as W . M . for the ensuing year , Brother William Haigh P . M . performing the ceremony , assisted by Brother Thomas Gaukroger P . M .

The festival of St . John was afterwards celebrated by a sumptuous banquet at the Bull's Head Hotel .

o o o EGERTON LODGE , No . 1392 . THE installation of Councillor T . J . Hutchinson as Worshipful Master took place at the St . John ' s Festival , held on Thursday , 28 th ult ., at

the Stanley Arms , Bury . The Installing Master was Bro . George Tinhne W . M ., to whom a very handsome gold Past Master ' s jewel was presented , in recognition of his valuable and efficient services to the Lodge during his period of office .

ON Monday , 2 nd inst ., Brother Walter James was installed Worshipful Master , the ceremony being effectively carried out by Bro . Kerry Rix I . P . M ., who was afterwards handed a very chaste Past Master ' s jewel , on the back being engraved— Presented to BBO . KKBEY RIX W . M . 1894-95 ,

ST . MARGARET LODGE , No . 1452

by the Brethren of Lodge St . Margaret , as a token of their esteem . Amongst other business of the Lodge was the passing of a vote of condolence with the relatives of the late Bro . the Rev . H . S . Hume , M . A ., whose many virtues as a Mason found fitting eulogies .

The banquet subsequently took place at the Royal Hotel , Lowestoft , when the various toasts incident to such occasions were loyally and heartily honoured .

SIR WATKIN LODGE , No . 1477 . THE annual meeting was held in the Masonic Hall , Mold , on the 2 nd inst . when there was a large attendance of Brethren . A part of the business took the form of a presentation to Dr . W . Roberts ( Pontblyddyn ) P . M ., of a jewel , as a mark of appreciation of his services as Secretary to the Lodge for thirteen years , and also for the high rank he held in the Province . o o o

COLNE VALLEY LODGE , No . 1645 . fpHE annual meeting was held on Wednesday , 4 th inst ., in the Masonic JL Hall , Britannia Road , Huddersfleld . There were about fifty Brethren present , including several visitors . Bro . John Gledhill was installed Worshipful Master by Brother John Holroyd W . M ., assisted by Bro . Thos . Mallinson , J . P ., P . M . as Director of Ceremonies .

Afterwards the Brethren sat down to a banquet , following which the usual toasts were given and responded to . o o o

URMSTON LODGE , No . 1730 . THE regular meeting was held at the Victoria Hotel , Urmston , on Monday , 9 th inst ., Bro . John Walton jun . W . M . There was a very good attendance of members , principal among whom were Bros . Walter

Bowers S . W ., Edward L . Littler P . M . P . P . G . P . Treas ., Geo . R . Lloyd P . M . P . P . G . Treas . Sec , James Ormrod S . D ., W . Hallard J . D ., Past Masters Geo . A . Myers P . P . G . D . C . D . C , John Bowers Org ., Thos . W . Bone , J . H . Marsh , R . Swindells , J . Milton , John Slyman P . P . G . D ., Edward Roberts 1459 ; Bros . James S . Whitley , and E . W . Barratt .

Visitors : —Bros . Edwin Faulkner W . M . 2231 and Councillor Richard M . Sixsmith 2341 . After the confirmation of minutes , a ballot was taken for W . M ., tho unanimous choice of the Lodge falling upon Bro . Walter Bowers S . W ., whose installation will take place at the meeting in January . Bro . Walton W . M . congratulated Bro . Bowers upon his election , assuring the members that the Lodge would be in capable hands .

To this the W . M .-elect replied in very suitable terms , promising the Brethren he would endeavour to perform any duties entrusted to him with credit to the Lodge . A vote was then taken for Treasurer , and upon the proposition of Bro . Slyman the name of Bro . Littler was submitted to the meeting , with the result that he was again elected . Bro . Littler , in thanking the Brethren for their continued confidence

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in him , reminded his listeners that he had occupied the position for ten consecutive years . Bro . Littler afterwards read a letter couched in the most friendly terms , which had recently been received from Bro . Peter Heaton P . M . P . P . G . S ., wherein the latter sincerely hoped that the Brethren would have a pleasant meeting , and that the unanimity which had so long characterised tho Urmston Lodgo would be maintained iu selecting a worthy

W . M . to preside over it . He requested that the recipient would convey his hearty good wishes to the W . M . and all the Brethren , saying how very thankful he was to Bro . Slyman and all those who spoke so kindly of him at the last meeting as an absent Brother . Bro . Heaton further wrote that he had read an account of the proceedings in the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE , and felt a pleasure in being so remembered .

Other business was transacted , after which Bro . Slyman delivered the Traditional History in the third degree . The Secretary then read the Antient Charges in the Book of Constitutions , and the Lodge was closed in peace and harmony . The usual festive board followed .

o o o ST . PETROG LODGE , No . 1785 . AT Padstow , on Tuesday , 3 rd inst ., the annual festival of St . John was celebrated , there being a large muster of members of the Lodge and Visiting Brethren . The ceremonv of installing G . B . Stribley was performed by Bro . W . H . Pope P . M . P . P . A . G . Sec .

The Brethren subsequently assembled at Bro . R . Lobb ' s Commercial Hotel , where an excellent dinner was provided . Tho usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were honour . 0 0 0

CENTURION LODGE , No . 2322 . A MOST successful annual gathering and Festival of St . John in connection with this military Lodgo was held at the Victoria Hotel , Manchester , on Monday , the 2 nd inst ., Bro . Major Fred Pratt W . M . The first business was that of confirming the minutes of the regular meeting held 7 th October , and the emergency meeting of 4 th November .

Very feeling references were made to the lamentable death of Bro . D . P . Schloss I . P . M ., a popular Manchester merchant , who , about a fortnight previously had been washed overboard one of the steamers while on a voyage from Cork to Liverpool , the body of the unfortunate Brother not having yet been recovered . The Secretary was instructed to communicate with the

wife of the deceased ( he had only recently been married ) , conveying to her the sympathy of all the Brethren in the sad bereavement which she had siustained . We may note that not only was the Lodge draped , as an evidence of further and silent sympathy , but the I . P . M . 's chair was left vacant during the evening .

A Board of Installed Masters was formed , and the ceremony of installing Brother Surg .-Capt . A . H . Smith into the chair of K . S . was begun , the work devolving upon Bros . Major Pratt I . P . M ., Col . Hy . L . Rocca P . P . G . J . D ., Col . Clark , and Capt . A . B . Wilkinson , under the direction of Brother Major Hopkins D . C .

Bro . Smith ultimately invested the newly-appointed Officers as follow : — Bros . Major Fred Pratt I . P . M ., Major Geo . Kershaw S . W ., Captain T . W . Ashworth J . W ., Rev . E . Bigoe Bagot P . P . G . C . Chaplain , Lieut .-Col . J . H . Clark P . P . G . D . Treasurer , Surg .-Capt . J . J . K . Fairclough Secretary , Rev . J . W . Challenor Prov . G . C . S . D ., Major J . P . Peacock J . D ., Major W . H , Hopkins P . P . G . D . C . D . C , Capt . P . Nightingale I . G ., Captain 0 . Samson Organist , Major A . W . Galloway and Captain A . J . Sykes Stewards .

The Festival of St . John was held in the Banqueting Room of the hotel , and was a very brilliant affair . Loyal and Masonic toasts were regularly proposed and honoured , those being pleasantly relieved by selections from the musical programme , which was under the direction of Bro . J . H . Greenwood , of the Manchester concerts .

The toast of the Grand Officers was responded to by Bro . J . H . Sillitoe P . M . 645 P . G . St . B ., who , after reminding his Auditors that some of the most prominent members of the Craft belonged to the military profession , said that he could count many very old and valued friends who were sitting around him at the tables , some of whom he named . He congratulated the Lodge

upon having selected such a capable Officer as Bro . Smitli to preside over them , adding that having known the newly-installed W . M . for many years , he could testify to the fact that he would be a creditable adjunct to the already large roll of Past Masters which the Centurion Lodge possessed . At the conclusion of his speech , which gave great sasisfaction , Bro . Sillitoe was warmly applauded .

Bro . Smith , in response to the toast of his health , ably proposed by Col . Rocca , said he thanked the Brethren most cordially for the honour they had conferred upon him in electing him to preside over them . For some time past he had had a desire to attain his present position , and had not relaxed

any efforts by study and attendance to qualify himself for it . He was very glad to be enabled to inform the Brethren that there were signs of work in front of him , and it was probable that before long there might be three initiations . In conclusion , he hoped that he might uphold the dignity of the Centurion Lodge , of which every member was justly proud .

The toast of the I . P . M . was given , Bro . Major Pratt responding . He said he felt grateful for the support he had received during tho past year from the various Officers of tho Lodge . He looked back on the meetings with pleasure , as nothing had occurred to disturb in the slightest degree that goodwill and harmony so conducive to the comfort and happiness of the Brethren . With such a list of Past Masters as the Centurion Lodge had ,

no young Brother need fear taking office , as assistance in working up the ritual was always at their command . He for one felt that he owed a debt of gratitude to many of the Past Masters for their kindly support and willing help . So , in joining the ranks of the Past Masters , he felt he could not do better than copy their good example , by freely and heartily promising the newly-elected Officers that his services should be at their disposal whenever called upon .

We may incidentally mention that during the year two of the principal chairs have been endowed , Bro . Major John Heap P . M . Prov . S . G . D . being responsible for the Master ' s , and the Lodge for that of the Senior Warden . Besides those already mentioned , there were present at the Lodge and banquet : —Bros . Col . John Eaton P . M . P . P . G . Treas . E . Lanes . P . P . S . G . W . Cheshire , Major James Andrew P . M . P . P . S . G . W ., Col . Henry Robinson P . M . P . P . G . R ., Major W . Compton Hall , Captain S . Brown , and Lieutenant Geo . Heys .

Visitors :-Bros . Wm . Wilkinson 44 and 1214 W . M . Prov . G . C , Henry Nail P . M . 1375 W . M . 2363 Prov . G . Treas . W . Lanes ., W . S . Boddington P . M . 1253 P . P . G . R ., C . Schuster P . M . 62 and 44 P . P . G . S . D ., Walter Newton P . M . 268 and 1322 W . M . 830 P . P . G . J . D ., John W . Hallam W . M . 1055 , E . Faulkner W . M . 2231 , Peter Bratt W . M . 2482 , and many others .