Reports Of Meetings.

REPORTS OF MEETINGS .

We shall 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 : — GRAET : METROPOLITAN .

JOPPA LODGE , No . 188 . THI S Lodge had a very successful meeting on Monday , the 2 nd inst ., when the Brethren had to fulfil their annual duty of electing a new Master for the coining year . The Lodgo was very numerously attended in support of Bro . M . Siegenberg , who was to preside for the whole evening for the last time during his year . He was strongly supported by Past Masters of the Lodge , among whom were Brothers A . G . Dodson , L . Lazarus , H . Lazarus , Botibol , Garrard , Cohen and Weigal ; with several visitors .

All the three Degrees had to bo worked . The W . M . initiated Messrs . Paul Joseph Israel and Daniel Kozininski , and raised Bro . Reinemann ; while Past Master Garrard passed Bros . Brewer and Craig . The Brethren then elected Bro . the Rev . S . J . Roco S . W . as their Master for the coming year , re-elected Brother Lyon their Treasurer , and Bro . Ives their Tyler ; afterwards electing five Brethren to serve on the Board of Management , two Auditors for the samo Board , eight Brethren to serve on tho Board of Benevolence , and two Auditors for that Fund .

A voto of thanks and a Past Master ' s jewel were agreed to for Brother Siegenberg , for which that worthy Brother expressed his acknowledgments and his assurance that ho had done his best for the Lodge and the Brethren in his year . Bro . Garrard P . M ., having succeeded in his motion " That in future ten guineas be voted from the Lodgo Funds for providing the outgoing Master with a jewel , and no further collection made , " the Lodge was closed and banquet partaken of .

A full programme of musical entertainment was provided , in which Miss Mary Beynon , Miss Lilla Rosenberg , Brother Edouard Delevanti , Mr . Dion Lane , and Bro . Bainbridge Hardwicko took part , and the usual toasts were honoured . Bro . Weigal P . M . proposed the W . M ., and said it was the last time he should havo the privilege of doing so . It was a pleasure as well as a privilege

to perform that duty , as the toast was one that would be received with the greatest enthusiasm , Brother Seigenberg having passed a year of peace and harmony . They found in him a man who supported the charities , the principle of Masonry , what Masonry ought to be . Ho had never been absent from his duty and had always had Brotherly meetings of the Lodge . The Brethren wero with him all the timo and would be with him in his

outgoing time . Brother Siegenberg W . M . responded . Ho said it was a very great gratification to him to witness tho enthusiasm with which the toast had been received , it was quite proof enough to him that the Brethren considered he had done his duty in his year of office . The enthusiasm was not deceptive , it would have been different if they had not been sincere . He

might not have done everything to please the Brethren , but so long as a man was truthful and honourable , and they believed a man to be honest , it was the custom to respect him , and if ho had not a perfect quality of delivering the ritual they would bear with him . He ( the W . M . ) was not an eloquent man ; many eloquent men wero very bad and wicked men . It was the

heart that spoke , and it was the action of men they should judge . If he had done anything dishonourable let them tell bim . He was glad to be a member of the Joppa Lodge ; he might not always be , but it would always have his support . It would be a great pleasure to him when he got the jewel , because it would be handed down to his sons and show them that he had done somo good in his life .

In proposing the toast of tho Initiates , Bro . Siegenberg said he hoped they would try and do what they could in Masonry , which had three charitable Institutions , the Boys , the Girls and the Old People . Masonry stood upon charity , and for those Institutions Masons did all they could . Bros . Kozininski and Israel both responded , expressing their gratification at becoming members of the Lodge of Joppa , to which they wished prosperity .

Bro . Siegenberg W . M . proposed the I . P . M . and the Past Masters , as the hour was late . The Past Masters were always ready to assist , as the Brethren had repeatedly seen , particularly that evening , when Bro . Garrard at his request performed the second degree . Bro . Dodson also , who had always done good service to the Lodge , and saw that the Brethren ' s wishes were carried out at the banquet table .

Bro . B . Weigal I . P . M . replied . There was no question about it that this Lodge , like others , owed much to the Past Masters . Without Past Masters Ledges would fare badly . The Past Masters had the greatest wish to assist the W . M . in his duties , and if he was in want of any Officer he had only to call on tho Past Masters , and they were ready to perform the absent Officer's duty . He was certain the Past Masters of the Lodge of Joppa were not behind the Past Masters of other Lodges—but always ready to give their support not only in the Lodge , but on Committees .

Bro . Siegenberg W . M . next said he was now going to propose a very important toast—a toast which Lodges only got once a year , but by mistake of his it had been omitted from the programme . It was the toast of tho W . M .-elect . In the selection the Brethren had made of Bro . Roco they had made thc best choice tho Lodge of Joppa had ever experienced . He ( the W . M . ) was not one of thoso who spoke well of a man unless he spoke truthfully

and he would say that in Bro . Roco they had a most distinguished Brother , one any Lodge ought to be proud of , and he was certain the Lodge of Joppa would be proud of him . Bro . Roco held a goodly calling ; he would sit in the Lodge with good credentials ; he brought a goodly record ; he had been a Minister of the Jewish faith for over twenty-six years—a record that not only Bro . Roco was himself proud of , but that tbey were all proud

of . It was a proud day for thc Lodge that he was going to be its W . M , Bro . Roco had many duties to perform . Perhaps no one was more open to criticism than ministers of religion . They had to give to eveiyone ; if they did not they were criticised more than laymen . Bro . Roco wns never approached without responding to the call of pity . He knew that , and he

said from the bottom of his heart he hoped that Bro . Roco would have the Brethren's support . He had duties outside tho Lodge more difficult than any duties in it ; he was a Brother that would not disgrace the chair , for having attended constantly Lodges of Instruction , he could regularly perform all the threo degrees . Bro . the Rev . S . J . Roco W . M .-elect , in acknowledging the kind words of the W . M . and the enthusiastic reception of them by the Brethren , said he had

Reports Of Meetings.

had the honour of being elected , and the W . M . had spoken of him very kindly after knowing him all his life . He had been many years minister of the Portuguese Synagogue . Ever since he came to this country ho had been well received wherever he had been , and tin words of the Jewish Law were realised in every respect— " Ye shall love the stranger . " He came here a stranger , but he received the Brotherly hand kindlv held out to him . It was

so in the Lodge of Joppa when he entered it at a time when there was not the harmony , Brotherly love , and kindly feeling which now existed . It was not pleasant to refer to , but he was happy to say matters had improved , and the Brethren might congratulate themselves that those who came to upset laws , rules and ordinances had gone , and that the Lodge was now all Brethren together . " How beautiful is it that Brethren dwell together in

unity , " they said with the Psalmist . They having elected him ( Bro . Roco ) to be their W . M .. he would only say he would do justice to the office ; ho would do everything in his power for the welfare of tho Lodge and for the Brethren individually whether there or elsewhere . The Brethren might depend upon it that it was through attending the Lodge of Instruction in connection with the Lodge of Joppa that he obtained his knowledge of

Masonic ritual . They had the pleasure of having tw ) Initiates that evening , he would recommend them to go to the Joppa Lodge of Instruction and acquire there that knowledge which they should have as Masons , particularly if they aspired to Office at any time in the Lodgo . As far as his humble abilities were concerned , nothing should be wanting on his part to do his

duty as so many Masters present and past had done , particularly the Master who had presided over them that evening . He had taken the opportunity in the Lodge of congratulating the W . M ., but he did it again . He wished the W . M . and all the Brethren another year of prosperity , and that they might enjoy health and prosperity for many years to come .

The toast of the Treasurer , the Secretary , and the Joppa Benevolent Fund followed , and was responded tn by Bro . B . Weigal P . M . Several Brethren reponded to tho toast of the Visitors , principally Bros . Kauffmann , Terrell and Dancyger . The Junior Warden replied to the toast of the Senior and Junior Wardens . The toast of the Officers was then given and acknowledged , and the Tyler finished the pleasures and duties of the day .

SCOTS LODGE , No . 2319 . THIS Lodge held its St . Andrew ' s meeting at tho Scottish Corporation Hall , Crano . Court , London , On the 28 th ult ., under the presidency of Bro . Joseph J . Whitehead WiM . There were present on the occasion Bros . Thomas Grant I . P . M ., John Page P . M ., James Thomson S . W ., H . Massey 160 P . M . 619 and 1928 Acting

J . W ., Alexander Ritchie , J . P ., Treas ., D . A . Ross Sec , E . J . Gordon P . M . J . D ., W . Craig LG ., J . Anderson D C , A . Gordon Organist , W . Laurie and T . Sandilands Stewards , W . Robertson Tyler , Peter Maclean Piper , A . D . Arnott , Peter Black , J . D . Balfour , D . Smith , J . M . Barclay , A . Macgregor , J . Plenderleith , J . Nicol , A . Whitehead , A . J . Macmaster , D . Charteris , J . Macgregor , J . Bennett .

Visitors : —Bros . C . T . Thomas P . M . Secretary 1598 , J . Featherstone 1656 , P . F . Matier Secretary 2205 , E . Churchman W . M . 1425 , J . Lamb 1672 , and 0 . Alstrom P . M . 2374 . After the minutes of the former meeting had been read and confirmed the Auditors' Report on the Ball account was taken and adopted , and the general feeling expressed that there had not been a more successful gathering in connection with the Lodge than the last ball .

Brother A . D . Arnott was raised to the third degree , the W . M . and his Officers performing their work admirably . Communications were read by the Secretary from Bros . Dr . Forbes S . W ., regretting his inability to attend on account of not having sufficiently recovered from his accident , and from Bro . D . F . Gellion P . M ., who was prevented attending hy being away from town , hoping the Brethren would enjoy themselves and not separate without a reel . The W . M ., in the name of the Brethren , regretted these absences as well as the absence of Bro . John Whitehead P . M .

After the transaction of some other business the Brethren proceeded to banquet , which was excellently provided in Scottish fashion . The usual toasts followed , and the speeches , which were very brief , were interspersed with some capital vocal music by Bros . Churchman , W . Laurie , Ashley Gordon , Arnott , and Nicol .

Brother Thomas Grant I . P . M . proposed the W . M . Every Brother must be as proud of Bro . Whitehead as he was . It was a very great pleasure for any P . M . of a Lodge to have such a W . M ., and all the members would rally round him . They had witnessed the style in which during his year he had performed the ceremonies of passing and raising , which was an earnest of the way in whieh he would do the installation when it next came round .

Bro . J . J . Whitehead W . M ., in responding , said what little things he might had done during his year of office ho could assure the Brethren he was heartily repaid for by the enthusiasm they had shown that evening for the efforts he had made . He felt confident that the Brethren who would follow him would not do less than he had done , for the enthusiasm of the Brethren would spur them on to achive success . He himself deserved no

thanks . The Lodge of Instruction was formed not by bim , but by the Brethren who had come up and supported him . This went a long way to prove that for enthusiasm no Lodge in London could beat the Scots Lodge . Bro . Alex . Ritchie , J . P ., CO ., Treasurer , in replying to the toast of the Trustee , the Treasurer and the Secretary , said that after all the Secretary was the Brother in the Lodge who did the wbrk , ' he'had the gripof the £ . s . d .

and knew what all the Brethren owed . St . Andrew ' s Day was the great day in the sacred walls of the Scottish Corporation , whero they were doing a most charitable work . They had to be up and doing . Dr . Forbes , who was not able to walk without crutches , was as jolly and happy as ever , and the mantle that had fallen on the W . M . was not going to be disgraced on the 30 th . He bad 20 or 30 guineas , and if the Brethren could give him an extra

guinea he hoped they would do so . It was his pride and privilege to know this place was crowded with recipients of bounty , people who , through no fault of their own had been brought down , old people who had been brought up in comfort , but who had lost husbands or sons who were their supports The cases were all carefully looked into by the Committee . And after all

Freemasonry was devoted to charity . No charity was equal to it . It had its School for Girls , its School for Boys , and its Institution for the Aged , and when they considered that as much as £ 02 , 000 was subscribed in one year to these Institutions , it was a great work to do . Scotsmen were not to be left behind that . He asked the Brethren to rally round the Stewards of the Scottish Corporation St . Andrew ' s Day .

Bro . D . A . Ross Secretary also replied , and was glad his energy was exerted in such a good cause . Brother J . J . Whitehead W . M ., in proposing the Past Masters , said they had some of the most worthy men a Lodge could possess . They always gave to everything proposed by thc W . M ., which was most gratifying . In