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the I . P . M . they had a Brother who had done all he could , and of Bro . Page also he could not say too much . Every meeting he ( Bro . Whitehead ) had called with regard to the Lodge of Instruction and the ball Bro . Grant had attended . Thero could not be a better P . M . Bro . Gellion would havo been present , only he was out on a favourite pastime—shooting . Of Brother Whitehead ( the W . M . 's father ) he must say he had to be excused because he was very heavily laden with business at present .

Bro . Thomas Grant P . M ., replying to the toasfc , said ifc was a pleasure for any P . M . of tbe Scots Lodge to see such an array ol his Officers going on to tVie chair by progressive steps . Any P . M . ought to be proud of it . Bro . John Page P . M . said that anything the Past Masters could do for the Scots Lodge they wero ready to do , and that would always bo tho case . He had been delighted to see the work done so well by the W . M . that evening ; it was a credit to the Past Masters as well as to the Lodge .

All the Visitors obeyed the W . M . 's command to respond to the toast in their honour , and expressed the pleasure they had had in attending and seeing the work so well performed . Bro . Gordon J . D ., in responding to the toast of the Officers , said he had held a triple position that evening , but it had afforded him the pleasurable opportunity of seeing the completion of his introduction of Bro . Arnott into

Masonry . Although he had done Deacon ' s work several times he had never had the pleasure of assisting such a Brother—a Brother of such intellectual capacity . From tho way ho conducted himself it could be seen that Bro . Arnott had Masonry at heart , and he hoped he would be a member for many years to come . The Visitors had eulogised the working of the Lodge , and he

thought that eulogy justified the pride of the Lodge in having Bro . Joseph Whitehead as its W . M . Although ho was a young W . M ., they congratulated themselves on having such a young Master among them , and they would support him . While they had him it would always be their endeavour to support him to the utmost of their ability , and in saying this he was stating the views of all the Officers of the Lodge .

Bro . W . Craig I . G . also responded , and said that while the W . M . gave him any duties to perform he should be only too pleased to perform them . The proceedings closed with " Auld Lang Syne . "

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

LOYALTY LODGE , No . 86 . ON Wednesday , 27 th ult ., Bro . R . H . Durie was installed W . M . at the Lodge Room , King ' s Arms Hotel , Prescot , by Bro . Trucsdale W . M . There was a large gathering at the initial , as well as at the subsequent proceedings .

o o o PHCENIX LODGE , No . 94 . THE annual meeting was held on the 4 th inst ., in the Freemasons' Hall , Queen Street , Sunderland , Bro . W . Watson W M . Bro . M . Cohen W . M .-elect was presented by Bro . G . Wanless P . M ., and

was installed by Bro . Wm . Vincent P . G . O . P . M . 94 . The annual banquet was held in the evening at the Palatine Hotel . The health of the W . M . Bro . M . Cohen was proposed by the Eev . Dr . Randall , and received in a vory enthusiastic manner , the W . M . suitably responding .

LOYAL CAMBRIAN LODGE , No . 110 . ON Thursday , 5 th inst ., a large and important gathering of the Freemasons of Merthyr , Rhymney , Tredegar , Aberdare , Cardiff , and other places took place at the Masonio Hall , Merthyr , in response to an invitation by Bro . D . A . Thomas W . M .

Brother Thomas , whose year of office now expires , was unavoidably and unexpectedly absent in London , and Col . D . R . Lewis P . M . officiated as W . M . instead . The attendance of visitors was unusually numerous . After the Lodge proceedings the company adjourned to the Globe Hotel , where they sat down to an excellent banquet .

BRITISH UNION LODGE , No . 114 .

THE anniversary meeting was held at the Freemasons' Hall , Ipswich , on Thursday , 5 th inst ., when there was a large and influential gathering of Brethren to witness the installation of Bio . Percy F . Wainwright as W . M . for the ensuing year .

The Visitors included Brother Edward Letchworth , F . S . A ., Grand Secretary of England , who most impressively performed the ceremony of Installation . A Jewel was presented to the I . P . M ., bearing the following

inscription—Presented to the Worshipful Master BRO . T . B . READ , by the Brethren of the British Union Lodge , at the conclusion of his notable year .

5 th December 1895 . Bro . Read acknowledged the gift in felicitous terms . The installation banquet was subsequently held , thc usual toasts being honoured .

HARMONY LODGE , No . 156 . THE members unanimously elected Bro . G . H . Widger as W . M ., and HF . Hearle as Treasurer for the ensuing year , on the occasion of the regular meeting at Plymouth , on Monday , 2 nd inst .

FAITH AND UNANIMITY LODGE , No . 417 . THE election meeting was held on Wednesday , 4 th inst ., at the Masonic Hall , Dorchester , on which occasion Bro . J . Neville S . W . was chosen for the chief Office in the Lodge for the coming year .

CORNUBIAN LODGE , No . 450 . THE annual meeting to celebrate the festival of St . John and tho installation of the W . M .-elect Bro . Dr . J . M . Nicholl , was held on Thursday , 5 th inst ., at Hayle . There was a good attendance of Brethren of

Provincial.

the Lodgo , and Visitors , amongst whom tho W . M .-elect was well-known and respected . After the Lodge was closed the Brethren adjourned to the Banqueting Hall , where the Loyal and Masonic toasts were given and responded to .

MUNDY GROVE LODGE , No . 506 . 11 HE installation took place at the Boat Inn , Shipley Gate , on Tuesday , 3 rd inst ., when Bro . John Sheldon S . W . was placed in the chair , the installation ceremony being performed by Bros . John Holbrook P . M ., and Richard Wilkes P . M . P . Z . P . P . S . G . D .

After the subsequent banquet the Loyal and Masonic toasts were heartily responded to . Over sixty Brethren from Derbyshire and the surrounding Provinces attended .

TEES LODGE , No . 509 . ON the occasion of the meeting held at Stockton , on Thursday , 5 th inst ., Bro . Herbert Cheetham , of Yarm , was installed Master , in succession to Bro . Fred . N . Dodds , M . A .

ST . MARTIN LODGE , No 510 . rflHE election meeting was held on Tuesday , 3 rd inst ., at Liskeard , when J .. Bro . Richard Paull S . W . was chosen as Master , T . White P . M . P . P . G . S . of W . Treas ., and R . Penwarden Tyler for the ensuing year .

ST . HELEN LODGE , No . 531 . THE annual installation took placo on Thursday , 5 th inst ., at Hartlepool , when the W . M .-elect Bro . R . Jack was impressively installed by Aid T . Richardson , M . P ., I . P . M .

Subsequently a banquet was provided by Host Bufcterwick at the King's Head Hotel , the W . M . presiding . Several Visiting Brethren were present from adjacent towns .

LOYAL VICTORIA LODGE , No . 557 . THE members have elected Bro . W . Symons as W . M ., C . T . Pearce as Treasurer for the 40 th time in succession , T . C . Betty Almoner , ondF . C . Netting Tyler .

BOSCAWEN LODGE , No 699 . AT the meeting at the Masonic Rooms , Chacewater ,. on Monday , 2 nd inst ., Bro . Richard Davey S . W . was unanimously elected W . M . for the coming year , W . A . Bennett P . M . P . P . G . St . B . Treasurer , and John Paul Tyler .

STAFFORDSHIRE KNOT LODGE , No . 726 . THE members hold a ball at the Borough Hall , Stafford , on Wednesday , 27 th ult ., under the patronage of thc Provincial Grand Master , tne Deputy , and many other leading Brethren of the district . This was the first Masonic ball for some time past , but it is hoped it will now become an annual event .

RESTORMEL LODGE , No . 856 . AT the regular monthly meeting , held in the Old Duchy Palace , Lostwithiel , on Thursday , 5 th inst ., Bro . E . V . Bryant S . W . was elected W . M . for the ensuing twelve months by the unanimous vote of the Brethren . Bro . R . Pease was also unanimously elected Treasurer , and Bros . R . Wherry

and W . T . Bassett Auditors for the samo period . The installation will take place on the first Thursday in the New Year . It was resolved to give a concert under the auspices of the Lodge , in aid of the Masonic Charities , in January next .

ST . ANNE'S LODGE , No . 970 . THE election' meeting of tho Lodge was held on Wednesday , 4 th inst ., at East Looe , the choice of the members falling on Bro . V . J . Maddock as W . M ., and on Bro . John Grossman P . M . P . P . A . G . D . C . as Treasurer . The installation and banquet are fixed for the 8 th prox .

ROYAL CLARENCE LODGE , No . 976 . THE installation of Bro . J . Lock as W . M . took place on Thursday , 5 th inst ., at Burton , the ceremony being performed by Bro . R . C . Else D . P . G . M . Somerset P . G . D . England . A number of Visitors attended from Yeovil , Frome , Wincanton , & c .

KINGSTON LODGE , No . 1010 . ON Wednesday , 4 th inst ., the Brethren assembled at thc Masonic Hall , Kingston Square , Hull , to witness the installation of Bro . Charles Judge S . W . as Worshipful Master for the ensuing year .

Thc ceremony was rendered in a most impressive manner by Bro . Dr . H . Woodhouse , LL . D ., P . P . G . R ., and a hearty vote of thanks was accorded him and Bros . George Bohn and Colonel Pudsey for their efficient services iu connection with the work . The Brethren adjourned for the annual banquet .

Bro . Dr . Harling Sissons D . P . G . M ., in responding to one of the toasts , claimed that Masons wero amongst tho t-aruest workers in thc world , and they had a noble mission to perform . It was a great privilege to belong to Freemasonry , and thoie connected with it had gireit responsibilities . He was glad tho world in general began to think better of the Craft , and were

recognising that it had high ideals ana existed ior noble purposes . He earnestly impressed upon every member the absolute necessity of living up to thc three great principles and lencts of the Order , viz ., that it was their duty to help religion , to encourage the Brotherhood which helped the world to work more smoothly , aud lastly , to recognise the practical sympathy and support they were ever ready to accord to the poor and distressed Sla & on .