The Lord Mayor And The Freemasons.

THE LORD MAYOR AND THE FREEMASONS .

THE Lord Mayor of London is just now a prominent figure in English Freemasonry . On Tuesday he was installed as Worshipful Master of the

Drury Lane Lodge , No . 2127 , on which occasion an assemblage far more brilliant than is usually witnessed in connection with a Masonic meeting was gathered together at the Mansion House , where , by

dispensation from the Grand Master , the ceremonies of the day were performed ; while on the previous Friday he was the recipient of a special gift from the Lodge of Israel , of which he is a Past Master , in

recognition oi ins elevation to tne dignity oi hrst magistrate of the City of London . Looking forward wo find him pledged to preside at the Anniversary Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution ,

which will take place on Wednesday , the 26 th instant , on which occasion we hope ' the gathering will be as grand as that of Tuesday last , and that the result of his lordship ' s advocacy then may elicit as hearty a

response as was accorded nim in ins own Lodge , at the Mansion House , on the occasion of his installation . Next Monday Sir Henry Isaacs is expected at the Aldersgate Lodge , No . 1657 , when Bro . Arthur B .

Hudson will be installed as Worshiplul Master . In addition to this there are other meetings , which if not actually arranged by the Lord Mayor , will at least have his attention at the proper time , and his

presidency m the honoured post of chief Magistrate of the City promises to be as brilliant as any that have preceded it , from a Masonic point of view .

The gathering oi Tuesday last at the Mansion House was indeed a brilliant affair . It has fittingly been described as probably the first occasion in the history of the Craft in this country on which a

Worshipful Master was so honoured as to be installed at his own residence , and certainly the first occasion of a Lord Mayor entertaining his Lodge under such conditions . A number of fortunate circumstances combined

to bring about tins nappy coincidence . Jbirst may be mentioned the fact of the Lord Mayor being a Freemason , next the good luck that caused his installation into the chair of his Lodge during his term of office ,

in the City , and last , but not least , the peculiar surroundings of the Lodge over which he now presides , and which has justly been termed one of the most important in the world , drawing its members from

some oi the leading professions oi the day , and that , too , in a most cosmopolitan manner . The grandeur of the meeting has been described as imposing , but that hardly conveys a fair idea of the sight which

met the view oi those who were fortunate enough to be among the company . There was a more brilliant gathering of Grand Officers than is usually witnessed ,

even at important assemblages oi u-rand Lodge , while the attractions of the historical building in which the meeting was held will fairly vie with those of the

The Lord Mayor And The Freemasons.

Masonic Temple itself . The whole of the surroundings were of the most gratifying character , and everything combined to make this unique assembly as

much of a success as could possibly be desired . No Worshipful Master of a Lodge ever started his year of office with more hearty and sincere wishes of

success than were showered upon Sir Henry Isaacs on Tuesday . We must not , however , lose the opportunity to

offer a welcome for the coming guest as well as speed the parting one . There is an event looming in the near future which , we are pleased to say , is regarded

by the Lord Mayor with equal enthusiasm and with equal pleasure as any thing he felt in connection with his own installation as Master of the Drury Lane

Lodge . If ever one of our Institutions had an enthusiastic Chairman to preside over its Anniversary Festival , the Benevolent Institution is in that position

this year . Lord Mayor Isaacs has proved himself not merely an ornamental president . He has personally urged the claims of those for whom he is to plead k

on the 2 bth , and more tiian one new worker has been secured for the good cause through his personal efforts . The subject was briefly touched upon by some of the

speakers on Tuesday , notably by the lit . Hon . the Jwl of Euston , to > hom was entrusted the proposition of the toast of the Masonic Charities . He hoped that all who were present that evening would do something to

support their present Chairman in the good work he had undertaken , and it is but fair to expect' some tangible addition to the funds of the Charity from

the appeal then put forward . Brother James Terry , the Secretary of the Institution , was particularly happy in his reply , which , like all the speeches on the occasion , was commendably brief , and to the point .

. Perhaps the remarks oi Bro . J . ( J . Parkinson earlier in the evening , when he acknowledged the toast of the Installing Officer , expressed the views of the other speakers , each of whom appeared to act as

though they recognised the fact of being " before a body of accomplished experts , each a competent critic , and all accustomed to critize—the very flower of the Craft . " Bro . Terry referred to the Mansion

House as being the medium tor receiving large sums for distribution in benevolence , and he thought it would be a very good thing for them to pay the Lord Mayor the compliment of contributing

largely in support of his chairmanship for the Benevolent Institution—a sentiment that must be endorsed by those- outside who have the interests of charity at heart .

Our readers are too well aware of the many calls made year by year on the Benevolent Institution to need any lengthy details from us on the present occasion . There are a large number of aged

Craftsmen , and an equally long array of widows , annually receiving handsome annuities from the funds of this Charity , in support of which the members of the Craft will assemble , as we ha ^ je already said , on the 26 th inst ., under the presidency of the Lord Mayor .