Reports Of Meetings.

PHCENIX LODGE OF ST . ANN , No . 1235 . THE annual festival and installation was held on Thursday , 6 th inst ., at the Town Hall , Buxton . Bro . W . Brierley W . M . opened the Lodge , and Bro . W . Broadberry was installed W . M ., Bro . Brierley being assisted by the Past Masters of the Lodge .

A Past Master s jewel was presented to . Brother Brierley , bearing a suitable inscription , in token of the great appreciation by the Brethren of his worth . Bro . J . M . McLeod Secretary Royal Masonic Institution for Boys made an eloquent statement of the position and prospects of that and the other charitable institutions connected with the Craft .

SQUARE AND COMPASS LODGE , No . 1336 . ON Tuesday , 4 th inst ., the installation of Bro . W . A . Fraser as W . M . took place at Wrexham , when there was a very large attendance from Wales and the border counties . The retiring Master Bro . Catterall was presented with a P . P . D . C . jewel of the Province of North Wales , on behalf of the members of the Lodge .

BOOTLE LODGE , No . 1473 . THE regular meeting was held on Thursday , 6 th inst ., at the County Hall , Bootle , when Brother Rawlinson I . P . M . delivered a lecture on Masonry , which was highly appreciated . Bro . Lea S . W . was unanimously elected Worshipful Master for the ensuing year , and received the congratulations of the Brethren .

FRIENDLY LODGE , No . 1513 . THE annual installation was held on the 6 th inst ., at the Masonic Hall , Barhsley , Bro . 3 . Spence Ingall being installed W . M .

ALBERT EDWARD LODGE , No . 1519 . ON Thursday , 30 th ult ., there was a large gathering at the Albion Hotel , Clayton-le-Moors , the occasion being the celebration of the festival of St . John the Evangelist , and installation of Brother John Wolstanholme as W . M .. by Bro . John James Tennant P . M . 1519 .

It is an understanding in this Lodge that all Brethren who have served the office of W . M . should present the Lodge with their photo , in full regalia . Bro . Jonathan Hihdle Calvert P . M . P . P . G . J . D . said he had much pleasure in complying with the custom , and handed to the W . M . a handsomely framed and excellent photo of himself in full Provincial regalia .

The W . M ., in accepting the photo , expressed on behalf of the Lodge his great appreciation of the gift , which he assured Bro . Calvert would be highly valued . 1 ; The W . M . having presented Brother Charles H . Wilmore with a Past Master ' s jewel , the Lodge was closed .

EARL SHREWSBURY LODGE , No . 1520 . THERE was a large assemblage at the Council Chamber , Cannock , on the 29 th ult ., on the occasion of the installation of Brother Rev . Oswald

Maugin Holden , B . C . L ., as Worshipful Master . Amongst those present were the Provincial Grand Master the Earl of Dartmouth , the Deputy Provincial Grand Master Colonel Bindley , the lull complement of the Officers of the local Lodge , and many visiting Brethren .

The usual toast list was honoured , and the gathering proved the most successful ever held in connection with the Lodge . The Worshipful Master , in proposing the health of the Earl of Dartmouth , remarked that their Provincial Grand Master came of a stock

who had always been known to do their duty , and Lord Dartmouth , they might be sure , would worthily carry out the duties which he had undertaken with regard to Masonry . He referred with gratification to an incident in the lives of his great grandfather and one of Lord Dartmouth ' s predecessors in the title .

The Provincial Grand Master , in replying , congratulated the retiring Master on ths admirable manner in which he had performed the ceremony of ths day . Speaking of some of the advantages of Masonry , he referred to his travelsi n Japan in 1873 , and to the fact that , though he had letters of introduction to high magnates in the country , his best assistance came from

a friendly Mason in Yokohama , who knew all the ropes . He thought one of the best points in Masonry was that they did not give any heed to differences of opinion in politics and religion . He referred to the proposal for establishing a foundation in the Orphan Asylum at Wolverhampton for the children of Masons in the Province , stating that the total sum required

would be about 700 guineas , and so far there had been actually paid or promised £ 206 from the various Lodges , £ 68 from the Chapters , £ 52 from P . G . Lodge , in addition to private donations , making altogether about £ 482 . He hoped , from the manner in which the proposal had been received by the Brethren

generally , that before the year was out the full requisite amount would be provided . The success of the fund was a matter of congratulation , because , as they knew , one of the chief aims of Freemasonry was to help those who were not in so good a position as themselves , and in that particular , he was glad to say , this Province had never failed .

ELLINGTON LODGE , No . 1566 . THE Worshipful Master of this Maidenhead Lodge , Bro . Chas . Batting , was the recipient , on Tuesday , 28 th ult ., of a presentation in the shape of an elegant silver cradle , with a salver , the latter inscribed : — Ellington Lodge , No . 1566 . Presented to

BRO . CHAS . BATTING W . M . by the members of the Lodge . 28 th January 1896 . The gift was in commemoration of an auspicious event in the family of tho W . M .

DUKE OF CONNAUGHT LODGE , No . 1834 . THE first regular meeting in the sixteenth year of the Lodge took place on Tuesday , 28 th ult ., at the Freemasons' Hall , Landport , when Bro . W . E . Duck was installed into the chair , and appointed his Officers for the ensuing yoar .

Reports Of Meetings.

MINERVA LODGE , No . 1942 . THE annual festival of St . John and installation of Bro . F . H . Darwin took place in the Lodge Room at the Town Hall , Fenton , on Tuesday , 2 at , h nit .

At the conclusion of the proceedings in Lodge , the Brethren travelled by special tramear to Longfcon , where the banquet was held at the Crown and Anchor Hotel , excellent cuisine arrangements having been made by Bro . Bennion P . M . 546 P . G . R . The Worshipful Master presided , and when as a

preliminary , being himself a recently installed benedict , he invited the married men to take wine with him , the company rose en masse , which was regarded as a remarkable testimony to the domestic virtues as associated with Freemasonry .

Bro . Stevenson proposed the health of the Earl of Dartmouth . His lordship , he said , was a gentleman in every sense of the word , was a personae grata at Court , and was proving himself a most efficient Provincial Grand Master . Nothing would give them greater pleasure than to see him present on some occasion at the Minerva Lodge .

MOLESWORTH LODGE , No . 1954 . THE annual festival was held at Wadebridge , on Monday , 3 rd inst ., when a goodly number of Brethren attended the installation of Bro . W . Lucy as W . M . The impressive ceremony was ably performed by Brother B . F . Edyvean P . G . W . of Cornwall , supported by a strong Board of Installed Masters .

GROVE LODGE , No . 1957 . THE installation meeting was held at the Cock Hotel , Hazel Grove , on Thursday , 30 th ult . Bro . J . P . Bardsloy installed Bro . J . D . Penney as W . M . for the ensuing year , and he appointed , invested and addressed his Officers .

The Treasurer ' s accounts were presented and adopted . During the evening a Past Master ' s jewel was presented to the retiring W . M . Brother H . Powell Jones , on behalf of the members of the Lodge . ;

FAIRFIELD LODGE , No . 2290 . ON Tuesday , 4 th inst ., the installation took place at the Lodge Rooms , 14 Fairfield Street , Fairfield , when Bro . R . G . Bradley P . P . G . D . C . was installed W . M . for the ensuing year by Bros . T . Bush , T . Vernon , and J . Hunter .

CENTURION LODGE , No . 2322 . THE regular meeting was held at the Victoria Hotel , Manchester , on the 3 rd , the following among others being present : —Bros . Surg .-Capt . Arthur H . Smith W . M ., Major Fred Pratt ' I . P . M ., Capt . Geo . Kershaw S . W ., Col . J . Howarth Clark , J . P ., P . M . Treas ., Surg .-Capt . J . J . Kent Fairclough Sec .,

Major John P . Peacock J . D ., Major W . H . Hopkins P . M ., Capt . O . Samson Organist , Capt . Arthur Galloway Std ., Col . Henry L . Rocca P . M ., Capt . Jas . Andrew P . M ., Capt . A . B . Wilkinson P . M ., Col . H . J . Robinson P . M . P . P . G . Reg ., Major D . E . Griffiths , Capt . Alan Sykes , Lieut . Geo . Heys , Major W . Crompton Hall , Major H . B . Moss , Lieut . J . N . Sidebottom .

Visitors : —Bros . H . J . Cutter P . M . Treasurer 44 , John Greaves 277 P . P . G . S . W ., Geo . D . Brookes J . W . 1009 . After the minutes of the meeting held 2 nd December , and the emergency meeting of 6 th January had been read and confirmed , ballots , which were

successful , were taken for Bros . Lieut . Joseph Boothby Pownall , Solictor , Capt . John W . Pollitt , Carrier , Capt . William Kershaw Bradley , Bank Manager , all of the 3 rd V . B . Manchester Regiment , and the Fidelity Lodge , No . 430 , who make their advent into the Centurion Lodge as joining members .

Messrs . Surg .-Lieut . John Turville Smith , and Capt . John Ellis Russell Hall , who had been balloted for on a previous occasion , were then initiated into antient Freemasonry , the former by his brother the Worshipful Master , and the latter by Bro . Col . Clarke . The ancient charge was delivered by

Bro . Major Hopkins . Lodge having been advanced , Bro . Major Henry Benjamin Moss was passed to the degree of F . C . by Bro . Smith W . M . after which the proceedings terminated in peace and harmony .

GOODACRE LODGE , No . 2495 . THE members assembled on Wednesday , 5 th inst ., at the County Hall , Bootle , when Bro . G . C . A . Moir S . W . was installed as W . M . for the ensuing year by Bro . John Fletcher P . P . G . S . D . In the course of the after proceedings the W . M . gave the toast of the

Immediate Past Master , and referred in eulogistic terms to the work Brother Platts had accomplished , to the respect in which he was held in Masonic circles generally , and in that Lodge in particular . On behalf of the members of the Goodacre Lodge he asked Bro . J . Platts to accept a silver loving cup , which bore the following inscription : —

Goodacre Masonic Lodge , No . 2495 , Presented by the Brethren to W . BRO . PLATTS P . M . P . P . G . S . W .

5 th Feb . 1896 . The cup was a beautiful specimen of the silversmith ' s art . Having been filled with champagne it was passed round , each guest pledging Bro , Platts .

In reply , the recipient of the presentation expressed his appreciation of the honour done him , and assured his hearers that his interest in Masonry never ceased , and he felt that in that Lodge they had a body of gentlemen who would do credit to the Order . The cup would be a lasting memento of their regard , and would ever remind him of their kindness . He hoped that their Lodge would go on and prosper , and do work in the interest of the art they loved so much .

A ball was held iu the Public Rooms , Selby , under the auspices of the St . Germain Lodge , No . 566 , on the 31 st ult ., the company numbering upwards of 100 .