Meetings In The Metropolis.

ST . MICHAEL LODGE , No . 211 . THE one hundred and first installation meeting of this good old Lodge took place on Tuesday , at the Albion , Aldersgate Street , under the happiest auspices . Bro . George Cockrell W . M . opened the Lodge about five o ' clock , when

there were present Bros . Alfred Green P . M ., W . Radchffe P . M ., P . J . King P . M ., Alexander Dickson P . M ., W . J . Dyer P . M ., 0 . J . Groves P . M . 742 , G . J . Austin P . M . 1791 , F . J . Burton W . M . 1672 , G . E . Higginson P . M . 1791 , R . H . Catling P . M . 2157 , Arthur E . Mullins J . W . 1446 , James Smith 174 , R . N . Larter , Thos . Rayner 2432 , L . G . Hammond 1524 , G . W . Goss 176 , 1 . H . S . Harrison 194 , F . A . Harrison 1671 , and others .

Brother Howard E . Mullins , who was initiated at the last meeting , was passed to the second degree ; the report of the Audit Committee , which was highly favourable , was received ; a Committee for the general purposes of the Lodge was elected ; and relief granted to two distressed Masons , formerly distinguished members of the Lodge . After this Bro . Arthur B . Spawforth W . M .-elect was presented and took the obligation , being subsequently installed into the chair . Both ceremonies were admirably rendered by Bro . Cockrell , and the delivery of the addresses evoked the liveliest appreciation of the Lodge .

The new Master invested his Officers as follow : —Cecil B . Mount S . W ., Albert H . Collings J . W ., Alfred Green P . M . Treasurer , William Radclifie P . M . Secretary , Ernest Collings S . D ., W . W . Colley J . D ., Frederick W . Berry I . G ., Orlton Cooper P . M . D . C , T . G . Johnson Organist , Henry Lindfield Steward , Barnes Tyler . Brother Spawforth having received congratulation of the Brethren then closed the Lodge .

One of the usual excellent Albion banquets followed , and the toasts which were afterwards proposed were interspersed by some fine singing by Miss F . Seccombe Bennett , Miss Helen Saunders , Charles Tilbury , and Fred Humble , Bro . A . H . Dalley of the Royal Carl Rosa Opera Co . accompanying on the piano . After the Loyal toasts , Bro . Cockrell I . P . M . proposed the W . M . Bro . A . B . Spawforth , and said that in Brother Arthur Bingley Spawforth the St . Michael Lodge had a thoroughly good Master . The Brethren were aware

that Bro . Spawforth had had a slight jump in coming into the chair , but still the Brethren and visitors who had been in the Lodge had seen the way in which he had done his work in investing his Officers , and they would all confess he had performed it in a perfectly Masonic style . Ever since he had known Bro . Spawforth he had found hirn a thoroughly good worker in all the offices of the- St . Michael Lodge , and he was certain they would find him as Master a Brother perfectly capable to carry out the work . It was the Worshipful Master ' s intention to do so and to keep up the reputation of the good old St . Michael Lodge .

Bro . Spawforth , in reply , said he hardly knew how to thank Brother Cockrell enough for the optimistic views he had expressed , or for the Brethren ' s cordial reception of them ; but he could say sincerely that since he came into the Lodge his highest ambition—as it should be with every initiate—was to occupy the chair of the Lodge as he did at that moment . He had now attained the height of his ambition , and he would

leave nothing undone to render his year of office most acceptable to the members of the Lodge . He had been in other Lodges and had kept his eyes open as well as his ears , and by that course had seen how the work should be done . He wished to pay a tribute to the Lodge of Instruction , which was under the presidency of a Brother now present , Bro . Higginson P . M ., for that Lodge of Instruction , had taught him the greater practical part of the knowledge he now possessed of the work and the ceremonies .

The W . M . next proposed the I . P . M ., which he considered the toast of the evening , because Brother George Cockrell had been in the chair twelve months , and had executed all the work of the Lodge in , a thoroughly able and efficient manner . The Brethren had seen it , and they had also had the satisfaction of seeing him perform the ceremony of installation . If any Brethren had cause to feel deeply impressed with the solemnity of the obligations they took , and with the objects of Freemasonry as expounded by

Brother Cockrell , it was those Brethren who had seen him go through the different ceremonies . Speaking only for himself he was particularly grateful to Bro . Cockrell for the way in which he performed the ceremony of installation ; it had impressed his heart , and would never be effaced from his memory . In addition to being such a good Mason Brother Cockrell was

a good man , one whom ho was proud to call a friend of his own . The Brethren gave him their best wishes , and as a token of the regard in which they held him they had voted him a Past Master's jewel , which he now pinned on his breast . It was " the outward and visible sign " of the esteem in which they held him . The jewel was never placed on the bosom of a Brother more worthy .

Bro . George Cockrell , who was received with enthusiastic cheers on rising to respond to the toast , said the duty cast upon him was , to a man who had anything of a heart in him , one of great responsibility . It had been his great ambition since he took office in the Lodge to gain the position of W . M ., and after that to have a Past Master ' s jewel presented to him . He now stood before the Brethren with that honour conferred . He had tried his " level best" in every office he had held in the Lodge to do his duty as

efficiently as he could . The Brethren knew what an excitable year it had been for the Lodge , as it had been its centenary year , and if the celebration of that centenary had been a success—which everyone acknowledged it had been—he was thoroughly repaid for any efforts he had made to bring it to a glorious issue . There was not a Brother in the Lodge who did not know he had Freemasonry at heart , and that he was always trying to do everything he could in its interest . He had stood a Steward for one of the Charities ,

and had taken up a sum that the Brethren might be proud of . He was also one of the executive of the Lodge of Instruction , which he was proud to say was going on splendidly . During the last two years it had paid £ 1 a week into the Masonic Charities , and for the next two years it had a guarantee to pay a guinea a week to the same Institutions . He had worked in this cause , and he adduced the fact to show the interest he took in Freemasonry . As regarded the performance of his duties that night , he had to say it had . been

his ambition to instal his successor . This was wrought perhaps by the Preceptor of the Lodge of Instruction Bro . Higginson , who had said he had done the ritual very well , and ought to instal the W . M . He did so , and the Brethren had applauded him that evening for the way in which he had performed the task . He exhorted all the Brethren to attend Lodges of Instruction , where they would learn to do the work as it ought to be done . He begged the Brethren to accept his hearty thanks for the beautiful jewel the Lodge had voted .

Bros . Rowe and Higginson responded to the toast of the Visitors , Brother Rowe stating that it was good to work the ceremonies all though as well as the installation . The Brethren who saw the work that evening must have been highly gratified , as the Installing Master did his work magnificentl y , and his worthy successor ought to have a good year of office . Brother Higginson said he should mention nothing about the Lodge of Instruction , except to repeat the words of the W . M . —they had done what

Meetings In The Metropolis.

every Mason tried to do . They were proud of the amount of money they had sent to the Charities . St . Michael Instruction Lodge was doing a vast amount of good , both in teaching members the ritual , and in training Brethren to become good Officers of Lodges . The I . P . M ., as Steward of their Lodge , took up 150 guineas to the Girls School Festival in 1895 . Bro . Spawforth , in proposing the Treasurer , Secretary , and Past Masters , referred to the excellent work these Brethren had done for the Lodge and for the Charities .

Bro . Green P . M . Treasurer , replying , said he had always been ready to assist the Lodge . As Treasurer he had tried to keep the finances within bounds , so as to be satisfactory to every member . They had a good balance , and had also materially assisted the charities . The Lodge had given during the past year three separate donations to the charities , a thing it had never done before . This showed that they all took a real interest in Masonry .

Bro . Radcliffe P . M . and Secretary also responded . Anything the Past Masters could do for the interest of the St . Michael Lodge all these Brethren would do . He had been twenty-one years in the Lodge , which was his Mother Lodge , and this was the thirteenth year he had been appointed its Secretary . He supposed he must have done the work properly , or he would not have been re-appointed .

Bro . Orlton Cooper P . M . said the Officers were ready and willing to support the W . M . to the best of their ability . The toast of the Officers was given and responded to , and the Tyler ' s toast closed the proceedings .

FIDELITY LODGE , No . 3 . THE installation meeting of this Lodge , held on Wednesday , 12 th inst ., at Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen Street , was in every way a success , the large number of Brethren who were present testifying in the most hearty manner to the general excellence of all that was undertaken , albeit the business that was transacted was of a heavy and varied character , including the three degrees in addition to the Installation , and necessitating a very long sitting .

The Lodge was called for 3-30 p . m . and no delay took place in getting to work , Bro . John Cooper the Master of the past year undertaking the whole of the four ceremonies , and displaying wonderful powers of memory in the delivery of the different portions of the ritual . In due course Bro . Harold Imray was installed into the chair , and appointed the following as his Officers : Bros . H . J . Gregory S . W ., F . Shepherd J . W ., G . Low P . M . Treasurer , Dr . S . R . Lovett P . M . Secretary , Dr . Fallon P . Wightwick S . D ., G . S . Dixon . J . D ., John Falconer I . G ., A . W . G . Weekes P . M . D . C , R . Sebastian Hart Organist and R . F . Potter P . M . Tyler .

The ceremony of installation being regularly completed and the general business disposed of the Lodge was closed , and the Brethren adjourned to the banquet , after which the customary toast list was gone through , this portion of the day ' s work being pleasantly relieved by an excellent Musical entertainment , under the direction of Bro . John Probert , whose personal ability as a vocalist was ably supplemented by the talented artistes who supported him , these being Miss Katie Thomas , Miss Bessie Dore , Miss Adelina Dinelli , Bro . Wilson James and Mr . Ralph Norris ( at the piano ) .

The Worshipful Master introduced his remarks with the observation that as the hour was late and there was a long programme of music to go through the speeches would be cut very short . He contented himself , accordingly , with merely submitting the customary Loyal sentiments , calling upon Gen . Laurie to respond for the Grand Officers . Bro . Laurie ' s rising was the signal for a hearty burst of enthusiasm , and in acknowledging it he said he felt , if he might be permitted to refer to the

matter , that the applause just given the Grand Officers rather belonged to the Brother on his right—Bro . Samuel Cochrane Past Grand Treasurer—a Past Master of the Lodge and the elect of the Craft , than to himself , a nominated member of Grand Lodge . It was the aim of the Craft to endeavour to unite , by the broadest bonds , the largest number possible under the banner of Freemasonry . They were united by the common desire to benefit the human race , on the broadest principles . He had personally had

the honour of holding office in Masonic Lodges in all four quarters of the globe , and although he had not yet had the opportunity of doing the same in Australia he did not despair of ultimately rising to distinction there also . It might be imagined he had a wide experience , yet be had always found a common platform on which as Masons they could unite , and mutually assist each other in the beneficent work of the Craft . He spoke of the magnificent record achieved by the Grand Lodge of England , with its roll of upwards of 2 , 500 Lodges , and hoped the same success would attend its future as had

marked its past . The position of England was very different to that occupied by the Grand Lodge over which he had had the honour to preside , which had a roll of only 80 Lodges , but the members in Nova Scotia always strove-to work on the same lines as governed the old Grand Lodge of England , and fully appreciated the position it had achieved . The Grand Lodge Officers were men who had done their duty in the Craft and had risen to distinction as reward for their exertions on its behalf . He urged his hearers to make themselves prominent in Masonry , earring out its teachings and its splendid principles , and they would ultimately receive the reward of the purple .

The I . P . M . next submitted the toast of the Worshipful Master . Bro . Imray , he said , had raised himself to his present position by merit , and could safely be referred to as a good man in many ways . He did not know a more pleasant companion than he outside of Freemasonry , or one whose companionship would make a holiday trip more enjoyable . He was an active Mason , and held office elsewhere than in their Fidelity Lodge , and with a fair prospect of work before him on all sides he had every opportunity of qualifying himself for the post he now occupied ; in fact he felt the Lodge

would reap the benefit of having Bro . Imray as its Master . He was also a staunch supporter of the Charities , and was , he believed , an active worker on some of the Committees connected with them . One of his chief efforts during his Mastership would be on behalf of the Institution for which he had promised to act as Steward , and for which , as their Worshipful Master , he naturally desired to secure as largo an amount of support as was possible from the members . He hoped Bro . Imray would have a successful year , and that everything would conduce to his happiness and comfort in the chair of their Lodge .

The Worshipful Master , in reply , tendered sincere thanks for the very kind way in which the Brethren had met the toast just proposed . There was no doubt , so far as he was concerned , that the event of that day was really the event of a lifetime—to occupy the chair of the famous Lodge of Fidelity . He hoped he might be able to fulfil the duties of his position as well as his

predecessors had done , and that he should be able to carry out the work as efficiently as the Brother who had just occupied the chair , and who was blessed with a great natural advantage in having a good memory . It would certainly be his endeavour to satisfy the members in all he attempted . The proposition of the next toast , said the Worshipful Master , was to