Notices Of Meetings.

NOTICES OF MEETINGS .

— : o : — LODGE OF UNION , No . 414 .

A REGULA . R meeting of the Lodge waa held at the Maaonic HaU , Reading , on 20 th April . Bros . F . Blackwell W . M ., D . H . Witherington S . W ., John W . Martin J . W ., R . G . Mount P . M . Treasurer P . P . G . S . W . Berks and Bucks , Albert W . Parry Secretary , C . G . Hawkes S . D ., W . Sherwood J . D ., J . H . Walters I . G ., C . T . Eayner Steward , W . Hemmings Tyler ; P . M . 's M . J . Withers I . P . M .

Prov . G . J . D . Berks and Bucks , R . Bradley Prov . Grand Secretary Berks and Bucks , C . Stephens Prov . Grand Treasurer Berks aud Backs , Charles Oades P . P . G . Registrar Berks and Bucks , J . Weightman P . P . G . J . W . Berks and Bucks . A . Livings , George S . Gait , B . Ruddock , W . G . Millar , W . Bonny . Visitor—H . Creed J . W . 1101 .

Lodge was opened in due form , and the minntes of the last regular meeting were read and confirmed . Bro . Charles Townshend Murdoch , of Bnokhurst , Wokingham , banker , M . P ., formerly of Leinster Lodge , No . 38 ? , Malta , on the register of the Grand Lodge of Ireland , proposed by the Worshipful Master , and seconded by Bro . M . J . Withers ,

was balloted for , aud elected a joining member . A part of the sec . tions in the second degree were worked by the Worshipful Master , Bros . Bradtey and Oades , at the conclusion of which the members evinced their appreciation of the admirable working by warm acclamations . Lodge opened in the third degree . The W . M . addressed

Bros . Alexander Livings and W . Bonny , giving the complement of the ceremony of raising . Lodge was closed in the third and second degrees , when the W . M ., in accordance with notice , moved " that the Treasurer shall , previous to the Lodge held in March in each year , deposit in a separate account at the Bank , from the funds of tbe Lodge

a sum equivalent to 18 a 6 d for each subscribing member who di J not attend the annual banquet in the previous January , and that after allowance had been made for the necessary expenses of the Lodge and payment of principal and interest on the mortgage account , any further Bum which , in the opinion o ! the majority of tbe brethren present at the

November Lodge , can be spared from the general funds , shall also be paid into the same account . The amount so invested to form a Fund of Benevolence , which shall be available for votes to the Masonio Charities , cases of personal distress connected with Freemasonry , or such other charitable purposes , Masonic or otherwise , as the brethren

from time to time may determine , and that grants made from such Fund of Benevolence shall be subject to bye-law No . 5 . " The motion was seconded by Bro . Withers , and a well-sustained dis .

cussion ensued ; the W . M ., Bros . Withers , Bradley , Stephens , Mount , Walters , Martin , Millar , Witherington , Sherwood , and Gait taking part . Bro . Bradley proposed as an amendment , " That the subject be referred to the Permament Committee for consideration and

report . " This was seconded by Bro . Mount , and carried . On the amendment being put as a substantive motion , it was declared to be carried by 12 votes—twenty-one members being present . The W . M .. in accordance with notice , proposed that the sum of £ 15 15 s be devoted to Charity , and that the sum be given to augment the list of

Bro . Wheeler jun . P . M ., who would represent the Lodge as Steward at the next Festival of the Royal Masonio Institution for Boya . This was seconded by Bro , Bradley , and carried unanimously . Business being ended , Lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to supper at the Great Western Hotel , The W . M . presided , and a very agreeable conversazione resulted ,

THE WINDRTJSH LODGE , No . 1703 .

THB regular May meeting of this Lodge was held in the Corn Exchange , Witney , Oxon , on Wednesday , 5 th instant , the W . M . Bro . S . C . Wakefield Prov . G . Steward being snpported by a large gathering of members and brethren from neighbouring Lodges . Advantage had been taken by the W . M . of there being no work before the Lodge to proffer an invitation to Bro . James Stevens

P . M . P . Z . to deliver hia successful and interesting lecture explanatory of the ritual and ceremonial of the first degree , now so well known to the Craft , under the title of " Knobs and Excrescences . " The Lodge was opened by the W . M . and tbe following Officers : — Bros . H . W . DrinkwaterP . M . Prov . G . S . W . OxonS . W ., Harry Robins

P . M . Secretary 1703 P . Prov . G . J . W . Oxon J . W ., A . T . Matthews I . P . M . P . Prov . G . S . D . Oxon , J . M . Clench P . M . Treasurer P . Prov . G . Standard Bearer Oxon , G . Owens Prov . G . Organist Oxon S . D ., S . A . Heath J . D ., R . Sheafe I . G ., W . H . Tarrant Organist , A . Buck Steward , S , Smith Tyler . There was a very fair attendance of

members . and amongst the Visitors were Bros . Butler W . M . 1399 P . P . G . S . B . Oxon , J . H . Shale , R . Corden and others from the Alfred Lodge 340 , Oxford , A . Pearce S . D ., and others from the Bertie Lodge , 1515 , & c . The minutes of the previous meeting having been confirmed , Bro . Wakefield W . M . addressed the brethren and stated that he had

thought it advisable , as well in tbe interest of the Lodge itself as for the good of Freemasonry generally , that the otherwise unemployed evening before them should be made instructive by a Masonic lecture . He had therefore invited a well-known brother , whose efforts in the direction of Masonio instruction were receiving deserved recognition ,

to attend on this occasion and to enlighten them on many points of ritual , with a view to comparing their own practice in Lodge with the forms and ceremonial which he would expound . He hoped and anticipated that tbe initiative he had taken would in the result be justified by the pleasure and enlightenment which their visitor would

afford them , and might be imitated by many other Masters of Lodges , who had spare evenings at their disposal . Bro . Wakefield then formally introduced Bro . Stevens to the brethren , and requested their

kind attention . A very hearty welcome was accorded to the lecturer on his rising , and after a brief acknowledgment of his reception , Bro . James Stevens commenced an address , which during nearly two hours rivetted , without the slightest interruption , the attentive considera-

Notices Of Meetings.

tion of his hearers . We cannot , of course , print that which is intended only for utterance under a tyled roof , and must therefore be content with an expression of our conviction that this lecture ought to be heard in every Lodge holding under the United Grand Lodge of England . It deals with the ritual as practised for the past seventy .

five years , with the innovations made therein , ancl anomalies and divergencies which have made the practices of some Lodges , when compared with others , not only ridiculous , but in many instances most injurious to the welfare of the Order . We cannot go into any of these particulars , but we strongly commend the lecture

to all who desire to have common sense reasoning for what they do and say in Masonio Lodges . At the conclusion of his address , Bro . Stevens was warmly applauded , and a vote of thanks was unanimously ordered to bo recorded on the minntes of the Lodge , the W . M ., who proposed , and Bro . Drinkwater , who seconded the vote ,

respectively expressing their high appreciation of the service rendered to Freemasonry by tbe exposition to which the brethren present had so attentively listened . The lecturer returned his thanks for the compliment paid him , and stated his readiness to accept from any Lodges which might desire to extend tbe same , invitations for a like

purpose . Lodge was then closed , and the brethren adjourned to supper , after which the Loyal and Masonic toasts wero duly honoured . Brother Matthews in proposing the health of the W . M . ( Brother Wakefield ) paid a high tribute to the excellent qualities which not only so well fitted him for his exalted position , but endeared him so

much to the members of his Lodge , and especially extolled the interest he had shown on this occasion by his personally inviting Bro . Stevens , and so giving his members the benefit of experiencing one of the most instructive and enjoyable evenings of the many passed bv them in the Wiudrush Lodge . The W . M ., in response , stated how

pleased he felt to receive such an acknowledgment of his efforts to carry out his duty , and especially that his personal invite had been attended with such satisfactory results . He had heard that if he could secure Bro . Stevens for his lecture , neither he nor his Lodge would regret doing so , and he mast say that even his most sanguine

anticipations had been exceeded . He would afc once propose the Visitors , and couple with the toast the name of the lecturer , The toast was drank with much fervour , and responses were made by several of the Visitors present , Bro . Stevens contenting himself with a few brief remarks in continuation of what he had previously said in

the Lodge . What , however , he lacked in speech he made up for in recitations , and complied with the earnest request of the brethren by delivering the Masonic poems— " The Three Great Lights , " " Masons' Vows , " and " The Level and the Square . " Several excel .

lent songs by other members and visitors added to the social enjoyment of an evening which will doubtless be long remembered by those who shared in the proceedings , and who , afc a somewhat later hour than usual , separated with the interchange of fraternal greetings and good wishes .

PRINCE EDWARD OF SAXE-WEIMAR LODGE No . 1903 .

ON Wednesday afternoon , the 5 th insfc ., at the Masonic Hall , Portsmouth , there was a numerous and representative gathering of members of the Craft , including several Officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge , Worshipful Masters , Past Masters , and visitors from London , to witness the installation of Bro . Lieutenant James Knowles , R . N . ( H . M . S . Hercules , now stationed afc Portland ) as

Worshipful Master of the Lodge for the ensuing year . Lieutenant Knowles was one of the founders of the Lodge , which was established five years since , under highly favourable auspices , H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught having been present at the inaugural ceremony , afc which there was a very large number of Masons , many holding

high rank in the Craft . The Lodge has the honour of having on its roll of Grand Officers the M . W . Grand Master H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , who , on the occasion of a Volunteer review being held afc Portsmouth , paid a visit fco the Lodge . Captain Lord Charles Beresford , R . N ., M . P . ( from whom a letter had been receivedexpressing

, regret that his Parliamentary duties prevented his attendance ) , was the first W . M ., and the office has since been held by Bros . T . Page ( two years ) , Captain Lathom Cox , and H . J . Long . The ceremony of installing Lieutenant Knowles ( who has filled the offices of Junior Deacon and Junior and Senior Warden ) was

ably and impressively performed by Bro . H . Townsend P . M . P . Prov . G . Deacon , and a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to him for his services . Then followed a pleasing incident , viz ., the recognition of the services of the retiring W . M ., also one of the ° fonndera of the Lodge , who , after having held various offices , was elected to

the chair , the duties of which , as the W . M . remarked , when presenting him with a Past Master ' s jewel , he had discharged in a manner that had been most satisfactory to the brethren , and had conduced to the prosperity of the Lodge . The W . M . ' s eulogistic remarks were warmly received by the brethren , and Bro . Long made

a feeling and appropriate response , thanking the brethren for their appreciation of his services , and promising to continue to do all in his power to promote the welfare of the Lodge . The jewel , which is of solid gold , set in diamonds , has the recipient ' s monogram , is of handsome design , and bears the following inscription— " Presented

to Bro . H . J . Long P . M ., by the members of the Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar Lodge . " The W . M . appointed and invested his Officers asunder—Bros . H . J . Long I . P . M ., W . Boyaton Pike 8 . W ., J . Livesay J . W ., Rev . P . H . Good Chaplain , G . Baekler Treas ., A . L . Emanuel Sec , E . G . Charpentier S . D ., W . Ford J . D ., J . Wilson

D . C , G . Sylvester Org ., A . Long I . G ., H . G . Giles and E . Anstin Stewards . Upwards of sixty brethren sat down to a vbchercM banquet , which was admirably served by Bro . W . Maybour , of

Ordnance Row , Portsea . The banqueting hall was tastefully decorated with lace curtains , mirrors , plants , and flowers . Afc the conclusion of the banquet , tbe customary toasts were hononred . P . M . Townsend proposed the Worshipful Master , referring in warm