Notices Of Meetings.

An enjoyable banquet having been served , the WM ., Bro . F . Seager Hnnt , proceeded with tho toasts of the evening , remarking , in introducing them , that tho lateness of the hour prevented his giving to them " the full attention they deserved . The first toast on tho list needed no words of commendation from tho chair in such an assembly as was then gathered together , for if there was one srciety or institution more likely than another to do honour to tho

toast of the Queen aud the Craft , it was the mystic body with which he then had tho pleasure of being associated . He therefore submitted the toast , reminding the brethren that tho Queen had wrought more good for tbe country than any other monarch who had ruled the destinies of this mighty empire . Tho next toast , as

given on the list was a most comptehonsive one , and , in view of fcho short time the brethren had at their disposal , the W . M . felt it wiso to give it as it appeared ou the programme . It was H . R . H . tho Prince of Wales M . W . G . M ., tho Earf of Carnarvon Pro G . M ., the Earl of Lathom D . G ., and tbe rest ; of the Grand Officers Preseut

and Past . This also was a tonst which required no words to commend it to those present , for the brethren knew full well the position these illustrious and distinguished men occupied , and thoy knew full well the manner in which they discharged tho duties pertaining to their respective offices . In tho discharge of their functions they had won

the admiration of the whole of the Masonic brotherhood . The Prince of Wales was a Grand Master unequalled by any who had gone before him , and the preseut generation of Masons might say that , great as had been the hold which Masonry had had npon the

world in bygone times , never in this country had such an impetus been given to the Craffc as since fcho accession to power of tbe Princo of Wales . In conclusion , he would but repeat a part of the song which , but for want of timo , thoy would now have an opportunity of listening

to" In fche heart of every Mason , There always will be shared The prayer thafc our Grand Master May long fo us be spared . " With the toast was coupled the namo of Bro . Rev . R . J . Simpson

P . G . Chaplain , who tendered his thanks on behalf of the great chiefs of the Order , and also on bis own account , nofc only for the reception given to him as a Past Grand Officer , but also for the

honour conferred upon him by tho W . M . again appointing him as Chaplain of the Lodge . Bro . Simpson followed with somo wellchosen remarks , based on the Poet Lauereate ' a ode at tho opening of the Colonial and Indian Exhibition , and concluded with the

words" Sharers of our glorious past , Britons , hold your own ! And God guard all . ' " The Immediate Past Master then assumed the gavel , and proposed the health of tho Worshipful Master . He was sure tho toast would

be received by the brethten with the greatest enthusiasm . IIo had intended to mako a somewhat lengthy speech , as he had felt that was necessary to do jnstico to tho subject , but the circumstances of tbe hour prevented his doing so . The brethren were , of course , aware that ( heir Worshipful Master occupied a position

in public life , and , although he had intended aud had wisher ) to be present during Iho whole of the ceremonies thafc day , his public duties hnd detained him too Into to enable him to keep his original appointment . Their Worshipfnl Master was truly a representative Westminster man , and as such thoy greeted him as

ruler of tho Abbey Lodge . Ho and the members of his family had been identified with Westminster for many moro years than any one in the room could remember , and they might rest assured ho would maintain the reputation of their Lodge during his Mastership of it . In the name of the members , and on his own behalf , he wished him

a happy and prosperous term of office . Tho Worshipfnl Master , in repl y , said he had been prepared to meet with a certain auuiuut of cordiality afc the hands of his brethren , but ho was not prepared for so hearty a reception as had jnsfc been accorded to him . Ho had a feeling of diffidence when he was asked to accept the post he now

I . ad the hononr to occupy , but after the very hearty welcome with which tbey had received tho words of tbe Immediate Pa .-fc Master , and the brilliant reception they fad accorded to him , he felt he net d have no fear about attempting to perform the duties of the ( ffice ho had undertaken ; while any shortcomings which he mi ^ ht

evince would be pardoned by fche kind friends whom he saw around him . He offered his apologies for not being present iu Lodge in time to fulfil his engagements according to the original programme , and asked them to remember tbat during bis year of office ho was ; i Freemason aud nothing more The only explanation he conld "ire .

and which he hoped they would all receive as being a tine one , was t Kit circumstances beyond lu . < power of governance prevented him f om bv ping many engagements into which ho hud entered . Yet oue word more with regard to the non-performanco of duties ; he hopid they would believe that he thoroughly intended to fulfil the

doth a appertaining to hu proud position as Master of the Lodge , and it was only because of tho lateness of tho hour tha , he postponed the psiforrnauce of those duties until they should havo tho pleasure aim privilege of meeting again . He felt deeply indebted to tho Lodge for placing him in the position of Worahipful Master . Reference

had been m . de to his birth and parentage , but not to bis education . Had i ' -.-t beeu properly gone into , they would havo found that nofc only waa ho a Westminster man , and thafc his father , and grandfather , had lived iu Westminstei before him , but that he had received his education in tho Collegiate

School not far from where ho then stood . Though he was not actua'l y born in Westminster—and circumstances compelled ifc to be otherwise—yet ho was christened by tbo thou Rector , tho Rev . A

Jennings , by whom he and every other member of iris family hue been married . IJo was therefore thoroughly identifkcl with ' Westmin .-ter , and hoped he should continue to bo ao for tho remainder to hia days . Occupying for the ft rat timo in his life tho position of

Notices Of Meetings.

Worshipful Master of a Lodgo , ho felfc it a decided privilege and pleasure . He had no hesitation in saying ho was well aware of Ids shortcomings , but ho had only to follow in the footsteps of the two Masters who had been so successful in that chair and he should do well . On tho other hand , in consequence , of their goodness , his own shortcomings stood out iu all the greater contrast . Though he could not compete with them in tho discharge of the duties pertain .

ing to tho office , yet he could compete with them iu admiration of , and reverence for , any general indoctrinism to bo discovered in fcho glorious Ritual belonging to tho niystio Craft ; and ho hoped he hud derived from it tho means of making himself moro extensively useful to his fellow . oreafcnres . When they looked to the great and

glorious teachings of thoir Ritual , thoy might combat with all tin powers of Atheism aud Socialism thafc stared them ia tho face , aud brave any foo that might bo brought against thorn . By following oub tho principles of Masonry , they would bring into tho fold a groat number of men who would increase tho national strength , and add

to the happiness and future greatness of tho coutiti'y . Tho next toast was the Visitors , aud , iu proposing ifc , fche Worshipfnl Master said tho Abboy Lodge was a very young one , but during the two short years of its existence it had been presided over by Masters who had performed the duties of tho Lodgo in so admirable a

manner as to win for it tho halo of renown it then enjoyed . Tho members of the Lodge would not wish such an occasion as the present to pass without the presence of Visitors from other Lodges , and ho hoped the guests that night would be ablo to go forth into the Masonic world with a good opinion of fche day ' s proceedings in the

Abbey Lodge . IIo had pleasure in coupling with fche fcoasfc fche names of two distinguished guests , Colonel Edis , who was well known both in tho Masonic world and outside of it , and his old friend , tho Hon . and Rov . Francis Byng . He hoped thafc , from what tho Visitors had seen of the Abbey Lodge tbat day , they would bo

induced to como amongst them on many future occasions . Col . Edis responded in a forcible speech . He especially referred fco the fact of there being upwards of fifty installed Masters present afc the installation , and to the pleasure the guests felt in seeing fche Lodge so prosperous . The T ! ev . F . Byng followed , making appropriate

allusions to hia association with the City of Westminster , and to tho IIouso of Commons , where ho had tho pleasure of meeting the Worshipful Master aud one of the Past Masters of the Abbey Lodgo . Bro . Nairn also responded on behalf of the Visitors , tendering his thanks , and paying a well-merited compliment to ' the members

for the way in which the day ' s proceedings had been carried out . The health of the Installing Past Master was next proposed by tho W . M . Tho toast was one which needed but few words on his part to commend it to their acceptance , for when they looked afc the way in which Bro . Baker had discharged tho dnties pertaining to his offico

during tho past year , not only tho members of tlie Abbey Lodge , bufc Visitors from other Lodges wonld admit ; that no Ledge had over possessed a better Master . No brother conld have performed his dnties with more ability , or in a manner reflecting greater credit upon himself , or more to tho satisfaction of tho brethren , than he had

done . Theirs being a young Lodge , the number of Past Masters was small , and ifc happened that their I . P . M . was tho Installing Officer of tbe day . Ho was tho second P . M . only of which their Lodge could boast , but he thought tho brethren would say thafc tho two Masters who had reigned in tho Abbey Lo < l < i ; e had so fulfilled

their duties that , while thoy had raised tho character aud renown of the . Lodge , they had placed a very hard task upon thoir successors in offico . Great and good was their first Maater ( Bra . Btirdutfc-Coutts ) , iu whose praise not cno wo .-d ton much could ho said , for they all knew how ably and energeticall y he performed his task , and thoso

who had been behind the scenes , and knew what a vast amount of labour devolved upon tlio Master of a Lodge , were awaro of tho immense pains which Bro . Baker bad bestowed upon tho work thafc had . ' alien to his lob . Ho referred to tho zeal , energy , and ability with which those duties had been fulfilled , and said Bro . Baker was

equally assiduous in other callings in life , whether at tho vestry board or in works of Charity . If nny movement was started for a particular and deserving object , no one was moro prominent in it than their excel / cut Installing Past Master . Ho was only echoing the sentiment , felt by every brother present when ho said hs hoped they

should icng soo tne Installing Master of that day not only working with them in the Abbey Lodge , but in the grand old parish and city and liberty of Westminster . Tho W . M . then , in tho name of tho Lodgo , asked Bro . Baker ' s acceptance of a Past Master ' s jewel , which had been unanimously voted him by tho brethren , as a token of their

sincere and earnest hopo thafc ho might long bo spared to wear ifc iu their midst , and thafc lie might over look with pride , pleasure , and *! itisfae ; ion upon the way in which he had always beeu received iu 'ho Lodge , and tho many friendships he had made amongst them . Ho trusted that harmony and friendliness would bo cemented iu tho

Lorige ; so that m tho future they might bo brethren , not ; only in name , bat in earnest . He then fastened on Bro . Baker ' s breast tho magnificent gold jewel , on which was enamelled the words , " W . M . Secnndns , 1886 , " undc-neath whieh wero the Westminster arms , with the number of the Lodge , Ou tho reverse side was engraved tho following inscription : —

" Presented to Bro . William Henry Baker P . M ., by tho brotlncu of ¦ he Abbey Lodge , Westminster , 2 \" o . 2030 , in t ken of esteem , and of high appreciation of tho services rendered b y biur as tit -ir second Ma-tor . 10 ih May 1886 . " Bro . Baker returned hid sincere thanks . H' ) had that day hen

placr-d in two very difficult positions—ono ia tho Lodge , sin I ono out of it . The one in tho Lodgo was a position that very low Majiers could possibly havo undertaken ; and •ho apologised for any ? hortcomings that might havo taken placo in consi-qumme . Ho « s . mrcfl

rhem that tho moysiigo received early in the evening from tin ir VV . M . quite unhinged him , and he scarcel y knew what to do , or how to proceed . The second difficulty wan thafc \ vtiich tho W . M . had just imposed upon him , and thafc waa to respond , in adecmato terms ,