Reports Of Meetings.

BEPOKTS OF MEETINGS

We shall be pleased to receive particulars of Mr . sonio meetings for qfirtion in our columns , and where desired will endeavour to send a 1 epresentative to report . Lodge or other proceedings .

CKAFT : METEOPOLITAN .

SAMSON LODGE , No . 1668 . THE installation meeting of this Lodge was held on Tuesday , the 14 th ult ., at the Cafe Royal , Regent Street , under the presidency of Bro . J . N Nash W . M ., who was supported by Bros . A . Clark S . W ., N . Nersessian T W M D . Loewenstark P . M . Treas ., Baron D . Barnett P . M . Secretary , J . Heilbron as S . D ., G . Lovin J . D ., T . H . Hodd I . G ., L . G . Reinhardt Tyler , Bmil Hahn I . P . M ., H . F . Casperd P . M ., W . H . G . Rudderforth P . M ., S . J . Woihmn . T . M . Lamble , S . Gottlieb , A . Marks , J . Cohen and J . Silverston .

Visitors : —Bro . H . Dehane P . M . 1543 P . P . G . Std . Essex , J . Dencyger P M 205 , W . J . Ferguson P . M . 177 , C . Kernpton P . M . 1287 , S . Lancaster P ' ' 1668 , J . C . Conway P . M . 1291 , G . Mariane W . M . 1017 , J . Stroud P . M . 1907 M . Siegenberg W . M . 188 , W . C . Bradley P . M . 1951 , S . Fonseca 1563 , A . H . Marks S . W . 1563 , J . W . Martell J . W . 15 G 3 , H . Fonseca W . M . 1563 , C . Toy 1608 , and J . E . Shand P . M . 1563 . After the minutes of the last Lodge meeting had been rea $ -and confirmed ,

the W . M . parsed Bro . Heibron to the second degree , after which a Board of Installed Masters , twenty-two in number , was formed , and the Senior Warden Bro . A . Clark was ably and impressively installed into the chair of K . S . by Bro . Nash I . P . M . The . new Master appointing his Officers as follow : —J . Nash I . P . M ., N . Nersessian S . W ., G . Levin J . W ., Rev . M . J . Heilbron Chap ., M D . Loewenstark P . M . Treasurer , B . D . Barnett P . M . Secretary , J . D . Hood J . D ., T . M . Lamble S . D ., S . J . Heilbron I . G ., T . D . Corshine D . C , J . Bayne Organist , J . Colin Steward , L . G . Reinhardt Tyler .

After this duty the W . M . impressively initiatod Messrs . Thos . P . Lamble , Edwin James Potter and J . H . R . Kelly into the Craft , work which proved the newly elected Master proficient in the duties of the chair . The I . P . M . Bro . Nash was presented with a Past Master ' s Jewel in recognition of his genial and useful service during the past year , and he expressed himself right proud of the honour and compliment paid him in the valuable commendation of his services .

After this the Brethren adjourned to banquet , where the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were given and heartily received , a capital musical entertainment and excellent songs being interspersed . A very enjoyable " Samson Lodge " evening was spent , Visitors and all present expressing satisfaction with the whole of the proceedings , and feeling assured that with the present W . M ., the Past Masters and genial Secretary Baron D . Barnett P . M ., the Samson Lodge must be a success .

COLUMBIA LODGE , No . 2397 . ' A N interesting ceremony took place on Tuesday , says the " Daily l \_ Chronicle , " at this Lodge , an Anglo-American body working under the Constitution of the Grand Lodge of England , when Mr . Benjamin Franklin Stevens was initiated into Freemasonry . Mr . Stevens , who is a noted antiquarian and bibliophile , and the chairman of the American Society in London , has for the past thirty-five years represented the United States

Government in this country as despatch agent . His initiation , at the age of sixty-two , into the Masonic body was naturally regarded with peculiar interest , particularly by American Freemasons , and a large and distinguished gathering assembled at the Cafe Royal to witness the ceremony , which was impressively performed by Bro . H . S . Wellcome , the present Master of the Lodge . The ceremony was followed by a banquet .

CRAFT : PBOVINCIAL .

SINCERITY LODGE , No . 189 . AT the regular meeting of the Lodge , held at the Town Hall , Stonehouse , on Monday , 10 th inst ., Bro . F . E . Sach W . M . presiding , Bro . John Parker S . W . was unanimously elected W . M . for the ensuing year , and Bro . George Hawken was re-elected Treasurer . Bro . Major Shanks , of Bodmin , who was Master of Sincerity twenty-five years ago , was present , and was nominated as a rejoining member .

PEACE AND HARMONY LODGENo . 199 .

ON Monday afternoon , 3 rd inst ., there was a gathering of the local Freemasons at the Freemasons' Hall , Dover , to take part in the ceremony of installation of the W . M . for the ensuing year . Bro . H . H . Goodwin S . W . had been unanimously selected by the Lodge , and he was duly installed , the ceremony being perfectly carried out by Bro . Dr . W . J . Best I . P . M . At the conclusion of the ceremony the Brethren adjourned to tho adjoining building , where an excellent banquet was served by Brother E . M .

RURAL PHILANTHROPIC LODGE , No . 291 . AN Friday , 7 th inst ., Bro . Dr . Sharp , of Huntspill , the S . W . of the Lodge , V , ? 1 S held at the Railway Hotel , Highbridge , was unanimously tctea W . M . for the ensuing year , as successor to Bro . E . A . Burnett , and f »» w , l 0 n wil 1 take P laoe next month . Brother J . Burnett P . M . was ^ -elected Treasurer , and Bro . J . Ashwell Tyler .

FIDELITY LODGE , No . 555 . TIHE annual meeting was held at the Crown Hotel , Framlingham , on MnCf „ » . ' 10 th inst- > wben Bro - W . G . Connor was installed Worshipful waster for tho ensuing year .

Reports Of Meetings.

The installation ceremony was impressively performed by Brother J . B . Fraser , assisted by Bro . Geo . Abbott , who acted as D . C . The installation banquet followed . The Worshipful Master , in giving the toast of the Provincial Grand Master Lord Henniker , remarked that this toast was always well received in Lodge Fidelity , because his Lordship was a very old member of the Lodge .

Rev . 0 . A . Sinclair , in appropriate terms , proposed the Deputy Provincial Grand Master Bro . Rev . C . J . Martyn and the Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge , coupled with the name of Bro . George Abbott , who , in a suitable response , alluded to the desire of the Provincial Grand Master that the Grand Lodge to be held at Aldeburgh this year should be a " red-letter day " in their annals , and he ( Bro . Abbott ) trusted that the members of Fidelity Lodge would muster as strongly as possible .

Brother Kidall , in proposing the toast of the evening , the Worshipful Master , said ho did so with a great amount of pleasure , for , in electing Bro . Connor to the chair of King Solomon he believed the Lodge had acted wisely and well . He had been associated with Bro . Connor in the work of the Lodge , and served together in the Wardens' chairs , and therefore he knew

that they had a W . M . thoroughly conversant with all the tenets of Masonry , and on the old military maxim that he who had learnt to serve might be safely trusted to rule , the Worshipful Brother who had served in what he might call "the lesser collars " with credit to his Lodge and honour to himself , was without doubt able and willing to direct and rule the Lodge and ascend the ladder of Masonic fame .

The Worshipful Master , in returning thanks to the Brethren for electing him unanimously to the chair , said he only hoped that during his year of office he would be half as successful as Bro . Kidall had been . Bro . Kidall had had a most extraordinary year of office . He had had five initiations , four passings , and four raisings . He hoped that during his year of office he might maintain the honour and dignity of the chair as well as it had been maintained in the past .

Other toasts followed , including the Installing Master , reference being made to the many years Bro . J . B . Fraser had conducted the ceremony so impressively .

DE MOULHAM LODGE , No . 1146 . AT the monthly meeting , held at Swanage , Bro . F . A . K . Hounsell S . Wt was unanimously elected W . M . for tho ensuing year .

NEPTUNE LODGE , No . 1264 . THE annual meeting of this Lodge , which has enjoyed a long and prosperous career , took place on the 3 rd inst ., at the Masonic Hall , Hopo Street , Liverpool , where , even in view of numerous absentees who were making holiday , there was a large and influential attendance , including several present and past Provincial Officers .

The retiring Worshipful Master Bro . T . T . Tickle , who was supported by a full complement of Officers , occupied the usual place of honour , and concluded his year's work by installing Bro . W . Cantle as his successor in the chair of W . M . In the course of the proceedings a P . M . 's jewel was presented to Brother Tickle I . P . M .

After an excellent banquet , served by Bro . J . Casey , the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were proposed , and a musical programme was given by Bros . Hudson , Higinbotham , S . Smith , and others .

TRUTH LODGE , No . 1458 . THE regular meeting was held at the Wheat Sheaf Hotel , Manchester , on Saturday , 1 st inst . Among those present were Bros . E . M . Shepherd W . M ., Geo . T . Lenard W . M . 1077 Acting S . W ., Thos . Pollitt Cooper J . W ., T .

H . Hall P . M . Sec , Alfred Hebden P . M . D . C . P . P . G . D . D . C ., Robert Caldwell P . M . P . P . G . Swd . B ., H . L . Burgess I . P . M ., H . G . Needle P . M ., Herbert Hellewell , J . J . Dean , Wm . Dewhurst , John Pearce , & c . Visitor : —Bro . G , Rothweil Berry 1011 .

The preliminary business having been transacted , and the Lodge advanced , Bro . Pearce was raised to the sublime degree by Bro . Hebden , this ceremony being followed by a similiar one in which Bro . Dewhurst was raised by Bro . Caldwell , the Traditional History being afterwards rendered by Bro . Hall , and it goes without saying that having been placed in such capable hands , the whole of the work was excellently well performed .

The Secretary announced that the annual pic-nic would take place on Saturday , 13 th July , tho neighbourhood selected being that of Bolton Abbey . For several years in succession we have accompanied the annual excursion

of the Truth Lodge , and can confidently assure those whose intention it is to avail themselves of this opportunity , that should the elements be propitious a day of delightful enjoyment is in store , the Officers in charge being ever animated with a desire to make tho outing an unqualified success .

A very commendable act graced the last proceedings of the present session , viz ., that of voting a sum of twenty guineas to the East Lancashire Systematic Masonic Educational and Benevolent Institution . The Lodgo now stands adjourned until Saturday , 7 th September .

TRAFFORD LODGE , No . 1496 . rnHE regular meeting of this Lodge was held at the Western Hotel , Moss I Side , Manchester , on Monday , the 10 th inst ., amongst those present being Bros . Fras . Long I . P . M ., Geo . Burslem P . M . Treas ., J . C . Gillman P . P . S . G . D . Sec , Wm . Yeadon S . D ., H . Russell I . G ., David Johnson P . M . D . C , H . P . Jones P . M . P . P . G . R ., John Rathbone P . M ., Herman Preston , J . Kimberley , C . H . Moss , Walter Lees , S . Woollam , F . H . Krause . Visitors M . Frith 148 , John Sewell J . D . 2306 ( Brisbane , Australia ) .

The Lodgo was opened in due form at 6 - 25 , when tho minutes of the last regular meeting was read and confirmed . The Lodgo was opened in the second degree , and Bro . Woollam having expressed a wish to make a further advance into ancient Freemasonry , was questioned in the usual way , and having answered very satisfactory , the Brethren adjourned for tea .

On re-assembling the Lodge was opened in the third degree , when Bro . Woollam was raised to the sublime degree of a M . M . by Bro . Long I . P . M . ( in the absence of the W . M ., who was away on the continent for his health ) assisted by Bro . Rathbone P . M ., who presented tho Working Tools .

The Lodge , by virtue , remained opened in the first degree , when a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Bro . Captain Langshaw for a very handsome present of three vols , of songs , received that day from America , to the Lodge , After hearty good wishes had been expressed , the Lodge was closed in peace and harmony .