Reports Of Meetings.

REPORTS OF MEETINGS .

We shall be pleased to receive particulars of Masonic meetings for insertion in our columns , and where desired will endeavour to send a representative , to report Lodge or other proceedings . — : o : — CKAFT : METROPOLITAN .

Upton Lodge , No . 1227 . INSTALLATION OF BROTHER WALTER J . CARROLL . A thing of beauty is a joy for ever ; Its loveliness increases ; it will never Pass into nothingness . ADMITTING the truth of the first line of our text , it may next be asked , how are we to make sure anything we possess is " a

thing of beauty" ? For reply we quote further from the author we have drawn upon , and in words of the second line of our excerp declare that "its loveliness increases . " Judged by this standard there need be no hesitation in applying the famous lines of Keats to the Upton Lodge of Freemasons ; it is certainly a thing of beauty ; its loveliness increases ; and we sincerely hope it may remain " a joy for ever , " and that it will never " pass into nothingness . "

Looking back is not at all times a pleasurable occupation ! There are often periods in the past one would rather forget , or feel it would be better had they shaped themselves differently , and yet , viewed in the light of later experience , we may reasonably wonder whither we might have drifted had this or that event not happened as it did to check or alter our course of action . What at the time seemed a

calamity proved itself in after years the turning point in a career , and many of us have reason to thank some event of long ago , which was at the time viewed with regret or alarm , as being a veritable blessing in disguise . Much of this kind of sentiment probably passed through the minds of the older members of the Upton Lodge , present at this year ' s installation meeting , which was held on Thursday , at the

Holborn Restaurant ( whence the Lodge had temporarily removed in consequence of the extensive alterations in progress at its regular place of meeting , the Great Eastern Hotel , Bishopsgate ) , when they looked back on the Upton Lodge as they knew it at its original home , and the Upton Lodge of to-day . Truly a great change has taken place ; and it must have been very gratifying to the worthy Treasurer

to'look back on his action of some sixteen years since , when he was the leading- spirit in the movement which resulted in the Lodge changing its quarters from the home of its origin , at Upton , to the great metropolis of London . Then he had the co-operation of no more than a dozen fellow members ; this week the newly installed Master was supported by some sixty Brethren directly associated with

the Lodge , together with several visiting friends , the assembly numbering no less than eighty . Then the Lodge could hardly be described as being in affluent circumstances , to-day it will compare favourably with any of its fellows in London—sets an example , indeed , in the matter of Masonic benevolence , that might profitably be imitated by many Lodges around us .

As we have said , this year ' s installation took place at the Holborn Restaurant , a dispensation having been obtained sanctioning the temporary removal , and there the W . M . of the past year—Bro . Henry James Rowberry—opened his Lodge , the following Officers and Visiting Brethren supporting him during the meeting : Bros . W . J .

Carroll S . W . W . M .-elect , R . F . Thompson J . W ., C . Gieseke P . M . Treas ., C . J . Free P . M . Sec , W . Athol Bray I . P . M ., E . M . Jeffery P . M ., C . Schmidt P . M ., Edwin Hill P . M ., G . A . Peters P . M ., Samuel Toye P . M ., Alfred B . Noble S . D ., G . W . Flatman J . D ., H . Hyde P . M . D . C ., W . T . Hustwayte and C . W . Cooper Stewards , E . C . Holmes Organist , and T . Bowler Tyler .

The Visitors included Bros . Arthur Martin S . W . 2372 2518 , Fred . R . Gurney 2518 , C . Morgan 10 S , G . J . Taylor P . M . " D . C . 180 C . Feist idSq , T . Robinson P . M . 2396 , G . F . Males W . M . 18 51 , Ham- VVillsmer 26 9 S , Fred W . Bishop I . G . 1056 , W . W . Morgan 177 , E . Petficld 1607 , E - J- Davey P . M . 193 , W . Cambden P . M . 3 395 > w- c- Ferris , S . Groner P . M . 1613 , W . S . Jones 753 , Samuel W . Vale P . M . 861 , Arthur Wade 2705 , A . Millbourn I . G . 1237 .

The preliminaries having 'been disposed of , four of the five candidates on the agenda for passing—Bros . T . C . Neill , H . W . Walker , G . W . Codd , and H . C . Godfrey—received the privileges of the second degree , while Mr . Samuel Charles Farrow and Bro . J . A . Keable wlere elected members of the Lodge , the former as a candidate for initiation , the latter as a joining member . The advancement of Bro . William Farrier , the fifth of the candidates for passing , was deferred till another occasion .

Then followed the great event of the year , the installation of the new Worshipful Master , for which purpose Bro . W . J . Carroll was presented as W . M .-elect , and after obligation was regularly placed in the chair , as ruler of the Lodge for the ensuing year . He

appointed as his Assistant Officers Bros . Thomson S . W ., Noble J . W ., Gieseke P . M . Treas ., Free P . M . Sec , Flatman S . D ., Cooper J . D ., Hustwayte I . G ., Hyde P . M . D . C , Theodore Martin A . D . C ., Holmes Organist , W . Hartivell , T . G . Gunn and F . J . Rover Stewa-ds . end T . Bowler P . M . Tyler .

Bro . Rowberry ably brought his term of Office to a conclusion by a capable delivery of the addresses to Mastter , Wardens , and Br ; thren , and took his seat as a Past Master in the Lodge amid the general approbation of its members . Wc ai"c not sure we like ceremonial work after an installationand we really feel that in a majority , of cases any attempt in this direction is a mistake , but there are exceptions , and Bro . Carroll

Reports Of Meetings.

proved an exception on this occasion , when he initiated a personal friend in Mr . Farrow . There was none of the nervousness or confusion which is often witnessed , and fully excusable in a newly installed Master , about the new ruler of the Upton Lodge when he admitted the candidate tp a participation in the mysteries of the Craft ; indeed , we question if he will appear to better advantage during his year of office than in this , his first ceremony , and the fact points

conclusively to the advantages of the actual rehearsals jjossible at a Lodge of Instruction . Although really fresh to the work , the new Master was quite at his ease in conferring the degree—in fact , improved on his performances at the Lodge of Instruction , by an evident earnestness inseparable from his newly acquired honours . If first impressions have a weight in forming a Mason , then surely Bro . Farrow should reap the advantages of a thoroughlv good start .

Two candidates were proposed for next meeting , and other work having been disposed of the Lodge was closed , after which the Brethren repaired to the banquet room , where an excellent repast was provided , and thoroughly enjoyed by the large company present . The room was tastefully adorned—as the head quarters of one of the most influential Piscatorial Societies should be—with many specimens

of the finny tribe , and it was quite useless , in face of the all but living evidences before us , to attempt anything in the way of references to one ' s skill with the rod and line . Even the most ardent fishermen were lulled to silence in regaid to personal exploits with a 3 61 b salmon quietly ensconsed over the Master ' s chair , and other " monsters of the ¦

deep " ' all around , and as a consequence those who wished to recount their prowess—or exaggerate thereon—had to confine themselves to dry land enterprise ; had in fact to work on the left division of the Upton " crest" rather than attempt anything in connection with its right hand side .

At the conclusion of the banquet grace was sung , and then the W . M . gave the toast of the Queen . This , the first on Masonic lists , was , he said , always xveU received in the Lodge , as the Upton was really one of the most loyal in the Craft . The toast had been proposed by many Masters in years gone by , but by no one with more sincerity than was the case with him on that occasion , and he had no hesitation in submitting it , being assured it would be well received . The National Anthem followed .

Then the Master proposed the toast of the Grand Master . He felt he could not tell the Brethren much more about the Prince of W ales than what thev already iknew , but he ventured to think that so long as the Craft had such a Grand Master as the Prince of Wales it must continue to prosper .

The Pro G . M ., the Deputy , and the rest of the Grand Officers present and past was the next sentiment . So far as the Master was able to judge he felt they had a body of men among the Grand Officers of whom they ought to ! be ' very proud . They appeared to spare neither time , trouble , or expense in furthering the interests of the Craft , and he felt they ought to be very thankful to them for all their efforts on behalf of the Brotherhood .

The Immediate Past Master now assumed the gavel . The toast he had the nrivilege to propose that evening was the health of the Worshipful Master . He felt sure that the Lodge had in Bro . Carroll one in whom they could place the greatest of confidence , and he felt that in handing ; over to him the reins of power—as he had done in their presence that evening—he had transferred them to one by whom the work anrl reputation of the Lodge would by no means be slighted , but rather , that it would be enhanced by Bro . Carroll .

The W . M . tendered his thanks for the heartiness and sincerity with which the toast had been received . He was . just beginning to appreciate there was a great amount of responsibility associated with the presidency of the Lodge . He fully recognised that no Master could even hope to succeed without the co-operation and support of the members of his Lodge , and felt he possessed both in { a very marked

degree . For this reason he was confident that the Lodge would lose none of its lustre while under his command , but would rather gain fresh laurels during his term of Office . The next toast—that of the Immediate Past and Installing Master —the W . M . regarded as the chief one of the evening . The Brethren had heard Bro . Rowberry work the different ceremonies during his

year of office , and could but be delighted at his performances . That clay they had seen him perform the ceremonv of installation , and must agree with him he had concluded his year ' s work most creditably . The W . M . was glad the official duty had devolved upon him to pin on the breast of . Bro . Rowberry the Past Master ' s jewel of the Lodge ,

as he felt that if ever a Past Master of the Lodge deserved such a decoration it was Bro . Rowberry . But the thanks of the Brethren did not end there , as on behalf of the members of the Lodge he asked the I . P . M . 's acceptance of a diamond ring and chain appendage for Mrs . Rowberry , with the best wishes of the members for her future long life and prosperity .

The Master then called upon Bro . Mills , whose pleasing duty it was to present to the Immediate Past Master , on behalf of the initiates of his year of Office , two souvenirs , in the forms of a cigar case and signet ring , the latter being adorned with the arms of the Upton Lodge .

The I . P . M ., in the course of his reply , said he hardly knew how to express his delight at the very handsome presents they had made him and his wife . He could assure them he hoped to live long to look upon them , as mementoes of a very pleasant year of office as Master of the Upton Lodge . He felt particularly pleased at receiving the gift for his wife also , and in knowing that what he had

accomplished would not have been possible without the co-operation of all the members , to one and all of whom he tendered his thankful congratulations . On behalf of his good lady he had also to thank the members of the Lodge for their handsome gift , which he knew would be greatly appreciated , and would be an ample recompense for any

time he had spent away from home on the work of the Lodge . To the initiates he was particularly indebted , and he congratulated them on the quiet wav in which they had worked and provided such handsome testimonials of their appreciation . It would be a source of gratification to him in the future—a shining li g ht , as it were—to