Metropolitan Chapter, No. 1507.

knowledge to the younger members . Moreover , the other offices were filled by Companions who felt a deep interest in all matters they undertook , and the continued advancement of the Chapter might thereby be considered almost a certainty . Comps . Ferguson and Stilos acknowledged tho compliment , and then came the toast of the Visitors , all of whom spoke a few words expressive of the

gratification and pleasure they had derived from their visit . ^ Several other toasts were honoured , and eventually that of the Janitor was called for . The Companions were much entertained during the evening by the vocal efforts of several of the members , notably we may mention Comps . Storey and Clemow . Comp . Hudson was very effective in his recital of " My Lord Tom Noddy . "

Earl Of Chester Lodge, No. 1565.

EARL OF CHESTER LODGE , No . 1565 .

THE annual meeting was held on 6 th November , when the picturesque village of Lymm , Cheshire , was en fete . The meetings of the Lodge are held at the Masonio Hall , and on the above occasion , at three o ' clock in the afternoon , the W . M ., Bro . J . H . Evans , was supported by a large number of members and visitors from neig h , bouring Lodges . Among those present we noticed Bros . John Bowes

P . M . P . P . G . J . W . Cumberland and Westmoreland , Rev . — Hodgson P . P . G . C , E . G . Parker S . W . W . M . elect , Balshaw Sec , John Sudlow S . D ., James Kenworthy J . D ., J . Lewis I . G ., G . G . Wootton P . M ., Coxhill W . M . 758 , Siddeley 1045 , John Young W . M . 148 , D . W . Finney P . M . Prov . G . Dir . Cers ., Capt . Little 120 , Bradbury P . M . 1357 , Kenyon P . M . 1045 , Smith P . M . 1009 , E . G . Simpson P . M . P . P . G . D ., Rohmer P . M . 633 , Groves , Bradford , Wallington , P . Pearse , Griffin ,

Thompson , W . L . Stone , Crompton W . M . 1588 , Barber W . M . 1730 , Ryder W . M . 1357 , & c . Tho Lodgo was opened in clue form , when the minntes were confirmed , and the auditors' report received . The Lodge was opened in the second degree , when , in the absence of Bro . E . Simpson , a distinguished member of the Prov . Grand Lodge of Cheshire , Bro . Bowes was requested to take tho chair as Installing

Master . Bro . Evans presented Bro . E . G . Parker W . M . elect for the benefit of installation . The preliminary portion of the ceremony boing completed , the Lodge was opened in the third degree , and subsequently a Board of Installed Masters was completed in ample form , W . Bros . Finney and Siddeley presiding over the West and South respectively . Bro . E . G . Parker having been placed in the East ,

according to antient custom , tlio congratulations usual in well-ordered Lodges followed , the Board being " called off" pro tempore . Labour resumed , the Board was closed "in the name and fear , " and the members and visitors of the three degrees admitted in due conrse . Tho usual proclamations , salutations , and greetings followed , and then tho W . M . appointed and invested his Officers for the ensuing venr .

Tho Installing Master addressed ench brother on the meaning of his emblem of office , his situation in the Lodge , aud the nature and importance of his du'ios , after which he addressed at length tho W . M ., tho Wardens , and tho brethren generally , and thns completed the interesting ceremony of tho day . After tho reception of some propositions and the discharge of somo routine business , a unanimous

rote of thanks was passed to Bro . Bowes for tho able and efficient manner in which he had performed tho installation ceremony . The Lodgo having been closed , the brethron adjourned for a brief interval , after which they re-assembled at the banquet table . Tho W . M . presided , and after the cloth was withdrawn , the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were duly honoured , and tho pleasures of the evening were enhanced by soms excellent music .

Trinity College Lodge, No. 1765.

TRINITY COLLEGE LODGE , No . 1765 .

THE annnal Installation Meeting of this Lodgo was held on Thursday , the 6 th inst ., at the Trinity College , Weymouthstreet , W . Lodge was opened by Bro . Prof . E . M . Lott P . M . 245 P . P . G . J . W . Jersey , P . G . Org . Surrey W . M ., who was supported by Rev . J . Robbins , D . D ., P . M . 1635 , P . G . Chap . Middx . ( W . M . elect ) S . W ., E . Passawer J . W ., Lt .-Col . Shadwell H . Clerke P . G . D ., 11 . W .

H . Giddy Diet . G . M . Griqualand , J . E . Turner Treas ., John Stedman Sec , J . A . Hammond S . D ., H . J . Stark J . D ., E . J . Hoare Organist , Bradbury Turner D . C , Rev . H . G . Bonavia-Hunt I . G ., F . Droege Steward , George Harrison Tyler . Among tho visitors were Bros . Lt .-Col . W . S . Somerville Burney P . P . S . G . D . Essex P . M . 1615 , H . C . Levander P . M . 1415 Prov . G . Sec . Middlesex , M . A . Coffee

Seo . 63 , G . P . Hazelgrove P . M ., John Chynoweth P . M . 4 , W . W . Morgan Jan ., George Hastings J . W . 1718 , A . Cumner 1426 , George K . Emmett jun . 1635 . After tho customary formalities had been observed , tho ballot was taken on behalf of Mr . Matthew Robson , who was a candidato for initiation . Resulting in his favonr , that gentleman was regularly introduced and initiated by the W . M .,

tho working tools being explained by the J . W . Tho report of the Audit Committee was then presented to tho Lodge . From this we learn that all claims against the Lodge have been settled , the only debt now owing being a comparatively small balance to the Treasurer . The brethren of the Lodgo are to bo congratulated on the financial state of their affairs ; vezy few Lodges

can boast a complete set of furnituro and other necessaries paid for after so short an existence . Oue other item deservea special mention , we refer to the fact that here a fixed proportion—five per cent . —of all receipts is set aside for the purposes of charity . We have often urged the adoption of this principle , and hope , ere long , to see

it more generally carried out . The report of the Audit Committee having been formally received , the Lodge was advanced , Bro . Shadwell Clerke assumed the gavel , and in duo course obligated and installed Bro , Dr . Robbins into the chair of the Lodge . That brother having been regnlarly proclaimed and saluted , appointed the Officers for the year , the following being regularly invested : — Bros . E . Passawor

Trinity College Lodge, No. 1765.

S . W ., J . A . Hammond J . W ., Turner ( named as ) Treas ., Stedman Sec , Rev . G . T . Handford Chaplain , Stark S . D ., Bonavia-Hunt J . D ., Droege I . G ., E . M . Lott I . P . M . Director of Music , A . W . S . Hoare Organist , Hammond D . C , Hoare and Bradbury Turner Stewards , Harrison Tyler . A notice of motion , relating to the future days of meeting , was then brought forward and carried unanimously . Pre

vioua to closing the Lodge , tho W . M . stated that his first duty as Worshiful Master was one that could not be improved upon during the whole time that he might rule the Lodge . It was to present to the I . P . M . the jewel which had been so unanimously voted to him by the members . Were he to attempt to interpret the feelings of the brethren , he felt he should but divert their sentiments . He hoped

their I . P . M . would live long to adorn the jewel which he wonld ever do , far more than the jewel could adorn him . Bro . Lott , in reply said it could not possibly give the W . M . as much pleasure to present the jewel as it did him to receive it . He looked npon it aa a present of priceless worth , it being really a gift far beyond the value of any amount of money . After receiving the

congratulations of the Visitors , the W . M . proceeded to close the Lodge , when the brethren adjourned to the Criterion to banqnet . Tho company here had an opportunity of inspecting the suite of apartments recently fitted up by Messrs . Spiers and Pond specially for Masonio purposes . The appointments of the Lodge are as near approaching perfection as anything we know . We hope on a future

occasion to give a more detailed account of the Masonic home which the enterprise of Messrs . Spiers and Pond has added to the Lodge accommodation of the metropolis . The banqnet was served in the new Dining Hall adjoining the Lodge room , and everything reflected great credit on the caterers . At the conclusion of the repast grace was sung by Bro . Stedman ' s choir of boys , and was quickly followed

by the nsnnl preliminary toasts , each of which were heartily given and received . In proposing the Grand Officers , the W . M . coupled with the toast the names of Bros . Arnold , Giddy , and Shadwell Clerke . Bro . Rev . C . J . Arnold , in reply , after thanking the brethren , referred to the heartiness with which mention of the Grand Officers was always received . Ho regretted he was unable

to be with the brethren in the Lodge : notwithstanding his personal absence , his heart was with them . In his capacity of Deputy G . M . of Surrey , he had that day presided at a meeting at Croydon , and had there performed the ceremonies of the three degrees ; and thus the brethren could imagine with what appetite he came among them to partake of refreshment after labour . He had long looked forward

with pleasure to attending the meeting , nnd hoped the Lodge would become one of the most prosperous in the metropolis . Bro . Lott now proposed what ho considered the premier toast—that of tho W . M . Bro . Robbins . He felt certain the brethren could not havo selected a more suitable Master than they had . Bro . Dr . Robbins briefly replied , thanking tlio brethren very much and very sincerely

for the compliment they had paid him . In proposing the next toast tho W . M . expressed his regret that he had so short a timo at his disposal ; it was the question of time which alone prevented his giving tho toast tho full consideration it so justly deserved ; still , it was a toast that required no colouring . The Lodge would not havo been in existenco bnt fur Bro . Lott , while their musical

programmo without him would have been unorganised . Tlio W . M . considered that Bro . Lott had founded a most promising Lodge . The toast having been heartily received , Bro . Lott rose to reply . Ue felt greatly the honour of his position . The W . M . had just stated that tho Lodge was founded by him ( Bro . Lott ) , but if he had not had tbe assistance of the Trinity College men the Lodgo could never

have been started , while without the aid he had received from tho Officers it could never have reached its present position after so short an existence . Bro . Lott next proposed the health of tbe Installiug Officer , Bro . Shadwell H . Clerke ; it was a task that gave him great pleasure . Part of his duty that evening was toinstal his successor ; but , as they all knew , music was his forte , and he was not proficient

in anything else . Ho therefore had to find someone to take his place as Installing Officer . He was not long in deciding on the brother ho should most prefer to perform the task , and had no hesitation in asking Bro . Clerke to undertake the work . He had so materially helped the Lodge during its formation , and at its consecration , that he felt no more suitable Brother could be found . The brethren had seen how

heartily he had undertaken the work , and now he called upon them to drink his health . Bro . Clerke , in his reply , said he considered it quite unnecessary to confer this further honour on him after the very high compliment that was paid him in being selected to usher the Lodge into existence . He had been especially interested in its welfare . When the I . P . M . suggested that he shonld occupy the chair on

the occasion of the first installation meeting , he readily assented , especially as the W . M . was a brother who had been known to him for many years . He felt sure that , under the rule of Bro . Robbins , tho Lodge would prosper . In conclusion , he hoped the little plant he was privileged to put into tho ground last year , and which had already advanced to a hardy shrub , would , ere long , rise to be a forest tree ,

and far overshadow even other Lodges in the district . The W . M . now proposed the toast of the initiate . Ho was aware that , in many Lodges , it was considered the principal one of the evening , and justly so . He had no doubt but that the initiate had been fully impressed with tho ceremony he had gone through . He hoped Bro . Robson would learn that Freomasonry was not a society formed for enjoying

good eating , drinking aud society , but that it was a bond of goodfellowship—aye , and even higher ; bnt to that he mnst not at present refer . After a suitable reply from the initiate , tho W . M . proposed the toast of "The Visitors . " Without visiting , the W . M . nonsidered Freemasonry would be bnt of little worth . Tho Trinity College Lodge would ever respect that charge which enjoined

brethren to entertain guests . Bro . Chynoweth tendered his thanks for the very handsome entertainment provided during tho evening . He had no doubt but that his brother Visitors would agree with him that they had enjoyed a most pleasurable evening , both in Lodge nnd at the banquet table . ' Bro . Cousins followed , to a similar effect . Bro . Levander was also called upon . J | He felt that the other visitors could