Random Notes And Reflections.

penditure of over £ 8 , 000 now is desirable under the circumstances ? If that view of the matter cannot be taken in consequence of the resolve of Grand Lodge , it is certainly worth while to see how far the plans of the present can be made to serve those that may be possible in the

future , so that there shall be no waste of money . If it should be found , at the end of five years , that a great portion of the £ 8 , 000 had been sacrificed , the brethren would have just cause of complaint . Before it is too late , then ,

we hope that the question will be considered in all its bearings , and that due caution will be exercised within the meaning of Bro . Webster ' s motion , which seems to us wide enough to give scope to the Committee for the exercise of their skill and discretion .

Notices Of Meetings.

NOTICES OF MEETINGS .

The Great City Lodge , No . 1426 . —The monthly meeting of this Lodge was held on Saturday evening , 8 th December , at the Cannon-street Hotel . Bros . F . T . C . Keeble W . M ., Baber S . W ., R . Fendick J . W " ., F . W . Potter S . D ., J . K . Gwyn pro tern J . D ., H . Durrant I . G-., J . L . Hudd Steward , G . Jenkins Organist , N . B . Headon P . M . Treasurer , G . W . Blackie P . M . Secretary ; P . M . 's T . Hamer ,

J . Stevens , W . Kibble and H . Thompson . Visitors—G . Taylor St . Clair 349 , J . Lawrence Lebanon 1326 , J . Goslin W . M . 1326 , A . E . Staley Tranquillity 185 , S . Stretch jun . W . M . Southgate 1950 , E . T . Smith 534 , T . O . Kelsey Dunedin 931 , G . Taylor W . M . Surrey Masonio Hall 1539 , A . Nicols W . M . St . Mary Abbotts P . D . G . Supt . Works Pnnjaub , T . Hanson Lewes 1785 , C . H . E . Corelli W . M .

Fitzroy 569 , F . Cozens Royal Albert 907 . Lodge having been duly opened , the minntes of the last meeting were read and confirmed . Lodge was opened in the second and third degrees and Bros Dottridge and J . C . Goslen were severally raised to the sublime , degree . Lodge was lowered to the first degree , when the cases of two widows of deceased members were bronght forward , and

donations were voted to them from the Samaritan Fund . Bro . N . B . Headon P . M . Treasnrer gave notice that at the next meeting he should move that the sum of twenty-five guineas should be placed on the Worshipful Master's list , who intended to represent the Lodge as Steward at the next Festival for the Boys' School ; this would complete the list , and make the Lodge Vice-President of all the

Masonic Institutions . Two gentleman were proposed for initiation at the next Lodge , and the meeting , in perfect harmony , was bronght to a close . The brethren then adjourned to the dining hall , where a bountiful repast was provided . At its conolusion , and grace said , the Worshipful Master said the first toast he had to propose was the Queen , who lived in the hearts of her people . Then followed the

National Anthem by the brethren , the solo parts by Bro . Cozens , who presided at the pianoforte . The Worshipful Master said the next toast he had to propose was the health of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales Most Worshipful Grand Master ; he need say nothing in his praise , for since he had been connected with the Craft he had become the most popular man amongst Masons ; proof of this was given

when he was again re-nominated as Grand Master on Wednesday last . The proposition was received with loud and unanimous cheering . The toast was heartily responded to , and Bro . Cozens finely rendered Brinsley Richards ' s well-known ode , " God bless the Prince of Wales . " The W . M . said the next toast he had to propose was " The Pro Grand Master the Earl of Carnarvon , the Depnty Grand Master the Earl of

Lathom , and the rest of the Grand Officers Past and Present . " As regarded the Earl of Carnarvon , he was always considered to be the right man in the right place , and all who were present at the Grand Lodge on Wednesday last would bear testimony to the skill and judgment with which he acted on that occasion , when hundreds of brethren were unable to obtain admission into the Temple . He there

arranged that those who were nnable to get admission , and they were principally Provincial brethren , should not go away without an opportunity being given to them to record their votes , and two rooms were set apart for them to meet in . The toast was well received . Bro . Kibble I . P . M . said he had a duty to perform , which to him was one of real pleasure , and that was to propose a toast of health and

prosperity to the WorshipfnlMaster ; it was also with great pleasure that he saw Bro . Keeble in the position he occupied . They had seen how he had worked np through the various offices , until he had finally arrived at the chair . Although he unfortunately had that day had a fire on his premises , he was with them to do his duty that night . As to the manner in which he had raised two brethren , he need say

nothing but praise , and he was sure tbe members would hardly expect him to say less . He gave them the health of the W . M ., Bro . Keeble . The W . M . said he returned his sincere thanks for the manner in which the toast of his health had been proposed and received ; he apologised for any defect in his working that night , aud hoped in the future to go through it to their entire satisfaction . The W . M . said

the next toast he bad to propose was one Tbe Great City Lodge took particular pride in , for from its foundation it was always pleased to receive visitors , to whom they gave a hearty welcome , and held ont the right hand of fellowship . Having enumerated the names of those who were present , he said he should select Captain Nichols , wbo wonld shortly sail for the Pnniaub , and to

whom they wished " God speed , and also Bro . Thomas Kelsey , who was about to depart to Dunedin , to respond to the toast . Captain Nichols , on behalf of himself and the other visitors , begged to return his hearty thanks for the kind manner in which the brethren had responded to the toast , and in the presence of such an array of visitors who were truly cosmopolitan . Although

Notices Of Meetings.

the W . M . had not travelled abroad , ho conld tell them that Free , masonry was the same all over the world . He did not know why he should have been selected to respond to this toast , unless it was that he was a working man , and had done a good deal of work , and after dinner he had a warm heart . Bro . Kelsey was going to the other side of the Equator , and he was sure he would take with him

good wishes to the other parts of the world . Bro . Kelsey thanked the brethren for the high honour they had conferred upon him in coupling his name with the toast ; he trusted it would be so considered in the Southern Hemisphere , where a warm feeling of respect was entertained towards the Mother Country . He thanked them on the part of the Lodges of New Zealand for the brotherly love and

friendship with which he had been received ; these thanks came from the very bottom of his heart . Bros . Staley and Lawrence also returned thanks . The . W . M . said the next toast he had to propose was the Masonic Charities ; for this Bro . Staley responded In giving the toast of the Past Masters of the Lodge , the W . M . said it was the most important one of the evening , for the Past

Masters might really be considered the pillars of the Lodge ; they were always willing to instruct the younger members . As to the Immediate Past Master , whom they had the pleasure of hearing that evening , he had gone through his duties with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of the members ; he was kind and courteous , and always able and willing to do his duty . As to Bro . Stevens , he

did not know what they should do without him ; and as to Bro . Headon , their Treasurer , he was always ready to help them in any way ; Bro . Blackie was always , when travelling , attending to the business of The Great City Lodge . Bro . Hamer also deserved thanks . The toast was cordially received . Bro . Kibble I . P . M . said the kind expressions of the W . M . did not brook delay ; he felt it to be hia

duty to reply at once to them , and acknowledge them in a becoming manner . When the Worshipful Master told him of his faults , in speaking of Mm , he could only say he believed that all he then said of him was true . Bro . Stevens also responded . Bro . Headon jocosely alluded to the reply at the former Lodge , by Brother Stevens , in Latin , and hoped that when next he

made a short speech he would speak in a language that they could all understand . -The Worshipful Master next gave the Treasurer and Secretary , Bros . Headon and Blackie . Bro . Headon , in responding , said there was one matter in whioh The Great City Lodge and all Freemasons took a deep interest , and which he was desirous of calling their attention to . Last year they took part in the election

of Bro . Allcroft as Grand Treasnrer in the place of Col . Creaton , who had held the office for five year . This being the only appointment to the purple which it was the privilege of the Craft to bestow it was expected that Bro . Allcroft would only bold it for one year . Bro . Tomkins held the office for a nnmber of years , and it was then looked npon as a life office , but last year a number of the brethren

broke down what they considered to be a monopoly , and elected Bro . Allcroft for tbe year ; it now appeared that he had come forward and allowed himself to be pat in nomination again . He there , fore trusted that every member would use his influence , and every one who was able to attend Grand Lodge would give his vote , so that this office , the only one in their hands , should be annually conferred upon some brother who was worthy of the distinction . Bro . Blackie

returned thanks as Secretary . Brother Thompson urged the members to persevere in the course which Bro . Headon had marked out , as they could not too rigidly gaard the appointment to the only office that was open to the Craft iu the Grand Lodge . The Worshipful Master next gave the Officers of the Lodge , to which they responded , and the Tyler ' s toast brought a very harmonious meeting to a close , which had been enlivened by songs and recitations , from Bros . Stevens , Cozens , and others .

Hyde Park Lodge of Instruction , No . 1425 . —A meeting was held on 3 rd inst ., at the Fountains' Abbey Hotel , " 111 Praedstreet , Paddington , W ., at which were present Bros . J . Lawrence W . M ., W . H . Chalfont W . M . 1425 S . W ., F . Swain J . W ., G . Read P . M . 511 Preceptor , W . Dehane P . P . G . S . D . Essex Secretary , S . J . Humfress S . D ., C . S . Mote J . D ., F . Chandler I . G ., J . C . Rhind Steward j

P . M . ' s James Stevens 720 , 1216 , 1426 , M . S . Spiegel 188 , W . Craig 1425 , J . T . Michelburgh 1425 , Capt . A . Nicols W . M . 1974 P . D . G . S . W . Punjab , 0 . Andrews 77 , H . Povey 22 ; also Bros . M . J . Green , W . C . Hatton , 0 . R . Wickens , T . Artaud , R . Masefield , S . P . Fowler , A . Hardy , J . French , J . T . Thomas , G . F . Ferris , D . Shand , J . Collinson , W . G . Mason , C . J . Morse , R . E . Cursons , W . Death , M . S .

Rodet , M . J . Daniel , H . Perdue , 0 . E . Botley , G . Dickenson , & o . Visitors—Bros . J . Dehane 1052 , 902 , W . Tomkin 1328 , Captain F . Wilson 1356 , S . Vandyck 1328 , H . Wilkinson 733 . Lodge was opened , minutes read , and passed to the P . O . Degree . In accordance with a long standing promise , Bro . J . Stevens was called upon to deliver , for the first time , his lectnre explanatory of tho ceremonial of

the second degree , and this he proceeded to do . Although not by any means so lengthy as that he gives in the first degree , the lecture is quite as interesting , and the same close attention which the . first lecture receives was given to this . We hope Bro . Stevens will be encouraged by the reception given him to hasten the preparation of the M . M . lecture , and thereby complete a series of addresses which

cannot fail to be of great service to the Craft generally . We can strongly recommend other Lodges of Instrnction to hear them , and believe the worthy lecturer is open to invitations for that purpose . At tho conclusion of his lecture , Bro . Stevens most satisfactorily answered questions relating to disputed points in working , and a cordial vote of thanks was recorded on the minutes for the

instruction afforded . Bro . Capt . Wilson 1356 was elected a member . A presentation of a Masouic regalia was mado by Bros , Lawrence , Mason and Green , to whom hearty acknowledgments was given . Bro . W . H . Chalfont W . M . 1425 is to preside on the 10 th inst . The Lodge was then closed in perfect harmony . Subsequently ballots were taken for the Masonio Charities , and soon afterwards the brethren separated .