Reports Of Meetings.

EEPOETS OF MEETINGS .

—* . o : — METEOPOLITAN .

ST . LEONARD LODGE , No . 1766 . THERE was a manifest feeling of melancholy associated with the annual installation of this Lodgo , held on Wednesday , 12 th inst ., at the Great Eastern Hotel , Liverpool Street , and we think it will be generally admitted the Brethren had good reason for their 'display of gloom , when we say that no less than three members of

the Lodge died within a week of the annual meeting . It is very doubtful if the programme of the Installation day would have been carried through in its entirety had there been timo to arrange differently ; indeed , we believe the question of postponing the usual banquet was discussed , and it was only because appointments had

been made that it was found impossible or inconvenient to cancel , that the rulers of the Lodge decided to have the usual repast . But there was a very scarce attendance , and those who were present , instead of rejoicing as is usual on such occasions , spent much of their time recounting memories of the Brethren who wero so recently deceased .

The trait of sympathy among Freemasons is one of the most pleasing features of the Order , and the genuine display of it which invariably follows any calamity in our midst goes to prove that the plea of Brotherhood is far more than mere sentiment ; it shows , in fact , that as members of the samo Fraternity mon who were previously strangers learn much of the feeling toward each other which is usually looked for only among the members of the samo family .

Bro . William Shurmur W . M . occupied the chair , and waa supported by Bros . S . Batchelor S . W . W . M .-elect , Geo . Bishop J . W ., S . C . Kaufman P . M . Treas ., Joseph Cox P . M . Sec , Frank Matthews P . M ., W . Beasley P . M ., R . Drysdale P . M ., H . Jones P . M ., B . Jacobs S . D ., G . H . Clark J . D ., Henry Prenton Org ., Arthur Cunnington

I . G ., L . Nehm Steward , James Very Tyler , and the following Visitors : W . Davies jun . 1716 , A . Budd 1446 , R . Pain Walkden W . M . 1366 , Frederick Clark I . P . M . 28 , Walter Clark 28 , VV . Jacobs 2396 , F . W . Roberts P . M . 392 , G . Cunnington I . G . 1607 , Charles Smith S . D . 30 , W . E . Jefferys J . D . 1622 , M . Siegenberg S . W . 188 , Geo . Bugler 1625 , E . S . Harding 1524 , W . W . Morgan 177 .

. The business of the day , in addition to the Installation , included the raising of Bro . F . J . Clark , and the Initiation ( after ballot ) of Mr . R . E . Philps . Brother Shurmur installed his successor , and was especially commended for his working of the ritual appertaining to that duty .

Brother Batchelor having been saluted , proceeded to invest the Assistant Officers for the year , dispensing tho collars as follows . * Bros . Bishop S . W ., Jacobs J . W ., Kaufman Treas ., Cox Secretary , Clark S . D ., Cunnington J . D ., Nehm I . G ., F . E . Abbott D . G ., Prenton Organist , S . A . Matthews and A . Kaufman Stewards .

Tho business of the meeting having been disposed of the Brethren adjourned for tbe annual banquet , at which every effort was made by the Master , the Immediate Past Master and the Stewards to ensure the comfort and enjoyment of the company , and it is fair to say they were succesful , in spite of the unfortunate surroundings of the day that we have already referred to .

' . Having proposed the toast of the Queen the Master proceeded with that of the Grand Master , and then gave the health of the Pro and Deputy Grand Masters , with the Grand Officers present and past , all of which sentiments were duly honoured . Bro . . Shumur I . P . M . submitted the next toast . It was his privilege to submit this—the health ol the Worshipful Master Bro .

Stephen Batcheler , who was one of the Initiates of tho Lodge . He was sure all present would congratulate the Master on tho honour he had risen to of sitting in the chair of his Mother Lodge , and he was equally sure that none was more desirous of giving entire satisfaction than their Brother Batcheler , while he might also say there waa no one he would rather see in the chair of the Lodge

than the Brother who now filled it . He sincerely hoped their Master would have a successful year of office—but thero was little doubt of that , for he had been an earnest friend of tho Lodge , and had introduced to it a large number of good Initiates , a fact that augured well for his term of office , for the gentlemen he had introduced were such as tbey had been proud to receive , indeed , they had been a credit to the Lodge .

The Worshipful Master returned thanks . He hoped he might be spared for many years to be among the members ot tho St . Leonard Lodgo , and ho also hoped his year of office would be a success . On his left he had so many good servants of the past that he felt an amount of comfort would attend his occupancy of the

chair . He made a feature of this because be did not consider himself competent to perform all parts ol the ritual that might be required of him , but he should do his best , and he hoped that thoso who might come after him would be as faithful and as zealous in their duties as he should endeavour to be .

' ' The next toast was that of the Installing Master , submitted from the chair . The Master rose with considerable pleasure to propose this . All who were present at tho Installation must acknowledge the able manner in which Bro . Shurmur performed the duties of the day . Those who visited the Lodge and those who belonged to it knew how well Bro . Shurmur performed any work he set himself to go through . He had been many times impressed with

the rendering of the work by Bro . Shurmur , particularly tho lectures of the Tracing Boards . In addition to the pleasure of submitting tho toast he had the greater gratification of pinning on Bro . Shurmur ' s breast the Past Master's jewel of the Lodge , which had been voted to him as a memento of his year of office , and he hoped ho might live for many years to wear it . Bro . Shurmur replied . First he desired permission to tender

Reports Of Meetings.

his thanks for tho hearty reception of tho toast . It had afforded him particular gratification to instal one of tho Initiates of the Lodge f and he could assure the Worshipful Master that ho and all the Past Masters would use every effort in their power to render his year of office a success . Bro . Shurmur said he was specially obliged to the Brethren for the jewel which they had presented

him with that night , and which he would wear as one of the most prized distinctions of his Masonic career . It was his special pleasure to make himself useful , even if it was not possible for him to be ornamental in the Lodge . He had been well supported during his year of office by the members , but particularly so

by the Past Masters , notably among whom was Bro . Kaufman , who had really appeared particularly desirous of making his term of office a great success . He thanked them all most sincerely for their support , and for thoir recent hearty reception of the toast proposed .

The Worshipfnl Master next proposed the toast of tho Past Masters . One and all who knew them were aware what good rulers thoy had been . He could say much in their praise , but time would not permit of his recounting their many virtues . The Past Masters of the St . Leonard Lodge were a band of which any Lodge might be proud , for they had proved themselves zealous and active in the

discharge of their duties . Each had done all he could to secure tho success of the Lodge over which he had in turn presided . Bro . Jones replied . Ho was almost ashamed to stand before them as representing the Past Masters , because he had not been able to attend to his duties in the Lodgo more than ho had done during the past few years . He had tho honour of boing one of tbe

founders of tho Lodge , a ' . id worked up from the chair of Junior Warden to that of Master , at tho conclusion qf his term installing his successor . At that time he was able to attend pretty regularly to the duties of tho Lodge , and always enjoyed himself at its meetings , but times had since changed , and he regretted he had not lately been ablo to give the Lodgo so much attention as he desired . He had the pleasure of introducing the I . P . M . ( Bro . Shurmur ) to

the St . Leonard , and ho was ono who , as they were all aware , had won high honour in FrL-omasonry , not only in this Lodge , but in many other parts . Ho likewise had had the honour of initiating the present Worshipful Master , and was particulary proud to see one of his children rise to the highest distinction in the Lodge . Of the Past Masters generally he could but speak in the highest praise , for he considered that all had dono thoir share in turn . He concluded with very sincere thanks on his own behalf for the

toast . The next toast on the list was tho Visitors , submitted from the chair in hearty terms . Wherever they went there were evidences in Freemasonry of the pleasure that was afforded in the entertainment of Visitors . The St . Leonard Lodge was proud of hiving guests among them who would join in the working of the Lodge , and assist at its festive board .

Major Roberts replied , tendering thanks for the kind and fraternal reception of the toast . It was no uncommon thing for him to be present at a Masonic Lodge as a Visitor , as he had the gratification of attending many meetings in the course of the year , and on every occasion it seemed tho desire of his hosts to give a most cordial welcome—such as had just been offered them in the

St . Leonard Lodge . He regarded as a most pleasing feature in Freemasonry tbe fact that guests were always so well received aa they were . He sincerely re-echoed the good wishes tendered the Master during the evening and trusted that he would have a successful year of office—one that would be a credit to him personally , and redound with double benefit to the advantage of the Lodge .

Bro . Siegenberg also replied , instancing a pleasing point in the Master's character in regard to his keeping Freemasonry wholly distinct from business relations . Bro . Siegenberg said he had had business associations with the Master for some years before he discovered him to bo a Mason , although there was no doubt Bro ,

Batcheler long knew of his ( Bro . Siegenberg ' s ) association with the Order . It was only when he attended the St . Leonard Lodge as a Visitor and then saw the present Master as an Officer in the Lodge that he discovered they were connectod by the ties of Freemasonry . It was quite right that Freemasonry should be kept apart from business in just the way the Master had done .

Bro . Clark P . M . also replied , after which other toasts were given and tho proceedings were brought to a conclusion . There was an excellent musical programme provided for the entertainment of the company , this feature of the meeting being under the direction of the Lodge Organist Bro . Henry Prenton , who was assisted by Miss Edith Serpell , ' Madame Louise Lytton , Miss

Bessie Greenhill , Madame George Fortescue L . L . C . M ., Bro . Tom Taylor and Mr . Ernest Genders .

GALLERY LODGE , No . 1928 . THE Installation meeting of this Lodge , which occupies the unique position of being the only purely Press Lodge in the world , was held on Saturday , 8 th inst ., at Anderton's Hotel , Fleet Street , when there was a splendid gathering of Grand Officers , Past Masters , and Visiting and other Brethren .

Bro . Charles Lock , of tho Parliamentary staff of the " Morning Advertiser , " and an Initiate of the Lodge , was installed as W . M . for thc ensuing year , according to ancient custom , the ceremony being very impressively performed by the out-going Master Bro . J . C . Manning .

At the banquet which followed , the Worshipful Master presided , the other chairs being occupied by the Wardens and the Secretary . Bro . the Right Hon . Baron Henry De Worms , M . P ., an hon . member of the Lodge , wrote expressing great regret that , being out of town , he was unable to attend , and wishing the W . M . a pleasant and prosperous year of office . Amongst between thirty and forty visitors were Bros . Richard Eve Past Grand Treasurer , Lennox Browne Deputy Grand