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M I D L A N D RA ILWAY . SUMMER EXCURSIONS From St . Pancras and City Stations . SPECIAL EXCURSIONS . FRIDAY MIDNIGHT , 22 nd September , for 1 or 3 days , to LEICESTER , Loughboro ' , NOTTINGHAM , MANCHESTER ( for the Races ) , and Stockport , from St . Pancras at 12-15 . MONDAY , 25 th September , to BIRMINGHAM , for 1 or 4 days , from St . Pancras at 6-35 a . m . and Kentish Town at 6 -40 a . m . NeW Weekly Summer Excursions . Isle of Man . On FRIDAY MIDNIGHTS , 22 nd and 29 th September , and on SATURDAYS , 23 rd and 30 th September , from St . Pancras , at 5-15 a . m . and 10-5 a . m . to DOUGLAS , ISLE OP MAN , for 3 , 8 , 10 , 15 or 17 days . ' LAKE DISTRICT , BUXTON , MATLOCK , SOUTHPORT , BLACKPOOL , SCARBORO' , & c , for 3 , 8 , 10 , 15 pr 17 days . On SATURDAYS , 23 rd and 30 th September , to ENGLISH LAKE DISTRICT , from St . Pancras at 9-0 a . m ., to Bowness and Ambleside , and at 10-30 a . m . to other stations ; at 12-0 noon to MATLOCK and BUXTON ; at 10-5 a . m . to LIVERPOOL and SOUTHPORT ; at 9-0 a . m . to SCARBORO ' , Bridlington , Filey , Robin Hood's Bay , Whitby , Saltburn , Redcar , Tynemouth , Whitley , and Cullercoats ; and at 10-5 a . m . to BLACKPOOL , Lytham , St . Ann ' s , and Fleetwood . TICKETS and BILLS may be had at the MIDLAND Stations and City Booking Offices ; and from THOS . COOK and SON , Ludgate Circus and Branch Offices . GEO . H . TURNER , General Manager .

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lffA ^ V _ f __ VAV ^ Mi ^_ V _ AW _ AV _ ffl ^ SATUEDAY , 16 TH SEPTEMBER 1899 .

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I am reminded that the last meeting of Grand Lodge of Freemasons was the twenty-fifth anniversary of the assembly at which , to the amazement of everyone , the resignation by the Marquis of Ripon of the Grand Mastership was announced . The last time his lordship presided in Grand Lodge was on

3 rd June 1874 ; and since that time nearly 1 , 300 new Lodges have been added to the list , while fewer than 950 came into existence in the preceding twenty-five . years . The principal reason assigned for this disproportionate increase is that the Prince of Wales became Grand Master upon Lord Ripon ' s

retirement . Undoubtedly the Heir Apparent ' s accession to the Masonic throne greatly popularised the Mystic Order , but there is an additional cause , which I believe has been unintentionally overlooked . Up to some thirty-three years ago none of the doings of Grand Lodge , or Grand Chapter ,

or of private Lodges or Chapters , were allowed to be reported in the press without the permission of the Grand Master . Subsequently someone dared to disobey this regulation , and when it was found that absolute discretion

was exercised by the writers of the reports the rule lapsed , with the result that many thousands have become aware of the existence of a body of which , but for the press , they Would still have been ignorant . — " Birmingham Daily Post . "

We are pleased to notice the success of Brother and Companion H . Llewellyn Booth , of Warrenpoint , Ireland . Bro . Booth is the manager of three Hotels under the Great Northern of Ireland Railway Company , one at Warrenpoint , and two at Rostrevor which is situated about two miles

distant from the former , overlooking the beautiful Carlingford Lough , whose unrivalled sea and mountain scenery make it a popular resort of English tourists . The Great Northern Hotel at Warrenpoint nestles at the very foot of the waves by the base of the mountains . The appointments at the Hotel

are not excelled by any in our English Metropolis , the cuisine equals that of any of our largest city hotels , and under the capable management of Bro . Booth the establishment bids fair to outrival any of the Hotels on the Irish

Great Northern line . The Hotels at Rostrevor are at present under alterations . Extensive additions are being made , electric light laid down , and general re-furnishing and re-decorating throughout . Notwithstanding the fact that

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three of the largest Hotels in the Emerald Isle are under the sole control of Bro . Booth—aided , we may here appropriately add , by an excellent manageress in the person of his wife—he is an able and enthusiastic Mason , and finds time to attend to the duties of the Craft , Mark , and Royal Arch Degrees .

A very pleasant function took place on Monday evening , 4 th inst ., at the Western Hotel , Moss Side , Manchester , on which occasion a presentation was made to Brother Charles Swinn P . M . P . P . G . D . and Mrs Swinn , to celebrate the anniversary of their silver wedding . About forty ladies and

gentlemen sat down to dinner , the same being presided over by Bro . E . G . Simpson P . M ., who afterwards presented the happy couple with a splendid solid silver tea and coffee service . The speech of the chairman was responded to by Bro . Swinn on behalf of himself and wife , in a few

wellchosen words , after which an enjoyable musical programme was gone through . Among others present were Bros . J . Pitt Hardacre and A . D . Corry , of the Manchester Theatres ; J . H . Greenwood P . M ., J . G . Hewson , and T . Cavanah , of the Manchester Concerts ; Joseph T . Richardson P . M . P . P . G . D .,

Jno . Butterworth and W . O . Rowlands members of the Dramatic Lodge , No . 2387 ; C . H . Arnold Avon Lodge , No . 1633 , and Mrs . Arnold ; Bro . H . B . Dresser W . M . Avon

Lodge , and Mrs . Dresser ; Bro . W . Craven Avon Lodge , and Miss Craven ; Bros . George R . Lloyd P . M . P . P . G . Treas . Urmston Lodge , No . 1730 , J . W . Stubbert , H . Nicholson , J . Lawrenson , James Wilcox , and many others .

Masonic readers in the West will receive with gratification the news that Bro . Brodie , formerly of Exeter , will this year succeed to the position of Worshipful Master in the Gallery Lodge , making the third West-countryman in succession who has held that distinguished position . His

West-country predecessors are Bro . S . James , who , . prior to joining the "Daily Chronicle" Parliamentary staff , was attached to the Plymouth daily press , and Bro . Peachey now of the " Daily News , " but previously a Bristol journalist . Bro . Brodie came from the Exeter press circles to London ,

and has for many years been connected with the literary staff of the " Daily Chronicle . " Following in his wake to the chair of the Lodge is Bro . Gowing , who , singularly enough , is the scion of an old Exeter Pressman , recently deceased .

Bro . Gowing belongs to the sub-editorial staff of the " Daily Graphic . " By the was , Bro . Peachey , the retiring W . M ., is to be exalted to the third chair at the October meeting of the Gallery Chapter , which is also formed exclusively of journalists . —" Western Mercury . "

A fete organised by the W . M . and Brethren of the Camalodunum Lodge , No . 660 , was held at Malton , on Wednesday , 13 th inst ., when the W . M . and Brethren of the Eboracum Lodge , York , paid a return visit to Malton . A cricket match between the two Lodges was played on the

Malton ground , the Eboracum team winning by 129 to 108 . A match at bowls was also played , Malton winning by fiftyfive to fifty-one . In the evening the Brethren took supper together , and had a special meeting of the Camalodunum Lodge afterwards .

We are very pleased to note that Bro . R . C . Else Deputy Prov . G . M . Somerset has so far recovered from his illness as to again take an active part in the work of the Craft . Bro . Else installed Bro . E . Tedder as the new

Master of the Eldon Lodge , No . 1755 , at Portishead , on Saturda )' , and met with the same enthusiastic reception as has always been accorded him in the district wherein he has so long and worthily held the position of Deputv .

Bro . Passmore Edwards has promised £ 1 , 000 towards the equipment of the West Ham Museum . He has already given £ 3 , 000 towards its erection . Bro . Edwards has also conditionally offered £ 4 , 000 towards the erection of a hospital at the corner of Shrewsbury Street , East Ham .

The St . John Lodge of Instruction , No . 1306 has resumed its weekly meetings for the season , at the Red Cow Tavern , 67 Mile End Road , London , E . Bro . T . R . Arter P . M . is the Preceptor , and Bro . C . J . Holmes the Secretary . Meetings are held every Thursday .