Abbey Lodge, Westminster, No. 2030.

C . Cowley , J . Hayler , D . Stroud , J . H . Montague , T . W . Daviea , W . Berwick , T . Hawkins , W . Holland , J . E . Smith , F . 0 . Morgan , S . W . Vaughan , R . Chivas , J . E . Salvvay , H . Cloots , A . W . Hilldon , P . A . Shrives , J . A . Richards , T . Flury , 0 . T . Pullen , T . J . Cocks , G . Dexter , H . W . Roach , W . Balohin , T . C . Wood , H . E . Poole , A . T . Jeffery ,

T . Hambling , T . White , W . E . Wood , L . de Wyttenback , D . Do Pinna , H . 0 . Hamborg , C . Daviea , A . G . Thomson , T . Buller , R . D . Wynne , F . Tollman , R . Baughan , H . H . Bridgman , J . M . Hughes , John Kent , T . Bull , A . Simner , T . Gammon , and J . Pain . At the conclusion of the Lodge bnsiness , the brethren sat down to banquet , nnder the

presidency of Bro . Bnrdett-Contts , M . P ., who in due course gave the usual toasts . That of the Queen and tho Craft he was sure would be heartily received by those around him , as Freemasons were proverbial for their loyalty . The next , he said , was a toasfc with even more specific interest for Freemasons . The association of royalty

with tho Craft waa an historical fact , and a very fortunate one , for although a body so ancient and distinguished aa Freemasonry did not require it , yet the brethren wero alwaya glad to receive tho stamp of recognition from the hereditary sovereign or fche heir to the throne of the country . It

was particularly fortunate that H . R . H . the Prince of Wales—Most Worshipful Grand M-. sfcer—had always taken such a close and warm interest in the Craft , the result of whioh action on the part of His Royal Highness waa evidenced by tho enormous addition to the Craft during hia Grand Mastership . Only lately they had witnessed

his anxiety to draw his relatives near to him in the Order , the ceremony a few weeks since in Sussex being a particular exemplification thereof . The toast having met a hearty response , waa followed by that of the Earl of Carnarvon Pro G . M ., the Earl of Lathom D . G . M ., and the rest of the Grand Officera present and past . Bro .

Bnrdett-Coutts did not know he conld say anything very new of these noblemen or of the Officera of Grand Lodge . He had seen them perform their duties in a most exemplary manner , evidencing that they were always cognizant of the importance of good working . He had never made any disguise of his opinion on this point ; he felt that

the accurate working of the beautiful ceremonies of the Craft waa absolutely necessary for the good of Freemasonry . One pleasnre attached to the proposition of this toasfc waa the fact that it invariably bronght a response from their beloved friend and Chaplain , the Rev . R . J . Simpson , with whose name he would now couple the

toast . Bro . Simpson tendered his thanks . The acting Master had that day proved himself possessed of the right spirit in having journeyed np from Norfolk to supply the place of their absent Master , Bro . Seager Hunt , whose absence they all regretted , and at the same time hoped he would be present on the next occasion they

assembled . The Worshipfnl Master , m proposing the toast , had apologised for having nothing new to say in connection with the Grand Officers . He ( Bro . Simpson ) considered this was rather a matter for congratulation to Freemasons , who would much prefer keeping to the old landmarks of the Order rather than adopting anything

fresh . Freemasonry had its loyalty and charity to boast of , and the longer it was kept to such common things the better it wonld be for those associated with the Order . Having thanked the brethren on behalf of Grand Lodge generally , Bro . Simpson referred to what he considered a sin of omission on the part of the Grand Lodge officials .

He regretted their rulers had not arranged for an especial Grand Lodge for the purpose of tendering a welcome to tbe many colonial visitors who had recently been among them . They had brethren in their midst from all of the colonies , whoso hearts beat in unison with their own , but no official welcome had been tendered them—a

very grave omission , he felt . He hoped it was not too late to remedy this , and he knew many distinguished colonists who regretted with him the omission , which he felt sure was really an oversight . Bro . Baker I . P . M . proposed the next toast . He rose that evening in a twofold capacity with a twofold object . He rose as Immediate

Past Master , and as the acting Master of the first part of the evening ' s working , and had to propose the toast of the presiding Officer and the first Master of the Abbey Lodge . This twof ld capacity did nofc quite end here , for he waa aure he was expressing the view of every brother present when he said he regretted the absence ° ,

their Worshipful Master Bro . Seager Hunt , but , as they had been told , his absence arose from circumstances wholly beyond his control . The brethren conld console themselves with the feeling that they always had a worthy deputy to fall back npon in their first Master—Bro . Burdett-Coutts . It may be , and sometimes is thought ,

thafc brethren who occupy a high position in society cannot devote their time to the working of the ceremonies of the Order as some of those with fewer calls can do ; but those who have been present at the meetings of the Abbey Lodge know that such is not fche case with their Bro . Burdett-Coutts . His working of tho third degree

that night was an ample demonstration of the fact thafc he was fnlly competent to perform any work ho might be called upon to undertake . Indeed , his rendering of the ceremony was as good as could have been hoped for , even had he been in the regnlar occupation of the chair instead of , as was the caso , boing called npon afc short

notice to do tho work in fche absence of another . Bro . Burdett-Coutts felt he had to respond in a double capacity . First ho had to express his deep regrefc , aa Mastor of the Lodge , that from circumstances beyond his power he was kept away that night from those he held doar . Next , as acting Master , he

had to say a word in recognition of tho ability and capabilit y of their absent Worshipful Master , Brother Seager Hunt , whose absence they all regretted . He felt there were really good reasons of a private character which kept him from his place in the Lodge , althongh he mnst say that when be read his first letter , in

which Bro . Hunt said that circumstances beyond his control would prevent his attendance , that the phrase did nofc seem altogether forei gn to him , indeed it was one which had often emanated from hia

own tongue or pon . In another capacity—that of first Master of the Lod ge—he had to thank them , as he had often thanked them before , for the kind reception accorded him . It had been his earnest endeavour since their Lodge was started to encourage , as fav aa he conld ,

Abbey Lodge, Westminster, No. 2030.

both by example and words , the proper working of the various ceremonies of the Lodge . A great part of Freemasonry depended , ao to speak , on form and external appearances , while beneath dwelt principlea of grave importance to members of the Craft . Much therefore depended on the way iu which Freemasons expressed themselves :

for its lessons lost half their charms , and he might say half their value , if they wore not properly rendered . Personally he might say he had derived considerable good from the efforts he had been forced to make to commit to memory the ritual , and to make himself thoroughly acquainted with tho beautiful ceremonies of the Order j more

particularly that of the thud degree . He hoped ho was not impressing it too forcibly on those around him that in order to be a good Mason they must acquire a knowledge of the ceremonies . Whatever might be tho circumstances of his life , and many of them were very pleasant , he always had the feeling that if he wanted a thoroughly

honest , open , and straightforward welcome , he was sure of it at the Abbey Lodge . Tho next toast was that of the Past Masters . Having returned thanks for some one else in his own capacity , Bro . Burdett . Coutts felt he now had to propose his own health in yet another capacity—that of a Past Mastor of tho Lodge . He could apeak of

them with conaiderable personal knowledge , and waa not sure he know any Lodge which bad three better Past Masters . He began to think the toaafc was rather a perplexing one—if he disassociated him . self from the toasfc he could speak in the most flattering terms of the Past Masters , but as he had to include himself , he must leave ifc to

the brethren to show their appreciation or otherwise . Taking them as a trio he considered the Past Masters a body calculated to more or less elicit from the brethren feelings of sympathy , friendship , admiration , adoration , and all else that falls to those looked npon aa having done their dnty . Bro . Baker replied . If it was a difficult task

for the Worshipfnl Master to propose this toast in a dual capacity , how much more difficult was it for him to acknowledge it as a one-third portion only . He trusted he should have the other Past Master , Bro . Spink's assistance , aa then they shonld muster two-thirds of the whole , and at least be in a majority . He had felt happy when he

had installed his successor into the chair , as he had felt that hia work in the Lodge was then finished , but he had unexpectedly been called npon to resume activity , and had had much pleasure in complying . He hoped that as long as he lived he shonld be present at the regular meetings of the Lodge , and assured the brethren he should alwaya

have pleasure in doing any work required of him . Bro . Spink followed . He felt the brethren mnst have been gratified to find thafc their first Master had not forgotten his work , but that he had been able to carry out the ceremony required of him with credit to himself . He had always considered that when a brother ' s health was

proposed as a Past Master , his obituary notice was , so to speak , delivered in a Lodge , and thafc he would not be again called upon to perform any work , but they had had evidence that this was nofc always the case . The call made on the Past Masters had been willingly met . Bro . Baker then proposed the health of the initiate ,

who , in response , said he fully appreciated the honour done him in receiving him as an initiate of the Lodge , of which be trusted he might become a worthy member . Bro . Burdett-Contts gave the health of the visitors . He did not know what the Abbey Lodge would do without its guests . The members were good boon companions , but they were

mnch better when surrounded by visitors . The Lodge formed a strong body by itself , but be bad noticed its meetings were alwaya attended by a large nnmber of guests , who appeared to take great interest in the doings of the Lodge , and who , it might be said , shed a glow on its proceedings . He did " not like to see the visitors

preponderate over the members of a Lodge ; on tho present occasion they formed about twenty-five per cent , of those present , which percentago might well be increased to thirty , forty , or even fifty , but beyond that it should not go , as then a meeting might really become tame . Althongh the toist regularly appaared on the programme , he desired the visitors to consider there was nothing of a formal character about

its present proposition , the visitors were heartily we ' eome , and he hoped they had enjoyed themselves . Bro . Bailey was the first to reply . It was tar too late , he said , and the fountain of eloquence had been far too deeply drawn upon , for him to attempt any lengthy remarks at that late honr . He considered it a most fit and proper

thing that he , a Past Master of the old Abbey L'idge , of Burton-on - Trent , shonld enter the Abbey Lodge ot Westninster on the first occasion of hia visiting a Metropolitan Lodge . He had come that day with the feeling that it was hardly possible for biin to take back anything fresh with him into Staffordshire , but he had witnessed

such an exhibition of Freemasonry as he should be proud to store up , and detail to his friends in fche Provinces . Bro . Murche followed . Looking at the candidates , and the way in which the ceremonies had been performed , he felt that the Abbey Lodge was fulfilling its mission thoroughly and handsomely . He felt the visitors would go

away greatly benefitted with what they had eo-3 n and taken part in that night . Bvo . Mason felt that beyond the degrees worked in their Lodge that day there was a something which came from the Abbey Lodge , whioh was a trne explication of Freemasonry , and this something was to do whatever was iu the power of the Lodge on behalf

of those who were unfortunate enough to need help fiom ot ' iers . The Charities of the Order had already reaped the advantage of support from the Abbey Lodge , and Bro . Mason hoped the help wonld be extended on many occasions in tbe future . The Acting Master next proposed the health of the Treasurer and Secretary—two most

valuable officials , he said . He was sorry to say the Tr usurer , who had given his undivided attention to tho Lodge , had been obliged ti leave , but they had the Secretary yet with them , aid he was sute the brethren would accord him a hearty reception . Bro . Shand , in reply , said he very mnch appreciated the kind words and hearty

expressions of approval he had jnst listened to , and hoped to long have the confidence of the brethren in his present position . The Officers of the Lodge was the next toast . Bro . Burdett-Contts was quite sure the Lodge would never have attained its present high position had it not had among its earliest officers experienced Masons , to whom every part of the work was familiar . He had received the