The Great City Lodge, No. 1426.

¦ Rvo . Hunt waa the first to acknowledge the toasfc . He referred fco the action taken by The Great City Lodge in connection with a case of distress whioh one of the Lancashire Lodges declined to recommend to the Board of Benevolence , and expressed a strong opinion in favour of the action taken by the Groafc City members . When ho

read the correspondence which passed on the subject—somo months hack—he candidly admitted ifc touched hia heart . Ho was of opinion that the Great Cifcy Lodge had shed a light on the Provincial Lodgo referred to , which would shine in such a way aa to arouse its members to a better feeling , and ono more in harmony with the teachings

0 f Freemasonry . Ho also spoke of help given by the Great City Lodge to a distressed member of the Robert Burns Lodgo , No . 999 , Manchester , and bore testimony to the appreciation of the Manchester brethren of the kindness thon shewn to ono of their number . It might truly bo said that the Great City Lodge—which was well

known for its bounty—did good , nofc only afc home , bufc throughout the Provinces . As a sailor he could speak of Masonry in many phases . He bad met with its members in every part of the world , and felt that no society conld compare with ifc , for through its means it was possible to find a friend and a home in every clime . Bro . Harper

followed . He had muoh pleasure in being associated with the toast , he having had the honour of introducing fche present Master of the Great Cifcy Lodge fco Freemasonry—a fact which , considering Bro . Potter was initiated in the Great Cifcy Lodge , while he ( Bro . Harper ) had never been a member of ifc , might appear strange to some of those

around him . When Bro . Potter desired admission to tho Order , he asked Bro . Harper to introduce him , bnt as the Lodge of which he was a member met some distance away , he introduced Bro . Potter to Bro . Stevens , and thus he became initiated in the Lodge of which he had thafc night been installed the ruler . He had muoh pleasure in

seeing him in his high position , and hoped he would have a prosperous year , and the Lodge a successful future . Bro . Hawkins felt that any one who had witnessed the working in the Lodge that day could hardly imagine but that the Master wonld perform his dut y ably , and that he wonld be well supported during the ensning year . Bro . Scott

bore testimony to fche hearty reception he had met with . He was a stranger to them , bnt no sooner bad he come amongst them , than he was welcomed aa one of a true band of brothers . Bros . Nightingale and Middleton ( an old member of the Lodge ) also responded , and then the Worshipfnl Master proposed the health of the Immediate

Past Master and Installing Master of tho day , Bro . Fendick . He felfc that all who witnessed the installation , or , indeed , any work which Bro . Fendick had attempted , would agree with him when he said their Immediate Past Master was a most capable Mason . He appeared always ready to give his advice and assistance , and had

striven his utmost in the various duties he had had to perform . The members of the Lodge had been pleased to vote Bro . Fendick a Past Master ' s jewel , and it now afforded him infinite pleasnre to present

ifc . In doing so he trusted that Bro . Fendick might be spared for very many years to occupy his well earned position among the Past Masters of the Great City Lodge . The jewel bore the following insoriptions : —

On the obverse : — THE GREAT CITY LODGE , NO . 1426 . On fche reverse : — Presented to BRO . ROBERT FENDICK ,

with the thanks of the brethren , on the termination of his year of Office aa 13 th W . M . 9 th October 1886 .

The W . M . tendered his thanks for the very kind and hearty reception always accorded , and for tbe excellent jewel which had been presented to him . So long as he lived he hoped to wear it , in remembrance of the many happy days spent in the Great ; City Lodge . The Worshi p ful Master next had the hononr of bringing before the

members tbe toast of the Past Masters . They had that day a good array of Past Masters around them , still he could bnt wish they were all there . They had each clone good snifc and service in their turn , and each had striven afc all times to maintain the reputation of the Lodge . Bro . James Stevens was the first to reply ; he was

afraid that for onco ho was at a losa to properly acknowledge fche many kind compliments which had been paid him by fche Worshipfnl Master of the Lodge , by one or other of the Visitors , or by members of the Lodge . He had been spoken of as the originator of fche Great City Lodge , but he was not entitled to the credit of having started it

further than having been its first Master . To Bro . Headon belonged the credit of originating the Lodge , and it would be very ungracious on his part , knowing how mnch Brother Headon had done , to attempt to deprive l-. " -n of any part of tho honour attached to the founder of the Lr « --j . His connection with the Great

City Lodge had proved a source of great gratification to him , ns in ifc he had formed mi \ ny friendships , and further than thafc he was prond to belong to a Lodgo which had made snch a name for itself as had the Great City . Ho wished he conld see tho principles which nc ' uated the members of the Great City Lodge carried out in every Lodge .

Their desire wns to do all the good their position in life would permit , ancl as long as the Great City Lodge existed he hoped tho same desire would be found among its members . Speaking of the Officers , ho felt thero was nofc a brother who had rilled a chair of the Lodge bufc had gone abonfc his work with the intention of doing all fche good

he possibl y could for Freemasonry in general , and the Great City Lodge in particular . Each had done his best , and no man conld do wore . Bro . Headon followed , tendering his thanks . Referring to the present position of tho Ledge , he said that at the time the Lodge was formed it was distinctl y stated that theirs was to be the last

warrant granted for a Lodge in the City of London , but since their establishment somo thirty or thirty-five others had been consecrated in the Cit y , and as all of these had , so to speak , to earn their lining , it _ naturall y np ^ et all tho calculate ••" ' made in regard to tha Great City , Then they had had very wad times of late , and ifc stood to

The Great City Lodge, No. 1426.

reason that in timea of depression in trade , gentlemen were nofc so eager to join Freemasonry aa thoy would be in moro flourishing times , while others who had joined were obliged to resign their connection with their Lodge , in order to keep down expenses . Still , the Great City Lodgo at present numbered some

ninety members , and if all those wero to sit down together ifc would not be a remarkably small party . He felfc suro the Lodge would maintain its reputation , and hoped to be with those around him for many years to come . Bro . Blackie expressed the regret he felfc in being absent from the installation—the first ho had missed since the

consecration of tho Lodgo -but , unfortunately , the meeting thafc day had proved to be beyond the length of his cable-tow . He had been with them , however , in time to hear what had been said on fche various subjects discussed in Lodge , and hoped to witness its prosperity for many years to come . Bros . Seex , Kibble , Keeble , and

Baber also responded . Tho toasfc of the Treasnrer and Secretary was next given from the chair , and those brethren having acknowlodged the compliment , the Worshipfnl Master proposed tho Officers . Unless he had the good feeling and co-operation of the brethren he had appointed to assist him in his duties he felfc it would be impos .

sible for him fco carry out tho work of the Lodge with any prospect of success . That he should receive that co-operation he was convinced , and that their united efforts would prove of benefit to the Lodge ho sincerely hoped . Bro . Senior Warden tendered thanks . Thoy were all actuated by one desire—to do their duty . He hoped

that by the end of the term for which they had boon appointed they might have proved themselves worthy of the confidence reposed in them . Bro . Junior Warden and others also responded , and then the

Tyler ' s toasfc was given . An interesting programme of rausio was given during fche evening ; tho musical arrangements being nnder the direction of Bro . Fred . H . Cozens ( whose humorous song was deservedly encored ) , assisted by Bros . Heney , G . T . Carter , and E . J . Bell .

Royal Standard Lodge, No. 1298

ROYAL STANDARD LODGE , No . 1298

A REGULAR meeting of this Lodge was held at the Wellington Clnb , Wellington Street , Islington , on Wednesday , flth October 1886 , under the presidency of Bro . Ernest Edward Street , W . M ., when advantage was taken of a clear agenda to welcome Bro . James Stevens P . M ., and hear his Lecture on the Ritual and Ceremonial of the First Degree . Under the title of " Knobs and Excrescences "

this Lecture is now becoming widely known and appreciated , both in London Lodges and throughout the Provinces , and the manner of its delivery being extempore , each succeeding delivery presents new features , and renders it more and more interesting and attractive , and divests it of that sameness and repetition which attend written

addresses . We have had the satisfaction of hearing Bro . Sfcevons on more than one occasion , and note with mnch pleasure that tbe introdnction of new points in Masonic working , anrl a varied choice of language , g ive a freshening influence to each successive delivery . There was at this meeting a goodly attendance of members and

visitors , and at the conclnsion of the lecture , whioh occupied abonfc two hours , the lecturer was highly complimented by the W . M . and several of the brethren . Bro . Conrad C Dumas P . G . A . D . C . spoke in warm terms of the services which Bro . Stevens is rendering to the Craft by his lucid exposition of the anomalies and innovations which

have crept into Masonic ritual , to his personal knowledge , since his initiation in 1859 . Bro . Dumas expressed the hope that Bro . Stevens would persevere in his exertions , to point out these divort'r > nci » s , notwithstanding the prejudices and somewhat unreasonable opposition on the part of many who either conld not or wonld not understand

how the purity of the ritnn . 1 is her ' ner effected by unwarrantable , introductions of senseless words anrl procedure . A cord- ' al voto o " thanks to Bro . Stevens vvns ordered to bo r-corded on the mi ^ nt ^ a of the

Lodsre , for which Bro . Stevens expressed his thanks , and stated hia willingness to meet the wishes of any oth ^ r Lodges desirous of hearincr him . After the Lodge hid been closed , the brethren partook of supper , and spent a very agreeable honr before separating .

Old England Lodge, No. 1790.

OLD ENGLAND LODGE , No . 1790 .

A REGULAR meeting of this Lodge was held at the Masonio Hall , Thornton Heath , on Tuursday , the 7 ih inst ., wh « n there were present Bros . W . H . Ransom W . M ., C Tarry S W ., F . T . Ridpath J . W ., W . Foulsham P . M . Treasurer , II . M . Hobbs Secretary , J . Kilvington S . D ., E . Samuel J . D ., R . G . Fleming I . G ., VV . Lane Tyler , H . Briber I . P . M . ; also Bros . Griffin , Morton , Best , Huskins ,

Chamberlain , Blony , D . ivii-s , GicenfieM , Philps , Blocker , and J . Clarke . Visitors—Uroa . W . Staley S . D . 1597 , W . G . Ot . es D . of 0 . 2096 , A . R . Jones Org . SO l , D . GnadalU 2096 , J . Browning 11 * 20 , W . Burn 858 , A . Mai hoy 2096 , A . \ V . Smith 1011 . Lodge hnvinsr " opened aud the m ' uniiorf of Inst m ^ OMiig confirmed , the ballot WHS

taken for tlav : e gem lumen ; it proved unanimous in their hivoar , nnd one of them , Mr . WMriam t'rum-is Blnckey , vv ^ s initiated into Freemasonry . The charge wns given . After two gentlemen hud been proposed and seconded for initiation , nnd other business transacted , Lodge was closed , and the brethren adjonrned to refreshment .

The Fifteen Sections

THE FIFTEEN SECTIONS

WILL BE WORKED At the Creaton Lodge of Instruction , No . 1791 , held at the Wheatsheaf Hotel , Goldhawk-road , W ., ou Thursday , 23 th inat . Bro . J , Davies ( Preceptor ) W . M ., Bro . Jesse Culling P . M . 1585 S . W

First Lecture—Bros . Dopson , Josey , Rogers , Brt . it . bart , Child , Cuff Sims . Second Lecture—Bros . Cochrane , Culling * , Sp ' . e ^ el , Civigga . Third Lecture- Bros . E . Austin , Purdue , Davies . Lodge will bo opened at seven o ' clock .