Reports Of Meetings.

REPORTS OF MEETINGS .

We shall be pleased to receive particulars of Masonic meetings for insertion in our columns , and where desired will endeavour to send a representative to report Lodge or other proceedings .

C It AFT : METROPOLITAN .

ALLIANCE LODGE , No . 1827 . THE sixteenth anniversary of this essentially city Lodge was celebrated at the Guildhall Tavern , Gresham Street , on Wednesday , when Bro . Captaiu Vickers Dunfee , C . C ., was installed as Worshipful Waster for the year , subsequently investing the following as his assistant Officers : Rev . J . Henry Smith Immediate Past Master and Chaplain , W . Bruce Clarke , M . A .,

M . B ., F . R . C . S ., Senior Warden , J . W . Carlyon-Hughes Junior Warden , Henry Clarke , C . C ., L . C . C ., P . M . Treasurer , Col . T . Davies Sewell P . M . P . G . S . Secretary , Baron W . Ernest de Bush Senior Deacon , Ernest Clarke , M . D ., B . S ., F . R . C . S ., Junior Deacon , Capt . Henry Wright P . M . Director of Ceremonies , F . A . Jewson Organist , W . T . Roberts Inner Guard , Percy Monckton and P . J . Horniman , M . P ., F . R . G . S ., Stewards , T . Lovell P . M . Tyler .

The installation ceremony was efficiently performed by the outgoing Master , ' Bro . Rev . J . H , Smith , who was warmly complimented by those present on the successful conclusion of his teim of office . The different addresses having been given , and formal business transacted , the Lodge was closed and the company repaired to the banquet room , where an excellent repast was served .

In addition to those already mentioned there were present : —Bros . P . A . Philbrick , Q . C ., G . Reg ., Col . L . G . Dundas J . G . D ., Undersheriff C Beckford , Undersheriil T . G . Beard P . M ., Alderman Frank Green P . M . P . G . D ., Deputy Halse , CO ., H . Squire , C . C ., P . M ., Capt . W = C . Woollett Grand Steward , G . A . Pickering P . M . P . G . S ., J . W . Clark , Frederick Hill , Ex-Sheriff George

Hand , J . Tickle , CO ., A . W . Read , CO ., F . S . Jackson P . M ., T . H . B . Hitching , C . C ., Col . E . T . Rodney Wilde P . M ., Capt . Richmond Parry , W , Simpson , H . J . Waring , A . Grieve P . M ., J . Easterbrook P . M ., Frederick Hobbs , H . C . Morris , C . C ., W . T . Rabbits , Capt . Edward Pugh , W . Simpson , A . W . Watson , C . J . Andrews , W . Westcott , John Carey , H . E . Lewis , Alexander Ritchie , J . P ., C . C ., James Perkins , C . C ., P . M ., and others .

At the conclusion of the banquet the usual Loyal toasts were submitted , the Master proposing the Queen and the Craft and the Grand Master , and Bro . Henry Clarke Lodge Treasurer that of the other Grand Officers , present and past . Most of those present , he said , were business men , and all must know that if there was a large business being successfully carried on there

must be good men at its head , Freemasonry must be regarded as a huge business , and its success was proof of the efficiency of those included in this toast . They had the pleasure of including among their number that ni ght three Officers of Grand Lodge , whose names he was pleased to couple with the toast—Bro . Philbrick the Grand Registrar , thoir own Past Master Green Past Grand Deacon , and Col . Dundas Junior Grand Deacon of the year .

Bro . Philbrick , in his reply , was hardly in his usually happy vein , really introducing topics so closely allied to politics as to put his early remarks virtually outside the scope of Freemasonry , but his ability as a speaker enabled him to adapt his comments to the occasion , and he concluded some excellent Masonic expressions with the remaik that the devotion of the Grand Officers to the cause of Masonry ended only with their death .

Bro . Alderman Green felt he should at once acknowledge the great compliment paid' him by associating his name with the toast of the Grand Officers , and further that he should best carry out his role by replying thereto as briefly as possible . He most cordially and sincerely congratulated the Alliance Lodge on its present position , and especially on the fact that Bro . Philbrick was among their guests that evening .

Col . Dundas also replied , although he felt he had much better leave well alone than attempt to add anything to the remarks of the previous speakers . He could not lay claim to the privilege of carrj ing his sword inside Grand Lodge , but he did carry his sword outside of it , and was probably best known in that sphere .

The Rev . J . Henry Smith I . P . M . gave the next toast , that of the Worshipful Master . At all their gatherings it was customary for them to look up to the Master for the time being . Masons never thought of disobeying him , while at the after proceedings they were accustomed to regard him as one of the chief—generally the chief—of the Lodge . This was especially the case on Installation nights , when he was really the chief

among them . In the present Master of the Alliance Lodge they had a Brother who had passed through all the Offices of the Lodge , and had been an excellent worker in each . He felt the members would have no reason to . regret the choice they had made in selecting Captain Dunfee to preside over them , but that he would add lustre to the Lodge . It had been his pleasure to instal the present Master in the chair of the Lodge , and also an especial

privilege to recently assist at an important ceremony in which Capt . Dunfee was an interested party ; for whereas the members of the Lodge had previously known the present Master as a good Mason , he had had the felicity of giving him a better half . He felt he was justified , on behalf of the members , in not only tendering hearty good wishes to the present ruler of the Lodge , but also to his wife . They felt convinced that under the rule of Bro . Dunfee the Lodge would enjoy a very successful year .

In reply , the Worshipful Master said words failed him to express all he felt towards his Brethren for their kind expressions , and particularly was this tho case in regard to what Bro . Smith had been pleased to say in referring to his wife . Sixteen Masters had sat in the chair of that Lodge , everyone of whom had served the Lodge satisfactorily , and his aim would be to follow in their footsteps . He should endeavour , as far as lay in his power ,

to keep up the traditions of the Lodge , and hoped all would work together , during his year of office , with harmony and brotherly feeling . He now had the great pleasure of proposing the toast of tho health of the late Master of their Lodge—Bro . Smith , who had really endeared himself to the members in many ways , but especially by the splendid manner in which he had carried out the duties of the Lodge during his year of office in tho chair . The decoration

, in tho form of a Past Master ' s jewel , which they had asked him to accept in the Lodge , was but a very humble representation of what they felt towards him , but he hoped Bro . Smith would accept it with the best wishes of the members , given in the hope that he would enjoy many years of health tad happiness . In pinning the jewel on the breast of their Immediate Past Master he tendered him a sincere expression of their appreciation . In the course of his reply the I . P . M said he had all along appreciated the

Reports Of Meetings.

kindness of the members in placing him in the chair of the Lodge . He remembered remarking when he entered it that time last year , that if the cordiality then extended towards him was repeated at the end of his year of office he should indeed be gratified . It had not only been repeated , but had been added to , and he assured them he was indeed pleased thereat . He felt he might say the Lodge had been a united one during his year of offioe , and he

was gratified at what he was able to look back upon . The jewel they had been pleased to present to him was really a memento of the gratification he had experienced during the past year , and he should ever regard it as such ., The Secretary of the Lodge , Col . T . D . Sewell proposed the toast of the Visitors . Perhaps this was not the most important toast of the evening , but at least it might be regarded as equal to any on the list . The : Visitors

exemplified one of the principles of Freemasonry—one they all topkuppri themselves when they accepted the Brotherhood of Freemasonry . They had had the privilege of seeing many distinguished visitors at the Alliance Lodge , and hoped the entertainment provided that evening had been sufficiently attractive to induce their present guests to desire to come again . He had ; much pleasure in coupling with the toast the name of Bro . Tiqkle . a well known Mason and a well known man in city affairs .

Brother Tickle responded . He felt quite incompetent to utter all that should be said in the presence of so many distinguished guests , but he could but express his personal gratification at seeing the second son of a dear old friend—whom he had known for upwards of thirty years—installed into the chair of so important a Lodge , as the Alliance . The Visitors had enjoyed themselves thoroughly , and fully appreciated the work that had beenjearried out , as well as the efforts of the members in their endeavour to make all enjoy the meeting .

The Master proposed the toast of the Past Masters , including therewith the Treasurer and Secretary . He regarded this toast as probably the most popular of any on their list . No less than nine of the sixteen Brethren who had passed through the chair of their Lodge had been present at the meeting that night , which was proof of their interest ; indeed , a feature of the Lodge was that its Past Masters continued to give it the benefit of their support long after they had retired from the chief office in it .

Bro . Perkins replied , considering it a great compliment to be singled out to respond from among so many Past Masters . Each had seemed to strive to emulate the example of his predecessors , and work for . the welfare of the Alliance Lodge . While such Masons as the present occupant of the chair came forward and made themselves perfect in the work there was no fear fox the future of the Lodge . The toast of the Officers was next given , and being responded to by the Senior Warden , concluded the proceedings . o o o

THE following is a copy of the communication referred to m our last issue as sent by Bro . Macklin , from America , in connection with the installation meeting then reported : " At a meeting of the Lodge of Asaph , No . 1319 , who are now absent in America , held at Winthrop Hotel , Boston , Mass ., on Thursday , the 17 th ult ., there were present Bros . F . H . Macklin W . M . in the chair , Sam Johnson S . W ,, Cushing , Howson , Innes , arid Valentine . Letters were received from Bros . Luigi Lablache J . D ., and

ASAPH LODGE , No . 1310

Ernest Leicester , at New York , regretting their inability to attend , arid expressing a wish to join in any arrangements that might he made by the meeting . The W . M . also intimated that he had communicated with Bro . John Le Hay , now in New York , but that up to that time he had riot received any , reply , but that they would see him in New York prior to 4 th November . The following resolutions were then carried : ' Resolved , that this

meeting offers its congratulations to Bro . Charles Cruikshanks W . M .-eleot of the Lodge of Asaph , upon his installation as W . M ., together with their hearty good wishes for a prosperous year of office . ' ' Resolved , that . members whose names are here recorded pledge themselves to meet socially on Monday , 4 th November , and at the hour of twelve noon ( American time ) , or as near , as possible ( to be hereafter ascertained ) to the hour of 5 p . m . ( English time ) , drink to the general health of the W . M . and the whole company assembled

at the installation banquet on that date in London , England , and that a cablegram be sent to that effect to the W . M ., and that should any of the above-mentioned members be unable to attend the meeting upon that day , he or they pledge themselves individually to drink that toast at the time fixed . ' ' Resolved , that a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to the Secretary of the Asaph Lodge in London , to be read at the Installation Lodge meeting on the 4 th November 1895 , and recorded upon the minutes . '" In the course of the dinner Bro . Cruikshanks W . M . announced that the following cablegram had been received : —

" New York , Cruikshanks , Asaph Lodge , Freemasons' Hall , London . Now drinking . We drink to and / . congratulate you , Worshipful Mastor . May you live long and happily , and rule worthily . We drink to our brave Brothers and fair Sisters . Though absent from you in body , we are with you in spirit . We drink to the general joy of the whole table .

The following answer was returned by cable : — " Macklin , Abbey ' s Theatre , New York . All here reciprocate . ASAPH . "

MACKLIN , JOHNSON , LABLACHE , CUSHING , HOWBON , LE HAY , LEICESTER , INNES , VALENTINE . "

UPTON LODGE , No . 1227

THE regular meeting of this Lodge was held on Thursday , at tho Great Eastern Hotel , Liverpool Street , under the presidency of Bro . E . M . Jeffery W . M ., who was well supported by Officers and others , among those present being : —Brothers G . A . Peters S . W ., H . Hyde J . W ., G . Gieseke P . M . Treasurer , 0 . J . Free P . M . Secretary , Samuel Toye P . M ., C Schmidt P . M ., E . Hill P . M ., John Stroud P . M ., W . A . Bray S . D ., H . B . Brown J . D ., Arthur H . Church Organist , A . J . C . Miller Steward , H . J . Rowberry Assistant Steward , A . A . Butcher I . G .

Visitors : S . C . Bateman J . W . 1707 , G . F . Gildersleve W . M . 1278 , J . H . Sansom S . W . 1364 , D . M . Maurice 1238 , W . Jones 2264 , C . Reeve P . M , 1816