Notices Of Meetings.

NOTICES OF MEETINGS .

— : o : — UNITED LODGE , No . 697 .

THE Annual Festival of this Lodgo was held on Friday , tho 9 fch inst ., when the W . M . elect , W . Bro . Thomas Eustace P . M ., was installed as W . M . by W . Bro . Lieut-Colonel H . S . Somerville Burney , a Mason of more than 30 years' standing , and ono of the Founders of No . 697 . At the conclusion of the ceremony , the following wero appointed Officers for the coming year : —Bros . Thomas Eix I . P . M ., A . Gosling S . W ., Thomas G . Mills J . W ., Thomas Eix P . M . Treas .,

G . A . Eustace Seo . pro tem , W . Jelley S . D ., 0 . D . Marshall J . D ., W . Chapman D . C , A . S . Went Organist , E . Smith I . G , J . D . Dnffield , E . Lowings , and G . Somerville Stewards ; S . Munson Tyler . The brethren afterwards sat down to banquet at the George Hotel , a snmptous repast being provided by tho hostess , Mrs . Guiver . The nsual toasts were given after dinner , and somo brethren present

contributed to the pleasures of the evening by vocal music . Among those present , either at Lodge or the festive board were the V . W . Bro . the Eev . S . E . Wigram D . P . G . M . Essex , Bros . Thomas J . Balling P . G . Seo . Essex , J . Terry Sec . E . M . B . I ., E . Hennemeyer W . M . 51 , E . H . Crate P . P . G . C , W . Basham W . M . 650 , T . Jennings S . W . 650 , H . Everard Sec . 650 , E . 0 . Alfchill W . M . 433 , J . E . Wiseman P . M . and Sec . 433 , J . Downes I . G . 433 , W . Richey P . M . 51 , J . J . C .

Turner J . W . 51 , Joseph Hanly 51 , and the following members of No . 697 : —Bros . T . Eustace W . M ., Lieut-Colonel H . S . Somerville Burney P . M ., Thomas Eix P . M ., Bros . A . Gosling , T . G . Mills , G . A . Eustace , W . Jelley , William Chapman , C . D . Marshall , G . H . Somerville , Robt . Smith , D . R . Rowbotham , E . Lowings , S . Tatom , Jos . Sadler , A . S . Went , Thomas Matthewman , E . Foster , A . Richardson , T . Downing , S . H . Ellis , H . J . Everett , F . E . Morris , J . D . Dnffield , J . H . Boulton , and R . J . Godfrey .

Crichton Lodge, No. 1641.

CRICHTON LODGE , No . 1641 .

THIS Lodge gave a full dress ball at the Freemasons Tavern , on Friday evening last , in aid of the Charity Fund , and , taking into consideration the lateness of the season , it passed off with great success . The following brethren acted as Stewards -. —Bros . T . Gardiner W . M ., A . Middlemass P . M ., T . Griffiths P . M ., P . A . Nairne D . C ,

R . J . Voisey S . W ., A . H . Goldschmidt J . W ., D . D . Mercer Treasurer , T . Weeks Secretary , T . E . Heller S . D ., E . Greenwood S ., J . Maunder Organist , R . J . Vincent , J . Dallison , H . R . Baker , T . Nettleship , W . H . Briant , J . Cross , W . II . Barber Secretary 1777 , Fred . Hillar J . D . 1475 , G . P . Cottar S . D . 1622 . The following acted as M . C . ' s—Bros . W . H . Baker I . G . 1641 , H . A . Stunt W . S . 1641 , and T . Cull S . W .

1446 . Bro . Dan Godfrey ' s Quadrille Band was in attendance and played the most popnlar tnnes . Dancing was kept up with great spirit until five o ' clock . During the supper Bro . Gardiner proposed the usual toasts , which were drank enthusiastically , especially " The Ladies , " responded to by Bro . Cottar . In proposing the " Stewards and M . C . ' s , " Bro . Gardiner referred to tho work done by Bro . Stunt , who also acted as Secretary to the Ball Committee , and he expressed a hope that every one had spent a pleasant evening .

Mizpah Lodge, No. 1671.

MIZPAH LODGE , No . 1671 .

THE installation meeting of this Lodge was held on Saturday last , at the Albion , Aldersgate-street , and may justly be described as one of the most successful gatherings over held under that hospitable roof . Tho chair was taken by Bro . W . W . Medcalf W . M . afc tho hour appointed , and in support thero wero present a numerous gathering of Officers and members as well as of Visitors . The Lodge having been opened and the minutes of the previous meeting having been

read and confirmed , Bro . Emile Clavel gave evidence of his progress in the Royal Art and was passed to the degree of F . C . The raising of Bro . G . Abel Harrison to the sublime degree of M . M . was , owing to the unavoidable absence of that brother during the early part ; of the meeting , postponed . The report of the Audit Committee was submitted and accepted , and nothing more need bo said of ifc than

thafc ifc was eminently satisfactory . The special business of the evening , namely the installation of the W . M . elect Bro . Johannes Bergmann , was then proceeded with , tho Installing Master being Bro . Nelson Eeed , who most efficiently fulfilled the arduous duties of his office . Those not entitled to be present at this interesting ceremony having been readmitted , the W . Master was duly saluted

in the three degrees and congratulated , and then proceeded to invest his Officers for the ensuing year as follow : —namely , Bros . Charles Schmidt S . W ., E . A . Morgan J . W ., W . W . Medcalf I . P . M ., Eev . E . J . Simpson P . G . C . Chaplain , J . J . Avery P . P . G . Treas . Devon Treasurer , H . G . Buas Assist . G . Sec . Secretary , H . H . Wells S . D ., H . Warden J . D ., J . Bromwich I . G ., George Lewis D . C , Eichard

Nelson W . S ., C . J . Meiter Organist , Church Tyler . A proposition by Bro . Eeed , seconded by Bro . Still , to the effect that Bro . Shadwell H . Gierke G . Sec . should be elected an honorary member of the Lodge , was carried with acclamation ; and Bro . Gierke briefly but suitably acknowledged the compliment paid him . The routine business having been transacted , the name of a brother for election aa a joining member was submitted , and after sundry apologies for

non-attendance had been read , Lodge was closed with the customary formalities . The brethren then adjourned to banquet , which was served in a manner worthy of this world-famed hostelry . On the removal of the cloth , the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were proposed from the chair , that of the Pro Grand Master , Deputy Grand Master , past and present Grand Officers , being responded to by Bro . Gierke . In the course of his remarks Bro . Gierke observed that the Grand Officers of England were too well known , and their

Mizpah Lodge, No. 1671.

zeal and abilities too highly appreciated , for ifc to bo necessary to say more than a few words on their behalf . They were on all occasions but too glad to exert themselves on behalf of Freemasonry , and speaking for himself , he was bound to acknowledge not only the honour they had conferred upon him in the early part of the meeting , but also the very cordial reception they had given to

tho toasfc with which his name had been associated . The duties of the office upon whioh he had so recently entered were of a very onerous character , and it would be unjust on his part if he did nofc publicly recognise the valuable assistance he was daily receiving from their esteemed Secretary Bro . Buss A . G . S ., whose absence that evening was the more to be regretted from the circumstances to which ifc was

dne . Bro . Willcocks having given tho well-known song , " True for Aye , " in a manner which commanded tho applause of all present , the health of the initiate , as entered on the list of toasts , was given and acknowledged by Bro . Clavel , who , though he had been passed to tho degree of F . C , had had no previous opportunity of thanking the Lodge for their reception of him as a Brother Mason . After Brother

Meiter's song , " The King ' s Jester , " had received its due share of applause , the I . P . M . Bro . Medcalf rose and proposed in simple but telling language the health of the W . M ., of whom , during his term of office , he anticipated great things , A pianoforte solo by Bro . Frantzen followed , and then the W . M . rose and expressed his acknowledgments , nofc only of the kindly terms in whioh his health had been proposed ,

bnfc also of the vory cordial manner in which ifc had been received by all present . He remarked that ifc would be out of his power to express his thanks for the honour they had done him in a measure befitting the occasion , but no doubt they would take the will for the deed , and accept his heartfelt thanks as fully as though he had been more successful in rendering justice to the toast . Bro . Hislop ' s song ,

" Twickenham Ferry , " having been most snccesfully rendered , the toasfc of the Installing Officer followed , and Bro . N . Reed acknowledging , as he did most feelingly and appropriately , the kindness shown him and the appreciation of the slight services he had been able to render the Lodge that afternoon , remarked that that was the first occasion on whioh he had been called upon to instal a successor in the

chair of the Mizpah Lodge . A pianoforte solo having then been given , the toast of the Visitors , among whom were many distinguished members of the Craft , was given , the names of Bros . Sendall and Briggs being associated with it , and after a brief pause , in the course of which Bro . Eeed sang the " British Lion" with great spirit , thoso two brethren rose and suitably acknowledged the compliment paid

them and their fellow Visitors . The health of the Past Masters , with which was naturally associated the name of Bro . Medcalf I . P . M ., followed . The W . M . referred briefly to the services whioh Bros . Eeed , Still , and Medcalf had rendered to the Lodge during their respective terms of office , and then proceeded to express the great pleasure he experienced in investing his predecessor in the ohair , Bro .

Medcalf , with the Past Master ' s jewel unanimously granted him by the Lodge . He congratulated Bro . Medcalf on having received this well-merited mark of the Lodge ' s esteem , and trusted he would livo for many years , bearing on his breast the token of appreciation it was his duty to affix . The Charity box was here handed round , and resulted in the collection of the sum of £ 2 18 s 2 d . Bro . Medcalf

then acknowledged the toast , and in doing so thanked most cordially his fellow members of the Lodge for the compliment they had paid him . He regretted his services had not been such as he had wished to render , but the evidence of their appreciation of his efforts wonld always be esteemed at its just value , and he sincerely hoped it wonld ever remain as an heirloom in his family . In proposing the toast of

the Masonic Charities , | the W . M . expressed the pleasure the Lodge felfc afc seeing their official representatives present on such occasions . On behalf of the members of the Mizpah , he expressed the satisfaction he felt thafc their Lodge had had the opportunity of giving practical expression fco their interest in the Masonic Institutions . Dnring tho brief period of its existence , the Lodge had made ifc a point of

supporting one Charity each year , in the belief that in the long run this was a sounder policy than to distribute their help among the three . Bro . Avery ' s song , " The Island of the Free , " having been justly applauded , Bros . Binckes and Terry severally acknowledged the toast . The former explained that of late he had felt some diffidence in presenting himself as a representative of the Charities , for

the reason that in some quarters there seemed to be an opinion thafc the presence of the Secretaries of the Masonic Institutions was , if nofc unnecessary , at all events undesirable . It was always a great pleasure , as well as an important duty , for him to commend these Charities to the firm support of the Lodges he visited , and he shonld make a point of continuing to do so as long as he felt that

his presence was welcome . Bro . Terry spoke warmly , as he always does , of the work done by the Institutions , and commended them to the support of all present . Ho endorsed in a great measure what Bro . Binckes had said , and at the same time expressed his belief that the course hitherto followed for many years was one to bo commended . The toasfc of the Treasurer and Secretary , after a good

song capitally sung by Bro . Warden , was acknowledged by Bro . Avery Treasurer , who expressed the regret ; he felfc afc the absence of his esteemed colleague , Bro . Buss . The Officers were then toasted , the W . M . paying an appropriate bufc justly deserved compliment to each , and at the same time expressing his belief thafc he should receive at their hands thafc able and zealous assistance of which a

brother in his important position stood in need . The reply of Bro . Schmidt S . W . was brief bufc to the point . Bro . Morgan J . W . spoke at greater length , as he felfc ifc was an opportunity of which ib was proper he shonld avail himself to express , as he knew he might do , not only for himself , but also on behalf of every member of the Lodge , the great pleasure they always experienced

at finding among their guests the representatives of the Masonic Charities . They felfc ifc was a compliment to the Lodge when those brethren visited them , and urged the cause of the Masonio Charities on the members and visitors . It was his belief , he said , thafc snch visits could nofc be otherwise than beneficial . It was in his opinion most ; necessary that constant appeals should ) b ? mad . 0 everywhere by