Royal Forest Of Epping. The Forest Hotel,

ROYAL FOREST OF EPPING . THE FOREST HOTEL ,

OHINGFORD ,

rioso to Chingford Station—Thirty-five Minutes by frequent Trains from Liverpool Street , City , and adjoining the ancient Hunting Lodge of Queen Elizabeth . THIS picturesque and sumptuously appointed Hotel stands amid the most beautiful scenery of Epping Forest , is easily accessible from London , and its lofty and . handsomely furnished Elizabethan Dining Hall is admirably while another is lor

adapted for Masonic banquets , room appropriate liOUge meetings . Tho great Banqueting Hall will accommodate from fifty to eighty nersons , while for small parties one of a suite of artistically appointed private rooms will bo specially reserved . In tho Tea Room , Table d'Hoto , Luncheons and Dinners daily . " Applications to Frank Jesse , Manager , Forest Hotel , Chingford , Essex .

Ar00904

ra ^^^^ ^^^ 23 GREAT QUEEN STREET , W . C .

District Grand Lodge Of Malta.

DISTRICT GRAND LODGE OF MALTA .

THE half yearly meeting of this D . G . L . was held on Thursday , 1 st April , at the Masonic Hall , Valetta , Malta . Present : — E . W . Bro . W . Kingston D . G . M . on the throne , W . Bro . A . M . Broadley D . D . G . M ., W . Bro . Chevalier E . Eosenbusch P . D . D . G . M ., W . Bros . W . Eotherham D . G . S . W ., C . E . Coffey D . G . J . W ., C . Eieohelmann , F . E . Beeohey and W . Watson P . D . G . J . W . ' s , E . V . Westrnp as D . G . Eegistrar , J . Segond D . G . Treasnrer , Bros . J . W . Starkey D . G .

Secretary , F . Challenger as D . G . S . D ., G . Crabtree D . G . J . D ., C . J . Blake as D . G . Sup . of Works , J . A . Matthews D . G . Organist , W . Bro . Glenday W . M . 407 , together with the Wardens , Officers , and a large number of brethren belonging to tho Lodges in tho District as well as several visitors from Lodges under the E ., S . and I . Constitutions . D . G . L . was opened in due form at 6 p . m ., the rolls of Grand Officers and private Lodges wore called by the D . G . Secretary , after which

the minutes of the last half yearly Communication wero read and confirmed , and tho report of the committee of general purposes laid before the meeting and unanimously approved . Tho financial statement was also adopted , all Lodges in the District having paid their duos . A vory interesting report on the state and progress of English Masonry in North Africa from the W . D . D . G . M . Bro . Broadley was read in extonso . The D . G . M . said that he desired that it be recorded

on tho minutes of D . G . L . tho high sense he entertained of the services rendered to the Craft by Bro . Broadley during his year of office , as well as his thanks for the ablo report thoy had just heard . He alluded in terms of particular commendation to tho efforts of Bro . Broadley to counteract the spread of spnrious Masonry in tho District . The D . D . G . M . had expressed his desire not to be again appointed , as he was unable to make frequent visits to this Island , but he would

not appoint a successor withont thanking Bro . Broadley for that hearty co-operation in tho past which ho felt suro that brother wonld always continue in future years , and especially in tho Tunis portion of tho District . Tho D . D . G . M . expressed his sonso of E . W . Bro . Kingston ' skind expressions , and assured all present that as P . D . D . G . M . he should still endeavour to uphold tho best interests of English Masonry both in Tunis and Malta . W . Bro . Sestond was unanimously elected D . G . Treasurer , and Bro . Beck D . G . Tyler for tho ensuing

year . Tho D . G . M . E . W . Bro . Kingston in addressing the brethren said , — "On this my eleventh appointment of D . G . Officers I cannot but congratulate yoa on the unprecedented prosperity of your Lodges ; I believe at no former period have they been numerically stronger , but at the same time I must remind you that as you increase in numbers ,

so you add to yonr responsibilities , and it is therefore incumbent on you to mako provision against any future contingencies or reverses . As regards tho working of your Lodges , by which I mean the rendering of those ceremonies peculiar to tho Order—from what I havo seen elsewhere , and from what I havo heard visitors say—I think it will compare favourably with other Provinces , but I recommend you

whilst seeking to make your ceremonials attractive and imposing not to forget the real design of Masonry , and 1 advise you never to resort to any of those preliminary forms which have a tendency to intimidate the candidate or render ludicrous any of our rites , but , on the contrary , let everything be done with becoming seriousness and solemnity . " The D . G . M . then appointed and invested the following Officers : —

W . Bros . Eosenbnsch D . D . G . M . Perini W . M . 1717 D . G . S . W . Wcstrup P . M . 515 D . G . J . W . Glenday W . M . 407 D . G . Eegistrar . Eev . G . N . Godwin 349 ... D . G . Chaplain . Starkey Secretary 349 ... ... D . G . Secretary . Barker W . M . 1835 D . G . S . D . Yeoman S . W . 407 D . G . J . D .

Blake 349 D . G . Dir . of Ceremonies . Blanch 1717 D . G . Sup . of Works . Johnstone 1717 D . G . Sword Bearer . They 1835 D . G . Standard Bearer . Ewing 349 D . G . Organist . England J . W . 407 Assist . D . of Ceremonies . Miller Secretary 515 D . G . Pursuivant Bros . Grier , West , Clement and Cnrletto D . G . Stewards

District Grand Lodge Of Malta.

It was resolved unanimously to accord tho thanks of the meeting to the W . M . of the Leinster Lodge I . C . for giving effect in his Lodgo to tho District Circular relating to spurious Masonry in Tunis . D . G . L . was then closed with solemn prayer , and tho D . G . M . and G . Officers retired in procession . A banquet was afterwards held under tha presidency of the D . G . M ., which was numerously attended . On tha

cloth being removed the usual Loyal and Masonio toasts wore given , and the P . D . D . G . M . proposed , in a somewhat lengthy speech , tho health of the D . G . M ., referring in detail to several of the incidents of his distinguished career in the Craft ; ho remarked that no bettor proof of tho high appreciation entertained of E . W . Bro . Kingston ' s services to Masonry could bo found than in the fact of there being

throe Masonio bodies in the District called after his name , which he trusted wonld perpetuate tho memory of his popular and zealous rulo to succeeding generations . These observations were received with loud applause , and the toast having been drunk , the D . G . M . in returning thanks , said , " W . Sirs and Brethren , —I thank you most sincerely for the kind and hearty

manner m which yon have received the toast proposed by our Bro . tho P . D . D . G . M . During the long period of 23 years that I havo been associated with Masonry in Malta , I have served in almost every office , not excepting those of Secretary and Treasurer , so that apart from my position as D . G . M . I naturally take a deep interest in the welfare of tho Lodgea , and it affords me great pleasure to seo them in

their present flourishing condition , and I take this opportunity of recommendiag to yonr consideration tho Benevolent Fund of this District , which notwithstanding tho several grants that have been made from it , has gone on steadily increasing . From tho report laid before you this evening you will see that , independent of tho £ 150 invested in Consols , the D . G . Treasurer has upwards of £ 40 in hand , and if tho

Lodges would each mako a small donation he would be enabled to invest another £ 50 , thereby securing an income of £ 6 per annum . In the appointments I have made this evening , I hope I have given satisfaction to all , and shonld we be spared to meet again next year , I trust I may have the same strong reasons for congratulating you on the prosperity of your Lodges , and complimenting you on the

really efficient manner in which you have discharged your several duries and tho thorough harmony which has prevailed throughout tho District . " Tho D . G . Secretary replied to the toast of tho Benevolent Fund , stating that it owed its origin to tho D . G . M . Bro . Kingston , who on his appointment to that high office , 11 years ago , drew up a plan for its maintenance as well as bye-laws for its government , commencing

the fund with a personal donation of £ 5 , to which each of tho members of D . G . L . present subscribed £ 1 . This was the nucleus of tha fund , which had grown to its present proportions , and ho hoped by carrying out tho suggestions and advice tho D . GM . had given them that evening , that this Fund would continue steadily to increase in future years . Other toasts followed , and the brethren separated at an early hour after passing a most enjoyable evening .

Provincial Priory Of The Mediterranean.

PROVINCIAL PRIORY OF THE MEDITERRANEAN .

A Meeting of tho Molita Grand Preceptory was held at Malta on the 6 th April , at 5 p . m . The Preceptory was opened by E . Sir Kt . A . M . Broadley P . E . P . The M . E . P . P . Sir Kt . Kingston ' was announced and received under tho arch of steel . The E . P . elect Bro . Lieut . Coffey E . A . was then presented to him by P . E . P . ' s Broadley and Segond , and duly installed in the chair . IIo then appointed his officers : —Major Ewing being Constable , and Captain Blake Marshal .

The E . P . then proceeded to admit to tho Order Comp . J . W . Starkey D . G . Secretary . Tho ceremony being completed , and some routine business disposed of , the Preceptory was closed in ancient form . At 8 p . m . tho P . Grand Priory was opened . Tho M . E . P . P . ( accompanied by his Standard Bearer and Aide de Camp ) was received with the customary honours . Having declared the offices vacant , tho Provincial

Prior appointed the following Provincial Officers for the ensuing year , reserving the rest for tho nomination of Knights from Gibraltar , viz ., Sir Knights Gilbard V . E . Sub-Prior , Broadley Chancellor , Watson Prelate , Coffey Constable , Segond Treasurer , Starkey Eegistrar , Ewing Vice-Chancellor , Walker Captain of Guards , Grier Aide de Gamp , and Beck Equerry . At the motion of the Chancellor , seconded

by Sir Kt . Captain Beechey P . P . Constable , a vote of thanks was offered to tho M . E . P . P . for the efficient way he had represented hia Province in England , and for his exertions in procuring the beautiful collars of office with which the P . G . Officers had been that night invested . Tho P . Priory was closed , and the M . E . Sir Kt . Kingston retired under the arch , of steel .

Zetland Lodge , No . 515 E . G . —An emergent meeting of this Lodge was held at the Masonic Hall , Valetta , on the 2 nd April , besides the W . M . and Officers of the Lodge there was a goodly attendance of D . G . Officers and visitors from the other Lodges of tho District . P . D . D . G . M . W . Bro . A . M . Broadley , at the request of tho

W . M . initiated into the mysteries of Freemasonry a candidate , in tho Italian language . The W . M . on resuming the gavel expressed the satisfaction of tho Lodgo at the very beautiful and expressive manner the degree was given and the ceremony performed . The Lodge was closed and the brethren adjourned to refreshment .

St . John and St . Paul ' s Lodge , No . 349 , Malta—A meeting of this flourishing Lodge was held on the 5 th April . Besides the W . M ., his Officers and brethen , the D . G . M ., D . D . G . M ., P . D . D . G . M ., and several visitors wero present , Three candidates having been

unanimously accepted , they were dnly initiated into Freemasonry by tho P . D . D . G . M ., the D . G . M . delivering the customary charge , and Ihe W . M . the lecture on the tracing board . Two brethren were subsequently advanced to the second degree . The Lodgo being closed , the brethren and visitors adjonrned to refreshment .