Reports Of Meetings.

WILBERFORCE LODGE , No . 2134 . ON Tuesday , 13 th inst ., the annual installation of Worshipful Blaster took place at the Masonic Hall , St . Luke ' s Street , Hull , when Bro . J . Leach Charter was installed in the chair of King Solomon by Bro . George Eckles the retiring Master , assisted by Bro . T . B . Redfearn P . M . P . P . G . W ., and Bro . J . Belt P . M . Lecture Master . There was a large attendance of Brethren present , who followed with deep interest the impressive ritual .

During the course of the proceedings , Brother John Work Senior Warden , in eulogistic terms alluded to the esteem and popularity of tha retiring Worshipful Master , Bro . George Eckles , and on behalf of tbe Officers and Brethren he asked the worthy Brother's acceptance of a handsome 18-carat gold Past Master ' s jewel , as a token of their sincere regard , and in acknowledgment of his eminent services to the Lodge and to the Craft .

Brother Eckles expressed his indebtedness to the Brethren for their beautiful gift , and assured them that he would ever continue to take a deep interest in all that concerned the good and welfare of Freemasonry . The annual banquet followed .

KJ KJ KJ EAST LANCASHIRE CENTURION LODGE , No . 2322 . THE regular meeting was held at the Victoria Hotel , Manchester , on Monday , the 5 th inst ., Bro . Major George Kershaw W . M . The summons was a very heavy one so far as ceremonial was concerned , indicating , besides a ballot for Bro . Robert Ayrey Armytage Armitage ( 2 nd Lieut . 3 rd V . B . Lancashire Fusiliers ) , Travellers Lodge , No . 1253 , as a

Joining Member , one initiation , one passing , and three raisings . The ballot for Bro . Armitage was successful , as also one for Lieut . Alan Ramsay ( 1 st V . B . Manchester Regiment ) , who was initiated by Capt . Jas . Andrew P . M . P . P . G . D . C , the working tools being presented and explained by Bro . Surg .-Capt . J . J . Kent Fairclough J . W .

Bro . Capt . Francis Isaac Bentley was passed to the degree of a F . C . by the W . M ., the working tools being presented by Bro . Capt . T . W . Ashworth S . W . One ceremony of raising to the sublime degree of M . M . was taken , viz ., that of Bro . Surg .-Capt . Stephen Nesfield , the same being performed by Bro . Col . J . Howarth Clark , J . P ., P . M . P . P . G . D .

The usual festive board followed , Loyal and Masonic toasta being duly honoured . Besides those mentioned above , we noticed the presence of Bros . Rev . E . Bigoe Bagot P . M . P . P . G . C . Chaplain , Rev . John W . Challinor Prov . G . Chap . Secretary , Capt . Peter Nightingale S . D ., Major John Heap P . M . P . P . S . G . D ., Col . Henry L . Rocca P . M . P . P . G . J . D ., Capt . J . E . R . Hall , and Lieut . George Heys . Visitor : —Bro . Capt . Clement R . N . Beswicke-Royds Deputy Provincial Grand Master East Lancashire .

ORDE-POWLETT LODGE , No . 2391 . THE installation of Bro . H . Nelson Collingwood as W . M . took place on the 7 th inst ., at the Masonic Hall , Middlesbrough . The ceremony was performed by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master of North and East Yorks . Lord Bolton , who was assisted by several Past Masters . After the Lodge had been closed the Brethren adjourned to the banqueting room , where Mrs . Skeen , of fche Corporation Hotel , Middlesbrough , provided an excellent repast .

The usual Masonic toasts were drunk . The Mayor , in proposing the health of the Installing Master Lieut-Col . the Hon . Lord Bolton P . G . W . England , made special reference to the interest Lord Bolton took in Masonry in Middlesbrough . Lord Bolton , in responding , said he was very glad that the Masons of Middlesbrough were showing a great interest in the effort in connection with the Queen ' s Diamond Jubilee to place the Provincial educational movement on a permanent footing .

DUKE OF YORK LODGE , No . 2449 . rpHE first meeting under the control of the new Worshipful Master Bro . X Clement John Hall was held at the Palatine Hotel , Hunt's Bank , Manchester , on Thursday , the 8 th inst . After the reading and confirmation of minutes , Lodge was advanced , and Bro . George Walton was raised to the sublime degree of M . M . by Bro . Thos . T . Hardicker I . P . M ., the working tools being presented and explained by Bro . William Boden P . M .

At the festive board which followed , Bro . Hardicker proposed the health of the W . M ., to ' which Bro . Hall responded . In response to the toast of the I . P . M ., proposed by Bro . Boden , Bro . Hardicker said that the position of Past Master was quite an institution—an honourable one indeed—and generally relied upon as the great support of

Lodges . He thanked Bro . Boden for his very kind remarks , and could assure the Brethren that he dearly loved the Lodge , one thing he looked for month by month being his visit there to see the genial faces of the members . In concluding his very interesting remarks he told his auditors that they might rely upon one thing—he should stick to his Lodge .

The W . M . proposed the health of the Officers , saying he was delighted to be surrounded by such Brethren . His great object was to make the Duke of York Lodge pre-eminent in the Province of East Lancashire , and with the aid of the other Officers and members , which he was assured would be ungrudgingly given , his desire would not be long in accomplishment . Bros ,

J . Fairbairn and R . H . Whatham responded to the toast , the latter advocating more practice in the work . He said that before the Officers became thoroughly efficient they must have instruction , and contended that more facilities might be afforded were an effort only made in this direction . Bro . Whatham ' s remarks were enthusiastically received .

The various toasts were relieved by songs , & c , contributed by the following Brethren , viz ., the W . M ., Oates Rushton Treasurer , T . H . Stott Secretary , Wm . Bodon P . M ., Edwd Roberts P . M . 1459 , and J . Trevor Smith P . M . 1417 .

LONGSIGHT LODGE , No . 2464 . rriHE regular meeting was held at the Club House , Birch Lane , Longsight , _ 1 _ on Wednesday , the 7 th inst ., Brother Alderman Lloyd Higginbottom Worshipful-Master . The minutes of the last regular meeting having been read and confirmed , a successful ballot ( as a Joining Member ) was taken for Bro . Daniel Lea , Decorator , Ardwick . This was followed by a ballot for Mr . Richard James Soholiield , Manufacturer , Ardwick , and , being also successful , he was duly

Reports Of Meetings.

initiated by the W . M ., the charge being delivered by Bro . Henry Sheard S . W . Bro . F . G . A . Ballantine was then passed to the degree of F . C . by Past Master Wm . Gadd , Bro . W . H . Wilson J . W . presenting and explaining the working tools in both degrees . Lodge was closed in peace and harmony at an early hour .

THE MANCHESTER LODGE , No . 2554 . THE regular meeting was held at the Freemasons' Hall , Manchester , on Friday , the 9 th inst ., Bro . Thos . Plumpton W . M . As there was no particular Lodge business to be transacted , an early adjournment was made to the festive board , where Loyal and Masonic toasts were proposed and enthusiastically honoured , being relieved by songs , sketches , < fcc , rendered

by Bros . Alfred B . Smith S . D ., W . E . Davies J . D ., Harry Thompson , Edwd . Roberts P . M . 1459 , Albert A . Thomas 58 ( Ottawa , Canada ) , and Geo . Bromley 317 . Bro . Thomas , in addition to his rendition of several songs , entertained the company with a very interesting description of American working , and many other matters .

Bro . W . B . Ackerman I . P . M ., who proposed the health of tbe Worshipful Master , referred in very humourous terms to a great change which was impending in the domestic arrangements of the latter , and hoped that the next time the members of the Manchester Lodge met they would be enabled to toast the health of its new Worshipful Mistress . Bro . Plumpton W . M . responded amidst great enthusiasm . Other toasts followed .

MARK MASONRY ,

GORDON LODGE , No . 364 . THE installation meeting was held at the New Falcon Hotel , Gravesend , on the 6 th inst ., when Bro . William Russell P . G . Treasurer of Kent was installed as W . M ., the ceremony being very ably conducted by Bro . Frederick Mitchell P . G . R . M . Kent .

The new Master appointed the following Officers to assist him during the year : Bros . J . Percy White I . P . M ., J . M . Jeffrey S . W ., Frank Hitchens J . W ., John Simpson M . O ., E . B . Wilks S . O ., George Masters J . O ., William Barlow P . M . Secretary , R . C . Fowle R . M ., John Solomon S . D ., Joseph Davis J . D ., F . A . Jewson P . M . D . C , R . Matthews I . G ., E . C . Paine Organist , J . A . Axcell and J . Munday Stewards , and George Martin Tyler .

The Worshipful Master was unanimously elected as Treasurer of the Lodge . A vote of thanks was accorded to Bro . Mitchell for his services as Installing Master , and a handsome Past Master ' s jewel was presented to Bro . J . Percy White . After the business the Brethren adjourned to refreshment , and a very pleasant evening was spent .

GLOUCESTER LODGE , No . 439 . THE installation festival was held at the Bell Hotel , Gloucester , on Monday , 12 th inst ., the ceremony being performed by the Provincial Grand Master Brother R . V . Vassar-Smith Past G . M . O ., assisted by Past Masters of the Lodge . Brother Walter B . Wood was installed Worshipful Master , and appointed the Officers .

A curious incident happened at a Madras Lodge recently , which we should think is unprecedented . A candidate for initiation was balloted for in the usual way ,, and two black balls —the number specified in the bye-laws—were found against him . The result was communicated to the candidate in due course and the fee returned . After Lodge two Brethren approached the

W . M . and stated that they had " pilled" the candidate accidentally and explained how it had been done . Tbe bye-laws say that three months must elapse before a candidate who has been blackballed can be balloted for again . The circumstances of the pilling had , however , become known , and on the reading of the minutes at the next meeting it was proposed and carried unanimously that such portion as referred thereto should not be

confirmed . It was held therefore , rightly or wrongly , that the candidate ' s disability was heled , and he was duly proposed and seconded , as if his name has never before been heard in Lodge . We should be curious to learn bow the W . M . ' s decision would fare on appeal , but of course no appeal is likely to be made , as the Lodge was unanimous on the subject . — " Indian Masonio Eeview . "

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