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Their I . P . M . was also taking a great interest in the coming Ladies night of the 'Lodge , for which he had already applied for a large number of tickets , and was doing much to ensure its success . Bro . Spice tendered sincere thanks for the very kind reception of the toast . With regard to the Instruction Lodge—he could assure the Brethren he would work there to the best of his ability , and he

sincerely hoped the Brethren would make a point of attending the meetings regularly , as without doing so they would find it very difficult to rise to the position in their Lodge they no doubt hoped to attain . He could assure them they would receive every attention at the Lodge of Instruction , and would there obtain any information they might require .

Bro . Simeons next proposed the toast of the Initiates , and in the name of the members of the Lodge cordially greeted them , and welcomed them with the hand of true fellowship . He felt convinced , from the earnest attention they had paid to the

ceremony , that they would progress in the Lodge . Later on they would better understand what that night might appear somewhat confusing . He wished particularly to impress upon them to be most careful to never betray the secrets they had that night been entrusted with .

Bro . Wise thanked the W . M . and Brethren for having received him as a member in the Lodge . The obligation he had taken he hoped to fulfil to the fullest , and he could assure them he would do everything in his power to give them satisfaction . Again he thanked them all .

Bro . Tisbury most sincerely thanked the W . M . for having initiated him into the mysteries of Freemasonry and promised to act up to the spirit of the obligation he had taken . Bro . Schnitzer thanked the Brethren for the confidence they had reposed in him in accepting him as a Brother amongst them , and as a member of their Lodge . He should try to become an honour to the Lodge .

The next toast was one the W . M . had the greatest of pleasure in proposing , being that of the Visitors . He especially hoped all the guests had thoroughly enjoyed themselves , and that what they had seen would act as an inducement to them to repeat their visit . On behalf of the Confidence Lodge he most cordially greeted them one and all .

Bro . J . Mason P . G . Std . Br . responded . He regretted it had not been possible for him to be present at the W . M . ' s installation . Still , his presence there that evening had given him the opportunity of witnessing the excellent work of the W . M . He was present at probably two hundred Lodge meetings a year but had never

witnessed work done better than had been the case that night . It was certainly most creditable to the W . M . He was further pleased to see how well the Officers fulfilled their dutiesit was indeed a great credit to them as a body and also to Brother Spice , as Preceptor of the Confidence Lodge of Instruction .

Bro . J . Mears P . M . 788 endorsed every sentiment which had been uttered . He was a stranger there that night , but hoped to be asked again . Concerning what had been said of their Lodge of Instruction—by personal experience he could vouch that a better Preceptor than Bro . Spice could not be found , and he strongly advised Brethren to attend the regular meetings over which that Brother officiated , as they might be sure of his doing everything in his power to instruct every Brother who desired it .

Bro . Shatford 179 said he felt almost like a Brother of the Lodge , and was delighted to see so many of its members so efficiently working up to the position at present occupied by the W . M .

The toast of the Past Masters , Treasurer and Secretary was next submitted . The W . M . said they had in Bro . Fells a good , solid , substantial Treasurer , who took the greatest care of the Lodge funds , and at the same time was always the 'first to propose or support a grant to anyone in distress . He was a good representative member of the Lodge , one in whom the members had every

confidence . As to their Secretary Bro . Davey . He was always praising him up , yet he was doing no more . than was deserved . Bro . Davey was really the " Handy Man" of the Lodge , and , as the members were , well aware , was a most invaluable Secretary , one who could not only discharge his duties to the Lodge but also sing a good song . A few evenings back he had had the pleasure of

seeing Bro . Davey in a new Office , that of D . C ., and he not only did the work but looked the Officer . As to the other Past Masters , they had acquired their positions by real hard work , and were of the greatest value to the Lodge . He urged the Brethren to be careful of them , as unfortunately their number was getting smaller—it had

pleased the Great Architect of the Universe to take to himself during the last month two highly esteemed Past Masters of the Lodge , Bro . Kershaw , who was initiated in 1861 , was Master in 1 S 6 9 , and held the post of Treasurer until 18 9 8 ; and Brother Silvester , who was initiated in 1 S 77 and presided over the Lodge in 1887 . 5

Bro . E . J . Davey P . M . Secretary thanked the W . M . for his flattering remarks . He said he was proud of being connected with the good old Confidence Lodge , to serve as its Secretary , and to see it prospering , alike numerically , financially and socially . Addressing the initiates he said they had become members of an organisation with which the highest in the land were associated ; probably the greatest organisation in the world in which the members

were banded together for the common good . Its conception was grand , its ideals beautiful , and its philanthropy noble ; to those who had fallen in the battle of life , to their widows and orphans , the hand of its charity was liberally extended . This reminded him of the eloquent appeal of their Bro . Mason—of the Roval Masonic Benevolent Institution—and induced him to ask the Brethren to add to the lists of their Senior Warden Bro . Fells and Bro . Carr , who

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proposed to act as Stewards on behalf of that Institution . He might remind the Brethren , in this connection , that misfortune often overtook Brethren from no fault of their own , and at a period of life when it was impossible for them to continue to fight for themselves . Bro . Haynes P . M . followed . He was proud to see the working carried through in so perfect a manner and that the Lodge was conducted in so creditable a way .

Bro . Smither said he had heard the Past Masters described as old fossils . Well , they had worked up to that position , as even the best among them had to commence from the beginning . Therefore , let the younger Brethren take them as an example , and try to work up to the same position . He was grieved to learn of the death of their highly esteemed Bro . Kershaw , who was one of the very best and , as had been said before , had done everything in his power for the welfare of the Lodge .

Bro . Kington said he hoped the present Senior Wardr . n Bro . Fells would follow the good example set by the W . M . He also greatly regretted the deaths which had recently occurred in the ranks of the Past Masters of the Lodge . Other of the Past Masters also acknowledged the toast .

The toast of the Officers was now given , and was acknowledged by the Wardens , after which Bro . Reinhardt gave the Tyler ' s toast , and the proceedings were brought to a conclusion . There were some excellent songs , recitations , & c . delivered during the evening , those who contributed being Miss Edith Chapman , Bros . Jules Guitton ( who played some excellent solos on the violin ) , Edwin Henry ( musical sketch ) , Harry Hudson ( humorous ) , W . Shatford , and others .

* * * City of London Lodge , No . 901 . AN emergency meeting was held this week , at the Guildhall Tavern , Gresham Street , those present including Bros . W . H . Haylock W . M ., Venner P . M . S . W ., W . Reeves J . V ., Harbold P . M . Treas ., W . R . Haylock P . M . Sec , W . Grant S . D ., Leete J . D ., G . Smith I . G ., Carpenter P . M . D . C ., and numerous other members and visitors .

After the usual formalities Bro . Dennett answered the questions and was entrusted prior to passing . The Lodge was advanced and the candidate admitted as a Fellow Craft . Bros . Dearling , Malley , Capsall , and Witham were examined in the second degree and subsequently raised as Master Masons . Lodge was resumed to the first degree , a gentleman proposed for initiation in the Lodge , and the proceedings concluded in the regular way .

An excellent repast was afterwards served and the usual toasts proposed by the W . M ., the different responses being interspersed with music . & c .

Hyde Park Lodgre , No . 1425 . THE . regular meeting was held at the Frascati Restaurant , Oxford Street , on Thursday , 1 st inst ., under the presidency of Bro . Alfred Collman W . M ., who was supported by Bros . Edward Lewis I . P . M ., H . C . Martin S . W ., S . G . Thorne J . W ., James Stephens P . M . P . D . G . D . C . Treas ., W . Chappie P . M . Sec , F . Spink S . D .,

E . Spink acting J . D ., J . H . Beardon I . G ., H . Martin P . M . Tyler ; Past Masters C Coleman , Ben Cox , John Spink ; several other members of the Lodge , and the following Visitors -. Bros . J . R . Rutti P . M . 13 60 , H . J . Burgess 1360 , W . Scott 548 , J . Wynman , & c . There were seven candidates on the agenda for raising and

they having first been examined as to their proficiency and entrusted , were regularly admitted to a participation in the sublime degree , the W . M . first raising Bros . Noonan , Spencer , Newsome , and Collman ; and afterwards going through the same ceremony on behalf of Bros . Peagam , Guest , and Young .

Bro . Martin was elected Tyler of the Lodge , and other business having been disposed of the Lodge was closed and the company adjourned to dinner . After the repast grace was said , and then the W . M . proceeded with the usual toasts , Bro . James Stephens responding for that' of the Grand Officers .

Bro . Lewis I . P . M . submitted the health of the W . M ., who , he said , had done a great deal of work that night , yet he hoped there was plenty more in store for him . His rendering of the ceremony of raising , had been all that could be desired , and he felt the Brethren would respond to the toast with a really hearty fire .

Bro . Collman tendered his thanks for the toast and its reception . He had felt somewhat nervous that evening and imagined it was in consequence of having such excellent workers around him as the I . P . M . and other of the Brethren . Personally he was not afraid of work , in fact the more the members gave him to do the better he liked it , and he was therefore pleased to think they would have

two initiates for the next meeting of the Lodge . Again he thanked the members . The W . M . had now much pleasure in giving the toast of the visitors . The members of the Lodge were always delighted to see guests . If any of their visitors . had noticed any little slips in their work he trusted they , would overlook them , and try and pay them another visit on some future occasion .

Bro . Rutti was pleased with his visit , and the hearty reception he had met with . He considered the working had been very smart indeed . The meeting called to mind the night of his initiation , as he had that evening the honour of sitting on the immediate right of the W . M ., as he had done on the night of his admission into the Craft . He considered the Officers of the Lodge had carried out their duties in a most able manner . Bro . Burgess followed , and then Bro . Scott responded . He