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 .

GRAFT : METROPOLITAN .

GALLERY LODGE , No . 1928 . THE annual meeting of this famous " Press" Lodge was held at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet Street , on Saturday night , when Bro . E . A . Peachey was installed as Worshipful Master , by his predecessor Bro . S . James , to whom a Past Master ' s jewel was presented . Another presentation was an illuminated address and a travelling bag , given to Bro . W . T . Perkins the retiring Secretary , after five years service . There were a large number of distinguished Brethren present at the banquet held after the close of the Lodge business .

Instruction.

INSTRUCTION .

RANELAGH LODGE , No . 834 . ON Friday , 9 th inst ., at the Six Bells Hotel , Hammersmith , Bros . W . Hillier P . M . W . M ., J . Knight S . W ., W . W . Williams P . M . J . W ., W . Hinds P . M . Treas ., F . Craggs P . M . Sec , Arthur Williams P . M . 834 2090

Preceptor , M . Speigel P . M . S . D ., R . Reid J . D ., H . J . Cousens I . G ., Past Masters R . H . Williams P . P . G . J . D . Middx ., E . Fox , W . Hide , W . Copelstone , J . H . Gumming ; also Bros . K . M . Ross , H . Bone , J . Worth , W . T . Ridgway , J . Lewin , S . J . Parker , E . Wilkins , with several others , numbering in all over forty .

This being section night the Lodge was opened in due form , and the working was at once commenced , the first Lecture being worked by Bros . E . Fox , S . J . Parker , W . T . Ridgway , R . H . Williams , W . J . Coplestone , W . W . Williams , and R . Reid . The correct and prompt manner in which the answers were given reflected great credit on the Brethren , and showed the immense amount of attention that had been bestowed on the Lodge of Instruction by the worthy

Preceptor Bro . Arthur Williams . We can safely state that the Lodge stands in the foremost rank of efficiency of any Lodges of Instruction in the western district of London . The W . M . was congratulated on the extremely careful manner in which he put the questions , and after hearty good wishes had been given and received the Lodge was closed . Doubtless every Brother who was present congratulated himself on having spent a most instructive and profitable evenmg .

CHISWICK LODGE , No . 2012 . ON Saturday , 10 th inst ., at the Windsor Castle Hotel , Hammersmith , Bros . S . W . Keene P . M . W . M ., P . Cronin S . W ., K . M . Ross J . W ., F . Craggs P . M . Treas ., R . Josey P . M . Sec , Arthur Williams P . M . 834 2090 Preceptor , R . Reid S . D ., J . H . Gumming P . M . J . D ., E . Wilkins I . G ., Past Masters M . Spiegel , W . Hide , E . Fox , W . Hillier ; Bros . J .. R . Francis , W . Herring , W . Handover , W . T . Ridgway , and several others .

The ceremony of initiation was rehearsed , Bro . Francis acting as candidate . The W . M then vacated the chair in favour of Bro . Francis W . M .-elect of the Albion Lodge , No . 9 , who opened the Lodge in the second degree , after Bro . Hellier had answered the necessary questions and had been

entrusted . The ceremony of passing was rehearsed , Bro . Hillier acting as candidate . Bro . Francis was congratulated on his faultless working , and he doubtless will be a great acquisition as W . M . in the Albion Lodge . Bro . Keene resumed the chair , and opened the Lodge in the third degree , afterwards resuming to the first .

A vote of thanks was ordered to be recorded on the minutes to Brother Keene , on his occupying the W . M ' s . chair at this Lodge of Instruction for the first time . Bro . Cronin W . M . of the Hemming Lodge was elected to fill the chair at the next meeting .

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

LODGE OF TRUTH , No . 1458 . THE annual meeting and Festival of St . John was held at the Mitre Hotel , Cathedral Gates , Manchester , on Saturday , 3 rd instant , Bro . Thos . Pollitt Cooper W . M ., the principal business being that of installing Bro . A . B . Taylor S . W . into the chair of K . S . A board of Installed Masters was formed as follows : —Bros . R . Caldwell P . P . G . S . B . Installing Master , Buckley Carr P . P . G . D . C . S . W ., Thos . Henry Hall J . W ., Edward Roberts 1459 I . G ., and Alfred Hebden P . P . G . D D . C

Deacon . The candidate was duly presented , and having promised adherence to the ancient Constitutional rules , as recited by Bro . G . P . Taylor P . M . Secretary , the ceremony of installation was performed by Bro . Caldwell ' assisted by Past Masters T . P . Taylor , Thos . Henry Hall , Buckley Carr , A . ' Hebden , Geo . T . Lenard , and G . P . Taylor , the latter explaining tbe working tools of each degree . With such a galaxy of efficient Officers it goes without saying that the ceremony was admirably performed .

Subjoined is a list of Officers for the ensuing year * . L . Hirsch S . W . H . Hellewell J . W ., 3 . Pearce Treasurer , G . P . Taylor P . M . Secretary , J . Day S . D ., W . Dewhurst J . D ., A . Hebden P . M . P . P . D . G . D . C . D . C . James Holmes Moss Organist , R . Stephenson I . G ., O . Whittaker , 3 . Doyle , M . W . Southern Stewards .

Bro . W . 3 . Herring P . M . was re-elected Charity Representative . A very excellent banquet followed these proceedings , to which upwards of forty members aud visitors sat down . Loyal and Masonic toasts were

Provincial.

agreeably varied by the efforts of a mnsioal trio , and also by Bros . James Doyle and J . H . Moss Organist , the latter contributing a solo on the zither entitled " Heimweh . " The toast of the Provincial Officers was responded to by Bros . Hebden and Carr , both of whom paid fitting tribute to the memory of the late Lord

Lathom . His death was a loss felt not only in Masonic circles , but by the peasantry of his district , and even by the world , ' and it would be a long time before his place could be filled , for he was one beloved by the throne . They were among those who could mourn with those who mourned , and they could deeply regret the position in which the family were placed at the present time .

Bro . Cooper I . P . M . proposed the health of the Worshipful Master , saying that the toast stood out as one of the most important of the evening . He had vacated the chair as Master , and bad now taken his place among those who had performed their work , but he hoped the sweet memories of his term of office would mingle with his life for many years . There were many responsibilities connected with the position of W . M ., but there were many pleasures also , and he hoped that Bro . Taylor would have not only a happy year , but also a successful one .

Bro . Taylor W . M . responded , saying that he appreciated all the kind words uttered of him . He had attained the chair of K . S ., and although he might not fulfil its various duties quite as satisfactorily as some of his predecessors had done , yet it would not be for the want of trying . He sincerely hoped that at the end of twelve months of office he might have satisfied all the requirements of his Brethren .

Bro . Hirsch S . W . proposed the health of the I . P . M . and of the Past Masters of the Lodge , saying that the Brethren loved Bro . Cooper , for he had done all that was possible in their interest , and he hoped the G . A . O . T . U . would spare him for many years to come , and grant him health and strength . Bro . Hebden added a few words to the effect that the -members of the

Lodge having already presented Bro . Cooper with a Past Master's jewel , had , by way of commemorating his two years of servitude , added an extra bar to the jewel in question . It was an unusual thing for a principal Officer to serve for two years in succession , and he asked himself the question whether such a circumstance was likely to occur again in the Truth Lodge . Speaking of Bro . Cooper ' s work he said it had been excellently well performed , indeed during the twenty years of his own connection with the Lodge no one had done more for its prosperity than had tbe retiring Master .

Bro . Cooper I . P . M . responded , saying it was his proud duty and pleasure to reply , not only on his own behalf , but on behalf of the other Past Masters , and he thanked the previous speakers for their kindly references . He was too much overcome to adequately express all that he felt and thought , but he promised to be a loyal and trusty member of the Truth Lodge . Alluding to the work of Bro . Lenard P . M . he said it was something which could not be excelled in the kingdom for painstaking accuracy . The remaining Past Masters * who had assisted in the ceremony of that day were also to be very highly commended , and he was sure they had created a good impression .

Bro . Carr proposed the health of the Visitors , according tbem a hearty welcome . In reverting to the ceremony of installation he said it had been performed that afternoon by one of the oldest working Masons in East Lancashire , and one who was a yeoman in the Craft . He hoped the visitors had fully appreciated the work , and he cordially invited them to renew their acquaintance with the Lodge . In looking over the list of names , he

regretted not seeing that of their worthy host , because he might have expressed to him their entire satisfaction with the catering , and also their thanks for the trouble which he had taken on their behalf in making such excellent arrangements . He never saw any gathering which seemed so entirely happy as theirs did that day , and probably it was due to the splendidly appointed rooms and general comfort of the surroundings .

Bros . 3- W . Bidden P . M . 1993 Prov . G . A . D . C , H . W . Massingham W . M . 1161 , and H . Powell Jones P . M . 1957 P . P . G . S . B . ( the host , who had recently entered the room ) responded , the latter saying he thanked Bro . Carr for his eulogy of him . If the Brethren of the Truth Lodge were satisfied he himself was gratified , and he promised to do his best for this or for any other Lodge which might in the future be located at the Mitre Hotel .

Bro . Lenard P . M . proposed the health of the Installing Master , coupling with it the name of Bro . Hebden . As had been previously stated , Brother Caldwell had done yeoman service not only in this , but in other Lodges where he had ungrudgingly rendered eminent assistance . Bro . Hebden , in response , spoke very flatteringly of Bro . Caldwell , and said he was sorry that he was absent , but he had been obliged to retire through illness . Many of the Brethren would remember the time when he

was sent for from Lodges far and near to perform the ceremony of installation . A great change had , however , arisen within the last few years , and retiring Masters were now called upon and expected to do this duty to their successors . This he attributed to the increased popularity of Freemasonry . On his own behalf , and on behalf of Bro . Caldwell , he thanked them for the enthusiastic manner in which their names had been received . Other toasts followed .

Among the numerous visitors we noticed Bros A . Hall W . M . 1011 , F . G . Curtis W . M . 1593 , F . Thomas I . P . M . 2359 , J . Scarratt P . M . 477 , Henry B . Brown P . M . 581 , J . Horsefield P . M . 1077 , J . Grimshaw J . W . 1147 , L . Kaufmann 1797 , W . Hughes 2447 , & c .

ASHBURY LODGE , No . 1459 . rpHE annual meeting and Festival of St . John was held at the Justice Birch JL Hotel , Hyde Road , Manchester , on Thursday , 17 th ult ., when the Lodge was opened by the W . M . Bro . 3 . Townley Trotter at 10 * 30 a . m ., for the purpose of initiating four candidates , after which an adjournment took place until 3 p . m ., when the W . M .-elect Bro . A . E . Burgess was installed into the

chair of K . S . by Bro . Trotter , assisted by Past Masters Bee P . P . G . A . D . C . Geo . W . Davies , S . C . Richardson , Righton , and Jee . The following Brethren were invested as Officers : Bros . H . E . Massie S . W ., I . Hurlow J . W ., W . H . Beastow P . M . Treasurer , Geo . Robinson Sec , Watson S . D ., Phillips J . D ., Barber I . G ., Pogson , Wilkinson , and Cooper Stewards . Bro . G . W . Davies P . M . was again elected Charity Representative of the Lodge .

At the banquet a large number of Brethren were present , including Bros . C . R . N . Beswicke-Royds D . P . G . M ., John Clayton P . G . A . D . C . England , H . G . Small P . P . G . W . Cheshire , R . H . Robinson P . P . G . D . C . West Lanes ., Hassall P . P . G . Supt . of Works , Walter Newton P . P . G . D ., & c , & c . The usual Loyal toasts having been honoured , the W . M . proposed the Grand Officers , and Bro . J . Clayton responded .

The D . P . G . M . Bro . Beswicke-Royds , responding to the toast of his health , complimented the I . P . M . and the Lodge on the excellent work performed that day .