Installation Meetings, &C.

INSTALLATION MEETINGS , & c .

NEW CONCORD CHAPTEB , No . 813 . THE installation mooting and regular Convocation of this Chapter was held ou Thursday , tho 9 th inst ., at tho Guildhall Tavern , Gresham-street . Present : —Comps . W . Crawford M . E . Z ., J . Wright P . Z ., H . T . J . Cnsworth J ., Stillwoll Treas ., W . H . Main S . E ., H . J . Gabb P . S ., Gallant P . Z ., James Terry P . Z . ; also Comps . Odell , Boulton , G . Mustoe , J . Abbott , Atkins , Allardyce , S . Georgo , Piorpoint , Sinclair . Chapter was opened , and the minutes wero confirmed .

Comp . J . Wright P . Z . was installed as M . E . Z ., T . J . Cnsworth IL , and W . H . Main J . These ceremonies were rendered by Bro . James Terry P . Z . in his customary perfect and impressive manner . The newly appointed M . E . Z . invested his Officers as follows : —Comps . W . Crawford I . P . Z ., Tiddeman S . E ., Gabb S . N ., Stillwell Treas ., Gabb P . S ., Chicken First Asst . Sojourner . A ballot was successfully

taken for tho admission of Bro . Potter , No . 813 , and he was duly exalted by Comp . James Terry P . Z . The M . E . Z . gave the historical portion , and the newly installed II . the symbolic . Comp . Gabb effectively acted as P . S . The report of the Audit Committee was read and adopted . Comp . Gallant proposed , and the M . E . Z . seconded , that a jewel be presented to Comp . W . Crawford P . Z . for

tho able manner in which ho had discharged the duties of tho chair during his year of office ; this was carried unanimously ; also that a vote of thanks be recorded on the minutes to tho M . E . Z . for his elegant gift of a handsomely bound volume of the Sacred Law . After this compliment had been acknowledged , the Chapter was closed until the second Thursday in Januarv . A sumptuous banquet

and dessert was provided by Bros . Bitter and Clifford , that gave every satisfaction . The M . E . Z . proposed the nsnal Loyal toasts . Comp . Crawford P . Z . proposed the health of tho M . E . Z . ; every one knew his good feeling towards the Chapter . He hoped he would experience the pleasure of a successful year of office . Bro . J . Terry gave the recitation , "Daniel v . Dishclout , " which drew forth roars

of laughter . The M . E . Z . then thanked Comp . Crawford and the members for their kind expressions . So Ions * as ho had his health bis services wonld always be at their disposal . The M . E . Z . then proposed the health of the newly exalted Comp . From the attention he paid to the ceremony , tho M . E . Z . was convinced he would become a credit to the Order , aud wonld do essential service to the Lodgo in

the future . This toast having been responded to , the M . E . Z . gave that of the Visitors , and Comps . Eves , McDongal , and II . M . Levy responded . The health of Comp . James Terry , who is welcomed , not only in London bnb in all parts of the country , was next proposed by the M . E . Z . Comp . Terry eloquently returned thanks . The New Concord Lodge was tho first ho saw consecrated , nineteen

years since ; he little thought then that ho would over be in his present position . Last year , when Comps . Gallant and Crawford asked him to assist them , he did so ; they thou had the help of Companion W . Smeed P . Z ., who is perfect in Royal Arch Masonry . Tho present Z . was one who needed not his ( Bro . Terry ' s ) services ; however , he should consider with pleasure the fact of " his

being an honorary member . The toast of the P . Z . ' s Comps . J . Gallant and XV . Crawford followed . With great pleasure tlio M . E . Z . would place on the breast of Comp . Crawford a jewel worthy his acceptance . He wished him health , long life , aud prosperity . Comp . Crawford returned thanks for tho valuable gift . After the kind remarks of Comp . Terry , he might say with pride that ho with others wore

associated in the fonndation of the Chapter ; ho had worked hard for their benefit , and on the present occasion he regretted the absence of their kind friend , Comp . Smeed , who in conjunction with Comp . Terry , that day twelvemonths had installed him into the chair . Ho hoped he might realise tho wishes of the M . E . Z ., and live long to wear their gift in the Chapter . Ho thanked them cordiallv for their kind

expressions . Comp . Gallant was likewise pleased to respond to tho toast . With pride he was about to wear a jewel for tho lirst timethat was tho Charity jewel . Tho other toasts comprised the 11 ., the J ., and the Jnnior Officers , and replies wero given by Comps . Cnsworth , Morris , Stillwell , and Tiddeman . The Janito- ' s toast followed , and the company separated , after expressing to the M . E . Z . the pleasure they had derived from this genial gathering .

The Great City Lodge, No. 1426.

THE GREAT CITY LODGE , No . 1426 .

/ "A-TCE more ihe timo has come round for the regnlar installation V- / meeting of this Lodge , and again we have tho pleasure of chronicling the doings of tho members of the famous " Great City , " and recording tho advance in office of the various members who , in the few years that have elapsed since its foundation , have so materiall y contributed towards the work of conducting its affairs , and have

thereby been the means of raising it to its present hi gh position . On Saturday , the 11 th inst ., on which date the meeting took place , Lodge was hold as usual at tho Cannon-street Hotel , London , E . C . ^ and was opened in due form by the W . M ., Bro . Freeman , about three o ' clock . As is customary with this Lodge , an emergency meetino * was held on the previous Saturday ( reported in our last issue ) , in order to clear off all business previous to the installation ;

accordingly , there was nothing to occupy the attention of the brethren previous to the important ceremony " of the day , beyond the confirmation of tho minutes of the last regular Lodge and of the Lodge of emergency already referred to . These two items being disposed of , and the Lodge raised to the third , and resumed to the second degree , Bro . Jas . Stevens P . M . presented the W . M . elect , Bro . G . XV . Blackie , for Installation . The W . M . Bro . James Freeman conducted the cere-

The Great City Lodge, No. 1426.

mony up to the formation of tho Board of Installed Masters , when , in tho presence of a largo assembly of Masters and Pas :. Masters , the newly installed Master of Tho Groat City Lodge was placed in tho chair of K . S . and , having been saluted iu ancient form , received tho congratulations of those amongst whoso nnmbers ho had been enrolled . Tho remaining part of the ceremony was ably completed by

Bro . Past Master Headon , assisted by Bro . Past Master Stevens as D . C , and the entire proceedings wore distinguished by an amount of orderly procedure and correctness of detail which is characteristic of all Masonic work in this Lodgo . Tho concluding addresses , by Bro . Headon , were faultless , both in respect of diction and delivery , and the favourable comments made thereon wero fully deserved . Tho

W . M . Bvo . Blackie also gavo proof of bis great proficiency by his manner of investing his Officers , and there can bo no doubt that tho working of the Lodge in tho future will bo at least equal to that in the past , which has gained fcr Tho Great City its wide-spread repntation : —Tho Officers were appointed as follows : —W . H . Catchpole S . W ., Thomas Hamer J . W ., Rev . R . J . Simpson P . G . C . Chaplain , _ T .

B . Headon P . M . Treasurer , Edward Moody P . M . Secretarv , Charles Taylor S . D ., W . F . Kibble J . D ., F . T . C . Keeble T . G ., G . Jenkins Organist , W . Baber D . C , R . Fondick aud F . W . Potter Stewards , and W . Steedman P . M . Ty ler . Propositions for initiation were taken , and the petitions of two distressed brethren considered , with tho resnlt of relief being afforded from tho Samaritan Fund .

Lodgo having been closed , tho brethren proceeded to tho Groat Hall of the Hotel , whero tho customary banquet awaited them . The festivities of tho day wore ably presided over by the newly appointed W . M ., who throughout the evening successfully directed his efforts to bring tbe meeting to au early conclusion , at tbe same time taking care that all assembled shonld thoroughly enjoy themselves . At tho

conclusion of the banquet , grace ( NYm Nobis Domine ) was sung by tho musical artistes ; and then tho W . M ., in brief terms , introduced the usual Loyal toasts . He considered that tho Princo of Wales deserved their especial esteem , by reason of the great interest he took in the Craft , and in all that concerned the welfare of Freemasonry . With the health of the Pro G . M ., tho Deputy G . M ., and

the rest of tho Grand Officers , Bro . Blackie had tho pleasure of being able to conple the names of two distinguished members of that body—Bros . Fenn and Simpson . Bro . Fenn , in replying to tho tnast , after tendering his thanks , said that he had been a Grand Officer for upwards of fifteen years , during which timo ho had always found tho members of Grand Lodgo ready to undertake

thoir duties witb cheerfulness , although at times they wero of a somewhat arduous nature . Ho missed ono Grand Oflioor from the meeting who might perhaps ho said to have done moro for the Craft than any other , and who , ho thought , had won tho esteem of all with whom ho had had dealings . He referred to their esteemed Grand Secretary , Bro . John Hervey , who ho considered one of the few

remaining links between Freemasonry of the past and present generations . Bro . Fenn then proceeded to dilate on his connection with tho Emulation Lodge of Improvement , iu connection with which Bro . Ilervey had for very many years past occupied a prominent position . Bro . Fenn next referred to the work just issued by liro . James Stevens , Past Master of this Lodge , advocating some steps being

taken towards ensuring a greater uniformity in the ritual . Whether he intended his remarks lo bo taken as the dictum of Grand Officers , or whether ns his own personal idea , we do not know , but we think ho somewhat exceeded the limits of discretion when ho slated that if river au attempt was made to reform tho ritual it would be . ; i difficult task to know whore to begin , and an inipessibility

to know whore to leave off . Brother the Rev . It . J . Simpson Past G . Ch . followed , and tendered his thanks . Bro . Janic-s Free - man next rose . He had groat pleasure in introducing tho toast he was about to propose ., that of tlie . W . M . of The Great City Lodge . Ho was sure ( hero was not a member present but was glad to see Bro . Blackie iu tlio position of W . M . He had been connected with the

Lodge sinco its consecration , and no one had worked harder than he . Bro . Freeman felt that , however good others who had filled the chair may havo been , Bro . Blackie would go far to improve ou thorn ; ho was also convinced that the brethren would support him , and co-operate , in ensuring tho success of the Lodgo during the coining year as cordially as thoy had in the p : ist . Tlio W . M ., after thanking the

brethren , said ho could assure them that , sinco the timo he was lirst connected with the Lodge , which was at its consecration , and when ho was seated with tho collar of junior officer of the Lodge , he determined that his duties , in whatever position he might be placed , should bo performed as near perfection as possible . Tho way in which ho had advanced year by year led him to believe that ho had

succeeded in satisfying the respective Masters and the brethren also . The compliment of electing him as W . M . was the greatest the membora conld offer , and he hoped his deeds in the future wonld bo of such a nature as to warrant tho confidence that had been reposed iu him . The next toast he had to propose was one that was always cordially received bv the members of 1126—it was that of the

Visitors . On the present occasion they had a goodly array of guests , to all of whom , in tho name of the Lodge , ho tendered the heartiest welcome . With the toast was coupled tho names of Hros . I'ercoval , Pearson and Saul . Bro . Perceval , in l . lio name of the Visitors , thanked tbe Lodge for its hospitality . Each time be had paid a visit to the Lodge ho had nnticcd au improvement in the working .

Bro . Pearson was very proud to see tbe present Master in the position ho now occupies , The Great City Lodge had attained a position in the Craft which tho W . M . was well able to maintain . Bro . Saul , after thanking tho members , urged their attendance at the Lodge of Instruction , which was held under their sanction . If the brethren wished to advance in Masonry , and perform their duties creditably , it

was necessary they should have tuition , and nowhere could this be obtained better than at tho various meetings which were hold from time to time in Lodges of Instruction . Bro . Poore was next called on . Having taken a small share in the instruction of some of tho Officers he naturally felt anxious to seo what they did . Ho was moro than gratified at what he had witnessed and hoped they would go on