Metropolitan.

Bro . J . H . Dimsdale W . M ., in giving the toast of the Queen and the Craft , said he was glad to have to propose the Queen's health in the record year of Her Majesty's reign . . That reign was wonderful in national improvements , and those improvements were due to the encouragement held out by her to science and art . When she acceded to the throne fears were

entertained by the more thinking portion of the community , but those fears did not exist for long , and the Queen was soon beloved by her people and envied by every crowned head of Europe . And now after sixty years she had laid up a crown of joy and rejoicing which would never fade away , but would continue until time with her should be no more .

Sir Reginald Hanson P . G . W ., replying to the toast which included the Grand Officers Present and Past , said the Pro Grand Master was suffering under a most dire calamity , which had touched the hearts of the people as much as the calamity which had lately overtaken the Royal Family . He trusted that the Great Architect of the Universe would send him a speedy relief from his sufferings , and that the Craft he had done so much to adorn would soon see him again among them . The rank he ( Sir R . Hanson )

occupied in Masonry was a high one , and on behalf of the Grand Officers he would point out that as good masters made good servants , so the Prince of Wales being a good Grand Master he got good Officers ; but even then they could not do much if they did not feel that they had the entire confidence of the Craft , and he did not think Masonry could have increased as it had , but for this . He was Past Master and Founder of a Lodge the number of which was 1 , 000 less than the number of the Empress Lodge . That showed that in twenty-one years the Craft must have had great confidence in those

appointed to rule over them . He would now come to a matter somewhat personal to himself . He thanked the first Master of this Lodge Sir J . C . Dimsdale for the exceedingly kind way in which he received the letter read out by the Secretary as to the Festival of the Girls School ; he was very much touched by his coming forward on the occasion of his son being placed in the chair , and supporting him in what must be a somewhat heavy undertakingthe Festival of the Girls School . The Boys School Centenary must be abundantly supported , but let them not forget the Girls .

Sir Walter Wilkin P . G . W . said it was a matter of extreme pleasure that the Worshipful Master ' s chair was filled that night by one who might be said to be young in years . It was satisfactory to old servants of the Craft because the principles which governed Masonry were handed down by those who were young , and as long as these were instilled into society by principle and practice , brotherly love , relief and truth , so would they not only discharge their duty to the Craft and all society receive benefit therefrom .

Bro . Imre Kiralfy I . P . M ., proposing the W . M ., said it was scarcely possible for him to express the feeling he had towards the W . M ., because he considered him not only a good and great Mason as a young man , but a loving son , a faithful friend , and a most devoted and energetic Mason . The Empress Lodge might congratulate itself , for they could not find a better Master anywhere . Bro . Dimsdale worked , well in the Lodge of Instruction and the Brethren were all proud of him .

Bro . J . H . Dimsdale W . M ., replying to the toast , said Bro . Kiralfy had left him a very difficult task to follow in his footsteps , but if at the end of his year the Brethren said he had done half as well as the I . P . M . he should be satisfied with himself . He was well supported by Bro . Kiralfy and all the members of the Empress Lodge , all friends of his ; and last , but by no means the least , he had the support of his father .

Bro . J . H . Dimsdale W . M . now proposed the Installing Master . A finer specimen of a Grand Officer than Bro . Thomas Fenn it would be hard to find ; he was one of the p illars of Freemasonry ; no one could have given the ceremony of installation moire impressively , and he hoped that other Brethren who might follow him in the chair would have some one to instal them as well . The ceremony had impressed him intensely , and he should try and follow the advice given him by Bro . Fenn .

Bro . Thomas Fenn P . G . W ., acknowledging the toast , said that when his esteemed friend Sir Joseph Dimsdale invited him to instal the W . M . he took it as a great honour . Anyone would consider it a great honour to instal a W . M . of a Lodge which bore the cherished name of our Empress Queen , arid any W . M . would think it an honour to rule over such a Lodge . It was a great pleasure to instal the son of his old friend . He was at the consecration of the Lodge , and it was pleasing to see the progress the Lodge had made in two years . He congratulated the W . M . and wished the Lodge all prosperity in the future .

Brother J . H . Dimsdale next proposed the I . P . M . Brother Imre Kiralfy , whom he had seen under many circumstances , as a . truefrierid , as an ordinary Brother in a Lodge , an originator of the most wonderful spectacle the world had even seen , and as the Master of the Empress Lodge ; he had excelled in them all . In the Mastership of the Lodge he had been tip top , and he had not forgotten the charitable side of Freemasonry , for'he had contributed to the charities most liberally . He expressed the wish of everyone when he hoped Bro . Kiralfy might long be spared to the Brethren .

Bro . Imre Kiralfy I . P . M ., in reply , said that anything that was in his power he should do for the assistance of the Lodge and its members , and he should do it with the greatest pleasure . The W . M . had referred to his abilities with reference to the exhibition ; well , that work he did with the greatest pleasure ; it was hard work sometimes , but he did not feel it ; but the greatest pleasure he had was from his association with Freemasonry ;

that was without limits ' or bounds , and he hoped that some day he would be rich enough to do what he should like to do—take up two or three Steward- * ships . With reference to his association with the Lodge , he had travelled 4 , 000 miles to be present that evening . He went to America for a little rest and leisure ; then to Chicago and New York . He could assure the W . M . that if he asked him to stand by him as a friend he should do so .

Sir Joseph G . Dimsdale responded for the Past Masters . He said the W . M . was very proud that night , but there was probably one in the room who was still prouder . The meeting carried him back two years , when he had gathered round the hospitable board of the Empress Lodge many many old friends in Freemasonry and representative Grand Officers . He would be more than human if he did not recognise by their presence that night that they had paid a very great compliment to the Empress Lodge , a compliment to

its W . M ., and he was also vain enough to believe that many of his friends gathered together because his son happened to be W . M . As they went through life they found friendships cementing into firm knowledge of each other , and appreciation of any worth they might have and extreme kindness to all failings ; but he thanked sincerely all the Brethren assembled that night to wish God spaed to a very young , but able Mason . Tho Empress

Lodge was founded for special objects , to be a haven and home for those who desired to come within the fold of Masonry , who might be here from other parts of Her Majesty ' s dominions , and for them to carry away and spread those _ noble principles for which we strive—loyalty and love to the Great Architect of the Universe , and as a natural sequence the doing of their dut y to their fellow men . The Lodge was progressing , and their appreciation of the objects and work of the Lodge was shown by the Grand Officers , than

Metropolitan.

whom there was seldom a more representative gathering in a private Lodge . He could assure them that the members of the Empress Lodge would continue to do their duty to maintain the great traditions of Masonry , and to build up year by year tho traditions of the Empress Lodge . It was a proud evening for him to see his own son occupying the chair , so young almost as it was possible to fill that high position . He hoped his son would appreciate

the great Mason who installed him , one of the great pillars of Masonry . Bros . Creed and Griffin responded for the Visitors , the latter remarking that he little thought three years ago when he initiated Bro . John Dimsdale that he would have so quickly reached the chair , but he was quite sure from the admirable manner in which he had comported himself that evening that he would prove an ornament to the Lodge , and a . worthy successor to those who had gone before him .

The Officers were duly complimented , and the Tyler ' s toast brought these pleasant proceedings to a close . A capital entertainment was given during the evening . Among those taking part were Bros . Fred Russell ventriloquist ; Channing , Arthur Strugneli , E . Cooper , I . Davies , and Mr . Kiralfy , jun ., who introduced a new kind of phonograph worked by clockwork . Bro . James Kift presided at the

piano . Those present included Sir Reginald Hanson P . G . W ., Alderman Vaughan Morgan Grand Treas ., Sir Joseph C . Dimsdale P . G . T ., Sir Walter Wilkin P . G . W ., Thos . Fenn P . G . W ., Edward Letchworth Grand Secretary , R . Horton Smith , Q . C ., Deputy G . Registrar , Richard Eve P . G . T ., W . Mason Stiles P . G . T ., Sir Geo . D . Harris P . G . D ., Fred . West P . G . D . D . P . G . M . Surrey . Dr . Ralph B . Gooding P . G . D ., G . P . Goldney P . G . D ., Sir Wm .

Marriott , Q . C ., P . G . D ., J . D . Langton P . D . G . D . C ., C . Belton P . D . G . D . C ., Sir Chas . Martin P . G . A . D . C ., Lennox Browne P . D . G . D . O ., F . Mead P . G . Std . Br ., T . Hastings Miller P . G . Std . Br ., C . F . Matier P . G . Std . Br ., W . S . Hoyt P . G . O . No . 4 , W . Henderson D . G . Registrar C . S . Africa , Joseph Rock P . G . S ., R . Creed W . M . No . 1 , Nathaniel Robi ' nson W . M . 2603 , J . Harbert W . M . 1987 , Rev . H . C . Dimsdale 859 , A . R . Meyer W . M . 900 , John P . Houghton P . M . 1768 , Richard Evens P . M . P . Z . 1949 , Walter Cliff ord

P . M . 2488 , John Foss S . W . 2488 , Nathan Robinson P . M . 55 , J . R . Cleave W . M . 2648 , Percy Short W . M . 2255 , James Kift , Geo . P . Hadley 2488 , Henry Neville W . M . 2127 , Ernest D . Cooper P . M . No . 8 , Edward White P . M . 177 , W . Griffen P . M . 1 , W . Dent 1 , Thos . DimsdaleP . G . S .. E . Beranger 2060 , W . T . Pigott W . M . 197 , H . Baker P . P . A . G . S ., William H . Bourke P . M . 1635 , E . B . J . Arne P . M . 1615 , H . Dangerfield P . M . 1260 , Walter J . W . Beard P . M . and Treasurer 101 , W . Sergeant Lee P . M . 2488 , Jas . H .

Hawkins P . M . 569 , Hy . Massey P . M . 619 and 1928 , Hon . P . M . Mehta Bombay Legislative Council , A . E . Baker 1 , W . H . White 55 , Thos Fraser 2488 , J . A . Harrison I . P . M . 2488 , Orlton Cooper P . M . 211 , A . J . Squires 1987 , J . W . Hayes 164 . W . Rapley 1987 , P . J . Rowlands 2096 , A . H . Hooper 46 , John Witney 1446 , G . W . StUlwell 1 , F . W . Nelson 284 , G . P . Channing

J . W . 1987 , W . J . Bosworth , A . E . Baker 1 . Members : S . J . Templeton , N . Haskim , W . S . Hooper , C . Goovart , P . Dixon , J . H . Alabaster , C . B . Lumley , W . H . Bond , F . A . Nash , W . J . Ardington , J . S . Bhumgara , W . H . Jefieant , A . J . Howell , G . R . Blades , W . H . Coppinger , Arthur Tite , Alfred Hallows , W . G . Merrett , W . F . Allvey , N . F . Stokes , C . L . J . Noad , Bertrand Dawson , G . C . Breese .

Bro . John Holdsworth Dimsdale , the new Worshipful Master of the Lodge , was born on 10 th February 1874 , in London , and was initiated into Freemasonry in April 1895 , in the Grand Masters Lodge , No . 1 , at Freemasons' Tavern , London . He was one of the Founders of the Empress Lodge , and was appointed its first Senior Deacon , then Junior Warden , and now—as recorded here—Worshipful Master . He has been exalted into Royal Arch Masonry , in the Grand Masters Chapter ; and advanced into the Mark Degree , in the Scots Lodge . We congratulate our young Brother on his rapid progress in the Craft .

Instruction.

U ( J u INSTRUCTION .

" NEW CONCORD LODGE , No . 813 . ON Wednesday , 15 th inst ., at the Farleigh Hotel , Amherst Road , Stoka Newington , close upon forty Brethren attended to support Bro . Powell in the chair . That Brother , during the proceedings , presented to Bro . Gush , on behalf of the Lodge , a silver fruit epergne , as a mark of the Brethren ' s appreciation of the services he had rendered in the position of Preceptor to the Lodge .

WHITTINGTON LODGE , No . 862 . ON Wednesday , 8 th inst ., at the Red Lion , Poppin's Court , Fleet Street , Bro . W . H . Latham W . M ., A . Clarkson S . W ., A . Collins J . W ., A . V . H . Pauncefort Preceptor and Treasurer , H . T . Kobelt acting Secretary , J . Scarlet S . D ., Charles Howard J . D ., T . H . Pate I . G ., and S . Lavington . Bro . Kobelt , acting as a candidate for passing , was examined and entrusted , and the ceremony of passing rehearsed . Bro . Kobelt , with the assistance of the Brethren , worked the first section of the lecture .

A vote of sympathy was passed with Bro . J . C . Tilt P . M . the able and courteous Secretary of the Lodge , in his indisposition , and the sincere hope expressed that he would soon recover . ON Wednesday , 15 th inst ., Bro . A . Clarkson W . M ., W . Amis S . W ., W . H . Latham J . W ., A . V . H . Pauncefort P . M . Preceptor and Treas ., Henry T . Kobelt acting Secretary , Alfred Collins S . D ., T . H . Pate J . D ., Percy Day I . G ., and H . Kemp W . M . of the mother Lodge .

The Lodge being duly constituted the ceremony ot raising was renearsea , Bro . Day acting as candidate , Bro . Clarkson vacated the chair in favour of Bro . Kemp , who worked the closing down of the Lodge .

LONDESBOROUGH LODGE , No . 1681 . WEDNESDAY'S meeting being Officers' night , there was a very good attendance at the well-known house of Bro . F . H . Vant , the Berkeley Arms , John Street , W ., when the chair was occupied by the W . M . of the Mother Lodge Bro . John Lewis , supported by Bros . John Raynor S . W ., H . C . Raynor J . W ., T . Kelly acting Preceptor , R . Corry P . M . 1681 Secretary , J . Head S . D ., J . Freer J . D ., F . Gunn I . G ., J . Flows , Kingshot , F . H . Vant , Mills , Brookes , T . Marks , J . Wynman , and others .

The ceremony of initiation was rehearsed , Bro . Flows acting candidate . The Lodge was advanced and Bro . Vant was examined and entrusted , the ceremony of raising being afterwards rehearsed . Bro . W . Woodman 1549 was elected a member , which compliment was duly acknowledged . Bro . Flows was elected W . M . for next Wednesday .