Reports Of Meetings.

REPORTS OF MEETINGS .

CRAFT : METROPOLITAN . We shall be pleased to receive particulars of Masonic meetings fop insertion in , our columns , and where desired will endeavour to send , a representative , to . report Lodge , or other proceedings .

Joppa . Lodge , No . 188 . INSTALLATION OF BRO . J . HAMILTON CRAIG .

IN these days of Class Lodges and particular objects set out for the attention of different sections of the Craft , so as to specialise the work of the Brotherhood for almost every section of the community—a line of procedure we cannot even yet regard as being in keeping with the true tenets of Freemasonry , the basis of which is certainly freedom from all outside considerations—it is refreshing

to turn to a Lodge which can be credited with having created a record in some special direction ; one which , indeed may be said to have been among the foremost in " specialising" the work of the Craft of England . Such a Lodge is the Joppa , which has really more than one claim to distinction in this connection , and has won such renown in years gone by as will certainly entitle

it to a special position among the Lodges of England for all time . Although younger by a matter of two years than its companion the Tranquillity ( No . 1 S 5 ) , we think the Joppa Lodge enjoys the distinction of being the premier among the " Hebrew" Lodges of the metropolis for , as was recently recorded in our pages , it is

within the memory of the present generation that the older Lodge was at one time so anti-Jewish as to specially preclude any member of the J ewish persuasion from being enrolled among its members , and although a great change has come over the spirit of the members of the Tranquillity Lodge , its historians fail to find any record that the " exclusion " law has been revoked .

We may , then , give the Joppa precedence over the Tranquillity , the Montefiore , . and the Samson , among the four " Jewish " Lodges of the metropolis , and thus accord it distinction for a period long previous to the date of the popular introduction of the system of Class Lodges ; but as we have said , it is not in this direction alone that the Joppa has achieved distinction—it is one of the earliest

instances of a Lodge starting and maintaining a Benevolent Fund for its own members , and not only has it set a brilliant example in the actual formation of its Fund , but even now it has a record for good work accomplished in connection therewith which few , if any , of its imitators are yet able to point to . At the present time the Lodge has an invested capital of several hundred pounds

under this head , and can point to an expenditure of upwards of , £ 1 , 400 during the past twenty years , many members of the Lodge having been assisted by its means in a quiet and practical manner , and to . such good effect that not a few subsequent successes can be ascribed to the " turning point" when financial aid was speedily and quietly accorded , in the hour of special trial or adversity , by the Joppa Fund .

There is much to be proud of in rising to the Office of Worshipful Master of such a Lodge , and we accordingly have special reason for tendering hearty congratulations to Bro . J . Hamilton Craig—our neighbour as proprietor of the Hadley Hotel , New Barnet , and more widely known in the neighbourhood , and

generally throughout Hertfordshire and the district , as the representative of Messrs . Wright and Greig , Limited , of Glasgow and Londonwho was installed as Worshipful Master at the regular meeting of the Lodge on the first Monday of the new century , in the presence of a large gathering of members of the Lodge and visitors .

The early work on the day of installation included the opening of the Lodge and the confirmation of the minutes , after which the Auditors' Reports in regard to the state of the Lodge and Benevolent Funds was received and adopted , and Mr . R . J . Andrews was initiated into Freemasonry . Then followed the great event of the

year , the installation of the new Master , Bro . J . H . Craig being inducted into the chair by Bro . I . Cohen , the W . M . of the past year , in a most impressive manner . He subsequently appointed his Assistant Officers , and presented a handsome Past Master's jewel to his predecessor , as a mark of the esteem of the members , and in recognition of his services in the chair during 1900 .

The presentation was suitably acknowledged , other business disposed of , and the Lodge closed , after which the company adjourned to the banquet , at the conclusion of which the usual toasts were honoured .

Bro . Lewis Lazarus P . M . P . G . P . —for many years Secretary of the Lodge—responded for the Grand Officers of England , and called to mind the time when he saw H . R . H . the Prince of Wales first installed as Grand Master of England , at the Albert Hall . The success of the Craft since then had been most marked , and they must all hope it would long continue the same career of prosperity .

The Immediate Past Master Bro . Cohen proposed the health of the new Master in cordial terms . Bro . Crai g had been associated with the Joppa Lodge for many years , had worked his way up to the distinction of the chair , and started unon the duties of that exalted position with the good wishes of all the members . He

considered the cardinal principles of a Worshipful Master should be to have trust in himself , to have faith in himself , and to pursue a straight course . If he acted up to those princi ples the W . M . would be able to keep up the traditions of the Lodge , which had existed for umvards of a hundred and ten 3 'ears .

The new Master replied , saying he regarded it a great honour to be elected Worshipful Master of such a Lodge as the Joppa . He looked back on the long array of Masters who had presided over the Lodge—many of them most influential Brethren in their time—

Reports Of Meetings.

and hoped he might be enabled to be as good a ruler as any of them , if not better . His ambition would be to emulate the example they had set him , and endeavour to leave the Lodge in a better position than he found it , and without a stain on its reputation . If

he failed it would not be from want of desire to succeed , but rather from inability . He once again thanked the Brethren for the confidence they had reposed in him , and implored them to be to his faults a little blind , and to his merits very kind . His endeavour would be to follow in the footsteps of his predecessors .

The toast of the Installing Master was next given , the W . M . specially thanking his predecessor for the way in which he had performed the chief ceremony of the day , and congratulating him on the successful termination of his year of Office . Bro . Cohen tendered his thanks , and said the chief credit for anything he had done during the past year should fall on his

Officers , who had so ably supported him in all the work of the Lodge . He especially acknowledged his indebtedness to the Secretary Bro . L . Lazarus , whose long experience rendered him a most efficient and capable Officer , and in conclusion hoped he had not done anything during his term of Office to in any way tarnish the reputation of their ancient Lodge .

Now followed the toast of the Initiate , to which the newly admitted Brother responded . Bro . H . Lazarus P . M . proposed the toast of the Joppa Benevolent Fund , on behalf of which Bro . L . Lazarus P . M . P . G . P . responded , expressing the pride of the members of the Lodge in the Fund , the Jubilee of the establishment of which was celebrated in

December last . It was started for the purpose of assisting members of the Lodge , and had frequently materially aided . those who had had occasion to appeal for its benefits , preventing many from having to anneal to the Fund of Benevolence , of Grand Lodge , and winning wide approval of its work . During the past twenty

years ^ , 1 , 400 had been paid to those who had appealed to them , and only in . one case had any dissatisfaction been expressed at- the amount of the grants , which it should be mentioned were made with as much secrecy as possible , even the names of recipients and the amounts awarded them being unknown to the ordinary members of the Lodge .

Other toasts followed , the whole being interspersed with some excellent songs , & c , given under the direction of Bro . John Porter . * * . *

Confidence Lodge , No . 193 . INSTALLATION OF BROTHER SIDNEY WILLIAM FELLS . ONE of the most successful years in the history of this Lodge —which was consecrated in the reign of King George III ., in 1790—was brought to a conclusion on Monday , when Bro . J . W . Simeons vacated the chair , and installed as his successor Bro .

S . W . Fells . For many years past the Lodge has enjoyed a deservedly high place in the estimation of metropolitan Brethren , not alone for the example set by its Past Masters , W . M ., and other Officers in the matter of good work , but also for the true Fraternal spirit existing among the members , and the heartiness with which guests

are received and welcomed at any of the meetings . This years installation showed the Lodge to be as popular as ever , an exceptionally large number of members and visitors assembling at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet Street , to take part in the events of the day , and all appearing to thoroughly enjoy the fare set for their delectation .

Th , e agenda showed there was i 51 enty of business to be transacted , and to deal with it Lodge was called for three o ' clock , at which hour Bro . Simeons opened the proceedings . He was supported during the meeting by Bros . George Spice I . P . M ., S . W . Fells W . M .-elect S . W ., - Metcalfe Baillie J . W ., John E . Fells P . M . Treas ., E . J . Davey P . M . Sec , B . Houghton acting S . D .,

G . Bushell J . D ., G . H . Carr acting I . G ., E . Lough Organist , Reinhardt Tyler ; Past Masters W . A . Cubitt , T . Kington , E . Pennock , Francis Haynes , G . Nightingale , Samuel Smither , F . S . Plowright ; together with the following members : Bros . G . Baker , M . Madders , W . M . Martin , W . Wise , W . Osborn , H .

Jones , W . Johnson , J . Webber , A . E . Green , J . Richardson , W . Hattersley , E . T . Davy . A . L . Scott , R . Schwartz , E . Tiffen , S . Geddes , F . Tisbury , G . Barlow , W . Speller , H . King , J . Westley , D . Comes , J . Goodchild , J . Done , C . Way , J . Mendoza , A . Delmonte , Alfred Jay , S . Firman , J . Taylor , F . Pribull , R . M . Owles , G . Barratt , and others .

The Visitors included Bros . W . R . Hummerston 16 58 , R . Gilmour P . M . 1950 , J . K . Pitt P . P . G . Std . Bearer Surrey , C . Eales P . M . Dep . Reg . Bengal , A . Downes 95 , H . Jay , J . Moss 2442 , A . P . Blaxter , A . Pooley P . M . 1612 , Rev . H . E . Wilson

2662 , H . C . Holdup I . G . 172 S , W . Batting 1566 , R . B . Hopkins 13 81 , C . Martin 1320 , W . H . Latham W . M . 1962 , T . Hobley 1320 , E . Mendge , J . H . Richardson W . M . 1 S 2 S , P . P . Morris 788 , R . D . Heckels P . M . 7 8 S , Richard Poore P . M . P . Z . 1949 , M . Bushell 2264 , J . Wynman , H . Broadway , G . Kimber , F . Webster , & c .

The meeting was opened in regular form and the minutes confirmed , after which Lodge was advanced to the second degree , and Bros . A . Wise , F . W . Tisbury , and R . C . Schnitzner were examined and entrusted . Lodge was further advanced , and those three Brethren were raised as Master Masons , the ceremony , by request of the W . M ., being undertaken by Bro . Spice I . P . M ., who displayed his old dashing style most' effectively on this occasion .

The Lodge was resumed to the first degree , and the ballot taken for Bro . John Mears W . M . of the Crescent Lodge , No . 78 S , as a Joining Member . He was unanimously elected ^ and made suitable response in acknowledgment . Bro . Simeons again asburaed command , and Resumed the