Ireland.

Masonic honours . Bro . Neill having snng " Hearts of Oak , Bro . Valentine D . P . G . M . gave the toast of the Grand Master of Ireland , and spoko in eulogistic terms of tlio services which tho Duke of Abercorn had rendered to the Craft . The Grand Master , in responding , having thanked the company for the manner in which

thoy had received the toast , said he conld not help thinking that gatherings like the present must bo tho means of doin ^ a great deal of good to Freemasonry in Ireland , and moro especially in the North of Ireland , for they afforded a means of bringing Masons of all classes , and from different parts of the country , together ; and

the interchange of thoughts and ideas which would naturally take placo could nofc prove other than most advantageous . He had been told , when inquiring who would be present at the banquet , that very few of tho Freemasons of Belfast were known . That was not as it should be , and he trusted that the list of thoae present at the

banquet wonld be published in the morning papers , and then thc ; would certainly know who were the Masons of Antrim and Belfast . For his own part he would only say that ho had endeavoured to follow in the footsteps of his father , who was known not only as a Mason , bnt -3 an Ulstorman , nnd he hoped he might always

be placed in the same category . While in his present position he would always endeavour to uphold the duties and ties of Masonry in Ireland , and he waa happy to tell them that at the present moment Masonry was in a most flourishing condition in this country . Now life appeared to havo been infused , and the standard of Masonry had

risen very considerably . It was also satisfactory to him to be able "to announce that , despite tho depressed times , the funds which came for tho support of Masonry had not in any way diminished during the last few years , but , on the contrary , had increased . His lordship concluded by strongly recommending to the sympathy of all

Freemasons tho Masonic Orphan Charities , and pointed out thafc , although the Girls' School was free from debt , there was a considerable sum due for tho building of tho Boys' School . These two Charities wero so useful and so important that , in his opinion , it was the duty * of every Freemason to give to them all the support they possibly

could , and none of them knew how soon an appeal might have to be made on behalf of thoir families to those Institutions . Haydn ' s " Stars of the summer night " having been snug , tho Chairman gave the toast of the Deputy Grand Master and Officers of the Grand Lodge of Ireland . Bro . Shekleton responded . The

Chairman then proposed the Health of tho Most Hon . the Marquis of Hertford , Worshipful Provincial Grand Master of the Freemasons of Antrim , and referred to the fact that the noble Marquis was no stranger to the people of Belfast . He had fought political battles , and fought them successfully , in their town , and as a Mason he

would prove himself second to none . The toast was drunk with the nsnal honours . The Marquis of Hertford said—Ifc was now about twenty years almost to a clay since he addressed a meeting in that Hall , and that meeting was nofc one in which brotherly lovo and kindness prevailed . He wns at a loss to find words to express hia

•thanks that the hononr had been conferred npon him—an honour which he highly esteemed and which it afforded him pleasure to receive . Thc only thing thafc detracted from that pleasure was the event which rendered his appointment necessary , in tho death of their old friend Sir Charles Lanyon , who had been removed from

their midst by tho hand of death . There was an idea existing that tho Freemason body were of an extraordinary character , conducted within closed door ? , and fiat theso proceedings wero only varied by tho eating of some very good dinner ? . IIo would appanl to nil good Masons to prove that this was not tho caso by tha manner in

which they responded to thc cull of Charity . Snch response was the more required after what had been said of them by tho Grand Master ; nnd , in his opinion , no matter wbat individiula did , ir , was in the power of private Lodges to do moro than they did at present in the matter of supporting theso Schools . Some of them were apt to

forget that they had the great Masonic dnty of Charity to perform . He appealed to thorn to bear in mind that charity was tho great word which should be in tho front of Masonry on all occasions . His lordship concluded by saying it would be hia endeavour to carry out the duties of his office to tho best of his ability , aud to forward tlie

interests of tho IVovineo . 'Iho Provincial Graud Master proposed tho toast of tho Deputy Grand Master and Officers of tho Provincial Grand Lodgo of Antrim . Lord Arthur Hill respond ) d . Tho toasfc of the Sister Provincial Grand Lodgo having been proposed by Bro . R . J . Hilton , J . P ., and duly honoured , the singing of the National Anthem brought the proceedings to a close .

Among the candidates eligible to tako part in ( he election of Friday next , for tho benefits of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys i .-i Hugh Stanley Thompson , -I-T <; C ! 8-years , the eldest son of the late John George Thompson , Solicitor , of Stockton-on-Tees , and Tiedcar , Yoi-k . s , a

Mason of 30 years' standing P . M ., r . P . G . K ., Tees Lodge-No . £ 09 , P . Z . Ac . Bro . Thompson was initiated in Tee-Lodge in 1858 , and was a founder of tho l . od ^ o w , Philanthropy , No . 9-10 . He had f-. evere pecan [ . u-y lasso :

about 5 years ago , and died suddenly in October L \ f-t , leaving a widow penniless , with iio relations in a position to help her , and 0 children living ( eldest , a girl 10 years , and youngest three months ) . The caso is strongly recommended by some of the fo-d . sf ; known Craftsmen of the

day , out outside help is urgently desired , in order to make sure of the lad ' s election at an early date . Several of ou ; friends at Kingston-on-Thames are inter - . -sling the-nseivcF in the case , and we aro assured by them it is one really deserving of all thc help it is m tho power of the Craft to give .

Notices Of Meetings.

NOTICES OF MEETINGS .

— : o : — ST . MICHAEL'S LODGE , No . 211 . ' ilHE first meeting of tho Lodge , after tho summer recess , was 1- hold at the Albion , Aldersgate-street , E . G ., ou the 8 th inst . Bro . Henry Lindfield , the W . M ., was supported by Bros . H . Nash S . W ., P . J . King J . W ., A . Green P . M . Treasurer , W . Radcliffe P . M .

Secretary , Cm ton Cooper S . D ., AVilliam kirklaud J . D ., W . J . Dyer I . G . ; P . M . ' s'F . J . Hontsoh , Usher Back , A . Dickson , John Laver , W . W . Morgan , T . H . Peirce ; also W . J . Bennett , Parsons , C . Skipp . Visitors—Bros . T . Corbctt 1612 , F . Schmidt , A . E . W . Powles 1901 , J . G . Collings Organist 1693 . In the course of the evening a

distressed brother , who some forty years back was associated with " Old St . Michael ' s , " was assisted with a grant of throe guineas . The brethren after labour partook of a banquet , which was served in the perfect way that characterises this establishment . A couple of hours were spent in agreeable converse , enlivened with some capital songs , & o .

CHISWICK LODGE , No . 2012 .

A MEETING of this popular Lodgo was hold on Monday last , at the Star and Garter Hotel , Kew Bridge . In the absence of the W . M . tho Rt . Hon Lord George F . Hamilton , M . P ., Senior Grand Warden , tho chair was taken by Bro . Georgo Gardner ( Secretary ) P . M ., who was snpported by Bros . Dr . F . Lawrance P . M ., George

Everett P . M . Treasurer , W . A . Dowling S . W ., J . Brown J . W ., E . H . Wimpey S . D ., F . Walden J . D ., C . Hughes I . G ., C . Patrick Tyler . Visitors—Bros . G . J . Westfield I . P . M . 2184 Prov . G . Sword Bearer Essex , Louis Lee 2309 , Thomas Brooks W . M . 382 , E . S . Pullman 2309 , A . E . Hewer 2309 , H . J . Gifford 468 ( S . C . ) ,

H . E . Jefferys 902 , R . Bennetts 2309 , W . W . Morgan P . M . 211 , G . W . Maple 1706 , F . Dusterwald J . D . 1586 , Frank Kemp 2309 , H . Ellis 933 . After tho Lodge had been constituted and formally opened , Bros . Louis Lee and Pullman , of the George Gardner Lodge , No . 2309 , were raised to tho third degree

the ceremony being conducted by the acting Worshipful Master . Bro . Gardner had also requested the W . M . of the Chiswick Lodge to pass two candidates , also from the Lodge that bears his name , and for this purpose Dr . Lawrance now took the chair of No . 2012 , and the candidates—Bros . Bennetts and Kemp , with Bro . R . J . Steel of

the home Lodge—were introduced and placed under examination as to the proficiency they had made in the science . The result was satisfactory , and later on Dr . Lawrance conferred the degree upon them . The name of a candidate for initiation was handed in , some notices of withdrawal considered , with other details respecting the

Lodge government , and the business was brought to a close . The brethren then partook of a banquet which was thoroughly enjoyed , and tho after proceedings were enlivened with some capital songs and musical selections , Bro . Louis Lee , who holds diplomas of a hig h , order as a Professor of Music , especially distinguishing himself . Bro . Edward P . Delevante was the accompanist throughout .

BECKENHAM LODGE , No . 2047 . fin HE ceremony of installing Bro . Charles It . Pilcher W . M . of tho a- abovo Lodge , followed by tho installation banquet , took placo at tha Lodge-room , at tho Beckenham Public Hall , on Thursday evening , tho 10 th inst . The following brethren were present : —

Ollicers of tho Lodgo—Bros . G . V . Schofield W . M ., C . E . Pilcher S . W ., It . Miiburn J . W ., Edward Carpenter Treasurer , G . T . Rait Secretary , Thos . Garrard S . D ., John Patricksou I . G ., F . W . Mansell Steward , Rev . John Harding Chaplain , It . S . Archbold P . M ., Jas . Craig P . M ., L . G . Eoiuhardfc Tjh .-r . Members of the Lodge—C . W . Cribble ,

II . W . Hummel ! , E . Hodley , W . V . Ditcham , C . M . Tilly , W . Howard . Visitors-Bros . Wimble P . P . G . D . Kent , R . Myers , C . J . Reynolds , E . Scovell , F . Ncwcombe , R . M . Northcote , Win . Smith , Thos . Rued , A . Lawrence Fryer , H . J . Dutton . The brethren assembled in tho Lodge-room at half-past five in the evening , and tho Lodge having

been opened with tho usual ceremonies the installation of Bro . Charles R . Pilcher was performed in a most impressive manner by Bro . R . S . Archbold . The Worshipful Master then proceeded to invest the following Officers-. —Bros . B . Miiburn S . W ., T . E . Garrard J . W ., G . V . A , Schofield I . P . M ., E . Carpenter Treasurer , G . T . Rait

Secretary , Rov . J . Harding Chaplain , J . Patrickson S . D ., H . W . Hnmmell J . D ., C . W . Gribblo I . G ., F . S . Newcombo Organist . Tho banquet took place at the Public Hall , at half-past seven , which gave great sati .-faction . The banquet over , the W . M . proposed thu Loyal toasts and thafc of the Graud Officers , which were received with the nsnal

hononrs , and followed by tho National Anthem aud "God bless tho Prince of Wales , " and a parfc song , " Absent , " by Bro ? . H . Dutton , Lawrence Fryer , E . Scovell , and F . Bevau . Bro . Schofield I . P . M . proposed the Worshipful Master , which he said they must all agreo was tho principal toasfc of tho evening . Everybody in Beckenham

would know thafc they had elected the most popular man in Beckenham—a jolly good fellow—who , as thoy might have seen from what -o had already dona iu tho Lodge-room , intended to keep up the i \ - ' . nation of the Lodge . Seldom had thoy heard tho charge < nven u i . waa given that evening-, and they might take it as a good augury

OL the work he would do later on . IIo < iid not think anything he . -Junlu Hry would enhance tho W . M . ' s virtues ia their eyes . The W . M . said he scarcely know how to express hid thank .- ) , nob only for the oloqusst terms in which the I . P . M . had proposed his health , but tho in

f- ^ r cordial manner which they hid received tho toast . Ifc would give him zest and encouragement to go on wiih tho work and to do all ho could fur tlio welfare of tho Lodge , knowing that at the c inset he had with him their kindly feelings and svinpat-hiop .

ue couid Kcarccly think that anything that he had d > no in tho past merited iuich kind orprcsHionu as had fallen from the I . P . M . Ho tool : it as an augury that if ho followed iu the footsteps of previous Masters ho should bo doing that which was right in the interests oi