Reports Of Meetings.

successful . Bro . Gadd was one of the Founders of the Lodge , and from certain expressions which had beeu indulged in that evening , a very prosperous year was anticipated , which he heartily hoped might be tho case .

Bro . Gadd W . M . said , in reply , that if anything could make a man happy in his mind and satisfied with himself , it was the fact of having beon placed in the chair of K . S ., and to hear the many oncomiums passed upon him . Although accustomed to speaking , yet he found it difficult to express

himself in words appropriate to this occasion . He emphasised the long connection which Bro . Grimshaw had reverted to in his speech . Bro . Gadd explained that on two occasions he had approached the position of W . M . in another Lodge , but for special reasons he had not gone forward . The duties of W . M . were onerous , but fully realising the difficulties with which he bad

to contend , he had made up his mind to act so as to deserve success . Jrle thanked the Brethren sincerely for the enthusiasm with which they had received his name . Other toasts followed .

THURSTON LODGE , No . 2525 . THE membors held their annual meeting at tho Ship Inn , Coniston , on Monday , 7 th inst ., when Bro . John Bell was installed W . M . aud the Officers were appointed . Several new members were proposed .

An excellent banquet was provided by the hostess , Mrs . A . a ieming , to which about two dozen sat down . The remainder of a very pleasant afternoon was occupied by the honouring of the usual Masonic and Loyal toasts .

Metropolitan.

METROPOLITAN .

BEADON LODGE , No . 619 . THE annual meeting of this Lodge for the installation of Worshipful Master was held on Wednesday , 16 th inst ., at the Royal Crystal Palace Hotel , Upper Norwood , when Brother James C . Hayes P . M ., who has acted as Master since tho lamented demise of Brother John Rawle W . M ., in January last , presided .

As usual at this comfortable Lodge there was an excellant attendance of members and visitors , tho ranks of the former including the name of Bro . Moss Chapman S . W . and W . M .-elect , F . W . Upton J . W ., W . Sharratt P . M . Treasurer , Charles Norrington P . M . Sec , James W . Harrison S . D ., E . Croft Wise J . D ., W . Slatter I . G ., Charles Meierhoff P . M . D . C , M . G . Hall Steward , Past Masters H . Massey , Alfred W . Bulow , Albert E . Austin and Carl T . Fleck .

Visitors : —J . S . Gornton 1901 , A . Lundie P . M . 1381 , James W . Avery P . M . 619 , C . R . Wilman P . M . 2262 , J . O'Dea P . M . 1178 , S . Leng and S . Clarke 1178 , J . Hodgkyn PM . 1056 , J . Yaulden P . M . 1981 , Alfred Attkin 1348 , L . Joseph 188 , E . W . Ellis P . M . 1314 , H . Hubberde I . P . M . 167 , J . Lockett W . M . 2222 , Arthur J . Millington 1227 , Henry Daneson 1178 , William Roats P . M . 1273 , George Harris 1772 , J . J . Wright P . M . 1981 , John Holt 1539 , Frederick James Cross 1732 , W . H . Rivers P . M . 1772 , W . Brogden 902 , and J . Woodcock 1638 .

Brother Hayes installed Brother Moss Chapman , who had been unanimously elected at the August meeting , as W . M . for the next twelve months , performing the work in admirable style . The Brothren to assist the W . M . for the year are James 0 . Hayes acting as I . P . M ., Frederick W , Upton S . W ., J . W . Harrison J . W ., Francis Sharratt P . M . Treasurer , A . E . Austin P . M . Secretary , E . Croft Wise S . D ., William Slatter J . D ., M . G . Hall I . G ., Charles Meierhoff P . M . D . C , L . A . J . Faull Organist , 0 . A . Adams Steward , and T . Bowler Tyler .

Brother Hayes , who was Master of the Lodge in 1885 and 1893 , besides acting as Master in 1895 , was presented with a handsome cigar case in silver , tho W . M . stating that as Brother Hayes had already occupied the chair twice the Brethren could not offer him another Past Master ' s jewel as a token of their esteem and regard , and therefore they varied the testimonial in a way which they thought he , as a good smoker , would appreciate . There was engraved on the cigar case : —

Presented to BROTHER JAMES CHARLES HAYES P . M ., by the members of the Beadon Lodge , 619 . 16 th October 1895 . He trusted that Brother Hayes would live many years to use it , for he knew he would treasure it as much as if it was of far more value judged from a commercial point of view .

Brother Hayes having briefly thanked the Brethren , the balance sheet was adopted , which showed that there was £ 121 8 s in hand , and £ 21 in the Benevolent Fund . The alms box afterwards added 32 s to this amount . The Brethren having closed the Lodge , subsequently ' partook of a choice banquet , and finished the evening by honouring the customary toasts and listening to some good singing by Bros . James Chilcott , Alfred Attkin , Harry Cooper and tho Apollo Part Singers .

Brother Hayes P . M ., proposing the health of the W . M ., said tho toast was not only tbe toast of the evening , it was also the toast of the year . It was very sad to contemplate that the Lodge had been without a Master for a long time , going on more and more disconsolate under the embarrassing weight of having one P . M . and another in the chair . Last year , however , their late worthy Brother Rawle was installed , and they were all delighted to see him

so , because he was the father of the Lodge . Brother Rawle had worked and struggled hard to attain the proficiency which was deemed necessary for tho occupation of the chair of the Beadon Lodge . They had still the idea that they liked their Masters to be Masters , they liked them to be Masters in Freemasonry , and then when they were Masters of the Beadon Lodge they were a credit to it . Unfortunately for the Lodge and his family , Bro . Rawle joined the majority , and the Lodge had to get a P . M . again to do the work .

But now they had got one of their own men m the chair , one who though for three or four years they despaired of getting up to concert pitch bad got himself up , and the Beadon Lodge was proud to own him as its Master ; and when b" ordered in the Lodge the Brethren would have only one thing to do —to oh- * y him . He wished Brother Chapman a very happy and prosperous year , and might no cloud ever rise to mar the sky of prosperity of the Beadon Lodge .

Bro . Moss Chapman W . M ., in replying , said that though he was a bit of a dune * when he started , he worked up and tried to make himself acquainted with the ritual and acceptable to the chair . But now he had arrived at tho most difficult part of his task . He might learn the ritual , but be could not find words sufficient to express his gratitude for the honour conferred on him on this occasion . One good thing , Bro . Hayes had shown him an excellent example that evening , by making the speeches short , but he ( Bro . Chapman )

Metropolitan.

could not sit down without thanking Bro . Hayes for placing before the Brethren expectations to be realised . If he conducted himself in the chair to the satisfaction of the Brethren , he should feel that be had attained tho highest honour in Freemasonry . In proposing the toast of the Installing Master , Bro . Chapmau said that Brother Hayes had the benefit of Freemasonry , and the benefit of the Beadon Lodge , at heart .

Bro . Hayes P . M ., responding , said it was his duty to instal the Master . Every Brother who went out of the chair ought to instal the successor . He believed it made a great impression on the mind of the successor , and was an incentive to him to follow the same course . When he was initiated in 1877 , he heard Bro . James Avery go through the ceremony , and be listened to him in the same way as ho listened to Christine Nilsson , with his mouth wide

open , wondering what kind of man that could be to have such a memory for the beautiful words aud such an expression in tho delivery . The same thing hapjjened the following year and the year after , and he began to think that Installing Master was a sort of family office . But when he became Master he determined to break the record and to instal the W . M . himself . He did so . Brother Hayes then thanked the Brethren for the present they had made

him , which he was sure his wife and children would cherish . He could be but seldom accused of forgetting his duties to the Lodge , he did not think he should forget them in the future , but if it was thought he was a hard taskmaster it was because he loved the Beadon Lodge . He must give a word of praise to the W . M ., for ho had worked with a persistency which was

characteristic of his race—he had nailed bis colours to the mast , and intended to stand or fall by the act . He trusted that the confidence the W . M . had put in his Officers would prove not to have been misplaced , but that they would work with tenfold vigour during the coming year . Bro . O'Dea responded to the toast of the Visitors .

The W . M ., in submitting tho toast of tho Officers , trusted he should have those Brethren's support during his year , at the end of which tho Brethren might say the Officers were worthy of his confidence , and that he did right in appointing them . He was sure they would give him their undivided support .

Bros . Upton , Harrison , Slater , Hall , and Austin P . M . replied , each promising to do his best to make Bro . Chapman's year successful , and to leave a good record behind them . Bro . O'Dea acknowledged the toast of the Masonic Charities , and the Tyler's toast closed the proceedings .

Bro . Moss Chapman W . M . undertook the office of Steward for the Lodge at the nest Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , and hoped that the Lodgo and the Brethren would give him their support . Bro . Hayes gave notice that he would movo , at the January meeting , that the Lodge vote ten guineas to Bro . Chapman ' s list .

DORIC LODGE , No . 933 . THIS Lodge resumed its meetings on Tuesday of last week , at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet Street , when the W . M . Bro . Caslake had the gratification of initiating two gentlemen . After Messrs . Watkins and Liddiard had been initiated in excellent form

by the W . M ., and necessary business transacted , an adjournment was made to a well-served dinner , which was followed by the customary toasts—special reference being made by Bro . Barnes , says the " East London Observer , " to tho presence of Bro . Marsh , from Tasmania , and he receiving a hearty greeting from all present . o o o

STANHOPE LODGE , No . 1269 . THE ceremony of installing Bro . G . C C Fraser as Worshipful Master for the ensuing year took place on Tuesday , 8 th inst ., at the Surrey Masonic Hall , in the presonce of a good muster of members and visitors . Previous to the ceremony Bro . Ivory W . M . initiated Mr . 3 . C . Escott , and then passed Brothers Rymer and Taylor , following with the duties of installing the new W . M . He carried out the entire work in the most perfect manner , the charges to the W . M ., the Officers , and Brethren being given very impressively .

The Brethren afterwards adjourned to the banquet , when the usual Loyal and complimentary toasts were given and responded to in the most hearty manner , that of the new Worshipful Master being honoured with especial enthusiasm , as also was that of Bro . Ivory I . P . M ., who was thanked for the splendid display of efficiency he had shown while in the chair during his year of office , and also for his magnificent rendering of the installation ceremony that evening .

The musical arrangements of the evening were placed in the hands of Bro . Seymour Smith , an old member of the Lodge , and who was re-elected that evening as Organist and Hon . Member .

GREAT NORTHERN LODGE , No . 1287 . THE regular meeting of the Lodge was held on Thursday , at Freemasons ' Hall , Great Queen Street , amid mournful surroundings , such as , happily , ate very unusual in our midst , the Worshipful Master of the year having died since the last meeting . Under these circumstances tbe chair was assumed by the I . P . M . Brother George Ridout , who was supported by Brothers 0 . Davis S . W ., A . C . Doughty J . W ., S . Webb P . M . Treasurer , W . Cleghorn P . M . Secretary . T . G . Doughty S . D ., E . T . Homewood J . D ., C

T . Wilkinson I . G ., Alfred Kenningham Organist , Thomas Steer Steward , together with other Past Masters , a large number of private members of tbe Lodge , and the following , among other Visitors : Brothers Boeck G . O . Franco , H . Heck P . M . 766 , W . T . Wilkinson J . D . 742 , E . Woodcock 742 , S . Marsh 2502 , W . J . Rayner 1302 , Henry Potter 2502 , 0 . Fenerstein 766 , W . W . Leo P . M . Prov . Grand Steward Middlesex , W . W . Morgan 177 , W . E . Wellby P . M . 538 , & c .

Having disposed of the usual preliminaries the acting Master proceeded to confer the second degree upon Brother Kain , after which , the Lodge having been resumed , tbe ballot was taken for five gentlemen , Messrs . John James Lee , Benjamin Shayer , John Lawton Atkinson , Joseph Goug h and Samuel Punter , candidates for initiation , all of whom were unanimously approved of , and subsequently admitted into Freemasonry , this completing the ceremonial work ol the meeting .

The Worshipful Master , before closing the Lodge , said : Brethren , the work of the Lodge being so far accomplished , before it closes I feel wo must do justice to the memory of one whom we all loved and respected , for to do it justice is to do it honour . Our late Brother James Bastow added lustre to the history of Freemasonry , the sunshine of his genial presence seemed to touch with gold the prose of common life . We all knew and valued his work and his worthiness . There are those who ridicule the Craft and say that the