Reports Of Meetings.

REPORTS OF MEETINGS .

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

CRAFT : PROVINCIAL .

TRISTRAM LODGE , No . 2415 . ON Friday , 27 th ult ., Bro . Joseph Henderson S . W . was duly installed according to ancient custom into the chair of King Solomon . Bro . G . C . Askew W . M . presided . The installation ceremony was impressively rendered by Bro . J . Barnet P . M . P . P . G . Std . B . Upwards of forty visiting Brethren from the Restoration , Darlington ; Wear Valley , Bishop Auckland ; Crook and Whitworth Lodges , were in attendance .

The festival of St . John the Evangelist was afterwards observed by the Brethren , and a pleasant evening was spent , interspersed with Masonic toast , song and sentiment . Bro . Grundey , of Darlington , notably contributed to the harmony of the evening .

EARL OF SUSSEX LODGE , No . 2201 . THE annual installation meeting was held in the Music Eoom , Boyal Pavilion , Brighton , on Saturday , 28 th ult . The Lodge was opened by the W . M . Bro . Chapman Marshall Prov . G . Organist , who was supported by his Officers and a large gathering of members of the Craft , including several Grand Officers , Provincial Grand Officers , and representatives of the various Lodges in the Province , the

company numbering about 200 . The chief feature of the business of the afternoon was the installation of Bro . Gerald W . E . Loder , M . P ., as Worshipful Master for the ensuing year . The ceremony was performed by the retiring W . M ., who was assisted by Bro . Alfred King P . P . S . G . W ., and Bro . B . Percy Clowes P . P . G . R . The retiring W . M . was presented with a Past Master's gold jewel , in appreciation of the able manner in which he had carried out his duties during the past year .

On tho closing of the Lodge the Brethren adjourned to the banqueting room , where they sat down to an elegant banquet under the presidency of the newly installed W . M . The customary Loyal and Masonic toasts were duly honoured , but in view of a splendidly prepared musical programme , which it had been arranged should follow the toast list , the speeches were

brief . In proposing the Grand Officers , Present and Past , the W . M . said the Officers of Grand Lodge moved in a sphere so far removed from ordinary Masons that he could only speak of them with bated breath . He , however , expressed the great pleasure he experienced in finding several of them had honoured the Lodge with their presence .

Bro . Sir John Monckton , in an amusing response , said the Grand Officers freely accepted all the compliments paid them , feeling conscious they deserved them . The Grand Officers' lot was not , he said , an entirely happy one . In the words of Mrs . Gamp , " There was always a something " to do —Committees , Board meetings , and even banquets to attend . It had , he said , given the Grand Officers great pleasure to visit the Earl of Sussex Lodge , and they heartily congratulated the W . M . on his appointment .

The new W M . next submitted the M . W . Prov . G . M . H . R . H . the Duke

of Connaught , and the Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge , Present and Past . "Eulogising the Duke of Connaught as a good soldier and a good Mason , he said they all regretted that illness had prevented their Provincial Grand Blaster from presiding at the meeting held at Hastings . He would ,

however , preside next year at the annual meeting of the Benevolent Institution , and he trusted the Province of Sussex would support him handsomely on that occasion . Bro . Sir W . T . Marriott had , he said , worthily presided at the meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge at Hastings , and excellent support had been given him by the Officers .

Bro . Sir W . T . Marriott , in responding , said they would all be delighted to hear that their Provincial Grand Master the Duke of Connaught had improved in health . Congratulating the W . M . on his appointment , he said he had watched his political and Masonic career with great interest , and believed he would do his utmost to enhance the prosperity and happinesss o f the Lodge .

Bro . Chapman Marshall I . P . M . next proposed the Worshipful Master . He said they were all delighted to see Bro . Loder in the chair , feeling that he would add dignity to Freemasonry and honour to the Earl of Sussex Lodge . Only once since his initiation in 1889 had Bro . Loder absented himself from the Lodge meetings , and that was on the occasion of his marriage . He heartily wished him a prosperous and happy year of office .

The W . M ., on rising to respond , was received with enthusiasm . Thanking the Brethren for the hearty manner in which they had received the toast , ho reminded the Deputy Provincial Grand Master that there was one great difference between Parliament and Freemasonry ; for politics , he said , were associated with oratory , whereas one of the first lessons enjoined in Freemasonry was silence . He had no wish that oratory should find a

place in their programme that evening , for he hoped they would , on the termination of the toast list , find time to listen to sweet music , and he believed that would prove more acceptable than listening to speeches . He , however , felt bound to acknowledge the kind remarks of Bro . Chapman Marshall , and to express the pleasure he felt in seeing so many friends , and especially the Grand Officers , present . A cynic , he said , had

described Freemasonry as " dinners and decorations , " but be held that the solemnity of their ceremonies and the inculcation of charity and goodwill were the predominant features of the Craft . He said he should experience great difficulty in following so able a W . M . as Bro . Chapman Marshall , and he should be compelled to ask for a large measure of their indulgence and assistance , but he would do his utmost to maintain the dignity and credit of the Lodge .

TRUTH LODGE , No . 1458 . THE annual meeting and festival of St . John took place at the Mosley Hotel , Manchester , on Saturday , 5 th inst ., Bro . Wm . Hy . Worsley W . M . The Brethren met at an early hour . The minutes having been read and confirmed , and the Auditors' report submitted , a successful ballot wag

Reports Of Meetings.

taken for Mr . William Cotterill , Pattern Card Maker , Manchester , who was afterwards initiated into the mysteries of antient Freemasonry by Bro . Geo . T . Lenard P . M . A successful ballot was also taken for Bro . W . J . Herring P . M . Blair Lodge , No . 815 , who was desirous of becoming a Joining Member . Following this was the installation of Bro . Thomas P . Cooper S . W ., the oeremony being performed by the retiring Master , assisted by several Past Masters of the Lodge .

Bro . Alfred Hebden P . M . P . P . G . D . D . C , who was Director of Ceremonies , duly presented the W . M .-elect , whilst Bro . Thomas Henry Hall P . M . Secretary , read the antient Constitutional questions , to which Bro . Cooper assented . A Board of Installed Masters was then formed , the principal chair being occupied by Bro . Worsley W . M ., with Bro . E . H . Shepherd acting as S . W ., Bro . J . A . Vincent as J . W ., and Edwd . Roberts 1459 as I . G . Considerably

over twenty Past Masters witnessed the ceremony , which was very ably performed . Immediately after having been installed into the chair of K . S ., Bro . Cooper addressed his predecessor Bro . Lenard P . M ., explaining the jewel in that careful and correct manner which invariably marks all his efforts The proclamations were made by Bro . Hebden P . M . Bro . Hall P . M . presented and explained the Working Tools of each degree , while the investiture of Officers was undertaken by Past Masters Hebden , Buckley Carr P . P . G . D . C , Lenard , and Hall , who also assisted in giving the various addresses .

The Officers so invested were : —Bros . A . B . Taylor S . W ., Leopold Hirsch J . W ., H . Hellewell Secretary , J . J . Dean S . D ., G . T . Lenard P . M . J . D ., Alf . Hebden P . M . P . P . G . D . D . C . D . C ., John Pearce I . G ., Wm . Dewhurst , S . Muller , Joseph Day Stewards . The festival of St . John which followed , was universally acknowledged to be a perfect musical treat . Besides the I . P . M ., who is an accomplished

player upon the pianoforte , there were contributions by Bros . J . H . Maltby , of the Manchester concerts , and H . B . Muir of the George Alexander Dramatic Society , whilst the Minster Vocal Quartette , from Liverpool , had also been engaged , consisting of Bros . Aspinall , Barlow , Atkinson , and Owens , who rendered several numbers , which included selections so widely diverse as " Absence , " " Evening Twilight , " " The Boy and a Tack , " " Johnny Schmoker , " and " Even Bravest Heart " from Faust .

Bro . Worsley I . P . M ., in proposing the health of the Worshipful Master , said that this festival , which gave them the privilege of proclaiming with greatest joy , and of greeting with the greatest acclamation the health of the new W . M ., only came once a year . It had aptly been described as the highest honour which a Lodge could confer , and he fully agreed with that description . In adverting to the functions which belonged to the position , Bro . Worsley said that in Bro . Cooper they had chosen an Officer who would

follow in the footsteps of his predecessors . He hoped they would have an exceptional year of prosperity , and that the Officers would rally round him and do their duty to the utmost . The speaker complained that the rank and file had not been quite so attentive as they might have been , explaining to them that their presence in Lodge , even if they had no specific duty to perform , was a great factor in its prosperity and a material assistance to the Master in the chair .

Bro . Cooper W . M ., in responding , explained that he had not made any preparation for a speech , but relied entirely upon the inspiration of the moment to carry him through . After some very racy remarks , which were provocative of much laughter , he thanked Bro . Worsley for the kind words he had uttered in proposing his health , and also the Brethren for their enthusiastic reception of the same . That was a particular moment of joy to

him , for he saw sitting around the tables friends of very many years standing , who had come purposely to do honour to him upon having been placed in the proud position of representative of King Solomon . He then proposed the health of the I . P . M . and Installing Master , and very highly commended him for his work in the chair , as also for his excellent

performance of the ceremonial of that day . He regretted that he had superseded Bro . Worsley in the position , but Masonry being progressive one of its laws was , that just as an Officer had got used to the work , he was turned out of position to make room for another . Before concluding his remarks , he handed to the I . P . M ., on behalf of the Lodge and its members , a very handsome Past Master ' s jewel , bearing the following inscription :

Presented to W . BBO . WILLIAM HENRY WOBSLEY P . M . by the Brethren of Truth Lodge , No . 1458 , for services rendered as W . M . during 1895-6 , 5 th December 1896 .

Bro . Worsley expressed his thanks for the gift in very suitable terms He then proposed the health of Bro . T . H . Hall P . M . Secretary , saying that he was a Brother who had done yoeman service , and who consequently deserved recognition ; the Officers of the Lodge had therefore thought fit to present him with a jewel , to mark the high respect and appreciation which they entertained for him . The speaker referred to the hard work which Bro . Hall had done , his great expenditure of time and trouble , and

of his untiring efforts to please . He had never known him to make a mistake , certainly he had never been absent from Lodge during his year of office , and the Brethren not only owed him a debt of gratitude , but their best thanks were due to Mrs . Hall , for her kindly efforts in various ways to add to the comfort of the Lodge . In presenting to him a beautiful gold Secretary's jewel , he hoped the G . A . O . T . U . would spare him for many years to bo with them in tho Lodge , and take part in its successes .

Bro . Hall replied , saying that he had been entirely taken by storm , for he had had no idea of being required to make a speech . During his eighteen years of membership he had only missed attending his Lodge three times . In the various positions which he had occupied , he had always

tried to do his duty . As his wife had been spoken of , he might say that she had invariably taken an interest in the Lodge , and probably would continue to do so . He hoped with Bro . Worsley that he might be a member for many years , and live long to wear the handsome jewel which the Brethren had so kindly presented to him . Other toasts followed .

Principal among the visitors were the following : —Bros . Jas . W . Abbott P . M . W . M . 1030 P . P . G . D . C , Geo . Jackson P . M . 1077 P . P . G . S . B ., W . T . Thompson W . M . 1011 , R . H . Jackson W . M . 1077 , Jas . Simister W . M . 1083 , B . Whitwam W . M . 1219 , John Jee W . M . 1459 , J . Scarratt P . M . 477 , Hy . B . Brown P . M . 581 , John Williams P . M . 1011 , John Horsfall P . M . 1077 , Jas . Robinson P . M . and Sec . 1219 .

ARCHITECT LODGE , No . 1375 . a ^ HE regular meeting was hel d at the Masonic Hall , Chorlton-cum-Hard y , on Friday , 4 th inst ., Bro . Chas . Rawle W . M . Bro . Oliphant A . Brown having been passed into the degree of F . C . by