Reports Of Meetings.

Cyril H . Beover P . M ., the election of Officers then took place , with the result that Bro . T . A . Holland S . W . was chosen as W . M .-elect , whilst Bro . Henry Nail P . M . P . P . G . T . was re-appointed Treasurer of the Lodge . At the festive board which followed , Loyal and Masonic toasts were relieved by songs , & c , given by Past Masters Alf . Pickford , Hy . Nail and C . H . Beever ; Wm . Rushton Org ., and Wm . Lee . There was a good attendance , the visitors being Bros . W . Goodman W . M . 2185 and J . B . Johnson 605 .

PRINCE EDWIN LODGE , No . 125 . THE annual festival of this ancient Lodge , which was founded in 1771 , took place at Bank Buildings , Hythe , Kent , on the 9 th inst ., when Bro . Dr . Cecil Anthony Perrier Osburne was installed as Worshipful Master for the ensuing year . The following Officers were selected and

invested : —Bros . C . A . Armstrong S . W ., George Taylor J . W ., J . J . Read S . D ., J . H . Brooke J . D ., A . H . Williams I . G ., Sam . H . White P . M . P . P . G . S . B . Treasurer , Edward Hire P . M . P . P . G . S . B . Secretary and D . C ., S . H . Greenstreet P . M . Organist , Samuel Hunt and Alan Murdoch Stewards , George Butcher Tyler . The Brethren subsequently adjourned to the Swan Hotel , where the banquet was held .

CRAFT : METROPOLITAN .

KENSINGTON LODGE , No . 1767 . A MOST successful meeting of this flourishing Lodge was held at the Royal Palace Hotel , Kensington , on Saturday , 21 st ult ., when Bro . A , J . Turner V / . M . presided over some sixty Brethren . The minutes having been confirmed , the ballot was taken for Messrs . J . H . Hockey and F . Broomsgrove , and it proved unanimously in their favour ,

The W . M . then proceeded to raise Bro . Nelder , giving the traditional history . This was followed by the passing of Bros . Green and Jones , and the initiation of Messrs . Hockey and Broomsgrove . The whole of tho ceremonies were performed in an impressive manner by the W . M ., who concluded by giving the Charge to the Initiates .

The W . M . reported that a dispensation had been granted by Grand Lodge on his application , to hold a Masonic Service in St . Philip ' s Church , Earls Court , which had taken place on the 15 'ii ; nnd an unanimous vote of sympathy having been passed to Bro . J . Wakcham , on account of his recent sad bereavement , the Lodge was closed . The Brethren afterwards dined together , and the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were honoured .

Proposing the Queen and the Craft , the W . M . said that this was a very happy combination , for while Her Majesty was one of the most womanly of women , so in Freemasonry they had some of the most manly of men . Her Majesty's influence , like that of the Craft , was felt for good throughout the world , and especially wherever the English language was spoken . He hoped that all future sovereigns of this great Empire would have their names associated with this toast , and that it would be received by the Brethren in the same hearty manner that they now received it .

Bro . J . H . Neville I . P . M . proposed the toast of the "Worshipful Master , and congratulated him on his excellent working in the Lodge , and the genial way he was presiding over the after meeting . He was quite sure they would all agree that in Brother Turner they had a most efficient Worshi pful Master .

The toast was drunk with great enthusiasm , and , in reply , Bro . Turner thanked the Brethren for the very kind way they had received his name . They had conferred on him the highest honour that a Lodge could bestow on a Brother , and by their applause they showed that they meant to support him right loyally during his year of office . In return he promised he would do

his very best to try and prove himself worthy of such confidence . They knew that it was a very responsible position to preside over a Lodgeespecially one of the size and importance of the Kensington Lodge—but with their continued support he felt confident that w ^ en his term of office expired he should be able to hand over the Warrant of the Lodge to his successor pure and unsullied as he had received it .

Bro . Percy Wells P . S . G . W . of South Australia , in replying to the toast of the Visitors , said he had been a member of the Fraternity for over fifty years , and had gained his Masonic experience in many parts of the world . He had the honour of drafting the articles of Constitution on which

the Grand Lodge of South Australia had been established , and this was the oldest Grand Lodge of the Australian colonies . . He congratulated the W . M . on the splendid manner in which he conducted the Lodge , and thanked the Brethren for giving him the pleasure of spending such a very happy and instructive evening .

IVY LODGE , No . 1441 . A REGULAR meeting of this popular Lodge was held at the Surrey Masonic Hall , Camberwell New Road , on Tuesday , 24 th , under the presidency of Bro . R . E . Lane , and the Brethren present had an opportunity of listening to a perfect rendering of the first and third degrees . The Lodge opened , and the minutes confirmed , Bros . H . C . Lane and Mansfield were raised to the degree of Master Mason , and Messrs . John Peters and H . J . Hawkey were introduced and initiated , the W . M . giving the Charge in his usual impressive manner .

Other business being disposed of , the Brethren adjourned to the festive board , and a capital impromptu programme was carried out , with the assistance of a visitor , Bro . G . S . Graham , who ably presided at the piano . The usual toasts were proposed and responded to , and the evening terminated with the Tyler's toast , amidst the congratulations of the Visitors on the capital working and prosperous state of the Lodge .

INSTRUCTION

EVENING STAR LODGE , No . 1719 . THE sublime degrees of Masonry were thoroughly illustrated < : n Saturday last , in this Lodge of Instruction , at the Rutland Hotel , Perry Hill , Catford , by Bro . B . Da Costa P . M . and his band of intelligent exponents who

Reports Of Meetings.

hail from the East end of London , and who are so famous for their sectional working . On this occasion they kept an assembly of fifty Masons spell-bound for three hours , while the fifteen sections were worked by the following Brethren : First Lecture : —Bros . E . Daniel P . M 2411 , C . Nash Fox P . M . 1349 , I . Davis 1349 , A . P . Bebrouth W . M . 2411 , I . Goulston Assist . S . 1349 , Basil Stewart P . M . 2411 , E . Jennings S . D . 2411 .

Second Lecture : —Bros . C . Nash Fox P . M . 1349 , H . F . Bromhead P . M . 2501 , T . Blyth J . W . 2411 , James Oxley P . M . 1306 , Basil Stewart P . M . 2411 . Third Lecture : —Bros . L . A . Da Costa P . M . 1349 , J . S . Hinderwell P . M . 1625 , H . Harris S . W . 1349 . As we have already intimated Bro . B . Da Costa P . M . 1349 occupied the chair of W . M .. and he was immediately supported by Bro . Basil Stewart P . M . 2411 as S . W ., Bro . L . A . Da Costa P . M . 1349 as J . W ., and Bro . James Oxley P . M . 1306 as I . P . M .

Among others present were Bros . Spencer West , J . B . Reid , S . C . Kaufman P . M . - , R . A . Brangwin , A . Manners , T . R . Roberts , R . Sarson W . M ., G . W . Collier , C . V . Arnold , W . T . Feldon , F . Hughes P . M ., I . Levi , S . Reichenheim , J . Rotter , F . Madge , J . Freeman , C . Couchman , T . C . Ward , B . Moss , C . Thomas P . M ., G . W . Beste P . M . Sec , James Speller P . P . G . D . Essex Preceptor , and others .

MARK MASONRY

ST . ANDREW LODGE , No . 237 . THE installation festival was held at the King's Head Hotel , High Street , Rochester , on the 25 th ult . The Lodge was opened by the W . M . Bro : James F . W . Morris , when the minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed .

Bro . Geo . H . Russell , having been previously elected , was then installed into the chair of A ., the ceremony being performed by P . M . J . W . Nash P . J . G . W ., in a very able manner . The following Officers were invested : — Bros . W . H . Dakess S . W ., J . W . Peart J . W ., George King M . O ., J . Smart

S . O ., A . W . Bond J . O ., J . W . Nash Treasurer , E . Barrell Secretary , J . W . Nash R . M ., R . G . West S . D ., E . Lemon J . D ., H . S . Bagshaw I . G ., J . Orum Tyler . A cordial vote of thanks was accorded to the Installing Master for his

services . Among the visitors present were Bro . J . P . White P . M . 455 W . M . 364 , W . J . Miller W . M . 69 , and Lawrence Salt P . G . S . A banquet followed the proceedings and a pleasant evening was spent .

SUTCLIFFE LODGE , No . 188 . THE installation ceremony and banquet took place at the Masonic Hall , Grimsby , on Monday , 16 th ult . Amongst those present were the Earl of Yarborough Prov . Grand Mark Master . The retiring W . M . was Bro . A . J . Wilkins P . G . J . W ., the W . M .-elect Bro . J . F . G . Alexandre S . W ., and the Installing Master Bro . A . Bates P . D . P . G . M .

Masonry In India.

MASONRY IN INDIA .

THE principal religions in India are those of Brahma , Mohammed and Buddha . They all hated and persecuted each other , and only agreed mutually in hating the Christians . It was the country , up to a recent date , of prejudice , hate , tyranny and intolerance . Eour years ago I was the honoured guest at a Masonic Lodge meeting in the third degree in the

great Temple of Calcutta . There were about 150 Masons present , men of almost every nationality and creed . The Master ' s degree was conferred on three Eellow Crafts , who knelt together before the same altar . One was a Christian , who took his obligation on the Bible : one was a Mohammedan , who took his

obligation on the Koran ; the other a Hindoo , who took it on the Shastras . The oath was administered by an English lord , a judge of the Supreme Court , and he was assisted by the Grand Secretary , my friend Euscomjee , a Parsee and follower of Zoroaster . There Masonry is seen and felt . There it is now

what it was in Europe during the dark ages . There no one thinks it is trifling or useless . These men in India are the learned , the influential men . They do not renounce thenreligions ; but they meet before the Masonic altar on bended knee , before the Great Architect of the Universe , and hand in

hand , breast to breast , mouth to ear , they walk about in their quiet daily vocations , among Asia ' s teeming millions , sowing the seed and setting the example , from high to low , of Masonic teachings and Masonic lives . Who can calculate its influence ? — " Hans Matson , " in the " Canadian Craftsman . "

Ad00903

BRO . GEORGE THOMPSON , VIADUCT BOOKING OFFICE , 71 HATTON GARDEN , E . C . Has made Excellent Arrangements for the Collection and Forwarding of CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR PRESENTS to all parts , at exceedingly low rates . Parcels should be sent in early , so that they can receive proper attention , and senders should place a copy of the address of the consignee inside all parcels , in addition to the usual outside label . Tickets for the Midland and Great Northern Railways , dated to suit the convenience of Passengers , and available from St . Pancras and Kings Cross Stations , can be had in advance from Bro . Thompson .