Reports Of Meetings.

during the past year , and ho was , therefore , perhaps better capable of speaking of his qualities as a Mason . He had frequently noticed , in fact lie had always noticed , that if he had any work to perform , Brother Cobbold , in all weathers—rain , hail , or snow—put in an apppearance ; and when they remembered that he had to drive ei"lit or nine miles to the Lodgo and back homo again that would speak volumes for what he would do as their Worshipful Master .

Bro . Tracey proposed tbe Masonic Charities , which was responded to by Bro . W . P . T . Phillips , who strongly urged the advisability of members subscribing so as to become life Governors . The visitors was given by Bro . F . W . W . Gross , and duly responded to . The Worshipful Master in proposing the Installing Master , Bro .

Brooke , spoke with regret of the absence of Sir John Monckton , who had intended to be present and perform the ceremony , but at the same time he felt highly honoured that ho had been installed by Bro . Brooke , whose impressive and able performance of the ceremony demonstrated his study and devotion to Masonry . Other toasts were given .

UNANIMITY LODGE , No . 113 . ON New Year ' s Day a meeting was held at the Town HafT , Preston , when there was a large attendance . Bro . G . Oakey I . P . M . installed Bro . Henry Dewhurst as W . M . of the Lodge for the next twelve months , in succession to Rev . W . G . Terry Prov . G . Chaplain . Tho brethren afterwards sat down to a banquet at the Bull Hotel .

HARMONY LODGE , No . 156 . THE annual banquet was hold on tho 18 th , at the Masonic Hall , Plymouth . There was a large attendance , and an excellent dinner was provided by Bro . Harvey , Steward . The company were presented with camelias grown in the garden of Bro . Samuel Jenkins W . M ., who presided .

Bro . Stebbing , in proposing the W . M ., said in Bro . Jenkins they had the representative of a profession honoured by all Englishmen —the British Navy . In him they had a brave sailor who had shed his blood for his country in India and New Zealand ; and for that

alone they felt they were honouring themselves in honouring him Every member of the Lodge would strive to his utmost to make Bro . Jenkin ' s year of office the happiest and brightest year of his life .

The W . M . expressed his grateful thanks for the honour bestowed upon him . By blood relationship he had been connected with the Lodge since 1823 . In that year an uncle of his was elected . In the absence , through illness , of Bro . Newell I . P . M . Bro . Chapell received the P . M . ' s jewel voted to him for his services .

The retiring Secretary , who is about to proceed on foreign service , was given by Bro . J . Parkhouse , who remarked that Bro . Michell had earned the affection and respect of the brethren . On behalf of the Lodge he presented him with a silver cream jug and ladle . Other toasts followed . o o o

DOMATIC LODGE , No . 177 . THE annual meeting of this old Lodge was held on the 12 th inst ., at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet Street , when Bro . John Barnett was installed as Worshipful Master for the year . The preliminary proceedings were presided over by Bro . Alfred Piper , the Master of the past year , who was supported by the W . M .-elect as Senior Warden , W . Wigmore J . W ., G . Everett Past Grand

Treasurer , Treasurer , T . Morris Secretary , G . Gardner S . D ., T . H . Hobbs J . D ., R . B . Hopkins Organist , T . N . Morris I . G ., John Anley , Jun . Assist . Steward , and the following Past Masters : W . J . Ferguson , R . Pierpoint , N . Salmon , Edward White , W . M . Foxcroft , and . J . E . Walford . The Lodge having been opened and the minutes confirmed , the Auditors' report was submitted and

adopted , and then the Master was installed , subsequently appointing the following as his assistant Officers for the year : W . E . Wigmore S . W ., Geo . Gardner P . M . J . W ., Geo . Everett P . M . Treas ., Thomas Morris Sec , T . H . Hobbs P . M ., S . D ., T . N . Morris J . D ., James Stephens P . M . I . G ., R . B . Hopkins Organist , W . S . Andrews D . C , J . Anley , Jun . A . D . C , H . N . Price P . M . and W .

Hanes Stewards , T . C . Edmonds P . M . Tyler . After the customary addresses the new Master was immediately called upon to show his efficiency in the work of the first degree , two candidates needing initiation : Mr . F . G . Newell and Mr . P . V . Newell , both being proposed by the new Master of the Lodge , and seconded by the Treasurer . Bro . Barnett performed the work of the degree in a

most gratifying manner , clearly demonstrating the benefit of the training he has already received in the chair of other Lodges with which he has been associated . Before concluding the work of the Lodge , the new Master invested his predecessor with a handsome Past Master ' s jewel , as a mark of appreciation of the

services he had rendered during the year he had presided over its destinies as Master . A sum of 25 guineas was voted from the funds of the Lodge to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , for wbich charity the Worshipful Master is acting as a Steward this year .

The brethren subsequently dined together under the presidency of the new Master . The usual toast list was afterwards honoured . The Master referred to the recent visit of the Prince of Wales to the Temple , for the purpose of consecrating the Chancery Bar Lodge , a fact which , he considered , proved the real interest taken b

y the Grand Master in the practical work of the Order . Speaking to tho toast of the Pro Grand Master , the Deputy , and the other Grand- Officers , the President referred to the leaders as not only ornamental but thoroughly hard working Masons , as was evidenced by the consent of the Earl of Lathom to preside at the coming festival of the Royal Masonic Intitution for Girls . The Lodge was

Reports Of Meetings.

that night graced by the presence of four Past Grand Officers of Englanel as visitors , all attending as his personal guests , while he regretted that ill-health prevented others from being among them , notably Bro . James Terry and Bro . T . Hastings Miller . All of these brethren were associated with him in active Masonic work , and were thorough good workers , and not merely ornamental

representatives of Grand Lodge . They must not forget , however , they had in their midst another Past Grand Officer in tho person of their esteemed Treasurer , Bro . Everett , who , in the ordinary course , should havo responded to this toast , but , with his customary good heartiness , hat desired to waive his priority in favour of one of the guests of the evening . The Master therefore had the pleasure of

coupling with the toast the name of Bro . J . A . Farnfield , who briefly responded , bearing further testimony to tho desire of the leaders of the Craft to work on its behalf , as evidenced by the presidency by the Earl of Mount-Edgcumbe over the Benevolent Institution festival , when upwards of £ 68 , 000 was realized . The Immediate Past Master submitted the health of the Master ,

congratulating the Lodge on having secured a thoroughly good brother to preside for the year—one who had been connected with Freemasonry for many years , and gained distinction in its Lodges . He had intimately associated himself with the working of Freemasonry in its many phases , and would doubtless add to his reputation in his latest office . He called upon the company to

wish their Master good health and a prosperous year of office . In reply , the Blaster tendered his thanks for the reception accorded to him , and the kindly terms in which his predecessor in the chair had introduced the toast . He was hardly prepared to take all the kind observations of his friend as truth , as ho knew himself better than he , and hardly felt capable of carrying out so much as had been

ascribed to him . If he should go wrong in any particular he should not do so without having exercised the desire to go right . He hoped to conduct the work of the chair with credit to himself , and , he trusted , not to the detriment oi the decorum of the Order . The Master next gave the health of the Initiates , afterwards submitting the toast of the Charities , to which Bro . McLeod ,

Secretary of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , replied in a most forcible speech , thanking the members of the Domatic Lodge for their continued and most consistent support of the charities of the Order , and expressing a hope that the present Blaster would be well supported in his efforts on behalf of the Girls School . The toast of the Installing Master and the Past

Masters of the Lodge was next submitted , and was duly acknowledged . Responding as a visitor , Bro . Shurmur announced the postponement of his candidature for the office of Grand Treasurer , he resigning this year in favour of Bro . W . M . Stiles , to whom he hoped his friends would transfer their support . Other toasts followed . o o o

CONFIDENCE LODGE , No . 193 . ON tho 8 th inst . the installation meeting of this Lodge was held at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet Street , when Bro . W . Belchamber W . M . presided . There was a full complement of work before the Lodge , the three degrees being worked by the W . M ., who raised Bros . Cutting and Cornish , passed Bro . Nimmy , and initiated Mr . George Reed , the ballot being previously taken for this latter gentleman Then followed the principal work of the day , the installation of Bro . 0 . E . H . Audain , which ceremony was likewise performed by

Bro . Belchamber , who , throughout the meeting , acquitted himself in admirable style . The new Master appointed the following as his assistant Officers for the year : —Bros . F . Haines S . W ., F . S . Plowright J . W ., B . D . Kershaw P . M . Treas ., Walter Wood P . M ] Sec , T . Kingston S . D ., A . D . Rae J . D ., E . Pennock I . G ., G . P Nightingale P . M . D . C , J . Westley A . D . C , J . E . Fells P . M . and G , Spice Stewards , G . Reinhardt Tyler .

The different addresses were given by the Installing Master and the ceremony completed in due form , after which the Lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to the banquet hall , where a most enjoyable dinner was served by Bro . Clemow . The toast of the Queen and the Craft was followed by that of the Prince of Wales , Grand Master . The W . M . said many would

imagine the Grand Master ' s post in Freemasonry to be essentially an ornamental one , but those who were intimately associated with the Craft knew different , and recognised how admirably the Grand Master carried out the duties and responsibilities of his position . There was no work in Freemasonry which fell to the lot of the Grand Master that he did not faithfully and zealously perform .

This toast was followed by that of the remaining Grand Officers . The I . P . M . then proposed the health of the Worshipful Master . It was a pleasurable duty that devolved upon him when he submitted the health of the new ruler of the Lodge , who , he was sure , would discharge tho duties of his office during the coming year with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of the members .

The W . M . tendered his sincere thanks . Much as he prized the title of Worshipful Master there was one other he prized more that of Master of the Confidence Lodge , with which he had many pleasing associations ; in fact , he was more closely associated with it than with any other , for it was therein that he was initiated

and therein ho had passed through his various degrees . He felt the brethren might have elected a Master who would havo done better in the chair , but they could not have chosen one who would moro zealously guard the interests of the Lodge , or strive more earnestly to uphold its dignity .

The Master next submitted the toast of the Initiate , speaking of the qualities that were indispensable in every candidate for Freemasonry , and expressing confidence in the brother they had admitted that day . Bro . Reed responded . He should use his best endeavours to become a good Mason , and so long as he lived should have pleasurable recollections of his hearty reception that day . The toast of the Visitors was next given from the chair . The Master felt that while visitors might be welcomed in every Masonic