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 : METROPOLITAN

ROYAL NAVAL LODGE , No . 59 . THIS fine old Lodge held its annual meeting for the installation of a new Master at Freemasons' Hall , on Monday evening , 8 th inst . The Lodge ' s record is certified from 1738 , and it is on the list of the Lodges which by their books have proved an uninterrupted working existence for a hundred years . Many of these , like the Royal Naval , are much older , remarks the " City Press , " but they receive their Warrants as Centenary Lodges only by proving no hiatus in consecutive working for a century .

The Eoyal Naval is a very old Lodge , but , curiously enough , its members never seemed alive to the fact that it was not perfect until 1884 , for only then did they apply to Grand Chapter for a Charter for a Royal Arch Chapter to be attached to the Lodge . It is , however , now perfect in that respect , having a Chapter in connection with it , bearing the same name and number . The Volume of the Sacred Law which lies on the W . M . 's pedestal of the Lodge is of the year 1558 .

There was a representative gathering on Monday evening , and the chair was taken by the Worshipful Master Bro . Daniel Mayer ( Messrs . Erard and Co . ) . During the ceremony of installation , which was performed by Bro . Mayer W . M ., Bro . W . B . Abbott P . M . acted as S . W ., James Duncan P . M . as J . W ., and Stimpson P . M . Secretary as D . C . Bro . Henry Ashur Tobias P . M . 1502 P . G . St . B . was installed as the W . M . for the year , and Bro . D . Mayer received the collar of Immediate Past Master .

The other Officers of the Lodge for the year are : Bros . William Banister Abbott P . M . S . W ., Harold Coxen J . W ., James Duncan P . M . Treasurer , Robert Henry Stimpson P . M . Secretary , Michael Pitman Ralph S . D ., Charles Innes Baillie J . D ., William Waddington Cooke I . G ., Cecil Gabriel Lindo D . C , Albert Samuel Berenberg P . M . and William Melville Stewards , William Adlington Organist , and R . W . Bdgley P . M . Tyler .

At the close of the delivery of the addresses by Bro . Daniel Mayer the Worshipful Master presented him , to signify his occupancy of the chair for 1898 and 1899 , with the addition of two bars to the P . M . jewel given him last year . He also presented to him an illuminated address in the following words :

Founded 1738 . Royal Naval Lodge , No . 59 . At the regular meeting of the Royal Naval Lodge , No . 59 , held at Freemasons' Hall , London , on 11 th December 1899 , it was proposed by Bro . R . H . Stimpson P . M . and Secretary , seconded by Bro . James Duncan P . M ., and carried unanimously , that an illuminated address be presented to Worshipful Bro . Daniel Mayer W . M ., as a slight recognition of his services as Worshipful Master for two years , 1898 and 1899 , and as a token of the esteem and regard in which he is held by the members of the Lodge .

( Signed ) ALBEET S . BERENBERG I . P . M . HENBY A . TOBIAS J . W . R . H . STIMPSON P . M . Secretary . Bro . Daniel Mayer , in acknowledging the gift , said he could not find words to express his acknowledgment of the great kindness of the Brethren

in presenting the address to him . He should always look back to the two years during which he had occupied the chair of the Royal Naval Lodge as years exceptionally happy and pleasant to him . The cordiality with which the Brethren came round him and assisted him in his work gave the Royal Naval Lodge the position it held , and he felt on that account that his work had not been in vain .

Bro . H : A . Tobias W . M . then presented to the Treasurer Bro . James Duncan P . M . a jewel in recognition of his services to the Lodge as a Past Steward for several years . The Lodge work was succeeded by a banquet at the Holborn Restaurant . The toasts proposed were intermingled with music by Mr . Kelson Trueman , Mr . Reginald Davidson , Miss Annie McBride , Mr . G . H . Snazelle , and Mr . Waddington Cooke . The accompanist was Miss Alyce Kent .

The Worshipful Master in the course of the evening informed the Brethren that his grandfather was initiated in the Lodge , and was the Master in 1806 , and that his brother and himself were the only members of the family who belonged to the Craft . He had in his possession a jewel which belonged to his grandfather as Senior Warden .

JOPPA LODGE , No . 188 . - THE installation meeting was held at Freemasons' Hall , on Monday , 1 st inst ., when Bro . Isaac Cohen , L . D . S ., was placed in the chair as ruler for the year , Bro . Emanuel P . M . performing the ceremony . There was a large gathering of members and visitors , both in the Lodge and at the subsequent banquet .

DORIC LODGE , No . 933 . THE usual meeting was held on Tuesday evening , 9 th inst ., at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet Street , when Bro . Robert Ayton jun . concluded his year of Office as W . M ., in a very successful form . There was a good gathering of members . Bros . R . H . Wilson , H . T . Adams , K . Pickard , W . F . Laing , and E . A . Gibbs were advanced to the third degree .

The election of W . M . for the ensuing year was the principal part of the final business , and Bro . Seal was formally and unanimously elected . A jewel was voted to the retiring Master , compliments on his ability accompanying the vote .

UPTON LODGE , No . 1227 . THE Worshipful Master Bio . Henry James Rowberry presided at the regular meeting of this Lodge , held at the Great Eastern Hotel , Liverpool Street , E . C ., on Thursday of last week , when a full agenda of work was presented .

Reports Of Meetings.

After the Lodge had been opened , the minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed . The ballot was taken on behalf of Messrs . Samuel Higgs , Samuel David Thomas Clarke , and Reuben Thain , as candidates for Freemasonry , who having been vouched for by their respective sponsors , were unanimously approved . These gentlemen being in attendance were admitted and regularly initiated into the mysteries and privileges of the Order .

The Lodge was tben opened in the second degree , when Bros . Charles Herbert Phillips , John Mills , Alfred Giles , and Frank Albert Laurie answered the usual questions , were subsequently raised to the sublime degree , invested , and took their seats in the Lodge as Master Masons . Both the cer monies were admirably rendered by Bro . Rowberry , assisted by his Officers , all of whom proved themselves proficient in their duties . Bro . Albert Edward Tibbatts , a candidate for the degree of a Fellow Craft , was unfortunately absent , and his passing was therefore postponed .

The communication from Grand Lodge relative to the self styled " Hiram Lodge of London " was read , and the Brethren duly cautioned . Bro . Jeffery P . M . proposed that a Ladies' night should be held in connection with the Lodge , which was seconded by Bro . Carroll S . W ., and carried unanimously . A Committee was appointed to arrange the details , and the dote will be announced as early as possible .

A candidate was proposed for initiation at the next meeting , and the Visiting Brethren having tendered their hearty good wishes to the Worshipful Master , the Lodge was closed in perfect harmony and adjourned . The Brethren afterwards partook of supper . Among those present were Bros . W . J . Carroll S . W ., R . F . Thomson J . W ., Charles Gieseke P . M . Treasurer , Chas . Jno . Free P . M . Secretary , Alfred H . Noble S . D ., E . M . Jeffery P . M ., W . Athol Bray P . M ., H . Hyde P . M ., C . Schmidt P . M ., Edwin Hill P . M ., & e .

The Visitors included Bros . W . F . Keddell P . M . 1185 , F . C . Rolls No . ( Australia ) , Saml . W . Vale I . P . M . 861 , Hy . Willsmer 2698 , J . W . Stewart 1421 , E . G . Piatt S . W . 1327 , H . J . Beal S . W . 933 , A . G . Murray 619 , Harry Lazarus P . M . 188 , James Smith P . M . 933 , James Smith P . M . 192 , A . R . Carpenter S . W . 15 , A . Burrage W . M . 2411 , 0 . H . Ashford 2518 , Fred Gumey 2518 , Orlton Cooper P . M . 211 , & c .

LODGE OF ST . JOHN , No . 1306 . AN ordinary meeting was held at the Guildhall Tavern , Gresham Street , on Wednesday , 3 rd inst ., Bro . J . Heard W . M . The Lodge being opened in due form a ballot was taken for Mr . William Clerk , manufacturing chemist , of Church Road , Hanwell , and , proving unanimously in his favour , the gentleman being in attendance , he was duly initiated into the Order by the Worshipful Master .

NEW CROSS LODGE , No . 1559 . AN emergency meeting was held on Tuesday , at the Hotel Cecil , Strand , when there was a full agenda of work , on purpose to have a clear sheet for the installation meeting , which will take place on the second Friday in February . The Lodge was punctually opened by the Worshipful Master Bro . Thomas R . Busby , who was unanimously re-elected to the position o £ W . M . at the

December meeting , and he received the able support of his Officers , as follow : Bros . A . Bonoldi S . W ., S . E . Firminger J . W ., T . Grammant P . M . Sec , W . Knill acting S . D ., H . G . Walden J . D ., Otto Wartman I . G ., R . W . Foster Assist . Steward ; with Bros . W . Menninger I . P . M ., J . Targett P . M ., W . T . Winsor P . M ., David Lewis , J . W . Steward , L . French , E . H . Manners , I . J . Hobden , A . P . Cripps , W . B . Smith , J . R . Wight , A . J . Cherry , W . E . Smith , and others .

The Lodge being duly formed , Bro . E . Saunders was examined for the second degree , and having answered the usual questions was entrusted . The Lodge was opened in the second degree , and in due course that Brother was passed as a Fellow Craft . The W . M . resumed the Lodge to the first degree , when Mr . Harry Edward Jenkins , who had been balloted for and approved of at the previous meeting , had the privilege of being initiated into the mysteries of ancient Freemasonry .

Bro . Busby resumed the Lodge to the second degree , when Bro . J . Hopper was examined and entrusted . The Lodge was opened in the third , and in due course he was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason and took his seat amongst the Brethren as such . The Lodge was again resumed to the first degree , and the work of the meeting being completed Lodge was closed , and the Brethren repaired to an excellent dinner , after which the customary toast list was honoured .

Several Brethren added to the enjoyment of the evening by displays of musical and other talent .

bLOOIVlbbUKY mrLtS > LUUlafc , NO . aStSiS . THE installation meeting of this Lodge was held at the Headquarters of tha Corps in Chenies Street , on the 10 th inst ., those present including Bros . G . W . Barter W . M ., G . Jackson Crow J . W ., Lieut .-Colonel H . R . Myers P . M . Treas ., J . L . Miller P . M . Secretary , G . C . Chandler S . D ., G . K . Grimes P . M . D . C , C . E . Cowtan Org ., G . Stevenson I . G ., F . V . Bradford

Stwd . ; Past Masters Captain Claud Scott , Captain Matthew Hale , H . Sillis , G . D . Mogford and T . W . Mogford ; with Bros . J . H . Balls , H . Fowler , H . Gray , H . J . Hagon , Captain W . S . Hale , W . S- Hall , Lieut .-Colonel W . J . Hardcastle , L . T . Healey , G . E . James , W . J . Lewis , Civptain Alex . Mao Gregor , M . D ., 0 . W . Patten , H . J . Peck , S . A . Spurgeon , Lieutenant G . Tolley , W . Oakley Welsford P . M ., and John S . Wilson .

The Visitors were Bros . W . A . Cubitt P . M . 193 , Geo . J . Dale 2384 , H . Dehane P . P . G . S . D . Essex 1543 , Serg .-Major E . G . Evans 2528 , R . W . Gale 2090 , H . Gardiner P . M . 1604 , W . H . Handover W . M . 1642 , J . B . Harpham 753 , W . J . Hellyer W . M . 2661 , F . Herbert 2206 , G . A . Knight P . M . 1585 , Paul Monckton 1150 , R . J . Rogers P . M . 733 , R . J . Stannard 1572 , and G . Weaver W . M . 733 .

The ceremony of installation was performed in a most impressive manner by the outgoing Master Bro . G . W . Barter , and the new Worshipful Master Bro . G . Jackson Crow invested the following Officers : G . C . Chandler J . W . | Lieut .-Col . Myers Treas ., J . L . Miller Sec , G . Stevenson J . D ., F . V . Bradford I . G ., C . E . Cowtan Org ., G . E . Grimes D . C , J . S . Wilson and H .

Fowler Stewards . Bro . O . E . Gilbert was appointed S . W ., and will be invested on his return to England . Bro . A . Marshall was appointed S . D ., but was absent owing to illness . The Secretary read a long list of absentees through illness . . A banquet was afterwards held in the Drill Hall ,