Presentation Dinner To Bro. Thomas Ayling.

PRESENTATION DINNER TO BRO . THOMAS AYLING .

ON Friday evening last a . very gratifying meeting of tho stall and other sergeants of lloyal Marines took place in tho Mess Room , South Barracks , Waltner , for the purpose of expressing iu a substantial and public manner their esteem for thoir lato comrade Bro . Thomas Ayling , on his retirement from tho Corps after a lengthened service of twenty-fivo years . Bro . Ayling has hold tho responsible post of

superintendent of tho Commissariat establishment of tho Walmer Depofc for the last seven years , and has now retired from tho Service ou his gaining the appointment of master of the Eastry Union . It was thought thafc tho high regard in which he was held could not be better testified than by tho presentation of somo souvenir from tho whole body of sergeants . Tho idea was not long in assuming a

practical form , and this was visible in the shapo of a pair of handsome ornaments under glass globules — tho one a timepiece and tho other an aneroid , each on gilt pedestals , and surmounted with a skilful piece of handiwork in tho shapo of a golden acorn , with hanging leaves . Tho presentation took place publicly at 7 . 30 , after which adjournment was mado to tho dinner table .

Among the gncsts of the evening were Sergeant-Major Kendell , Quarter-Master-Sergcant Park , Schoolmasters Bofcting , Richardson , Horo , Sergeants Rovell , Watkins , Jackson , White , Rust , Laggett , Warren , Barton , Chandler , Burgess , Burns , Jefferios , Wood , Cole , Johnston , Hutchinson , Kernson , Holt , Kirby , Blacker , Marsh , Sparkes , Bush , Haslip , Stewart , Bailes , Lake , Digon , Thompson , Carpenter ,

& c , as well as several civilian friends . The cloth having boon removed , tho circulation of the punch bowl was duly observed , and tho usual loyal and patriotic toasts given and responded to . The health of tho Commanding Officer and Officers of the depot mot with an enthusiastic response from all present . Sergeant-Major Eendell then proposed tho health of Bro . Ayling , tho guest of tho evening . Ho

said : —Brother comrades : It is with the greatest pleasure I rise to propose the health of our late comrade in arms , Bro . Ayling . Wo have this evening testified , by tho presentation of a trifling mark of our esteem , to the estimation in which he is held by us all , so thafc I need nofc enlarge upon his many good qualities to obtain from you a hearty response to the toast . I , together with every ono present ,

cannot forget the invariable courtesy and urbanity of manner which havo characterised our comrade in his dealings with every one with whom he has been brought in contact , and I am certain I am only expressing the wish of all here when I hope ho may bo long spared to his family ancl the community in tho new sphere into which he has entered . The toast was drunk with great enthusiasm .

In thanking the sergeants for tho hearty way in which they had drunk his health , Bro . Ayling paid a fitting compliment to the Sergeant-Major and thoso who had honoured him that day . He had known Sergeant-Major Eendell for many years , and could testify as to his value as a non-commissioned officer . Those who did their duty under him ho would assist iu every

way that laid in his power * , bufc it was no use a man shirking his responsibilities . That , he thought , was as it should be . He had a difficult and peculiar position . A serjeant-mnjor at a division as a rule always had the samo non-commissioned officers to deal with , and know their tempers and peculiarities ; but at a depot it was different —corporals and sergeants came and went , who belonged to all

four of tho other divisions , and thoir ways and manners , their fitness or unfitness to deal with young soldiers , had all to bo learned over and over again . But , notwithstanding , his experience was , that both Sergeant-Major Kendall and tho other staff sergeants had always carried out their duties with much ability and discretion . Ho concluded by thanking them for the high mark of esteem exhibited for him that day , which ho should cherish as long

as ho lived , and which would , ho hoped , be an incentive for his children . ( Applause . ) Serjeanfc-Major Kendall suitably responded , and the proceedings wero brought to a close at 11 p . m ., with the toast of " The Visitors , " which was answered by one of the civilian gentlemen present . During the evening some interesting music was discussed , with Mr . Doorno afc the piano ; ancl Sergeants Blacker , Johnston , Holt , Chambers Marsh and Arnold ably represented the vocal ability of the gallant corps .

Lodge Of Perseverance, No. 1743.

LODGE OF PERSEVERANCE , No . 1743 .

THE Installation meeting was held afc tho Imperial Hotel , Holborn Viaduct , on Saturday , 13 th Sept ., when Wor . Brother Louis A . Leius W . M . opened the Lodge in duo form with solemn prayer . The minntes having been confirmed , tho balance-sheet was read and adopted . Bro . Bridgman answered the questions leading from the first to the second degree , was entrusted and he retired . The Lodge was then opened in tho second , and Bro . Bridgman was passed to the

degree of Fellow Graft . Bro . Tickncv answered , the questions , and was raised to tho sublime degree . Tho Lodge then resumed , for the purpose of installing the W . M . elect . The Right Worshipful Bro . Wm . Kingston , D . G . M . Malta , was nominated to officiate as S . W ., and Bro . Charles Daniels as J . W ., while Bro . J . L . Mather acted as B . C . Bro . A . Barker , the W . M . elect , having beeu presented , was installed by W . Bro . Louis A . Leins in a manner that must have been both interesting ancl instructive to those present . Afterwards

tho following brethreu wero appointed and invested : —Bros . F , Kearney S . W ., E . Mattel J . W ., J . L . Mather P . M . Treas ., W . H . MoIIindinia P . M . Sec , J . B . D . Wall S . D ., L . G . Sparrow J . D ., C . Kobinson I . G ., A . Bade D . C , C . Reid W . S ., F . Goodchild A . W . S ., R . Goddard T yler . The Lodge was closed in the usual manner , and

adjourned to the second Saturday in October . The brethren then repaire d to tho banquetting room , ancl sat down to a substantial banquet , provided by Bro . A . Begbie , of whose catering too much praise cannot bo said . After grace had been sung by professional

Lodge Of Perseverance, No. 1743.

brethren , Bros . Cozens , Ashton , and Hubbard ? -. *!** usual Masonic toasts wero given by tho W . M . The K . W . Bro . Wm . Kingston ' , D . G . M ., and Bro . F . Crockford responded for the Visitors , in very appropriate terms , after which Bio . A . Barker proposed tho health of tho Installing Master , Bro . Louis A . Loins , and presented him with a very recherche" Past Master's jewel ; and as a further token of the high esteem in whioh ho is held iu this Lodge , also handed him

a massivo gold chain with locket , on the one side of which was the Lodgo arms , beautifully enamelled , and on tho other a diamond set within tho fivo points . Tho T . P . M . responded in a very earnest manner , and expressed his surprise and pleasure at receiving so handsome a testimonial . Tho rest ; of tho toasts followed in duo conrso ; they wero interspersed with somo really good music , ancl so happily ended this tho first anniversary meeting of 1713 .

Strawberry Hill Chapter , Wo . 946 . —Tho regular convocation and installation meeting of this Chapter was hold on Wednesday , the 10 th inst ., at Pope's Grotto Hotel , Cross Deep , Twickenham . Comps . W . Smeed P . Z . as Z ., J . Wright H ., R . Whitley J ., W . Piatt P . Z . S . E ., and several Companions . Tho Chapter was opened and the minutes wero confirmed . Tho election of Principals

and installation took place . Comp . J . Wright was elected Z . ( on account of the death of tho lato respected W . Buvrcll ) , W . Movphew H ., F . Holland J . ; thoy wero severally installed by Comp . W . Smeed P . Z . in his usual faultless and impressive manner . Comps . W . Piatt P . Z . S . E ., D . Argylo S . N ., J . M . Steadwell P . Z . Treas ., Hancock Janitor . Bros . F . Forss 1585 , and Weston 15 S 5 , wero ballottcd for

and duly exalted into E . A . Masonry . Letters of apology were read from two brethren , expressing inability to attond . The report of tho audit committee was road and adopted , aud a voto of thanks accorded them . Tho samo compliment was paid Comp . W . Smeed P . Z . for the excellent manner ho had performed tho ceremony of installation . A very elegant jewel was presented to Comp . Alfred Wright , which he

suitably acknowledged . The Chapter was theu closed , and tho Companions sat clown to an excellent banquet , provided by tho worthy liosfc . Tho usual Loyal and E . A . toasts were given with complimentary speeches . Some excellent singing emanated from Comps . J . M . Smeed and D . J . Pope . The two latter Companions were present as visitors . In due course tho Janitor ' s toast was given ancl the Companions separated .

Tidings reach us of the death , from yellow fever , of Bro . Jones , Chief Engineer of H . TVI . Steamer Boxer . Bro . Jones was elected a joining member of the Plicenix Lodge , Port Royal , Jamaica , on 5 th August last .

The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of North and East Yorkshire was held on Wednesday , afc York . We aro compelled to hold over our report of the proceedings in consequence of the pressure on our space .

A Correspondent of the Portsmouth Times , writes * . — It is often said that Freemasonry is a secret society . So possibly it maybe , but at all events it has been professed publicly in England by a long line of noblo and royal personages . The Prince of AVales is a Mason , so wero tho lato Dukes of Sussex , York , Clarence , and Cumberland , and the Prince Regent •so in the previous generation were tho Dukes of York and Gloucester . So , too , wero tho Emperor of Germany

in l / 3 o , and our own King William III . fifty years earlier . And to go back further still , I find that King Henry VI . was instituted a Free , mason in 1450 , that nearly a hundred years earlier still King Edward III . revised the Constitution ou Masonry , and , mounting higher still up the path of history , I learn that Princo Edwin formed a Grand Lodge at York in 92 G , the very year in which King Athelstan granted to the Freemasons a Royal Charter .

NOT VBUV FLOUIMSHINC * . —Freemasonry is excellent , and ought to bo the very salt of the earth ; wherever ifc exists there decay and rottenness ought to be unknown , and health and growth , and strength and beauty , and peace and harmony , ought to prevail . But do they ? Nofc invariably , for time and again comes the word : " The Lodge here is nofc in a very flourishing condition , " ancl then follows a recital of

why ifc is not . Aud ever the story is , " Masonic duty is not performed j ' " this or that brother is delinquent , " or " the Lodgo is at fault . " The fallibility of human nature has intervened , marred the work , and vitiated all its qualities , so that it is no longer perfect in symmetry or beautiful with life . Why not changes all this ? Why not all so

act that growth and vigour shall not bo retarded or impaired ? Why not lay aside selfishness and unholy passion ? why not discard all vice and immorality , and practise Freemasonry in all its beauty and perfectness , and thus drive away from ifc all btigkt , and make it tho most flourishing , most beneficent aud loveliest association on earth ?

STOKF . S ' S HISTORIC . IT , CHRO . VO . UETEK . —Bro . William Stokes , Professor of Memory at tho Eoyal Polytechnic Institution , has designed a simple contrivance for assisting the mind in retaining facts and dates . A circle is divided into twenty black and white spaces representing five years each . Tho 25 th , 50 th , 75 th , 100 th , or any other year being thus easily indicated , and affording the means of

attachment for the fact . Time is thns represented by space , and the distance from one fact to another can be carried without effort in the memory . Geography and chronology are truly " the eyes of history , " and Professor Stokes ' s Memory Globe , which wo have previously noticed , and his Chronometer now under consideration , will very much sharpen historical sight .