Reports Of Meetings.

Bro . Smith ( Tyler ) . The ceremony of Installation was impressively performed by Bro . A . J . H . Ward P . P . G . Reg . P . M . The Installation banquet followed . The Worshipful Master proposed tho health of the Installing Master , Bro . Ward , and , remarking upon the impressive way in which he had performed the ceremony , said that it reflected

honour upon himself aud credit upon the Lodge . Bro . Ward was always ready to assist Freemasonry in every way . Brother Ward having briefly acknowledged the compliment , submitted the toast of the evening , the Worshipful Master Brother Warren Ellis , who , ho said , was a man who would occupy that chair with great advantage to the Lodge . Ho had gone up step by

step through the different Offices , and he had no doubt that tho way in which he had conducted himself in the past in the Lodge was an augury that in the future he would perform the work in as able a manner as his predecessors in the chair , and that at the conclusion of his year of office he would be able to look back upon it as having flourished and achieved the success which had hitherto distinguished it .

Tho Worshipful Master , in responding , assured the Brethren that he fully appreciated the high position in which he had been placed that night—the highest position a Lodge could confer upon a Brother . He would not make any rash promises , but simply

express his determination to do his best during his year of office . He had Freemasonry always at heart , and that Lodge in particular , and when the timo arrived for him to vacate the chair he hoped to be able to hand the gavel to his successor as pure and unsullied as he had received it . Other toasts followed .

ST . JOHN'S LODGE , No . 761 . ON Thursday , 11 th inst ., the annual Installation Festival took place at Dursloy . Tho Victoria Hall having been previously engaged , by the kindness of Bro . Captain Wenden the Volunteers ' drill room was placed at the disposal of the Lodge for tho ceremony , and it lent itself admirably for the purpose , the Masonic furniture and other decorations quito transforming its appearance .

Bro . Henry Blandford P . M . P . P . G . P . was the outgoing W . M ., and he has the satisfaction of knowing that the past year has been very successful for tho Lodge . Bro . T . Viney was his successor , and an unusually large number of Brethren were present when Bro . H . J . Francillon P . M . P . P . G . R . Installed him as Master .

• Bro . Blandford was unfortunately prevented from being piesent through the illness of his relative and Bro . Wenden was also unavoidably absent . Bro . Forty P . G . Organist , Cheltenham , specially attended to " open " tho new organ which has just been procured for the Lodge , and it added much to the iinpressiveness of the business .

After the ceremony , the Brethren adjourned to the Old Bell Hotel , where Bro . Ayliffe provided the usual banquet , which was served in an admirable manner .

o o o DERWENT LODGE , No . 884 . THE Annual Festival was held on Monday , 8 th inst ., at Wirksworth , when thero was a good gathering of members and Visitors .

B . o . John Harston was Installed W . M ., in the Town Hall , by Bro . Hy . George P . P . S . G . W . ( Notts . ) , the I . P . M . being Bro . John Simpson . After tho business the company adjourned to the George Hotel , whero a banquet took place .

MARMION LODGE , No . 1060 . THE Installation of Bro . John Hunt Dewes as Worshipful Master took place on the 10 th inst ., at Tamworth .

A banquet was subsequently held at the Castle Hotel , when about fifty Brethren sat down , Visitors being present from Birmingham , Burton and Lichfield . o o . o

UNITED BROTHERS LODGE , No . 1069 . THE Provincial Grand Master of Hampshire and tho Isle of Wight Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., and the Officers of P . G . Lodge attended the meeting of this Lodge , at the Masonic Hall , Highbury Street , Portsmouth , on Monday , 8 th inst ., the occasion being the last Lodge meeting in the year of office of Bro . J . D . Morant . The D . P . G . M . ( Brother Le Feuvre ) was unavoidably absent .

Tho Lodge ceremonies were ably conducted by Bro . Morant . The election of W . M . for the ensuing year took place , and resulted in the unanimous choice of Bro . James W . Gieve S . W . Upwards of eighty Brethren were entertained at the banquet , which was excellently served in the Lodge dining hall by Messrs . Hill and Co . High Street .

The W . M . submitted the toast of the Provincial Grand Master , which was enthusiastically received . In reply , the P . G . M . thanked the Lodgo for the hearty reception

accorded to himself and his Officers . He eulogised the work of the Lodge , and congratulated Bro . Morant on the skill and efficiency with which he had carried out his duties . He also paid a compliment to the Lodge on its prosperous condition .

o o o FRIENDSHIP AND UNITY LODGE , No . 1271 . ON the 1 st inst ., Bro . J . Stan ^ field Brun , cf the Mumbles , late of Bradford-on-Avon , was installed W . M . by Bro . Sparks P . G . S . of Wilts ., assisted by Bro . Bryant .

Reports Of Meetings.

There was a large attendance of Visiting Brethren from Somerset Lodges . Dinner followed at the Old Bear . o o o

UNITY LODGE , No . 1332 . JN tho Masonic Hall , Crediton , on Tuesday , 2 nd inst ., Bro . Ben C . Cleave was Installed as Worshipful Mastor , in tho presence of a largn gathering , numbering 41 Brethren . The duties of Installing Master wero again most abiy discharged by Bro . Samuel Jones P . M . 112 P . P . J . G . W ., who was founder of tho Lodge .

o o o ARCHITECT LODGE , No . 1375 . TH E regular meeting was held at the Masonic Hall , Chorltoncum-Hardy , on Friday , the 5 th inst ., Bro . Jas . Morrison jun . W . M .

The principal business of the evening was the election of Officers and the Initiation of Mr . William John Bull , Accountant , Manchester , tho ceremony being performed by tho W . M ., he being assisted by Bros . Pickford and Rawle , the latter presenting and explaining the Working tools , and the former delivering the Ancient Charge .

The Officers elected wero as follow : Bros . Alfred Pickford S . W , W . M ., W . D . Fryer P . M . Treasurer , Henry Nail P . M . Secretary . At the festive board which followed , Bro . Rushton proposed the health of the Initiate , to which Bro . Bull replied in very happy terms .

The proceedings were enlivened with songs , recitations , etc ., given by Bros . Nail , Rushton , Beever , and Roberts . o o o

ST . MARGARET LODGE , No . 1452 . ON Monday , 1 st inst ., a capital portrait , handsomely framed , of Major Allez P . M . P . P . S . G . W . was presonted to this Lodge by the Brethren . At the same time a superbly illuminated address on vellum , in the form of an album , prefixed by a portrait , was presented to Major Allez himself . The date was aptly chosen , for it was the 86 th birthday of the member whom tho Brethren had met to honour as their first Worshipful Master .

Bro . J . W . Brooke the W . M . was in the chair , and there was a good muster of Brethren present , including many from the sister Lodge , Unity . Bro . Dr . F . W . Clark asked the Worshipful Master to accept the portrait on behalf of the Lodge , and to place it on the walls ;'

and also to present Bro . Allez with the album containing a replica of the portrait and an address signed by all the members , as a token of their great esteem and admiration for his distinguished services and lifelong devotion to the cause of Freemasonry , for he had been a member of tho Craft for sixty-six years . In Major Allez they had a fitting illustration of that perfect ashlar which ,

smooth and perfect , represented the mind of that man in the decline of years who had exhibited the distinguishing characteristics of Freemasonry , of which charity was the chief . They all hoped that Major Allez would yet be spared for many years , and the picture would serve to remind those of after generations of a bright example in Masonry .

The W . M . then made the presentation , with the heartiest congratulations to their honoured guest . The inscription in the album was as follows , and to it was appended the autographs of all the members : —

Lodge St . Margaret , No . 1452 . Presented to BRO . MAJOR P . ALLEZ P . P . S . G . W . " The Father of the Lodge , "

with a life-sized coloured permanent portrait to hang in the Lodge Room , on the occasion of his eighty-sixth birthday ,, and as a small token of the great esteem and regard in which ho is held by all the

Brethren of this Lodge . 1 st October 1894 . Major Allez had some difficulty in replying to the warm tokens of esteem which were manifested by the whole Lodge , but he found words at length to make an excellent speech . He said : —I thank

you very much for the great compliment , indeed I may say the great honour , you have been pleased to confer upon me by placing my portrait on the walls of the Lodge , for whatever the duties which may devolve upon us we are amply repaid when those duties have been appreciated and approved of by those who are supposed

to be the best qualified to testify to their merits or demerits . I assure you , Brethren , that it grieves me much that owing to ago and physical ailments I am prevented from being more frequently amongst you . I have during a long life devoted much time in studying tbe principles of this greatest , most ancient , and most

unselfish of all charitable institutions , founded as it is on Brotherly Love , charity , and truth—an institution that has comforted the afflicted , dried the tears of tho widows and orphans , and is the parent of many an institution for benevolent purposes . Brethren , it is to me a source of—I trust pardonable—pride that I have my

¦ name inserted in your charter as the first W . M . of your Lodge ; and it is with the greatest pleasure that I can affirm that my successors in the chair , down to the present W . M ., have discharged with great ability , zeal , and Brotherly feeling the onerous and responsible duties attached to so ancient , so honourable , and

eminent a position . It is now sixty-six years since I first joined the Craft at Halifax , Nova Scotia , under the Grand Lodge of Ireland , and I joined the Grand Lodge of England at Halesworth , as a member of Lodge Prudence in 1846 . The gallant Major concluded by wishing tho Brethren all happiness here and hereafter .