Installation Meetings, &C.

INSTALLATION MEETINGS , & c .

t /\* — . w . — UNITED STRENGTH LODGE , No . 228 .

A meeting of the members of this Lodge was hold on Tuesday evening , at the Guildhall Tavern , Gresham-street , when there was a numerous attendance of brethren and visitors , including a sprinkling of members hailing from Lnton and other parts of Beds and Herts . The chair was occupied by Bro . Robert Snare W . M ., who was supported by Bros . E . Pearcy I . P . M ., Robert Grigg P . M ., Alfred Colston P . M ., Robert H . Halford P . M ., While P . M ., (* . H .

Patmore S . W ., A . H . Hickman J . W ., T . A . Winsland P . M . Treasurer , Edward Davies P . M . acting Secretary , H . W . Alford S . D ., F . J . Hunt J . D ., Geo . Bellott D . C ., J . Terry P . G . J . W . Herts Secretary of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution ( acting as Steward ) , J . D . Quartley , Chas . Wm . Butler , H . G . Flaws , James Brown , E . H . Johnson , W . Smith , W . J . Randall , E . Woodman , Vilett Rolleston ,

John Henry Miller , C . Reepe , H . Woodman , H . Paine , H . Langley , M . Grigg , Joseph R . Green , Max Tnrner , James Evetts , and others . Amongst the Visitors were Bros . T . H . Bromley P . M . 228 , Reginald Tnrner 177 , Henry Faijer P . M . 1840 , E . Dodson P . M . 72 , and W . Clarke A . G . Pursuivant . Lodge having been duly opened , Mr . Francis Edward Thurland , surgeon , was balloted for and accepted , the

nomination having been made by Bro . E . H . Johnson , seconded by Bro . Wm . John Hunter A . D . C . The initiation ceremony was ably performed by the W . M ., who delivered the charge with more than ordinary effect . Subsequently Bros . Vilett Rolleston and John Henry Miller were passed : and during the after business the W . M . consented to accept the post of Steward at the next Festival of the

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , a Bum of ten guineas being voted from the Lodge funds with which to head his list . The usual compliments having been exchanged , Lodge was closed in form , and the brethren adjourned to banqnet , which was served in the wellknow excellent style of Messrs . Ritter and Clifford , and under the efficient and personal supervision of Bro . Henry Mills . The general

arrangements of the evening were admirably carried out by Bro . Sherwill , whose study to promote the comfort and convenience of the party elicited unbounded expressions of satisfaction . Bro . James Marcham made a most efficient toastmaster . The W . M ., in proposing the health of the M . W . the G . Master , took occasion to refer to the day of meeting as being the nnniversary of the birthday of the Prince

of Wales , and no doubt amongst the toasts being drnnk at that moment at Sandringham , that of Masonry was not absent from the mind of his Royal Highness . In responding for the Pro Grand Master , Deputy G . M . and G . O . ' s past and present , Bro . Wm . Clarke said there was something special in the day of this meeting which required notice at his hands . First , because of its being Lord Mayor ' s

Day , and then its being the Prince of Wales's birthday , which it pleased him to see had been noticed by the W . M . Then they had a Grand Lodge Officer who had occupied a foremost position , not only in the City of London , but in the world , he might say—he meant the Junior Grand Warden of England , the retiring Lord Mayor Bro . Sir Francis Trnscott . There had taken place during the last year one

or two things which would be placed on the record of Masonic history as incidents of very great importance . He alluded to the laying of the foundation-stones of Truro Cathedral by the Most Worshipful Grand Master in the birthplace of the late Lord Mayor ; and the Masonic Banquet that was lately given at the Mansion House , when the Most Worshipful Grand Master and a host of distinguished

brethren from all parts of the country were the guests of the Jnnior Grand Warden of England . These were events which would be handed down as of paramount importance in the history of English Masonry in 1880 . This was an occasion of interest to himself personally , as this was the first London Lodge he had the honour and pleasure of visiting . Therefore he felt it an unusual source

of pleasure to have his name associated with such an important toast . What had occurred this year in Masonry would tend to prove , if need be , not only the increase of the number of Masons , but would send forward into the world the opinion that Freemasons were not what some had been ready to say of them , but that they were a body who had thoughts and feelings for those who

unfortunately required their assistance . He felt that Freemasonry was destined to f nlfi ] a far greater position than it did now , and that it would continue to afford help to those who might stand in need of it . The Immediate Past Master , in giving the health of the Worshipful Master , referred , in felicitous terms , to the manner in which Bro . Snare had discharged the duties of his office , and though , bv the

effluxion of time , he would soon vacate the chair he so ably filled , they would all recollect the efficiency he had brought to bear upon his duties . The W . M ., in acknowledging the compliment paid him , said it was somewhat difficult to vary the replies ho had to make to compliments so often repeated . Still , he wished to convey to them an assurance of his gratitude for the very kind and flattering way in

"which his name was always received . It had been his endeavour to do all he could to uphold the prestige of this Lodge , and he knew that any shortcomings in that direction they might havo observed on his part would be amply overlooked . In turn , the Worshipful Master proposed the health of tho initiate , the toast being most cordially received ; and Bro . Thurland responded

m a modest and becoming speech . A hearty welcome was given to the Visitors j in replying for whom Bros . Clarke A . G . Purs ., Faijer , and Bromley responded . Each and all spoke of the excellent working of the Lodge , and Bro . Bromley , in his customary " few words , " spoke of the hearty hospitality visitors always received at the hands of this

excellent Lodge . As to the working , why it was the same as it had always been , and the United Strength was considered to be one of tho best worked Lodges in existence . He was proud to seo it kept up aa it was twenty years ago . Bros . Dodson and Turner also replied . In response to the toast of the P . M . ' s , which was given in feeling terms by the W . M ., Bros . Pearcy and Winsland returned thanks . The toast

Installation Meetings, &C.

of tho evening was that of tho Masonic Charittos , in responding for which Bro . James Terry obsorved that in speaking of the Masonio Institutions they must first of all premise that they were varied in their character and in their scope . They had all read tho observation made by tho Prince of Wales at tho late Masonic banquet , and they had heard from the lips of his Royal Highness ( and ho was well

instructed as to what he should say ) that during tho past ten years tho roll of Masonry had increased by 10 , 000 every yoar . He also went on to state that , comparing what Freemasonry was in 1813 , at the close of the Grand Mastership of tho Dnke of Sussex , when there were only 750 Lodges , at the present time they had 1887 . Then ( in 1843 ) they expended in charity something like about £ 4 , 800 a year

but at the present time they were spending , in the Girls' School something like £ 13 , 000 . in the Boys' School about £ 14 , 000 , and for the Old People considerably above that . In addition to these , there had been received during the past year for the three Masonic Institutions a sum approaching £ 42 , 000 . Simply compare that with what was done forty years ago . Masonry was then a grand institution ;

tho Charities were noble ones . But what were they in the present day ? And what was Freemasonry now ? Forty years ago there were 750 Lodges , and yet Freomasonry was a noblo Institution . Then what could be said of it now that it numbered 1887 Lodges ? If at the period he mentioned something like £ 7000 was given away , and they had now £ 40 , 000 , what could be said on behalf of our Charities , but

that the more one knew of them , and the more one was acquainted with them , the more they must be struck with admiration at what the Societies were doing . They would remember that at the last October election twenty-five additional candidates were placed upon the list of the Girls' School . There were forty-two girls taken altogether off tho list of those who desired admission into it .

That made a great acquisition of strength , for instead of having 210 girls , they were now enabled to feed , clothe , and educate 235 , within the walls of that splendid Institution at Battersea Rise . Then , again , as to the Girls' School ; at the last Cambridge Middle Class Examination , they sent up fourteen pupils , ten of whom passed with first-class honours , three with second-class , and one gainedhonour .

able distinction . There was not a single failure on the part of those who snbmitted themselves for examination . Then , again , as to the Boys' School at Wood Green , which included 225 boys , they sent up fifteen to the last Oxford Middle Class Examination , for which 2 , 100 boys presented themselves . The students from the Wood Green Institution took eleven prizes , leaving only four to bo competed for

by all the rest of the competitors in England . There was nob a failnre on tho part of any of the fifteen boys sent up . He meant to say , therefore , that , as far as regarded the educational character of these Institutions , no matter what they might cost , they had these results to prove what a splendid education must be given to these girls and boys . f $ ow , as to the Old People , they could not , of course ,

talk about Oxford and Cambridge Examinations , but they could point to something equally , if not more satisfactory , and that was to the blameless life , well spent for sixty or seventy years amongst those who recommended them to the benefit of this Grand Institntion , without a spot or blemish on their character . If it were possible for a man or woman to live without a word of reproach being capable of being

brought against them , it was something to be said of them that they had led a wholly irreproachable life . No less than 335 of these old people thus cared for looked to the Craft which in former years they had helped to support , and the Craft had never failed them . As Freemasonry had grown , so had been the increasing prosperity of that Institntion , though at one time it was looked upon as the " black

sheep of the fold . " It was simply tolerated , and was not even permitted to have an annual festival . At length it was allowed to have a festival once in three years , bnt it grew , and eventually the Grand Master consented to its having a biennial gathering , and last of all a yearly festival . Since then , what had been the result ? Instead of having forty annuitants with £ 16 a year—hardly enough to keep

body and soul together—they had now 335 , and the sum of £ 11 , 674 a year was being paid away in annuities alone . Years ago it would have been regarded as an utter impossibility that such an amount of affection and regard could exist in the minds of the Craft on behalf of those who had borne the heat and burden of the day , and who , by reason of their age , ought to be exempted from further toil . Bro .

Terry , having spoken of a claim which the Institution had upon this Lodge , which had been fortunate in securing two annuities for their candidates , thanked the W . M . for having kindly consented to become a Steward at the next Festival . Since February last thirty-two new petitions had been accepted for the next election ; some of the applicants for the benefits of the Institution were fourscore years of age ,

some over seventy , and many over sixty . If they would bnt think for a moment what it was to have nothing in the world to live upon and to be dependent upon the charity of others , which might be withdrawn at any time , they could well imagine how acceptable it must be to those poor old people to know they had £ 40 a year coming in , a home , coals throughout the winter months , medical attendance , and

other comforts . What happiness to them to know they were 3 pared from all future anxiety , that the wheels of life had simply to roll on until they could roll no longer . The possession of an annnity meant a fresh lease of life j and in conclusion he made an earnest appeal to the brethren to help forward and promote the Institntion which conferred snch inestimable benefits upon so largo a number of persons .

It was most distressing to know the number of deserving cases which could not be considered for want of fnnds ; and if , as the Prince of Wales remarked at the Mansion House Banquet , every member of the Craft subscribed to tho funds of the Charities there would be no need for Festivals or special appeals on behalf of the poor . This Lodge did its utmost to support the Charities , and he only wished

its example was followed by every other Lodge . If every member of the Craft only subscribed 5 s a year to each of the three Institutions , instead of having £ 42 , 000 a year to devote to charity they would have £ 90 , 000 or £ 100 , 000 . Several complimentary toasts were afterwards honoured , and amidst an abundance of good music and singing a most enjoyable evening was passed .