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 .

CEAFT : PEOVINCIAL . — : o : — DUNCOMBE LODGE , No . 1486 . THE Installation meeting of this successful Lodge was held in the Masonic Temple , Duncombe Street , Kingsbridgo , on Monday , 9 th inst ., and was attended by a large number of Brethren , some of whom came from distant villages at least ten miles away . This Lodge is one of those country ones held near the full moon , as it is more pleasant travelling in the Devonshire lanes by moonlight than when the nights are dark .

The retiring W . M . Bro . Edgar Harry Dibben occupied the chair , being supported by Bros . Hooper P . P . G . S . Wks ., Joseph Balkwill , Philip Trant Jr ., Robert Chase , J . R . Gill , Rev . T . C . Lewis P . P . G . C ., F . Jarvis , Past Masters ; Ben Johnson P . M . 1805 S . W . and W . M .-elect , E . J . Wilson J . W ., W . Pengilly S . D ., H . G . Richards I . G ., Joseph Foale Treas ., Joseph Cranch Org ., Periton , Hathaway 153 , Gibraltar , Beaumont 1805 , Sims 1461 , Southampton , and many others .

A telegram from Bow to Bro . Ben Johnson , which ran thus , " Hearty good wishes from Coborn , Bow ; and Benevolentia to self and Brethren , " was read . The Rev . Jas . Henning P . P . G . C . P . M ., who has lately been appointed Vicar of Cockington , Torquay , wrote resigning his membership of Duncombe Lodge , as he intended joining a Lodge in Torquay , having accepted tha office of Chaplain . Great regret was expressed at his leaving , inasmuch as the Rev . Brother had embellished the internal part of the new Lodge room at his own expense , while he was Master .

The W . M . opened the Lodge at 3-45 , and after the minutes were read and confirmed Bro . 3 . Foale Treasurer was presented with a handsome jewel in recognition of his splendid services ever since the Lodge was established in 1874 . Bro . Foale in a suitable manner heartily thanked the Brethren for their kindness , and stated that only a small amount remained to clear off the debt on the building , at which several Brethren expressed satisfaction .

The Lodge being opened in the second degree Bro . G . Hooper P . P . G . S . Wks . P . M . D . C . presented Bro . Ben Johnson as W . M .-elect . Bro . Chase P . M . Installing Master administered the usual obligation . The ancient charges and regulations were assented to , after which a strong Board of Installed Masters was formed , and Bro . Johnson was duly installed as W . M . ; but owing to the fact that he had already passed the Master ' s

chair m Bromley St . Leonard Lodge , Bow , the ceremony , though impressively rendered , was somewhat curtailed . Bro . E . H . Dibben was appointed I . P . M . On the Brethren being re-admitted Bro . 3 . Balkwill P . M . proclaimed the W . M ., and led the salutations in the three degrees in his usual effective manner . The addresses to the W . M ., Officers and Brethren were rendered by Bro . G . Hooper P . M . in his usual faultless way .

The W . M . appointed the following as Officers : Bros . E . J . Wilson S . W ., W . Pengillv J . W ., Rev . T . 0 . Lewis P . P . G . C . Chaplain , Joseph Foale Treas ., Robert Chase P . M . Sec , H . G . Richards S . D ., W . J . Port J . D ., George Hooper P . M . D . C , Joseph Cranch Org ., W . J . White I . G ., John Lee Tyler . The appointment of a Representative on the Committee of Petitions was next proceeded with . Bro . J . R . Gill P . M ., who for the last five years has splendidly carried out the work ( having never missed an attendance except

when ill ) , stated that in consequence of a great increase in his business , which necessitated his journeying three of four hundred miles every week , he reluctantly felt compelled to relinquish the office ; and accordingly asked the Brethren to accept his resignation . With great regret this was acceded to , and a proposition was ordered to be recorded on the Lodge books testifying to the great ability and zeal shown by Bro . Gill in the execution of his work . Bro . Geo . Hooper P . M . was unanimously elected in his stead .

Brother C . C . Elliot wrote saying it was his eightieth birthday , and that he was too ill to attend Lodge . As he was one of the Founders of the Lodge , and unremitting usually in his attendance , the Secretary was requested to forward congratulations on his birthday , and to wish him speedy recovery from his illness .

Another Officer ' s merits were now recognised , Bro . Joseph Cranch , Organist of the Parish Church of Loddiswell for many years , and who was one of the first initiated in the Lodge , having carried out his duties effectively in the musical part of the ceremonies , was ordered to be presented with a handsome jewel .

Several letters from Brethren regretting their unavoidable absence were now read . It is the general custom before Lodge is closed to make what is called a " Penny Collection . " This useful little function is intended for those in necessity , and if not so applied has been sent , when a sufficient sum has been obtained , to one of the Masonic Institutions . A Life Governorshi p for the Lodge has been the result .

The Lodge was closed , and the Brethren adjourned to the King ' s Arms Hotel banqueting room , where Bro . Startup provided a most excellent and recherche banquet ; the tables being splendidly decorated with rare plants and flowers , and the walls draped in a most artistic manner . For the creature comforts of the Brethren everything was served in that perfect way for which the Hotel is celebrated .

The menu card and toast list was an artistic piece of work , the frontispiece being a life-like portrait of the W . M ., wearing his invariably lovely orchid in his buttonhole . The usual Loyal toasts were given and responded to . The I . P . M . Bro . E . H . Dibben next gave the health of the W . M ., remarking that he knew Bro . Johnson , who had already been a Master of one of the London Lodges , would carry out the work to the complete satisfaction of all the Brethren , and at the expiration of the year would receive the approbation of the Lodge .

When Bro . Johnson rose to respond , there was round after round of applause . He slated that he felt proud of his position that day in being W . M . of a Freemasons' Lodge in his native town of Kingsbridge , after thirty years absence from it . He assured them that he meant to work , for ha was persuaded there was ample scope , when the introduction of some of the leading men of the town took place : and as they were such good men and citizens he wondered why they had not already become Masons . The

Reports Of Meetings.

valuable assistance of the P . Ms , he was assured of , and spoko of his Officers as being well grounded in the work of the various degrees , and hoped they would perfect what was deficient . The W . M . next presented the toast of the Installing and Immediate Past Masters , and coupled with it the names of Bros . R . Chase andE . H . Dibben . Bro . Chase , in responding , stated that when Bro . Dibben was installed Master of the Lodge he promised to help him to the utmost of his ability .

That promise he had endeavoured to carry out , and when asked to perform the ceremony of installation for his very old friend Bro . Johnson he felt it a peculiar privilege and honour , inasmuch as the W . M . Bro . Johnson was one of his friends more than thirty years ago , before he went to London , and that friendship had continued through the whole of that period . He stated it was a peculiarly onerous task to instal one who had already received that benefit . He hoped , however , that though he felt it necessary to curtail somewhat , the ceremony was not shorn of its stateliness .

Bro . Dibben sincerely thanked the W . M . for his very kind words , and was glad to see that things had gone so nicely that day . It pleased him greatly to see that the financial position p £ the Lodge had improved , and he had no doubt that the small debt now owing would soon be paid off . In responding to tho Masonic Charities Bro . J . R . Gill P . M ., who is enthusiastic on this matter , stated how interested he was in securing such large amounts for the relief of oni ) of the distressed members of the Lodge , and also for the widow , and that the latter was first on the list in the Province to receive further help , which would be shortly forthcoming .

Bro . the Rev . T . C . Lewi . - * P . M . was very humorous in proposing tha health of the Visitors , the play on the " Square " being received very pleasantly . Bro . Sims appreciated having his name associated with the Visitors , and said what great pleasure it had given him to attend the Lodge , and to see tha work carried out in such a perfect manner . Brother Hathaway ( Gibraltar ) had never seen the installation done so thoroughly , and sincerely thanked the W . M . for permitting him to speak .

The Treasurer Bro . J . Foale , in responding , was highly gratified at receiving the handsome jewel , and said that it would be an incentive for him to do his work in the future as well as he could . The Secretary was then given by Bro . P . Trant jun . P . M ., and in a few felicitous terms he approved of the choice which the W . M . had made , as he know Bro . Chase would perform the work well , having been called upon to assist in balancing the Treasurer ' s accounts during the past year as well as on several previous occasions .

Bro . Chase heartily thanked the last speaker for his flattering remarks , and said he was always willing to assist as well as he could . He stated that the Treasurer ' s accounts were correct , and that he had presented the W . M . with a balance sheet made up to the date of the Installation . Bro . Joseph Balkwill , in responding to the toast of the Past Masters , said he regretted not having attended Provincial Grand Lodge , as some of tho others had , as he knew that great benefits accrued in learning its working .

Bros . Bond P . P . G . J . D ., and G . Hooper P . P . G . Supt . Wks . also spoke , the latter remarking that he had had the privilege and honour of attending Grand Lodge in London once , and that before saying anything definitely he should like to attend a few times more . The Tyler ' s toast finished the list . The W . M . Bro . Ben Johnson must be heartily congratulated on carrying out the arrangements so successfully . In order to add to the pleasure of the Brethren the Kingsbridge Orchestral Band , under the leadership of Brother J .

Cranch Organist , was engaged , and performed several capital pieces of music , among the greatest favourites being selections from the " Bohemian Girl , " and from " Corelli . " Mr . Ben Johnson jun . sang splendidly " On the Goodwins " Piccolomini , " Come my beloved " Weatherley , and " Jack ' s the boy " Geisha ; the latter being the greatest favourite . Being in capital voice each piece was vigorously re-demanded by those present . The following Brethren ¦ also contributed to the harmony of the evening : S . Coad , Jarvis , Chase , Richards , Startup , the latter assisting the choir in rendering the " Grace " from the " Laudi Spirituali " ( A . D . 1545 ) very sweetly .

Another feature which specialised this record banquet was that several ladies , on the invitation of Bro . Ben Johnson , graced the proceedings by their presence and were specially provided for in an adjoining room . To add a graceful finish to the day ' s proceedings Bro . the Rev . T . C . Lewis P . M . promised to present tha Lodge with six new Collars for the Officers .

ST . GILES LODGE , No . 1587 . ON Tuesday , 2 nd inst ., the members celebrated the festival of St . John , at the Town Hall , Cheadle , when the Rev . W . G . Mayne , Vicar of Tean , was installed Master of the Lodge . The attendance , though not so large as last year , when Lord Dartmouth Provincial Grand Master was present , was nevertheless quite up to the average , and would probably have been even larger but for the fact that Provincial Grand Lodge was being held at Stafford next day .

The ceremony of installation was performed by Bro . W . Brickel P . M . P . G . A . P . The Lodge having been closed , the Brethren adjourned to tha Wheat Sheaf Hotel , where an excellent dinner was served by the host and hostess Mr . and Mrs . Kirkham .

WOLSELEY LODGE , No . 1993 . THE annual meeting and Festival of St . John of Jerusalem took place at tho Freemasons' Hall , Cooper Street , Manchester , on Saturday , 7 th inst ., there being an attendance of nearly sixty members and visitors to the Lodge . After the reading of the dispensation , necessary on account of the change

of day , and also the confirmation of minutes , successful ballots were taken for Messrs . James Lee Mercer , Schoolmaster , Cheatham , and Richard Wiseman , Insurance Manager , Greeheys , who were desirous of making their advent into Freemasonry ; the initiation of these gentlemen , in consequence of pressure of work , was deferred until a subsequent Lodge night .

The principal business of this meeting was that of installing Brother George Hargreaves S . W . into the chair of King Solomon , the duty being undertaken by Bro . William Harris P . M . P . P . G . A . D . C . and Treasurer , who had the assistance of such an excellent auxiliary of Past Masters as Bros . Chas . Crowther , N . T . Holyoak , W . W . Siddell , John Dean , Walter Taylor , and John Hatton Secretary , and it goes without saying that the ceremonyr governed by such a catena of accomplished Officers , was admirably performed .

The Board of Installed Masters consisted of Bros . Harris as Installing W . M ., Dean as S . W ., Hatton as J . W ., A . T . McGregor P . M . 654 P . P . G . D . as I . G ., and Crowther as Deacon , Bro . Harris , than whom Prometheus