Installation Meetings, &C.

INSTALLATION MEETINGS , & c .

EGYPTIAN LODGE , No . 27 .

mHOUGII not so old a Lodgo as its place on tho roll of Grand -1- Lodgo might justify us in supposing , the Egyptian has a very respectable antiquity to boast of . It follows a 1724 Lodge , and precedes one of 1725 , while tho date of its own Constitution belongs to the year 1755 . Still the work that ifc does entitles it to all praise , and is in every respect worthy of the high position it holds . It

includes among its members several brethreu of great ability , who havo token tho greatest prido in tho fulfilment of thoir duties . Some of thorn havo boon honoured with tho recognition of Grand Lodge , while tho others , from the oldest to tho youngest , are never weary of contributing in their several positions , and as far as in them lies , to uphold tho prosperity of the Lodgo . We have glanced through a

former Masonic journal for tbe records of this Lodge s proceedings , and as far back as 1858 , when it was located at tho Georgo aud Blue Boar , in Holborn , wo find tho accounts givou of it wero invariably satisfactory . Bro . Buss , tho Assistant Grand Secretary and Treasurer of tho Lodge , was even then a Past Master and Secretary , aud the latter oflico , after filling it for four and twenty years , was only

vacated by him in order that ho might undertake the duties ofTroasurer . Bro . J . Coutts P . G . P ., who is deservedly one of the most popular , as ho undoubtedly is ono of the ablest , of its members , filled the office of Junior Deacon in 18 G 3 , aud was twice unanimously elected to be its Worshipfnl Master—for the years 18 G 7 and 18 G 8 . Bro . C . B . Payne , the present Grand Tyler , was Senior Deacon iu 1859 , and in

duo courso roso to be Master , fulfilling tho duties of tho chair in the year 1862 . Bro . Buss's predecessor in the Treasurership , the lato Bro . B . P . Todd , hold that office almost tho whole time that Bro . Buss was Secretary . Pro . Todd was W . M . in 1851 , tho year of the Great Exhibition , aud by a singular coincidence , was presented by the Lodgo with a very handsome testimonial on tho 1 st

May 1862 , the opening day of tho International , or second Great Exhibition held in this country . Moreover , the lato distinguished Bro . John Savage , Past G . Deacon and a member of the Board of General Purposes , as well ns of the General Committee of Grand Chapter , was an honorary member , and for tho long period of thirtytwo years played the part of Installing Officer , and inducted the

successive Masters during that period into tho Chair of tho Lodge , his immediate successor , Bro . John Coutts , to whom we havo already alluded , fulfilling those duties , as recently as the year 1876 , tho installation meeting in that year being the first that was held after Bro . Savage's decease . The Lodge , too , has been laudably active in tho support of our Masonic Institutions , and is at the present fc ^ ine a Vice

Patron of tho Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , and the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , and a Vice-President—and no doubt very soon will be a Vice-Patron—of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . About the beginning of 1875 , it started a Benevolent Fund of its own , and in a very few months tho contributions thereto exceeded £ 150 , of which £ 100 was straightway invested . The relief

it has administered in cases of distress has been both liberal and frequent . In short , tho Egyptians are worthy of tho scientific fame of the ancient people after whom they are named , as thoy are of the reputation for generosity which distinguishes the modern people to whom its members belong . However , before we proceed to recount the events of its latest meeting , wo will mention in tho order of

their occurrence a few particulars which will doubtless prove of interest to our readers . In 1859 , when the Lodge met at tho George and Blue Boar , tho Installation Meeting of the Lodgo was , on tho motion of Bro . Buss , changed from the month of January to February . At the installation of Bro . Payne , in 1862 , Bro . Savage was assisted in his duties as Installing Officer by Bro .

Jos . Smith as S . W ., the late Bro . Farnfteld Assistant Grand Sec . as J . W ., so thafc all three chairs wero occupied by " Purple Brethren . " Tho same three brethren acted together at the first installation of Bro . Coutts in 1867 , with tho slight difference that Bro . Farnfield was S . W ., and Bro . Smith J . W . In 1863 the Lodge moved its quarters to Anderton ' s Hotel , where ifc has ever since remained . This year , too ,

Bro . Payne on retiring from the chair , was presented with a handsome Past Master ' s jewel , in token of his services as Worshipful Master , and a few months later the late Bro . Todd , Treasurer , acting on behalf of the Lodge , presented a very valuable gold watch to Bro . Buss , as a recognition of his services to the Egyptians . It was also in the samo year that , on appeal being made for a member to serve as Steward at

the Festival of the Benevolent Institution , it was incidentally mentioned that a lady had served on one of those occasions ; on which Bro . Todd announced that his daug hter shonld act as Steward for the Lodge , and he promised to constitute her a Life Governor . Iu 1867 and 18 G 8 wc come across the name of our " literary brother "—Bro . II . M . Levy , then , as now , P . M . No . 188—among the Visitors ; and

Bro . Levy , we are told , contributed to the amusement of those present , by giving imitations of different well-known theatrical unists . In one account he is described as " our facetious friend . " In the latter year the Lodgo contributed to the Grand Master ( Zetland ) Commemoration Fund . In January 1869 , Bro . C . Atkins , one of tho present P . M . 's , was raised to the sublime degree , and

Bro . Harrison , another of the P . M . ' s , was J . D . At the installation meeting this year , Bro . Coutts completed his second yt > ar as W . Master , and was presented with an elegant gold jewel , together with a P . M . ' s apron and collar , with jewel attached , in token of his admirable efficiency in the chair . Tho cost of this testimonial was defrayed

partly out of tho Lodgo funds , and partly by subscription among the members . In 1870 , Bro . Green , now a P . M ., waa initiated , and the following P . M . 's were among tho subordinate Officers , namely . — Harrison S . D ., Atkins J . D ., and Lamble I . G . It was announced , with justifiable pride , in the course of this year , that the Lodge was a

Vice-President of all tho Masonic Institutions . Bro . C . Atkins filled the chair in 1871 . In 1875 , in the Mastership of Bro . S . R . Lamble , tho last who was installed in office by tho lato Bi - o . John Savage , Bros . Green , Walker , and Maidwell wero rospootively Senior Warden , Senior Deacon , and Master of Ceremonies . The year 187 G , may justly be described in tho records of tho Lodgo as the " Grand Pursuivants '

year . At tho installation of Bro . Green as W . M ., the ceremony was performed by Bro . J . Coutts P . G . P ., assisted by Bro . Jos . Smith P . G . P . as Senior Warden , and the late Bro . John Boyd P . G . P . as J . W . ; thero being likewise present Bros . J . Wright G . Pursuivant and E . P . Albert Assist . G . P ., T . Cnbitfc P . G . P ., W . Ongh Past G . P ., and AV . T . Howe then Prov . G . P . Middlesex , and now G . Pursuivant . Ia short

thero wore present no loss than eight Grand , Past Grand , Assistant Grand and Prov . Grand Pursuivants on tho occasion . It is also noteworthy that the Secretaries to all threo Institutions — Bros . Terry , Binckos , and the lato R . W . Little " agisted" at this meeting . Bro . Walker was installed Worshipfnl Master in 1877 , and Bro . Maidwell was his successor in tho year following . Ifc now

remains for us to note the proceedings of tho lato auspicious gathering afc Anderton ' s on tho 0 th inst ., when Bro . W . Richards was installed in office as Master . Tho Lodsje was opened by Bro . Maidwell W . M ., who was supported by Bros . W . Richards S . W . and W . M . elect , Chapman J . W ., II . G . Buss Assist . Grand Secretary P . M . and Treasurer , J . B . Poole P . M . Secretary , Past Masters—Bros . D . Jacobs , J . Coutts

P . G . P ., C B . Payne Grand Tylor , Charles Atkins , Green , W . 11 Gibbon , Harrison , S . R . Lamblo and Walker , other Officers , members , and visitors to the number of 104 , of whom no less than fifty-seven were visitors , and amongst whom were Bros . II . M . Goodman W . M . 147 , T . Bull P . M . 115 , H . F . Masters 145 , T . F . K . Smith W . M . elect 1441 , E . P . Barlow P . M . 15 , W . II . Gray S . W . 701 , 0 . H . Webb W . M . 1 G 07 ,

H . Massey P . M . 619 , A . Furness 1421 , A . Pendleburv P . M . 1056 , R . Green W . M . 1524 , W . H . Leo P . M . 1524 , W . C . Hollands P . M . 1321 , E . BorgerS . W . 435 , J . T . Smith 157 . C G . Butler W . S . 414 , J . Lloyd J . D . 1201 , N . T . Hooper I . G . 435 , W . Dodd P . M . 1191 , W . Sumner 877 , W . II . G . Rudderforth S . D . 12 , J . W . Webster 807 , A . J . Berry See . 1695 , Charles Corrick 101 , S . Rushton Org . 1677 , A .

W . Wells J . D . 299 , W . T . Howe G . P ., E . P . Albert P . G . P ., W . W . Morgan Sec . 211 , J . II . South wood W . M . 1260 , W . Smeed 1585 , J . Anley 177 , W . H . Ellis 551 , Thos . Cnbitt P . G . P ., Thos . K . Purell P . M . 801 , J . II . Watts P . M . 1201 , Chas . Daniel P . M . 65 , F . Spurroll P . P . G . W . Kent ; W . N . Wa » horn P . M . 910 , W . Dance T . l ' . M . 754 , T . Mills P . M . 299 , William Musto P . M . 1349 , J . Kennard 115 , P .

Harvoy P . M . 299 , Alex . Jonos 1012 , M . Leslie 1001-, A . Rio ' ianls 251 , Thomas D . Hume CM . 209 , . Tnmos Reid 72 , Alexander Reid 1287 , Georgo Tedder 11 , If . Brookman 15 H , Slophcn Wood 1446 , R . S . White 340 , C . Bennett , Georgo JlcGwin , F . Binckes P . M . Grand Stewards , & c . Formalities over , Bro . liiohards was presented for installation , and duly install'd hy Bro . Maidwell ,

—who is not only letter perfect in his knowledge of the ritual , but has likewise a good vice and delivery , and an impressive manner , —tho board of Installed Masters numbering no less than thirfcyfivo . At the conclusion of tho ceremony Bro . Richards was proclaimed and saluted , and then appointed and invested tho following brethren as his Officers for the current year , namely—Bros .

Chapman S . W ., Coulson J . W ., Maidwell J . P . M ., II . G . Buss Assistant Grand Secretary P . M . Treasurer , Poole P . M . Secretary , Kemp [ nominated ] , Senior Deacon , Cnthbortson Junior Deacon , Grammer I . G ., Mnrch M . C ., D . Jacobs P . M . W . S ., King Assist . M . C ., and Potter Tyler . The Lodgo then confirmed tho grant of £ 25 out of the Benevolent Fund to a distressed brother . £ 2 was voted to a

brother in distress lately a member of the Lodge , and after considerable discussion , it was agreed to place on Bro . Maidwell's list for tho approaching Festival of tho Girls' School the sum of fifteen guineas . The Lodgo was then closed , and the brethren adjourned to banquet , under the presidency of Bro . Richards W . M . The usual toasts were given indue order , Bros . Buss Ass . G . Sec . and Howe G . P .

responding for that of tho Graud Officers present and past . Bro , Maidwell I . P . M . proposed the health of the W . Master , of whose work they had as yet had bufc little experience , but so far as they had had the opportunity of judging , what he had done that evening had been perfect . The W . Master , in reply , said ifc was not his forte to make long speeches , aud ho should content himself wir . h saying thafc

dnring tho years he had been a member of tbe Egyptian he had spent many happy hours and made many firm friends , fie had now received the highest honour it was iu the power of the Lodge to bestow , aud he shonld do his utmost to merit the confidence reposed in him . Ho then proposed the health of Bro . Maidwell , and in doing so expressed the great pleasure ifc gave him to present that brother

with a Past Masters jewel in token of tho valued services he had rendered during his year of office , and ho trusted Bro . Maidwell might live many years to wear ifc . Bro . Maidwell excused himself for any shortcomings in his speech ou tho score of the novelty of his position nsa Past Master . He deeply appreciated this testimonv to his labours . He had been so con .

stantly a visitor , that at last he began to be ashamed of himself for so often coming in that capacity . Hence he joined tho Lodgo , and in every office he had hold had striven to do his duty to tho best of his ability . Bro . Binckes acknowledged tho toast of the Masonic Charities , and boro his testimony to the high observance by tho Egyptians of the great Majonic principle of Charity . Bro . Maidwell

then announced that his list for the Girls' School Festival amounted already to 112 guineas . Bro . Buss replied for the P . M . ' s , Treasurer , and Secretary , and took occasion to warn the Lod ge against being too liberal in the dispensation of their funds . If they could afford to give even fifty guineas to the Charities he never would stand in tho

way , but with too great liberality their funds would very soon be ex . hausted . Bros . Poole and D . Jacobs also responded , the latter assuring those present that in hia capacity of W . S . he should lay himself out to promote tho happiness of the brethren . Tbe S . W . responded for tho Officers , and the T yler ' s toast brought the pro . ceedings to a close .