Leicester Union Lodge Of Instruction.

LEICESTER UNION LODGE OF INSTRUCTION .

THE annual festival of this Lodge ( formed by tho union of the St . John ' s Lodge , No . 279 , John O'Gaunt ' s Lodge , No . 523 , Commeroial Lodge , No . 1391 , and the Albert Edward Lodge , No . 1560 , nnder the joint Preceptorship of W . Bros . S . Cleaver P . M . 279 P G . S . D ., J . T . Thorpe P . M . 523 P . S . G . W ., Edward Watson W . M . 1391 P . G . J . D ., and Miles J . Walker P . M . 1265 ) , was held at the

Freemasons' Hall , Halford-street , Leicester , on the 14 th inst ., nnder tho presidency of the R . W . Bro . William Kelly , F . S . A ., F . E . Hist . Society , P . P . Grand Master for Leicestershire . The attendance was large , and included , in addition to the above-named , and amongst others , the following brethren : —W . Bros . Geo . Toller jun . Deputy Provincial Grand Master , S . S . Partridge P . G . Sec , Joseph Young Past Grand

Director of Ceremonies , C . Gurdin P . G . Assistant Director of Ceremonies , Clement E . Stretton , Eev . 0 . Henton Wood , M . A ., Eev . W . A . Langley , M . A ., Edward Mason , R . Miohie , & o . & o . The Lodge was opened in the first degree by the R . W . Bro . Kelly P . P . G . M . at six o ' clock , the acting Officers being the following brethren : —J . L . West as S . W ., J . W . Willson J . W ., J . B . Waring S . D ., R . B . Starkey J . D ., Geo .

Jessop I . G . The minutes of the last Lodge were read by Bro . E . P . Steeds the Secretary , and confirmed . W . Bro . Edward Watson was appointed Installing Officer for the next Lodge , and Bro . J . L . West as acting W . M ., after which the E . W . Bro . Kelly briefly introduced W . Bro . James Stevens , of London , P . M . P . Z ., who had been specially invited to deliver his lecture , entitled " Knobs and Excrescences , "

explanatory of the Rituals and Ceremonies of the First Degree , and referred to his pleasing acquaintance with Bro . Stevens , which was formed at Leicester many years ago . Bro . Stevens , after a few prefaratory remarks on the desirability of unity of working the ceremonials of the Craft , proceeded with his lecture , which was listened to with great attention forever two hours . The able and eloquent

lecturer commenced with the opening of tho Lodge , and continued through the whole ceremony of initiation , explaining many points of interest , showing divergencies in the rituals as practised by different Lodges , and giving good and substantial reasons for correcting fallacies therein . At the conclusion of the lecture , W . B . Geo . Toller jun . Deputy P . G . M ., alluded to the pleasure he had derived from

listening to the able exposition by the lecturer of the many interesting points on which he had treated , and approved of the great desirability of uniformity in working as suggested by the lecturer , and considered that the lecture should be heard by the Craft generally . W . Bro . Preceptor Thorpe P . G . S . W ., in proposing a vote of thanks to the lecturer , expressed his gratification at the slight divergence of working

in the Leicester Province from the ideal depicted by Bro . Stevens , and stated he should treasure for consideration many valuable suggestions which had been made . W . Bro . Eev . C . H . Wood , late a Preceptor of the Lodge , seconded the complimentary vote of thanks , regretting that time would not permit of many interesting inquiries being then pursued , but hoped the brethren would not lose sight of

them hereafter . W . Bro . Young P . G . D . C . called attention to several matters of minor importance , in which the working in the Province varied from that aimed at by the lecturer . He was , however , gratified to find that the working in the Leicester Lodges was so near perfection . W . Bro . Preceptor Cleaver said that after the intense pleasure he had experienced he felt bound to corroborate the previous remarks

as to the similarity between the working in the Leicester Province and the Eitnal as exemplified by the talented lecturer , whom be trusted the brethren would have the pleasure of hearing on more than one occasion in Leicester . The vote was carried by acclamation , and Bro . Stevens , in responding , said he felt amply repaid for the little service he had rendered by the enthusiasm displayed , and

expressed his intention of not failing to again visit Leicester and give further illustrations of his views as to the second and third degrees , on which he had for some time been engaged . In conclusion , the lecturer presented to the Lodge a Chart of the Lodges in England and Wales , and stated that he had Freemasonry so much at heart

that he would willingly visit any Lodge desiring to have the information and explanation which his lecture afforded . On the Lodge being closed , the brethren adjourned to the magnificent banquotting-room eonnected with the Hall , where supper was served under the presidency of W . Bro . Edward Watson , at the close of which the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were given and duly honoured .

Inauguration Of The Coborn Lodge Of Instruction.

INAUGURATION OF THE COBORN LODGE OF INSTRUCTION .

ON Monday , the 17 th instant , the first meeting of this Lodge was held at the Eagle Hotel , Snaresbrook , when nearly 100 brethren assembled to hear the ceremony of consecration rehearsed by Brother James Terry , the Secretary of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , and to witness the installation of Bro . Logan , of Bow , as W . M . by Bro . William Clarke , a Past Officer of Grand Lodge . This

Lodge of Instruction is in connection with the Coburn Lodge , which meets at the Bow Yestry Hall ; it has been formed by the exertions of Bro . Charles J . R . Tijon , the acting Secretary of the Coborn Lodge . Amongst the brethren present were Bros . G . A . Haynes , H . B . Forbes , A . Souch , A . Peterken , H . Wheatley , J . T . Robey , Dr . Porter , and J . Knight , from Bow ; L . Potts , T . L . Kennett , W . 0 . Young ,

H . J . Hancock , and J . T . Austen , from Poplar . The ceremonies were rehearsed in a masterly manner , and were made more attractive by the able singing of a choir and the brethren , under tho direction of Bro . W . Graves Organist . The hymns were set to tunes selected from the Ancient and Modern Hymnal , and the Anthems were specially composed by the Organist . Bro . Logan was installed aa W . M ., Bros .

Robey , Peterken , Tijon , and Souch being appointed to the rubordinate offices . Bro . Tijou , the Treasurer , in proposing a vote of thanks to Bros . Terry and Clarke for their assistance , expressed the pleasure experienced by those present in hearing the work rehearsed so well . Bro . Terry , in reply , said that he was very glad to accept the invitation to attend , as he had the interest of the Coborn Lodge at heart ,

Inauguration Of The Coborn Lodge Of Instruction.

having a few years since consecrated it , by command of the Grand Master His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , and he was gratified to find that the brethren of the neighbourhood had mustered in such force . After Lodge was closed , the brethren partook of supper , at tho conclusion of which the usual Loyal toasts were well

received . Bro . Clarke proposed success to tho Coborn Lodge of Instruction , coupled with Bro . Charles J . R . Tijou Treasurer , who must bo congratulated at the success of his labours in thus launching his new work . A few other toasts followed , and the brethren returned to town by the last train .

The Charge Of The " Blue" Brigade.

THE CHARGE OF THE " BLUE" BRIGADE .

Wednesday , 5 th March 1884 . Half a step , half a step , Half a step , onward . All through the ante-room ,

Pressed the Six Hundred . " Forward , the ' Blue' Brigade ! Charge for the keys , " they said : Into the vestibule

Strode the Six Hundred . " Forward , the Blue Brigade !" Was there a hot tirade ? Not tho' the " huge mob" knew

The " purple " had blunder'd : Theirs not to deign reply , Theirs not to stultify , Theirs but to reason why : Into Freemasons' Hall

Strodo the Six Hundred . Collars to right of them , Collars to left of them , Collars in front of them ,

Dazzled , unnumber'd ; Seats all fill'd up so well , Boldly they came pell mell ; Till , with no pause for breath , Eager the ranks to swell ,

Stood some Three Hundred .

Flashed all their jewels rare , Flashed their white gloves in air , Scaring the " big guns " there , Charging a caucus , while All the " churls " wonder'd :

" Marshall" the name they spoke , Ground to the . right they broke , Faction and renegade

Reeled from the scathing stroke Scatter'd and sundor'd . Then they strode back , but not , Not the Six Hundred .

Craftsmen to right of them , Craftsmen to left of them , Craftsmen behind them , Shouted and thunder'd ; Stormed at with scolf and yell ,

While hoarse , as all can tell , They that had done so well , Camn , after pause for breath , Bick from tho wrestling spell , All who'd not left , of them—Left of Six Hundred .

When can their vict ' ry fade ? Oh ! the grand change they made ! All the Craft wonder'd . Honour the charge they made , Honour the principle saved , Loyal Six Hundred ! N . B . HEADOJf .

Obituary.

Obituary .

The funeral of the late Bro . Samnel Smout took place at Kensal Green Cemetery , on Friday last , the 14 th inst " . Through some slight misunderstanding as to the time fixed for the obsequies , there were not present so many members of the Craft as had been anticipated , but amongst those who attended we may mention Bros . F . C . Frye W . M . KH 2 , I . Bartle S . W , J . Wood mason J . W ., S . H . Parkhouse

P . M ., W . Bucklaud S . D ., C . IT . Wood J . D ., Schofield Tyler , J . French , Adkins P . M ., G . Davis , W . Frye , J . Flood , Mote , H . Dehane , Capt . A . Nicols , A . Hardy , Dr . Pocnck , D . Gillineham , E . M . Lander P . M ., E . Rogers , D . Stroud , J . Linscott , W . R . Hatton , C . Webster , George Penn P . M ., T . C . Edmonds , H . Taylor . J . Frye , P . Monion , J . Williams , Handover sen ., Handover jun ., W . H . Wadham ; also Messrs . Butts , White and Pearson . Our late brother Smart was a most

estimable man , and was held in the highest respect by a very large circle of acquaintance . He was a founder and P . M . of the Earl of Carnarvon Lodge , and at the time of his death was M . E . Z . of the Eail of Carnarvon Chapter . He was also a member of the

Kensington Vestry ; member of the Trustees of the Poor of the Parish ; member of tho Netting Hill Philanthropic Society ; and Life Governor of all the Masonic Institutions . The Lodge met last Thursday , the day before the funeral , when all the brethren appeared in Masrnic mourning , and the Lodge furniture was draped with black cloth .