Reports Of Meetings.

Lodge was opened in the third degree , and Bro . Cooper was raised to the rank of Master Mason . The Lodge having been resumed to the first degree , three ballots were taken for Life Subscriberships . Letters of regret for inability to be present at the meeting were read from the Deputy Provincial Grand Master Brother Kynvett and Bro . the Rev . O . C . Cockren Prov . Grand Chaplain .

After the banquet , a very agreeable duty devolved upon the W . M ., who , with a few well chosen remarks , made a presentation to a Brother of a silver salver , from the members of the Lodge on the occasion of his marriage . The present bore the following inscription :

Presented to BRO . T . A . MITCHELL , by the members of the St . Albans Lodge , No . 2786 , on the occasion of his marriage . April 1 ith , 1901 . Bro . Mitchell suitably returned thanks . He said the gift had come quite as a surpise , the secret having been well kept by the subscribers .

Confidence Lodge , No . 19 3 . AT the Hercules , Leadenhall Street , on AVednesday evening , 12 tli inst ., a number of the Brethren gathered to support Bro . Bushell , the popular Junior Warden of the Mother Lodge . Bro . Done was S . W ., and the remaining chairs were filled by well known faces who are seldom absent from these weekly gatherings .

METROPOLITAN : INSTRUCTION .

The first ceremony was beautifully rendered . Lodge was called off and on , and then closed down in the three degrees . Bro . Mears P . M . gave the ancient charge , while Bro . Cohn officiated as Preceptor in the absence through ill health of Bro . Spice . A section of the lecture was worked by Bro . J . K . Pitt ,

assisted by the Brethren . Bro . Done was elected to occupy the chair on the following Wednesday evening , and announced that his working would be chiefly in the first degree . The hour of meeting of this Lodge is 7 p . m ., and Lodge will be closed not later than 0 o ' clock .

ON the 19 th inst ., Bro . Done was in the chair , with Bros . J . Hobday S . W ., A . Green J . W ., E . J . Davey P . M . acting Preceptor , Metcalfe Baillie acting Sec , H . A . Swepstone S . D ., W . Chittock J . D ., S . Fells I . G ., J . Mears P . M ' ., H . Haughton , A . Hearn , J . Wynman , Fred Cole .

The Lodge was opened in the three degrees , and then the W . M . vacated the chair in favour of Bro . S . Fells W . M . of the Mother Lodge , who rehearsed the ceremony of raising , Bro . Done acting as the candidate . The W . M . resumed his chair , and rehearsed the ceremony of initiation , Bro . Cole candidate . This latter Brother was afterwards elected a member of the Lodge , and Bro . Hobday W . M . for next week's meeting .

Ra . nela . firh Lodge , No . 834 . THIS old established Lodge of Instruction has met at its present quarters , the Six Bells Hotel , Hammersmith , for over a quarter of a century , and for many years previously to that at a

hostelry only a few yards distant ; at all seasons of the year it is well attended , in fact at times the room placed at the disposal of the members is scarcely large enough to accommodate the number of-Masonic students who wish to place themselves under the Preceptorship of Bro . Arthur Williams P . M ., who is rarely absent .

Friday , the 31 st tilt , was no exception to the rule . The chair was occupied by Bro . J . Hallam , with Bros . W . Atkinson S . W ., H . Stokes J . W ., A . Williams P . M . Prec , R . H . Williams P . M . Deputy Preceptor , F . Craggs P . M . Sec , W . Hinds P . M . Treas ., H . White S . D ., M . F . Wilkins J . D ., Hellyar I . G ., H . J . Cousens P . M ., K . M . Ross P . M ., H . Lee , & c .

The ceremony of initiation was gone through . The Lodge being opened in the second degree the W . M . vacated his chair in favour of Bro . Atkinson , who put the usual questions to Bro . Cox , who was entrusted . The Lodge was opened in the third degree , and the W . M . rendered the raising ceremony to the entire satisfaction of those present .

********** Earl ' s Court Lodge , No . 2765 . ON Thursday , 30 th ult ., at the Greyhound Hotel , Kensington Square , Bros . K . Von Donat W . M ., W . Binfield S . W ., H . G . Cox J . W ., J . Worth P . M . Preceptor , H . J . Cousens P . M . Sec , J . Smethurst S . D ., J . Slater J . D ., R . Young I . G ., M . Davis P . M ., Todd Lewis , C . G . Hatt P . M ., J . McNaughten .

The W . M . rehearsed the initiation ceremony , with Bro . Davis as candidate , after which the Lodge having been opened in the s . econd degree , Bro . Davis was examined and entrusted . The raising ceremony was gone through . The choice of the Brethren fell on Bro . Binfield S . W ., who was asked to take the chair at the next meeting . Bro . Binfield accepted the offer , and appoined his Officers , after which the Lodge was closed in ancient form .

****************** HOLIDAY ARRANGEMENTS . WITH the view of introducing material improvements in the train service between England and Scotland the Midland Company

Reports Of Meetings.

has had under review the whole time table of express and subsidiary trains between St . Pancras and the North , and largely recast it for the coming summer . In revising the service the following objects have been kept in view , viz . : —( 1 ) To give an efficient service of express trains between London and other parts of the Midland line , and all parts of Scotland , and afford passengers

selecting the Midland route at least equal advantages in respect to through carriages and infrequent changes as they can obtain by any other -route at the present time . ( 2 ) To materially improve and accelerate the service between London and Yorkshire , and between London and other Midland towns and the Lake District . ( 3 ) To afford an improved and quicker service between the west

and north of England . In order to carry out these alterations longer uninterrupted runs have been arranged for the express trains , and on the northern section of the line new express passenger engines will be placed in the service . Some alteration litis been found necessary in the time fixed for the departure of

some of the express trains , and in one or two instances slightly earlier departures have been decided upon . These , however , will be fully compensated for by the earlier arrivals at the north and south capitals , which will admit of connections being established with the north of Scotland and the south and west of England .

THE GREAT EASTERN RAILWAY COMPANY issue a number of gratuitous holiday publications which are calculated to prove of interest ; copies of them are obtainable of the Superintendent of the Line at Liverpool Street Station , and at the Company ' s stations and offices . A tasty little work entitled " Holidays in the Eastern Counties" is an entirely new booklet by Percy Lindley ,

and contains rail , walking and cycling routes , boating , fishing and golf notes , with additional information of practical use to intending visitors . The Farmhouse and Country Lodgings List this year includes information as to Hotels and Boarding Houses at the East Coast resorts and Hotel and Inn accommodation in the Norfolk Broads district , which has not been given in previous issues .

THE GREAT WESTERN COMPANY announce that a large number of important train alterations will come into operation on 1 st July . Expresses will run from London to Birmingham without stopping , and also between London and Exeter . The journey between Paddington and Penzance will be shortened by forty minutes .

ARRANGEMENTS are being made under the direction of the well known Holiday organisers , Dr . Henry S . Lunn , and Connop F . S . Perownc , for Automobile Tours in Normandy and Brittany , in a carriage to hold eight to ten persons , provided by one of the leading French manufacturers . The Tour will be in charge of Mr . Harold Dawson , of Thornton Hall , near Bradford , who has had considerable experience in Automobilism on the Continent .

The cost of the Tour from Havre back to Havre will be about ^ 10 10 s , this sum to include travelling and hotel expenses , breakfast , lunch , dinner , bed , lights , and attendance , and gratuities to hotel servants for seven days . The cost of the journey from London to Havre and back is not included . Further particulars may be had of the Secretary , 5 Endsleigh Gardens , London , N . W .

La Marguerite—After a most successful trial trip which took place on Wednesday , the above steamer of the New Palace Steamers , Limited , will commence her season's sailings on Wedncsdav next , 26 th inst ., when she will leave Tilbury at 7 . 10 a . m . ( special train from Fenchurch Street Station at 6 . 15 a . m . ) for Margate and Boulogne and back in a day . A new feature will

be introduced into the programme this season in the shape of a special sailing to Calais and back every Thursday , leaving Tilbury at 8 . 30 a . m . ( special train from Fenchurch Street Station at 7 . 30 a . m . ) and this arrangement will allow passengers about two hours ashore at the popular French port . " La Marguerite" has been thoroughly overhauled during- the winter months , and on her trial trip fully maintained her high reputation for speed , accomplishing

somewhat over twenty-one knots an hour . With the advent of " La Marguerite" on the station the Company have also arranged to supply a long-felt want , namely , a Saturday afternoon boat to Margate , and the "Koh-i-noor" will , on and after 29 th inst ., leave Old Swan Pier , London Bridge , every Saturday at ten minutes before 3 o'clock , as the Husbands' Boat , calling at Tilbury at 3 . 45 p . m . ( special train from Fenchurch Street Station 2 . 40 ) .

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