Installation Meetings, &C.

into the chair of the Lodge by Brother W . Side the I . P . M ., who performed tho work in a very praiseworthy manner . The W . M . having been saluted , tbo following brethren wero appointed as Officers for tho ensuing year : —Brothers H . Stiles Senior AVarden , G . Clark Junior Warden , Willing Treas ., Michael Secretary , Lovegrove S . D ., Edwards J . D ., Raney I . G ., Knight D . of C , Edmonds Steward ,

Dimsdale Organist , Davey Steward and Assistant Sec , Daly Tyler . Tho W . M . had the pleasure of presenting to his predecessor a Past Master's jewel , his remarks in doing so being of a most complimentary character , and calling forth great enthusiasm from the brethren . After somo other items of bnsiness had been disposed of , Bro . Stiles initiated five gentlemen into the mysteries of the Craft , viz . : —

Messrs . Henry Hawthorn , David Raphael Bryce , John Rogers , Thomas Rapson , and James Jay , and afterwards announced bis intention of serving the office of Steward at tho next Festival of tho Boyal Masonio Institution for Boys , hoping that the Lodge and brethren generally would rally round him and render bis list worthy of the Metropolitan Lodgo . It was proposed and seconded that Bro . Side

be invited to act as Steward , and represent tho Lodge , at tbe Girls' School Festival , tbe Lodge voting twenty guineas and paying tho expense of the Stewardship , which proposition on being put to the vote was carried unanimously . Lodge was then closed , and the brethren proceeded to the crypt of the Hotel where banquet was served . At its conclusion , and after grace , the W . M ,

proceeded with the usnal toasts . Tliat of the Queen and the Craft having been honoured , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales was given . The brethren all knew the interest he took in Freemasonry ; only the day previous he was at Swansea , and there he , as usual , had done all thafc lay in his power for the good of the district , while tbe Masonio bretb . ren had done their best to welcome him . The next toast—that of tho

Pro G . M ., tbe Deputy G . M ., and the other Grand Officers , having been given , Bro . Side assumed the gavel and proposed the health of the W . M . It afforded him a great amonnt of pleasure to have to propose the health of so eminent and worthy a brother as their W . M . He felt the Lodge had a great treat in store for the future . Bro . Stiles was a Mason worthy of high rank in the Craft , being second to none , either

as regarded his knowledge of the ritual , or of his Masonic principles generally . The toast was heartily received , in true Metropolitan style . Bro . Stiles tendered his reply . He could but say how much he thanked his I . P . M ., and the brethren generally for the way in which they had honored the toast of his health . As one of the first five initiates of the Lodge , he looked upon its

present position with pride . Having worked through all the offices , he was now pleased to fignre as Master of so popular a Lodge as the Metropolitan . He could only hope ifc might be worked in the future as it had been in the past , and that , as Master , he might be instrumental in advancing its interests . He felt thafc he had a somewhat difficult task before him as he followed so good a Mason as Bro . Side .

He could only hope his year of office might prove as successful as thafc of Bro . Side had been , and that afc the end of his term the brethren of the Lodgo wonld have as good an opinion of him as they now seemed to enjoy . After a song , he gave the next toasta very important one—really the backbone of the Metropolitan Lodge . He wonld propose , first , the I . P . M ., and then the health of the P . M . ' s

generally . The work of the I . P . M . in the Lodge was too well known to need any comment , or require any commendation . The jewel that had been presented to him by the Lodge , and the usual reception accorded to him by the brethren , were sufficient proofs of the appreciation with which his working in the past was regarded . He could only say that it was the hope of all connected with the Metro

politan Lodge that Bro . Side should long be numbered amongst its members . As regarded the other Past Masters , in Bro . Michael they had a worthy and trusty Mason , ever ready to fulfil any dnty required of him . For many years past he had nofc missed one of their meetings . Both as Past Master and Secretary he had done mnch to advance the interests of the Metropolitan Lodge . Bro . Scales had

given very material assistance , and was deserving the best wishes of the members . Bro . Kingham had worked through the Lodge with " a great amount of eclat ; and since the time that he bad filled the chair he had done everything in his power to further the interests of the Lodge . Bro . Willing—the Treasnrer—was too well known to need any enlo ^ j . They all regretted his absence from the

festivities of the day , but it was unavoidable . The Worshipfnl Master was very sorry that Bro . Fast Master Williams was still unable to attend the meetings , in consequence of ill-health He was sure he was right in saying that every member of the Lodge wished him better , and trusted that they might , at no very distant date , havo him again among them . Bro . Douglas was also

absent , his many duties rendering ifc impossible for him to attend . The brethren could not be unmindful of what he had done for the Lodge . As one of the P . M . ' s he was fully entitled to every honour the brethren could confer . He would conclude by wishing the Past Masters , one and all , very good health . Bro . Side was tho first to reply . He felt at a loss to know in what terms to sufficiently

thank Bro . Stiles and the brethren for the way they had honoured him . As he had previously said in the Lodge , ho was highly delighted at having arrived at the position of a Past Master of the Metropolitan Lodge . The way iu which tho brethren had received him , gave him assurance that he had met their approval in the way he had performed the ceremony of installation . Ifo was sure they need havo no

fear as to the ability of their present Master . He hoped he might always do his duty in snch a way as to merit the approval with which he had been greeted that night . Bro . Michael followed . The Past Master fully endorsed all that Bro . Side had said . As a P . M ., he thought tho W . M . had scarcely given the I . P . M . all tho credit that was due to him . Bro . Side had had an uphill task , and had left tho

Lodge in a splendid condition . He thought tho less experienced brethren would do well if they consulted one or other of tho P . M . ' s before making any proposition to the Lodge , ono in particular , thathad been submitted that evening , being singularly nnfortunate . A brother had proposed that Bro . Side be mado an honorary member , in recogniti " ' ! of his services to tho Lodge . Bro . Michael explained

Installation Meetings, &C.

that the effect of passing such a resolution would have deprived Bro . Side of a voice in the management of the Lodge , and forfeited hia right to speak in Grand Lodge . Tho Past Masters had every reason to be prond of the present position of the Metropolitan Lodge . Bros . Kingham and Scales followed , and then the W . M . proposed tho Initiates . Ho had the pleasure that day of receiving into tho Lodge

five gentlemen whom he was , as Master , glad to welcome . Ho felt that the brethren must also be gratified at the accessions made to their ranks . Every Lodge , of necessity , required initiates , even if for no other reason than to keep the Officers up to their work . He hoped that all of those initiated thafc day might be among the members of the Metropolitan Lodge for many years to come , and that ,

at one time or other , they would attain to the rank of Master of a Lodge . Each of the five new members having replied , the Master proposed the Visitors . To each and all the Lodge accorded the heartiest of welcome , and were proud to be ablo to extend the hand of good fellowship to so many . The W . M . was especially pleased to see among them Bro . Rimington P . P . G . S . W . Jersey , as he conld

testify to the admirable way in whicb Masonry was carried out in the Island , also Bro . Storr , Secretary to the Lodge of Instruction attached to the one in whicb he was now W . M . to these , and to Bro . Osborn W . M . 1602 and Bro . Lovegrove P . M . P . P . G . S . of W . Middlesex , he would leave the task of replying , feeling that in so doing he had selected fair representative Masons . Bro . Osborn felt thafc the W . M

had imposed on him a gigantic task , and although he was hardl y capable of expressing all the thoughts of the numerous visitors he might safely say they one and all congratulated the Lodge on the way in whioh it was worked . The reception accorded the Visitors was worth y of every commendation . He had been honoured with invites to many Lodges , and had some experience on which to form an opinion . He

could fairly congratulate the Lodge on its general conduct of Masonic affairs . Bro . Rimington felt that the W . M . had given to his name a prominence it hardly deserved . His experience of Freemasonry was really very limited , although he had been a Mason some sixt y years ; judging by what be knew of the Craft , he had no hesitation in saying that the Metropolitan Lodge was fully entitled to rank as

one of the best in the country . Bro . Storr , on behalf of other V ' sifcors , added his thanks . He could but say that the Metropolitan Lodge was greatly prized by him , as therein he usually met most of the friends ho had in Masonry . He felt that the Lodge , renowned as ifc was throughout the village of London , would become more so nnder the presidency of its present Worshipful Master , who might be relied upon

to carry out Freemasonry in its integrity . Bro . Ferguson felt ifc a very great bononr to be allowed to add a few words on behalf of the Visitors . He congratulated the Lodge on its initiates of tbe day . If they only worked in Freemasonry in the same spirit as that in which they had been received , they must eventually fill high offices in the Craft . Bro . Thomas also replied , after which tbe W . M . proposed the

Charities , coupling with the toast the name of Bro . Mason ( Collector R . M . B . I . ) , who , in the course of his reply , urged on the brethren to do all that lay in their power for the Benevolent Institution , which , without some special effort on the part of brethren throughout the country , would next year find itself unable to meet the demands made on its funds . It was a subject of regret to bim that the

Metropolitan Lodge had no Steward to represent it afc the next Festival in aid of the " Old People , " , but afc the same time they had a past to whicb to refer , a past in whicb they had done well , and worked hard for the Aged , who wero compelled to appeal to the go < 1 nature of their fellow Craftsmen . The toast of the Officers followed . We may here remark that both the Senior and Junior Wardens afc present fill the chair in other Lodges , so that the rulers of the

Metropolitan Lodge for some time to come will have the benefit of past experience in ruling its destinies , whenever they may be called upon to guide them . The toast having been honoured and acknowledged , the Tyler was summoned , and he bronght the proceedings to a close . The meeting waa in evei / way a success , tho attendance being larger than at any pre ^ ous meeting of tbe Lodge ; ifc was a severe tax on Bro . Clemow , the proprietor of the hotel , but he , ifc need hardly ho said , was quite equal to the occasion .

ST . GEORGE'S LODGE , No . 900 , TEWKESBURY

THE Right Hon . Sir Michael Hicks-Beach , Bart ., M . P ., Right Worshipful Grand Master of tbe Province of Gloucestershire , paid his first official visit to this Lodge on Monday , when he was met by a largo gathering of tbe members of the Provinco . The Prov . Grand Master was accompanied by the Deputy Prov . Grand Master , W . Bro . J . Brook-Smith . The chair was occupied by Bro . E . T . Gregory ( of Cheltenham ) P . M . Prov . G . D . C . W . M ., supported by

Bros . F . Moore , R . Chandler , Rev . — Grove , H . S . Crump , T . M . James , Dr . Packer , G . Norman , E . Gandy , E . H . Edgell . Amongst the other brethren present were : —Bros . W . II . Gwinnett , H , Godfrey , N . H . Treasure , Baron de Ferriers , W . Anslow Sole , W , Forth , J . Bubb , J . L . Butler , W . H . James , J . Balcomb , T . Collins , W . L . Bain , W . R . Porchor , F . B . Sellers , E . Lawrence , S . Moss , A . B . Rye , J . Brutou , R . A . Matthews , H . Wilmotfc , Sweeting , Allard ,

J . T . Darby , E . Fisher , J . W . Hawkins , Moody , Browett , Frceuiau , Hodgkitis , J . Dro ^ Yn , J . M . James , F . W . Bay , & c . The ll . W . Piov . Grand Master and the Deputy Prov . Grand Master were received with the customary honours duo to their eminent rank by a deputation of Provincial Officers , and with great cordiality by the brethreu . Tho Lodge was held in tho Town Hall , and tbe subsequent dinner at the Swan Hotel .

Grey ITriars Lodge , No . 1101 . —A mooting was hold on Wednesday , 12 th October , at the Masonic Hall , Reading . Present—Broi . W . Ferguson W . M ., J . Early Danks I . P . M ., E . J . BlackwcH S W ., Richard Dowsett J . W ., J . T . Stransom Treas ., W . P . l > ° y P . M . Sec , Rev . C R . Honey S . D ., J . II . Hawkes J . D ., W . Hickio On'unisl , W . Ravcnscroffc Steward , R . C . Prickott I . G . j "