Meetings Next Week.

246 7 Pickwick , Anderton ' s Hotel 2488 Eccentric , Cafe Royal 2 511 St . John at Hackney , Finsbury 44 Friendship , Albion , Manchester 242 St . George , F . M . H ., Doncaster 291 Rural Philanthropic , Highbridge

306 Alfred , F . M . H ., Leeds 318 True and Faithful , F . M . H ., Helston 355 Royal Sussex of Emulation , Swtnd . m 401 Royal Forest , Slaidburn 426 Shakespeare , F . M . H ., Spilsby 445 Fidelity , Pomfret , Towcester 460 Sutherland of Unity , Newcastle-u-Lyne

521 Truth , F . M . H ., Huddersfield 566 St . Germain , F . M . H ., Selby = 74 Loval Berkshire of Hope , Newbury 601 St . John , Wellington , Salop 652 Holme Valley , Victoria , Holmfirth 608 Ryde , F . M . H ., Ryde

709 Invicta of Ashford , Bank St , Ashford 712 Lindsey , F . M . H ., Louth 8 ^ 7 De Grey and Ripon , Town Hall , Ripon 93 6 Adair , White Lion , Aldeburgh 951 Prince of Wales , F . M . H ., Stow-o-Wold

Meetings Next Week.

100 9 Shakespeare , F . M . H ., Manchester 1034 Ecclcshill , F . M . H ., Bradford 1074 Underley , Mas . R ., Kirkby Lonsdale 1130 Rutland , George , Melton Mowbray , 1224 Stour Valley , F . M . H ., Sudbury 1230 Barnard , F . M . H ., Barnard'Castle 1232 Hereward , Angel , Bourne 136 3 Tyndall , Church Institute , Gloucester 1375 Architect , F . M . H ., Chorlton-cum-Hardy

1405 Southwell , F . M . H ., Nottingham 1547 Liverpool , F . M . H ., Liverpool 1561 Morecambe , King ' s Arms , Morecambc 164 S Prince of'Wales , F . M . H ., Bradford 1664 Gosforth , F . M . H ., Gosforth 1725 Douglas ,. Ancient College , Maidstone 1739 Carnarvon , F . M . H ., Swadlincote ¦

1754 Windsor , F . M . H ., Penarth 1 S 3 8 Tudor of Rifle Volunteers , Wolverh'ton 1993 Wolseley , Trevalyan , Manchester 2001 Narberth ., Masonic Rooms , Narberth 2200 Fairfield , Alexandra , Liverpool 2491 White Rose of York , F . M . H ., Sheffield 256 9 St . Trillo ,. Oxford Bdgs ., Colwyn Bay 2605 Wyreside , Town Hall , Garstang 2680 Swinburne , F . M . H ., Newcastle-on-Tyne

Meetings Next Week.

Saturday . 1572 Carnarvon , Albion 1928 Cullery , Anderton's Hotel 21 S 2 Sterndale Bennett , Surrey Masonic Hall 2466 Chcerybles , Freemasons' Hall 276 3 Harringay , Salisbury , Harringay

149 Peace , F . M . H ., Meltham , Yorks . 308 Pr . George , Station House , Todmorden 33 6 Benevolence , Jolly Sailor , Marple 370 St . George , F . M . H ., Chertsey 13 62 Royal Albert Edward , Redhill 1388 Canynges , F . M . H ., Bristol 1466 Hova Ecclesia , Old Ship , Brighton 145 8 Truth , Mitre , Manchester 1494 Felix , Mitre , Hampton Court icso i rudence , F . M . H ., Plymouth

1929 Mozart , Greyhound , Croydon 2077 Epping , Royal Forest , Chingford 2323 Bushey Hall , The Hall , Bushey 2331 Ravenscroft , Red Lion , Barnet 2473 ' Molesey , Castle , East Molesey 2493 Vale of Eden , Tufton Arms , Appleby 2499 North Kent , F . M . H ., Bexley Heath 2733 Loyal Travellers , F . M . H ., Birmingham

Reports Of Meetings.

REPORTS OF MEETINGS .

We shall be pleased to receive particulars of Masonic meetings top insertion in our columns , and where desired will endeavour to send a representative , to report Lodge or other proceedings . We do not sanction anyone attending Lodge meetings as our representative without a specific invitation .

CRAFT : METROPOLITAN . — : o : — Vitruvian Lodge , No . 8 7 . THE annual election , Ladies banquet , concert and ball of this very old and prosperous Lodge took place on Wednesday , 13 th inst ., at the Bridge House Hotel , London Bridge , S . E ., when a more than ordinarily large number of Brethren foregathered : firstly to attend

to their Masonic duties , with the pleasant intention of giving their unanimous vote to Brother Thomas Woods who , as the Senior Warden of the Lodge , came next in rotation for election as Worshipful Master for the ensuing twelve mbnths ; and afterwards to associate with a- most charming and pleasant company of ladies and friends , who assembled to participate in the enjoyment and

pleasures of the Lodge entertainment . It proved one of the most enjoyable meetings we have had the pleasure of witnessing . The Lodge was opened with praiseworthy punctuality at 4 . 30 , by Bro . W . A . Hardy Worshipful Master , who received support from the following Officers : Bros . J . Conquest I . P . M ., T . Woods

S . W ., Lewis Lake J . W ., W . H . Bale P . M . Treasurer , E . W . Nightingale P . M . Secretary , R . Chenery S . D ., J . Reynolds J . D ., W . Dinnie I . G ., Smith D . C ., E . G . Taylor , R . Fitch , and P . A . Down Stewards , Janaway Tyler ; Past Masters A . J . Swash , J . H . Gray , J . Davidson , etc .

The minutes of the last regular and emergency meetings were read and confirmed . The annual elections were then proceeded with , Bro . Thomas Woods being unanimously chosen Master of the Lodge for the ensuing twelve months , the result of the ballot being heartily received by the Brethren on announcement by Bro . Hardy W . M . Bro . Woods thanked the W . M . and Brethren for their unanimous

vote appointing him ruler of the Lodge ; as long as the Great Architect of the Universe gave him health and strength he would endeavour to fulfil every duty that was expected of him , and follow the good example of the present W . M . and his predecessors in the chair .

Bro . W . H . Bale P . M . was re-elected Treasurer and Brother Janaway Tyler . Bro . Bale P . M . in eloquent and complimentary terms pi-oposed that a Past Master ' s jewel be presented to the W . M . on the night of installation , for the very able manner in which he had fulfilled

the duties of the chair , during his year of Office . Bro . T . Woods W . M .-elect seconded , and it was unanimously carried . The W . M . thanked the Brethren for their kindness , and hoped to wear the jewel amongst them for many years to come . He would have more to say on the installation night .

Bros . J . Reynolds , J . Goodall , G . E . Taylor , and C . Athow were appointed Auditors , and the following elected for the Benevolent Association Committee : Bros . A . J . Swash P . M ., J . Conquest P . M ., J . ' Reynolds , G . E . Taylor , W . Dinnie , J . Alderson , E . Hancock , and G . H . Elliott .

Amongst the communications read b y the Secretary was a letter from a Past Master of the Lodge , sending in his resignation . Bro . Bale P . M . Treas . was sorrv to hear it , and hoped it would not be accepted ; he proposed that the Secretary should write a letter to the Brother , asking him to reconsider his intention ; they would be pleased to add his name to the- list of country members . The W . M . had very much pleasure in supporting this suggestion and it was carried unanimously .

The Lodge was then closed , and the Brethren repaired to the reception room , to welcome their lad y friends and other visitors . The W . M ., with his wife , received the company , and after a social

Reports Of Meetings.

and pleasant chat the W . M ., with Mrs . Hardy , led the way to the large banqueting room , where the company , numbering over two hundred , sat down to dinner . The tables were beautifully decorated with flowers and tasteful ornaments , the dinner was all that could be desired , and reflected great credit on Bro . Callingham the popular host of the establishment . During the repast a string band , under the direction of Bro . Clement Harris , played some excellent selections .

Grace having been said , the W . M . in a short but eloquent speech gave the toast of His Majesty the King which was received with musical honours , Miss Marion Lewis singing the National Anthem . Bro . J . H-. Gray P . M . proposed the toast of the Worshipful Master , and in doing so said he considered it a most pleasurable

duty . It was pleasant to himself , and congenial to the Brethren of the Lodge , to honour the worthy Brother who that night occupied the chair of the Lodge .. He Had proved himself to be a man of integrity , and strictly honourable in all his actions during his career in the Lodge . He was one of nature ' s truest sons , and had fulfilled the duties of his various Offices with credit to himself and

to the honour of the Lodge with which he was associated ; he certainly had not been a meteor in the sky amongst Masons ; neither had he been a Crichton , dazzling all he came in contact with , but rather a simple honest man . Princes and lords were but the breath of kings , but an honest man was the noblest work of God

—what better credentials then could a man desire ? In the name of the Lodge he wished that success might attend him and the members of his family in all their undertakings , and that they might long enjoy the best of good health . The toast was enthusiastically received , as also was the W . M . on rising to respond .

Bro . Hardy said he did not know what to say after the eloquent speech of Bro . Gray , and the hearty way in" which the Brethren and visitors had received the toast . What he had done in the Lodge had truly been a labour of love ; and he was not alone delighted , but happy to hear he had given satisfaction . He was well

rewarded in having their approbation , and trusted the Vitruvian Lodge might continue to prosper ; might their children , and their children ' s children desire to be initiated in the ancient Lodge . In conclusion he again thanked the Ladies , Gentlemen and Brethren , and trusted they might continue to enjoy themselves .

Bro . Cattell was called upon by the W . M . to propose the toast of the Ladies . He said once a year it was their privilege and pleasure to gather round them those ladies they most esteemed , and it would ill become them if the - allowed the occasion to pass without giving them some proof of how much they appreciated their presence among them that evening . The worthy Chairman

and his Brother Officers had not spared cither trouble or expense to give the Ladies the very heartiest of greetings—in fact the same spirit prevailed with all the members of the Lodge . He was glad that it was so , and trusted that it would ever remain the same , because he felt it would bring out a sweet loving response . Addressing the Ladies he said he knew the work of the j ^ odge

sometimes kept the Brethren a little later than was approved of , but he felt if he could only explain one tenth of the great work their Brotherhood was doing the Ladies would feel proud—as he believed many of theni already were—that their husband , sweetheart or brother had taken upon himself the great and solemn obligation of a Freemason . He was at liberty to point out to them one of thr

things for which the Craft was renowned in all parts of the worldhe meant its Charities . It often happened that as they approached the end of their lives the vitality so necessary in these days of competition to keep , as it were , one's head above water , diminished , and being cast aside they became poor in consequence . If such an •affliction came upon them it was a blessing to know they could find a resting place for themselves and their wife in the home for

Aged Freemasons . Again , many of them were cut oil in the prime of life , leaving children dependent on the not too merciful world . For such the Boys and Girls Institutions were open , ancl provided education and maintenance . The members of the Craft were thankful to know that above all things their worthy Brethren would never rest until something was accomplished'in such a direction for those of the Brethren who needed it . This great work , he might remind them , was being clone in every country in the world , and