Reports Of Meetings.

The W . M . replied . He felt the compliments paid him were sincere . He was a founder of the Lodge , and hoped to exercise the experience he had gained , as Master of another Lodge , fco its benefit . Ifc was especially gratifying to have the toast proposed by his own father , though he thought many other of the members would have liked the opportunity of saying equally kind things on his behalf .

The toast of the Past Masters was next given from the chair . The present position of tbe Lodge supplied ample proof as to the ability of its rulers in the past , and the Master felt thoso who had proceeded him in office might be relied on to continue their efforts on its behalf .

Bros . Reynolds , Handcock , Woolley and Kedge responded , and then the Master gavo the toast of the Visitors , coupling with it the names of several of the guests . Other toasts followed , and the proceedings ended with the

Tyler ' s toast . The music of the evening was under tho direction of Bro . Schartau Organist of the Lodge , who was well seconded in his efforts to please , a noticeable part of fche evening ' s entertainment being some very clever displays of sleight of hand with a pack of cards . o o o

BARNET LODGE , No . 2509 . rpHE firsfc regular meeting of this Lodge , which was consecrated JL on 28 fch May , was held on the 14 th inst ., at the Assembly Rooms , New Barnet , when the following Officers and members were present , viz .: Bros . J . Morrison McLeod W . M ., William Belchamber P . M . acting I . P . M ., Robert Cranston S . W ., J . A . Witthaus J . W ., H . T . Matthews , CO ., Treasurer , F . S . Plowright Secretary , John Falconer S . D ., F . E . Witthaus J . D ., W . Sergeant

Lee P . M . Director of Ceremonies , Wm . Baddeley I . G ., Harold Imray Steward , Wm . Fitch Assistant Steward , Frank Attree , J . Spencer Chapman , J . McLeod Rainsford . Visitors : Charles Ellis 1385 , Dr . Jas . Haskins Prov . G . Organist Essex 1364 , S . Wright W . M . Elect 2426 , S . E . Shotter I . G . 1965 . L . G . Reinhardt Tyler .

The minutes of the Consecration and Installation meeting having been read and confirmed , the ballot was taken for Mr . G . S . Passmore , M . D ., Mr . F . R . Newbery and the Rev . G . E . Gardner , M . A ., and declared unanimous in their favour , whereupon the two former gentlemen being in attendance were initiated into Freemasonry by the Worshipful Master in an exemplary manner .

The Secretary reported various valuable and interesting presentations to the Lodge by the Founders , among other things being a Tyler ' s Sword by the W . M ., which had formerly belonged to his father , a set of excellent Tracing Boards by Brother William Baddeley I . G . drawn and painted by himself ; aud by the first Officers the Collars and Silver Jewels of their respective offices . The thanks of the Lodge were heartily accorded to the various donors .

The infant daughter of Bro . J . Spencer Chapman , one of fche Founders , was nominated as a Lady Stoward to represent the Lodge at the forthcoming Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , and the Lodge will thereby probably achieve the distinction of being represented , for the first time , by the youngest Lady Steward on record .

All labour being ended , the Lodge was closed , and the Brethren adjourned to refreshment . A pleasant evening was spent , the usual toasts being given by the W . M . in a style that betrayed the practised speaker , while tbe Initiates responded to their healths by neat and effective speeches which met with the warm approval of the Brethren .

The toast of the Visitors was duly responded to by each of the guests . Songs and recitations enlivened the proceedings throughout the evening . o o o

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

* v »——ST . JOHN'S LODGE , No . 70 . PRESENTATIONS of valuable Masonic records and emblems were made to this Lodge ( the oldest in South Devon ) , at its regular meeting held at the Freemasons' Hall and Club , Princess Square , Plymouth , on Tuesday , the 5 th inst . The W . M . Bro . John Goad was in the chair , and there was a large attendance of members and visitors .

The work of the Lodge having been carried out . Bro . John Du Pre P . M . P . P . G . D . C . asked the Lodge ' s acceptance of a portrait of the late Rev . Bro . John Huyshe , M . A ., the revered P . P . G . Master of Devon , with a copy of the address sent to him by the Lodges of the Three Towns ( the chairmen of tho Committee being Bro . L . P . Metham P . M . P . P . G . J . W . and Bro . J .

B . Gover P . M . P . P . G . Secretary ) on his retirement , and the Rev . Brother's reply thereto . Bro . Du Pre said it had been wished for a long time to present something to his Mother Lodge to keep in his memory , and it had occurred to him that the portrait of their late esteemed Provincial Grand Master would be most acceptable , not only to the Brethren of the Lodge , but also to those who visited it .

He referred to the fact fchat to those who had the privilege to sit under Bro . Huyshe " to know him was to love him . " Bro . Huyshe had rare qualities which bufc few did equal ; his gentleness of manner and kindliness of spirit were noticeable whether presiding at a Masonic Lodge or in private , and his advice and counsels we ' re

nearly always taken without contradiction . Such were a few of the virtues of their late dearly-beloved P . G . M ., and the presence of his portrait on the walls would endear him to their memory more than words he- mighfc express . The pictures were beautifully framed , and bore on a tablet the following inscription : —

Provincial.

Lodge St . John , No . 70 , from W . BRO . J . Du PRE P . M . P . P . G . D . C . Presented on Sth June 1894 . The W . M ., in proposing the acceptance oi the pictures by the Lodge , said they were deeply indebted to Bro . Du Pre for his liberality and thoughtfulness . Through the kindness and

beneficence of many Brethren , Lodge St . John had a rare and valuable collection of Masonic pictures , plates , jewels , & c , and he appealed to Brethren who had any antique Masonic pictures , jewels , or books , to contribute the same to the Lodge . Bro . John B . Gover P . M . and Secretary 70 P . P . G . Secretary , in seconding the resolution , said that although Bro . Du Pre was an

older Mason than himself—having been a member of the Order for over fifty years—he could claim to be the father of Lodge St . John , having joined it two months before Bro . Du Pre . They had stuck to the Lodge through all its vicissitudes for over forty years , and increased the membership from about twenty to 110 and the St . John , No . 1247 , was a child of 70 . Brother Du Pre had always

proved himself to be a good , loyal , and zealous Mason , and no one knew better than they did the , grand and glorious work which the Rev . Bro . John Huyshe did , not only for Masonry in Devonshire , bufc througout England . Bro . Huyshe presented the picture they had that evening to Bro . Du Pre personally , and his great interest in his Lodge and love for Masonry prompted him to hand it over to Lodge 70 , to be kept amongst their archives .

Bro . J . H . Keats P . M ., who said he attended his mother Lodge for the first time for twenty years , to pay a tribute of respect and honour to Bro . Du Pre , and Bro . G . R . Stanlake S . W ., on behalf of the junior members of the Lodge , supported the resolution , which was carried with acclamation .

Bro . J . Du Pre , in reply , gave a short bufc admirable address on the principle of Freemasonry , and exhorted the young members to maintain them pure and unsullied . On behalf of Bro . J . Gidley P . M . P . P . G . S . B . ( who is absent

from town for the benefit of his health ) , Bro . W . H . Dillon W . M . 1099 then presented to the Lodge ( enclosed in a rich frame ) an antique Masonic apron , bearing well-executed emblazoned emblems of the Craft , Mark , Ark and Arch Degrees . It was said to he about the only ono known , and the inscription on the front of the frame ran : — Presented to Lodge St . John , No . 70 , by W . BRO . JAMES GIDLEY P . M . P . P . G . S . B ., 5 fch June 1894 . The gift , which was greatly admired , was cordially accepted , and cordial votes of thanks were passed to Bros . Du Pre and Gidley for their noble presentations .

In the refectory room the health of Bro . J . Du Pre was heartily drunk , on the proposition of Bro . J . B . Gover , who said that although they would learn with regret the fact thafc Bro . Du Pre was about shortly to leave the town , he was sure he would carry with him the hearty good wishes of all Masons .

MINERVA LODGE , No . 250 . AT a fully-attended meeting held on the 13 th inst ., at the Masonic Hall , Dagger Lane , Hull , Bro . James Alexander Brown was unanimously elected Worshipful Master for the coming year . His accession to the important office will no doubt be received , says the " Eastern Morning News , " by the Brethren of kindred Lodges with the greatest satisfaction . o o o

NEW FOREST LODGE , No . 319 . AT the monthly meeting held on Tuesday , 12 th inst ., at the Lodge room , Bugle Hotel , Lymington , there was the usual attendance of Brethren , including some Visitors . The ceremonies of the day were impressively performed by the W . M . Bro . C . R . Hayball , and at the close the Brethren adjourned to a banquet , provided by Bro . Postmaster Dore . boo

DOVE VALLEY MARK LODGE , No . 353 . THE annual festival and installation was recently held at the Town Hall , Ashbourne , when Bro . A . M . Wither S . W . was installed as Worshipful Master for the year . The ceremony was ably performed by Bro . Howell P . P . G . J . O . fche retiring W . M . assisted by Bro . Percy Wallis P . P . G . S . D . The W . M . then invested his Officers .

After tho ceremony the Brethren adjourned to the Green Man Hotel , where a capital banquet had been prepared by Mrs . Wallis , after which the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were given ; o o o

HADRIAN LODGE , No . 1970 . ON fche 4 th inst . fche monthly meeting was held in the Freemasons ' Hall , Ingham Street , South Shields . Bro . R . Farmer W . M . presided , and there was a good attendance of Officers and members . The Lodge was on this occasion honoured with a visit of Present

and Past Grand Officers of the Province of Durham . After the business had been gone through and the Lodge closed in due form , supper was partaken of , Brother Farmer W . M , presiding . <

The usual Loyal and Masonic toasts wore heartily honoured , Bro . Hudson replying for the Grand Lodge of England , and Bro , Hartley Campbell for Provincial Grand Lodge .

Musical honours wero accorded to the toast , and Bro . J . Du Pre feelingly replied . Other toasts followed . o o o