Installation Meetings, &C.

£ 44 000 had been subscribed in support of the three great . Masonic Charities . These institutions needed no words of his to commend them to the notice of the brethren . They were the essence of Free , masonry , and however much somo of the brethren might at * times appear to devote attention to the social side , that was always secondary to the charitable . He was pleased to see Bro . Binckes , Secretary to

the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , present . The brethren would also be glad to know that Bro . Scott their esteemed Deputy Provincial Grand Master had already over £ 600 on his list as Steward afc the next Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Fund . He ( Bro . Rossiter ) had no donbt that another year other Masouic charitable institutions would receive an equal amount of support . Bro .

Fred . Binckes Secretary to the R . M . Institution for Boys , although he was more particularly connected with one of the Institutions , replied on behalf of all the Masonio Charities . This , he said , was not tho firsfc time he had been amongst the Hastings Masons ; ho had often had an opportunity of meeting them before , and while he could not claim the charm for novelty , he did not fear tbo " familiarity which

breeds contempt . " On the old subject of the Masonic Charities he had often addressed them , and he had not much on the present occasion specially to advance on behalf of the Boys' School . All the Charities must havo their turn . He came that day to thank the brethren of Sussex for the hearty support which they gavo to Bro . Scott in January last . All the Charities were equally deserving , and

after having given all a turn he asked them to th ink of the Boys . While the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution had £ 42 , 000 in . vested , and the Girls' School £ 40 , 000 , the Boys * School had onl y £ 10 , 000 , so thafc they were comparatively poor , and he asked them to take that fact into consideration when in doubt as to where they shonld give . He came that day , at some inconvenience , through

the seductive letter of his old and respected friend and brother , Dr . Trollope , who reminded him that it was some time since they had seen him in Hastings . Ho looked back to many years of kind assistance received from friends in Sussex , and particularly from the "ood town of Hastings . He paid a very high compliment to tho sincerity of Past Master Trollope , whom he had known for years as a

hardworking Mason . He felfc sure before he came that although Sussex was pledged to support the Benevolent Institution this year , yet Heaven was canny , and he felfc that if he came and acknowledged past kindnesses received , thafc they would not be forgotten . He ( Bro . Binckes ) was fond of attending social meetings , and whenever opportunity offered , he never omitted urging the claims of the Charities .

He was not so yonng as he once was , and he missed the faces of many friends and supporters . Still he was deli ghted that so many had been spared to meet again . While enjoying prosperity themselves let their hearts be disposed to assist the sons and daughters of those they had known in days gone by . If many knew what he and others who were officially connected with their great Chari ties knew of the

distress that existed , they wonld see that behind all thafc magnificent hospitality there was a black curtain of distress . On such occasions they always advocated the cause of Charity . He loved the social side of Freemasonry , he loved the charitable side , and had done his best to relieve the distress which existed . Bro . Binckes concluded a long and eloquent appeal by reminding the brethren that , rich as the

fraternity was , there was a large and increasing amount of Masonic distress , which could only be relieved by their contributing freely to all the Institutions . He spoke nofc for one , but for all the Charities . The " Tyler ' s Toast" brought the proceedings to a close . The musical portion was contributed by Bros . Lewns , Russell , Joseph , and Marwick , while Bros . Dr . Abram and R . Draycon accompanied .

LODGE OF ANTIQUITY , No . 146 , BOLTON . THE installation meeting of the above Lod ge was held on Wednesday , the 14 th January , at the Bull ' s Head Inn , Bradshawgate , Bolton . There was a large muster of the brethren on the occasion , amongst them being Bros . Robert Horridge W . M ., James Dooley S . W ., W . Cooper J . W ., W . Nicholson , H . Ainsworth , John Morris , J . Wild , T . Collins P . M . ' s . Visitors—Bros . S . Crowther P . M . 37 Prov

Grand Supt . of Works , J . Newton P . M . 37 , J . Alcock P . M . 348 , J . Harwood P . M . 348 , Wolstenholmo P . M . 348 , Rigby W . M . 206 Natal , Nicholson W . M . 1723 , & c . The Lodge was opened in the first degree , and the minntes read and confirmed . The Lodge was opened in the second degree , when Bro . John Wild P . M . took the chair as Installing Master , and at once proceeded to instal tho AV . M . elect , Bro . J . Dooley ,

into the chair of K . S ., according to ancient cnstotn . This ceremony being completed , the W . M . appointed his Officers for the ensuing year , and they were invested by Bro . Wild , viz . —Bros . W . Cooper ' s . W . G . Taylor J . W ., W . Nicholson Treasurer ( re-elected ) , M . Burgess Secretary , R . Duxburv S . D ., J . Galloway J . D .. J . Morris M . fl ° ff

Heywood O ., Fred . Williams I . G ., H . Bronghton Tyler , T . Rimmer , J . Kennedy Stewards . The I . P . M . Bro . Robert Horridge was pre - sented by the Lodgo with a P . M . ' s jewel . Hearty good wishes were expressed by the visiting brethren , the Lodge was closer ' , and the brethren adjourned to banquet .

SINCEBITY LODGE , No . 174 . f"PHE installation meeting waa held on Wednesday , the 21 sfc instant . - *• The chairwas occupied by the W . M . Bro . G . T . H . Seddon , who was supported by his Officers , a goodly number of Past Masters , among whom we may mention Bros . Appleby , S . Rawley , John Newton , E . J . Moore , Charles Lacey , Barlow , Savnco , niuiard

¦ , and the following visitors : —Bros . J . Terry 228 J . J . Berry P . M . 554 , G . Huggett 1625 , C Norden 205 , Dufresny 1275 , T . Pnzoy 1107 , J . H . Osman 1694 , E . J . Anning W . M . 1 625 , J . D . E . Tarr 1293 , Sindall 1293 , Fardell 554 , Ellis 933 , W VV allingtonP . M . 860 , Barr W . M . 1766 , Brooks P . M . 902 , T . J . Barnes f . M . 933 , W . R . Marsh 933 , F . Brener 205 , S . Carringtou S . W , 1314 ,

Installation Meetings, &C.

E . J . I . egge P . M . 1190 , C . A . Morgan 1607 , G . II . Stephens 1623 , F . Can- 1607 , V .. T . Ileum . ™ 1423 , G . Kobey 1805 , W . H . G . Rudderforth W . M . 1668 , \ T . Much 211 , R . If . filatehford W . M . 1196 , W . W . Morgan Secretary 211 , T . Maidwell P . M . 27 , tee . On the loth inst . the members of this Lodgo hold an omergency meetingj by this means they had materially lessened the labour to

bo gone through on this tho installation night . The first business was to read tho minutes of tho last regular meebing and thoso of tho emergency referred to above ; theso duly received confirmation , and then the principal event of tho day , the installation of Bro . Webb , was proceeded with . Bro . Seddon has , during his Mastership , well sustained the reputation tho Lodge bears for competent

working , and performed the ceremony most ably . In duo course , tho members wero rc-admitted , and Bro . Webb was saluted . He appointed tho following Officers : —Bros . G . T . H . Seddon I . P . M ., G . Jones S . W ., R Brown J . W ., S . H . Rawley P . M . Treasurer , - J . Newton P . M . Secretary , J . S . Fraser S . D ., A . H . Brown J . D ., T . F . Harvey I . G ., W . Fraser D . C , J . Miller W . S ., J . Very Tylor .

The next duty was to present the I . P . M . with the jewel which the Lodge had voted him ; this Bro . Webb did in most graceful terms , and Bro . Seddon briefly acknowledged the kindness of the brethren . Ho accepted their gift , not as a testimonial for doing his duties , but for getting through them . A ballot was taken for a candidate , Mr . Gnrney , and thafc gentleman was introduced and initiated by

3 ro . Webb . Routine bnsiness followed ; the case of a distressed brother , an old member of the Lddge , was brought under notice by the Secretary , Bro . P . M . Newton , who forcibly depicted tho sad condition in whioh he found the applicant . Ifc was proposed by Bro . Seddon I . P . M . and seconded by Bro . P . M . Savage that £ 10 10 s be voted from tho funds of the Lodge . This was immediately agreed

to . The Secretary then read a letter expressing the thanks of the I writer for a gift ; made by the members at a former meeting . Lodge I was then closed . The members with their Visitors , making altogether I a party of 98 , sat ; down to a banquet , served by Messrs . Ritter and Clifford . On the removal of the cloth , Bro . Webb gave the first toast , " The Queen and tho Craft , " which was followed by the National

Anthem . The second toast was one all Masons readily recognised . The Prince of AVales conferred an honour upon the Craft by presiding at its head , and this toast is always acceptable at assemblages of Freemasons . Bro . Brown sang , " God Bless the Princo of Wales . " In proposing the toasfc of "The Pro Grand Master , the Deputy Grand Master , and the rest of the Grand Officers , " the W . M . said :

Wo have at the head of the Craffc a body of gentlemen who take the greatest interest in the bnsiness of the Order , and never tire in advan . cing its welfare . He wonld call on those present to do this toast full honour . The health of the initiate was the next toast the W . M . introduced to the notice of the brethren . Bro . Gurney had paid marked attention to the ceremony , and he ( the W . M . ) was assured

he would -become a worthy member of the Lodge of Sincerity . Bro . Gnrney returned his sincere thanks for the honour they had conferred upon him ; ho trusted all the good things the W . M . had prognosticated wonld bo fully realised . Tho W . M ., at this stage of the proceedings , stated , as the result of the efforts of those brethren who had kindly gone round the room with his list , that £ 76 2 s had

been subscribed . Bro . Seddon rose : When an I . P . M . assumes the gavel all know on what , theme ho is about to address them . Ib is nofc the first time Bro . Webb has been installed into the chair of a Lodge . On this occasion he did not intend to occupy their time , but with all cordiality would ask them to do honour to the toast . After a song by Bro . Miller , rendered in that worthy brother's happy and

mirth-provoking style , tho W . M . rose to roplv . He had to return his sincere and hearty thanks for the great kindness with which he had been received . He assured the brethren it would be bis sincere desire to carry out his duties in the future as he had striven to do in the past , and he sincerely hoped they wonld be conducted to tho satisfaction of the members . Before he resumed his seat he had to

propose a toast which was a novel one . A member of the Sincerity Lodge , who was initiated therein in the year 1812 , had thab day attained his 90 th birthday , Bro . Norris , who was known to all present as the Warden of the Benevolent Institution at Croydon , in which capaciby ho had gained the esteem of all with whom he was brought into association , for ruling with fairness—at the same time

nob with a rod of iron—was that day celebrating with a few friends the 90 th anniversary of his birth . Tho brethren would all join in wishing Bro . Norris happiness during the remainder of his days . The next toast brought nnder the notice of the brethren , was "Prosperity to the Masonic Charities ; " here the W . M . referred with satisfaction to tho goodly response made by tho brethren to

his appeal . He pleaded the canse of their Lodgo candidates for tho respective Institutions , and urged on the brethren to see their votes wero properly applied . With tho toast ho would couple the name of Bro . Terry . After a song by Bro Savage , " The Old Musqnetoer , " Bro . Terry would , first , on behalf of Bro . Norris , return the members hia sincere thanks for tho honour conferred npon him . He then

stated that tie worthy old Warden had invited the whole cf the inmates of tho Asylum to partake with him of a cup of tea , and assist by their presence ab a musical entertainment . Bro . Perceval and ho ( Bro . Terry ) had that day visited the Institution ; they there found that the residents had provided for Bro . Norris a table lamp and other gifts , which were duly to be

presented to him . Likewise an easy chair would be offered for the acceptance of Bro . Norris . In March next , shonld he live till then , he will havo been a Mason 68 years , thus gaining the palm for length of membership over Sir Moses Montefiore , who though an older man , is six weeks his junior as a Mason . Tho brethren had donbtless heard of Lord Byron ' s saying that " Annuitants never die . "

He ( Bro . Terry ) hoped that Bro . Norris would be with them yet a few years . Bro . Terry then touched upon tho charitable proclivities of the members ; thero wero sixty-five present , and an amount of £ 76 had been realised as the result of fche W . M . ' s appeal for the Benevolent Institution . The Lodge had heavy claims ou tho Institutions at their next elections , and be would draw