Metropolitan.

METROPOLITAN .

GRAND MASTERS LODGE , No . 1 . THE installation meeting was held on Monday , 20 th inst ., when some 100 Brethren were present , including the Lord Mayor of London , Sir Joseph Dimsdale , Major-General F . Gadsden , Major-General J . C . Hay , and Major Woodall . The outgoing Master Bro . T . Poultney Griffin installed his successor Bro . Joseph Rock as Master of the Lodge .

A Past Master ' s jewel was presented to Bro . Griffin , and a history of the Lodge from 1759 to 1895 , compiled by Bro . Charles Bolton Secretary , was given to each member of the Lodge . In the course of the proceedings notice of motion was given by Brother Richard Eve Past Grand Treasurer , to vote five guineas from , the Lodge funds towards the amount now being raised to found a scholarship for the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys .

CONFIDENCE LODGE , No . 193 . AS briefly recorded in our last issue the installation meeting was held on Monday , 13 th inst ., at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet Street , the meeting being in every way a success , the new Master receiving a most cordial welcome from this old and popular Lodge . The Brethren met under the presidency of Brother Francis Haines W . M ., who was supported during the meeting by a full attendance of Officers , together with the following Past Masters : S . Webb , B . D . Kershaw ( 1869 ) , John E . Fells ( 1882 ) , James Smith ( 1883 ) , W . A . Cubitt ( 1885 ) , F . Silvester

( 1887 ) , S . Smither ( 18 S 9 ) , E . J . Davey ( 1890 ) , and W . Belchamber ( 1893 ) . The usual formalities having been observed in regard to the opening of the Lodge , Mr . J . Mendoza was initiated into the Order , and then Brother Belchamber assumed the chair and proceeded to instal Bro . F . S . Plowright S . W . as Worshipful Master for the year . Brother Belchamber has won a name for himself as an exponent of Masonic ritual , his ability as Preceptor of the Confidence Lodge of Instruction being well known , and on this occasion he worked so well as to fully maintain his reputation .

Bro . Plowright having been saluted in the three degrees proceeded to the appointment of Officers , conferring the collars on the following Brethren : T . Kington S . W ., E . Pennock J . W ., B . D . Kershaw P . M . Treas ., E . J . Davey P . M . Sec , G . Spice S . D ., J . W . Simeons J . D ., Walter Cutting I . G ., G . P . Nightingale P . M . D . C ., John E . Fells P . M . Steward , E . H . Lough Organist , Sydney W . Fells A . D . C ., M . Baillie Assist . Steward , L . G . Bernhardt Tyler .

The different addresses were then given , and the new Master was at once called upon to work one of the ceremonies of the Order , Bro . D . S . Morris presenting himself as a candidate for the second degree , which preferment was conferred upon him in very efficient style by Bro . Plowright . A grant was made from the Lodge funds to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , for the Festival of which Bro . G . Spice S . D . will act as Steward , and

on Bro . Fells P . M . offering to undertake a similar duty for the Benevolent Institution notice was given of a proposition to vote a sum to that Fund also . The appeals of other claimants on the benevolence of the Brethren were considered , and relief granted , after which , all business being completed , the Lodge was closed and the Brethren adjourned to the annual banquet , which was of excellent quality and efficiently served uuder the personal supervision of Bro . Clemow .

The Visitors included the following : Bros . C . T . Orchard 359 , J . Hollis 394 , W . Wood 2509 , R . Cranston W . M . 2509 , R . N . Laiter 1791 , W . E . Kington 771 , Henry Baber P . M . 1790 , Rev . G . E . Gardner 2509 , F . W . Jordan W . M . 172 , H . S . Tompson 1612 , J . K . Pitt 463 , J . Moss 141 , W . Baddeley 25 1385 2509 , J . Mason 309 P . P . S . G . D . Middx ., R . Gilmour S . W . 1950 , G . H . Gabb W . M . 1612 , W . T . Shadrake I . G . 1805 , Edward Parker 511 , H . E . F . Bussey 1928 , W . W . Lee P . M . 1897 2381 , F . Paterson 1385 , H . Broadway 1320 , W . T . Gximmett 15 , W . W . Morgan 177 , Vincent Cox 1467 , Wingrove Ives 1929 , A . Hood 781 , & c .

At the conclusion of the banquet the customary toast list was honoured , the Master speaking of the loyalty of Englishmen—and especially of Masons —towards the throne , and making particular reference to the outbursts of enthusiasm that had followed the stirring events of the previous few days . He referred to the Prince of Wales as a citizen of Norfolk—the Master ' s native county—and testified from personal experience to the Grand Master ' s popularity in the district wherein his home was situated , in fact he was as good in the role of a country gentleman as the Craft knew him to be in that of a Freemason .

The Immediate Past Master submitted the toast of the Worshipful Master . It was his privilege and at the same time a great pleasure to do so , and he hoped the toast would be drunk with all the enthusiasm it deserved . He felt the Lodge had in Brother Plowright a Brother of ability and good temper , one who would conduce to the good working of the Lodge and add to its prestige . He had had the pleasure of working with the Worshipful Master for some years , and had always found him a capable Officer . He retired from , the chair he might say with sorrow , but he had the satisfaction of

feeling that the work would be continued in such a way as to satisfy every member of the Lodge . The Worshi p ful Master replied . The proposition and the reception of the toast had been very gratifying to him , but the subject of the toast was unfortunately one he could not say much about , as what he knew of himself was either very creditable or very confidential . The Immediate Past Master had been pleased to say some complimentary things about him ; he would not spoil them by saying all he knew about himself , rather resting content with sincere thanks for the cordial reception of the toast .

The next toast was that of the I . P . M . Brother Haines , who had , said the W . M ., acquitted himself well during the past year and had shown himself a genial and kind hearted Mason . The Brethren all knew him , and respected and honoured him so much that it was unnecessary for him to dilate on his manv qualifications . A pleasing duty devolved upon him at this juncturethe presentation , in the name of the Lodge , of the Past Master ' s jewel voted by the members , as an evidence of the respect entertained in the Lodge for

Bro . Haines ; and in presenting it . he tendered the best wishes of the Lodge and hoped Brother Haines might live for many years to wear it in their midst . In reply , the I . P . M . tendered his hearty thanks . He felt he did not deserve one half of what had been said , although during his term of office he had striven to do his duty to the best of his ability and had had a year of happiness that had been a pleasure to him , as it had arisen from the generous

support given him by the Lod « e and each individual member of it . He was elected to the chair by the unanimous vote of the Lodge and had since had the kindest consideration from all , the crowning point of his happiness and pride being the presentation of the handsome jewel he had just received , and which he hoped he should live long to wear in their dear old Lodge of Confidence .

Metropolitan.

The Initiate was next toasted , and briefly acknowledged the compliment . In proposing the Visitors , the Master said they had a long array of guests who were most heartily welcome on that occasion . The members were always pleased to see Visitors , and hoped to treat them in such a way that they would desire to come again . The toast was followed by Bro . Hopkins , who gave some of his famous campanological selections .

Bro . John Mason was the first to reply . He was very sorry to be the one to destroy by his voice such harmony as they had just heard , but the change seemed inevitable . Ho had known the Lodge for a great number of years , and could truly say an invitation to it would induce him to throw up any other engagement , because he felt he could come to the Confidence Lodge with the certainty of deriving pleasure from listening to the work , knowing full well that the Brethren of the Confidence Lodge , not only met

for their personal comfort , but they also met for the purpose of doing good for their less fortunate Brethren . He was pleased to hear the outspoken words of those Brethren in the Lodge who spoke up so well for the cause of charity , on behalf of the old members who sought their assistance , and delighted to find the Lodge keeping up its old traditions . That was true Freemasonry . It was not liking to see their names as holding some office in the Lodge , or as doing some wonderful work by initiating a large number of

Brethren , but it was having their heart and hand ready to help a Brother in times of need . He said that for the benefit of the Initiate , who might think he was above needing help , but he could tell him of those in far higher circles who had had to knock at the door of Masonry for assistance . In this connection he might say that he had never known , in the thirty-three years he had been in Freemasonry , such a case sent empty away if there was anything in it . He was very pleased that Bro . Past Master Fells had

undertaken a Stewardship on behalf of the Old People , and hoped he would be well supported by the members of the Lodge . He was also delighted to find the Worshipful Master reigning over a happy and prosperous Lodge , and hoped he might live to see the Initiate of that day rise to the same hi gh honour . He had come that night , as most of them were aware , to try and beg , and ask the Brethren to help the Old People's Institution of Freemasonry . The Provincial Grand Master of Middlesex Lord George Hamilton

would take the chair at the Anniversary Festival to be held in February , and they were pleased at the prospect , but however good the results might be they would have to shut out nearly one hundred old people who had been regularly admitted as candidates for the annuities provided by the Institution Each year the number of applicants seemed to increase , and each year they endeavoured to take on extra annuitants in order to cope with the demand .

but they would not be able to increase the number this year unless the Festival proved exceptionally successful . They did not expect such a return as attended their Jubilee celebration , but hoped to be able to announce such a result as would pay the large amount to which they were already pledged for annuities , and , if possible , allow them to do something additional in the future .

Bro . Rev . G . E . Gardner followed . It was only at the command of the Worshipful Master he ventured to speak at that assembly , because he felt so much diffidence in doing so in the presence of so many veterans , he being but a yearling in Freemasonry . The work done by their Worshipful Master in the Lodge of which he was a member ( the Barnet , where Bro . Plowright fills the office of Secretary ) convinced him that the Confidence Lodge would reap advantage from his presidency .

Brother J- K . Pitt followed , thanking the Brethren for the toast . For twenty years he had enjoyed the good will and esteem of the members of the Confidence Lodge , and he hoped his welcome there would always be as hearty as it had been that day . For twenty-three years he had acted as Secretary of the Confidence Lodge of Instruction , and they could well imagine how closely he was associated with their Lodge as a consequence .

Othpr of the guests also responded , after which the Master gave the toast of the Installing Master , with which he coupled the Treasurer , Seeretary and Past Masters of the Lodge . Brother Smith , replying for the Past Masters , referred to the rule existing in the Lodge that 10 per cent of the entire income should be set aside to provide help for the needy . But in addition to this the members

did not forget outside claims , as was evidenced when he said that £ 35 had been collected in the room that evening in support of Brother Fell ' s list as a Steward for the Benevolent Institution . He thought the members of the Lodge fully recognised that they should help those in need of it . He hoped he might live a few years longer , not only to witness a continuation of the popularity enjoyed by the Master in the chair but also a further influx of good and true Brethren .

Bro . Davey , as Secretary , spoke of the honourable position he occupied , and the great responsibility attached to it . In the prosperity and success of a Lodge the Secretary had much to do , and he accordingly hoped he might be instrumental in winning success for their good old Lodge of Confidence . Bro . Spice replied for the Officers of the Lodge , and the proceedings were shortly afterwards brought to a conclusion .

PRESENTATION AT WESTON-SUPER-MARE .

ON the 17 th inst ., at the Masonic Hall , Bro . and Mrs . W . E . Perrett were entertained to a supper , and were the recipients of several handsome presentations in honour of their golden wedding day , and as tangible proofs of the esteem in which they are held by the townspeople generally . The presentations on behalf of the town subscribers were made by Mr . G . H . Poole ( chairman of the local Testimonial Committee ) , and consisted of an artistically illuminated address , and a silver-mounted nurse

containing 100 sovereigns to Bro . Perrett , and a diamond brooch to Mrs . Perrett . On behalf of the Brethren of St . Kew Lodge , of which Bro . Perrett is a Past Master , Bro . W . Cooper W . M . presented him with a handsome gilt clock under glass shade , and two ornaments to match . A scroll is also being prepared by the Masonic Brethren , and this will be presented at the next Lodge meeting . Bro . and Mrs . Perrett ' s children presented them with a purse and fifty sovereigns .

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