Reports Of Meetings.

EEPOETS OF MEETINGS

We shall be pleased to receive particulars of Masonic meetings for insertion in our columns , and where desired will endeavour to send a representative to report Lodge or other proceedings . CRAFT : METROPOLITAN .

SIR HUGH MYDDELTON LODGE , No . 1602 . THE fallowing " Notes from the Bells " appeared in tho " Islington Gazette " of 16 th : —One of the nicest men I know is Bro . J . G . \ V . James , who , as lieutenant to Bro . Probyn , at the Agricultural Hall , and Lieutenant to the Woolwich Arsenal Artillery , looks after the buttery of one and battery of the

other , and generally makes things comfortable for everybody he comes across in business . He is enormously popular , and if any proof were needed of the fact it was to be seen last Wednesday , when the Sir Hugh Myddelton Lodge installed him as its Master . Practically , all Masonic Islington went to see , and I never saw so large an assembly at any one Lodge meeting in my life .

It had been whispered that a whole lot of big guns would be present , and that there would be a richness , a beauty , and a charm about the Fourth Degree that only so dexterous an organiser could impart . No one was disappointed . The Lodge was crammed to listen to the impressive ceremonies oi the installation , the offico of the day devolving on the out-going Master , Bro . Cave jun ., who cave the Ritual in admirable style , and elicited the

warmest approval from the fathers of the Craft . But that Lodge Room was very warm , and it was a good thing that there were lounges and nice easy chairs in the ante-rooms , where the perspiring Brother might fan himself with the number of his Lodge or anything that was lying about . The Lodge itself was glorious in the emblazoned banners of the Past Masters which hung around the walls . Very few Lodges indulge in the

luxury of banners . Judging by the heraldry of the Myddelton Past Masters , they are a very aristocratic family , for their shields and quarterings suggest lineage of the highest and bluest . Thoy make a brave show , however , and that is everything . I am not learned in the lore of the College of Arms , but if beauty went for anything , the new banner of the new Master suggested royal descent at the very least—possibly from King James . It made a brave

show at the back of the presidential chair at dinner . If the Lodge was crowded , the dining-hall was overcrowded ; that is to say , a number of tho Brethren had to dine in an adjoining room , and when the cloth was cleared they joined the main body to hear the speeches , and with the result that they turned a fairly cool room into a cheap Turkish bath . Grand Lodge was represented by the Grand Treasurer of England

Bro . Stiles , Bro . Morland Past Grand Deacon , and Bro . Lieutenant-Colonel Ritchie , R . A ., Past Sword Bearer . Then there were Bro . D . Naoroji , M . P ., looking atter the Brethren from Clerkenwell , and Bro . the Hon . Massey-Mainwaring looking after the wily Parsee . Then there were Colonel Onslow , Lieutenant-Colonel Tully , Major Vane Stow , Captain Nicholls , Captain Robson , Captain Western , Captain Winkley , the fire-eating Captain Lurcott ,

Captain Tasker , Dr . Beardmore , Dr . Hindhaugh , and a host of other distinguished visitors . During dinner the band of the 3 rd Kent ( Royal Arsenal ) Artillery played a delightful selection of music in the corridor . After dinner there was a choice selection of music set forth on an emblazoned programme or book of words that was a thing of beauty and joy for ever . On the parchment cover was a representation of the statue on the Green—not

mine , that is to say not me , but Hugh—and the Liverpool Road front of the Agricultural Hall . The arms of the Lodge , and of Bro . James , whose motto , by the way , is " Ante et post cole deum , " made the frontispiece very pretty , and a good thing for the colour printer . Old style printing , on old style paper , the whole tied up with the bunch of blue ribbons that Johnny promised to bring home from the fair , made a choice souvenir of a memorable feast .

The after-dinner music was , as usual , under the direction of Bro . Willie Wright , and the singers and entertainers were Miss Ethel Winn , Miss Emily Foxcroft , Bro . Charles Chilley , Bro . Dyved Lewys , Mr . Alexander Tucker , Bro . Walter Churcher , and Miss Alice Probyn , the last being a little lady of much promise as a solo violinist . She played Dancla's " Cantabile et Bolera " charmingly .

Masonic toasts do not give much scope for original oratory , bnt Bro , James was equal to the occasion , and did his work with brevity and some wit . The great toast was the Visitors , who , being about three to one ot the Brethren of the Lodge , had it all their own way in the responses . Mr . Narrowmajority , M . P ., came out with one of those touching childlike references to India . Massey-Mainwaring showed how political lions could sit down with the Masonic lamb , Bro . Herbert Sprake , Colonel Onslow ,

Colonel Tully , Captain Lurcott , and a whole host of others responded , including the Bland Old Man , who had been standing like the chicken in our roost , first on one leg and then on the other , while the long string of responses was unwound , and who was merciful enough to spare his fellow sufferers the interminable speech he has long had up his sleeve to let off some day when he gets first call , and is free from anticipation . Bro . James , altogether , had a big night , and the Lodge ought to be proud of its new Master .

DUKE OF FIFE LODGE , No . 2345 . A MEETING of this Lodge was held at the Alexandra Hotel , Clapham Common , on Wednesday , 15 th inst ., when there were present Bros . John Langdon W . M ., Charlie Woods S . W ., John Mitchell P . M . J . W ., A . Harvey I . P . M ., Samuel Cochrane P . M . P . G . Treas . Eng ., E . Beaven P . M ., R .

Steele P . M . Treas ., J . W . Polkard P . M . Sec , T . Morris S . D ., A . Robertson J . D ., W . W . Westley P . M . D . C , Winny I . G ., Baldwin Std ., C . Patrick P . M . Tyler , Machin P . M ., John Wyer P . M . P . P . G . D . C . Kent , Lavender , C . W . Shannaw , Hambleton , Rtbeits , Fitch , & c . The minutes of the Installation meeting were read and signed .

Bro . Lavender was elected a Country member , on the proposition of Bro . Woods S . W ., seconded by Bro . Harvey I . P . M . All Masonic business being ended , the Brethren dined together . After the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts the W . M . proposed the Grand Officers , referring to their work , and to that of the members who were Grand Officers , in eulogistic terms .

Bro . S . Cochrane P . M . P . G . Treasurer responded m an able and witty speech . Bro . Harvey I . P . M . congratulated tbe Lodge upon having such a good Mason as their W . M . to preside over their gatherings . The W . M . responded , and after toasting the Past Masters and the Officers

Reports Of Meetings.

a very pleasant evening closed , the harmony of which had been enhanced by the efforts of Bros . Langdon W . M ., Winny I . G ., Hambleton , Machin and Harvey .

CRAFT : PEOVINCIAL .

WILLIAMSON LODGE , No . 949 . ON the 20 th inst ., the annual meeting was held at the Masonic Hall , Monkwearmouth . After the ordinary business the installation of W . M . took place , when Bro . E . Lautebach was installed in an able manner in the chair of K . S . by Bro . F . W . Ingram , the retiring W . M .

The annual banquet was afterwards held at the Grand Hotel , Sunderland , when a splendid menu was served . The usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were honoured , the health of the W . M . being received with much enthusiasm .

HESKETT LODGE , No . 950 . ON Wednesday , 15 th inst ., this Fleetwood Lodge had its annual installation and banquet , when Bro . A . Gibson Worshipful Master installed Bro . George Dickenson .

At the banquet Bro . Clarkson announced having taken to London on the Sth of May £ 27 4 s 6 d , as the Lodge's donation to the Royal Masonio Institution for Girls , this being tho largest sum subscription by any Lodge in the Western Division of Lancashire .

During the day Bro . J . N . Clarkson presented the Lodge with a fullsized photograph of Lord Lathom M . W . Pro G . M . Prov . G . M ., and was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for same . Bro . Dickenson W . M . presented a P . M . ' s jewel to Bro . A . Gibson .

SUN AND SECTOR LODGE , No . 962 .

ON Wednesday , 15 th inst ., Bro . J . Bouch S . W . was elected Worshipful Master for the ensuing year . Bro . J . Paterson P . M . P . P . G . J . W . was elected Treasurer , and Bro . W . Whitehead P . P . G . T . Tyler . The installation will be held on 19 th June .

WELSHPOOL LODGE , No . 998 . THE members held an open meeting at the Royal Oak Hotel , Welshpool , on 14 th inst ., to do honour io the Rev . T . Hughes , Vicar of Buttington , Chaplain and Secretary to the Lodge , on the occasion of his recent marriage .

The popularity of the Rev . Brother was fully evinced by the spontaneous conception of the idea of presenting him with such a proof of the esteem and respect in which he is held by the Brethren . The presentation was preceded by a luncheon , served in Bro . D . Richards' usual good style , and to which a representative company sat down .

The W . M . Bro . T . Maldwyn Price presided , and was supported on his right by Mrs . Hughes , and on his left by Mrs . T . M . Price and the Rev . Bro . Hughes . After lunch , Dr . Morgan , as the Senior Brother present , proposed the health of Bro . and Mrs . Hughes , and after speaking of tho assistance Bro . Hughes had always given to the Lodge , said he wished them many years of happy and joyous wedded life . He was pleased the presentation was not

made at a Lodge meeting , otherwise the ladies would not have been ableto grace the gathering . He durst say the time would come when the ladies would have a Lodge of their own ; and then they would want to come to the gentlemen ' s Lodge , and the gentlemen would want to go to the ladies' Lodge . Ladies , now-a-days , seemed to be appropriating the privileges of the men in many respects , in dress and in their pursuits . The toast was drunk with cordiality .

Bro . W . P . Hole Immediate Past Master , in making the presentation , said Bro . Hughes was fully worthy of their esteem . Since he had been a member of the Lodge he had ever been good and kind , and had rendered them all a good deal of assistance . The inkstand bore the inscription :

Presented to the REV . THOMAS HUGHES , by the Brethren of the Welshpool Lodge of Freemasons , No . 998 , as a token of their esteem . April 18 th 1895 . Other speakers followed , in eulogistic terms , their remarks being heartily received .

Rev . Bro . Hughes , in responding , said he wished to thank the members of the Welshpool Lodge most heartily on behalf of his wife and himself for the very handsome present which they were giving them . He also wished to thank the Brethren who had spoken with regard to himself that afternoon . He felt that they had spoken too flatteringly of him , and that he did not deserve their kind sentiments . He appreciated the present very much ; it

was a very handsome one , and he would treasure it , not for its own worth , but , above all , as a token and mark of the kindness and goodwill of the Brethren of the Welshpool Lodge . He could not say that he was altogether taken by surprise , as he knew something about what was coming on , for he received a summons to attend there that day , and although he was not

present when the Lodge decided to make the presentation , as Lodge Secretary he had been obliged to enter on the minutes the fact that a presentation would be made . He also felt it a great honour that they should have invited his wife and himself ta lunch , to meet so many kind friends . Although they had not the ladies with them at their meetings as Freemasons , they did appreciate the worth of the ladies , and as one of their songs said : —

" No mortals can more the ladies adore , Than a free and accepted Mason . " Some ladies had a prejudice against Freemasons , but having been one himself for eighteen years , he could assure the ladies present that Freemasonry was founded on the purest principles of piety and virtue . Some people said they

had secrets , and some who were not Freemasons said they had no secrets , but he was not going to say that day whether they had or not . This he could tell them , that Freemasonry taught them all that was good , and tended to make eveiy man just , honourable , true , and upright . He again begged to thank them most warmly for their kind expression and useful gift . Tbe Rev .