Reports Of Meetings.

REPORTS OF MEETINGS .

— : o : — CRAFT : METROPOLITAN

PRINCE FREDERICK WILLIAM LODGE , No . 753 . A REGULAR meeting was held on Wednesday , at the popular rendezvous , the Frascati Restaurant , Oxford Street . After regular business the Lodge was closed , and the Brethren retired to the banqueting room , where an excellent repast was served , under the personal supervision of Bro . Ernest Kalla and Mr . A . Renders , both of whom deserve great compliment for the competence they displayed .

NEW CONCORD LODGE , No . 813 . THE members went for their summer outing on Friday of last week . Nearly one hundred Brethren and friends met on Paddington Station , special saloons conveying them , to Tilehurst , where the commodious boat " Bona fide " was in readiness to steam through the most charming portion of the Upper Thames as far as Wallingford , and back to Pangbourne .

After a delightful day on the water , in almost tropical heat , the " Trippers " were in good form to enjoy the sumptuous banquet provided at the Elephant Hotel , the Worshipful Master Bro . H . D . Blake presiding . The return to town was made from Pangbourne Station , where saloon carriages retained for the Lodge were attached to the 7- 49 express , which arrived at Paddington soon after 9 o'clock .

INSTRUCTION

WESTBOURNE LODGE , No . 733 . A MOST successful meeting was held at the Oliver Arms , Westbourne Terrace North , Harrow Road , W ., on Tuesday , Bro . J . L . Miller W . M ., W . R . Plaford P . M . S . W ., G . D . Mogford W . M . 2362 J . W ., J . W . Mogford S . D ., G . Goddard J . D ., C . Halston I . G ., H . Dehane P . M . Preceptor , R . J . Rogers P . M . Treas . Acting Sec , J . Wynman , and several others .

The ceremony of initiation was rehearsed , Bro . Wynman candidate , and great credit is due to the W . M . for the perfect working of the ceremony . Bro . G . D . Mogford gave the charge , which he rendered perfectly and without a hitch , to the great satisfaction of the Brethren . The W . M . had much

pleasure to announce that Bro . W . R . Plaford P . M . was unanimously elected W . M . for next meeting , to which Bro . Plaford responded in his usual able manner . We are sure the Brethren may expect an exceptional Masonic treat and a full attendance , as the excellent working of Past Master Plaford is BO well known .

HARROW LODGE , No . 1310 . A LARGE meeting was held on Friday , 17 th inst ., at Bro . H . F . Roberts ' s , the Waterloo Arms , 50 High Street , Marylebone , W ., Bro . H . J . Weston W . M ., Johnstone S . W ., Drewell J . W ., Edward Lewis S . D ., Williams J . D ., G . Wood P . M . Preceptor , Mason P . M . Secretary , Dyke I . G ., Eardloy , Roberts , Levin , Dingley , J . Wynman , and several others .

The Lodge was advanced , and Bro . Eardley having offered himself candidate , the W . M . rehearsed the ceremony of passing . The Lodge was opened up , and the W . M . gave the ceremony of raising , Bro . H . F . Roberts candidate , the whole of the ceremonies being excellently gone through . The Lodge thoroughly maintains its reputation as a school of working , under the able preceptorship of Bro . G . Wood P . M .

It was proposed and unanimously agreed to that Bro . J . Wynman , representative of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE , be elected an honorary member , to which Bro . Wynman suitably responded . Bro . Johnstone was elected W . M . for next meeting . The Lodge meets every Friday at eight o ' elock , and Brethren may be sure of a hearty welcome .

HYDE PARK LODGE , No . 1425 . ON Monday , at Bro . E . Stevens ' s , Prince of Wales Hotel , Eastbourne Terrace , W ., Bro . J . Chubb W . M ., G . E . Harris S . W ., H . Campbell J . W ., H . Crookes S . D ., Riemann J . D ., H . Harris I . G ., Ferguson P . M . Preceptor , H . Dehane P . M . Sec , Hillier P . M ., J . Wynman , and others .

The Lodge was opened to the second degree , when Bro . Harris was examined , entrusted , and the ceremony of raising rehearsed , he as candidate . The Lodge was closed down , Bro . G . E . Harris was elected to the chair for next meeting , and the proceedings terminated .

CITADEL LODGE , No . 1897 . ON the 3 rd inst ., at Farleigh Hotel , Amhurst Road , N ., Bro . Calley W . M ., Bishop S . W ., Peters J . W ., Dunstan Preceptor , FriedJander S . D ., Felsenthal J . D ., Schlosshauer I . G ., F . Kebbell acting Sec , Feistel , Lamer , Geo . Clark , and Davison . The ceremony of initiation was rehearsed , Bro . Feistel candidate . Bro . F . Kebbell took the chair , and rehearsed the ceremony of passing , Bro . Lamer candidate . Bro . Dunstan worked the first lecture , and explained the tracing board of the degree .

On the 10 th inst ., Bro . Bishop W . M ., Friedlander S . W ., Schlosshauer J . W ., Dunstan Preceptor , Lamigeon acting Sec , Mason S . D ., Feistel J . D ., Calley I . G ., Jones , Larner , Kaufman , Peters , Barnes , and Bishop . The ceremonies of initiation and passing were reheaised , Bio . Jones candidate . Bro . Dunstan woiked the first section of the lecture .

On the 17 th inst ., Bro . Lamigeon W . M ., Friedlander S . W ., Schlosshauer J . W ., Willsmer Sec , Dunstan Preceptor , Matthews Deacon , Kaufman I . G ., Peters , and Wright , lhe ceremony of passing was rehearsed , Bro . Peter 6 candidate . The ceremony of raising was rehearsed , Bro . Wright candidate . Ho was elected a member , and Bro . Friedlander W . M . for the enauing woek .

Reports Of Meetings.

PROVINCIAL . — : o : — LODGE OF FREEDOM , No . 77 . THE annual installation festival of this ancient and popular Lodge took place on Monday , at Gravesend , the Town Hall having been placed at the disposal of the Brethren by the Corporation . This handsome apartment is pre-eminently suited for the purposes of the ceremony , and a goodly company assembled to witness it .

The W . M . Bro . James A . Whitfield presided , and among those present were Bros . Alfred Spencer P . G . Sw . B . Prov . Grand Secretary of Kent , William Russell Prov . Grand Treasurer , Edward Coste P . P . G . R ., William Barlow P . P . G . O ., Joseph Solomon P . M ., Arthur Ronaldson Prov . G . A . S ., Rev . Augustus Jackson Prov . G . C ., R . J . Beamish P . A . D . C , G . T . King P . P . G . P ., Thos . Deane P . P . S . Br ., Frank Hitchens P . G . S ., Chas . Westwood Prov . G . D . C . Essex , Fred Mitchell , R . Macartney , Henry Forss P . M . 91 T , John Solomon ,

R . M . Holland , R . H . Drennan , George Rackstraw P . M ., Geo . W . King P . P . G . D . C . Essex , W . H . Lake , Robert Friar , Chas . D . Levy W . M . 20 , G . A . Burrell W . M . 1426 , Henry Tolhurst 1396 , Thos . Clibbon P . M . 20 , R . L . Beamish 15 , Scotish , T . H . Lygo I . P . M . 483 , George King W . M . 1314 , Walter Butler 476 , William Hawker 483 , A . C . Clowe 1269 , G . Martin W . M . 829 , Sydney W . H . Keeble W . M . 615 , William Steele 206 , R . Thompson W . M . 184 , George Bellings 1364 , J . C . Prevost , E . Walkley , J . Blythe , G . Bennett , Orlton Cooper P . M . 211 , & c , & c .

The minutes having been read , and the Auditors' report received , the chair was taken by Bro . William Russell , who appointed Bros . G . T . King , Thomas Deane , and R . J . Beamish to assist him as S . W ., J . W ., and D . C . respectively . Bro . Robert Charles Fowle , having been previously elected as Master for the ensuing twelve months , was introduced by Bro . Beamish , and signified his assent to the ancient charges and regulations . A Board of Installed Masters was then formed , and Bro . Fowle was regularly inducted into the chair in due form .

Upon the return of the Brethren the new Master was saluted in the various degrees , and then invested his Officers as follow : —Bros . William Gunn S . W ., George Masters J . W ., George Rackstraw P . M . Treasurer , J . C . Biggs P . M . Secretary , Rev . Aug . Jackson , M . A ., Chaplain , John Solomon S . D ., Joseph Davis J . D ., F . Hitchens D . C , F . W . Martin A . D . C ., E . B . Wilks I . G ., C . R . Ceiley Organist , Alexander ReidandR . Matthews Stewards , George Martin ( for fifty-first time ) Tyler .

The beautiful addresses to the Master , Wardens , and Brethren were delivered by Bro . Russell . Bro . Frank Hitchens was re-elected Charity Representative . A Past Master's jewel was presented to Bro . Whitfield for his services during the last year ; and a vote of thanks was passed to Bro . Russell for so ably fulfilling the duties of Installing Master . Both these Brothers suitably returned thanks . Bro . Russell stated that it was proposed by Earl Amherst Provincial Grand Master of Kent to place

a stained glass window in the Chapter House of Canterbury Cathedral , at a cost of £ 600 , as a return for the courtesy shown by the Dean to the Provincial Grand Lodge when it had met in that city . He proposed that the Lodge should give ten guineas , and suggested that the new Master should make a collection among the members on his own account . He also reminded them that he had been appointed Representative for Kent for the Boys School , and that the centenary of that Institution would take place in 1898 . It had been decided to remove the School to a more healthy and less crowded

neighbourhood , so he hoped they would not forget the claims that the 260 Boys had upon them . Lastly there was the Girls School , and he trusted they would not forget that Kent received more than twice as much from that Institution as they had given ; he therefore asked the Brethren to be generous to " The Girls " on that account . He would , however , leave all these matters with the W . M . to deal with , and as he was a young man with plenty of energy , he had no doubt that his efforts would be successful , especially in view of his known perseverance .

The Worshipful Master having received the congratulations of the Brethren , the Lodge was duly closed , and the company adjourned to the New Falcon Hotel , where the banquet was served by Bro . W . Hardwioke . In addition to those mentioned above were some Brethren from Denmark , officers on board the Danish man-of-war then lying off Gravesend , to whom a hearty welcome was extended .

Upon the termination of the repast the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were proposed from the chair , Bro . Alfred Spencer replying for the Grand Lodge Officers . He referred to the fact that the Provincial Grand Master of Kent was now the Deputy Grand Master of England . Bro . Fred Mitchell submitted the health of Earl Amherst , which was received with great enthusiasm .

Bro . Augustus Jackson acknowledged the toast of the Provincial Grand Officers , and now that he had filled the office of Chaplain for three years ho was quite prepared to make himself " generally useful" wherever required by the Craft .

Bro . Whitfield I . P . M ., in proposing the Worshipful Master , congratulated the Lodge upon having such an excellent pupil from the School of Freemasonry to reign over them , because having filled all the offices of the Lodge he could conscientiously perform his duty . Bro . Fowle briefly but modestly replied , and hoped that the Lodge while under his control would lose none of its lustre .

Bro . John C . Biggs ably proposed the Masonic Charities , and incidentally mentioned that since he had been Secretary of the Lodge he had collected over £ 500 for the Institutions . Bro . F . Hitchens , as Charity Representative , acknowledged the toast , and said he was very glad that there were very few candidates for relief from Gravesend , there being only one case to submit this time . Bro . Captain Fugl , of the Danish cruiser " Valkyrien , " returned thanks for the visitors , with an earnest yet unaffected speech , that went home to the

hearts of those present . He requested permission to convey the fraternal love of the Lodge of Freedom to the North Star Lodge of Copenhagen , and concluded by saying " Here I take my glass and drink to the happiness and prosperity of your Lodge , and ask you to join me in giving the Danish ' Fire . ' " Great applause followed the speech , and Bro . Ceiley played the Danish National Anthem , everybody rising to his feet , in fact the incident was quite the event of the evening . It may be mentioned that the Danish " Fire " is similar to that in vogue among English Masons , with the addition of " Yivat , vivat , vivat " accompanied by a peculiar action of the arms .

The lengthy , list of toasts included the Past Masters , the Treasurer and Secretary , and the Officers of the Lodge , all of whom were greeted and suitably acknowledged the compliment . The proceedings were considerably enlivened by an excellent musical programme in which Miss Emmie F . Biggs , the talented daughter of the worthy Secretary , Bros . F . H . Cozens , George Masters , T . Nottingham , J . A . Whitfield and G . R . Coiloy took part .