Reports Of Meetings.

REPORTS OF MEETINGS .

We shall be pleased to receive particulars of Masonic meetings tor insertion in our columns , and where desired will endeavour to send a representative , to report Lodge or other proceedings . We do not sanction anyone attending Lodge meetings as our representative without a specific invitation .

— ; u ; — CRAFT : METROPOLITAN .

Metropolitan Lodge , No . 1507 . INSTALLATION OF BRO . ALFRED CHARLES BRADLEY . THERE was a brilliant gathering of Brethren at the annual festival of this Lodge on Wednesday of last week , at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet Street , the occasion being the installation of the W . M .-elect Bro . Alfred C . Bradley , whom we have had the pleasure of knowing for some considerable time , and we are sure he will be the pride of every member as ruler of the Lodge . The new W . M . is just what his title implies—not merely a Chairman or Presiding

Officer , but a Master who understands how to rule a Lodge , and who , bringing with him a thorough knowledge of Freemasonry , will make his fellow members happy and comfortable . He is one , indeed , who can himself be happy and promote the happiness of others , and it was with considerable pleasure we received his invite to attend on the occasion of the twenty-eighth anniversary of his nourishing Lodge .

The opening proceedings were presided over by Bro . Elijah George Steers W . M ., Alfred Charles Bradley W . M .-elect S . W ., W . R . Thompson J . W ., W . M . Stiles P . G . T . Treas ., F . J . Perks Past Prov . G . S . B . Secretary , H . Newman S . D ., J . W . Honniball J . D ., J . ' Hess acting I . G ., A . Hess Steward , A . Jackson Organist , Richard Whiting P . M . Tyler ; Past Masters J . H . Moggridge , C .

J . Scales , G . M . Clark , W . F . Bates , R . W . Fraser , W . Barry , and others ; with Bros . J . A . Tronge , W . H . Nickhols , F . Read , W . R . Churchill , E . Polak , D . Dear , H . Harrow , R . Batchelor , N . Courtney , Val . Wallace , C . A . Weeden , G . T . Williams , W . J . Rundlc , A . Chadwick , A . P . Vincent , W . S . Tope , Edward

Fitzgerald , J . Brown , T . P . May , E . A . Gosney , G . W . Perry , A . Cherry , J . H . Timberlake , James Carter , W . Wittensteyn , J . Campbell , T . W . Harper , T . Ormitston , S . Warschawsky , G . G . Broadbridge , A . Macey , D . J . Hahn , E . C . Beale , E . Innocent , and several others .

The Visitors present included Brothers C . Duvall 2168 , A . Zach J . D . 1512 , H . Fox 1297 , C . H . Laurence P . M . 742 , H . Riches J . W . 95 , P . Josephs 1 S 5 , G . D . Meville 1765 , H . Budd 1319 , F . Walker P . M . 1627 , W . J . Lockett S . D . 193 , W . J . Fishlcigh 192 ,

C . Frood I . G . 1768 , H . J . Chenley 1319 , Capre Lambe 1567 , H . Barton J . D . 2552 , W . Lestocq P . M . 1319 , T . Richardson P . M . 862 , F . Ellis 1329 , James Brand 1706 , F . A . Baldwin 216 S , A . Carpenter 1507 , F . G . Mcssent 1922 , T . Potheral 13 S 8 , J . Wynman . and others .

The Lodge being formed , the minutes were confirmed . The statement of accounts and the balance sheet was . received and adopted . The principal business of the evening was then proceeded with . Bro . R . W . Fraser P . M . assumed the chair , and declaring all Offices vacant requested the following to assist him : Bros . J . W . Moggridge S . W ., Harry Stiles J . W ., C . J . Scales D . C . and G . M .

Clark I . G . The Lodge was opened in the second degree and Bro . Alfred Charles Bradley W . M .-elect was presented by Bro . C . J . Scales P . M . and duly signified his assent to the ancient charges and regulations . After the obligation the Brethren below the rank of Installed Master were requested to retire , a Board of Masters was formed , and Bro . Bradley was formally inducted into the chair of King Solomon as the ruler of the Metropolitan Lodge , No . 1507 , for the ensuing twelve months .

The Brethren having been re-admitted the new Master was proclaimed and saluted in the various degrees . The subsequent delivery of the beautiful addresses elicited the hearty approbation of all present , as deserving the highest praise . The new Master appointed and invested the following Officers :

Bros . W . R . Thompson S . W ., H . W . Newman J . W ., W . M . Stiles P . M . P . G . Treas . Treas ., F . J . Perks P . M . P . P . G . S . B . Middlesex Sec , J . W . Honniball S . D ., J- Hess J . D ., A . Hess I . G ., J . Gray D . C , W . Warren and W . R . Churchill Stewards , A . Tacksoh Org ., Whiting P . M . Tyler .

Bro . whiting having been re-appointed Tyler , Bro . W . M . Stiles P . G . T . said that worthy Brother would in a couple of days be seventy-nine years old . He had been Tyler of their Lodge for many years ; he was initiated in the Vitruvian Lodge , No . 8 7 ( then 103 ) , and was Worshipful Master of that Lodg-e in 1862-3 .

He was one of the oldest Past Masters , and had been a member of the Craft for over forty years . Bro . Stiles in appreciative terms congratulated Bro . Whiting , and wished him many happy returns of the day to come . He hoped he might be spared for many years in health , to be amongst them . Bro . Whiting was visibly affected and returned his sincere thanks .

The W . M ., in short but eloquent and highly complimentary terms , presented to Bro . E . G . Steers the Past Master ' s jewel of the Lodge . Bro . Steers I . P . M ., in returning thanks , said it was the grandest dav of his life . He was quite sure the Brethren would

forgive him if he said very little that night . He sincerely thanked the W . M . and Brethren for the handsome jewel . they had presented him . He could not let the opportunity pass without thanking the Officers for their loyal assistance during his year as Master . He was sure the present W . M . would receive the same support . He

Reports Of Meetings.

again thianked them all for their kindness , 'and assured the Brethren that whatever he could do for the welfare of the Metropolitan Lodge he would always be happy to undertake . The jewel bore the following inscription : Presented to BRO . E . G . STEERS as a mark of esteem , and in recognition of his able and valued

services as W . M . for the year iqoo-igoi . Metropolitan Lodge , No . 1507 . The ballot was then taken for Mr . John Pierce Martin , and Mr . William Henry Dearden , and proved to be unanimous in their favour . The new W . M . then quickly proved his capability for his high position , by the very commendable manner in which he initiated those two gentlemen , the ceremony being impressively rendered , to the general satisfaction of the members present .

A candidate was proposed for next meeting , and the resignation of a Brother was accepted with regret . Apologies were read from members regretting their inability to attend . A Brother in distress was temporarily relieved with the sum of ^ 5 5 s , and a petition was signed by the Brethren on the same Brother ' s behalf to Grand Lodge . The widow of a late Brother , was granted five

guineas , and yet another five guineas was voted to another widow . We congratulate the Metropolitan Lodge on such a display of its charitable disposition . Some other transactions took place . Bro . W . M . Stiles P . M . proposed the appointment of a Lodge Committee , which was unanimously agreed to , and several of the Past M . asters and the present W . M . were appointed on ijt . This concluded the business of the meeting and the Lodge being closed ,

the Brethren repaired to the Pillar Hall , where an excellent banquet was provided , for which the manager and Bro . Francis were personally complimented by prominent members of the Lodge . After having done ample justice to the repast , the usual toast list was honoured , the health of His Majesty the King and success to the Craft being cordially received , as also was that of the Grand Master H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught .

With the health of the Grand Oihcers was coupled the name of Bro . W . M . Stiles P . G . T ., and that well known Brother responded . Bro . Steers I . P . M . next assumed the gavel . He said the toast would be the onlv one he would have the privilege of proposing that night , but it was a very important one . It was the health of the new Worshipful Master . The Brethren had watched him during his career , and had seen him work his way up step by step . The

able manner in which he had invested the Officers and the faultless manner in which he had initiated the two candidates that evening spoke as to his ability , and from the efficiency he had already displayed he predicted they would find the Lodge a year hence in an even better condition than it was at present . He sincerely wished the new Master a prosperous year of Office . The toast was heartily honoured—in true Metropolitan style .

The W . M . said it was with feelings of ; diffidence and trepidation he rose to respond to the toast of his health , proposed by the Immediate Past Master . With diffidence because the eulogistic terms in which he had been pleased to refer to him were—to his mind—quite undeserved ; and with great trepidation as he feared they would expect more from him than he could render . In the

dear old Metropolitan Lodge there had been many worthy Masters ; to aspire to the excellent work they had performed was to set oneself a task almost insurmountable . Eight years ago that night he was initiated into Freemasonry by their Bro . Past Master Fraser , who had so faultlessly installed him into the chair of King Solomon . He well remembered that evening ; sitting at the immediate right

hand of the chair , during the few intervals the Brethren gave a little respite , without toasting his co-initiate , Bro . Spurr—who he wished was there that night—and himself , he remembered looking at the then W . M ., in his exalted sphere , and asking himself the question : Is it possible for me ever to attain to that proud position ? The Brethren had now conferred on him that high honour , and had

made that the proudest moment of his life—a time never to be forgotten . The Brethren had drawn a draft upon him which he feared he could never pay , but at maturity—when they demanded payment—he trusted he might be able to offer them a settlement that would be to their entire satisfaction . He thanked them one and all most heartily for their reception , and for the cordial manner in which they had received the toast of his health .

The W . M . next proposed the toast of the Immediate Past Master Bro . Steers , and the Installing Master Bro . R . Winchester Fraser , who were heartily honoured by the members of the Lodge and their guests . Bro . Steers returned thanks to the W . M . for the nice way in which he had proposed the toast in his honour , and to the Brethren

for the very cordial manner in which it had been received . He further thanked them all for the loyal support he had received during his year as Master of the Lodge—from his Officers , from the Past Masters , and from the members . From one and all he had experienced very great kindness . Although he was fully sensible that he had not attained to the high standard of perfection reached by some of his predecessors he could assure them he had

the interests of the dear old Metropolitan Lodge at heart , and had endeavoured to do his best . He sincerely trusted he might be spared for many years to meet the many friends he had formed in the Lodge , and the new members who might join it in the future . Their newly made member Bro . Martin he had known and respected for years , and he was confident he would prove a good member in the Lodge .

Bro . Fraser , on rising to respond to the toast of the Installing Masfr , expressed his sincere thanks to the Brethren for their kind and cordial reception of him . He had had the privilege and pleasure of installing Bro . Bradley , owing to the fraternal kindness of Bro . Steer , who willingly stood aside for him , and allowed him to place his first initiate in the chair of K . S . Bro . Fraser also expressed his satisfaction at the progress and position of the