The Minnehaha Minstrels.

the Volunteer Armoury , and the same time benefitting the Institute for the Blind and Deaf and Dumb , the charitable work of which institution is crippled for want of funds . Last year a performance by tho Minnehaha Minstrels realised a sum of £ 101 lis 6 d in aid of this institution , and it may not be out of place to mention that the Minstrels have obtained for different charities no less a sura

than £ 8 , 200 . The present is their fifteenth season . The troupe on Saturday evening were minus the services of Mr . Jno . Allen ( the well known humourist ) and Bro . G . R . Ward ( who was down for a bones solo " Echoes " ) , both gentlemen being indisposed . There was a large and appreciative audience , including the Mayor ( Councillor Jno . Turner ) , and a large number of magistrates ancl members of the Corporation . The band , under the able conductorship of Bro .

Oliver Gaggs , had a very cordial reception , and did their work well . Several of the medleys given were composed and arranged specially for the troupe by Bro . Oliver Gaggs . Bro . W . A . Brabner W . M . 2363 in " I * Lecture , " and Mr . H . Davies ( hon . sec . of the troupe ) in " It ' s hard to love , " were both funny . Bro . W . F . Wollaston ( President ) made a happy interlocutor . Mr . C . W . Mason was the accompanist , and Mr . W . Jagger tho stage manager . —Stockport Advertiser .

Reports Of Meetings.

REPORTS OF MEETINGS .

— : o : — EOYAL AECH . — : o : —

KING EDWIN CHAPTER , No . 660 . ON Tuesday , 9 th inst ., the installation meeting was held at Freemasons' Hall , Malton , when Comp . R . G . Lucas P . P . G . R . was installed , the ceremony * being performed by Comp . A . W .

Walker P . P . G . D . C . P . Z . Comp . the Rev . E . A . B . Pitman had been elected to the chair of H ., but was unfortunately not able to be present owing to illness , and his installation had consequently to be postponed . Comp . W . J . Marshall P . P . G . O . was installed J . o o o

PLEIADES CHAPTER , No . 710 . AT the meeting held at Totnes , on the llth , Comp . F . C . Hallett P . Z . P . P . G . St . B . presiding , Comp . Councillor John Taylor , J . P ., F . L . S ., F . C . S ., & c , was unanimously elected M E . Z . for the ensuing year , Comps . Solomon Tozer H ., P . G . David J ., W . Bennett Maye P . Z . Scribe E ., and Jno . Crocker Janitor . o o o

ST . AUBYN CHAPTER , No . 954 . AT the quarterly convocation held on the 15 th , at Devonport , the Rev . Dr . Lemon presented a pair of tracing boards , handsomely framed , to the Chapter . The presentation was accepted by

Senior Past lst Principal Comp . Waton , on behalf of the Chapter , and a hearty vote of t . hanks was accorded the donor . An adjournment was then made to the refreshment rooms , where a most enjoyable evening was spent .

o o o GALLERY CHAPTER , No . 1928 . AT a convocation' of this Chapter , held at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet Street , E . G ., on Saturday last , the 13 th inst ., the

principals upon the dais were Comps . Us . & . Peacock M . MJ . ZI ., Henry Massey P . Z . acting H ., and C . K . Moore J . After the minutes of the last meeting had been read and confirmed Bros . John Duguid Irvine and Orlton Cooper were balloted for and accepted , and were subsequently exalted in a very efficient manner by the M . E . Z .

During tho evening a handsome P . Z . jewel was presented to Comp . Wright I . P . Z ., which he suitably acknowledged .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

FEARNLEY LODGE , No . 58 . AT the annual meeting held at the Freemasons' Hall , Halifax , on the 10 th , there was a large gathering of brethren , including

Bro . J . Barker P . M . P . G . O . D . P . G . M . West York ., and many other visitors from Ledges in the Province . Bro . W . J . Morris was installed W . M ., the ceremony being given in a most impressive manner by the retiring Master , Bro . Walter Hanson , assisted by Bro . H . S . Houldsworth P . M . P . G . S . P . P . G . S . W .

Supper was served in the dining room , after which the usual Mark toasts were honoured .

FRIENDSHIP UNANIMITY LODGE , No . 191 . ON Monday , 15 th inst ., at the Masonic Hall , Highbridge , Bro . G . C . Strawbridge S . W . was installed W . M . for the ensuing year .

lhe ceremony was performed by Bro . R . C . Else Prov . G . M . M . Somerset , and the newly installed Master afterwards appointed and invested his Officers . After the ceremony the brethren sat down to dinner .

Craft.

CRAFT .

— : o : — LODGE OF FREEDOM , No . 77 . THE sixth Masonic ball given under the auspices of this ancient Lodge took place on the 23 rd January , at the New Falcon

Hotel , Gravesend , the large hall of which had been newly decorated for the occasion by Bro . John Simpson . The ball , which was given by the sanction and under the patronage of Earl Amherst P . G . M . of Kent , was very fully attended , all the available tickets having been taken up somo time before the event , so that those who delayed

making applications until the last moment were disappointed . Dancing commenced soon after nine o'clock to the enlivening strains of Mr . F . Watson ' s string band , and was continued without intermission , except for a brief interval for supper , until four in the

morning . A dispensation to wear Masonic clothing had been granted , and the regalia of the brethren mixed well with the pretty colours of the charming costumes worn by the ladies . All present agreed that the gathering was highly successful , a fact that was owing to the energetic efforts of the Committee , especially Bros . Rackstraw W . M . and J . 0 . Biggs Secretary . Bros . F . Hitchens P . M . and G . Masters acted as Directors of the Ceremonies .

o o o ANCIENT UNION LODGE , No . 203 . AT the Masonic Temple , Hope Street , Liverpool , on the 18 th , Bro . Frederick R . Tester was installed as Worshinful Mastor .

The chair was occupied at the commencement of the proceedings by Bro . Joseph Wortbington W . M ., who inducted his successor , with the assistance of Bro . J . N . Hounsell .

o o o FIDELITY LODGE , No . 230 . THE annual banquet was held on the 17 th , at the Royal Hotel , Devonport . There is always a large attendance at this annual festival . nrincinallv on account of the fact that it is the

only Lodge that invites ladies to their banquet , and subsequently provides a concert for them , and also a ball . Tho gathering this

year proved quite as enjoyable and as successful as any of the series . A capital dinner was well served by the lessee , Mr . Harrison , after which the toast list was gone through and the remainder of the evening was devoted to the concert and ball . 0 o o

ROYAL UNION LODGE , No . 246 . SIR M . Hicks Beach , Bart ., as Provincial Grand Master of Gloucestershire , was present at the Masonic Hall , Cheltenham at the annual festival of this Lodae . when Bro . S . P . Rvland was

re-installed for a second term of office as Worshipful Master . The ceremony of installation was performed by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Bro . R . V . Vassar-Smith Grand Senior Deacon ,

assisted by the Prov . G . Master and Bro . the Baron de Ferrieres P . G . D ., W . Forth P . P . G . W ., J . L . Butler , E . Lawrence , Felton , Norman , J . Waghorne , and Huband Past Masters of the Lodge . After the installation , the usual charity votes were passed , and an incident of the meeting was the presentation to the Lodges

meeting m and owning the Hall of a new American organ . The instrument is a very fine one , and is intended for use in the ceremonies at the Hall , though the old organ remains as an ornament and for its associations . The presentation was made , in the

name of the subscribing brethren , by Bro . Horace Fisher , to whose initiative and exertions the gift was due . The banquet room , to which the brethren adjourned after Lodge , had been specially lighted by electricity . o o o

BROTHERLY LOVE LODGE , No . 329 . AT the Lodge-room at the Three Choughs Hotel , Yeovil , on the 10 th , Bro . Benjamin Whitby was installed W . M . The Ceremonv Of installing Bro . Whif . hv fnr i . ha aonnnA timo -root . **¦»

formed by D . P . G . M . Bro . R . C . Else ( Past Grand Deacon of England ) . The annual banquet was afterwards excellently served by Bro . Box , the new proprietor of the Choughs Hotel . The Worshipful Master presided , and the usual toasts were honoured .

o o o PEACE AND HARMONY LODGE , No . 359 . AT the Masonic Hall , Albion Place , Southampton , on Monday 15 th inst ., Bro . E . Kingman S . W . was installed W . M . for the ensuing year . The attendance numbered r . lnsA nn n . v , „ r , A ™

brethren . After the initiation of a candidate by Bro . Griffiths the installation ceremony was carried out by Bro . J . E . Aldis ' Votes of thanks were accorded to the Installing Master and the

retinng Master , accompanied in the latter case with a vote for a jewel in recognition of the efiicient manner in which he has filled the chair of the Lodge during tho past year . The installation banquet was afterwards served in excellent style by Bro . Brunton of " Dartnall ' s . " ' 0 0 0

HARMONY LODGE , NO . 372 . ON the occasion of the annual meeting held on the 10 th at the Masonic HaU , Budleigh Salterton , Bro . John W . Trump was installed W . M ., the ceremony being conducted b y Bro . W . Britton P . M . At the conclusion of the ceremony the brethren adjourned to the Feathers' Hotel , where the banquet was served by Host Perriam