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LODGE OF PEACE , No . 322 . rnHE festival of St . John was hold on the 18 th , at the Warren JL Bulkelcy Arms Hotel , Stockport . The name of Mr . James Baron , Manager , was successfully

submitted to the ballot , aud having been prepared , that gentleman was regularly initiated by Bro . George Brady P . M . P . P . G . S . B ., he being assisted by Bro . John H . liatcliffe S . W ., who explained tho working tools , and delivered tho charge .

The retiring Master , Bro . John Armitage , installed Bro . J . H . Ratcliffe . Bro . John Nicholson P . M . invested his Officers . Bro . J . Worsnup P . M . P . P . G . D . Treasurer then presented his

accounts for the financial year , which wero duly passed . Upwards of 50 brethren partook of dinner provided by Mrs . Firth . Several toasts were honoured during the evening , and songs were contributed by the brethren .

o o o UNION LODGE , No . 414 . THE installation was held on the 16 th , at the Masonic HaU , Reading , when W . M . the Rev . Canon Garry installed Bro . G . S . Gait as his successor .

Subsequently the annual banquet was held at tho Groat Western Hotel , when 70 brethren sat down to a capital repast served by Bro W . G . Flanagan .

o o o MENTURIA LODGE , No . 418 . THE installation of Bro . Edmund Jones took place last month , at tho Masonic Hall , Hanley , in the presence of about 90

brethren , including many visitors from other Lodges . 'lhe ceremony was performed by Bro . David Jones , the retiring W . M ., assisted by Bros . J . B . Piercy P . P . G . S . W ., F . Brandon P . P . G . R ., H . Windle P . P . G . J . D ., E . V . Greatbach P . P . G . Supt . of Works , W . TunnicliS P . P . G . Supt . of Works , E . B . Jackson P . P . G . S . B ., E . Devoreux P . M .

After the Lodgo had been closed , the brethren adjourned to tho Town Hall , where a banquet was provided by Bro . Munro . After dinner the Loyal toasts were honoured . Bro . Piercy proposed the Masonic Charities . He said in enrolling members they were careful not to admit persons in needy circumstances with a view to bettering their position in life . But thore

were instances in which brothers who had nobly fought the battle of life became reduced , from circumstances beyond their control , to distress and poverty . To such as thoso a helping hand was extended , and they were assisted in no niggardly spirit through the Masonic Charities . It was not possible to find any other Institution which contributed so much as £ 50 , 000 a year in support of Charities in

London . He went on to say that a good work was being done in the Girls School . Thanks to lhe great exertions of Bros . Greatbach and Tunntcliff , the Boys School was re-organised three years ago , and the boys were well clothed , fed , and educated . He appealed to them for additional funds for the Institution for the aged . Staffordshire had " 1 , 254 votes for the Boys School , 963 for the Girls , and 905 for

the Aged . In Cheshire a Benevolent Association had been formed for that Province , and £ 3 , 200 had been raised , and last week two aged Masons were elected to be recipients of an annuity of £ 20 each . He suggested tho formation of a similar fund for the Province of Staffordshire .

Bro . H . Windle , m a few appropriate remarks responded . Some other toasts , including the health of the W . M . and the visitors , were drunk . Several brethren contributed vocal music and recitations , and the evening was spent very pleasantly . o o o

SUTHERLAND LODGE OF UNITY , No . 460 . ON the 19 th inst . Bro . F . Skerrett P . G . Supt . of Works was installed by Bro . Thomas Edwards , tho retiring W . M . The Worshipful Master , on behalf of the Lodge , presented Past Master ' s jewels to Bros . Edwards , Newby , and Eardly . The Duke of

Sutherland presented a hunch of venison from Dunrobin for the banquet which followed the proceedings of the Lodge . A vote of thanks was heartily accorded to the Duke , and gratification was expressed that his Grace had manifested his interest .

o o o LA TOLERANCE LODGE , No . 538 . BRO . S . G . Edridgo was installed W . M . at the meeting held at Freemasons' Hall , on the 4 th . He was supported by Colonel Money P . G . M . for Surrey , Frederick West Deputy P . G . M ., . and

many others . Bro . F . Cambridge P . G . O . for Surrey provided the music . At the banquet which followed , Bro . S . G . Edridge presided , and was enthusiastically welcomed . He stated his intention of acting as steward at the approaching Festival of the Benevolent Institution , and also of becoming a V . P . thereof . o o o

ETRUSCAN LODGE , No . 546 . JL T the Masonic Hall , Long ton , on Thursday , the llth inst ., Bro . x \_ J- E . Hodson was installed as W . M . The ceremony was performed by the retiring W . M ., Bro . J . M . Wood . Bra . Wcbbcrlcy Secretary , read an official communication from thc Secretary of the Grand Lodge of England , announcing that the

Bunco of Wales M . W . G . M . had appointed the Earl of Dartmouth ( Lord Lieutenant of tho county of Stafford ) to thc position of P . G . M . of tho Province of Staffordshire , and the announcement gave tho greatest satisfaction to the brethren assembled . At tho close of the Lodge the brethren adjourned to the Crown

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and Anchor Hotol , where an excellent banquet was served by Bro . G . B ^ nnion . The UMial Loyal and Masonic toasts were honoured . Bro . Webberley proposed tho health of tho Earl of Dartmouth ns tho P . G . M . Designate , and gavo an intero ting account of the P . G . Masters and their deputies from tho time of Col . Vernon to the present da \ -, expressing his beief that a nobleman who was striving to do his duty in the high position he held in Staffordshire would do good work in connection with Freemasonry .

Bro . A . Newton proposed the Masonic Charities , referrirg to the support of tho three central Institutions as well as the local charitable associations as complete refutation of the charge sometimes made by ignorant and spiteful people that Freemasons were banded together for conviviality onlv . He claimed for Freemasonry that it did moro charitable work than any other institution , Bro . T . H . Griffiths , who responded , made an excellent speech to the same effect . o o o

DRUIDS LODGE , No . 589 . ST . John ' s festival was celebrated on Monday , 8 th inst . Two gentlemen were initiated , but the installation of thc W . M .-elect , Bro . Rev . W . R . Erskine ( vicar of Trolcigh ) , was deferred in consequence of the illness of the Rev . gentleman , and of course the

cust-omary appointment of officers did nofc take place . The banquet iu thfe large room beneath the Lodge was presided over by the W . M . for the past year , Bro . H . Opie . The catering was by Mrs . Buston , of the London Hotel . During the evening numerous expressions of regret at the illness of the W . M .-elect were uttered . o o o

WILTSHIRE LODGE OF FIDELITY , No . 663 , ON tho 16 th inst ., tho installation meeting of this Lodgo was held at the Masonic Hall , Devizes . The outgoing W . M . ( Bro . J . P . Martin ) installed the S . W ., Bro . F . G . Billingham as W . M ., in a most able manner , and afterwards delivered the usual addresses . Thero was a good attendance of members of the Lodge , and the

following visitors were present : —Bros . W . S . Bambridge P . M . P . J . G . W . Wilts , F . J . Leader W . M ., and H . Hillier 1533 , W . J . Mann P . M . P . P . J . G . W . Wilts , H . Mundy W . M ., H . White I . P . M ., and T . M . Garlick S . W . 632 , D . Strachan P . M . 1066 , and T . W . Flint J . D . 1388 .

The newly-installed W . M . appointed and invested the Officers of the Lodge for fche ensuing year as follows : —Bros . J . P . Martin I . P . M ., F . Reynolds S . W . ( by deputy ) , F . Wvatfc J . W ., Revd . W . Humphrys P . M . Chap ., F . S . Hancock P . M . Treas ., T . C . Hopkins P . M . Sec , H . H . Baker S . D ., J . Hunt J . D ., H . Howse P . M . D . C ,

W . H . Bush P . M . Org ., S . W . Tayler I . G ., A . Sheppard and F

Rendell Stds ., C . R . Barnes Tyler . After the Lodge was closed the brethren adjourned to a banquet afc the Bear Hotel , which was served up in excellent style by Bro . Reynolds , and for which Bro . Simon Watson Taylor sent his usual kind present of venison . o o o

ST . TUDNO LODGE , No . 755 . THE annual installation was held at Llandudno , on Wednesday , 10 th inst . Bro . T . B . Farrington ( Conway ) was installed , the ceremony being impressively performed by Bro . R . S . Chamberlain P . M . P . P . G . S . W . North Wales .

The banquet was served at the Imperial Hotel , tho catering of Bro . Chantrey giving every satisfaction .

o o o GOSPORT LODGE , No . 903 . THE annual installation was held on the 9 th , at the India Arms Hotel , Gosport . Bro . F . G . Hazzard S . W . was installed by Bro . M . Hart W . M . Preceding the installation a new member was initiated by the outgoing Master . The retiring W . M . was also

presented with a P . M . ' s jewel , as a recognition of his work . At the conclusion of the installation an adjournment was made to the banquetting-room , where a numerous company sat down to a wellserved repast . o o o

PELHAM LODGE , No . 939 . A GOODLY number were present on thc 18 th , afc Worksop , when Bro . W . G . Humber was installed . The ceremony was performed by Bro . W . G . Boot P . P . G . C . The banquet was held at Bro . G . Phillips ' s , Lion Hotel . o o o

EGERTON LODGE , No . 1030 . THE regular meeting was hold at the George Hotel , Heaton Norris , on the 15 th , Bro . Henry Wilson W . M . Bros . George Edward Wright and Walter Birch were passed by the W . M . and Bro . W . H . Vaughan respectively . Bro . W . Barker Bale was raised by the W . M ., the J . W . Bro . A . W . Pemberton explaining the working tools in each instance . The usual festive board followed .

o o o WALTON LODGE , No . 1086 . BROTHER Garrett , who has occupied the position of Master during the past year , is succeeded by Bro . John Miller , who installed ± xoote \

was ny sro . a . so . so . a : x , at the meeting held at the Skelmersdale Masonic Hall , Kirkdale , Liverpool , on the 17 th inst . Subsequently a banquet was held , at which Bro . Garrett was presented , on behalf of the Lodge , with a jewel , as a , token of fche