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 .

CRAFT : METROPOLITAN . — : o : —

Zetland Lodge , No . 1364 . LADIES NIGHT .

THE annual banquet and musical evening given in honour of the ladies was held at the Ship and Turtle , Leadenhall Street , on Saturday , 20 th inst ., and like all previous festive gatherings of the Earl of Zetland Lodge proved an unbounded success , and was most fully appreciated by the thirty-four ladies and thirty-five Brethren who were present .

Before the arrival of the ladies , at 5 . 30 p . m ., a Lodge meeting was he ( ld by the Brethren , the ceremonies being conducted by the W . M . Bro Herbert G . Tayler in his customary easy and highly impressive manner . All the necessary business having been concluded , the Lodge was closed , and preparations made for the visit

of the fair sex , who were received in the Masonic Temple by the W . M . and Mrs . William Tayler , supported by the- I . P . M . Bro . John Moore , and the Officers of the Lodge . The handsome marble facings and tasteful decorations of the Temple met with that high appreciation they so well deserved .

Dinner of a high standard of cxce . llencc was served in the large banqueting hall , and reflected much credit upon the proprietors of the Ship and Turtle , while the menu and programme were of a very artistic character , a special design having been obtained for the occasion by the W . M .

The following Brethren were present : Herbert G . Tayler W . M ., J . Moore I . P . M ., M . Tuck S . W ., G . Jackson J . W ., Rev . G . Bell Doughty , B . A ., Chaplain , H . Cooper P . M . Treasurer , H . W . Gompertz P . M . Secretary , A . M . Scarff S . D ., J . Gennings J . D ., H . Lowe P . M . D . C ., G . Billings I . G ., Dr . J . F . Haskins

P . P . G . Org . Essex and Herts Organist , E . L Anning P . M ., H Richardson P . M ., W . R . Jeffrey P . M ., H . H . Cooper P . M ., W P . Forbes P . M ., F . H . Mabbet , Jno . Lanyon , J . M . Maynard , W C . Simpson , H . I . Dormer , G . T . Lupson , R . S . Lowe , J . B Halcrovv , N . G . Anstey , E . J . Hay , F . Britton , A . J . Lindsay Simpson , T . Lcabon , Young , R . H . Goddard , and others .

During dinner the W . M . took wine with the ladies , and asked each one to favour the members of the Earl of Zetland Lodge by accepting a small present of a Chatelaine bag , as a memento of the occasion .

The toast of the King and Protector of the Craft having been ably given and heartily received , God save the King was sung by Miss Osborne Williams , niece of the W . M . The W . M . then remarked that the ladies had no doubt admired the floral decorations upon the tables . These were entirely due to

the forethought and kindness of Bro . W . P . Forbes P . M ., ' who had done so much for the Earl of Zetland Lodge , and who hoped the ladies would take the fullest advantage of these flowers to add to their natural beauty . Amidst much laughter , the ladies then took wine with Bro . W . P . Forbes P . M .

The toast of Her Majesty the Queen , the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York , and the rest of the Royal Family was given by the W . M . Bro . Forbes then rose to propose what he considered one of

the most important toasts of the evening , that of the W . M ., to whom they were indebted for the beautiful and artistic menu cards and programmes , and who was held in affectionate regard by the members of the Lodge , nil of whom most heartily appreciated his perfect Masonic qualities and good work .

The W . M ., rising to respond , met with an ovation . It was a very great honour , he stated , to preside over such a brilliant assembly , and he would look back to it in years to come with the utmost pleasure . It was their hard lot as Freemasons to be debarred from the society of ladies at their gatherings , and

therefore they looked forward with the greatest pleasure to occasions like the present , when the festive board was graced by their presence . He hoped the dinner and concert would he the forerunner of a series of similar festivities in the future . He concluded by wishing one and all a most enjoyable evening .

Bro . J . Moore I . P . M . was heartily cheered on rising to propose the toast of the evening , that of the health of the Ladies , and in a very amusing speech explained how much the members of the Lodge enjoyed these annual gatherings , but pointed out that from little whispers he had heard , he understood that in their hearts the ladies occasionally had some little misgivings about Masonic

meetings . He desired to make it perfectly clear that if it were left to the feelings of the Brethren they would wish the ladies to be present on every Lodge night . The todies appreciated the beautiful temple and its adornments ; but he felt that he was skating on thin ice , when speaking of some of them , who appeared to have a knowledge of tho events of bye-gone days , especially when they

made enquiry respecting the doings of that man whom they all knew as the wisest man that ever lived . King Solomon had something to do with the resolu'ion which excluded ladies from Masonic meetings , and there must have been some trouble in his camp when he decided to exclude the fair sex from the gatherings , which he enjoyed so much . King Solomon had been credited with an attachment of 600 ladies , and they no doubt formed their own

Reports Of Meetings.

little Lodges of free-women . They had profited from King Solomon ' s experience , and ivez-e satisfied with one wife . In the name of the Earl of Zetland Lodge he had to thank the ladies for their presence . Bro . E . J . Anning P . M ., in replying on behalf of the Ladies , pointed out that they had heard a good deal about King Solomon ,

and his wives , and he was somewhat perplexed . There was once a lady of wealth who was much concerned as to how her remains should be disposed of on her demise . Should she be cremated , embalmed or buried . On the' lady ' s death , the nearest relative was consulted , and his reply was "Do the whole lot , run no risk . " He felt very much in the same frame of mind and desired in

replying for the ladies to faithfully carry out their wishes . He might say they were much obliged for the entertainment given them ; they would like to be present every Lodge night ; they heartily thanked the members of the Lodge for the Chatelaine bags , and Bro . Forbes for his beautiful flowers ; and hey hoped the Brethren would not forget these annual ladies meetings .

Bro . H . H . Cooper P . M . proposed a vote of thanks to Bro . Gompertz P . M . Secretary , and the Committee , upon whom the whole of the work devolved of making the arrangements necessary to ensure the success of the meeting . The W . M ., in putting the

vote , added his testimony to the untiring zeal of Bro . Gompertz , for whom nothing was too much trouble ; he added that their thanks were also due to Bro . H . Cooper P . M ., who had given much valuable attention to the necessary arrangements . The vote was carried at the Master " s suggestion , by acclamation .

Bro . Gompertz , in a happy strain , explained that he was amply rewarded in knowing that everything had given such universal satisfaction , and Bro . Cooper replied in similar terms . The company then adjourned to the concert room , where an excellent entertainment was provided under the direction of Bro . Dr . J . F . Haskins . Bro . Sidnev Gandy gave an amusing

exhibition of his ventriloquial powers , Bro . G . T . Lupson gave a very beautiful rendering of Blumenthal's " Evening Song , " Miss Osborne Williams was in charming voice with " Love the Pedlar" and ' •' Robin Adair , " Bro . Maurice Victor astonished the party with his sleight of hand tricks , Bro . Robert Grice's fine voice was heard to perfection in ' ¦ When the boys come marching home , " Bro . R . H .

Goddard amused the company with his humorous song '' The Bassoon , " Miss Lowe recited with much dramatic force "Stage Struck , " Bro . Reg . Lowe caused much amusement with his comic song , and Bro . M . Tuck gave selections from the "Bohemian Girl" upon the clarionet . The singing of " Aukl Lang Syne " brought to a close one of the most enjoyable and successful ladies nights ever held by the Earl of Zetland Lodge .

Hsnry Muggoridgo Lodge , Wo . 16 79 . AN emergency meeting was held on Saturday , 20 th inst ., at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet Street , those present including Bros . T . F . Strutt I . P . M . 2664 W . M ., J . D . Gomm P . M . acting I . P . M ., R . M . Crompton W . M .-elect S . W ., C . W . Hiscocks J . AV ., W . Boyce

P . M . Sec , Percy Gayer acting S . D . ( Horace W . Page acting S . D . for the second and first degrees ) , Philip Page J . D ., G . R . Annegarn acting I . G ., S . Roberts Org ., J . Rawles Tyler , C . J . Sowton P . M ., R . H . Hall P . M ., S . Stampfer P . M ., A . J . Street P . M ., Simpley P . M ., Dr . Stanley , C . Mangen , Cox , H . Franklin , C . Smallman , H . C . Stone , G . White , W . Nightingale , L . J . Wiedemann , & c .

Visitors , Bros . H . F . Marendez , Harmony Lodge , No . 42 , Waterbury , Conn ., U . S . A ., and J . Wynman . The Lodge being opened an important notice of motion was brought forward by Bro . R . M . Crompton W . M .-elect which , by the majority of votes , was carried .

The Lodge was advanced to the second degree , when Bro . W . Nightingale answered the questions leading to the third and was entrusted . The Lodge was further advanced , and that Brother was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason .

The Lodge was resumed to the first degree and Bros . C . Mangen and L . J . Wiedemann , who were initiated at the previous meeting , answered questions put to them to the satisfaction of the W . M ., and were entrusted . The Lodge being resumed to the second degree they were in clue form passed to the degree of Fellow Craft .

The Lodge was again resumed to the first degree , and the ballot was taken for the following gentlemen : James William Sudbury , John Robert Williams , and Fred . William Kinsburv . It proved unanimous in their favour , and in clue course they had the privilege of

participating in the mysteries of ancient Freemasonry . This ceremony was impressively rendered , and included the ancient charge ; we are sure it must have made a great impression on the candidates . The faultless working of the W . M . is well known ; on this occasion the whole of the work was clone to perfection .

It was proposed that the sum of fifteen guineas be sent to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys out of the Lodge funds ; this was duly seconded and unanimously agreed to . After a few communications had been announced the Lodge was closed , and the Brethren retired to partake of an excellent repast Bro . J . H . Francis superintending the dinner in an able manner '

. Afterwards , the W . M . gave the Loyal toast , and Bro . Horace Page sang God save the King . This was followed by the toast of the Duke of Connaught and the Grand Officers present and past .

Bro . Gomm , as acting I . P . M ., in eloquent terms gave the toast of the W . M ., which was heartily received , as was the W . M . on rising to respond . Bro . Strutt thanked Bro . Gomm for his kind expressions . He

was sorry to leave the chair as W . M ., but at the same time he hoped to have the pleasure of installing an equally good Master in Bro . Crompton . whom he knew to be an excellent worker . He sincerely thanked the Brethren for their kindness on the present and many other occasions .