Notices Of Meetings.

B . Bell Organist 191 , Arthur Horsfiold 2216 , William Alcock 322 . The circular announced four ceremonies , the first being the initiation of Mr . Samuel Bryan , which was performed by Bro . Avison P . M ., he being assisted by Bro . Hulme , who presented the working tools . The Worshipful Master uudertook the second , viz ., the passing of Brother William Farrell , while Bro . Charles Turner P . M . raised to the sublime degree Bros . Albert Edward Fisher and Thomas Brierley Marsden .

At the festive board whioh succeeded the Lodge business , the following admirable musioal programme waa performed , a very pleasant evening being spent : —Violin solo , Bro . John Nichols ; violin duet-, Bros . Charles Jaokson and John Hulme ; euph solo , Bro . E . A . Fisher ; oboe solo , Bro . Reynolds . Songs—Bros . Kinnell and Blacow . Glees—Bros . Booth , Dumville , Turner Stafford , and others . Recitations—Bro . Dotfcie . The accompanists were Bros . Robert Johnson and H . S . Greenwood .

DUKE OF YORK LODGE , No . 2449 . THE regular meeting of this Lodge was held at the Palatine Hotel , Hunt's Bank , Manchester , on Thursday , the 11 th inst . There were present : Bros . Wm . T . Sohofield W . M . P . M . 1219 P . P . J . D ., James Andrew P . M . P . P . G . Std . B ., William Bowden S . W . P . M ., Fred Warburton J . W ., S . Maraelok P . M . Treasurer , Clement Jno . Hall Secretary , Thomas T . Hardioker S . D ., Philip Whyman J . D ., John Kinsey I . G ., George W . Bowden S . S ., Robert Meggitt D . C .,

T . H . Stott J . S ., Edward Roberts P . M . ( FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE ) , A . G . Bryee , John Brinkley Marshall , Oates Rushton , Campbell Houston , J . T . Whittle ; Thomas D . Lightfoot . Visitors : BrotherB Alderman John Roberts P . M . 2 G 4 P . P . G . D . C , James NettJeton P . M . 1011 , Bridge Hopkinson P . M . 1140 , James Robinson W . M . 1219 , Wm . Henry Bibby S . W . 993 , Harry Smith J . D . 1170 , William Leigh

428 . The circular convening tho meeting was a very heavy one , containing as it did seven ceremonies , besides the balloting for a joining member . As a matter of course , some of these had to be abandoned , acd a meeting of emergency to complete them will be held on Thursday , 1 st June . The ceremonies taken were the initiations of Messrs . Arthur Scarlett , Tom Howarth

Wooler , Alfred Overton Wooler , and the passing into the degree of a F . C . of Bro . J . B . Marshall , whioh were performed by Bro . Sohofield W . M ., Bro . S . Mamelok P . M ., and Bro . William Boden S . W . Ic was announced that the following telegram bad been despatohed to his Royal Highness the Dnke of York , at Marlborough House : " We , the Officers and Bi ethren of the Duke of York Lodge of Freemasons ,

assembled at the Palatine Hotel , send hearty congratulations to yon and Princess May , on your engagement . " The message produced this reply . "St . James ' s , S . W . Worshipfnl Master Duke of York Lodge , Palatine Hotp ' , Manchester . Am desired to send the warm thanks of tbe Duke of York for your kind telegram of congratulation . Signed , De Winton . At the festive board which snccoeded Lodge

business , the orthodox Loyal and Masonic toasts were submitted and duly honoured , Bro . Alderman John Roberta responding on behalf of the Provincial Officers . He thanked tho brethren for tho opportunity which had been afforded him of witnessing such splendid ceremonies . He had been a Mason for 23 years , and bo could say with perfeot sincerity that he had never beheld anything of its kind which was more

delightful . Tbo whole thing was indoed a credit to this no ?/ Lodge . It was perhaps a wrong thing to do to covet a neighbour ' s goods , but he certainly envied them of their candidates tbat evening ; for in his opinion tbreo more splendid initiates neve ? entered a Lodge . The toast of tho visitors was duly responded to , Bros . Robinson aud Bibby especially congratulating the Officers on the quality of the work

which had been exhibited . The toast of the newly-initiated brethren and that of the newly-passed brother also received suitable replies , the latter ( Bro . Marshall ) distinguished himself in his delivery of tho following felicitous speech . " I thank you most heartily for the kind manner in whioh yon have proposed the toast of my health . I have been greatly interested in the step which I have taken , and to which

the W . M . has so kindly referred ; indeed words fail me when trying to express my impressions of it . I think I can better do so by quoting from the hymn of two well-known revivalists , viz ., 'It is better farther on . ' I may say generally of all I have witnessed and heard , that I am constrained to use the words of that volume of the Sacred Law which has been so prominently introduced to-night , and

I am sure yon will all agree with me that' the half had not been told . ' I look forward to the future in the expectation of continuous , and perhaps even greater pleasure than that which I have already derived from my conneotion with yon . " Other speeches followed , which were varied by songs , sketches , & c , from Bros . Robinson , Bowden , Hall , Stott , Scarlett , and Roberts . Bro . B . Hopkinson presided at the piano .

Lodge of Instruction No . 581 . —A meeting of this Lodge was held at the Old Boar ' s Head Hotel , Withy Grove , Manchester , on Thursday , the 11 thinst ., the following being present , viz : —Bros . H . H . Warbnrton P . M . P . P . G . S . D . Preceptor , G . T . Lenard Treas ., Alfred Hebden P . M . P . P . G . D . D . C . Secretary , H . B . Brown acting W . M ., E . Loebell acting J . W ., William Bee P . M . P . P . G . S ., Geo .

Rideat P . M ., Fred Hilton P . M ., F . Gordon Berry , C . T . Hawkon , E . M . Shepherd , R . Alf . Hepworth , Walter Fowden , Walter Marshall , J . J . Dean , George Taylor , J . Townley Trotter , Nathl . Jones . The Lodge was opened in dne form and with solemn prayer by Bro . H . B . Brown , and after the minutee of the previous meeting hud been read and confirmed , o ballot was taken for Bros . Kideal , Fowden

Marshall , Hey wood , Smith , Jones , and Trotter , who were desirous of becoming joining members . The ballot was successful in each case . The chair was then assumed by Bro . Borry , who performed the ceremony of initiation , Bro . H . B . Brown acting as candidate , the working tools being presented and explained by Bro . Hepworth . Pro , Brown delivered the E . A . charge . Bro . Lenard then assumed

Notices Of Meetings.

the chair , and performed unaided the ceremony of passing , Bro . Brown again acting as caudidate . The Worshipful Preceptor , on behalf of the members , congratulated Bro . Fred Hilton P . M . Prov . G . D . C . designate upon his having attained Provincial rank , to which Bro . Hilton responded in Buitablo terms , after whioh the Lodge was closed with prayer by Bro . Lenard at 8 - 55 p . m . The next meeting will be held on Tuesday , the 30 th inst ., when the ceremony of raising will be rehearsed .

The funeral of Brother Robert Thomas , the Worshipful Master of the St . David's Lodge , No . 384 , took place on Saturday , the 20 fch instant . There was a large gathering of tho Fraternity , the deceased being much respected . The service was conducted by the Rev . D . Jones , M . A ., the attendance of the Craft being numerous .

On Tuesday , the 9 th inst ., some of the members of the St . George ' s Lodge of Instruction and their friends met , at the Portland Hotel , Greenwich , for a supper , to mark tho close of the season . Brother George Brown P . M . and Secretary of the St . George's Lodge , No . 140 , and

Preceptor of the Lodge of Instruction , presided , and he was well supported . The usual loyal toasts , followed by success to the St . George's Lodge of Instruction , the President , Treasurer and Secretary , Visitors , and Host Bro .

Boncey , were most cordially proposed , received , and responded to , the Secretary being in a position to give a very favourable report of the past season ' s proceedings . The toasts were interspersed with music , and a pleasant and harmonious evening was enjoyed by the company .

The bells of Windsor were rung on Thursday and a Royal Salute fired in the Long Walk iu celebration of the birthday of Princess Christian ( Princess Helena of Great Britain and Ireland ) . Many of the houses were flagged .

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CRITERION GRAND HALL . THE THIS WEEK . Miss LOUISE LEE & NIR . KELSON TRUEMAN YOCALISTS : varnai mas m wm AT AT 51- & 7 K 41-, 6 to 9-30 . 11 to 12-30 . NO CHARGE FOR ATTENDANCE . SEPARATE TABLES . LIFT FROM GRAND VESTIBULE TO GRAND HALL Constantly Varied Programme and Musical Novelties .