Early Grand Masters.

influenced In * one or more reasons , the States General abandoned their aggressive action against it , and when , some years later , the clergy of Holland , who were the enemies of our Order , refused to grant absolution to those

who had joined the Society , the States General intervened for the protection of the Craft , directing tho priests to reject no Freemason who was otherwise au honest num .

Installation Meetings, &C.

INSTALLATION MEETINGS , & c .

UNITED MARINERS' LODGE , No . 30 .

SELDOM have tho brethren of this old and respected Lodge met under more gratifying auspices than on Tuesday , 17 th instant , when thore was a numerous assemblage to witness the installation of Bro . J . W . Crossloy as Worshipful Master for the ensning year . It is well known that this Lodge has 'for years enjoyed an onviablo position amongst the Masonic circles of the metropolis , aud that its prestige has not , only been maintained , but considerably enhanced ,

under recent Masters , has been abundantly proved and acknowledged . Alike iu tho perfection of its working and its activo support of the Charities of our Institution , tho Unitod Mariners' Lodge has for a long period hold a proud and prominent position , and the hearty fraternity pervading its members is an ample evideuco of the healthy tone which has all along characterised this section of the Craft . The

brethren assembled shortly after-half-past four o ' clock , when Lodge was opened in accordance with ancient rites , under the presidency of the retiring Worshipful Master , Bro . Hiram Cosedge , who was supported by Bros . Joseph Clarke I . P . M ., J . W . Crossloy S-VV . and W . M . elect , Joshua Shipley J . W ., Joseph Harling P . M . Treasurer , Joseph Driscoll P . M . Honorary Secretary , Thomas E . Davey S . D .,

James Linscott J . D ., Louis Stoiugraber D . C , P . M . ' s Charles Davey , Thomas Smith , A . T . Glad well , A . Lcfcanx , G . J . C . Smith , W . Ansell , Lampen , J . Rotheroe , H . BIyers , J . Oblein , 31 . Misch , B . Oldendorff , John Lewis , Alfred Conldrey , C . Bergman , James Hill , W . Sanders , Carl Fasshaber , Edwin Bailey , L . G . Reinhardt Tyler , & o . Amongst tho Visitors were Bros . James Terry P . M . 228 ( Secretary of the

Royal Benevolent Institution ) , J . Godwin P . M . 1313 P . G . A . D . C . of Essex , Rev . W . H . W . Casely 1580 P . P . G . C . of Herts , T . Painter P . M ., K . Bergmnnn P . M . 238 , W . Manger P . M . 1314 , R . Senecal P . M . 569 , W . J . Mnrlis P . M . 1612 , W . Johnson W . M . 946 , R . P . Frewer P . M . 1685 , H . Leah P . M . 193 , H . Stanley 205 , D . P . Holmes 1471 , F . Slade 1685 . E . H . Page 55 , J . Richardson 185 , H . Forbes 1329 , and many

others , who as the Worshipful Master facetiously remarked later in the evening , might have been enumerated had their signatures been moro legibly written in the attendance book . Lodgo having been advanoed , Bro . Crossloy was duly presented as tho Worshipful Master elect , and , having accepted the responsibilities of the exalted position was installed into tho chair , and subsequently received the

hearty salutations of the brethren , the ceremonial being conducted by Bro . Hiram Cosedge , in au intelligent and impressive manner , aud such as pleased and snrprised many who were aware of the retiring Master ' s recent indisposition . At the conclusion of the ceremony the newly-installed Worshipful Master invested his Officers for the year , as follows : —Bros . Hiram Cosedge I . P . M ., Joshua Shipley S . W .,

Thomas E . Davey J . W , Joseph Harling P . M . Treasurer , Joseph Driscoll P . M . Honorary Secretary , James Linscott S . D ., Louis Stoingrabor J . D ., Alfred Couklrey Iuncr Gnard , Carl Fasshaber Director of Ceremonies , Charles Davey P . M . Wine Steward , Samuel Lampen Assistant Wine Steward , and L . G . Reinhardt T yler . During the evening Bro . Sanders w . * 8 raised to the sublime degree ,

by the retiring W . M ., who in this , as well as in tho ceremony of installation , acquitted himself most meritoriously . At tho conclusion of the business the brethren and visitors adjourned to the banquetting-hall , where a r & cherchd repast was seryed by Messrs . Ritter and Clifford , after which the customary Loyal and Masonic toasts were duly honoured . The W . M ., referring to Her Majesty as the mother

of Masons , said the brethren of the Craft were by this faot drawn nearer to the throne , oven if they were tempted otherwise . They ought also to be proud of tho Prince of Wales as the Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Craft , as woll as a Prince , and it afforded them tho greatest gratification to see how nobl y he supported the Institution of which he was the supreme head . In giving

* ' Our Masonic Rulers ho observed that while they congratulated themselvos upon boing favoured by Royalty , they were also favoured by the nobility of the country , many of whom held high offices in Grand Lodge . These offices , however , wero not confined to the nobility , neither was our Order . Masonry teaches natural equality , and they found many men amongst oat * commoners who also held exalted

offices in the Craft . The toast was enthusiastically recoived . The I . P . M . then rose , and said tho gavel had been returned to him once more , he supposed as the setting sun , although ho would not carry the simile too far . Bnt as setting sun he was supposed to look pleasantly out of the clond , and promised them no end of happy work , as the angury of tho morrow . From tho respect and affection they

entertained towards their now Worshipful Master he felt suro thoy wonld support and cheer him , and try to find out what was in him , during his year of office . He had worked well in the varions offices through which ho had to pass , and they might rely upon it that he wonld continue to uphold tho reputation which this old Lodgo so

deservedly enjoyed . They would find him a thoroughly sincere Worshipful Master , who loved the tenets of the Craft , and would holp tho brethren to carry them out faithfully . If thoy accorded to Bro . Crossloy half the kindness they had manifested towards himself , his must be a strong heart , indeed , if ho did not reciprocate that kindness by his efforts to sustain the prcstigo of the old Lodge , Tho W .

Installation Meetings, &C.

Muster , after returning thanks for the compliment patd him , said he occupied a prond position in filling tho chair of so old and respected a Lodge as this , and he felt the responsibility of following so many P . M . ' s of credit and renown , who had preceded him . While craving their indulgence for any shortcomings of which he might be guilty ho should endeavour to sustain tho position ia such a way that the

brethren would r . ot regret having exalted him to the dignified place in which ho now found himself . In proposing tho hoalth of tho Imnicdiato Past Mastor and Installing Officer of tho day , ho said tho way in which Brother Cosedgo had dono tho work must havo afforded tho utmost gratification to all who witnessed it . Ho congratulated him , not only npon tho way in which he performed tho ceromony of

installing his successor , but also upon the courage he had shown in undertaking that task . He had now groat pleasure in presenting to Bro . Cosedgo , on behalf of the Lodge , a jewel , in consideration , not only of the way in which he had conducted the business of the Lodge during the past twelve months , but also for the kind and courteous manner which he had displayed towards the brethren generally . The

jewel , which was a very handsome and massive one , bore the following inscription : — " Presented to Bro . Hiram Cosedge P . M ., by the brethren of the United Mariners' Lodge of Freemasous , No . 30 , as a token of appreciating his ability and courtesy as W . M . of the above Lodge . 17 th January 1882 . " The Immediate Past Master in returning thanks , hardly knew how to compress into necessarily a

few words his gratitude for tho kindness displayed towards him . It was not merely for the gift itself , beautiful and valuablo as it was , but for the kindly motives which had prompted the brethren in its presentation , and which he should remoinber as long as he lived . When they installed him as W . M . it was one of the most inclement days experienced for thirty years , and he

arrived very late , but he found all the brethren assembled and quietly awaiting him . He had that day to travel six hours in the blinding snow , and had to change his clothing twice , and if he had looked upon it as a forecast , which was common amongst Englishmen , and especially among mariners , he might have looked forward to a not very agreeable year of office . But , as a cloudy morning often

precedes a brilliant day , so he might say he had had a sunshiny year of office ; things had gone on rosily , and it had all ended in his being presented with this splendid jewel , whioh must bo valned more for the kindly motives which prompted it than for its intrinsic worth . He acknowledged the great assistance he had received from tho

Officers and Past Masters of the Lodge , especially Bros . Thomas Smith and Driscoll , in the discharge of his duties , and , in conclusion , he wished for the Lodge a long career of future prosperity . Whenever ho looked upon that jewel he should have impressed upon his heart the sentiment of

Burns-Men , good men , the whole world o ' er May brethren be , and a' that . The W . M . then gave the health of the Past Mastora , whom he was pleased to see rallying round him in such goodly numbers this evor .. ing , and who had done their work so well that he thought he was right in calling them veteran victors . To be a P . M . of No . 30 was

no very light honour . Bro . Joseph Clarke responded in a few happily chosen sentences , in the course of which he said he appreciated the honour of being a Past Master of this old Lodge , aud he was sure the other P . M . ' s would share his sentiments when he said ho should ever be ready to extend the right hand of fellowship , and afford all the instruction iu his power to those who needed it . He assured thorn

the Past Masters would always strive to assist any member of the Craft wherever he was situated , and that the hearty good fellowship which had always characterised this Lodge would be well maintained . The health of the Visitors was responded to by Bro . Karl Bergmann P . M . 231 , twice W . M . of the Pilgrim Lodge , the only one iu England belonging to our Grand Lodge working in tho German language

Bro . the Rev . W . H . Caseley , P . P . G . Chaplain of Herts , also briefly thanked the brethron for the hospitality extended to the Visitors . The W . M . then proposed in felicitous terms tbe health of the Treasurer and Secretary , acknowledging the valuablo service they had rendered to the Lodge . Bro . Herling . 'in reply , spoke of tho satisfactory condition of their finances , which enabled them to accord greater

assistance than heretofore to the Charities . Brother Joseph Driscoll P . M . said the duties of Secretary were to him a pleasure and labour of love . Ho was pleased to say he had received that evening over fifty guineas towards the Benevolent Institution , for which he was a Steward , a result which he thought vei * y gratifying . The W . M . said if there was ono virtue above another upon which Masons prided

themselves it was Charity . It was one of tho great principles upon which the Order was fouuded—for what was Brotherly Love but the very essence of charity . Tho uninitiated world , when they looked upon their Institutions , called them charitable , aud certainly they ought to be proud of the way in which so many of the old men and women were provided for , and so mauy of the children edncated

aud cared for , and fitted for the battle of life . Thoso were legitimate objects of pride , but there was also another kind of charity , which worked out of the sight of men , among the deeper depths—so to speak — among the poor and distressed . This charity thoy ought not to forgot , but try to raise tho fallen , stimulate the erring , and point them to paths of honour . Hu proposed

the Masonic Chanties , associating with tho toast tho namo of Bro . James Terry , the rcspoctod Secretary of tho Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . Bro . Terry , who was received with groat applause , was afraid the observations ho mi ght make would como with rather poor grace after all they had done to supplement Bro . Driscoll ' s list that evening . But ho could say with all sincerity that

in that Lodge the toast of the Masonic Institutions ought to | be jjiven by a representative of one of those Institutions rather than from the chair , for thi 3 reason : that the first conception of oar Boys' School emanated from tho members of the United Mariners' Lodfe . Therefore the compliment onght to bo paid by a representative of thoso Institutions , whoever might happen to be present , to acknowled"o what tho forefathers of the Lodgo had done in years gone b y , and