Prince Edward Of Saxe-Weimar Lodge, No. 1903.

To Bro . Capt . tho Right Hon . Lord Charles de la P . Beresford , R . N . MY LORD AND BROTHEK , —We , tho members of the Princo Edward of Saxe-Weimar Lodgo , No . 1903 , desire to tender your lordship our warm and hearty congratulations npon your safe return to England , after having , in the dischargo of yonr duty to your Queen and country , beeu exposed to many perils both by sea and land .

We have rend with pride and gratification the accounts of your gallant deeds before tho enemy , and of the valuable services which you havo rendered to your country . You havo worthily maintained tho traditions oftho distinguished family of which you nre a member , and have helped to shed additional lustre upon the noble profession to which you belong .

It is to us , the members of tho Princo Edward of Saxe-Weimar Lodge , a source of tho greatest pleasure that our first Worshipful Master , who was also one of tho founders of the Lodge , and who has always evinced the warmest interest in its prosperity , has by his special promotion already obtained some recognition of his valour .

We trust tbat your valuable life may be spared for many years , to bo an ornament to the gallant service of which you are a member , and to render valuable service to Freemasonry in general . We have the honour to be , My Lord and Brother , Yours respectfully aud fraternally ,

T . Page W . M ., H . W . Townsend acting I . P . M ., G . Bray S . W ., J Martyr J . W ., P . H . Good Chaplain , H . Threadingham Treasurer , A . L Emannel Secretary , W . Latham Cox S . D ., J . McLood J . D ., H . M . E Brnnker M . C ., J . Johns Asst . M . C ., H . Long I . G ., Sam Knight and G Baokler Stewards .

Lord C . Beresford said he could assure them he meant what he said when he told them he did not know how to express himself adequately in thanking them for their magnificent address . When ho at first heard of their intention he did so with regret , for the reason that he did not deserve it . During his year of office circumstances had prevented him from doing his duty as he shonld have wished .

His next feeling was one of great pride—not for anything he had done himself , but it was in some measure a tribute to that profession to which he belonged . There was an old-fashioned expression , that you might take a horse to the water , but could not make him drink . Tbe best officer might take a ship into action , but that was of no use , unless the men were careful with their shots , and plucky at their

guns . And but for the men they would not have done what they did . Therefore he thought the honour they had done him that night was indirectly conferred on the men he had commanded . His Lordship paid a high compliment to the Marines who had assisted him in the police ashore . He wished to thank those Officers of the Lodge who had taken his dnty in his absence , and

more particularly Bro . Townsend , who had undertaken the work in a critical time , as the first year was always the most difficult . The Lodge now stood second to none in the kingdom , and that proved how well the duty bad been carried out . He assured them that this address would be stored with his treasures at home , and it would remind him of the brotherly affection they had shown him on every

occasion . Lord C . Beresford moved that an address of congratulation be presented by the Lodge to H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught , on his return from Egypt , and this will bo considered at the next Lodge meeting . A banquet was served after the Lodge meeting , in the diningroom of the hall . Bro . T . Page W . M . presided , and was supported by Lord Charles Beresford , Admiral of the Fleet Sir H . Keppel , and

several Provincial Officers and Installed Masters . The catering was entrusted to Mr . W . Maybour , of Butcher-street , Portsea , whose arrangements were very satisfactory . The usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were honoured , Brother H . W . Townsend Provincial G . Deacon , replying for the toast of the Provincial Officers . The W . M . said that the next toast he had the pleasure of bringing to the notice of

the brethren was one that he felt sure would be drunk with great enthusiasm . When he mentioned the name of their distinguished brother the Immediate Past Master , Lord Charles Beresford , it was quite sufficent to ensure a hearty response . No words of his could increase their estimation of his deeds , which had gained world-wide fame and further honoured the illustrious

name he bore . He ( the W . Master ) felt sure the Masonic body had reason to be proud of having such a brother amongst them . It was matter of indifference to his lordship whether it was on sea or land , as long as he could face the enemy , and his conduct before Alexandria not only commended his name to the heart of every Englishman , but made " all the world wonder . " They were reminded

of a well-known poem , and when they asked , " Was there a man dismayed ? " they could say there was not ono on board of that little Condor . England need not fear for her prestige while sho had snch gallant leaders as Bro . Lord Charles Beresford . Tho W . M . concluded by asking the brethren to drink heartily to the toast , and pray that his lordship might bo spared for many , many years to be amongst thotn .

Lord C . Beresford thanked tho W . M . for the flattering terms in which he had proposed the toast , and the brethren for their kind aud enthusiastic reception . Tbe Navy as a service had very few opportunities of appreciating the better part of war . It mado it worth while fighting when their fellow countrymen turned out to welcome thorn home and cheer them as they marched iu . The Navy did not

get any of that ; after the war was over they were ordered off to thoir ships , except those who wero unlucky enough to get promoted and scut home . After a campaign Jack and his dear old friend Joo—ns tbey called the Marines—went cft" to their ship , but they knew that the people at homo thonght just as much of them , although they did

not come home . He was sure the reception they had given him was as the representative of the " pood old trade , " and that thoy were thinking of the pood fellows out thero . Ho then spoke of tho gallantry v . ith which the Egyptians fought at tho bombardment of exandria , and as evidence of the pluck of our men , he uieutioued

Prince Edward Of Saxe-Weimar Lodge, No. 1903.

that the poor boy whose Foot was shot off hopped on one leg to the sick bay . and , holding up his foot , said , " Look what Arabi's done to me . " It was the samo in the sister service , for he waa told of tho Hit » h . landers at Tel-el-kebir that men in their death struggle told the others to go on and leave them to take care of themselves . After the bombardment the men went ashore , and amongst other duties

they had to guard tho Kas-el-Tin Palace . To shew the jud gment and discretion with which they did their work , tho first man they arrested on suspicion was a judge . That was very creditable on tho part of the men who arrested him . Amongst thoir other duties was the landing of tho mules and horses . He saw one petty officer violently kicked on tho stomach , and when ho was

ablo to speak , ho said , "I hope the animal will treat Arab ! in the same way . " Ho spoko of the work at Ismailia , and described Captain Fisher's ironclad train , of which ho said each truck was mado a ship in commission , with mast and pennant . With regard to Admiral Hoskins' work in tho Suez Canal , he thought the admiral had not received half enough credit for it . With regard to

thoir dear old Commander-in-Chief Sir B . Seymour , he certainly did get the credit he deserved ; the way in which he organised tho shi ps and put them into action was extraordinary . He was proud of the manner in which the blue jackets marched past at Cairo , seeing thoy came from different ships , and the Marines were second to none . He referred to- the irksome nature of the police work ashore , and to the

splendid way in which all the men worked . He described in a most humorous way a dangerous escapade of a stout marine Serjeant—a gallant old fellow , who had gone too far to the front iu one of the reconnaisances from Fort Meks . He was pursued by about thirty of Arabi ' s cavalry , and they saw the dear old fellow footing it like a hare , and whenever he got a cartridge in his rifle turning round to

fire . Fortunately , with a little gun they had posted , they were enabled to scare the cavalry , and save the " fat old sergeant . " The Marines had acted most gallantly on 5 th August , and their stead y retreat under fire was the most beautiful thing ever seen . Having referred to Sir Garnet ' s plan of attack , which he designated as splendid , and the plucky charge of tbe Household Cavalry , his

lordship said there were many lessons to be learned from the war , and one was , that the transport and medical departments both required looking into ; and another , was the value of machine guns , of which he gave some interesting instances . Before he sat down , he wished to propose a toast—that grand old corps , which , whether on sea or shore , or as his countrymen would put it , " where the divil

ever thoy are , " would always do well—the Royal Marines . He hoped this campaign wonld remove from the minds of every one , whether in or out of office , any idea of proposing to do away with the Marines . He coupled with the toast the name of Colour Sergeant Holdstock , who had been mentioned in dispatches for distinguished service ou

5 th August . Colour-Sergeant Holdstock , who was loudly cheered , in responding , expressed his willingness to follow his lordship any . where . He described several incidents iu tho war , in which he and his comrade Sergeant Young had taken part . Several other toasts followed . —Portsmouth Times .

The Fifteen Sections

THE FIFTEEN SECTIONS

WILL BE WORKED By the brethren of tho Royal Standard Lodge of Instruction , No . 1298 , at the Percy Lodgo of Instruction , No . 198 , the Jolly Farmers' Tavern , Southgate-road , N ., this Saturday , the 28 th October .

Bros . T . Cull P . M . 144 G W . M ., G . Davis P . M . 167 S . W ., G . H . Hunter P . M . 1298 J . W ., R . Pearcy P . M . 228 Preceptor . First Lecture—Bros . Cook , Glass , Cobb , Hunter , Wright , Sparrow , Saul . Second Lecture—Bros . Hickman , Powell , Gilham , Davis , Forge . Third Lecture—Bros . Strugnell , Osborn , Sutton . At 7 precisely .

By the brethren of the St . James ' s Lodge of Instruction , on Monday evening , 80 th October , at the West Smithfield Lodge of Instruction , No . 1623 , Farringdon Hotel , Farringdon-street , E . C . Bros . J . Davison P . M . 299 W . M ., W .. Martin S . D . 879 S . W ., W . Beavis S . W . 879

J . W ., J . Laurence Secretary . First Lecture—Bros . G . Emblin , J . Jackson , E . Tilling , J . Cox , J . Davis , C . W . Kent , H . J . Lardner . Second Lecture—Bros . James Perkins , G . Perkins , W . Pennyfather , W . Martin , Thomas McButt . Third Lecture—Bro" ) . W . Beavis , Clark , James Hawkins . The Lodge will be opened at 7 precisely .

Selwyn Lodge , ITo . 1901 . —This Lodge , which was consecrated April 1881 , now numbers forty members . It hold its regular meeting on Thursday , 19 ih instant , at tho East Dulvvlch Hotel , East Dulvvich Greon . A goodly muster of tho brethren were preseut . Two candidates woro initiated into tho secrets and mysteries of Freemasonry according ( o ancient custom by the W . M ., Brother L . ^-

Nicod , who did his work iu a very impressive manner . Bro . W . It-Hook the I . P . M . and fir . st Master of the Lodge , now the esteemed Secretary , presented a very handsome bound Photographic Album with gilt plato , engraved with the name of tho Lodge , & c . Tlio W . M . received it ou behalf of tho Lodge with much pleasure , and » hearty voto of thanks was recorded to Bro . Hook for his haudsomo

present . After the business was over and the Lodgo closed , soma thirty to forty brethren and visitors sat down to a bauq'iot provided by tlio W . M ., and a very enjoyable evening wiis parsed . Brothers Manure . ! , Eagle , Belli . * , and Allison contributed to tho evening by thoir excellent singing . Tlio usual toasts wero given aud respondci to , the Tyler ' s bringing the proceedings to a close .

I'm . J . L . Graydon announces his annual benefit , at tho Middle- ^ ' * Muaic Jfidl , Driiry-lnne , on Is ! , of November , on which occasion Keverai well-known music hall stars havo promised their nttrndaorc , Thore will bo new aceuery , and the usual floral display .