Reports Of Meetings.

Wildash had in his Lodge a very successful year of office . There wero but few meetings he did not attend . He took an active part in the welfare of Walthamstow ; was chairman of the Local Board , devoted a good deal of his time—which was very valuable—to it ; in fact , in every good work in the town they found the name of John Henry Wildash to tho fore . In saying this he hoped his fow remarks would be takon as thoroughly sincero .

Bro . W . Shurmur P . M ., who was the first to respond , having thanked Bro . Harris and tho Brethren for their recognition of his services , said ho vory much sympathised with Bro . Harris in hia inability to be present at the opening of the Lodge , but he knew a vory pressing emergency was the cause . Bro . Harris ' s disappointment was somewhat lessened by the knowledge that the ceremony

of Raising would not be performed in a slipshod way . He had done his best , and if be had given tho Brethren pleasure he was thoroughly rewarded . It was always a pleasure to him to do anything he could to further the interests of the Walthamstow or any other Lodge with which he was associated . Bro . Harris had

alluded to the fact that he was Preceptor of the Lodge of Instruction . That being the caso the Brethren would naturally expect him to do the ceremonies in an intelligent manner . From the great attention the Brethren gave while the ceremonies were being performed it was but fair to infer they appreciated the work In conclusion he could assure them that his services would be always

most readily given . Bro . Wildash P . M . also thanked Bro . Harris for the nice things he had said , but ono of his remarks was not altogether correct —that he had done a great deal for Freemasonry . Now , he did not wish to take on his shoulders any honours he did not deserve . He did not believe there ever was a worse Master than himself ,

speaking from a working point of view . He was proud to say he was a working man , and it had been said to him , " Don't you over do it , old boy ; Take it easy . " When he was a Worshipful Master he did very little ; he was always present after the ceremony , and some Brethren used to say he made a very good chairman at the festive board ; but no one said he did the work thoroughly well .

One good thing was he knew his weakness and that he could not remember the whole ritual . However , he understood the Charity side , and he set himself to it . They founded a Benevolent Fund , and sent up a sum of £ 800 or £ 900 to the Masonic Charities . He was happy to say he was President of the Fund , and he believed that where they got £ 500 or £ 600 in tho days he spoke of they could get as many thousands now .

Bros . L . F . Pool and S . V . Harris replied to the toast of the Initiates , which met with a very cordial reception . The toast of the Visitors was responded to by the Visiting Brethren . The Treasurer and Secretary each responded to the joint toast proposed and drunk in recognition of their sorvices . Bro . McGowan replied for the Officers . The Tyler ' s toast wound up an exceedingly pleasant ovoning . o o o

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

EGERTON LODGE , No . 1030 . THE principal business transacted at the meeting of this Lodge , held at the George Hotei , Heaton Norris , on Monday , the 17 th inst ., was the election of Officers , Bro . B . Goodfellow being selected to replace Bro . Henry Wilson in the position of W . M . Bros . A . Pemberton , H . T . Fisher , and W . A . Vaughan were appointed Auditors .

The W . M . made a very touching reference to the death of Mrs . Pemberton , widow of a late Past Master of the Lodge , and the Secretary was instructed to forward a letter of condolence to tho family . Monday , 15 th October , is the date fixed for the Installation . o o o

UNITY LODGE , No . 1332 . AT the regular meeting of this Lodge , held at tbo Freemasons ' Hall , Crediton , Bro . Benjamin C . Cleave , J . P ., was unanimously elected Master for the year . Bro . J . Templeton was chosen Treasurer and Bro . W . Wollacott Tyler . o o o

CASTLE LODGE , No . 1436 . AT the monthly meeting of the Lodge , held at Sandgate , the Brethren accorded Bro . the Rev . H . Russell Wakefield P . M . Chaplain , a hearty vote of congratulation , on his being appointed to his new living in London . o o o

ALBERT VICTOR LODGE , No . 1773 . r p H E regular meeting was held at the Town Hall , Pendleton , on J _ Friday , 21 st inst ., Bro . Thos . T . Sefton W . M . So far as numbers was concerned the attendance was all that could be desired , and this was a pleasing feature , as the Brethren were enabled to accord a hearty welcome to Bros . Alfred Hardcaslle P . M ., and L . F . Kins-man , the former hailing from the Pioneer

Lodge , Queensland , and the latter from the Zetland Lodge , Leeds , both visitors . The principal business of the evening was the passing to the second degree of Bro . Alexander Hemy Sellers , he naving proved his proficiency by answering the necessary questions in a very satisfactory manner .

At the festive board Bro . Hardcastle gave a very interesting and humorous account of the Lodges in Australia , showing how thoy differentiated from thoso in England , mentioning the fact

Provincial.

that Freemasonry had been of very great value to him while travelling over the colonies , a friendly hand being always held out to him , and Brethren putting themsolves to disadvantage ' for the

purpose of giving information . Loyal and Masonic toasts were given and responded to , the same being relieved by sougs , recitations , & c , rendered by Bros . . Clough , Tom Bradbury , and E . Roborts . o o o

ZION LODGE , No . 1708 . THE regular meeting was hold at tho Grand Hotel , Manchester , on Wednesday , tho 12 th inst ., Bro . John Fisher Prov . G . 8 . D . Worshipful Master . There was a good attendance of Brethren , including Brothers D . Hagan , Verita , 20 , Cairo , fend R . Sugden , St , Mirrin 129 , Paisley , who were Visitors .

, The usual festive board followed , when Loyal and Masonic toasts wero submitted and duly honoured . o o o

EXMOOR LODGE , No . 2390 . AT the last meeting of the Lodge , at Minehead , Brother G . H . Kite , Solicitor , of Taunton , was installed as Worshipful Master . The installing Officer was Bro . R . C . Else D . P . G . M . Som . P . G . D . England , who was supported by several Provincial Grand Officers and many Visiting Brethren . Sir Alexander Acland Hood , Bart ., M . P ., late of Apollo Lodge , Oxford , who has recently become a member of the Exmoor Lodge , was heartily welcomed .

A sum of ten guineas was voted from the Lodge funds to the Steward ' s list for the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , and a scheme for building a Masonic Hall in Minehead was formally

approved . Ihe Brethren afterwards dined together at the Plume of Feathers Hotel , under tho presidency of tho W . M ., and tho usual Masonic toasts were honoured .

o o o DUKE OF YORK LODGE , No . 2449 . TH E regular meeting of this Lodge was held at the Palatine Hotel , Manchester , on Thursday , the 13 th inst ., Bro . William Boden W . M . There were also present : —Bros . W . T . Schofield P . M ; P . S . G . D ., Fred Warburton S . W ., T . T . Hardicker J . W ., Clement Jas . Hall Sec , Robert Meggitt S . D ., John Kinsey J . D ., Geo . A . Bowden'I . G .,

T . H . Stott , Oates Rushton , B . Hopkinson P . M ., Ed . Roberta P . M . ( FUKEMASON ' S CHRONICLE ) , Arthur Scarlett Org ., C . Houston , J . B . Marshall , Robert Hamilton , Thos . D . Lightfoot , H . B . Rudolph . Visitors : —Bros . Jno . H . Radcliff W . M . 322 , W . H . Taylor J ; D . 322 , E . Edmondson J . D . 323 , John Nicholson P . M . 322 , G . W . Bingham 852 , Frederick Evans 1013 and 2482 , William Morton 163 , arid others .

After the reading and confirmation of minutes , Messrs . Samuel Kew , Manufacturer , Cheetham , and J . Fairbairn , Commission Agent , Manchester , were successfully balloted for and afterwards initiated , these ceremonies being followed by the raising to the sublime degree of Bro . Richard Chiswell , and in the capable hands of the W . M ., Bro . Hardicker J . W ., and Bro . Schofield P . M ., it goes without saying that the work throughout was well performed .

At the festive board which succeeded , Bro . Boden W . M . proposed the health of the Initiates . He congratulated the Lodge upon such an acquisition as these two Brethren , saying further that they had received into their ranks that day those whom he might in all fondness of heart term Brothers , and ho hoped they would long remain such .

Bro . Kew thanked tho Brethren for BO kindly initiating him into the Order , and expressed a sincere hope that as a man and a Mason ho would never disgrace tho vows which he had taken , bub on the contrary justify all that had been said of him . Bro . Fairbairn was glad to endorse what Bro . Kew had said , and hoped he should succeed in an endeavour to make himself accept-, able to all . He fully realised what the term Brother meant , and

should endeavour to act m this wise , keeping in view the principles which had been prominently placed before him . Bro . Schofield proposed the health of the W . M ., saying that after the long recess there had been no diminution in the power of performing work on the part of any officer , and especially congratulated the W . M . upon the part he had taken , saying that he had even excelled his usually very praiseworthy efforts .

Bro . Boden said , in reply , he had experienced very much pleasure in listening to the hearty manner in which the toast proposed by Bro . bchofield had been received . He hoped he might be spared to remain a member of the Duke of York Lodge for many years , and concluded by wishing his Brethren health and

prosperity . Bro . Fred Warburton S . W . proposed the health of the Visitors , according them a hearty welcome . He said there was no doubt as to the manner in which the Brethren of the Duke of York Lodge extended their hospitality . The harmonious feeling with which they had commenced still prevailed in their yet young Lodge . The Officers always tried to aim at successful working , and they invariably invited the criticisms of those who came to visit them .

The Visitors responded . Bro . Jno . H . Ratcliff W . M . 322 congratulated them upon the marvellous success of the Lodge , and the number of members they had succeeded in gaining ; spoke very highly of the work performed by the W . M . and Bro . Schofield , and took the opportunity of paying a special tribute tq Bro . Hardicker J . W . for the splendid manner in which he had rendered the E . A . Charge .

Other toasts followed , the proceedings being varied by an excellent selection of songs , recitations , & c , given by Bros . Howard , Morton , Ker / , ana" Roberts .