Reports Of Meetings.

which revealed the fact that Henry VI ., in the 15 th century , was admitted into the fraternity , and that speculative Masonry , or rather accepted Masonry , was instituted for the purpose of admitting

other than those who were operative Masons , and was for some time used as a political weapon , until the Brunswick dynasty ascended the throne of England , when it received a great impetus and became the glorious institution it now is .

A discussion followed the lecture , in which many Brethren took part , among others being Bros . S . Danziger , Bromhead , Yetton , Harris , Richmond , Seigenberg , and Stewart . Many questions were asked , and Bro . Hall gave very lucid answers .

A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the lecturer , and on Bro . Richardson ' s proposition he was made an honorary member . In a few words Bro . Hall expressed his sincere appreciation of the high honour conferred upon him , and said how glad he was to have given the Brethren a pleasant evening ' s entertainment .

o o o HORNSEY LODGE OF INSTRUCTION , No . 890 . AS the attendances on Thursday evenings have been very irregular for some time past , it has been considered advisable to take the opinion of the members as to whether that is the most convenient night for meeting , says the " Kentish Mercury . "

Bro . Walter Robin Secretary would be glad to have replies on this point as early as possible , so that the convenience of the majority of the Brethren may be considered . It is proposed to

hold the annual supper on Thursday , 10 th January , at the White Hart Masonic Rooms , Lewisham High Street . Those Brethren who intend being present should intimate the fact to the Secretary not later than the 3 rd .

MARK MASONRY

FRIENDSHIP LODGE , No . 16 . THE Annual meeting was held at the Masonic Hall , Granby Stroet , Devonport , to instal Bro . Samuel Woolan S . W . for the ensuing year . The ceremony of installation was most ably rendered by Bros . H . Lanemead P . M . 16 P . P . G . I . G . and others .

Subsequently the Brethren adjourned to the refreshment room , where an excellent supper was provided . Tho usual Loyal and Mark toasts were given , and duly responded to .

TEMPLAR MASONRY

THE installation meeting of the Royal Plantagenet Preceptoiy was held at the Star Hotel , Great Yarmouth , on the 5 th inst ., under the presidency of F . Danby Palmer Preceptor , who was re-elected to that position . A banquet was subsequently served in the Nelson Room , in a

manner which reflected the greatest credit upon the Host and Hostess Bro . and Mrs . Lane and their assistants . After the cloth was drawn the usual Templar and Masonic and other toasts ( interspersed with some excellent songs ) were given and responded to .

CONSECRATION : LODGE FELLOWSHIP , 2535 .

THIS addition to the English . Register was formally inaugurated at the Restaurant Erascati , on the 17 th inst ., Bro . W . H . Bailey P . S . G . W . and P . P . G . E .

Staffordshire being installed as first Worshipful Master . Among those present were Sir E . Seager Hunt , Bart ., M . P ., Sir John Monckton , Lieut .-Col . Lambert , and many other well-known Masons .

The Brother who is the best ritualist , having a ready delivery , a good memory and a jolly good fellow , is not always the best man to fill the Master ' s chair . Character must be taken into consideration , as well as the

foregoing qualifications . A Master to whom you cannot point out to a profane on the street with pride as the Master of your Lodge is not the one that should fill the chair . We have had too many dead beats elected to

hold important positions in the Craft , who were jolly good fellows , but whose standing in the community for temperance , honesty and fair business dealings brought the blush of shame fco honest Craftsmen . We wish no more of them . —Canadian Craftsman . "

o o o A provincial paper awaits with interest the future development of a project which is at this moment being

incubated in the fertile brain of Lady Cooke , nee Tennessee Chafin . Lady Cooke ' s idea is to inaugurate a species of cosmopolitan woman ' s meeting-house or club , somewhat after the manner of Freemasons' Lodges .

Presentation To A Provincial Mayor.

PRESENTATION TO A PROVINCIAL MAYOR .

BRO . DAVID HALSTEAD W . M . of Commerce Lodge , and also W . M . of Blair Lodge of Mark Masons , occupied the chair at a recent meeting , and in the course of the proceedings said the event of that day had been a most distinctive feature in the history of Freemasonry in Haslingden , from the fact that a most worthy and distinguished Brother had had a high honour conferred

upon him by being elevated to the civic chair and to the magisterial bench of the borough . Whatever might have been the appreciation of the burgesses of Haslingden since the incorporation of the borough and for fifteen years previously , as an urban sanitary district , the Freemasons of the Mayor ' s ( Bro . Collinge ) Masonio circle have ever held him in the highest esteem . He had never by pretext or desire sought the distinction to which he had been called , but had at-all times received the distinctive marks in his history as

a reward of true merit . Addressing the Mayor , Bro . Halstead then said : On behalf of the Brethren of the Lodge of Commerce , together with those of the Lodge of Amity and others of the Province of East Lancashire , he tendered him their sincere and hearty congratulations on his elevation to the highest honour and dignity to which his fellow

burgesses could call him . They were pleased to find that the talents which had for so many years been acknowledged and honoured by the Craft had thus been acknowledged by the aldermen , the councillors , and the burgesses of the Borough of Haslingden , and they rejoiced in their wise selection . Whilst as a body they suppressed all expressions of a political nature , they were bound to acknowledge that at the present moment Air . Collinge

formed the keystone of the arch supported on each side equally by segments of both political sections , forming the complete arch of the municipal structure . He was called upon to present to the Mayor , as a memento of that day , a Masonic jewel which had been liberally contributed to by the Brother Masons of his Mother Lodge . They hoped that this would be acceptable to him not merely by its instrinsic value , but as an expression of their Brotherly love and appreciation of his sterling worth .

Bro . Collinge , in replying , acknowledged his most heartfelt thanks for their expressions of congratulation . He heartily thanked thorn for the high esteem in which he was apparently held by them in the capacity as burgess , as Mayor , and as chief magistrate of the borough of Halingdcn . His only fear was that his fellow townsmen and Brother Masons might in that expression of esteem over-rate

his worth , but it would be his highest endeavour in all the vicissitudes of his social , political , and Masonic life to occupy , to keep in view the pole star of the highest integrity of which he was capable . Their presentation as Masons that day had come upon him with the utmost surprise , and he only feared he was receiving

a token of esteem which he did not truly merit . As , however , they had given in a spirit of honesty , so he would receive with a spirit of gratitude and humility . Their token should be held as a treasure and handed down to his successors as a heirloom . — " Accrington Observer . "

Dr. Chas. Forshaw.

DR . CHAS . FORSHAW .

ALTHOUGH well known as a dental surgeon the subject of our sketch is unquestionably better known as a biographer of our dialect and other local poets , and is himself a claimant of no mean ability to the " divine afflatus . " Nor do his varied abilities cease here , since he has successfully tried his hand at invention , having

patented some improved medical appliances that have gained considerable praise from eminent physicians and surgeons . Born at Bilston , in South Staffordshire , 23 rd January 1863 , he is the son of Mr . T . G . Forshaw , M . P . S . ( who was senior dispenser to the Bradford

Infirmary for upwards of a quarter of a century , and now carries on a private practice of his own ) and the grandson of the Rev . Thurstan Forshaw , for thirty-three years vicar of Newchapel , in the county named . Bradford has , however , been the doctor's chosen abiding place , and here he has made not a few warm friends .

His poetical effusions have appeared from time to time in the various papers of the district , and have secured places likewise in many distant journals . He is editor and publisher of five volumes entitled " Yorkshire Poets , " the compiler of the " Holroyd Collection of Yorkshire Ballads , " the " Leading Poets of Yorkshire , "

and numerous other works of similiar design and scope , justly appreciated by those who are interested in the poesy of the West Riding and the County generally . When it is stated that his literary labours include such vastly differing subjects as " Thoughts in the Gloaming , " " The Teeth and how to save Them , " "

Wanderings of Imagery , " and " Stammering and its Causes and Cure , " it will be obvious to the reader that the worthy author's scope is by no means a limited one . Dr . Forshaw ( who , by the way , has earned so many degrees , dental and literary that there is really no room to record them in this brief survey ) was to have been one of

the Church candidates at the recent School Board Election at Bradford , but , with great self-denial , retired rather than spoil the chances of any other of the candidates of the same party . His remarkable energies and industry will yet , doubtless ere long , find a place in the public service , either on the School Board or other body elected of the people . — " Yorkshireman . "

" Oassell ' s Magazine " for January will give an article on Royal Keepsakes , which has been written by special permission of Her Majesty the Queen . Photographs of presents to Her Majesty of special interest have been made to illustrate the article . The

January part will also contain a complete story by Mr . Grant Allen , and a Collotype Plate produced from an original drawing by G . L . Seymour . The prospects in connection with this popular Magazine arc most encouraging for the new year , and we anticipate its success will be continuous .