Royal Savoy Lodge, No. 1744.

attendance at Masonio meetings as often as was desirable it was most gratifying the brethren had two such Masons as the Earl of Carnarvon and the Earl of Lathom to preside . With such men as the Grand Officers of England at the head of affairs Masons might rest satisfied that everythiug that

was possible tn advance tho interests of Freemasonry would bo done . The Worshipful Master had much pleasure iu coupling with the toast the name of Bro . Charles Greenwood P . G . Sword Bearer , to whom he extended a hearty welcome . Bro . Greenwood tendered his thanks on behalf of the Grand Officers of England . The many kind

things said of the Pro Grand Master and the Deputy Grand Master were richly deserved . He felt that nnd'i * the rule of such Masons tho Order must prosper . Ho was personally gratified at being present , and regretted other engagements had prevented his seeing the retiring Master instal his successor . One of tho proudest things

a Lodge conld wish for was to have brethren in the chair who were able to perform all the ceremonies required of them , finishing up their term of office by installing their successor . He was pleased to know the Royal Savoy Lodge had had such men at its head , and felt the brother placed in the chair that day wonld bo no exception to the

rule . Tho way in which ho bad invested his Officers showed he was capable of performing his duties . The Immediate Past Master gave th" next toast . ' After the twelve months which had just pas 3 (~ . d he had no doubt the brethren had heard enough of his voice , bnt ho had especial pleasure in addressing them on that occasion , it being

his duty to propose the health of their Worshipful Master , Bro . J . 0 . Smith . Tho brethren wore all awaro of his abilities , of his knowledge of the titnal , and of his power of command ; they could therefore form a fair opinion of what might be expected during his occupancy of the chair . He felt sure they all wished the Worshipful Master a good

year of office , and trusted he might have health and strength for many years to come . The W . M . returned his very sincere thanks for the hearty reception tho brethren had given the toast of his health , and assured them he had never known a prouder time in his life than then , when he presided for tho first time as Master of his

mother Lodge—th » Royal Savoy . He was especially pleased in being the first initiate of the Lodge who had attained to the choir . Those who knew him , knew the interest he had taken in the Craft ; he would carry out the duties of the office to the best of his ability . It wruld be his constant desire to emulate the example set by those who

hid preceded him ; all of them would , he was sure , assist him to the best of their ability . Ho felt flattered that on his entry into the ohair that evening ho carried with him tho good will and the good feeling of every brother who knew him , this was evidenced by the very large number of guests who were present to do him honour . In

conclusion he assured those present that during his year of office he shonld strive to give them tbe best of entertainments , both in the Lodge , at the banquet table , and at the Lodge of Instruction , ne next proposed the health of the Installing Master , and tho other Past Masters of the Lodge . In speaking of the Immediate Past Master he

fjlt it was a matter of great gratification to have to propose the hea ' th of so wrr ; hy a Mason as Bro . John Smith . He was ono of the fuir . ders of the Lodge , and had thrown untiring energy into his efforts on its behaif . The way in which he had fulfilled the dnties of his office and retired from the chair was a subject for congratulation

among the members , and all who had witnessed his working . Not , only had he ably performed the ceremonies of the year , bnt ht . d that night installed his successor in a most able manner . The W . M . regretted the absence of so many of the Past Masters , bnt felt that in tho two then present—Bro . Smith and Bro . Stiles—thev had reallv

representative Past Masters of the Ledge , men of whom any body of Masons might justly be proud . Bro . Smith LP . M . returned his chinks for the toast , and ft r the very great kindness which had been shown him during the past twelve months . Ho had endeavoured to discharge his duties to the satisfaction of the brethren , and was

pleased to hear EO satisfactory a report on his working as had been given that night . He highly valued the jewel the brethren had been pi r . te . d to present him—it would be zealously preserved during his life-time , and , ho felt snre , handed down after his death to his cl . iidi-iH . Bro . Stiles followed . He was very pleased to seo the

Lodge in so flourishing a condition . Seven years ago they had started with eight founders , now they had between one hundred and twenty and one hundred and thirty members , and if among that number there were some who were rather noisy , it was because they felt the impottuico of the Lvlge . It was a good old-fashioned fraternal

Lodge , where brethren met each other as they met in tho outer world . They were indeed a contented band of brothers , nnited for the purpot-oof adding to each other ' s enjoyment and relieving tho wants of those in distress . The Lodgo was noted for its joviality , in evidence , of which he mi ght refer to the two balls which had been held in

conne < tion with it , aud at each of whioh close on threo hundred brethren and Indies had been presen t . The Lodge was really a factor in Freemasonry , and as such ho hoped it would long continue to prosper . The Worshipful Master <; ave the toast of the Visitor ;? . This toast was sure of a hearty reception whenever proposed in a Masonic Lodgo

hut rowhere more hearty than at the Royal Savoy . Bro . Bincke : replied . As a Visitor it mi » ht at first sight appear an onerous task ! surrounded with tremendous lesponsibility , to undertake to reply on behalf of the numerous visiters then prevent , but really it appeared him that

to the visitors had nothing to find fault , with and nothing to c-. mplain of . They had been most heartil y received and royallventenained . He felt such a meeting as the present one was notion " without some show of enthusiasm . Ho alway had been , and wa : \ fond of f ! tllUfiasm on Stub oronsinns nnrl tinrvnrl ilm I ' ,,.-., I s ! r ,.. i . _ .. ot i-i UiuFiasm on such occasionsand hoped the I ' nral Suvov Lod

, ^ e would always pos-ess it , for without it they could never continue the gro ! work which had been carried on by its memb-r .-i ( laririf ? he seven years tho Lod ge had been iu existence . Tho brethren of the Royal Savoy Lodgo seemed to delight in iuviting to their m ,: eiin r a-i

many guests as they could , and the visitors were : always V U : , . A ' J \ ; n accept the invitation . He was pleased to see such hearty h ^ pitaKtv , for ifc invariably went hand in hand with another virtue—that , of Mercy . He United thai the year of office of the Worshipful . Haste ; -

Royal Savoy Lodge, No. 1744.

might be one of success , and that tho destinies : of the Lodge might never bo entrusted to one loss capable of directing thorn than he . If -inch were the case Bro . Binckes felt there was a long career of snecess in store for tho Lodge , and in conclusion felt that he and his brother visitors could not do batter than endorse that sentiment with

the time-honoured Masonio formula—So mote it bo . Bros . Fidler , Christian , Gorring . , Garratt , Baker , aud others also replied , aftor which tho Worshipful Master propose ! tho Charities , which toast was acknowledged by Bro . John Mason . Bro . Stiles announced that the list of Bro . Willing , as a Steward at tin next Festival on behalf of

the Benevolent lustitut-nn , who will represent the Riyal Savoy Lodgo and the Metropolitan Chapter , already amountod to £ 9 ) 7 s 6 d , there was , however , plenty of room for an extension of that total . The health of tho Treasurer and Secretary was nw , given , and to this Bro . Sourrah responded . Ho thanked tho brethren mo-ib hiartily for

the very kind manner in which tho fcurub had been proposed and received . Ho thanked the Worshipful Master for the appointment he had receive I that d iy , and a « sured thom all he should do his best to assist in the work of the Lolge , during his term of office . Tho officers of the Lodgo wero ii 3 xt toasted . During the time tho Master had

boon a member of the Lodgo the question of the officers had been a strong point with him . Even when he was but a lay member ha felt ( hat the success of the Lodge mainly depended on tho Officers , and with that view he had endeavoured to induce members of the Craft to visit Lodges of Instruction . His endeavours to acquire a knowledge

of the ceremonies of Freemasonry had resulted in his attaining the summit of hi 3 ambition—the chair of his Lodge . Ha had always hoped that should such fortune attend him he might be surrounded with a zealous body of officers . Ho had such officers , aud he felt sure they wonld do their best to support him . Referring to tho

appointment of Bro . Dickey to the post of Senior Warden , the Worshipful Master said that some years back Bro . Dickey had stood aside from the regnlar stream of promotion , and had undertaken the onerous duties of Secretary , ne had discharged those duties for some time in most exemplary fashion , and by his kindness of manner had

endeared himself to every member of the Royal Savoy Lodge . He had now attained his proper place in the Lodge—ocenpying the office of Senior Warden , and would , it , was hoped , ultimately rise to the dignity of Master . Bros . Dickey and Jaques having suitably acknowledged the toast , Bro . Barling , tho S D ., followed . During his term

of office he should use his best endeavours to do his duty , and so act that , should he ever bo chosen by the brethren to fill the office of Worshipful Master he might bo as well prepared for it as the present ruler of their Lodge . Bro . Ross I . G . felt very proud of his position . It was one which many members of the Lodge would feel it an honour

to occupy . Ho shonld strive his uttermost to givo them satisfaction , aud if he was behindhand at any time ho hoped the brethren would excuse him , and at tho same time help him out of his difficulties . Bro . Price felt that the Office to which he had been appointed was tho first step towards the acquisition of greater honours , althongli

tho prospect of his rising to the position of Master was at present a very remote one . It would be his endeavour to fulfil the duties of his office a 3 they should be carried out , and he hoped ho should meet with success . Business engagements had prevented his regnlar

attendance in tho past , but ho trusted that in future he should be able to bo among the members of the Lodge at each of its meetings . The Tyler was then summoned , and he conclnded the proceedings in tho usual way . Several brethren contributed so » gs , & c , during the evening , thereby adding to the ouioyment of the meeting .

Staffordshire Masonic Charitable Association.

STAFFORDSHIRE MASONIC CHARITABLE ASSOCIATION .

fTlHE sixteenth annual meeting of the Staffordshire Masonic i ~ Charitable Association was held on the 21 st init ., at the North Stafford Hotel , Stoke , when Bro . Frank Jame 3 ( Walsall ) P . D . P . G . M . presided , and thoro wis a good attendance of brethren , representing most Lodges in the Province of Staffordshire . The fifteenth annual report was presented by Bro . T . Mount Humphries , which showed

that / the amount of subscriptions contributed to the Association by the Various Lodges amounted to £ 779 17 s 7 d , and a sum of £ 753 18 s had boetr sent direct to London from tho Province of Staffordshire . The following brethren havo given in their names as St-wards for the Festivals of 1886 : —Bro . W . H . Bailey P . M . 624 for Benevolent

Festival on tho 21-th February ; Brothers W . Vernon P . M . 456 , R . Tooth P . M . 637 , and W . Randlo W . M . 482 for tho Girls ' School Festival , 19 th May ; Bro . Percy Evershed P . M . 624 and F . J . Turicy P . M . 1792 for tho Boys' School Festival , in June . in moving the adoption of the report , the President said tho

report had boon carefully considered that morning by the Com . mittce , and was ono which every otn would consider vva 3 of a very high and congratulatory character , when thoy considered that the Association had only been in existence something like 1 G year : ; . When it first commoncod tho A-tsociation was started with a

subscription of £ 5 5 s only , but , singular progress had boon made , and they n JW had a subscription list of over £ 800 a-year which was collected for the pnrpo = o of c ifrying ou tho work of fchi . i Association . That could not bo otherwise than satisfactory throughout . Ho did

not mean to say tuat £ ¦) 53 w . 03 the only sum contributed by the brethren of Staffordshire , because individual subscription .- ! wore given direct to the variourt Masonic Charitable Institutions , bnt the subscrip . tion of £ 0 03 was the beginning of an organisation which had worked so much good , and so effectively for the purpose of securing the

interest of Staffordshire in connection with the Masonic Institutions . He had always held that loyalty to these institutions was a great point , and ho would impress on all brethren of Staffordshire loyalty ,

because , as had beeu said in the report , year by year the difficulty of securing the election of any candidate became greater and greater . However , there was tho fact that since the establishment of this institution the Province of Staffordshire bad never put ita hand to