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those gentlemen , to the excursion Committee , and to Mr . Sawdye for excellent catering were heartily expressed , and songs were sung by Bros . Noble , Westlake , Hancock , and Wonnacott ( 2 ) . Bro . W . J . Hoar W . M . was ably assisted in the arrangements by Bros . 3 . Goad J . W ., and J . J . Gerry D . C . Bros . 3 . W . Cornish and H . S . Hill , the senior Past Masters of the Lodge , and several of the Officers attended . The weather was delightful , the rain of the morning having cooled the air , freshened the foliage , and laid the dust .

NAPTHALI LODGE , No . 266 . ON Wednesday , 20 th inst ., about twenty-seven members of the Lodge attended tho annual picnic . They went from Heywood to Bottom Woods , partaking of luncheon and dinner at the Black Horse Hotel . The day being gloriously fine tho outing was thoroughly enjoyed .

HARMONY LODGE , No . 580 . THB members of this Ormskirk Lodge visited Settle , Yorkshire , for their annual picnic . The party , numbering about fifty , spent a thoroughly enjoyable day , thanks to the excellent arrangements made by Brother G . Ashurst .

ELLESMERE LODGE , No . 758 . rp HE installation festival was held on the 21 st inst ., in the Masonio Hall , _ L Devonshire Square , Runcorn . Bro . R . R . Clarke W . M . presided , and after the Lodge had been opened in due and solemn form Bro . Henry Branch S . W . was impressivel y installed as W . M . for the ensuing year by Bro . T . H . Annett P . M . P . P . G . T .

Subsequently the Brethren adjourned to the banqueting hall , where the members and guests partook of a recherche repast , and the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were honoured . A Past Master ' s jewel and a Life Governorship of the Cheshire Educational Masonic Institution were presented to the retiring W . M . Bro . R . R . Clarke .

EVERTON LODGE , No . 823 . A PERIOD of twenty years has passed since the present Lord Mayor of Liverpool , Aid . John Houlding , was installed Worshipful Master of the Everton Lodge , and therefore his lordship ' s visit on the occasion of the annual meeting of the Brethren at the Masonic Hall , Hope Street , Liverpool , on Wednesday , 20 th inst ., when Bro . L . G . Davey was installed as

Worshipful Master , was an honour whioh was thoroughly appreciated . Recently the Lord Mayor was raised to the important position of Senior Grand Deacon of England , and this was regarded not only as an individual distinction well deserved , but as a distinction of which the West Lancashire Province had every reason to be proud .

When the Lodge had been duly opened the W . M .-elect was presented by Past Masters Boyle and Milne , and the installation ceremony was proceeded with in the presence of representatives of Grand Lodge , Past Masters and Worshipful Masters of many Lodges , and other Visiting Brethren .

Bro . Joseph Bennett Worshipful Master received his successor , and with Bro . John Houlding , who was assisted by Past Masters Gow and Millington , installed Bro . Davey as W . M . The Installing Master and his assistants performed their task in dignified and solemn manner , giving to the ceremony its most impressive effect . The customary toasts were given .

The W . M ., in proposing the health of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , K . G ., Moat Worshipful Grand Master , expressed the hope that his Royal Highness , with whom every member of the Craft sympathised , would soon recover from the effects of his accident , and be able to reiume the very important duties which devolved upon him .

The Lord Mayor , replying to the toast of the Officers of Grand Lodge and Provincial Grand Lodge , was pleased to announce that the Right Hon . the Earl of Lathom , G . C . B ., M . W . Pro Grand Master was improving in health , and hoped to be with them at the meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge in the Liverpool Town Hall next October .

An excellent musical programme was gone through , the artistes including Bros . T . Harper , George Barton , Eaton Batty , Geo . Greene , Charles Aspinall , Wm . Blake , George Smith , Tom Russell , H . Collins , and Will Hudson , who acted as musical director . In the course of the proceedings the Immediate Past Master Bro . J . Bennett had presented to him a handsome Past Master ' s jewel , and was also the recipient for Mrs . Bennett of a silver tea set and case of silver tea spoons from the Brethren of the Lodge . The gifts were suitably acknowledged .

DALHOUSIE LODGE , No . 865 . 11 HE annual Ladies' day and summer outing took place on Wednesday , 20 th inst ., and proved an unqualified success . The Brethre n , with Ladies and Visitors , assembled at Hampton Court , about noon , and after a pleasant stroll around the grounds aud among the flower beds of the palace , adjourned to the Greyhound Hotel , where they partook of an excellent cold luncheon .

The Worshipful Master of the Lodge Bro . C . E . Betts presided , and had on his right Mrs . Belts , tho Misses May and Milly Betts , and Bro . E . Clare P . M . and Treasurer , while he was supported on his left by Bro . Essex I . P . M . and Mrs . Essex , Bro . S . Sidders P . M . and Mrs . Bidders , Bro . 0 . G . Hatt P . M , and Secretary , and Mrs . Hatt .

After Luncheon tho company , at the invitation of the Worshipful Master , proceeded to the " Merry Thames " launch , and a delightful trip up the river as far as Chertsey followed . Tea was served on board . The weather was all that could be desired , and the beauties of this attractive part of the river much

appreciated by all . On the return of the party to Hampton Court at about G 30 , a banquet was served at the •Greyhound Hotel . Tha cuisine of this well known riverside resort , under the able management of the genial Bro . Beltramo , is achieving a well deserved reputation , which the dinner on this occasion amply justified .

The tables being cleared , Worshipful Master Betts proposed The Queen and Craft , in suitable terms , and the National Anthem was sung . In proposing H . R . H . the Prince of Wales Grand Master , tho Worshipful Master alluded to tho Prince ' s recent unfortunate accident , and said that he had sent that afternoon a telegram to H . R . H ., conveying the sympathy of

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the Brethren of the Dalhousie Lodge , and their wishes for his speedy recovery ; and he had just received tho following reply : " Worshipful Master , Dalhousie Lodge , Hampton Court . —Prince of Wales thanks the Brethren for their kind sympathy . —Knollys . " He thought such a prompt and gracious reply showed how deep was the interest their Grand Master had , at all times , evinced in their great Order . God bless the Prince of Wales was then sung with much enthusiasm .

Bro . W . Essex I . P . M . proposed the toast of the Worshipful Master . He congratulated all those present on the great success attained that day ; a part was , of course , due to the ideal weather , but a good deal of the success was attributable to the manner in which their Worshipful Master had worked to ensure their happiness and enjoyment . He was convinced that no one

was more delighted than their excellent Brother in the chair at the splendid way in whioh the outing had gone off . He would also mention how well he had worked for the Charities , having taken up o goodly sum to the Centenary Festival of the Boys Institution . The toast was enthusiastically received , the company singing " He ' s a jolly good fellow . "

Bro . Betts feelingly replied , and said his greatest reward waa in tho satisfaction of the Brethren . He felt proud of his position as their Worshipful Master , and assured them that the day would ever live in his memory . The last toast was that of the Ladies and Visitors . In proposing this the Worshipful Master said it was the toast of the evening . The day was

one they exclusively devoted to the ladies . They were charmed to give their wives , their daughters , and their friends a day of genuine pleasure , for they , the ladies , ungrudgingly surrendered a good deal for the benefit of Masonry . It was a source of genuine satisfaction to be surrounded by such a charming assemblage , and he felt sure that in their bright looks and happy faces they need no apology for such a gathering ; he earnestly hoped it might be repeated year after year .

Bro . Clare responded in a happy vein for the Ladies , and Bro . W . C . Williams for the Visitors . There was an excellent programme of music , the most noteworthy items of which were two piano duets , most charmingly rendered by the Misses May and Milly Betts ; two mandoline solos by Miss Milly Betts , for the first of

which an encore was demanded , and acceded to ; and Bros . Clare , Green , Essex , Sidders , Lewis , and Lewarne . A pleasing episode of the day ' s proceedings , says the " Kensington News , " was the presentation to each lady visitor present , on the part of the Worshipful Master , of a dainty little casket containing a bottle of exquisite perfume .

DUKE OF LANCASTER LODGE , No . 1353 . AT a regular . meeting of the members , held on Wednesday evening , 20 th inst ., at ilancaster , the ceremony of installing the W . M .-elect Bro . J . E . Oglethorpe P . P . G . R . was impressively performed by Bro . H . Longmaan P . P . G . S . of W . P . M . 1051 .

Before the close of the business the senior P . M . of the Lodge , Bro . John Barrow , on behalf of the members , performed a very interesting ceremony , by presenting the P . M . Bro . G . Jackson P . A . G . D . C . with a beautiful chaste silver salver , as a mark of esteem and appreciation of efficient services rendered during his year of office . The inscription read as follows : —

Presented to BBO . G . JACKSON P . M . P . A . G . D . C . From the Duke of Lancaster Lodge , 1353 , as a mark of esteem , on the completion of his second year as W . M ., and in commemoration of his silver wedding . July 20 th , 1898 .

ARDWICK LODGE , No . 2185 . THE annual picnic of this Lodge took place on Wednesday , 13 th inst ., under the presidency of Brother William Rostron Worshipful Blaster , the place selected being Bakewell . The party consisted of sixty , including members of the Lodge , together witb lady and gentlemen friends , who met at the Central Station ,

Manchester , and were conveyed by saloon carriages to the ancient Derbyshire town—the metropolis of the Peak—which is situated on the banks of the river Wye , arriving there about 11 a . m . A visit was paid to the old parish church , which is rich in lore for the student of ecclesiology , whilst its historical associations carry us back to William the Conqueror and his natural son William Peveril , and even to the times of the Romans , who proved the efficacy of its chalybeate spring and bath .

Lunch having been partaken of at the Rutland Hotel , the party were driven to Haddon Hall , formerly the seat of the Vernon and Manners families , but now untenanted , unless by the ghosts of those who shared its former glories , and who , ages ago , " had gone to breathless Nature ' s dark abyss . "

After a short stay here the drive was resumed , and the party arrived at Chatsworth House , "The Palace of the Peak , " which is a lively and exhilarating contrast to that of the grave and dolesome , although interesting , Haddon Hall . The princely mansion of the Duke of Devonshire is , as Mrs .

Hemans sings , " one of the stately homes of England , " and stands on a slightly rising ground , the principal entrance overlooking the river Derwent . It is impossible to describe , in the limits at our command , the lavish feast to the eyes obtained by a walk through the mansion , the magnificent grounds , and palm house ; suffice it to say these are sights never to be forgotten .

In returning to Bakewell , the waggonettes drove through the model village of Edensor , in the churchyard of which lie the remains of a murdered scion of the Devonshire family , viz ., Lord Frederick Cavendish . Upon arrival at Bakewell , the members of the party were grouped in front of the Rutland Hotel , and photographed , after which they sat down to a splendid dinner . Loyal and Masonic toasts were given and duly responded to .

Bro . W . J . Melling P . M . P . P . G . S . B . proposed the health of the W . M . In the course of an excellent speech , in which he referred to the successful day which the party had had , he said that their present W . M . was one of the best who had sat in the principal chair of the Ardwick Lodge , and characterised him as liberal-minded , painstaking , and extremely anxious to see those about him well looked after .

Bro . Rostron W . M . replied , saying he was pleased to have met them in connection with this picnic , and hoped they were all satisfied with the treatment which had been accorded them . It had been the endeavour of the Committee to place before them everything they could possibly desire , and it