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Reports Of Meetings.

REPORTS OF MEETINGS .

— : o : — We shall be pleased to receive particulars of Masonic meetings for insertion in our columns , and where desired will endeavour to send a representative , to report Lodge or other proceedings .

CRAFT : METROPOLITAN .

SKELMERSDALE LODGE , No . 1658 . Installation of Bro . R . Gabell . THE Annual Festival of this Lodge took place on Thursday , 22 nd inst ., at the Surrey Masonic Hall , Camberwell , those present including Bros . W . M . Croxson W . M ., R . Gabell W . M .-elect S . W ., T . J . Rawlings J . W ., W . H . Boys P . M . Sec , James Farmer S . D ., S . E . Rice J . D ., J . Thorneloe I . G ., A . E . Kipps Org . ; Past Masters Erie D . Side I . P . M ., J . Cox , H . Cohen , R . Rowland , H . B . Buckeridge ; and Bros . R . S . Buckeridge , B . Cohen , T . A .

Jones , F . Marlow , J . Shaw , A . Logette , A . Davis , J . Pickering , H . Gibbon , S . Morris , W . R . Knapman , W . J . Bishop , F . O . Bridge , G . F . Tavener , H . Gibbons , R . Alabaster , D . Gunton , 0 . Emmett , F . C . Penney , J . W . Tratt , J . R . Papworth , E . A . Wass , J . Godefroy , E . Smyth , J . Humphries , J . W . Sandell , J . Danson , F . Marchall , P . Nilen , W . Perrin , Frank Nilen , J . 0 . Davis , W . Edwards , C . Sisman , W . Biles , J . F . Wetzen , W . Hummerston , W . Clarkson , J . George , W . Greenfield , John Hibble , Sea ., & c .

The Visitors included Bros . George White P . M ., 0 . W . Mayo P . M . 1686 , A . H . Hastings J . D . 20 , 0 . M . Morris W . M . 1571 , W . H . Bale P . M . 87 , J . Smith P . M . 1598 , W . Gates 983 , G . Thompson S . W . 1622 , G . Montague 2728 , H . Edwards 186 , A . Britton 901 , F . Budge S . D . 2699 , C . J . Smith P . M . 2504 , J . Eedle P . P . G . S . of W . Essex , J . Hearn P . M . 1381 , F . Taylor 193 , W . Colley 548 , A . Doig P . M . 1539 , R . Russell 1563 , J . Reynolds 87 , Walter Wren , J . Wynman , and others .

The minutes of the last regular Lodge , an emergency , and the audit meeting having been road and confirmed , the Lodge was opened in the second degree , when the W . M . declared the Offices vacant . Bro . Robert Gabell W . M .-elect was presented by Bro . H . B . Buckeridge P . M ., and was addressed as to the duties of the high office to which he had been elected , and which he agreed to accept , signifying his assent to the ancient charges in due form . He then took the Obligation , a Board of Installed Masters was formed , and Bro . Gabell was inducted to the chair of King Solomon .

The Brethren were re-admitted and the new Master was proclaimed and saluted in the three degrees . By desire of Bro . Croxson Bro . E . D . Side continued the ceremony , the addresses being impressively rendered by him . Bro . Gabell appointed his Officers as follow : Bros . T . J . Rawlings S W Jas . Farmer J . W ., W . H . Boys P . M . Sec , E . S . Rice S . D ., J . B . Thorneloe J . D ., W . E . Bennett I . G ., J . W . Sandell D . C ., F . Lloyd A . D . G ., R . S . Buckeridge and E . H . Smyth Stewards , A . E . Kipps Organist .

The Worshipful Master said he was very sorry to say that on account of the death of their highly esteemed Treasurer Bro . Hill , the Lodge would require to elect another Brother to occupy that responsible position . Bro . Side paid a well deserved compliment to the I . P . M . Bro . Croxson , and said he had acted since the death of the Treasurer , and bad performed

the duties of the important position in such a highly satisfactory manner that he had very much pleasure in proposing that Bro . Croxson be duly elected to the Office . He was sure the Lodge could not find a better man , that the funds would be well looked after by him , and that they would be in sure hands .

_ Bro . Buckeridge P . M . had very much pleasure in seconding the proposition , and hoped it would result in an unanimous vote . He also was sure the funds could not be in better hands , and could not be looked after better than by Bro . Croxson , who had already shown his ability for the Office . The W . M ., in bringing the proposition forward , said he had much pleasure in supporting it ; after which we had the gratification of seeing Bro . W . Croxson I . P . M . elected and invested as the Treasurer of the Lodge , and we sincerely congratulate him on the honourable appointment .

Bro . Croxson said it was a great surprise to him having been unanimously elected Treasurer of the Lodge ; he had expected a little opposition from Bro . Buckeridge P . M ., but instead of that he had seconded the proposition , for which he sincerely thanked him . He also thanked the Brethren one and all for their kindness in putting so much confidence in him , and assured them he would take great care of the funds of the Lodge , and do everything in his power for its welfare and prosperity .

The ability of the W . M . was now further put to the test , as the ballot was taken for Mr . Joseph Shaw , which proving unanimous in his favour , in due course that gentleman was initiated into the mysteries of Ancient Freemasonry , the ceremony being impressively rendered . This and the able manner in which the W . M . invested the Officers showed that the Brethren had made a proper choice in electing Bro . Gabell as the ruler of the Lodge . Bro . Rowland P . M . gave the ancient charge in capital form .

The W . M _ . presented Bro . Croxson with the Past Master's jewel , saying that if ever a jewel had been well earned , it was by Bro . Croxson during the past year . No one more richly deserved it than he , and he trusted ho might live for many years to wear it , in health and strength . Bro . Croxson thanked the W . M . for his very kind remarks . He had

Reports Of Meetings.

arrived at the height of his ambition , by obtaining the Past Master's jewel of the Skelmersdale Lodge . Ho had had the pleasure of initiating twenty-four new members into the Lodge , and he hoped the present Worshipful Master would have as prosperous a year . Bro . J . Humphries , one of the Brethren who had been initiated during the year , asked the W . M . if he would kindly allow him to say a few words . The

request being granted , he said he would esteem it a great honour if he might also present to their I . P . M . Bro . Croxson a Past Master's collar , which was subscribed by those Brethren who had had the honour of being initiated into the Graft by Bro . Croxson . They trusted the Great Architect of the Universe might grant him health , and spare him to them for many years yet to come .

Bro . Croxson said he could not find words sufficiently to thank the Brethren , firstly in being invested as the I . P . M ., then as Treasurer , and now with such a handsome jewel and collar . He felt like a Lord Mayor . Ha was most happy to accept the collar , knowing it was presented with true loving feeling ; he was proud of it , as marking the fact that during his year of Office twenty-four new members had been initiated . Again he sincerely thanked them for their very handsome presents .

Bro . Croxson next proposed that the sum of ten guineas be added to the list of Bro . Side , who will represent the Lodge as Steward for the Girls School , which was unanimously agreed to . Bro . Side thanked the Brethren , at the same time reminding them it was not for himself , but tor the Masonic Charity , and he hoped to attend the Festival with flying colours .

Bro . Foster was elected a joining member . The resignation of a Brother was accepted , and after the communications had beea dealt with the Lodge was closed and the Brethren retired to the Banqueting room , where an excellent repast was provided , reflecting great credit on the well known Masonic establishment , also on Mrs . Venables , the proprietress , who always looks after the comfort of the guests to the best of her ability .

After dinner the W . M . sounded the gavel and rose to submit the toast of the Queen and the Craft , which was received with musical honours . ' The proposition of the Grand Master was greeted with great applause , as was also that of the Grand Officers .

Bro . Croxson , in well chosen terms proposed the health of the W . M ., which he ventured to think would be the toast of the evening . He was sure his conduct in the chair would meet with the satisfaction of the Lodge ; he invested his Officers to perfection , and he initiated the candidates to the credit of himself and the Lodge ; in fact he had never heard work done batter than had been the case that evening . The programme the W . M . had provided was one of the very best , and they could but wish him a prosperous year of Office . He therefore called upon them to give the W . M . an extra bumper , which the Brethren most willingly attended to .

The W . M . on rising was most heartily received . He said he could not thank the Brethren sufficiently for having elected him W . M . of the Lodge ; he was indeed proud of the position . It was ten years since he replied to the toast as one of the initiates ; and ha fully recognised it was a very different position he occupied at the present . He recognised the responsi'bilities of the Office , but with the assistance of the Past Masters and Officers

he hoped to bo able to do what was expected from every Master of the Lodge . The more work they gave him the better he would like it , but at the same time he desired to impress upon them that he did not want quantity only , but quality as the first consideration . Again he sincerely thanked them all . The toast of the initiate Bro . Joseph Shaw was proposed from the chair in happy terms , the W . M . speaking of the great attention that Brother had paid to the ceremony , and feeling sure he would make an excellent Mason .

Bro . Shaw thanked the W . M . for his kindness in having initiated him into the Craft . He was a member of several societies , but in none were the ceremonies so impressive as what he had gone through that evening . - The W . M . was saying that ten years since he was initiated in that room , and now he occupied the honourable position of Worshipful Master ; he , as the candidate of the moment assured them he should endeavour to make equal progress , and hoped in time to come to prove himself an acquisition to the Lodge . He sincerely thanked them all for having accepted him as a Brother amongst them .

The visitors toast was next given , the guests being heartily welcomed , and the toast most cordially received by the members . Bro . W . H . Bale P . M . and Treasurer 87 , in response , first thanked the W . M . for his kind invite , and congratulated him on his arriving at the honourable position of representative of King Solomon—a model of wisdom , strength and beauty . Of wisdom the W . M . had a goody portion ; as to strength , physically , he had never had the opportunity of putting him to the test ; while

as to beauty , he thought they would agree with him his personal appearance speke for itself . The W . M . having expressed a wish that all speeches should be brief he would conclude by wishing him . a very happy and successful year of Office . There was one thing crossing his mind , the W . M . 's nama was Robert , and he thought that the Skelmersdale Lodge would , at the end of his year of office , be proud of their little Bobs , who no doubt would be as honoured and respected by his Brother members as was their little Lord Roberts who was fighting their battles in South Africa .

Bro . Eedle P . P . G . S . of Works , Bro . Smith , and several other visitors also acknowledged the compliment . Bro . Side responded to the toast of the Masonic Charities , and was pleased to say ho had already fifty guineas on his list for the Girls School . The Past Masters and Officers of the Lodge were next toasted , and acknowledged the compliment . During the evening the Charity Box was handed round , and £ 2 19 s was collected .

A very pleasant programme of music was arranged , amongst others who provided the harmony being the Thespian Glee Singers , Mr . H . 0 . Shearing , Mr . T . Millar Scott , Mr . G . T . Devonshire , Bro . Jas . Avery . Bro . Kipps Organist , in his usual able manner , accompanied . By special desire Bro . H . Cohen P . M . recited " Ordered to the Front . "

HENRY MUGGERIDGE LODGE , No . 1679 . THE annual election meeting took place on Saturday , at Anderton ' s Hotel Fleet Street , when the Brethren assembled to attend to their Masonic duties , and probably with the pleasant intention of giving au unanimous vote to their popular friend and Brother T . Fred . Strutt ( who wo had the great pleasure of seeing installed as Worshipful Master of the Hygeia Lodge , No . 2664 , on Saturday , 10 th ult . ) , as he came next in rotation for election as Worshipful Master of the Henry Muggeridge Lodge .

The Lodge was opened by the Worshipful Master Bro . J . A . Worthington , who , on taking the chair received a most hearty ovation , as this was his first attendance since his installation , he having met with a most severe accident last summer in Shropshire , whilst out shooting . The Brotherly Love which was exhibited , and the respect and pleasure shown on seeing Brother