Reports Of Meetings.

REPORTS OF MEETINGS .

— : o : — CRAFT : METROPOLITAN .

DOMATIC LODGE , No . 177 . AN emergency meeting was held on Friday , 23 rd inst ., at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet Street . In the absence of the W . M . Bro . T . N . Morris the chair was occupied by Bro . T . H . Hobbs I . P . M ., who was supported by Bros . W . S . Andrews S . W ., W . J . Ferguson P . M . as J . W ., G . Everett P . G . Tr . Treasurer , Thomas Morris

Sec , John Anloy S . D ., W . Hanes J . D ., T . S . Smith I . G ., P . S . Wallis D . C ., F . G . Newell A . D . C ., T . C . Edmonds P . M . Tyler ; also H . N . Price P . M . P . G . Standard Bearer , E . White P . M ., A . Piper P . M ., G . Johnson , M . Van Heck , J . B . Ellison , F . Williams , J . Webster , E . G . Godfrey , J . Blades , A . 0 . Cook . A . E . H . Poole , John Bobinson , F . A . Cassini , A . S . Greenlade , A . Collinson , J . M . Butler , T . H . Payne , and several others .

Amongst the Visitors were Bros . H . Pulman P . G . Standard Bearer W . M . No . 3 , W . Chappel W . M . 1425 , W . Collinson I . G . 1425 , and others . The Lodge was opened in due form , the minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed . The Lodge was advanced to the second degree , and Bro . F . Williams , M . Van Heck , T . B . Ellison and G . Johnson were examined and entrusted . Lodge was opened in the third degree and these Brethren were subsequently raised as Master Masons .

Lodge was resumed to the first degree and Bros . A . H . Poole , A . C . Cook , and E . G . Godfrey were presented to be passed as Fellow Crafts ; they were examined and entrusted , and , the Lodge being advanced , they were duly admitted to the second degree . We must heartily congratulate Bro . Hobbs upon the altogether admirable way in which he worked both the degrees , the ceremonies were most impressively given , and showed that the excellent working of yore was not forgotten .

Bro . T . Nixon Morris W . M . having arrived assumed his proper position in the Lodge as W . M ., and on Mr . Arthur Collinson being regularly presented as a candidate for initiation proceeded to admit that gentleman to a participation in our mysteries . Lodge was afterwards closed and the Brethren adjourned to a banquet , which was served in the excellent style for which Bro . Olemow ' s establishment is so famous .

Later on the usual loyal toasts were heartily proposed from the chair and received with enthusiasm by the company . Bro . T . H . Hobbs I . P . M . had much pleasure in proposing the health of the Worshipful Master of the Lodge , and tbis toast having met with a hearty reception by the Brethren , was acknowledged by the W . M ., who thanked his predecessor for having discharged the work of the meeting in his absence , affording further evidence of the desire of the Past Masters to advance the welfare of the Lodge .

The guests responded to the toasts of the Visitors , and the newly admitted Brother to that given in his honour . Other toasts were proposed and aeknowledged , the proceedings being terminated by the Tyler , in the usual way .

o o o EARL OF CARNARVON LODGE , No . 1642 . THE annual summer trip and banquet in connection with this Lodge took place on Monday , 19 th inst . The company left Paddington soon after 9 a . m . for Maidenhead , and at Boulter ' s Lock embarked on a commodious steam launch for conveyance to Beading . Luncheon was served at the Ferry Hotel , Cookham , at noon , and Reading was reached at

5 * 30 , after a most enjoyable trip . A recherche dinner was supplied by Bro Flanagan , at the Great Western Hotel , and the members and their guests departed for London by the 9-25 train , in the reserved saloons , which had been brought on from Maidenhead in the morning . The proceedings throughout were of a most enjoyable character .

INSTRUCTION .

ROYAL ALFRED LODGE , No . 780 . A MOST successful meeting of this hard working Lodge took place on Thursday , at Bro . W . T . Purkiss ' s , Star and Garter Hotel , Kew Bridge , when the Preceptor Bro . B . H . Williams P . M . fulfilled the duties of the chair as W . M ., and was most ably assisted by Bro . J . Dinnis P . M . as S . W ., Justin Allen J . D ., T . J . Larkman P . M . Treas ., J . H . Cumming P . M . Sec , W . Hide S . D ., A . England J . D ., T . M . Ridley I . G ., E . H . Wilcox Steward , F . Craggs P . M ., Barton Jones P . M ., C . Jacob , R . Goff , R . Bobinson , W . Langdon , B . Steel , J . Wynman , H . T . Johnson , and others . Visitors : -Bros . Pullwood , Thomas I . P . M . 25 , Edward Fox P . M . 1275 .

The Lodge was opened to the second degree , and the ceremony of installation was rehearsed , Bro . J . Dinnis P . M . being presented by Bro . Barton Jones and afterwards installed , proclaimed , and saluted as W . M . He then , in most able manner , invested his Officers , after which Bro . B . H . Williams P . M . Sec . gave the three different addresses , which were a great pleasure to listen to , being given without the slightest hitch .

Bros . Fox and Fullwood were proposed and unanimously elected as members , both suitably responding . Bro . B . Robinson will preside on Thursday next . Brethren wishing to join will receive a hearty welcome . The Lodge meets every Thursday , at 7 * 30—under the able tuition of Bro . R . H . Williams P . M . as Preceptor , of whom we may say with confidence that he tries his utmost to instruct every Brother alike .

PROVINCIAL .

ROYAL BRUNSWICK LODGE , No . 732 . THE members of this Brighton Lodge Bpent a pleasant time on Saturday , 17 th inst . They decided to hold an outing , and for that purpose made arrangements to visit Boulogne on the " Brighton Queen . " Most of the members took their wives , so that the party was a numerous and jolly one .

Reports Of Meetings.

Special arrangements had been made for their comfort . The catering on the boat is in the hands of M . Paul Curonico , of the Empire Buffet , New Boad , Brighton , and his reputation is such that one can always be certain of faring splendidly . Thus the lunch , which the party took in a private saloon on the outward journey , and the " high tea " coming back , were both thoroughly enjoyed .

JOHN LODGE , No . 1343 . BBO . EDWARD AYRES presided at the first meeting after his installation , on Wednesday , at the Masonic Hall , Grays , Essex . He was assisted by his Officers : Bros . Joseph Weymouth S . W ., G . H . Silverwood , M . A ., LL . B ., J . W ., P . W . Pelling P . P . G . S . I . P . M ., Charles Westwood

P . G . A . D . C . Treas ., H . C . BorradaileP . P . G . S . B . Secretary , Robt . Walker I . G ., J . G . Wingrove P . P . G . O ., Fred Dorman Steward ; together with Bro . Robert Atkins P . M ., Robert Matthews , W . H . Brough , A . C . James , John Sievewright , W . M . Taylor , W . Brown , G . Cunningham , Bobert Benton , D . Pean , B . D . Borradaile , Herbert E . Brooks , George E . Gilbert , John Higgins , Frank Spurr , Elliott G . Fletcher , W . Daines , J . W . Barefoot .

Visitors : —Bro . J . Wesney Ward , of William Preston Lodge , No . 766 , W . H . Peacock , of Rothesay Lodge , No . 1687 , Orlton Cooper P . M ., St . Michaels , No . 211 . The Lodge was duly opened , after which the minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed . Bro . Herbert Manning answered the usual questions of an Apprentice , was entrusted and xetirad . The Lodge was opened in the second degeee , when Bro . Manning was passed as a Fellow Craft , and was invested with the badge of that degree . The ceremony was very ably performed by Bro . Ayres .

The Lodge was then called oft for a short time , pending thfl arrival of Bro . H . C . Borradaile , who , by the kind permission of the W . M ., was » o initiate his second son , Mr . Marcus Abraham Borradaile , into the Order . On the re-assembly of the Brethren , the W . M . resigned the chair to Bro . Borradaile , who then impressively performed the ceremony of initiation , and thus the son became the brother of his own father .

The W . M . now resumed the chair , and proposed that the sum of five guineas be voted from the funds of the Lodge towards the Relief Fund now being raised for the assistance of the Farmers of Essex after the recent disastrous storm . Bro . Borradaile , in seconding the proposition , gave some details as to the awful effects of the storm , and the vote was passed nem con . The W . M . suggested that a Masonic Church Service should be held in

October next , to celebrate the centenary of a Service held at Grays in August 1797 . A committee , consisting of the W . M ., Past Masters and Officers of the Lodge , was appointed to carry out the details , and Bro . Westwood accepted the post of Secretary . Bro . Weymouth said that Bro . Delafield , the vicar , would place the Parish Church at the disposal of the Lodge for the occasion , and would give every assistance . He trusted the several Lodges of the Province would also be represented at the gathering .

A candidate was proposed for initiation at the next meeting , and the closing hymn having been sung the Lodge was closed in perfect harmony , and the Brethren adjourned to supper , after which a very pleasant evening was spent .

Brother the Rev . Dr . Stewart recently delivered a lecture m the Parish Church , Peterhead , on the principles underlying Freemasonry . After referring to the antiquity of the Graft he said all were aware of the extraordinary ideas which some people bad of what is taught in the Lodge , and what was associated with its character . Many jokes had been based , and much humour of a kind had been expended upon the things which had been said and

done in the name of Freemasonry . They knew that there were things unhappily practiced which would not bear investigation , and that , for some reason or other , had been allowed to exist when they ought to have been crushed out . One of the principles of Masonry was that there should be liberty ; and that liberty gave itself such free scope that it occasionally degenerated into licence . He warned the members that this licence was not in anywise implied in one ' s connection with this Oraft . Where it existed at all it was in direct

antagonism to that which was taught and believed by every honest hearted Brother . He had heard of Masonic Lodges which had been supposed to be merely kept up for the express purpose of being scenes of revelry and drunkenness . They that understood the true meaning of Masonry knew that that was impossible . On some occasions the carnal man might assert himself , and , instead

of the ordinary bodily refreshment , which might be held necessary after hard toil , there were indulgencies ; and these became known outside the Order . They had heard of the triple principles which were asserted first of all in the French revolution at the end of last century , where they talked of Liberty , Equality , and Fraternity .

These principles had been connected with Masonry in a very emphatic way by some of the very best writers . They could not be true to the principles of the Craft unless they recognised mankind as in the sight of the great Almighty all equally his servants . The secrets which were reserved from the uninitiated

were necessary for the carrying on of the work of the Order . If they were true to the Masonic creed , then this would be a better world by far than it ever had been . — " Buehau Observer . "

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