Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

down . The cloth having been cleared , the W . M . gave the toasts of " Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen " and " The M . W . Grand Master of England , Bro . H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , and Earl of Chester , the Princess of Wales , and the rest of the Royal Family , " both of which were heartily responded to . Bro . H . Finch , P . G . D . C ., proposed the toast of "The M . W . P . ^ Grand Master of England , Bro . the Right Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon ; the

R . W . Deputy Grand Master , Bro . the Right Hon . the Earl of Lathom ; and the other Grand Officers , Present and Past . " This was a toast which was always received with the greatest cordiality in St . John ' s Lodge and in all other lodges . But it would be more cordially received in the lodge of St . John on the present occasion , inasmuch as it would be connected with the name of Bro . Latham , one of the Past Officers of the Grand Lodge of England .

He was sure he was but speaking the sentiments of every brother around the festive board in saying they were delighted to see him amongst them . He could assure Bro . Latham that his kindness in coming to visit them , and the compliment he had paid them , would not soon be forgotten by the brethren of the Lodge of St . John ' . He could quite understand that to a brother like Bro . Lathom , who spent the best part of his life in Masonry , the attending

installation meetings must be somewhat tedious , but he trusted that they had not been too tedious on that occasion , and that Bro . Latham would carry away with himsomepleasant recollections of the meeting .. The Grand Officers deserved well of the Craft—that they add a lustre and dignity to our Order goes without saying . Let them look at the labours of the Deputy Grand Master of England . Notwithstanding that he was at the head of the largest province under the

English Constitution , they found him one week assisting the Grand Master in laying the foundation-stone of a Cathedral at Truro , another week at the Crystal Palace , as chairman of the Royal Masonic Boys' School Festival , a third week travelling to a distant province , that of Durham , to instal the Marquis of Londonderry as Prov . Grand Master . Services like these commanded the thanks of every brother of the Craft . It would be impossible to have an officer more

constant in his attention to his duties than the President of the Board of General Purposes , Sir John Monckton , whose Board maintained discipline in 1900 lodges , and managed the business affairs of Grand Lodge with commendable tact and discretion . Another name peculiarly acceptable to the Masons of Cheshire was that of the G . Registrar , Bro . / Eneas Mclntyre , whose expositions ofthe law always commanded the entire approval of the Craft . The present

Grand Chaplain of England , Bro . the Rev . Spencer Stanhope , was also a Cheshire Mason . He had great pleasure in coupling with the toast the name of Bro . G . W . Latham , P . G . D . of England . The toast was drunk with honours . Bro . Latham , P . G . D . England , and P . G . S . W . Cheshire , who received a very hearty greeting , assured the brethren that whether in the proud proposition he held as a Past Officer of England , or in the position of a present

Provincial Grand Officer , or in that of a private Mason , or even in his individual capacity , he was heartily glad to have had the honour and pleasure of attending this meeting of the Lodge of St . John that day . He did not think , as Bro . Finch had implied , that the meeting was at all too long , nor didheli ear onesingle word or see one single thing which could rightly have been omitted ; and although he was glad afc all times to see ceremonies well done , the saying so was not the

special reason why he was glad to be present . He was glad to be present because he believed that St . John's was a lodge which was _ a strong exemplification of the practical doctrine of Charity . It was a lodge which endeavoured as much as any , and a great deal more than some , to carry out in practice the theoretical principles of Charity , which , as Masons , they all professed to admire . He hoped and trusted there was in Masonry something more even than

that mere expression of charity which gave itself vent in providing education , in providing schools , and in providing- institution ^ for old men . In Masonry he himself found a harbour in which he could take refuge from the turmoils ofpolitical life , and find one subject of agreement with his fellow-men . He was not so virtuous as the proposer of the toast had rather too flatteringly intimated , for he did not spend the most of his time on Masonry . His

rnma was occupied with other things , other subjects , but he did rejoice when an afternoon or an evening came when he could come out of these troubled seas and get into the peaceful harbour of Masonry . That was why he liked Masonry , because there he could find a harbour of safety and a haven of rest ; and in that meeting of St . John ' s he found a special exemplification of this . Let them depend upon it this Government of Masonry would be a wonderful

example for countries in want of a constitution to follow . They elected their Grand Master by the votes of the oldest and most experienced amongst them , and left him to choose thc executive by which he would rule the Craft . The Grand Master of England had chosen him as one of the Grand Officers of England , and in that capacity he returned thanks to tbem . Of course it followed that some were chosen for their excellence in work , and some for their more

ornamental qualities . He feared that he had been of very little benefit to Grand Lodge ; he took the post not so much in the light of a reward for any work he had done outside Grand Lodge , but more as a compliment to the province with which he was connected . But if he were wanted in Grand Lodge he was ready when any difficulties arose , and if they did not arise , they might depend upon it , it was because the Board of General Purposes kept them out .

He was quite sure they would have no cause to regret the choice they had made in placing their present W . M . in the chair , and that they would ably support him in preventing any schism or quarrels in the Craft over which he presided . He thanked them for the honour they had done Grand Lodge , and for coupling his name with the toast ; and he thanked them for that the more humbly because he knew that he did not owe his position to any merit of his

own . And as he had now to leave the meeting to catch a train he also thanked them in anticipation for two other toasts in which they would drink his health . He trusted on some future occasion , when the time might be a little longer and he had not to run away so precipitately , that he should be able to spend another pleasant evening amongst them ,

for he could assure them that he had seen enough and heard enough to bring him even a greater distance than he had come that day . Bro . W . Harrison , P . P . S . G . D ., proposed "The Health of the P . G . M . of Cheshire , the Right Hon . Lord de Tabley . " They must all agree with him that every brother of the province bad a right to be proud of their P . G . M ., in whom they possessed a ruler who took the deepest interest in every lodge of the province , and that

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

interest and feeling was reciprocated in every lodge of the province . Under his rule every lodge in Cheshire had prospered during the last tenor twelve years , not only in point of working but in fundamental principles . A great deal had also been done to support those useful institutions in connection with the Order in London and elsewhere . The local institutions had been brought to a "hi gh state of efficiency . Their Provincial Grand Master had now arrived

at a ripe old age , and he was happy to know that his portrait was to be presented on his seventieth birthday , in August next . He knew they would all join with him in the fervent hope that the G . A . O . T . U . would be pleased to spare the life of their P . G . M . to preside over them for many years to come . The W . M . proposed the toast of "The D . P . G . M ., Bro . the Hon . Wilbraham Egerton , M . P ., and the other Provincial Grand Officers , Presentjand Past . " He

thanked the Prov . Grand Officers of Cheshire for the manner in which they had responded to the invitations of the lodge , and was very much gratified to see so many of tbem present . Some of them had come a long distance to be present , and he trusted at no distant date they would be similarly honoured . Bro . Capt . Howard , P . P . G . J . W ., said he must first thank the brethren of St . John ' s Lodge for asking him to be present , and for the way in which they

had received the toast , and as there were so many Prov . G . Officers to reply he would say no more on that point . He wished more especially to thank the members of the lodge for the handsome manner in which they had contributed to the portrait of the P . G . M . of that province . He believed the contributions the St . John ' s Lodge had already handed in and the further contributions to be made would be larger than almost any other lodge in Cheshire . Having

personally had something to do with the arrangements for the picture , and having seen it when [ the face was nearly finished , he was enabled to speak very highl y of it . The artist himself looked upon it as his master-piece , and for himself he might say it was one of the finest portraits he ever saw . Lady de Tabley had told him that her husband ' s portrait was one of the things she had set her heart upon , and it was especially gratifying to her to have it presented

by the 1 ' reemasons of Cheshire . Bro . Lieut .-Col . Wilkinson , P . P . S . G . D ., also responded , and spoke in the highest terms of the courtesy and kindness of the P . G . M ., and his accessibility to every Mason . Bro . Beresford , P . M ., P . P . S . G . D ., proposed "The Provincial Grand Officers of other Provinces , " to which Bro . Chapman , P . P . G . D . Devonshire , responded , speaking of the excellence of his late P . G . M ., Bro . Huvshe , and oavinsr a

high compliment to the excellent working wh-. ch he had that day seen in the Lodge of St John . Bro . Harden , P . P . S . G . D ., also responded on behalf of the Province of East Lancashire . Bro . Collier , I . P . M ., P . G . O ., next proposed the toast of "The W . M . of St . John ' s Lodge , " which he said might be rightfully regarded as the toast of the evening . They all wished { their Newly Installed Master health and long life , and that he might have a prosperous

year of office . The W . M . was happy in the selection of officers he had made , who ' would keep up the prestige of the lodge . He congratulated him upon the unanimity which prevailed in the lodge , and it was gratifying , as Bro . Latham had observed , to look upon the lodge as a harbour of safety . For himself , during the twelve months he had occupied the chair , he had never had an unkind word with any one . He had now the pleasure of pinning thc iewel to

the breast of theW . M ., which be had himself worn during his year of office , and he was sure no warmer heart than that of their W . M . would ever wear it . The toast was drunk with honours . The W . M ., who was warmly received , said there were three things necessary for him to possess in responding to the toast—a full head , a ready tongue , and a warm heart . To the first he could lay no claim ; the second did not answer so glibly on an occasion like this : but he

had led himself to believe that so far as Masonry was concerned he did possess the third qualification . He thanked them very much for the kindness they had always shown him in St . John's Lodge , more especially since he had been promoted to office , and which had culminated in the high and important position to which they had that day elected him . He felt it indeed an honour to be W . M . of the Lodge of St . John , because it had made for itself a

name in the province , both for its workings and its contributions to the Charities . It would be a deplorable thing if , through any mishap , or any want in any future VV . M ., the lodge should lose the great name it had earned in the province . The brethren had bestowed on him the highest honour it was in their ' province to bestow , and he should endeavour to show his appreciation of the honour by his constant attention to the duties and his regard for the

interests and prestige of the lodge . Firstly , it would be his constant care to promote the harmony which had existed for some time now in the Ixidge of St . John , but he scarcely thought his services would be brought into requisition to preserve order , as there was no lodge in the town , and happily but very few in the provinces , where more unanimity existed than in that of St , John at the present time . Secondly , he should endeavour by his attention to

his duties to emulate the example set by his predecessor , with regard to the tenets of the lodge and the following of the principles of Freemasonry . In doing this he should fully and solely have to rely on the co-operation of his officers , and he believed he could with confidence rely upon them ; but his great tower of strength would bc in the Past Masters of this lodge , amongst whom they had brethren of note in Masonic workings . If he showed any great degree

or ethcicncy he should consider he owed it almost wholly to his Past Masters , in seeing the manner in which they had conducted the business . Thirdly , he hoped his year of office would be marked b y that same response to the appeals for Masonic Charities which had characterised the ' appeals to this lodge in former years . He need not say more than again to thank them most cordiall y for the kind manner in which Bro . Collier had proposed the toastand the reception

, they had given to it . He concluded by proposing the toast of "The LP . M ., and i 'he Newly Invested Officers , " to which Bro . Collier and the officers replied . The Treasurer , Bro . Major Preston , madea very amusingspeech , which provoked roars of laughter . The other toasts were "The Visiting Brethren , " "The Past Masters ofthe Lodge , " "The Masonic Charities , " "The Newly Admitted and Newlv

Passed Brethren , " " I he Sister Lodges of Stockport , " and "All Poor and Distressed Masons . " The vocalists were Bros . M . Stafford , P . M . ; C . Pearson , P . M . ; G . Gaskill , E . J . Edmondson , VV . Alcock , T . Wilkinson , P . M . ; and W . Booth , S . W . The director of music was Bro . H . Collier , I . P . M ., P . G . O ., who played the pianoforte accompaniments . The harmony was all that could be

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

desired , and very much enhanced the enjoyment of the evening . , YORK . —York Lodge ( No . 239)—The installation meeting of this lodge was held at the Masonic Hall , Duncombe-place , on Monday evening , the 20 th ult . Present : Bros . W . H . Gainforth , W . M . ; M . Rooke , £ ' -J J- - RymerJ . W . ; JToddP . M . Treas

, . , , .. « , fF * , ? 'l ' Garbutt , S . t > . ; W . Draper , J . D . j W . Powell , I . G . ; J . G . Hodgson , D . C . ; and W . Smith , Stwd . Past Masters J . E . M . Young , P . P . G . C . ; R . W . Hollon , P . G . Treas ., P . G . D . C . Eng . ; F . Rawling , A . 5 uc £ Ie * ,,, ' - > P-G-J-D . ; W . Lawton , P . P . G . Reg . ; T . B . Whytehead , P . P . G . D . C ; G . Balmford , P . P 7 G ! Org . ; Swann Maltby , A . Haffner , C . G . Padel . P . G .

Org . ; Bros . T . S . Camidge , P . P . G . Org . ; W . Wilson , J . Redfare , A . Hanson , G . Houlden , W . Thompson , J . Stead , A . M . White , F . H . Bland , W . Nicholson , I . Toes , G . K . Hitchcock , T . G . Turner , Geo . C . Lee , H . Churchill , T . Russell , and T . Tuke . Visitors : Bros , the Rev . C E . Camidge , Thirsk , P . P . G . C ; A . Wove , W . Flint , R . Graham , and Dr . W . Paley , De Grey and Ripon , P . S . G . W .

( W . Yorkshire . ) _ The lodge having been opened in due form , it was announced that the very Rev . A . P . Purey Cust , D . D ., Dean of York , Grand Chaplain of England , requested admittance . A deputation of Past Masters was appointed by the W . M . to conduct the V . W . brother into the lodge , and upon his entrance he was saluted by Grand Honours . TheW . M . on behalf of the lodge expressed his sense of the honour

conferred upon it by the presence of the Grand Chaplain , and the gratification experienced by the members when the dignity of Dean of the ancient Cathedral City , in which they were assembled , was conferred upon a brother so eminent and distinguished in the Craft , The Dean , who was most enthusiastically received , after thanking the brethren for the cordial reception given him , said that it

afforded him much pleasure to be present on that occasion to make the acquaintance of his Masonic brethren in York , expressed his regret that circumstances had hitherto prevented his attendance at the lodge of which he had been admitted a member , and assured the brethren of his deep interest in the well being and prosperity of the Craft . The minutes of the two previous lodges were read and

confirmed , after which , at the request of the W . M ., Bro . Todd , P . M ., took the chair as Installing- Master . The W . M . elect , Bro . Mark Rooke , S . W ., was then presented by Bros . Holler and Lawton , P . M's ., and the ceremony of installation was proceeded with , and Bro . Rooke was duly installed in the chair of K . S . according to ancient custom . Ihe ceremony was performed by Bro . Todd in his

accustomed efficient and impressive manner . The W . M . afterwards appointed and invested the following brethren as his officers for the ensuing year , viz . : Bros . W . H . Gainforth , I . P . M . ; J . S . Rymer , S . W . ; G . Kirby , J ; ' * theVeryRev . A . P . Purey-Cust , D ' ' » Dean ot York , V . W . Grand Chaplain of England , Chaplain ; J . Todd , P . M .. P . P . G . Reg ., Treas . ; A . Buckle , B . A ..

P . M ., P . J . G . D ., Sec ; G . K . Hitchcock , Asst . Sec . ; G . Garbutt , S . D . ; W . Draper , J . D . ; T . G . Hodgson , D . C . ; T . Tuke , Org . ; W . Powell , I . G . ; W . Smith and W . Nicholson , Stwds . ; and W . G . Calvert , Tyler . The lodge was afterwards duly closed , and the brethren adjourned to the banqueting room , and partook of supper , when the usual Ioval and Masonic toasts were given and honoured . The Dean , in replv to the toast of " H . R . H .

the Grand Master , and the Officers of the Grand Lodge " paid a high compliment to the manner in which H . R . H . performed the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of Truro Cathedral , and pointed out to the brethren the great value of Masonry as tending to foster and diffuse what was somuch needed in these times , a brotherly and charitable spirit .

STONECLOUGH . —Lodge of Charity ( No . 350 ) . —The monthly meeting of this lodge was held at the Grapes Inn , on Thursday , the 16 th ult ., when the following brethren were present : Bros , R . O . Mcllwrick , W . M .: E . Stott , S . W . ; E . Farrar , J . W . ; W . Coope , Treas . , ' b . Barlow , Sec . ; George Coope , S . D . ; J . Lee Wood , j . D .: 1 . H . Watson , I . G . ; Ralph Brooks , Tyler ; W . Horrocks .

P . M ; li . P « ckston , P . M . ; James Varley , P . M ., P . G . Org-.: Thomas Horrocks , P . M . ; I . J . . Whittaker , P . M ., P . PTG . D . of C ; M . Thomas , jun ., I . P . M . ; Henry Tongue , I . Sheppard , R . W . Sutton , VV . Thomas Haworth , Titus Fletcher , Albert Fletcher , Thomas Smith , Robert Sephton , W . Watts , W . H . Ballard , James Garside , W . Watts . Visitors : Bros . Joseph Barrow , 67 S ; C . Van Biemar . oat :

William Kumsey , 1357 ; and A . T . Forrest , 1633 . The lodge was opened at 4 . 30 , and , after . confirmation of minutes of last meeting , the ballot was taken for Mr . J . Garside , and the same being satisfactory , that gentleman was , with all due ' rite and ceremony , very impressively initiated into the mysteries and privileges of Freemasonry by the W . M . Bros . W . Watts and W . H . Ballard were then raised to the Sublime Degree of a M . M . This

beinethe night for electing a W . M . for the ensuing year the choice of the brethren fell on thcirS . W ., Bro . E . Stott , who was declared elected . After committees had been appointed to audit the accounts and arrange for the festival of St . John , "Hearty good wishes" were expressed by the visitors , and the lodge was closed in peace and harmony . The brethren afterwards sat down to a substantial repast , when the usual toasts were honoured , the proceedings being enlivened by some excellent songs , & c

NOTTINGHAM . —Royal Sussex Lodge ( No . 402 ) . —A meeting of the above lodge was held on Tuesday , the 21 st ult ., at the George Hotel , when the following brethren were present : Bros . S . Job , W . M . ; C . T . Jacoby , £ ' y ' ' \ ' J- ' - Dobbin , Chap . ; W . F . Bromley , Sec ; E . Seaton , S . D . ; W . H . Poyntz , J . D . ; A . Stubbs , D . C ; A Hethenngton , Tyler : A . Parsons , P . M . ; Neale , P . M .:

Hatliwaite , P . M . ; Goodall , P . M . ; Newton , P . M . ; Rawson , P . M . ; Bradley , H . O . Taylor , Parkinson , Nicholson , and Janders . Mr . G . H . Nicholson was initiated into the mysteries of thc Order , and Bro . Parkinson was raised . Bro . W , F . Bromley was elected as W . M ., Bro . C . T . Jacoby as Treas ., and Bro . Hetherington as Tyler for the ensuing year .

ST . GERMANS . —Port Eliot Lodge ( No . 116 4 ) . —The annual meeting of this lodge was held on Thursday the 23 rd ult ., at the Lodge Rooms , Port Eliot . The W . M . elect , W . Bro . Richard Steed , was installed by IW . Bro Dr . J . Bedford Kcrswffl , P . PJG . S . B ., assisted by W . Bro ,