Craft Masonry.

Bro . Ritchie , as one of the Committee of the Corporation , was pleased to think that Charity was one of the first thoughts of the Scots Lodge , and he vvas glad to see that the Scots Masons in London were taking a step in the right direction to increase their usefulness to their fellow creatures in general and the indigent poor of their own nation in particular .

Bro . Major Allan promised to show any brother visiting Scotland what Scottish hospitality meant should they give the Sir John Cathcart Lodge members the opportunity . The visitors included Bros . C . B . Tubbs , P . M . Kendrick Lodge , P . G . Stwd . Staffordshire ; Jas . Edmeston , P . M . Canterbury Lodge ; S . Gabriel , Clapham Lodge ; W . D . Church , W . M . elect Clapton Lodge ; Frank Figg , 1656 ; D . Campbell , Stwd . 1365 ; C . Stanger , l . P . M . 12 ; J . J .

Howes , 1613 ; E . Churchman , 1425 ; R . B . Leslie , 56 ; J . Whitehead , S . W . 1446 ; J . Knox Wilson , 1365 ; F . Hurdle , 54 S ; E . Brooks , 766 ; E . Dearing , 1602 ; C . H . Shoppee , 162 , P . G . Stwd . ; A . Ritchie , 173 ; J . Thomas , P . G . Std . Br . Staffordshire ; J . Anderson , 2310 ; J . H . Rivington , P . M . 2 ; J . Forrester , 249 ; Dr . Goodchild , P . M ., W . M . 167 ; J . " Maples , P . M . 144 ; Capt . Bliault , 704 ; C . J . Harrison , I . G . 210 S ; J . G . Loughborough , P . M . 140 ; and others .

Provincial Meetings.

PROVINCIAL MEETINGS .

BELVIDERE . Saye and Sele Lodge ( No . 1973 ) . —The installation meeting was held on Monday , the 2 Sth ult ., at the Masonic Rooms . The Worshipful Master , Bro . H . E . Russell , presided , and there vvas a full attendance of officers , members , and visitors . All business having been cleared off at a recent emergency meeting ,

there vvas no work beyond the installation ceremony , which was most admirably worked by the retiring W . M . Bro . Bateman , P . M ., presented the W . M . elect , Bro . Charles Alford Streeten , and the ritual vvas rendered in a manner seldom surpassed by Bro . Russell , who is himself an initiate of the lodge . A cordial vote of thanks was accorded him , being also presented with the elegant Past Master's jewel of

the lodge ; both of which were suitably acknowledged . The following vvere appointed officers for the ensuing year : Bros . Reeve , S . W . ; Keyes , J . W . ; Thomas , P . M ., Treas . ; Heaps , Sec . ( who declined the office of S . W . in order to continue to serve the lodge as Sec . ); Rev . F . B . Gribbell , Chap . ; D . Greenway , S . D . ; H . F . Greig , J . D . ; Colman , I . G . ; Bateman , P . M ., D . C ; J . T .

Ruck , Org . ; and Gale , Tyler . Letters of regret for absence vvere read from the P . G . M ., the D . P . G . M ., P . G . Sec , P . G . Treas ., Bro . Boord , W . M . 2332 ; and others . The lodge having been closed , the brethren adjourned to an elegant banquet in their own dining room , provided by Mr . Jobbins .

The W . M . ( who is Chairman of the Erith Local Board , and well-known in the neighbourhood for his oratorical powers ) proved himself well fitted for his post , and gave the usual Masonic toasts in an able manner . Bro . Capt . Ronaldson responded for "The Visitors , " Bros . Spurrell and Wood for " The Prov . Grand Officers , "

Bros . Elliott and Robinson for "The Past Masters , " and Bros . Heaps and Bateman for "The Officers . " Some very good music was rendered by Bros . Nichols , M . E . Z . 1973 ; Elliot , P . M . ; and Hooker , with Bros . Jevvson , solo pianoforte ; Horten , 913 , violin ; and Ruck , accompanist .

LANCASTER . Duke of Lancaster Lodge ( No . 1353 ) . — The annual installation meeting of this lodge vvas held on Wednesday , the 16 th ult ., in the Masonic Hall , Church-street . There was a good attendance of members , including Bros . Barrow , P . M . ; Wolfenden , P . M . ; Dutton , P . M . ; Acton , P . M . ; Ellershaw , P . M . ; Oglethorpe , P . M . ; Shaw , P . M . ;

Mortimer , W . M . ; G . A . Morge , S . W . and W M . elect ; A . L . Price , J . W . ; W . Linnaker , S . D . ; R . Threlfall , J . D . ; G . Jackson , I . G . ; and others . Amongst the visitors vvere Bros . Heald , Nicholson , Shaw , John Atkinson , Gooch , L . D . Price , and others , of the Lodge of Fortitude ; J . L . Gorton , W . M ., Morecambe Lodge ; and others . It vvas also the usual monthly meeting of the lodge , and

the ordinary business of which vvas transacted under the presidency of Bro . R . Mortimer , W . M ., before the ceremony of installation was entered upon . The lodge also unanimously resolved to present Bro . Mortimer with a Past Master ' s jewel in recognition of the satisfactory way in which he had presided over the business of the lodge during the past 12 months . The routine business having

been transacted , the chair was vacated by the W . M ., and occupied by Bro . James Ellershaw , as Installing Officer . Bro . Morge was presented by Bros . John Barrow , P . M . and Treas ., and Wolfenden , P . M . A Board of Installed Masters vvas then opened , Bro . J . Barrow occupying the S . W . ' s chair ; Bro . J . Acton that of the J . W . ; Bros . R . Mortimer , S . D . ; P . Dutton , J . D . ; and D . Shaw ,

I . G . The ceremony of installation vvas then proceeded with , and efficiently performed by Bro . Ellershaw . The newly - installed Master , Bro . Morge , then proceeded to invest his officers for the ensuing year as follows : Bros . R . Mortimer , l . P . M . ; A . L . Price , SW . ; Wm . Linnaker , J . W . ; John Barrow , P . M ., Treas . ; Jonathan Acton , P . M ., Sec ; Robert Threlfall , S . D . ;

George Jackson , J . D . ; John L . Barrow , I . G . ; James Ellershaw , D . of C . ; J . Edward Oglethorpe , Org . ; Miller and Cousins , Stwds . ; and A . K . Allinson , Tyler . The ceremony of installation was then completed , the working tools being given by Bro . Mortimer ; the address to the Master by Bro . Oglethorpe ; that to the Wardens by Bro . Mortimer ; and to the brethren by Bro . Shaw .

The brethren , to the number of about 30 , then adjourned to the King's Arms , where supper vvas served in the usual satisfactory style by Host Ducksbury . Bro . Morge presided , supported by most of the officers above named . When the repast vvas concluded , the Chairman gave " The Health of the Queen and the Craft" infelicitous terms , and which was received with the usual honours .

The toast of " The Grand and Prov . Grand Officers " was also given from the chair , and duly honoured . "The Health of the Newly-installed W . M . " vvas given by Bro . Ellershaw , who briefly referred to Bro . Morge's efficiency while filling the lower chairs , and which might be taken as a guarantee that the duties of the chief officer in the lodge would not suffer at his hands . The toast was received most heartily , and

Provincial Meetings.

The Worshipful Master , in acknowledging the compliment , expressed his sense of the honour which had been conferred upon him by the brethren of his lodge that day in placing him in the proud position of Master . It would be his earnest endeavour to at all times carry on the work in accordance with the traditions of the Craft , and trusted that at the close of his year of office he would pass on the

symbols of office to his successor pure and unsullied as he had received them . Bro . Heald gave "The Duke of Lancaster Lodge , " to which Bro . Davis responded . Bro . Wolfenden vvas entrusted with the toast of " The Installing Officer , " which vvas acknowledged by Bro . Ellershaw .

Bro . Shaw gave the toast of "The I . P . M ., " to which Bro . Mortimer responded . The toast of "The Visitors" vvas given by Bro . Barrow , and acknowledged by Bros . L . D . Price , Nicholson , and Fairplay .

Bro . Oglethorpe gave the toast of The Wardens , Treasurer , and Secretary , " to which those officers severally responded , and which vvas also the case in the toast of " The Junior Officers , " proposed by Bro . Shaw . The musical brethren who contributed to the pleasures of the evening vvere Bros . Linnaker and Armitstead .

PLUMSTEAD . West Kent Volunteer Lodge ( No . 2041 ) . —The installation meeting of this lodge was held on Saturday , the 19 th ult ., at the Masonic Hall . Present : Bros . Major F . W . Frigout , W . M . ; Surgeon H . W . Roberts , P . P . G . W . Middx ., S . W . ; A . A . Frigout , P . M . 171 , J . W . ; Col . H . M . Gordon , P . M ., Treas . ; Lieut . C . T . Fenner ,

P . M ., Sec ; Lieut . P . Shove , S . D . ; Lieut . A . J . Heath , j . D . ; C . O . Pook , I . G . ; Col . W . Bristow , P . M ., P . G . S . B . ; Capt . Gordon Smith , P . M ., D . C . ; M . W . Chubb , Capt . T . G . Nichols , and C . Warren , Tyler . Visitors : Bros . E . J . William , P . M . 1539 ; J . Van Essen , P . M . 171 , P . S . G . D . Essex ; V . Orchard , P . M . 79 ; John Shepherd , J . W . 140 ; VV . Sanders , J . W . 913 ; C . U . Syder , P . M . 70 ; Geo . P .

Carter , J . W . 171 ; W . H . Elphinstone Hone , 20 S 7 ; C . E . Ellison , S 71 ; E . H . Ezard , 171 ; R . M . J . Hollis , 140 ; W . R . McClean , S 5 S ; and E . W . Shove , 22 . The lodge having been opened , the minutes of the previous meeting vvere read and confirmed . Bro . Augustus A . Frigout , W . M . elect , vvas duly presented for installation , and a Board of Installed Masters having been formed , Bro .

A . A . Frigout was installed into the chair . The W . M . then appointed and invested the following as his officers : Bros . H . W . Roberts , S . W . ; Lieut . P . Shove , J . W . ; Col . H . M . Gordon , Treas . ; Major F . W . Frigout , Sec . ; Lieut . A . J . Heath , S . D . ; C O . Pook , J . D . ; M . W . Chubb , I . G . ; Capt . Gordon Smith , D . C . ; and C . Warren , Tyler . The addresses were delivered by Bro . Gordon Smith , P . M . The report of the Audit Committee was received andadopted .

A Past Master ' s jewel ( manufactured by Bro . George Kenning ) , vvas then presented to the l . P . M . A Committee was appointed to revise the by-laws , and nothing further offering , the lodge vvas closed . The brethren then partook of an excellent cold collation , and the usual toasts vvere duly honoured . Bros . J . Van Essen , C . E . Ellison , J . McClean , and F . G . Nichols afforded great pleasure by their excellent music .

STONEHOUSE . Sincerity Lodge ( No . 189 ) . —The annual meeting was held on the 14 th ult . at St . George ' s Hall . Bro . James Harrison , the W . M . elect , vvas installed . Bros . ] . B . Moulder , the retiring W . M . ; R . Pike , P . P . G . O . ; A . S . Hendry , Sec . ; and the Rev . Dr . T . VV . Lemon , P . P . J . G . W ., and P . P . G . Chap ., vvere the Installing-Officers . The Board

of Installed Masters also included Bros . Major M . Tracy , R . A ., P . P . S . G . W . ; H . W . Tovvnsend , P . P . S . G . D . Hampshire and Isle of Wight ; C . Croydon , P . P . S . G . D . ; R . Cawsey , P . P . J . G . D . ; A . W . White , P . P . G . S . of W . ; E . Aitken-Davies , P . P . G . S . of W . ; S . Willoughby , P . P . G . S . B . ; G . Jackson , G . Hawken , C . F . Dunsterville , j . Ward , and F . R . Thomas , lSg ; J . Leonard , 202 ; A . Maddock and

E . H . Littleton , 230 ; A . W . King , W . M . 1205 ; C . G . Withell and J . Gidley , 2025 . The officers invested were Bros . J . B . Moulder , I . P . M . ; G . StawelLS . W . ; S . Graves , J . W . ; the Rev . Dr . Lemon , Chap . ; G . Hawken , Treas . ; A . S . Hendry , Sec ; G . Dunsterville , S . D . ; W . Blight

J . D . ; J . Parker , D . C ; T . Peain , A . D . C . ; A . May , Org . ; F . E . Sach , I . G . ; S . H . Duff , F . Strick , F . S . Hodge , and J . Stephens , Stewards ; and J . Gidley , Tyler . Bros , the Rev . Dr . Lemon , Representative at the Committee of Petitions , and A . S . Hendry , Charity Steward , vvere reelected to those offices . The members and visitors dined together in the evening at Bro . Townsend ' s Royal Hotel , Devonport . Bro . Harrison presided .-

Royal Arch.

Royal Arch .

Aldersgate Chapter ( No . 1657 ) . —A meeting of this chapter vvas held on Monday , the 21 st ult ., at the Albion Tavern , when there vvere present Comps . H . B . Marshall , M . E . Z . ; P . F . R . Saillard , II . ; E . Anderton , J . ; E . Y . Jolliffe , S . E . ; L . Larkin , P . S . ; A . B . Hudson , ist A . S . ; G . Rawlinson , 2 nd A . S . ; G . Couchman , Janitor ; and J . Shotter . Visitors : Comps . Dr . A . Great Rex , P . Z . ;

W . Mackie , P . Z . ; and R . D . Cummings , P . Z . The chapter vvas opened , and the minutes of the last convocation vvere read and confirmed . The Auditors' Report vvas received and ' adopted . Comp . A . Great Rex then ably installed Comp . P . F . R . Saillard as First Principal , Comp . VV . Mackie installing Comp . E . Anderton as Second Principal and Comp . J . Larkin as Third Principal . Comp . P .

F . R . Saillard invested Comps . E . Y . Jolliffe , S . E . ; A . B . Hudson , P . S . ; G . Rawlinson , ist A . S . ; J . Shotter , 2 nd A . S . ; and G . Couchman , Janitor . The M . E . Z . presented Comp . H . B . Marshall , I . P . Z ., with a jewel ( manufactured by Comp . George Kenning ) , voted unanimously by the companions , for which he returned thanks .

1 he chapter was closed , and the companions adjourned to a banquet presided over by the M . E . Z . During the evening an excellent selection of music was given by Miss Emily Foxcroft , Bros . John Bartlett , Fitzgerald , and Roe , under the direction of Comp . J . F . Haskins .

PLUMSTEAD . Pattison Chapter ( No . 913 ) . —The above chapter vvas well represented at the Masonic Hall , Mount Pleasant , on Thursday , the 17 th ult ., when Comps . E . Palmer , S . Clarke , and C H . Lawson were respectively in-

Royal Arch.

stalled as Z ., H ., and J . The M . E . Z ., Comp . J . H . Roberts , having assisted to open the chapter , vacated the chair in favour of Comp . A . Penfold , P . Z ., P . P . G . ist A . S ., Treas ., who acted as Installing Officer , and , in his usual faultless style , worked that important and impressive ceremony . The M . E . Z . invested his officers as follows : Comps . H . J . Butter , P . Z ., P . P . G . P . S ., S . E . ; E . Morris , S . N . ;

A . Penfold , P . Z ., Treas ; C J . Clapham , P . S . ; W . C . Taylor , ist A . S . ; J . R . Nichols , 2 nd A . S . ; H . Mason , P . Z ., P . P . G . Std . Br ., and W . Busbridge , Stwds . ; and W . J . Larder , Janitor . Comp . Penfold was presented with a cordial vote of thanks , the same to be inscribed on the minutes of the lodge , for his services as Installing Officer . Comp . Roberts vvas presented with a P . Z . ' s jewel of the

value of 10 guineas , and the chapter vvas closed . The banquet was held at the Holborn Restaurant , and among the other companions present were Comps . C . Coupland , P . Z ., P . P . G . J . ; E . Denton , P . Z ., P . P . G . P . S . ; K . Edmonds , P . Z . ; T . D . Hayes , P . Z ., P . P . G . 2 nd A . S . ; E . B . Hobson , P . Z . ; C . Jolly , P . Z . ( Hon . ); Col . E .

Hughes , M . P . ; G . Frost , W . Davidson , R . S . Courtman , S . Horton , J . Hooton , L . Chasteaneuf , G . F . Taylor , G . Laurance , J . Topp , D . C . Capon , Hough , and F . Tyler , all of the chapter ; W . Cruikshank , P . Z . 5 ; B . de B . Lopez , 6 ; A . Woodley , M . E . Z ., F . Barry , A . Fenn , and H . De Gray , of 13 ; Dr . W . Smith , late of 913 ; and others .

The usual loyal and Grand Chapter toasts having been honoured , that of "Earl Amherst , Grand Superintendent , " followed , and , in putting it , the M . E . Z . said that probably many of those present knew more of Earl Amherst than he did , but from his own experience he had always found his lordship a good man and Mason , and whatever he did he did well . In the Province of Kent his lordship ruled over

59 Craft lodges , with a total of 5550 members , and 25 chapters , with some 600 members . He would not further take up their time , but would at once ask them to drink the toast heartily . In proposing the toast ot " Comp . Eastes , P . G . H ., and the rest of the Provincial Grand Officers , Present and Past , " he regretted the absence of several who usually

visited them at least once a year , especially Comp . Warne P . G . S . E ., and Comp . Jamblin , P . P . G . C , who they were always pleased to see at the chapter . Comp . Mason , in responding , said he had the additional rank of P . G . P . S . offered him , and he felt very proud of it . He did not look upon it so much as an honour to himself as to the chapter , and they might depend that the prestige of

the chapter should not suffer at his hands . The I . P . Z . then proposed the toast of "The M . E . Z ., " and pointed out the admirable manner in which Comp * Palmer had performed his duty as H . and J . He was an excellent Mason , and it was a happy day for the chapter that such a companion had been installed as its head . Comp . Palmer assured them that it vvas the proudest

moment of his Masonic career , and one that he had looked forward to for years past . He hoped to have as good a year of office in the chapter as he had in the lodge , where he had the pleasure of initiating 26 good and worthy men into Masonry . While as Mark Master he had advanced eight brethren . They , however , did not care so much to augment the strength of the chapter , having already

51 companions on the books , yet he had some good candidates coming forward , and he trusted to have a good year and do his work well . Comp . Clark , in responding for the toast of the "Second and Third Principals , " took the opportunity of thanking them for the honour conferred upon him by placing him in the chair of H . in the first and highest chapter in the

Province of Kent , which might well be called the premier province of Great Britain . It vvas exactly 30 years since he first came to Woolwich , and several of those he first became acquainted with he now saw around him , representatives of that chapter , amongst them being Comps . Colonel Hughes , Butter , and Jolly . He trusted long to see them and every other companion present , and

from his heart thanked them for their kindness to him on that and other occasions . Comp . Lawson also responded , and said if he had had his will he should have liked to have gone into the First Principal ' s chair of the Pattison Chapter first ; but that would not be , as he should most likely go into that of the St . George ' s , at Greenwich . He pledged himself to do all

he could for the Pattison Chapter , and to work to the satisfaction of the companions . Comp . Roberts proposed the toast of "The Installing Officers , " and asked the companions not to think that he had shirked his duty in not installing his successor , but he felt that if the ceremony of installation vvas to be the work of the chapter , it must be done by that

"G . O . M . " ( grand old Mason ) Comp . Penfold . He and they all wished him many years of health to continue amongst them , and install , many succeeding Principals of the Pattison Chapter . Comp . Penfold said that vvas the second time that day he had had to thank them for their kind remarks on his work as Installing Officer . Of course , it was a great

pleasure for him to install the Principals of the Pattison Chapter , he had made a speciality of it , and if he had done anything that had or would conduce to the prosperity of the chapter or province , that vvas his reward . He had done the work of installation for many years , and thought that it would be as well if some other companion undertook the work in the future , but must say that that day he had felt

especial pleasure to install his old friend , Comp . Palmer , whom he trusted would have a good year of office . Comps . Woodley , Cruikshank , De Lopez , and Smith having responded for " The Visitors , Comp . Butter , in responding for "The P . Z . ' s ., " said he often wondered how it was that year after year , and meeting after meeting , the companions responded to the

same conventional toasts so heartily as they did , but he presumed there vvas a deal of conventionality in the world , for the flowers came up at their proper seasons , so did ducks and green peas , so did their Masonic toasts , all at their proper times and seasons . The companions listened with evident pleasure to the same stereotyped replies , and why ? Because they were proud of their rulers , of their province , of their Principals , of their Past Principalsand

, of their chapter , and so it would , he trusted , continue till time itself should be no more . He then feelingly referred to his late illness , and said at that time last year he thought he should never see them again , and , after thanking them for their continued sympathy , assured them of his desire for the success of the province and chapter . Comp . Edmunds also responded , and then Comp . Col . Hughes responded to a special toast of his health .