South Africa.

The Cosmopolitan Masonic Calendar and Pocket Book for 1883 is now ready , price 2 s . May be had of all Booksellers , or direct from the Office of "The Freemason , " post fre-3 , 2 s . ld .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

Craft Masonry .

JERUSALEM LODGE ( No . 197 ) . — This lodge met on Friday week , at Freemasons' Hall , and was graced by the presence of H . R . H . the Duke of Albany , Past G . S . W . of England and Provincial Grand Master of Oxfordshire . Dr . Arnold Royle was in attendance on His Royal Highness , the lodge was presided over by Bra . E . Letchworth , W . M ., supported by his

officers—Bros . VV . H . Stanger , S . W . ; E . G . Burnell . J . W . ; Horace lones , Treas . ; T . J . Bullen , Sec . ; B . H . Paul , S . D . ; H . L . Hansard , I . G . ; Sir J . B . Monckton , M . C ; Octavius Hansard , Steward ; and W . G . Cusins , P . M ., Organist . The principal business of the evening was the ceremony of passing Bro . John Henry Brodribb Irving , the celebrated

actor , to the Second , or F . C . Degree . Bro . Irving , although having , it is stated , been a Freemason for some years , has not hitherto prosecuted the science , but has remained in the initiative stage of an Entered Apprentice . On Friday last , however , Bro . Irving took his second regular step , Bro . Sir J . B . Monckton acting as one of thc Deacons on the occasion .

The following were among the distinguished brethren present : Bros , the Rev . Thos . Robinson , G . Chap . ; R . Grey , P . G . D . ; Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , G . Sec . ; Capt . N . G . Philips , P . G . D . ; P . de Lande Long , P . G . D . ; J . S . Peirce , P . G . D . -, J . Messent , G . Swd . Br . ; Dr . J . E . Cox , D . D ., P . G . D . ; R . T . Pigott , A . G . D . C ; T . C . Skipp ,

Antiquity Lodge ; S . A . G . Eyles , Friends in Council Lodge ; C . Tagart , Antiquity Lodge ; and R . P . Spice , P . M . 21 . The brethren subsequently dined together , but His Royal Highness left previously , as also did Bro . Irving , in consequence of his professional engagements .

WILLIAM PRESTON LODGE ( No . 7 66 ) . — The installation meeting of this lodge was held on the 23 rd ult ., at the Cannon-street Hotel . Lodge was duly opened , and after the minutes had been read and confirmed , Bro . Heck was passed to the Degree of Fellow Craft , Bros . Greenslade and Stoddard were raised , and Mr . John Goode initiated . The W . M . elect , Bro . William Drake ,

was then installed into the chair of K . S ., the ceremony being ably performed by the retiring Master , Bro . VV . I * . Smart , the addresses being delivered by Bro . VV . J . Miller , P . M . The oflicers for the ensuing year were appointed as follows : Bros . W . J . Collens , S . W . ; Alfred Le Grand , I . W . ; W . J . Miller , P . M . Treas . ; W . Worrell , P . M ., Sec .

( for the ninth time ) ; J . H . Brookes , S . D . ; A . C . Rees , P . M ., j . D . ; TurleLee , I . G . ; C . Pay , D . C ; E . Kidman , P . M ., and W . Johnston , Stivds . A jewel was presented to the retiring Master . The report of the Audit Committee was received and

adopted , and the brethren adjourned to a banquet , at which about sixty sat down . During the evening the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were proposed and duly responded to , and some excellent music was rendered by Madame Worrell , Miss Matilda Roby , Miss Davey , Bro . Thos . Nettleship , and Bro . Turle Lee .

CITY OF WESTMINSTER LODGE ( No . 1563 . —This lodge held its installation meeting on Thursday , the 23 rd ult ., at the Regent Masonic Hal 1 , Air-street , Regent-street , Bro . John Waugh , W . M ., presiding . The first business before tbe lodge was to ballot for as a joining member Bro . Vincent Benoist , of the Lodge des Desmophiles , " Tours , France , proposed by Bro . Cox and

seconded by Bro . bwalljw , P . M ., and the result ot the ballot was in favour of his admission . The lodge then proceeded to ballot for the admission of two new members , as initiates , viz ., Mr . Paul Antonie , proposed by Bro . Swallow , P . M ., and seconded by Bro . Scott , P . M ., Secretary ; and Mr . David Wilson , proposed by Bro . Cox and seconded by Bro . Holmes . The result was in favour of

their admission , and , therefore , they were admitted in due form and initiated by the VV . M . into the First Degree of Freemasonry . The next business on the paper was to raise Bros . Bolt and Ashly to the Third Degree , which was impressively done by the W . M . B y the courtesy of the W . M ., Bro . Pike , who had been initiated in Lodge No . 1000 , was , on the request of Bro . Festa , the VV . M . of the

lodge in question , passed to the Second Degree . The final item of business before the lodge was the installation of the W . M . elect , Bro . J . A . Hammond , S . W . of this lodge , and P . M . and Secretary of Trinity College Lodge . The W . M ., Bro . Waugh , therefore proceeded to address the lodge , as usual on such occasions ; after which Bro . Hammond was presented to the W . M . for installation , by

whom he was obligated ; afterwhich all brethren below the rank of Installed Master retired from the lodge room . A Board of Installed Masters was formed , in presence of which Bro . Hammond was duly installed into the chair of K . S . The lodge was then resumed , and the newly-installed W . M . proceeded to invest his officers for the ensuing year , as follows : Bros . Eastgate , S . W . ; Jones , J . W . ; | . E . Shand , P . M ., Treasurer ; Edwin J . Scott , Secretary ; Lea , S . D . ; Smith , J . D . ; F . Hill , I . G . ; James , M . C : Swallow , P . M ., W . S .: Cox , Assistant W . S .:

and Potter , Tyler . Among the visitors present were : Bins . G . P . l'V . sla , W . M . inuo : K . VV . Pike , lyoo ; Bianchy ; J . McLean , W . M . 177 ; J . Mason , P . IVJ . 156 7 ( representing thu Masonic Benevolent Institution ); W . J . Ferguson , ' 77 ' rl . I .. Gore , 12 G 0 ; | . P .. Biddlirombe , 17 G 5 ; II . G . Bonavi . i-1 lunt , W . M . 1 * 7 05 ; W . Carrington , W . M . Acacia ; Walter E . Slark , 1765 ; | . G . Hopgood , J 765 ; Henry Tinney , I . G . I 3 ip ; Geo . F . Hammond , 17 O 5 ; H . Crossley , 1524 ; Geo . Smithers , 1524 ; R . E , M . Godin , 1572 ; II . M . Levy ,

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

P . M . iSS ; E . C . Massey , W . M . 1928 ( Freemason ) . By resolution of the lodge , Bro . Shand , P . M . and Treasurer , was appointed Steward to repiesent the lodge at the next anniversary festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , and voted a sum of ten guineas out of the lodge funds to be placed on his account . Bro . Festa thanked the I . P . M . and ihe lodge generally for having , at his request , facilitated the Masonic progress

of Bro . Pike , a member of No . igoo , by passing him at this present meeting of the City of Westminster Lodge to the Degree of F . C . The lodge was then closed in due form , and the members of the lodge and their numerous guests thereafter dined together . At the conclusion of the banquet , the customary toasts , loyal and Masonic , were proceeded with . The accession of Bro . Hammond to the chair of this lodge

brought together a large number of musical brethren , and , therefore , as in the case of the Trinity College Lodge , reported a short time back , the speech-making was minimised , so as to allow for more time being devoted to the excellent music which had been provided for the entertainment of the company . The after-dinner proceedings might almost be said to be a concert interspersed with short speeches , because the music was certainly the prominent feature .

The first toast was , of course , "The Queen and the Craft . " It was proposed by Bro . Hammond , the W . M ., in a very few words , and was , as a matter of course , responded to by the brethren in the heartiest manner . Then followed a delightful pianoforte solo ( Overture "Se j ' etais Roi" ) , which was admirably rendered by Bro . H . Tinney , I . G . of the Asaph Lodge , and secured a hearty round of applause . In proposing "Thc Health of the M . W . G . M ., H . R . H .

the Prince of Wales , " the Chairman said that a great many brethren who had heard the toast had been able to say that they had seen the Prince of Wales , but for his own part he was sorry to say that he had not met His Royal Highness in Grand Lodge . Hehad reason to believe , however , that the Prince was a kind-hearted gentleman , who performed his high functions in an admirable manner , and he had therefore much pleasure in asking the brethren present to

drink to the health of the M . W . the Grand Master of England . The Chairman then called on Bro . Stedman , who sang Pinsuti's " Heaven and Earth , " which was listened to with profound attention , and warmly applauded . The toast of " The Grand Officers Present and Past " was then proposed from the chair without any remarks , and there not being any Grand Officers present was not

coupled with any name . The I . P . M ., Bro . Waugh , then proposed "The Health of the W . M ., Bro . Hammond , " pnd said that he did it with the greater pleasure because he was sure that Bro . Hammond possessed the best qualifications for the office . From the abilities which their newly-installed W . M . possessed he thought they might expect that he would have a prosperous year of office . He would not expatiate on Bro .

Hammond ' s good qualities , being quite sure that they needed no words from him to induce them to drink to the health of their Worshipful Master . Jn answer to the call of the Chairman , Bro . Plant Martin sang " My sweetheart when a Boy " ( Morgan ) , a beautiful song , the execution of which evidently satisfied even the critical audience for which it was performed . In replying to the toast , Bro . Hammond said ' that he rose

with peculiar feelings of gratification to respond to the toast which had been proposed . He had already passed through the chair in a very distinguished lodge of which he had the honour to be a joining member , but he was the first initiate in the City of Westminster Lodge who had risen to the proud position which he had now held in it . He was particularly proud of having been elected their W . M . and of possessing a staff of officers who were all

initiates in the City of Westminster Lodge . In proposing the next toast , the VV . M . saidthatit referred to the most important persons present on that occasion . He did not know what the lodge would do without them—he need not say that it referred to " The Initiates . " In the lodge he hoped they would find all that they could desire to enable them to progress satisfactorily in Freemasonry , and at the social board he believed that the newly-made brothers

would lind that they had joined a very genial , good-natured set of fellows ; if they did not lind that out , he did not think it would be altogether the fault ofthe members of the City of Westminster Lodge . The well-known Entered Apprentices' Song was then sang , and appeared to afford considerable amusement to the new initiates , who afterwards briefly returned thanks for the compliment paid them by the proposition of this toast .

The Chairman , in proposing the next toast , said that whatever their worst enemies might find to say against them , he did not think they could lay to the charge of the City of Westminster Lodge want of hospitality . They generally had a good many visitors , and they were always glad to see them . He would like to thank those who had come to-night to be present at his installation ; there were many among them with whom he was associated elsewhere ,

who were worthy members of the 1 rinity College Lodge . Bro . Bonavia-Hunt the VV . M . of that lodge , Bros . Biddlecombe , Stark , Hopgood , & c , and he would also take the opportunity to thank Bro . Tinney for filling a vacuam in the list of performers , caused by the unavoidable absence of Bro . Bradbury Turner . With this toast he would couple the names of Bro . Festa ( Montague Guest Lodge ) , Bro . McLean ( Domatie Lodge ) and Bro .

Bonavia-Hunt ( Trinity College Lodge ) . He thought those were all the W . M . ' s . He would also like to mention the name of Bro . Mason here , as he did not think he should have an opportunity of specially referring to the Masonic charities , with one of which excellent institutions Bro . Mason was connected officially . He begged the brethren to be upstanding to drink the toast of " The Visitors . " In response to the call of thc VV . M ., Bro . Walter E .

Stark performed a pianoforte solo , " Marchede la Reine , " in a very brilliant manner . In responding tu the toast ot "The Visitors , " Bro . Festa again thanked the VV . M . for the part lie had taken in passing Hro . Pike to the Second Degree . Bro . Bonavia-Hunt , in replying to the same toast

referred to the close connection that existed between the Trinity College ancl City of Westminster Lodges . Bio . McLean eulogised the manner in which the work of the lodge had been performed , and the no less admirable way in which the lodge had satisfied the claims of hospitality .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

Bro . Mason also replied , thanking the lodge on behalf of the Charities , in particular thanking Bro . Shand for the very ready manner in which he had come forward as a Steward for the next festival of the Benevolent Institution , and the lodge for having voted a sum from its funds to be placed on Bro . Shand's list . The Chairman next proposed "The Health of Bro . Waugh and of the Past Masters , " and invested Bro .

Waugh with a Past Master ' s jewel , voted by the lodge for his services during his year of office . Bros . Waugh and Swallow replied . The toast of "The Treasurer and Secretary , and thc Oflicers of tbe Lodge , " followed in due course . The remaining musical performances were a song by

Bro . Stedman , " Good Company ; " one by Bro . Plant Martin , " Down by the Brookside ; " and a cornet solo , " Du Du , " by Bro . Levy , the famous cornet player , who came from Covent Garden specially to do honour to the installation of Bro . Hammond . Bro . Levy also gave one or two other specimens of his skill upon the instrument with which he has identified himself .

ROYAL SAVOY LODGE ( No . 1744 ) . —This very considerable lodge held its installation meeting on Tuesday last , at Freemasons' Hall , Great Oueen-street , on which occasion there was a very large attendance of members and their friends . In consequence of the death of the Master of the lodge , Bro . Jones , which took place about a month ago , the chair was occupied by Bro . James Willing , jun ., one of the founders of the lodge , who kindly

came forward to perform the ceremonies connected with the very large amount of business which appeared on the agenda paper . According to the agenda there were to have been three raisings , one passing , and five initiations , in addition to the installation of the new Master , a possible discussion upon a notice of motion , and , in addition , the presentation of a testimonial to Bro . VV . M . Stiles , the Secretary . In the event , only two brethren came up for

raising , viz ., Bros . F . Jackson and J . Ross ; and in place of five initiations , there were only three ready , viz ., Mr . Sydney Clifford , Mr . William Reuben Dixon , and Mr . Henry Longman ; but still the work of the presiding Master was nearly the same as if the whole number had come up , as the whole ceremonies had to be performed in the Three Degrees . Thc whole of this portion of the work was performed by Bro . Willing in a most fluent manner , and when

that had been disposed of , preparations for the installation ot Bro . T . J . Hyland , W . M . elect , were immediately made . The lodge was resumed to the Second Degree , and Bro . Hyland was presented by Bro . Stiles , the acting M . C , to the presiding Master for the benefit of installation . Bro . Hyland was thereupon obligated , and then all present below the degree of Installed Master retired . A Board of Installed Masters was formed , and Bro . Hyland was duly

installed by Bro . Willing into the chair of K . S . On the return of the brethren the newly-installed Master was duly proclaimed and saluted in the Three Degrees , and the ceremony was concluded by Bro . Willing delivering the usual orations to the Master , Wardens , and brethren . The officers for the ensuing year are Bros . William Cook , S . W . ; Deller , J . W . ; James Willing , jun ., P . M ., Treas . ; W . M . Stiles , Sec . ; Mabey , Asst . Sec . ; Holt , S . D . 1 . W .

Smith , J . I ) . ; Jscques , I . G . ; J . C Smith , M . C . ; Sallis , Asst . M . C ; Callahan , W . S . ; H . Dickie , Asst . W . S . ; Greenfield , Org . ; and Koester , P . M ., Tyler . The following notice of motion , which had been placed on the paper by Bro . Willing , jun ., was then discussed , and on being put to the vote the motion was carried unanimously : " 1 hat the meeting falling December 26 th , 1 SS 3 ( Boxing Day ) , be adjourned to the next regular meeeting ,

Tuesday , 23 rd January , 1 SS 3 , " During the sitting of the lodge a very handsome testimonial was presented to Bro . Stiles , principally by the brethren of the lodge , but including some other brethren who had requested to be allowed to take a part in an act testifying to the zeal and ability of Bro . Stiles . The testimonial was in the shape of a gold watch , of the value of about 100 guineas , bearing the following inscription -.

' * Presented to Bro . VV . M . Stiles , W . M . and M . E . Z . 1507 , P . M . 1732 , and Secretary , 1 744 , by the members of the Royal Savoy Lodge , 1744 , and a few other brethren , in appreciation of his unvarying courtesy and valuable services as Secretary si nee thc formation of the lodge . " The presentation was made by Bro . Willing in a genial speech / in which he dwelt on the good qualities of Bro .

Stiles , and wished him many years of health and prosperity in which to wear this token oi the esteem of his many friends . At the same time Bro . Edwin Storr presented to Bro . Stiles , on behalf of the brethren of the Metropolitan 1-odge ol Instruction , a handsome gold chain , to which to attach the watch .

Bro . Stiles acknowledged the gifts in suitable terms , and said that every time he looked at it , this valuable gift of theirs would not only inform him of the progress of time , but would also serve to remind him that there were a large number of Freemasons who appreciated the fact that he was an earnest Mason who tried to do his duty , and that he had been so fortunate as to gain a host of friends by that truly Masonic policy of striving tobuhappj-, and to

communicate happiness to others . Before tbe lodge was closed a little additional business was transacted . Bro . Stiles proposed , and the S . W . seconded , a vote of thanks to Bro . James Willing , junr ., a P . M ., a founder , and treasurer of their lodge , who had come forward to fill on this occasion the chair rendered vacant by the death of the W . M . Bro . Jones . Bro . Willing bad not only perfoimed thc whole of the three ceremonies

, but had also undertaken the work of Installing Master , and , as the brethren had seen , had installed their present W . M . in a manner worthy of his well-known skill as a Mason . The vote was carried unanimously , and Bro . Willing in thanking the brethren for the compliment they had paid him , said that the lodge was always welcome lo his services whenever they were required . Bro . Stiles then informed Ihe brethren that the widow of

their lato VV . M . liro . Jones , was a petitioner to the Lodge of Benevolence and also to thc Boys' School , and proposed that her petitions be recommended by this lodge . Bro . Willing proposed lhat something more than this " should bo done . It was the .-ustuui of the lodge to vole a jewel of the value of ten guineas to an out-going VV . M ., and he therefore proposed as they were precluded from doing this in the present instance by the death of Bro . Jones , that , considering his widows necessitous circumstances , in addition to