Table Of Contents.

TABLE OF CONTENTS .

R EFOIITS or MASONIC MEETINGS : — Craft Masonry 3 Instruction 4 Scotland 4 Red Cross of Constantine 5 Royal Masonic Institution for Boys 5 Masonic Notes and Queries 6

Obituary , o Masonic Tidings 7 Poetry 1 The New Year and the Old Year 8 Weekly Summary of News 9 CORRESPONDENCE : — Charity Voting 10

Scottish Chanties 10 Honorary Members 10 Royal Masonic Institution for Boys 10 Feetmasonry in Italy 10 Visit of Provincial Grand Lodge to Portsmouth Lodge 1 o Lodge Meetings fornextweek 12 Advertisements 1 , 2 , 8 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

—¦ . ^—¦ Craft Utoflorcm .

DARLINGTON . —Restoration Lodge ( No . in ) . On Friday the 29 th inst ., the members of this Lodge celebrated the annual festival of St . John , when the W . M . for the ensuing twelve months was installed . The brethren present were , Thos . Brunton , W . M . ; G . J . Wilson , P . M . 3

John Bailey , P . M ., P . J . G . W . ; C . Jackson , P . M . ; W . Lear , P . M . j John Morrell , P . M ., P . P ., G . S . D . ; B . Chadwick , S . W . ; J . Foster , J . W . ; W . Hobson , Treas ., J . Willis , J . D . ; J . H . Blacklock , I . G . ; J . Graham , Steward ; Jas . Hoggett , P . G . O . ; H . Maddison , G . Cooper ,

W . Mitford , J . W . Armitage , C . Cain , W . Bell , E . T . Pease , J . Hodgson , J . C . Martin , Rob . Brunskill . Visiting brethren , G . Hoggett , Org St . Helen ' s Lodge , Hartlepool , No . 531 ; J . Harker , W . Hall , W . A . Bourne , W . CoJtman , R . Musgrave , T . Wilkinson , of Falcon Lodge , No . i 4 i 6 , Thirsk ; W . Parkin , Old Globe Lodge ,

No . 200 , Scarborough ; R . Fraser , St . John ' s , Glasgow ; and J . S . Jeans , of Commercial Lodge , No . 360 . The routine business of thelodge having been transacted , the W . M . elect , Bro . B . Chadvrick , was presented to the Installing Master Bro . W . Best , P . M ., P . P ., J . G . W ., whoperformed the impressive ceremony in his usual able manner . The W . M . then invested his officers as follows :

—T . Brunton , I . P . M ; J . Foster , S . W . ; J . C . Martin , J . W . ; Rev . E . Hutchinson , Chaplain ; J . Hoggett , Organist ; J . W . Armitage , Sec ; W . Hobson , Treasurer ; J . Willis , S . D . ; Jas . Graham , J . D . ; H . Maddison ,

I . G . j Cowper Cain , D . C ; G . Cooper , and J . Hodgson , Stewards , and T . Garge Ty ler . The brethren afterwards sat down to a sumptuous banquet at Bro . Jos . Robinson ' s , King ' s Head Hotel , under the presidency of the newlv-installed Master . After dinner the usual

loyal and Masonic toasts were proposed and heartily responded to . The health of the I . P . M . was proposed by Bro . P . M . Jackson , who presented to him on behalf of the brethren of the lodge a handsome and valuable 18-carat gold P . M . jewel , bearing the following inscription

" Presented to Bro . Thomas Brunton , P . M ., by the brethren of Restoration , No . 111 , as a mark of their appreciation of his valuable services while Master of the lodge , St . J ohn ' s Day , A . D . 1873 . " Bro . Brunton returned thanks in a very appropriate speech . During the evening some

good selections of music were sung by the brethren , the musical arrangements being made by Bro . James Hoggett , P . G . O . and Organist of the lodge . NORTH SHIELDS . —St . George ' s Lodge ( No . 43 1 . )—The brethren of this lodge held an

emergency meeting in the Masonic Hall , on Monday , December 22 nd , for the purpose of installing the W . M . elect , Bro . W . J . Ward . The lodge having been opened , Bro . T . T . Clarke installed the W . M . in the chair . The following brethren were appointed and invested as officers : —H . Remfry , I . P . M . ; J . Gillespie , S . W . ; A . P .

Anderson , J . W . ; J . D . A . H . Nicholson , S . D . ; C . A . Hellberg , J . D . ; T . T . Clarke , D . C ; J . Wilson , I . G . ; T . Haswell , Org . ; J . Robertson , Tyler . The lodge having been closed , the brethren adjourned to Bro . Field ' s , Albion Hotel , to celebrate the annual festival , when forty brethren sat down \ o a most bounteous

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

spread of every delicacy of the season . The following brethren were present , G . R . Strachan , 685 ; Thomson , W . M . 240 ; Buckland , 240 ; Denham , 240 ; Claughton , J . W . 240 ; Cooke , 624 ; Symington , 659 ; Dale , 786 ; Tnlloch , Furzell , Hansen , Poppelwell , P . M ' s ., and others .

The usual loyal , Masonic , and complimentary toasts were given and duly honoured . TIVERTON . —St . Peters Lodge ( No . 1125 ) . — An unusual number of brethren met at the Masonic Hall , Fore-street , on the 27 th instant , ( St . John Evangelist ' s Day ) being the day

appointed for the installation of the W . M . elect , ( Bro . Patterson ) and also for presenting to a brother , whose aid in founding and working the lodge has been most valuable , a testimonial from its members . After the transaction of some formal business Bro . Davey , W . M ., rose and

expressed the pleasure he felt , that during his year of office it should fall to him to present , on behalf of the brethren , the testimonial for which they had subscribed . After some further remarks he requested his Wardens to nnveil a life-size three-quarter length portrait of P . M . Bro .

Reed , clothed in the paraphernalia of a First Principal of a R . A . Chapter , and painted by Mr . George Fare . This was accordingly done and a faithful likeness and an excellent work of art was exhibited amidst enthusiastic marks of

approbation from those present . P . M . Bro . Mills , the Secretary was then called upon to read the following address , tastefully illuminated on vellum bv the same artist and signed by the subscribers . "To Bro . W . H . Reed , P . M .,

wished in some way to mark our appreciation of your zeal and assiduity in our Masonic circle , and to present in some appropriate and enduring form a testimonial to you the first Master of our lodge . We trust that this object has been realized , and that the

P . Z ., P . E . C , P . M . W . S . R . C ., P . P . J . G . D ., St . Peter ' s Lodge , Tiverton , 27 th Dec . 1873 . Dear Sir and Brother , We desire your acceptance of the portrait for which , in accordance with our request you have kindly sat , and that you will regard it as an offering of fraternal respect and affection . Many of us have long

faithful portraiture of one who has imparted and familiarised the teachings of our Craft with such success , may be instrumental in keeping in memory your endeavours to induce by precept and exampltvthe remembrance and practice of the obligations and lessons of Freemasonry , and

of preserving in the lodge that correctness and order which are in a great measure due to your instructions . On this vellum , which we tender you with the painting , we record our testimony to your efficient practical labours , our sincere feelings of attachment , hearty good wishes for

your welfare , and that your beneficial influence may long be felt amongst us . " P . M . Bro . Reed , in very feeling and appropriate terms acknowledged the presentation , and stated that it was his desire the portrait should hang in the lodge , an announcement received with great satisfaction .

The Installation ceremony was then proceeded with by Bro . Mills , P . M . At the conclusion of which the W . M . invested his officers as follows : —Bros . H . Davey , I . P . M . ; Rev . R . Duckwood , Chaplain ; H . S . Gill , S . W . ; F . A . Payne , J . W . ; E . Williams , P . M ., Treasurer : T . F . Mead ,

Secretary ; H . Melhuish , S . D . ; W . H . Reed , Jun ., J . D . ; G . W . Cockram , I . G . Stewards : Wm . Bartlett , and E . Coleby ; W . H . Reed , P . M ., M . C ; A . Andrews , Organist ; J . Patey , Tyler . The annual banquet took place at Bro . Martin ' s , Palmerston Hotel , at 5 o ' clock , and was

numerously attended . The catering was all that could be desired , and the usual toasts were given and received with much cordiality and heartily , and were ably responded to . MI / . LOM . —Whitwell Lodge ( No . 1390 . )—The regular monthly meeting was held on Tuesday ,

December 16 th , in the lodge room , Prescot . Bros . Thomas . Dodgson , the W . M ., P . M , 99 $ ; and iP . G . S . S . Cumberland and Westmoreland ; J . Mills , S . W ., and P . G . S . B . Cumberland and Westmoreland ; Jas . Meredith , J . W . ; Jas .

Postlethwaite , Sec , S . W . 1308 , and J . W . 995 ; J . Hartley , I . G . 995 , and other brethren . The minutes of the last regular lodge were read and duly confirmed . Bro . Howes was in attendance to be raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason , which ceremony was performed b y Bro .

T . Dodgson , the W . M ., in a most excellent manner , for which he is particularly noted , the J . W . explaininglthetools . Several communications were received and had attention , after which the lodge was closed in due form with solemn prayer at 9 . 30 p . m .

HAMPTON COURT . —Era Lodge ( No 1423 ) . — The regular meeting of this young and flourishing lodge was held on Saturday , December 13 th , at the King ' s Arms Hotel ; Hampton Court . Punctually at the time named in the lodge summonses , viz ., 1 three o ' clock , the lodge was

opened by the W . M . Brother J . T . Moss , P . P . G . D ., Middlesex , P . M ., 16 9 , P . M ., 1326 ; he was supported by Bros . H . A . Dubois , P . G ., Steward ; Middlesex , S . W . ; J . W . Baldwin , J . W . ; T . J . Sabine , P . M ., Treasurer ; F . ' Walters , P . G . Steward , Middlesex , P . M .,

Secretary ; E . H . Thiellay , S . D . ; J . S . Sweasey , J . D . ; Rev . J . M . Vaughan , P . M ., Chaplain , J . Baxter Langley , I . G . j and many of the members . The visitors were Bros . W . Smeed , P . P . J . W ., Middlesex , P . M . 946 , & c ; W . Hammond , P . M . 201 , W . M . 1326 , and others .

The minutes of the meeting held in October were read and unanimously confirmed . The ballots , taken separately , for the five gentlemen whose name appeared on the summons for initiation at the next regular meeting in February ( for in this province the R . W . P . G . M . has wisely

determined and ruled that no candidate for initiation shall be balloted for and initiated at one and the same meeting ) , and in each case it was declared to be unanimous in favour of admission There being a heavy agenda paper and the W . M . feeling fatigued ( he having travelled nearly three

thousand miles during the week ) , Bro . Wm . Smeed , P . P . J . W . Middlesex , P . M ., was desired to take the chair , which he did and commenced proceedings by raising Bro . Benjamin Wright to the third degree . Apologies were received from the other candidates for raising , and the several

candidates for passing , excusing and deeply regretting their inability to attend , which was caused by circumstances entirely beyond their own control . Bro . J . T . Moss , W . M ., resumed the chair , and initiated Dr . John Beresford , Rvley ( a " Lewis" ) , followed by W . H . Wieland ,

who was succeeded by W . A . Simmons , and finally by D . Sullivan , as each candidate was introduced separately , Agreeable to the instructions issued by the R . W . P . G . M ., who will not have more than one person initiated at one time . The Secretary , Bro . Frederick Walters , P . M ., by

command of the W . M ., read out aloud the bye-laws cf the lodge . The ballots taken were declared to be unanimous in favour of Bros . H . A . Dubois , S . W ., being the W . M . for the ensuing year , and T . J . Sabine , P . M ., and Treasurer , re-elected Treasurer . On motion duly made and seconded

Bro . J . Gilbert , P . G . Ty ler , Middlesex , T y ler , was unanimously re-elected Tyler . The auditors were appointed . The audit was agreed to be held at the offices of the W . M . elect , H . A ; Dubois , Accoutant , of 1 , Gresham Buildings , Basinghall-street , City . The splendid harmonium ,

supplied by Bro . George Kenning , was much admired , and pleased all who saw and heard it play . The work was well and ably done , as might be expected from the two worthy brothers who presided , a letter of apology from Bro . Col . F . Burdett , R . W . P . G . M ., Middlesex , regretting

his absence , was read , several propositions for joining , and new members were received . The lodge was then closed . There was not any banquet or refreshments . BROWNRIGG LODGE OF UNITY ( No . 1424 ) . — On Saturday , December 27 th , the brethren of

this lodge met at three p . m ., at their lodge room in Buckley Hall Soldiers' Institute , Chatham , to witness the ceremony of Installation of Bro . J . A . Bates , R . A ., as W . M . for the ensuing year . Bro . Samuel Cole , P . P . G . P ., most ably and efficiently performed the duty of Installing

Master . Bros . W . H . Cole , P . M ., was appointed Senior Warden , pro tem ; F . Seabrook , P . M ., as Junior Warden , pro tern ; Capt . George Watson , P . M . and P . G . R ., as Master of Ceremonies . It is a most gratifying fact that no lodge in this

province has progressed with such rapidity as this in so short a time—oniy twelve mouths since its consecration by the R . W . Bro . Major-General Brownrigg , C . B ., Prov . G . M . fo * Surrey . Unfortunately , he wa * unable to attend ,