Installation Of The W. Master Or De Thurland Lodge, Sheerness.

INSTALLATION OF THE W . MASTER OR DE THURLAND LODGE , SHEERNESS .

On Thursday , 24 th Juno last , ( St . John ' s Day ) , the members of the De Thurland Lodge , 1089 , assembled at the Wesley Chapel , Blue Town , Sheerness , under a dispensation from the Provincial Grand Master ,

Lord I-Iolmesdale , M . P ., for the purpose of installing the W . M .-clect for the ensuing year . r l he lodge was opened in due and ancient form at 2 . 30 p . m ., by Bro . Lay land , W . M . , who informed the brethren that in consequence of severe family affliction , the respected D . P . G . Master , Bro . Dobson was unable to attend ,

which was deeply regretted by the brethren . The retiring VV . ftL , ( Bro . Layland ) , in a very eloquent manner informed the brethren he had a most pleasing duty to perform before vacating the chair of K . S ., and that was to present Bro . Paimel . ! , P . P . G . S ., See ., with a handsome jewel and gold pencil

case , on behalf of the brethren of the lodge , m token of their appreciation of the exertions he had displayed for the benefit of the lodge . Bro . PANXEI . L , in very suitable language , expressed his thanks to the brethren for the honour they had done him in recognising his efforts to do his duty as a

Mason . The \ V . M .-cleet Bro . J . R . McDonald having , been duly presented , and having signified assent to strictly conform to the ancient landmarks , was duly installed by Bro . C B . Shrubsole , in a very able and impressive manner . After the newlv-installed Master had been

duly greeted , he proceeded to appoint the following brethren as his officers : —Bros . West , S . W . ; Hancock , J . W . ; Shrubsole , P . M ., Treas . ; Panned , Sec . ; Smith , S . D . ; Randall , J . D . ; Rees , l . G . ; Easto , Steward ; Parsons , Tyler . The lodge was then closed in solemn

form with prayer , when the brethren , to the number of 41 , repaired to the lodge-room at the Fountain Hotel , to a sumptuous and elegantly laid out banquet , provided with the usual tact of the worthy host , Bro . A . W . Howe . Anions ? the brethren were noticed several Provincial

and W . M ' s ., viz ., Bros . I . S . Keddell , P . M . 158 , P . P . G . S . W ., P . Z . ; I . Towiisend , P . M . loS , P . P . G . R ., P . Z . ; J . G . Green , P . M . 15 S , P . P . G . J . D ., P . Z . ; C . 15 . Shrubsole , P . M . 158 , 1089 , P . P . G . S . of W . Z . ; A . Hodge , P . M . 15 S , P . P . G . S . D ., P . II . ; W . J . Blakey , P . M . 1174 , P . P . GJ . l ) . ; Sharp , P . M .,

P . P . G . D . C . ; N . Norman , P . M . 913 ; K . Wates , P . M . 91 , P . G . Sec . ; S . Hughes , P . M . 158 , N . ; Jones , P . M . Ara Lodge 318 Irish Const ., and P . P . G . S . D ., of province of New Zealand ; Fleming , "W . M . 158 ; \ V . Turtle , W . M . 184 ; E . Mackney , W . M . 299 ; A . Hall , J . Woolton , J . Nixon , and J . Finch , 158 ;

J . Barnard and W . Bailey , 133 ; E . Lowinan and R . Whitton , of Fauectt Lodge . 661 . After ample justice had been done to the good things provided , and the cloth cleared , the l ' . G . S ., Bro . Wates , in the absence of the D . P . G . Master , presided , and at once called upon the brethren to assist him in

a toast which was never forgotten by Masons , viz ., the Queen and the Craft , and informed the brethren , as His Royal Highness had intimated his intention of becoming an English Mason , he should include the name of His Royal Hi g hness the Prince of Wales , which was enthusiastically responded to , us was also

that of the Grand Master , the Earl of Zetland ; the D . G . M ., Earl de Grey and Ripon , and rest of Grand officers ; the P . G . M ., Lord Holmcsdalc , M . P , ; the D . P . G . M ., Bro . Dobson , and the rest of the D . P . G . Officers , past and present . Bro . KEDDELL , P . P . G . S . W ., replied in very

affecting and appropriate words , deeply deploring the calamity that prevented their excellent D . P . G . Master being present , who , he assured the brethren was there in spirit if not in person . Bro . Keddell then proposed the health of the worth y Brother then presiding , IJro . Wates , P . G . S ., which was received with all honours .

Bro . \\ ATKS replied in his usual eloquent style , giving the brethren good information on the prosperous and flourishing state of Masonry in the Province of Kent . Bro . Wates proposed the health of the Worshipful Master , and congratulated the brethren upon the selection they had made , us he felt assured from

the very responsible Government appointment he held in the town , and his thorough business qualities and / . eal for Masonry , he was satisfied he would fulfil the duties of the chair creditably to his lodge and to himself , and would hand down to his successor that which this day had been committed to his charge pure and unsullied .

the W . M ., Bro . MCDONALD , thanked the P . G . S ., Bro . Wates , for the kind manner he had proposed his health , and also the brethren for the hearty and cordial manner they responded to the same . He assured the brethren the kind words emanating from the P . G . Secretary he scarcely thought hedescrved . lie admitted he had very great zeal for Masonry , and studied it

much , aiidhad persevered to attain the proud position of Worshi pful Master . He felt the position that the brethren of his lodge had conferred upon him a great honor , not from simple vanity , but from the unanimous manner they had elected him their master , and hoped ¦ whilu the G . A . O . T . U . preserved to him health , to be able to perform the duties of the office efficiently , ami trusted that at tho termination of his year of office

Installation Of The W. Master Or De Thurland Lodge, Sheerness.

they would bear the same good feeling towards him as they had just expressed . He assured them he would do his utmost to deserve the good opinion of those friends he had fi . uiid in Masonry . The health of the P . M . of the lodge was next

proposed , which was well responded to by Bro . LAYLAND , the I . P . M ., as was also the healths of the Officers , by the S . W ., Bro . West . The meeting terminated at 9 . 30 p . m ., and was expressed by numerous brethren to have been a truly happy Masonic gathering .

Visit Op Glasgow St. John's Lodge To Ayr And Kilwinning.

VISIT OP GLASGOW ST . JOHN'S LODGE TO AYR AND KILWINNING .

On Thursdaj' , last week , the brethren of Glasgow St . John's Lodge , No . o-iw celebrated the summer festival of their patron Saint by an excursion to the nursery ot masonry in Scotland — Kilwinning—and to the land of Burns . It has become the custom of

the members of St . Johns thus to celebrate their Saint ' s day , and this year's trip was the seventh annual one . By tho first morning train lor the West upwards of forty brethren left Glasgow . After breakfast the company broke up into small parties , some of whom

visited the old Abbey and other objects ofmasonic and antiquartiun interest : others went as far as the policies of Eglington Castle , where the annual games at bowls between the Kagleton Estate clubs was being played . About noon they bade good-bye to the cell of St Winning , and , accompanied by Bro . Wy llie , Secretary

of Mother Kilwinning , proceeded to Ayr , where they made the King's Arms their rendezvous . TheR . W . M . of St . John ' s , Bro . John Baird , architect , West Regent-street , Glasgow , is himself one of the " Merry lads of Ayr , " and , under his direction , the party was divided into sections for tho purpose of visiting the

chief objects of interest in the town and neighbourhood . Bro . Baird having prepared a p lan of the Fort as it existed prior to its being fenced and built upon , a large company was formid to visit it . Accompanied hy Bro . M'llwraith they proceeded to the Citadel Stores , where thev were made welcome by Captain

Fullarton , to examine the portion of the wall there remaining entire . Here Bro . Baird showed upon the plan the position occupied by the stores on what was formerly the fosse guarding the works , and pointed out the . Masons' marks upon the hewn stones of the wall . Through the kindness of Capt . Fiillerton ,

the party were permitted to examine the locality minutely , and proceeded through his garden to the present entrance to the Fort . They they then made a complete tour of it , noting the old entrance , the sallyport towards the sea , powder magazine , old well , and battions and curtains where these remain . About an hour was spent with interest and pleasure in the examination of Old Noll's Work . Afterwards several

of the members , accompanied by Bro . D . M . Lyon , Ayr . proceeded to the Old Churchyard , where curious antique headstones and quaint carvings formed the subject of interesting conversation , Others proceeded to Burns' Cottage and the Banks of the Doon , and there spent a couple of hours very pleasantly , the day heinir one of the finest we have had this season .

At five o'clock the , brethren , ve-assembled at the King ' s Arms Hotel , where a substantial dinner awaited them . R . W . M . Br . Baird presided , supported by Br . Wyllie , Secretary , Mother Kilwinning ; Bros . D . M . Lyon , oneol tho Stewards of the Grand Lodge ; Lieut .

Hunter , St . John ' s ; and Bro . M'llwraith , St . . John ' s riiornbill . Bro . Jas . M'Millan , S . W ., officiated as Croupier , supported by Bros . Park , P . M . ; Granger , St . Mary ' s , Patrick ; Wagget , S . M . ; and Samuels , Treasurer . —Ayrshire Express .

Railway Carriages.

RAILWAY CARRIAGES .

The following letter appeared in the Times of Monday , June 28 : — ( 7 b the Editor . ) Sir , —Having acted as foreman of the jury empanelled to enquire into the lamentable accident that happened lit Biekley to the hite Mr . Jennings on Wednesday , I

beg your permission , on public grounds , to state that the jury , at my suggestion , appended to their verdict the following observations : — " 1 . Thejuryareof opinion that the construction of the carriage used on the London , Chatham , and Dover Hailway „ whereby an extra seat is gained in the width ,

is in the highest degree objectionable , as it involves a material reduction in the clear space of the upper step available for the foot of a passenger who is alighting . " 2 . They suggest that the upper step should be a continuous one , running the whole length of the carriage , as the ' footboard' does , and that it should be of wood , not iron , as less slippery .

" 3 . That the coroner be requested to forward a copy of these observations to the manager of the London , Chatham , and Dover Railway , and to the Railway Department of tho Board of Trade . " It was proved by tho evidence that had there been a continuous upper step the body of our lamented friend could not have been jammed in between the wheel and the platform in the way it was , and he

Railway Carriages.

would probably have escaped without very serious injury- . . . . As to the point raised in No . 1 , we inspected informally a train of passenger carriages which happened to arrive , and we thoroughly satistied ourselves that as the carriages are so unusually wide they overhang the

step and reduce its available breadth to scarcely three inches . The insufficiency of this , and the consequent danger to alighting passengers , it needs not to point out , The railway company were officially represented at the inquest , and their representative endeavoured to

show that a continuous upper step would neither bo practicable nor useful . The jury were , however , convinced of the very contrary . Nothing that is caculated to conduce to the safety of railway travelling can . be unworthy of notice in these travelling days , and I would strenuously urge railway managers to give more attention to this matter of

access to carriages , and also to . another matter , which , although it did not come directly before us to-day , pressingly needs attention—the general absence from our railway carriages of a continuous handrail between door and door , and of a well-devised handle to catch hold of . I remain , Sir , your obedient servant , GEOUGE P . CHAMBHKS . 1 , Cloisters , Temple , June 25 .

Masonic Miscellanea.

Masonic Miscellanea .

THE BRETT TESTIMONIAL FUND . SECOND L IS-1 ' OV S UBSCIIIITIOSS . £ s . d . Amount already subscribed .. .. 75 10 0 ' Bro . G . Powell ( 142 ) 0 10 6

„ Merrick 0 2 6 „ C . Wilcox ( 177 ) 0 10 G „ Grant 0 2 0 ' ., Wanton ( 177 ) 0 10 0 „ Gilchrist 0 2 15

„ Sprague .. .. .. .. 0 f ; 0 „ Tattershall 0 2 6 „ Ansconibe ( 177 ) .. .. .. 0 10 0 , „ Tyler ' .. 026 „ Coles 0 5 0 „ McCullum 0 2 6

„ Vinall 0 5 0 „ Griffin 11 10 . 0 „ Swainston .. .. .. 0 10 0 „ Coram , P . M . ( 199 , Dover ) .. 0 10 6

„ Phitpott „ .. 0 10 6 „ liovtou , IP . M . „ .. 020 „ Kims ' „ .. 026 „ Major Dickson , J / . P . „ .. 0 10 6 „ T . Fox „ .. 0 10 0 „ W . . 1 . lrous „ .. 050 „ J . llarvev , P . M . „ .. 050 „ A . Avrcs " , W . M . ' „ .. 050

„ Wilson , SD . „ .. 0 2 G „ Gardner , P . M . „ .. 020 „ Fubr „ .. 020 „ T . Hiiggs „ .. 0 2 6

„ K . W . Frv „ .. 020 „ (; . N . Oisutwick „ .. 020 „ . 1 . Owcu , W . M .-elcct , .. 0 2 6 „ S . Uslierwood „ .. 026

„ W . J . Adcock „ .. 020 „ Matthews „ .. 0 2 ft „ Funster „ .. 026 „ Marshall , J . W . „ .. 050

„ Atherteu ., .. 0 2 0 „ StilwcU „ .. 026 „ Perry „ .. 020 „ Miu-ley „ .. 0 2 C „ Little „ .. 0 2 li .. Cox . P . M . .. .. 026

„ Thurlow ,, .. 026 „ Hull „ .. 026 „ Treadwelt ( 177 ) 0 5 0 „ J . McKieruan 0 10 0 „ Morley 0 2 6 „ O . A . Taylor 0 10 6 ., It . Gurney .. .. .. 050

£ 8 $ 1 6 Brethren holding subscription cards for the above fund are requested to forward them cither to Bro . H . G . Buss ( Treasurer ) , 127 , Offord-road , Islington , N ., or to tho Hon . Secretaries , Bros . R . W . Little , 7 , Gilbert-road , Kennington , S . E ., and 11 . Tanner , 18 , North-street , Westminster , S . W .

THE forthcoming work by Bro . Wm . J . Hughan will contnin : —1 . An article on Masonic M . SS ., by Bro . Hughan . 2 . A reprint ot the Constitution of the Freemasons by the Grand Lodge , of England , 1723 , being the first edition ( slightly abridged . ) 3 . A fac-simile lithographic reprint of Coles' copper-plate edition of the Constitutions , 1728 , from transfers

from the original in Bro . Ilughan ' s possession . Seventy copies only arc to be printed for sale , at 10 s . Gd . each , and 30 copies for presentation . Tho work will be dedicated , by permission , to the M . W . G . M ., the Earl of Zetland . Subscriptions ' to be sent to the publisher , Bro . Wm . Lake , Truro ' , stating name in full and Masonic position .