Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

United Military Lodge , No . 1536 . INSTALLATION OF BRO . W . SHACKLETON , P . M . No less than 1 G 0 of our gallant brethren of the Regular Army and Volunteers are enrolled on the books of the above powerful and progressive Kentish lodge , and it was a erand and exhilarating spectacle to see some 12 S of them " assembled together in unity" as presented to the admiring- eyes of the visitors on th ? occasion of their recent gathering to witness or assist at the installation of the W . M . for the ensuing 12

months . The meeting under notice took place on l hursday , the 35 th ult ., at trie Masonic Hall , Mount Pleasant , Plumstead , and was , both Masonically , gastronom ; - cally , and musically , a most enjoyable affair , and each and all of the above factors purely of local production . The lodge was opened by the W . M ., Bro . J . Howe , and the minutes of the previous meeting , and also those of an emergency meeting held on the previous Tuesday , at which some live candidates—Messrs . Stephens , Sims , Crossley , Dowie , and Haineswere initiatedand other work performed , having been confirmed , Grand honours were

, naid to Bros . Major H . W . Boileau , W . M . 1789 , DeD . Dist . G . Master Nova Scotia , and W . Russell , P . M ., P . G . Treas . Kent , P . A . G . D . C . Eng ., who severally returned thanks for the courtesy shown them by the brethren . Bro . W . Shackleton , P . M . 17 S 9 , S . W ., was presented to the W . M . to receive at his hands the benefits of installation , arid , in due course , and with the ancient ritual , that brother was installed into the chair of K . S . and saluted . He invested his officers as follows : Bros . J . Howe , I . P . M . ; R F . Cockrane , S . W . ; J . Jones , J . W . ; J . W . Gee , Treas . ; E . W . Sinnett , P . P . G .

Std . Br ., Sec . ; F . J . Maifleet , S . D . ; V . K . Kowland , J . U . ; M . liarnshaw , l . U . j G . W . Ingle , P . M-, D . of C . ; W . H . Craighead , Asst . U . of C . j W .-Redman , Org . ; H . F . Furlong , Asst . Org . ; and A . Simmonds , P . M ., A . Rycroft , R . Gedge , H . Ti ' lley , H . Graham , and VV . Hum , Stivds . Bro . Howe then gave the addresses fully and eloquently , and was congratulated on all sides for the masterly manner in which he had carried out his arduous and important duty . Bro . Howe was then presented with a handsome and valuable Past Master ' s jewel and

a Past Master ' s collar as a mark of the approbation of the brethren for his services as W . M . during the past year , and it was also unanimously resolved that a vote of thanks be inscribed on the minutes of the lodge and presented to him for his servicis as Installing Officer that day , for both and all of which he returned his heartfelt thinks . Bro . Captain George Spinks , P . M ., P . P . J . G . W ., was re-elected lor the tenth time in succession to represent the lodge at the provincial Charity meetings . A sum of money was voted to the distressed widow of a late brother , and then the lodge was closed .

An excellent banquet was served in the large and handsome Assembly-room of the establishment by a local caterer , which banquet was much enjoyed and highly

com-Among the other brethren present and not above named were Bros . W . Moulds , P . M ., P . P . G . Std . Br . ; J . Bilton , P . M ., P . M . 2399 ! R . Fowler , P . M . j A . Hill , P . M . ; A . Simmonds , P . M . ; T . O'Neill , P . M . ; C . Jolly , P . M . ( hon . ) , P . M . and Sec . 1472 , P . M . and Sec . 2184 , P . P . A . G . D . C . Essex ; C . Warren , W . Gedge , A . Brindly , H . Allen , G . Deall , A . Haughey , L . James , A . Brossley , W . Palmer , A . Cheek , A . French , J . Lysett , J . Williams , I . Kidd , T . Partridge , W . Prinn , J . Danly ,

W . White , W . Payne . A . Betty , C . Hibberd , H . Young , J . Whiting , E . Harrison , J . Moth , E . Brooks , D . Green , R . Wood , G . Howie , J . Grierson , W . Coates , J . Brash , T . Hook , J . Bull , R . Jupp , T . Brooks , and E . Harris of the lodge . Among the visitors whose names we could decipher in the Visitors' Book , were Bros . G . R . Nichols , P . M . 700 , P . P . G . D . C . Middlesex ; H . Pammant , P . M . 700 ; J . Mayo , P . M . 1614 ; J .

Quick , W . M ., J . Home , S . W ., and W . Easton of 13 ; S . H . Chaplin , W . M ., W . Welsh , S . W ., and C . Carter , J . W . of 1472 ; R . Bristow , P . M . 2195 ; H . Steer , W . M ., E . Reynolds , S . W ., R . Trice , J . W ., and E . Rayment , of 2399 ; J . H . Bull , J . W . and W . M . elect 913 ; Lieut . Learmont , 17 S 9 ; H . Wortham , 700 ; J . Cook and J . Cross , of 2222 ; F . Frister , 1259 j H . Lonergan , S 60 ; J . West , 159 ; H . Bird , 2523 ; G . Bullivant , 2203 ; W . Pexton , 1917 ; and A . Kenward , 1331 .

"The King and the Craft" was the first toast , followed by that of "The M . W . the Grand Master , the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn , K . G ., & c , " and the W . M ., in putting it , said it was only the previous week that H . R . H . was installed in the Albert Hall , and in the presence of some ten thousand Masons , as their Grand Master . He trusted H . R . H . would have as long and successful a reign as his illustrious brother , their King , had had ,

The toast of " The Pro Grand Master , the D . G . M ., and the other Grand Officers , Present and Past , " was coupled with the name of Bro . J . Russell , who , in response , thanked them for their cordial reception of the toast , and assured them that it made the task to him much easier in responding to it because he knew that after he had done so they might smoke . ( Cheerf . ) He wished to say that what prominency he had achieved in Masonry had been brought about by a remark of his own made some years ago . It came about in this way ; shortly after he had joined the Order , an old and good

Freemason said to him , "What did you join Masonry for ? " He ( Bro . Russell ) replied that he joined it because he wanted something to fill up his spare time , of which , at that period of his existence , he had plenty to spire . . " Well , " said his ancient friend , " work hard , attend lodges of instruction , learn thereby the perfect working of the ritual , and then some day you may achieve distinction in the Craft , and a reward for your zeal . " He followed that advice , but had no idea that he should ever achieve the

positions of a Grand Officer of the Grand Lodge of England and Treasurer of the Province of Kent , and be in the position of doing so much for the cause of Charity as he , in that position , had been enabled to do . It was said that Napoleon had declared that "every recruit had a marshal ' s baton in his knapsack , " and so it was that if every Mason tried his best , he would find that Masonry would be a good and faithful spouse to him , and he would ever bless the day he joined the Order . ( Cheers . )

Bro . Capt . Spinks , whose name was coupled with the toast of "The D . P . G . M ., W . Bro . J . Smith Eastes , and the rest of the Prov . G . Officers , Present and Past , " said he felt quite certain that there was no better Mason in the Craft than their esteemed and beloved D . P . G . M ., Bro . Eastes , who at the late Festival of the Girls ' School toik up the magnificent sum of no less than , ( , 3000 fron the Province of Kent . With reference to the military element , there were more military Misons in th ; ir pro-

Craft Masonry.

vince than in any province in the United Kingdom , and to occupy the position , as Ue did , of a P . G . W ., was a proud one to him . He had had the honour of being upon the Charity Committee of the province for many years , and could safely say that no cass recommended and brought before that Committee had ever been refused invastigation , and support if found wanting . In the name of the P . G . Officers , he thanked them most sincerely for their hearty reception of the toist .

Bro . Howe , I . P . M ., then proposed the toast of " The W . M . " He had hid the honour of installing that day a Master who would refhet the highest honour nst only 011 Freemasonry in general , but on their old and prosperous lodge , and he felt sure that hs would uphold its honour and reputation before the world . The W . M ., who was greeted most heartily as he rose to respond , said some might say "Oh ! Shackleton has been through the chair , and is already a Past Master , what does he want to go through again , " but , as their distinguished Bro . Russell had said , he ( Bro . Shackleton ) had plenty of spare time , and after some 23 years of hard work

in Masonry , he hoped even still to be useful to the Craft and its grand tenets , "brotherly love , relief , and truth . " ( Applause . ) He had for many years looked forward with hope and pleasure to the time when he should be Master of their grand old lodge . He had achieved that position , and they might depend upon it that the confidence placed in him would never be regretted , but would , he trusted , urge him to make the prestige of the lodge higher , if such a thing were possible , than it even now was . He thanked them for their kindness in electing him as their W . M ., and assured them that nothing should be wanting on his part to deserve it . ( Cheers . ) . At this moment Bro . Russell retired amid a storm of cheering .

Bro . Howe , in response to a very hearty reception of his name as " Installing Officer , "said it was a great honour for him to stand there as a Past Master of their old and harmonious lodge . He never thought when he was initiated that he should rise to be the W . M . and a Past Master of that lodge . He paid a high tribute to those who had proposed , initiated , and first entrusted him with a collar . He had had the

pleasure of initiating some 3 6 candidates during his year of office . He did not take the honour of so doing to himself , but gave it to those brethren who had introduced such excellent and worthy men as these newly-made brethren had proved to be . He trusted they would rally round and support their W . M . as they had round him , and could only thank them for their kind reception of his name .

Bro . Captain Spinks , in response to the toast of" The Past Masters , " enumerated the many of their Past Masters who had achieved distinction . Bro . Dieves had only been in South Africa a short time when he was made a District Grand Officer . Bro . Fisher , one of their Secretaries , got to be a District Grand Warden of Malta . Tommy Cooper got to be a Dep . D . G . Master of Gibraltar , and was just made a P . G . S . B . of

England . In tact they , as Military Masons , were the missionaries of Masonry all over the world , and would ever endeavour to promote the best interests of Masonry not only at home , but wherever the exigences of the Service required their presence . The toasts of " Absent Brethren , " especially those in South Africa , and " The Initiates " having been drunk , that of " The Visitors " had a hearty reception .

Bro . Boileau , in response , said he had the honour of responding for those visitors who were not called upon by the W . M . to respond to the toast so eloquently proposed by the W . M . and so heartily received by the brethren . He considered it a great privilege and a great honour to be present at their installation meeting that day . He was pleased to see their lodge room so well filled by the brethren ; it was a mist pleasing and interesting sight , but the mast pleasing memory he should , perhaps , ever have in connection with the meeting was the impressive and perfect performance of the

installation by their I . P . M ., the Installing Officer ; and then to come into that handsome room , and enjoy their unlimited and hearty hospitality , their excellent concert , their charming music ; it impressed him sensibly , and he heartily thanked them for both their Masonic and musical feast . He congratulated the W . M . and those who were responsible for such admirable arrangements . The W . M . had kindly alluded to him as the Deputy District Grand Master of Nova Scotia , and he was proud to say that in that portion of his Majesty's dominions Masonry was flourishing . Some 30 years ago

Masonry there was worked under several dispensations , which he enumerated , but now they were joined under the Grand Lodge jl England in one combined and united body . There were some 80 lodges , to which were affiliated some 3000 brethren . Some of those lodges were always at work ; some met every week , and they did not consider it a bit too often to meet ; in fact , they would meet every night if their wives would let them . ( Cheers and laughter . ) He then entered into a most amusing and witty

description of some of the Negro lodges . At one of these lodges the members met in evening dress , with white shirts and white gloves , which certainly looked , at least curious , with their coloured faces in contrast . He then gave a long and interesting description of these lodges , and of the old York Rite , before the amalgamation of the " Ancients " and " Moderns ; " and one of his anecdotes made the brethren exceedingly merry . He said it was very difficult for an English Mason to work his way into an American lodge , because ot the above " York " Rite being still in use in those lodges . He saw at the bottom of the toast list a Quotation from Pope , which said

" Then rose the guests , and as the time required , Each paid his thanks , and decently retired . " Well , he believed every visitor present thanked them for their hearty reception and unlimited hospitality , and he trusted that they would , when the time came , decently

retire . He concluded a brilliant and witty speech , of which the above is a mere outline , by a high eulogium on the Masonic , military , and private character of their esteemed W . M ., Bro . Shackleton , and the perfect manner in which their I . P . M . had worked the installation ceremony , and resume d his seat amid loud and hearty cheering . Bros . Jolly and Nichols also briefly responded .

" The Officers of the Lodge" was the next toast , to which the Senior and Junior Wardens responded . The Tyler ' s toast concluded a bright , happy , and memorable evening . During the banquet a portion of the Royal Artillery Band , under the direction of Bro . W . VV . Foster , played selections on the platform of the room , which was enchanted with beautiful flowers , ferns , and foliage . The singing after banquet was exceedingly good , the artistes being Miss Jessie Phillips , Miss Emily Taylor ( who , by-the-bye , is about to join BenGreet ' s own company on tour ) , Bro . R . Fowler , P . M . ; Mr . W . Bamforth , Bro . Green ( a flute solo ) , Mr , Hugh Wright ( a rare comical fellow ) , and others , Bro . H . Roberts presiding at the piano .

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