Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

The brethren subsequently partook of an excellent repast , at the conclusion of vvhich the loyal and Masonic toasts were heartily given and received . Bro . H . Lovegrove , P . P . G . Supt . of Works , in responding to the toast of " The Provincial Grand Master and Provincial Grand Officers , " which had been cordially given by the Worshipful Master , said he claimed that no man

had done more for the Province of Middlesex than he had . The Provincial Grand Master—Sir Francis Burdett—was a thorough English gentleman , a good Mason , and respected by all . Their Deputy Provincial Grand Master—Bro . Raymond H . Thrupp—was a good worker , who gave his valuable time for the good of Masonry in the province . They also met that distinguished brother in other Degrees ,

and they felt that he performed well any work he undertook . The other officers did their duty in the province , for it was a gratification for any brother to be promoted to the purple . There was a time when the purple was plentiful enough ; but , owing to the proximity of the province to London , lodges had multiplied to such an extent , that if a brother was promoted to a Provincial Grand office , however

small , he should be very thankful , and do his best to assist the Provincial Grand Master . The Provincial Grand Lodge was held , as they were aware , not far distant from their meeting place that evening , and was very successful , as was also the Provincial Grand Chapter held at Stanmore . The Province of Middlesex continued to prosper , and the Henry Levander Lodge was oneof its most successful lodges .

He was sure that the P . G . M . and D . P . G . M . were satisfied with the progress made by their lodge . In giving "Tbe Health of the W . M ., " Bro . McKay , I . P . M ., said that when the brethren saw the gavel entrusted to him they would be aware it was for the purpose of proposing that toast . As the W . M . had announced that short speeches would be the order of the evening , and as there

was an excellent musical programme to be carried out , he would simply ask them to heartily drink the health of Bro . P . Cheek , W . M ., wishing him a prosperous and successful year of office . Bro . P . Cheek , VV . M ., in reply , thanked the brethren most heartily and sincerely for the kind manner in which his health had been proposed and received . He felt that

he could not find words to express the pleasure he experienced in being placed in his present proud position . As a founder of that lodge he had hoped to hold that position , but owing to absence through bad health , he had been afraid he should have to decline the honour conferred upon him . He had , however , fortunately been enabled to accept the dignity , and trusted to make his year of office a

successful one . At their next meeting he hoped to commence work by initiating five friends into the Order . It would mean a great deal of woik , but he intended doing it . He had just arrived from Switzerland , and had left the warm climate there in order to attend their lodge that evening . During the forthcoming week he should attend a lodge at Lucerne , but he did not expect to find the work better than

in their own lodge . He had met Masonic friends at that place vvho wished to see him in their lodge , which met in the beautiful Masonic Hall there , and on his return he would relate his experiences to them . As time was limited , he should bring his remarks to a conclusion by again thanking them for the kind manner in which his health had been drunk .

"The Past Masters" was next proposed by the VV . M ., vvho remarked that the brethren would receive the toast with hearty goodwill . There were a good array of P . M . 's , who were fortunately all present that evening . Thev were Bros . Lovegrove , Scurrah , Axford , and McKay . In this toast he included the Installing Masters , whom he thanked for performing the ceremony .

Bro . Hy . Lovegrove , P . M ., in response , said that he undertook the formation of that lodge in conjunction with others who came to him with a great deal of experience . There were then two or three things he wished to see done . One was that he vvas anxious to see Bro . P . Cheek VV . M . of the lodge , and he had had that pleasure on the present rccasion . He was very pleased to see Bro . W . A . Scurrah ,

P . M ., obtain the purple , and also Provincial honours in the R . A ., and trusted that brother vvould be satisfied with what had taken place . The completion of those two events had gratified him , and he was pleased to see the number of members around him , and the prosperous state of their lodge . He had not been with them as frequently as he could wish , but while they had an efficient W . M ., capable

Wardens , Treasurer , and Secretary , the work would continue to be performed to the satisfaction of all . Bro . W . A . Scurrah , P . M ., responded , and said he had endeavoured at all times to do his duty , and had not spared time , labour , or expense to bring the lodge to a state of prosperity . He trusted that he should for many years remain oneof their senior P . M . 's .

Bros . Axford , P . M ., and McKay , LP . M . and Sec , also returned thanks , the latter specially thanking the brethren for the handsome jewel presented to him . The Worshipful Master next gave "The Visitors , " giving them all a cordial welcome . He wished to express his grateful thanks to the members of the Hendon Lodge , who had so kindly assisted in the musical arrangements in an admirable manner .

Bro . Woodward , P . M . 1920 , returned thanks on behalf of the visiting brethren for the hearty reception accorded them , and expressed the gratification his visit had afforded him . Bro . H . Dickey , LP . M . 1744 , also replied . He said that that was not his first visit to their lodge , for he had attended on many previous occasions in response to the kind

invitations of the members . ^ The present visit , however , afforded him especial gratification , for he had witnessed the installation of Bro . Cheek , who was initiated in the Royal Savoy Lodge , of which he had the honour of being the I . P . M . He congratulated theW . M . on attaining the dignity of the chair , and wished him a successful and happy year of office . Having been present at the consecration of the lodge , he

rejoiced to see the progress it had made , and which he hoped would be continued in the future . Other toasts having been given , the Tyler's toast brought a pleasant evening to a close . A special meed of praise is due to a few members of the

Hendon Lodge who attended and gave an excellent selection of music , both in the lodge room , where several anthems were rendered , and subsequently at the festive board , where they delig hted the brethren with songs , & c . Amongst those who assisted were Bros . Wheeler , Org . 2206 , Hearn , Hudson , Dobbs , and J enkins , Org .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

CHINGFORD . —Royal Victorian Jubilee Lodge ( No . 2184 ) . —This lodge , which was consecrated some 14 months ago atthe Dock Hotel , Tilbury , opposite Gravesend , and which was removed to the Royal Forest Hotel at Chingford in June last , held its installation meeting there on the 26 th ult ., when Bro . George J . Westfield , J . W . and W . M . elect , was installed W . M . in due form , and saluted

according to ancient custom . He invested his officers as follows : Bros . C . T . Lewis , P . G . Stwd ., I . P . M . ; W . Smith , W . M . 22 S , S . W . ; C . H . Canning , S . W . 1472 , J . W . j H . Lewis , Treas . ; G . Hughes , Sec ; A . T . Dale , S . D . j T . Ringrose , j . D . ; J . G . Hammond , I . G . j Dickeson , Org . j Carman , D . Cj J . VV . Cain , A . D . C . j F . I . Eedle and Buxton , Stwds . ; and I . Ives , P . M ., Tyler .

Bro . Lewis , the I . P . M ., who was the Installing Officer , then gave the addresses and finished the ceremony , for which he was voted the thanks of the lodge , the same to be inscribed on the minutes . Bro . Westfield was then elected to serve on the Provincial Charity Committee , and the lodge was closed . Among the other brethren present were Bros . C . Jolly ,

P . M ., P . M . and Sec . 1472 ; A . J . Manning , P . M . ( Hon . ) , P . P . S . G . D . ; J . W . Beadle , C . Taylor , J . T . Barnes , H . Prater , W . T . Buxton , and J . W . Joyce , all of the lodge ; C . Allen , W . M . 163 ; W . Dorton , P . M . 1076 ; C G . Hill , P . M . 1607 ; L . J . Deenham , 1607 ; J . Hattersley , S . W . 2262 , J . D . 1607 ; J . Mullony , J . VV . 1625 ; McCall-Chambers , 163 S ; J . Rose , 28 ; and VV . Reynolds , 16 S 5 .

The banquet having been enjoyed , the W . M . gave the usual loyal and Grand Lodge toasts , which were duly honoured , and then that of " The R . W . P . G . M ., the Right Hon . Lord Brooke , the V . W . D . P . G . M ., Bro . F . A . Philbrick , Q . C ., G . Reg ., and the rest of the P . G . Officers , Present and Past , " and in putting it , the W . M . eulogised the many -Treat services done for the good of Masonry ,

both generally and in the Province of Essex , by their P . G . Master and his learned and courteous lieutenant , Bro . Philbrick . Individually , he did not know them so much at present as he hoped to in the future , so , therefore , if he had not done them and the rest of the officers , both present and past , full justice , they must attribute it to his want of knowledge , a mistake of the head , and not of the heart .

He asked them to drink the toast in bumpers . Bro . Manning , in responding , said he felt it a very great honour to have his name associated with a toast of so much importance , and would have been delighted to have seen several of the P . G . Officers present ; he attributed their non-attendance to the weather , or some earlier claims upon their time and support . As for their esteemed P . G . M ., Lord Brooke , from what he knew of his desire at all times

to come among them and watch the progress of the lodges , especially the new ones , were making , he felt sure that only some other and more pressing engagement kept him away ; while they all knew the many official and professional duties of Bro . Philbrick made his presence an honour indeed . As for the Iodge , he was proud of its prosperity , and hoped to live to see the Master ' s chair filled in succession by every brother of the lodge present .

Bro . Lewis was deeply sorry that not one of his colleagues , among the present officers of the province were present , but he presumed , as Bro . Manning , had that pressure of other engagements preventing their attendance . The P . G . meeting would take place on the Sth ot next month ( August ) , at Colchester , and he trusted the members of the Royal Victorian Jubilee Lodge would show up in

force . He was , however , sorry that Bro . Ralling , their excellent P . G . Secretary , could not attend , especially as that was their first anniversary meeting , and that brother would have been pleased , he felt sure , to have witnessed the progress the lodge had made . They had Bro . Manning with them , and , as he was a host in himself , he supposed they must be contented . On behalf of the P . G . Officers , he

heartily thanked them for the toast . Bro . Lewis then proposed the toast of "The W . M . " He said it vvas a very pleasant duty , especially as he had known Bro . Westfield intimately for a great many years , and had always found him , in everything he undertook , to be the right man in the right place . It was a difficult thing for the first Master of a new lodge to find seats for

all the aspirants to office , but he felt sure that in offering Bro . Westfield the position of J . W . he had made no mistake . Bro . Westfield was a Mason of some twenty-five years' standing , and was in every way eminently qualified to fill the chair of W . M . of that lodge , for he had , ever since he had taken office , left no stone unturned to render himself worthy of the office he now held . They had shown

their approbation of those efforts by electing him to the chair of that lodge , and also as their representative on the Charity Committee of the province , and he felt sure that they would never regret their choice . Bro . Westfield , vvho was cheered enthusiastically as he rose to respond , said he did not know lhat he could say more than to express his gratitude for the very high honour

done him that day , and also his determination , during his year of office , to do all in his power to promote the welfare of the lodge and the happiness of the brethren . Those two objects he should continually keep in view , and had , indeed , ever since he became a founder of the lodge . He should get as many good Masons as he could to join the lodge , and so far as the Constitutions of the Order allowed

him , he should use his best endeavours to induce good candidates to be initialed in it . That would be his first endeavour , his second would be to carry out his duties strictly and impartially , and heshould expect , and indeed call upon every officer of the lodge to do the same . No Master ever went into the chair with a better staff of officers , and with their assistance he looked confidently forward to a

good year of office . He asked the Past Masters to assist him , and if at any time one of them should say to him " You are wrong , " then he would gladly say " Put me right , " and would feel it as a favour for any Past Master to do so , He trusted they might all be united in one bond of friendship , and that brotherly love and unity might prevail at all their meetings , so that when they parted

, they might look forward with . pleasurable anticipation to their next happy _ meeting . He again thanked them for the heaity reception of the toast , and resumed his seat amid cheers . The next toast vvas that of " The Installing Officer , " and

in putting it the VVorshipful Master spoke highly of the admirable manner in which Bro . Lewis had carried out the duties that day . He also presented Bro . Lewis vvith a handsome and valuable P . M . 's jewel , as a mark of the approbation and esteem of the brethren . He trusted Bro . Lewis might live long to wear it , and then—as Mrs . Gamp said— " hand it down to prosperity . " He also presented

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

Bro . Lewis with a P . M . 's collar , as a present from the W thren of the lodge ; and warmly congratulated him 0 n receiving such undoubted marks of the esteem and affer , tion of the brethren . Bro . Lewis eloquently and feelingly returned thanks Bro . Jolly responded for "The P . M . 's . "

Bros . Hill , Dorton , Allen , and Mullony returned thanU for "The Visitors . " ks Bro . Smith responded to the toast of "The Officers . " The Tyler ' s toast concluded the proceedings , which wete interspersed with some good singing and reciting by Br 0 s Mullony , Woodruffe , Buxton , Allen , and C . Jolly , ari ( j Messrs . C . B . Gammon and Consterdine .

BECKENHAM . —Cator Lodge ( No . 2266 ) , _ An emergency meeting of this lodge was held at the Railway Hotel , on Thursday , 26 th ult . There were presenr Bros . James Hill , P . M . 16 5 S , P . G . Stwd . Surrey , VV M Fox , P . M ., S . W . ; R . C . Davis , J . VV . ; C . W . Cribble ' S . D . ; J . C . Osterstock , J . D . ; C ScrivenI . G . j '

, c Brodie Carlton , Sec . ; G . J . Hall , Org . ; J . W . Newri and W . Lovelock , Stwds . ; Bale , P . M . ( Hon . ); Moffatt Klyne , Hewett , Barton , Medcalf , Chalk , Fryer , Levens ' Hornsby , Dr . Craig , P . M ., and Reinhardt , Tyler , all 0 f the lodge . The visitors were Bros . Mildred , P . M . 2024 . J . J . White , J . VV . 1963 ; Diamond , 1327 ; and Charlie Woods , 1 S 69 .

The lodge having been opened , the following gentlemen who had been previously balfoted for , were then initiated ' viz ., Messrs . Cornelius Curtis , Samuel Ponsford , Thomas Cook , Frederick Bright , and John Cumberland . The whole of the working , not only of the W . M . but also of the officers , was exceedingly well done and showed that the

members had taken their motto " Nihil sine labore " well to heart . The charge having been delivered , the discussion of the by-laws took place . The whole were unanimous ! } adopted . The lodge was then closed , but not before it had been decided to form a lodge of instruction in connection with the lodge .

At the banquet wh ich followed the usual Masonic and patriotic toasts were honoured , after vvhich Bro . Dr . Crai ? P . M ., proposed " The Health of Bro . J . Hill , W . M . " . Hro . Hill , P . M ., P . G . Stwd . Surrey , W . M ., said , in reply , that he should be very particular to make a short speech , as their time was limited , and he did not wish to be late home . They had met that evening for business , as no

doubt the five initiates had found out . He hoped to have another business meeting in August , when there would lie plenty of work to be done . Masonry did not consist of " the spread " alone , although it vvas spreading very fast . They had five initiates that night , altogether they had three times five plus one , which made twice eight . That corresponded with the two eights ( 2 plus 6 ) in the number of

the lodge ( 2266 ) . Eight had played a conspicuous place in the lodge so far , for the warrant was asked on the eighth , and granted on the eighth in the year 'SS . This was also one of the mystic Masonic numbers , being the number of perfection . He was glad to welcome the new members that night , for they were good men and true , and added strength to the new lodge . It was his fervent hope

that they would become good Masons , especially in the Charitable work of the Craft . He always impressed upon initiates that Masonry was a moral Society . He hoped they vvould always try to be present at the business , for then they would go forward , and see more and more the beauties of Masonic work . He proposed "The Health of the Initiates . " In reply , Bro . Curtis said that the W . M . had commanded

brevity , and he should obey . It was said that "Outofthe fulness of the heart the mouth speaketh . " His heart , however , vvas so full that he could not find words to express himself . He hoped , however , to become a true Mason . Bros . Ponsford , Cook , Bright , and Cumberland also thanked the brethren for the kind way in which the toast was received , the latter saying that he had no idea of what a beautiful thing Masonry was . He hoped to learn more of its merits in the future .

Bro . Hill , W . M ., said they were forced to dispense with singing for the evening , as the by-laws had taken tip 2 considerable time . In proposing " The Visitors , " he said that he was pleased to see them . They were all good hard working Masons , who were a credit to the Craft . He trusted that would not be their last visit . In reply , Bro . Mildred , P . M . 2024 , said that he had been delighted with the work he had witnessed that evening .

He had travelled , not " only in many parts of England , but in other parts of the world , and he could safely say that it was second to none he bad ever seen . The VV . M . and all the officers had succeeded in all their work . Some of the working was foreign to him , but he enjoyed it all the more for that . Bro . Diamond congratulated the Iodge upon the success

of the evening . , Bro . J . J . White , J . W . 1963 , said that he had enjoyed himself very much ; and although , perhaps , the Fourw Degree vvas a minor matter , he was very delighted with it . " was notoften that a W . M . and officers could do their work so well as it had been done in the Cator Lodge . He particularly congratulated the Deacons , for he had lately had their wonj without

to do , and knew how difficult it was to perform it friction being felt . He could sympathise with the Secretary in his duties . It was vvith regret that he had been absent from the consecration of the lodge , and he hoped to be frequent visitor . . .. Bro . Charlie Woods , 1899 , also replied , after which tne Tyler ' s toast brought a very happy evening to a close .

Instruction.

INSTRUCTION .

JUSTICE LODGE ( No . 14 }) . —A meeting was held on Th" * day , the 26 th ult ., at the Brown Bear , High-street , Dep ttow , > there were present Bros . Prior , W . M . ; Dixon , S . W . ; . , r ,, < J . W . ; Speight , P . M ., Sec ; Dandridge , J . D . ; Turp '" . ' * d Hutchings , P . M ., Preceptor ; Keylock , Dealer , Wiis **'' *

Umblin . . fl , sof tlu : The lodge was opened in the First Degree , and the min » " ** ^ ny previous meeting were read and confirmed , after which the c ~ , jja * e , of initiation was rehearsed , Bro . Keylock personating the ca stio »' The lodge was called off , and , on resuming , the usual q . » . j . j 1 ( leading to the Second Degree were answered by Bro . "'*« passing lodge was opened in the Second Degree . and the ceremony "'? £ the rehearsed . Thc lodge was resumed to the First Degree * , waS W . M . beingalrcady elected for the ensuing Thursday , the 1 ° * = closed .