Lodges And Chapters Of Instruction.

Lodges and Chapters of Instruction .

ST . LUKE'S LODGE ( No . 144 ) . —A meeting was held on Thursday , 27 th ult ., at the Victoria Tavern , Gertrudestreet , Chelsea . Present : Bros . Marriott-Matthews , W . M . ; A . iW . Thompson , S . W . ; Winsborrow , J . W . ; Carlstrom . Preceptor ; Stutfield , Sec ; Austin , S . D . ; Thomas , J . D . ; II . Thompson , I . G . ; Holland , P . M . ; I . Davis , P . M . ; Beauchavnp , Ham , Schott , and Tuckfield . The lodge was opened in due form , and the minutes of

the previous meeting were read and confirmed . The W . M . vacated the chair in favour of Pro . Holland , P . M ., who rehearsed the ceremony of initiation , Bro . Tuckfield being the candidate . The lodge was called off and on . The lodge was opened in the Second Degree , and the ceremony of passing was rehearsed , Bro . Schott , who had previously answered the usual questions and been entrusted , being the candidate . The lodge was resumed to thc First

Degree . The W . M . rose for the lirst time anil the dues were collected . The W . M . rose for the second time , when Bro . A . W . Thompson was elected W . M . for the next meeting . The W . M . rose for the third time and the lodge was closed . Bro . Holland , P . M . 1 G 04 , will give a lecture on " Freemasonry , " on the 10 th inst . LA TOLERANCE LODGE ( No . 53 S ) . —A meeting of

this lodge was held on Wednesday , the 2 nd inst ., at the Frascati Restaurant , Oxford-street , W ., when there were present Bros . J . Mason , W . M . ; K . Kraus . S . W . ; E . Dukes , J . W . ; ] . Paul , P . M ., Preceptor ; J . Thorn , P . M ., Asst . Preceptor ; W . E . Willby , P . M ., Sec . ; H . C . Parker , S . D . ; T . A . Tidy , J . D . ; G . A . Sturgess , I . G . j Jackson , P . M . ; Cizzio , and Beedle . The lodge was opened in due form with prayer , and the

minutes of the last lodge meeting were read and confirmed . The ist Section of the Lecture was worked by Bro . E . Dukes . The 2 nd Section by Bro . J . Mason . The ceremony of initiation was rehearsed , Bro . Beedle being the candidate . The 4 th Section of the Lecture was worked by Bro . Preceptor . The W . M . rose for the lirst time , and

Ihe dues were collected . At the second rising , t ' .: e S . W ., Bro . Kraus , was elected W . M . for the ensuing week , and appointed his officers in rotation . After the third rising , all Masonic business being ended , the lodge was closed . The ballot for the Charity was arranged for Wednesday , the 16 th inst .

CHAUCER LODGE ( No . 1 ^ 40 ) . —A meeting was held on Tuesday , the 1 st inst ., at ihe Old White Hart Hotel , Borough , S . E . Present : Bros . J . O'Dea , W . M . ; W . H . Bird , S . W . ; Morley , J . W . : Roots , P . M ., Preceptor ; Hattersley , P . M ., acting tier . ; Kite , S . D . ; Osmond , J . D . ; and Benedict , I . G . The lodge was opened in due form , and the minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed . Bro .

Osmond , having answered the usual questions , was entrusted . The lodge was opened in the Second Degree , and the ceremony of passing was rehearsed , Bro . Osmond , being the candidate . 'I he lodge was opened in the Third Degree , and the ceremony of installation was rehearsed , Bro . O'Dea acting as Installing Master . The lodge was resumed in the First Degree . Bro . Roots worked the 2 nd Section of the Lecture . ( The officers for the next

meeting were elected , and there being no further business , the lodge was closed . STAR CHAPTER ( No . 1275 ) . —The usual weekly meetingof the above was held at the Stirling Castle Hotel , Church-street , Camberwell , on Friday , the zSth ult ., when there were present : Comps . T . H . Salmon , M . E . Z . ; Elgar , H . ; Belchamber , J . ; F . Hilton , P . Z ., Preceptor ; C . H . Stone , S . E . ; Osterstock , S . N . ; Meinerhoff . P . S . :

Beecroft , Telling , Pullen , Lightfoot , and Curt ton . The chapter having been opened , and the minutes of the previous convocation read and confirim d , the ceremony of exaltation was rehears , d , Comp . Beecroft personating Ihe candidate . Comp . Klgar , II ., was elected M . E . Z . for the next meeting . A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Comps . Elgar , II ., and Bedchamber , J ., for so ably performing their respective duties for the first time . After " Hearty good wishes , " tha chapter was closed .

St. Hotolph's Aldersgate.

ST . HOTOLPH'S ALDERSGATE .

Bro . the Rev . T . Selby Henrey is contributing to the City Press a series of articles on " St . Botolph , Aldersgate , its Church and Parish Records . " Part IV . appears in last Saturday ' s issue , and deals with important events in the parish from 1824 to the present year . The Beadle ' s Mace comes in for two notices ,

when , in 1837 , the second silver-headwl Beadle ' s Mace was presented to the parish , and in 1850 it was superseded by another with the representation of Aiders Gate . But more important records are also to be found . The laying out of the churchyard as . 1 public garden , in lSEo , and the subsequent series ot services commenced by Bio . Htniey in 188 9 , will be remembered

with gratitude by all parishioners , as well as those whose business calls them lo the City in the day time . During the past year , the open-air churchyard stivir . es were carried on by Bro . Henrey daily , from one till two , from July to the end of September , and thousands of operatives , male and female , were attracted to these services who probably would never

have entered a church . We should not omit to mention in this connection the fact that Bro . Sir John Staples , who , in commemoration of his election as Lord Mayor in 1885 , placed a stained glass window in the ancient structure , was also a founder and first Master of , Lodge St Botolph , No . 2020 , which meets at the Albion , in Aldersgate , and still flourishes .

THE MAKCHKSTKK SHU- CANAL has been opened just 12 months . ' 1 he number of vtj-st-ls which have entered the port from foreign ports during the year is 501 , and the coasting ves- els which have ariived numbered 782 , makirg a tital of 1283 . The number of vessels which arrived at other places on the canal , including Runcorn , Saltport , and Wi-efnn Point , wa'i 16 O 3 ,

New Year's Entertainment At The Ro Yal Masonic Benevolent Institution, Croydon.

NEW YEAR ' S ENTERTAINMENT AT THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION , CROYDON .

The annual New Year ' s entertainment to the residents in the Royal Masonic Benevolent institution ' s establishment at Croydon , the first of which Bro . Terry , the Secretary , arranged in 1 S 74 , was given this year on Wednesday last , and was numerously attended . The favour in which these gatherings are held by the

Craft , and the ladies , members , and friends of the brethren's families , was strongly evinced by the size of the party which left Cannon-street Station by the I p . m . train , for whom special saloon carriages b : id been set apart . The party included , among others , the following brethren and ladies : Bro . 1 . Newton and Mrs . Newton , Bro . I . | . Mustard ,

Bro . A . Grain and Mrs . and Miss Grain , W . G . Norman and Mrs . Norman , Bro . Dr . H . J . Strong , P . A . G . D . C . ( Hon . Surgeon of the Institution ) , Bro . Sam ) . Hugh Price and Mrs . Price , Bro . W . Wells and Mrs . Wells , Bro . 1 . Aldis and Mrs . Aldis , Bros . A . H . Hickman f . A . Farnfield , P . A . G . D . C . ( Tress , of the Institution ) , C . E . Keyser , P . G . D ., and H . Trask , Bro . A . Mullord

and Mrs . and Miss Mullord , Bro . I . Hastings Miller , P . G . S . B ., Mrs , F . W . Stanley , Miss Edith Miller . Bro . W . H . Htibbert , Bro . Chas . Kempton and Mrs . Kempton , Bro . H . Massey , Miss Massey , and Miss Ellen Massey , Bro . Charles Frederick Hogard , P . G . Std . Br ., Miss Mary L . Raiker , Miss Ada Gordon McKenzie , Miss Lilian Raiker , Mrs . Jessie K . Fa . uU , Mrs . Gertrude

M . Terry , Miss Kate Terry , Margaret Gordon McKenzie , Bro . Hugh Cotter , Miss Annie Cotter , Miss Harriet Cotter , Mrs . Emma Murray , and Bros . J . G . Stevens and John Mason . On arriving at the Institution , after a nice walk from the East Croydon Railway Station , in bright bracing winter weather , the visitors were most cordially received

by Bro . Terry , who had a warm welcome and a Happy New Year for each individual . The annuitants had already begun to leave their residences for the beautifully arranged and hospitable hall , where the tables were laid for the New Year ' s repast , and these residents were also welcomed by Bro . Terry . It was with sincere satisfaction that both visitors and residents found Mrs .

Terry nnce more among them , for her absence was particularly noticed in 1 S 94 , and her illness , which was Ihe cause of her absence , was great lyrfgrel ted . Thai was the only occasion when she was no ! among Ihe company , and her previous 19 annual New Year ' s visits made her almost . 1 necessary member of the party , and tire top table without her at the lelt hand of Bro . Dr ,

Strong , who presided , did not present its usual appearance . However , on this occasion the table presented its wonted aspect , and Mrs . Terry never looked in better health . Bro . Dr . Strongwas at the headtable . and the three other tables were presided over by Bros . Terry , Keyser , Hastings , Miller . John Newton , and Charles Kempton , while the other brethren assisted in looking

after the proper attendance on the annuitants and the ladies who sat down with them to the repast . This consisted of some magnificent turkeys , with sirloins of beef , roast and boiled fowls , and ham , plum pudding , and mince pies , and it must be remembered that the cost of the entertainment throughout is defrayed by voluntary donations , and the subscriptions to the

Institution are not encroached upon to defray it . On this occcasion each old lady annuitant in the Institution was presented with a packet of tea and a packet of sugar , and each of the aged brethren , half a pound ol tobacco and a new pipe , by the generosity of Bro . W . J . Crutch . Bro . G . F . Cook presented a dozen of port for the toasts after dinner . Bro . Thomas Hastings

Miller , P . G . S . B ., sent two magnificent hams , and Airs . Terry , as usual , furnished the mince pics , and Mrs . Strong , the plum puddings . Before the annuitants left the table , " The Health of the Oueen " was drunk , and Bro . Dr . STRONG proposed "The Founders of the F ' east , " informing the company of the fact above stated , that the funds of

the Institution were not laid under contribution to the entertainment . Several old kind friends who were present found the funds , and one of them , Bro . T Hastings Miller , who had been a frequent contributor , he would ask to respond . Bro . T . HASTINGS MILLER , in acknowledging the toast , said the givers of the feast were really indebted

to the Committee of the Institution for allowing them to come and see their old friends . It cheered their hearts to see their old friends , who , he could not help saying , looked younger than ever . He hoped thai fur many years they mig ht come anil see them enjoying these little festivals . Bro . Dr . STKONU next proposed " Success to the Royal

Masonic Benevolent Institution , " coupling it with ihe name of their esteemed and beloved Secretary , Bro . Terry . It was a great pleasure to attend , year after year , and see the same faces , and to hear from Bro . Terry a statement of the progress of the Institution . Bro . TKKRV said once again it was a very gio . it pleasure as well as a privilege to respond to this toast so kindly g iven . The toast did not romprise only the

welfare of the annuitants in the building in which the company were now assembled , but it spread over the whole of England and extended to the colonies , for at Toronto , in Canada , they had a lady annuitant . There fore , their toasts were not that day confined to the present gathering , but extended to the whole of the 4 80 annuitants . The past year had been a very eventful one , because it had been a difficult matter lo obtain the usual supplies owinj ^ to the badness ol trade , but when

New Year's Entertainment At The Ro Yal Masonic Benevolent Institution, Croydon.

they totalled up the finances at six or seven o clock on the previous Monday evening , they were able to say they were in a better position than they were at the same time in 1 S 93 . As they would remember , the Festival last February produced £ 11 . 400 ; the Girls ' , in May following , realised a total of £ 18 , 000 ; and the Boys ' , the next month over £ 10 , 000 ; so that the Benevolent

was some £ 7000 behind the Girls' and £ 8 , 000 behind the Boys ' , and he certainly concluded that the year 1894 , for the . first time in 19 years , the Benevolent would be at the bottom of the poll . It was not , however , in that position ; it was second with a total of £ 20 , 74 8 . The Boys' School was first , as was naturally to be expected with £ 19 , 000 at the Festival ;

it had reached the . total in the year of £ 24 , 208 , and the Girls' had £ 20 , 083 . The Benevolent was very nearly being at the bottom , but it had not come to that position yet , and he hoped it never would . The coming year was looking a little brig hter . At this time last year they bad 172 Stewards for the Festival ; they had 184 now for the next February Festival

—12 in advance of last year : and the Province of Somersetshire , whose . Provincial Grand Master , Viscount Dungarvan . was to be their Chairman , was working very zealously to bring up the highest amount Somersetshire ever had . ( One Steward he had heard had £ 200 on his list . He mentioned this in case anv Steward from London lodges should be ambitious of

taking a larger amount . He hoped that at the meeting of the Board of Stewards , which would be held tomorrow , he would have an increase in the number of Stewards for February . In the Institution during the past year there had been little illness and not one death , and that , he ventured to think , was due , first , to Bro . Dr . Strong , who laid the foundation of health ' by

the care he took of the old people , and , next , to Dr . Waite , who took his place when he retired . Bro . Hastings Miller said he thought the old people looked younger ; he ( Bro . Terry ) thought so too , after having seen them 30 years , and he hoped and trusted they would get younger ; they had evidently learned the secret , and if they would give the recipe to him he

might sell it to the public for the benefit of the Institution . Bro . Terry then thanked the Chairman , the founders of I ho feasl , and the ladies and gentlemen who had honoured him with their company , and assured them that those connected with the Institution considered it their duty fo administer to the comforts of Ihe male and female annuitants in the Institution .

Uro . FAHNI 11 : 1 i ) proposed '' The Health of Bro . Dr . Strong , " which Bro . Dr . Strong acknowledged , and Bro . JOHN NKWTON proposed " The Health of the Matron , Miss Norris . " Alderman RVMRK ( Croydon ) , who entertained ( he old people last year , in responding to the toast of his

health proposed by Rro . Terry , assured the brethren that during his mayoral period in 18 94 nothing gave him greater pleasure than to meet the brethren and sisters on the occision referred to . He only hoped that all who were present then , and were present now , might long live to enjoy the benefits of this noble Institution .

At a later period of the afternoon , Bro . TKKRV replying to the toast of " Success to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , " proposed by Bro . J . NEWTON , who presided at the repast provided for the brethren who had assisted at the dinner to the annuitants , siid that in keeping up the time honoured custom ol drinking this toast it had sometimes been said he had

a little budget of news for trose who took so much interest in the Institution and the success of it . As he had previously stated they had had a most successful year , far more successfu 1 than hi ; thought they would have or their most sanguine friends thought they would have . The result of the year had been £ 20 , 7 80 . At the annual festival in February they got £ 11 , 400 to start

with , and they realised with donations and subscriptions which had come in since , a total of £ 14 . 000 , or £ 2600 above theannotincenientat the Festival . This was due to a great extent to the energy and perseverance of tne collector , Bro . John Mason , who in season and out of season had been about the town getting in outstanding amounts of previous years in order o make the last

year successful . He ( Bro . Terry ) did not know Ihe particulars of the Girls' whether they had got in the whole of the £ 18 , 000 , but as far as regarded the Boys ' they had £ 19 , 049 at the Festival , and their total wa ; £ 20 , 300 , so they had realised £ 1 , 300 more than their announcement . The Benevolent Institution had realised £ 2600 beyond their announcement , which

was much to be commended . The dividends which had been £ 3000 had realised last year £ ; 'S 59 . The Institution had had £ 1260 for a perpetual presentation , in addition to the £ 14 , 000 ; Grand Lodge gave them £ 1600 , and Grand Chapter £ 350 ; the other items of receipts were veiy small indeed . But all these sums had resulted in a total of £ 20 , 700 . The outlook

for the election next May was rather discouraging ; the country had been very healthy , and there had been but few deaths , and in addition to 36 men and 34 women not elected last time they had the enormo . is number of 37 extra men and 1 ( 1 widows as candidates for the fund , making 73 men and 53 widows to take seven vacancies for the men and four for the

widows . Unless , therefore , great mortality among the annuitants should occur , the outlook for the ensuing election in May was rather discouraging . They had been successful hitherto in taking on extra numbers when there was a pressure , and he would venture to put it to members of the Committee present to consider not as Committeemen , but as subscribers to the Inst . tu tion , whether , when the Committee met in Februar ) ,