Provincial Grand Lodge Of Northumrebland.

Interspersed between the toasts was an excellent programme of vocal music , consisting of gl e <; , son ? s , & c , most acceptably performed bv Bros . C . E . Moore . J . W . ; G . W . Moore . Org . ; A . Moir , Stwd . ; R . B . Robson , J . D . ; and D . Macaulav ( Scotch pipes ) . The banquet finished at < j 30 . the whole affair having passed | off most satisfactorily .

A large numbrr of brethren were also entertained at the Star Hotel , where they were catered for by Bro . T . Home in his well-known excellent style .

Annual Supper Of The Evening Star Lodge Of Instruction. No. 1719.

ANNUAL SUPPER OF THE EVENING STAR LODGE OF INSTRUCTION . No . 1719 .

The annual supper of the above lodge of instruction was held on Tuesday evening , the 24 th ult ., at St . George ' s Hall , Catford . Bro . James Speller , the Preceptor of the lodge , presided , and Bro . James Gibbs acted as Vice-Chairman . Among the other brethren present were Bros . R . A . Brangwin , C . Couchman , J

Coote , Roland Cook , F . Hughes , P . M . ; J . H . Laing , P . M . ; E . Richards , J , Roberts , J . W . Sanders , Walter Tyler , T . C . Ward , George W . Beste , WShurmur , H . E . Cockell , B . Bramble , Maunder , Alfred Dandridge , Spencer West , Harrett Dummett , C . Meierhoff , E . Croft Wise , H . Massey , N . Fortescue , RPierpoint , J . Fillman , F . Stephens , G . R . Hoare , W . H . Gardner , H . B . Brooman

Alfred Caink , J . H . Maunders , F . Humphreys , G . Ledsan , F . Martin Hale , F . J . Holdsworth , A . Haynes , A . Featherstone , F . J . Hinsford , Edwin H . Oxenham , A . M . Ohren , H . Marshall , T . H . Ward , T . R . Roberts , F . Madge , H . Lewis , W . S . Hunter , M . Delman , O . Bruster , J . Eckford , E . Paul , R . Moarse , A . Reichenstein , H . Pynegar , VV . Rayment Richards , J . H . Boston , A . Bollyeald , H . Blake , W . C . Brownfield , J . Ward , Robert Sarson , S . Reichenstein , John A . Laing , E . Dines , C . Weem , Alfred Maines , and Alfred Balfour .

The supper provided for the refreshment of the brethren was of a most bountiful description , and all the arrangements deserved the highest praise . In the course of the evening , Bro . Speller bestowed richly-deserved praise on Bros . Laing , the well-known florists of Catford , who had decorated the hall and tables with beautiful flowers and evergreens .

The toasts which followed the supper were interspersed with a musical and elocutionary entertainment by Bros . G . W . Beste , Alfred Dandridge , F . Stephens H . E . Ccckell , B . Bramble , Maunder , Spencer West , C . Couchman , and Aubrey Ohren , Bro . J . H . Maunder accompanying . The musical arrangements were under the direction of Bro . C . Spencer West .

Bro . W . SHURMUR , P . P . G . Treas . Essex , proposed "The Chairman , " who , he said , was a P . P . G . D . Essex , and in him they had a notable example of what might be achieved by patience and industry . Bro . Speller was acknowledged as an authority on all the Degrees of Craft Masonry , and was recognised as an excellent Installing Master . Those brethren who had attained to the full crown and development in the career of a Master in the Royal Arch , and had had the privilege

of hearing Bro . Speller , would acknowledge that he was a faithful exponent of that most beautiful of all Masonic ritual . They frequently saw brethren very diligent students of Freemasonry when they were approaching the chair , and regularly attending lodges of instruction , but after they had passed through their year of office , so far as lodges of instruction were concerned , they were conspicuous by their absence . That principle did not apply to Bro . Speller , because he

had a love for Freemasonry , and was actuated by a desire to help any brother who wished to acquire sufficient Masonic knowledge to enable him intelligently to carry out any office which might be entrusted to him . The brethren of the Evening Star Lodge of Instruction were to be congratulated on having secured the services of such a thoroughly good Mason for their Preceptor . Bro . Speller did not content himself with working the ritual , but , like Dr . Primrose , practised that

which he preached . He was a very liberal supporter of the Masonic eleemosynary Institutions , and had the ri ght of wearing the tri-collar , which indicated that he was a Vicc-Patron of all three Institu'ions , and that meant that he had contributed a minimum of 100 guineas to each . He ( Bro . Shurmur ) knew of no friend in the Masonic world whom he more respected than Bro . Speller ; he had never heard any one speak one ill-word of Bro . Speller , and he was sure that the longer the brethren knew him the more they would appreciate him .

Bro . J AMES SPELLER , in reply said , Bro . Shurmur had said many kind words cf him , some of which he did not think he deserved ; but he confessed to being pie ased to be connected with the Evening Star Lodge of Instruction . What slight duties he had to perform always came to him as a work of happiness and a labour of love , and he hoped he should be spared many years to keep in association with that lodge . He thanked both Bro . Shurmur and the brethren for the kindness they had evinced to him .

Bro . J AMES SPELLER , afterwards said the next toast was " The Evening Star Lodge of Instruction . " If the members of that lodge were only asking for the good wishes for the success of the lodge they had that night by the good attendance had their reward . In speakings ! this lodge of instruction it was very gratifying to have to announce that since the lodge had sprung into existence it had made wonderful leaps and bounds ; more particularly they had noticed at

their last two meetings what had been very encouraging . In the case of the brother , the hard working Secretary , the I . P . M . of the United Pilgrim Lodge he initiated and immediatel y got him to attend the Evening Star Lodge of Instruction . Here he became I . G ., S . and J . D ., and S . and J . W ., ultimately reaching the W . M . ' s chair . Although , that good brother had only been initiated six or seven months it was their happiness and privilege to listen to him work the

ceremony of initiation in a most exemplary manner . Notonly did he perform this ceremony but he delivered the Ancient Charge . A fortnight or three weeks ago a ycung member who had been recently initiated in apowerfullodgeinLewisham , was attending the Evening Star , and when the roll call was gone through one brother was absent . They asked the young brother whether he would work the Second

Degree on the second Saturday of the month . He consented . He opened the lodge , asked the questions leading from the First to the Second Degree very satisfactorily , opened the lodge in the Second Degree , and to the great surprise of the brethren , rendered the passing in a very careful and painstaking manner . These facts were very encouraging .

Bro . G . W . BESTE , Secretary , responded , and said the successes narrated by Bro . Speller were enough to encourage any brother . The young brethren referred tovicvild put many W . Ms , in \ he « ovin lodges to the Mush . So long as the Evening Star had young members coming forward read y to fill the chair the success of the Evening Star Lodge of Instruction must be assured .

Bro . J AMES SPELLER proposed "The Vice-Chairman . " Unfortunately Bro . Gibbs was not present , but they had in his place Bro . Hunter , P . M ., who was one of the founders of this lodge of instruction . Bro . Hunter was also one of the persevering brethren , who applied to have the sanction of Lodge No . 1719 . Through appealing to Bro . Magnus Ohren , who was a good old Mason and a Grand Lodge Officer , he was successful , and the brethren owed him a debt of gratitude for meeting Saturday after Saturday .

Annual Supper Of The Evening Star Lodge Of Instruction. No. 1719.

Bro . HUNTER , in reply , said the lodge started in a very humble way indeed . He did not put himself forward as the originator of the scheme , but he looked round the table and saw so many distinguished brethren that he thought the Evening Star Lodge of Instruction might find in that circumstance encouragement to go forward . He was sorry Bro . Gibbs was not present . It really must have been illness that kept him away . Bro . Walter King was also absent , or he ( Bro . Hunter ) would not have been in the vice chair . The lodge started as a

Masonic club , and P . Ms , would take any office that was going . So , as P . M ., he was asked to take the chair . Of course he did it—in the First , Second , and Third Degrees . The next thing they had to do was to find a Preceptor after they got sanction to form the Evening Star Lodge of Instruction . They were very fortunate in finding Bro . Speller . As soon as they got him , all their troubles came to an end , and ever since all the brethren seemed to be very happy together . They

hoped soon to work the Sections in addition to the ceremonies . He was really astonished to see so many distinguished Masons present , but he could say thu from whatever part brethren came to them they would be always most happy to see them . As Bro . Speller had said , it was extremely encouraging to see young Masons come forward and do the work . The P . Ms , did not want to occupy thc chair ; they were only too glad to see the young members do the work , and they themselves only went in as a stop-gap .

Bro . R . PiERroiNT , P . M . 749 , in responding to the toast of " The Visitors , " said it was a pleasure to him to be present , and also a privilege . It was a privilege also to be called upon as one of the visitors to say a few words . They would , however , be very few , but they were from the heart . He had wintered and summered with Bro . Speller sixteen years ; he had met him in Masonry in many lodges but he had never spent a more pleasant evening than that . To see Bro , Speller in the position of President was a pleasure ; the next was to see the

many faces familiar in other spheres , but whom before he did not know to be Masons . Bro . Speller took it as a great compliment to see such a representative body of the Craft assembled under his banner . He ( Bro . Pierpoint ) had always had pleasure in attending lodges of instruction—not so much perhaps of late years since he had passed the chair , as Bro . Shurmur had said—for he was not now quite so active as he used to be . But he would say it was lodges of instruction that , made brethren able , to work and do their duty

with credit to his lodge and himself and the Craft generally . No brother who joined the Evening Star Lodge would ever regret it . The worthy President had provided them with a good repast . In his ( Bro . Pierpoint ' s ) mother lodge they had three full and three off nights , but the supper nights were the most enjoyable . Many Metropolitan lodges had lodges of instruction working under their banner , and the brethren of the mother lodges knew hardly anything about them . Of the lodge he belonged to over 20 years , he ventured to think there was not a fourth of

the members knew there was a lodge of instruction in existence working under it . He thought it his duty when he was W . M . to visit that lodge of instruction to see how it was getting on . He ' went with his officers to the Surrey Masanic Hall , the officers of the evening vacated their chairs , and he and his officers presided . In the end he invited the brethren to the mother lodge ; they accepted the invitation , and the consequence was that it established and cemented a brotherly feeling between the mother lodge and the lodge of instruction which had existed up to the present day .

Bros . BLAKE , HAINES , CAINK , FEATHERSTONE , and HOLDSWORTH also replied . The toasts of "The Musical Brethren " and " The Stewards " followed before the brethren separated .

Annual Supper Of The St. John's Lodge Of Instruction, No. 167.

ANNUAL SUPPER OF THE ST . JOHN'S LODGE OF INSTRUCTION , No . 167 .

On Thursday evening , the 19 th ult ., this well-known and highly successful lodge of instruction held its annual meeting and banquet at the Court House , Harlesden , when there was a goodly array of brethren present , including Bros . William Mason Stiles , P . M . 1807 , P . G . Treas . ; J . M . McLeod ., P . M ., P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . I . B . ; Hillier , P . M . 1366 and 2090 , ; C . Penny , P . M . 1637 , Treas . ; F . S . Priest , W . M . 1637 , Secretary ; W . B . Neville , P . M . 17 6 7 , and Stephen Hussey , P . M . 16 37 , Stwds . ; Arthur Williams , P . M . 2090 and 834 ; W . Roche

Playford , P . M . 1608 ; W . R . Hatton , P . M . 2246 ; W . C Tebitt , P . M . 2045 ; George Hayford , I . P . M . 204 S ; E . J . Davis , R . M . 120 ; Robert Hendry , P . M . 1767 ; W . Dresden , P . M . 1602 ; M . Rosenberg , P . M . 1425 ; Henry Foale , P . M . 1767 and 1642 ; C Ortner , Coomber , Richardson , J . Cohen , George Brown , P . D . Miller , A . J . Clayton , Jennings , S . Jones , Dr . AIL Jones , J . T . Fripp , H . Cross , W . H . Thomas , Thomas Parker , Arthur Jones , George Chapman , T . G . Playford , Pendon , Hiscock , Moore , Woods , Battrum , Citt , J . Bonney , Poole , Coleman ,

Moss , and Jesse Smith . Previous to the banquet , Bro . Hillier , P . M ., worked the ceremony of installation , and duly installed Bro . Stephen Hussey , who appointed and invested his officers , after which Bro . Hillier gave the addresses in a very able and impressive

manner . The banquet WJS served in the fine large Court Room , and the loyal toasts of "The Queen" and "The M . W . G . M ., H . R . H . the Prince of Wales" were duly honoured . The toast of " The Pro Grand Master , the Deputy Grand Master , and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " was replied to by Bro . Mason Stiles , P . M ., P . G . Treas ., in a very able and appropriate manner .

The toast of " The Chairman and Installing Master " was proposed by Bro . ARTHUR WILLIAMS , P . M . Bro . W . HILLIER responded . The toast of " The Masonic Charities " was acknowledged by Bro . J . M . MCLEOD , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . LB ., who set forth the claims of the three

Institutions in a most able manner , sincerely thanking the brethren for the noble wjrk they had done in t ' .. e past in so liberally supporting the Institutions , which in three years amounted to no less a sum than about , £ 290 , and trusted the same generosity might be bestowed upon them in the future , and closed a most eloquent speech with an appeal for Stewards for the forthcoming Boys' School Festival .

The toast of " Success to St . John's Lodge of Instruction " was proposed by Bro . J . M , MCLEOII , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . I . B . The toast was acknowledged by Bro . W . ROCHE-PLAYI'ORD , P . M ., and the SECRETARY . The toast of "The Treasurer , and Stewards" was responded to by Bros . C . PENNY , P . M ., Treas . ; NEVILLE , P . M ., and HUSSEY , P . M ., Stewards ; and Bro . G . CHAPMAN , the popular Secretary of St . John ' s Benevolent Association .

The musical arrangements were of high-class character . Bro . C . Ortner rendered in his usual manner " The queen of the earth " and " The Bedouin's love song ; " Bro . Henry Cross gave two excellent songs— "True till death , " and " Mary of Audley Gray -, " Madame Eliza Thomas Rack , " Little John "' Porter" and another excellent song ; Mrs . Henry Cross , " Daddy" and " She