Craft Masonry.

"The Health of the W . M . " was proposed by the I . P . M ., who said the brethren were well acquainted with the figure and face of their W . M ., for his figure—like Saul of old—stood a head and shoulders above all others . They had chosen him for other qualities , which they gave him the credit of possessing . The W . M . had that kindness of heart they expected in a Master . He had also fininess , the fortiler in re , which ,

if necessary , he would use with a giant strength and to the purpos :. Bro . Doughty was initiated nearl y 14 vears ago with his father and brother , ana had filled various offices to the satisfaction of all . He ( the I . P . M . ) would not detain them by giving a long dissertalion on the qualities of the W . M ., but aski d the brethren to cordially drink the toast , and show their appreciation of him in the position lis occupied .

Bro . Arthur Doughty , W . M ., in resoonding to the toast , said he felt he was not deserving of the kind words used by the I . P . M . He felt most deeply the honour conferred upon him in placing him in the chair , and assured them he woul 1 fill it in every way to the best of his ability . He was not going to say he could surpass or equal those gone before , but he would do his best to give them more satisfaction as he progressed than he could do in the early stages . Voltaire had said that perfection was obtain : d by slow progress acquired by the hand of time . He hoped to progress , and at the next

installation , be as fluent as the I . P . M . He hoped to be given health and strength to continue in his office so lhat they would say " Well done , thou good and faithful servant . " The W . M . then went on to propose "The Chaplain . " He said that Bro . Rev . J . H . Rose was well known outside as well as in Freemasonry , and the fact that he had rilled the chair of two lodges , showed that he did not only attend lodges in his position as Chaplain . On several occasions Bro . Rose had come to the lodge , been called away by other duties and then returned to them again , which showed that he was attached to

them and that his heart was with them in all their labours . That night he ( the W . M . ) had a pleasant duty to perform which he wished was in mora able hands . The day on which they had met was Bro . Rose's birthday and they wished to show their appreciation of his presence and of his having forsaken family ties to be with them on the installation night . For many years they had appreciated Bro . Rose's services and they now wished to show that appreciation in a tangible form and ask his acceptance of a clock and , if not too heavy , carry it home to his wife and family . He would read the

inscription which was : " Presented in appreciation of valued services as Chaplain , to Bro . Rev . J . H . Rose , M . A ., P . M ., by the brethren of the Great Northern Lodge , No . 12 S 7 , on his birthday , January 21 st , 1 S 97 . " As the spokesman of the lodge he asked the Chaplain ' s acceptance of this small present , and they hoped he would be spared for many years to enjoy its chimes in the bosom of his family . Bro . Rev . J . H . Rose , P . M ., Chap ., returned heartful ihanks , and said he did not know how it came about , but the form of the present was most acceptable . They perhaps thought that he was neglecting domestic duties and running counter to the wishes

of his wife . On the previous day they were celebrating a daughter's birthday , and as it approached 12 o'clock they thought they might begin to keep up his own . When he first visited the Iodge they warmly welcomed him , and asked him to j tin them that he might be their Chaplain , as they were desirous of emphasising the religious portions of the ritual . He was truly grateful for the present , which he knew would be appreciated by his wife , who would hear it for longer hours than it would be possible ] for him to do . He could not _ thank them sufficiently for all their kindness to him , and especially on the present occasion .

The W . M . next submitted " The I . P . M . and Installing Master , " and said they all knew how splendidly the I . P . M . had worked through all the offices , and they had heard the flattering remarks of Bro . Hastings Miller respecting the installation ceremony . The I . P . M . had been a most popular Master , and the past year had been one of the happiest since he ( the W . M . ) had been in the lodge . The I . P . M . intended going up as Steward for the Girls' School , and hoped to be well supported bv the members of the lodge . That support was only his due for the manner in which hc had acted whilst in the chair . He ( the W . M . ) had great pleasure in presenting the I . P . M . with a Past Master ' s jewel , which

had been voted not as a matter of form , but because it had been well earned . Bro . C . Davis , I . P . M ., expressed his sincere thanks . If he had done his best their satisfaction was sufficient recompense . He trusted the brethren would support him liberally in his Stewardship for the Girls' School . " The Visitors " was cordially given , and duly acknowledged by Bros . Wheatley , W . M . ; White , P . M . ; Nuding , P . M . ; Plowright , I . P . M . ; and others . Other toasts were given , including "'Ihe Treasurer and Secretary , " when the invaluable services rendered by Bros . Webb , P . M ., and Cleghorn , P . M ., as Treasurer and Secretary , were once again acknowledged .

Bro . A . Kenningham , Org ., arranged a very excellent programme of music . Mis , Stanley Lucas assisted with several vocal selections , and Miss Ada Kempton was also very successful in gaining a well-earned meed of praise . Amongst others who assisted were Bros . G . Stubbs , T . H . Turner , and H . H . Nuding , Mr . Josiah Booth , jand Miss E . L . Newman .

Gladsmuir Lodge , No . 1385 . The installation meeting was held at the Red Lion Hotel , Barnet , on Friday , the 29 th ult . Bro . Ball , I . P . M ., presided as W . M ., and there were present Bros . F . G . Mason , S . W ., W . M . elect ; Rainsford , J . W . ; R . Fisher-Young , P . M ., Prov . G . D ., Treas . ; C . Gray , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B ., Sec . ; Cranston , S . D . ; Ellis , J . D . ; W . I .,.., ;< - DM PDA r . n < - n r . i ii : u :. DM r > P r . \\ t . I K- r . . . . . . .

,, P . M . / p . P . GAV . y Baxter , P . M . ' , P ! P . G . Reg . ; G . Blizard Abbott , ' P . M ., P . P . G . D ; Collingwood , P . M ., P . P . G . Std . Br . ; Dr . Haskins , Org . ; Witthaus , Steward ; Goddard , Tyler ; Baddeley , Billson , Attree , and Imray . Visitors : Bros , the Rev . W . Blockley , W . M . 1479 , P . P . G . Chap . ; Martin , P . M . 1716 ; Witthaus , W . M . 2509 ; Hunt , P . M . 194 ; Christmas , P . M . 194 ; Overed , P . M . 170 S ; Dr . Rowton , 2509 ; Faulkner , 2509 ; Davidson , Walter Genge , Chamberlain , Patterson , and others .

The minutes of the November lodge having been read and confirmed , letters of regret at their inability to be present were read from the Prov . G . Master ( Bro . T . F . Halsey , M . P . ) , Bros . F . Sumner Knyv . tt , P . G . D ., Prov . G . Treas . ; J . Terry , P . G . S . B ., Prov . G . D . of C , Sec . R . M . B . I . ; and others . Bro . Mason was then presented by Bro . Lewis , P . M ., D . C , to the W . M . in the chair , to receive at his hands the benefit of installation , and a Board of Installed Masters having been formed , the ceremony was

most impressively carried out by Bro . Ball . Bro . Mason having been proclaimed and saluted , appointed and , in the majority of cases , invested the following brethren as his officers for the ensuing year , namely , Bros . Rainsford , S . W . ; Cranston , J . W . ; R . F . Young , P . M ., Treasurer ( elected ); Charles Gray , P . M ., Secretary ; Ellis , S . D . ; Witthaus , J . D . ; H . Grimwade , I . G . ; W . Lewis , P . M ., D . of C . ; Dr . Haskins , Organist ; Billson , A . D . C . ; Attree and Baddeley , Stewards ; and Goddard , Tyler .

Bro . G . Blizard Abbott , P . M ., having been elected to represent the lodge on the Prov . Audit Committee , and Bro . J . Brittain , P . M ., on the Hertfordshire Masonic Charity Association , the trustees and officers of the Gladsmuir Benevolent Fund were re-elected for the ensuing year , and " Hearly good wishes " having been expressed to the new W . M ., lodge was closed , and the brethren , to the number of nearly 40 , dined together in the newly-erected banqueting-room , the dinner itself being excellent , and well woithy of the Lion , but the wailing sadly deficient .

The usual toast list was duly honoured , the soeeches being brief , and enliven : d by some capital songs , admirably sung by Bros . Walter G : orge ( eoored ) , Cranston , Baxter , Lewis , Gray , Patterson , with Bro . Dr . Haskins at the piano . Great hopes are entertained of the Mastership of Bro . Mason , who is justly populai with the lodge , and well deserves his promotion .

Sir Charles Bright Lodge , No . 1793 . The regular meeting of this successful loJge was held at the Clarence Hoel , Teddington , on Wednesday , the 27 th ultimo . Present : Bros . J . E . Ruffell , W . M . ; W . Middleweek , P . M ., P . P . A . G . D . C ; R . VV . Forge , P . M ., P . P . G . D . C , Treas . ; E . W . Warner , P . M ., P . P . A . G . D . C , Sec . ; T . Middleweek , S . D . ; Ii . Hall , J . D . ; R . Goff , I . G . ; Packington , P . M ., Org . ; Muller , P . M . ; Porter , P . M . ; Houghton ,

Godo ' aid , Bicughsin , 'lt . omt . son , Williams , Edwards , and Fitzwilliam . Visitors : Bros , Butters , W . M . Jersey Lodge ; De Haine Rosslyn , P . M ., P . G . D . Essex ; and May , 17 C 7 . The lodge having been opened , a letter was read from the S . W ., stating thathaving already filled the chair in another bdg' ' , he did not intend to stand as candidate . Bro W . Smith , J . W ., was thereupon unanimously elected to fill tbat position . Bro . R . W , Forge was again dieted 'Treasurer , and Bio . T . Gilbert , Tyler .

I here being no further business , the loJge was closed , and , the brethren'proceeded to hold one of thtir celebrated musical evenings . Special features of the programme were the Walbrook Glee Singers—Messrs . S , L . Shearing , C Seymour , Phil Macdonald , and C . Sapsed—and Miss Gladwin . Bro . E . Hall and Mr . T . Ellis Foster also contributed selections . The performances throughout werc perfect and the encores enthusiastic .

Craft Masonry.

Abbey Lodge , No . 2120 . A mrst successful and enjoyable installation meeting of this prosperous lodge was held at the Masonic Hall , Chertsey , on Wednesday , the 13 th ult ., under the presidency of Bro . Janus Webb , W . M ., when a large company assembled to see Bro . Frank Harper , [ . P . M . and one of the founders of the Noel Money Lodge , No . 2521 ( he being elected W . M . in succession to the late Prov . G . M ., Bro . Col . Noel Money ) , and member of the Abbey Chapter , placed in the chair . Among the brethren present were Bros . R . F . Gould , P . G . D . ; VV . S . Hooper . W . M . 10 S 7 ; E . H . Armitage . W . M . -. 70 : I . H .

Askham , P . P . G . D . C . ; H . C . Leigh Bennett , P . P . S . G . W . ; J . B . Lancaster , P . M . and Sec . 2317 , P . P . G . S . B . ; II . J . Bidwell , P . P . G . D . C . ; W . ti . Gardener , P . P . A . G . D . C ; A . W . Crewdson , P . G . S . ; E . T . Madeley , P . P . G . S . B . ; W . Dix , P . M . ; T . Dix , P . M . ; Chas . Welch , P . G . S . of Wks . ; S . C Knight , P . M . 1395 ; A . H . Gale , S . D . 2521 ; John Goring , Treas . 2536 "; J . Hoey , W . M . 2317 ; A . W . Gerrard , P . M . ; | . Tomlinson , J . W . 2317 ; J . E . Thomas , 619 ; J . B . Wood , 2521 ; H . Budd , 2521 ; E . A . Brown , Sec . 2521 ; A . Grace , D . C . 2521 ; F . Purkiss , I . P . M . 2309 ; W . E . Montgomery , J . W . 370 ; J . J . Watts , 370 ; J . J . Robertson , 2460 ; T . J . Rawlings , 2120 ; and others .

The lodge having been opened , the minutes were read and confirmed , after which Bro , Frank Harper was presented to the VV . M . by Bro . H . J . Bidivefl , P . P . G . D . C , to be installed . The ceremony of installation was performed by Bro . James Webb in a very perfect manner , and when Bro . Harper had been placed in the chair and duly saluted , the following brethren were appomted as his officers for the ensuing year : Bros . James Webb , I . P . M . ; Wm . Brooks , S . W . ; A . McCormick , J . W . ; H . C . Leigh

Bennett , P . M ., P . P . S . G . W ., Treas . ; H . J . Bidwell , P . M ., P . P . G . D . C , Sec . ; the Rev . E . A . Parr , Vicar of Chertsey , Chap . ; A . G . Hutchins , S . D . ; H . G . Nesmyth , J . D . ; Chas . Head , I . G . ; J . F . Bailv , Org . ; R . J . Hunt , D . C . ; E . Squire and W . Bates , Stwds . ; and G . J . Mason , Tyler . Bro . James Webb then delivered the addresses , after which the customary "Hearty good wishes" were tendered by the visiting brethren , and the lodge was closed .

Then followed a recherche repast , for which the Masonic Hall at Chertsey is famous , provided by Bro . Mason , the menu for which was unique , and caused considerable amusement , the various dishes being described enigmatically . The usual loyal toasts having been proposed by the W . M . and duly honoured , Br ) . H . J . Bidwell , P . P . G . D . C , in proposing the toast— " The Pro Grand Master , the Deputy Grand Master , and the-rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " said he was sorry that toast had not fallen into abler hands , as he was but a humble member of a small country lodge , and could not be expected to know much of the Grand Officers

beyond what he read of them in Masonic literature , but he rejoiced to know that among those officers were to be found some of England ' s proudest and best sons , who had devoted the best years of their lite in the interests of the Craft , and maintaining the dignity and honour of thtir Masonic Institutions . He was glad to find they were honoured that evening with the presence of a distinguished Grand Officer in the person of their Bro . Gould , who had done so much to disseminate useful knowledge in connection with their ancient Institutions and Masonry generally . Whenever the Grand Officers came among them they could always rely upon receiving the very heartiest reception .

Bro . R . F . Gould , P . G . D ., replying , thanked them for the kind manner in which the the toast had been proposed and received . The Prince of Wales , their Most Worshipful Grand Master , was beyond all douSt the mist deservedly popular man in the Britisa Empire , and amid all thc arduous duties that his exalted position demanded from him , he found time to perform his duties to the Craft with fervency and zeal . The distinguished brethren who had been appointed his principal officers , the Pro and Deputy Grand Masters were respected throughout the length and breadth of the land .

He ( Bro . Gould ) much appreciated Bro . Bidweli ' s kind remarks concerning himself and his writings . It was not his intention to inflict upon them a long speech that evening , for as many of the brethren present mifht be aware , whenever a sick person began to talk about his illness , a wo nan about her baby , or an author about his works , they never knew when to leave off . The duties of the Grand OfficerSjWhich were , he believed , performed satisfactorily , were generally of a very pleasurable character , and they might feel assured that if other Grand Officers could have found it convenient to be there that night they would—as he had done—have thoroughly enjoyed

themselves . He had witnessed with great pleasure the admirable manner in which Bro . Webb had installe a his successor in the chair . He yielded to none in his respect and esteem for Bro . Webb . In point of fact the Woking brethren were almost entitled toclaim— he would not say one half of Bro . Webb—but a share of him , he was as much endeared to them as he was to the members of that lodge . He also desired to congratulate Bro . Harper , who was a worthy successor of a good man , and he felt certain he would add lustre to the already brilliant traditions of the Abbey Lodge , and follow worthily in the footsteps of those Masters who had preceded him in the chair , from the time of Bro . Leigh Bennett down to that of Bro . James Webb .

The toast of " The R . W . the Prov . Grand Master , the Deputy Prov . Grand Master , and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " was proposed by Bro . W . Dix , P . M . The Province of Surrey , he said , was indeed fortunate to have such distinguished brethren to preside over it and they appreciated the honour to its fullest extent . It was his privilege to meet their Right Worshipful the Prov . G . Master in the Colonies some years ago and his work in New Zealand won for him the esteem and respect of the Colonists . He had no hesitation in saying that Freemasonry in the Province of Surrey woaTd continue to flourish in the future as it had done in the past , while it could retain the honour of having such excellent officers .

Bro . Thos . We ' ch , P . G . Supt . of Works , responding , said hs wis very sorry that the Right Worshipfal Prov . G . Master was prevented from being present that evening . He thought the Abbey Lodge had cause for congratulation in hiving so goodly a number of Piov . Grand Ofiicers , inasmuch , as although a comparatively young lodge , six or seven members had had conferred upon them provincial honours . Those who attended Prov . Grand Lodge , at Kingston , last year , would remember that the Prov . Grand Master stated that it was his intent ions person illy ( if circum stances permitted ) to visit each of the lodges in his province and to personally identify himself with every memberof the various lodges .

The Province of Surrey numbered about 40 lodges , and he was of opinion that the Abbey Lodge was second to none , not ooly for the excellence of working and their hospitable board , but as well a-s for the kindly feeling and good fellowship that existed among its members and he was certain there were very few lodges that : could show such a favourable balance . They had contributed largely to all the Charities and were the possessors of a large number of votes for all the Institutions . He trusted the W . M . would have a pleasant year of ofiice and that he would receive the support he deserved from the brethren .

Bro . S . W . Crewdson , Prov . G . Stwd ., also suitably responded . The W . M ., in proposing the toast of " The Visitors " fmany of whom had to leave in order to catch their trains ) said the Abbey Lodge gave them a hearty welcome , and he trusted they had been pleased with the working they had witnessed . Although at their hospitable board their menu had been somewhat puzzling to them , he trusted they had b : en satisfied with what had been pro / ided for them to eat .

Bros . Armitage , W . M . 370 ; W . S . Hooper , W . M . 19 S 7 ; Capt . Hoey , W . M . 2317 ; and G . Gray , W . M . 1900 , responded . Bro . J . Webb , in propping the toast of " The W . M ., " slid he could not tell the brethren more than they already knew of Bro . Harper . He wasaman who used his best energies to promote the interests of the Craft , and he hoped during his year of office he would have plenty of scope for displaying his talents in Freemasonry .

The W . M ., in reply , thanked Bro . Webb for the eulogistic terms in which he had proposed the toast . He felt it a very great honour to be installed in the chair of the Abbey Lodge , especially as that was only the ninth year of his Masonic career . It was in that lodge he was first introduced into the mysteries and arts ot Freemasonry . He should use his best endeavours in carrying out the duties in connection with the lodge to perform the same with satisfaction to himself , and he hoped with credit to the lodge .

The W . M . then proposed the toast of "The Past Masters , " which was suitably responded to by Bros . VV . H , Ga-dener and J . Webb . The toast of " The Treasurer and Secretary " was then proposed by the W . M ., and eloquently responded to by Bros . H . C Leigh Bennett and H . J . Bidwell . Under the direction of Bro . J . F . Biiley , a delightful selection of music was given , Bos . E . Squire , C . Welch , and VVhite ably assisting . A very pleasing feature of the eve ling was the performance of the Sta \ ordde Banjo Quartette pirty , who travelled from London expressly to contiibute to the instrumental portion of the programme , wh . ch was greatly appreciated .