Provincial Meetings.

MORECAMBE . Lodge Of Fortitude ( No . 281 ) . —On Wednesday , the 20 th ult ., the members of this lodg'e celebrated the anniversary of St . John the Baptist by dining together at Bro . Longmirc ' s , the King's Arms Hotel . Advantage was also taken of the gathering to present a silver salver to Bro . lames Hatch , P . M ., as some

recognition of his services as Treasurer to the lodge during a period of 23 years . An excellent dinner was provided by Host Longmire , and it was well and promptly served . Bro . J . B . Shaw , W . M ., presided , the vice-chairs being occupied by Bros . Relph , S . W ., and Gooch , J . W . ; supporting them were Bros . J . Heald , Jas . Hatch , John Hatch , G . Kelland , W . King , T . Atkinson , J . Atkinson , R . Nicholson , J . Jowett ,

E . Cardwell , B . Gregson , Thomas G . Thompson , Charles Calvert , W . Atkinson , Compston , Parker , Selman , Hatton , Lee , Allinson , Hamer , and others . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts having been given and responded to , the Chairman said he had now a very pleasing duty to perform , and that was to present a testimonial to an old and valued member of the lodge , namely , their late

treasurer , Bro . Jas . Hatch , P . M . The financial state of the lodge had been very satisfactory during the 23 years Bro . Hatch had been Treasurer , and the brethren thought it desirable to give him some testimonial as a slight appreciation of his services . A sum of money was voted from the lodge funds for that purpose , and which was further augmented by subscriptions from the members . That enabled them to

purchase a handsome silver salver , which hadbeen suitabl y inscribed , and which he now , on behalf of the brethren ot the Lodge of Fortitude , had much pleasure in presenting to Bro . Hatch , P . M ., asamarkof their appreciation of the zealous , faithful , and impartial manner in which he had performed the duties of Treasurer for a period of 23 years . Although Bro . Hatch was ceasing to be an active worker , he hoped he

would be spared for many years yet , and that they might rely on his cordial support and co-operation in anything that pertained to the good of the lodge of which he had been so zealous a member . Bro . James Hatch , in acknowledging the present , said he would indeed be ungrateful if he were to say he did not ¦ appreciate the kind gift which he had received at their

hands that evening . He certainly never expected to meet with anything like such a recognition of the poor services which he had rendered to the Lodge of Fortitude for the last few years as that they had presented him with . Nevertheless , he must acknowledge that he felt exceedingly gratified at that mark of their esteem for what he had endeavoured to do for the lodge . He could assure them that the

Lodge of Fortitude had always been first and foremost with him ; not that he would speak disparagingly of any of the other lodges , but at the same time his mother lodge had always been right dear to him . Anything he had done had been done with the best intentions , and anything he could do at any future time should be rendered as honestly . He rejoiced that the funds of the lodq-e had increased whilst in

his hands ; but perhaps had it not been for the anxiety which he felt for the lodge that would not have been the case . After remarking what a source of sorrow it was to him to see so few of his former companions round the table , but which was the result of one of those things that in the course of nature would come to all of them , and expressing his pleasure at seeing so many comparativclv voting men

taking an interest in Masonry , Bro . Hatch concluded by again thanking the brethren for their handsome present , and said his reason for choosing a piece of . plate was that it might descend to his children and his children ' s children as •a memento and an illustration of what Masonry could do in 1 SS 9 . Other toasts followed , but the proceedings were commendably short so that the brethren could get into the open air ,

instead of remaining so long in a heated room . The salver is a circular one standing on three claw-feet , and about 14 inches in diameter . It is beautifully chased , and bears the following inscription : " Presented by the members of the Lodge of Fortitude , No . 2 S 1 , to Bro . " Jas . Hatch , P . M ., as a mark of their appreciation of his twentythree years' service as Treasurer of the lodge , from 1 S 6 5 to iRRS . June 26 th , 18 . S 9 . "

ROMFORD . Liberty of Havering Lodge ( No . 1437 ) . —The installation meeting of the above excellent lodge took place on Thursday , the 27 th ult ., at the Public Hall , when Bro . J . H . Sharp , S . W . and Worshipful Master elect , was installed in the chair of K . S ., and saluted . The lodge was opened by Bro . Thco . Davev , W . M ., and the minutes

of the preceding meeting having been confirmed , the ballot was taken for Mr . W . G . Bailey , and proved unanimous . The candidate being , in attendance was then duly initiated hy Bro . Heasman , P . M . and Sec , P . P . J . G . D ., in eloquent and faultless form , after which Bro . J . Seabrook was passed by the W . M . The W . M . then proceeded to the more interesting , if not more serious portion of the business , the

installation of his successor , which having been effected , Bro . Sharp appointed and invested his officers as follows Bros . Davev , I . P . M . ; G . B . Gilbv , S . W . ; R . Jennings , J . W . ; Rev . T . Cochrane , M . A ^ , P . G . Chap ., P . P . G . Chap ., Chap . ; F . A . White , P . M ., P . P . G . Reg ., Treas . ; H . R . Heasman , P . M ., P . P . J . G . D ., Sec . ; H . T . Hardy , S . D . ; G . W . King , J . D . ; " W . D . ChildI . G . ; J .

Bore-, ham , Org . ; J . W . Armour , D . C ; J . S . Hammond and R . H . Matthew , Stwds . ; J . Spencer , A . D . C . ; and A . G . Young , Tyler . Bro . Davev , who had been very unwell lately , then requested Bro . Thomas Humphreys , P . M ., P . S . G . W ., to finish the ceremony , which he did by delivering the lectures in a most eloquent and impressive " manner ; and when we take into consideration the fact that this was

done _ within an hour ' s notice , it enhances the services of our distinguished brother in no slight degree ; he was , however , heartily thanked for it by ' all present . Bro . White , who has heen for some years past representative of the lodge on the Provincial Charity Committee , was again unanimously re-elected , for which honour he returned thanks . The report of the the Audit Committee was received and adopted , and the lodge was closed .

1 he banquet was partaken of at the Golden Lion Hotel , Bro . Peter Reynold ' s famous retreat , and never did 0111 courteous host cater better or more profusely than on the occasion under notice , while the service , swiftly yet quickly done , gave unqualified satisfaction . Among the other brethren present were Bros . E . West , P . M . and P . P . S . G . D . Herts ; A . I . Manning , P . M ., P . P . S . G . D . ; R . J . Warren , P . M " ., P . P . G . P . ; w ! Burroughs , P . G . Stwd . ; Jas . Wild , A . W . Morris , T ,

Provincial Meetings.

Bruty , F . A . Stratford , D . Mercer , and A . Berritt , all of the lodge . Among the visitors were Bros . J . Farnficld , P . M . 907 , P . A . GiD . C . Eng . ; ) . T . Salmon ) P . M . 917 ; H . Mason , P . M . 913 ; C . j ' . ' Scufes , P . M . 1507 ; J . Pullen , W . M . 2063 ; E . White , " J . W . 902 ; J . Saunders , D . C . 1507 ; W . B . Tobor , 6 5 ; Thos . Harris , 1351 ; T . Tate , 7 65 ; S . Frazer , 1997 ; W . Sauffer , 19 ; T . Heggerty ,

W . M . 1343 ; A . T . Eyers , 704 ; J . Cook , 907 ; R . Rose , 1 744 ; C ( oily , P . M . and Sec . 1472 , 21 S 4 ; and others . The toasts of " The Queen and the Craft" and " H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., " having been drunk , Bro . Cochrane responded for that of " The M . W . Pro G . M ., the D . G . M ., and the rest of the Grand Officers ,

Past and Present , " saying he felt it a great honour to have to respond for a toast which included the name of H . R . H . alone , high honour enough for anyone . The W . M . had told them that he had attended Grand Lodge , and should expect his Wardens to do so ; he hoped they would , and could assure them that they would there see a deliberative assembly conduct its business in a manner which , if the

greatest deliberative assembly would imitate , would be better for its credit , and the interests of the nation at large . So far as the appointments made at Grand Lodge were concerned , he could only say that every appointment was strictly enquired into by their Grand Master , before they were made , while Lords Carnarvon and Lathom were constant in their attendance at Grand Lodge . Now he was a

staunch diciplinarian , and liked to see everything conducted according to form and order , and here they had the toast put as officers , past and present , instead of present and past ; then again , the W . M . had requested the officers of his lodge to dine in clothing , and here was that distinguished and excellent Mason , their esteemed Treasurer , actually dining without badge or collar of any sort ; while he ( Bro .

Cochrane ) had not only brought his collar of office for Grand Lodge , but for the Province of Essex also . He merely mentioned that to show them that whatever others might do , he intended not only to obey orders , but to maintain discipline . Our rev . brother , the latter part of whose speech was exceedingly witty and good humoured , again thanked them for their hearty reception of the toast .

Bro . J . A . Farnfield , who also responded , said their esteemed Chaplain had said that in the greatest deliberative assembly in the land there was not that unanimity that existed in Freemasonry ; well , in Freemasonry there was only one party , while in the CD . A . alluded to there were , he might say , several parties ; with that exception he fully endorsed every word that had been said bv their esteemed

Grand Chaplain . The next toast was that of " The R . W . the P . G . M ., Lord Brooke , Bro . Philbrick , the D . G . M ., and the rest of the Prov . Grand Officers , Present and Past , " and in giving it the Worshipful Master said that Bro . Philbrick had sent a letter regretting- that he could not be present on account of important duties elsewhere . With regard to their esteemed

P . CM ., Bro . Lord Brooke , he was a most excellent and hard working Mason , and indeed the same might well he said of every Officer , Present and Past . He coupled the toast with the name of Bro . Humphreys . Bro . Humphreys said it certainly was a very great reponsibility to have to respond for such a splendid body of Masons as were the Officers , or Past Officers of their

Provincial Grand Lodge , and to a toast so prettily put bv the W . M . He could only thank them , and wish that it hadbeen p laced in the hands of some one more capable of doing it justice . Lord Brooke , had said that he had under his government a band of lodges who were noted for their enthusiasm for the benefit of the Craft generally , and a body of Masons second to none in any province for their

attachment to the Constitutions of 1 ' reemasonry and the Charities of the Order . Now he , Bro . Humphreys , felt sure they would agree with him when he said that that excellent testimony was due to the fact of their having so excellent and popular a P . G . M . as Lord Brooke was ; that was shown by their attachment to his lordship , and the general desire throughout the province to render his rule a glorious and happy one .

With regard to Bro . Philbrick , he did not think any province could be otherwise than eminently successful with such a D . P . C . M . Bro . Philbrick was also their Grand Superintendent of the Royal Arch , while in his public official position as Recorder of Essex he held a position second to none in it , while his geniality and wit was only equalled by the excellence of his heart . He once heard their distinguished

brother speak of an old lady who wrote to thank him for the exemplary sentence he had passed upon a thief who had stolen her donkey , and did it , as she said , " in the name of all the donkeys in England . " After Bro . Humphreys had referred to the recent honour conferred on Bro . Philbrick by his appointment to the Recordership of a certain circuit , and expressed a fervent wish that before long their honoured

brother would be selected as one of her Majesty ' s judges , he expressed a hope to see others of the lodge achieve P . G . honours , and resumed his seat after a lengthy and brilliant address . The I . P . M . then proposed the toast of "The W . M . " He said Bro . Sharpe had been a member of the lodge for some time , and had worked hard in every office he had held in

it . He was initiated the same night as he ( Bro . Dave } - ) was , and having arrived at the highest position it was in the power of the brethren to bestow , he felt sure they would find in Bro . Sharpe an excellent working - and helpful Mason , who , although he had come some 16 miles to attend their meetings , had only been absent once or twice since the time of his initiation . He asked them to drink the toast heartily ,

and it was drunk in bumpers . The W . M ., in response , said he must tell them at the onset , that if he had a weak point it was in making a speech . For some months past this had troubled him , and he had often asked himself— " whatever shall I do when it comes to the speech making ? " He looked back with the greatest pleasure to the time when he was initiated , and had gone in

for Masonry heart and soul , and had always tried , to the best of his abilities , to make himself worthy of the exalted position he now held . It had been said that " regal chairs had regal cares . " He fully accepted the responsibility , and intended to make the lodge flourish during- his year of office . When he was initiated , they met in a very quiet room , and they could count their members upon their lingers ; and

after congratulating the lodge upon the excellent standing of its members , he thanked them for their hearty reception of the toast , which he appreciated from the bottom of his heart . The next toast was that of "The P . M . 's , " and in putting it , the W . M . spoke highly of those excellent Masons , and feelingly referred to Bro . Beeson , P . M . ( now in Canada ) , who had that night sent them a telegram , dated , " Montreal ,

Provincial Meetings.

6 . 5 S p . m . It was addressed to " Bro . Humphreys , R „ . Essex , England" and conveyed the sender ' s « ? r | l , good wishes" to the W . M . and all the brethren r ' lodge . _ of ft ' c Bro . Humphreys having responded , the W . M . pr 0 C ( 1 to present Bro . Humphreys with an illuminated add handsomely mounted and framed , as a mark of their est ^ and the brethren approved of the admirable niann ^ wnicn mat urotner twice in succession

nau servea as M , of the lodge , and then installed his successor . It Was * ' * handsome gold frame , and around the margin were nh"l ' graphs of Bro . Humphreys and his officers . k

Bro . Humphreys eloquently and feelingly returned tin 1 and then the toasts of "The Visitors ) " " Officers , " \ Tyler's toast , concluded the proceedings , which ive ' rc of most cordial and harmonious nature . '

Royal Arch.

Royal Arch .

CAMBRIDGE . Pythagoras Chapter ( No . 88 ) . —A re „ i ,, convocation of the above chapter , attached to the Scie tific Lodge , No . SS , was held at the Lion Hotel „ Wednesday , the 26 th ult . The Principals' chairs were filled b y Comps . B . Chennell , Z . ; W . Ingram Pashlei , H . ; Thos . Nichols , J . The minutes of the last chapter havinl

been read and confirmed , two candidates were exalted " namely , Bros . J . Turner , 2107 , and Walter Hutchinson W . M . 3107 . In the subsequent proceedings , the work oi the Principal sojourner was done by Comp . Frank Pign- ( t The lectures from the Principals followed , and Comp . A * u ' Moyes , P . Z ., Scribe E ., assisted with a description of " the pedestal . Comp . A . H . Moyes afterwards proposed that a

donation of five guineas be made to the R . M . I , for Boys to be placed on the Steward ' s list for the year . Comp , [•' , Piggott seconded . This led to a discussion , during which reference was made to the Report of the Committee oi Inquiry , and a strong protest was entered against sending up any more money until changes had been made in tie administration . This feeling was very largely shared bv the

companions . However , upon it being pointed out thai there was an effectual way of protesting against the state of things as recently disclosed without stopping the supplies , the vote was agreed to . The Principals and officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows : Comps . W . Ingram Pashler / Z . ; T . Nichols , H . j Oliver Papworth , J . ; ' YV . Purchas , P . S . ; J . V . Pryor , 1 st A . S . ; and C F . Charlton ,

2 nd A . S . ; and W . Jarrold and C . F . Charlton , Auditors . The chapter was then closed , and the companions ( 33 in number ) adjourned to banquet . The visitors included Comps . R . H . Pearson , P . Z . n ; E . H . Jennings , Z . 441 ; C A . Vinter , J . E . L . Whitehead , A " . Morrell , and Jas . Dempster , all of 441 ; and T . O . Mead . '

TWICKENHAM . Sir Francis Burdett Chapter ( No . 150 ^ ,. —This prosperous chapter met at the Albany Hotel on the 2 fith ult . Among those in attendance were Comps . the Rev . S . T . H . Saunders , P . Z ., P . P . G . J ., acting M . E . Z . ; Dunklev , H . ; A . H . Gurney , J . ; the Rev . R . Hnsken , M . E . Z . ' elect ; Capt . T . C Walls , P . P . G . P . S ., P . Z .,

S . E . j _ E . W . Jenkins , S . N . ; H . Jenkins , P . S . ; and Toulmin , 2 nd A . S . The minutes of the previous convocation having been read and confirmed , Comp . the Rev . S . T . H . Saunders , P . Z ., impressively installed Comp . R . Hosken , M . A ., as First Principal . The sum of five guineas , proposed at the

last convocation to the R . M . I , for Boys , per Comp . Cap ! . A . Bunn , as Steward for 1 SS 9 , was unanimously confirmed . Letters , & c , pleading inability to attend were read from Comps . Col . Sir F . Burdett , Bart . ; W . Taylor , P . Z . ; K . H . _ Thrupp , P . Z . ; W . H . Saunders , P . Z . ; and others . The chapter was then closed , and adjourned till October next . The customary banquet followed , and a few toasts were given . Comp . Dunkley , instrumental ]) ' and vocally , entertained the . companions .

Mark Masonry.

Mark Masonry .

MANCHESTER . St . Andrew ' s Lodge ( No . 34 ) . —A meeting of the above lodge was held at Freemasons' Hall , Cooperstreet , on Thursday , the 27 th ult ., when there were present Bros . George Hunt , W . M . j S . Kelly , S . W . ; E . - Littler , M . O . ; Edgar Towell , J . O . ; Geo . Sam Smith , Sec . ; Arthur Midd ' leton , P . M ., P . P . ) . CO . ; Thos . Robt . PeelP . M . P . P . CD . C Joseph TRichardson P . M !

, , ; . , ; . Henry L . Rocca , P . M . ; Julius Arensbey , P . M ., P' £ CO . ; W . R . Sowter , P . M ., P . P . G . I . of Whs . ; " . C Miller , P . M . ; and J . B . Kirk , I . G . The lodge was opened by Bro . Hunt , W . M-, an ( ' "f minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed . The ballot was taken for Bro . J . W . Aspinall , which prove " favourable . All other business being attended to , the lotlare was closed .

Knights Templar.

Knights Templar .

CANTERBURY . The Black Prince Preceptory ( - ^' 146 ) . -The annual meeting of the above precep tor ) *" held at the Masonic Temple , on Friday , the zSth " : ' when a goodly number ot tratres were present . ^ P '( i . ! i Lukey , 30 , was duly installed a Knight of the Order , t » _ ceremonv being- most ablv nerformerl hv SirKnhrht Em " ,.. .

son , P . E . P ., P . P . G . P . The chair was then taken hy J ' Knight Horatio Ward , P . E . P ., and Prov . Sub-Prior , "' duly installed Sir Knight F . W . Wright , as Preceptj » J . the ensuing year , who then appointed his officers as '"' ij Sir Knights Davcy , Constable ; Smythe , Marshal ; ' Rev . H . M . Maugham , Chap . ; Holthum , Treas . ¦? Almoner ; Ward , Reg . ; Crane , Sub-Marshal ; > fl ' , 1 st . Std . Br . ; Penfold , 2 nd Std . Br . ; Lukey , C "t ^ and Comp . Blake , Equerry . Sir Knight Ward p P "