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United Northern Counties Lodge ( No . 212 S ) . —The ordinary October meeting of this lodge was held on Tuesday , the 2 nd inst ., at the Inns of Court Hotel , under the presidency of Bro . Cuthbert R . Lee , W . M . Among others there were also present : Bros . Frank Wright , l . P . M . ; R . R . Porter Keates , S . VV . ; Robert Davison , J . W . , * G . J . Wood , P . M ., Treas . ; VV . Masters , P . G . Stwd ., P . M ., Sec ; Edward LeonardS . D •E . C . R .

, Oxley , J . D . ; W . II . Bullock , P . M ., D . C ; VV . E . Porter , I . G ; H . J . Giller , P . M . ; VV . V . Smithson , P . M . ; J . S . Cumberland , P . M . ; T . Bateman Fox , P . M . ; and G . Ralliffe , P . M . Visitors : Bros . R . Evens , 1949 ; IT . Massey , 16 b , P . M . ( 119 and K 12 S ; It . G . Danbv , P . M . 105 ( 1 ; G . Ethcridge . 1305 ; W . G . Kentish , P . M . 1293 ; G . Brash Wheleer , l . P . M . 18 ; George Haynes , l . P . M . 1479 ; Horace Slade , P . M . Co ; G . Harper , P . M . 1 G 12 ;

George Gaffe , P . M . 1479 ; George Lavington , P . M . S = j 7 ; E . Mosley , S 57 ; and Col . Bingham , Sheffield , P . G . ' W . West Yoiks . Bro . Page , jun ., was passed to the Second Degree , and Bro . Anson was raised to the Third Degree . Afterwards Bro . R . Porter Keates , S . VV ., waselected W . M . ; Bro . G . J . Wood , P . M ., was re-e ' ected Treasurer ; and Bro . Henry Evenden , P . M ., Tyler . Bros . VV . H . Bullock , P . M ., and

Lockett were elected Auditors , and on the motion of Bro . J . S . Cumberland , P . M ., seconded by Hrn . G . J . Wood , P . M ., a Past Master ' s jewel was voted to liro . Cuthbert R . Ue . The brethren , having closed the lodge , adjourned to supper , and the usual toasts followed . Bro . J . S . Cumberland , senior P . M . of the lodge , proposed " The VV . M ., " for the last time as president at the

banquet table . He need not say with how much pleasure he had seen Bro . Lee go through his year of office and perform his various duties so well . It was n ^ t necessary to ask the brethren ' s opinion of the Worshipful Master ' s performance of his duties . Bro . Lee promised on the night of his election that he would do his best in the interest of the lodge , and on the night of his installation he renewed his promise , and during his year of office the brethren had

ample proof of the sincerity of his promises . Bro . Lee was willing and wishful to do his utmost in the interest of the Craft and in the interest of the lodge , and the brethren all knew he had succeeded . It was sometimes a gigantic pleasure to a man when he had worked hard and the brethren thought him worthy to find himself placed in the chair ot his lodge ; it was also a melancholy pleasure to him to retire in favour of some other brother on whom the brethren

conferred their suffrages . Bro . Lee , W . M ., would retire with the same encomiums for whathe had done as he received the night he was installed . He ( Bro . Cumberland ) could say as an old and somewhat experienced man that Bro . I . ee had surpassed his best expectations ; he had applied himself to mastering the various intricacies of the ritual and he set a good example to his olficeis , and it was their fault if they did not try , if not to surpass , at least to equal

what he had done ; he had set them a lessen they ought to take to heart . It was the bounden duty of every one of the officers to support him , for there was nothing more melancholy when a VV . M . did his work well , for even one officer to fail . Bro . Lee had given them the opportunity of rehearsing so that the ritual might be faiily given during his year and a lesson be given which would please both the younger and the older members . He had done his work

well , and at the banquet table he had been most genial , and ( he lodge would be troubled to find a better man . It was the first time he had pei formed the Third Degree , but he had done it marvellously well , and it was to be hoped every brother who followed him would do as well . The VV . M ., in acknowledging the toast said he was glad the brethren were pleased he had grasp of the ritual . lie promised them when they elected him that he would do his utmost . Well , that he had really done , and , from what

he had heard that evening , he thought he had to some extent succeeded ; at any rate he had tried to succeed . If he had pleased the brethren , he had pleased himself . He thanked the officers and other brethren for the assistance which had made his year of oflice a succes 5 . The next toast was that of " The W . M . elect , " in proposing which Bro . Lee said ihe brethren were all delighted that liro . Keates was lo be their Master for the ensuing year . They had seen what strict attention he had paid to his duties , and they would endeavour to make his year a success .

Bro . Keats , S . W ., and VV . M . elect , said , in response to the toast , which was most cordially received , that he felt very rr . uch indeed , the honour the brethren had conferred upon him . lie should do his utmost to carry out his year of cilice to th-i satisfaction of the brethren ; but he felt the responsibility was very great , and that feeling was not lessened by the knowledge cf the excellent men who had gone before himmore especiallhisimmediate predecessor .

, y In what he was going to do , he was sure he would have the assistance of his officers and of the P . Ms , if it was necessary to call upon them . The toast of "The Visitors , " which was proposed by liro . Hextall , was responded to by Bros . Danby , Kentish , Made , and others . Bro . G . J . Wood , and W . F . Smithson , responded to the toast of "The Past Masters , " both of them congratulating

me VV . M . on the great success of his year of oflice . Bro . Davison , J . W ., acknowledged the toast of "The Officers , " -who , he said , had done their best , but that they f ° j u lmProve as they went on * With the assistance that if * . «• , " P ' se < 1 tllem > they would endeavour to assist ne W . M . elect in the same way as they had endeavoured 'o assist the W . M ., and they would always be ready to rece ive instruction .

Uro . W . Maste . s , P . M ., Secretary , said , having been a member of the lodge from its foundation , he could sincerely congratulate the VV . M . on the way the work had ' , " f ° ne 'n the lodge , and on the flourishing condition of ne lod ge durinrr his vear of office . He had verv UtU in dn

niraself with the working , as his work lay outside the Hual . He was afraid that if he was judged by the ritual ¦ 0 would fall short . But he took very great interest in the "" fie In a few days a new lodge wuiild be consecrated in "e count y of London , which might perhaps he considered •J some as an opponent of that lodge . He did not . h

nv" " ' "•c ° nsider it an opponent , and he hoped it would have Miccess . The first Master of that lodge was to be the Earl i-athom , Pro Grand Master , who was an honorary coi , ? f thc United Northern Counlies Lodge , a Noithuntry Mason , and who had honoured that lodge with his ronm " i ° n more ti , an one occ 3 s ' * There was plenty of > " in I-ondon for the new lodge , for another Northern

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Counties Lodge , and that lodge wished it success ; it would do it no harm . Each lodge would emulate the other in the improvement of Masonry . Bro . Thomas Bateman Fox , P . M ., proposed "The Health of Co ' . Bingham , P . G . W . West Yorks , " a well-known man . Mason , and Yoi-kshtreman , and a most deservedly popular Volunteer officer in the West Riding . He was also a Past Master Cutlerof Sheffield , which showed the esteem

in which he was held in his native town ; he was a Past Warden of the province , and it was to he hoped the present would not be his last visit to the United Northern Counties Lodge , which at any time would be pleased to see him . Bro . Col . Bingham slid he did not know whether his visit was due to Bro . Smithson or Bro . Bateman I ' ox , but hehadbeen very much pleased by beingamong the brethren for he felt that he was in a really fraternal lodge . He had

heard a good deal of London fog , but if the kind and genial faces of the brethre 11 were due to that fog he would he glad if same of the London fog were taken up to the North . He had been very much delighted with thc jocular songs of Bro . Schartau , who he should be glad to hear another time . Thank goodness , in the Masunic lodges there were no polictics ; whatever politics Masons professed , in Masonry they were sans politics , and they all sang " God save the Oueen . " He wished that some other time he

might come to see the brethren of the United Northern Counties Lodge , wheie he was quite sure , though he did not see it himself , the work in the lodge was equal to that at the banquet table . The Tyler's toast , given by Bro . IT . Evenden , P . M ., Tyler , followed by the singing of the refrain "In the Grand Lodge Above , may we all meet again in the Grand Lodge Above , " according to the custom of this lodge , closed a delightful evening .

Chough Lodge ( No . 2264 ) . —This lodge ' s installation meeting was held on the 27 th ult ., at the City Terminus Hotel , Bro . J . VV . Dewsnap , VV . M ., presiding . There was a large and influential attendance of members of the lodge and visitors , including Bros . E . T . Edwards , P . M . ; Walter B . Marcus , P . M . ; George J . Judge , P . M . ; HerbertSaxelby , Hon . P . M . ; Walter Maitin , Hon . P . M . ; Charles Mussared , P . M .: and Ebenezer Piggott , l . P . M .

Amongst the visitors were Bros . C . IT . Driver , P . A . G . D . C . ; and Col . William Bristow , P . G . S . B . The VV . M . raised Bros . Heath and Holman . ** , and after the reception of the Audit Committee ' s report of the Lodge Fund and the Benevolent Fund , installed Bro . George Scott Miller as W . M . of the lodge for the ensuing twelve months . Bro . Dewsnap received the collar of l . P . M . The brethren honoured with the collars of oflice forthe W . M . ' s year were :

Bros . VV . C . Smith , S . W . ; f . F . Percival , J VV . ; Walter B . Marcus , P . M ., Treas . ; j . VV . Dewnap , l . P . M ., Sec ; W . V . Jull , S . D . ; II . Saqui , J . D . * , J . VV . Breeze , I . G . ; M . J . Almond , D . C ; J . Turle Lee , Qrg . ; A . Strugnell and Alfred Haynes , Stwds . ; and Thomas Bowler , Tyler . After the delivery , by Bro . Dewsnap , nf the addresses , the new VV . M . initiated Mr . Samuel James de St . Legier .

'There was no further business before lodge , and after communications had been announced , the lodge was closed and an excellent banquet partaken of . The usual toasts followed , and as is customary in this lodge , connected as it is with a musical society , a beautiful seltction of music was performed under the direction of Bro . Turle Lee , who presided at the pianoforte , by Bros . James A . Brown , Albert James , Miles Mole , Arthur Strugnell , and Fred . Bevan .

Bros . C . H . Driver and CJI . W . Bristow responded to the toast which it . cludesthe Grand Officers . Bro . J . VV . Dewsnap , l . P . M ., proposed "The W . M . " Those of the brethren who had seen this lodge from its commencement were best able to judge of the qualities of the VV . M ., who was one of the lodge ' s first initiates . They had watched his career ever sin ^ e , and they found he was a thorough gentleman , a big Mason , and a brother

whom they could lock upon with unbounded respect . He was one of the gentlemen of this world , and the brethren in electing him as their W . M . had done themselves credit . 'They would now rally round him and support him to the utmost , and that day twelvemonths he would come out with li n ing colours , as he deserved . Bro . G . Scott Miller , in reply , said that , while thanking Bro . Dewsnap for his many kind words , he felt he was not

worthy of them . He felt very deeply indeed the heartiness with which the toast had been received . He bad never met with anything but kindness in that lodge ever since he joined it . He could only say that in every step he had taken he felt encouraged by the Worshipful Masters and other officers of the lodge , and hc had always tried to do his best . So far he had succeeded . In the lodge that evening he heard that it was part of his duty to create harmony ,

but his voice was not pa'ticularly harmonious at times . They had , however , several brethren then present to create harmony in the shape of music . lie would , therefore , not indict his halting speeches upon them . But let them not make his short speech in response hinder any brethren either in singing or in speaking . He next proposed " The I . P . M ., Bro . Dewsnap , " a name which , he knew , would draw forth a round of applause . All the brethren

appreciated Bro . Dewsnap s services to the lodge , during the last 12 months especially . They did not estimate them by Ihe work he had just dope , but by the work he had petforfned for several years as Secretary to the lodge . They had found him in the chair just as he was out of it—always ready to help any one ; a man more willing to do anything for anybody else he did not know . The lodge had voted him a very handsome jewel , which he ( Bro . Scott Miller ) now

took the opportunity of pinning on his breast , wishing him health , prosperity , and happiness many years to wear it . liro . ] . \ V . Dewsnap , l . P . M ., acknowledging the toast , which was most heartily received , said he was puzzled what to say when introducing the toast of " The VV . M ., " but he felt more difficulty now . However , he thanked the brethren for their cordial reception of his health . I le did not put the compliment down to any int-irtiic value of his own , but to the fact that whoever had to fill the chair of that lodge must

be a person worthy of credit . Many of the brethren he had known a long time , and they had nei / er quarrelled , but had always got on together . They were all of a good amicable nature . He was glad to think he had had such a nice , comfortable yearot oflice . They had given him plenty of work ; they had treated him very well . He felt happy to give way to the brother who had taken his position ; he had got rid of a responsible job , for it was a very responsible position to be Master of such a lodge . When he took the

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oflice he did so with a great deal of timidity , and he had got through it with a great satisfaction to himself . He believed that if he had not given the brethren satisfaction they would not have recognised , by the granting of a jewel , what he had done . He would the more prize the jewel from the fact that it came from so important a lodge . The Initiate having responded to the toast of his health , Bro . Gordon , a Prov . Grand Warden of Ireland , from

Meath . in responding to the toast of " The Visitors , " gave some account of what the Irish brethren were doing . In 1 S 92 they raised £ 20 , 030 for theMasonic School ; in Ireland . I hat enabled them not only to send 20 girls to the School , but to provide for them . At Mullingau , at the inauguration of Lodge No . 123 , they raised £ iy for the Girls'School after the dinner . Masonry in Ireland was a practical thing . He felt delighted to be at that lodge that evening , to which

he came as he was in London , and he should not forget it . Bro . Edwards , P . M ., replying to the toast of "The Past Masters , " said that six years ago he hal the honour of initiating Bro . Scott Miller , and the brethren had had the pleasure of seeing him unfold from simply a gentleman and a man of honour to a Mason with all the fullness in the world . He couM siy nothing mire to the initiate thin to take Bro . Scott Miller as a model in building up his edifice oi Masonry .

That night the Chough Lodge had pissed through one of the phases of its existence . All the Masters up to the present had been founders of the lodge , aid they had held all the offices . 'That night the power of the lodge had passed into a new generation—that of the initiates ; it passed from the founders to those who had received the blessings of Masonry from them , and it had passed into worthy hands . When they looked back through six years they could see how sturdy and how suitable had been the

growth of the lodge , and they need not fear that the prosperity of the lodge would continue . Bros . Mussared , P . M ., and Piggot , P . M ., also responded , the latter saying that the lodge had taken the initiate on his recommendation , but he could assure the brethren that although the lodge had had many worthy men initiated in it they had never hid a nure worthy initiate thit Bro . St . Legier . The other toasts followed , and the Tyler ' s toast closed a most delightful evening .

Sir waiter Raleigh Lodge ( No . 2432 ) - -The brethren of this lodge held a very successful meeting at the Inns of Court Hotel , on Thursday , the 27 th ult .. when there were present Bros . G . Ransford , P . M ., D . C . I ** I 2 , VV . M . ; G . Emblin , P . M . 147 , S . W . ; D . Phillips , P . M . 723 , J . W . ; W . Klingenstein , P . M . 73 and 1540 , Treas . ; A . F . Scholding , P . M ., Steward 1582 , S ** c ; T . VV . Lightfoot , S . D . ; VV . H . Lowry , VV . M . 1 S 39 ,

J . D . ; VV . F . Bates , P . M ., Sec 1507 , I . G . ; C Ransford and T . Rayner , Stewards ; H . Evenden , Tyler ; J . F . Pink , | . IT . distance , A . Jones , R . Ambler , II . Cosins , O . C . Moore , T . M . Br-ll , E . " Grahnort , IL Mavor , VV . C . Lightfoot , A . S . Benjamin , E . T . S . Harrold , and S . Maier . Visitors : Bros . C . Gammin , J . VV . 704 ; D . S . Davis , 141 ; J . S . Gunner , I . G . 1 . 17 ; VV . F .. Jones , 200 ; E . VVhicher , 1512 ; and P . B . Harris , 177 .

The lodge having been opened , and the minutes of the previous meeting read and confirmed , Bro . S . Maier , 217 , was unanimously elected a joining member . Two candidates for intialiin were unanimously elected , and Mi . W . C Lightfoot , being in attendance , was duly initiated . Bros . II . Cosins and K . G . Grahnoit were passed . The by-laws having been re 3 il by the Secretary , ballols were taken , and resulted unanimously in favour of Bros . G . Emblin , S . VV .,

as W . M , for the ensuing 12 months ; VV . Klingenstein , as Treasurer ; and II . Evenden , Tyler . On the proposition of Bro . VV . Klingenstein , Treasurer , it was unaniniauly agreed to present a Past Master ' s jewel to the retiring VV . M ., and place 10 guineas of the lodge funds upon his list as Steward at the next Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons . Bros . T . VV . Lightfoot , W . F . Bates , and A . S . Benjamin

having been appuinted Auditors , and the Secretary ' s communications read , the lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to the banquet table , where an excellent dinner , served in Bro . Frank Blackley ' s well-known style , was fully discussed . Upon the removal of the cloth , th ; usual loyal anj Masonic toasts were duly honoured . In proposing " The Health of the VVorshipful Master , "

Bra . VV . Klingenstein slid , in the absence of the l . P . M ., who would have done it much better , he would submit the toast which he had at heart quite as much as anyone of the the brethren . All admired the W . M . as a Mason , and the able way he had presided over the lodge during the past year , enabled him to express their best thanks and appreciation , which they intended to perpetuate by presenting him with a Past Master ' s jewel ; so much for Freemasonry ;

but there was something else ; the VV . M . and his wife had just celebrated their silver wedding . He had enjoyed 25 years of happy married life , and from his present excellent appearance of health there appeared no reason why he should not celebrate his golden wedding . He hoped he would , but for the present he had to ask the VV . M . to accept the hearty congratu'ations of the brethren , accompanied with a silver tea service , as a token of the sincere good wishes of his Masonic friends .

The VV M . ( to whom the presentation was a complete surprise and was much affected ) said : Bro . Past Master Klingenstein , Officers , and Brethren , —1 do not know how to thank you , it has come upon me as such a surprise . I cannot find words to thank you , it is such a handsome present . 1 don ' t know why you have done it . 1 have always done the best I can for Freemasonry , and always will , especially the Sir Walter Raleigh Lodge . Brethren , from the bottom of my heart , I thank you .

In proposing "The W . M . Elect , Bro . Ransford said he was sure the toast would have a hearty reception . Bro . Emblin had occupied the position hsfore , having been installed in the chair of No . 147 only the day before he himself was installed in No . 1512 . He was a good worker , thoroughly perfect in the ritual . He hoped he would have a successful year of office , and be able to leave the lodge

in a still more II junshmg condition . Bro . Emblin , in reply , thanked the brethren for Ihe unanimous way they had elected him , and said he should do his best to promote the go id of Freemasonry , the interests of the lodge , and the happiness of the brethren . He relied upon his officers to give him the same assistance that they had accorded his predecessor . " The Visitors , " "The Initiates , " " and " The Officers "