Table Of Contents.

TABLE OF CONTENTS .

R EPORTSOF MASONIC MEETINGS : — Craft Masonry- 773 Scotland 775 Instruction 775 Grand Lodge of Scotland 776 District Grand Lodge of Bengal 777 Charity Voting 778 Grand Lodgeof Scotland 778

Weekly Summary of News 779 Masonic Tidings 779 United Grand Lodge 780 Grand Lodge of Mark Masters , 783 Presentation to Bro . Francis Bennoch 783 Annual Festival of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement 784 Lodge Meetings for next week 785 Advertisements , 771772778785786

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

WARRINGTON . —Lodge of Lig hts ( No . 148 . ) — The regular monthly meeting of the lodge was held at the Masonic Rooms , Sankey , on Monday , 24 th ult . ' The W . M ., Bro . W . Sharp , was supported by his Wardens , and an unusually large number of brethren . After the minutes were read the ballot was taken for Mr . Charles

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William Savage , and it being favourable he was duly initiated , Bro . Armstrong was afterwards passed . The lodge was closed in the second degree and after the by-laws had been read according to annual custom , the brethren proceed to the election of W . M . for the ensuing

year . The ballot having been taken , the W . M . declared Bro . John Harding , Past Senior Warden duly elected . After some other routine business Bro . Thomas Tunstall drew attention to the fact that they were about to lose the services of Bro . Bowes , who had so long acted as Hon . Sec . of the

Lodge and expressed a hope that at the proper time his services would receive due recognition . The following is a copy of Bro . Bowes' letter of resignation , which we insert . as it gives an epitome of the local history of the Craft for the past twelve years . — "DearBrethren , —Having decided

to retire from the office of Honorary Secretary of the Lodge at the end of the current year , it is due to the Members that I should acquaint them with my intention 3 and I may perhaps be excused , on the present occassion , if I briefly note the local history of the Craft during my

connection with it . At my initiation in 18 41 , the lodge numbered twenty-four members , who met at a house of public entertainment . Its " working condition" at this time may be inferred from the fact that the monthly attendance of a skilled Past Master from a distance

was a necessity . In 1 S 61 , Bro . H . B . White joined the lodge , and from that time dates improvement . Warrington enjoyed a high reputation in the Masonic Art more than two centuries before , and Bro . White entered heartily upon the work of restoration , It was my

privilege to join him in this work , and the result is known . We have now two lodges and a lloyal Arch Chapter with one hundred and fifty merijoers . We have also a large interest in the Educational Institutions of our Order , and an efficient band of Past Masters and other Officers .

Of the twenty-four Members I found in the Lodge in 1841 , eight are dead , ten have ceased their connection with No . 148 , and the remaining six are my seniors . I became Secretary in June , 1862 , in succession to Bro . Harrison Veevers , which office I have held to the present time .

Durrng this period , I have filled the offices of J . W ., W . M ., First Acting Master of the Gilbert Greenhall Lodge , M . E . Z . of the Chapter , and Preceptor of the Lodge of Instruction . In all these positions , I have endeavoured to discharge my obligations as a Ruler in the Craft , and I

think , therefore , I may now reasonabl y claim official relict . I will only add that , although I retire from office , I hope still to give a regular and punctual attendance at the Lodge , and to render any assistance within the compass of my

ability on all acceptable occasions . I am , Dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , —John Bowes , 129 , 148 , 1051 , P . M . ; P . Prov . G . Dir . Cirs . ; P . Prov . G . Reg ; P . Z . ; P . Prov . G . S . B . There being no further business the Lodge was closed .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

WILLIAM PRESTON LODGE ( NO . 766 ) . —O Thursday , the 2 / th ultimo , the installation meeting of this lodge was held at the City Terminus Hotel , Cannon-street , Bro . George Newman , W . M ., in the chair , whose perfect working was a source of pleasure to all who

were so fortunate as to be present on the occasion . Indeed it will be seen from the subjoined report of the proceedings that the business of the day was a complete example of the ceremonies of Craft Masonry , comprising as it did the ballot for and initiation of a candidate , the

passing of others to the second degree , and the raising of others to the third , supplemented by the impressive ceremony of installing the W . M . elect . All those ceremonies were most skillfully wrought by Bro . Newman , who proved himself to be a Master Mason in deed as well as

in name , and deservedly won the admiration and applause of his audience . When the lodge had been duly opened , and the minutes of the previous meeting confirmed , the ballot was taken for Mr . George J ohn Paull , proposed by Bro . Pringle , seconded by Bro . Miller , P . M ., and was

declared in his favour . Bro . Partridge passed the usual examination as a candidate for the F . C . degree , and the lodge having been opened in the second degree , they were passed into it . Bros . Cheltnam and Smithers were then examined and entrusted as candidates for

raising , and the lodge having been opened in the third degree , they were raised to the dignity of M . M . The ceremony of installing the W . M . elect , Bro . Worrell , late S . W ., into the chair of K . S . was then very ably performed by Bro . Newman , who thus closed his year of office in a

manner we never lose the opportunity of praising . It is too much the practice with outgoing Masters to delegate to a Past Master more devoted or more industrious than themselves , the duty of installing their successors , and we are therefore always pleased to see a Master do this

work himself , as it is both a compliment to the W . M . elect , and a good example to the whole fraternity . Bro . Worrell , having been installed and duly proclaimed , proceeded to appoint his officers , presenting each with his badge of office , accompanied by a few kind words of

encouragement . The various offices were filled as follows : Bros . Braun , S . W . ; Pringle , J . W . ; Newton , S . D . ; Cragg , J . D . ; Kain , Sec . and Treas . , Archer , I . G . j John Newton . D . C . ; Newman , Steward , I . P . M . ; Grant , Tyler . In appointing the D . C . and Steward , Bro . Worrell made an

observation worthy of the consideration of other lodges , namely , that it had been thought advisable to confer those offices on experienced rather than more recently made Masons , to them rather as dignities to be distributed to P . M . ' s than as stepping stones to other offices . We understood

him to say that in future , in the William Preston Lodge , the first office a member would be appointed to would be that of Inner Guard . The appointment of the officers having been completed , Bro . Worrell rose and in a speech in which he passed the highest enconiums on the

merits of his predecessor in the chair , presented Bro . Newman with a very handsome gold jewel , made in the form of a five-pointed star ( from the atelier of Bro . Kenning ) , as a mark which the members of the lodge desired to confer on their retiring W . M ., and as a slight

memento of their esteem for him as a brother , and of their admiration of his conduct in the chair during his year of office . Bro . Newman , in a graceful speech , acknowledged the compliment and the kindness which prompted it assuring the brethren that he

should always wear it both with pride and pleasure . The lodge was then formally closed down to the first degree , when the worthy Secretary , Bro . Kain , read several communications . It appears that it was the desire of the lodge that all P . M ' s . who had retired from it

should be present on this occasion , and all such had been invited to attend , and the letters read by the Secretary from those who , from illness and other specified good reasons , showed that it was from no lack of interest on their part , but only from

urgent necessity that they failed to put in an appearance . Among the visitors present we noticed Bros . Hervey , G . S . ; Binckes , Sec . of the Boys ' School ; CC . Dumas , P . A . G . D . C . j Randall , 194 ; Garrod , 749 : Skinner , 40

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

George Kenning , Prov . G . Deacon Middlesex ; Wigmore , Daintree , Jennings , 11 . 36 ; Yv . F . Smith , 177 ; Webster , S 07 ; Roberts , 74 : ; Goodyear , 19 a ; Benham , 1 . 3 . 39 ; Waring , ty : ; Dr . Wilkinson , 181 , 766 ; Steigemvold , 7 . ' .: ; Thompson , 742 ; Davis , 192 : Abbot , 192 ;

Windham , 25 ; Headon , 1426 ; Arkell , 192 ; Reel , 192 ; F . W . Blake , 21 . When the lodge Imd been duly closed the brethren adjourned to the banquet hall , a room of noble proportions , where they were served with a sumptuous repast , which

reflected the highest credit on the hotel ami iis excellent manager . The fact that this is a Banner Lodge adds greatly to its attractiveness , both in the lodge room and at the banquet . For the few of of our renders who do not know whnr n

Banner Lodge is , we may explain that in siv .: h Lodges it is the custom for every Master when he is installed to have his arms emblazoned on a banner , which becomes the property of the Lodge , and both in the Lodge rooms and at the banquet the Master and Past Masters sit under

their respective banners . When in due coarse the cloth had been removed , the customary loyal and Masonic toasts were proposed by the W . M . In proposing that of "The Past and Present Grand Officers , " Bro . Worrell observed that he was on the present occasion honoured with the company

of two , namely , Bro . Hervey , the esteemed Grand Secretary , who was an honorary member of the William Preston Lodge , and Bro . Conrad Dumas , Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies , both of whom he begged to couple with the toast ; as regarded the former every Mason knew him and by all lie was esteemed ; as regarded

the latter he had long been associated in 11 is professional career with Bro . Dumas . In that capacity he had much for which to thank Bro . Dumas ; he was one to whom he had always been able to look up with confidence and respect . In returning thanks Bro . Hervey said that he had first very great pleasure in congratulating Iiro . Worrell on beinsr installed in the chair of the

William Preston Lodge ; and , secondly , in congratulating the Lodge on having secured the services of one who was so capable and so willing to discharge the duties of that important position . He observed that he took a considerable interest in the William Preston Lodge for he had had

something to do with bringing it into existence . It was now some years since he had had the pleasure of consecrating this Lodge , and he had great satisfaction in witnessing its present prosperity . It had been certainly like some people , who must needs go round the world b . fore

they could settle down in life . The William Preston Lodge was originally established at Putney under very auspicious cireunv .-t . uiees ; from thence they migrated to Anerly , where for a time they were peri ' ectlv happy . However a change had since come over

the spirit of their dream , and nothing would do , but they must find a wider sphere , lev which purpose they came to London , and a giv . u . opposition was made to their settling here . It was said you are very comfortable where you are , and here you had better stay , but nothipfv

could daunt the William Preston Lodge ' , or their worthy Treasurer , who overcame innumerable difficulties , and at length achieved his object , and here they were . I le trusted that they were at last happily located . He was sure that the Earl of Carnarvon would

be as grateful as he was himself for the toast tliat had been proposed , and responded to so cordially ; and for himself he trusted that bis absences in in the future would be less frequent than they had been in the past . Bro . Dumas said that on ordinary occasions he should have been rather

sorry for his name to be coupled with that ol Bro . Hervey in the toast of the Present and Past Grand Officers ; it was a theme with which Bro . Hervey was so thoroughly at home that he left little to be said by any one who came after him . On the present occasion , however , he felt particularly grateful to the W . M . for mentioning

his name , as from his connection with bro . Worrell in the ordinary business of life , besides knowing him so well as a brother Mason , he could testify to his excellence in all respects , knowing as he did his many good qualities , he could confidently predict him a nio . a suceasslul year of office , and that if the honour the brethren had done Bro . Worrell had elevated him , he