Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

of America , it is an established procedure in several of the Masonic jurisdictions into which that great country is divided , to appoint , along with the other Committees , which there discharge similar duties to those so well and conscientiously performed in England by the Board of General Purposes , a special Committee to report " on the doings of Grand Officers , " and the result of their inquiry

is both read in Grand Lodge , and circulated among the subordinate lodges . On this side of the water , as you are well aware , there is no such inquisitorial process , so in common with the three brethren on my right , 1 can only indulge in vain speculation as to how we should be individually reported upon were such a tribunal in existence ; though we hope that if our conduct as Grand Officers were

duly weighed in the balance , it would not cause you to alter the favourable opinion which has been so kindly expressed in regard to the general body of officers in the Grand Lodge of England , of whom to-night we are the representatives . The Grand Officers may be divided into three classes . First of all there is the ruling class , the Grand Master , his Pro and Deputy Grand Masters ; next

there are the permanent Grand Officers ,, cr as they might be justly termed , the working class ; i . e . the Grand Registrar , the Presidents of the Boards of General Purposes and Benevolence , the Grand Secretary , and the Grand Directory of Ceremonies , upon whom the administrative labours chiefly devolve ; and lastly , there are the Grand Officers of the year , who are appointed annually ,

and give place to their successors at the end of a twelve month , just as we find happens in all private lodges . Of our rulers and of our permanent Grand Officers it would be altogether impossible to speak too highly , and with regard to the annual appointments , 1 think it may saftly be affirmed that in the exercise of the patronage appertaining to his high office

the M . W . G . M . spares no pains to discriminate , as far as lies in his power , between the claims of the many worthy and dist ' vngu ' shed brothers , who have done good suit and s ' ervics in the Craft , which are annually laid before him . It has , I am aware , been maintained in some quarters that if all ihe offices were elective , the distribution of grand honours wou ' . d better fulfil the just expectations of

the English Craft ; but a moment ' s consideration will , 1 think , show that the idea is utterly untenable . In those Masonic jurisdictions where either all , or the greater number of Grand offices are filled by annual election , there is generally some resoit to canvassing and wire-pulling , political and sectarian bias moreover are not infrequently imported into the contest , while , to crown the whole , among a

certain portion of the electoiate the merits of candidates are apt to take rank in exact proportion to the amount of money they are prepared to spend on the election . But I am of opinion that Ihe present system under which the honours of the Craft are conferred in this country may be defended on higher grounds still . The Grand Lodge of England is the mother of Grand Lodges , and from

1723—the date of her earliest minutes—we find that the appointment of Grand Officers ( with the exception of Grand Treasurer , who , however , was only allowed to rank as a Grand Officer from 1753 ) has been left to the Grand Master . The system , therefore , has lasted for 16 5 years , and , while leaving the Masons of other jurisdic . ions to adopt what plans they prefer , I think we should do well to

adhere to our old English usage of regarding the Grand Master as the fountain of Masonic honour , It is possible , of course , that all brethren may ; not think alike on this point , and that some will attach a grealer value than others to what is called the popular vote . 1 shall , therefore , merely presume in this instance to speak for myself , though I do so without any hesitation whatever , when I record my

belief , not only that the honour of Grand office is not lessened , but , on the contrary , that it is much enhanced in value from the fact of its being conterred , according to the old constitutional practice of the earliest of Grand Lodges , by our Royal Grand Master . Before 1 sit down there remains an tgreeable task , which I shall do my best to dischage . It is to express the great pleasure it has

afforded ihe Grand Officers who are present this evening to witness such excellent work in the lodgeroom , and to thank you for your lavish hospitality at this board . We have seen tonight the retiring Master induct his successor in a manner worthy of all commendation , while the incoming Matter , by the admirable way in which he has presided at this table , enables us to predict with confidence that his

year of office will be a successful one . W . M . and brethren , the Lodge ot Unity may , I think , take a just pride in the fact that so many of its members are favourably known , outside your own portals , as earnest workers in the Craft . Among your Past Masters you are to be congratulated in possessing in Bro . Stephen Richardson a careful and accurate exponent of the ritual , also well known for his work in

support of our Charities ; in Bro . Britten a foremost worker on the most _ ancient Board , or Committee , of the English Craft ; and in Bro . Spqth one of the leading students of our antiquities , whose great talents and unliring energy have won for him the esteem and respect of all who are interested either nearly or remotely in the furtherance of Masonic research . Bros . Hopekirk and Bywater also briefly responded .

Bro . Langley , in proposing " Ihe Health of the W . M ., " alluded to his long service to the Craft . In the South ol London the name of Bro . Francis was a household word as a genial and effective instructor of aspirants to Masonic office . Many of the brethren present owed their knowled ge of our beautiful ritual to his teaching , and the Lodge of Unity had benefited by his services even before his advent

within their circle . But Fortune was a wayward and coy damsel , and in spite of his great deseit , Bro . Francis had had to wait patiently for many years for any tangible reward beyond the approval of his own conscience and the affection of his alumni . It said much for the intelligence of the Lodge of Unity , it redounded greatly to their credit

that they had been prompt to recognise the merits of our brother , ahd within a few months of his affiiliation had marked their appreciation by unanimously placing him in the W . M . 's chair . For himself no Masonic act of his own had given him greater satisfaction than installing his old and dear friend , Bro . Francis .

The W . M . responded with much feeling , and proposed "The Installing Master , " and afterwards " The Joining Members . " 6 Bro . Tarr said that owing to his constant attendance as a visitor he had been so often mistaken for a member , and asked to perform an impossibility , that is , invite his friends to the lodge , that the position had become unendurable . His application for membership was thus in a manner

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

forced upon him , and he was sure he should never regret it . Bro . Hading , on his right , was still in the false position he ( Bro . Tarr ) had definitely relinquished , and he seriously advised him to follow his example . Bro . Side also responded . Bros . Watts , Hodgson , Phillips , and Har ' . ing , responded for the large number of "Visitors . " The latter admitted

the fact of his frequent attendance as a visitor , but he should not adopt Bro . Tarr ' s advice . The brethren were psrhaps aware that his ( Bro . Harling ' s ) distinguishing characteristic was an utter absence of selfishness . It would be a source of profound gratification to him to join the lodge , but by thus selfishly indulging himself he would deprive several of his dearest friends of the greatest

pleasure of their lives , viz ., that ot inviting him to attend their meetings . The idea merely ol showing so gross a want of consideration for their feelings was abhorent to his unselfish soul , it would be ungenerous , unmanly , un-Masonic on his part . Bro . Binckes responded for "The Charities" in his usual felicitous manner , and created some amusement by

averring that he had never been guilty of eloquence , and that such must not be expected from him . It is needless to say that he immediately proceeded to belie the assertion . The toast of " Past Masters " was duly honoured , as also that of " The Treasurer and Secretary . "

Bro . Britten , Treasurer , was proud lo say that in their quiet unassuming way the lodge was always solvent , and the Treasurer , unlike some of his confreres , really had some money to look after , and never stood in the unenviable position of a creditor of the lodge . His position , therefore , was not a sinecure , neither on the other hand was it very

onerous . The Secretary , Bro . Speth , also replied . He said : W . M . and brethren , I have to thank you for the cordiality of your expressions which I feel deeply . Nothing about Masonry is more remarkable than its many sidedness . All its members who are worthy of the name of brother are devoted to it , but for very divergent reasons . It appeals

to them each differently . Many are attracted by the pleasures of sociality , the firm friendships formed , the broadly tolerant basis which permits so many men of strongly marked and opposite opinions in religion , politics and national senliment , to rally round one board and hail each one the other by the sacred name of brother . For these members the pleasures of social intercourse are

the chief attraction . And I am a very long way indeed from implying that their view is a low one , I even question whether it is not the highest and best , as it certainly is the oldest and original view . It is just this admixture of creeds and classes which has given riss to the other attractions ( especially Charity ) of which I am about to speak . Let it not be forgotten that our Charities , noble and excellent in

every way , are not the _ original purpose of Masonry , are not , even now , its " raison d ' etre , " they are the accident and result of our Institution , and henceforth indissolubly bound up with it , but the Cralt existed first and gave birth to the Charities , not the Chaiities to the Craft . Therefore let no man depreca ' e the brother for whom the chief attraction lies in the pleasures of social intercourse . A

second class is devoted to the beautiful . exemplification of our ritual , and finds its prime motive power in a desire to see our ancient and quaint ceremonies properly carried out . These brethren are simply invaluable to us , and failing their efforts we should soon lay ourselves open to the charge of wasting our time on ridiculous puerilities . That the class is well represented in our lodge need not be pointed

out . A third section of brothers throw themselves heart and soul into the cause of our noble Charities . For them , the support of the aged and infirm , wearied by the battle of life , the equipment and preparation of the young and tender for the same inevitable contest , constitute the charm of our Order . Every hour stolen from their daily avocations is devoted to succouring the poor and needy , the

young and the old ; great is their reward now , how much greater hereafter . And the curious fact is that these three classes comprehend and appreciate each other , and each , while specially devoted to ils own line of Masonic labour , participates in a minor Degree in the pursuits and predilections of the other two . And finally , we have a fourth class , which sympathises with the other three , but to whom the

great attraction is the study of the History , Antiquities , and Symbolism of the Order . Here , I confess , lies my field of labour . But my heart is divided . One portion pursues the science of Masonry , the other is devoted to the Lodge of Unity , its interests , prosperity , and success . It is my mother lodge , it was my father ' s mother lodge before me , I am a Lewis ( of the lodge , in it I am at home , here I

have made friends in the p 3 st , some alas , dead ; here I continue to acquire new friends every day , and whatever claims any other lodge may have upon me , to Unity , 1 S 3 , will always be due my best services . W . M ., so long as it shall please you and your successors to require my services as Secretary , so long shall they be ungrudgingly rendered . In proposing "The Officers , " the VV . M . alluded to the

unusual fact that no less than three Worshipful Masters held office in the lodge . There was himself of course , and Bro . Hooper , his S . W ., the W . M . of Honor Oak Lodge , and Bro . Tarr , Asst . Stwd ., who was W . M . of the Burdett Lodge . He felt every confidence in his officers , from the first to the last . Several having answered , Rro . Pinnock , P . M ., Stwd .,

was loudly called upon , the brethren therein showing some harmless malice , as Bro . Pinnock ' s reluctance to make speeches is well known . Bro . Pinnock , amidst much laughter , said that his chief and primary duty was to look after their liquor and personal comforts , but it was , he conceived , no part of his duty to make speeches . That evening the W . M . had been pleased to appoint an Assistant Steward , whose duty was manifestly

to return thanks for his senior , and he should therefore call upon Bro . Tarr to at once perform his duty and justify his appointment . Bro . Tarr accordingly did so . The harmony of a very successful meeting was much augmented by the vocal and instrumental efforts of Bros . Pinnock , Archer , Cranch , Speth , and Lindsay-Renton . The Tyler's toast brought the proceedings to a close .

STUART LODGE ( No . i 6 2 ) .-The installation meeting of this lodge was held at the Surrey Masonic Hall , Camberwell , on Monday , the 26 th ult . The members present included Bros . Alfred Bannister , W . M . j Henry E . Vickers , S . W ., W . M . elect ; C . Linsey , j . W . ; Thos . Poore , P . M ., Sec ; E . Pettit , S . D . ; J . L . Bush , J . D . ; C . B . Young , I . G , ; C . Fruen , Org . ; H . Baldwin , P . M .,

P . P . G . Std . Br . Middx . ; R . Barham , P . M . ; GLill P . M . ; C . Stuart Barker , P . M . ; G . H . G . Morgan i ' Bolding , J . H . Crofts , and others . Amongst the I ' r ' number of visitors present were Bros . J . H . Nichnif J . D . 12 S 0 ; W . T . Chapman , P . M . 1922 ; G . S . Graff ' P . P . G . Org . Middx . and Surrey ; K . C . Barham , SI h ' 141 : H . Wood . P . M .. Sec . I 2 ( 5 n : Tnn . Rhndrv * D n' „'

Org . Surrey ; F . A . Powell , P . M . 457 , Prov . G . S . of VV Monmouthshire ; J . Hearsam , S . D . 167 ; R . Saxb y , J W 720 ; J . Ponder , 144 ; F . J . street , 144 ; W . S . Felt 0 „ ' 13 S 0 ; F . M . Bilby , S . W . 1327 ; R . H . Ward , I . G . "' A . Trelawny . J . W . go ; H . Wolff , 187 a ; H . J . Tall ' ' tire , 1320 ; J . Martin , 704 ; T . W . Miller , J . W . 704 ; a "; W . W . Lee , 1 S 07 . u

The lodge having been opened , the minutes of the lasi meeting were read and confirmed , and the report of th Audit Committee received and adopted . Two handsom ' banners were presented to the lodge by Bros . A . Bannister VV . M ., and H . E . Vickers , W . M . elect , bearing their names crests , and suitable inscriptions . Ballot was successful ^ taken in favour of Mr . H . Mascall , who , being in attend . ance , was initiated into Freemasonry , after which Bro *

Bolding was passed to the Second Degree . Both ceremonies were impressively rendered by the W . Master , who con . eluded a successful year of office by installing Bro . Henrv E . Vickers into the chair of K . S . as W . M . for the ensuine year . The Mowing officers were appointed and invested Bros . Chas . Linsey , S . W . j E . Pettit , J . W . j Thos . Poor / P . M ., Sec ; J . L . Bush , S . D . ; C . B . Young , J . D .- R ' "

Barham , P . M ., D . C . ; C . Fruen , A . D . C . ; A , I . Croft ' I . G . ; G . H . G . Morgan , Org . ; J . Bolding , Stwd . ; and ' f . Bowler , Tyler . Owing to the unavoidable absence of Bro . VV . Weekes , his investiture as Treasurer was postponed . The addresses were effectively delivered by the " Installing Master , Bro . A . Bannister . The VV . Master then said his first duty was a pleasing one , for it was to present the I . P . M ., Bro . Bannister , with the Past Master ' s jewel

which had been unanimously voted by the lodge . The members had thus testified their appreciation of Bro . Ban . nister's services , and united in the wish that he would be spared for many years to wear this mark of their esteem and regard . Bro . Bannister , I . P . M ., briefly returned thanks for this token of appreciation from the brethren , Propositions having been received and other business transacted , the lodge was closed .

The brethren then adjourned to an excellent banquet , al the conclusion of which the usual toasts received the customary honours . "The Health of the Worshi pful Master" was proposed by Bro . Bannister , I . P . M ., who expressed the hope thai the brethren would receive the one toast he had to submit to them during the evening with the utmost enthusiasm .

Ihe W . M . had already given them an idea of his efficient working , and there was no doubt that if the members gave him plenty of work to do he would perform it to their entire satisfaction and to the credit of the lodge . As the brethren were thoroughly conversant with the good qualities of the brother whom they had installed that evening , he ( the I . P . M . ) wouldsimply ask them to cordially

drink his health . Bro . Henry E . Vickers , W . M ., in reply said he was glad to hear the I . P . M . assure the brethren that his remarks in proposing the toast would be few , for it necessarily left him little to say in response . Hs assured them it was with feelings of pride that he occupied the chair that evening . He was initiated into the Order four years ago , and from time he

the received the collar of Organist he had been naturally anxious to progress through the various offices . Through their kindness he had reached the summit of his ambition sooner than he had anticipated . Being but a young Mason , it could not be expected that he would perform the duties of W . M . in the highly creditable manner that had characterised the Past Masters , but he had done his best to perfect himself in the ritual , and he trusted that the

work he performed during the forthcoming year would be carried out to their satisfaction , and would not affect the prestige of the lodge . He regarded the Stuart Lodge as his Masonic home , for he always felt that in attending the meetings he was renewing associations with those whose aim was to promote brotherly love and good feeling , and maintain the credit of their lodge . He thanked the I . P . M . for the manner in which he had proposed the toast , and the brethren for the kind reception accorded it .

The Initiate" was next given , and responded to in appropriate terms by Bro . Mascall , after which the W . M , proposed "The Visitors , " offering them a fraternal and hearty welcome , and coupling the names of Bros . Powell , Tallentire , and Woods to reply . Bro . F . A . Powell , Prov . G . S . of W . Monmouthshire , haying returned thanks for the kindness which had

characterised the proposition and reception of the toast , said he had been much impressed by the effective manner in which the ceremonies had been worked . The visiting brethren had also been highly delighted with the hospitable manner ' which they had been entertained . He noticed that the W . M . wore the tricolour , and hoped to see him soon in the royal purple . He thanked the A . D . C . for his kind

invite , which had enabled him to spend an enjoyable evening , and wished the W . M . a successful year of office and prosperity to the lodge . BroV Tallentire , 1320 , also replied , and said it was a source of intense gratification to him to be enabled to witness the installation of Bro . Vickers , W . M . That brother , although a young Mason , had worked hard in the

Craft , and the members of the lodge would find him an able and efficient VV . M . Bro . Wood , P . M ., Sec . 1769 , also responded . In proposing "The Health of the I . P . M ., " the W . M . said he was sure that all present had been pleased with the able manner in which Bro . Bannister had rendered the various ceremonies that evening . He was proud that he had to follow such an excellent I . P . M . and was sure he

, could rely upon Bro . Bannister ' s assistance during the forthcoming year . It was with great pleasure that he had affixed to Bro . Bannister ' s breast the P . M . ' s je . ve unanimously voted by the members , for no brother had worked harder or taken a greater interest in the welfare ot the lod ge . They all sincerely hoped he would live bng ° wear the jewel , and to continue to assist them in the able manner which had hitherto characterised his Masonic

career . L Bro . Bannister , I . P . M ., thanked the brethren for thj handsome jewel presented to him as a mark of their esteem and satisfaction . He also desired to thank them for j " unirorm kindness extended to him since his entry into tne lodge , and more particularly during his term of office in tne