Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

United Military Lodge , No . 1536 . The laft annual Masonic fes'ival in Ihe Woolwich and Plumstead districts , at least fnr the current 12 months , was celebrated on Tuesday , the 2 Sth ult ., at Freemasons ' Hall , Mount Pliasant , Plumstead , when the above lodge met to install its VV . M . elect jcto the chair thereof and to celebiate its 21 st birthday . The lodge was orened by Brn . G . W . Ingle , W . M ., and , the minutes having been confirmed , the ballot was taken for Bro . Thos . Brooks , 465 , Bellary , Madras ( retired

serjri ant R . A . ) , and proved unanimous in his favour . Bro . Richard Fowler , S . W . and VV . M- elect , was then presented to theW . M . to receive at his hands the benefits of installation , the impressive ceremony being finely worked by Bro . Ingle . The newly-: etal 1 cd W . M . appointed and invested his officers as follows : Bros . G . W . Ingle , I P M . ; F . Peed , S . W . ; A . Hill , J . W . ; the Rev . H . H . Walker . M . A ., Chap . ; j . VV . Gee , Treas . ; E . W . Sinnett , P . M ., Sec . ; A . Simmonds , S . D . ; J . R . Fair-Meredith Hullv

bairn , JD . ; S . G . , I . G . ; A . J . Swanson , D . C . ; F . . W . M . 2399 , ana A . B . Arthur , A . D . C- - . ; VV . Redman , Or ? . ; and Lieut . H . Chas » , R . G . Spence , and J . Howe , Stwds . Bro . Irgle was accorded a realty vote of thanks for his services as Installing Officer that day , the same to be inscribed on the minutes of the loo " ge . He was also presented with a handsome and valuable Past Master ' s jewel , for both of which he returned thanks . Bro . Capt . G . Spinks , P . M ., P . P . J . G . W ., was re-elected to serve on the Provincial Charity Committee , and tben the lodge was closed .

The banquet was served in the upper halt of the building by Bro . Williams , of the Cambridge Hotel , Woolwich , and among the other brethren present were Bros . G . Kennedy , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B . ; W . Moulds , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B . ; A . Penfold , P . M . ( hon . ) , P-M . 913 , P . P . S . GD . ; C . Jolly , P . M . ( hon . ) , P . M . and Sec . 1472 , W . M . 21 S 4 ; C . Warren , J . Grieveson , F . Sharp ? , J . Clarke , G . Draper , W . Waller , J . Stapley , S . Hackworthy , J . Marston , R . Adams , W . Perry , G . Davis , W . E . Warren , A . Andrews , J . Wickens , R . Williams , D . Hickey , andT . Brooks . Among the visitors

were Bros . A . W . Russell , W . M ., A . McQueen , S . W ., James Lee , W . James , J . H . Ireland , T . Smith , and T . Chambers , all ot 13 ; G . H . Porter , W . M ., H . Pammant , S VV ., A . J . Walker , and A . Goodman , all of 700 ; D . K . Somers , W . M ., C . J . Clapham , P . M ., and A . Hiscock , all of 913 ; T . Reeve , W . M ., W . Turvey , S . W ., James Palmer , J . W ., and E . C . Stretton , all of 1472 ; W . Shackleton , W . M ., and Major

A .. H . Murdock , R . A ., J . W ., both of 1789 ; H . Crowdy , S . W ., F . H . Widgery , J . W ., and W . G . Down , all of 2399 ; J . Parsons , W . M . 2041 ; W . Laurance , P . M . 10 S 9 ; and T . Taylor , 2399 . The usual loyal and Grand Lodge toasts having been duly honoured , that of " Earl Amherst , P . G . M ., " was drunk enthusiastically , as it deserves to be , especially in the Province of Kent .

In proposing the toast of " Bro . Eastes , D . P . G . M ., and the rest of the Prov . G . Officers , Present and Past , " the W . M . said _ they were fortunate in having with them a goodly array of P . P . G . Ofiicers , but in their esteemed Bro . Spinks they had one who had just received at the hands of Earl Amherst the highest , or nearly the highest , honour he had to bestow . Bro . Spinks had that year received the collar of a Past G . Warden . His lordship had also conferred the collar of P . G . S . B . upon Bro . Sale-Edwards , who he was sorry was not present . They had also present Bro . Penfold , a

Past Grand Deacon , and Bros . Kennedy and Moulds , Past Grand Sword Biarers , so that the United Military Lodge had their share of the purple , at any rate . Bro . Spinks , in response , said he was sure their Prov . Grand Master held that lodge in the highest esteem , because since the consecration of it—some 21 years ago—they had had a continual shower of honours poured upon its Masters and Past Masters . He enumerated them—their first Master , Bro . Pownall , was P . G . Supt . of Works ; Bro . Captain Weston was a P . G . S . B ., and had since received the collar of P . S . G . D . Bro .

Shaw was a P . G . Std . Br . ; Bros . Kennedy , Moulds , and Gooding had received collars , and now himself and Bro . Edwards had been invested . He then read Earl Amherst ' s letter offering him ( Bro . Spinks ) the collar of a P . P . J . G . W ., which certainly was most complimentary , and , in continuation , said , whether he deserved it or not , it was not for him to say , but he could say that he was proud of it . It was now 21 years ago since the lodge was consecrated . He was one of its founders , and he felt that his lordship , in presenting him the collar , meant it as an honour to the lodge , and , in conclusion , he

thanked them for their hearty recognition of the toast . The I . P . M . then proposed the toast of " The W . M ., " and said that , from what he knew of Bro . Fowler , he entertained no doubt that he would well and worthily fill the office with credit to himself and satisfaction to the brethren . Bro . Fowler , in response , said they could not expect to hear a long speech from him , for that he was no speaker they all knew . _ He thanked the I . P . M . for his kind remarks , and the brethren for their hearty reception of his name . Their having elected

him to the chair did not lessen their responsibility , for , though he was determined to do his duty in the office they had p laced him in , yet he should look to them for their earnest support , and to be backed up in his endeavours for the progress of the lodge by every Past Master , officer , and brother belonging to it . If they would endeavour , without soliciting , to find good and worthy candidates , he " / ould do the work . In a lodge like theirs the brethren were initiated , passed , and raised , and then most likely had to go on service to all parts , and there they found or made new Masonic homes by joining old or

founding new lodges . They were , in fact , " Masonic pioneers " wherever the flag floated over her Majesty ' s dominions . A few years ago their lodge ranked third or fourth in the province , and if they would rally round him he trusted that at the end of his year of office they would be able to say that , if they had not quite regained that proud position , they would be passing onward to the goal of their ambition , at any rate , and the lodge be stronger than it was at present .

Bro . Ingle , in responding to the toast of "The Installing Officer , " said it had given him a great amount of satisfaction to haye had to install their W . M . As he wis installed by his predecessor , he determined to install his successor , and if he had given them satisfaction that was all he required . Bros . Russell , Porter , Sumner , Reeves , Parsons , and Murdock responded for " The Visitors . "

Bro . Murdock , in the course of a most interesting speech , gave a brief history of the Prov . Grand Masters of Kent , of the Hon . R . B . Walsingham . Captain Charles I'redeiick , and Captain G . Smith , once of the Royal Academy at Woolwich , - and averred that the Amherst family had done more for the Province of Kent than any in the province . He spoke of the military bearing of the brethren of the lodge , either in their perambulations as candidates or Deacons i it was stamped with the dress and precision of parade—a trait he had seen in none of the other provincial lodges hc had visited , and he had visited a goodly number of them—and even in his own lodge—the Ubiquenot

they only imitated that bearing , but had a lodge of instruction founded on the one attsched to the United Military Lodge . Bro . Spinks , in responding for " The Past Masters of , and belonging to , the Lodge , " referred with pride to his being a Past Master of the lodge for nearly 19 years , and also as being one of its founders . There were not many of the founders left , only "ve or six . Bro . Sharpe was , with the exception of himself , the only one present at that foment . Most of the rest had gone , he trusted , to the Grand Lodge above . As an old Mason of some 35 years' standing , he was proud of the lodge and of being a Past Master 01 it .

Bro . Penfold expressed his regret at being unable to be present at the ceremony of installation , of which he had heard the highest encomiums . His time had been occupied , "st at the London County Council and then at the Local Board of their town , so that it was impossible for him lo be present . He came more especially to drink success to the wage on its 21 st anr . iversaiy , or birthday . At the time of its consecration , which he UMW e ( * wel 1 ' ^ himself was at the height of his Masonic glory , being at that time ll - i j »* " ' neighbouring lodge , the Pattison . At that time the first Master of the united Military Lodge , Bro . Pownall , consulted him as to whether the Iodge should do is work and then disperse , or whether thev should , after labour , eniov Hiems . Wt af fl , »

L ° clal Board for an hour or so . He ( Bro . Penfold ) strongly advised Bro . Pownall to lelln if- ' B atnetm S > for he felt that it engendered a spirit of fraternity and good ,,, ' t 'P amongst the brethren that might never occur if they dispersed directly the at tl tT done " He was B ' ad to sa ? W , M - took his advicc > and the result was that saidtkt- " ley were a stron K > im ' ted , and prosperous lodge , because , as had been urr / el "' S ^' they went away and strengthened old lodges and made new ones . He liro c } £ su PP ° rt of the W . M . by the ofiicers and members . He congratulated the I '~ P su Pon the honour Earl Amherst had so conspicuously conferred upon him and Itudlu it Upon attammg > proud and prominent , it 21 st natal day , Bro . Penfold was ' cheered on resuming his seat .

Craft Masonry.

Bros . Mould and Sinnett also responded . "The Freemason and Local Press" received a fl altering recjption , and was coupled with the name of Bro . Jolly , who suitably responded . " The Officers " and Tyler's toasts concluded the labours and pleasures of the evening , which were materially added to—the pleasures , not the labour—by some fine

singing and playing , the Misses Eleanor Hope and Annie Cheal , and Bros . E . Walton and J . Ireland , and Mr . W . Hengler being the singers ; Bro . K . C . Stratton playing the violin plendidly , and Bro . Parsons , jun ., the euphonium , the latter's rendering of " Alice where art Thou , " was a superb effort , for although the young lady mentioned was absent , Parsons was there .

Dee Lodge , No . 1576 . The members of this lodge assembled at Parkgate , which is situated on the river Dee , about midway between Birkenhead and Chester , on Wednesday , the 22 nd ult ., in the College School , for the purpose of assisting at the annual installation ceremony . The W . M . elect , Bro . F . V . Fearn , was installed in his high office by Bro . I . Mayers ,

W . M . The following officers were then appointed and invested : Bros . J . Mayers , I . P . M . ; R . C . Davies , S . W . ; C . Cordery , J . W . ; W . Jones . P . M , Treas . ; J . Clarke , P . M ., Sec . ; G . P . Poole , S . D . ; W . Taylor , J . D . ; Captain Shaw , P . M ., D . C ; J . W . Evans , P . M ., Org . ; S . Lee , I . G . ; T . Davenport , C . H . Davies , T . F . Ball , and W . H . Williams , Stewards ; and J . Croft , Hon . Tyler . Among the many visitors were Bro . R . Newhouse , G . S . B ., P . G . Sec , and many other Prov . Grand Officers . A banquet was laid at the Union Hotel , after which a capital musical programme was gone through .

A GRAND _ MASONIC TEMPLE is being arranged for at the new Trocadero Restaurant which Messrs . J . Lyons Si Co . are now completing at Piccadilly Circus . Special and complete accommodation will be provided for large and small lodges , and the tariff will be strictly in accord with the moderation which has hitherto characterised J . Lyons and Co . ' s charges . The cuisine will fully sustain the high reputation this company have already earned , and the decorations and comforts of the whole place will mark a new era in the record of Masonic gatherings . Inquiries as to particulars , should be addressed to the proprietors , J . Lyons & Co ., Limited , Cadby Hall , Kensington . — [ ADVT . ]

Royal Arch.

Royal Arch .

Zetland Chapter , No . 236 . This chapter held their regular meeting at the Iodge room , Masonic Hall , Duncombe-place , York , on the 29 th ult . There was a fairly good attendance of companions , including Comps . C . M . Forbes , M . E . Z ., ' G . Kirby , P . Z . ; G . Balmford , P . Z . j M . Rooke , P . Z . ; G . Purnell , S . E . ; A . Proctor , F . " W . Loughton , M . Bryson , J . S . Shannon , J . Biscomb , F . W . Cull , Major Barstow , G . H . Osborne , W . Draper , Hall , Rayner , Dr . Foster , P . Z . ; and others .

In the absence of the S . N ., Comp . Proctor acted for him , Comp . Loughton for the P . S ., and Comp . Kirby for the H . Comp . H . L . Swift was first installed into the Third Principal's chair by Comp . J . Todd , P . Z ., Treas ., after which the minutes of the last chapter were read and confirmed . There were two candidates for exaltation , both of which were successful , and Bro . W . Blakey , being in attendance , was duly exalted to the Supreme

Degree by the M . tl . Z . Comp . Todd gave the mystical lecture . The ceremony was well performed throughout , the companions being pleased with the work of ths M . E . Z ., the Treasurer , the acting H ., and P . S . Letters of apology for absence were read from Comps . Rev . C . E . L . Wright , H . j Dr . Gramshaw , P . S . ; and Stimpson . The companions subsequently dined together , when a very harmonious evening wis spent .

THE OLD TROCADERO went the way of all things but in its stead there has been raised a Trocadero which bids fair to altogether eclipse the memories of the old favourite place of amusement . A magnificent restaurant has been raised upon its site , and Messrs . J . Lyons and Co ., Limited , have succeeded beyond their anticipations in making this the most attractive and comfortable resort of the kind in Europe . A Masonic Temple is included in its many attractions and exceptionall y good arrangements are being made for the convenience of lodges . Application for particulars should be made to the proprietors , J . Lyons and Co . Limited , Cadby Hall , Kensington . —[ ADVT . ]

Cecil Chapter , No . 449 . A meeting was held on Thursday , the 23 rd ult ., at the Sun Hotel , Hitchin , when there were present Comps . J . H . Gilbertson , M . E . Z . ; W . Weiss , ll . ; W . Van-Praagh , J . ; James Shilcock , P . Z . 403 , P . P . G . S . N ., Treas . ; John Read , P . Z ., P . G . Org ., S . E . ; R . Shillitoe , P . Z ., Prov . G . J ., as S . N . ; J . R . Gamble , P . S . ; W . O . Vizard , ist A . S . ; C . A . Short , J anitor j F . H . Weiss , I . P . Z . ; C . B . Cooper , P . Z ., P . P . G . J . ; James Terry , P . Z ., P . G . Std . Br ., Sec . R . M . B . I . ; and F . E . Brookes .

Visitors : Comps . h .. C . Cocks , Y . L . 403 , P . P . G . J ., and D Arcy Power , H . 259 . The chapter having been opened , and the minutes of previous meeting read and confirmed , a ballot was taken for Comp . J . T . F . Matthews , 749 , as a joining member , which proved in his favour . A ballot was also taken for Bro . Hepey , 66 , as a candidate for exaltation , which proving in his favour , Bro . Hepey was regularly exalted to the Degree of a R . A . Mason . This being the annual period of installation of Principals , Comp . J . H . Gilbertson installed Comp . W . Weiss as M . E . Z . ; Comp . VV . Weiss installed Comp . W . Van Praagh as H . ; and Comp . W . Van Praagh installed Comp . j .

R . Gamble as J . The M . E . Z . invested Comps . James Shilcock , P . Z ., P . P . G . S . N ., as Treas . ; John Read , P . Z ., P . G . Org ., as S . E . ; W . O . Vizard , P . S . ; T . E . Brookes , ist A . S . ; J . T . F . Matthews , 2 nd A . S . ; F . D . Hepey , Stwd . ; and C . A . Short , Janitor . Comp . | Rev . H . F . Oliver , S . N . elect , being unavoidably absent , the ceremony of his investment was postponed . A handsome P . Z . ' s jewel was presented to Comp . J . H . Gilbertson , I . P . Z ., in appreciation of his valuable services to the chapter during his past year of office , and which Comp . Gilbertson acknowledged in suitable terms . Letters of regret for inability to attend were received from Comps . Major G . Lake , Prov . G . H . ; F . Sumner Knyvett , P . G . S . B ., Prov . G . Treas . ; and C . Bullock , Prov .

G . S . E . The sum of 10 guineas was voted by the chapter , to be placed on ths list of Comp . W . Weiss , M . E . Z ., for the ensuing Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . Bro . Baron , 20 SO , was announced as a candidate for exaltation , and , nothing further effering , the chapter was closed . The M . E . Z . subsequently presided at the banquet , after which the customary toasts were given , and a successful meeting was brought to a pleasant conclusion .

THE GLORIES of the old Trocadero in its best days are to be more than revived , as Messrs . J . Lyons & Co . have erected upon its site at Piccadilly Circus one of the grandest restaurants to be found in Europe . For elegance and convenience of construction , splendour of decoration , and the comfort and completeness of the general appointments it would be difficult to lind its peer . The cuisine of J . Lyons Si Co ., Ltd ., has earned for this Company the title of The Only Perfect Caterers , and the Trocadero Restaurant will be a distinct acquisition ta Masonic lodges . Applications respecting bookings should be made to the proprietors , J . Lyons & Co ., Ltd ., Cadby Hall Kensington , W . —[ ADVT . ]

ABOUT 100 MEMBERS of the House of Commons visited Portsmouth , by invitation from the Lords of the Admiralty , on Tuesday , and , having gone over the first-class cruiser Powerful and the battleship Crusar , went on board the tug Dromedary , and inspected thc Fleet , boarding the flagship Majestic , and going over the splendid vessel . They then returned to the railway jetty , and having refreshed themselves with tea , were conveyed back by train to Westminster in time to discuss the Navy Estimates . Among those included in the party were Bros . Admiral Field , E . Boulnois , VV . Ellison Macartney , J . W . Maclure , Sir E . Hill , the Hon . H . Massey-Mainwaring , Sir E . Gourley , Bhownaggree , A . H . Smith-Barry , and Macdona .