Third Annual Festival Of The La Tolerance Lodge Of Instruction, No. 538.

" The Lodge of Instruction , coupled with the names of the Treasurer and Secretary ( Bro . W . E . Willby , P . M . 548 ) . " The TREASURER referred with pleasure to the fact that during the last 22 months sums amounting to between ^ So and ^ 85 had been collected in the lodge of instruction and presented to one or other of the Masonic Charities . "

Bro . W . E . WILLBY , said , in replying , that the large response to his small efforts , shown by the greatly increased attendance that evening , was all the reward ne required , and further dwelt upon the beauty and grandeur of Freemasonry . The toast of "The Visitors" was ably replied to by Bros . WEBB , P . M . 1287 , GODFREY , and DAVIS .

A long musical programme was carried through , and afforded the greatest pleasure to the company . Bros . H . C . Parker , F . A . Zeppenfeld , C . Gammon , and E . Kraus gave valuable aid to the musical portion of the entertainment , other contributions being rendered in grand style by Mr . T . Bennett . Miss Florence Grove sang with great taste and refinement " A May morning" and

" Dert's only one moon in de sky " ; Miss May Palmer played in superb style " Valse Arabesque" and other pieces ; Mrs . and Miss Willby , wife and daughter of the Secretary , also lent their aid , the former singing " Lousiana Loo " to a mandoline accompaniment by her daughter , whilst the latter sang , played a violin solo , and also recited , her efforts meeting with the heartiest appreciation .

Amongst those present were Bros . W . J . Mason , Past Provincial Grand Deacon Surrey ; John Skinner , P . M . 538 ; T . W . Smale , P . M . 538 ; W . E . Willby , P . M . 538 ; S . C . Cross , J . D . 538 ; G . A . Sturgess , I . G . 538 ; T . H . Clear , J . W . 538 ; W . G . Hibbs , P . M . 1692 ; John King , P . M . 1692 ; F . Stansell , 167 ; F . G . Evans , 1201 , and four friends ; T . Paul , P . M . 128 7 ^ 1482 ; G . Ridout , P . M . 1287 ; 1 . Leather , 1287 ; F . A . Zeppenfeld , 1287 ; M . Beedle ,

1287 ; C . J . Grove , P . M . ; W . Podger ; G . Cizzio ; F . W . Buxton , P . M . ; W . Bates , P . M . ; W . Webb , P . M . 1287 ; A . Cumberland ; J . Cator , 2261 ; A . Moon , 795 ; J . Bluett , 946 ; R . H . Singleton , A . S . Willby , Percy Willby , T . Boide , F . Bailey , Hairy Lindfield , P . M . 211 ; J . Bennett ; W . B . Fendick , P . M . ; A . Butcher , J . Davis , A . Davis , P'M . ; J . L . Bowden ; C . Gammon , P . M . ; W . Houghton ; H . C . Parker , 975 ; F . Jackson , P . M . 1987 ; C . Morle ; E . Kraus , P . M . 511 ; A . W . Wilson , 1987 ; and Joseph Bennett , 946 .

Ladies' Night Of The Victoria Park Lodge, No. 1816.

LADIES' NIGHT OF THE VICTORIA PARK LODGE , No . 1816 .

The ladies' night of the above lodge is always a pleasant event , and that which occurred on the 21 st ult ., at the London Tavern , Fenchurch-street , was no exception . Bro . E . Smith , W . M ., presided over the festive board in his usual genial manner . The tables were decorated in a manner worthy of the occasion , and the dresses of the ladies and the varied hues of the Masonic clothing of the brethten vied with the flowers on the table .

After a very recherche banquet , which the sisters considered with as much regard as the brethren , Bro . SMITH gave the loyal toastF , and that of "The Grand Officers . " The National Anthem and "God bless the Prince of Wales" followed the first two toasts , which were received with due honours , but not the usual "Masonic fire . "

The ( cast of the evening— "The Ladies —was cordially received by the brelbrfn , the W . M . expiessirg his hope that they might see them there again for many years to come . The rt mair . irg toasts were briefly disposed of , as there was a rather extensive musical progran tne .

Bro . Hans " discoursed most excellent music" on the cornet , Miss Isabella Grter . e with " The lost chord , " and Miss Aggie Smith sang divinely . Bro . Dynes was vtiy aj . rttable with "Sally in our alley , " Bro . H . Green equally pleasing with " My swttthfart when a boy " and '' Come into the garden , Maud . " Mr . T . Best Folktswasin his amusing vein with his "Sweet little lady '' and "The little maid , '' while Bro . Calver , P . M ., was powerful and impressive in his recitation of '••The last fight of the Revenge . " Last , but always welcome , Bro . John Kinipple waibled " 1 nines that were never done before . "

The admirable arrangements were organised by Bro . E . Haysom , always able and alwajs willing , assisted by an active body of Stewards , viz . : Bros . J . Smith , C . Golle , J . Lane , E . W , Child , W . Cotton , and E . H . Child . Bro . Lloyd Edwards presided at the piano .

Presentation To Bro. J. M. Mcleod, P.G.S.B.

PRESENTATION TO BRO . J . M . MCLEOD , P . G . S . B .

The promotion of the hard-working Secretary of the Boys School , Bro . J . M . McLeod , to the rank of P . G . S . B . — a position similar to that held by the Secretaries of the sister Institutions—was hailed throughout the Craft as a welldeserved honour . The extreme satisfaction evinced by this preferment found expression on Saturday , the 2 nd inst ., when a banquet was given to Bro . McLeod at the Frascati Restaurant , and the insignia of his ofiice presented to him by Bro . R . Eve , P . G , Treas ., on behalf of the members of the Board of Management of thc Boys' School , and other Masonic friends .

The subscribers to the testimonial , many of whom were present , included Bros . W . A . Scurrah , Wm . Stiles , J . Speller , Westlake , J . Willing , jun ., W . H . Biiiliy , J . J . Thomas , W . Thomas , G . Fairchild , J . Stephens , R . Eve , G . Everett , Smithson , H . J . Lardner , S . Attenborough , Spaull , Mackrill , Shurmur , C . E . Keyser , J . Burgess , Rudderfortli , Hubbard , Maj . Le Feuvre , Carter , T . H . Roberts , H . E . Diamond , O . Papworth , Benson , Russell , R . Clowes , W . H . Kempster , J . Glass , E .

Margret * , R . Cummings , W . Adams , W . Lake , Welford , J . R . Roberts , Lusty , Mountford , F . Adams , G . Corbie , Hutchinson , Chappie , Collison , Stratton , Buxton , Flatman , G . V . Wood , H . J . Turner , Manfield , Hudson , Vassar Smith , Pritchard , R . Cranston , S . Cochrane , Hussey , Garnett , Imray , Woodiwiss , Marsden , Salisbury , Tobias , St . Clair , Strachan , Baddeley , Baths , Bevis , W . Morell , F . R . W . Hedges , W . J . Mason , Truscott , Percy Wallis , Edgar Horne , and Capt . Murray .

The entire arrangements for the presentation had been carried out by Bro . James Stephens , with that completeness and success which characterises all his woik , and the result was a highly satisfactory and enjoyable evening under the presidency of Bro . R . Eve , P . G . Treas . After dessert , the CHAIRMAN briefly proposed "The Queen , " and then gave

"H . R . H . the M . W . G . M ., and the Grand Officers , " referring to the prerogative exercised by his Royal Highness in appointing a number of brethren to brevet rank to ci li bratt ; the 21 st year of his Grand Mastership . The Grand Officers present included Bro . W . IT . Bailey , the G . Treas ., whose services were well known to the Craft , particularly in that part of the country from which lie hailed .

Presentation To Bro. J. M. Mcleod, P.G.S.B.

Bro . W . H . BAILEY , G . Treas ., who responded said , with reference to the M . W . G . M ., that it was a unique honour for his Royal Highness to be proclaimed Grand Master , and winner of the One Thousand Guineas in one week . The Grand Officers would all try to do their level best to maintain the high record of Grand Lodge , and use their b ? st endeavours not to render less service than had been rendered by the distinguished brethren who had preceded them .

Bro . J . STEPHENS then read numerous letters and telegrams from brethren expressing their inability to be present , and their congratulations to Bro . McLeod on his well-earned promotion .

The CHAIRMAN then rose to propose the toist of the evening , " Our Guest , " and said that it was unnecessary he should tell them the object of their meeting . None present or outside their gathering could have failed to feel the greatest satisfaction and pleasure when they heard it announced that Bro . McLeod was to be a Grand Officer . They had watched him for some years past , and more especially since he obtained the position of Secretary to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . Bro . McLeod was an eminent Mason before he obtained

that position , and all their anticipations with reference to him had been full y justified , and he had more than amply repaid every brother who supported him in that office . They knew that for some years he had been working hard for their Institution and to say that he had been working with a great amount of energy would be saying little . He possessed an amount of energy and assiduity without which no brother could have accomplished such work , not only for the success of the Institution , but for the good of the Craft at large . They were present that

evening to recognise the fact that Bro . McLeod had been appointed one of the Grand Officers , and to express to him on behalf the Craft , the great satisfaction felt at the brevet rank bestowed upon him . They hoped he would have many years of health , strength , and usefulness for the great Institution he so well and worthily represented and for which he had done so much . He ( the Chairman ) was sorry so many letters and telegrams of regret had been read but the room would not have held all the brethren anxious to do honour to Bro . McLeod .

They were , however , well represented , and speaking on behalf of the Boys ' School , he thanked Bro . McLeod personally for the arduous , exemplary , and brilliant way in which he had conducted the business , and represented them on various occasions . Before asking the brethren to drink the toast , he ( the Chairman ) would discharge in their behalf a pleasing duty , and that was to ask Bro . McLeod to accept at their hands a small present , as a recognition of his services . They felt all he had said about that brother , and that he had done his duty honestly , faithfully , and well . Bro . McLeod ' s heart was bound up in the

interests of the Boys Institution , and he had a great desire to see it a great success , an honour and an ornament to the Craft . In conclusion , the Chairman , addressing Bro . McLeod , asked him to accept at their hands a small present , as a recognition of his great services in furthering the Institution , and the great Charities of their Order . In asking his acceptance of the Grand Lodge and Grand Arch clothing , they ( rusted it would be worn for many happy years in the Craft , and afterwards be regarded by his son as a memento of his father ' s distinguished services .

The toast having been enthusiastically received , Bro . J . M . MCLEOD , in reply , said he had had a great many difficult tasks in the course of his life , but none more difficult than the present . It came very early after the reception which he had in Grand Lodge on Wednesday last , and which he thought he should never forget , to hear the more than kind words of the Chairman and the loving receptions he had met with at the hands of those present . Personally he knew he was weak in many respects and it somewhat took the manhood out of him to receive so many

kind marks of favour at the hands of those brethren whom he had learnt , not only to respect but love , in the cause he had at heart . He did not know why it was or how it came about that in the very brief space of somewhat less than six years since he came to London a comparative stranger to take up his office , he had received so many marks of favour at the hands of his London brethren . He placed them foremost because he came as a stranger and they took him to their hearts , although they had friends who they thought should occupy the position

he was selected to fill—might he say by the majority of the country brethren . It was a most difficult position to take up , but to find that those who opposed him were his friends , was the greatest compliment one could have in the whole course of his natural career . He had endeavoured , as all men should , whether humble or high , to do his duty . That he had tried to do it was admitted by all ; that he had succeeded he hoped was true . He felt that the spontaneous cordiality of his reception in Grand Lodge , which would have moved a much stronger man than himself , proved that

the brethren generally agreed that he had not only endeavoured to do his duty , but had succeeded . A most difficult task had been placed upon him in acknowledging the very kind words uttered by the Chairman , who had b ^ en ever kind to him in connection with theii work together , which had not been light . The Chairman spoke for the Board of Management , than whom none could have a better body of brethren to work under ; men who had devoted themselves with one single mind for the best interests of those placed under their care . That had

made his work remarkably easy . He had to thank his brethren who had come here , those who had known his work before he came to London , including Bro . Salisbury , from Birmingham , and he took it as a compliment that they should have come up at personal inconvenience to honour him on such an occasion . They represented the unity of the Masonic Order on an occasion of that kind . He could not express all he felt with reference to his accession to the high dignity the Grand Master had conferred upon a representative of their Institution . He felt

he could not ever have hoped to . attain that position had it not been for the office he filled . Firstly , he thought the appointment was given as a recognition , not only of his services , but of the improved working in the Boys' School . In that respect it would undoubtedly be a very great advantage to him as regards his future work for the Institution , as it placed him on the same level with his colleagues of the sister Institutions as regards rank . Their kindness and their generosity shown in their personal gift was more likely to last in his recollection ,

and was far more calculated to induce him to put forth more energy for the cause he and they loved so well , than all the collars and ranks the M . W . G . M . could bestow upon him . He esteemed all they had done for him , and knew there was one brother who had ever been kind to him—Bro . James Stephens—who was never happier than when trying to do good , no matter at what cost to himself . They had made him work , he believed , harder than he could have worked , owing to the kindness he had received since he took up his duties . He had had his

seasons of sorrow . He should never forget when he first came to London to meet the Provisional Committee , he came from the funeral of his father , and soon after they knew the great loss he had , and they knew also the great sympathy he had from all the brethren and the encouragement he received to keep up amidst the most arduous work . Since then he had undergone a time of joy and pleasure , which had g iven him a renewed lease of life . Their assistance and kindness softened the hardship

of work , for work was a pleasure to him , as he had always been a hard worker . Some said he should take things easier , but work was the finest exercise he knew , and it was a pleasure to work when such encouragement was given . In thanking them for their kindness during the past few years , he could only hope that would be another incentive to continue the work , to do more , if possible , for he knew there wis much hard work before him in the future . He had to thank them again and again for the greit kindness they had shown in their gift , and the personal interest and kind sympathy always exhibited towards him . Bro . G . EVERETT , P . G . Treas ., proposed "The Chairman , " to which Bro . REvii , P . G . Treas ., replied .