Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

Craft JIasonrij . WEST KENT LODGE ( No . 1297 . )—The usual meeting of the lodge took place at the Crystal Palace , Sydenham , on Saturday , jCth ult . Present : Bros . Thos . Perrin , W . M . ; B . Cooke , S . W . ; J . B . Crump , J . W . ; lames Croivden , S . D . ; P . G . Philps , J . D . ; R . P . Jenkins , I . G . ; B . Fullvvood , D . C . ; J . C . Woodrow , P . M . and Sec . ; Gardner , I . P . M . ; Robert H . Crowden , P . M . ; Bellis , JohnsonHicks , Fanshawe , Barnes , and others . Bro .

, Hands was duly raised in a very satisfactory manner by the W . M ., after which Mr . Arthur Harris was duly balloted for and initiated in the ancient Order . Bro . W . Jamell was also balloted for and elected as a joining member . The banquet was served by Messrs . Bertram and Roberts in Crystal Palace style , and the brethren spent an enjoyable evening . Visitors : Bros . Bussy , W . M . 1928 ; Gillard , P . M . 657 ; " Mercer , 295 ; Little , 901 ; Wilson , 192 S .

ALL SAINTS LODGE ( No . 1716 ) . —A meeting of this lodge was held at the Town Hall , Poplar , on Friday , the 1 st inst ., Bro . J . House , VV . M ., presiding , sup . ported by the following officers and brethren : Bros . T . L . Kennett , S . W . ; H . J . Hancock , J . W . ; W . G . Wilshaw , Sec ; W . J . Rundell , S . D . ; J . Grout , Org . ; J . C . Pittam , I . G . ; W . C . Young , I . P . M . ; Leonard Potts , P . M . ; 1 . Kemp Coleman , P . M . ; H . J . Day , T . Morgan ,

J . Smith , W . Pearson , R . H . Harland , Ii . C . Knowles , I . Johnson , Edward Smith , J . S . Turner , G . Harrison , Tyler ; and the following were among the visitors ; Bros . T . Richards , 11 S 5 ; A . Holmes , S . VV . 54 S ; R . F . Wilkinson , 1967 ; R . Logan , J . W . 1 S 04 . E . G . Johnson , I . G . 1 S 04 ; and others . The minutes of the preceding meeting having been read and confirmed , a ballot was taken for the admission of Mr .

Edward Smith , which proving unanimous in his favour he was duly initiated by the VV . M ., who afterwards gave an eloquent address on the " Allegorical Meanings of Freemasonry . " After quoting Carlyle's definition of a " symbol and its meanings , " as given in "Sartor Resartus , " he proceeded to apply this definition to the Masonic system , and to show how every character , figure , symbol , aye , even movement in Masonry possessed a hidden meaning . Next

he showed that faith , hope , and charity were the three principal ideas pervading the ceremonies — faith , in the First Degree , characterising man's earl y life ; hope , in the Second , depicting the middle period of life ; and charity , in the Third , so admirably illustrating man ' s declining years . Each Degree was then taken in its entirety , and in

a very able manner the motive of each demonstrated from the ceremonial . The address , which was listened to with rapt attention , concluded with the invocation : " Genius of Masonry descend , And with thee bring thy spotless train ; Constant our sacred rites attend ,

While we adore thy peaceful reign . The initiate was then admitted , and the W . M . delivered the ancient charge and the lecture on the tracing board in a most impressive manner , at the close of which a very cordial vote of thanks was accorded to the VV . M . for his very able , interesting , and scholarly address . We think this young lodge has every reason to be proud of the distinguished position it has attained . Its Past Masters have set for themselves a high standard of Masonic

excellence . They have constantly stimulated the younger members to follow their example ; and as an illustration of the success which has attended their efforts , we note the literary ability and research displayed in the address of Bro . House , who we understand was initiated in the lodge less than five years ago . The adjourned discussion on the Benevolent Fund was resumed and its establishment , functions , and mode of administration decided upon . After some other business of a formal character , the lodge was closed in the usual

manner . FARRINGDON WITHOUT LODGE ( No . , 745 ) , —A meeting of this prosperous lodge was held on the 2 Sth ult ., at the Holborn Viaduct Hotel . Among those present were Bros . J . Strugnell , W . M . ; C . F . Goodenough , S . W ., VV . M . elect ; H . B . Marshall , C . C ., J . W . ; H . J . Lardner , I . P . M ., Treas . ; W . H . Jackson , P . M ., Sec ; Young , S . D . ; Simpson . J . D . ; Clarke , P . G . P ., LG . ; T .

C . Walls , P . P . G . S . B . Middx ., P . M . ; W . Ramsey , P . M . ( hon . member ); James Terry , P . M ., Sec , R . M . B . I . ( hon . member ); Lott , P . P . G . W . Jersey , Org . ( hon . member ); and Parkinson , Tyler . Among the numerous visitors were Bros . Gray , P . M . 22 ; Collings , P . M . 22 ; Oakley , P . M . 694 ; Garrod , P . M . 749 ; Hall , VV . M . 749 ; F . Blake , P . M . 945 ; Paine , W . M . 100 S ; Turner , P . M . 1328 ; Cox , P . M . 15 S 0 ; P . Jackson ,

49 ; Snoden , 157 ; Seymour , 163 ; lomkins ( C . L . ) , 569 ; Payne , 132 S ; Postans , 1426 ; Pringle , 1475 ; Wiggins , 15 S 0 ; Berg , 1 C 13 ; " Bloomfield , 1613 ; Clisby , 1623 ; Rumba " ., 1623 ; Higgins , 1623 ; King , 1929 ; Phillips , 1929 ; J . Terry , 1964 ; and others . The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed , the report of the Audit Committee was received and adopted . Bros . Schultzand Suskina were then

raised to the Degree of M . M . in a most admirable manner by the W . M . The installation ceremony followed , and was well carried out by the Installation Officer , Bro . Strugnell , ably assisted by Bros . Lardner , Terry , and Clarke . The officers invested were Bros . Marshall , S . W . ; Young , J . W . ; Lardner , Treas . ; W . H . Jackson , Sec . ; Simpson , S . D . ; Clarke , J . D . ; Lister , I . G . ; Lott , Org . ; L . Lardner and Herbert , Stwds . ; and Parkinson , Tyler . Upon the conclusion of the ceremony of installation , the

I . P . M . was presented with a jewel in recognition of his past services . The ballot was then taken upon behalf of Mr . Wm . Webber , and it proving to be unanimous , he was duly invested into Craft Masonry by the W . M . in a manner which left but little to be desired . The lodge was then closed and the brethren adjourned to the banquet . Upon the removal of the cloth the customary toasts followed . W . Bro . Clarke , P . G . P ., responded upon behalf of " The Grand Officers ;"

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

" The Health of the W . M . " having been proposed by the I . P . M . was warmly received by the brethren and duly acknowledged by the W . M . " The Initiate " came next in order . In giving "The Visitors" the W . M . expressed his satisfaction at seeing so many distinguished Masons present , and he sincerely hoped that their visit to the Farringdon Lodge had been in every way agreeable to them . The toast having been drunk with enthusiasm , a number

ot the visitors replied to the toast in terms of more than ordinary compliment . "The I . P . M . " followed and this pledge having been modestly responded to by the recipient of the honour , " The Masonic Charities " was proposed and gave Bro . James Terry an opportunity of advocating the cause of those excellent institutions in a speech of some length . The remaining toasts were "The Past Masters , " "The Treasurer and Secretary , " and "The Officers . " The proceedings then terminated .

ALLIANCE LODGE ( No . 1 S 27 ) . —VISIT OF THE LORD MAYOR . —Of , the lodges that have been warranted during the past few years there is probably none which has made its mark so distinctively in theannalsof Freemasonry as the Alliance Lodge , which , not for the first time in its brief career , has had the honour of entertaining the chief magistrate of the City of London . The warrant of this lodge dates only from the year 1 S 79 , but

from its consecration till Wednesday last , its meetings have been more attractive than are usually those of so young a lodge , while some of them stand out conspicuously as red letter days in the Craft history of the last four years . It was consecrated on the 30 th July , 1879 , by the present Grand Secretary , in the presence of a numerous and strongly representative body of Masons , its first W . M .

being Bro . Sir John B . Monckton , President of the Board of General Purposes , and its first Wardens , Bros . L . F . Littell , now G . P ., the S . W ., and Frank Green , one of the Grand Deacons , J . W . These latter have since passed the chair , which is now occupied ( and very ably so ) by Bro . Wildey Wright , who was appointed and invested as the lodge ' s first J . D . With a succession of such

experienced chiefs it is not to be wondered at that the Alliance has made the most of the favourable auspices under which it started , and has gone on strengthening and confirming itself in the good opinion of English Masons . Nor , having regard to the fact that it was instituted for the convenience of brethren engaged in the service of the Corporation of the City of London , is it surprising that , whenever the chief

magistrate happens to be a member of the Craft , the lodge should seek the opportunity of extending its hospitality to so distinguished a brother . This was done , for instance , in the case of the immediate past Lord Mayor , Alderman Sir J . Whittaker Ellis , Bart ., P . G . J . Warden , and now , or rather on Wednesday in last week , Bro . the Rt . Hon . Lord Mayor Knight has been entertained , and has expressed the

pleasure it gave him to visit a lodge which was so well known by reason ot the excellence of its work and the largehearted hospitality it loses no opportunity of dispensing . The occasion would have been still more impressive had the Sheriffs been able to attend , but unfortunately Bro . Alderman and Sheriff De Keyser was kept away by illness , and Bro . Sheriff Savory by an important private engagement .

Still the gathering was a numerous one , and the reception of his lordship , who was formally introduced into the lodge and conducted to a seat on the right of the W . M . by Bro . Sir J . B . Monckton and the Deacons , was cordial . The business transacted during the presence of Bro . Lord Mayor Knight was brief but interesting , a jewel of the value of ten guineas being presented to Bro . E . J . Pawley , one of the

founders and the Treasurer of the lodge , by the W . Master , who spoke in complimentary terms of Bro . Pawley ' s personal qualities as well as of the indefatigable manner in which he had done his duties towards the lodge in his official capacity . The gift having been suitably acknowledged by Bro . Pawley , the proceedings terminated and the brethren adjourned to the banquet room . The VV . M . occupied the

chair , having on his right the honoured guest of the evening , while amongst the other brethren present were : Bros . F . Green , I . P . M . ; Major T . Davies Sewell , S . W . ; C . W . Bowley , J . W . ; R . J . Pawley , Treas . ; J . E . Turner , Sec ; H . Wright , S . D . ; E . J . Man , J . D . ; J . Perkins , I . G . ; I ' . A . Jewson , Org . ; H . Squire , H . Clarke , Stewards ; Sir J . B . Monckton , P . M .: G . N . lohnson .

P . M . ; A . B . Church , Tyler ; P . Ashcroft , J . H . Smith , E . Jex , H . C . Richards , F . S . Jackson , E . T . R . Wilde , J . C . Whiddington , Capt . N . G . Philips , P . G . D . ; Rev . C . W . Arnold , P . G . C . ; Edgar Bowyer , Grand Standard Bearer ; J . P . Godfrey , P . M . ; H . H . Cooper , B . Morice . Visitors : Colonel Shadwell H . Clerke , Grand Secretary ; D . H . Ashford , 1 S 27 ; Rev . VV . O . Thomson , 10 , G . Chap . ;

t . M . Cottrell , R . H . Thrupp , 223 , A . G . D . C ; G . Skegg , P . M . 1441 ; G . A . Beckerton , 9 ; Rev . H . G . Morse , S 59 , G . Chap . ; Dr . R . Gooding , G . D ., Grand Master ' s , No . 1 ; J . W . Cook , P . M . 1 C 72 ; Colonel Dundas , I . P . M . 370 ; J . D . Langton , I . P . M . 1073 ; T . J . Wilkinson , W . M . 92 ; J . A . Wild , P . M . 9 6 ; T . Bland , P . M . 101 ; H . W . Hart , 181 ; P . K . Langdale , 1316 ; Col . J . Peters , G . S . B . ; Dr . E . Wendt , G . S . G . C ; G . Singer , P . M . 21 , P . G . S . ; W . Stephens ,, Asst . G . Purst ; T . Berg , 1611 ;

S . Blomfield , I . P . M . 1613 ; Sir A . W . Woods ( Garter ) , G . D . C . ; E . M . Daniel , J . D . 16 94 ; J . H . Devonshire , P . M . 4 , J . G . D . ; J . S . Burroughes , S . W . 5 S , P . G . S . ; E . H . Bromley , W . M . 957 ; H . Saxelby , S . W . 463 ; J . E . Halford , P . M . 177 ; Captain Skey , 6 97 , P . J . W . ; H . H . Myers , 1017 ; Major Campell , S . D . 21 ; W . Michie , 72 ; S . P . Norris , 21 , P . G . S . ; J . R . Jewell , 194 .

At the conclusion of the banquet the W . M . proposed the customary loyal toasts , expressing his hope , in submitting that of " The M . W . Grand Master , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , " that under his auspices a greater , mightier , and more noble temple might be erected in Great Queen-street than that even which had been so recently destroyed In giving the Generals of Freemasonry , "The Pro

Grand Master , the Deputy Grand Master , and the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " the VV . M . remarked that it was with honest pride that he looked around him that evening and saw such an assemblage of Grand Officers . It had often struck him that the Alliance Lodge was a favourite trysting place for Officers of Grand Lodge .

Lonemight it be so . Yet he could not help feeling that the honour which was paid to the lodge was intended also as a compliment personally to Bro . Sir John B . Monckton , one of their Past Masters , and himself a member of Grand Lodge . He begged to give them " The Grand Officers , Present and Past , "

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

Bro . Sir Albert W . Woods ( Garter ) , G . D . C , assured the brethren of the pleasure it gave Grand Officers to attend their festivities , and reciprocated the W . Master ' s wish that they might often make the Alliance Lodge a place of trysting . Succeeding this toast came that of "The Guest of the Evening . " Thc Lord Mayor , the W . M . said , occupied a unique and happy position ; he was monarch of all he

surveyed . In every company in London he was a welcome guest , still more so amongst Masons , when , as the present Lord Mayor did , he belonged to the Crnft . His lordship had been a wurking Mason now for r .-arly 20 years . He was a P . M . of the Mount Moriah , Ho . 34 , the present Master of the John Carpenter Lodge , and r . member of the Cripplegate Lodge . Notwithstanding tie many calls upon his time , he had not forgotten his Masonry .

Whatever he had done he had done with all his might . He had succeeded in becoming an honoured citizen , and he was also an honoured Mason . " Ever since the Alliance Lodge was established four years ago it had been the ' r cvstom to entertain the Lord Mayor at a banquet , if the Lord Mayor was a Mason ; and in only one year , he was hr . ppy to say , since their establishment had the Lord Mayor not been a Mason . He ( the W . M . ) and the S . VV . waited u- on the

Lord Mayor and told him of the custom , and he at once promptly and genially promised to attend . It was his onl y hope that those who came after the present Lord Mayor would keep up the old custom . The City of London was just out of great tribulation . Someone , who was either popular or unpopular in the country , had announced that he would allow it to remain a little longer , to give it a little more breathing space . Let them hope that it would

remain yet for many years , and that its chief office would be occupied by men of the same genial and high character as the present occupant of the civic chair . The Lord Mayor in response assured the brethren that he should only be too pleased to come again amongst them should , as they said in lodge , " time permit . " The W . M . had spoken of the position of the Lord Mayor as a unique and happy one . Unique it certainly was , for there was no

other which would compare with it . It had grown up with the progress and greatness of the country , and it had always accommodated itself to the requirements of the time . And it was the earnest aim of each who occupied it that it should lose nothing of its lustre and prestige during his year of office . In all respects it was unique—unique in the universal respect that was entertained for it . He could not describe the opinion entertained of the Lord Mayor in a

foreign country ; and the greater the distance they went from the centre the greater was the wonderment as to who the Lord Mayor was and what were his powers . He had heard that the fame of him had travelled into remote countries , and that in the interior of Arabia there had been a great dispute between the sheiks and the chiefs as to which was greater , the Queen or the Lord Mayor . With regard to the happiness of the positionthey were told

, that happiness consisted of labour—that that man was happy who was employed constantly morning , noon , and night . He thought if that were so , the man who occupied the position of Lord Mayor ought to be supremely happy . It had indeed been a source of enjoyment to him , and he regarded it as a great privilege to attend the Alliance Lodge meeting in the same manner as some of his predecessors had done . The Alliance was a young lodge , it was true

and he had been informed by their excellent Senior Warden that , although they were called the Alliance Lodge , they ought almost to be called the Guildhall Lodge . In coming amongst them , therefore , he had felt that he was not only visiting brother Masons , but friends with whom he had been accustomed to work in public matters for the public welfare for many years past . Extremely did he regret that his excellent Sheriffs were absent , one , as they knew , through

illness , and the other upon a pressing private engagement . In conclusion his lordship commended all young Masons to diligently study the ritual of the Craft , which would not only have a beneficial effect upon their lodge work , but upon their private life . Most cordially did he hope with the VV . M . that those who succeeded him in office would accept , as he had done , the hospitality of the Alliance Lodge , for which he cordially thanked them . Masonically speaking , he was happy in being not only a Masonic Lord

Mayor , but in having two Masonic Sheriffs . He did not think such a trio had come together before . Bro . F . Green , I . P . M ., in eulogistic terms gave "The Health of the VV . M ., " dwelling upon his characteristic " bonhommie " and good-fellowship qualities so essential in a successful Master . The Worshipful Master having acknowledged the compliment proposed " The Health of the Visitors , " who , he

was proud to say , numbered so many that evening . Bros . Rev . H . G . Morse , G . Chap ., and Dr . Gooding , G . S . D ., responded . "The Past Masters" was also cordially welcomed , the W . M . impressing upon the members the debt they owed to each and all of them , Bros . Sir John B . Monckton , L . F . Littell ( who , he regretted , was absent through illness ) , and F . Green . Bro . Sir John Monckton's name

was coupled with the toast , and he shortly replied . The VV . M . warmly eulogised the manner in which his officers worked in proposing "The Officers of the Lodge . " Bro . Major Sewell , who , as S . W ., responded , made a suggestion , which was warmly appplauded , that they should give a lodge ball . He was sure the members would most cordially support such a proposal . The list concluded with the Tyler ' s toast . During the evening songs and recitations were given by several of the members .

YORK . —York Lodge ( No . 236 ) . —A lodge of emergency was held at the Masonic Hall , Duncombe-place , on Monday , 4 th inst ., the VV . M ., Bro . George Kirby , presiding . There were also present Bros . George Garbutt , S . W . ; Dr . Draper , J . W . ; Joseph Todd , P . M ., Treas . ; W . Smith , Sec ; Mark Rook , P . M ., D . C ; R . W . Hollon , P . M . ; Sir James Meek , P . M . ; W . Lawton , P . M . ; VV . H . McGachen , P . M . ; George Balmford , P . M . ; A . Buckle , B . A ., P . M . ; and many other brethren .

The lodge having been opened in due form , the following gentlemen were balloted for and initiated into the mysteries of the Craft : Mr . James Ramsay , M . D ., Mr . Charles Mansfeldt Forbes , the Rev . Archibald George Tweedie , and Mr . Edwin Carter , the ceremony being performed by the W . M ., assisted by Bros . M . Rook , P . M . ; Garbutt , S . VV . ; who explained the working tools , and Sir James Meek , who delivered the charge in a most impressive style . Bro . R . W . Hollon , P . M ., presented thelodce , of which h »