Craft Masonry.

1837 there were G 40 lodges on thc English roll ; he did not know how many Masons there were at the present time ; the number of lodges was 3220 , and the number of subscribing Masons was uo , ooo . That told them the rapid progress made in Freemasonry in the last 60 years . , „ ,,,-,,,, „•, ,,, , Bro . Tollworthy , VV . M ., in giving the toast of "H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., " said this toast was always pleasing , and it was more pleasing on this of at the Albert Hall and the

occasion . He had the pleasure , with others , being seeing Prince of Wales and hearing him speak . It was the first time he heard him so distinctly , although he was at a distance from him . The Prince was a most distinct speaker . He felt that the Prince of Wales ' s words were well-chosen , clear , and weighty . The Prince was very glad to see them all there , and they were all pleased to see him preside there . The speech the Grand Master made showed the very enthusiastic manner with which he took his cart in Masonry . . _ „

Bro . ' T . A . Bullock , ' P . G . S . B ., replying to the toast of " The Pro G . M ., " & c , said it was always a pleasure as well as a great privilege to have the honour of responding to this toast , but the pleasure was greatly intensified with him on this occasion by having something as new as it would be agreeable to say in the Guardian Lodge . Leaving for a moment the more important details of the toast he would commence with that nearest to his heart , and he was sure most acceptable to the brethren present . Quite early in his association with the Guardian Lodge , he had the temerity to prophesy that there were more members than one worthy of Grand honours . They were as well aware as

he was that that was amply fulfilled at the great meeting at the Albert Hall , when he saw one of his brethren of the Guardian Lodge invested as Past Grand Standard Bearer of England—he alluded to their respected and honoured Bro . Shurmur . He could not help saying that that was an honour tothe Guardian Lodge , and he thought that medium had been chosen to bring the Guardian Lodge into the prominence which the Grand Secretary predicted when he consecrated the lodge that it would achieve . The intelligence and other distinguishing characteristics of members of the Guardian he and

Lodge could not fail to bring it into prominence . However , was wandering ; in responding most unworthily on behalf of the officers of Grand Lodge , he assure ! the brethren that his colleagues and himself were deeply impressed with the solemnity and the greatness of the present occasion , and he should deem it his privilege , as it would be again to bring to the notice of the Grand Lodge the cordiality and the loyalty of the Guardian Lodge . On behalf of the Grand Officers he begged to thank the brethren for the manner in which this toast had been welcomed , and particularly for the cordial way in which his name had been received by the lodge .

Bro . W . James Johnston , P . M ., Treas ., in proposing "The W . M ., " said he regretted tbe absence of tbelt new Gia . ro ! OCtker ., Bra . Shurmur , who would have given them something fresh about their W . M . On the last occasion he ( Bro . Johnston ) had the privilege of performing the same function as he did that night , and he esteemed it a very great honour and pleasure . The last time he proposed the W . M . ' s health he spoke of the excellent way in which the work was done . He could only reiterate now what he foimerly faid , for the brethren had that night as great a treat as they had on the last occasion . There was no hitch , and the brethren had every reason to be proud of their VV . M ., who was a man of strong common sense . .... limentand said it

Bro . J . Tollworthy , VV . M ., acknowledged the comp , was a source of very great pleasure to him to have to preside over the brethren that evening , although the weather was so sultry and hot ; they had also suffered from it during the day , and it had made them feel very jaded . Thatwas the fourth meeting the lodje had had , and it was a pleasure to see how the lodge was progressing . They had three initiates that evening , all very worthy gentlemen , and they also had three brethren to pass , ar . d it was a great pleasure to do the work . He was sorry they had not hid any nominations at that meeting , but perhaps , looking at the amount of work before the lodge at its next meetingit was not to be regretted .

, Bro . Chi'nall , replying as one of the initiates to the toast proposed and drunk in honour ef "The Initiates , " said he had had for many , many years a desire to become a member of the Craft of Freemasons , and as he stood there that night he felt it the proudest moment of his life to be one of such a great and ancient Craft . The initiates knew very little about it , but now that they had the good f jrtune to be initiated , he trusted it would be the commencement of a long career , and that for many years they would te connected with the Order . It was a grand change to be among so many who all called each other brother- it was a great blessing and assistance to help them

, one and all . The hearty way in which the initiates had been received was a great encouragement to them . What he had gone through that evening was not half the difficult task that he thought was before him . Bros . Daw and Bundy also replied . Bro . Anthony Burther replied to the toast of "The Visitors , " and said it was a pleasure to see the young members coming into the Iod ^ e . Their fathers had heen in the City of London all their lives , and their sons stepped into their footsteps . They would do their level best to be a credit to the City as their fathers had been . It was a

credit to the lodge to have these young men in it . Bro . Tollworthy , VV . M ., in giving the toast of "The Treasurer and Secretary , " referred to Bro . Shurmnr and the good yeoman work he did in Masonry . He justly deserved the honour he had received ; he had been a thorough good working Mason and had taken great interest in the Charities . He then referred to the Treasurer ard the Secretary , both of whom worked very hard , the former in looking after the money and cutting down expenses and the latter in acquiring a knowledge of hi ; duties and in performing them . ... said could not feel comfortable

Bro . W . J . Johnston , P . M ., Treas ., replying , they and happy unless they took care no ^ to spend more than they had . He did not want to stop enjoyment or to check Charity , but still he wanted to pay 20 shillings in the pound . If a man was not financially right he could not be happy . llro . VV . R . Caldwell Moore , Sec , also tesponded , and said whether he wis in the humble office of Secretary or in the proud position of W . M ., to no one who was a I ' icemason was there a greater honour than to hold office in a lodge , especially in the Guardian Lodgewhich had made its mark in Grand Lodge .

, Bros . Clements , S . VV . ; Pridmore , J . W . ; and other brethren responded to the toast of " Thc Officers of the Lodge . " The T \ ler ' s toast terminated the proceedings .

Royal Arch.

Royal Arch .

Pythagoras Chapter , No . 88 . The half-yearly convocation of this chapter , which is attached to the Scientific Ledge , No . SS , was held on the 30 th ult . in the chapter room at the Lion Hotel , Cambridge . The Principals' chairs were occupied by Comps . W . P . Spalding , M . E . Z . ; tbe Kev . L . R . Tuttittt , H . -, and C . H . Ba . nham , J . Three brethren were exalted to the Sublime Degree . The work of the P . S . was ably performed by Comp . J . Gordon Chennell . The customary lectures were given by Chennell of the

the three Principals , and Comp . B . , P . Z ., gave a description pedestal . The Principals and officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows : Comps . L . R . Tuttiett , P . G . Reg ., M . E . Z . ; J . Gordon Chennell , P . G . S . I 3 ., H . ; A . E . Chaplin , P P G . Tieas ., J . ; VV . P . Spalding , P . Z ., P . G . J ., LP . Z . ; Major O . Papworth , P . Z ., P . P . G . N ., S . E . ; U . S . Davison , S . N . ; T . Hunnybun , P . P . G . S . B ., Keg . ; F . A . H «/ ledine . P . S . ; J . L . Rutter , ist A . S . ; F . \ . Moden , 2 nd A . S . ; B . Chenne'l , PZ „ P . P . G . H ., I ) , cf C ; A . W . Aldrich , P . P . G . O ., Org . ; J . V . Pryor , P . Z ., P . P . G . S . N ., Steward ; G . A . Allen , Janitor ; and J . Bestcr and C . E . Holland , Auditois .

Earl of Lathom Chapter , No . 730 . A meetingof this chapter was held on Monday , the 2 Sth ultimo , at the Masonic Rorm = Chorley , Lancashire . Present : Comps . S . VViddows , M . E . Z . ; Hawthorn R . Thornton , H . ; W . Mason Varley , J . ; J . T . Brierley , S . E . ; T . Heald , P Z ., Treas . ; J . Leigh , P . S . ; R . G . Anderson , ist A . S . ; J . Jolly , Janitor ; Corbett , P . Z . " - ' G . Tote )) , the Rev . J . A . Patlinson , and Cunliffe .

T he chapter was opened , the minutes of the last convocation read and corlirmed , and Ihe tepoit of the Audit Committee received and adopted . Comp . S . Widdows , M . E . Z . addiessed the Principals elect , and afterwards installed Comp . Hawthorn R . Thornton IL , as M . E . Z . Comp . Hawthorn R . Thornton , M . E . Z ., installed Comp . VV . Mason Varley , j ., into the chair of IL , and Comp . VV . Mason Varley , II ., installed Comp . the Rev . J . A . Paltinson as J . The following officers were invested by the

Royal Arch.

M . E . Z ., he at the same time explaining to each their respective duties : Comps . J . T . Brierley , S . E . ; M . E . Donovan , S . N .,- J . Heald , Prov . G . D . C , Treas . ; J . Leigh , P . S .,- R . G . Anderson , ist A . S . ; J . Sellers , 2 nd A . S . ; Yates , P . P . G . D . C , D . C ; G . Mather , Organist ; and J . Jolly , janitor . Comp . S . Widdows afterwards gave the addresses to the Principals , officers , and companions at large . A sum of £ io ios . was voted to the " VVest Lancashire Victoria Fund of Benevolence . " The chapter was closed , and th « companions dined together at tbe Imperial Hotel , where an excellent banquet was provided . The usual toasts were duly honoured .

Mark Masonry.

Mark Masonry .

Excelsior Lodge , No . 226 . The installation meeting of the above flourishing lodge took place on Monday , the 28 th ult ., at Freemasons' Hall , Mount Pleasant , Plumstead , and was a most pleasant and memorable affair . The ledge was opened by the W . M ., Bro . James Farrier , P G . Stwd ., and it was announced that Bro . F . Hughes Hallett , P . G . D . Eng ., D . P . G . M . was in attendance . A deputation of the Present and Past P . G . Officers waited upon him , and escorted him to his seat in the lodge , where he was saluted with the honours

due to his exalted rank . Bro . Edwin P . Hobson , S . W ., W . M . elect , was then presented to the W . M . to receive at his hands the benefits of installation , and in due course the candidate was installed , proclaimed , and saluted . He appointed and invested his officers as follows : Bros . James Farrier , G . Stwd .. I . P . M . ; Geo . H . Porter , S . W . ; Chas . H . Canning , J . W . ; G . Kennedy , P . M ., P . G . R . of M ., Sec ; C . Coupland , P . M ., P . G . D , Eng ., P . S . G . W ., Treas . ; VVm . John Crowdy , M . O . ; R . Fowler , S . O . ; J . Wheatley ,

J . O . ; Geo . F . Taylor , R . cfM . ; J . D . Brooks , S . D . ; John Sanderson , J . D . ; Wm . Chambers , D . C ; G . W . Townsend , A . D . C ; VV . Lawson , I . G . j H . Jacobs and C . W . Benstead , Stewards ; and Charles Warren , Tyler . Bro . Farrier then completed an excellently worked ceremony by giving the addresses , and was rewarded with a cordial vote of thanks . He was also presented with a Past Master ' s jewel , for which he returned thanks , and the lodge was then closed .

The banquet was served at the Royal Mortar Hotel , Beresford-square , Woolwich , and was all that could be desired .

The toasts of "The Queen and Mark Masonry" and that of " H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., " followed , and both , we need hardly say , were drunk with enthusiasm . In responding to that of "The Earl of Euston , Pro G . M . ; Viscount Dungarvan , D . G . M . ; and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " Bro . Capt . Weston said they were all aware of the rapid strides made by Masonry under th ; rule of their Grand Master , mare especially Mark Masonry . Yet they were going along very gently

and quietly , if quickly , both in their school work and in their Charities . In neither their benevolent or school fund had their ever b ; en an election . The children selected —and he knew no case in which a well-authenticated candidate had not been— vere sent to a local school in the near neighbourhood of their parents' residence ; their school fees were paid , and the sum of five pounds was annually paid to provide them with

suitable clothing . During the time the children were at school their progress was carefully watched by Grand Mark Lodge , who sent their own men down to the schools to exanine for themselves the progress the children were making . So far as the O der generally was getting on , there was an attempt to be made to amalgamate it with the Craft , and he believed the attempt would be a successful one . He thanked them for their kind reception of the toast .

Bro . Lyon felt it a great honour to have his name associated with that of Bro . Capt . Weston in the toast , his position being but an humble one . H : was pleased to see Bro . Hobson in the chair , and Ult sure that under his ru ' e they would have one of the best lodges in the Province of Kent . Bro . Hughes Hallett , in responding for "The P . G . M ., the D . P . G . M ., and the rest of the Prov . G . Officers , Present and Past , " said he had a three-fold duty on hand in responding for the toast , yet it was a very pleasant duty . As to Lord Dungarvanit

, needed little from him to show how great an interest his lordship took in Mark Masonry . He had the pleasure of seeing his lordship installed in a place not far from that town , and could assure them that from what his lordship had said upon that occasion , he was certain that the Degree in tbe Province of Kent would be lully maintained . Now , he would not further dilate upon his lordship's excellences . For himself , he had been placed in the position of their Deputy G . M ., but for what he knew not ; but as long as he lived nothing could or would abate his interest in the progress of the

Order in the Province of K-mt . It was his great hobby , and he loved it , and would always be glad to meet and welcome a brother when and wherever he met him . He had always said that it was his duty to visit every lodje in the province . He thanked them for the toast . He thanked the VV . M for his invitation , and the brethren for their cordial reception . He congratulated the W . M . on ruling over the second and largest lodge in the province , and the Installing Officer on his excellent working of the ceremony of installation that day

Bro . Hobson , in responding to the toast of his health , which was drunk in bumpers , said that ever since he had been a member of the lodge he had always been deligh ' ed to be with them . In the various junior offices he had li . led he had always supported the W . M . in the chair to the best of his abilities , as also in contributing to the harmony at the social board . He had always the welfare of the lodge at heart , and now his reward

was the proud position of Master of the Excelsior Mark Lodge . It was a position he had worked for . He was now the " King of the Castle , " and he thanked them all for their great and continued kindness in the past , and hoped for a continuance of it in the future . The toast of " The Installing Officer " was next given .

Bro . Farrier , in response , assured the brethren that their approbation of the manner in which he had done the work was sufficient reward for any trouble he might have been at in [ jreparing himself for the ofiice . Bro . Coupland , in responding for " The Past Masters , " spoke of the interest hehad always felt in the welfare of the lodge , and enumerated the Past Masters , classifying them into " ancients and moderns , " all of whom , however , were warm and true in their allegiance to the lodge and its Master for the time being .

Bro . Penfold wished the W . M . had coupled one of the " moderns" with their ancient Bro . Coupland as respondents to the toast . For himself , he was sorry he was not present at the lodge . Having to attend tbe Council , he could not get away in time . There were , however , three courses open to him—to go home and dress , and so be too late , to stay away altogether , or to come down just as he was , and pay his respects and allegiance to their VV . M . He chose the last , and could only say he was exceedingly glad to see Bro . Hobson W . M . that day , and felt sure that at the end of his year of office they would with one accord say— " Well done , thou good and faithful servant . "

Bro . Spinks said he was one of the oldest Mark Masons in the Province of Kent , having been advanced to the Mark Degree 31 years ago . The consecration of that lodge , some 19 years ago , was one of the greatest meetings of Mark Masons that had ever taken place in thc Province of Kent . He was proud to see that Bro . Coupland had been promoted , and to see him , like Phuibus , " in golden splendour dressed . " Bro . Jolly also responded . Bro . Nichols responded for " The Visitors , " and regretted the absence of the W . M . of the Florence Nightingale Lodge through indisposition . liro . Horton also responded .

The Tyler's toast concluded the proceedings , which had been enlivened by some excellent singing and reciting .

Among the other brethren present , and not above-named were Bro ; . Capt . W . A . Weston , P . M ., P . G I . G . Eng , P . P . J . G . W . ; A . PenfolJ , P . M ., P . P . G . M . O . ; Capt . G . Spinks , P . M ., P . P . A . G . D . C ; C Jolly , P . M . 309 . P . P . G . D . j Col . C . E . Vansittart , P . M ., P . P . S . G . W . ; F . Reed , P . M ., P . P . A . G . D . C ; J . H . Roberts , P . M ., P . P . G . Std . Br . ; J . Rose , F . H . Harris , G . W . Harris , D . Jenkins , F . Lever , W . S . Goodman , A . E . Goodman , and H . Sanford . The visitors included Br is . H . Thomson Lyon , P . M . 411 , P . G . Stwd . Eng . ; F . G . Nichols , P . M . 44 , P . P . G . D . ; Dr , E Bryceson , S , W . 44 ; and J . Turton , J . W . 309 .