The Freemasons' Life Boat.

THE FREEMASONS' LIFE BOAT .

The committee met at Bro . Forster ' s , Railway Tavern , London-street , E . C ., on Thursday , the 2 nd inst , Bro . A . E . Harris in the chair . There were also present : Bros . Davis , Gottheil , C . C . Taylor , Mortlock , W . Mann , and C . Lacey . The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed , Bro . Emanuel , P . M . 205 , was

elected a member of the committee . It was then proposed by Bro . Davis , seconded by Bro . Harris , and carried unanimously "That a vote of thanks be recorded on the minutes and transmitted to Bro . Johnson , M . R . C . S ., P . M . 249 and

1094 , for the energetic manner m which he is assisting the efforts of this committee , having forwarded , £ 15 ( collected mostly by one shilling subscriptions ) in less than six weeks . " The following additional contributions were then announced : —

£ * . d . Acknowledged in THE FREEMASON 218 7 6 Bro . Co ! . C . Malet de Carteret , Prov . G . M . Jersey ... ... 300 Lodge Wellington , 548 ... 1 1 o ,, Benevolence , 1168 ... 300 Per Bro . Johnson , P . M . 249 & 1094 500

Bro . John Coutts , P . M . 27 , A . G . P . I 1 o ,, E . D . Myers , 1254 ... 050 ,, Jethro Tucker , 1254 ... o 5 o ,, Charles Davis , P . M . 54 ... 026 ,, C . M . Jones , P . M . 54 ... 026 ,, Jas . Had field , P . M . 54 ... 026 „ Herod Turner , P . M . 54 ... 026

„ Ed . Clegg , Sec . 54 ... 026 „ John B . Chadwick , 54 .. 026 ,, R . Gibson , 54 ... ... 026 ,, Luke Shofield , 54 ... 026 ,, R . Wood , 54 ... ... 020 ,, John Smith , 54 ... ... 020 „ S . Lord , P . M . 54 ... 026

,, R . Simpson , 54 .. ... 026 „ W . Walker , 54 ... ... 026 „ J . Fothergill , 54 ... ... 010 Several brethren of 54 ... ... o 7 o Per Bro . S . Levi , 141 ... ... o 16 o Bro . Hilton ... ... 050 Royal Sussex Lodge , 353 ... 1 1 o

Bro . J . Cohen , 174 ... ... 050 ,, Cohhutst , 1 S 7 ... ... 050 „ Amy , 590 ... ... 026 ,, Flaherty " , 958 ... ... 020 ,, Constable , 185 ... ... 050 ,, M . Abrahams , 20 5 .. 050 ,, Harper , 766 ... ... 050

,, Behrenfeld , 141 ... ... 050 ,, Cronmire , 141 ... ... 026 „ Eagle , 188 ... .. 026 „ Austin , 933 ... ... 050 „ T . Lloyd , 1278 ... ... 026 „ Dempsey , 141 ... ... 026 ,, Elton , 100 5 ... ... 050

„ Ross , 185 ... ... 026 ,, Gompertz , 20 5 ... ... 020 ,, Earl , 186 ... ... 050 ,, Keys , 1000 .. ... 026 ,, F . Garron , 1000 .. ... 026 ,, Batston , S . W . 132 s .. o 10 o „ D . Whillock , 186 .. 050

Total .. .. / 240 s 6 A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings , and the meeting was adjourned to Thurdsay , the 2 nd proximo , at 8 p . m .

Gallant Lifeboat Services.

GALLANT LIFEBOAT SERVICES .

Dungarvan , Ireland , Feb . 3 rd . The brigantine " Margaret , " of Lancaster ( says John Hunt , Esq . ) , bound from Liverpool to Bristol , with a cargo ef coals , which went on Dungarvan Bar a few days since , and whose crew were saved by the " Christopher Ludlow" lifeboat of the

National Lifeboat Institution , was boarded yesterday by the master and crew , and fifteen other men who were engaged to throw the cargo overboard , to lighten the ship , in the hope that she might then be got off the Bar . The wind , however , increased , and a heavy sea got up , and the position of those on

board became very perilous ; and thereupon signals were made for the aid of the lifeboat . That boat at once went out , and proceeded alongside , when the coxswain proposed to take ten men off the wreck at first , but all were so apprehensive of the vessel ' s breaking up , that the whole of the men , twenty in number , crowded into the boat , the master being

the last to leave his ship . The lifeboat , which is but a small one , 30 feet long by 6 j 4 feet wide , then had twenty-nine men on board , including her own crew , but all were safely landed . On the way to the vessel a heavy sea broke into the lifeboat , but the water was speedily self-ejected through the patent valves with which most of the Lifeboat Society ' s boats are fitted .

Ramsey , Isle of Man , Monday . About eleven o ' clock on Saturday night , during a gale om the S . E ., a schooner entered Ramsey

Gallant Lifeboat Services.

Harbour , and reported that another vessel was in distress off the Point of Ayr ( states the Rev . George Paton ) . The Ramsey lifeboat "Two Sisters , " which belongs to the Lifeboat Society , was immediately launched , and found the schooner " William , " of Liverpool , leaking , and in a dangerous position .

Some of the crew of the lifeboat were placed on board , and an effort was made to reach Peel , but without effect . Fortunately , however , the wind changed , and Ramsey Harbour was safely reached about ten o ' clock last ( Sunday ) night , after twentythree hours' service , all hands being saved .

Masonic Festivities.

MASONIC FESTIVITIES .

BRO . T . A . ADAMS' ANNUAL BALL .

The annual Masonic ball of the esteemed veteran Bro . T . A . Adams , P . M ., P . Z ., P . G . Purs ., was held at Freemasons' Hall , on Tuesday , the 7 th inst ., and was a greater success this year than ever—no less than 340 ladies and gentlemen being present . A splendid band was provided , and the company

enjoyed the giddy mazes of the dance until about half-past 12 o ' clock , when supper was served . After all had partaken of the good things provided , the President , Bro . R . Wentworth Little , P . M ., P . Z ., P . G . Sec . Middlesex , rose to propose the first toast , and was received with thunders of applause—the

cheering being continued for several minutes , during which the worthy brother was fain to bow his acknowledgments for so unexpected an ovation . The toast being " The Queen and the Craft , " was cordially received . Bro . Little then , in a highly complimentary speech , proposed " The Ladies , "

and it is needless to add that the health of the fair sex was welcomed with a burst of enthusiasm . Bro . John Boyd , P . M ., PZ . 145 , retnrned thanks for the ladies in a brief but very effective speech . " The health of the President , " coupled with that of Bro . Adams , was the last toast announced , the proposer

being Bro . H . M . Levy , P . M . 185 , who spoke in most flattering terms of the brethren named . Bros . Little and Adams expressed their gratitude for the kind reception of the toast , and the latter brother concluded his speech amid general demonstrations of approval . The company then returned to the

hall-room , and enjoyed themselves until 5 o ' clock , when dancing terminated . The whole proceedings were characterized by complete success , and Bro . Adams is to be congratulated upon the support he obtained , and so richly deserved at the hands of his brethren in Masonry .

Among the brethren present , with their ladies , we noticed , besides those already named : Bros . A . J . Codner , T . Cubitt , E . A . Baber , W . Hale , C . A . Cottebrune , D ' . G . Berri , W . Paice , T . Hyles , R . A . Steel , E . T . Osbaldeston , E . H . Thiellay . T . Webb , W . Webb , M . A . Loewenstark , T . Tyrrell , and E . Coste .

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MASONIC BALL AT PENDLETON .

A grand Masonic ball , in aid of the funds of the Salford and Pendleton Royal Hospital and Dispensary took place at the Pendleton Town Hall on 2 nd Feb ., upon which occasion a most brilliant and numerous assemblage was present . As we anticipated , the efforts of the brethren of the

order in giving publicity to their object were preeminently successful , and the natural result was that the attendance evinced great interest and sympathy to the object both on the part of the public generally and the Craft in particular . To those brethren who first promoted the affair , and

subsequently carried out the arrangements , the greatest credit is due . To particularise would , perhaps , be invidious , but we cannot forbear giving our testimony to Brother Uriah Nichols , in particular , for his persevering efforts in organising the scheme , and to Bros . B . Taylor , H . Holder , E .

Brooks , J . Dickson , R . F . Woodruff , C . Ecclcston , W . Riddell , T . Ellis , J . Harrop , A . H . Allen , R . Johnson , J . S . Whitaker , J . Bury , E . Simpson , Geo . Larmuth , and others , who also formed the committee for carrying out the object . Under such an

efficient management , therefore , the ball programme was laid out , and a splendid list of patrons consisting of noblemen and gentlemen holding the highest honours in the Craft , besides others who were not of the order , who laudably and readily contributed their names in order to further the

cause . The corporate authorities , likewise , entered into the spirit of the undertaking , who after a deputation had waited upon them in reference to the Town Hall , Pendleton , kindly granted the free use of the whole building . In fact , a purely Masonic spirit seems to have pervadedjthe whole community , which

culminated on Thursday evening . At eight o ' clock visitors began to arrive at the hall , and continued to do so , without intermission , until after eleven o ' clock . As the guests alighted from the vehicles which were drawn up at the entrance in Broughton Road—the floor of the entrance-hall and grand staircase being covered with crimson cloth , while on each side , and on the landing , were ranged trees

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and shrubs—they were received by a number of the past officers of the various lodges , dressed in the full regalia of the order , which had a most striking and imposing effect . Large suites of rooms were available as dressing and retiring rooms , from whence the visitor proceeded to the ball room . At the foot

of the staircase , ranged on each side , the band of the Salford Rifle Volunteers , by the kind permission of Lieut .-Colonel Barrett , played a choice selection of music with great effect . Upon entering the ball room each lady and gentleman received a beautiful programme of the dances , and at nine o ' clock

dancing commenced to the strains of Bro . Batley s celebrated quadrille band . The scene at once became charming in the extreme . The room was brilliantly lighted , and bright crimson cloth upholstering the seats entirely round the room gave a striking eftect to the white damask-covered floor ,

upon which traversed in the mazy dance the forms of " fair women and brave men . " It was only to be expected that beauty and elegance would be characteristic of such an assembly , but it is utterly impossible to convey an adequate idea of the varied forms presented to the onlookers , of whom there

were many . Amongst the very large number of guests present we observed Alderman Higson ; Councillors , Bros . Jenkins , Jones , Goodwin , Dyson , Ommanney ; M'Kerrow , . 'Jewell , Lightbown , Grundy , Nosworthy , Nail , Walker , and Nuttall ; Bro . Lieut .-

Col . Barrett ; Dr . Pankarst , LL . D . Some of the most striking features of the ball were in the grotesque , yet at the same time magnificent and harmonious blending caused by the " rich and rare " dresses of members of the various degrees of Masons . At eleven o ' clock much interest was

created by the entry of the Royal Arch Masons , of whom about fifty were present . At the " witching hour " another event occurred in the appearance of the Knights Templar , whose dress was superbly rich . Then it was that the ball seemed to become " a fancy dress one , " and the spirit of the dance was

gone into with even greater vigour than before ; and until nearly five o ' clock the light fantastic toe tripped it . Bros . R . F . Woodruff and T . Eilis directed the ceremonies , and owing to their admirable arrangements the comforts of the visitors were most particularly attended to ; and many a bashful maid and

jovial swain were indebted to them for the pleasure of inscribing their names onSo-and-So ' s programme . The stewards of the evening , Bros . B . Taylor , Jno . Barker , Allen , Harrop , Larmuth , and J . Dickson , were also well and worthily appreciated , and the result of the combined efforts of all will no doubt be

a handsome surplus to the funds of the above institution . The decorations were by Mr . J . C . Williams , of Peter-street , Manchester , and the taste displayed by that artist entitles him to creditable mention

here . The refreshments , which were of a most excellent character , were laid upon tables on the landing in the hall . They were of first-class quality , and in great variety , the guests partaking of them ad . lib ., and were supplied by Bro . Pearson , of Cheetham Hill , in his usual creditable manner .

Metropolitan Lodge Of Instruction.

METROPOLITAN LODGE OF INSTRUCTION .

The anniversary banquet of this flourishing lodge of instruction was held at the Portugal Hotel , Fleetstreet , on Friday , the 27 th ultimo , at 7 o ' clock . Bro . James Brett , the Preceptor , occupied the chair , and was supported , right and left , by Bros . Still ( Secretary ) , Major Finney and his son , John Boyd , Wm .

Carpenter , Geo . Kenning , several W . M . ' s and P . M . s of metropolitan lodges , and about fifty brethren . The banquet was a very ample and varied one , and was admirably served . Upon the withdrawal of the cloth , the chairman proposed the usual Masonic toasts , which were

received and drank , as they always are , with great heartiness . In proposing the toast of the evening , the chairman reviewed the past progress of the lodge of instruction , and gave a very gratifying account of its present condition , urged brethren who did not attend lodges of instruction to do so

forthwith , and earnestly pressed upon all present a conscientious discharge of their Masonic duties towards the Craft and the world at large . ( The toast was received with applause , and was heartily responded to . ) Bro . Wm . Carpenter proposed "The health of the

Chairman and Preceptor of the Lodge , Bro . Brett , " and recapitulated some of the many services he had rendered and was still rendering to Masonry , Craft and Arch , and anticipated similar services from him in some of the higher grades , of which he was a member . He had laboured hard to acquire a perfect knowledge of the Masonic rituals , and he was

as free in imparting knowledge as he had been diligent in acquiring it . ( The toast was heartily responded to . ) The Chairman , in proposing the health of Bro . Still , the respected Secretary , spoke very highly of his indefatigable labours , and of the heavy obligations under which they lay to him for the prosperous