Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

( Craft fHasonrw .

FORTITUDE AND OLD CUMBERLAND LODGE ( No . 12 ) . —The annual meeting of this lodge was held on the Cth inst ., at the Ship and 'Turtle , Leadenhall-street , and was numerously attended . The chair was occupied by Bro . R . Coombs , W . M ., he being supported l , y Bros . E . E . Barratt Kidder , S . W . ; J . Bedell , J . W . j Dudley Rolls , P . M ., 'Treas . ; A . Snellgrovc , P . M ., Sec . ; I ) . Matthews , S . D . ; G . Pigache , J . D . ; W . Jones , I . G . ;

An"old , Lemaitre , W . B . rudder , L . Rut ( the lather of the lodge ) , Lillcy , Capes , S . Rolls , Raynhain W . Stewart , p G . D ., I ' ast Masters ; and the following visitors -. Bros . T . Vincent , P . M . 1 S 63 ; Valeriani , J . D . 16 S 7 ; A . II . Carr , Lehcymer , I ^ J O ; Dr . Ramsay , P . P . G . D . Middx . ; W . Scales , P . M . ; Cook , J . W . 1744 ; W . R . Berkeley , W . M- Stiles , W . M . 1509 ; Tate , l . P . M . SO 2 ; Brown , W . M . S 02 : E . Storr , 167 ; J . J . Goode , 15 S 0 ; Pearson ,

1319 ; W . Marslon , P . M . 55 , i Millward , 17 . 1 ; Rev . J . Rose , 1677 ; Paget , 22 S ; Scott , 7 c !; Paul Storr , Sn ; Frcdk . Binckes , P . G . S . Cheshire , P . M . 12 S 7 , Sec . Royal Masonic Institution for Boys ; II . M . Levy , P . M . iSS . 'The lodge having been formally opened , Bro . O . F . peall was passed to the Second Degree , after which Bro Barratt Kiildcr , the W . M . elect , having been obligated , a lioard of Installed Masters was opened and he was

dulyp laced in the chair of K . S ., Bro . W . B . Kidder performing thc ceremony in a most perfect manner . After receiving the salutation of thc brethren , thc W . M . appointed the following as his ollicers : Bros . Bedell . S . W . ; Matthews , J . W . ; Rolls , Treas . ; Snelgrovc , Sec . ; Pigache , S . D . ; Jones , J . D . ; II . Rolls , I . G . ; and Marsh , ' Tyler . The ceremony of installation was then completed , and the W . M . proceeded to close thc lodge . Before doing so he

invested the l . P . M . with a Past Master ' s jewel , which he did in most appropriate terms . 'The brethren proceeded , after the close of the lodge to banquet , which was piovided by Miss Painter in first rate style . At thc conclusion of then-past , grace was said by Bro . the Rev . J . Rose , and the W . M . proceeded with the loyal toasts of thc evening . With the toast of " The Grand Ollicers " the name of Bro . Raynhain W . Stewart was

coupled , and that brother duly responded . The toast of "The Visitors" followed from thc chair , the W . M . expressing the pleasure that members of the lodge felt in seeing so many present . Nothing added more to the good feeling which existed among Freemasons than Ihe frequent interchange of visits among the members of the Craft . Uro . Ramsay replied . He expressed what he felt must

be the opinion of every visitor , the pleasure he had experienced in witnessing the perfect working of Bro . Kidder , senior , and the able presidency nf Bro . Kidder , junior , and begged to tender both them and the other members ol thc lodge the heartiest of good wishes for their future prosperity . Bio . Coombs , I . P . M ., then gave "The Health of the Master , " referring to the work undertaken by Bro . Kidder

to render himself lit for the office to which he had inst been installed , lie felt that the new Master of the Fortitude and Old Cumbetland Lodge would be able to discharge the duties of his ollice in such a manner as to maintain lor the lodge the high reputation which it had secured in the past . Uro . Kidder , in reply , thanked Bro . Coombs and the brethren generally for the reception they had accorded to the toast . He felt it was a very great honour for any man

to occupy the position ot W . M . in a lodge which dated hack as far as 1772 ; for himself he fully appreciated the honour that had been paid him . Brethren , six or seven years since he had sat in the chair of the initiate of the fujge , and on that occasion it was remarked to him that he would never sit in it again . 1 le had then replied " no , " but expressed a hope that one day he might occupy the chair next to it ; and now his great ambition had been

attained . He trusted he might be able to fulfil the duties appertaining to the position during the ensuing twelve months . He then proposed " 'l'he Health of the Past Masters , " expressing the pleasure he felt in seeingso many present , Bro . Coombs replied , feeling proud at being now classed among so worthy a body of Masons as the Past Masters of No . 12 . Ho referred particularly to the working of Bro .

Kidder , who had to-nigh : installed his son into the chair of thc lodge in such a manner as to create envy in the hearts of all who heard him . I le trusted it might be many years before either of the Past Masters would be missed from their scats , but that each might live for many years to take part in the working of the lodge . He concluded by proposing the health of Bro . Kidder , thc installing master ,

referring to thc pride which must naturally be felt by a father when placing his son in the chair , and expressing a hope that Bro . Kidder might live to place his grandson in a similar position . Bro . Kidder responded . It had , indeed , been a great pleasure to him to have the opportunity of installing his son , more particularly as it was in his own mother lodge , as well as his son ' s , that the ceremony had been carried out .

Ihe W . M . next gave the toast of "Thc Treasurer and Secretary . " ' 1 hey were two brethren who so ably performed their duty that he felt the lodge must prosper so long as it had them to assist in its management . Bro . Dudley Rolls replied . lie remembered how somc fifteen years since thc lodge had met only somc seven or eight members strong , now they assembled in such large numbers as to severely tax thc accommodation of the old

alii p and Turtle Tavern . They had that night witnessed a | nost pleasing ceremony—that of a Past Master of thc lodge 'nstalling his son—and when they bore in mind what an excellent Master the father had made , they could but hope the son would follow in the same course . He regretted that his colleague , the Secretary of the lodge , had been obli ged to leave in consequence of a domestic aflliction , but ' It gratified in thanking the brethren on his behalf for the

. kind reception they had accorded to th- toast . The toast of "The Charities " followed from the chair , 'he W . M . referring to the presence of Bro . Binckes , the ^ ecretary of the Boys' School , for which Institution he ( ti , e W . M . ) had undertaken the ollice of Steward . He trusted "le brethren would do their utmost to make his list a good one , and that in due course they would not forget the other Institutions .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

Bro . Binckes having replied , the W . M . gave thc toast cf " 'The Officers , " impressing on them thc necessity there was for studying the ritual , in order that the work of the kjdgc might be conducted properly . The two Wardens responded .

'The 'T yler ' s toast was given , and this finished an evening which was described as one of the most enjoyable ever remembered in this old and influential lodge . During the evening several songs and recitations were given by the brethren , which added considerably to the enjoyment of those present .

LANGTHORNE LODGE ( No . 14 . 21 ) .--The installation meeting of thc above-named lodge was held on Thursday evening , thc 2 nd inst ., at the Swan Hotel , Stratford ; Bro . G . F . Dix , W . M ., in the chair . 'The officers and brethren of the lodge present were Bros . R . W . Biggs , S . W . and W . M . elect ; J . Hunt , | . W . ; T . S . Taylor , Treas . ; G . Ward Verry , Sec ; C . Laccy , P . M . ; B . Cundick , P . M . ; II . M . Taylor , P . M . ; J . iTerry , Sec .

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution ; A . Myers , S . D . ; J . Bullwinkle , J . D . ; C . Mansfield , I . G . ; W . Buckle , ' D . C ; T . Loaiie , W . S . ; C . Hopson , Org . ; W . March , W . Hope , F . England , S . F . Waterer , ' P . Mills , J . S . Stevens , D . R . Hirst , C . II . Bardoleau , S . Darlev , | . Wilkes , F . Keith , W . G . Padwick , A . Furness , N . J . Middleton , and J . Simkins . The visitors who signed the attendance book were as

follows : Bros . F . W . Walter , P . M . 554 ; J . Boulton , S . W . 1056 ; T . J . Barnes , P . M . 554 ; W . Musto , P . M . 13411 ; T . Godwin , P . M . 1343 ; ) . W . Freeman , S . W . 147 ; J . Rogers , 150 S ; II . Conolly , 150 S ; A . Symes , 554 ; G . A . Payne , S . W . 933 ; 11 . Cushen , y ,-,-, ; D . R . Bye , 1507 ; K . Smith , Org . 1 S 20 ; | . Everett , j . W . 17 S 1 ; W . Al ' laivay , D . C . 159 S ; G . D . Milliard , P . M . 1 / -4 ; J . K . Job , W . M . 1070 ; J . F . Frazer , S . W . 174 ; K . II .

Page , 55 ; J . W . Simpson , 907 ; J . Jones , 16 S 5 ; and II . Tapley , P . M . 1076 . The lodge being opened the minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed . The Secretary , Bro . Vcny , then read the report and balance sheet , which proved very satisfactory , inasmuch as the lodge is out of debt , and all the arrears were £ 1 19 s . On the motion of the W . M . the report and balance sheet were adopted . The ceremony of installation was then proceeded with , when the W . M .

Bro . Dix , installed Bro . Biggs into thc chair of K . S . 111 a most impressive manner , most of the Past Masters piesent remarking that they had never seen the ceremony more ably worked . Lodge was then resumed and the three charges impressively delivered by liro . Dix . After the usual compliments had been paid the

newlyinstalled W . M ., he presented to Bro . Dix a splendid 1 S-car . 1 t gold jewel , which bore the following inscription : " Presented b y the brethren of the Langthorne Lodge , No . 1421 , to W . Bro . George Frcdk . Dix , P . M ., as a mark of esteem , and for his efficient services as W . M . in 1 SS 1-S 2 . January 20 , INSJ . " Bro . Dix acknowledged the gift in suitable terms , and the lodge was then closed in the usual

manner . The brethren then sat down to a most excellent dinner . After the cloth had been removed , the W . M . proposed "Thc Queen and the Craft , " and in doing so said that no society of men honoured the Queen and Koyal Family more than did the society of Freemasons . 'The toast was most loyally drunk and the National Anthem sung . The W . M . proposed . " I LIU I . the Prince of Wales ,

M . W . Grand Master , and bore testimony to the many excellent qualities of His Royal Highness . The following toasts were also proposed and cordiall y drunk : " The Earl of Carnarvon , Pro Grand Master , " The Earl of Lathom , Deputy Grand Master , and the Grand Ollicers , Present and Past . " Bro . J . F . Dix said he had to propose the toast of "The W . M ., and lie did so with a great amount of pleasure , fur

the duty was a most agreeable one . lie was glad that Uro . Biggs had followed so closely in his footsteps . Bro . Biggs had entered upon his term of office when the lodge was in a very prosperous state , which he hoped would continue for many years to come , lie was sure that nothing would be wanting on Bro . Biggs' part to make the lodge a still greater success , lie would ask them to drink " The Health of their W . M . " in bumper- - .

'The toast was most enthusiastically received ; and the W . M ., in responding , thanked the brethren for having placed him in ( he position of W . M , of the lodge , and he assured them ho would d . i all he could to carry out the duties of the lodge satisfactory to them and also to himself . lie would not presume too much , for he hoped that his deeds would speak more eloquentl y in the future . The W . M . next proposed " 'Ihe Past Masters of the

Lodge . " lie did so with a great amount of pleasure , for the Past Masters who had preceded him in the chair were good men , and who had worked hard in the Craft . He was sorry to say they had not a long list of Past Masters , but it arose from the fact that the Langthorne was but a young lodge . What , however , they lacked in quantity , they possessed in quality . When they looked at Bro . Lacey , P . M ., they ought to be thankful they had such a brother connected

with them . No brother was never more ready and willing to work hard on behalf of Freemasonry than was Bro . Lacey , in that or any other lodge . He would also 1 kc to thank Bros . Cundick and Taylor for the kind help they had always rendered him , and they also had helped the lodge very materially . The services that Bro . G . I ' . Dix had rendered the lodge were so fresh in their memories that he would say very little about him , but commend him for the

very excellent manner in which he had fulfilled his year of ofiice . Bro . Dix had left thc chair with a balance in hand . He thanked Bro . Dix for the able manner in which he had worked the installation ceremony that night , and he firml y believed it would not have been possible to have worked it better . Bro . Laccy , P . M ., in responding , said he did so with a great deal of pleasure , for inasmuch on the present occasion he had a brother standing on his right hand whom he

had somc years ago initiated into I'rcemasonry . When he saw him that night on his right hand , occupying the proud position of I . P . AL , he felt proud of him . As lie had the good fortune to be lirst W . M . of that lodge he had watched its progress with some amount of anxiety . The early days of the lodge had been of a rather unfortunate nature , but at the present time , thanks to the brethren who had followed him , it was in a prosperous state . He hoped that Bro . Bigg's term of ofiice might prove as prosperous as was Bro . Dix ' s . These brethren , who were the promoters and founders of the lodge , began by displaying a great amount

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

of earnestness on its behalf , as well as for the welfare of thc Craft . 'That was the great object they had in view when they called it into existence , and he . hoped that such a spirit would continue to be fostered by all the brethren connected with thc Langthorne Lodge . Bro . G . F . Dix remarked ( hat Bro . Lacey had left but little for him to say . When he was initiatedin 1 S 74 he felt great interest in Freemasonry , and had continued to feci it

ever since . When Bro . Lacey installed him , twelvemonths previously , he said he hoped that he ( Bro . Dix ) would be enabled to conduct his duties to thc advantage of the Order , the satisfaction of the brethren , and his own lasting" credit . He hoped most earnestly that he had fulfilled Bro . Lace y ' s wish to its full , and to the satisfaction of the lodge , and Ihe welfare of Freemasonry . He thanked the brethren lor the cordial support they had rendered him during his term

of olltce . Bro . Cundick also acknowledged the compliment , and said that after Bro . Lacey he was the next l . P . M . of the lodge , and had helped , as well as Bro . Lacey , in getting it out of the slough of despond into which it had fallen . Bro . Lacey had helped the lodge in every way , and had done an amount of good scarcely to be expected from him . Mainl y under thc wise direction of Bro . Lacey , a benevolent

association had been formed in connection with thc lodge , and in four years the sum of £ 4000 had been subscribed ta Masonic Charities . He hoped that dining the Mastership of Bro . Biggs the lodge would enjoy a stiil greater amount of prosperity . Bro . Taylor , P . M ., also responded , thanking thc brethren for their kind recognition of his services . 'The W . M . next proposed , in a telling speech , "The

Masonic Institutions , " observing how gratified he was at the presence of Bro . Terry , thc Secretary to the Benevolent Institution . Bro . 'Terry said he had much pleasure in responding lo the toast . I le was exceedingly gratified lo hear that in connection with the association connected with the lodge they had been enabled to subscribe £ 1000 to the Three Ma . unic Institutions . Many of the brethren had consequently betn

enabled to take up a Life Governorship , which otherwise they could not have done . After touching en ether matters , Uro . 'Terry said he hail come down to ' tin : eat end that night , where he was so well known , to plead the can eof the Benevolent Institutions , which were so sadl y in need of funds . From iK ^ u tci i . SSi . the suh . criptioti to the e institutions had fallen off / . ' 7000 . For the elections in May next 112 applications had been sent in , forty-six bein" from

men and sixty-six from widows , all of them desemn ' ; cases . 'The most lamentable part of the nutter was I hat there were only vacancies for fourteen ni _ -n and seven villous , lie hoped they would do all they could to help the institutions . 'The W . M . next proposed " 'The Visitors , " whom he was pleased lo see numbered over twenty . I le would couple with the toast the names u \ Bros . Barne-, Musto , Godwin , Cushen and Halloghan .

Each of the brethren named re-ponded to the toast , thanking the W . M . and the lodge for the kind welcome they had received , lire . Barnes , remarking ( hat he had seldom been in a lodge where the general working was so good , or where the installation ceremony had been so well performed . 'The remaining toasts , "The Ollicers of the Lodge " and the Tyler ' s least having been honoured , thc brethren ( hen separated . after a most enjoyable evening ' s profit and pleasure .

ALL SAINTS LODGE ( No . 1710 ) . —A aiming of this lodge was held on Fiiday evening , the yd nist ,, at the 'Town I lall , Newby-place , Poplar . There were present Bros . W . C . Young , W . M . ; Joseph llou-e , | . W . ; W . G . Wdshaw , Sec ; T , L . KVnnctt , S . I ) . ; II . | . Hancock J . D . ; W . j . Rundell , I . G . ; Leonard Potls , l . P . M . j ' . Kemp Coleman , P . M . ; E . Wilherstone , who temporarily occupied the S . W . ' s chair ; R . II . llailandI . SmithS .

, , Kirk , T . Johnson , W . Pearson , D . Brown , 11 . ' | . Day , | , C Pittam , R . Nichols , W . Jones , W . La Kivieic , ) . Robinson , J . J . Pearson , N . West , and several visitors . ' The lodge having been opened , ( he minutes of the picceding meetings were read and confirmed . The W . M . then proceeded with the work of the evening , which consisted of raising Bros . I ) . Brown and W . Pearson , jun . j passing Bros . La Riviere , Jones , and Nichols ; and initiating Mr *

. N . West . " It had been the intention of the W . M . lo work the whole of thc ceremonies in their entirety by giving Ihe ancient charges and the lecture on the tracing " board * in each Degree , but the . dense fog which prevailed prevented the attendance of many of the officers and brethren at the hour fixed for commencing , and thus time did not admit of this being done .

'The W . M . announced that the All Saints Lodge lirst Charitable Association had just terminated , bavin ?; been the means of adding to the funds of the various Institutions a sum of £ 400 , representing 44 Life Governorships . A second Association had been formed , under the able management of the Secretary of the previous Association , Bro . Leonard Potts , l . P . M . Thirty-one shares had already been taken up , and he invited the brethren to join .

On the motion of Bro . Leonard Potts , l . P . M ., it was resolved to contribute £ . 5 5 s . from the lodge funds to ( he list of liro . W . C . Young , W . M ., who was sCrv ; n , r as Steward for the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . Letters from several brethren were read , regretting their inability to be present , and other business o ' f no general interest being transacted , thc lodge was closed , after an evening of thoroughly good work .

MONTAGUE GUEST LODGE ( No . 1900 ) . — This lodge , although one of the youngest , shows unmistakcable signs of vigour and life , doubtless . clue , in a ] ;> reat measure , to the energy and admirable working of " the W . M ., Bro . Dean ; but , perhaps , in an almost equal degree , to a certain esprit de corps derived from the association in London of brethren connected with thc province ruled over by ( he distinguished brother whose name has been given

to the lodge . Ihe regular meeting was held at thc Inns ot Court llotel . on Wednesday last . Present-Uros . W . S . Dean , W . M . ; G . P . Festa , S . W F . R . W . Hedges , J . W . ; Montague Guest , M . P ., Prov ! Grand Master , Dorsetshire , Treas . ; J . D . Collier , Sec ; F . Travers , P . Prov . G . S . W . Dorset , acting l . P . M . ; I | Slyman , J . D . ; S . Brooks , D . C ; W . If . Gardner , I . G W H . Staff , Org . ; E . Doble , Stwd . ; C . M . Tate , W . A Austen , E . j . Pitts . Visitors : C , Hambro , D . P . G . M ,