Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

siderable amount to our noble chanties . Some routine business having been transacted , the lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to the banqueting hall , where a well spread board awaited them , under the personal superintendence

cf Bro . Spencer , which gave unqualified satisfaction to all present . The usual toasts were duly proposedjand acknowledged , that of the visitors being acknowledged by Bro . Charles Horsley , P . Grand Registrar Middlesex , in one of his well

known humourous speeches . We also noticed a considerable number of visitors . Bro . W . J . Howe , J . Spilling , S . D . Ewins , George Kenning , and others . The Tyler ' s toast concluded a very enjoyable evening .

ROYAL OAK LODGE ( NO . 871 . ) . —On Thursday , March 26 th , at the White Swan Tavern , 217 , High-street , Deptford , this lodge was held , Bro . George Andrews , W . M ., presided . There were present during the evening Bros . S . A . Lewin , S . W . ; H . J . Tuson , J . W . ; W . Andrews , P . M ., Treasurer ; F . Walters , P . G .

Steward , P . M ., Sec , ; J . J . Rakes , S . D . ; J Baxter Lansley , I . G . ; H . J . Dawe , M . C . ; H J . Fisher , Organist ; W . Wyatt , P . M . ; J . W Reed , P . M . ; E . Wood , W . A . R . Harris ; H

M . Fellows , J . H . Tisdell , T . Harton , W . J Pierce , E . C . Kilsby , W . H . Hawkins , J . Allen L . J . Harvey , R . Stringer , W . Elgood , E Good , L . Porter , F . G . Thomas , E . James , W Atkins , F . R . Hood , H . Schartau , J . Wollett , R Harman , A . Maeers . The visitors were Bros

J . G . Loughborough , 140 ; H . R . Harker , 79 ; J . Lawrence , 1326 ; J . Larking , 1326 ; R . G . Beaver , 700 ; J . S . Sweasey , S . D . 14-2 , 3 ; A . J . Webley , 1423 ; W . A . Simmons , 1423 , and others . The ballot was unanimous in favour of the admission of Bro . Rev . J . M . Vaughan , P . G .

Chaplain , Middlesex , P . M . 907 , to become a joining member . The work done was initiating Mr . A . Maeers , crafting Bros . W . J . Pierce , J . C . Craig , F . H . Burr , E . Wood , J . Larking , 1326 ; A . J . Webley , 1423 . Raising J . H . Tisdell , W . Atkins , Josias Lawrence , 1326 .

The Worshipful Master , Bro . George Andrews , proved himself a proficient worker of all the ceremonies . He did them nil in a perfect manner . It was a pleasure to all present to hear each ceremony worked correctly , impressively , and efficiently . He proved himself to be

the right man in the right place . We congratulate the lodge on their having such a distinguished brother in the proud and enviable position of Worshipful Master . This being the first night of work since his installation it was the only time ihe brethren had an opportunity of seeing what their new W . M . could do in the

way of work . He did it well , and proved himself a worthy successor of such good workers in the Craft as Bros . H . A . Collington , Dr . Dixon , F . Walters , G . Wilton , Dr . Scott and others , who have filled the chair . The lodge was closed . There was not any banquet or refreshment .

WILLIAM PRESTON LODGE ( NO . 766 ) . — The regular March meeting of this lodge was held on the 26 th ult ., at the City Terminus Hotel , when there was a full attendance of members , and a long list of visitors . The W . M ., Bro . William Worrell , presided , and

initiated Messrs . G . H . Davies , E . B . Broomhall , and L . G . Reinhardt ; passed Bros . Keen , Johnston , French , and Lyon ; and raised Bros . S . Emley , and F . Ince . The brethren then adjourned to banquet , which was served up in admirable style . When it was disposed of , the

loyal and Masonic toasts were proposed and drunk , and the evening was passed very enjoyably . The following is a list of officers , lay members , and visitors present : —W . Worrell , W . M . ; A . Brown , S . W . ; J . Pringle , J . W . ; Kain , P . M ., Treas . ; M . Newton , S . D . ; G .

Cragg , J . D . ; E . Ascher , I . G . ; G . Newman , P . M . ; R . H . Whiteman , P . M . ; Newton , P . M . ; W . H . Harper , P . M . ; B . Abbott , P . M .: J . A . Keen , J . French , H . F . Partridge , G . Smitheis , W . J . Roberts , E . Kidman , C . R . Cutmore , A . E . Rees , F . Ince , W . Johnston , S . J . Emly , S .

Wilkinson , R . Lyon , E . Draper , P . Steinmann , R . Avery , J . F . Hodey , C . Scott , S . D . Ewins . Visitors , Bros . W . H . Kempster , S . D . 1420 ; G . H . Lay , 5 6 9 ; W . Goodyear , P . M . 1365 ; C . Hammerton , P . M . 1339 ; G . Jackson , 43 j ; J .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

H . Broomfall , , 569 ; W . Donne , 192 ; F . G . Baker , P . M . 753 . The next regular meeting of the lodge will not be held until September . SHEERNESS . —De Shurland Lodge ( No . 1089 ) . —The ancient and solemn ceremony of installing the newly elected W . M ., Bro . T . M . Rigg , took p lace at the Local Board of Health

Room ( kindly lent ) , on Tuesday last , the 31 st ultimo , at an adjourned meeting of the lodge . The installation ceremony was performed in an able and most impressive manner by Bro . Mac-Donald , P . M . 1089 , P . P . G . D . C , who , in the masterly manner he acquitted himself evinced to the Craft that the tuition of our lamented Bro .

Keddell , P . M . 158 , P . P . G . S . W ., P . Z ., had not been lost on his pupil , who was honoured with a hearty vote of thanks . A very pleasing duty was performed by the outgoing W . M ., Bro . Hancock , viz ., presenting to Bro . Bourne a massive silver goblet ( beautifully engraved by

Mr . J . Highley ) , on behalf of the lodge , in recognition of the efficient manner he had performed his duties as Secretary . Bro . Bourne , in a very neat and effective speech acknowledged the kindness of the brethren for their g ift , which he least expected . The newly installed W . M . selected

and invested the following brethren to serve as his officers : —Bros . Hancock , I . P . M ., P . G . S . ; Ingleton , S . W . ; Bourne , J . W . ; Pannell , P . M . 108 9 , P . P . G . S . of W . was invested for Bro . Shrubsole , P . M . ijS and 1089 , P . P . G . S . of W ., elected Treasurer ( who was absent ) ; Bro . Mc

Donald , P . M . 108 9 , P . P . G . D . of C , Secretary ; Bro . West , P . M . 10 S 9 , M . of C . ; Bro . Dutnall , S . D . ; Bonney . J . D . ; Sinclair , Org . ; Clarkson , I . G . ; Parsons , O . G . It is very pleasing to observe that never has there been seen at the De Shurland Lodge so large a display of the purple ,

and it was very gratifying to the newly-installed Master to be honoured by so many . Among the visitors we observed , Bros . A . Spencer , P . M . 1 oO 3 , Mailing Abbey , Prov . G . S . ; G . Watson , P . M . "Gwendulph , " Prov . G . R . ; T . Townsend , P . M . 148 , P . P . G . R . ; Spears , P . M . 158 ,

Sheerness , P . P . G . O . ; H . Bathurst . P . M . 133 , Harmony , Faversham , P . P . G . R . ; W . Sage , P . M . 1063 , Mulbery Abbey , and P . P . G . R . 703 ; Blakey , P . M . 1174 , Pentangle . P . P . G . A , D . C ; Carpenter , P . M . Jj 8 , Adams ; Kelly , S . D . 158 ; S . D . Adams ; Roach , 1 < 8 ; Turner , 972 , and

1449 ; Eastley , 184 ; Bross , 184 ; Nicholls , W . M . 1050 , " Gwendulph ; " D . Seabrook , P . M . 1174 , P . P . G . J . C . ; Burley , W . M . 184 ; Muggleton , J . W . 184 ; Harris , 1273 , St . Michaels ; Newton , W . M . elect 1040 , Gwendulph , and several other brethren . The lodge being duly

closed by the new officers , the brethren adjourned to the Fountain Hotel , there to partake of a splendid banquet , which had been provided by Bro . A . W . Howe , in that manner so peculiar to himself . After ample justice had been done to the good things provided , and the cloth

removed , the usual Masonic toasts were given by the W . M . in a style that brought forward a telling speech from the Prov . Grand Sec , who congratulated the lodge on the sterling abilities he had noticed in the Master . This was supplemented by Bro . Page , who stated , that being

over twenty years a member of the Craft , and accustomed as he was to visit meetings of the kind , he confessed he never during his long experience was more gratified ( and he expressed the feelings of many if not all of the brethren present ) , at the proceedings of the day , and

argued that the W . M . in his selection of officers he had made would tend greatly to cement those characteristics that were so prominent in members of the Craft , characteristics which most eloquently propounded by Bro . the Rev , R . Palmer ( Rector of Queenboro ) , Chaplain of

St . Michael ' s , 1273 , and hon . member ofDe Shurland . Bro . Sinclair presided in a most efficient manner at the harmonium . The brethren separated at nine o ' clock , after spending a very pleasant day , the visiting brethren from the several lodges in the province , giving the Sheerness brethren a hearty invitation to attend

their respective festivals . HERVEY LODGE ( NO . 1260 ) . —The installation meeting of this lodge was held on Wednesday afternoon , at Freemasons' Hall . At the commencement of the business , Bro . G . King , jun ., W . M ., raised Bro . E . C . Axford to the third degree , and passed Bros . Foss , Spalding , and Bed-

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

ford to the second degree : He then initiated Mr . T . W . Kingcombe in the earliest mysteries of the Order . After the report of the Audit Committee had been received , read , and adopted , Bro . King proceeded , with great fluency , to instal Bro . C Darby as W . M . of the Hervey

Lodge for the year 1874-5 . The brethren having been admitted , and the W . M . saluted in the different degrees , he then proceeded to appoint his officers as follows—Bros . T . R . Maples , S . W : ; Harrison , J . W ., D . Hogg , P . M ., Treas . G . Kins-, jun ., P . M ., Sec ; H . Hollingsworth

P . M ., S . D . ; W . Ryan , J . D . ; W . Lowes , I . G . ; G . King , P . M ., D . C . ; Alfred Brumsden , W . S . ; J . T . Bigwood , Assistant W . S . ; J ohn Maples , Org . ; C . T . Speight , T . Bro . King , jun ., was invested by the W . M . as I . P . M ., who after the above office had been conferred on the brethren ,

delivered the charges to the W . M ., Wardens and brethren . The W . M . then said , addressing the I . P . M ., that the brethren were fully aware of the great difficulties he had had to surmount during the time he had occupied the chair ; but he had surmounted them , and came out victorious . The

brethren wished to mark their sense of his conduct by making him a suitable presentation on his leaving the chair . He had already a P . M . jewel , as a P . M . of the lodge , but the brethren thought it rig ht to distinguish his second year of office by an additional gift . They , therefore ,

wished him to accept a bible , as a token of their appreciation of his services , and they had had inscribed in that volume the following sentence : * ' Presented to Bro . George King , jun ., P . M ., and one of founders of the Hervey Lodge , No . 1260 , together with a silver P . M . ' s jewel and collar , in

appreciation of the ability and zeal shown by him in serving the office of W-M . of the lodge forthe second time , 1873-4 . April Sth , 1874 . The W . M . in conclusion trusted that Bro . King might live long to be among the brethren , and when he should quit this life might this book be handed down to his posterity , his children and

grandchildren , and great grand children , that they mig ht see that in their family there was a King , who was victorious , and who had the appreciation of his brethren . Bro . King in reply said he could scarcel y find words to express his gratitude for the great honour they had done him in making him this handsome present . It was true he had undertaken the duties of ' the

chair for the second time , and that it was a very arduous task ; but thanks to the co operation and assistance of the brethren he Saw around him , he had conducted the lodge , lo a successful end , for in vacating the chair he had been enabled to hand over to his successor the largest balance

that there had yet been in the Hervey Lodge . That lodge had been a pef : of his , and it was with great pleasure he assisted in making it overcome all obstacles . Now tha , t they were located at Freemasons' Hall he was . sure there was nothing but success before them m the future , and he

hoped to live to see that success . He was much obliged to the W . M . for j expressing that wish to be hoped that the " LeVises " alluded to by the W . M . would see that ijf a Mason had troubles to go through , he was ! yet appreciated by his brethren . The W . M . then gave notice of

motion , that in consideration of the services ot Bro . King , sen ., to the lodge , he \ should be made an hon . member , with all the ' privileges of an ordinary member . Wheneveir any officer of the lodge had been absent , Brc ' t . King was always ready to perform his duties , \ and in the Lodge of

Instruction he had imparted ! knowledge which had been useful to them all ) The J . W . said , that when the motion came ! on , he should be happy to second it , because lire felt that he owed his elevation to the instructio n he had received from Bro . King . A vote of thanks was then

passed unanimously to Bro . J ones , the late Treasurer , and the lodge was afterwards closed . The brethren adjourned to an exce . Uent banquet , provided by Bro . C . E . FrancatellV- At the conclusion of the banquet , grace having been rendered , the W . M . proposed the usual ioyal and Masonic

toasts , dwelling more particularly on the great interest which the Prince of W ' ales took in the Craft . In proposing the health of the Past Grand Masters , he regretted tl i « absence of Bro . Hervey , which was necessitate ^! by his having to attend at the installation of th * Earl of Zetland next day , as Prov . G . M . •'Avorkshire . Dr .