Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

West Ham Abbey Lodge , No . 2291 . The above lodge gave a ladies' banquet in the Council Chamber of the Town Hall , Stratford , onthe 2 nd instant . There was a large attendance , and the proceedings were of a very enjoyable character . The W . M ., Bro . George Bush , presided , and those present included : Bros . James Boulton , P . M ., P . G . P . ; the Venerable Archdeacon Stevens , M . A ., P . M ., P . G . C . ; Miss Bush , Bro . Stone , S . W ., and Mrs . Stone ; Bros . F . C . D . Fenn , Sec . ; T . Threlford , S . D . ; T . I . Richardson , J . D . ; W . H . Turner ,

D . C . ; G . A . McDowall , I . G ., and Mrs . McDowall ; Bros . W . Graves , Org . ; J , H . Retallack-Moloney , Stwd . ; Geo . Gwinn , P . M . ; Alfred Reed , P . M . ; G . W . Kidd , P . M ., and Mrs . Kidd ; Bros . W . G . Norman , P . M . ; R . Fielder , P . M . ; J . By ford , P . M ., and Mrs . Byford ; Bro . C . Mansfield , P . M ., and Mrs . Mansfield ; Bro . Marx Gross , Tyler ; Mrs . Bishop ( Mayoress ) ; Bro . and Mrs . E . Evennett , Bro . and Mrs . J . B . Wilkinson , Bro . Ernest Stollery , Bro . Charles V . and Mrs . Watts , Bro . G . R . and Mrs . Dutrant , Bro . R . Holbrook , Bro . S . A . Mitchell , Bro . W . F . Batsford . Bro .

and Mrs . W . Bangs , and Mrs . Simpson , Bro . J . W . Turner , Bro . and Mrs . W . J . Woodward , Bro . J . Mowbray , Bro . A . J . Kennedy , Bro . J . J . Phillips , Bro . J . G . and Mrs . Cuudy , the Misses Cundy , Bro . Fred and Mrs . Docksey , Bro . J . W . and Mrs . Ivey , Bro . W . Harbott , Bro . J . Silvester , Bro . W . T . Spencer , Bro . T . and Mrs . Druitt , Bro . J . V . and Mrs . Rockley , Bro . E . J . K ., Mrs ., and Miss Savage , Bro . W . A , Laver , Bro . E . White , Bro . F . R . and Mrs . Branch , Bro . W . and Mrs . Magus , Mrs .

Paff , Mrs . Carter , Bro . and Mrs . Scott , and Bro . and Mrs . Spilsted . The visitors were : Bro . Walter Fisher , J . W ; 2411 , and Mrs . Fisher ; Bro . R . Box 2409 , and Mrs . Box ; Bro . W . L . South , 2411 ; Bro . J . Wright , 2409 ; Bro . R . Datton Boxall , 3409 ; Bro . P . J . Schollay , 720 , and Mrs . Schollay ; and Mr . E . Bascombe Mitchell . Each lady guest was presented with a pretty box of fancy sweets or chocolates , ! the gilt of the W . M . The usual toasts were afterwards honoured .

"The Queen and the Craft" and " H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., " having been given , Bros . Ven . Archdeacon Stevens , M . A ., P . M ., P . G . C , and Jas . Boulton , P . M ., P . G . P ., responded to the toast of "The Pro G . M ., Earl Amherst ; the Deputy G . M ., the Earl of Warwick ; and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past . "

Bro . G . Kidd , P . M ., proposed "The Ladies , " which was responded to by Mr . E , Bascombe Mitchell . The toast of "The Worshipful Master" was proposed by Bro . C . Mansfield , P . M . Bros . Walter Fisher , J . W . ; W . L . South , and P . J . Schollay responded for " The Visitors . "

"The Past Masters "Iwas responded to by Bros . George Gwinn , P . M ., and J . Byford , jun ., P . M . Bros . Archdeacon Stevens , Chap , j F . C . D . Fenn , Sec . ; and Stone . S . W ., replied for "The Officers . " Miss Edith Chapman , Miss Hope Jackson , and Bros . Harry Greene and Louia Breeze contributed some excellent vocal music in a highly satisfactory manner , Bro . W . Graves most efficiently accompanying .

The arrangements for the banquet , supplied by Spiers and Pond , were in the hands of the Secretary , Bro . F . C . D . Fenn , and were most successfully carried through .

La Tolerance Lodge , No . 538

INSTALLATION OF BRO . GEORGE ALFRED STURGESS . The installation meeting of this lodge was held on the 3 rd instant at Freemasons ' Hall , under the Worshipful Mastership of Bro . Thomas Alfred Tidy . The gatherirg of brethren was numerous , the list of those attending comprising the names of Bros . G . A . Sturgess , S . W . ; H . T . Hipwell , J . W . ; James Kench , P . M ., P . G . P ., Treas . ; T . W . Smale , P . M ., Sec ; S . C . Cross , S . D . ; F . J . Pittman , J . D . ; W . H . George , I . G . ; J . J . Pittman , P . M ., D . C . ; J . Bannister Howard and VV . M . Everett , Stwds . ;

G . P . Augspurg . P . M . ; J . H . Clear , P . M . ; E . Child , P . M . ; VV . F . Fenn , P . M . ; J . Allsopp , E . J . Whittle , F . Kohn , P . L . Sanders , F . Cambridge , P . M ., P . P . G . Org . burrey ; J . M . Horrington , J . Leather , T . Whitcomb , H . J . Davis , F . A . Zeppenfeld , and A . E . Shurer . The visitors were Bros . E . Hulburd , D . C . 20 } 6 ; F . S . Brazier , j ; R . Fitch , Stwd . 87 ; C . W . Holmes , A . D . C . 16 S 7 ; G . H . Peters , 2394 ; G . D . Dennis , 802 ; G . Maynard , 2550 ; B . I . Kench , 1574 , S . D . 279 ' ; ; H . Leslie Smith , Org . 1556 ; M . Beedle , S . W . 619 ; A . Wheeler , J . W . 1305 ; C . W . Seppell , SGo ;

K . J . Haspeid , 1716 ; VV . J . Greig , P . M . 63 ; A . Whitaker , 1599 ; C . H . Blenkins , 153 S ; C . A . Broadhurst , S 79 ; W . S . Johnson , S . W . 211 ; H . Massey , P . M . and P . Z . 619 and 1928 ; J . Paul , P . M . 1287 ; J . Lynn Campling , P . M . 403 ; C F . Gildersleve , P . M . 127 S ; A . H . Lines , 2454 ; and Howard E . Mullins , J . W . 211 . After the report of the Audit Committee had been adopted , Messrs . W . Coppin and Benjamin Joseph John Goulding were initiated by Bro . T . A . Tidy , who subsequently installed Bro . George Alfred Sturgess , S . W . and W . M . elect , as Master of the

lodge for the ensuing 12 months . Bro . T . A . Tidy was invested as I . P . M . The following brethren received the lodge collars at the hands of the new W . M .: Bros . H . T . Hipwell , S . W . ; S . C . Cross , J . W . ; James Kench , P . M ., P . G . P ., Treas . ; I \ W . Smale , P . M ., Sec . ; F . Cambridge , P . P . G . Org . Surrey , Org . ; J . J . Pittman , P . M ., D . C ; F . J . Pittman , S . D . j W . H . George , J . D . ; J . Bannister Howard , I . G . ; G . T . Augspurg , W . M . Everett , J . Leather , and J . Garabaldi Zeppenfeld , Stwds . ; and T . Bowler , P . M ., Tyler .

A very superior banquet followed the working of the lodge , and the customary toasts were proposed in due course . In the interval between the speeches an attractive programme of music was performed by Miss Grace Wiseman , Madame Mabel Kobarts , Mr . Lawrence Harewood , Bro . Lines , and Mr . VV . Scollick . Bro . James Kench , P . G . P ., responded to the toast of " The Grand Officers , " who

, he said , were always ready to sustain the dignity of their Or der . Moreover , their devotion to the cause of charity , as testified by the large amount of success they gave to the Benevolent Institutions , arid their earnest endeavour to make those Institutions the pride of Freemasonry , required no commendation ; it was sufficient to know that their services were acknowledged by the Craft in general and La Tolerance Lodge in particular .

Bro . fenn , P . G . Stwd ., also acknowledged the toast , and said perhaps the Grand Officers were not quite aufait at lodge woiking , but it was supposed to be necessary , in order to obtain Grand Ottice , that in your lodge you should work hard . From what had been seen that night La Tolerance Lodge officers were working the right way . This lodge , with which he had been associated tor 20 years , had | always been a hard working one , and it was a mystery to him that it was not honoured

with more Grand Lodge appointments . Still , the competition for collars in Grand Lodge was now so great that Masons must work to the utmost in the Charities and in Masonic ritual to be invited to be members ot Grand Lodge . For himself , he always felt indebttd to those who gave him the privilege of becoming a member of La Tulerance , and to have worked in tvery Degree ol Masunry very hard ; but he was sorry to say that business matters prevented , his giving that time to Masonry he would like to have .

Bro . J . Lynn Campling , P . M . 403 , also replied , and said he knew that tohave G . Lodge office was a great honour , and a man to attain that honour must be a great worker in Masonry generally . His own Prov . G . Master , Bro . Halsey , M . P ., who had just rrceivea the honour of being made a Piivy Councillor , was a most zealous and anxious woiker in Masonry , who had ntver stood still or lacked energy ; whenever energy was needtd he had brought it to the fore , and had brought it in view in the lodges of Hertfordshire . The W . M . slightly hinted that Grand Lodge might or might not be composed of good men . He regretted to hear it , because there was hardly a man could

tbtain the position they had been placed in in Provincial Grand Lodge if they had not been in a position to represent the Freemasonry of England . For himself he was only too anxious to do his best , and say what was right and beneficial for the Freemasonry of this country . He admired Masons whom he knew to be zealous and good men . Tbe name of La Tolerance was new to him , and he was at the lodge for the first time introduced by a young Mason who , he was desirous to see advance in Masonry , who had all the elements of goodness of a Mason , and who , if properly helped would become an ornament to that lodge and any lodge of Freemasons in England .

Craft Masonry.

Bro . T . A . Tidy , I . P . M ., proposed "The W . M . " He was sure all the brethren were pleased to see Bro . Sturgess in the chair . He felt he had installed a very kind , beneficent , good , and worthy Master who would do honour to He lodge as Masters had done before him . Bro . Sturgess was one of those zealous brethren who would do in a masterly way whatever he took in hand , and he would find that the officers and brethren of the lodge would give him the same support that they had given to his predecessors . ) Bro . G . A . Sturgess , W . M ., who , on rising to respond was received with round after

round of applause , said that as the Master of Lodge La Tolerance for the first year of the new century he was not going to make long speeches , but he was going to endeavour to cut everything in the nature of speeches as short as he possibly could , because in this little lodge they all knew each other so thoroughly . They had one of the Past Masters present whom they had not seen for a long time—Bro . Fenn . Bro . Fenn

must see an improvement in the working of the lodge . He ( Bro . Sturgess ) had not been in the lodge long , but whether brethren were present with them or not , he must tell them that all the brethren put their heart into the work . He was more than delighted with the officers he had , because he knew they would well assist him in the working of the lodge , and he hoped to hand down the warrant pure and unsullied . ( Cheers . )

Bro . G . A . Sturgess , W . M ., next proposed " Bro . Tidy , I . P . M . " The brethren all knew what a Master Bro . Tidy had been , and that he had had to serv .: a second year of office through unforeseen circumstances which none of them could help . It did not matter where the Master was , whether under a stormy day or a fine day , he was a jolly good fellow . The brethren would remember the summer outing—what a terrible

day it was ; but the Master did not put on oilskin , but he was there making the best of it . The brethren now presented him with a Past Master's jewel , which it afforded him ( Bro . Sturgess ) much pleasuceto hand to him , and a silver hot water jug for him anl Mrs . Tidy when they took their grog . On this jug was the following inscription : " Presented to Bro . T . A . Tidy , P . M ., by the members of Lodge La Tolerance , No . 538 , in recognition of his services as W . M ., 1890 , 1900 , 1901 . "

Bro . T . A . Tidy , I . P . M ., in acknowledging the toast and the gift , said words could not express what he felt for the very kind manner in which they had all supported him during- the whole of his two years of Mastership , for it was no doubt from their kind manner he was encouraged to do the best he could for the lodge . He had succeeded , and he could never forget their kindness . When he and Mrs . Tidy had their grog together he would feel that the present which had been made to him was given by those who had kind feelings towards him . If his services would be at any time required by the lodge they would be rendered cheerfully . ( Hear , hear . ) Bros . Coppin and Goulding responded to the toast of " The Initiates . "

Some of the visitors responded to the toast proposed and drunk in their honour . Bro . Clear replied to the toast of " The Past Masters . " Bros . Kench and Smale responded to the toast of "The Treasurer and Secretary . " B'o . Hipwell , S . W ., replied for "The Officers . " The Tyler ' s toast closed the proceedings .

Quatuor Coronati Lodge , No . 2076 . This lodge met at Freemasons' Hall on Friday , the 4 th inst . Present : Bros . W M . Bywater , P . M ., P . G . S . B ., in the chair ; W . H . Rylands , P . M ., P . A . G . D . C . as I . P . M . ; G . Greiner , S . W . ; S . T . Klein , P . M ., as J . W . ; G . W . Speth , P . A . G . D . of C , Sec . ; Rev . J . W . Horsley , J . D . ; G . L . Shackles , I . G . ; E . Armitage and F . H . Goldney , P . G . D ., Stewards ; Dr . W . Wynn Westcott , P . M . ; Colonel C S . Pratt , P . M . ; C . Purdon Clarke , P . M . ; and Hamon le Strange , Prov . G . M . Norfolk ;

also 58 members of the Correspondence Circle and 10 visitors . The Secretary , presented a list of 46 candidates to be admitted to the Correspondence Circle . He pointed out that the first one on the list was H . R . H . Prince Frederick Leopold of Prussia , Grand Protector of German Freemasonry , Ordens-Meister of the National Grand Lodge of Germany , and a Past Grand Master of England . It had been intimated to the Committee of the lodge that his Royal Highness would like to be

placed on the Correspondence Circle , but the Committee advised the lodge to remove the name of the Prince from that list , and elect him instead an honorary member of the lodge itself , feeling sure that our illustrious brother would appreciate the compliment . The Prince was , therefore , proposed , seconded , and elected unanimously an honorary member of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge , and the following candidates were elected to the membership of the Correspondence Circle :

The Brighton Masonic Library ; Lodge of Harmony , No . 43 S , Cawnpore ; Bro ? . John Miller , P . M . 2459 , Buenos Ayres ; 3 . E . O . Bennett , D . ij . G . M . ; C . J . Gohl , De Guede Hoop L . ; H . C . Pilcher , 393 ( S . C . ) , all of Cape Town ; and J . G . Gardner , SS 2 , of Graaf Reiner , Cape Colony ; J . C . G . Grase , Nos . Vinxit Libertas L ., Amsterdam j Major W . S . S . Harvest , H . M . S . Warspite ; J . Barnet and R . Storey , 2415 , Shildon , Durham ; T . Brown . 602 , J . W . B . Wright , 2391 , and J . T . Jov , 2391 , of Middlesborough ; W . Bradley . P . M . I 65 I , Newark ; Rev . T . C .

Lwbank , 1094 , Grantham ; W . R . Lodge , 2391 , Bradford ; S . Withers , 117 , Shrewsbury ; F . T . Palmer , W . M . 246 , Cheltenham ; A . F sher , 342 , Sjuthsea : A . J . Carpenter , Pr . A . G . S ., Brighton ; R . Foxwarner , Staines ; A . H . Brown , P . M . 1503 , Strawberry Hill ; T . A . Poison , W . M . 1 S 26 . Kingston ; A . S . Gedge , 1692 , Bromley ; and in or near London , R . W . Carter , 22 ; Dr . F . H . Alderson , 2323 ; VV . C . G-eaves ,

P . M . 22 ; C . A . Basset-Smith , 2416 ; S . A . Mugford , W . M . 276 ; J . Nicholson , P . M . 12 ; Major H . Herbert , 2612 ; W . H . Doe , 2 ( 53 ( I . C . ); W . Chambers , 2662 ; l . W . Kirk , 2664 ; W . J . Moulder , 1336 ; Hon . DatoJ . Meldrum , 1 ( S . C ); E . J . Leveson , P . G . Stwd . ; H . G . A . Leveson , 26 ; E . L . H . Davis , G . Paxton , and W . Curry , all of 435 ; W . W . Szlumper , 2000 ; R . C . Mason , 2241 : A . F . Hardyment , P . M . 269 S ; and H . J . Walker , 1305 .

The Secretary brought up the Report of the Audit Committee . It showed a membership of 32 members of the lodge , and of 2850 correspondence members . The income for the year had amounted to £ iSoo , and the expenditure to £ 1760 , all of which had been expended in the furtherance of Masonic literature and reseirci , except the small unavoidable payments for hire of lodge room , quarterages , and such like matters . The balance-sheet showed assets ot Qui is . 8 d . in excess of all liabilities , which was naturally considered very satisfactory . The report was adopted by the lodge .

Letters of apology for non-attendance were received from the W . M ., Bro . E . Conder , jun ., who was detained in Gloucestershire by his magisterial duties , from Bros . Dr . W . J . Chetwode Crawley , P . G . D ., Ireland , detained in Dublin ; T . B . Whytehead , P . G . S . B ., unable to leave York ; E . Macbean , Glissow ; W . J . Hughan , P . G . D ., Torquay ; R . F . Gould , P . G . D . ; E . J . Castle , and Admiral ¦ Markham , S . D . The Secretaiy reported that two local Secretaries , Bro . C . F . Silberbauer , of Cape Town , and Bro . S . Jones , of Birkenhead , had , after long years of service , found themselves

obliged to resign their office . Their services to the lodge had been exceptionally valuable , and they had always kept their several districts free from arrears , and in close touch with headquarters , and he thought that some recognition from the lodge should be accoided to them . The lodge agreed to reorj their thanks in an illuminated certificate , to be forwarded to the brothers in question . The Secretary announced that Bro . C . fCupferschmidt , A . G . S . G . C , had since tneir last meeting undergone the serious operation of having his right arm taken off at the

shoulder , and that he and Bro . Greiner had visited him on several occasions , ami were able to report very favourably on the brother ' s progress . The Secretary was instructed to convey to Bro . Kupferschmidt the sympathy and love of the brethren . Among the exhibits were an old Dutch atlas and other bjoks by Hro . Klein ; a set of small framed hand-painted tracing boards of early in the 19 th century by Bro . J . A . Carpenter ; a photograph of a very old Masonic plate found in Copenhagen , exhibited by Bro . J . Gray , of Singapore ; and a hand-painted Leeds ware Masonic muf , presented to the

lodge museum , by Bro . Dr . R . Lake . hro . W . H . Rylands , P . A . G . D . C , read a paper on " The Alnwick Lodge Minutes , " which cast an entirely new complexion on these documents , and showed that the old operative lodge , with minutes preserved from 1701 , made a new start in 174 S , and with the assistance of brethren from elsewhere , hitherto unconnected with the lodge , erected of their own accord and without recourse to Grand Lodge , a speculative lodge , of which we have minutes down to 1756 . How much longer

it existed is not known , but it never came under the Grand Lodge at any time . The paper was thoroughly discussed by Bros . Speth , Horsley , le Strange , and Purdon Clarke , and written comments were read from Bros . Hughan , Chetwode Crawley , and Thorp . A paper on the " 47 th Proposition " was also read from Bro . Thomas Green , and discussed by Bros . Speth , Rylands , Hugh James , and Klein . Votes of thanks were accorded to both writers .