Annual Festival Of The Wandsworth Lodge Of Instruction, No. 1044.

having come to that conclusion he formed a firm resolve to try and do something for the benefit of the Order . How did that arise r He heard the lessons at his initiation , but it was when the W . M . said in open lodge that a Steward was wanted for one of the Masonic Charities , that an impression was made , for he asked what a Masonic Charity was . The W . M . told him , and he then sprang to his feet and told him he would serve . He was impelled then by a firm belief that the Masonic Charities were worthy of Masonic support , and that a Society which had

such grand institutions in it was one they ought to be proud of and support . During a pretty long Masonic career he had had the pleasure of appreciating the great influence Freemasonry had brought to bear—the number ot friends made was one of the results . Some of these friends had passed away , but others succeeded , and the friendships contracted in Masonry were what they should be proud of . He could not too strongly impress upon every Mason , first to do everything he possibly could for the advantage of the great Charities ; but

charity did not consist alone in alTording relief to those who were need y or in distress ; there was another charity , which consisted in kindly feelings to everybody , not believing ill of one ' s neighbours , but trying to take the best view of people . If Masonry could bring that , not only into the Order , but into all the relations of daily life , it did something to bind society together and redeem it from human jealousy and discord , which might otherwise be productive of great ill . Masonry had this happy effect , and therefore all those who were devoted to the Order should do all they could in its favour .

Bro . Dr . KEMPSTER , P . G . S ., proposed "The Consecrating Officer , " and passed a high eulogium on Bro . Terry ' s working . Some 20 years ago he derived great benefit from it , for when he was practising the installation ceremony , and the form was not consolidated as it was now , there being so many different styles , he was confused by the variations he found in lodges of instruction . When he had only a week left to perfect himself , he heard Bro . Terry one night give the very form which he was learning , and after that he had no difficulty . He was sure the brethren that evening had had a great treat .

Bro . JAMES TERRY , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . B . I ., in reply , said he had forgotten the incident Dr . Kempster had referred to , but he was very pleased that he had been able to give him information which was useful , beneficial , and practical . Turning to what he had done that evening , he had endeavoured to render the ceremonies of consecration and installation correctly and to the satisfaction of the brethren . They were two important ceremonies , ceremonies of importance , as all ceremonies in Masonry were , and when they

heard from their chairman that he , on the night of his initiation , resolved that he would do something for the good of Masonry , it showed the practical side of the ceremony he had gone through . So he ( Bro . Terry ) hoped , apart from the ceremonies he had rehearsed , that he , during the last 32 years of his life , had endeavoured b y an exemplification of the principles laid down by the chairman on the night of his initiation to do something on behalf of the Masonic Charities . The Charities of Masonry were not numerous , but they were important ;

important in this sense , that within ten minutes walk of the hall in which the brethren were now sitting they had perhaps one of the most magnificent educational Institutions in England . Under the roof of that building were 26 S young girls , orphans , or the children of brethren who were not in the position they were in at the time or their initiation . The education given to those children was of the best character , as could be seen by the report of the last Cambridge Local Examination . On that occasion every girl sent up passed , many with honours .

Could there be a more practical proof of the value of Freemasonry than that when a father was removed by death or was unable through adverse circumstances to educate his children as he would wish , the Craft took his place ? If the brethren went to the northern part of London , to Wood Green , they would find a Boys' School where there were 278 sons of brethren , clothed , maintained , and educated as were the girls at Wandsworth Common . During the past five years owing to altered circumstances in the government of that school an advance had

been made , and instead of picked boys being sent for examination , Masters were invited to come from the University to examine all the boys in the School to see whether the course of education was worth y of that Institution , and the result showed that the Boys' School could hold its own against any other educational institution . But when he passed to the other Institution at Croydon , that for Aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons , it was impossible for him to talk to the brethren about education , or compare the Institution with what was done

at the educational Institutions ; he could not put the inmates through the calisthenic exercises shown at the the Girls' School , or ask the old ladies to run races with the old gentlemen ; but he could show them old ladies and old gentlemen who had borne the heat and burden of the day , who had travelled through many prosperous circumstances , but who , when old age had overtaken them were reduced to penury and poverty , and many of them from circumstances not within their own control . Therefore , he thought that although the

Boys' and Girls' Institutions were magnificent , yet the setting sun had splendours of its own , and they rejoiced to see it when it was going down in its glory . By the benevolence , kindness , and generosity of the brethren , 475 old people of both sexes enjoyed the latter hours of their existence in happiness , comfort , and peace of mind—in a prosperity which enabled them to close their ( lays in peace , harmony , and in sociability with the world and their friends . For the kindly support of the lodges in this district to the three Institutions , he , on

behalf of himself and the Secretaries of the other two Institutions , thanked the brethren most sincerely . The Wandsworth Lodge had never been behindhand when the Institutions were in financial difficulties . The Earl Spencer Lodge had been a magnificent example of what a lodge should be in the cause of Charity . The Bolingbroke was coming on , and would emulate the example set by their father and mother in Freemasonry . For the compliment Bro . Beach had paid him by attending and presiding over that festival , he returned his best thanks , and

with the biethren of the lodge he begged to say that at any future time he should be very happy to come and perform any ceremony . Bro . BEACH proposed "The Wandsworth Lodge of Instruction , ' ' which had had 29 years of existence . He thought lodges of instruction were productive of the greatest good . They gave those who were unacquainted with the mode of conducting work , the very best example of the way in which they should conduct the work themselves . The work that evening had been excellent , and , as had been said , it had given brethren an opportunity of seeing what they had not seen before ,

as the consecration ceremony was not often witnessed . The lodge ot instruction was deserving of support , and of the greatest possible encouragement . All who were concerned in its management deserved the highest possible credit . Under the banner of the W . M . and the Committee , the brethren had had a festival which had been extremely successful . The attendance was most creditable , and it

showed the zeal infused into brethren who became members and rallied round the lod ge on such an interesting occasion . He trusted the lodge would flourish in the future as it had in the past ; that it would deserve increased support ; that it would Rive equall y good instruction as it had given ; and that those who attended would j lerive benefit from its instruction . He congratulated the lodge and its W . M . on its success .

Bro . HIOEKTY , in acknowledging 'he toast , said it was quite true , as Bro . "each had told them , that the lodge had been in existence 29 years . It had worked uninterruptedly from that period , and had done good work in the Wands-Worth district . It had been up to a few years ago the only lodge of instruction "i the district . It still maintained its p lace for good work and for its integrity in Masonry . Bro . Carter , who was not then present , was one of the Preceptors for 21 years—a very good record—he was one of the best of Masons , and he ( Bro . "igert y ) was proud of being his colleague . He thanked Bro . Beach for presiding ;

Annual Festival Of The Wandsworth Lodge Of Instruction, No. 1044.

he had followed Col . Money , whose loss they all felt . He also thanked Bro . Terry for attending . He ( Bro . Higerty ) had stood Steward for the Wandsworth Lodge and for his own lodge , the Downshire Lodge , and he had been well supported by that lodge of instruction ; members had supported him , and others had promised to support him in the future : they would give-their shillings , their Guineas and

their live guineas . That lodge of instruction , like the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , worked the sections as well as the ceremonies , and had a Benevolent Fund . Although they had not had the Sections that night , he could assure then the Sections were , not forgotten . He hoped the lodge would always be conducted , on the same lines as those on which it had been hitherto carried on

Bro . KINCSTO . N drew the brethren ' s attention to the fact that a great part of the success of the present festival was due to Bro . Welch , the Treasurer , and Bro . King , ( he Secretary , on which two brethren all the work of making the arrangements had fallen .

The Charity-box realised , £ 5 . Bro . FORREST . W . M . Wandsworth Lodge , and Bro . BONWEI . I ., W . M . Bolingbroke Lodge , replied for those lodges , and Bro . MCCARTHY , Oueen ' s Advocate , Sierra Leone , replied for " The Visitors , " and after the T yler ' s ~ toast , the brethren separated .

The First Ladies Banquet Of The Selwyn Chapter, No. 1901.

THE FIRST LADIES BANQUET OF THE SELWYN CHAPTER , No . 1901 .

The first ladies' banquet of this prosperous South Londun chapter was held at the Montpelier Hotel , Choumert-road , Peckham , on Thursday , the 4 th inst ., under the able presidency of Com p . J . I . ightfoot , M . E . Z . The chapter was previously opened , there being present Comps . J . Lig htfoot , M . E . Z . ; C . H . Stone , H . ; E . Gauntlett , LP . / . ' ., acting J . ; T . Grummant , P . Z . ; Wm . Hook , P . Z ., Treas . ; B . Morgan , S . E . ; Ford , P . S . ; Dr . Thomas , 1 st A . S . ; Dr . Adams , 2 nd A . S . ; J . Evans , Org . ; Aggleton , Stwd . ; Bailey , Janitor ; | . May , Barton , Cornford , Gay , Hayward , Mills ' Beccroft , and others .

the minutes of the previous convocation were read and confirmed . The 1 lection for the ensuing year was next proceeded with , which in all cases proved unanimous , the three Principals elect being respectively Comps . C . H . Stone , M . E . Z . ; B . Morgan , H . ; and Wm . Wills , j " . A Past Principal ' s jewel was unanimously voted to Comp . J . Lightfoot for his able services rendered during the past year . A dispensation having been granted by the G . Z . to wear Royal Arch clothing , it was read , after which the chapter was closed .

riie companions , with their ladies , adjourned to the banqueting hall , which was most tastefully decorated , the tables presenting a very pretty appearance and profuse with flowers , the whole having been arranged by Comp . F . Pow , the host , ably assisted b y Mrs . Pow , who also provided the banquet of a most recherche kind , giving the greatest satisfaction . The cloth removed , the M . E . Z ., in very forcible and well-chosen remarks , presented the loyal and Royal Arch toasts , which were most graciousl y received by all present .

I he toast of " The M . E . Z . " was next presented b y Comp . E . GAUNTLETT , l . P . Z . ( in the unavoidable absence of Comp . W . Davies , P . Z . I , who remarked that the unfortunate absence of Comp . Davies was a gain to him as he had the honour of placing so important a toast before the ladies and companions . He ( Comp . Gauntlett ) stated for the information of the ladies that the M . E . Z . was the Prince of the people , and Comp . Lightfoot was their prince . He had known their M . E . Z .

for 17 or 18 years , and the more he knew of him the better he liked him . He might say it was the universal opinion among all those who met him . Their M . E . Z . had arranged that most happy gathering , for which they all were greatly indebted to him . He had presided over the chapter during the past year with exceptional ability , and as that was the last occasion he would have that same position they one and all gave him a most hearty welcome .

The toast was drunk most enthusiasticall y , and with musical homurs , coupling the name of Mrs . Lightfoot with it . In reply , Comp . Lioitn-oor , who received quite an ovation , said he most heartily thanked the company for such a cordial reception , and he felt quite diffident in replying to Comp . Gauntlett , from whjiii came the first idea of a ladies' banquet . It was a disappointment , he knew , to the ladies when it wis found impossible to have a ladies' night in the Selwyn Lodge , and in order to

compensate for that he had , with the able assistance of the two other Principals , been enabled to arrange that little happy family gathering , which had proved such a splendid success . He could not refrain from remarking a little conversation , which took place at a City lodge , to the effect that the brethren said , " Von don ' t get this down in East Dulwich , do you r " He would reply that Freemasonry was quite as much at home in the log cabin as in the gilded palace . It was cosmopolitan . High and low were all included , and even in the wilds of East

Dulwich they were able to carry out the splendid principles of all that was grand and true . From the ripple of laughter that had permeated the whole of the meeting , he felt that the companions had gratified trie ladies . Once more he most cordially thanked the company for such a greeting , and he felt very sorry indeed that it was , through the course of events , his last nig ht of presiding over them , but the M . E . Z . elect had whispered that lie hoped to repeat a similar event during his year .

The toast of "The Ladies " was next given by the M . E . Z . remarking that the evening would have been a great blank without them , and whenever the ladies could be included in any of their gatherings it was the pet object of every Mason , he believed . They must all confess that the ladies did kno . v much , and a little gathering as the present whetted their appetite lor more , and on another point they must all agree , the older they became the ladies got shrewder than the men . Most of their successful men were those who had liken the ladies into their

confidence ; men of science , art , and literature had made their position through having such good seconders . That one idea had taught him to look up to the ladies and appreciate them as being all that was beautiful , artistic , and noble . He would ask the companions to drink to the toast , which was done most enthusiastically . Comp . Dr . W . THOMAS replied that he was able to assure the M . E ' / . ., on behalf of the ladies , that the evening to them had been most enjoyable . He , as

a poor weak man , could not reply as the toast of the evening deserved , but henceforth he thought the ladies would overlook some of their shortcomings at home when they understood ( as they did then ) what an amount of labour they performed , and how they occupied so much of their time in endeavouring to promote the good of others . For the future , he thought , the ladies , whenever they ( the members ) digressed a little more than usual , would receive them more in sorrow than in anger .

"The Health of Comp . Hook , Treasurer , " was next presented by the M . E . Z ., who remarked that he ( the Treasurer ) dwelt in the love and esteem of all the companions , as also the brethren of the Selwyn Lodge , of which he was the father . Comp . Hook had just celebrated his gulden wedding , and had received congratulations from all around , and also signal acknowledgments . All knew his excellent qualifications and the appreciation he was held in by all who knew him , being one of the best men in the world .

In reply , Comp . Hook said it was most gratifying to know he lived in their love and esteem , and the sorrow it would cause him it be telt he did nut . The one great object of his life had been to make other people as happy as himself , which had enabled him , with the help of T . G . A . O . T . U ., to live a long life , even