Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Installation Meeting Of The Drury Lane Lodge, No. 2127.
r within him the hope that it mig ht be his good fortune , in the exercise of stronge ^ ^^ ^^ praise and ? rat ; fy tlieir good wishes . If it was ' 'hie '' to attain that by earnestl y and consistently stirring , then he was P ° f ¦ that in the future he should conscientiously feel he was not undeserving of l honour conferred upon him . His energy and watchfulness would be placed •h his love for his duty , and aided as he should be by the able assistance of his w it . - officers and those Past Masters , whose advice and kind assistance was brotner uii" - - i i kl tn
. _ ___ _ r „ u cj .. u „ A „ ,, U U . m ,= J m ^ mfnin 11 vs so cheerfully tendered , he felt confident he should be enabled to maintain r the Drury Lane Lodge that Masonic prestige which it now enjoys . He heartily h ked them , and availed himself of the opportunity afforded him of proposing f their accep tance a toast which he had the gratification to know would be ived with the approbation the subject merited . It was at all installation banr 6 C < L -, crreat pleasure to know that all the honour and kindly remembrances were
f given to the active workers in the present , but were also bestowed on the n ° kers of the past . It was just that it should be so , for nothing more than in Masonry did the rule hold good that the ' present was made up from the past , and ' rv lodge was indebted to its Past Masters for the exertions and for the influence C sed in the past . In the Drury Lane Lodge there was kept in grateful rememl ' r-incc the names of the Past Masters . They had Lord Londesborough ,
whoexressed his regret at his unavoidable absence ; Sheriff Augustus Harris , Grand Treasurer , to whom the lodge owed its foundation and most of its prosperity ; Qir ' l Gorst , P . G . W ., who sent a telegram expressing his regret at not being present ; breezy and good-hearted Admiral Sir E Inglefield ; and last , not least , the I P M ' Alderman Sir H . Isaacs—a brother who , by his knowledge and geniality had endeared himself to them all . The l . P . M . had on all occasions shown his high
regard for the lodge and for Masonry , and he ( the W . M . ) had but to recall to their memories the day of which the present was the anniversary , when Sir H . Isaacs evinced his desire to pay respectful homage to Masonry by associating with the ceremony of installation the unique fact of being installed W . M . in the temple of Masonry within the walls of the Mansion House . It was impossible to forget the warmth of hospitality then displayed , for it was a record which must always
have a delig htful abiding place in their memories , and on the present occasion the I P . M . had afforded additional cause for pleasant recollections in the most able and eloquent delivery of the ceremony of installation . He wished he might be fortunate in coming one-tenth near Sir Henry , but it was a lesson which must perforce be of great advantage to him . They were proud of the l . P . M . in connection with the Past Masters , and he asked them to accentuate the fact by
drinking to " The Past Masters , " coupling with it the name of Bro . Sir H . Isaacs . Bro . Alderman Sir HENRY ISAACS , l . P . M ., P . G . W ., said that during his Mayoralty he had the honour in his character of Lord Mayor of paying a visit to brethren across the border , and he was affiliated to No . I , St . Mary ' s Chapel Lodge , Edinburgh . He was most hospitably received by the Master of that lodge —a kind hearted Mason—and he had great pleasure in proposing his health at the
banquet which followed the ceremony . When the Master rose to respond , he turned to him with his handerchief in his hand wiping his brow , and said , " Ah , my Lord Mayor , but your kind words have made me very warm indeed . " If he mig ht be allowed to substitute the words Worshipful Master for " My Lord Mayor , " he should be inclined to say , " Worship ful Master , your kind words have made me very warm indeed , " because the W . M . had paid him a compliment such
as he felt he did not deserve . When the hero of the Baddeley cake should suggest anyone could g ive him a lesson in elocution , it was calculated to make anyone warm . He felt he ought to apologise for the rustiness he displayed in his working . He had taken every opportunity , be mig ht tell them in confidence , to remind the brethren near him—and especially Bros . Col . Clerke and Philbrick—that it was 25 years since he last performed that ceremony . It was very easy to feel when the
audience was in sympathy with them , for then the task was easy indeed , and it made even the stammerer eloquent . He could not forget that he had to respond for a most distinguished body , and he ventured to say it was possible to take any lodge throughout the world and to point to the Drury Lane Lodge , and say there was no lodge , having been so few years in existence , which could point to such a record of Past Masters . Their first W . M ., as they had been reminded , was a
noble lord with a noble heart . Their second Master was that brother who had done so much for the lodge , and who had revived the Augustan era . That brother was followed by a most distinguished statesman and kind-hearted Mason—Bro . Sir John Gorst—and then came that delig htful old Admiral—Bro . Sir E . Inglefield—who was welcomed everywhere . He would not go further , but taking those four names they could challenge comparison from the roll of Past Masters in any
lod ge in existence . ' It gave him great pleasure to be one among the number , and if in the future he could compensate , not for his want of zeal , but for his want of ability , he should be happy . He prided himself immensely on being a Past Master of that lodge , because leaving the Past Masters for a moment , he ventured to say the lodge per se was one unparalleled in the history of its representatives of art , science , the stage , music and literature—in fact everything that
was good and great and noble was represented in the Drury Lane Lodge . He should like to take advantage of that opportunity to express his great gratitude to those brethren who were now S . W . and J . W ., and to those under them , for their great forbearance in retaining their positions in order that he should be Master ° f the lodge during bis Mayoralty . He fully appreciated that kindness and should
ever be mindful of it . He wished to express his indebtedness to their Bro . Matthews , who so kindly came forward to assist him as their Secretary , and who '' ad done good work . In conclusion , he would say that the Past Masters whenever called upon would be onl y too delig hted to do anything in their power to prove their gratitude to those who in by-gone days elected them to the chair of " '•at distinguished lodge .
In proposing " The Visitors , " the IMMEDIATE PAST MASTER said he was not a volunteer for the task , but a pressed man . One could scarcely conceive a Masonic banquet without visitors , and one of the first charms of a Masonic banquet was the fact that they received visitors who would partake of their pleasure . There was a large bod y of distinguished visitors that evening—so large that it was difficult to make a selection for a response . If he had expected to have had the pleasure of
Proposing the toast he would have looked through the names , but in the absence ot that preparation he looked straight in front of him , and the first person he saw was a distinguished Mason wearing a crimson collar , which indicated he was n ° t unknown in Freemasonry , and he certainly was not unknown in the City of - ° ndon . He referred to Bro . Dimsdale , in whom they had an excellent and practised orator , who would do justice to those for whom he was called upon to respond .
. ° ro . J . C . DIMSDALE , P . G . Stwd ., returned the members of the Drury Lane -od ge his most sincere thanks for the kind manner in which they had entertained ° visitors , and given them an opportunity of seeing the working of the lodge so ' | T ' rabl y carried through . He was certainly sorry it had not fallen to some of e brethren round the table to eloquently express their appreciation of the enter' inment they had received . He could only imagine that he had been chosen from sch" •" ^ ' was essent-ial t 0 many present , and it was also valuable to him-, 1 inasmuch as he had arranged to P-O to the theatre . He would onlv sav on
beal ' tl 'he visitors that they deeply appreciated the kindness shown them , and wr ' ? , l 1 tllat m 'ght be their first opportunity of visiting the lodge , he hoped it w «'' ld not be the last afforded them C L . t this stage of the proceedings the W . M . was compelled to leave , and the tl , , vva s assumed by the I . P . M ., who at once rose and said they were honoured who f venln £ i'h the presence of one of the most distinguished of London citizens , H 0 ° held the office of Chief Magistrate of the City of London—Bro . the Ri ght I •the Lord Mayor . Masons who were lovers of good order of course respected
Installation Meeting Of The Drury Lane Lodge, No. 2127.
the representative of justice let him come whence he might and as he might , and when he came among them in the character of a brother Mason he was doubl y welcome . He had had the privilege to claim the Lord Mayor as a colleague for some years , and if he were not present he should be disposed to tell them that the more he had seen of him the more he hnd respected him . The Lord Mayor exercised in the highest degree what they recognised as the distinguishing
characteristic of Freemasonry , and it was not him on that occasion to say how he discharged his duty as a magistrate , but he would say of him as an ' English gentleman he discharged his duties in the most commendable fashion . He was sure the Lord Mayor ' s love for Freemasonry would increase with his knowledge of it , and he hoped at no very distant date to see him wear , as many other Lord Mayors wore , the purple of which they were all so proud .
Bro . the Right Hon . the LORD MAYOR , in reply , said : Your Chairman has told you he had few anticipations as to what his duties might be this evening , and 1 had no idea I should be called upon to speak , for on looking at the toast list I saw that there would be no toist for which the Lord Mayor would probabl y have to reply , and indeed I congratulated myself on the fact . It often falls to my lot to respond to the somewhat interesting theme of ray own health , but if that
health could possibly be proposed in terms acceptable to myself , it has been done this evening , and especially by one who wis my immediate predecessor in the office . We well know that hospitality is indeed the special attribute of Freemasonry , and 1 think I may say it is also not only of Freemasonrv in general , but of the Drury Lane Lodge in particular , and I cm assure you I have deeply appreciated the cordial and kind welcome extended to me . I only
regret that other engagements of an absolutely imperative nature prevented me from attending the lodge and witnessing that installation about which I have heard was performed in such an extremely able manner by your l . P . M . I came here at the earliest possible moment I . could leave the duties of the Mansion House , and I have to thank you for your readiness to accept me as an unpunctual
guest . I have an intense love and admiration for all that belongs to Freemasonry , and especially for its noble Charities , and it will be my ambition during my tenure of office and during the remainder of my life to do all I can for the good of Freemasonry . I have to thank you for the kind manner in which you have received the toast of my health .
Bro . the Very Rev . the Dean of BATTLE , G . Chap ., in g iving "The Masonic Institutions , " said that proposing a toast at the Drury Lane Lodge—especially if it was a first visit to the lodge—there was , of course , a quotation which could scarcely be called hackneyed , it was so good , referring to the fact that " all the world ' s a stage , and all the men and women merely players . " They there played not an assumed but a real character , and the real character they , as Masons played ,
was the character of Charity . They had had that day among them the outward signs and symbols of the Municipality of London , and he did not think he could pass by without noticing the toast which had immediately preceded this , because 'he thought it most right and proper that the Lord Mayor of London should be a Mason and attend their Masonic gatherings . In the proud history of the Chief Magistrate of the greatest city in the world , its bri ghtest records were those
associated with Charity . In this 19 th century , no man worthy of the name of man , and especially none worthy of the name of Mason , could ignore the responsibilities which rested upon him of active and practical Charity . They must all have in their minds cases of brethren who had been kept from absolute want by the help accorded them b y Masonry . In connection with the three great Institutions , which were the pride of Masonry , it might , perhaps , be interesting for ihem to know that the M . W . G . M . would inaugurate the new hall of the Girls' School the week after next :
Lord Lathom , D . G . M ., would preside at the coming Festival of the Boys' School , which should be an incentive to the brethren to place the School in a higher position . The Secretary of the Boys' Institution was present , and he coupled with the toast the name of Bro . McLeod , of whose energetic and praiseworthy labours they were aware , for he was working for the good of that great Institution , and they all wished him the greatest success . The Secretary of one of the other Institutions was not able to be present on account of his health , which he was sure they all regretted .
Bro . J . M . MCLEOD , Sec . R . M . I , for Boys , in response , said that so much had been said by brethren who had preceded him in their admirable speeches as regards palpitation of the he . irt and paralysis of digestion , that at such a distinguished gathering he might be excused if he added one more to the list of apologies . After the excellent manner in which the toast had been proposed , and the full terms in which the cause of Charity generally , and Masonic Charity in
particular , had been placed , but few words were needed to commend the Institutions to the hearts of all Masons present . He must add his regret that the Secretaries of the other Institutions were not present , and he said that most feelingly , for had they been in attendance they would have been called upon to reply to the toast . He especially regretted it for the sake of his old friend , Bro . Terry , who was absent from ill-health and it was a serious time fur that brother , as the Festival of
the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution was so near , and upon which so much depended , that every brother would echo the wish that Bro . Terry would soon be restored to health . It was a gratification to know of the prosperity which attended the Girls' Institution , which was always looked up to with so much pride as being so excellently managed . When he came to the Institution which he had the honour to serve , he might say that although last year a very large sum of money
was subscribed b y Masons to carry on the work of the three Institutions—no Jess a sum than ^ 5 6 , 000—the Institution which looked after the welfare and education of the boys did not receive its fair share , and that had been going on for years past . He would be pardoned if he mentioned that Institution more particularly . The Boys' Institution had turned over a new leaf in its history , by dint of hard work of a distinguished body of Masons
who had to see the house in order . They now hoped it would advance its position to that which it formerly held in the estimation of every Mason in the country , and be looked upon once more as being a bright ornament , such as it once was considered . He felt certain things were going on brigh'ly , and he trusted the doors of the Institution might be opened to their fullest extent for the
clothing and education of boys . He returntd sincere thanks for the kindness with which his name had been received , and could onl y hope that as time went on he would be looked upon as an old servant in connection with the Masonic Institution , and that it would be said he had done his best as it was now said he was trying to do his best .
Bro . S . B . BANCROFT , S . W ., replying tor "The Officers , " said that at that late stage of the toast list he should not presume to detain them , but in the simplest words he would thank them on behalf of the Wardens and his fellow officers for the kind way in which the toast had been proposed and received . It might perhaps not be unpleasant to their W . M . to find that his two principal officers happened to be members of his own calling . He could assure the W . M . in his absence that they would most loyally serve him , as he was sure every officer would worthily uphold the history of the Drury Lane Lodge .
Bro . J . H . MATTHEWS , P . D . G . D . C , Sec , said he had rather suddenly been called upon to make a speech , but he hoped they would judge him by acts not b y words . If the meeting had been a success it was . in consequence ot the I . P . M ., who never once interfered with the arrangements made , and when a man was not contradicted it was easy for him to get through this worlo .
Bro . LIONEL BROUGH , Stwd ., also replied , and said he was told when he accepted the office that he should have nothing to do . He had been all round the table drinking with everyone geneially , which was the only duty he had performed . He was once I . G ., but was generally found outside smoking when he should have
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Installation Meeting Of The Drury Lane Lodge, No. 2127.
r within him the hope that it mig ht be his good fortune , in the exercise of stronge ^ ^^ ^^ praise and ? rat ; fy tlieir good wishes . If it was ' 'hie '' to attain that by earnestl y and consistently stirring , then he was P ° f ¦ that in the future he should conscientiously feel he was not undeserving of l honour conferred upon him . His energy and watchfulness would be placed •h his love for his duty , and aided as he should be by the able assistance of his w it . - officers and those Past Masters , whose advice and kind assistance was brotner uii" - - i i kl tn
. _ ___ _ r „ u cj .. u „ A „ ,, U U . m ,= J m ^ mfnin 11 vs so cheerfully tendered , he felt confident he should be enabled to maintain r the Drury Lane Lodge that Masonic prestige which it now enjoys . He heartily h ked them , and availed himself of the opportunity afforded him of proposing f their accep tance a toast which he had the gratification to know would be ived with the approbation the subject merited . It was at all installation banr 6 C < L -, crreat pleasure to know that all the honour and kindly remembrances were
f given to the active workers in the present , but were also bestowed on the n ° kers of the past . It was just that it should be so , for nothing more than in Masonry did the rule hold good that the ' present was made up from the past , and ' rv lodge was indebted to its Past Masters for the exertions and for the influence C sed in the past . In the Drury Lane Lodge there was kept in grateful rememl ' r-incc the names of the Past Masters . They had Lord Londesborough ,
whoexressed his regret at his unavoidable absence ; Sheriff Augustus Harris , Grand Treasurer , to whom the lodge owed its foundation and most of its prosperity ; Qir ' l Gorst , P . G . W ., who sent a telegram expressing his regret at not being present ; breezy and good-hearted Admiral Sir E Inglefield ; and last , not least , the I P M ' Alderman Sir H . Isaacs—a brother who , by his knowledge and geniality had endeared himself to them all . The l . P . M . had on all occasions shown his high
regard for the lodge and for Masonry , and he ( the W . M . ) had but to recall to their memories the day of which the present was the anniversary , when Sir H . Isaacs evinced his desire to pay respectful homage to Masonry by associating with the ceremony of installation the unique fact of being installed W . M . in the temple of Masonry within the walls of the Mansion House . It was impossible to forget the warmth of hospitality then displayed , for it was a record which must always
have a delig htful abiding place in their memories , and on the present occasion the I P . M . had afforded additional cause for pleasant recollections in the most able and eloquent delivery of the ceremony of installation . He wished he might be fortunate in coming one-tenth near Sir Henry , but it was a lesson which must perforce be of great advantage to him . They were proud of the l . P . M . in connection with the Past Masters , and he asked them to accentuate the fact by
drinking to " The Past Masters , " coupling with it the name of Bro . Sir H . Isaacs . Bro . Alderman Sir HENRY ISAACS , l . P . M ., P . G . W ., said that during his Mayoralty he had the honour in his character of Lord Mayor of paying a visit to brethren across the border , and he was affiliated to No . I , St . Mary ' s Chapel Lodge , Edinburgh . He was most hospitably received by the Master of that lodge —a kind hearted Mason—and he had great pleasure in proposing his health at the
banquet which followed the ceremony . When the Master rose to respond , he turned to him with his handerchief in his hand wiping his brow , and said , " Ah , my Lord Mayor , but your kind words have made me very warm indeed . " If he mig ht be allowed to substitute the words Worshipful Master for " My Lord Mayor , " he should be inclined to say , " Worship ful Master , your kind words have made me very warm indeed , " because the W . M . had paid him a compliment such
as he felt he did not deserve . When the hero of the Baddeley cake should suggest anyone could g ive him a lesson in elocution , it was calculated to make anyone warm . He felt he ought to apologise for the rustiness he displayed in his working . He had taken every opportunity , be mig ht tell them in confidence , to remind the brethren near him—and especially Bros . Col . Clerke and Philbrick—that it was 25 years since he last performed that ceremony . It was very easy to feel when the
audience was in sympathy with them , for then the task was easy indeed , and it made even the stammerer eloquent . He could not forget that he had to respond for a most distinguished body , and he ventured to say it was possible to take any lodge throughout the world and to point to the Drury Lane Lodge , and say there was no lodge , having been so few years in existence , which could point to such a record of Past Masters . Their first W . M ., as they had been reminded , was a
noble lord with a noble heart . Their second Master was that brother who had done so much for the lodge , and who had revived the Augustan era . That brother was followed by a most distinguished statesman and kind-hearted Mason—Bro . Sir John Gorst—and then came that delig htful old Admiral—Bro . Sir E . Inglefield—who was welcomed everywhere . He would not go further , but taking those four names they could challenge comparison from the roll of Past Masters in any
lod ge in existence . ' It gave him great pleasure to be one among the number , and if in the future he could compensate , not for his want of zeal , but for his want of ability , he should be happy . He prided himself immensely on being a Past Master of that lodge , because leaving the Past Masters for a moment , he ventured to say the lodge per se was one unparalleled in the history of its representatives of art , science , the stage , music and literature—in fact everything that
was good and great and noble was represented in the Drury Lane Lodge . He should like to take advantage of that opportunity to express his great gratitude to those brethren who were now S . W . and J . W ., and to those under them , for their great forbearance in retaining their positions in order that he should be Master ° f the lodge during bis Mayoralty . He fully appreciated that kindness and should
ever be mindful of it . He wished to express his indebtedness to their Bro . Matthews , who so kindly came forward to assist him as their Secretary , and who '' ad done good work . In conclusion , he would say that the Past Masters whenever called upon would be onl y too delig hted to do anything in their power to prove their gratitude to those who in by-gone days elected them to the chair of " '•at distinguished lodge .
In proposing " The Visitors , " the IMMEDIATE PAST MASTER said he was not a volunteer for the task , but a pressed man . One could scarcely conceive a Masonic banquet without visitors , and one of the first charms of a Masonic banquet was the fact that they received visitors who would partake of their pleasure . There was a large bod y of distinguished visitors that evening—so large that it was difficult to make a selection for a response . If he had expected to have had the pleasure of
Proposing the toast he would have looked through the names , but in the absence ot that preparation he looked straight in front of him , and the first person he saw was a distinguished Mason wearing a crimson collar , which indicated he was n ° t unknown in Freemasonry , and he certainly was not unknown in the City of - ° ndon . He referred to Bro . Dimsdale , in whom they had an excellent and practised orator , who would do justice to those for whom he was called upon to respond .
. ° ro . J . C . DIMSDALE , P . G . Stwd ., returned the members of the Drury Lane -od ge his most sincere thanks for the kind manner in which they had entertained ° visitors , and given them an opportunity of seeing the working of the lodge so ' | T ' rabl y carried through . He was certainly sorry it had not fallen to some of e brethren round the table to eloquently express their appreciation of the enter' inment they had received . He could only imagine that he had been chosen from sch" •" ^ ' was essent-ial t 0 many present , and it was also valuable to him-, 1 inasmuch as he had arranged to P-O to the theatre . He would onlv sav on
beal ' tl 'he visitors that they deeply appreciated the kindness shown them , and wr ' ? , l 1 tllat m 'ght be their first opportunity of visiting the lodge , he hoped it w «'' ld not be the last afforded them C L . t this stage of the proceedings the W . M . was compelled to leave , and the tl , , vva s assumed by the I . P . M ., who at once rose and said they were honoured who f venln £ i'h the presence of one of the most distinguished of London citizens , H 0 ° held the office of Chief Magistrate of the City of London—Bro . the Ri ght I •the Lord Mayor . Masons who were lovers of good order of course respected
Installation Meeting Of The Drury Lane Lodge, No. 2127.
the representative of justice let him come whence he might and as he might , and when he came among them in the character of a brother Mason he was doubl y welcome . He had had the privilege to claim the Lord Mayor as a colleague for some years , and if he were not present he should be disposed to tell them that the more he had seen of him the more he hnd respected him . The Lord Mayor exercised in the highest degree what they recognised as the distinguishing
characteristic of Freemasonry , and it was not him on that occasion to say how he discharged his duty as a magistrate , but he would say of him as an ' English gentleman he discharged his duties in the most commendable fashion . He was sure the Lord Mayor ' s love for Freemasonry would increase with his knowledge of it , and he hoped at no very distant date to see him wear , as many other Lord Mayors wore , the purple of which they were all so proud .
Bro . the Right Hon . the LORD MAYOR , in reply , said : Your Chairman has told you he had few anticipations as to what his duties might be this evening , and 1 had no idea I should be called upon to speak , for on looking at the toast list I saw that there would be no toist for which the Lord Mayor would probabl y have to reply , and indeed I congratulated myself on the fact . It often falls to my lot to respond to the somewhat interesting theme of ray own health , but if that
health could possibly be proposed in terms acceptable to myself , it has been done this evening , and especially by one who wis my immediate predecessor in the office . We well know that hospitality is indeed the special attribute of Freemasonry , and 1 think I may say it is also not only of Freemasonrv in general , but of the Drury Lane Lodge in particular , and I cm assure you I have deeply appreciated the cordial and kind welcome extended to me . I only
regret that other engagements of an absolutely imperative nature prevented me from attending the lodge and witnessing that installation about which I have heard was performed in such an extremely able manner by your l . P . M . I came here at the earliest possible moment I . could leave the duties of the Mansion House , and I have to thank you for your readiness to accept me as an unpunctual
guest . I have an intense love and admiration for all that belongs to Freemasonry , and especially for its noble Charities , and it will be my ambition during my tenure of office and during the remainder of my life to do all I can for the good of Freemasonry . I have to thank you for the kind manner in which you have received the toast of my health .
Bro . the Very Rev . the Dean of BATTLE , G . Chap ., in g iving "The Masonic Institutions , " said that proposing a toast at the Drury Lane Lodge—especially if it was a first visit to the lodge—there was , of course , a quotation which could scarcely be called hackneyed , it was so good , referring to the fact that " all the world ' s a stage , and all the men and women merely players . " They there played not an assumed but a real character , and the real character they , as Masons played ,
was the character of Charity . They had had that day among them the outward signs and symbols of the Municipality of London , and he did not think he could pass by without noticing the toast which had immediately preceded this , because 'he thought it most right and proper that the Lord Mayor of London should be a Mason and attend their Masonic gatherings . In the proud history of the Chief Magistrate of the greatest city in the world , its bri ghtest records were those
associated with Charity . In this 19 th century , no man worthy of the name of man , and especially none worthy of the name of Mason , could ignore the responsibilities which rested upon him of active and practical Charity . They must all have in their minds cases of brethren who had been kept from absolute want by the help accorded them b y Masonry . In connection with the three great Institutions , which were the pride of Masonry , it might , perhaps , be interesting for ihem to know that the M . W . G . M . would inaugurate the new hall of the Girls' School the week after next :
Lord Lathom , D . G . M ., would preside at the coming Festival of the Boys' School , which should be an incentive to the brethren to place the School in a higher position . The Secretary of the Boys' Institution was present , and he coupled with the toast the name of Bro . McLeod , of whose energetic and praiseworthy labours they were aware , for he was working for the good of that great Institution , and they all wished him the greatest success . The Secretary of one of the other Institutions was not able to be present on account of his health , which he was sure they all regretted .
Bro . J . M . MCLEOD , Sec . R . M . I , for Boys , in response , said that so much had been said by brethren who had preceded him in their admirable speeches as regards palpitation of the he . irt and paralysis of digestion , that at such a distinguished gathering he might be excused if he added one more to the list of apologies . After the excellent manner in which the toast had been proposed , and the full terms in which the cause of Charity generally , and Masonic Charity in
particular , had been placed , but few words were needed to commend the Institutions to the hearts of all Masons present . He must add his regret that the Secretaries of the other Institutions were not present , and he said that most feelingly , for had they been in attendance they would have been called upon to reply to the toast . He especially regretted it for the sake of his old friend , Bro . Terry , who was absent from ill-health and it was a serious time fur that brother , as the Festival of
the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution was so near , and upon which so much depended , that every brother would echo the wish that Bro . Terry would soon be restored to health . It was a gratification to know of the prosperity which attended the Girls' Institution , which was always looked up to with so much pride as being so excellently managed . When he came to the Institution which he had the honour to serve , he might say that although last year a very large sum of money
was subscribed b y Masons to carry on the work of the three Institutions—no Jess a sum than ^ 5 6 , 000—the Institution which looked after the welfare and education of the boys did not receive its fair share , and that had been going on for years past . He would be pardoned if he mentioned that Institution more particularly . The Boys' Institution had turned over a new leaf in its history , by dint of hard work of a distinguished body of Masons
who had to see the house in order . They now hoped it would advance its position to that which it formerly held in the estimation of every Mason in the country , and be looked upon once more as being a bright ornament , such as it once was considered . He felt certain things were going on brigh'ly , and he trusted the doors of the Institution might be opened to their fullest extent for the
clothing and education of boys . He returntd sincere thanks for the kindness with which his name had been received , and could onl y hope that as time went on he would be looked upon as an old servant in connection with the Masonic Institution , and that it would be said he had done his best as it was now said he was trying to do his best .
Bro . S . B . BANCROFT , S . W ., replying tor "The Officers , " said that at that late stage of the toast list he should not presume to detain them , but in the simplest words he would thank them on behalf of the Wardens and his fellow officers for the kind way in which the toast had been proposed and received . It might perhaps not be unpleasant to their W . M . to find that his two principal officers happened to be members of his own calling . He could assure the W . M . in his absence that they would most loyally serve him , as he was sure every officer would worthily uphold the history of the Drury Lane Lodge .
Bro . J . H . MATTHEWS , P . D . G . D . C , Sec , said he had rather suddenly been called upon to make a speech , but he hoped they would judge him by acts not b y words . If the meeting had been a success it was . in consequence ot the I . P . M ., who never once interfered with the arrangements made , and when a man was not contradicted it was easy for him to get through this worlo .
Bro . LIONEL BROUGH , Stwd ., also replied , and said he was told when he accepted the office that he should have nothing to do . He had been all round the table drinking with everyone geneially , which was the only duty he had performed . He was once I . G ., but was generally found outside smoking when he should have