Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

HONOR OAK LODGE ( No . 1986 ) . —A meeting was he ' . d on Wednesday , the 5 th inst ., at the Moore Park Hotel , Honor Oak , when the VV . M ., Bro . Walter Hopekirk , was well supported by his officers and brethren , including Bros . John Hammond , S . W . ; C . H . Phillips , j . W . ; E . Bye , sen ., Treas . ; H . Maunder Williams , Sec ; H . Stokes , S . D . ; J . W . Hartley , J . D . ; H . Hooper , I . G . ; G . W . Knight , W . S . ; R . R . Johnstone , Org ; Darch ,

P . M . ; P . M . Hakim , A . F . Crofts , James Worstencroft , and the visitors included Bros . James Stevens , P . M ., & c ; A . R . Cranch , S . W . and VV . M . elect 16 G 9 ; J . B . Sergeant , 1765 ; W . Lucas , S . D . 1669 ; VV . E . Stark , 17 65 ; and J . A . Danks , 1 C 69 . Lodge was opened in due form and the minutes of the two previous meetings were read by the Secretary and duly confirmed . Bros . Hakmi , Worstencroft , and Crofts

on being interrogated proved their efficiency and were entrusted . The 'VV . M . then duly passed the above-mentioned brethren in a masterly manner . Mr . Wm . Henry Simons , who had been regularly proposed and approved of at previous meetings , was introduced and duly initiated by the W . M . into the mysteries and privileges of ancient Freemasonry . The bye-laws were read by the Secretary and passed unanimously . After two propositions and iven to

other routine business and " Hearty good wishes " g the W . M . the lodge was closed in due form . The brethren afterwards sat down to an excellent repast , the cloth being removed the W . M . gave the usual loyal and Masonic toasts in his happiest style , which were received by the brethren most heartily . The musical visitors and members delighted the brethren with several part songs and solos . We congratulate the lodge on the very excellent

spirit exhibited by the brethren—the working in lodge was almost perfect and would have done no discredit to a very old lodge . Each officer is a pastmaster at his work and the good fellowship at the social board , the kindly welcome to the visitors , the claims of the charities not being forgotten , and the earnestness of the members combined will enable the lodge to attain very quickly a very enviable Masonic reputation .

BATH . —Royal Cumberland Lodge ( No . 41 ) — A regular meeting of this lodge was held at the Masonic Hall on Thursday , the 5 th inst ., presided over by Bro . E . 1 . B . Mercer , VV . M ., assisted by Bros . T . P . Ashley , P . M ., P . P . G . J . W ., Treas . ; R . B . Cater , I . P . M . ; C VV . Radway , P . M ., P . P . G . S . W ., Sec ; T . Wilton , P . M ., P . P . G . J . VV ., D . of C ; Ruble , P . M ., P . P . G . J . VV ., S . W . ; Ames , I . W . ; W . Peach , S . D . ; Bartlett , as J . D . ; W . L .

Baldwin , I . G . ; Foote , Org . ; Gregory and J . G . Wilton , Stewards ; T . B . Moutrie , P . P . G . S . W ., P . M . ; F . Wilkinson , P . P . G . Supt . of Works , P . M . ; P . Braham , P . P . G . Org ., P . M . ; Dr . Hopkins , P . P . G . S . W . Warwickshire , P . M . ; Bigwood , P . M ., Tyler ; and many others . The lodge having been opened , the minutes of the previous meeting and of the lodge of instruction were read and confirmed . Bro . Moody was passed to the Degree of F . C .

Bro . Por . ting was next raised as a Master Mason by the W . M ., assisted in the latter part of the ceremony by Bros . Ashley , Dr . Hopkins , and T . B . Moutrie . Much credit is due to the W . M . for the manner in which be worked the two ceremonies , as it was only the second occasion on which he occupied the chair , and the same remark applies to his officers . Bro . Radway , Sec , read a letter from Bro . C . Marshwhich was accompanied by a present of two frames ,

, each containing a photograph , the one being an enlarged portrait of his late father , who formerly resided in Bath , was a member of the Royal Cumberland Lodge , and occupied the chair of VV . M . in 1 S 2 S ; the other is also a photograph from a beautiful and elaborate copperplate of a symbolic character , which was designed and engraved by the late

Bro . Marsh , and issued with the lodge summonses at that period . Some time ago he was elected an honorary member of the lodge , but died soon after at the age of 94 . Of course a graceful acknowledgment of these presents was carried by acclamation , which the Secretary was directed to transmit to the son who wrote the letter . No other business offering the lodge was closed .

NOTTINGHAM . —Newstead Lodge ( No . 47 ) . —This influential lodge held its monthly meeting at the Masonic Hall on the 3 rd inst ., Bro . George Chapman , W . M ., in the chair , supported by the following brethren : Bros . J . Toplis , I . P . M ., Treas ., P . G . S . B . ; E . C . Patchitt , S . W . ; K . Vickers , J . W . ; J . C Banwell , Sec . ; I . Davis , P . P . G . S . D ., D . of C . ; VV . Lawrence , Org . ; A . J . Barber , S . D . ; H . E . Wilson , J . D . ; R . Bingham , I . G . ; H . C .

Eden and R . T . Mounteney , Stewards ; H . Glover and G . Benham , Tylers ; E . G . Martin , P . M ., P . P . G . J . D . ; S . Jackson , P . M ., P . G . S . D . ; VV . Sibley , P . M . 1852 ; W . Clarke , P . M ., W . M . 1435 ; H . J . Norris , P . M . 1179 , P . G . D . of C . ; and between 50 and 60 brethren of the lodge . Visitors : Bros . Messent , P . M . 231 , G . S . B . ; Jefferson , 279 ; Wilbor , 731 ; Walker , 731 ; Slater , S 02 ; Smith , 802 ; Prescott . P . M . 999 ; H . M . Humphrie , P . M . 506 , P . P . G ,

A . D . of C . Derbyshire ; A . Page , P . M . 411 , P . P . G . S . P . ; R . T . Ingram , P . M . 411 , P . P . G . S . B . ; VV . M . Whitehead , 411 ; G . T . Alenson , S . W . 1435 ; C W . Warriner , 1435 ; Dexter , 1435 ; Lawrence , 1909 ; and H . R . Hatherley , President Board of General Purposes . The lodge having been opened the VV . M . in the most able way initiated Alessrs . Beardsley , Topott , and Alden . Bro . Davies then in a most felicitous speech presented the

lodge with a most beautiful album , designed to hold the portraits of the brethren who have passed the chair , as a pleasing remembrance for the lodge and a memento of his esteem ar . d attachment to it . 'This was gratefully received by the VV . M . in a most appropriate speech . Sundry matters of Masonic business were transacted and the lodge was closed . The entire working was conducted in the most correct and able way .

After the banquet , at which the VV . M . presided , he ( the Worshipful Master proposed the toast of " The Queen , " and said the first toast he had the honour to ask the attention of the brethren was that of her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen . This was a toast which was always received with The greatest enthusiasm by all true Englishmen wherever assembled , and as Masons they yielded to none in

their loyalty and patriotism . They drank the health of her Majesty not only as the Chief Magistrate and ruler of this mighty empire , but in their admiration of her as exhibiting those virtues and excellencies which so thoroughly adorn a woman and have endeared her to the hearts of her people . This was so well known that he need not occupy their time with a waste of words , but would ask them to drink " The Queen and the Craft . "

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

The Worshipful Master then proposed thc toast of " The Grand Master , H . R . H . thc Prince of Wales ; the Pro Grand Master , the Earl of Carnarvon ; the Deputy Grand Master , the Earl of Lathom ; and the Officers of Grand Lodge . " He said this toast was second only in degree to thc one they had just drank . Living as they did in a province so far distant from Grand Lodge they had not the opportunitv of seeing the manner in which , the business of

Grand Lodge was conducted under the presidency of his Royal Highness , but they knew from the reputation in which he was held and the very rap id strides with which Masonry had advanced since he has been at the head that we have not only a wise , careful , and able administrator , but a brother who takes deep interest in all that concerns the Craft . If any proof were wanting of the high estimation in which he is held by the brethren of Grand Lodge

it could not be better shown than by the fact that they have just re-elected him for the eighth time to his high and distinguished position . But , brethren , it is not only our Grand Master to whom we are indebted for the progress of Masonry , but to all the other Grand Officers who have also important duties to discharge . His Royal Highness seems to have been peculiarly fortunate in the selection of these brethren , and has managed to group around him

year after year those from the chair down to the Pursuivant who have not only discharged their duties with ability and zeal , but have studied thc interests of the Craft generally . In these midland towns so far away from the metropolis we have almost invairably to drink this toast without response . That night , however , he was happy to say they had amongst them a visitor who was a present Grand Lodge Officer , and be would therefore have the

pleasure of coupling his name with this toast . He meant Bro . Messent , G . S . B . He had a special pleasure in doing this , because of his intimate acquaintance with Bro . Messent . He had had the honour of his friendship now for about 27 years , and could truly say that as the years had gone by and their acquaintance had lengthened so their friendship had strengthened . He then gave " The Health of our Grand Master and the Officer " , of the Grand Lodge , "

coupling with it the name of Bro . Messent , G . S . B . Bro . John Messent , G . S . B ., said he rose with much pride and pleasure to reply to the toast which had just been so ably proposed and so cordially received , namely , " The Health of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , their Grand Master , the Earl of Carnarvon , Pro Grand Master , thc Earl of Lathom , Deputy Grand Master , and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past . " He thought it was a

subject for the congratulation of every Mason that the Craft possessed at its head not only H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , but also so many noblemen of distinguished position and so many brethren ot ability who for the true interests of Freemasonry were content without any reward but the satisfaction of seeing the progress of the Craft to perform the duties attaching to the various positions occupied by the Grand Officers . The nature of his own

position allowed him to make these remarks , in which he referred more particularly to those brethren who were the hard working officers of the Craft , such as Bro . Sir John B . Monckton , the distinguished President of the Board of General Purposes , Bro . Mclntyre , their Grand Registrar , and Col . Shadwell H . Gierke , the extremely able and accomplished Grand Secretary . It was true , as had been said , that Freemasonry had flourished much

during the past few years , and whilst it was a subject on which they might all feel considerably proud it was also one which brought with it much responsibility . The present generation in Freemasonry should take care that the prestige of the Craft did not suffer in their hands , and that every effort should be made to secure the possession of Masonic secrets to worthy men and worthy men alone , so that in adding to their number they would

be adding to the strength , intelligence , and influence of their order . Turning to the personal part of the toast he begged to express his sincere regret that he had not been able to accept the invitation of the Newstead Lodge on the occasion of the installation of Bro . Chapman . He and Bro . Chapman had been associated together for over a quarter of a century , and he felt very much gratification to see him in the position he occupied in so distinguished a

lodge . Nothing would have kept him ( Bro . Messent ) from the installation meeting but illness . At any rate he had taken the first opportunity of enjoying the pleasure which had been previously denied him . He could not sit down without paying a high compliment to the way in which the ceremonies of the lodge had been worked , and sincerely expressed the hope that the Iodge would continue to prosper and continue to contribute its share to the prosperity and

progress of the Craft they all so much honoured . The W . M . then gave the toast of "the P . G . M ., His grace the Duke of St . Albans , " The D . P . G . M ., Bro . Watson , and thc rest of the oflicers of the P . G . L . He said this toast comes nearer home than thc one we have just drank , inasmuch as the brethren named reside amongst us . For some years previous to the Autumn of 1 S 7 S , although we were nominally , a province we were practically

a body without a head . About thc time 1 have named our G . M . was pleased to confer the high and honourable distinction of P . G . M ., on his grace the Duke of St . Albans , an appointment which as the course of events has shewn , could not have been more worthily bestowed . His grace assisted so ably by the D . P . G . M ., has brought to bear such energy and ability upon all the duties of his office as not only to rouse the brethren from thc apathy into which they

seemed to have fallen , but to advance Masonry throughout the province to a position it had in all probability never before attained . With regard to the officers they are all brethren with whom we are more or less in almost daily contact , and seeing so much of them as we do , we are bound to come to the conclusion that no province could have a more painstaking set of officers . He therefore had much pleasure in asking you to drink with me the health of

his grace the Duke of St . Albans , P . G . M . of Notts , and the whole of the officers of the P . G . L ., coupling with it the nameof Bro . P . M . Davis , P . P . G . S . D . Bro . Davis in responding said he had much pleasure in responding to the toast which had been so ably proposed , so heartily received . As you have truly said Worshipful Sir , we have now a throughly hard working and successful

P . G . L . in his grace we have a brother who does all he can for the advantage of Masonry in general , and this province in particular . As to the officers they are all good and true men , tried men in their respective lodges , and he was quite sure that as year after year these brethren retire we have a host of others who will well and worthily take their places whenever called upon to do so .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

Bro . Toplis , I . P . M . proposed "the Health of theW . M . " The W . M . suitably responded and gave " the Health of the Initiates , " which was duly acknowledged . Bro . Davis , P . M ., P . P . G . S . D ., gave "The Visitors , " responded to by Bro . Page , P . M ., and Bro . Prescott , E ' . M . 999 . Bro . Prescott said : Brethren , fortunately for me and still

more fortunately for you , there is no time for any lengthened remarks . Of course we all of us know quite well the orthodox method of replying to this particular toast . To say that the speaker has often heardof theexcellentworkingof thelodge of which he is a favourite guest , and has sighed for an opportunity of being present at one of its gatherings , that like thc Queen of Sheba he had to acknowledge that the

reality had vastly surpassed the report that the half had not been told him and then wound up with a warm invitation to every brother present to visit his , the speaker ' s lodge at the first convenient opportunity . Brethren , I do not propose to adopt this accustomed reply to-night . Believe me , Worshipful sir , that this omission is not made to trifle with your feelings , far be from me any such intention , it is made

for the following reasons : ist . That not occupying a prominent position in Masonry , any praise or dispraise of mine would be of little worth , though I have pleasure in saying that so far as I am able to form an opinion , though the ceremonies have varied somewhat in detail to those to which 1 am accustomed those variations have added to their impressiveness , whilst

the working of the lodge generally and our glorious ritual as rendered by the W . M . have been beyond criticism , and , second , because to dwell SQ exclusively upon the working of a lodge , however perfect , seems to me practically to ignore thatwhich after all constitutes true Masonry . Any brother who rests his claim to be a Mason upon a regular attendance at his lodge and a correct rendering of our

beautiful ritual , grasps the shadow and lets go the substance , and his Masonry is very like the religion of but too many people , which seems to consist in going to church on Sunday and confessing with an audible voice that they are " miserable sinners , " and then spending the rest of the week in proving the honesty of that confession . Our Bro . Messent , an officer of the Grand Lodge , who by his presence

has given so much eclat to this gathering , and whom we all delight to honour , has told us in effect in his well-chosen remarks that it is not numbers but character that give real strength to a lodge ; and I am reminded also of an expression which fell from the lips of the present Pro Grand Master , Lord Carnarvon , in the Free Trade Hall , Manchester , some years ago , when he reminded us

that there is a higher and a lower walk in Masonry , and urged us to mount to the high level . That higher walk consists in the acting and in our daily life of the true principles of the Craft , that directed by prudence , restrained by temperance , suppsrted by fortitude , guided by justice , and clothed b y charity ; that charity which , though always associated with a liberal hand , is yet

something infinitely beyond mere alms-giving , I mean the chanty which thinketh no evil , which heareth all things , believeth all things , hopeth all things , endurcth all things , which never faileth , which is the bond of perfectness ; so shall we manifest to the outer world that Freemasonry is not a mere name , but that in fact it is synonymous with whatsoever things are pure , whatsoever things are lovely , whatsoever things are of good report . To this exalted

position I invite you all , and in acknowledging your trul y Masonic hospitality allow me to express a hope that to it we may all of us sooner or later attain . The proceedings were enlivened by exquisite selections of music by Bro . A . R . Watson ( Musical Director of the Theatre Royal ) , and Bro . Lawrence ( Professor of Music ) , andsongs by Bros . Alderton , Hukling , Jefferson , Whitehead , and others .

The iylers toast concluded the proceedings . LEIGH . —Marquis of Lome Lodge ( No . 1354 ) . —The regular meeting of this lodge was held on Wednesday , the 4 th inst ., at their rooms in Hope-street . There were present Bros . W . C Freeman , W . M . ; J . Kerfoot , S . W . ; R . Starkie , P . M ., acting J . W . ; W . H . Horrocks , S . D . ; W . H . Pennington , J . D . ; ) . Dickinson , I . G .

G . A . Mort , Sec . ; Yarwood , acting Org . ; T . Coupe , Tyler and Steward . The minutes of the last regular meeting having been read and confirmed , Bro . Mort , P . M ., delivered the charge after initiation to Bro . Walshaw , who was initiated at the last meeting . The W . M . then passed Bro . Walshaw to the Second Degree , and explained the working tools to him .

The traditional history was afterwards recounted to several brethren b y Bro . Jackson , P . M ., P . G . A . D . of C A candidate for initiation having been proposed , at the suggestion of the W . M . an annual sum was unanimously voted to the Boys' School . The charity box having received substantial support the lodge was closed in peace and harmony .

NORTH WOOLWICH . —Henley Lodge ( No . 1472 ) . —The usual monthly meeting of the above flourishing lodge took place on Tuesday , the 3 rd inst ., at the Three Crowns Hotel , Bro . V . J . Holloway , W . M ., in the chair , supported by the following officers and brethren t Bros . Jas . Elder , I . P . M . ; Dr . VV . Vance , P . M . ; E . West , P . M . and P . P . G . P . Herts ; B . Brayshaw

C T . Lewis , S . W . ; A . Ives , J . W . ; J . Ives , P . M ., Secretary ; C Jolly , S . D . ( Freemason ) ; C Guy , J . D . ; J . Paul , l . G . ; j . Savage , D . C . ; Jas . Smith , Org . ; A . Jackson , 1571 ; and others . Thc only business before 'the lodge was the passing of Bros . Gladding and Genery , which was happily effected , the VV . M . at this his first regular meeting after installation

giving the brethren a rare taste of his quality as a worker . On the proposition of Bro . Jolly , seconded by Bro . Savage , the sum of ten guineas was voted out of the lodge funds to Bro . Holloway ' s list for the approaching Festival of the Girls' School , he having consented to represent the lodge there . The sum of ten guineas was also , on the

proposition of Bro . Lewis , voted to a distressed brother , who as a Past Master of thc Henley and other lodges had rendered good service to Masonry in his day , and then the lodge was closed and the brethren partook of one of Bro . West's little suppers , and afterwards passed a few hours in social harmony .

BOOTLE . —Bootle Lodge ( No . 1473 ) . — The regular meeting of this lodge took place on Thursday , the 5 th inst ., at the Assembly Rooms , Bootle , being the first under the new officers for the year . Bro . W . R . Brewster , W . M ., took the chair , supported by Bros . Dr . j . F