Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

brethren adjourned for a slight refreshment separating at an early hour , every one expressing themselves very much pleased with the manner in which the business of the lodge is carried on .

PROVINCIAL . STONEHOUSE . —Lodge Sincerity , No . 1 S 9 . —A meeting was held in the lodge-room at St . George's Hall , on Monday evening , when a joining member was elected , and two brethren passed to the degree of F . C . It was agreed that the sum of ten guineas , which had been voted by the lodge as a subscription to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , should be given to the W . M ., Capt .

Shanks , R . M ., who is going to act as one of the Stewards of the Girls' School . A letter was read from the P . G . M . of Devon , the Rev . John Huyshe , who made an appeal on behalf of the Girls' School Fund . This appeal has no doubt been sent to all the lodges in the province , and will probably meet with that liberal response which has generally attended the charitable efforts of the excellent Grand Master of Devon . —Western Daily Mercury .

J ERSEY . — Yarlioroagk Lodge , Na . 244 . —The usual monthly meeting of this lodge was held on Monday , the 3 rd April , at the Masonic Temple , Stopford-road . Wor . Bro . Staff-Sergeant Michael Tracey , Royal Artillery , W . M . and Prov . G . Sec , in the chair . The business of the evening was to confer the third degree on Bro . Colour-Sergeant Trollope , 13 th Regiment , and to initiate

Sergeant Cooper and Corporal Nixon , 12 th Brigade , Royal Artillery . At the conclusion of the ceremony of initiation , the W . M . briefly alluded to the lamented death of Wor . Bro . C . H . Mann , one of the Senior Past Masters of the lodge , and which was the cause of the lodge-room being draped in deep mourning , as a mark of respect to the memory of an upright man and a Mason . The

W . M . called upon Bro . the Rev . C . G . Williams , Prov . Grand Chaplain , to address the brethren present on the death of their late respected brother . The following is an outline of the rev . brother ' s address : —Charity snfferelh long and is kind ; charity envieth not , charity vaunteth not itself , is not puffed up , doth not behave itself unseemly , seeketh not her own , is not easily

provoked , thinketh no evil , rejoiceth not 111 iniquity ; but rejoiceth in the truth , beareth all things , belicveth all things , hopeth all things , endureth all things . Charity never faileth . Masonry is charity ; and if Masonry is faithful and fearless , let us have all the world against us and the Great Architect of the Universe for us , rather than all the world for us and the Great Architect of the

Universe against us . In Masonry , what a history is to \ ie read ; we are more or less our brother ' s keeper , and the good we wovdd do must be done now , as far as our fellow-creature is concerned , because national life has no hereafter , but is essentially a thing of the present worldno need of national life in the world to come . National life can have no existence beyond the crave , by the

crystal sea , amongst the choir of angels . The Divine command to each is , " Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do , do it with all thy might ; " and this is a Christian duty—this exercise of charity , which we owe to all people , even to those with whom we have nothing in common except the community of form , community of redemption , community of nature . Look at the several degrees of

Freemasonry , and what they leach . Masonry is universal , and as each brother clasps hand to hand , be it of whatsoever nationality , he learns to form that tic which knits each heart to each other , and all hearts to the Great Architect of the Universe . We have to lament the death of a brother , personally known to me , and from whom I have received many a little act of kindness . The

name , the character , the face of Bro . Chas . II . Mann , one of your oldest Past Masters of the Yarhornngh Lodge , cannot but be familiar to nearly all here to-night , and his departure from the "lodge of time " to that of liic Great Architect of the Universe should lead you 10 contemplate your inevitable destiny , and guide your reflections lo thai most interesting of all human

studies"The knowledge of thyself . " Our hope is of our deceased brother that hereafter he may rise from the tomb of transgression lo " shine as ( lie stars for ever and ever . " So mote it be . In the ages of old , thousands of years ago , angels visited the earth , and if it be permitted to spirits to still visit us ( though unseen to mortal eye ) , it may be that our brother is with

us even now in spirit . True we cannot trace his footsteps , cannot hear his voice or realize his presence , yet by the memory of the past , " he being dead , " as a worthy member of our Fraternity , " yet speaketli . " Could we gaze upon that form cold in death , could we close the weary eyes and fold the hands meekly on the still breast , part the damp locks , from the forehead that lias no more

pain to bear , and place within the coffin s lid " one sprig of Acacia , " we would as brethren do it , and bury him as a brother ; but this is not our lot . he having died in England . Be it ours to exemplify what [ pure religion is in God ' s word declared to be , " Visit the fatherless and the widow in ( heir affliction . " Man must have been a very important being in ( lie estimation of the Great Architect

of the Universe , or he would not have built this beautiful and stupendous lodge for his habitation .-It was to light the soul of man on its wnylo the Cek-sii JLoflgelh . it the sun , moon , and stars were hung out o 1 heaven . It is for the life and growth of ihc soul 1 h . 1 t the valleys spread out their bosoms , that the mountains lift up their heads towards the heavens , that ocean wilh its million waves bathes the shore , that serpent , fish , and birds were formed ,

and the " cattle upon . 1 thousand hills . " Masonry , from the first question lo her children , " In whom in difficulty do you put your trust ? " gives also the answer , " In God . " When the world asks—What is Masonry ? we answer : That which is founded upon true principles of justice , morality , and virtue . We render honour to whom honour is due ; we pay custom to whom custon is due ; tribute to whom tribute ; we render to Caisar the things which are Cajsar ' s ; to God the things which are His .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

Masonry is love Charity is love ; and the Great Architect of the Universe is love ; and by-and-bye we shall in the due course of nature join our departed brother , and" As we have shared our earthly sorrows , Each with the other here , We shall share our Heavenly gladness Each with the other there . "

In this world one human being cannot be merged into another . Man must accept the separate personality that belongs to his nature ; but the isolation of every man from his fellow in the hour of extremity may become the means of pressing the sufferer nearer another companion who is able even then to remain . "There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother . " May our departed lie

brother have realised this ^ as passed through me valley oy the shadow of death , ' and may his somewhat sudden departure remind us of the nearness of eternity . Whatever good Bro . Mann has done for our Order will , as his memory must be , never forgotten . Meanwhile let us remember the words of the poet : — " Lives of great men all remind us ,

We can make our lives sublime , And departing leave behind us Footprints on the sands of time . " So mote it be .- — -The lodge was closed at the conclusion of the rev . brother ' s address in due form , and with solemn prayer . —Jersey Express . BATLEY . —Nelson of the Nile Lods ^ e , No . 264 . —The

regular monthly meeting of this lodge was held on Monday , the 3 rd List ., in the Freemasons' Hall , Park-road ; Bro . Benjamin P . Parker , W . M ., in the chair , assisted by his officers as follows : Bros . J . A . Parr , S . W . ; W . H . L . Newsome , J . W . ; Wm . Parker , S . D . ; J . L . Heaton , J . D . ; Benjamin Preston , I . G . ; R . Brearey , Sec ; A . Talbot , Treas . ; James Preston , D . C . ; J . H . Senior ,

I . P . M . The lodge being opened in the first degree , the minutes of the last regular lodge meeting were read and confirmed . A ballot took place for Messrs . Dixon Hall , William Cave , and James Watson , which proved unanimous in each case ; after which , the lodge was opened in the second and third degrees , and Bros . John Sheard , James Parker , and John W . Blackburn were severally

raised to the sublime degree of M . M . by the W . M . and the I . P . M ., Bro . Joshua Blakeley , P . M ., giving the historical part in his usual and impressive style . The lodge was closed down to the first degree , and the formal business was gone through . The following resolution was passed , viz ,: — "That we give ; £ IO to the Royal Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons' and their

widows , after which the lodge was closed in peace and harmony . LEICESTER . —St . John's Lodge A o . 279 . —An emergency meeting of this lodge was held at the Freemasons ' Hall , on Friday , the 31 st ult ., the W . M ' ., Bro . Strctton , in the chair . There were also present : Bros . Weare , P . M . and Treas . ; Crow , S . W . ; Widdowson , Sec

Palmer , S . D . ; Smith , J . D . ; Ilalford , I . G . ; Shuttlewood , Blanklcy , Beeton , Gulden , Wilkinson , Edwards , Elwood , and C . Bembridge , Tyler . Visitors : Bros . Toller , P . M . ; Partridge , S . D . ; Sculthorpe , S . W . ; Atkins , Rev . W . T . Fry , Mace , Barfoot , and Thorp , of No , 523 . The business was to initiate ihrce candidates , viz : Mr . Walton

Wilkinson , Mr . John Elwood , and Mr . Robert Edwards , all of Leicester , and they being in attendance were initiated into our mysteries , the ceremony being performed by Bro . Toller , P . G . Sec , in his usual highly efficient manner . On the conclusion of the business , the lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to refreshment .

BKRWICK-O . V-TWEED . — -Lodge St . Da-rid , No . 393 . — The members of this lodge met on the evening of Tuesday , the 4 th insl ., within their own Hall , King ' s Head Assembly Rooms , Church-street , Berwick-on-Twccd . It was their regular month !; . ' meeting . Bro . George Moor , Worshipful Master , occupied the chair , the Wardens ' chairs being filled by Bios . C . I Paton , S . W . Aid C .

Hopper , J . \ V . The lodge was opened in due form , and previous minutes were read and confirmed , a report coming up from the Work and Finance Committee to the effect " that , all spare funds should be laid aside for the erection of a new and more suitable hall for lodge purposes . " After some explanations from Bro . Fair , P . M ., the members unanimously agreed lo the proposition ,

and appointed a large Committee to carry it out . The next business on the programme was the "approval of a new code of by-laws , " and , after having been read over by the . Secretary , with some slight alterations , were approved , and ordered to be printed , copies to be sent lo the Provincial Grand Lodge for approval , and on acknowledgment of approval , to be engrossed in the

minutes , and a copy sent to all members of the lodges . The next business was the settling of the " purchase of a portrait of one of the Vast Masters . " After some discussion , it was agreed to purchase it out of the funds of lhe lodge , and to become lodge property . The Senior Warden then craved liberty to bring forward his motion tothe effect that " the Provincial Grand Master be thanked

for his noble conduct , " and that a Committee be appointed to draw up a letter and send it to him ; this was agreed to by the whole of the members of the lodge present . The next business was the " advancement to the third degree of a brother who had served sufficient time in the inferior degrees . " The lodge was then raised to the third

degree , and the ceremonial was conducted by Bro . . Moor , Worshipful Master , in a perfect , manner . The lodge was then reduced lo the first degree , when some letters and other business were taken up , but was agreed to be left over till next monthly meeting to make some necessary enquiries . No other business being before the lodge , it was then closed till next regular meeting .

S OUTHPORT . —Lodge of Unity , No . 613 . — lhe regular meeting of this lodge was held at the Masonic Hal ) , on the 3 rd instant , when there were about thirty brethren

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

present . Bro . William Dodd , W . M ., occupied the chair —all the other officers also were at their posts . Bros . J . B . Culshaw , C . Giakmssy , and J . Butcher having passed the usual examination , were raised to the sublime degree of M . M . The following brethren were passed to the degree of F . C , after having g iven proof of their proficiency as E . A . ' s : J . Sutton , T . Crook , J . Ellis , A . B .

Sloan , and J . Hirst . The business of the evening being ended , the lodge was closed in due form , and the brethren adjourned to supper . ABERYSTWITH . —Aberyshuith Lodge , No . 1072 . —The monthly meeting of this flourishing lodge was held on Monday , the 3 rd inst ., at the Masonic Rooms , Belle Vue Royal Hotel , Aberystwith . There were present : Bros .

C . Rice Williams , M . D ., W . M . ; E . L . Cole , I . P . M . ; G . T . Smith , P . M ., Provincial Grand Secretary ; Major J . Allen Lloyd-Philipps , Prov . Grand S . W . ; J . W . Szlumper , C . E ., Prov . G . Supt . W ., S . W . ; W . Williams , F . R . C . S ., J . W . ; J . Vaughan , P . P . G . Supt . W ., Treas . ; E . Hamer , Sec . ; R . J . Jones , S . D . ; J . P . Jones , J . D . ; Inglis Bervon , Org . ; George Careswell , D . C . ; Dr .

Morris Jones , I . G ., and about a dozen other brethren The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed , the W . M . proceeded to initiate William Oliver Williams , Esq ., into the mysteries and privileges of ancient Freemasonry . Mr . Williams , who is a painter of reputation and skill , known in lhe artist world as Mr . Oliver , is a brother of the W . M ., and son of the J . W . of

the lodge , which fact added additional interest to the occasion . It was the first time the W . M . had worked a ceremony , except for practice in instruction lodge , and he went through the whole , as well as the full explanation of the tracing board , without a single slip or halt in a very admirable ' and able manner . The work of the Wardens and beacons was also very correctly and ably performed .

After the ceremony another gentleman was proposed for initiation in May , and the lodge having been duly closed , the brethren adjourned to partake of an excellent supper , provided by Bro . Pell , the worthy host of the Belle Vue Royal Hotel , whose liberality as a caterer is above praise . After the usual toasts had been given , Bro . G . T . Smith , P . M ., Prov . G . See ., proposed the health of the W . M .,

and congratulated the lodge in being presided over by such a zealous Mason , and said that after what they had seen that evening he might well be proud of his pupil . — The W . M . having responded in a very happy style , proposed the Provincial Grand Lodge for the Western Division of South Wales , and coupled with it the name of Bro . Major J . A . Lloyd-Philipps , P . M ., the present

Prov . Senior Grand Warden . —Bro . Major Lloyd-Philipps returned thanks , and expressed the great pleasure it afforded him to attend the meetings of the lodge at all times , and regretted that he resided so far from the town and therefore could not be present on every occasion . He said he would propose a toast in a few words—every one there knew who he meant—the " coach " of 1072 . —The

toast was most cordially received , and Bro . Smith in returning thanks , said he would try to imitate his brother P . M . ( Major Lloyd-Philipps ) in brevity . He had before expressed his gratification at the admirable manner the ceremony had that evening been performed , and if they continued to progress so well , his duties as " coach" would soon be over . He thanked the brethren for the kindness , confidence and support he had received during the three

years he had had the honour to preside over them , and although he was now becoming a veteran on the retired list , he hoped he might yet be of service to them in filling an occasional gap in the ranks . —Several other toasts were proposed , and some good songs given , those by Bros . Bervon , Organist , and W . Williams , J . W ., being particularly effective . The party broke up at eleven o ' clock , after spending a very pleasant evening .

IVYBRIDGE . —Erme Lodge , No . 1091 . —On the 30 th ult ., the members of this lodge assembled at the King ' s Arms Hotel , Ivybridge , for the purpose of installing the Worshipful Master-elect , Bro . W . H . Ley , into the chair of King Solomon . Bro . J . Harris , W . M ., P . G . R ., opened the lodge in the first degree , and after the minutes had been read and confirmed , the lodge was opened in the

second degree . Bio . W . II . Ley , as W . M .-elect was then introduced to Bro . Cover , P . M ., P . P . G . A . D . C . ( Installing Master ) , by Bros . J . W Hawton , P . M ., P . P . G . T ., andJ . Watts , P . M .. P . P . G . T ., for installation . The ancient rites having been read , Bro . Ley was duly installed W . M ., in a most impressive manner , by Bro . Cover , assisted by Bros . W . Littleton , P . M . ; Hambley ,

P . M ., P . P . G . T . ; Harvey , P . M ., P . P . G . D . C . ; Nicholls , P . M ., P . P . G . T . ; Price , P . M . ;& c . The brethren having saluted in the three degrees , Bro . Ley was proclaimed the W . M ., and invested his officers as follows : —Bros . J . Harris , P . G . R ., I . P . M . ; M . i ' attison , S . W . ; J . Foot , J . W . ; ] . \ V . Hawton , P . M ., Treas . ; H . Cole , Sec . ; J . Hambley . S . D . ; W . Boxall , J . D . ; Bunker , I . G . ;

Wcathrcl , D . C . ; Boon , Org , ; Baker and Conway , Stewards ; Ford , Tyler . The lodge was then closed , and the brethren adjourned to a very excellent banquet , provided by Bro . J . Toms , and presided over by the W . M ., Bro . W . II . Ley . —After the removal of the cloth , the W . M . propositi the first toasl , "The Queen and the Craft , " and in doing so said : The first half of my toast

needs little remark from me to commend it to the sympathies of the brethren of this lodge ; the second half needs none . The Queen may be said to dwell in the hearts ami affections of her people , whose countless numbers extend far beyond the confines of this gem of the ocean—our island home . She has made the palace the pattern of all the domestic virtues , and I hope

she may long live to reign over a loyal and devotetl people . The second half needs only to be named to conjure up the heartfelt resjjon . se which is of the very essence of nobleness and brotherly love , and therefore of Freemasonry . Freemasonry aims at the elimination of that which is base in hunuti nature , from that which is noble . It knits together brother man to brother , upon the common basis of