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colleague , W . H . White . I am happy to say that there are many active members of the Craft who knew him well , more intimately , probably , than I did , and to them I appeal for confirmation of my opinion that he was as little likely to have sanctioned , or even tacitly permitted , any material

departure or omission from the authorised ceremonies as the distinguished brother last mentioned . I find I have omitted to mention that Stephen Barton Wilson vvas appointed J . G . D . in 1857 , and that he kept up his connection vvith the Emulation Lodge of Improvement until shortly before his death ( 1866 . )

Considerations of space preclude my noticing several other old and well-known lodges of instruction which merit " honourable mention , " as having been instrumental in promulgating the recognised ritual ofthe Craft , and , as I wish on the present occasion to confine my remarks as closely as possible to the ceremony of Installation of Master , I shall only offer a few

observations on one which has been knovvn and referred to for many years as " The Sister Lodge of Instruction" to the " Emulation . " I allude to the " Stability , " No . 217 , mentioned in a previous article as having been founded by the exertions of Brother Philip Broadfoot , one of the members of the Board of Installation appointed by the Duke of Sussex in 1827 .

The name which heads the signature sheet of the first meeting ol this " Board , " is'that of Peter Thompson , P . M . 325 , 3 personal friend and pupil of Broadfoot ' s , and also his coadjutor in establishing and conducting the above-named lodge of instruction ; the ninth name on the sheet being that of Peter Gilkes , so that in all probability these two enthusiastic Masonic

worthies were both waiting to append their signatures at the same time , and the latter having had the misfortune to lose his rig ht eye in his early life , may possibly have been somewhat under a disadvantage in the matter of signing first . The names vvill be found in the printed list of attendances ,

not as they appear on the sheet , but in accordance with the numerical order of their lodges . On Broadfoot ' s departure from London in 1835 , the leadership of the "Stability" naturally fell into the hands of his colleague , and , according to contemporary reports , he well discharged the trust reposed in him .

Peter Thomson was appointed S . G . D . in 1844 , and died in 1851 . The late Bro . John Havers , P . G . W ., in one of the most eloquent of the many eloquent addresses delivered by him in the Grand Lodge , moved " That the Brethren constituting this Grand Lodge desire to express the deep regret with

vvhich they have heard of the death of the W . Bro . Peter Thomson , P . S . G . D ., and gratefully to record their sense of the great and lasting benefits vvhich have been rendered to the Craft in general by the long-continued labours of that worthy Brother . " I need scarcely add that this motion was carried unanimously .

After referring to the successful exertions of the departed brother in the cause of Charity , Bro . Havers proceeds : " How far has our late brother shared in bringing about this prosperous result ? I reply—much , very much 1 I claim for his memory far higher honour than that due to the mere teacher of Masonry ! I claim for the memory of Peter Thomson , and the active

Teachers of his time , a large share of merit in our present position . When all was disarranged—when all was unsettled—when every difficulty beset the young aspirant after Masonic knowledge—then Godwin and Gilkes , and Broadfoot and Thomson- then White and Goldsvvorthy , Laurence Thompson and Satterley were the Masons who manfully and zealously attempted to

procure uniformity in Masonry , and to disseminate the genuine principles of our Order . " . . . . " Void of ambition , save to do good—homel y in speech , unburdened vvith , and uncaring for , much classic lore—he gloried in being a Mason , and a Mason only . He was a striking instance of the possibility of every man , placed in whatever station he may be , rising to

eminence . He obtained his great influence partly , in the first instance , by his acquirements in Masonry and his willingness to assist all who sought him , but chiefly from his inflexible honesty—his unbending integrity !

Independent to a fault ! honest as the Sun ! I do not believe that the power exists upon earth which would have tempted that good old man to swerve from that course , or that opinion , vvhich conscience and duty told him were correct . " *

Doubtless many of my readers are more or less familiar vvith the personal character , and Masonic abilities of Bro . Henry Muggeridge , more especially such of them as were subscribers to the funds of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls prior to the year 1877 ; they will look back with pleasure , perhaps not unmingled with regret , upon the time when this

estimable and venerable brother , in the pursuit of his avocation as Collector to that Institution , used to pay his periodical visits to remind them in the amiable and hearty way , peculiarly his own , that the guinea , or guineas , as the case might be , would " be thankfully received and faithfully applied . " To those who have not the pleasure of his acquaintance , and who wish to be

full y informed as to his Masonic services and qualifications , I would refer them to an amusing sketch , under the title of " Old Mug , " to be found in a volume designated "Masonic Portraits , " published by W . W . Morgan , ¦ n 18 76 . I am sure Bro . Muggeridge ' s numerous Masonic friends will be glad to know that , although prevented by his inveterate enemy—the

gout—from taking an active part in Masonry , he is able to read his Masonic journals regularly , and by that means keeps himself well posted in 'he current events of the Craft . My reason for introducing him here is the fact of his being ' . the immediate successor of Peter Thomson in the

leadership of the Stability Lodge of Instruction , which responsible office he filled with characteristic ability and energy , until compelled , by age and ¦ nfirmities , to relinquish his attendance . Shortly after the appearance in Print of the first instalment of these " Notes , " I was highly delighted at receiving an invitation from Bro . Muggeridge to call upon him , and

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also conveying a fraternal offer to place at my service his Masonic knowledge and experience . I lost very little time before responding to this kindly invite , and as my visits of pleasure are necessarily somewhat restricted , I mentally arranged lo spend a portion of the evening with another old Masonic friend who

resides in the same locality . I am glad to say I found Bro . Muggeridge looking better than I had expected to find him , and although , in his 78 th year ( I think ) age does not appear to have dimmed his faculties nor impaired his geniality . After a cordial introduction to Mrs . Muggeridge and the other members of his family , he suggested that as we were going to " talk

Masonry " we had better adjourn to the drawing room , and a very snug little " drawing room " it is , profusely ornamented with testimonials , presents , Masonic relics , portraits of eminent brethren , & c , & c , all tending to show the very high estimation in which our venerable brother is held by numerous members of the fraternity . On entering the room I was immediately struck

with an idea that some modification ot my original plan of spending the evening might be advisable , for the contrast between the cold drizzly night without , and the cosiness within was most forcibly exemplified by a cheerful fire blazing in the grate , small kettle singing on the hob , tray on the table containing two large bottles , one of Irish , and the other of Scotch

nationality , two tumblers and a wine glass , a bowl of sugar ( I am not quite sure there was not a lemon ) , two long pipes , and a something that looked uncommonly like a jar of tobacco in the centre . After this little descriptive hint I need scarcely say that I spent a most enjoyable evening , and having been at considerable pains to acquire a reputation for keeping early hours ,

I shall not risk the loss of that reputation by mentioning the precise time at which I shook hands with my host over his front garden gate ; suffice it to say that " circumstances over which I had no control " compelled me to perform the homeward journey from Kingsland to Great Queen-street on foot , and that I arrived quite safe at my destination .

In the course of a very agreeable conversation , I received from Bro . Muggeridge confirmation of what I had previously only imagined , lha . tthere is no material difference between the ceremony of Installation , as practised al the "Emulation" and the "Stability . " I also learnt that the last-mentioned lodge has been in constant work since the year 1817 , and , is in all

probability the oldest lodge of instruction in existence , and that Peter Thomson initiated Bro . Muggeridge in 18 39 , and installed him in 1845 ; another piece of information of the greatest possible value to me was , that one of the brethren whose names I mentioned as having been present at the meetings of the "Board of Installation" in 1827 was , until recently , if not still in

"the land of the living , " and , being a life governor of the Girls'School , Bro . Muggeridge had frequently called upon him , and a friendship had sprung up between them , but he had not seen him for some years . Having obtained this brother's last address , I paid him a visit the next day , and opened an acquaintance , vvhich , I trust , will not soon be closed , with one of

the most genial and thorough Masons it has ever been my good fortune to meet with . Brother John Canham ( who is described on the attendance sheet as "John Canham Junr ., " W . M . of the Lodge of Honour and Generosity , No . 274 , now No . 165 ) , was initiated in 1825 , and was installed Master of his mother lodge in 1827 . I found him confined to his room in

consequence of a stroke of paralysis having affected the lower extremities , some few years back . His affliction rendered it extremely difficult for him to get up or down the stairs , but , with the aid of two sticks , he manages to walk about his room in comparative safety . On seeing him in his chair at the table , on my introduction , and not being then aware of his affliction , I

began to fear that I had made a mistake , forhis 85 years seem to have dealt kindly with him ; but on my producing the signature sheet , and showing him his autograph , 61 years old , I had no doubt as to his identity . I have had several interviews with him since my first visit , and I hope to have many more , for on each

occasion i learn something , not to mention my own extreme gratification in being able to hold converse with a brother who was a personal friend of Gilkes , Broadfoot , Thomson , Dr . Crucefix , and a host of other celebrities , whom hitherto I have only read about , who had frequently attended Grand Lodge when it was presided over by the Duke of Sussex ,

and who could remember the various peculiarities of most of these eminent personages , and relate amusing anecdotes of many of them . I think it is rather fortunate for Bro . Canham that my time is so well occupied , or I should run the risk of becoming an intolerable nuisance , notwithstanding that he assures me to the contrary .

Here is an anecdote of Peter Gilkes * , but I must premise that P . G . was a man of goodly stature , and a bachelor , while my new found friend is remarkably small , for his age , and now a widower . I will endeavour to tell the story in his own words : " One day Peter came up to me , at a lodge of instruction , I think it was ,

and putting his hand on my shoulder , in his brotherly way—you know Peter was a big man—and he says , 'John , I want to give you a word of advice . You are not married , are you ? ' I said , 'No , Peter , not yet , 'Well then , ' says he , 'if ever you feel inclined to take a wife , you just bear in mind what I say—be sure you marry a woman bigger than yourself ,

for if you have a wife no bigger than you are , what a puny race you'll become . ' Well , soon after I did get married , I met him again , and I said , 'Peter , I want to tell you something . ' 'Well , what is it , John ? ' I

said , 'You remember what you said to me some time back ; well , I have taken your advice , and I have got a wife a good deal bigger than myself . ' He burst into a hearty laugh , and , clapping me on the back , said , ' That's right , my boy ! that ' s right ! ' " Bro . Canham has not been much in Craft Masonry for the last ' So years , because his mother lodge , of which he was Secretary , underwent consider *