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Craft Masonry.
Craft Masonry .
Strong Man Lodge , No . 45 . The installation meeting of this lodge , which is more than 160 years old , was held on the ? tn inst ., at the Guildhall Tavern , London , tiro . Ducidas , Anthony Langdon , W . M ., .. residing . Among Ihe numerous brethren who attended were Bros . George G . Symons , & M . ; A . Marnock Whitley , P . M . ; J . G . Cobb , P . M . ; W . A . S . Humphries , pJM . ; S . Fountaine , P . M . ; W . II . Liddell , P . M . ; R . E . Hunt , P . M . ; all the nfficers of the lodge , and the following visitors : Bros . John Mayo , S . W . 1614 ; James H LangdonP . P . J . G . D . Essex ; Richaid Fish . W . M . 1457 i T . Abbott , P . M . 2077 ;
. , F > . Wood , 1000 ; H . R . Witt , 24 S 4 ; Alex . H . Stoke , 1 S 03 : Charles J . R . Tijou , p ' A . G . P . ; John Mitchell , P . M . 1743 ; H . Ballard , 907 ; S . Martin Southwell , P . M . , j , ( 5 ; N . C . Crews , S . D . 2096 ; F . C . Pnnle . 2400 ; H . Hollingshurst , 1524 ; N . Tapley , 1076 ; Thomas Hills , I . G . 12 S 7 ; W , F . Wilkinson , J . D . 742 ; VV . Fowler , irS ; C . Legg , 2331 ; W . T . Sergeant Lee , P . M . 24 SS ; John Brings , S 59 ; H . Masiey . 160 , P . M 619 and 192 S ; A . B . Jeanes , 54 S ; T . Blyth , iSo 4 ; W . Adams , PM . 1 CS 7 ; Philip Sharpe , P . M . S 60 ; Walker Smith , 1705 ; W . T . Spencer , 2291 ; HR . Browley Smith , S 77 ; T . VV . Horgard , 12 ; and N . J . Plint , 890 .
. There was a full paper of business before the brethren , and although all the work was executed rapidly and with the greatest ease and precision by the W . M . and his officers and Past Master , Pro . G . G . Symons . it rccupied over thiee hours . _ Bro . J . J . [ j , rry was passed to the Sec nd D < gree , and Mr . William Bassitt was initiated . Bro . Symorf , P M . and Trias ., who has for many years pei formed the installation ceremony in this Ior ' ge , was then invited by Bro Langdon , W . M ., to lake the chair and followthe aorual cistom . and Bro . Sjmtns , having rccrp ' ed the inv ' tation , on presentation ,
duly made to him by Bro . A . Mamock Whitley , P . M ., in tallad Bro . William Oeorge Mills , S . W ., and W . M . elect , as Master of the lodge for the ensuing 12 months . Bro . Langdon was invested with the collar of I . P . M ., and the following brethren received the other collars : Bros . John Cuer , S . W . ; Tom C . Taylor , J . W . ; G . G . Symons . P . M ., Treas . ; Thomas J . Burgess , Sec ; William Briggs , M . A ., LL . B ., Asst . Sec . ; T . Ockleford , S . D . ; Edward J . Stafford , J . D . ; Samuel Armfield , I . G . ; A . M . Whitley , P . M ., D . C . ; L . S . Fountaine , P . M .. John Jenkinson , W . R . G . Emerson , and C . J .
Pond Jones , Stwds . ; T . L . Dennett , Org . ; and E . Mallett , Tyler . After the customary salutes by the brethren , and the delivery of the addresses by the Installing Master , the brethren proceeeded to further business , voting IO guineas to the list of the lodge Steward for the Girls' Festival of the 13 th instant , and a like sum to the list of the Steward at Ihe gSth Anniversary Festival of the Boys' School . The brethren were uiged to liberally suppoit the fund which was being raised in favour o f the family of the late Bro . H . T . Nell , P . M ., Sec—a case which was mentioned by brethren more than 1
once at a later period of the evenirg . A Pas . Master's jewel , with the ad Jition of a Past Master ' s collar and jewel , on account of the exception *! services of the I . P . M . to the lodge during his year of office , was presented to Bro . D . A . Langdon at the banquet , to which the brethren then adjourned .. It was a banquet chrsen and supplied with very greit taste , and served with deli . cacy and attention . It consisted of the finest things of the season , and was accompanied by wines which called forth the commendation of the company generally .
The customary speeches followed , and the musical programme by which they were lightened consisted of songs by Miss Belle Rosa and Miss Edith Yorke , and by Bros . J . j . Berry , Tom Taylor , J . W . ; Herbert Emlyn . Hubert Gray , Sergeant Lee , M . A ., and Tom Burgess , with Bro . W . Emerson , Org ., at the piano . The menu was an unique production , the first page having engravings of the old Tor . tine jewel presented to the lodge ( of which jewel it is said there are only 26 in ixislence ) , of the centenary jewel cf the lodge , which it acquired in 1 S 34 , and of the
jewel presented by the lodge on July 3 , 1 S 34 , to Bro . G . W . Turner , the then W . M . As there was a long programme of music , the W . M ., at the outset of the afterdirner business , said he intended all the soeeches to be short , and he gave the toasts of "Ihe £ ueen and the Craft , " "The M . W . G . M ., " and "The Pro G . M ., Dep . G . M ., and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " in the fewest words . To the ast of these toasts , Bro . C . L R . Tiiou , P . A . G . Purst ., in responding , said the reception given to the
toast showed how much the brethren appreciated the Grand Officers in a body . If those who had the right to attend Grand Lodge had attended it on the 6 th inst . and seen the appointment of Grand Officers , especially of Eat ! Amherst as D . G . M . of England , they would have witnessed the great amount of respect exhibited by the light blue to the M . W . G . M . for his selection of Grand Lodge Officers . Personally , he thought the Grand Lodge Officers of the last few yeais had been s * Iected with greater discrimination thsn in some previous years , but at any rate , Grand Lodge collars had been
dispersed somewhat wider than they were 10 or 15 years ago . He could not help thinking that three or four Grand Lodge Officers were known to the brethren present as Past Masters of lodges in the East of London . These were Bros . James Boulton and Major Carrell , old Masons of East London and strong supporleis of the Masonic Charities . Earl Amherst was a very old Mason , who for 36 years had been well known as Prov . G . M . for Kent . If he ( Bro . Tijou ) might be permitted to speak a word for himself , he would sav he was present at the Strong Man
Lodge then , not because he was a Grand Lodge Officer , but because he was one of the oldest Masonic friends of the W . M ., and the I . P . M ., of the S . W . and the J . W ., and of m my of tl ose brethren who had learned a zreat deal of their Masonic knowledge at a lodge of instruction at Snaresbrook—the Coborn—with which he had been connected for many years . The W . M . said that it was the only lodge of instruction in which he had occupied the chair . The W . M . had had the advantage of instruction from brethren who knew well what the Masonic ceremonies were ; they taught others , and those other
brethren taught fresh brethren . He was happy to compliment the W . M . on his original ty of design cf the menu , which was sufficiently uncommon to secure it from b- * ing consigned to the waste paper basket : he should keep it , and he would ask the other brelhren to do the same , as a reminder of the lodge ; it- bore signs nf antiquity . The lodge was old , and it comn-anded the respect of Freemasons generally . The ton'ine jewel represented on the menu was of very great Masonic value , as it was F {> ven to such lodges in old days that subscribed the money to found a home
for Masorry in Freemasons' Hall . At the present day Masons were not asked [ or money for such a purpose , but for the Masonic Charities . In the City this ledge had a Masonic home in the Guildhall Tavern , and he asked the brethren J" support the Stewards who were going up to support the lodge . With him the Masonic Charities were a strong point , and he liked t > see lodges do their duty in contributing to them . He had been able to join with that lodge in showing what they could do for those ° n whom afiVcticn had fallen . No one respected Bro . Nell , the late Secretary of the
lodge , more than he ; Bro . Nell was a neighbour of his , and a much respected member of the lodge of instruction . He knew how much Bro . Nell was loved and respected by the brethren of the Strong Man Lodge . They knew what they at Snaresbrook hoped 0 do fcr Bro . Nell ' s family . Bro . Nell was taken in the prime of life , when he was laying a foundation for a respectable fortune for his children . Do not let the list that was being got up go unsupported . The brethren intended to get one of the little girls into the Girls' School next October , by the aid of the votes of brethren of that lodge , and
they wanted to raise sufficient money to place one of the boys in the School . In that way the brethren had a method cf giving pactical effect to the Charities . Bro . D . A . Langdon , I . P . M ., proposed " Ihe Health of the W . M . " It was a common rule to jur'ge a man by what he had done in the past , and that was the case that evening . They had installed in the chair just nowa bto'herwho had in every office ne had filled faithfully followed his duties , and who Wi uld not in ihe future neglect his duties as W . M . It would take a long time to recount BroMills ' s virtuesbut Bro .
. , Mills was sure the brethren would rather enjoy the nice programme of music than hear his own praises sung . But this he ( Bro . Langdon ) must say , that during the 1 G 0 years : JJ Strong Man Lodge had been established , although the warrant had been placed in "le hands of many distinguished and illustrious brethren , he doubted if they would ever '"' l a broiler who would cendurt the lodge with more zeal and better tact and know-, M EMhan the brother who had been installed that night .
,, Bro . W . G . Mills , W . M ., in acknowledging the toast , said he heartily appreciated " . kind spirit which prompted the brethren to elect him to the highest office it was in ' Power to bestow . He had succeeded to a chair which had been occupied many haTii ky distinguished Masons , and it wculd require all he knew to do as well as they . ' 1 done . Nevertheless , all he could do he would do , and he hoped , if possible , to a „ JJ ~ while he was in the chair . He afterwards proposed "The Installing Master the reasu , er « " a toast which had often been proposed in that lodge in connection with sa me esteemed brolher . It was an hrnour to possess such an Installing Master , and
Craft Masonry.
visitors and all other brethren would appreciate the way he worked the ceremony . The lodge showed its appreciation by electing him as Treasurer , an office than which a higher did notexist . For iS years Bro . Symons had installed W . Ms , in that lodge , and it was to be hoped that many more years he would do the same . Bro . G . G . Symons , P . M ., Treas ., said that he was replying in a dual capacity . In regard to the installation he did his best , as he always tried and always should try to do his best as Treasurer , to look after the funds of the lodge , to see there was no extravagance and to take care that the Charities were du \ y looked after .
Bro . W . G . Mills , W . M .,. next proposed "The I . P . M ., " and said he gave the toast with considerable diffidence , not on account of the subject ] ol it , but because of his own unworthiness . Twelve months ago Bro . Langdon had the good fortune to take office under what appeared to be favourable circumstances—he was supported by the late esteemed Past Master Nell , who the Treasurer had before described as the " Managing Director " of the lodge . They had lost Bro . Nell , and Bro . Langdon had to steer very much his own course . That course had been steered in the proper way j
Bro . Langdon had controlled the lodge to the satisfaction of every brother ; he had gone out of his way to do for the Charities ivhat it had not been the lot perhaps of any of his predecessors to do , and that had entailed work day and night . He was not exaggerating in saying this , because from his intimate connection with Bro . Langdon he supposed the result had been a larger sum sent up to the Charities than had ever been sent up before . Bro . Langdon had received close upon £ 120 for the late Bro . Nell ' s Fund ; he took up himself over £ 65 for the Benevolent Institution ; his ( Bro . Mill ' s )
list was over £ 50 for the Boys' ; Bro . Symons' list for the Girls' this year had promises of over ^ 40 . Those figures were very respectable for any lodge , and more especially for the Strong Man Lodge , which had done so much of late for the Charities . Bro . Langdon , the first night he was in the chair , worked the third ceremony . It had been usual in that lodge to present the outgoing Master with a P . M . ' s jewel , but the brethren thought that in addition to that they should give Bro . Langdon , on account of his special
services , the collar and je . vel of a P . M . He now presented these to Bro . Langdon , and it was his sincere wish and the wish of the whole lodge , that it might please the GiA . O . T . U . in His wisdom , to spare them for many years to think of the many pleasant hours they had spent under his Mastership , and that Bro . Langdon might be spared to further the interests of Masonry , the ritual of which was so well known to , and the principles of which were so well practised by him .
Br <\ D . A . Langdon , I . P . M ., in responding to the toast , which was most enthusiastically received , said , when he was installed 12 months ago he told the lodge that when his year was up he hoped to give a true and faithful account of his Stewardship . If they thanked him , that was all the reward he looked for . But he assured them he valued it much indeed , the P . M . ' s collar and jewel they had given him in addition to the P . M . ' s jewel . He should wear it , and think of the many happy hours he had had in the Strong Man Lodge , and the kindness with which the brethren had received him .
The past year had been a special one . They lost a brother who was much to the lodge . It did not do to dwell on the past ; the inevitable must happen . He thanked the brethren very much ; the compliment was not so much to himself as to the whole of them , who had helped in a good cause . He had hid to curtail matters , but it had been for the good of the lodge . With regard to the Charities , the brethren had also most liberally responded to his call , he took no credit to himself . He thought it was a very happy omen that they sent up three Stewards in one year . There was also another
matterthe educational fund for the son of their late P . M . It required the sumof £ i 2 j to place the boy—who was ineligible by eight days only for the Boys' School—in the London Orphan Asylum . That night they had more than £ 102 in hand , and he thought that before the month was out the boy would be placed , with the consent ot his mother and other relatives , in the London Orphan Asylum . In October they hoped to place the girl in the Girls' School . He asked them and the visitors not to forget thejir late brother , but to hand in their votes ; that was Masonic Charity . They had seen a brother
stricken down early in life , at the age of 42 , before he could mike provision , and the brethren should come forward nobly and hel p those who could not help themselves . After again thanking the brethren for their kindness , he said that although he had passed through the chair , he should not cease to take an interest in the lodge , and if the brethren wanted his services at any time they should have them . Bro . W . G . Mills , W . M ., proposed " The Initiate . " They first congratulated themselves on adding such a man to the lodge , and , secondly , they congratulated
Masonry in general on receiving such a worthy man . They congratulated Bro . Bassitt also on entering the Order , and hoped he would live the hfe of Freemisonry , for they believed that he would be able to discharge his duties as a Mason , and estimate the wonderful work of the Almighty Creator . Bro . William Bassitt , replying , said he scarcely knew how to express his
gratification at the honour conferred upon him that evening , but he could assure the W . M . and brethren that , as far as lay in his power , he would do all the Order required . Bro . W . G . Mills , W . M ., in proposing " The Visitors , " and calling on Bros . Sharpe , Tapley , and Abbott to respond , slid the brethren of the lodge trusted the pleasure of the visitors had been in proportion to the satisfaction of the lodge in hiving them among them .
Bro . Sharpe , Preceptor of the Strong Man Lodge of instruction , said it was not the first time by a good many that he had had the pleasure ot replying to the toast , in that lodge , and it was awkward to reply , because everything had been said , over and over again for the visitors . But , speaking of the lodge of instruction , lie hoped that when the brethren saw such workers as the W . M . and I . P . M . they would attend it in greater numbers . These brethren were not inferior to any who had gone before them . He could assure the brethren that , there was the making of a great many more good Masters in that lodge , and , that being so , the brethren had a great affection for it . It was the brethren ' s duty to keep up the prestige of the ledge .
Bro . N . Tapley , 1076 , said he was very pleased to be present and see Bro . Mills installed . Bro . Tijou had said he had known Bro . Mills during the tatter ' s Masonic career ,-but he ( Bro . Tapley ) had had the pleasure of knowing him years before , and when he joined the Masonic Order it afforded him great pleasure to welcome him . He said that Bro . Mills would be a bright ornament to it , and that evening had proved it . He had also said that in Bro . Langdon was a brother who would keep up the prestige of
the lodge . He believed in the name Strong Man in all matters . They had in their Master a strong man , and they had in the main body strong men . Bro . T . Abbott , P . M . 2077 , said he hoped the lodge would go on another century and a half , and that it would do as much good in the future as it had done in the past . All the officers did their work well , not only in the ritual , but in brotherly love , relief , and truth . It was very well to do the ritual well , but the grand principles were the latter , and if the brethren stuck to brotherly love , relief and truth , ' they would never go
wrong . Bros . Past Masters Hunt , Fountaine , and Liddell responded to the toast of "The Past Masters , " and Bros . Tom Taylor , J . W . j Thomas J . Burgess , Secretary ; and William Briggs , Asst . Sec , to the toast of " . The Officers and Secretary , " and the Tyler's toast , led by Bro . Mallett , closed the pleasant evening ' s proceedings .
Lodge of Unity ,. No . 183 . The above lodge met at the Ship and Turtle Tavern , Leadenhall-street , on Monday , the 27 th ult . There were present : Bros . Walter Newbold , W . M . ; S . Richardson , 1 . D . E . Tarr , A . O . Side , T . C . Tassell , G . H . Lindsey-Renton , R . P . Angel , J . H . Clemens , G . W . Pinnock , G . W . Speth , S . Blankley , T . E . Tallent , G . J . Symonds , and J . Dickson . Visitors : Bros . J . M . Jones , 1716 ; and Ed . Macbean , W . M . 2076 . The chief business of the evening was the initiation of Mr . John Dickson , which was admirably carried out by the W . M . After some usual business had been concluded ,
Bro . Richardson roseand asked permission to make a presentation on the pirt , not of the lodge , but of the members of the lodge who were constant attendants . He said it would be good news to the brethren that at last , after a life of 127 years , the old Lodge of Unity was to see a Grand Lodge collar conferred upon one of its members , a distinction which , he thought , might have been gracefully conceded a good many years ago . The lodge had always been a staunch and steady one , doing good work in a quiet , unobtrusive fashion , and perhaps it was due to their old-fashioned unobtrusiveness that they
had hitherto failed to attract the favourable attention of the authorities . It was often the case in this world that the best work remained unrecognised , and the brethren of Unity would be the last to complain , because they only shared the fate of many better than themselves . But they would rejoice with him that at least in one case sterling Masonic merit and hard work had at last met with its reward , and that their oldest member , and Secretary for upwards of 12 years was , on the 29 th , to be granted the rank of a Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies . The brethren were indeed g lad that the choice of the M . W . G . M . had fallen on their Brother Speth , and had signified
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Craft Masonry.
Craft Masonry .
Strong Man Lodge , No . 45 . The installation meeting of this lodge , which is more than 160 years old , was held on the ? tn inst ., at the Guildhall Tavern , London , tiro . Ducidas , Anthony Langdon , W . M ., .. residing . Among Ihe numerous brethren who attended were Bros . George G . Symons , & M . ; A . Marnock Whitley , P . M . ; J . G . Cobb , P . M . ; W . A . S . Humphries , pJM . ; S . Fountaine , P . M . ; W . II . Liddell , P . M . ; R . E . Hunt , P . M . ; all the nfficers of the lodge , and the following visitors : Bros . John Mayo , S . W . 1614 ; James H LangdonP . P . J . G . D . Essex ; Richaid Fish . W . M . 1457 i T . Abbott , P . M . 2077 ;
. , F > . Wood , 1000 ; H . R . Witt , 24 S 4 ; Alex . H . Stoke , 1 S 03 : Charles J . R . Tijou , p ' A . G . P . ; John Mitchell , P . M . 1743 ; H . Ballard , 907 ; S . Martin Southwell , P . M . , j , ( 5 ; N . C . Crews , S . D . 2096 ; F . C . Pnnle . 2400 ; H . Hollingshurst , 1524 ; N . Tapley , 1076 ; Thomas Hills , I . G . 12 S 7 ; W , F . Wilkinson , J . D . 742 ; VV . Fowler , irS ; C . Legg , 2331 ; W . T . Sergeant Lee , P . M . 24 SS ; John Brings , S 59 ; H . Masiey . 160 , P . M 619 and 192 S ; A . B . Jeanes , 54 S ; T . Blyth , iSo 4 ; W . Adams , PM . 1 CS 7 ; Philip Sharpe , P . M . S 60 ; Walker Smith , 1705 ; W . T . Spencer , 2291 ; HR . Browley Smith , S 77 ; T . VV . Horgard , 12 ; and N . J . Plint , 890 .
. There was a full paper of business before the brethren , and although all the work was executed rapidly and with the greatest ease and precision by the W . M . and his officers and Past Master , Pro . G . G . Symons . it rccupied over thiee hours . _ Bro . J . J . [ j , rry was passed to the Sec nd D < gree , and Mr . William Bassitt was initiated . Bro . Symorf , P M . and Trias ., who has for many years pei formed the installation ceremony in this Ior ' ge , was then invited by Bro Langdon , W . M ., to lake the chair and followthe aorual cistom . and Bro . Sjmtns , having rccrp ' ed the inv ' tation , on presentation ,
duly made to him by Bro . A . Mamock Whitley , P . M ., in tallad Bro . William Oeorge Mills , S . W ., and W . M . elect , as Master of the lodge for the ensuing 12 months . Bro . Langdon was invested with the collar of I . P . M ., and the following brethren received the other collars : Bros . John Cuer , S . W . ; Tom C . Taylor , J . W . ; G . G . Symons . P . M ., Treas . ; Thomas J . Burgess , Sec ; William Briggs , M . A ., LL . B ., Asst . Sec . ; T . Ockleford , S . D . ; Edward J . Stafford , J . D . ; Samuel Armfield , I . G . ; A . M . Whitley , P . M ., D . C . ; L . S . Fountaine , P . M .. John Jenkinson , W . R . G . Emerson , and C . J .
Pond Jones , Stwds . ; T . L . Dennett , Org . ; and E . Mallett , Tyler . After the customary salutes by the brethren , and the delivery of the addresses by the Installing Master , the brethren proceeeded to further business , voting IO guineas to the list of the lodge Steward for the Girls' Festival of the 13 th instant , and a like sum to the list of the Steward at Ihe gSth Anniversary Festival of the Boys' School . The brethren were uiged to liberally suppoit the fund which was being raised in favour o f the family of the late Bro . H . T . Nell , P . M ., Sec—a case which was mentioned by brethren more than 1
once at a later period of the evenirg . A Pas . Master's jewel , with the ad Jition of a Past Master ' s collar and jewel , on account of the exception *! services of the I . P . M . to the lodge during his year of office , was presented to Bro . D . A . Langdon at the banquet , to which the brethren then adjourned .. It was a banquet chrsen and supplied with very greit taste , and served with deli . cacy and attention . It consisted of the finest things of the season , and was accompanied by wines which called forth the commendation of the company generally .
The customary speeches followed , and the musical programme by which they were lightened consisted of songs by Miss Belle Rosa and Miss Edith Yorke , and by Bros . J . j . Berry , Tom Taylor , J . W . ; Herbert Emlyn . Hubert Gray , Sergeant Lee , M . A ., and Tom Burgess , with Bro . W . Emerson , Org ., at the piano . The menu was an unique production , the first page having engravings of the old Tor . tine jewel presented to the lodge ( of which jewel it is said there are only 26 in ixislence ) , of the centenary jewel cf the lodge , which it acquired in 1 S 34 , and of the
jewel presented by the lodge on July 3 , 1 S 34 , to Bro . G . W . Turner , the then W . M . As there was a long programme of music , the W . M ., at the outset of the afterdirner business , said he intended all the soeeches to be short , and he gave the toasts of "Ihe £ ueen and the Craft , " "The M . W . G . M ., " and "The Pro G . M ., Dep . G . M ., and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " in the fewest words . To the ast of these toasts , Bro . C . L R . Tiiou , P . A . G . Purst ., in responding , said the reception given to the
toast showed how much the brethren appreciated the Grand Officers in a body . If those who had the right to attend Grand Lodge had attended it on the 6 th inst . and seen the appointment of Grand Officers , especially of Eat ! Amherst as D . G . M . of England , they would have witnessed the great amount of respect exhibited by the light blue to the M . W . G . M . for his selection of Grand Lodge Officers . Personally , he thought the Grand Lodge Officers of the last few yeais had been s * Iected with greater discrimination thsn in some previous years , but at any rate , Grand Lodge collars had been
dispersed somewhat wider than they were 10 or 15 years ago . He could not help thinking that three or four Grand Lodge Officers were known to the brethren present as Past Masters of lodges in the East of London . These were Bros . James Boulton and Major Carrell , old Masons of East London and strong supporleis of the Masonic Charities . Earl Amherst was a very old Mason , who for 36 years had been well known as Prov . G . M . for Kent . If he ( Bro . Tijou ) might be permitted to speak a word for himself , he would sav he was present at the Strong Man
Lodge then , not because he was a Grand Lodge Officer , but because he was one of the oldest Masonic friends of the W . M ., and the I . P . M ., of the S . W . and the J . W ., and of m my of tl ose brethren who had learned a zreat deal of their Masonic knowledge at a lodge of instruction at Snaresbrook—the Coborn—with which he had been connected for many years . The W . M . said that it was the only lodge of instruction in which he had occupied the chair . The W . M . had had the advantage of instruction from brethren who knew well what the Masonic ceremonies were ; they taught others , and those other
brethren taught fresh brethren . He was happy to compliment the W . M . on his original ty of design cf the menu , which was sufficiently uncommon to secure it from b- * ing consigned to the waste paper basket : he should keep it , and he would ask the other brelhren to do the same , as a reminder of the lodge ; it- bore signs nf antiquity . The lodge was old , and it comn-anded the respect of Freemasons generally . The ton'ine jewel represented on the menu was of very great Masonic value , as it was F {> ven to such lodges in old days that subscribed the money to found a home
for Masorry in Freemasons' Hall . At the present day Masons were not asked [ or money for such a purpose , but for the Masonic Charities . In the City this ledge had a Masonic home in the Guildhall Tavern , and he asked the brethren J" support the Stewards who were going up to support the lodge . With him the Masonic Charities were a strong point , and he liked t > see lodges do their duty in contributing to them . He had been able to join with that lodge in showing what they could do for those ° n whom afiVcticn had fallen . No one respected Bro . Nell , the late Secretary of the
lodge , more than he ; Bro . Nell was a neighbour of his , and a much respected member of the lodge of instruction . He knew how much Bro . Nell was loved and respected by the brethren of the Strong Man Lodge . They knew what they at Snaresbrook hoped 0 do fcr Bro . Nell ' s family . Bro . Nell was taken in the prime of life , when he was laying a foundation for a respectable fortune for his children . Do not let the list that was being got up go unsupported . The brethren intended to get one of the little girls into the Girls' School next October , by the aid of the votes of brethren of that lodge , and
they wanted to raise sufficient money to place one of the boys in the School . In that way the brethren had a method cf giving pactical effect to the Charities . Bro . D . A . Langdon , I . P . M ., proposed " Ihe Health of the W . M . " It was a common rule to jur'ge a man by what he had done in the past , and that was the case that evening . They had installed in the chair just nowa bto'herwho had in every office ne had filled faithfully followed his duties , and who Wi uld not in ihe future neglect his duties as W . M . It would take a long time to recount BroMills ' s virtuesbut Bro .
. , Mills was sure the brethren would rather enjoy the nice programme of music than hear his own praises sung . But this he ( Bro . Langdon ) must say , that during the 1 G 0 years : JJ Strong Man Lodge had been established , although the warrant had been placed in "le hands of many distinguished and illustrious brethren , he doubted if they would ever '"' l a broiler who would cendurt the lodge with more zeal and better tact and know-, M EMhan the brother who had been installed that night .
,, Bro . W . G . Mills , W . M ., in acknowledging the toast , said he heartily appreciated " . kind spirit which prompted the brethren to elect him to the highest office it was in ' Power to bestow . He had succeeded to a chair which had been occupied many haTii ky distinguished Masons , and it wculd require all he knew to do as well as they . ' 1 done . Nevertheless , all he could do he would do , and he hoped , if possible , to a „ JJ ~ while he was in the chair . He afterwards proposed "The Installing Master the reasu , er « " a toast which had often been proposed in that lodge in connection with sa me esteemed brolher . It was an hrnour to possess such an Installing Master , and
Craft Masonry.
visitors and all other brethren would appreciate the way he worked the ceremony . The lodge showed its appreciation by electing him as Treasurer , an office than which a higher did notexist . For iS years Bro . Symons had installed W . Ms , in that lodge , and it was to be hoped that many more years he would do the same . Bro . G . G . Symons , P . M ., Treas ., said that he was replying in a dual capacity . In regard to the installation he did his best , as he always tried and always should try to do his best as Treasurer , to look after the funds of the lodge , to see there was no extravagance and to take care that the Charities were du \ y looked after .
Bro . W . G . Mills , W . M .,. next proposed "The I . P . M ., " and said he gave the toast with considerable diffidence , not on account of the subject ] ol it , but because of his own unworthiness . Twelve months ago Bro . Langdon had the good fortune to take office under what appeared to be favourable circumstances—he was supported by the late esteemed Past Master Nell , who the Treasurer had before described as the " Managing Director " of the lodge . They had lost Bro . Nell , and Bro . Langdon had to steer very much his own course . That course had been steered in the proper way j
Bro . Langdon had controlled the lodge to the satisfaction of every brother ; he had gone out of his way to do for the Charities ivhat it had not been the lot perhaps of any of his predecessors to do , and that had entailed work day and night . He was not exaggerating in saying this , because from his intimate connection with Bro . Langdon he supposed the result had been a larger sum sent up to the Charities than had ever been sent up before . Bro . Langdon had received close upon £ 120 for the late Bro . Nell ' s Fund ; he took up himself over £ 65 for the Benevolent Institution ; his ( Bro . Mill ' s )
list was over £ 50 for the Boys' ; Bro . Symons' list for the Girls' this year had promises of over ^ 40 . Those figures were very respectable for any lodge , and more especially for the Strong Man Lodge , which had done so much of late for the Charities . Bro . Langdon , the first night he was in the chair , worked the third ceremony . It had been usual in that lodge to present the outgoing Master with a P . M . ' s jewel , but the brethren thought that in addition to that they should give Bro . Langdon , on account of his special
services , the collar and je . vel of a P . M . He now presented these to Bro . Langdon , and it was his sincere wish and the wish of the whole lodge , that it might please the GiA . O . T . U . in His wisdom , to spare them for many years to think of the many pleasant hours they had spent under his Mastership , and that Bro . Langdon might be spared to further the interests of Masonry , the ritual of which was so well known to , and the principles of which were so well practised by him .
Br <\ D . A . Langdon , I . P . M ., in responding to the toast , which was most enthusiastically received , said , when he was installed 12 months ago he told the lodge that when his year was up he hoped to give a true and faithful account of his Stewardship . If they thanked him , that was all the reward he looked for . But he assured them he valued it much indeed , the P . M . ' s collar and jewel they had given him in addition to the P . M . ' s jewel . He should wear it , and think of the many happy hours he had had in the Strong Man Lodge , and the kindness with which the brethren had received him .
The past year had been a special one . They lost a brother who was much to the lodge . It did not do to dwell on the past ; the inevitable must happen . He thanked the brethren very much ; the compliment was not so much to himself as to the whole of them , who had helped in a good cause . He had hid to curtail matters , but it had been for the good of the lodge . With regard to the Charities , the brethren had also most liberally responded to his call , he took no credit to himself . He thought it was a very happy omen that they sent up three Stewards in one year . There was also another
matterthe educational fund for the son of their late P . M . It required the sumof £ i 2 j to place the boy—who was ineligible by eight days only for the Boys' School—in the London Orphan Asylum . That night they had more than £ 102 in hand , and he thought that before the month was out the boy would be placed , with the consent ot his mother and other relatives , in the London Orphan Asylum . In October they hoped to place the girl in the Girls' School . He asked them and the visitors not to forget thejir late brother , but to hand in their votes ; that was Masonic Charity . They had seen a brother
stricken down early in life , at the age of 42 , before he could mike provision , and the brethren should come forward nobly and hel p those who could not help themselves . After again thanking the brethren for their kindness , he said that although he had passed through the chair , he should not cease to take an interest in the lodge , and if the brethren wanted his services at any time they should have them . Bro . W . G . Mills , W . M ., proposed " The Initiate . " They first congratulated themselves on adding such a man to the lodge , and , secondly , they congratulated
Masonry in general on receiving such a worthy man . They congratulated Bro . Bassitt also on entering the Order , and hoped he would live the hfe of Freemisonry , for they believed that he would be able to discharge his duties as a Mason , and estimate the wonderful work of the Almighty Creator . Bro . William Bassitt , replying , said he scarcely knew how to express his
gratification at the honour conferred upon him that evening , but he could assure the W . M . and brethren that , as far as lay in his power , he would do all the Order required . Bro . W . G . Mills , W . M ., in proposing " The Visitors , " and calling on Bros . Sharpe , Tapley , and Abbott to respond , slid the brethren of the lodge trusted the pleasure of the visitors had been in proportion to the satisfaction of the lodge in hiving them among them .
Bro . Sharpe , Preceptor of the Strong Man Lodge of instruction , said it was not the first time by a good many that he had had the pleasure ot replying to the toast , in that lodge , and it was awkward to reply , because everything had been said , over and over again for the visitors . But , speaking of the lodge of instruction , lie hoped that when the brethren saw such workers as the W . M . and I . P . M . they would attend it in greater numbers . These brethren were not inferior to any who had gone before them . He could assure the brethren that , there was the making of a great many more good Masters in that lodge , and , that being so , the brethren had a great affection for it . It was the brethren ' s duty to keep up the prestige of the ledge .
Bro . N . Tapley , 1076 , said he was very pleased to be present and see Bro . Mills installed . Bro . Tijou had said he had known Bro . Mills during the tatter ' s Masonic career ,-but he ( Bro . Tapley ) had had the pleasure of knowing him years before , and when he joined the Masonic Order it afforded him great pleasure to welcome him . He said that Bro . Mills would be a bright ornament to it , and that evening had proved it . He had also said that in Bro . Langdon was a brother who would keep up the prestige of
the lodge . He believed in the name Strong Man in all matters . They had in their Master a strong man , and they had in the main body strong men . Bro . T . Abbott , P . M . 2077 , said he hoped the lodge would go on another century and a half , and that it would do as much good in the future as it had done in the past . All the officers did their work well , not only in the ritual , but in brotherly love , relief , and truth . It was very well to do the ritual well , but the grand principles were the latter , and if the brethren stuck to brotherly love , relief and truth , ' they would never go
wrong . Bros . Past Masters Hunt , Fountaine , and Liddell responded to the toast of "The Past Masters , " and Bros . Tom Taylor , J . W . j Thomas J . Burgess , Secretary ; and William Briggs , Asst . Sec , to the toast of " . The Officers and Secretary , " and the Tyler's toast , led by Bro . Mallett , closed the pleasant evening ' s proceedings .
Lodge of Unity ,. No . 183 . The above lodge met at the Ship and Turtle Tavern , Leadenhall-street , on Monday , the 27 th ult . There were present : Bros . Walter Newbold , W . M . ; S . Richardson , 1 . D . E . Tarr , A . O . Side , T . C . Tassell , G . H . Lindsey-Renton , R . P . Angel , J . H . Clemens , G . W . Pinnock , G . W . Speth , S . Blankley , T . E . Tallent , G . J . Symonds , and J . Dickson . Visitors : Bros . J . M . Jones , 1716 ; and Ed . Macbean , W . M . 2076 . The chief business of the evening was the initiation of Mr . John Dickson , which was admirably carried out by the W . M . After some usual business had been concluded ,
Bro . Richardson roseand asked permission to make a presentation on the pirt , not of the lodge , but of the members of the lodge who were constant attendants . He said it would be good news to the brethren that at last , after a life of 127 years , the old Lodge of Unity was to see a Grand Lodge collar conferred upon one of its members , a distinction which , he thought , might have been gracefully conceded a good many years ago . The lodge had always been a staunch and steady one , doing good work in a quiet , unobtrusive fashion , and perhaps it was due to their old-fashioned unobtrusiveness that they
had hitherto failed to attract the favourable attention of the authorities . It was often the case in this world that the best work remained unrecognised , and the brethren of Unity would be the last to complain , because they only shared the fate of many better than themselves . But they would rejoice with him that at least in one case sterling Masonic merit and hard work had at last met with its reward , and that their oldest member , and Secretary for upwards of 12 years was , on the 29 th , to be granted the rank of a Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies . The brethren were indeed g lad that the choice of the M . W . G . M . had fallen on their Brother Speth , and had signified