Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

He endeavoured to perform his duties , and it had always been a pleasure to him , especially in the work of Deacon . Thev had now assured him he had succeeded in his duties as Alaster , and that more than repaid him for the trouble . The splendid jewel vas a souvenir and would remind him of a pleasant year as long as he could possiblv wear it . Bro . R . La Feuillade , P . M ., exnressed his pleasure at seeing the W . M . installed as he initiated him into

Freemasonry . Their lnd . ee was thc most prosperous in South London , and theW . M . would show he was able to discharge his duties . Other toasts followed and thebrethren separated after an enjoyable evening . An excellent musical programme was arranged by Bro . R . B . Hopkins , Org ., assisted by Master Denman Groom , Aliss Emily Foxrroft , and Bros . R . Evans . Tom Davies , Capt . Walls , and Lundi * -. Bro . Harcourt West , by desire , gave a humorous recitation .

Royal Commemoration ( No 15 S 5 ) . —A meeting was held on Wednesday , 7 th ins * ., at the White Lion Hotel , Putney , when there were present : Bros . A . Grundv , W . M . ; W . Payers , S . W . ; 1 . Wright , J . W . ; John Cox , Org . ; R . R . Cullick . P . AL , Treas . ; G . A . Knight . Sec ; J . Collings , P . M ., D . C . ; VV . Keene , P . AL , l . G . ; Greggry , Tyler , and Coombe , I . P . M . Telegrams

and letters were read from several brethren apologising for non-attendance through illness , chiefly influenza . The only other business was strictly routine business in connection with the lodge , which having been unanimously completed , the lodge was closed . After dinner the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were

duly honoured , as well as those of "The Worshipful Alaster , " " The Past Masters , " " Treasurer and Secretary , " and "Officers . " The toasts were interspersed with some harmony by the brethren , and the Tyler's toast closed a very pleasant evening .

West Middlesex Lodge ( No . 1612 ) . —A meeting was held on the ioth inst ., at the Victoria Hall , Paling , when there were present Bros . J . Fryers , W . M . ; H . S . Timpson , S . W . ; G . H . Gabb , J . VV . ; J . VV . Guy , Treas . ; G . Harper , P . AL 2163 , Sec ; L . S . Guy , S . D . ; E . J . Reynolds , J . D . ; E . C . Porter , P . M ., D . C ; E . Scott Henson , I . G . ; G . Wills and J . VV . Jacobs , Stwds . ; I . Gilbert . Tyler ; Bellerby , P . M . ; Coop , P . M . ; Wells

P . M . ; Kasner , P . AL ; Roberts , Welsh , Parsons , and S . Thorne . Visitors : Bros . L . Walker , Org , 2157 and 2163 ; and W . J . Squire , I . P . AI . 1 743 . The lodge having been opened , the minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed . Bro . Welsh was passed to the Degree of a F . C . The by-laws of the lodge were read . After the lodge was closed the brethren dined together .

Royal Kensington Lodge ( No . 1627 ) . — A meeting of this lodge was held on Friday , the 2 nd inst ., at Freemasons' Hall , when there were present Bros . Emile Daoust , VV . M . ; E . E . Pouard , S . VV . ; C . Bennewitz , J . W . ; J . B . Stevens , P . M ., Treas . ; J . P . Hayes , P . AL , Sec ; J . B . Erhmann , S . D . ; J . Al . Prince , as J . D . ; Eugene Delacoste , D . C ; Heinneman , l . G . ; F . Walker

Stwd . ; H . Evenden , as Tyler ; Wm . Bellamy , I . P . AI . ; J . H . Jarvis , P . AL , P . P . G . S . Surrey , ; H . F . Pitt , P . AL ; A . G . Wilson , C . J . Butler , Al . Ehreman , H . J . Bliss , E . Glaser , A . Sander , and others . Visitors : Bros . J . Read , P . M . 19 S ; F . H . Ford , 1901 ; G . Ridout , W . AL 12 S 7 ; G . Alarshall , 2454 ; F . Bohers , 2060 ; and J . E . Shand , P . M . isG . v

The lodge was opened , and the minutes of the last meeting were read and conlirmed . Bro . Butler was raised to the Degree of M . M . The W . AL , Bro . Daoust , having intimated his intention to serve as Steward for the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution of Aged Freemasons , a goodly sum was subscribed for his list , supplemented by a vote from the funds of the lodge . The resgnation of Bro .

Soppett , P . M ., was referred to the Permanent Committee . The lodge was closed , and the brethren dined , after which the usual loyal and Alasonic toasts were submitted in earnest terms by the W . AI . Bro . Bellamy , I . P . AI ., in proposing "The Health of the Worshipful Alaster , " said he was sure the members of the lodge , and visitors one and all , would welcome back the

W . AI . after his journey to the warm climate of India , and especially with renewed vigour and restored health . Bro . Daoust returned thanks in subdued and appreciative terms for the kind allusions , and thanked one and all , as well for that as for the contributions to his list for the Masonic Charities .

"The Visitors" toast was heartily received and responded to , as well as the toast of " The Past Masters , 'Treasurer , and Secretary , " and the Tyler ' s toast brought the meeting to a close . The brethren then joined the company in the large hall , making the meeting altogether a thorough re-union of Royal Kensington Lodge .,

St . BotOlph S Lodge ( No . 2020 ) .-The installation meeting of this lodge was held at the Albion Tavern , Aldersgate-street , on the 5 thinst . Present : Bros . H . G . Cubitt , I . P . M . ; L . B . Levy , S . W . ; B . G . Elliott , ) . W . ; P . Saiilard , Treas . ; W . Lake , Sec ; J . D . Myers , S . D . ; S . ; F . Staples , J . D . ; G . AI . Sayle , P . AL ; B . Norman , P . AI . ; H . H . Wells , P . AI . ; E . \ V . Stillwell . P . M . ; F .

C . Pigott , W . Baddeley , Chas . S . Houlder , L . F . Hodge , F . B . Stafford , N . R . Hart , and W . A . Hazell . Visitors Bros . E . I . Humphrey , P . AL ^ 8 ; J . Cundall , 1599 ; W . Jones , 22 G 4 ; H . H . Hurley , PAL 1491 ; T . Athey , I . G . 2148 ; | . W . Dixon , P . AI . 27 ; Al . B . Croager , 30 ; 1 . P . Fitzgerald , P . AI . 21 GS ; A . E . Chaplin , S 3 , P . P . G . S . B . ; AL J . ( jarcia , 2 iGS ; Jas . IC . Terry , P . AI . 19 G 4 ; J . E . Hayes

, P . M . fliy ; Dato Abdul Rahman , C . A 1 . G ., 1152 ; Wm . Laurence , J . VV . 21 G 8 ; L . Clark , 449 ; A . Boden , 21 GS ; J . P . Hamilton , P . AL 170 S : H . Mower , W . AL 12 ; J . VV . Goodinge , I' . AL 1818 ; N . Robinson , 55 ; R . Percy Clowes , VV . AI . 2201 ; G . Wallis , 172 ; W . B . Elliott , 172 ; J . Kift , 1791 ; G . 11 . Hunt , 1194 ; and H . J . Searle , 172 .

Bid . II . G . Cubitt , l . P . AL , in the absence of the W . AL , occupied thc chair . The minutes of thc last meeting having been read and confirmed , Bro . Houlder was passed to thc Second Degree . Bro . Cubitt then proceeded to instal the W . M ., B . G . Elliott , the ceremony being performed in an exceptionally able and impressive manner . The VV . AI . appointed his officers as follows : Bros . IL W . Poole , I . P . M . j L . B . Levy , S . VV . ; J . D . . Myers , J . W . j P .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

Saiilard , P . M ., Treas . ; W . Lake , Sec ; S . F . Staples , S . D . ; L . F . Hodge , J . D . ; F . C . Pigntt . I . G . ; H . H . Wells , P . M ., D . C ; G . " Walkerand F . B . Stafford , Stwds . ; and R . W . Goddard , Tyler . The VV . M . having announced that he intended to go up as a Steward for the Boys' School

at the next Festival , the sum of 10 guineas was voted from the lodge towards his list . Other business having been transacted , the lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to a banquet , presided over by the W . M .

Drury Lane Lodge ( No . 2127 ) . —On luesday last this famous ledge entered on its ninth year , and one of its first initiates , Bro . Thomas Catling , was installed as Master of the lodge by another of its first initiates , Bro . Harry Nicholls , the outgoing Alaster . Of course there was a very large gathering of brethren to witness the ceremony in the saloon of Drury Lane Theatre , and punctually to

appointed time the lodge was opened and the preliminary business disposed of . There were about 200 brethren present . Bro . Harry Nicholls performed the installation admirably , and he was invested as I . P . M . The officers of theW . M . for the year were Bros . Oscar Barrett , S . VV . ; Henry Neville , J . VV . ; Rev . C J . Alartvn , P . G . C . Chap . ; T . S . Fleming , Treas . ; J . H . Alatthews , P . D . G . D . C ,

Sec ; Will . E . Chapman , S . D . ; Luigi Lablache , J . D . ; Sir Edward Lawson , Bart ., D . C ; G . M . Maxwell , I . G . ; John Cook , Org . ; F . B . Rendle and W . A . Baskcomb , Stwds . ; and R . Goddard , P . M ., Tyler . Bro . Harry Nicholls , P . AI ., was presented with a handsome Past Master's jewel , in investing him with which Bro . Catling observed , referring to Bro . Nicholls' serious illness more

than a year ago , that the brethren had been afraid it would have interfered with the performance of their I . P . M . ' s duties in the chair , but that they were happy to find that he completely recovered from his dangerous malady , and diligently executed the office of VV . AI . of his mother lodge . Bro . Harry Nicholls , in acknowledging the gift of the Past Alaster ' s jewel , said it would always remind him

of a very pleasant year of office , in which he had been ably supported by all the members of the lodge , and he should ever value it as a reminder of that happy period . There was one other point about it ; it was the only Alasonic jewel he wore that he had not paid for himself . A vote of condolence was passed with the widow of the late Bro . Henry Pettitt , one of the 12 founders of the lodge , and a vote of

congratulation to Bro . Sir Augustus Harris on his recovery from long and serious illness was unanimously carried , and a telegram to that effect was sent to him at Hastings , from which place a telegram was received from him , apologising for not being able to attend , and wishing the lodge every success and enjoyment . A vote of thanks was likewise passed to the honorary members of the lodge , who had

presented the lodge with a handsome banner . After the closing of thc lodge , the brethren adjourned to Freemasons' Tavern , and banqueted . The usual toasts followed . Bro . Catling , VV . M ., in giving the toast of " The Grand Officers , " said Drury Lane Lodge had experienced from the very foundation the kindness of the Grand Ofiicers , and

the members were deeply grateful to them for their services , freely and generously rendered on all occasions , and they highly appreciated the compliment the Grand Officers paid them in coming to the festive board of the lodge . Bro . Viscount Dungarvan , Prov . G . AI . Somerset , very briefly replied . Bro . Catling , W . AL , in proposing " The Past Alasters , "

said he was gi ing to give the name of a brother wh > had done his work not only during the past year but so ably that day . Tn dilate upon his merits would be to gild refined gold . Those who knew him most intimately loved him and esteemed him the best ; he was all round—as a Alason perhaps he ought to say " on the square "—a really good fellow . He would say much more if he were not present ;

he had done so pretty often in print ; never before had he had the opportunity of proposinghis health , and he did so with sincere pleasure because he persmially felt hc was greatly indebted to Bro . Nicholls and tint he should during the next year be more indebted to him . Bro . Nicholls was undoubtedly too a very zealous officer ; he was the first initiate to work up to thc chair ; he had shown great spirit in doing

so ; and he had done everything in the sincerest and truest spirit of Masonry . With regard to himself ( Bro . Catling ) Bro . Nicholls had shown thc most kindly feeling ; it gave him the confidence that was necessary , and he must confess that he needed much of that feeling , coming as he did after three " well graced actors , " Bro . Fernandez , Bro . Bancroft , and Bro . Harry Nicholls . They had had apologies from

several of their Past Alasters . Sir John Gorst expressed his desire to be present , and it was only by the trouble ol her Alajesty ' s Government that hc was not there . Sir Henry Isaacs was a P . AL , and he showed his interest in the lodge by giving the brethren a noble entertainment at the Mansion House . Bro . Nicholls was the great worker of the day , and the brethren would forgive him if hc called on Bro ,

Nicholls to respond to the toast . Bro . Harry Nicholls , I . P . M ., in reply , said let him first thank the W . M . and brethren in the name of those worthy and distinguished brethren who were on his left hand that year only , as next year he would be at the other end of the table . The W . AL had referred to his ( Bro . Nicholls's )

work that day , and also to the work he had performed during his year of office . He wanted to tell the brethren that it was owing to one Past Master present that day that he had been able to enter into that work with that enthusiasm which had met with the brethren's approbation—he referred to Bro . Parkinson . Bro . Parkinson iuitiated him

into r reemasonry , and it was through his unpressiveness and the magnificent manner in which he performed the duties of his office that dav , that he ( Bro . Nicholls ) fell into the raison d ' etre as Past Alaster that day ; Bro . Parkinson so impressed him with the dignity and high importance of Freemasonry that hc felt bound to go on , and he felt it was only due to Bro . Parkinson to say so . There were other

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

distinguished Past Masters , and they all knew what he ( Bro . Nicholls ) felt and thought of them . Now , to come to himself for a moment . He had had a few good " notices " in his time ; he wished he had thought of it and brought them down ; they would have made very interesting reading ; but they had ahvays been in print , and he had not been able to reply to them ; but he was able at last to face a journalist , and tell him that he highly appreciated

what he had done . He did not mind admitting there had been occasions when he had gone into corners and made use of very bad language ; b"t on the whole the notices had been most favourable . Now , it was quite impossible for him to thank thebrethren in adequate terms for the manner they had received the toast of his health . Once before he had had that day to thank them for favours received , and he made use of an expression that his year of oflice would

be a memorable one to him . It was only then . sitting atthe table , he realised how good they had been to him . Twelve months ago , when he first sat in the chair , he hardly knew on the previous evening that his voice would be able to travel the length of the lodge . But , thank God , it wasable : he was able to make his voice heard , and he had been able to do it since ; he had been able to do it that day to the best of his skill and ability , and he assured the brethren that his

year of office would be a memorable one . He had had some sorrow ; he had had some joy ; he had lost some good friends , but hc had made some new and valued ones . Well , the time was getting short , and he must go away to aaother place . So then his health being disposed of , he must now ask the brethren to bear with him a few moments , whilst he performed what was to him , perhaps , the greatest pleasure that day—to propose " The Health of our VV . AI . "

Without " giving him away" at all , Bro . Catling said to him the other day— " I say . if 1 propose your health , will you propose mine ? " Well , he ( Bro . Nichols ) jumped at it , because once again the brethren would see the advantage of working together . Well , it was unnecessary for himhe could not give Bro . Catling such a good " notice " as Bro . Catling had given him ; it was not his business ; but what he knew of the excellent work Bro . Catling had done

in other places—Alasonically and otherwise—he felt sure they all knew Bro . Catling was the very ablest man to fulfil the duties of Alaster of the Drury Lane Lodge . It was impossible for him to go on much further ; he felt they were rather resolving themselves into a little mutual admiration society ; but it was sincere and heartfelt he assured them , and therefore without further words he would ask the brethren to drink the health of the W . M .

Bro . Catling , W . M ., in responding , said that would be a difficult toast for him to reply to but that he was assured by the brethren's conduct and their goodness that he might rely upon their kindness for any shortcomings ot h s . He had almost thought himself like that "fly in amb-r" — " how he ever got there "—in the chair . He , a journalist , whose work was with the pen , and not the tongue—to be Master of that lodge , and have his name inscribed on the

banner of the lodge , presented by their honorary members . It was only because he had shown some of that ability which the first Lord Lytton put into words— " Man has no majesty , like earnestness . " He ( Bro . Catling ) had no majesty , but he had endeavoured to be earnest in what he had done in regard to Alasonry . It was through a founder of the Drury Lane Lodge , for it occurred in that founder ' s own house , on a Sunday evening , when he was there—Sir

Augustus Harrif—that he first whispered a wish to become a Alason . Sir Augustus Harris received him kindly , and offered to be his godfather in respect to his introduction to the lodge . Now on his ( Bro . Catling ' s ) left sat Bro . Parkinson , who initiated him with more than ordinary solemnitydid it in such a way as impressed the good work and lessons of Masonry upon him so that he never forgot those lessons . Within a little time they founded a kindred lodge after

entering into counsel . It was to Irving and Toole he turned for counsel and support , so that his lot had been cast for years in associating with leading actors , and directly he had the light of Alasonry he found there was more than a common bond between them . In that lodge they had , under the genial rule of Bro . Nicholls , thrown aside any hostility—supposed to exist—between the stage and the press . In Alasonry they all met on very genial and

happy terms . I hey had made him kindly welcome , and they had male him at home in the duties that devolved upon him ; and it was relying upon that he should go forward earnestly with his duties . As he said before , after so many actors of importance had occupied that , chair he should do the b-st he could , according to his skill and ability , to uphold the honour and dignity of the lodge . Bro . Catling , W . AL , then proposed " The Visitors , " in

which toast he coupled the names of Gen . Laurie , Past Grand Alaster of Nova Scotia , and Professor Garner , the latter of whom had gone into equatorial jungles and shut himself up with the monkey tribe in order it possible to get at the art and mystery of some brethren far removed from us . Bro . Garner was not with the brethren in any sense as an eccentricity ; he was an excellent , ardent , and zealous Alason , a most genial and happy brother . In his

wanderings he was actuated by sincerely scientific motives . ( Laughter ) . It was by no means a laughing matter . People did laugh when some one claimed consanguinity with an ape or a chimpanzee , but Professor Garner could show there was a deeper interest in the life of a monkey . Bros . Gen . Laurie and Professor Garner replied , the latter giving an amusing account of his travels in Africa and lus

acquaintance with the monkey tribe . Bro . Oscar Barrett replied to the toastof "TheOfficers , and said although he had not had as much time to devote to Alasonry as he could wish he would do the best he could to deserve the kindly words that had fallen from the lips ofthe W . M . For his brother oilicers he could say that they would endeavour to maintain the dignity of the lodge during the year . The Tyler ' s toast closed the proceedings .

Provincial Meetings.

PROVINCIAL MEETINGS .

CAMBRIDGE . Scientific Lodge ( No . S 8 j . —On the occasion of the monthly meeting on Alonday , the 12 th inst ., Bro . L . H . Banham , W . M ., in the chair , there was an unusual

muster of brethren of the lodge and of the district to greet Bro . Edward Terry , P . G . Treas . England , who was on a professional engagement in Cambridge . When Bru . Terry entered the lodge , he was saluted in the manner accorded to an officer of Grand Lodge ; and at the close oi ihe working ( an . initiation ) , thc W . AL heartily thank "