Craft Masonry.

J . W . ; I . H . Edwards , P . M ., Treas . ; J . Nixon , P . M ., Sec ; S . P . Fisher , S . D . W . H . Edwards , I . G . ; H . Walter , A . D . C . ; J . E . Cosham , A . S . ; Wm . Gorrie P . M ., Stwd . ; H . Marflset , P . M ., D . C . ; Stuart Leaman , Org . ; Thos . Bowler , P . M ., Tyler ; J . Finch , F . C . Woolmer , P . M . ; W . R . Smith , P . M . ; P . H . Garner , P . M . ; Geo . Say , I . P . M . ; G . Tennant . J . T . W . Woolfe , L . Vague , T . Lavenbein , W . I . Wratten , H . C . Cutriss , H . H . Ellis , J . Uncle , E . F . Giraud , A . T . Furnell , F . V . Goddard , Arthur Taylor , A . Botttrill , T . Foster , R . Fisher , E . Cadman , P . R . Evans ,

and A . Waller . The visitors ware Bros . A . E . Broadbjrry , J . D . 1719 ; J . Eagleton , late 990 ; R . Brown , Stwd . 1320 ; J . S . Targett , P . M ., 1559 ; Vincent T . Murche , I . P . M . 1641 ; W . E . Boucher , 1050 ; R . Howell , 244 S ; S . W . Ballard , P . M . 1622 ; C . W . Jordan , 144 ; Thos . Grummant , P . M . and Sec . 1559 ; N . J . Churcher , 1744 ; Valentine Hill , 1641 ; Hy . Thorn . 1839 ; F . Becker , W . M . 25 6 3 ; Dr . S . Corke ( Sydney ); and Chas . Hy . Stone , W . M . 1641 . The minutes of the previous meeiing were read and confirmed . A ballot was

taken for Messrs . Arthur Waller , Arthur Green Fisher , and G ; o . Roland Taylor , which proved unanimous , and they were initiated forthwith in a very able and impressive manner by the W . M . Bro . H . Marfleet , P . M ., D . C , presented the W . VI . elec t , Bro . Wm . Hy . Smith , S . W ., to receive from the W . M . the benefit of installation , which ceremony was very perfectly performed by the Installing Master , Bro . Ayris . Bro . W . H . Smith , W . M ., invested his officers as follows : Bros . J . R . Ayris , I . P . M . ; H . B . Hancock , S . W . ; S . P . Fisher , J . W . ; J . H . Edwards , P . M ., Treas . ; John Nixon , P . M ., Sec . ; W . H . Edwards , S . D . ; I . E . Cosham , J . D . ; H . Walter , I . G . ;

Wm . Gorrie , P . M ., and J . T . Woolfe , Stwds . ; H . Marfleet , P . M ., D . C ; F . D . Landeker , A . D . C ; S . Leaman , Org . ; and T . Bowler , Tyler . The addresses were ably rendered by Bro . J . Ayris , I . P . M . A Past Master ' s jewel was unanimously voted tbe outgoing Master for efficient services during the past year , and presented to Bro . j . Ayris , T . P . M ., who most suitably acknowledged the same . The business ended , the brethren adjourned to an excellent banquet , on the completion of which the W . M . presented the loyal and Masonic toasts with that loyalty which characterises Freemasons . -

In proposing "The Pro G . Master , Earl Amherst ; the Dep . G . Master , the Earl of Warwick ; and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " the W . M . spoke in appreciative terms of the estimable manner in which they performed their duties on behalf of the Craft . Bro . James Ayris , I . P . M ., in terms of the highest praise , presented the toast of " The W . M ., " who had now reached the summit of his ambition , was initiated by the late highly esteemed Bro . Wm . Eckersall , whom he ( the I . P . M . ) had known for nearly 40 years , and who was a brother upon whom all could rely , and he was always ready to

do a kind action for any one . The W . M . had performed his duties admirably , although he bad suffered a severe illness , and what was most commendable was his record since his initiation 11 years ago , that he had scarcely missed a meeting , and his office was never once filled by another , which spoke volumes , and showed to the brethren that the W . M . was a brother who could perfectly be relied upon . He wished the W . M . a successful year , and he asked the brethren to drink to his good health and well-being . The toast was drunk with enthusiasm .

In reply , Bro . W . H . Smith , W . M ., heartily thanked the brethren for so cordial a greeting , and he felt the honour greatly . He would do his very best to further its interests , as he had hitherto done . The one very great gratification to him was the good feeling and good fellowship that existed in the lodge , as was also testified by the brother visitors . He would endeavour to deserve all the kind things that had been said of him .

The W . M . next presented the toast of" The Initiates , " which was a most important one . Among the brother initiates , who were all highly recommended , was Bro . Taylor , the worthy son of the highly esteemed late Bro . Taylor , P . M ., who was looked up to and revered by all the brethren of the Stability Lodge . Also Bro . A . G . Fisher , the brother of the very capable and earnest worker , the J . W . ; and also Bro . Wallerthree excellent brethren ; and he hoped that they would in due time reach the chair , and emulate those worthy P . Ms , now passed away who had served the lodge so well . Bros . Taylor , Fisher , and Waller most cordially responded .

The toast of "The Visitors" received at the hands of the W . M . and brethren a most hearty reception , and was duly responded to by Bros . Grummant , Murche , Stone , Becker , and Corpe . The toasts of "The Past Masters , " "The Installing Master , " and "The Officers of the Lodge " having been . honoured , the Ty'er ' s toast was given , which closed a very happy meeting . A capital programme of music was arranged , the artistes ( who were highly appreciated ) being Miss Dreda Newman , Miss Naomi Smith , and Bros . H . Thom and Valentine Hill ( reciter ) . Bro . S . Leaman , Org ., very ably accompinieJ .

Forward Lodge , No . 1180 . There was a large assembly of membeis of the above lodge and a good number ol visiting brethren at the Masonx Hill , Birmingham , on the 5 th instant , on the occasion of the installation of Bro . Henry Myers as W . M . of the lodge . The work of installation was admirably performed by Hro . H . B . Nicholls , I . P . M ,, and the W . M . then appointed and invested his officeis for the ensuing year as follows : Bros . W . H . Bowater ,

S . W . ; W . H . Davis , J . W . ; H . A . Clulee , Chap . ; S . S . Brown , Treas . ; J . T . Harcourt , P . P . A . G . S ., Charity Stwd . ; H . H . Bloomer , Sec ; J . Hughes , S . D . ; T . E . Hill , J . D . ; W . Hillman , P . P . G . P ., D . of C ; T . N . Bladon , P . P . G . O ., Org . ; R . E . Boyd , I . G . ; C . Bees , P . E . Mosedale , W . H . Mountford , W . Law , and F . S . Poole , Stwds . ; and J . G . Trevitt , TyWr . At the completion of Masonic Iibour the members and visitors were invited by the W . M . to adjourn to the banqueting hall .

The W . M . was supported at the banquet by Bros . George Beech , P . M . 473 and S 87 , P . G . Std . Br . Eng ., Dep . Prov . G . Master ; F . G . Swinden , Prov . G . Sec . ; W . F . Tolladay , P . M . 1180 , P . P . G . D . D . of L . ; F . Hobday , P . M . 11 S 0 , P . P . A . G . D . of C . ; T . N . Bladon , P . P . G . Org . ; T . E . Shaw . P . M . 1163 , P . P . G . D . ; W . H . Blunt , P . M . 725 , P . P . A . G . S . ; Harry Wright . P . M . 1016 , P . P . G . D . ; J . C . Grinsell , P . M . 1180 , P . P . J . G . D . ; R . H . Evans , P . M . and Tieas . 1246 , P . P . A . G . S . ; W . M . Boddington , P . M . 1016 , P . P . A . G . Sec ; G . Shread , P . M . 482 and 17 S 2 , P . P . S . G . D . ;

R . G . Stephens , P . M . n 8 o , P . P . A . G . S . ; W . Francis , W . M . 1792 ; J . E . Moorhouse , W . M . 1246 ; J . W . Alccck , W . M . 1782 ; J . J . Kendall , P . M . 1030 ; E . J . Trevitt , P . M . 739 ; E . L . Field , P . M . 1163 ; J . Wright , P . M . 1016 ; W . F . Jeffrey , W . M . 1431 ; A . W . Beesley , W . M . 1163 ; W . O . Dingley , W . M . 1016 ; F . Smith , P . M . 1246 ; J . Palmer , P . M . 1180 ; F . C . Oiborne , J . Morgan , J . Brookes , F . Mountford , E . W . Kitching , C . Breedon , F . S . Poole , H . Stephens ( all of the lodge ); W . Henderson , 925 ; Harold Harcourt , 74 ; J . G . Slide , 74 ; W . H . Myers , 1031 ; R . J . Nichols , 1702 ; E . W . Richardson , 1031 ; A . Wright , 2241 ; C . C . Gossage , I . D .

73 ; F . C . Margrett , I . W . 473 ; T . A . Smith , S . W . 1431 ; J . Clay , Stwd . 2733 and 1031 ; C . J . Morris , S . W . 1246 ; W . Marhenke , J . D . 74 ; J . Smith , S . W . 1782 ; W . J . McAliece , l . G . 1031 ; and the newly-appointed officers of the lodge . The W . M ., in proposing " The Queen and the Craft , " observed that the toast of tVe Queen was one which was always received with great heartiness by Masonic bodies and no one in the land , at the present time , more deeply sympathised with her Majesty in the trying times she was passing through than Masons , and he , therefore , called upon them to rise and drink to the health of the Queen and t le Craf :. The toast was drunk with musical honours and enthusiastic acclamation .

The W . M . rose to propose " The Health of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , K . G ., M . W . G . M ,, " and from personal knowledge of the Diamond J ubilee work poi . ited out how ably the Grand Master performed the onerous duties imposed upon him . The toast was drunk most heartily . Bro . J . T . Harcourt was entrusted with the gavel for the next toast , whic ' i was that of " The M . W . Pro Grand Master , the Earl Amnerst ; the R . W . Dap . Grand Master , the Earl of Warwick ; and the rest of ths Grand Officers , Present and Past . " Hs s lid that all who had had the privilege of visiting the Grand Lodge of England were

struck with the admirable manner in which the duties were perforate 1 by th ; eminent Masons , who constituted the lodge . Some might think fiat the ceremonies were not up to the standard of ordinary lodge work , but there they were mistaken , for the work was done magnificently . The officers of Grand Lodge held some of the highest positions in the land , but their loyalty to Masonry was so intense that they made themselves thoroughly conversant with the ceremonies and could stand up before 1500 Masons and peiform their duties without an error . When the brethren considered that theie were no lodges of instruction connected with Grand Lodge the ability of the

Craft Masonry.

Grand Lodge Officers was worthy of such praise . At a recent Grand Lodge function , the speaker remembered one of the officers being pulled up for a small fault . He rectified the mistake and afterwards went through the work grandly . The brethren drank the toast with fervour . Bro . Geo . Beech , Dep . Prov . G . M ., thanked the brethren for the warm reception they had given to the toast of the Officers , Present and Past , of the Grand Lodge of England , and he also thanked Bro . Harcourt for the very kind words he had used in proposing it . - All the eulogies that Bro . Harcourt had passed on the officers were

deserved by most of them . Probably the brethren knew that some of the officers were looked upon as ornamental , while others were eminently useful , and they were well aware that Earl Amherst and the Earl of Warwick were thoroughly well up in all that appertained to Masonrv . There were Masters of other provinces as well who did their work in a manner which reflected the greatest credit on them . Truly , it might be said that they all breathed the spirit of Freemasonry , and the manner in which Freemasonry spread in the provinces to which they belonged showed how much they were respected and how the provinces looked up to them . ( Hear , hear . ) If W . Ms , would

seize the opportunity of visiting Grand Lodge oftener it would be a very beneficial thing to do . The W . M . of a Iodge during his term of office very often remarked that " no doubt the Grand Lodge Officers did their work well , but without caring to say anything of that , they formally proposed the officers' health and drank it . " That was not quite a fair way for a W . M . to act . He was summoned to attend Grand Lodge four times a year , and , to some extent , he neglected his duty if he did not answer that summons . To attend Grand Lodge was a means of keeping the W . M . in touch with what was

going on , and there was always something of interest transpiring . The brethren , perhaps , were aware that Gran 3 Lodge was composed of what was termed three divisions —the ornamental , the useful , and those who have received distinction for long service and for having served Freemasonry in some distinguished o ( 6 ce . Upon the executive , however , fell the work of dealing with Freemasonry , whose branches were spread out all over the world , and theirs was an immense task . The way they did it showed conclusively what good men they were . He supposed that he ( the speaker ) received his appointment through long services in the Craft . It was a very pleasing time when he

THB WORSHIPFUL MASTER . was appointed a Grand Officer . He renumbered taking his seat ty a brother who asked him how he was . He hid a longish chat with him , and wis afterwards surprised to know thit the brother was Viscount Wolseley , the Commander-in-Chief of the British forces . The G . M . always took the greatest interest in anything appertaining to Masonry . It was said that the Prince of Wales com -nencei work at seven o ' clock in the morning , went on till 12 at night , and then began to enjoy himself . ( Laughter . )

The speaker called the attention of the brethren to the fact that during that afternoon a scheme had been brought forward for benefiting the Warwickshire Benevolent and Pupils' Aid Fund . The fund was an excellent one , becaus ; it was worked at a minimum and did useful work . There were at present 17 annuitants on the books , and it occurred to the Committee that they ought to follow the example which Staffordshire had set before them , and see if thev could not raise sufficient money to supplement that invested fund , which they already had , in such a manner as to increase the annuities .

At present they were only able to give 5 s . a week , and that ought to be increased very considerably . ( Hear , hear . ) It ought to be Ss . at least , and if possible ios . It was proposed to hold a festival in the summer in aid of the fund , and Lord Leigh had very kindly placed the Stoneleigh Abbey grounds at their disposal for the purpose , and if he was well enough he would preside over the gathering . ( Hear , hear . ) The festival in all probability would take place in the first week in July , and , although it had not yet been fixed , he might assure them that it would be such as would enable every brother in

the province to be present . He trusted that there would be a great gathering . It was proposed to have a jewel for the Stewards and a brooch for the ladies , so that they might have something to look back upon . He expressed the hope that the Forward Lodge would do their utmost to support the new undertaking . Bro . J . T . Harcourt said that the Forward Lodge were behind many other lodges in respect to its Charities and he confidently looked forward to the members doing

something to bring them into the front rank . He suggested that the present was a very appropriate occasion to canvass the members for Stewards to act at the Festival spoken of by Bro . George Beech . This suggestion was acted upon , and it was announced that practically every member had promised to become a Steward . Bro . E . A . Smith proposed " The R . W . Prov . Grand Master of Warwickshire , the Right Hon . Lord Leigh . " In doing so he said that Lord Leigh was not only one of England's noblemen but he was one of nature's gentlemen . ( Hear , hear . ) He was help in the highest esteem by Masons generally and he was loved by the Masons of War-