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Master has chosen to disconnect himself from Freemasonry , he has retired from his lodges and relinquished all claim to Past Rank , and , of course , his name will soon be unconnected with the toasts , and we shall not have the painful duty of referring to what has occurred . Let us ,

therefore turn our eyes to the more pleasing phase of events , and contemplate with satisfaction the results—no less than the advent of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales as our Grand Master—an event which I feel sure will be hailed with gratification by every member of

the Craft , and that when he comes among us in the Grand Lodge , he will be received with the greatest acclamation . Some of you probably are aware that I have the honour to be Secretary of the Prince of Wales ' s Lodge , of which his Royal Highness is W . M ., and in which he has

recently initiated his brother , thc Duke of Connaught . I have , therefore , in the discharge of my duties , been placed in respectful communication with his Royal Highness , not only at Marlborough House , but in the lodge ; and I have no doubt from the interest

he took in the proceedings , that his heart is thoroughly in Masonry . It struck me that he grasped in a marvellous manner the peculiar points of beauty in our ceremonies . And I am quite sure of this , that he will be the most popular Grand Master that has ever occupied

that position . His highly genial qualities peculiarly fit him for that office . I have no doubt that the step he has taken in accepting the office will not onl y be highly appreciated by Masons , but by all the libertyloving people , who will rejoice in this act of

defiance on the part of the Prince of Wales against the interference of a foreign potentate with tbe liberty of conscience in England . ( Hear , hear . ) Brethren , so much for "The Deputy Grand Master and the Grand Officers . " Our Bro . Hervey will have the

opportunity of responding to another toast later in the evening . You will permit me perhaps to say I am exceedingly gratified to be present at this lodge on this occasion ; it is indeed extremely gratifying at all times to watch the progress of a lodge in which } ou have taken an

early interest , and in the consecration of which you have taken part . It affords me much pleasure to see that all the prognostications of this lodge have been justified . It promises to be one of the most prosperous in the City of London . Allow me to congratulate

you on the excellent working which your late Master has inaugurated in this lodge , and which I hope will be continued in the person of your present Master . Bro . Stevens , I . P . M ., then proposed " The Worshipful Master of the Great City Lodge , Bro . N . B .

Headon . Brethren , said he , next to the pleasure of being in the chair myself is the pleasure of proposing the health of mv successor , a man and a brother whom we are all delighted to honour , not only for his personal worth , but as being the prime mover in the foundation of the lodge .

We r . Il know that he almost single-handed fought the battle , and by his indomitable perseverance ultimately obtained the charter for the lodge . But he has his reward in the well-won honours of his present position in the lodge . No Worshipful Master ever

ascended to the chair with a better prospect before him , for he had the hearty co-operation of his officers and the sympathy and support of us all . The toast was drank with Great City honours . The Worshipful Master , who was received with great cheering , said in reply that he

hardly knew how to begin to return thanks for the handsome terms in which the toast had been proposed , and the cordial manner in which it had been responded to for " When he was not thanked at all , he was thanked enough , he had done his duty and had done no more , " It was

true that he had had many obstacles to encounter , but he was encouraged by the reflection that perseverence in a just cause would overcome all difficulties , and on looking at that splendid assemblage that evening he felt amply rewarded

for all his exertions , especially when he found that the Great City Lodge had been such a great success , and had , so to speak , made a home for so many worthy brethren . He again thanked them all most heartily , and trusted that he might

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during his year of office justify their high opinion , and he would do his utmost to promote the welfare of the lodge and the happiness of the whole of its members . ( Loud cheers . ) He would now call on them to unite with him in

congratulating Bro . Stevens on completing his arduous term of office . They knew how zealously he had worked from the formation of the lodge , and under his guiding hand how the whole machinery had soon been brought into working order . In addition to that he had

initiated , passed , and raised no less than thirty members in the most careful and praiseworthy manner . No one knew , unless he had gone through it , what an amount of labour and anxiety all that involved . His zeal and assiduity had been untiring , and his impartial conduct and

genial bearing had endeared him to them all . In short , in him they felt that they had had an exemplary Master and a sincere friend . They had done themselves an honour , therefore in having voted him the Past Master ' s Jewel and an honorary membership of their lodge . The

Worshipful Master then handed the Great City Lodge Past Master ' s Jewel and said : Bro . P . M . Stevens , I am proud that it has fallen to me to present you with this handsome Jewel , and I hope that the G . A . O . T . U . may spare you to be with us for many years to come that you may wear it as a

tangible proof of our sincere esteem and regard . Bro . Stevens acknowledged the compliment in glowing terms , and the next toast was " The Honorary Members , " for which Bro . Hervey , G . S ., appropriately replied , and the toast of " The Initiates " was proposed duly honoured and

replied to . The Worshi pful Master then rose and said our next toast is " The Visitors . " The Great City Lodge is always ready to extend the right hand of . fellowship and give a hearty welcome to visitors . This evening we have such an illustrious assemblage of visitors , that

I scarcely know whose name I should couple with the toast , but Bro . Woodman , P . G . S . Middlesex and P . M . 66 , is one of the greatest strangers , and I shall couple his name with it . Dr . Woodman , P . G . S ., said he knew he was expressing the sentiments of all the visitors when

he said they had been delighted at the si ght within the lodge , and had heartily enjoyed the banquet . The hospitality of the Great City Lodge seemed to be as unlimited as it was genuine , and he trusted the lodge would prosper and continue in the road they had travelled

since the consecration last year , for that road , he felt sure , would lead to prosperity . Bro . Hine , D . P . G . M . of East Lancashire , also responded , agreeing with the last speaker as to the pleasure the visitors had felt at the kind welcome given to them , and proposed the next

toast , which was " Prosperity to thc Great City Lodge . " The W . M . then proposed "The Masonic Charities , " remarking that if there is one reason more than any other that should make us proud of being Freemasons—it is that we can point to those glorious Institutions , the

Boys , the Girls' and the Royal Masonic Institutions , as evidences of the grand principles we profess . We know that these noble institutions , each in its sphere , is doing a grand work , and I hold it to be the duty of every Freemason , and especially every lodge of

Freemasons to promote the interests of the charities , and if need be to make some sacrifice to advance their usefulness . Last year , brethren , we put our shoulders to the wheel on behalf of the Royal Masonic Institution , and although the little self sacrifice we then made was decried

by some unthinking persons , we have the satisfaction of knowing , that in the year one of our Masonic existence , our Steward took up some { £ 130 ; our lodge is now V . P ., and the S . W . and J . W . chairs are endowed with a life vote each . During my year of office , it is my

intention to offer myself as Steward for the Girls ' School , and I know brethren , I may safely count upon your liberal support , when the time conies . Brethren , I hope the Great City Lodge will never be unmindful of the charities , and that every year

a Steward will represent the lodge for one of the three in turn . The other toasts were " The Officers of the Lodge , " and the Tyler ' s toast . The proceedings were made more than usually enjoyable by the delightful music provided under the direction of Bro . Hook . The glees and

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part songs , sung without accompaniment were a great treat . Bro . C W . Jordon , Mus . Bac . Oxon , also treated the brethren to a solo on the pianoforte . The banquet was served by Bro . Spencer , in his best style , and the members did not begin to separate till near midni ght , sorry

to part and happy to meet again . BAGSHAW LODGE . —( No . 1457 ) . —The Anniversary Festival of this lodge was held at the Bald-Faced Stag Hotel , Buckhurst Hill , on Saturday , October 10 th . This lodge during the past year has made considerable progress , and

the working has been everything that could be desired . Young ss it is , it shows strength of members , and the business has been carried out with great satisfaction . The lodge met at three o ' clock , and was immediately opened by Bro . Joseph Tanner , P . M . 101 and 4 C 3 , and

P . P . S . G . D , Essex , W . M . , who was supported by his officers , members of the lodge and visitors . There were present , Bros . Col . Francis Burdett , P . G . M . Middlesex ; C . F . Hogard , W . M . 453 ; W . P . Billis , W . M . 1000 ; Joseph Tydeman , W . M . 1437 ; W . F Wheeler , P . M . S 65 ; A . A .

Richards , P . M ., P . G . Sec . ; J . H . Harusworth , P . M . 1178 ; J . Carter , 101 ; R . Martin , 453 ; F . Whitmore , S . W . 276 ; H . C . Velley , P . P . G . J . W . 276 ; F . Smee , W . M . 276 ; M . E . Clarke , P . M . 255 ; J . Williams ( Freemason ) , and others . After tha usual ceremonies , and on

presentation , Bro . Joseph Tanner installed Bro . Joseph Clarkson , P . M . 165 , in the chair of W . M . The brethren below the degree of Installed Master having been re-admitted to the lodge , and the customary salutes having been given , Bio . Clarkson

invested his officers for the ensuing year as follows : —Bros . J . R . Cover , Prov . G . Reg ., S . W . ; D . Reid , J . W . ; W . Babington , Treasurer ; Samuel Lilley , Secretary ; T . W . Nicholson , S . D . ; W . Holloway , J . D . ; G . J . Thompson , I G . ; C . I . Edwards , Dir . Cer . ; E . H . Kearley ,

W . S . ; Smith , Tyler ; Bro . Hogard then completed the ceremony with the delivery of the three addresses to thc Master , Wardens , and brethren . The lodge was then closed , and the brethren repaired to the banqueting room , where they partook of a splendid dinner , provided by the proprietor of the Bald Faced Stag Hotel . For

magnificence it could scarcel y be surpassed , and the fragrance thrown out by the flowers which were tastefully displayed , gave the room the lively aspect of summer . Bro . Clarkson ably presided , supported b y Bros . Col . Burdett , Joseph Tanner , T . W . Nicholson , Reed , Lilley , and many others of the brethren mentioned above .

At the conclusion of the excellent repast , the chairman rose and said : —Brethren , I think tonight we must be as brief as possible , owing l . o some of the brethren , including the worthy Bro . Col . Burdett , having to leave by the 0 . 15 train , therefore , I shall refrain

to night from making any long speeches . The first toast of the evening is " the Queen and : he Craft . " The toast was duly honoured ivhilst the brethren lustily sang " God save the aueen . " The chairman thcta said : —The next oast is " H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , K . G .,

:- \ G . M . of England . Whilst proposing that oast I feel an unknown pleasure . We all feel a jride in having him as our Grand Master . I shall not to-night enter into the details which lave led to his having accepted the office . In 3 . R . H . the Prince of Wales we have one who

las shown great interest in the Craft , and will , I im sure , in the future , carry out the same principles for the welfare and progress of the Order . iVe all regret losing the Marquis of Ripon , but ' . think we should take his resignation in the ; ame way as we should that of any other person

n the Craft . I have now very great pleasure in isking you to drink the health of H . R . H . the . ^ rince of Wales . The toast was drunk enthuliastically . The chairman : I next propose "the lealth of the Deputy G . M ., the Earl of Carlarvon , and the rest of the Grand Officers , Past ind Present , " coupling with that toast the name

if Bro . Col . Burdett . I have on several occasions met our Bro . Col . Burdett , and I consider le is , along with our Bro . Bagshaw , > ne of the best working Masons we can possibly tave . If we can always combine Middlesex and Sssex as we do now , we shall work amicably toother . After having eulogised the career of the