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and the Craft , " saying that in that room the brethren had upon many occasions heard her Most Gracious Majesty ' s name mentioned with euloguim , and received with enthusiasm , and as she was well worthy of their fullest esteem as a woman and devotion as a Queen , he , following in the footsteps of his predecessors , asked them to drink the toast with all Ae enthusiasm it deserved .

The next toast was that of" H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., " and , in putting it , the W . M . said , their Grand Master was one of the hardest working men in the kingdom , and was acknowledged throughout the world as the first of English Masons , and the most genial and kindly of Princes . The toast having been most loyally responded to , that

0 f "The Pro G . M ., the Earl of Carnarvon , " was given , and received with cheers , and was followed by that of " The D . P . G . M ., Lord Lathom , and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past . " The I . P . M . then proposed the toast of " The Worshipful Master , " and , in so doing , said it gave him very great p leasure to propose it , because he had been intimately

associated with Bro . Mears during the whole of his Masonic career ; in fact , it was Bro . Mears who proposed him as an initiate , and since that time they had been friends and brothers together . Well , it was a most singular thing that there was he , introduced into Masonry by Bro . Mears , actually proposing , in his capacity as I . P . M ., that brother ' s health , instead ot , as in the ordinary course of Masonic

procedure , Bro . Mears proposing his . Such were the chances of Masonic office , for if Bro . Mears had not given way , he certainly would have preceded him in the chair . It was not given to every one to become popular , but in Bro . Mears they had a popular man , for he had the happy knack of gaining the esteem and friendship of every one with whom he came in contact , and he felt sure that

every one in that room would join in drinking his health in bumpers . Bro . Mears , who was cheered on rising to respond , said he felt very bashful since he had occupied the chair ; so that , if he did not sufficiently thank them , they must put it down to his inability , and not to any want of desire on his part ; but he could assure them that he did thank them

from the bottom of his heart for the kind reception of his name , and Bro . Temple for his kind expressions . He also desired to thank Bro . Johnson , who , some seven years ago , introduced him to the lodge . So far as Bro . Temple was concerned , he had been associated with him on various boards and businesses , and had always found bim a gentleman in every way . Now with respect to the lodge , he was

prepared to initiate as many good candidates as they chose to bring before him ; give them as many banquets as he could ; keep up the prestige of the lodge for its Charity and for its ritual ; and do all that in him lied for the prosperity of the lodge and the happiness of the brethren of it . He told them at the commencement of his speech that he was bashful ; well , he was just bashful enough now to tell

them that he meant to do the work of the lodge as well as ever it had been done . He did not know whether that was bashful or not , but it was a fact ; and if his friend and Jolly brother put it in the Freemason , the next time he visited the Henley Lodge that brother would be sat upon by him . Now to be serious ; he could assure them that nothing should be wanting on his part to keep up the

honour and prestige of the lodge , so as to make it second to none for its Charity and Masonic attributes generally . Bro . Mears , whose speech was received with mingled cheers and laughter , then resumed his seat amid hearty applause . Bro . Taplay , in responding for " The Past Masters , " said he was proud of the fact that he had initiated Bro .

Mears into Freemasonry . He had always found Bro . Mears to be attentive to his work in every ofiice he had held , and was always doing his best to maintain the dignity and integrity of the Capper Lodge . Bro . Watkins also responded , and then the toast of "The Initiate" was followed by that of " The Visitors , " for which a brother ( P . M . ) of the Emulation Lodge

at Dartford , Bros . Canning , Timberly , Gabb , Curly , and Chatterton , responded . "The Masonic Press" was coupled vvith the name of Bro . Jolly , who returned thanks . Bros . Dale and Tytheridgerespondedfor "TheOfficers , " and the Tyler ' s toast concluded the proceedings , which were interspersed with some good singing and reciting . Bro . Sherwin presiding at the piano .

ISLINGTON LODGE ( No . 1471 ) . —A regular meeting was held on Thursday , the Sth inst ., at the Cock Tavern , Highbury , when the following officers and brethren were present : Bros . John Petch , W . M . ; H . Hunt , S . W . ; S . Napper , J . W . ; John L . Mather , P . A . G . D . C , Treas . ; E . Blinkhorn , P . M ., Sec ; A . Cox .

actingb . D . j H . B . Harding , J . D . ; W . T . Tyrrell , I . G . ; C M . Coxon , D . C . ; R . Loomes , Stwd . ; Couchman , Tyler ; H . Cox , P . M . ; D . P . Holness , P . M . ; J . H . Thompson , I . P . M . ; J . G . Cobb , C Hiller , D . C Ritchie , F . Simmonds , N . Amy , J . Baker , W . Ash , J . Gravatt , J . W . Sheldrake , W . Jarvis , P . Faber , C . H . Stevenson , J . A . Blount , and B . Bridgwater . Visitors : Bros . W .

Hancock , 1056 and 2191 ; J . A . Pike , 73 ; G . W . Andrews , 2021 ; and F . A . Stewart , 1338 , of Auckland , New Zealand . The lodge opened , and the minutes of the last regular meeting were read and confirmed . A ballot was taken for Messrs . William Baker Hartridge , Charles Weber , and Charles Arthur Chapman , and proved unanimous in each instance . Messrs . Weber and Chapman were therefore dul

y initiated . Mr . W . B . Hartridge was unable to be present through illness . Bro . Amy was raised to the Degree of M . M . The report of the Committee appointed to revise the by-laws was received , and their recommendations approved . The lodge was then closed , and the brethren adjourned to refreshment . ,, The usual loyal and Masonic toasts vvere proposed by the W . M .

Bro . J . L . Mather , P . A . G . D . C , responded for "The Grand Officers . " ., T 1 ' -P . M ., Bro . Thompson , proposed "The Health of ine w . M . "m his usual happy manner , which was cordiall y received . The W . M . having replied , r j tlealtl - oi the Visitors " was proposed . It was replied to by Bro . W . Hancock in eloquent terms , and by » " >• f . A . Stewart , who thanked the brethren for the

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cordial greeting they had given him , which he should fee ! proud to report to his lodge on his return to New Zealand . After "The Officers" had been proposed and responded to , the proceedings terminated .

ROYAL KENSINGTON LODGE ( No . 1627 ) . —The installation meeting of this lodge was held at Freemasons' Hill , on Friday , the 2 nd instant . The members present included Bros . James Horace Jarvis , W . M . ; A . A . Rumsey , S . W . ; C . Toope , J . W . ; John B . Stevens , P . M ., Treas . ; C . E . Soppet , P . M ., P . G . Stwd ., Sec . ; H . P . Hay , P . M . ; H . T . Pitt , H . G . Hale , A . J .

Hudson , I . P . M . ; E . Delacoste , P . M . ; F . Binckes , P . G . S . B . ; and others . Visitors : Bros . Abel Laurence , P . P . S . G . D . Surrey ; J . E . Shand , P . M . 2030 ; John Whittlesea , 1642 ; J . F . Wright , S . D . 2016 ; A . Aldin , J . D . 2032 ; W . Douglas Young , S . D . 1072 ; C . H . Adkins , 2146 ; E . St . Clair , W . M . 2060 ; J . Smith , 1328 ; R . Hirst , S . W . 144 ; J . Loftus , W . M . 1306 ; J .

Knight , P . M . 95 ; F . M . Newton , go ; A . G . MaskelJ , P . M . 276 , P . P . S . G . W . Essex ; C . F . Hogard , P . G . Std . Br . ; F . Bohns , 1687 ; A . S . Reed , 5 ; P . Berhle , 1671 ; and W . VV . Lee , 1 S 97 . The Iodge was formally opened and the minutes confirmed . The Audit Committee's report being subsequently received and adopted , Bro . Arthur A . Rumsey was

presented as W . M . elect and duly installed into the chair by his predecessor . The officers for the year were appointed and invested as follows : Bros . Chas . Toope , b . W . ; H . G . Hale , J . W . ; J . B . Stevens , P . M ., Treas . ; E . Soppet , P . M ., P . G . Stwd ., Sec ; H . T . Pitt , S . D . ; G . Aylwin . J . D . ; H . P . Hay , P . M ., I . G . ; and Potter , Tyler . The addresses were then impressively delivered by

the Installing Master , Bro . J . Horace Jarvis , I . P . M ., who was alterwards presented with a handsome P . M ' s jewel by the W . M ., in recognition of his services during the past year . The I . P . M . having hereby returned thanks , the Secretary announced letters ot regret for non-attendance , from Bros . t _ ol . Shadwell H . Cierke , G . Sec ; F . Philbrick , O . C , G . Reg . ; S . Pope , Q . C . ; and others .

Other business having been transacted , the lodge was closed . The brethren adjourned to Freemasons' Tavern , where an excellent banquet was admirably served , at the conclusion of which the usual toasts were duly honoured . Bro . C . F . Hogard , P . G . Std . Br ., in responding for "The Grand Officers , " said he equally regretted , vvith their

W . M ., that there were not more Grand Officers present to respond to the toast . He had had the pleasure of being present at the installation meetings of this lodge for some years , and had generally found a good muster of Grand Officers . He had hoped that Bro . Binckes would respond , but the W . M . had reserved him for another toast . Ihe W . Master had said that short speeches were to be the

order of the evening , and as there was a long programme , he vvould simply cordially return thanks on Behalf of the Grand Officers for the very kind manner in which the toast had been received . Bro . J . H . Jarvis , I , P . M ., said he again had the privilege of wielding the gavel , and those present would know it was for the purpose of proposing " The Health of the

W . Master . " All the members , and many of the visitors , had had the privilege of seeing the attentive way in vvhich Bro . Rumsey , W . M ., had attended to the duties of the lodge . He was quite sure that now that brother had been promoted to the high position of W . M . he would perform the duties of the chair in the same admirable and efficient manner as he had those of the lower offices . The manner

in vvhich the W . M . had invested his officers that evening was quite enough for them to know what to expect during the forthcoming year . He would simply ask the brethren to drink the toast in Royal Kensington style . Bro . Arthur A . Rumsey , W . M ., thanked the brethren heartily for the kind manner in which they had drunk the toast , and the I . P . M . for the kindly terms in which he had

proposed it . He assured them he should do his best to uphold the dignity of the lodge , and of Freemasonry generally during his year . He could not hope or expect to attain that peifection vvhich their I . P . M . had shown them that night in the installation ceremony , but as he had promised to do his best , he hoped to be able to do credit to the lodge during the time he occupied the chair , and trusted

the officers would asoist him in that object . The W . M . then gave "The Installing Master and Past Masters , " and said that to have seen their I . P . M . at his best , the visitors should have heard him work the three ceremonies during his year of office . It was a performance that vvould make any lodge proud to possess such a Master , < md although few lodges might equal , none could

surpass . That he had such an efficient officer to fall back upon , vvould give him confidence in his endeavour to perform his duties as they ought to be performed . Bro . Jarvis , I . P . M ., in reply , said it vvas always difficult to return thanks for kind words , but the eulogistic terms in which the W . M . had mentioned any slight services he had rendered to the lodge , placed him at a total loss for a

response . Anything he had done in the lodge had been a great pleasure , and it would always afford him pleasure to enhance the benefit of the lodge , whether in the working or in Masonry generally . If any humble assistance he could give the W . M . would be of any advantage to him during his year , he had only to command him , and he should always be at his service . He returned sincere

thanks for the kind words expressed by the W . M . in presenting him with the jewel , and the members for voting it . He should always , as long as he was spared to be a Mason , look upon the jewel as a reference to the happy hours he had spent in the lodge , the many kindnesses he had

received from the members , and the kind way in which the visitors always acted towards them . "The Visitors" was next given in cordial terms by the W . M ., and responded to by Bros . St . Clair , W . M . Lodge La France ; Laurence , P . P . S . G . D . Surrey ; , Shand , P . M . ; and others .

Bro . F . Binckes , Sec . R . M . I , for Boys , ui responding for "The Masonic Charities , " said it was a serious toast . They had enjoyed themselves , more or less , at the social board , many of them being overcome with troubles ; which they endeavoured to forget . Then came the toast of the

Masonic Institutions , and that was not the most cheerful phase of Freemasonry . It was , however , the practical poition of the proceedings , and one which he hoped always had , and always would have , a charm for earnest Masons . In the hour of their personal enjoyment , they ought to feel

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more deeply the wants of those not so fortunately placed as themselves , He could testify with the deepest gratitude to the hearty and practical response that toast always met vvith in the Royal Kensington Lodge . For many years past the Institutions had been nobly supported by this lodge , and he hoped the day would never arrive when some brother would fail to offer himself as a volunteer to

maintain that prestige which it had secured for itselt . He did not forget that , in the early portion of last year , when the Centenary Festival of the Girls' School enlisted the sympathy of the great majority of the Craft , Bro . Stevens , P . M ., the Treasurer of the lodge , came to their rescue , and , in a most cheerful manner , volunteered his services .

That brother , through his own exertions , and supported by the members , gave a very successful and substantial amount on behalf of the Boys' Institution . He should never cease to remember the debt of gratitude he owed to Bro . Stevens . Bro . Delacoste , P . M ., he was pleased to say , had intimated his intention of representing the lodge on behalf of the Boys' School , and had authorised him to make the announcement . At that late hour he should not

weary them with statistics . His time had been occupied in attending the Committee of Inquiry which had been asked or demanded—he vvould not give his opinion whether wisely or unwisely . That Committee was in session , and he should attend to listen to the complaints urged against their policy and administration ; but , whatever might be said by those who criticised them , thank God , they could

put forward results that every Mason might congratulate himself upon . They had heard complaints about food and supervison , but he had known the Institution for 30 years , and during that time the deaths that had occurred numbered only six . He could point to an organisation called the " Old Masonians , " where from So to 90 ex-pupils vvere bound together to maintain the old traditions of the School ,

and they would not do that if those traditions were not worth maintaining . He did not want to bias the opinion of any . He asked his friends not to be carried away with what they read in the shape of attack , but to wait for the report , and give them credit for doing the best they could .

They had no fear of the result of that Committee , for he would not stand amongst the brethren as he did that evening—in the presence of those to whom he was never tiied of expressing his gratitude for what they had done in the past—if he could not speak confidently of the administration of that Institution . He thanked them for the welcome

accorded him , and was sanguine enough to indulge in the hope that such might be the result of that investigation , that , if he was spared , he might still be a welcome guest for some future years amongst the members of the Royal Kensington Lodge , whom he regarded so highly . He congratulated the VV . M ., and wished him heartily health and strength to discharge his duties with gratification to himself and to the best interests of the lodge and Freemasonry in

general . "The Treasurer and Secretary" and "The Officers " having been given , The Tyler ' s toast closed a successful gathering . A splendid programme of music vvas excellently rendered , under the direction of Bro . Henry Prenton , assisted by Bro . A . C . Pritchard and Misses Emily Davies and Maud Hayter .

REGENT'S PARK LODGE ( No . 2202 ) . —A regular meeting of this lodge vvas held at the York and Albany Hotel , Regent's Park , N . W ., on Saturday , the 3 rd inst ., vvhen there vvere present Bros . J . K . K . Cama , W . M . ; D . P . Cama , I . P . M . ; E . C . Mulvey , S . W . ; N . K . Goodchild , J . W . ; N . Goodchild , Treas . ; C Sheppard , Sec ; J . Powdrell , S . D . ; VV . H . Hosegood ,

J . D . ; A . Giddings , I . G . ; Jas . Kew , Stwd . ; J . P . Poynter , Org . ; R . Whiting , Tyler ; C W . Rex , F . J . Holden , F . Palmer , G . Lane , H . F . Bangs , G . Clampitt , and J . Bangs . Visitors : Bros . P . P . Merita , 2246 ; F . E . Pocock , P . M . 1891 ; W . J . Mason , 2246 ; C . A . Itter , 2246 ; A . A . Itter , 2246 ; and C . Salter , 2255 . The lodge was opened and the minutes of the last

meeting vvere read and confirmed . The Secretary read a letter wich had been received by Bro . D . P . Cama , I . P . M ., giving an account of the death of Bro . Mukand-Lal-Varma , the first Indian initiated in the lodge , who was drowned at Clacton-on-Sea on the 4 th September last , for whom the lodge was in mourning . A vote of sympathy and condolence witn the relatives of the deceased brother was passed , and

ordered to be recorded on the minutes , and a copy sent to the father . By request of the W . M . of the Cyclist Lodge , No . 2246 , Bros . P . P . Mehtaand A . A . liter of that lodge , were then raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason , the ceremony being most effectively rendered by

the W . M . Bro . J . Kew was presented with ajewel , voted at the last meeting , and Bros . Mehta and Itter , in felicitous terms , thanked the W . M . and brethren for allowing them to be raised in that lodge . All business being ended the Iodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to the social board .

QUATUOR CORONATI LODGE ( Mo . 2076 ) .

—This lodge met at the Freemasons' Hall on Thursday , the Sth inst ., when there were present Bros . R . F . Gould , P . G . D ., W . M . ; W . Simpson , S . W . ; Lieut .-Col . S . C . Pratt , R . A ., J . W . ; G . W . Speth , Sec ; W . M . Bywater . P . G . S . B ., S . D . ; Dr . W . Wynn Westcott , I . G . ; W . H . Rylands , P . G . Stwd . ; Rev . C J . Ball , and W . Mattieu Williams . Also the following members of the

Correspondence Circle : Bros . S . Richardson , Alex . Howell , C . F . Matier , P . G . a . B . ; J . B . Mackey , Geo . Allen , J . H . Forshaw , C Kupferschmidt , F . A . Powell , R . A . Gowan , B . A . Smith , W . | J . Spratling , and Prof . F . W . Driver . Together with the following visitors : Bros . S . L . Macgregor Mathers , J . Finlay Finlayson , S . S . Partridge , P . A . G . D . C , Dep . Prov . G . M . Leicester and Rutland ; and C . Putdon

Clarke . The lodge having been opened , the W . M . said he should request Bio . Stephen Richardson , P . M . 183 , to act as Director of the Ceremonies during the lodge proceedings of the evening . Bro . W . Matiieu Williams , F . R . A . S .. F . C . S ., The Grange , Neasden , N . W ., of Lodge King Solomon , No . 2029 , author of " Through Norway with a

Knapsack , " " the Fuel of the Sun , " " Through Norway ' with Ladies , " A Simple Treatise on Heat , " " Science in Short Chapters , " " The Chemistry of Cookery , " "Can- ' tor Lectures on Iron and Steel , " and other subjects , vvas ' balloted for as a joining member . Bro . W . M . Williams , being in attendance , was duly admitted , presented to the-W . M ., and greeted from the chair ,