Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

Reports of Masonic Meetings .

THE CRAFT . METROPOLITAN . Bedford Lodge , No . 157 . —At a meeting held of this lodge on Friday , loth inst ., at Freemason's Hall , there were present : Bros . J . Hills , W . M ; W . Holland , S . W . ; G . Silcocke , J . W . ; Brandar , S . D . ; Briggs , T-D ; S . Hills , P . M ., Sec ; J . Smith , I . P . M . ; T . Cubitt , P . M . ; Mills , P . M . ; Eades , L . Drew , Tullet , Mack , Walker .

& c . ; and Bro . F . Walters , W . M . 1309 , as a visitor . The lodge was opened in due form . The minutes of the previous meeting were read and unanimously confirmed . The candidates for the several degrees were absent . Bro . J . Hills , W . M ., in an appropriate speech , presented Bro . J . Smith , I . P . M ., with a massive gold Past Master ' s jewel , which , at the last meeting of the lodge , had been

unanimously voted to him from the lodge funds . Bro . John Smith , in a kind feeling speech , acknowledged the handsome present they had made him . Several propositions for candidates for initiation to be done at the next meeting were made . The lodge was closed . The usual superior banquet and dessert followed , and some excellent singing brought this happy re-union to a pleasant termination .

Dalhousie Lodge , No . 860 . —The regular meeting of this lodge was held on Thursday , gth inst ., at Anderton ' s Hotel . The lodge was opened . There were present : Bros . J . "W . Williams , W . M . ; T . Hardy , S . W . ; R . Thomson , J . W . ; W . Bristo , P . M ., Treasurer ; H . J . St . John Ingram , B . Seneat , S . D . ; H . Dalaroce , J . D . ; S . Smith , Organist ; C . F . Knox , M . Hermann , W France ,

F . Bristo , T . C . White , F . Allen , and others . The visitors were : R . A . Wright , P . P . G . S . D ., Herts ; F . Walters , W . M . 1309 . The work done was passing Bro . White to the second degree , which was done in an able manner . The lodge was closed . Thc banquet followed , and the good music and singing , for which this lodge is so famous , completed the evening ' s proceedings .

PROVINCIAL . BRIGHTON . —Royal Clarence Lodge , No . 271 . —On Friday , January 20 th , the annual meeting of this old established lodge was held in the Masonic Rooms , Royal Pavilion . The lodge was opened by Bro . John II . Scott . P . M ., P . Prov . G . S . W ., Sussex ( in the unavoidable absence of the W . M . ) , at half-past four o ' clock , and the

minutes of the previous lodge were read and confirmed . The Secretary then informed the acting W . M . and brethren of the communications received by him , which comprised the resignations of three members of ihe lodge—Bros . II . Smithers , P . M ., Lardelli , and Craven—also that Bro . John Cordy regretted his inability to continue any longer the duties of Treasurer , on account of the increasing

infirmities of age and thc distance his present residence was from Brighton . Upon this , Bro . G . II . King , P . M ., proposed in the kindest terms and most fraternal manner , " That thc best thanks ofthe lodge be given to Bro . Cordy for his faithful and constant services during the many years he had held the Treasurership . " In doing this Bro . King referred in the most feeling terms to the many years that

Bro . Cordy had been connected with the lodge , both as a member and as an officer , but more especially as the Treasurer since the lamented death of Bro . D . M . Folkard , and expressed the regret that he was certain every member of the lodge would feel at losing tlie services and advice of their old friend , for such they had ever found him , especially in the days when Freemasonry in Brighton was

not so flourishing as at present . Whatever fortune the lodge had experienced , good or bad , in times past , Bro . Cordy had always been prepared to share it , and at the present time it was a source of great regret they were compelled to receive from their excellent brother thc intimation " That he felt unable to attend to the responsible duties of thc office . " The proposed motion was carried

unanimously . The chair was then taken by Bro . G . E . Pocock , P . M ., 271 , 851 , & c , Past G . S . B . England , and Prov . G . Sec . Sussex , to enable him to install his son , Bro . C . J . Pocock , S . W . and W . M .-elect , he having been initiated into Freemasonry in this lodge by his father some years since . It must be a particularly pleasing duty for a father to initiate a son into Freemasonry , but the

pleasure of installing a son into the chair of K . S . must be much greater , it being , the highest honour the brethren can confer on any of their members . To witness this most interesting ceremony , a very large number of distinguished Masons assembled from all parts of the province . Bro . King , P . M ., 271 . P . Prov . G . P ., Sussex , presented Bro . J . C . Pocock as having been duly elected

to the office of Master . This afforded him an opportunity of offering some observations in reference to the unusual circumstance of a father installing a son into thc chair of The lodge was opened in thc third degree , and the brethren below the degree of Installed Master having withdrawn , a Board of Masters , in number about 24 , was then formed . The business of thc Board of Installed

Masters having been completed , Bro . G . E . Pocock gave a Masonic explanation of the 471 I 1 Problem of Euclid , pointing out the harmony , thc charity , and the beauty in a Masonic sense , of this celebrated figure in geometry , and impressing on thc brethren standing around him , the importance and the necessity of complying with the rules of Freemasonry , in every way , so that its teachings should impress all with the necessity of cultivating a sense ofthe

important responsibilities attached to the privilege of being a Mason . Thc Board of Installed Masters was then closed , and thc Master Masons admitted . Bro . C . J . Corder , P . M ., 271 , P . P . G . W ., Sussex , then proclaimed the W . M . in thc East , West , and South . The address to the Master on the importance of his office , and the duties connected therewith , was given by Bro . E . J . K ' -irner , P . M . 271 , Deputy Provincial Grand Master of

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

Sussex , in a manner which elicited the expressed approval ofthe brethren present . Bro . John H . Scott , P . M . 271 , P . P . G . Warden , Sussex , then addressed the Wardens on their duties , position , and responsibilities . The general address to the members was given by the Installing Master , and , at its conclusion , both father and son received the hearty congratulations of their friends . The officers

nominated and invested were as follows : Bros . Beard , M . D . I . P . M ., ; E . Bright , S . W . ; Loveday , J . W . ; Rev . John Griffith , P . M . 811 , P . G . Chaplain , Sussex , Chaplain ; G . Tatl-am , P . M . 271 , P . P . G . W . Sussex , Treas . ; Rev . A . Creek , Sec ; W . Wilkinson , S . D . ; Gill , J . D . ; J . Corder , P . M . 271 , P . P . G . Warden , Sussex , D . of C ; Ford , I . G . ; John Fabian , P . M . 271 , P . P . G . D .

of Works , Sussex , Steward . Before the lodge was closed , various sums of money were voted from the lodge funds to charitable institutions : the Masonic Boys' School ; the Masonic Girls' School ; the Benevolent Fund for Aged Freemasons ; the Sussex County Hospital ; the Brighton Dispensary ; the Brighton Eye Infirmary ; the Brighton Soup' Fund ; tlie Brighton Lying-in Institution . All

business being ended , the lodge was closed soon after six o ' clock , p . m ., and the brethren , to the number of 60 , adjourned to the magnificent banqueting room ofthe Royal Pavilion , where was provided a banquet supplied by Mr . Mellison , of the Brighton Concert Hall Restaurant . The dinner-table was most sumptously supplied with every delicacy in season , the wines of the choicest description ,

and the table decorations elicited special remark for their chaste and elegant arrangement . Mr . Mellison personally superintended , and the arrangements for the comfort and convenience of the brethren were generally approved . During the evening there was present : Bros . Rev . Sir John Hay , Past Grand Chaplain of England ; G . E . Pocock , P . M . 271 , 851 , P . G . S . B . England , Prov . G .

Sec . Sussex ; W . R . Wood , P . M . Si I , P . Grand Steward , England , P . P . J . G . W . Sussex : E . J . Turner , P . M . 271 , Deputy Grand Master , Sussex ; Rev . John Griffith , P . M . 811 , Prov . Grand Chaplain , Sussex ; W . Challen , P . M . 315 , P . P . G . S . B . Sussex ; C . J . Corder , P . M . 271 , 732 , 851 , P . P . G . D . of C , Sussex , and P . P . G . S . W ., Sussex ; Taaffe , P . M . 811 , P . D . of C , Sussex ; fohn II . Scott ,

P . M . 271 , P . P . G . S . W ., Sussex ; G . H . King , P . M . 271 , P . P . G . P ., Sussex ; Scott , P . M ., P . P . G . S . of Works , Sussex ; W . Kuhe , P . M . 271 , P . P . G ., Organist , Sussex ; Devine , 315 , P . G . Organist , Sussex ; P . R . Wilkinson , P . M . 271 , P . P . G . D ., Sussex ; Dixon , P . M . 271 , P . A . D . of C . Sussex ; W . A . Stuckey , P . M . 271 , P . P . A . G . D . ofC , Sussex ; V . Freeman , P . M . 732 , P . PG . W .,

Sussex ; John Fabian , P . M . 271 , P . P . G ., D . of Works , Sussex ; G . Tatham , P . M . 271 , Treasurer 271 , P . P . G . W . Sussex ; Branwell , P . M . 271 ; Lowdell , P . M . 271 ; E . Bright , S . W . 271 ; Creak , Sec . 271 ; W . Wilkinson , S . D ., 271 ; Wilkinson , 271 ; Sabine , P . M . 73 ; Loveday , J . W . 271 ; Gill , J . D , 271 ; Foord , I . G . 271 ;

Langtry , 271 ; Evershed , W . M . 56 ; C . M . Smith , 271 ; Adams , 271 ; R . M . Webb , 732 , Mayor of Brighton ; A . IT . Cox , 732 , ex-Mayor of Brighton ; W . H . German , 811 ; S . Wing , 811 ; G . A . Day , Sec . 732 ; James Curtis , W . M . 315 ; E . Turner , W . M . 811 ; E . Carpenter , W . M . 732 ; S . Ridley , Treasurer , 732 ; G . Hawkins , & c , & c .

LEICESTER . —St . John ' s Lodge , No . 279 . —The first meeting of this lodge since the annual festival was held at th « Freemasons' llall , Leicester , on Wednesday , thc 1 st inst ., under the presidency of Bro . Stretton , W . M . On the conclusion of the preliminary business , Bros . Pye and Beeton were duly raised to the third degree ,

the ceremony , at the request of the W . M ., being very impressively performed by Bro . Toller , P . G . Sec , the effect being greatly enhanced by the musical service conducted by Bro . Charles Johnson , P . P . G . O ., on the organ . Bro . Kelly , P . G . M ., read a letter from Bro . W . James Hughan , of Truro , thanking the brethren for the

handsome manner in which his former donations of books to the library ofthe Masonic Hall had been acknowledged , and now presenting , through him ( Bro . Kelly ) a further present of Masonic publications ; Bro . Hughan writing"You are heartily welcome to these for the library , and kindly say that if the members will only make the library worthy of the province , I will not forget the shelves ,

they may be certain . Bro . Kelly , after eulogising Bro . Hughan for his handsome presents to the library , and especially for thc valuable aid he had rendered at the two last elections to their local candidate for the Boys ' School—Alfred Nutt , son of the late Bro . John Nutt , of this lodge—proposed that , as a slight mark of esteem and gratitude , Bro . Hughan be elected an hononory

member of the lodge , in addition to a vote of thanks , which was seconded by the W . M ., and heartily concurred in by the brethren . On the proposition of thc P . G . M ., seconded by the W . M ., a vote of condolence was passed on thc recent decease of Iiro . Robert Crawford , a P . M . ofthe lodge and a Past Grand Senior

Warden of the province , who was for upwards of a quarter of a century an active member , and during a considerable portion of that time thc Treasurer ofthe lodge . Some business of a routine character was then transacted , two gentlemen were proposed as candidates for initiation , a Committee was appointed to revise the by-laws , the lodge was closed , and thc brethren adjourned to refreshment .

LANCASTER . —Lodge of Fortitude , A O . 2 S 1 . —Thc regular meeting of this lodge was held on Wednesday , the 8 th inst ., at the Masonic Rooms , Alhcnn-um . There were present W . Bro . Dr . Moore , W . M ., P . P . G . S . W . ; Bros . John Hatch , I . P . M . ; William Hall , S . W . ; Wm . Fleming , J . W . ; James Natch , P . M . and Treas . ; Edmund

Simpson , P . M . and Sec ; Edward Aircy , S . D . ; William J . Sly , J . D . ; Job 11 Harrison , I . G . ; John Watson , Tyler ; Harry Sumner , Steward ; and a large assembly of brethren . The lodge being opened and usual business transacted , Bro . Barrow proposed that thc use of the lodge-room and furniture should be let to a new lodge , on the same terms that it had been to Lodge No . 1051 . Thc

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

question was deferred until such a time as the lodge should be founded , every probability being held forth that the request would be granted . Bro . Barrow then asked the recommendation of the lodge to a petition for a new lodge , to be called the Duke of Lancaster Lodge , to be held in Lancaster . This was seconded by Bro . Edmund Simpson , P . M ., and carried unanimously . A

petition to the Fund of Benevolence , on behalf of the widow of a deceased Past Master , was read , and received the unanimous recommendation of the lodge . One joining member and two candidates for initiation were proposed , and the lodge was closed in due form . BERWICK-ON-TWEED . —Lodge St . David , No . 393—The brethren of this lodge met on the evening of

Tuesday , 7 th February , being the regular monthly meeting , in their own hall . Bro . George Moor , Worshipful Master , occupied the chair , the Wardens' chairs being filled by Bro . C . I . Paton , S . W ., and Bro . C . Hopper , J . W . The lodge was opened in due form , previous minutes were read and confirmed , and Bro . the Rev . H . Proctor , Vicar of Tweedmouth , was unanimously elected

a joining member . A proposal was made from a brother for affiliation , accompanied with the usual recommendations , and was laid on tlie table and ordered to be entered in the summonses for ballot at the next regular monthly meeting . No further business being before the meeting , the lodge was closed , and the brethren immediately thereafter sat down to an excellent banquet , prepared

for the purpose of entertaining the Senior Warden . After the table was cleared , the usunl loyal and Masonic toasts were drank with enthusiasm . The Worshipful Master , Bro . George Moor , rose and said : Brethren , we have this evening given honour to our illustrious ruler in Freemasonry , the Most Worshipful Grand Mrster of England , and also to our good and faithful Provincial

Grand Master of Northumberland and Berwick-on-Tweed , but the banquet specially prepare \ of which we all have partaken , was for the purpose of < ntertaining one of our own office-bearers—the Senior W .-. rden . It is now some time ago since he joined us , and several of us have had the privilege of knowing him in private life , as well as in his Masonic career , and all of us in the capacity of

Freemasons highly esteem him for his noble illustrations of thc true principles of Freemasonry . The lodge has received many tokens of a ready willingness shown to improvement , which thc brethren are f . illy aware of ; and in order to mark our sense of the many efforts of this , the members ofthe lodge unanimously resolved to give our Senior Warden a suitable testimonial , which we consider would

be best , in the shape of a handsoni . solid gold Masonic jewel , bearing the following inscription : —* ' Presented to Bro . Chalmers Izett Paton , by thc brethren of Lodge St . David , No . 393 , in recognition of his many kindnesses , and as a mark of respect aval affectionate regard . 7 th February , 1871 . " I now present this solid gold jewel to him , in the name of the whole of the brethren of

the lodge , in the earnest desire that he may long be spared to wear it , and continue to work in the glorious cause of our noble Order . —The Senior Warden , Bro . C . I . Paton , rose and said : Worshipful Master , Brother Warden , and brethren , it is with feelings of great pleasure that I sit here in the chair of the Senior Warden , and if I have carried out the symbolic teachings proper to my office to

the satisfaction of thc lodge , I cannot but rejoice in it . I accept with delight and gratitude the mark of your favour which I have just receive ! ; and will wear this jewel with pride in future days at nil Masonic gatherings . Since I first saw the light of Masonry , I have endeavoured to walk according to strict rule and plumb , ahvays striving to observe the glorious teachings and principles of

our ancient and honourable Order . I can venture to defy any one to point out any deviation on my part from the ancient landmarks , laws , obligations , and charges . One thing I may say—I do it without wishing to say anything derogatory to any one , a : al I hope I shall be understood , by every brother pres . . it—that the greatest fault of Freemasons is their not pa-, ing sufficient attention

to the Divine truths taught in our ceremonials and illustrated in our symbols . No brother can be justified in allowing these great truths to escape from his memory and regard , because his promises , made at thc very threshold of our Temple , ought to remain for ever deeply engraven on his heart . Were this more duly considered , and were these truths mote constantly present to thc minds of

brethren , strifes or divisions , sv . h as sometimes unhappily do occur among us , would be impossible . Freemasons , calling themselves Chri tians , throughout the world regard St . John thc Bapdist and St . John the Evangelist with special reverence ; and their admirable teachings of morality and brotherly love may be deemed the foundations of the rules and (( idlings ofthe Order .

I have endeavoured , however , feebly to struggle for the maintenance of the rules of virt le and morality inculcated by them—the observance of which in their integrity is the honour and glory of our 1 ) rder . I have endeavoured to maintain the laws of t ' e Order by correcting errors . I have but imperfectly succeeded ; I hope , however , that ultimately I shall be . successful , and that these laws will be vindicated in their integrity . I often think

of one of our symbols— "Thc All-seeing Eye "—and I rejoice to entertain the confidence that He who rules over all will with unfailing justice confound the guilty and protect those who are in thc right . Some time may elapse ; the course of Providence is often slow to our apprehension , but tho end is not les- ; sure . I am contented to wait for the end . In maintaining the cause of Freemasonry , I have lately been involve 1 in a controversy with a

brother living in America , on the subject of our relation to St . John the Evangelist ; I hope , however , that I have been able to maintain our ri ght to assert a relation to St . John as one who taught the same principles which we teach , and that from a very early period his name has been connected with Freemasonry , and that he has been specially reverenced by Freemasons in all parts of the world . I have laboured to maintain