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the oilices with a considerable amount of energy and zeal , that he had acted as Steward of the Charities , nnd that as such he vvas to represent that lodge at the forthcoming festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Hoys , at which their Bro . the Lord Alayor had kindly consented to preside . Hro . Brookman had also joined . 1 very old and distinguished lodge , the Grand Alasters ' , No . i , of which their distinguished Hro . thc Lord Mayor was the present Worshipful

Alaster . They had already had a taste of the liberality of their Worshipful Alaster by the grand banquet and -summer outing he gave the whole of the members of the lodge at the Forest Hotel . lie thought be should express the feelings of all in congratulating _ him on thc honour lately conferred upon him by his election as a member of their City Parliament , in which be represented that Ward of Aldersgate , from which the lodge took its

name . Not only was he elected , but he vvas sent in at the head of the poll . This lie thought was a very good test of a man's worth , when be was singled out by his neighbours and friends , —men who had worked with him for a number of years , —lobe their representative ; and as their brother , the Treasurer , had said on a former occasion , " When a man conducted bis own business properly , he was the proper one to be entrusted with the business of others . "

He had no hesitation in saying that it was thc earnest wish of every member of that lodge , that , in that august body the Court of Common Council , over which their liro . the Lord Alayor so ably presided , Bro . Alfred Brookman might be as much appreciated as lie was in the Aldersgate Lodge . Bro . Brookman thanked the I . P . AI . for the kind expressions he had used with respect to himself , and for their reception by the brethren . In occupying that chair he felt

great responsibility ; he had to succeed those who were the founders of the Lodge . That evening thc work ol thc lodge passed into the hands of those who had been introduced into Alasonry by it , and being the first of those initiates called upon to occupy the position of W . AL , it seemed incumbent upon him to show to the utmost of his ability that the lodge should not suffer in prosperity by so doing . He would endeavour so to act that , at thc end of

bis year of office , they should consider he had tried to deserve all the kind things that had been said of him . 'The VV . AI . then said that he was about to introduce a toast which was not strictly Alasonic , but one which he was sure they would acknowledge with great heartiness . They had that cvcning . ' a guest whose presence was a I wars felt to be a great honour in whatever assembly he might be -, and in proposing "The Health of Bro . the Right Hon . the Lord

Alayor" he was proposing the health of one whom , as Alasons , they were delighted to honour . In his pisition of Chief Magistrate of tbat great city , the L « rd Mayor acted as the acknowledged minister of ( he charity of lingland . The first citizen of the first city of thc world occupied a grand position , and especially should the citizens of London be careful as to whom is accorded that position . In Bro . the Lord Alayor

they had one whom they could honour , not only as a man who wi mid add dignity to that exalted position , but also as one whom they i-uiild respect and look up tc as a good Alason ; nnd if high Alasonic honours should also be lie-towed upon him , the Craft generally would acknowledge the discretion with which such honours were given . He congratulated himself on having the pleasure of belonging to N « . I Lodge , of which the l . oid Alayor was W . AL , and thanked

him for so kindly appropriating that evening to be with the Aldersgate Lodge . 'The Lord Alayor , in replying , remarked that the VV . AI . bad said in his speech he trusted they would consider many things that were not said , as having been said ; what a number of inflictions that would save them if they could admit it , hut , unfortunately , everybody thought that the Lord . Mayor must be possessed of a great deal of wisdom ,

and were not satisfied unless it was cxnrecscd . One feeling animated his breast , and that vvas , that among the many pleasures of his position there vvere none equal to those of Masonry , where brotherly love reigned supreme , and he rnu-t be less than a man who could swerve from those high principles laid down in the lodge . If , as the VV . AI . had said , ( be Lord Mayor vvni tbe high priest of charity , he might be allowed to say that there were no nobler institutions

than those that the Frcemasonssuppcir ( cd , and in ( he many meetings he attended when the claims of charity were advocated he had never seen better collections than those made ina Freemasons'lodge . As to ( he fin Incoming festival of the Boys' School , at which he should have the honour to preside , he trusted and looked forward to a result that should compare fnvouiab ' . y with the past . ( Applause . ) The W . M . then proposed " The Health of the Installing

Master , Bro . Col . Shadwell II . Clerke , thc Grand Secretary , " and in doing so , congratulated the lodge and the brethren present on the great treat they had had in hearing the ceremony performed in so perfect a manner . 'The beautiful ritual , rendered with that charm which few could give , he need hardly say had deeply impressed him . Bro . Col . Shadwell II . Clerke had that day been elected an honorary member , and he trusted they should often have

the pleasure of seeing him amongst them . Bro . Col . Shadwell II . Clerke , in reply , said that they bad bad the misfortune of listening to his voice a great deal that evening , but lie must tell them that it had been to him a great honour and pleasure lo be selected as the Installing AIaster . He had been unfortunate hitherto with the Aldersgate Lodge ; he had always been invited , and always prevented from attending . Last year he vvas

asked to make a note of this date , and was pleased to say that at last he was able to be with them . 'The lodge was much to be congratulated on the position it had achieved in thc Order . 'The last two years it had been under the rule of Hro . Kenning , and it was evident they preferred quality to quantity . Numbers were to most young lodges the great stumbling block ; it was better to havc one good member than twenty bad ones . It must be a source of

pride to the VV . VI . to preside at that great meeting , surrounded as lie was by many Grand Ollicers and tin : Lord Mayor , and be also congratulated him on arriving at the chair of so distinguished a lodge in such a comparatively short space of time . The next vvas the toast of " The Vi-ilnr ; , " which vvas one tbe Aldersgate Lodge , like to have well received ; they

had that night a list of visitors whom they were proud to welcome . 'The names were too numerous lo mention in dividually , but they welcomed all in the same degree . Amongst those present was one who was thoroughly well known and respected in that part of the City , the Alderman of the Ward , Urn . Staples , whom they were especially glad to sec , He would wish to couple the toast with the

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name of a brother , who , during bis reign at the Mansion House , not only distinguished his year by the munificence of his hospitality , but who took the occasion of his high office to gather together such an assembly of Alasons to meet thcTGrand AIaster as would always be a happy remembrance to those who had the privilege of being present , he alluded to their distinguished guest , Bro . Sir Francis Truscott . Hro . Sir Francis Truscott , in reply , said that he should

wish to do full justice to the toast that had been so kindly put by the W . AL , and he flattered himself he should have had something to say if the Grand Secretary had not travelled over the ground he had intended to cover . This , however , he could say , that he had spent a pleasant evening , and enjoyed the feast . Hro . Kenning , in asking the Grand Secretary to perform the ceremony of installation had secured to them a trreat treat , and hecongratulatcdthc W . AI .

on entering office iinder such good auspices . Hro . Alderman Staples , whose name bad been mentioned by the W . AL , was not only a good Alason , but a good magistrate , and reflected great credit on the Ward he resprcscntcd . With regard to the banquet given to the Alost Worshipful the Grand Alaster , he considered it the greatest honour conferred on bim during his year of office . He vvas pleased that the W . AI . had had such a numcrousand distinguished

company present , and wished him a prosperous year . In proposing thc toast of " The Past Alasters ; " the W . AL said that at that hour he would not dilate on their good deeds ; suffice it to say that they thought it a great advantage to have had as their first Worshipful Master , Bro . J . I ) . Allcroft , a brother who so thoroughly exemplified the landmarks of their Order , viz ., Brotherly Love , Relief , and Truth . Then followed Bro . Brette , whose genial influence

diif used itself all through the lodge . and who had done so much for Alasonic charity , and vvas so eminent in all good works ; then there vvas Bro . Altman , whom they all so thoroughly appreciated ; and Bro . Kenning , thc I . P . M ., to whom he now presented the jewel of thc lodge , to express how highly they regarded the work Hro . Kenning had done .. He had so gained the esteem oi the lodge that they elected him a second time as VV . AI . Thev had heard that night the

lodge had voted an additional sum to be appropriated as Airs . Kenning should wish . She wished that thecause of charity should be a gainer by the compliment , and although , perhaps , thc lodge would have liked that something personal should have been chosen , still they respected the decision , and he thanked Hro . and Airs . Kenning for having endowed the chair in thc way they had done ; and not only did Airs . Kenning wish the sum voted should bcappropiiatcd

towards one of the Charitable Institutions of the Craft , but with a generosity vvhich must win the admiration of all of them , she , with our brother , supplemented that sum with an additional amount of twenty guineas , making , therefore , fifty guineas , to endow the chair of the lodge with a Vice-Presidency ; and he was privileged to say that the amount would appear upon his list as Steward for the Hoys' Institution , over the festival of which their

distintinguished guest , ( be Lord Alayor , had consented to preside . Under Hro . Kenning the lodge had developed in numbers and prosperity , and lie had set an example which he ( the VV . AI . ) should ' lind it difficult to follow . Bro . Kenning said that he had been requested by his brother Past Alasters to reply on their behalf , and he could assure the Worshipful Alaster that they would do all in their power to support him to uphold the dignity of the

chair . For himself , he thanked him very much for lhc kind remarks he had been pleased to make in presenting him with that jewel for his 1 SS 0 year of office . When he looked at the sterling quality of the metal of vvhich it was made , it would remind him of the sterling friendships he had made in the Aldersgate Lodge ; and when he looked at the diamond surmounting the jewel , it would still further remind him of thc genuineness and the value of those

friendships . They had been pleased to make a further acknowledgment of his services for 1 SS 1 , by voting double the amount of the first year ' s gift , and this in thc form of a compliment to Airs . Kenning , for which his wife wished him to thank them very much , lie supposed thc reason for doubling the amount vvas because a man ' s wife was his better half . This vvas quite right . It was a satisfaction f / i him that whilst he mine into ofiice with a balance due to

the Treasurer , he left the chair with a handsome balance in the Treasurer's hands . In conclusion , he would thank thc whole of the members for the great kindness and consideration they had shown him during the two years he had had the honour of occupying the proud position of Worshipful Alaster of the Aldersgate Lodge . The VV . AI . next proposed "lhc Healths of thc Treasurer and Secretary , " and said that they had as Treasurer one

whose name it seemed natural to associate with that responsible office . Hro . Allcroft , who honoured them by taking that post , vvas one who possessed in himself all that could be attributed to a good AI . son , and , in proposing his health , he ventured to introduce a subject which was personal to himself , but enc also of great interest to thc community at large—he meant the remarkable recovery of his grand picture " The Monarch of the Meadows , " by

Sidney Cooper . At one time there seemed too much reason ( o fear that wanton destruction had been its fate ; but all art lovers in the world would rejoice that the chief work of one of England ' s greatest artists had not been so dealt with . 'The loss would not only have been one to their esteemed bother , but a national cue . 'They therefore rejoiced with him that lie had regained possession of it . 'They had , in their Secretary , Bro . 1 homas Jones , one most

indefatigable , who entered into thc work of that position with that assiduity and zeal which can be given when thc labour is one of love . They gave him their sincerest thanks . Bro . J . Derby Allcroft , in reply , thanked them for the kindness with which they had received his name , and the remarks with which thc W . AI . had introduced it . As Treasurer , he was pleased to say that the balance was on

the right side . It appeared that by some mystcriouc dispensation ol Providence his mission in life seemed to be that of 'Treasurer to whatever body or society he was connected with , and he thought they would agree with him that he had rather more than his share of treasurership : ; , but it gave bim much pleasure to be of service in this way while he had health and strength . Willi regard to tiie

'Treasurership of Christ ' s Hospital , he thought that there was no higher position a man need covet than that . He had since been appointed 'Treasurer for the Hospital for Incurables , and he was also privileged to be connected in the same capacity with many other useful institutions . He had much pleasure in fulfilling the oilice of Treasurer of the Aldersgate Lodge , and was gratified at seeing the

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balance change sides during the past two years , and he congratulated the W . AL that this result hid come about by the time of his accession to ofiice . With respect to the work of art alluded to by the W . AL , which had been restored to him , it had been really painful to see the artist look at the empty frame , and pass his hand over al ! that remained of his work . He was , as might be supposed ,

much gratified at the restoration , and he hoped it would be handed down to posterity , as nearly perfect as possible , as the greate .-t work of the artist . The Secretary , Bro . T . Jones , also replied . The VV . AI . next gave the toast of " The Officers of the

Lodge , " and said that it was a great satisfaction to feel that every brother who had taken office had done so with the full determination to conscientiously carry out the work of thc lodge . He thanked them for entering into the work in such a spirit ; it left it much more easy for him to be thc AIaster .

Bro . Henton , S . VV ., in reply , said that he intended to master his duties , and support the VV . AI . in the way such a worthy master deserved . Hro . Samuel White , J . VV ., also replied . lie had been a member of the Aldersgate Lodge since the commencement , and if there was anything- that would make a good man it would be the membership of the Aldersgate Lodge . They had in it good Alasonry , and , what was bettertrue

, charity . The Tyler ' s toast closed the proceedings . During the evening a select programme of music was given , under the direction of Hro . Robert Raynham , thc vocalists being Alaster Arthur Probcrt , Master Gussie Toop , Uros . J . L . Hodges , G . T . Carter , K . De Lacey , and VV . Winn ; accompanyist , Hro . II . Parker .

LANCASTER . —Rowley Lodge ( Xo . 1051 ) . — 'The monthly meeting of this lodge , the first alter the installation of W . AL , took place on the 6 th inst ., in ( he Alasonic Rooms , Athen . eum . There vvas a fair attendance of brethren and also of visitors , who had been induced to be present by the announcement that the VV . M . ( Hro . J . E . Hannah ) would deliver a short lecture on " 'The

Freemasons Lodge . Supporting thc W . AL in the respective chairs were Hros . N . Ilelme , 'Treas ., as I . P . M . ; Cults , S . VV . ; A . Stanley , J . VV . j II . Longman , Sec ; II . C Aloore , S . D . ; J . Ir ' vin , J . D . ; and J . Stanley , acting LG . 'The minutes of the installation meeting having been confirmed , thc VV . AI . proceeded to give his lecture as

announced , first stating , however , that the subject he had taken up " 'The Freemasons' Lodge , " vvas too comprehensive to be dealt with in tbe lecture , and be would therefore make it the first of a scries on the same topic . 'This announcement vvas received with applause . 'The particular point treated upon in the introductory lecture was the consecration of the lodge , which was handled in a very

pleasant and interesting manner ; the illustrations brought forward showing that a considerable amount of research had been made into Alasonic lore b y the W . AL , and compressed into a terse , instinctive , and explanatory narrative for the benefit of the brethren . A short discusion followed and at the close a hearty vote of thanks vvas accorded to Hro . I Iannah .

In reply , the W . AL stated that it would be his pleasure to give lectures on Alasonic matters on those evenings when there was no special work before the lodge , or even when there was if the brethren were willing to stay and listen to him . He had also pleasure in informing them that other members of ( he lodge bad promised to give occasional lectures . The usual proclamations were then made , and the lodge closed with the customary formalities .

MANCHESTER . —St . David ' s Lodge ( No . 1 M 7 ) . — The installation meeting of this lodge look place on Thursday , the .. th inst ., nt Ihe Freemasons' llall . Cooper-street . The following members were present : Hros , J . Oliver livans , W . AL ; Frank Griffin , S . W . ; R . Harlow , J . W . ; Ishmael Davis , P . AL Treas . ; Alark Fairweather , Sec . ; S . J . Napthali , I . G . ; Thos . R Peel , P . AL ;

Ellis . ones , P . M ., P . P . G . Treas . ; Thos . Elliott , P . AL ; Ed . VVilliams , P . AL ; Thos . Gibson , R . P . Wood , Frank Roberts , Robert Davies , Samuel VVood , Edward Rawlingcr and Kinlock , Visitors : Hros . John Chadwick , P . AI . 44 , Prov . Grand Sec ; | . Gibb Smith , P . P . G . D . ; F . II . Jenkins , P . AI . yw , P . P . G . S . D . ; J . Wilson , 1 . 15 .. ; IL II . Peel , C . Woodall , 44 ; T . Kershaw , ic >; o ; | . AlcC-ratb , S . W . i-p / i ; Walter Biggs , __) . / . ; J „ . Westall , S 52 ;

VV . VV . Dawson , P . AL IJKJ ; Sergt . Major O . Johnson ( Oueens Hays ) , J . VV . 215 ; Sergt . Major Heck , ( fi- . rd ' Rcgt . ); VV . Brandon , P . AI . 1210 ; G . F . Gent , l . | no ; T . Biddulph , P . AI . 1000 ; Edwin Hardon , P . AL 04 , 1030 , P . P . S . G . D . ; and R . Lisenden , J . D . 317 ( Freemason ) . The lodge vvas opened at four o ' clock . After the minutes of the previous meeting had been read ancl confirmed , thc

balance shcc ( , which presented a very satisfactory appearance , was commented upon by the Auditors and adopted . The installation ceremony then commenced , Bro . S . O . Evans being the Installing AIaster , assisted by Hro . 'Thos . R . Peel , P . AL 'The W . AI . elect , Hro . Frank Griffin , after being presented to thc Installing Alaster , vvas , with due rite and ceremony , inducted into the chair of K . S ., and

proclaimed and saluted in thc customary manner . The new W . AI . then appointed his ofiicers for thc vear , who were severally invested and addressed by Hro . Peel , P . AL , as follows : Hros . II . Harlow , S . VV . ; M . Fairweather , J . VV . ; I . Davies , Treas . ; S . J . Naphtali , Sec . ; R . P . VVood , S . D . ; li . Roberts , J . D . ; 1 ) . Forest , I . G . ; J . Taylor , P . AL , D . C ; W . Cole ' ( by proxy ) , Or . ' . ; K .

Renshaw , S . VVood , R , Davies , Stewards ; J . Sly , 'T yler . 'The three addresses were well . delivered by Uro . Peel , P . AI . Before the lodge closed , Bro . I . Davies gave notice of motion for next meeting , that the sum of £ 20 be voted from the lodge funds to thc East Lancashire Systematic Alasonic Benevolent Institution . " Hearty good wishes " having been expressed by the visitors , the lodge was closed in peace and harmony at 0 o ' clock .

'The brethren afterwards proceeded to the Ouccn's Hotel , Piccadilly , to celebrate the festival of StT John , where a grand banquet had been prepared for them , which , when finished , lhc toast list was gone through . After the usual loyal and Alasonic toasts had been

honoured , Bro . J . Oliver livans rose to propose " 'The Health of the W . AL , " and , in doing so , remarked that this toast was always well received in the St . David ' s Lodge . 'Their Worshipful AIaster was a brother who vvas dca'r lo the heart of every member of that lodge , and he knew it . His disposition was geniality itself , and all his words were