Grand Lodge Of Scotland.

and he knew that the Lodge No . 2 was in possession of other documentary evidence of a like nature . The Grand Committee—Bros . William Officer , David Sneddon , and Allan Mackenzie—were appointed to consider and report upon the whole question ; Bro . Officer , convener . This was approved . It was reported from Grand Committee that Bro . Sir Michael Shaw

Stewart had resigned his position of Provincial Grand Master of West Renfrew , and that the Provincial Grand Lodge had passed a resolution of regret and sympathy and of thanks for his 45 years' services . The Provincial Grand Lodge had recommended as his successor Bro . M . H . Shaw Stewart of Carnock , M . P ., and on the recommendation of Grand Committee he was appointed accordingly .

On the motion of the GRAND MASTER , a special vote of thanks was enthusiastically passed to Bro . Sir Michael Shaw Stewart on his resignation . Bro . M . H . Shaw Stewart was unanimousl y appointed Provincial Grand Master of Renfrewshire West , and Bro . Christie , Stirling , to succeed him as Provincial Grand Master of Stirlingshire .

Charters were ordered to be issued for the new Lodges St . Gilbert , Dornoch , Sutherlandshire ; Captain Speirs , Houston , Renfrewshire East ; and Blairhoyle , Thornhill , Perthshire West . The following brethren were elected members of Grand Committee , with the number of votes mentioned : Bros . C . Baxter , Edinburgh , 221 ; Major

Black , Glasgow , 253 ; General Boswell , 247 ; Dr . Carmichael , Edinburgh , 219 ; J . Davidson , Edinburgh , 204 ; W . Denholm , Glasgow , 340 ; G . C . Douglas , Edinburgh , 262 ; C . Galletly , Glasgow , 33 S ; J . Jack , Paisley , 189 ; C . C . Nisbet , Edinburgh , 200 ; J . Reid , Greenock , 269 ; Captain Sneddon , Cilmamock , 340 ; Major Stewart of Mardestown , 259 ; and W . Drummond Young , artist , Edinburgh , 276 .

Drury Lane Lodge, No. 2127.

DRURY LANE LODGE , No . 2127 .

INSTALLATION OF BRO . HARRY NICHOLLS . The installation meeting of this flourishing lodge was held on Tuesday , the 14 th inst ., in the saloon of Drury Lane Theatre , and more than ordinary interest attached to the proceedings owing to the providential recovery of the Worshipful Master elect , Bro . Harry Nicholls , from his long and serious illness . About 220 brethren attended , presided over b y Bro . S . B . Bancroft . Among them were : — Km * . Edward Terrv . Sir Augustus Harris , George Everett , Admiral Sir E . A . Inglefield .

E . Letchworth , James Fernandez , General Sir J . C . Hay , J . C . Parkinson , C . E . Keyser , Thomas Fenn , Sir G . R . Prescott , Robert Grey , V . P . Freeman , J . Lewis Thomas , Sir I . R . Somers Vine , Col . Ritchie , Charles Barry , Col . A . B . Cook , Dr . R . Turtle Pigott , C . Martin , Sir G . T . Goldie , F . Mead , Sir F . Dixon Hartland , M . P . ; C . F . Matier , Col . F . C . Wemyss , R . Clowes , J . H . Matthews , W . E . Chapman , Oscar Barrett , Frank Richardson , Henry Neville , Thomas Catling , J . C . Fleming , A . J . Caldicott , Walter Lestocq , James Weaver , T . H . Bolton , M . P . ; Walter Ebbetts , W .

J . Fisher , James Stephens , Major Graham , Herbert Campbell , Col . Peters , Henry Sutton , Gen . Hale Wortham , Charles Coote , Dr . Bateman , and Col . Ward , C . B . Bro . Bancroft , in a most impressive style , installed Bro . Harry Nicholls as W M ., after which the following appointments were made : Bros . Thomas Catling , S . W . ; Oscar Barrett , J . W . ; Rev . C . J . Martyn , P . G . Chap ., Chap . ; J . S . Fleming , Treas . ; ] . H . Matthews , P . D . G . D . C , Sec . ; Henry Neville , S . D . ; Will E . Chapman , j . D . ; Walter Slaughter , Org . ; and R . Goddard , Tyler .

After Bro . Bancroft had delivered the addresses , he vvas presented with a handsome Past Master's jewel . Bro . Letchworth , G . S ., was elected an honorary member of the lodge . Votes of condolence with Lord Londesborough and others , were passed , and the assistance of the brethren was asked for the Masonic Institutions . The whole ceremony was of the most brilliant description , and when the lodge had been closed the brethren adjourned to Freemasons' Tavern , where a choice banquet awaited them . The usual toasts followed .

Bro . HARKV NICHOLLS , after giving the toast of "The Queen and the Craft , " proposed that of "The M . W . G . M , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , " which , he said , was not only received with enthusiasm throughout Masonry , but nowhere with greater good-will than by the brethren of the Drury Lane Lodge , remembering as they did that the lodge comprised so many members of that profession to which his Royal Highness gave his countenance and support . These toasts having been most cordially received ,

Bro . J AMES F ERNANDEZ , P . M ., proposed the toast of "The M . W . Pro Grand Master , " and said that the W . M . being wishful to reserve his power—or , he should say , having played a part vvith reserved force , he had trusted to him a toast which he had the gratification of knowing beforehand would be received vvith that cordiality which it warranted . It was a toast whioh carried with it its own hearty

recommendation , and he was glad of this , because brevity with him under the circumstances was a matter of the greatest moment . He would therefore say how proud and delighted the Drury Lane Lodge vvere to welcome that night so many Grand Officers , present and past . They knew the Grand Officers were always anxious and eager by every means in their power to advance the interests and uphold the prestige of the Craft . He therefore , vvith all sincerity , proposed their health .

Bro . EDWARD TERRV , P . G . Treas ., responded . He said he must confess he had not had the remotest idea that he would be placed in the seat of honour next to the W . M . that evening , or that he would be called upon to respond to any toast . He felt especially comforted when he looked down the list of Grand Officers and saw them present—many of them senior in rank , and he thought he might say in years , but particularly in rank to him . But he discovered on enquiry that the whole of his senior Grand Officers were members of the Drury Lane Lodge ;

therefore they did not feel bound to respond to that toast . That placed him in an awkward position—that honour thrust upon him . He happened to be a member of that profession of which their worthy Chairman was an ornament . He must attribute to that the fact that he vvas called upon to respond . He did not wish to delay the feast of pleasure . He might say that was his " night off , " and he wanted to get as much pleasure as he could , and he would not derive much from his own p lay . If he vvas to introduce an excerpt from his own play , to be

produced on Thursday evening ( he did not wish to advertise it in any way . ) It gave the Grand Officers great pleasure to be present at the Drury Lane Lodge , which had an unexemplified prosperity almost in the annals of Freemasonry . It gave them especial pleasure to see their Bro . Harry [ Nicholls in the chair of King Solomon , and performing his duties , as he was sure he would be able to do in the best manner for the good of the lodge and of Freemasonry . They could

only wish that his health would be thoroughly restored , and that he would be able many years to adorn the profession and the Craft to which he belonged . He was sure he was expressing the feelings of the Grand Officers when he uttered those remarks . Whenever they came to the Drury Lane Lodge they were received with friendliness and hospitality , and they hoped they might be perpetual guests . That was not selfish .

Bro . S . B . BANCROFT , I . P . M ., then said he should take the cue so kindly given him by their P . M ., Bro . Fernandez , and be brief . The brethren had , he was sure , already heard too much by far of his voice for him to trouble them with many more words . But those words , although they would be brief , would be very earnest , for they would be devoted to the W . M . In that assemblage of Masons he thought he might use the words , that under the protection of the G . A . O . T . U ., Bro . Harry Nicholls had passed safely " through the valley of the shadow of

Drury Lane Lodge, No. 2127.

death . " No words of his , no words that he could conceive or utter could express to the brethren one-thousandth part as much as he felt . Very briefly , but very earnestly he asked the brethren to drink to " The Health of the Worshi pful Master . " The recovery of his health was as great a gain to the public as it was a joy and delight to his brethren . With a warm heart and a full glass he asked them to drink to " The Long-continued health and strength of their W . M ., Bro Harry Nicholls . "

Bro . HARRY NICHOLLS , W . M ., who was received with hearty cheering on rising to respond , said he could not possibly find words to thank them for the manner in which . they had received that toast ? He could not tell them with what pleasure he had heard Bro . Bancroft propose the toast of " The W . M ., " or had seen the brethren welcome it in such a hearty and fraternal manner . It was a remarkable thing to him that for the first time in his life he should be called upon to make a speech on a subject of which he knew something . He assured them that the

subject of his health during the past few months had been one to which he had paid a considerable amount ofattention . Hedidnotthinkheevertook such an interest in anythingin his life , but , unfortunately , he dared say the brethren would imagine from these premises that he approached the subject with a very vast amount of enthusiasm . So he did , but unfortunatel y he vvas unable to give expression to that enthusiasm . They all knew his business in life had been not so much to talk as to act , but they also knew there had been many times when there had been too much talking as

well as times of too much acting . Of course he was not speaking of himself . He would like to copy the example of the American humourist , vvho , on having to make a speech , produced a great roll of manuscript , and said " I have come utterl y unprepared to make a speech . " But he ( Bro . Harry Nicholls ) had had , as the brethren would say , ample time in which to prepare one—exactly seven years since he obtained a collar of ofiice . He had to face the fact that when a man had to speak on the subject of himself , seven years vvere not long enough . A man could not think enough of the nice things he would like to say of himself in so short time

a as that . Although he was on the subject , and while he had been preparing his speech the last seven years he had been absolutely eloquentthat is to say at home—in the presence of the members of his family , or in other words , when there vvas nobody listening to him . But the brethren vvho knew him so well , would , he vvas sure , understand and appreciate his feelings if he told them of the delight and the pleasure with which he found himself in the position he was in that day . There vvas mixed up with it a certain feeling of sadness in having to deplore the absence of manv to whom he was bound by more than Masonic ties . The first of these was his father . His father

was present on his ( Bro . H . Nicholls' ) initiation , saw his passing and raising , and it was his ambition to see his son placed in the chair of King Solomon , in the Drury Lane Lodge . That was not to be ; he had been taken from them ; and all that he ( Bro . Nicholls ) would be able to do that day to compensate himself in his

THE WORSHIPFUL MASTER , BRO . IIARRV NICHOLLS . father ' s absence vvas to place on his apron the three levels his father wore for many years after he had been Master of his lodge . He would refer only to one other name , vvhich was known to many of the brethren present , one whose genial and kind and friendly smile he still seemed to see , Bro . John Maclean . He ( the W . M . ) told them now that he had that day drunk to Bro . Maclean ' s memory in silence and alone . The absence of those they deplored should bring those who were still

together even closer , and to keep them closer compatible vvith their callings in life . Those were not many , but they should make the most of them . Perhaps 011 the great event of the introduction of a Bill for Ireland , he might be allowed to quote from Ireland ' s great poet and say—Ah ! well may vve hope when this brief life has gone , To meet in some world of m ^ re permanent bliss , For a smile , or a grasp of the hand , hast'ning on , Is oft all vve have of each other in this .

The opportunities , as he said , were not many ; therefore , make the most of them ; and he was addressing himself then to the younger members of the Order . Surely four grasps of the hand and four smiles of the lips would not be too much to tax the laziest Mason . He wanted to see the initiates in their proper order come forward to take their collars of office . He was afraid there had been a certain amount of dilatoriness in that ; but he wanted them to understand that in Masonry , as in life , it behoved them all to do something to work honestly—honestly and well—to

get to the front . A humdrum existence was no use to others , to themselves , or to any one in the world . There was a friend or ancestor of the great Edmund Kean —the name was Carey—and it was said of him— " He led a blameless life , ana hanged himself in 17 " and something . He was afraid that was hardly an apt illustration , because even he did something to get talked about at the finish— - ' least he took a " line" to himself . However , he would detain them but a feW minutes longer ; but he could not sit down without telling them the pride that was

at his heart that day in occupying such a position as W . M . of the Drury L * Lodge , for it was a proud position to one who had had to make his way in 1 'fc * Don ' t be alarmed ; he was not going to tell them of his early bitterness , with threepence in his pocket , and contrast it with the present with worth y Past M asters on his left . When he looked round he saw on each side of him many members or Grand Lodge , both Past and Present , his own officers whom he had the honour appointing that day , many of them Past Masters , and two of them founders of tl '