Craft Masonry.

The brethren adjourned to the Holborn Restaurant , where an elegant banquet awaited them . A rich menu of vocal and instrumental music was provided after dinner tor the brethren ' s delectation under the direction of Bro . Turle Lee , in which the Celia Qnartette ( Bros . A . Pinnington , Heald , J . L . Haddon , and Sydney Galey ) , and Bros . Herbert Simmons and Arthur Smith ( solo cornopean ) took part . The ancient warrant of the lodge was reproduced by photography in the programme of music . With the exception

of a word or two here and there it is quite undecipherable . An unfortunate event was announced by the W . M ., who informed the brethren when the Celia Quartette were about to sing the madrigal " Come let us join , " that the alto died on the previous Monday . Bro . Smith asked the brethren ' s indulgence for the substituted brother , as there had not been sufficient time in the interval which had elapsed since-the death for proper rehearsals . Bro . G . F . Smith , W . M ., in proposing " The Queen and the Craft , " asked the brethren as Englishmen to show their love , and as Craftsmen their loyalty .

In proposing " The M . W . G . M . " the W . M . said that H . R . H . the Prince of Wales was the first gentleman of Europe , and one who was not ashamed to call them brethren . In giving " The M . VV . Pro G . M ., the R . W . Dep . G . M ., and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " the W . M . asked to be excused if he mentioned the name of the late much esteemed and beloved Earl of Lathom , to whom he owed his position of Grand Organist in the Jubilee Year . Bro . J . D . Langton and R . Clowes responded .

Bro . F . C . Bradley , I . P . M ., in proposing "The W . M ., " said that in Bro . George Frederick Smith the lodge had one of the most distinguished Masters who had ever occupied the chair . Bro . Smith had occupied the chair in nine lodges previously . He wished him a happy and properous year of office . Bro . G . F . Smith , W . M ., in reply , said he liked work in Masonry , and that was why the brethren saw him in his present position . He might tell them a secret he had not told anyone yet . He was initiated in the Lodge of Industry , 186 , but his ambition

was to be spared to be the Master of a very old lodge . He had been so spared , and he was very thankful for it , more particularly to be Master of the Kent Lodge , No . 15 , that was a really Masonic lodge to his mind . They had heard about fifteen brethren of the Order who were divided into three lodges of five each , going to find something some where or other , and he thought to be Master of this Kent Lodge , 15 , was what anyone might be proud of . He had been associated with this lodge now some years ; indeed , he thought all the P . Ms , of the lodge were brethren each of whom he U . J U « l lt . a nla . r . i . nf faainn' IVTir-la .- rtf fUa T / nnf T nArfa T-Ta frxcfArl ftof JJctU OblVJIJ £ lalbl IFLHW ^ JJ UUUg ^ IJb H . l" ,

, , IMU IIJW pikOOUlb V . " ^ . . » . . « ...... all present might be spared to see all who were below the rank of Installed Master W . M . of the Kent Lodge . AH he could say with regard to the office he held was that during his year , if he had health and strength , he would endeavour to do his duty . The next toast was "The Installing Master , Bro . E . Letchworth , " who was not present , but he did not think they could allow the toast to pass for all that . It was strictly by the doctor's orders Bro . Letchworth did not stop to banquet ; the doctor told him , " If you want to kill yourself

quickly , attend every Masonic banquet . " The brethren would excuse Bro . Letchworth on that advice . Bro . W . H . Cummings , W . M . 2454 , responded for " The Visitors , " of whom some 1 G 5 where present . He said it was really a pleasure to respond to such a toast when one had such an army at his back . If he had been out in the Soudan with as many brethren as now they must have beaten with Lord Kitchener . All the visitors must have felt it a great honour to be invited to a lodge so ancient as the Kent Lodge . It

was their duty to pry as far back as far as they could into its history and see those who were Past Masters of the Cratt . He only wished that in addition to the photograph of the warrant of the lodge , they had photographs of all the Past Masters , and it would be still more interesting if they could have photographs of all who were to succeed for the next Go years , when the W . M . hoped to be there to see his . The prosperity and harmony of the lodge he hoped would continue in the future and that whenever thelodge had the installation of a Master they might have as happy and pleasant a meeting as

this . One other wish on the part ot the visitors was that th-: lodge would invite them all to be present on such an occasion . They were very delighted with the work they had seen that night . All Masons must recognise when they got one of the Grand Officers to perform the ceremony of installation they would have something worthy of the occasion . They had had that to-night . They knew how well the Grand Secretary always did his work . A good thing never could be had too often , and the visitors only wished that the lodge would give them the opportunity of having another such treat . ( Applause . )

Bro . G . F . Smith , W . M ., proposed " The Past Masters . " It was all honour to the Past Masters of the Kent Lodge that it was built on such a firm foundation . He hoped the brethren would not think that the Grand Secretary was put in as a stopgap because Bro . Bradley could not perform the ceremony . Bro . Bradley was quite competent ; but he ( Bro . G . F . Smith ) asked him if he would allow the Grand Secretary to do it . Bro . Bradley kindly assented to the proposition ; he had had a most successful year—a record of initiates—and he did the work admirably , and was a worthy brother to be associated with the Past Masters , who were not all gas , but really good men .

Bro . F . C Bradley . I . P . M ., thanked the brethren and the W . M . He could thoroughly endorse all Bro . Smith ' s remarks with regard to the Past Masters . During his year of office he found them all ready to come forward to assist him ; and , speaking now for the Past Masters , he was sure they would come forward and give the W . M . every assistance . Bro . G . F , Smith , W . M ., in giving the toast of "The Treasurer and the Secretary , " observed that , as he said in lodge when he invested those officers— "These are honour .

able men . " He could not say more with regard to them . Any W . M . might be proud to have one or the other ; happy was the W . M . who could have both . Bro . E . Stimson , P . M ., Treas ., said he had now been a member of the lodge 25 years , and he hoped to be with the brethren another 25 . ( Hear , hear . ) It was very gratifying to him when the lodge gave 100 guineas to the Boys' School to see that it was 25 th on the list . While the brethren had him as Treasurer he should be happy to remain in that position and look after the lodge funds ; be took care of them . The

lodge had a good bafance , but they did not waste it . Bro . E . H . Buckeridge , P . M ., Sec , also replied . The lodge had had only three Secretaries during the last 100 years , and only three Treasurers , one Treasurer was 32 years in office , another 34 , and another 33 ; one Secretary was 41 years in office , one 31 , and one 25 . Fie only hoped that these worthies had entered the Grand Lodge above , and that alter the ftw years he had to live he might follow them ; but in the meantime he trusted he should do his duty faithfully to the brethren and to the Kent Lodge .

The toast of " The Officers" was given and acknowledged , and the Tyler s toast closed the proceedings .

Scientific Lodge , No . 88 . At the monthly meeting of this lodge , held at the Lion Hotel , Petty Curry , Cambridge , on the 13 th in'lant , Bro . C . F . Kernot was raised by the W . M ., Bro . II . S , Davison ; and Mr . Philip A . Moyes was initiated by his brother in the flesh , Bro . John 11 . Moyes , I . P . M . This is the fourth son of the late revered Dep . Prov . G . Master of Cambridgeshire who has been admitted into the Scientific Lodge .

Portsmouth Lodge , No . 487 . The last of the installations in the Province of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight was that of the above lodge , at the Masonic Hall , Highbury-street , Portsmouth , on the gth inst ., the function passing off with the utmost eclat , there being an unusually large attendance of members and visitors , representatives being present from all the lodges in the borough . The S . W ,, Bro . Walter W . Slade , was installed in the chair of K . S ., in succession to Bro . W . Bates , P . M ., a gratifying feature being the beautiful and

impressive manner in which the ceremony was gone through by Bro . J . Bnckwood , P . M ., P . P . S . G . W ., who was afterwards most cordially thanked for his valued services . The new W . M . appointtd and invested his officers as follows : Bros . Bates , I . P . M ., Treas . ; H . G . Fryer , P . P . G . O ., S . W . ; H . M . Triggs , J . W . ; Rev . E . Bruce Cornford , Chap . ; J . Williams , Sec . ; W . Bate , S . D . ; W . J . Palmer , j . D . ; J . W . Adams , I . G . j C . V . Brown , P . M ., D . C . ; J . II . Cowan , Org . ; G . A . Symes and A . E . Guy , Stwds . ; and J . Exel , Tyler . Over 100 attended the installation banquet , at which Bro . W . W . Slade , W . M ., who presided , was supported by Bro . W . Bates , I . P . M ., Treas . ; J . Brickwood , P . M .,

Craft Masonry.

P . P . S . G . W . ; C . F . Brown , P . M ., P . P . G . D . C ; J . L . Snell , P . M . ; F . Meredith , P . M . ; and a large number of visiting P . Ms . After a capital repast had been thoroughly enjoved the usual Masonic toasts were honoured . "The R . W . the Prov . G . M ., the W . the Dep . Prov . G . M ., and Officers of the Prov . Grand Lodge , Present and Past , " was proposed by Bro . F . Meredith , and responded to by Bro . J . Brickwood , who alluded to the flourishing condition of

Freemasonry , especially in the Province of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight , thanks to their P . G . M ., who had presided over them for nearly 30 years , and who had been a Mason for 50 years . ( Applause . ) Before resuming his seat Bro . Brickwood proposed the toast of the evening , " The Worshipful Master , Bro . Slade , " who , he observed , had served the Craft iS years , and whom they were prou J to see at the head | of thejlodge . ( Applause . )

_ Bro . Slade replied in an appropriate speech , and concluded by ' proposing , in eulogistic terms , "The Health of the Installing Master . " In his reply Bro . Brickwood referred to the prosperous condition of the lodge , and said ltwas a pleasure to him to assist in any of its ceremonies . There was not another lodge in the town that owned big and valuable premises such as theirs . The deht was

nearly wiped out , and the fact that the lodge was on a sound commercial basis was a source of congratulation . ( Applause . ) r , S' 0 , C . F . Brown proposed "The W . Ms , ot Neighbouring Lodges , " and Bros . Bradley and Gibbs replied . ,. „ . " ?" Xisito , , \ ' Proposed by Bro . Snell , was responded to by Bros . Bascombs ( Winchester ) and Hobbins .

The W . M . gave the toast of " The Past Masters of the Lodge , " and Bros . Bates , Brown , and Snell replied . The remaining toasts were , « The Officers , " proposedby Bro . Rea , and the Tyler ' s toast . The speeches were interspersed with songs excellently rendered by Bros . Isidore

„ , Marcil , J . W . Adams , C F . Brown , W . Cronin , R . W . Cunningham , E . H . Eason , B . t' n pernm J \ x ; J- J enK | n , > w - C . Bate , and A . E . Guy ; while recitations were given i o ^ W < A , len an < J H- M - Tr'SSs , and a violin solo by Bro . T . Holding . Bro . J . H . Cowan was the able accompanist . The proceedings throughout were most enjoyable .

Lome Lodge , No . 1347 , An ordinary meeting of the above lod ge was held at the Masonic Hall , Sutton , on /• , , ! ? ' The following brethren were present : Bros . Harold Griffiths , W . M . ( in the chair ); J . H . Asman , S . W . ; J . F . Van Oppen , P . D . Dist . G . M . The Argentine , acting J . W . ; the Rev . H . W . Turner , P . M ., P . P . G . C , Chap , and Treas . ; C A . S ^ S A P ^ " , P-P-A . G . D . C ., Sec ; T . R . Porter , J . D . ; E . D . Frost , P . M ., P . P . S . G . D ., D ., of C ; T . A . Hill , P . M ., P . P . G . O .. Ore . . n . Nanner . I . G , 23

A \; , ttjyne , Iyler ; also the following members of the lodge : Bros . A . Stribling , A ^ H ^ : . ayl 0 ^?; i 9 '^ - Dixon ' P'M'i Tom Cookes » P - -5 C . Price A . E . Stubmgton , F . N . Smyth , F . Dyke , C . E . Stribling , W . J . Jones , W . Sabine , A . E . Van Weede , T . L . Rowse , W . Van Oppen , R . G . Goatcher , R . R . Bank < , A . Easter , J . G . Spencer , W . C Cooke , J . H . Greenwood , W . J . Whitfield , and A . Crook ; also the following visitors : Bros . G . W . Speth , 2076 , P . A . G . D . C . ; J . G . Plumb , 2030 ; H . Carman , 2535 ; B . Stockman , 2331 : Conrad Nichols . ISJT : R . W Prlr .. . fi ,

P . P . S . G . W . ; A . Skinner , 3453 ; R . George , 2034 ; T . Rowe , P . M . 1641 ; M . H . Pocklington , 12 SS ; T . G . Detmar , 2739 ; and W . J . Dibdin , 2603 . Lodge was opened in due form , and the minutes of the last meeting in February were read and confirmed . The sum of five guineas was voted for the W . M . ' s list as Steward , who will represent the lodge at the forthcoming Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution lor Girls . The W . M ., in presenting the Treasurer ( Bro . H . W . Turner , M . A . ) with a very handsome case of cutlery and plate , together with a gold chain bracelet which the

( were gift of the brethren ) , in recognition of hi ' s approaching marriage , rose and said it now devolved upon him as W . M . to discharge one of the most pleasant duties that had befallen his office since he was installed in the Master ' s chair , and this duty was made the more pleasant because in the matter he was about to b . ing before their notice he knew the heart of every member of the lodge was in accord with his own . Twenty years since Bro . Turner was initiated into the Lome Lodge , and he was installed W . M . in iSSS ; two years later he was elected Treasurerand during

, these years of Masonic activity the brethren had the opportunity of observing upon untold occasions the many services the Treasurer had rendered the lodge , the dignity he had alwaysshown both in and for the welfare of the lodge , and hisone constant care and endeavour to raiseand maintain the standardof the lodge tothatheight upon which the brethren now reflect with pleasure and pride . The W . M . stated he was sure the Treasurer had a just claim to be entitled the "perfect ashlar" of the Lome Lodge—for , like that stone , he was of a " true die " and " square " in all his actions . The D . of C . then escorted

the treasurer to the front of the W . M . ' s pedestal . The W . M ., on behalf of the Wardens , officers , and brethren , asked the Treasurer to accept the case of cutlery and plate as a small practical token of the intense regard and high esteem he was held in by the whole of the brethren of the lodge . Taking the gold bracelet , the W . M . requested the treasurer to place it upon the wrist of her who would become nearest and dearest to him—charging him to tell her that , although it was currently reported that the objectsof the Craft were inconsistent with the duties men owe to the fair sexyet woman has no

, better champion and defender than a true and worthy Mason . The Treasurer , who in responding , showed strong emotional feeling ; stated that during his 20 years' connection with the Lome Lodge he could conscientiously say that he had never had a wry word with any of | the members ; on the contrary , he had always received the utmost support and sympathy from the brethren . His multifarious duties as the rector of the parish of necessity gave him oftentimes anxious moments , and he always looked forward to the meetings as a healthy recreation and diversion from parish cares . Brieflv alludinr / to

his approaching marriage , he assured the brethren that it would in ho way interfere with his attendance at the lodge , for the lady to whom he hoped soon to be united had the highest esteem for Masons and the noble work of Charity , which they support so generously . The handsome present , to say nothing of its pecuniary value , was another proof of the strong ties of affection the brethren bore him . So long as it pleased the Great Architect of the Universe to give him health and strength , so long would it be one of his chief delights to come among them and participate in the good fellowship that has universall them

so y prevailed amongst . * The W . M . then proceeded to deliver the third of a series of Masonic lectures , taking for his subjects "' Free' and ' Accepted' Masons" and "The two brazen pillars , 'J . and ' B . '; " this latter being illustrated by several quarter full size drawings specially prepared by the W . M . With the former subject the W . M . showed that free Masons originated from the operative masons or practical workers of the various stones , and that the "Accepted" Masons were masons who had no practical connection with the actual working of the stone , but men thought fit and sufficient to be accepted and become members of the honourable fraternity . In dealing with the two brazen pillars the W . M . showed they were not erected solely for architectural effect , neither were they designed to support any part of the structure , as they had a religious significance , and were , in factsymbols of " Diety . " Before roceeding to

, p describe them the W . M . alluded at some length to the position they occupied when completed , and proved from an architectural point they could not have been erected in the position described in Kings 1 st ., VII ., 21 v . (( This was illustrated by the W . M ' s drawings in contradistinction to the second tracing board . ) The construction of the pillars was fully described , and special reference was made to their height , as many Masons did not appear to fully realise the difference between the height of a pillar and the height of a column ( a column being divided into shaftbaseand chapiter )—this

, , was made clear to the brethren . A coloured sketch drawing of one of the pillars one-fourth the actual size was of special interesttothebrethren . ThiswastheW . M . 'sidea 1 , w ' .. . , lurans actually were . The weight of the pillars were then gone into , which the W . M . calculated at 45 tons , and hespoke in high praise of H . A , in erecting these pillars of such weight so tar from the clayground in which they were cast . The W . M . then dealt with the thickness of their outer rim , and also that they were cist hollow the

better to serve the purpose as archives of Masonry . The W . M . cast some doubt upon these statements , as he also did that , in addition to the chapiters , the pillars were further adorned with two spherical oatls ; these he showed to be tie innovations of modern Masons . At the conclusion of the lecture a discussion followed , in wnich I J ' . H , Pocklington , Asman , and G . W . Speth , Sec . 207 G , took part , and tne meetin ' was brought to a close by the W . M . replying .

Ihe brethren then adjourned to the dining-hall and partook of a supaer well s-rved by the Masonic Hall Company , and the rest of the evening was spent in toasts and music , many of the visitors possessing special musical talent . Harmony prevailed .