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they had a Provincial Grand Secretary who was held in the hig hest esteem . In the discharge of his onerous duties there could not fail to occur occasions when his authority had to be exercised in an apparently somewhat severe manner , but this was necessary for the good government of the lodges in the province . Invariably little occurrences of this kind led to a good understanding ultimately , with the

cementing of a lasting friendship . Personally , as well as em behalf of the Present anel Past Officers of the Prov . Grand Lodge of Sussex , he thanked the W . M . for the high comp liment which it had been his pleasure to acknowledge . Bro . Kraeutler gave " The Health of the Newly-Installed Master" in flattering terms . The W . M ., in reply , said his early life had been spent in Lewes , and it was a great

p leasure to him to fill the honourable position of Master of the Pelham Lodge . It was true that they were not a numerous boely , but , at the same time , they numbered among them several distinguished Masons . The toast of " The Visitors " was responded to by Bro . S . Tanner , and oilier visiting brethren . The after dinner proceedings were not prolonged , but while they lasted they were of a most enjoyable character .

HAMPTON COURT . —Era Lodge ( No . 1423 ) . — 'The seventh installation meeting of this celebrated Middlesex lodge took place on Saturday , the 12 th inst ., at Bro . Tagg ' s Island Hotel , Hampton Court . Notwithstanding the exceptionally unpropitious condition of the weather , which was more in accordance with mid-winter than miil-spring , there was a gooelly muster of members

and visitors . Among the former we may mention Bros . | . J . Mo « s , P . M ., P . P . G . R . Middlesex ; Baldwin , P . M ., P . P . G . P . Middlesex ; T . J . Sabine , W . M ., P . P . G . S . B . Middlesex ; Theillay , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B . Middlesex ; E . W . Devereux , S . W . and W . M . elect ; Faulkner , Hon . Dental Surgeon to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls ; Pearson , Dr . Ryley , T . G . Tagg , Elliott , Henman , and others .

Among the visitors wc may enumerate Bros , the Prov . Grand Master of Middlesex , Colonel Burdett , J . P . ; Dr . Barringer , P . P . G . W . Herts ; Graham , Holmesdale Lodge , Tunbridgc Wells ; Cash , Devereux , W . A . Simmons , P . M . New Cross Lodge , 1559 , and others . The lodge was opened , and the minutes of the previous meeting having been confirmed and signed , the W . M . referred in most

feeling terms to the great loss which the lodge had recently sustained by the death of the S . D ., Bro . J . Johnstone . The Secretary ivas directed to send a letter of condolence and sympathy to the widow and family . The W . M ., Uro . T . J . Sabine , then proceeded with the installation of the new W . M ., Bro . E . W . Devereux , who was presented for the benefit of the ceremony by Bro . J . W . Baldwin , of

P . M ., e ^ c . ; after which a Board Installed Masters was formed , in accordance with ancient usage , and the members below the chair retired for a short time . On their re-admission , the Acting Director of Ceremonies then proclaimed and the brethren then saluted the newly-installed Master , according to ancient custom . The appointment and investment of officers was as follows : —Bros . Loos ,

S . W . ; Faulkner , J . W . ; Baldwin , P . M ., Treas . ; Wright , Sec ; Pearson , S . D . ; Dr . Ryley , J . D . ; Elliott , I . G . ; Henman , D . of C . ; Wingate , Steward ; Gilbert , P . G . T . Middlesex , Tyler . The Installing Master , Bro . T . J . Sabine , then gave in a very perfect and impressive manner the three addresses . On the motion of Bro . Moss , P . M ., eVc , a special vote of thanks was passed to Bro . T . I .

Sabine for the very efficient manner in which he had carrieel out his duties as Installing Master . The lodge being closeel in perfect harmony , the brethren and visitors adjourned to the banqueting-room , where Bro . Tagg served up a repast equal to the best London houses . The men 11 and toast list combined was in i ' . self a little work of art , illustrated with sixteen suitable quotations from Shakspeare .

Ample justice having been done to the very excellent and well-served dinner , the W . M ., Bro . E . W . Devereux , then proposed the usual loyal and Masonic toasts— " The Queen and the Craft ; " "The M . W . G . M . of England , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , " "The M . W . Pro Grand Master , the R . I I . the Earl of Carnarvon , " "The R . W . Deputy Grand Master , Lord Skelmersdale , and the rest

of ehe Grand Officers , Present anel Past , " which were heartily received and responded to with enthusiasm . In proposing "The R . W . Prov . G . M ., Bro . Col . Burilett , J . P ., P . G . W . of England , and Reprcscntive of the Grand Lodge of Ireland at the Grand Lodge of England , " the W . M . said he was exceedingly happy to welcome their venerated chief in the names of the members

of the lodge on that occasion . The P . G . M . had , by a straightforward discharge of his duty , won the respect and esteem of all the lodges in the province , which , under bis guiding care , had very materially increased since it was established a few years ago . Col . Burdett , in reply , thanked the brethren for the hearty welcome which he had received , and assureel them that it was his earnest wish

a "d desire to promote the interest of true Freemasonryt' ) keep all the lodges in his province in a state of harmony and good working . He was glad to find that several of his Past Grand Officers were present , and that ° ne had just left the chair of the lodge after installing his successor . The next toast was " The W . Deputy G . M ., s « Charles Bright , and the rest of the Prov . Grand

Officers , Present and Past , " coupled with the name of liro - . 1 . T . Moss , P . G . Registrar . Bro . Moss , in reply , addressed the brethren in his usual humorous style , and '' Unbilled tin success of Freemasonry in Middlesex to the K"at interest the P . G . M . ( Col . Burdett ) took in the proper worliingr 0 f the lodges . Bro . T . J . Sabine , I . P . M ., in

Wopusinr "Tnc Health of the W . M ., " said : I cannot but ^ "Sratulated the lodge on the advance this elay to the ! . ^ n "' s chair of one of the first brethren who were ' j'Uiilej in the Era Lodge . It is an evidence of a new Paiture , and , I trust , one which will bring with it a continuance of the prosperity which has hitherto attended it lod ge . It was originally arranged that the founders of

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the lodge should go through the chair , and as that arrangement commenced with Bro . J . T . Moss , so to-day it has ended with mc . Hence , I take it , there is a new departure . The veterans of the lodge have laid the foundation . These initiated in the lodge from to-day continue the work . I have every confidence in the arrangement . I have every confidence in the newly-installed W . M ., who

since the day of his initiation has passed through the various offices he has held with great credit to himself , with unquestionable advantage to the Lodge . He has set an example not only of constant attendance , but of perfect working , and I feel certain that during his year of office he will bear out the exprressions of confidence I have used . I ask you to drink his good health , long

life and prosperity , and a successful year of office . The W . M . ( Bro . Devereux ) , in reply , thanked Bro . Sabine , for the very flattering manner in which he had been pleased to speak of him and his work . He also thanked the members and visitors for their hearty response . For himself he had made up his mind from the first to do his duty , and at the end of his year of office should not fear to be

judged by results . He much regretted that the Easter holidays and the Christmas weather had prevented many from attending ; he thanked those visitors who had favoured the lodge with their presence , and he trusted duiing his year of office to see them again , when the lovely scenery of the district coulel be enjoyed under more congenial circumstances , lie again thanked them for the honour

conferred upon him that day , and for the hearty expressions of success during the ensuing year . The W . M . ( Bro . E . W . Devereux ) then proposed " The Past Masters of the Lodge , " and paid them collectively a high compliment for the work done by them . Adressing his Immediate Past Master ( Bro . T . J . Sabine ) , he said : It is my pleasing duty to present you in the name of the members of the

lodge with thishandsome P . M's . jiwel , which I hope you may live many years to wear , and also with this elegant three-bottle lieiuor stand , which when used by you in your circle of frienels will serve at all times to remind you of the Era Loelge which as a founelcr you helpeel to start , and which as a W . M . you have helpeel to support , and which as a P . M . you will be expected still to feel some interest in .

The jewel and liquor stand are engrived as follows : — " Presented April 12 th , 18 79 , by the members of the Era Lodge , No . 1423 , to W . Bro . Thos . J . Sabine , P . M . 73 , 1540 , P . P . G . S . B . Middx ., founder and Past Treasurer of the lodge , in appreciation of his valuable services as Worshipful Master 1878-9 . Bro . T . J . Sabine , I . P . M ., in reply , said : The Past Masters of the lodge have

at all times felt it a pleasurable duty , not only to attend with becoming regularity , but to assist in promoting the interests of the lodge . For myself , I cin only say that from the day of consecration until this moment it has been to me a pleasure to attend and work with my fellow-members . It i-i my hope , if the G . A . O . T . U . gives mc good health , to be as frequently among you as ever .

I cannot sit down without thanking my brother members for the handsome vote of the lodge , which I shall treasure as souvenirs of my pleasant connection with the lodge during my life . 1 think , W . M ., I may add , on the part of my brother 1 ' ast Masters and myself , that you may rely on us to give you the assistance you may need , and at all times to support you in your laudable undertakings on

behalf of the loeigc . The W . M . then proposed " The Visitors" in suitable terms , referring to the work those present had done in Freemasonry , and offering them a very hearty welcome . Bro . Dr . Barringer , P . P . G . W . Herts , replied , thanking the brethren for the hearty way the toast had been received , and congratulating the new W . M . on his accession to the highest office the brethren

can give in his mother lodge . He was also pleased with the excellent working of the installation ceremony by the I . P . M ., Bro . Sabine . He might have hearel it given in a more showy and more brilliant manner , but newrwith more effective heartiness . There was no attempt at display . It was given with carrrest impressiveness , with almost faultless correctness , and delivered as if every word was heartily felt . He trusted to visit them aga ' u on some

other occasion , for he was sure he should enj vy himself very much , not only in the lodge , where he should find careful workers , but outside the lodge , fur the pleasant prospect up and down the river was in fine weather most enchanting . Bros . Graham , Cook , and Simmons also replied . The Tylei ' s toast brought the proceedings to a close . During the evening , the company were entertained with some excellent singing by Bros . Dr . Barringer , Graham , Dr . Ryley , and others .

MORECAMBE . — Morecambe Lodge ( No . 1541 ) . —The monthly meeting of this lodge was held on the 4 th inst ., in ihe Masonic Hall , Edward-street , Morecambe . Bro . Thomas Longmire , the W . M ., presided . There was not a large attendance of brethren or visitors . The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed , and there being no special business to transact , a conversation on Masonic topics took place . The lodge was subsequently closed in peace , love , and harmony .

LEICESTER . —Albert Edward Lodge ( No . 15 60 ) . —Tuesday , the 8 'h inst ., was the birthday of his Worship the Mayor of Leiccster ( Bro . Aid . Clement Stretton ) , and it being the ordinary meeting of the above lodge , of which his worship is a member , the occasion was availed of to give him a special fraternal greeting . There was consequently a large and influential gathering both of the

members of the Albert Edward and the sister loelges , espcciilly , pcrhap ? , of St . John ' s , of which the Mayor was for two successive years W . M ., as he is now for a second year occupying the civic chair of the borough . The ordinary business of the lodge having been transacted , the brethren at a later period of the evening sat down to an excellent banquet , under the presidency of the esteemed W . M . ( Captain J . G . F . Richardson ) . The following

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other brethren were also amongst those present : Bros Clement Stretton ( the Mayor ) , P . M . 279 , Prov . S . G . W . ; C . G . Merewether , Q . C , M . P . ( Recorderof Leicester ); W Kelly , P . P . G . M . ; the Rev . C . Henton Wood , Prov . G . C ; T . A . Wykes , P . M . 523 , P . G . T . ; S . S . Partridge , P . M 423 , Prov . G . Sec . ; R . Taylor , W . M . 523 , Prov . G . Sup Works ; W . Millican , P . M . 523 ; J . M . M'Allister , P . M .

279 , P . P . G . S . D . ; W . T . Rowlett , P . M . 523 , P . P . G . O . ; J . B . Haxby , P . P . S . G . W . ; J . F . L . Rolleston , J . W . 1560 ; W . Sculthorpe , P . M . 523 ; Clement E . Stretton , P . M . 279 , P . P . G . Supt . of Works ; Albert Stretton , ic . 60 ; G . Toller , jun ., P . M . 523 , P . G . S . B . ; J . Vaughan , 279 , P . M . 86 ; J . D . Harris , W . L . Emmerson , 523 ; the Rev . Edward W . Woodcock , P . P . G . C . ; Wm . J . Freer , Robert Waite , P . M .

J . H . Thompson , 279 ; William Beeson , and others . The usual loyal and patriotic toasts having been duly honoured , the W . M . proposed "The Health of Brr . Clement Stretton , the Mayor of Leicester , " prefacing the toast with a few complimentary observations upon the honourable position which the family of the Strettons had so long occupied amongst them , until he might trulv say

the name had become a household word . They were both proud and pleased to have the honour of the Mayor ' s presence with them that evening as one of their brethren , and as a fellow-citizen who had distinguished himself in the high office which he held as chief magistrate of the borough . In the discharge of the duties of that important position his worship had ably acquitted himself , and

he had , at the same time , in the most hospitable manner , proved himself a worthy successor of his ancestors . In his Masonic career , too , he had not only won his way to very high office , but he bad also distinguished himself by great generosity , being always ready to cater to the wants of others ; and nt t only was his purse always open to the relief of such wants , but it was always so

without the slightest ostentation . He ( the W . M . ) had therefore the greatest possible pleasure in proposing " The Health of Brother Stretton , " coupled with a wish that he might live long to enjoy the honourable position to which he had attained , and the duties of which he had so worthily fulfilled . Bro . Stretton , in acknowledging the compliment , saiel the manner in which the toast

had been proposed by the Worshipful Master , and the cordial way in which it had been received by the brethren , was very gratifying to him , and he was very grateful to them for such a nutne rous attendance in honour of his birthday . It wa only two weeks ago that he spent his Masonic birthday , for on the first of the month just sixteen years ago Bro .

Haxby , assisted by Bro . Kelly , introduced him into Masonry . He had been through most of the offices in Masonry , until he had arrived at the height of a Mason ' s ambition , namely , that of being P . G . S . W . During his connection with Masonry he had made many kind frienels , and only this last year Masonry hael been of very great assistance to him . When , by an unfortunate occurrence , it again fell

to his lot to be again invited to take office as Mayor , he had recourse to his Masonic friends for their advice . Some of them present would no doubt remember that he solicited their advice as to whether he should accept office a second time ; and the advice be received from his Masonic friends , of both political parties , determined him to accept the office which had been again so kindly offered to him .

He could not do more than thank them most heartily and sincerely for the very kind manner in which they had received him on that , as on all occasions . Bro . S . S . Partridge said he had great pleasure in proposing to them " The Health of their much esteemed W . M . of the Albert Edward Lodge , " who so very admirably filled the office . It was not given to every one to occupy the chair in the

manner in which Bro . Richardson now filled it , for he did not aim to go through the duties in a mere parrot-like , schoolboy way ; but both in the lodge , and at their baneiuets afterwards , the admirable way in which he presided over them commanded their greatest admiration . His officers must all be very pleased to serve under him , and he ( Bro . Partridge ) was surcallthe brethren present would

unite in wishing him very good health and prosperity during his year of office . 'The W . M . said he thanked them very much for the great honour they had done him by the cordial manner in which they had received the toast so kindly proposed by Bro . Partridge . He said he never anticipated the honour of passing the chair in any lodge , and certainly never expected he should have the honour of

presiding over such a lodge as the Albert Edward . He could only say that it would be his greatest endeavour to conduct it impartially , and with the best feelings towards all the brethren . " 'The Health of the Officers of the Lodge" was next eloquently proposed by the W . M ., and suitably acknowledged ; " The Visiting Brethren , " respone ' e I to by B ^ os . S . Cleaver , W . M . of the St . John's ,

279 ; Richard Taylor , W . M . 523 ; and T . A . Wykes , l . P . M . 505 ; and this was followed by other complimentary toasts . During the evening the proceedings were greatly varied and enlivened by the musical performances , both vocal and instrumental , of several of the brethren , including Bros . W . T . Rowlett , P . P . G . O . ; Scott , Organist of 279 ;

A . Wykes , R . Taylor , and others ; the meeting being altogether a most enjoyable one . Tbe chief work in lodge was to raise to the Third Degree Bro . James Neale , F . S . A . ( the r'is'inguisheil author of the beautiful architectural work on St . Alban's Abbey , who is a native of Leicester ) . The ceremony was p rformed by the P . Prov . G . M ., Bro . W . Kelly , F . S . A .

YORK . —Eboracum Lodge ( No . ifin ) . —The regular meeting of this lodge was held at York on Monday , the 14 thinst . Present : Bros .. ] S . Cumberland , W . M . ; T . B . Whytehead , l . P . M . ; C . G . Padel , S . W . ; J . T . Seller , J . W . ; G . Balmforel , P . M ., Treas . ; J . Kay , Sec . ; T . Humphries , Asst . Sec ; M . Millington , S . D . ; T . D . Smith , J . D . ; G . Simpson , M . C . ; H . Jackson , as I . G . ; P . Pearson , Tyler ; together with several other brethren and visitors .