Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

Bro . Fr . mcis proposed " The VV . AI ., " whom he hatl hail much pleasure in installing , because he felt he was placing in the chair a brother who would do it honour . The VV . M . was a man who was not content wilh a mere knowledge o £ the Masonic ritual , but he carried nut the principles of Alasonry in his heart and in his dailv lift and conduct . Itwas inthiswav th ; ithc ( Bro .

Francis ) iirsth c -mo acquai itetl with him . A misfortune happened lu a tiicndof his ( Bro . t ' rawcis's ) andlVic W . AI . put himself to considerable trouble and expense to do the widow : > service . It was a cas 2 of no interest to the VV . M ., but he took it up because it was a case of distress . He

( Bro . Francis ) felt then that he ought to like him , and he did like him , and had liked liini ever since . Then how could ; t be olheiivi .. e than a grcut pleasure to him to in-¦ 'Lai Mice !] :. i brother in the chair of a lodge ? The W . AL OTUM peiform the duties ti his ofiice well ; hut he v . 'euM do belter <*'¦! . he would carry out thc spirit ol

Freern ; .. nrv . ihe W . AL respi-rded , antlfsaid a great authority li . nl told them that brevity was the soul ot wit . l'erhap . ; some of the brethren would think that he , a ina . n ot ( lei vcatr * of ; ic' * " -, g- 'O ' c ' . ' into ( he chair was slatiding i" tlie way of some other brother . No Mich feeling prompted him . Thirty years ago he was

inlro-. hiecil to this lodge , when lr ; was a giddy boy he was : i : ititied ami Lit it ; ten years afterwards he joined this lotlge—his lir .-1 lun—and again he Ictt her ; and for the third time he came and kissed tlie maid . ( Perhaps they might say there was something poetic in what he said . ) But it afforded him inexpressible pleasure to be installed in the ch .-tir . The authority lie had before quoted said ,

"' 1 here's a divinity which shapes o _ r ends , rough hew them as we may . " He would discharge his duties to the best of his poor ability , and he hoped his brethren would nut say ol" him , when his year of office had expired , that he had disgraced the chair , or made the brethren uncomfoi table . The Prov . G . AL , being obliged to depart , here

propose " Health and Prosperity to the Frederick Lodge of Unity . " It would ill become him to enjoy the lodge's hospitality and part from the brethren without hearty good wishes . ( Cheers . ) Bio . Dickinson , LP . AL , being selected by the Prov . G . AL for reply , said that the Frederick Lotlge of Unity always received visitors wilh kind feelings , and whether

taken by . surprise or not they tried to please them . Whenever visitors came the lodge was pleased to entertain tlieni . It was not his mother lodge , but he visited many ; and having done so he coultl say that he hatl never collie into contact with any hotly of men wherein such Alasonic unity existed ns in this lodge They sat dowp as a happy family here , and he trusted they might

go ou prospering and to prosper , a lodge over which thc Prov . G . Alaster might feel proud to hold sway . Bro . Charles Horsley , Prov . ti . Reg ., Middlesex , responded for " The Visitors , " after the old song , " Thc Vicar of Bray , " had been sung . 1 le said—The song which we have just heard has put into my mind that we ourselves represent congregations which are

superintended byjtwo most glorious Vicars of Bray , as it were . I myself have the honour of serving under a g lorious Vicar of Bray , whose name is Colonel Burdett , and whatso-c \ cr King may reign for the year , iu his territory , thank God , we all say he shall be the Vicar of Bray . Here you have . 1 second glorious Vicar of Bray in tlie shape of Alajor-Gciicral Brownrigg . I le is a new king

reigning over this lodge who . e reign begins to-day , deposing another king , Bro . Dickinson , whose reign ended to-day , yet nevertheless , and notwithstanding , all these changes , still the Grand Vicar il your hearts for the province of Surrey , as the Grand Vicar of our hearts for the province of Aliddlesex , will he with your own excellent and very worshijiful liro . Brownrigg , wilh us , our very

excellent and much loved Colonel Burdett ; antl I sincerely trust that those King-Vicars of Bray may still remain to reign over thc iiionarehs ot their several provinces—1 mig lit ¦ ¦ : ¦;} the annual iiionarehs for a long scries of years lo come , inasmuch as each Grand Vicar so reigning possesses the confidence , the love , and the affection of every Master who serves under him , and every

brother who has the honour to be a serving or oilier brother in thc several provinces which they si worthily preside over . I say that no brother would ever wish to see two more perfect exemplars of the Gr . uul Vicars , not of Bray , but of Surrey and Middlesex . Tlicrelore 1 congratulate you as much as I congratulate iiiyst If and the Aliddlesex brethren , but now for myself ,

VV . M ., allow me to thank you most sincerely for receiving a Middlesex brother among you , one who has certainly somewhat , I hope 1 may say without affectation , won his spins iu the Craft ; one who has the honour now to be clccicd to his lil ' th Alai-tership , and to be in ano ' ia - fortnight , I hope , installed in his fifth chair . ; v . l . t . bu , v M . E . Z . of the Royal Aliddlesex Chapter will in

ihiei . t . r i ; -.: weeks ai .-o have the Honour of being ALE . / . if the lioi . il Yarborough Chapter . Antl it only shews t ' r .:. t with real hard wcrk—for it comer , to that , brethrent . v . l Mime > h ; 'hl amount e-f goodwill and a trilling amount of iuii-lleel lu back liiein : dl up with ; but above all , the tl- lerniiii . 'ilii ' in to tin one ' s duty , to endeavour to deserve thai je ivel which I prize more limn the whole of mv Alasonic iewcl-. loretlr . r . this little one

v . iln io . nine ela-p .-. upr . n ll representing ten - . licietH . I . .-. - . u-. ohiji . s to the charities . Now , my i ¦ - . ieinn bt'li ' . l in it , I 1 ¦ t ' . r . " . r ., is ihi ; yon 111 ly talk about t t i ¦ r j \' . i I . 1 ; inn li as you plea .-e ; and it is very glnit 1 . ; .. to in .- 1 . 1 \\ . o . as t have lie . honour ol doine , lour

J ' . M . 'v jewel ; gi ' . ni me by thc kind antl fiat .-rn . il aiiectiou if my i ,. ei-uen ; but take my solemn word for it , there is one j ' . vel which passes i'll understanding as regards its w-iiih , .-mil that is the jewel that springs from a heartfelt knowledge that one has done

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

one's duty to tho sisterhood , that one has served the old brother Alason in distress , lhat one has served the willow of the dear old departed Mason iu distress , that as far as one could do , has taken care of the orphan , male or female , and as far as possible has done some little good for Ihe brotherhood anil sisterhood in general . That , after all , my dear brethren , is the great glory of

Freemasonry ; and I say to those whogo and serve the stewardships , work hard , get a good list of subscriptions , lirst of all beginning with No . 1—that is what I say—begin with No . 1 , and then you have some , slight claim to call upon Numbers 2 , 3 , and 4 . ( Cheers . ) Aly excellent Worshipful Alaster , 1 most sincerely thank you for the kindness with which you now , I think for " : the third or fourth time ,

have received me through the kindness of this dear yonng friend , Bro . Robins ( laughter ) who gets younger every hour , and my excellent antl thrice excellent friend , Bro . Ohren , whose guest 1 have been , I think , upon two occasions previously . When 1 find such brethren ns these acting with von , W . AL , and your P . AI . ' s , and those most excellent ofliccrs , who have been doing their duty so

admirably , and so perfectly and closely to-mght as they have , 1 am sure that with their assistance the Frederick Lotlge of Unity never will or can go briek . ( Hem-, lvem-. ) I have only one word mine of thanks , and that is to our installing Alaster for the excellent and perfect manner in which upon this and upon all previous occasions he has shown himself a worthy descendant of St . Francis , (

laughter ) and I can only say that when he has been dead 130 years , I have no doubt , like St . Francis of Assiz , he will be canonised also ( laughter ); and I am sure he will be very much gratified only lo know that he will be canonised . The other toasts were very briefly given and responded to , antl the brethren then separated . SHEERNESS—DE Siii * iu .. \ sn LODGE ( No . 10 S 9 ) . —The

installation meeting of this lodge was held on Wednesday week , at the offices of thc Local Government Board , Sheerness , which had been generously placed at the disposal of the brethren by the authorities . The lodge was very fully attended , and among thc brethren present were Bros . Page , P . J . G . W ., P . AI . ; Rigg , LP . AL and P . G . Reg . ; Finch , P . M . 429 , P . Prov . G . D . C .

Isaac Townsend , P . AI . 138 , P . Prov . G . D . C ; J . R . McDonald , P . AI . and late Secretary , P . Prov . G . D . C , Installing Officer ; John Hodgson , W . M . 1063 ; Fiiminger ; W . M . ' i . - jS ; Harris , P . AL 1 * 3 . 1 -, Smceth , VV . AI . 120 S ; S . Wood , 1271 ; Uathurst , P . Prov . G . R . ; and the Rev . T . Robinson , P . AL , P . / ., P . Prov . G . S . W . The ceremony of installation was performed hy Bro . J . R . McDonald , Past

Provincial Grantl Director of Ceremonies , who discharged his duties in a most admirable manner , installing the W . M . and delivering the charges without any hesitation . The Board of Installed Alasters was composed of Bros , the Rev . J . Robinson , P . AL and P . Z ., P . S . G . W . ; VV . Page , P . AL antl P . Z . 20 303 , iofi j ., P . J . G . VV . ; T . AI . Rigg , LP . AL 10 S 11 , P . G . Reg . * , II . Uathurst , P . AI . 133 , P . P . G . Reg . ; S ,

L . Townsend , P . AL , P . Z . 138 , P . Prov . G . S . D . ; L . Finch , P . AI . 429 , 1 209 , P . Prov . G . D . of C . ; G . Beckwith , P . AL 138 , P . Prov . G . S . of VV .: VV . Pamicll , P . AL 10 S 9 , P . Prov , G . S . of VV . ; II . Jacobs , P . AI . 13 S , P . Prov . G . S . ; J . Hancock , P . AI . ioSii ; AI . VV . West , P . AL 1089 ; VV . Harris . P . AI . 138 ; | . B . Horrell , P . M . 73 , J . C . ; T . J . Fiiminger . W . AL ' 1 = 8 ; — Smceth , VV . AI . 1 208 ; VV . Wood , . VV . M .

1273 ; — Hodgson , VV . AI . 1063 . The new W . AL was Bro . A . Bourne , who , on assuming the chair , appointed the following brethren as his officers : — Bros . T . AL Rigg , LP . AL ; John Copland , S . W . ; Chas . Hall , l . VV . ; Richd . Harris , P . M . 158 , Treas . * , VV . Panned P . AI . and P . Prov . G . S . Wks ., Sec " ; E . Penney , S . D .- . C . J . Williams ( Capt . Kent Artillery Volunteers ) , J . D . ; J

Saffery , I . G . ; and W . AL West , P . AL , D . C . 'liie lodge was closed shortly alter four o'clock , antl the brethren adjourned lo the Fountain Hotel , where a choice banquet was read y for their acceptance . I he VV . M . delegated liro . W . Page , J . G . W . Kent , to preside , himself occupying a seat on Brn . Page ' .-, light hand , and Bro . Itigg , I . P . M ., another seat on the left . The banquet , which was much

enjoyed by the brethren , and highly praised , having been disposed of , grace was said , and Bro . Page immediately proceeded to propose the toasts . The . ( toast of " The Oucen " having been duly honoured , Bro . Page proposed " H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M . of the Craft , " thc latter portion of the toast having been omitted in connection with the first toast , the waiters being in thc room ,

and time ( on account of the trains ) not admitting of delay . In giving the toast of thc Prince of Wales , he saitl he was very much gratified at what he saw at tlie Royal Albert I lall when the Prince of Wales was installed , more especially with ll . ll . li . ' s deportment , his mode of conducting business , and his speech . He believed the accession of the Prince of Wales to the chair woultl do more

for Freemasonry in this country than had been done for many years , even by the most zealous Alasons , of whom we had had many . It woultl show that Freemasonry was a good , proper , anil religious rite , and lhat thc heir to these realms was not above that position which we as Englishmen were proud to see him occupy . In giving " The Health ol the Duke of Coiinaiitiht and the rest of the

Royal Family , " Bro . Page said that the Duke of Connaught , both at the installation and at the banquet which followed , ably supported his Royal brother . As one of those who had the good fortune to hear him speak at the banquet , he was very much pleased at tin . * handsome , kind , . Mill affectionate way in which he spoke of the Princess of Wales ; antl every one was --ratified at seeing the kind good

feeling and attention which was paid by him to the Grand Mastir . It :, huwed that there was in our Royal famil y the same brotherly affection which there was in other English homes . Passing from these toasts , Bro . Page said he came to tlie " I'm Grantl Alaster , the Earl of Carnarvon , the Deputy Grand . Master , Lonl Skelmersdale , and the other Grantl Ollicurs , " and he was very much delighted with them all . Lord Skeluieistlale had proved iiinisili a

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

thorough working Alason , and was an able coadjutor of the Grand Alaster and the Pro Grantl Alaster . When this toast hatl been drank , Bro . Page proposed " Viscount Holmesdale , Provincial Grand Alaster of Kent , " and said that nothing he could say would put Lord Holmesdale before the brethren in a better light than that in which hc had been seen by them fr > r some years past , because they

all knew that of all r .. cn who had for many years been at the head of affairs in the Province of Kent , Lord Holmesdale hatl done the best that could be done for the interests of Freemasonry there . During the last few years , in which hc ( Bro . Page ) had seen much of the working of the business part of Freemasonry in Kent , no man ever tried so much as thc Provincial Grantl Alaster of Kent to dispense

favours honestly and justly , lie had done a great deal through the Provincial Grand Secretary and the late Provincial Grand Secretary , Bro . Dobson , to promote the interests of the Craft in the province , and he hatl shown that he took a great deal of interest in the Order , as he made himself acquainted with those he desired to place in office in tl > province . Such men were the right ones to place

in til position of Provincial Grand Alaster , and the province ought to feel proud Lthat they had such a Grand Master . He hoped that he mi ght long be spared to rule over the province , and that some day or other they might have the pleasure of welcoming him in that room . Bro . Bathurst jiroposed " The Deputy Prov . Grand Alaster anil the rest of the Provincial Grand Officers , "

to which Bro . thc Rev . J . Robinson , Prov . G . S . W ., responded , and saitl that on that tlay week the brethren had the pleasure of meeting under the presidency of the Deputy Grand Alaster at thc preparatory meeting . The Deputy-Grand Alaster was , however , not able to be present that evening , as he was very unwell , but he desired him ( Bro . Robinson ) to convey his sincere regret lo the brethren for the

occurrence . Since Bro . Eastes had been appointed Deputy Grand Alaster he had shewn himself anxious to sec all the brethren , which was a very proper feeling , as thc appointments to Grand Office rested very much wilh thc Deputy Grantl Alaster . Bro . Eastes tlid not desire to take a brother's merits upon hearsay , but was determined to see for himself and judge for himself . The present Provincial

Grand Officers' term of office was now nearly at an end , but he was happy to say that they had endeavoured to do their duty , and speaking for himself be could assure the brethren that hc had not neglected any opportunity of performing it . He had answered and accepted every invitation , often with inconvenience to himself , though that of course was not to be mentioned . Hc hail gone as a-

matter of duty . When men undertook any duties they shoultl perform them in as light , cheerful , and pleasant a manner as they could . Althou gh a stranger in Sheerness he had been most kindly received , and he was very much pleased with thc place and the people so far as he had seen them . With respect to the Freemasons of Sheerness hc had found them of the same admirable stamp as he had

met elsewhere . Bro . Page then gave " The Health of Bro . Townsend , " who was the third oldest l ' reemason in England , wishing him better health , and yet many years of life to come among the brethren . The toast having been drunk with great enthusiasm , Bro . Rigg , at Bro . Townscnd's request , rose to reply . He said that iu consequence of Bro . Townscnd ' s great age he had an

impediment in his speech , but he thanked the brethren very much for their kindness . Bro . Townsend deserved it all and a great deal more . He was a Provincial Grand Officer , a Past Provincial Grand Registrar , and had been 25 years Secretary of his lodge . Hc belonged to Arch Alasonry as well , and also to the Mark , and had held office in all . There was not a better Alasoiv—not only not an older

Alason—but not a better Alason m Sheerness than Bro . Townsend . Bro . Page then proposed " The W . AL , Bro . A . Bourne . " The lodge had passed through certain difficulties and dangers during the past few months , but they had been overcome and liie lodge was now landed safely , and it had in Bro . Bourne a brother who would do his best lo maintain good will and good feeling in the lodge . No

doubt at the end of his year of ofiice they would all shake him by the hand anil thank him for the happiness he had been the means of promoting . When that time arrived he hoped Bro . Bourne would have as good an account to give as Bro . Rigg had—fourteen joining members and fourteen initiates timing the year . Some lodges could only shew four of each ; then this lotlge must be very

prosperous to shew fourteen . To keep up the character of thc lodge they must look to the character of the men they proposed to bring into it , as it was not the number of candidates but their character which gave standing to a lodge . Thc men that should be introduced were those who would elevate the lodge anil not those who would depress it . On all occasions when Lord I lohnesilale had hatl occasion to

speak of Freemasonry and its increasing numbers he spoke most strongly 011 this point , antl it was his desire lhat with ( he " push "Freemasons latel y had hatl they shoultl look to the social position and , as far as they were able , thc future of those whom they accepted in the Order . The charity lists became greater every year , and it behoved the brethren who had a care for those institutions to see that

Ihe . brethren they accepted would reflect no discredit upon them by-and-bye . Bro . Bourne , in reply , said—I must beg for a little consideration al your hands . lam a very indifferent orator , and being a young Alason , 1 feci rather diffident 011 Ibis occasion . 1 am in rather a novel position . As a young Alason I could not have anticipated having so rapid a promotion in the Craft as 1 have bad , and I feel a

difficulty in finding fitting words to express my gratitude to you for this confidence in me , and the kind way in which you have drunk my health . I can only -eiy that as regards my past career you have known me eighteen months as Secretary , and about fifteen months as Junior Warden . In carrying out the duties of those offices I have brought all my energies lo bear to carry them out with credit to myself and " justice to the W . M . 1 take it that my present