Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

ning after confirmation of minutes and one initiation , was the installation of W . M . ( Bro . Robert Henry Pearson , P . M . ) , and investiture of officers . The ceremony of installation was gone through splendidly , with the assistance of Bros . Woods and Davis , all the brethren present expressing their admiration at the excellence of the working throughout . After the ceremony Bro . Parkhouse begged to return

thanks on behalf of the lodge to a member for his hand > ome present of an oil painting of Bro . Cama , so well-known and respected , not only in this lodge , but amongst all provincial and most foreign lodges . The business of the evening being concluded , the brethren adjourned to the banqueting room , where , after justice had been done to the good fare provided , the preliminary toasts usual amongst Masons

were given and responded to , that of the Worshipful Master being proposed by Bro . Woods in a most complimentary and feeling manner . In responding , Bro . Pearson , who was greeted with loud cheers , begged to thank the brethren present for the handsome way he had been received . As he was at present a P . M . of another lodge , he had no idea until recently of

going into office in connection with the Carnarvon Lodge , his idea being that the younger members should be pushed forward with the prospect of taking office in rotation . However , about two years ago he yielded , like a good man , to the solicitations of a deputation of P . M . ' s , and he was very proud of the honour thrust upon him . He was not ambitious , and by his adherence to old pastimes he fancied

himself quite the " old fogey . " However , he again begged to thank the brethren for their kind wishes , which were fully reciprocated . The remaining toasts were " The Initiate , " " The Visitors , " "The Treasurer and Secretary , " "The Masonic

Charities , " "The Past Masters , " "The Officers , " and the Tyler's toast . In reply to the toast of " The Visitors , " Bro . Jubal Webb , amongst others , testified to the general all-round qua'ities of the W . M ., not only in Masonic work , but in parochial matters—in fact , anything he undertook was well carried

out . During the evening a P . M . 's jewel ( manufactured by Bro . George Kenning ) , was presented to Bro . Woods , and general harmony prevailed throughout , a well-arranged programme being successfuly carried through by Misses Bertha Colnaghi and Camilla Page and Bros . Henry Prenton and H . Parkin . The list of visitors included Bros . Chandler , P . M . 1656 ;

Mason , 2150 ; Aslett , 1892 ; Jolly , 1829 ; R . H . Williams , W . M . 1767 ; Banajee , 255 ; Marajana , W . M . 255 ; W . C . Williams , W . M . S 65 ; Humfress , W . M . 733 ; Weaver , P . M . 1238 ; Walter , P . M . 1767 ; Fountaine , P . M . 94 S ; Papworth , 1196 ; D . Smith , 2045 ; Scholding , 1512 ; Boswood , 343 ; Thomas , 2045 ; Head , P . M . 511 ; Breitbart , W . M . 1 S 28 ; Dr . Gawith , W . M . 708 ; Neville , 1767 ;

Mayne , P . M . 123 S ; J . C . Smith , P . M . 1744 ; Price , 1585 ; H . Rogers , 1567 ; J . Williams , P . M . 1791 ; C . Webster , P . M . 1637 ; G . Britton , P . M . 22 ; Day , 1641 ; Rumsey , S . W . 1627 ; G . N . Watts , P . M . 194 ; Walker , P . M . 733 ; Clarke , 1196 ; Honey , P . M . n ; J . Webb , P . M . 55 ; Sacon , P . M . 1196 ; W . Eckstein , J . D . 1196 ; S . Drew-Bear , P . M . 15 S 4 ; J . Pearson , P . M . 1196 ;

Sickle , P . M . 1196 ; J . W . Wakeham , 1767 ; Inglish , 901 ; E . Routledge , P . M . 1635 ; J . Butler , P . M . 34 ; j . Jordan , P . G . S . ; E . M . Daniel , P . M . 16 94 ; Hicks , J . D . 1694 ; Challenor , 1694 ; S . G . Smith , P . M . 194 ; J . H . Pearson , P . M . 1567 ; J . Welford , P . M . 733 ; Simpson , P . M . 683 ; and F . Eckstein , P . M . 1196 .

The officers appointed were Bros . R . H . Pearson , W . M . ; J . Woodmason , S . W . ; R . C . Green , J . W . ; S . H . Parkhouse , P . M ., Treas . ; W . J . Murlis , P . M ., Sec . ; C . Rowlands , S . D . ; R . Roberts , J . D . ; T . Heath , I . G . j E . M . Lander , P . M ., D . of C . ; F . Delevante , Org . ; Rev . P . Holden , P . M ., Chap , j Dr . Pocock , A . D . of C . ; and E . Rogers and J . H . Rutherglen , Stwds .

COBORN LODGE ( No . 1804 ) . —A meeting of this lodge was held at the Bow Vestry Hall , on Thursday , the 10 th inst ., when the chair was occupied by Bro . C . J . R . Tijou , I . P . M . and Sec , in the absence ( through illness ) of the W . M ., Bro . Alfred Souch . There were also present Bro . E . G . Johnson , S . W . ; Ellerton , J . W . ; R . Logan , P . M ., Treas . ; Plater , S . D . ; Green , J . D . ;

Gibbs , Org . j Paterson , I . G . j Webster and Smithers , Stwds . ; and Harrison , Tyler . Visitors : Bros . J . Taylor , P . M . 753 ; Peterken , P . M . 1 S 05 ; Rawley , Sec . 1805 ; Westfield , 813 ; Butler , 89 S ; and Flynn , 1805 . After the confirmation of minutes and certain routine business had been transacted , the election of W . M . was proceeded with , the result being that Bro . E . Johnson ,

S . W ., was unanimously elected W . M . for the ensuing year . Bro . Logan was re-elected Treasurer , and Bro . G . Harrison was , for the tenth time , elected Tyler . The usual P . M . ' s jewel was voted for presentation to the W . M . on his retirement from the chair . Bro . Jas . Gibbs , Org ., having offered to represent the lodge at next year's Centenary Festival of the Girls' Institution , his services were accepted . The lodge was then closed and the

brethren sat down to supper , after which a good selection of music was given by many of the brethren . We may mention that this lodge and a few of the neighbouring lodges are arranging to give shortly a high class concert at the Bow and Bromley Institute , in aid of the Masonic Charities . As the arrangements are in the hands of an energetic committee , we may expect a good round sum will be realised .

GALLERY LODGE ( No . 1928 ) . —The ordinary meeting of this lodge was held on Saturday , the 12 th inst ., at Brixton Hall , Acre Lane , Brixton . There were present Bros . W . O . Goldsmith , W . M . ; J . C . Duckworth , S . W . Dr . Griffiths , J . W . ; H . Massey , P . M ., Treasurer ; « . J . Albery , Secretary ; H . F . Bussey , P . M . ; , T . Minstrel ) , P . M . ; W . M . Duckworth , P . M .: H . Wrieht . S . D .: W

B \? er ^ ns > r-U - ^ '„ - .. i ancock ' LG J- H . Thomas , P . M ., D . of C . j C . Basil Cooke ,, Assistant D . of C . j E E . Peacock , W . S . ; F . H . Gale , Organist ; R . Redman , J . Macintyre , John Moore , VV . S . Seabrook , W . Macdonald , t > eorge Welsh , C . Greenwood , J . W . R . Brown , C . K . Moore , F . W . Pattison . lohn Allan . Charles I nM , a v

Babington , H . J . Sanderson , P . Wallace , H . James , Wasson , and Ashenden . Visitors : Bros . T . F . Gowring , 428 , S . C ., ( Shanghai ); John Read , P . M ., 2105 ; W . Hancock , 1588 j Burcham Cooper , I . P . M ., 1441 ; W . Lar . « ms , I . G ., i 38 g ; and E . C . Massey , P . M ., 1297 . The ' ° Oj ; e having been opened in the Three Degrees , Bro .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

Masson was raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason , and Bro . Ashenden passed to the Second Degree , the work being perlormed in most excellent style by the W . M . The by-laws having been read , Bro . J . C . Duckworth , S . W ., was unanimously elected as VV . M . for the ensuing year , Bro . H . Massey , P . M ., was re-elected Treasurer , and Bro . Very , Tyler . Bros . Greenwood , Macdonald ,

and Sanderson were elected to serve on the Audit Committee , and Bros . Macintyre , Gale , and Potts on the Permanent Committee . Bro . H . Massey proposed and Bro . Bussey seconded , and it was carried by acclamation , " That a Past Master ' s jewel be presented to Bro . Goldsmith , the retiring W . M ., in recognition of the admirable manner in which , during his year of office , he has

discharged the duties of the chair . " The W . M . acknowledged the vote in appropriate words , and especially alluded to the kindness of the brethren during his illness in the early part of the year . A letter was read from Bro . Sir Thomas Lucas , thanking the lodge for the honour they had done him in electing him an honorary member . This letter was ordered to be entered on the minutes , and the lodge was

closed . The brethren afterwards sat down to an excellent supper , prepared in his usual good style by Bro . Cox , the hall keeper , and a pleasant evening was spent . Bro . Goldsmith , the W . M . of this lodge , we hear with deep regret , died from congestion of the lungs on Monday , the 14 th instant . An obituary notice of our deceased brother will appear next week .

HONOR OAK LODGE ( No . 1986 ) . —The regular monthly meeting of the above lodge was held on Wednesday , the gth inst ., at the White Swan Hotel , Upper Norwood . There were present Bros . J . W . Hartley , W . M . ; H . Hooper , S . W . ; C . H . Phillips , P . M ., as J . W . ; Darch , P . M ., S . D . ; Andrews , as I . G . ; Hopekirk , A . G . P ., P . M . ; Stokes , 1 . P . M . ; and a numberof other members

of the lodge , and visitors . The lodge having been opened , and the minutes of the last meeting read and confirmed , the W . M . reminded the brethren that their meeting was taking place upon the birthday of H . R . H . the M . VV . G . Master , and suggested that a resolution of congratulation should be passtd and forwarded to him per telegram ; this was done , and after

a short interval the brethren had the satisfaction of receiving a most gracious reply in acknowledgment , bro . E . Singleton having been raised to the Third Degree , a ballot was taken for Mr . T . K . Baldock , which proving unanimous in his favour , he was forthwith initiated into the mysteries of Freemasonry . Two gentlemen were then proposed tor initiation at the next regular meeting in January . Bro .

Williams , P . M ., who has served the office of secretary to the lodge since its consecration , tendered his resignation of that important post , as he is about to leave England for Sydney for a lengthened period . The valuable services rendered by Bro . William-, were commented upon by tne W . M ., who proposed that he should be elected an honorary member , this was seconded by Bro . Phillips , P . M ., and carried with acclamation .

Subsequently the lodge adjourned to an excellent banquet served in the most admirable manner by the host , Bro . Bennett , the musical portion of the evening being admirably executed by Bros . Pitman , Lloyd , and others . The usual toasts were duly proposed and honoured . The W . M ., in giving that of "The Officers , " alluded infeeling terms to the loss the lodge would so shortly sustain in its able and energetic Secretary , Bro . Maunder

Williams , who , however distant from them in person would be present with them in that brotherly spirit by which Masons were so easily identified . The lodge intend presenting him with an album containing the photographs of all its members , and those brethren who had not yet sent theirs to the W . M . were requested to do so at once . " The Visitors " toast was coupled with the names of Bros . Williams , sen ., and Poole , who responded in very happy terms .

bers of the Correspondence Circle ; and the following visitors : Bros . W . W . Lee , 1897 ; F . Pegler , 1671 ; J . K . R . Cama , 2105 ; S . Shorter , VV . M . ; A . Pringle , S . W . ; J . Houle , P . M . ; G . C . Andrews , P . M . ; and G . Greiner , all of 92 . Bro . W . Kelly , P . P . G . M . Leicester and Rutland , author of the history of Masonry in said province and of several

QUATUOR CORONATI LODGE ( No . 2076 ) . —A meeting of this lodge was held at Freemasons' Hall , on Tuesday , the 8 th inst . Present : Bros . Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , in the chair ; R . F . Gould , W . M . By water , G . W . Speth , Dr . VV . W . Westcott . —also Sir Charles Warren , S . Richardson , D . P . Cama , H . Lewis , F . A . Powell , S . P . Last , George Kenning , W . Lake , C . F . Hogard , Dr . VV . R . Woodman , H . Lovegrove , and J . S . Cumberland ,

memarchjeological works , was admitted a joining member . Bro . R . F . Gould was installed as VV . M . ot the lodge , theofficers for the next year are as tollows : Bros . Sir Charles Warren , I . P . M . ; W . Simpson , S . W . ; Major S . C . Pratt , J . W . ; W . Besant , Treas . ; G . VV . Speth , Sec ; W . M . Bywater , S . D . ; Professor T . Hayter-Lewis , J . D . ; Dr . W . Wynn Westcott , I . G . j and J . W . Freeman , Tyler .

The Worshipful Master then delivered the following address : Brethren . —In placing before the lodge an address from the chair , 1 am animated by the desire of inaugurating what 1 hope may become an annual feature of our proceedings , as it seems to me the very best way in which can be periodically brought home to us , the benefit of now and then touching mother earth , or in other words of

subjecting the position and prospects of the lodge to an analysis , whereby we may estimate how tar itfulhis , or falls short of fulfilling , all the purposes for which it was called into being . The Secretary has supplied me with a statistical report , but from which , as it will shortly come betore you in another form , I shall merely extract two items , one referring to our correspondence circle , and the other to our

printed transactions . 1 he correspondence circle has reached a total of 155 members , residing actually and literally in all parts of the globe . This shows the amount ot interest which is taken in our special labours , and I submit that the manner in which the lodge of the Quatuor Coronati is now regarded by students ot all nationalties as the centre of

Masonic light , should not be without weight , when we proceed to consider whether the responsibility we have voluntarily assumed as a general school of instruction has been exercised with discrimination , and whether any variations in our established procedure would be attended by advantage . The second item , which I take from the statistical report , relates to our printed transactions . The first numoer

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

appeared in August last , and a second will be issued about the end of this month . The part already published contains rive lectures ( or papers ) by members of the lodge , and two have been delivered subsequently , making seven in all . Heie I come to the argument which I wish to use in justification of this address . My ideal of such a lodge as ours is that it should represent

an educational ladder in Masonry , reaching from the abyss of Masonic ignorance to the zenith to which we all aspire . That it should supply elementary teaching for those on the nethermost rung , and also be ready to discuss purely academical questions of the most abstruse character , if in the remotest manner calculated to enlarge our Masonic knowledge , for the mutual improvement ot those on the highest .

Ihe papers which have been read before the lodge ( the brethren will do me the justice of believing that I am not here passing judgment on my own ) have been of an exceptionally high standard , and as special studies or academical discussions , their value can hardly be over-rated ; but it has occurred to me that , for the purposes of a body teaching or endeavouring to teach the elementary principles ot Masonic

science and history , in which capacity—as it seems to methis lodge should also aspire to make its influence felt , they somehow fail to quite hit the mark or , to usea figure of speech , the lecturers have shot over or beyond it . This , I think , demands our attention , because there appears some danger lest the special work of the lodge , as a purely Masonic body , might become completely overshadowed by the more

engrossing studies of the specialists among us , especially when embodied in papers combining so much real learning and research , and displaying such exquisite literary workmanship as we have had read in this lodge . The suggestion therefore I have now to make is , that without superseding the style of papers hitherto read before the lodge—a course of action 1 should myself very greatly deplore—we

might occasionally vary them by reading others of an elementary and purely Masonic character , and that in this way the wishes and tastes ot all memutrs might be consulted , without detriment to the special functions of the lodge . Let me postulate , in the first instance , that there is something more in Freemasonry , than the mere acquisition of the ritual of our present ceremonies , and the

accumulation of Degrees , the vast majority of which are only Masonic in the sense that none but Freemasons are admitted to them . Our London lodges are , to a great extent , select and expensive dining-cluus , and in the provinces—with but here and there a solitary exception to the almost general rulethough the feasting is on a more reduced scale , the entire instruction communicated to inquiring brethren consists of

a smattering of ritual and ceremonial . Of English Masonry , it has been said , and not without great show of reason , that it now only retains the shell , of which out German brethren possess the kernel . Lodges of instruction ( so-called ) exist , it is true , but these oracles are dumb when a question is asked which soars beyond the mere routine duty of the various officers of lodges in and duriner

the ceremonies ot the Craft . Indeed , I might go further , and say that when in rare cases a reply is vouchsafed , it savours ot the teaching of the Bologna school of painters , whose representative—Annibal Caracci—once said to a scholar , ' " Wnatyou do not understand you must darken . " One , and perhaps the most urgently needed requisite , to a true study of freemasonry , is a series of papeis or lectures of

an elementary character , each one dealing in broad historical lines with a particular epoch , carefully avoiding technicalities , moot or disputed points , and above all steering clear of theories . Of theory , indeed , it has been well said , that it is worth but little unless it can explain its own phenomena , and it must effect this without contradicting itself ; therefore the tacts are but too often assimilated to

the theory , rather than the theory to the facts . Most theorists may be compared to the grandfather of the Great Frederick ( of Prussia ) , who was in the habit of amusing himself , during his fits of the gout , by painting liknesses of his grenadiers , and if the picture did not happpen to resemble the grenadier , he settled the matter by painting the grenadier to the picture . By eschewing

theories , therefore , and adhering strictly to facts , I think we might arrange a system of elementary lectures , supplementary to those of a more advanced kind , which , while comprehensible by the youngest entered apprentice , would at the same time enlarge the foundations upon which the specialists among us might erect the scaffolding for their superior workmanship . The lectures should , if possible ,

be delivered by different brethren on each distinct occasion , and when completed , might serve as a text-book for beginners , and would , no doubt , be largely used , in the same way that we should in the first instance do ourselves , by the various lodges throughout the world . It may , indeed , be advanced that there are already in existence text-books from which the student

who wishes to obtain a bird s eye view of the general subject of Freemasonry may do so quickly and easily . But if so , I am quite unable to indicate where they may be procured . Hndel , no doubt , has written , or rather compiled , a concise history ot the Society , but , like most Germans ( to adopt the words of Samuel Taylor Coleridge ) , while he is net altogether wrong , like them , also , he is never

altogether right . Of my own recent work , as indeed of all that I have inflicted upon my brethren , I am naturally inclined to speak with indulgence , for parental love is perhaps best exemplified in the affection which one feels tor the most ricketty offspring , but putting sentiment aside and taking my history of Freemasonry to be worthy of its title , I should be the very last person to contend that it is

either compendious—which would be a manitest absurdity —or a complete guide to students , except to those who will patiently read it through from the first to the last chapter . Sir Ricnard Burton , in one of his earliest works has remarked : — " Next to the Antiquary in simplicity of mind , capacity ot belief , and capability of assertion , ranks the Fieemason . " This picture is scarcely overdrawn , but I

think that the jesting words of the great traveller would soon cease to apply to any lodge of Freemasons who might abopt the scheme here advocated , and who , in the regulation ot their proceedings should determine to propose with diffidence , to conjecture with freedom , to examine with candour , and to dissent with civility : — "in rebus necessariis sit unitas ; in nun necessariis liberalitas ; in omnibus

charitas . The divisions or sections into which the series of lectures should be arranged would fall more properly within the province of the lodge as a body to determine , though 1 will at once state that Early Scottish Masonry should indubitably torm the subject 01 the second lecture ; and the opening History of the Grand Lodge of England the third . Other papers in English , Scottish , and Irish Masonry , might bring tne number of lectures to about