Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

the one already secured . We have no doubt that if that Secretary could have his own way he would make everybody a Steward and Life Governor to aU the Charities . In consequence of the large arrears of work , it was arranged to hold an emergency meeting on Saturday , March 14 th , at two o ' clock , so as to suit the many professional members contained in the list of

members . All business being ended the lodge was closed . A splendid banquet and magnificent dessert was served and provided for by the hostess , Mrs . Diver , which gave universal satisfaction . Some good songs , sang by members , amongst whom were Bros . F E . Rawlinson ,

F . Coyne , J . Hillier , and others of equal note and celebrity . PORTSMOUTH . — United Service Lodge ( No . 1528 . )—The brethren of this lodge assembled at the Dolphin Hotel , High-street , Portsmouth , on Tuesday , the 10 th inst ., for the purpose of giving

their esteemed Worshipful Master , Bro . Captain F . C . Trower , a complimentary banquet , in return for the great personal zeal and assiduity he exhibited in the formation of the lodge , he - having not only devoted a very considerable portion of his time , but added very materially in a

financial point , to its prosperity , by presenting it with a complete set of regalia , silver jewels , with collars , etc . Captain Trower is the first W . M . of this lodge , and as it was only in August last year that the installation ceremony took place , and as it now numbers 42 members ( many of

whom are officers in both services ) , the W . M . may be congratulated on the success he has already obtained . A most interesting ceremony took place in this lodge on the i < 5 th ult ., viz ., the initiation of Lieut . F . E . Trower , 95 th Regiment , by his father , the Worshipful Master , and if the

son will only follow in the footsteps of his father , in a military as well as Masonic career , he will do credit to the profession , as well as being an ornament to the Craft . It may not here be out of place if a brief resume' of Bro . Captain Trower ' s services—military and Masonic—be

given here , which will show his devotion to the Craft , and active service in his professional career ; both are so intimatel y blended as to be almost inseparable . Mr . Frederick Courtney Trower was gazetted to a cornetcy in 1837 , and was present with his regiment throughout the

whole of the . Aft ghanislan Campaign , where it formed a portion of the Army of the Indus under Lord Kane from October , 1 S 38 to February , 1840 . He officiated as adjutant , and was present at the capture of Ghuznee , and the occupation of Cabool , for which he received

a medal . He was initiated into Masonry 6 th May , 1840 , in the Hope Lodge , atMerut , in India . He was promoted to a Lieutenancy in the 9 th Lancers in 18 42 , and was appointed interpreter to his regiment on its arrival in India . He was elected W . Master of his Mother Lodge in 1842 ,

and was exalted in the " Sincerity" Chapter , at Cawnpore in 1843 , and was made Noahhite of Prussia also in 1843 . He was present with his regiment during the Gualior Campaign of 18 43-4 , including the battle of Punniar , for which he received the Bronze Star . In 18 45-15 he was

present with his regiment during the Sutley Campaign under Lords Hardinge and Gough , and received a medal for the battle of Sobraon , ioth February . In 18 4 8-9 he served with his regiment throughout the whole of the Punjaub Campaign , including the passage ofthe Cheenab

at Ramnugger , the battles of Chillianwallah and Goozetat , for which he received a medal and two clasps . He was installed First Principal of the Umballah Chapter in 1852 , became Super Excellent Master and Knight of the Red Cross and Ark and Mark Mariner in the same year . He

} vas again elected W . Master of Umballah Lodge 'J ^ 53- He was appointed to officiate as Deputy Judge Advocate General during the mutiny among the native troops , and his a Ppointment was afterwards made permanent by the directors of the Honourable East India

Company as a special case . He left India in March , -8 54 , through illness , after a residence of 17 y ^ ars , was promoted to Captain in tbe 9 th Lancers in June , 1854 . In 1855 he exchanged into the 50 th Queen ' s Own Regiment to serve j the Crimea . In 1856 he was appointed b y ner Most Gracious Majesty to the Adjutancy of lile Cavalry Depot at Brighton . Was Adjutant

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ofthe Royal 1 st Devon Yeomanry from 1856 to 1862 . Sold out of the army in January , 1 S 5 8 , as Captain of 4 th Regiment of Foot . He was appointed Provincial Grand Sword Bearer of Devon in 1858 ; became Past H . in the Chapter at Exmouth in 1861 ; became R . I . in Portsmouth ; was elected W . Master of the Phcenix

Lodge , Portsmouth in 1872 ; was Provincial Grand Sojourner of Hants in 1872 ; is a member ofthe Royal Orderof Scotland , 30 th degree ; and , finally , is one of the founders and the first Worshi pful Master of the United Service Lodge , Portsmouth , in 1873 . Such a career as this needs no comment ; it speaks for itself .

INSTRUCTION . DUKE OF EDINBURGH LODGE OF INSTRUCTION ( "NO . 259 ) . —The fifteen sections were worked in connection with the above Lodge of lustruction on Friday , 1 . 3 th inst ., at Cape of

Good Hope Tavern , Limehouse . Bro . Yetton in a very able manner presided on the occasion . Bros . J . Stevens , Barnes , Berry , Fieldervvich , Musto , Rugg , Weatherill , Potts , Hogg , Reeves , and Clayton were present .

Royal Arch.

Royal Arch .

INSTALLATION OF COMP . LORD SKELMERSDALE AS M . E . Z .

The companions ofthe Bridson Chapter , No . 613 , held a meeting at the Masonic Hall , Nevillstreet , Southport , on Wednesday , the 1 ith inst ., the principal business being the installation of Comp . the Right Hon . Lord Skelmersdale , the Most Excellent Proviacial Grand Superintendent ,

West Lancashire , as M . E . Z . of the chapter for the forthcoming year . The chapter was opened in ample form at five o ' clock , and after the transaction of some formal business , his lordship was presented for installation by Comp . W . Dodd , the retiring M . E . Z ., and was placed in

the chair with much unction and impressiveness by Comp . Wylie , of Chapter No . 82 . The rites and ceremonies belonging to the installation having been duly performed , the chapter was closed , and the companions subsequently adjourned to the Scarsbrook Hotel , where they

dined under the presidency of the noble M . E . Z . The dinner provided by Bro . Watson was exceedingly sumptuous , and served in a most satisfactory manner . The M . E . Z . proposed "The Health of Her Majesty , " the patroness ofthe Craft , which was

loyally responded to ; and afterwards , "The Health of the Prince of Wales , " whom he knew to be a thoroughly good and hearty Mason . He intimated that it was not unlikely that another of the Royal Princes would shortly seek admission as a member of the Craft . He did not know

whether the Duke of Edinburgh would do so or not , having taken to himself Russia ' s lovely daughter to wife ; it might be an obstacle in the way for the present . In the hearty response this toast met with , Bro . J . Turvey sang " God bless the Prince of

Wales , adding verses , which he happily composed apropos to the marriage of the Duke of Edinburgh . The toast of the evening , " The newly-installed M . E . Z ., Companion the Right Hon . Lord Skelmersdale , " was proposed by Comp . W . Dodd , who referred to the very hich

esteem in which his Lordship was held by all members of the Craft who have the happiness of knowing him , and by the inhabitants of Southport generally . They knew the high regard he had for Southport , and were grateful for the time he had spent , and the efforts he had made , to

further the interests of the town . Lord Skelmersdale , in replying to the toast , said he thought he did not deserve the eulogy which had been passed upon him b y Comp . Dodd , and so heartily responded to b y his companions around him , but he declared his very strong attachment to Masonry , and all that

appertained to it , and that it ever would be his delight to advance the interests of the Craft throughout the province , and particularl y in Southport . Referring to the town of Southport , he said lie always looked back with pleasure to the days of his boyhood , when he used to dabble and dig in the sand on the shore , and although he did not visit the town so frequently

Royal Arch.

now as in former years , Lady Skelmersdale and his family did frequently visit it . He looked forward always with increasing pleasure to his yearly visit of a week , with his troop of yeomanry , and he never failed to go away without feeling

like a renewed man . Referring to the benefits he was supposed to have rendered to Southport , he said that had necessarily been little , but it had given him great pleasure that he had been instrumental in causing the Prince and Princess Mary of Teck to visit it , and lay the foundation

stone of Cambridge Hall ; It had been hinted to him that day that it would be a good thing if he could induce another member of the royal family to visit us when that hall was opened , and he expressed the pleasure it would give him to use all the influence he had to get one of the

Princes to do so . In conclusion , he said the public spirit he saw exhibited in Southport in beautifying the town , and adding to its attraction on all sides , showed they had got the right spirit , the spirit of self-help , and that they required no help from him or any one else , but that he

should always be glad to promote in any way he could the interests of the town , for he had a hearty love for the place . ( Loud and continued applause . ) The "Visiting Brethren" and other toasts were given and suitably responded to .

Mark Masonry.

Mark Masonry .

MACDONALD LODGE ( NO . 104 ) . —The ordinary February meeting of this lodge was held on Saturday last , at the Head Quarters of the 1 st Surrey Volunteers , when the W . M ., Bro . Arthur Wolton , Prov . G . S . O . Middlesex and Surrey , presided . There was also a good

attendance of brethren , amongst whom were Bros . W . Worrell , S . W . ; Thomas W . White . J . W . ; Alfred Williams , S . O . ; T . Meggy , P . M ., Treas . ; W . C . Hale , Secretary ; N . J . F . Barnett , Steward ; W . P . Collins , I . G . ; G . Motion , J . Dennis , C . R . Crommelin , J . H . Pill , W . Bel ! ,

C . W . O'Neill , W . H . Waghorn , I . J . H . Wilkins , W . M . 22 ; W . Scott , Thistle , E . S . Norris , 40 ; and H . Massey , P . M . 2 a . The W . M . and his officers performed their duties to perfection , and in the opening and closing of the lodge , and in advancing Bro . C . A . Hermann , to the Mark Degree , proved themselves efficient Mark Master

Masons . Several candidates besides Bro . Hermann , were on the paper for advancement , but from lodges to which they belonged meeting on the same evening , they were unable to be present . Notice was given of a motion to charge only a nominal membershi p fee to brethren who

were compelled to be abroad for any lengthened period , and a further notice of motion was also given by Bro . Thomas Meggy to elect Bro . James Stevens , an honorary member of the lodge , Bro . Stevens , being W . M . of the Great City Lodge , which meets on the same evening as

this lodge , and on this account unable to be present at the meetings , ot the Macdonald had sent in his resignation , but this the lodge declined to accept , and Bro . Meggy gave notice of the above motion . The lodge afterwards was closed , and the brethren partook of an admirable banquet .

The W . M . proposed "The Queen , " and then " The G . M . and the rest of the Grand Officers , " remarking that Earl Percy was an excellent G . M ., & c . Mark Masonry was progressing most favourably under his headship . The other G . officers were also an ornament to the Order

and many of the members of this lodge had the honour of holding grand office . Bro . W . Worrell , S . W ., returned thanks on behalf of the Grand Officers . They were told in Masonry that they got promotion through doing their duties properly , and the members of this lodge who

held grand oflice could flatter themselves that they had done their duty and had received their reward . Bro . T . Meggy , P . M ., Treasurer , proposed " The W . M ., " an officer who always conducted the proceedings of the lodge with precision , accuracy , and fluency . Whatever

he did he did thoroughly , and he set a good example to the numerous brethren whom he ( Bro . Meggy ) was glad to see present that night to assist . Unless he was ably assisted they all knew- that the work could not be done efficiently , but it was done efficiently , and the candidate was