Conversazione Of The Quatuor Coronati Lodge, No. 2076.

cases round the walls , in charge of Bro . Rylands , an expert , from whose magnificent collection a large part of these exhibits come . He is assisted by Bro . F . Crowe , of Torquay , another collector who has kindly brought up . some of his treasures for your delectation . Either oi these brethren will be glad to answer any questions . The music is under the care of the admirable Greiner , whose name is a guarantee of excellence . Probably the most interesting section is the " Scientific , " in the capable hands of our Senior Deacon , Bro . | Klein , who is a

scholar , scientist , astronomer , & c . He has the kindly and efficient co-operation of several of his colleagues , and they will exhibit the apparatus under their care , and chiefly would I draw attention to the " Riintgen Rays , " of which Bro . Klein will show you the marvellous powers . I hope one and all will be quite satisfied with what we have provided . and the highest compliment you can pay us is that in leaving each will look forward longingly for a further opportunity of attending a future meeting .

The Masonic exhibits comprised many rare specimens of jewels , medals , and pottery , together with a varied collection of aprons , sashes , and other articles of clothing having on them emblems of the Craft . The principal exhibitors , besides the Quatuor Coronati Lodge itself , from whose choice museum a large number of treasures found their way to the King's Hall , were Bros , the Rev . J . M .

Moutray , J . T . Thorp , F . J . W . Crowe , and J . Hodgkm . As the articles on view in this section were nearly 400 in number and the list of them occupies no less than 36 pages of the catalogue , considerations of space forbid our saying more than that the Masonic exhibits were in all respects worthy of the lodge , the independent contributors , and the occasion .

The " Mysteries of Nature and Science " were admirably expounded by Bro . KLEIN , assisted by a little army of scientists , whose efforts tj instruct and entertain were much appreciated by the visitors . Messrs . J . J . Vesey , W . Burton , F . A . Parsons , J . D . Hardy , G . E . Maitland , W . B . Priest , J . M . Offord , R . Villars , C . Turner , C . D . Soar , C . Rousselet , C . Lees Curties , Dr . Measures , and Bro . T . Charters-White were all actively engaged at separate tables throughout the evening , exhibiting the wonderful properties of the microscope and other mxrvels of Nature and Science .

Bro . Klein himself , in the President ' s room , under the left-hand gallery , was occupied the whole night through in giving a demonstration of the Rontgen X Rays to a highly-interested series of spectators . The musical arrangements , which had been left in the hands of Bro . G Greiner , were carried out under the direction of Bro . Max Laistner , of the Pil

grim Lodge , No . 238 . The artistes—Miss Winifred Jones , Miss Blanche Sangwin , Bro . Harry Tipper , P . A . G . P ., Miss Florence E . Tipper , Mr . Arthur J . Billin , Miss Carlotta Elliott , Major J . H . Leslie , R . A ., Bro . G . Berthon-Preston , and Bro . Max Laistner—were all warmly applauded , and it would be impossible to speak too highly of this feature of the evening ' s entertainment .

The general comfort of the visitors was carefully attended to by Bro . R . F , Gould , P . G . D ., D . C , with the aid and support of Bros . T . B . Whytehead , P . G . S . B ., Major J . H . Leslie , and Arthur H . Bowles , W . M . 1395 , who acted as Asst . Directors of Ceremonies . The proceedings were continued until a late hour , and general satisfaction was expressed by all present at the very enjoyable character of the entertainment which had been provided for them .

The actual members of the lodge—or Inner Circle—who attended were the W . M ., both Wardens , the Secretary , both Deacons , the D . C , and Bros . Bywater , Rylands , and Westcott , Past Masters . The total number of persons present was about 360 .

General Committee Of Grand Lodge And Board Of Benevolence.

GENERAL COMMITTEE OF GRAND LODGE AND BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE .

The quarterly meeting of the General Committee of Grand Lodge and the monthly meeting of the Board of Benevolence were held on Wednesday evening , at Freemasons' Hall , Bro . Robert Grey , P . G . D ., President of the Board of Benevolence , presided , Bro . David D . Mercer , P . G . P ., Senior Vice-President , and Bro , C A . Cottebrune , P . G . P ., Junior Vice-President , occupied their respective chairs . Bro . Edward Letchworth , G . Sec . ; Bro . W . Lake , Asst . G . Sec . ; Bro , W . Dodd , Bro . G . S . Recknell , and Bro . Henry Sadler , Grand Tyler ; represented the Grand Secretary ' s department .

The other brethren who attended were Bros . J . M . McLeod , Sec . R . M . I . for Boys , James Bunker , George B . Chapman , S . H . Goldschmidt , VV . Kipps , C . J . R . Tijou , J . Boulton , Richard Horton Smith , Q . C , Geo . R . Langley , Wm . Fisher , J . H . Matthews , Henry Garrod , Major General F . Gadsden , S . V . Abraham , Geo . Graveley , Sir T . O'Brien , Robert A . Gowan , Dr . Geo . Mickley , Thos . Minstrell , Rev . W . T . Whittley , T . Webb Whitmarsh , Walter Martin , James Kew , J . F .

Kiniple , W . J . Thatcher , Joseph Corbett , Will Cook , Arthur Smith , C . H . Bestow , Charles Sheppard , W . T . Farthing , H . Massey , Thomas J . Bolton , S . R . Baskett , M . Fortescue , Samuel Johnson , W . F . Lamonby , G . F . Cook , Rev , John H . Rose , F . ] . Eedle , G . Powell , T . Burne , J . G . Stevens , J . A . Shelton , A . C . A . Higerty , W . J . Mason , R . J . Harnell , T . Goodman , E . Chatterton , F .

Dunstan , William G . Mills , S . Lewis , J . Stanton , J . V . Vesey Fitzgerald , Q . C , George Evans , M . R . Sewill , F . C . Dandridge , Henry Thomas Meadows , Thos . Wilson , C . Doresa , S . J . Rothschild , W . J . Stratton , Charles L . Clark , William Lipscomb , J . Moore Smith , R . J . Gedney , W . R . Simmonds , F . W . Pulsford , Frank E . Bailey , Bertrand Grant , G . Albert Peters , James Tucker , -and Joseph Parsons .

At the meeting of the Board of Masters , the agenda paper for the Quarterly Communication of December 2 nd was laid before the brethren , and the names of Scrutineers of votes and for the Porch were given in . At the Board of Benevolence , the meeting of which followed , when it was declared open , Bro . D . D . MERCER , P . G . P ., S . V . P ., rose and said : Brethren , — -Before we proceed to the ordinary business of the evening , it is my privilege , this being the

last meeting of the Board , although I must be very brief on account of the very great amount of business we have before us , to make a proposition . Brethren , we have had another year under the presidency of our worthy and distinguished brother , Robert Grey , who has during the past year given us another proof of his kindness and courtesy towards every one of us , and not only to us , but to every petitioner who has had the misfortune to come before this Board for relief . Ten years ago our M . W . G . M . was pleased to appoint Brother Robert Grey as

President of this Board , and I venture to say that during the whole of that time no petitioner has ever come before this Board who has not received at the hands of our President the most courteous and kind consideration . Tonight , you are aware , it will be the last ni ght he will preside at this Board , and I am sure I am speaking for every one of you when I say that we deeply regret the decision he has come to . ( Hear , hear . ) I am perfectly ceitain we shall never have u . better President , and

General Committee Of Grand Lodge And Board Of Benevolence.

I also venture to think that it would be a very great difficulty even to find his equal . ( Hear , hear . ) Brethren , —I will not detain you , but I would say this that Bro . Grey will receive from us our very deep and hearty sympathy in his retirement . I will , thererefore , without further detaining vou , move— "The members of this Board hereby tender to Bro . Robert Grey , P . G . D ., a most heart y vote of thanks for the very able and courteous manner in which he has so honourably discharged the duties of President duiing the past 12 months , and while they

deeply regret losing in the future his valuable services , earnestly hope that in his retirement the G . A . O . T . U . may be pleased to bestow upon ' 'him and his famil y many years of health and happiness . " Bro . C . A . COTTEBRUNE , P . G . P ., Junior Vice-President : Brethren , I beg to rise to second the proposition of our Brother Senior Vice-Preside-nt , and I am sure I need not add anything to what he has stated , for I feel certain the sentiments he has expressed will receive the unanimous response of this Board of Benevolence . I , therefore , second the vote .

Bro . E . LETCHWORTH , G . Sec , put the motion to the Board , and it was carried unanimously amidst general applause . Bro . ROBERT GREY , who was enthusiastically received on rising to acknowledge the vote , said : Brother Senior and Junior Vice-Presidents and Brethren , when I entered on this honourable position 10 years ago I felt that it was a difficult thing to introduce myself to you . I find it to-night a still more difficult thing to say good-bye to you . I was met here , not having had much

experience , by the kindly assistance of tie older members of this Bairdby a most loyal following—from the day I entered this chair , until this night when I leave it , in any difficulties that might arise I had the able advice and support of those who knew quite as much as , if not more than , myself ; and during the whole time that I have been here I may safely say that I have had such kindliness of feeling and brotherly affection from those over whom I have presided , that it makes the severance of my connection with them all the more difficult

to bear . That I have conducted my duties to your satisfaction will be to me a very pleasant recollection during the many years I hope , if I am spared , to come occasionally among you . ( Applause . ) I found this Board not perhaps exactly as I liked it when I came here ; but by the just use , as stewards of the money which is entrusted to our care , what was almost creeping into a practice then has now vanished , and I believe that there is no body of gentlemen—and necessarily Masons are in that category—who administer money entrusted to their care with

greater discretion than this Board of Benevolence does . Whilst that is the case it must be a pleasure to every one to sit here and devote so much of their time . And when I say that , I speak more particularly not to the members of the Board at five o'clock , but to those who remain until 10 o ' clock . Those are the brethren who are so valuable to the President . In saying good-bye to you I ask you to extend the same kindness—and I am sure you will—to my successor as you have ever shown to me . ( Applause . )

Bro . GEO . R . LANGLEY , one of the elected members of the Board of Benevolence , asked permission to detain the brethren for one moment before proceeding to the business of the evening . Twelve months ago the Board devoted a sum of money to a widow , and entrusted him with it , towards raising a sum of money for paying off a mortgage . He had to express the thanks of that widow for that

grant . He and other brethren had succeeded , with the assistance of the Board , and the help of many kind friends , in raising the whole ^ 300 , and they had paid off the mortgage . But as there were children , and one did not know how they might grow up , he took care that that mortgage , should be transferred to himself and two other trustees , in order that they might ' at a future time be able to let the money go in the right quarter .

The brethren then confirmed recommendations which were made at the October meeting that the Grand Master should authorise grants to the amount of ^ 400 . They then dealt with the new cases , of which there were 45 on the list . These were qualified through lodges in the London district , and at Aldershot , Peshawur , Manchester , Goole , Stonehouse , Sydney , N . S . W ., Southampton ,. New Malton , Liverpool , Workington , Horsham , Cleckheaton , Feltham , Kingston

( Jamaica ) , Windsor , Meerut , Yeovil , Walmer , Plymouth , Havant , Warwick , Honiton , Redhill , California , Calcutta , Bognor , and Ipswich . _ Of these one case was deferred and one was dismissed , 'l'he remainder were relieved with a total sum of £ 995 . One was recommended to Grand Lodge for ^ 100 , and one for , £ 50 . Four were recommended to the Grand Master for £ 40 each and eight for ^ 30 each . Seventeen were relieved with ^ 20 each ; nine with , £ 10 each ; and three with £ 5 each .

. At the close of the business the PRESIDENT again wished the brethren good bye , and Bro . HENRY GARROD hoped that , notwithstanding his retirement , Bro Grey would frequently attend the Board .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Strong Man Lodge , No , 45 . The regular meeting of the above lodge was held at the Guildhall Tavern on Thursday , the sth inst . There were present Bros . W . G . Mills , W . M . ; A . D . Langton , LP . M . ; I . Cuer , S . W . ; T . C . Taylor , J . W . ; G . G . Symons , P . M ., Treas . J T . J . Burgess , Sec . j T . Ockleford , S . D .: E . J . Stafford , J . D . ; S . Armfield , I . G . i A . M . Whitby , P . M ., D . C . ; -T . L . Dennett , Org . ; J . Jenkinson , W . R . G . Emer son . and L . 1 . Pond Tones . Stwds .: E . H . Dove . P . M .: R . E . Hunt . P . M . J L . S

Fountaine , P . M . ; J . G . Cobb , P . M . ; Wm . L . Bassitt , T . H . Inchbold , E . M . Hall , Arthur Davies , J . J . Berry , Chas . Yates , J . Briggs , E . Thornicroft , C . j . Brown , A . Smith , F . Gehringer , A . Preager , W . Sammes , E . J . Vidler . A . L . Simmons , and H Reed . Visitors : Bros . P . Sharpe , P . M . S 6 o ; S . Martin Southwell , P . M . 1420 ; N . C . Crews , J . W . 2096 ; W . S . Page , jun ., 186 ; H . Tapley , P . M . 1076 ; F . T Maltby , Royal Alfred Lodge j A . H . Stokes , W . M . 1803 ; W . Kirkness , P . M . 17 °

H . Ballard , 907 ; and H . Mollingsnurst , 1524 . Lodge having been opened , the minutes were read and conlirmed . A ballot was favourably taken for Mr . A . L . Simmons , who was afterwards initiated , and for Bros-J . Briggs , S 59 , and G . F . Ward , 441 , as joining members . Bro . W . Bassit was raised to the Third Degree . The lodge being closed , the brethren adjourned to dinner . . The customary loyal and Masonic toasts were gracefully given by the W . M ., and received in a trulv Masonic suirit . . ,

Bro . A . D . Langdon , LP . M ., proposed the toast of " The W . M . " All present hau witnessed the able manner in which he had discharged his duties that evening . The toast was taken up with enthusiasm . ., The W . M ., in reply , said he always did his best . He felt it an honour to preside over such a lodge , and his sincere wish was to do his work in a manner worthy of t"s

lodge . „ ., The I . P . M . then gave the toast of " The Initiate and Joining Members . " _ I "ere was no fear for the future of the lodge when good blood was being infused into it . Bros . A . L . Simmons and J . Briggs returned thanks . , Bro . G . G . Symons , P . M ., next proposed "The I . P . M . " He had done an excellent year ' s work : he had displayed unbounded zeal and energy in the case of their late

Bro . IL T . Nell . To his work must in a large measure be credited the highly gratuyinK result that the daughter was head of the poll at the recent election for the Roy 3 ' Masonic Institution for Girls , and that they were even then able to hand over a larg c number of votes to another candidate , who was successful . 1 Bro . A . D . Langdon , LP . M ., responded with that modesty which enhances goo " work . He sought no personal thanks , it was a labour of love . They should all D proud of their result , it proved their status in the Masonic world . He was p leased j itate that over £ 138 had been raised for the boy , thereby enabling them to place him i"