Notable Lodge Meetings.

official residence W . M . of a distinguished lodge , ordinarily held in the Saloon of our great National Theatre , and composed of senators , statesmen , actors , authors , musicians , and private gentlemen . As for the Mansion Llouse itself , we almost venture to think that this notable meeting of the Drury Lane Lodge

under its roof will remain one of the most interesting among its historical associations . It has not enjoyed a particularly long existence . In former days the Lord Mayors of London had no special residence set apart for their use . They lived in their own houses , which were mostly in the neighbourhood of the

Poultry , and where the Mansion House now stands was formerly the Stocks Market—so called from a pair of Stocks which stood close by . This Market , which was originally designed by Henry Salis , Mayor of London , in the tenth year of Edward I . 's reign , to help maintain London

Bridge , was devoted to the sale of fish and flesh , and in 1543 it accommodated 25 fishmongers and 18 butchers , while on the north side were 22 fruitstalls , and gardeners in the unoccupied area sold fruit , roots , herbs , and flowers . After the great fire no market was held for fish and flesh , but onlv for fruit ,

& c . In 1739 , however , in the Mayoralty of Alderman Perry , the first stone of the present building was laid , and in 1753 , the then Lord Mayor—Sir Crispe Gascoigne—took up his residence in it . The architect was Mr . Dance , and the style of architecture is Greek , the columns which support the portico being of the Corinthian order . The cost of erection was close on

£ 71 , 000 , a great part of which was met by the fines imposed on those who were chosen , but declined to serve the office of Sheriff . Externally , the Mansion House is sombre in appearance , but it contains a number of very fine apartments , the principal being the Egyptian Hall , designed by the Earl of Burlington ,

the Venetian parlour , the drawing and ball rooms , which are magnificently decorated , Wilkie ' s parlour , the picture gallery , while the kitchen is a large hall with several ranges in it , each large enough to roast a whole ox , and other appointments on a similar scale . The lodge met , and Bro . the Lord

Mayor was installed in office in the old ball room , while the banquet was served in the Egyptian Hall , a magnificent apartment , which is capable of accommodating quite 400 guests . What of Egyptian there may have been originally about this hall has long since disappeared , but it is , nevertheless , an apartment of fine

proportions . Rows of columns along each side support the roof , which is vaulted , while in niches in the walls themselves are some magnificent specimens of statuary by some of our bestknown English sculptors , among them being the " Alastor " and " Hermione , " by J . Durham ; " Egeria " and the " Elder Brother , "

in " Comus , " by Foley ; " Griselda , " by Calder Marshall ; and "The Morning Star , " by Bro . G . H . Bailey , R . A . ; while in the saloon are Foley ' s " Caractacus " and Wakes ' s " Sardanapalus . " For the purchase of this statuary a sum of £ 10 , 000 was voted by the Corporation after the Great Exhibition of 1851 . There

is also a fine collection of plate , the sum originally expended in its purchase being over £ 11 , 500 ; but many and valuable additions have since been made . In short , the building and everything connected with it is worthy of the great functionary who occupies it , and the ancient and opulent City over which , for the

time being , he is elected to preside . And , though it has witnessed many a brilliant gathering in the course of its 130 or more years , we are confident it has never witnessed one more brilliant than that of the nth inst ., when upwards of 300 brethren—more than

half of them Present and Past Grand Officers—were gathered together , in all their splendid paraphernalia , as the guests of Bro . Lord Mayor Sir H . A . Isaacs , and to do him honour on his installation as the fifth Worshipful Master of the Drury Lane Lodge .

Consecration Of The Cycling And Athletic Lodge, No. 2335.

CONSECRATION OF THE CYCLING AND ATHLETIC LODGE , No . 2335 .

Probabl y the most interesting Masonic consecration which has ever taken place in Liverpool or the neighbourhood was fixed for Monday , the 18 th inst ., at the Coffee House , Wavertree , where the above lodge was added to the already long list of the West Lancashire Province . As the name indicates , the new lodge is

specially intended for brethren of athletic proclivities , and it would appear from the returns alread y to hand that the 99 th lodge in the province over which Bro . Lord Lathom , D . G . M ., P . G . M ., presides with so much acceptance is likely to be one of the most prosperous which has been brought into existence within recent years .

The Consecrating Officer was Bro . E . Segar , P . P . G . W ., who was assisted by Bros . E . H . Cookson , P . S . G . V . ' ., acting S . W . ; S . G . Sinclair , P . P . G . W ., acting J . W . ; Dr . T . Clarke , P . G . Reg . ; R . Betley , P . A . G . Sec . ; Rev . J . S . Gardner , P . P . G . C , acting Chap . ; W . Goodacre , P . G . S . B . Eng ., P . G . Sec , acting Sec ; J . B . Mackenzie , P . P . S . G . D ., acting l . G . ; and J . C . Robinson , P . A . G . D . C , acting D . of C . The chief visitors

were—Bros . E . Pierpoint , P . P . G . W . ; T . Salter , P . P . G . D . ; J . A . Patterson , P . G . D . C . ; J . Sutton , P . P . G . D . C . ; G . Willings , P . G . D . ; VV . H . Ball , P . A . G . Tyler ; J . G . Hallwood , P . M . 1042 ; H . J . Nicholls , I . P . M . 2042 ; P . Sword , W . M . 13 S 0 ; J . Greg-son , I . P . M . 13 S 0 ; W . Jones , W . M . 1264 ; W . Piatt , W . M . 2325 ; J . Bowyer , W . M . 66 7 ; J . M . Smyth , W . M . 2114 ; W . T . Oversby , P . M . 1393 ; T . Adams , P . M . 6 73 , P . P . J . G . D . ; J . Rogers , W . M . 2324 ; W . Kohn , S . W . 1264 ; W . Rawsthorne , S . W . 1182 ; W . M'Gawley , S . W . 1570 ; Eli Brooks , J . W . 2204 ; J . Greenlees , J . W . 1505 ;

Consecration Of The Cycling And Athletic Lodge, No. 2335.

J . Bain , J . W . 2114 ; J . Mantle , J . W . 823 ; I . Williams , J . D . 1 356 ; W . West , Sec . 241 ; J . Scott , Sec . 2194 ; and W . J . Doran , Org . 1570 . During the consecration ceremony , Bro . Round ' s anthem , " Behold how good , " was effectively sung by Bros . J . Lane , W . Griffiths , J . Bain , J . Greenlees , J . West , and W . Latham , the post of Organist being occupied b y Bro . J . Pugh .

Bro . R . Foote , P . P . G . Treas ., was installed the first W . M . of the new lod ge by Bro . Segar , assisted by Bros . Sinclair and Cookson . The following were the officers appointed , elected , and invested .- Bros . J . Winsor , I . P . M . ; R . R . Ellis , S . W . ; R . Lloyd , J . W . ; A . H . Morecroft , Treas . ; T . J . Parkes , Sec . ; J . Lane , S . D . ; T . Price , J . D . ; W . Orry Callow , l . G ; J . Shield , D . C . ; Dr . Crozier and J . Langford , Stwds . ; J . Pugh , Org . ; and J . Doran , Tyler .

At the close of the business , there were 14 propositions for initiation and 13 for joining , the lodge already numbering between 30 and 40 members . At the close of the business , a cordial vote of thanks was given to the Consecrating Officers , who were elected honorary members of the newiy-consecrated lodge .

The brethren subsequently sat down to dinner , and in the course of the evening the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given . Bro . the Rev . J . S . Gardner delivered a most eloquent oration . The lodge was furnished b y Bro . George Kenning , 2 , Monument-place , Liverpool .

Bro . Foote ' s distinguished career in Masonry commenced in 18 74 , when at the age of 30 , he was initiated in the Emulation Lodge , No . 1505 , of which , after serving in all the intermediate offices , he became W . M . in 1880 . Impressed with the sublimity of its teaching and the nobility of its objects , and actuated by a benevolent heart and a passionate zeal in the cause he had espoused , Bro . Foote

rapidly became a prominent member of the Craft , his energy and ability receiving due recognition at the hands of those who dispense the honours of the Fraterity to deserving individuals , and it may safely be said that in no case has such honours been more wisely conferred or more hi ghly prized than by the recipient with whom we are now dealing .

As an illustration of the time and labour which has been devoted to the maintenance and advancement of our ancient and honourable Institution , it may be mentioned that at the present time Bro . Foote is an active member of no less than eig ht Craft and five Mark lodges , in addition to his connection with the more exalted Degrees in Masonry up to the 15 th Degree .

His name appears as founder , P . M . and Treas . of Prudence Lodge , No . 2114 ; Founder and P . M . of Apollo Lodge , No . 2042 ; founder and first W . M . of Havertree Lodge , No . 2 294 ; P . M . and Treas . of Prince Arthur Lodge , No . 1570 ; P . M . and Treas . of Emulation Lodge , No . 1505 ; founder of Lathom , No . 2229—Provincial Officers Lodge ; member of Perseverance Lodge , No . 155 ; and founder arid first W . M . of the Cycling and Athletic Lodge , No . 2335 , consecrated on-the 10 th inst . He is also P . P . G . Treas . of the Province of West Lancashire , to which office he was appointed in 1883 .

In the Royal Arch Degree Bro . Foote ranks as P . Z . of St . John ' s Chapter , No . 6 73 , and P . P . G . N ., while as a Mark Mason we find his name associated with the following : Founder and P . M . of the Excelsior Lodge , No . 359 ; S . W . of the Lebanon Time Immemorial Lodge ; member of West Lancashire Lodge , No . 65 ; founder and member of the Liverpool Lodge , No . 393 ; and member of the Walton Lodge , No . 161 , and P . P . G . Treasurer .

When to the foregoing we add that Bro . Foote has been Chairman of the Masonic Hall and House Committee , and is a Vice-President of all the Masonic Charities , both Metropolitan and those attached to bis own province , and Secretary also of one of them—the West Lancashire Alpass Benevolent Institution—a better estimate may be formed of the extraordinary progress which has been made during 16 years' honourable and valuable association with the brotherhood .

If other evidence were needed to prove how earnestly Bro . Foote has kept in view the scriptural injunction " whatever th y hand findeth to do , do it with all thy might , " it will be found in the following brief extract which we cull from the biographical sketch previously alluded to , and with which we will bring our observations to a close :

" In Mr . Foote , the local ( Liverpool ) Chanties have a staunch supporter and a trusted advocate and friend , while in another though humbler sphere where toiling thousands are to be found daily struggling to prolong an existence almost intolerable , Mr . Foote is ever to the fore , and ready with encouraging words and open purse to mitigate in some degree the squalls and misery with which they are surrounded .

" A man of unquestioned ability , actuated by the purest and most unselfish motives , and combining withal sound business tact , and a capacity for , and love of , hard work , he has , by means of these attributes , succeeded in converting into a genuine and solid reality his Utopian dreams of years ago . "

Masonic Visiting.

MASONIC VISITING .

One of the signal pleasures arising from Freemasonry is that which is incident to Masonic visiting . Of course we enjoy attending our own lodge ; it is our especial home ; there we meet the members of our own immediate family ; but Freemasonry is an endless chain of families extending around the globe . It is no euphemism to say that in every land the Freemason may find a home , and in every clime a brother . This is not figure of speech , but fact . But many who never become travellers desire to visit in their own country , and their own city . There is

a charm in visiting another Masonic lodge , meeting even in the same Masonic temple as our own lodge . It may be a next-door neighbour . Yet in it we are abroad . We there widen our circle of experience , our knowledge of the Masonic world . We there , amid old associations , meet new associates . It is the same old work , the same secret art and mystery , the same symbols and allegories ; but all else is new , and new life is sometimes thus acquired by the brother , who has been previously following only a time-worn , monotonous path .

As all roads lead to Rome , so every road leads to a Masonic lodge . You cannot go astray in seeking one . Wherever there are all the outward tokens of Freemasonry—a Masonic Hall , a Masonic Temple , or even an unpretentious lodge room—duly guarded by the Tyler , and thus protected from the approach of the profane , a Freemason may venture to present himself . But if the customary Craft indications are Jacking—the doors kept wide open , or ajar , where one may

walk in unchallenged , or peep in—beware ! That may be the resort of clandestines , or so-called latter-day saints , or the profanest of the profane . It requires some skill to visit wisely . The brother must have his Masonic wits about him . He must not be like the Acacia , ever green . He must be bright , a reading Mason , not merely on speaking terms with Freemasonry , but intimately familiar with its mysteries . Such a one cannot go astray . —Keystone .

FLORIAN , J . P . C , CHEVALIER DE , is one of those literary men who , as Besuchet well says , have the most honoured their goodly profession b y integrity of morals ; one of those whose glory is none the less for his modesty . He was descended from a knightly family of distinction , and born at the Chateau de Florian , in the Basses

Cevennes , in 1735 . He died in 1 794 . He was a relation of Voltaire s by marriage , and first of all page of the Due de Penthievre . Florian , though in the army , is best known by his charming tales , "Numa Pompilius , " and many other works , and especially his " Fables . " He was a zealous member of the Lodge " Les Neuf Sceurs . "—Kenning ' s Cyclopaedia of Freemasonry .