Craft Masonry.

assistance from them all during his year of office , which was not one of labour but of Iove > and it had been a happy time for him . The VV . M . gave "The Initiates . " He was not in the best of health , and he was not satisfied with his work that evening , and he hoped the brethren would forgive his shortcomings , but he trusted that the five initiates were impressed with the beautiful ceremony . He had known Bro . Cecil Barnard for many years , and he was honoured that he had initiated him . The others were of excellent quality , and if they studied the ritual they would become better men , and on behalf of the lodge he gave them a hearty welcome .

Bro . Cecil Barnard said that he was proud that he was able to address them as brethren—a wish that he had had for years . He had in the course of his career assisted in many functions , but what he had gone through that evening was a great surprise to him . He appeared to be , and he supposed he was , a child in Masonry , but , nevertheless , he thoug ht the ceremony was splendid , and , if he might say so , the W . M . had impressively performed his part , and he should never forget it . Bros . Couchman and Edwards also responded in appropriate terms . " The Visitors " having been honoured ,

Bro . the Hon . W . Massey Mainwaring responded . It was the second time that he had had the pleasure of attending and replying to the toast . The W . M . had stated that it was a red-letter day , and that remark also applied to him , as he had never before seen five initiates made at one time . Their W . M . was well known , and everything he took in hand he did well . His work that night was excellent , and nothing could be more gratifying at the end of one ' s Mastership than to initiate five members , but he would be succeeded by one who would follow in his footsteps , and add prosperity to the lodge . Bro . Edwards also replied in a humorous speech , which elicited much laughter .

Bro . Price said that no lodge could outdo the reception and entertainment the visitors had had . The Charity-box having been sent round the banqueting table , the W . M . explained that it was the practice of the lodge to sell the contents . He then put it up for auction , and , after several bids , it was knocked down to one of the visitors at two

guineas . The W . M . proposed " The W . M . Elect , " He said that Bro . Ellis Clark had filled every office with honour , and he knew no one better able to act as W . M . He was a splendid worker of the ritual , regular in attendance , and he had given him ( the W . M . ) every assistance . Bro . W . Collis Clark , S . W ., W . M . elect , responded . For the last ten years he had done his best to qualify himself , but he had to follow a W . M . that it would be impossible to excel , but he would do his best . He was affected that night to hear of the death of

Bro . Col . Henry Radcliffe , who had initiated him , and the impression he formed at that time would never be effaced from his memory . In giving " The Past Masters , " the Worshipful Master referred to the great loss the lodge had sustained by the death of Bro . Col . Radcliffe , and he coupled with the toast the names of Bros . R . Baker , I . P . M ., and Rev . J . H . Rose , who both responded . The toast of " The Officers " was responded to by Bros . James E . Terry , P . M ., Sec , and A . M . Barnard , J . W .

THE WORSHIPFUL MASTER . ( From a photograph by the London Stereoscopic Company ) . The Tyler ' s toast brought to an end a happy and successful gathering . The Worshipful Master had provided a splendid vocal and musical entertainment , which was well carried out under the direction of Bro . Cecil Barnard , and the following also took part : Bros . James Bayne , Dudley Causton , Sidney Tower , Miss Helen oaunders , and Miss Jessie Hotine . Special mention was made of tbe two ladies and

Hro . Dudley Causton , whose great efforts were much appreciated . The VV . M ,, Bro . Capt . Lurcott , was initiated by the late Col . Radcliffe into the Clerkenwell Lodge in 18 S 5 . He joined the Highbury Lodge in 1 SS 7 , but had to resign ** on account of other eng agements . Exalted in Royal Arch Freemasonry , Camden Chapter , 704 ; founder of Jordan Chapter , and one of the three Principals of Farringdon Without Chapter , 1745 . Member of the Camden Lodgesof Mark Master Masons and Royal Ark Mariners ; served the office of Steward three times for the Benevolent Insti-[ ution and once for , the Boys' and Girls ' , and is a Life Governor of each . Acted for

¦ our years as Honorary Secretary to a Committee cf North London Masons , during * ™ ich time nearly , £ 300 was raised from the annual ball for the Masonic Charities , and wis year was unanimously elected its President , when the profits for the Charities amounted to £ 94 ios . Our brother has been an energetic volunteer for upwards of •5 years , and is now a captain in the Finsbury RiHes , from which corps the majority of the founders of the Clerkenwell Lodge came . He has lately received the Volunteer Long Service Medal , of which he is justly proud ; is a Fellow of the Imperial Institute , "nl a member of the Islington Vestry , in which parish he has resided more than 40 ytars .

Royal Arch.

Royal Arch .

METROPOLITAN MEETINGS . . Montague Guest Chapter ( No . 1900 )—The installation meeting ° ' this successful chapter was held at the Inns of Court Hotel . W . C , on Wednesday , !" 13 th inst ., when a goodly number of companions assembled to assist in the proceed-J"fTs , which proved of a more than usually interesting nature . The in-enming M . E . Z . *' . Comp . Oscar Philippe , who served as Master of the parent lodge with such ™ stinction that he was unanimously reelected for a second term of office . Como .

' "Wippe is well known to all lovers of the Masonic Institutions for his invaluable services ° jj their behalf , and it was in this capacity that a presentation was made to him on the ^ ision under notice . Comp . P . de Lande Long , P . G . P . S ., on behalf of the House J-P'jnmittee of the Girls' School , presented Comp . Philippe with an illuminated resolution 1 'hanks for the munificent support and interest he has shown to that I nstitution . The 0 l 1 ' pliment was as well deserved as it was appropriately paid . The following com-Mnions were present : Comps . Roger Henwood , M . E . Z . ; Oscar Philippe , H .: C * .

Royal Arch.

Grassi , J . ; W . H . Gardener , P . Z ., Treas . ; O . F . Viola , S . E . ; W . J . Dyer , P . S . Samuel Brooks , P . Z . ; E . M . Dobie , P . Z . ; G . P . Festa , P . Z . ; H . Slyman , P . Z . , * W . Goodman , George Gray , and J . Goddard . Visitors : Bros . A . C . Spaull , P . D . G . D . C . ; P . de Lande Long , P . G . P . S . ; H . S . Bidwell , 2120 ; A . G . Hutchens , 2120 ; J . H . Collier , 1366 ; W . B . Fendick , 1321 ; A . Schwerzl , A . S . 1507 ; A . S ' ribling , 1347 ; James Webb , J . 2317 ; Dr . N . Goodchild , P . Z . 704 ; W . G . Nottage , P . Z . 771 ; Dr . H . W . Roberts , P . P . G- Reg . Middx . ; Col . I . Ward , C . B . ; E . L . Shelton , 1366 ; E . Grisbrook , P . P . G . H . Berks ; and W . W . Lee , H . 1524 .

1 he chapter having been opened and the minutes confirmed , Comp . Samuel Brooks , P . Z ., installed the following companions into their respective chairs with an imoressiveness that charmed all who were privileged to be present , viz .: Comps . Oscar Philippe , M . E . Z . ; Carlo Grassi , H . ; W . J . Dyer , J . The followine officers were invested : Comps . W . H . Gardener , Treas . ; T . HutchinsonS . E . ; G . F . ViolaS . N . ; G . Gray

, , , P . S . ; W . Goodman , ist A . S . ; J . Goddard , 2 nd A . S . ; and G . Couchman . Janitor . The M . E . Z ., in presenting Comp . Henwood , I . P . Z ., with a handsome Past Principal's jewel in recognition of his distinguished services during the past year , expressed the hope that the recipient would long be spared to wear it . Comp . Henwood , I . P . Z ., briefly returned thanks .

Comp . P . de Lande Long , P . G . P . S ., then said : Having obtained the consent and permission of the M . E . Z . to address a few words to you , it becomes my privilege and pleasure to refer fora moment or two to the distinguished services which our M . E . Z ., since the time he entered our Craft , has rendered to lhe various Charities of our Order . Tonight I am more espcially here as the senior member of the House Committee of the Girls' School , and you all , I dare say , bear in mind the result of our last Festival in May , when Comp . Philippe carried up a list amounting to £ 1085 14 s ., the largest

individual list that had ever been announced at any Festival . ' Carrying that on a step , or , perhaps , you will agree many steps further , I may tell you that the greater part , within a few pounds of the total , has already been paid , and is now calmly and peacefully resting . in the coffers of the _ Institution . The House Committee considered that the time had arrived when some notice should be taken of so great and generous an act , and at the last meeting , when I happened to be in the chair , the matter was brought forward with the result that a resolution was passed , which , if you will permit me , I will read to you .

I need hardly say that it was passed with acclamation and unanimously , lt was as follows : " That the best thanks of this committee be given to Bro . Oscar Philippe , P . M . 1 9 00 , and M . E . Z ., Patron and already seven times Steward of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , for the very munificent manner in which he has carried on the Stewardship , the list of which in 1 S 94 produced the splendid sum of £ 1 . 185 . " fh . it resolution was moved by myself , as the chairman of the day , and seconded by B ** ¦> S r John Monckton , P . G . W ., and it now devolves upon me to a-ik youracc-ptance . M . E /* * .

of an illuminated copy of this resolution . In so doing , I ask you in addition to 1 . c eathe thanks , hearty and sincere , of every member of the H . use Committee , ay * , -tn . i of every member of the Craft which you have so greatly adorned . I will only adl t * ut I trust the pleasant record of this evening's proceedings may , by the mercy and kindness of the Great Architect- long be enjoyed by you , and that this testimonial will recall the fact that those who were connected intimately with that great Institution , of which you are so noble a benefactor , always entertained the utmost gratitude toward you , and hope that great as has been your assistance in the past there may be yet favours in store for

it in the future . One thing you will all agree , that so long as our great Institution exists—may it be for all time—so long will the name of Comp . Oscar Pnibpaie be regarded as one of its greatest benefactors and m > st liberal patrons . Comp . Oscar Philippe , M . E . Z ., said he was so completely taken by surprise that he could not find words to express his thanks , lt would give him great pleasure to look upon this testimonial , and what he had done in the past , he would endeaviur to d 1 in the future . He should have something to say on the subject at a later period , but for the moment he could not find words to express his thanks . Lsttersof regret were announced from Comps . Sir John Monckton , E . Letchworth , G . S . E ., and F . R . W . Hedges , Sec . R . M . I . G .

Chapter was closed , and the companions adjourned to the btnquet table , the tasteful decorations of which were considerably enhanced by the aid of the electric light . The usual toasts were subsequently honoured , the speeches being brief , owing * to the length of the musical programme . . The M . E . Z . first proposed "The Queen and Royal Arch Masonry , " . and paid-a tribute to her Majesty ' s popularity , expressing the hope that she would benefit by her trip to the continent .

"H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , Grand Principal , " was next given by the M . E . Z ., who said his Royal Highness had gone abroad to recruit his health , and they hoped he would return renewed with vigour like a young man of 25 . The M . E . Z . then proposed "The Grand Officers , " and referred to the absence of several owing to the prevailing epidemic .. They were not all so fortunate as his Royal Highness , the 1 st Grand Principal , to be in the sunny South , but the companions would drink to the speedy recovery of those afflicted , and the jolly good health of those

present . Comp . P . de Lande Long , P . G . P . S ., replying for the Grand Officers , said that with such good examples before them they were bound in their small way to do what little they could for the success of this Order , which , he was delighted to say , was now nourishing in a manner exceeding that of many years past . That was in consequence of what he ventured to think was a wise alteration in the laws so far as exaltations were concerned . It was to him a matter of great pleasure to return thanks on behalf of the

Grand Officers for the hearty reception given the toast , lt was also a great delight to see Comp . Philippe occupying the chair of that chapter , for they all knew he would discharge the duties honestly and faithfully . From the experience Comp . Philippe had given the brethren in Craft Masonry , they knew what he would do in that Degree , They all wished the M . E . Z . a prosperous year of office and plenty of work , and successful as had been the past of that chapter , he ventured , with great confidence , to predict a great future for it . Comp . R . Henwood , I . P . Z ., then said it was his proud privilege to propose the toast

of the evening— " The Health of the M . E . Z . " He regretted he could not find words in his vocabulary to describe his Masonic virtues . They heard with pleasure what had been said in chapter by one of the Grand Officers , who had not said one word to j much in his favour . Comp . Philippe was a man who had Masonry at heart , and carried out his ideas on the subject . They were proud to know their M . E . Z . carried up the highest subscription list ever taken up in England . He ( the M . E . Z . ) was proud to have precided him , both in the lodge and chapter , and hoped they would have him in the chair of the

chapter for more than one year , as they did in the lodge . Comp . Oscar Philippe , M . E . Z ., thanked the I . P . Z . most sincerely for the way he had proposed the toast , and the companions for their hearty reception of it . He regretted that Comp . Hedges was not present , but they hopedhe would soon recover from the epidemic . What he had done in the past he would endeavour to better in the future . He had taken Masonry sincerely at heart , and had found it one of the greatest Institutions in the world , and whatever he had put his hand to he had tried to carry out well . He was not going to ask them specially for anything in connection with the Charities ,

but if any companion had anything to contribute he should be pleased to take it , as he was a Steward for the Girls' School on behalf of the Dinner Club . He could not find words to express his sincere gratitude to them all . " The H . and J . " , was next given , and responded to by Comps . C . Grassi , H ., and W . J . Dyer , J . Comp . A . C . Spaull , P . D . G . D . C , on behalf of "The Visitors , " expressed their pleasure and gratification at attending and seeing the present M . E . Z . in the chair , and re-echoed his words in hoping it would not be the last occasion on which they would be present . Comps . Col . Long , C . B ., and Dr . H . W . Roberts also responded .

" The I . P . Z . " was next given , and shortly afterwards the companions separated , after a most enjoyable and pleasant evening . The quality of the programme of music arranged under the direction of Comp . Herbert Schartau it would be difficult to excel , each item being enjoyed and heartily appreciated . The artistes included Miss Constance Loseby , Miss Ethel Winn , Miss Ethel Bevans , Bros . Franklin Clive , Fred . Russell , and Harry Walsham , and Messrs . Fred . Upton , Harry Hall , and Harvey Pinches .

THE CABINET COUNCIL , which was held on Tuesday at the Prime Minister's official residence in Downing-street , was attended by , among others , the Lord Chancellor ( Bro . Lord Herschell ) , the Right Hon . G . Shaw-Lefevre , and Sir George 0 . frevelyan , Bart . The Earl of Rosebery , who was also present , left for I ' he Durdan-., near Epsom , in the course of the afternoon , his lordship ' s progress towards recovery frjm his recent illness being still retarded by his sleeplessness . His lordship will attend only to such business as is of pressing importance .