Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

body of men professing to be allied together by that brotherly love which should bind together all human beings . It was in the name and for thc sake of thc feeling of brotherly love which he was sure animated and influenced all the brethren present that he was delighted to belong to this Earl of Carnarvon Lodge . ( Hear , hear . ) The W . AI . proposed "The Alasonic Charities , "

and said he hoped to take up as Steward for this lodge at the festival of the Benevolent Institution in February the sum of £ 300 on his list . Bro . Gordon had given him a cheque for a very handsome sum , and he hoped other brethren would also assist . He advised the brethren to go down to Croydon and see the comforts which the inmates of the Institution enjoyed . Bro . W . Stephens

replied . As there were no representatives of the Alasonic Charities then present , he would thank the W . AI . for having taken upon him the office of Steward and trying to raise £ 300 for the Benevolent Institution . Attending a meeting of the committee of that Institution on the previous Wednesday he heard a brother ask how much was being received at this time by one county in England

yearly from the funds of the Institution . Thc reply was over £ 400 . That was something to say for one county out of the 52 counties of England . That was a large sum to raise . He sincerely trusted thc W . AI . would get the £ 300 he desired ; and while speaking of the Benevolent Institution he might also mention that there were two other Institutions , the Boys '

School and the Girls' School , both of which were doing an enormous amount of good . There was another body which were also effecting a great deal of good , and that was thc Board of Benevolence , which met every month , and before which there always appeared the case of some distressed or decayed member of the Order , or his widow , or children . It was very seldom that Board separated

without having given altogether some £ 500 to the indigent . Now , whenever an individual asked him ( Bro . Stephens ) to propose him as a member of the Order , and enquired what were the advantages of being a Freemason , he always replied that there were noadvantages connected with it ; but that if any member of the Order should fall into decay , and mig ht require some assistance , there was

a Board to which he might apply , and he had never known any instance in which a deserving case had been turned away . He had known as much as £ 250 given to one distressed brother , and not less than £ 3 or £ 10 to a really deserving case . He sincerely trusted that none of the brethren sitting around that board , or any of their connections would ever require the aid of the Board of

Benevolence . Let them all while it was in their power , in their day of prosperity , put their hands in their pockets and make themselves life governors or life subscribers to one or other of the Alasonic Institutions . Bro . Linscott , one of the initiates , said he had been so impressed with the ceremony which he had gone through that he felt thc grandness and nobleness of Freemasonry . He had so

heartily entered into the feelings of the brotherhood that he should be exceedingly pleased to place his name on the W . AI . ' s list for ten guineas , and he hoped several other brethren would do the same . He admired charity ; he entered heart and soul into charity ; he believed we could not exist unless wc aided one another ; high and low , noble and inferior , it did not

matter what position we filled , whether in Alasonry or any other society , we were all dependent in some form or other upon our neig hbours . From what he had seen of the W . M . he thought it behoved all the _ r . tlir- _ during his year of office to support him as far as they could in his noble endeavours to promote the cause of the " Alasonic Charities . " If ten guineas would not suffice he would

give more . ( Hear , hear . ) Bro . Bartle , another initiate , also offered £ 10 or ten guineas . Bro . Savage explained thc principle of thc club they had in thc Hyde Park Lodge , in which by subscribing a shilling a week the member obtained a draw for life governorships of thc Alasonic Institutions . If the same princip le was adopted in thc Earl of Carnarvon Lodge , instead of £ 300 on Bro . Murlis's list

it might soon be double that amount . 1 he 1 ylcr ' s toast was then given , and thc brethren shortly afterwards separated . SUNDERLAND . —Palatine Lodge ( No . 97 ) . —On Thursday , the 14 th December , thc installation of Bro . T . Twizell , J . W ., took place at thc Alasonic Hall , Park Terrace . The lodge was opened at 4 o ' clock by thc

W AI ., Bro . A . Curry . After thc minutes had been read and confirmed , Air . Tawse was balloted for and accented , and then initiated in a very able manner by the W . AI . Bro . T . Twizell was then duly installed in the chair of K . S . by Hro . J . J . Clay , P . AI ., in his usual impressive and eloquent manner , in thc presence of twenty-one Masters and Past Alasters . The newly installed W . AI . then

invested his officers for the ensuing year as follows : Bros . A . Currie , I . P . M . ; F . Sharp , S . W . ; J . W . Horsfield , J . W . ; Hev . J . Roscamp , Chaplain ; M . Allison , P . AI ., Treas . ; F . AI . Watson , Sec . ; J . H . Leech , S . D . ; A . J . Wardropcr , J . D . ; W . Skelton , P . AI ., D . C . ; J . Bently , Org . ; G . Watson , I . G . ; C . AIcNamara and A . Govvens , Stewards ; H . Fryer and H . Tonkinson , Auditors ; J .

Thompson , Ty ler . Thc lodge was then closed by the W . AI . in the usual manner , and the brethren , numbering about fifty , adjourned to the Queen's Hotel and partook of a sumptuous banquet , provided by the host , Bro . G . Shield . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts having been given and responded to , " The Health of the Newly Installed W . M . " was them roposed by Bro . A . Currie , I . P . AI ., and

responded to in a fluent and feeling manner . Other toasts followed , amongst which was ' ¦ The Alasonic Charities , " proposed by Bro . II . Crookes , Prov . Grand Sec ., in giving which he made an urgent appeal for the continued assistance ff the brethren to those us : ful and benevolent institutions . The harmony of the evening was greatly enhanced by the musical ability displayed by several of the brethren present .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

IPSWICH . —St . Luke's Lodge ( No . 225 ) . — The regular meeting of this lodge was held on Wednesday evening , the 13 th inst ., it being the installation of W . AI . fur the ensuing year . Bro . W . Daking , the W . M . elect , was duly installed . Amongst those present we noticed Bros . W . T . Westgate , P . AI . ; J . Whitehead , P . M .- P . Whitehead . P . M .: F . Prentice . P . AI .: Bros .

G . Abbott , Hillyard , Garrett , Orton , Byford , Cannon , J . King , and about twenty other brethren . The ceremony of installation was well performed by Bro . J . Whitehead , P . AI . The W . M . appointed his officers as follows : —Bros . Charles Hillyard , S . W . ; Philip Whitehead , J . W . ; Alexander Barber , Sec . ; John Orton , S . D . ; G . A . Garrett , J . D . ; Thomas Prentice , P . M ., D . C ., ; Thomas Wentworth , I . G . The W . AI ., although a native of Ipswich ,

vvas initiated into the Craft in 1862 , at Bermuda , in the Loyalty Lodge , Ireland Island , No . 35 S , R . E ., and afterwards became affiliated to the Virgin Lodge , No . 39 6 , R . E ., Halifax , Nova Scotia . The members of this lodge presented Bro . Daking with a beautiful Past Secretary ' s jewel on his leaving for England in June , 1871 . We trust that the coming year will be a successful one for the lodge ; in fact the new W . AI . 's inherent energy is almost certain to make it so .

LEICESTER . —St . John ' s Lodge ( No . 279 ) . — A numerously attended meeting of this lodge was held at the Freemasons' Hall , on Wednesday , the 6 th inst . Among those present were Bros . J . Alacolm AIcAllister , W . AI . ; J . W . Smith , I . P . M . ; Clement Stretton , P . P . G . W ., 'P . AI . ; W . B . Smith , P . G . Treas . ; George Toller , P . G . Sec ; S . S . Partridge , P . G . S . W . ; Dr .

Buck , P . G . S . B ., as S . W . ; Clement Edwin Stretton , P . G . Supt . of Works , J . W . ; J . Farndale , Chief Constable , S . D . ; S . Cleaver . Sec ; C . Gurden , Treas . ; J . Jessop , I . G . ; W . AI . Randall , T . Coltman , E . Newton , jun ., VV . R . Tomlin , W . L . Faire , Edwin Alason , W . AI . 1391 ; R . A . Barber , P . AI . 1-191 ; F . G . Baines , P . AI . S 23 ; and Bro . T . A . Wykes , S . W . 523 , P . P . G . O .,

who kindly officiated as Organist . The lodge was opened in due form , and the minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed . Messrs . Charles Stevens , AI . A . Cook , and S . A . Alarris were unanimously elected by ballot , and regularly initiated into the mysteries of the Craft by the W . AI ., who performed the ceremony with his usual care and ability . Bro . Clement Edwin Stretton , J . W ., was elected W . M . for the ensuing year , and as he

is held in high esteem among the brethren , there is every prospect that the great success to the lodge during the presidency of Bro . AIcAllister , will be fully maintained by his successor in office . The business of the year includes ten initiations ; eight passings , seven raisings , and four joining members . It is , therefore , not surprising that much satisfaction is both felt and expressed with the zeal , and assiduity of the retiring W . AI ., Bro . AIc-Allister .

LANCASTER .-Lodge of Fortitude ( No . 281 ) . The regular meeting of this lodge was held in the Alasonic Rooms , Athena-um , ou the 13 th inst . Bro . T . Atkinson occupied the chair of K . S ., and there was a very large attendance of brethren , this being also the annual meeting for the election of W . AI . for the ensuing year . The lodge having been opened in the First Degree

with solemn prayer , thc minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed . Thc ballot was then taken for Air . Hunter , who was a candidate for admission , and being unanimous he was duly initiated into the mysteries of the Craft by the W . AI . in his usual careful manner , the working tools being presented by the J . W . The ballot was then taken for W . AI . for the ensuing year , when the S . W .

( Bro . Richard Taylor ) was elected ; Bro . P . AI . James Hatch being also unanimously re-elected Treasurer , and Bro . A . K . Allinson Tyler . The installation meeting was fixed for thc 27 th inst ., with Bro . Dr . J . D . Aloore as Installing Officer . On the motion of Bro . P . M . Simpson , seconded by Bro . P . AI . George Kelland , ,. hearty and cordial vote of thanks was passed to the retiring W . M . for

thc efficient and courteous manner in which lie had discharged the duties of Worshipful Alaster of the lodge during his year of office . The compliment having been acknowledged by the W . AI ., a candidate was proposed for admission , and the usual proclamation having been made ( he lodge was subsequently closed in peace , love , and harmony .

DERBY . —Arboretum Lodge ( No . 731 ) . —The usual monthly meeting of this lodge was held at the Alasonic Hall , on Wednesday , the 13 th inst ., when the following brethren were present : Bros . Bennett , W . AI ., P . G . Supt . of Wks . ; Wright , P . AI ., P . J . G . W . ; T . Cox , P . AI ., P . G . T . ; Alarsden , P . M . 253 , P . P . S . G . W . ; Smith , P . AI .. P . P . I . G . W .: Bum . P . M . ; I . C . Alerrv . P . AI .: Gee .

P . M . ; Iliffe , P . AI ., P . P . S . G . W . ; Pipes , W . M . 1085 , P . S . G . D . ; Worsnop , P . AI . ; Brown , S . W . ; T . Alerry , J . W , ; Cooper , Sec . ; Sheffield , S . D . ; Whittaker , J . D . ; Knight , D . C . ; Fraser , I . G . ; Cay and W . Vincent , Stewards ; Day , Tyler ; a large number of the members of the lodge , and a goodly number of visitors from other lodges in the town . The lodge was opened in due form by the

W . AI ., and thc minutes of the last lodge having been read anti confirmed Alessrs . Browne and Timnalley were initiated into the mysteries and privileges of Freemasonry in ancient and solemn form by the W . M . The W . M . then presented to Bro . Baldock , the proprietor cf the Arboretum I lotel , a splendid silver epergne , in the name of the members of the lodge , as a recognition of his

kindness and attention during the time the lodge was held at his house , l'he W . AI . referred to the liberality of Bro . Baldock in providing some years ago a suitable room for the meetings of the lodge al great expense to himself , and to the admirable manner in which he ministered to their wants during the time the members attended lodge at the Arboretum Hotel , and when , in consequence of the present Masonic HaU

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

being built , it became necessary to remove the lodge from his house , Bro . Baldock behaved nobly ; although he had incurred so much expense in providing the " old Masonic Hall" he ] felt that the brethren had no alternative but to go to their new home , and he at once fell in with their wishes . The brethren naturally felt that Bro . Baldcock ' s unselfish conduct , and the unvarying

kindness he had always shewn them , merited some acknowledgment from them in return , and as soon as the matter was mentioned subscriptions were freely given , and the committee had but one difficulty to meet , and that was the form the testimonial should take . That had been settled by the purchase of the beautiful article now before them , which he hoped would give satisfaction .

He ( the W . AI . ) had pleasure in referring to the good feeling that existed amongst the members of the Arboretum Lodge towards those brethren who contributed to the well-being of the lodge , which had been amply illustrated during his year of office , this being the second presentation he had made . The first was to Bro . Wright , whose services to Alasonry had since been acknowledged by the

Provincial Grand Master in raising him to the position of P . J . G . W ., and now he had the honour of testifying on behalf of the brethren to the excellent qualities of their old host , Bro . Baldock . He had the greatest possible pleasure in presenting to him , in the name of the lodge , this mark of their great respect for him . He hoped that he might continue to meet with .

them for many years , and when in the future he cast his eyes upon the piece of silver now before him , he would consider it as a memorial of many happy meetings held in his house , and of the brotherly love which had been cemented by his assistance . Bro . Baldock said that he did not know how to thank the brethren for their great kindness to him , he felt that he did not deserve it . While

thc lodge met at his house , he always had great pleasure in meeting them , and doing the best he could for their comfort , he would value their present very highly as being a most liberal acknowledgement of the efforts made by himself and Airs . Baldock to make them comfortable , and as an expression of regard from some very old friends whom he hoped to have the happiness of meeting for

many years to come . Their present should be handed down to his children as the most valuable of his heirlooms , and he begged to thank the members of the lodge for their very handsome gilt . After receiving the congratulations of the visiting brethren , the lodge was closed by thc W . AI . in perfect harmony and brotherly love , and the companv adjourned to the banqueting room , where a

very comfortable supper was fully appreciated . The customary toasts were given in Masonic fashion , several songs were sung , and then the toast of the evening was ably proposed by Bro . Brown , S . W ., viz ., " The Health of their old host , Bro . Baldock , " who in responding , again referred to the presentation made in the lodge , and added that the good feeling that had been

shewn to himself and family that evening would never be effaced from his memory . He thanked them for the kind manner they had received the toast of his health , and begged to propose "The Health of the Committee , " coupling with it the names of Bros . Gee and Wright , who responded , and a very enjoyable evening was brought to a conclusionby the Tyler's toast . The epergne consisted ol

centre piece in the form of an oak tree with three spreading branches , forming candelabra , on which could be fixed receptacles for fruit , cut flowers , or candles ; at the foot of the tree were two finely modelled deer , the whole standing upon a plateau of burnished silver , surrounded by a frosted

border , on which was a raised shield bearing the following inscription : "' Presented to Bro . J . F . Baldock by the members of the Arboretum Lodgeof Freemasons , No . 731 , in recognition of the uniform kindness and attention shewn to the members during the time it was held at the Arboretum Hotel , Derby . Dec . 13 , 1876 . "

LANCASTER . —Rowley Lodge ( No . IOJI ) . —The regular monthly meeting of this lodge , and the annual meeting for the election of W . M ., Treasurer , and Tyler for the ensuing year , was held on Alonday , the 4 th inst ., at the Alasonic Rooms , Athentcum . Bro . H . Longman , W . AI ., occupied the chair of K . S ., and there was a numerous attendance of members and visiting brethren .

The lodge having been opened in the First Degree with solemn prayer , the minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed . Bro , James Vince having given proof of his proficiency as an Entered Apprentice , was entrusted and retired , and the lodge having been opened in thc Second Degree , he was re-admitted , and duly passed to the rank of Fellow Craft , the working being

performed by the W . AI . in his usual careful manner , the working tools being presented by the S . W . The lodge then resumed working in the First Degree , and the ballot was taken for the W . AI ., when the choice of the brethren fell upon Bro . Thomas Jackson , S . W ., to preside over them for the ensuing year . Bro . W . J . Sly was re-elected Treasurer , and Bro . J . Beeley , Tyler . The installation

meeting for the investment of W . M . elect and the installation of his officers was fixed for January ist , at 4 o'clock , Bro . Dr . Aloore being appointed the Installing Officer . The installation banquet will afterwards be held at the King ' s Arms Hotel . The usual proclamations were then made , which elicited hearty good wishes from the visiting brethren , and the lodge was closed with the formalities of the Craft .

LIVERPOOL . —Duke of Edinburgh Lodge ( No . 1182 ) . —The usual monthly meeting of this excellently conducted lodge , which is very fortunate in having a Alasonic head like Bro . R . Martin , jun ., as W . M ., was held on Thursday , the 14 th inst ., at the Masonic Hall , Hope-street , Liverpool , where there was a capital attendance of members . Bro . Martin was in his place in the E ., ably supported during the evening's ceremonies by Bros . T . B . Myers . I . P . M . ; J . Edginton , P . M . ; Captain