Craft Masonry.

ogether for 19 years as brethren of the same lodge , and of their companionship ever since their small boyhood days , and trusted the I . P . M . would be spared many years to wear that jewel , and to be able to render help and assistance to the members of the Crichton Lodge . The I . P . M . thanked the brethren for their token of appreciation for his humble services , and promised that any assistance he was able to give should be at their service in the future as in the past , as the interest of the lodge was the dearest

wish of his heart . He trusted the friendship of the W . M . would be for many years the more firmly cemented . The W . M . then proposed the motion on the agenda in his name , viz ., "That it be advisable to hold a 'ladies' night' early in February . " This being duly seconded by the I . P . M ., and supported by several of the brethren , was carried item . con . All Masonic business being ended , the visitors gave " Hearty good wishes , " and the lodge was closed . where

The brethren and visitors at once proceeded to the banqueting room , they did ample justice to the excellent menu provided . After dessert the grace , " For these and all Thy Mercies , " was sung . The first toast , "The Queen and the Craft , " was received by the brethren in the way which shows the " Loyaltv" of our members , the W . M ., speaking of the sympathy of her Most Gracious Majesty with her people , and the sorrow she feels at the present time for many who are bereaved of their loved ones , and the reverence and lovaltv of the whole body of the British people for their Sovereign .

The impression of the W . M . ' s words left its mark upon the brethren , who were asked to sing the first verse of " God Save the Queen , " which they did most heartily , and then asked for and obtained the consent of the W . M . to sing the second verse . The toast of "The M . W . G . M ., H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , " was then given by the W . M ., who remarked upon the great interest he took in Freemasonry , and although he described him as " Our hope for the future , " did not in anv wayjvish that the intervening period which must elapse before the consummation of that event should be in any way shortened by his words . The Masonic anthem— " God bless the Prince of Wales "—was sung by Bro . R .

] . Vincent , P . M . The toast of "The Grand Officers" was also given by the W . M ., who mentioned the great amount of Masonic work performed by them , ; and that merit was not forgotten and appreciated , as they had two Grand Officers amongst their own brethren , viz ., Bro . David Dixon Mercer , P . G . P ., who had withdrawn from the lodge , and with them still Bro . P . Nairne , P . G . D ., whose interest in their lodge was second to none , as they had been able to see during the evening in the way the work of the D . of C . was performed . It was indeed an honour to the Crichton Lodge to have the counsel of so eminent a

Mason as Bro . Nairne . . ,.,,,, „ . .. t A pianoforte solo , " Alice , " was here given by Mr . W . J . W . Melton , a pianist of great merit , and the son of a member of the lodge , which was duly appreciated .

THE WORSHirFUL MASTER .

Bro . P . Nairne , P . G . D ., in responding for the toast , thanked the W . M . for the way in which it had been given , the brethren for their reception of the same , and the opportunity given him for speaking on behalf of the Grand Officers . In his speech he mentioned his connection with the lodge for 25 years , as he was one of the founders of the same , and at the time believed it had a great future before it , and , as it had progressed steadily from that time to the present , he trusted it would further increase , and although neither of those present could possibly live to see it , he trusted the Grand Lodge would have to grant them the centenary warrant in due course .

The toast of "The VV . M ., Bro . C . II . Stone , " was ably given by Bro . V . Murche , I . P . M ., who spoke of thc length of time he had known the W . M ., and of Bro . Stone ' s interest in the lodge , his zealousness in the cause of Masonry in general , and his great ability as a worker of thc Masonic ritual . He was pleased to find that they had that evening proposed three worthy candidates for initiation at their next meeting , and they would then , he hoped , be able to witness his ability as a worker . Recitation , Bro . Valentine Hill , "The Fully-Licensed Man . "

The W . M ., on rising to reply , received quite an ovation , being most loudly applauded . He thanked the I . P . M ., officers , and brethren , the I . P . M . for his proposal of the toast , and the whole for their acceptance of the same . He was only too pleased to be of service to them , would do what he could lor the good of the lodge , was glad to know that they intended bringing a feiv candidates , whom he would be pleased to welcome , and further , he trusted the brethren would not regret the confidence reposed in him by having voted him to that important ollice . Song , "Thc Absent-minded Beggar , " by Bro . Shovclier .

The gavel collection of £$ 3 s . was given to the fund for the benefit of the widows and orphans now being organised by the Daily Telegraph . The VV . M ., in proposing the toast of "The I . P . M . and Installing Master , " trusted that the light of his experience would bs used for the good of the lodge , and further

Craft Masonry.

expressed gratification at the splendid manner in which the ceremonies had been per formed that evening , stating that in his opinion the I . P . M . had that evening excelled himself in his admirable rendering of the charges to the W . M ., officers , and brethren . Personally , he felt quite carried away by his eulogy , and he believed the brethren were likewise , and that it had not failed to make its mark even upon the Installing Master . Song— " Tut , tut , " Mr . Chas . Penny . Song— " Asthore , " Bro . Moore .

The I . P . M ., in responding , thanked the W . M . as the proposer and the brethren for their reception of the toast most heartily . He was obliged to the W . M . for the kind remarks he had been pleased to make regarding his work during the past year . Personally he believed in what he rehearsed , and tried to impress it upon the minds of those candidates it was his pleasure to have to take through the commencement of their Masonic career , and further he would do all he could for the benefit of the Crichton Lodgenot forgetting their forthcoming ladies' night .

, The next toast— "The Initiate" was given by the W . M ., who remarked that it had never been his pleasure to watch a candidate who entered into the spirit of the working so well as their newly-made brother—Daniel David Carroll , and trusted that the step into Masonry he had taken that evening would never be regretted . Song— " Jack of Ours , " Bro . C . W . Stone , P . M .

Song— " Captain of the Mercantile Marine , " Bro . H . A . Stunt , P . M . The initiate , in reply , thanked them for their reception of the toast , and also his pro poser for bringing him into Masonry . He acknowledged the deep impression the words of the W . M . ( Bro . Murche ) had made upon him during the ceremony , and , lastly , said he would do all he could for the Society of Freemasonry .

The toast of " The Visitors " was then given by the W . M ., who said he was proud to welcome so many that evening , especially as amongst that number were present four Worshipful Masters of lodges , viz ., Bros . Oxley , W . M . 2147 ; Eyre , W . M . 101 ; Hipkins , W . M . isgS ; and Cornford , W . M . 1922 . He should like these four to respond , and he added thereto the names of Bros . Goflfin , Grummant , and Briggs . In reply , Bro . Oxley , W . M . 2147 , thanked the W . M . for the kind invitation which had been given him . He was very pleased to have been able to attend , as he had great respect for the W . M ., who was present at his own installation , and was often a visitor at the Crays Valley Lodge .

Bro . Hipkins thanked the brethren for their acceptance of the toa . t . He was pleased to be able to respond , in that he had worked with Bro . Stone , their W . M ., for 22 years , and consequently knew him well , and , therefore , he felt no diffidence in saying that the lodge gained by making him their W . M . The toast of " The Past Masters " — " the pillars of the lodge , " as the W . M . so tersely put it—was next honoured . Bro . G . M . E . Hamilton ably responded , and said he was always pleased to be of assistance to the lodge , and as he had done in the past , he would continue to work for the futureand thanked them most heartily for their reception of the toast .

, Bro . G . King , Sec , said that he had the good of the lodge at heart , and would continue to do his best in its interest , and thanked them for their acceptance of the Past Master ' s toast . Bro . Weeks , P . M ., also ably responded . The W . M ., in giving the toast of "The Officers , " said that the lodge had such a goodly array that any lodge might be proud of them , in fact , he eulogised them both collectively and individually .

The S . W ., in responding , thanked the W . M . for the kindly way in which he had spoken of the officers of the lodge . Personally , he felt diffident to follow Bro . Stone , as he trusted he would be able to do in the future , as he looked upon their W . M . as one of the ablest exponents of Masonry in the Crichton Lodge . He continued in a most able speech to state that in his appreciation of their W . M . he had brought a visitor , Bro . Langlin , who had adorned that room in which they were seated , and continued in a very interesting manner to explain the decorations .

Thc J . W . trusted in time to do the work as well as their W . M ., although to his mind at present it appeared as a roadway beset with difficulties to obtain that ideal . The Tyler ' s toast brought to a close one of the happiest meetings of the Crichton Lodge . Mr . W . J . W . Melton very ably accompanied at the piano . The W . M . was initiated 19 years ago in the Crichton Lodge , and has now succeeded through the various offices to the chair . He joined the United Pilgrims' Lodge , No . 507 , and eventually became W . M ., when he initiated his son ( Bro . C . W . Stone ) , who is now a P . M . of the same lodge . He was exalted in the Star Chapter , No . 1275 ,

and became M . E . Z . after many years of waiting on account of not having passed the chair in the Craft lodge . He was a founder of the Selwyn Chapter , No . 1001 , and is now a P . Z . and S . E . of the same . Bra . Stone is a most enthusiastic Mason , and has spent much time in helping to secure elections to the various Masonic Institutions . He is a Life Governor of each Institution , has served six Stewardships , and hopes to stand as Steward at the forthcoming Girls' Festival . He is also a Life Subscriber of thc local Old Kent-road Pension Society . He greatly appreciates the honour accorded him by being elected a member of the Board of Benevolence for the third year . The lodge is to be congratulated upon having so worthy a Master .

Kennington Lodge , No . 1381 . The election meeting of this lodge was held at the Horns Tavern , Kennington Park , on the sth inst . Among those present were . Bros . T . Davies , VV . M . ; VVolsey S . W . ; Hopkins , ! . W . ; Hearn , P . M ., Sec . ; Harris , S . D . ; Brading , I . G . ; Linwood , Org . ; G . Everett , P . M ., P . G . Treas ., as I . P . M . ; H . Higgins , P . M . ; Major T . C . Walls , P . M ., P . G . Std . Br . ; C . H . Kohler , P . M . ; A . Lundie , P . M . ; Dr Millsom , P . M . ; and Barry , P . M .

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed . Bro . Tull was raised to the Third Degree . The ballot was taken for a gentleman for initiation , and he being in attendance , was duly admitted to the light of Craft mysteries by the VV . M ., both ceremonies being well carried out . Bros . Wolsey was unanimously elected as W . M . ; R . La Feuillade , P . M ., as Treas . ; and Brading , Hucker , and Moll , Auditors . The audit to be some time in January . A Past Master ' s jewel was voted with acclamation to the W . M . Upon the proposition of Bro . Major Walls the sum of

five guineas was unanimously voted to the Daily Telegraph rund for Widows and Orphans , and this sum was at the subsequent dinner handsomely augmented by individual subscriptions . It having been announced that the wife of Bro . R . La Feuillade , P . M ., Treas ., had recently and somewhat suddenly died , a vote of condolence was passed and ordered to be sent to Bro . La Feuillade . The lodge was then closed . Refreshment followed labour . A few toasts followed .

Bro . George Everett , P . G . I ., responded on behalf of "The Grand Officers , " and then proposed " The Health of the W . M . " In submitting this pledge the proposer said that the toast happily brought its own recommendation . Bro . T . Davies was not only a good Mason but a most genial soul . As W . M . of No . 13 S 1 he had given satisfaction to every member of it . As it always happens , just as a Master gets almost perfect in his work he had to go , although he might feel happy and would wish to remain . The W . M . during his year had set a good example , and he trusted that those coming on would endeavour to emulate his very excellent example .

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