Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

After the lodge was opened , and the minutes confirmed , Iiro . R- D- Cummings , P . M ., was presented as W . M . lec ' t , and was impressively installed by Bro . J . P . Fitze „ , M , P . M . The following officers were invested : Bros . ?• Eccleston Gibb , I . P . M . ; Wm . Lawrence , S . W . ; A . ! ' Millward , J . W . ; E . Y . Jolliffe , Treas . ; Thos . Moss , ? ' . J . Collingridsre , S . D . ; J . P . Fitzgerald , J . D . ;

Geo . Glover , l . G . ; F . Mercer , D . C ; and E . Salter , Stwd . Lodge was closed , and after a well-served banquet , the usual toasts were heartily recognised . Bro . K- ' H > P-G . Treas ., replying for "The Grand Officers , " said they were brethren who endeavoured to uphold the dignity of the Order . He held it a great honour to be one of those elected to fill office upon the dais of Grand it hihl

Lodge . He prized gy , and felt it his duty to uphold , not only the Constitutions of the Order and the dignity of the Craft , but at the same time , act justly , as far as possible , to all within its sphere . He thought it right they should always consider the rights of minorities which were preserved by their Constitutions . Grand Lodge was the great court of appeal for all cases from England and the Colonies ,

and when an appeal was sent there it was the duty of all officers to see that the duty was discharged rightly and properly- He felt it was an inherent principle in every brother there to do what was right and just , and to do to others as he would wish others to do to him . When he found there was any deviation for any great principle , and those deviations had been allowed to go on for years to the

prejudice of any number of brethren , he felt it was not only an inherent right of a brother , but it was his sacred duty to say what he had to say with reference to it , whether it pleased the majority or not , and leave to the great heart of the Brotherhood to decide what was right , just , and proper . Theirs was a great Order for usefulness , and stood unique in the world , for they were governed by a Grand Master

elected by themselves . They regarded the Grand Officers as brethren of high capacity and good heart , and a desire to do what was right . Bro . T . Eccleston Gibb , P . M ., proposed "The W . M ., " and said that being the first I . P . M ., he should probably have the opportunity of proposing that toast during the coming year on many occasions . He should therefore say

but little , not because he wanted to see how the W . M . would do his duty , for all present knew him full well , and felt they had a right good Master . Their Bro . Eve had been telling them that unity did not mean sailing with the stream , and the great thing was that difference should not create mistrust in the Craft . They should always look to the Master and submit to his judgment , always believing

they had elected the right man . In the Hampden Lodge they thoroughly believed in their W . M ., for in him they had 1 brother who would rule the lodge as it ought to be ruled . It was not the first time Bro . Cummings had ruled a Iodge , and they would have the benefit of his experience and friendship . Bro . R . D . Cummings , W . M ., said he was extremely obliged for the kindly terms in which the I . P . M . had

proposed the toast . He had been more interested in the last song than thinking about speech-making , but he assured them he felt very deeply the kindly sentiments expressed towards himself . He had taken a great interest in the lodge , and so long as he continued a member that interest would be maintained . The position he occupied was through no fault of his own , but through the kindly and unanimous

sullrages ot the lodge , lt was a great honour to be W . M . of any lodge , but particularly of a lodge destined to take front rank in Metropolitan Masonry . He would proceed with the next toast— " The Health of the 1 . P . M . " He was glad to hear the cheers of the brethren , for there was no man more deserving of their respect and esteem than Bro . Iiccleston Gibb . The I . P . M . did not pretend to be a

magnificent worker of the ritual , and it was a mistake to consider the working of the Three Degrees as the Alpha and Omega of Masonry . Bro . Gibb had done good suit and service in building the lovely temple in which they had met that day , and if they wished for a Masonic attribute , that I ! 1 _ PK ve his interest in freemasonry . It meant that the 1 . 1 , M . had Masonry thoroughly at heart or he could

not have taken the interest in it he had . In consideration u '" s . k the brethren had awarded him a jewel which , although it might not mean much intrinsically , was a slight tribute of the warm corner he held in the hearts of the members . Thc jewel carried with it the good wishes of all ana the hope that he would live to continue a member for many years . Bro . T . Eccleston Gibb returned thanks . The

presentalon of the jewel was the inauguration of a good system in , 'odgeand he hoped that every succeeding Master would S ™ . ' ° of his services in the form of a token , f a i . ? ., wh , ch he had received . He was conscious Li . i , vorkhe had done - but he had done what he "raw and that was as much as any man could do . He was uusy man and the work of the rerpi __ nr _;_ . c , uno n _ , i rn

much as in early life . He , therefore , recommended the nni nger , members to work while young and then they would i " ; " f , " excuse . He had always found great pleasure in " <¦ ng in lodge when he could and in making the lod ffe r , ' , comfortable . By consent of the W . M . he would Propose the next toast , that of " The Charities . " He had "special claim to nrooose the toast , for he was hv the ,., 111

llov ° cT ? ervin ff as Steward at the next festival of the nam , , \ He ho P ed the members would put their beElf ° ? I . st and cnable him t 0 send "P a good sum on Th ° \ lod 8 e - tolanUi , )_!• subsC ( l"ently announced that the list had Hr i ' . ihe sum of 73 guineas , effeciiv A u IcLeod ' Sec R-M . I . for Boys , replied in an inthi-wifi ecch ' and ex P ressed his pleasure at recognising of Ihe Bo s'S h Wmember ° f tllC B ° ° f Mana S ement

IV \(! f P ° , !? "The Visitors , " Bros . Lord , W . M . 21 GS ; leWi ^ l' - ,: -3 Sl ' and Bund y > P - - ' 53 i , acknow' Th 1 hos P ' tality extended to the visitors , in fe £ ? t „ ? £ Master " was proposed by the I . P . M . « ply , fifT'f l S , ro- J" [ y ' Fitz 2 crald > P-M-, in whether In . 1 ? ' , hlm Masonry was a religion , and that thi . * .,: _ .. . or o'her lodges his interest was absolutely

r , ° ne for . f 6 could not do more for that lodge than he had 'ntere « J f " > ami felt certain those instincts were the "Thi T every member of the lodge . K'vcn , i , ? furer , Secretary , and Officers" having been Dufin „ J t 0 . ast br ° ught the proceedings to a close . , lu murofB evenmg Bro . Will Edwards gave several f'ertainm 1 ' . ? . ' Russe " obliged with a ventriloquial "'' ethren „ i ' and Br 0 , Ho P >< ins once more delighted the » 'tn a selection of music on the silver bells .

Provincial Meetings.

PROVINCIAL MEETINGS .

BRADFORD . Acacia Lodge ( No . 2321 ) . — The regular meeting was held at the Masonic Hall , Rawson-square , on Thursday , the ist inst ., when Bro . John Niven , W . M ., was supported by Bros . E . Pearson Peterson , I . P . M . ; J . Thornton , S . W . ; Alfred J . Boyle , J . W . ; John T . Last ,

Ireas . ; b . A . Auty , P . M ., Chap . ; James B . Fearnley , Sec ; C . E . Ellis , S . D . ; J . Morton , as J . D . ; R . S . Hird , as I . G . ; Henry Holmes , Tyler ; Alfred Stephenson , P . M ., P . P . G . D . C ; Joseph Wilson , P . M ., P . P . G . Std . Br . ; T . Wainman Holmes , P . M ., P . P . G . O . ; I . Hirst , Org . ; S . A . Bailey , P . M . ; Albert Swaine , R . Harland , John A . Drake , Samuel Marsland , A . E . Harris , J . Percy

Sykes , and others . Visitor : Bro . Walter Dickinson , J . D . 97 + The lodge was opened , and the minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed . The proposed reading of the lodge by-laws was deferred to a subsequent meeting , and the W . M . called upon Bro . T . Wainman Holmes , P . M ., P . P . G . O ., who read a very interesting paper on " Colour , and Why were the Three Degrees in

Freemasonry called Blue Masonry . " Bro . Holmes dealt with his subject in a scientific but nevertheless an exceedingly intelligent manner , and he was listened to throughout by an attentive and appreciative audience . One of the brethren remarked that he had been a Freemason for a number of years , but in listening to Bro . Holmes' lecture he had learned more of Freemasonry that eveninjr than durinff all

the years he had previously been a member of the Craft . A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Bro . Holmes for his able paper , which was suitably acknowledged . Bros . Peterson , Auty , Thornton , Boyle , Last , Fearnley , and the W . M . took part in the discussion upon the paper . Apologies were tendered for the unavoidable absence of a number of the brethren , after which the lodge was closed . Refreshment followed .

BROXBOURNE . KillgSWOOd Lodge ( No . 2278 ) . —The installation meeting of this lodge , under the banner of which the Provincial Grand Lodge of Herts will be held on Wednesday , the 5 th prox ., was held on Saturday , the 17 th inst ., at the Crown Hotel , a very favourite holiday resort of the creneral public . Bro . Charles M . Coxon , W . M ., presided

and there were also present Bros . H . T . Nell , S . W ., VV . M . elect ;; T . Wye , J . W . ; J . G . Cobb , I . P . M ., P . P . G . S . ; J . Petch , P . P . G . S . B ., Treas . ; J . F . Bell , P . M ., Sec ; E . H . Moore , S . D . ; R . VV . Nicole , J . D . ; G . T . Chretien , I . G . ; A . C . Halestrap , P . M ., D . C . ; E . Blenkhorn , P . M ., Stwd . ; VV . E . Goodwins , Org . ; T . Williams , Tyler . Rawson Kelley , P . M ., P . P . G . W . West Yorks ; A . J .

Robinson , W . Kennedy , N . Pearce , J . Gravatt , A . Ingram , R . von der Sahl , J . R . Bickers , C . C . Renaud , T . Williams , Tyler ; and visitors : Bros . J . L . Mather , P . A . G . D . C . ; N . Read , P . M . 161 , G . Steward ; R . E . Hunt , P . M . 45 ; Tom Taylor , J . D . 45 ; Herbert Emlyn , 134 S ; H . Massey , P . M . Gigandit ) 2 S ; T . W . Withers , l . G . 1671 ; A . V . Medcalf , 1457 ; W . H . Bolt , W . M . 15 G 3 ; and T . Sims , S . VV . 1 G 04 .

After the opening of the lodge , the reading and confirmation of the minutes , and the reception of the report of the Audit Committee , Bro . Coxon immediately proceeded to install his successor , Bro . Henry Thomas Nell , W . M . elect , P . M . and Sec . 45 . The ceremony was splendidly performed throughout , and elicited hearty applause at its conclusion . The brethren appointed to office vvere Bros . C .

M . Coxon , I . P . M . ; T . Wye , S . W . ; E . H . Moore , J . W . ; J . Petch , P . M ., Treas . ; J . F . Bell , P . M ., Sec . ; R . W . Nicole , S . D . ; G . T . Chretien , J . D . ; A . C . Halestrap , P . M ., I . G . ; W . E . Goodwins , Org . ; E . Blenkhorn , P . M ., D . C ; H . T . Hip / veil and J . W . Kattenbury , Stwds . ; and T . Williams , Tyler . At the previous meeting Bro . Petch , P . M ., announced that a banner would be presented to the

lodge . On this occasion it was en evidence , and a very handsome one it proved to be . Bro . Petch said he was commissioned by the donor , Bro . W . C . Pheasant , a founder of thc lodge , and a brother who , to their regret , was not a frequent attendant at their meetings , but who still took a very warm interest in the welfare of the lodge , to ask the brethren ' s acceptance of this banner with his best wishes .

Bro . Cobb , P . M ., in proposing the thanks of the lodge to Bro . Pheasant for his splendid gift , trusted it would long defy the ravages of time to grace and ornament the Kingswood Lodge , and Bro . Coxon , I . P . M ., in seconding the vote , referred to Bro . Pheasant as one who carried out the precept '' Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth , " and said that the lodge which had his name

on its list of members was honoured by that fact . Bro . Pheasant's generous gift was accepted in the kindly spirit in which it was tendered , and the hope was expressed that he long might live to enjoy the respect and esteem of all who know him . After an announcement that Bro . Coxon , I . P . M ., would represent the Kingswood Lodge as Steward at the Boys' Festival , the lodge was closed .

To Bro . Coxon s list 10 guineas are given by the Provincial Grand Lodge , which he represents as well as the Kingswood Lodge . The lodge has provided four Stewards for the Charities during its four years of existence . There is a balance in the Treasurer's hands which , with outstanding accounts , amounts to £ 5 6 . It must not be left unnoticed that Bro . Rawson Kelly ,

the first Master of the lodge , P . P . G . W . West Yorkshire , who has been travelling all over the world for the last few years , and who was present quite unexpectedl y by the whole of the lodge , had a most hearty reception on his appearance among the brethren . The hanquet which followed the working of the lodge was of a very choice description , and it was thoroughly enjoyed . The usual toasts were afterwards honoured ,

In proposing "The M . W . G . M ., H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , " the W . M . said it was an additional pleasure to him to propose the toast that night on account of the approaching marriage of the Grand Master's son , the Duke of V'ork . Freemasons took great interest in the event , not only as Masons , but as Englishmen . Bro . Cobb , P . M ., proposed "The Pro CM ., Deputy G . M ., and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past . "

Bro . J . L . Mather , in reply , said the work of the Grand Officers was somewhat arduous but the Grand Officers were pleased to perform the duties . They had only one desire , the promotion of good feeling and the prosperity of the Craft in general . They were all too delighted at times to perform their duties .

Provincial Meetings.

In proposing " The Health of the Prov . G . Master , Bro . Thomas Halsey , M . P ., " the W . M . again informed the brethren that the Provincial Grand Lodge would be held on the 5 th prox . Bro . C . M . Coxon , LP . M ., proposed "The Deputy Provincial Grand Master and the rest of the Provincial Grand Officers , Present and Past , " and said that last year they were honoured with the presence of Bro . Lake , the

D . P . G . M ., and this year it was hoped he would have been there with the Provincial Grand Secretary . Unfortunately neither was able to be present . There were three Provincial Grand Officers in the Kingswood Lodge—Bros . J . L . Mather , Petch , the Treasurer of the lodge , and Cobb—all of whom were most energetic Masons in the province . He was pleased to say the Provincial Grand Lodge would be held that year under the banner of the Kingswood Lodge .

Bro . Cobb replied , and said all the Provincial Grand Officers were indefatigable on behalf of Masonry in the province . The Deputy Provincial Grand Master was very favourable to the Kingswood Lodge , and he was very pleased with the way the work was done in it . The Provincial Grand Secretary also had the same opinion . Bro . C . M . Coxon , I . P . M ., proposed "The Health of the Worshipful Master , " and said nothing he could say

would increase the goodwill with which the brethren would receive it . The W . M . of a Iodge had claims upon the brethren which they did not fail to recognise . The brethren , in their discretion , had elected an experienced brother for their VV . M ., who would carry out the duties of his office with credit to himself and to the lodge . His services to Masonry had not been few ; he had already filled the chair of an old lodge with success , and for years he had

performed the duties of Secretary to his mother lodge , the Strong Man . He had also done good service to the lodge of instruction , and had served the office of Steward for the Charities three times , and twice as Steward for the Kingswood Lodge . That was not the smallest claim he had to the brethren ' s consideration . He entered on his year of office with the best wishes of the brethren . His father and his brother , both of whom saw him initiated in Masonry ,

and installed as Master of his Iodge , greatly regretted that they were not present . Bro . H . T . Nell , W . M . in reply , thanked Bro . Coxon for his very flattering remarks , and the brethren for their equally flattering endorsement of them . It was a great honour , and he highly appreciated it , to be placed in the position of W . M . of the Kingswood Lodge . He had already passed the chair in an old City lodge , but he looked forward

to being Master of the Kingswood Lodge with a great deil of satisfaction and pleasure . He joined the lodge at Elstree , but he hardly expected to be its Master in so short a time . However , he should do his best to promote the interest of the Kingswood Lodge . He could do thc work , and he hoped he would do it to the brethren ' s satisfaction . There were some members looming in the future , and he

was sure the officers would hel p him with respect to them . He had endeavoured to do his duty with regard to the Charities and also in lodges of instruction , to two of which he belonged , one of them , the Strong Man , the oldest of all the bdges of instruction . With regard to the Kingswood Lodge he should endeavour to do his duty , and he trusted that at the end of his year the brethren would say " well done !"

The Worshipful Master , in proposing "The I . P . M . and Installing Master , " said Bro . Coxon was one of the founders of the lodge and had done a great amount of work for it from its inception . He had had a successful year of office , had given great satisfaction to the brethren , and had installed him in a way which it was generally agreed was perfect . All his work during his year had been perfect . He had also well looked after the banquet tabic and the musical entertainment .

Bro . Coxon , I . P . M ., in reply , said he entered on his yeai of office hopefully but with misgivings . Now that he had made way for his successor he telt by the commendations showered on him that he had satisfied the brethren . They had made him the proud reci p ient of a Ijewel to mark the highest honour the lodge had in its power to confer on any of its members . He hoped long to wear it at the meetings of the lodge . He might be allowed to say that his interest

in the lodge and its concerns would be in no way diminished now that he had passed the chair . He should be always ready to do all in his power to promote its success . He happened to be the first Steward for the Islington Lodge ; the next time he was the fifth ; now by the vote of distinction he should be the seventh—seven Stewards for the Charities in less than five years . He would not be able to do much more in that respect , but the younger members

would continue it , and keep up the high position of the lodge . Bro . Rawson Kelly , P . M ., in responding to the toast of "Thc Past Masters , " said he was heartily pleased after travelling round the world to meet the brethren of the Kingswood Lodge , and receive from them such a cordial welcome . During his travels he had always thought of the Kingswood Lodge , whose good wishes he had received

through Bro . Petch , who kept him informed of the success of the Iodge . He was glad to lind that Bro . Petch did not over-report , but he was proud to come back and see the state of things himself . Bro . Petch also kept him posted up with the Frcemasjii while he W 3 S away . He found the paper regularly in China , in Japan , in India , Australia , New Zealand , and wherever he svent . He enjoyed himself

very much that evening , and had been glad to see the ceremony of installation so well performed by Bro . Coxon . With regard to Bros . Petch and Cobb , ever since the lodge was formed ( which was due to them ) they had been mainly instrumental in keeping up its prestige . What had pleased him most was the magnificent way in which the lodge had supported the Charities . He hoped none of its members would ever bc candidates for the Charities . It

was a great privilege for Masons to bc able to give their mite to help a poor and distressed brother . All through the world he had met with the greatest cordiality , and every hospitality among Masons . When they knew he was a Mason they invited him as a traveller and a stranger . It was a grand thing when travelling to have the assistance and hearty sincere welcome of Masons .

"The Absent Members , " "The Visitors , " "The Treasurer and Secretary , " " The Officers , " and the Tyler's toast followed , and were duly honoured before thc brethren returned to town . A delightful musical entertainment was given by Bros . W . E . Goodwins , E . H . Moore , Tom Taylor , and Herbert Emlyn .