Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

In proposing " The Health of the Grand Officers , " the W . M said that it was a toast which they approached with what "Jay Pay" would call bated breath , because the eminence of these great ones inclined ordinary members to bemoan themselves a " unclean , unclean , " but he found that after they had , at the festive board , become like giants refreshed , they began to find there was still a touch of humanity about the Grand Officers , and

that they hungered and thirsted like other Masons . Their board was graced by the presence of two Grand Officers—Bro . Eve , a king among Masons , who , if not born in the purple , ought to have been , and Bro . Sir Somers Vine . The latter had been especially kind in honouring that occasion , because it was his birthday , and he had arranged to give a birthday banquet to some private friends , but , rather than miss that meeting , he had

fortunately been able to postpone his dinner without postponing it as far as he was personally concerned . Bro . Vine was like old wine—they liked him better the older he grew . With the toast he coupled the names of those two guests . Bro . Eve P . G . Treas ., said it was a difficult task to respond for so large a body as the Grand Officers of England . They were all men worthy of consideration ,

who had done their duty faithfully , and the task was one of increasing difficulty , because large as that body was , it was likely to be considerably increased . Bro . Eve went on to express the pleasure he had experienced in witnessing the admirable working in the lodge , and his especial pleasure in noting the earnestness of all the members , and the unfailing supply of new blood by which the lodge was nourished .

i Bro . Sir Somers Vine , P . G . D ., said that nothing but the wishes of the W . AI . would have induced him to follow Bro . Eve , who spoke with all the weight attaching to an officer of long standing , who , by reason of being elected , commanded more sympathy than an appointed officer like himself . At the same time , he concurred in all the kind expressions of gratitude he had been pleased to utter on behalf of Grand Lodge ; but he could fortify Bro . Eve's praise of the

manner in which the Grand Officers as a body discharged their duties . His being called on he viewed in the light of a personal compliment , in reply to which he need only say that it afforded him pleasure to come to the Gallery Lodge . It gave him much pleasure to know that the Secretary of the Gallery Lodge , Bro . Minstrel had attained to the dignity of a seat in Grand Lodge . When invited by the W . M . to be present , he felt bound to attend , as it gave him the

opportunity of meeting associates of bygone times . Therefore , for the personal character of the toast , he very sincerely tendered his gratitude . Bro . Peacock , I . P . M ., then rose for the purpose , as he said , of proposing what on that night of all nights in the year must be the toast of the evening , and to propose it under circumstances which came to members of Masonic lodges but once in a life time , when he has himself stepped out of the chair of K . S . and has installed another brother

into it . He had looked through the records of the lodge , and found that Bro . C K . Moore was introduced to the lodge as a visitor nine a half years ago b y Bro . Massey , and that in the following December meeting Bro . Aloore signed the roll as a member of the lodge . Looking through the list of those present on that occasion he noted that two of them had departed for the Grand Lodge above , so that the scriptural aphorism that one was taken and another

left still held , as it would always hold , but while they lamented those who had gone , they rejoiced with those that remained , and with none more than their present Master , who was then for the first time installed into the chair of K . S . The brethren had had ample opportunities of watching , not only Bro . Moore's usefulness , and zeal , and intelligence and ability , and the conscientious way in which he had discharged every duty he had undertaken in the working

of the lodge . He began—as thank heaven it was the boast of Masons to begin—at the very bottom rung of the Masonic ladder , and had worked his way steadily up to the top . And no one in the lodge had had greater reason for satisfaction at the conscientious and admirable manner in which Bro . C . K . Moore had discharged the duties of the various offices he had filled—from the very lowest office of Steward , which called for no marked ability and held out

little prospect of distinction . Passing from that office to the higher office of Deacon he made bold to say that no member of the lodge had discharged the duties ot the Deacon's office better than the brother who now presided over them . From the Deaconate he had passed through the Wardens' chairs and it had now been his ( the speaker ' s ) pleasure and privilege to install him in the chair from which by time and the regulations of the Order he had became obliged to retire .

He would confess that he had commenced with a feeling of relief mingled with regret ; but if anything could cause that feeling to be diminished , it would be the knowledge that he had installed one whose past record in the lodge gave ample assurance that his year of office would be a great success and a record of honest work . The brethren had had opportunities to judge of the merits of the W . M . for the ensuing 12 months , and from the truly Masonic spirit

which Bro . Aloore carried into every relation in life he had the greatest confidence , that he ( Bro . Peacock ) asked the brethren to join him in drinking "The Health of the W . M . " with the hope that he would have a happy and prosperous year , and that when he left the chair he would relinquish it with regret , mingled with the satisfaction he would experience in installing his successor . The Worshipful Master , in reply , said that he had to

thank the brethren most cordially , for the toast had been drunk so heartily on the kind invitation of Bro . Peacock . He felt that he did not deserve all the encomiums poured on him by the I . P . M . He was glad that Bro . Peacock had drawn attention to the fact that their present Master was a Scotch Mason , and he was proud of the fact thai he was one . But he had never regretted the change from the green ribbon to the blue . He used to think that

Scotch Masonry was a good thing , but when he came to know the English he preferred it , and of all English lodges that he knew he preferred the Gallery . He had , within the past few weeks , attended a number of lodges , and had nowhere seen the work done better than in their own lodge . He recognised the fact that it was a very

difficult task to occupy any Alasonic chair , and more especially when that chair was the Master's chair in the Gallery Lodge , because Press men were nothing if not critical , but , along with that critical faculty that was freely exercised by the members of the lodge among themselves , there was never any bad blood left afterwards . The W M . went on to say that the

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

brethren never came to a better decision than when they decided to move the lodge from Brixton to Fleet-street . At Brixton they were a local lodge , but in their present home they were in the centre of journalism , and available for journalists residing in any part of the Metropolis . This wisdom of the step was illustrated by such an access of members that it was found neccessary to propose an increase in the initiation fee . As regarded the future , he

had decided that the next meeting should , as in the past few years , be a ladies' night , and he would be glad to consult all the members privately as to any suggestions they might wish to make . He also proposed that they should have a picnic , and he intended to propose a novelty to the lodge . Last year Bro . Peacock introduced a novelty in placing an additional toast on the list . The novelty which he proposed , was to hold an emergency meeting of

the lodge in the autumn , as then the journalists were to hold their annual conference in London . In mentioning the Benevolent Fund of the lodge , they could not but remember that they had sustained a bereavement through the death of its Treasurer , Bro . Walker , of whom he could scarcely trust himself to speak , for there was no one who had the principles of Freemasonry more at heart than their lost brother . It was a sad thing for them to remember that brother who

was the Treasurer of their Benevolent Fund then come , not in body but in spirit , to ask them to extend to one of his children the Charity of the Masonic School for Boys . They could only get that boy elected by a strong effort . Would the office-bearers of the lodge rally round their Master to help in that matter—they could not help in a more deserving case ? He might , perhaps , also appeal to the members of the Savage Club Lodge , where their brother was well and

honourably known in connection with the Club , to make an effort for the child of their deceased Bro . Walker . He knew that they would have the support of the members of the Savage Club Lodge who were present , but it was fitting that he should ask those brethren to exert their influence with the oth ^ r members of their lodge . Before returing to his seat he thanked the lodge for the way in which they had drunk that toast . He desired to do his work as well as

possible , and trusted that he should succeed to their satisfaction . The Worshipful Master next proposed " The Health of the Visitors , " welcoming them in the heartiest manner . The toast was briefly responded toby Bros . Lane , Sykes , and others . The Worshipful Master then proposed " The Health of the I . P . M ., Bro . Peacock , " on whose conduct in the ruling

of the lodge during the past year he passed high encomiums . He hoped that by a great effort he should be able to do as well as Bro Peacock , It there was one thing more than another for which Bro . Peacock was conspicuous it was his tact . There were matters difficult to approach , more difficult to carry through , but by his unfailing tact Bro . Pocock was thoroughly successful . His working was magnificent and most impressive , as an illustration of which he might

say that an initiate at their last meeting when he left the lodge said : " I thought that the English Church service was the most impressive and most important ; but I almost think that the Masonic ritual is more so . " He thought that impression was produced not so much by the ritual as by the manner in which it was spoken by Bro . Peacock . It was a great consolation to him , as Master , to know that he should have at his left hand so able an I . P . M . Bro .

Moore proceeded to say that he had a very pleasant duty to perform . He had already decorated Bro . Peacock with the I . P . M . ' s jewel , and he had now to hand him a little gift for Mrs . Peacock . It was a pleasant custom in their lodge for the brethren to subscribe for a little gift to the wife of the out-going Master—in this instance a little ring , which he now asked their brother to take home to Mrs . Peacock .

Bro . Peacock thanked the brethren for the cordiality with which his health had been drunk , and , in Mrs . Peacock's name , thanked them also for the beautiful little present which they were sending to her . The Worshipful Master then proposed the next toast , "The Savage Club Lodge . " This toast , he said , was always well received , because their own lodge and the Savage Club Lodge were intimately bound together . They , like the Savage Club Lodge , occupied the border line

between Bohemia and Philistia . The toast was responded to by Bros . Ellis and Fisher . "The Health of the Visitors" was acknowledged by Bros . Asher , Welsman , Martin , and others . The rapid passage of time rendered it necessary to couple the next two toasts , " The Past Masters " and " The Officers of the Lodge . " The respondents were Bros . Massey , the Senior Past Master and S . D . C ; Manning , S . W . ; Fisher , Stwd . ; and Sanderson , S . D .

Mitcham Lodge ( No . 2384 ) . —On Saturday , the 10 th inst ., this young lodge installed its third W . M . at the Vestry Hall , Lower Mitcham , when there were present Bros . T . P . Compton , W . AI . ; b . Wells , I . P . M . ; F . T . Pain , S . W . ; F . Deering , J . W . ; W . W . Thomson , Treas . ; N . M . Simmonds , P . AI ., P . P . G . S . B ., Sec . ; J .

E . Hunt , P . M ., D . C ; A . F . Findlay , S . D . ; O . B , Shelswell , J . D . ; H . J . Barker , I . G . ; F . Sampson , Steward ; W . P . Brown , P . M ., G . S . B . ; D . Seivell , R . Gibson , H . List , J . Wilson , L . White , and R . H . Williams , Tyler . The visitors were Bros . H . H . Knill , W . M . 22 ; W . Cook , P . M . 22 ; E . Y . Jolliffe , P . M . 22 , P . S . G . W . Aliddx . ; W . J . Charles , P . M . 22 ; R . W . Coulcher ,

P . M . 22 ; W . Driver , S . W . 1360 ; J . Al . Ranshan , I . G . 22 ; VV . Nordens , S 79 ; J . Pillinger , J . D . 902 ; and J . Haskins , 1364 , P . G . O . Essex . The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed . Bro . F . T . Pain , S . W ., W . M . elect , was then presented by Bro . N . M . Simmonds , P . P . G . S . B ., to the W . M . to receive at his hands the benefits of installation .

'The ceremony was performed in a very impressive manner . 'The newly-installed W . M . then invested his officers as follows : Bros . T . A . Compton , I . P . M . ; F . Deering , S . W . ; A . F . Findlay , J . W . ; W . W . Thomson , Treas . ; N . M . Simmonds , Sec . ; J . E . Hunt , D . C ; S . Wells , A . D . C . j O . B . Shelswell , S . D . ; H . J . Barker , I . D . ; D . Sewell

I . G . ; F . G . Sampson and H . Gibson , Stewards ; and R . H . Williams , Tyler . The W . M . then raised Bro . L . White in an exemplary manner . Some further routine business having been gone through , the lodge was then closed , and the brethren adjourned to an excellent banquet , provided by Mrs . Southerton . The W . M . put the usual loyal and Masonic toasts , and ¦ n proposing " The Grand Ollicers , Present and Past , "

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

spoke of the great amount of time their Grand Officers gave to the Craft . Bro . Brown , G . S . B ., who was a co-founder of the Mitcham Lodge , responded . As a subordinate member of Grand Lodge , he could b ° ar testimony that the Grand Officers were always fully occupied , and with gladness accepted the duties that fell to their charge . They were not merel y an ornamental , ruling Body , but most assiduous workers in

every thing for the interest of the Craft . Bro . T . A . Compton . I . P . M ., then proposed "The Health of the W . M . " He heartily congratulated the lod ge on having such a Aiaster . They had all seen his capabilities and knew his Masonic zeal . He was sure after the splendid manner the Third Degree had been worked that evening , that the government of the lodge could not be in better

hands . He wished the W . AI . good health and a prosperous year of office . The toast was drunk'most cordially . In reply , Bro . Pain , W . M ., heartily thanked the I . P . AI ., and assured the brethren that the honour conferred upon him that evening would be a life's pleasure to look back upon , and he would do his utmost to leave the chair at the end of his year of office and hand the ruling of the lodVe

to the next Master in the same unsullied condition as he had received it from the l . P . M . The W . M . next gave the toast of " The Visitors , " remarking their young lodge was like the older lodges never better pleased than when they had visiting brethren in numbers , and , considering the difficulties there was in getting to and from Mitcham , they were well honoured ,

and the brethren of the lodge gave them a most hearty welcome . Bros . Knill , Cook , Pillinger , and Jolliffe responded , speaking highly of the work they had seen done both by the W . AI . and I . P . AI . The W . M . then gave the toast of "The Installing Master , the I . P . M ., and Past Master , " whom he spoke of as an example he wished to follow in his working , for they

might have as good , but never better , Masons . He then , in appropriate words , presented the l . P . M . with the Past Master ' s jewel . Bro . T . A . Compton responded , and , in very choice words , expressed his thanks for the jewel presented , and atsured them the Mitcham Lodge would always have his utmost support . Bro . Wells responded for the Past Masters .

The Worshipful Master then gave the toast of "The Officers of the Lodge , " most highly eulogising the Secretary , Bro . Simmonds , and the Treasurer , Bro . Thompson , complimenting the rest of the officers on their efficient working , and expressing his good fortune in having such officers . Bro . Simmonds , Sec , suitably responded , heartily

thanking the brethren . Bro . Deering , S . W ., responded in a very happy manner for the other officers , assuring the W . AI . of their full support . The Tyler ' s toast closed a most enjoyable meeting . Bro . Dr . Haskins , P . G . O . Essex , presided at the organ and piano , whilst Bros . Gibson , Deering , Findlay , Charles , and Barker contributed to the enjoyment of the evening by songs , recitations , & c .

/ SlSCUlapiuS Lodge ( No . 24 io ) .-The ordinary meeting of this lodge took place at the Cafe Royal , Regentstreet , on the 14 th inst . In the unavoidable absence of Bro . Deputy Inspector-General Belgrave Ninnis , P . M ., G . S . B ., W . M . ; Bro . Brindley James , I . P . M ., occupied the chair , supported by the officers , members , and some visitors , as follows : Bros . Thomas Dutton , M . D .. P . M ., Secretary ,

as S . W . ; J acob Pickett , M . D ., J . W . ; G . Danford Thomas , M . D ., Treasurer ; G . Crawford Thomson , M . B ., S . D . ; W . Anthony Nutt , J . D . ; H . E . Ezard , M . D ., Org . ; Frank Oldfield , P . AI ., I . G . ; Frank Reid , Edward S . Bell , Lewis Lewis , H . G . Blackmore , Garland Wrighton , C . Luxmore Drew , M . B ., AL Cheale , N . E . Yorfte Davies , C . M . Simpson , Surgeon-Captain R .

Bostock , 1971 ; Herbert Ezard , Sec . 2 ( S . C ); V . Hurkc , 22 ; D . Nesbitt , AI . D . 1432 ; and W . Hutchinson . The lodge was opened , and the minutes read and confirmed . Bros . Hugh Lane , L . R . C . P . Edin ., M . R . C . S . Eng ., 379 , and John Davies , M . R . C . S . Eng ., L . S . A . Lond ., lOjfi , were unanimously elected joining members . Bros . W . A . Lane , M . S . Lond ., F . R . CS . Ene „ were passed to

the Second Degree by the Acting W . AI . in his usual able manner . Regrets for non-attendance were read from the W . M ., Bros . F . Ernest Pocock , M . D ., P . M ., Vice-President of the Board of General Purposes ; Lennox Browne , F . R . C . S ., P . AI ., P . P . S . G . W . Essex ; H . Kiallmark , P . AI . ; and Hugh Lane . The business of the lodge having been transacted , it was closed .

At the subsequent dinner the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given and responded to with great heartiness ; the time between the toasts was agreeably and intellectually spent by listening to some excellent instrumental and vocal music by Miss Ida Aleynell ( holder of Barry and Causton of

Scholarship ) , and the Alisses Hutchinson ( daughters Bro . Hutchinson ) , and Bro . Blackmore , whose services were suitably acknowledged in a toast for " 'The Ladies " by Bros . Dutton and Pickett , and answered by Bro . Hutchinson . The brethren left in time to answer any merry peal of the night bell that might disturb their slumbers .

Provincial Meetings.

PROVINCIAL MEETINGS .

BURSLEM . St . Martin ' s Lodge ( No . 9 8 ) .-The installation meeting of this lodge wa > held at the Town Hall , on Thursday , the 15 th inst ., when there were present Bros . John Alason , W . M . ; W . Garner , I . P . AI . ; J . Scarralt , 5 . W .. W . M . elect : A . Boulton . I . W .: the Kev . L . C .

A . Edgeworth , LL . D ., Chap . ; R . Dain , P . M ., P . J . G . W ., Treas . ; T . K . Pedley , P . M .. P . P . G . S . of W „ Sec ; FWeston , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B ., D . C ; | . Beech , S . D . ) K . Wilkinson , J . D . ; R . Owen , I . G . ; F . C Gill and H . W . Critchlow , Stwds . ; 11 . Boardman , Tyler ; J . Pierpomt , P . M .. P . P . G . Stwd . : E . Pearson , P . vl . ; John Godwin ,

P . P . G . S . B ; F . VV . Alason , Geo . White , W . Bentley , 3-Kellern , and others . Visitors : Bros . W . Tunichffe , 4 ' > > P . P . A . G . D . C ; a . Watson , 2004 . P . P . G . P ; T . b . Howson , 451 , P . G . Stwd . ; W . H . Howson , 2004 , P . G . S . U . , Geo . Wilks . W . M . 20 G 4 ; J . Young , J . W . 20 O 4 ; I'inney , I . G . 2064 ; A . Dain , 20 O 4 ; J . Adams , 2064 ; A . « Strange , W . M . 1942 ; S . V . Wood , W . AI . 54 ^ J u '