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the brethren for their reception of him , and gave them thc assurance that he fully appreciated thc honour they had bestowed upon him . The W . M . was toasted , and the toast was acknowledged , and in proposing the toast of " The Pttst Masters of the Lodge , " the W . M . said the lodge was fortunate in having among those on the left of the chair such brethren as the quartcr-of-a-century Secretary , Bro .

Crump , their respected Treasurer , Bro . Winsland , their energetic Bro . James Terry , and no less active and earnest brethren , Goulston , Davies , and Hillhouse . Thc toast was acknowledged by the latter , and then the toast of " The Visitors " was given by the W . M ., and Bro . Charles Horsley , in reply , thanked the W . M . for thc opportunity he had that night of seeing thc United Strength Lodge thus ably worked , and having declared thc words tho W . M .

had addressed to the brethren who desired to be officers to be words of wisdom , the speaker , in a happy vein ol poetic loi ; e , proceeded to connect the W . M . ' s name with thc refrain of various well-known songs , much to the amusement of thc company . Dr . Hunter , one of thc joining members elected at the last meeting , responded to the toast of his health , and Bros . Hill , the J . W . ; Halford , J . D . ; and Patmore ( Steward ) , responded for the officers . The Tyler ' s toast brought the proceedings lo a close .

DUKE OF CONNAUGHT LODGE ( No . 155 8 ) . —This lodge held its second regular meeting al the | Surrey Masonic HaU on Thursday , the ijth inst . Present -. Bros . W \ Snowden , W . M . ; W . S . Cackctt , S . W . ; T . Sleap , J . W . -, J . Dann , P . M . and Sec -, W . Mitchell , S . D . ; A . Runacres , J . D . ; J . Kemp , I . G . ; VV . Chalk , W . S . ; F . Geider , Tyler . Also Bros . C . E . Power ,

T . Taylor , E . Pearman , E Sims , J . E . Pentrealh , W . Rowlands , G . Harris , J . H . Swan , J . Emms . Visiters : Bros . C . B . Wright , Asaph , I . - JIQJ S . J . Harvey , Royal Jubilee , 72 ; C . E . Towell , Victoria 1056 ; J . M . Walters , Wtstboutne , 733 ; T . T . Dry son , Royal Union , 382 . The minutes of thc last meeting were read and confirmed . The W . M . vacated the chair , and Bro .

P . M . Dann officiated . Bros . Power , Taylor , Pearman , Sims , and Pcntrcath were passed to thc degree of Fellow Craft . Bro . W . Rowlands , of thc Royal Jubilee Lodge , 72 , was enrolled as a member of the lodge . Mcs-rs . G . Harris , J . H . Swan , and J . Emms were initiated into Freemasonry . The Secretary readacopy of a communication from Giand Lodge , dated 7 th December , 18-to , respecting the Master ' s

light in the Third Degree . Bro . Sleap , J . W ., moved that the question of raising the initiation fee from five to seven guineas be taken into consideration , as more conducive to the interests of the lodge . Bro . Mitchell , S . D ., seconded the motion . Bro . Chalk , W . S ., moved as an amendment , that the motion be deferred . Bro . Dann , P . M . and Sec , seconded the amendment , which was put to tlie lodge and

lost . The original motion was then put anti carried by a large majority . Bro . Rowlands proposed , as a joining member , Bro . John Morgan Walters , ol the Westbourne Lodge , No . 733 . Two gentlemen were proposed and seconded as candidates for initiation . The lodge was adjourned till the second Thursday in January next . The brethren then adjourned to refreshment , at which thc usual

toasts were duly honoured . IPSWICH . —British Union Lodge ( No . 114 ) . —The annual meeting of this old lodge was held on Thursday , thc 9 th inst ., when theic weie present : Bros . A . D . George , W . M . ; J . J . Buiton , P . Prov . G . D . C . Cambridge , S . W ., W . M . elect ; Rev . E . J . Lockwood , D . P . G . M . ; W . Spalding , P . M ., Sec . ; W . Boby , P . Ptov ,

S . G . W . ; W . Clarke , P . G . A . D . C ; Emra Holmes , P . Prov . G . R . and P . G . D . C ; Viscount Mahon , M . P ., Junior Lord of the Treasury ; H . Miller , S . D . ; Rev . J . B . Tweed , J . D . ; P . de Lande Long , P . M ., Vice-President of the Board of General Purposes , & c ., & c . Visitors : Bros . N . Tracv , P . Prov . S . G . W ., W ' . M . Perfect Friendship Lodge ; W . t . Wcstgate , W . M . St . Luke ' s Lodge ; G . Cresswell , P . M .

of the Prince of Wales Lodge ; J . Wilson , an officer of the Carabineers , & c , & c . The lodge having been opened in due and ancient form , and thc minutes confirmed , Commander John Parsons , R . N ., of H . M . S . Porcupine , and a young officer of the Carabineers , Wm . Longhurst , were intioduccd and initiated into Masonry , the ceremony being performed by the W . M . At the conclusion of thc

ceremony the President of the Board of General Purposes was announced , and on the entrance of our excellent and esteemed brother , J . B . Monckton , ihe brethren rose to order , and , under the direction of the M . C ., saluted him with the honours suitable to his i .-ink in (" ram ! Lodge . Bro . George giving the gavel to V . W . Bro . Monekti 11 , he assumed the chair , and procece ' ed to install Bro . Buiicu as W . M .

for the ensuing year . 1 he win le of tl . is U . ng ceremony , with the charges to the Master , Warders , and brethren , were admirably ar . d faultlessly pivtn , anil performed according to thc Emulation Lodgeof Improvement working , and we cannot speak in too high praise of thc manner in which the W . M . was inducted into Ihe chair of K . S . We can only bote the 1 rell . ieii wiil rilvajs

endeavour to secure the services of so bright a Mason , and so valued a member of the lodge , as Bro . Monckton . One or two brethren having been proposed for joining and initiation , and thc customary business disposed of , the officers were appointed and invested as follows , the Installing Master addressing a few worels . to each : —Bro . A . D . George , I . P . M . ; Rev . T . B . Tweed , P . G . C , S . W . ;

H . Miller , P . G . P ., J . W . ; H . Casley , S . D . ; G . EUiston , ) . D . ; Ridley King , F . R . I . B . A ., I . G . Bros . W . Spalding , Sec ; Emra Holmes , M . C . ; and Geo . Spalding , Tyler , were re-appointed . The lodge having been closed , thc brethren numbering about 30 , retired to tlie dining hall , where an excellent banquet was served , but where the waiting , as

usual , was bad . In responding to the toast of " The D . P . G . M ., " Bro . thc Hev . E . J . Lockwood spoke with great pleasure on the increasing interest shown in Masonry by thc clergy of the Church of England , an interest which c ( uld . not but be productiie ol geed , and the more so because it was a complete answer to such brethren as the

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brother at Lowestoft , who gave up his office in Prov ' Grand Lodge at the last meeting , assigning as a reason that he found that Masonry was incompatible with his Christian obligations . Their W . M . would ere their next meeting be ordained ; their S . W ., his ( the speaker ' s ) relative , was a clergyman , at their last meeting they had initiated another clergyman , and he thought so much interest could

not be felt in Masonry by thc clergy had there been anything inimical to thc interests of true religion in the principles of the Craft . Bro . Monckton responded to thc toast of " The Officers of thc Grand Lodge of England , " and admtted that he was proud of being a member of that distinguished body . The Very Worshipful Brother made a characteristic ,

eloquent , and withal modest speech in acknowledging the toast , and wns hcaitily applauded as he took his seat . Bro . Tracy rcspoi ded on behalf of thc visitors , and reminded thc brethren of thc Perfect Ashlar Lodge of Instruction , which met weekly under the banner of the British Union , anil of which he was Preceptor , where the brethren might have an opportunity of qualifying themselves for thc posts

which they filled . Bro . Westgate also responded , as did Bro . Wilson , who hoped on the next occasion to be a member of the lodge , and net a visitor . The newly-initiated brethren responded in tlie manner common to new initiates , and the Secretary ' s and Tyler ' s toasts having been duly honoured , the brethren separated . Neither the National Anthem nor any other song was gitcn , and the lack of

music probably took somewhat frcm the enjoy ment of an otherwise pleasant evening . Bro . Button , W . M ., presided at the banquet , and performed the arduous duties of chairman in a manner befitting the occasion . As thc brethren dined in collars and jewels , and the tables were handsomely decorated with flowers and coloured glass , the effect was very good , though the banquet as

a whole was not to be compared to the summer festival , the Feast of Roses . A hundred ) cais ago the installation of W . M . always took place on St . John's Day , so that the festival of St . John was always duly kept . This excellent practice seems to have fallen into desuetude , and

we confess we should like to see a return to the old paths , and the festival restored . Bro . Emra Holmes' notes on the old minute books of the British Union Lodge are now in course of publication in the pages of our contemporary , the "Masonic Magazine-, " the first portion appearing this month .

WINDSOR . —Etonian Ledge of St . John ( No . 2 cn ) . —The usual monthly meeting of this lodge was held at the Masoirc Ha'I , on Tuesday , the Jth inst . Present : Bros . J . O . Caiter , W . M . ; Deune , S . W . ; Canvin , J . W . ; Pullin , P . M ., Treas . ; Strange , P . M ., Sec ; Crowhurst , S . D . ; Hume , J . D . ; Roberts , I . G . ; Scliicmann , D . C ; Pears , S . ; Dixon , I . P . M ., P . G . D . C . ; Stacey , P . M . ; Wilson ,

P . M . ; Cross , P . M . ; Reid , P . M . ; Mclllwham , P . M . ; Hawker , Stollcry , Pennicott , Woods , Cousins , Spindler , Legg , cVc . Visitors : Bros . Tolley , P . M . 771 ; Johnson , 771 ; T . Bryett , 834 ; Knighton , 834 ; Whittaker , & c . Ihe minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed . The W . M . raised Bro . Cousins to the degree of M . M . The brethren unanimously elected Bio . Dennie , S . W ., to the

office of W . M . for the ensuing year , and voted a Past Master ' s jewel to the W . M . Bro . Wilson , P . M ., was elected Treasurer , in the place of Bro . Pullin , P . M ., who retires , and in consideration of the services rendered to the lodge ( extending over many years ) by Bro . Pullen , the brethren voted a sum of money to purchase a testimonial to him ; the form of such recognition was left to the ultimate

decision of that worthy brother . The two brethren elected to audit the accounts were Bros . Hume and Pears . Bro . Case was again appointed Tyler . Two candidates for initiation having been proposed , the lodge was closed in perfect harmony . BRADFORD . —Lodge of Hope ( No .-102 ) . —On

Monday , thc 13 th December , at the Masonic Hall , Godwinstreet , the brethren of this lodge celebrated the festival of St . John the Evangelist , and thc installation of Bro . Hanson Farrar as W . M . of this lodge took place . The brethren assembled at six o'clock in large numbers , including the following : —Bros . Thos . Hill , P . M ., P . P . G . W ., Chairman of Charity Committee ; J . J . Schacppi , P . M .,

P . P . G . S . D . ; C . II . Taylor . P . M ., P . P . G . S . D . ; J . D . Su - gden , P . M ., P . P . G . J . D . ; W . W . Barton , P . M . ; Geo . Richardson , P . M . ; C Pratt , P . M ., P . P . G . Sup . of W . ; | . Ambler , P . M . ; W . Bottomley , P . M . ; and the undermentioned visitors , namely , Fred . W . Nicholson io , * 4 , Prov . G . O . ; T . Senior , W . M . 974 , P . Prov . G . Reg . ; W . Morgan , W . M . 1018 ; II . Lambert , 129

Chas . Baille-tt , 90 . 1 ; G . Alsmg , 11 *; Sam . Pcikc , 254 ; fan ) . B . Walmsley , P . M . 974 ; Jos . Dobson , 289 ; Chas . F . Umia , P . M . ( ioo ; Geo . Althorpc , P . M . 1018 ; R . Richatdsor , P . M : 97 . * .. The ceremony «> f in . stallation was ably performed by Bro . B . Broughton , I . P . M . The W . M . Elect was conducted to the pedestal by Bro . T . Hill , P . M ., p . Prov . G . S . W ., and afterwards was duly

proclaimed . The W . M . then appointed and invested his officers as follows : —Bros . Chas . Gott , S . W . ; T . G . Andrews , J . W . ; Rcv . T .. Il . Flynn , P . Prov . G . Chaplain ; M . S . Rhodes , Treas . ; T . C . Hope , Sec ; J . Harland , Assist . Sec ; J . Pickles , S . D . ; T . F . Pettingcr , J . D . ; F . C . Atkinson , Org . ; | . D . Sugden , D . C ; T . G . Boyce , Assist . D . C . ; Thos . Hill , P . M ., P . Prov . G . S . W .

Charity Steward ; T . C . Pearson , Almoner ; Rob . Breuer , I . G . ; J . J . Holmes , Tyler . The ordinary business of the lodge was brought to a close by the W . M . at 8 . 30 . We should not omit to allude to the very handsome and valuable presentation to the lodge by Bro . Manoah Sharpley Rhodes , Treasurer , of an excellent coloured

portrait of His Royal Highness Bro . thc Prince of Wales , Grand Master of England , in full Masonic clothing , in a beautiful gilt frame , which was accepted by the brethren wilh acclamation , and directed to be . hung iu the lodgeroom . From the skill displayed by Bro . Hanson Fairar , W . M ., in perfoiming the duties devolving upon him

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during thc evening , it seems as though the mantle of his late sire , who was one of the ablest P . M . ' s of the Lod ge of Hope , had fallen on his shoulders ; and we augur that he will successfully exert himself to tread in the footsteps of his accomplished ancestor , whose abilities and example are so eminently worthy of remembrance and imitation . Lodge business over , the brethren adjourned to

the refreshment room , and sat down to a recherche banquet , in keeping with the high reputation of Bro . R . Breuer as a caterer . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were duly given and responded to ; amongst the latter wc may allude to "The Immortal Memory of St . John the Evan - gelist , " proposed by Bro . the Rev . T . H . Flynn , the Chaplain , in an able address replete with good words and instruction .

" The Clergy , " was put down to be proposed by Bro . M . Rhodes , P . M ., P . P . G . W ., but owing to his unavoidable absence , that duty was undertaken by Bro . Geo . Richardson , P . M ., and was responded to by Bros . Rev . T . H . Flynn , P . P . G . C , and H . Lambert . "The Masonic Charities , " proposed by Bro . T . G . Andrews , J . W ., who , addressing the W . M ., Officers , and brethren , said that thc

toast he had to propose was dear to the hearts of Freemasons . He did not feel equal to the task assigned him , but the sincerity and heartiness of his remarks must be his apology for any shortcomings . He felt it a pleasure , as it was his duty , to bring under their notice the claims of those noble institutions—our Masonic Charities , and in doing so he naturally had in mind three of the virtues

inculcated by our Order—Faith , Hope , and Charity ; they are great elements fordoing good , and we , as a brotherhood , are banded together to do good . Our Masonic charities are the outcome of all that is good , as you know they arc for the education and maintenance of our orphan children , and for providing annuities for our aged and unfortunate brethren . Those of you who have not already done so , I

ask to visit some of the annual festivals of these admirable institutions , and then I know what a thrill must come over your hearts when you there see what good some of the brethren have aided in doing . Some of you may say I should be very glad to give my mite , but do not feel at liberty to be a Steward . Well , I may inform you that there is thc way to do this , and that is by several brethren

joining to endow one of the chairs , and most of our chairs have been so endowed . But I would have every chair endowed , and , further , I would increase that of those that are already endowed , because in that way you increase your voting powers . Our W . M . ( Bio . Hanson Farrar ) , has nobly contributed to these charities , and let each of us strive to do his best . I may mention to you that the con-

tributions to our charities in the year 1875 , amount to the sum of £ 26 , 604 , of which sum our Province of West Yorkshire , contributed £ 1845 . On a similar occasion to this last year there was contributed in this room the sum of £ 100 , and 1 hope that will be increased this year . Brethren , it would ill become me were 1 to close these remarks without reference to the services ' of Bro . T . Hill ,

P . M ., Prov . G . S . W ., our Charity Steward . He is also Chairman of the Charity Committee , and it is a great honour to this lodge . Wc all heard what fell from him in lodge , that he felt that he ought to give way to some other brother , after filling the position for so many years , but we all hope he will not think of that , we all know how he has worked for the good of the charities , and that

we owe him a debt of gratitude we can never repay . In conclusion , 1 have faith that the brethren of this lodge will assist the charities as they have hitherto done , and I hope that I am not mistaken in my faith . Bro . Thomas Hill , P . M ., P . P . G . S . W ., Chairman of thc Charity Committee , in responding to the toast , said that the first thing that was brought under the notice of every brother on his

initiation was , that we , as an Order , have poor and distressed brethren amongst us ; and whilst we hope that we ourselves may , ' never be brought low , yet we have seen in our lodge , as in others , that some of our dear brethren who have moved in good society , have had to succumb to misfortune and death , and in some of these cases their children have been liberally educated , clothed , and

maintained , until they attained the age of 16 years , in our Royal Masonic Schools . The knowledge of this ought to incite us to do all we can in support of our charities , and I hope the appeal , so ably made by Bro . Andrews , will be as liberally responded to as it was last year , when £ 100 was subscribed round this table ; and I believe our respected Prov . G . Secretary , Bro .

Henry Smith then had a few slips printed with our subscriptions inserted , and this proved the starting point to £ 2000 being raised in the province . I hope the brethren present will respond as they feel able ; already I have received a few names . We profess to be charitable , and it is but right that our professions should be brought into practice . Bro . Andrews made reference to my office

as Chairman of thc Charity Committee , and I must say that , although 1 have held high office in the Craft , there is none I so highly esteem , and I think it is a position that any brother may feel proud to hold , yet I think it should not always be in thc same hands . Brethren , I again thank you most heartily for the honour you have done mc in coupling my name with the toast . Bro . Hill

afterwards announced that he had that evening received seventy guineas for the Charities . The W . M . then said that whilst we thought of our Masonic charities , towards which he had felt it his duty to subscribe ever since he was a Mason , wc must not overlook our local Charities , and he understood that the Masonic Ward in the Bradford Infirmary , some years ago furnished by us , was in need of

more blankets , and he hoped the brethren would give some small tlonations for that . The result of this announcement was that the sum of £ 9 2 s . 6 d . was collected . Bro . B . Broughton , P . M ., in proposing " The Retiring Master , " said , —And a very retiring Master he is , brethren . I remember , at the commencement of the year of his office , he expressed his diffidence in taking the chair , but he accepted it at your hands . I also remember how , as