Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Grand Master's Lodge ( No . i ) . — The installation meeting- of this old lodge was held on Monday evening at Freemasons' Tavern , W . C , under the presidency of Bro . Major-General Frederick Gadsden , P . M ., G . S . B ., W . M . A very large and distinguished company was present . The Past Masters of the lodge were Bros . Sir J . C . Dimsdale , G . Treas ., G . N . Chambers , E . Fenner , Bradshaw Brown , G . R . Steel , Chas . Belton , P . D . G . D . C ;

H . H . Crawford , and F . G . Brown . The visitors were Bros J . T . Morland , G . D . ; E . Letchworth , G . Sec . ; C . F . Matier , P . G . Std . Br . ; Charles Martin , P . A . G . D . C ; Major-Gen . Hay , P . G . D . ; Frank Richardson , P . G . I ) . ; F . West , P . G . D . ; Dr . Cockburn , Prov . G . M . ; Sir ] . B . Monckton , P . G . W . ; J . J . Mu ' rhead , P . M . i ( S . C . ); Henry Massey , 160 , P . M . 6 ig and 1928 ; 1 . Hastings Miller , P . G . S . B . ; I . S . Peirce , P . G . D . : W . Peter

Brown , P . G . Std . Br . ; Alderman Vaughan Morgan , Treasurer Christ ' s Hospital , W . M . 9 6 ; Col . Hugh W . Gordon , P . M . 1293 ; A . J . Capon , W . M . 24 S 3 ; Robert H . Rogers , 463 ; Will . E . Chapman , P . M . 2127 ; W . E . Morrison , P . G . W . Sussex ; J . W . Barratt , SS 7 ; Edward Chatfield , 1691 ; Col . Graham , 700 j lohn Smithers , W . M . 5 S ; W . R . Brereton , P . M . 240 ; W . L . Wallis , 9 ' 6 ; Charles G . Scott , 652 ; W . R . Stephens ,

P . M . 90 ; Major de Winton , 267 ; H . Champion Jones ; A . G . Sandberg , P . M . 3 ; W . H . Kirby , P . M . and Sec . 19 61 ; Isodore Leon , 25 ; J . Griffin , P . M . 90 ; A . Ritchie , 2319 ; Henry Times , W . M . 165 ; John Collins , P . P . G . S . W . Surrey ; and J . Howard Thompson , P . M . 165 . The lodge voted 10 guineas to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , five guineas to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , and five guineas to the Royal Masonic

Institution for Boys . Bro . General Gadsden then installed , in splendid style , Bro . Thomas Poultney Griffin , P . M ., P . G . S ., S . W ., and W . M . elect , as W . M . of the lodge for the year ensuing , and received at his hands the collar of I . P . M . The following brethren comprised the list of ofiicers for the year : Bros . Joseph Rock , P . M ., P . G . S ., S . W . ; Richard Creed , G . Stwd ., J . W . ; Ralph Gooding , M . D ., P . M ., P . G . D ., Treas . ; Charles Belton , P . M .,

P . D . G . D . C , Sec ; E . W . Stillwell , P . M ., P . P . G . S ., S . D . ; T . Dinwiddy , J . D . ; Bradshaw Brown , P . M ., P . G . S ., D . C ; Ernest M . Morriss , P . M ., I . G . ; A . P . Youle and H . L . De Montmorency , P . M ., Stwds . ; and Bros . Goddard ( father and son ) , P . Ms ., Tylers . A choice banquet followed the transactions of the day , andthe usual toasts were afterwards proposed and duly honoured .

The speeches were interspersed with some charming singing , under the direction of Bro . Henry Parker , P . M ., P . P . G . O . Middx ., Hon . Organist to the lodge , by Bros . Franklin Clive , J . A . Brown , A . Oswald , and C . Conyers . Bro . Griffin , W . M ., after the toast of " The Oueen and the Craft " had been honoured , in proposing "The M . W . G . M ., " said his . Royal Highness performed the duties appertaining to his high position with a dignity and erace

which left nothing to be desired , and it might be said with safety that the strides that had been made in Masonry since some of the brethren joined it 30 , 40 , or 50 years ago , were due in a great measure to the interest which the Prince of Wales took in the Craft . They were proud to serve such a Master , who was always to the fore in doing everything that would advance the interests of the Craft , and be was sure the brethren would acknowledge his

services by most cordially drinking that toast . Bro . Griffin , W . M ., in proposing " The Pro G . M ., the Dep . G . M ., and the rest of the Grand Ofiicers , Present and Past , " said those distinguished brethren in the Cralt had done and were doing very much for the benefit of Masonry . It was only necessary for brethren to attend the parliament of Masonry—the Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge—to see with what assiduity and attention the Grand

Ulhcers performed their duties . I he lodge had fortunately that night a very representative body of Grand Officers , Present and Past . They had also , he was happy to say , in their own particular lodge No . 1 , a very representative body of Present and Past Grand Officers . They had many Past Officers , They had the pleasure of having for the year as Grand Officers Bros . Alderman Sir Joseph

Dimsdale , Grand Treasurer , and their I . P . M ., General Gadsden , as a Grand Sword Bearer . Many honours had fallen to Grand Master ' s Lodge in the past . They had on the present _ occasion two Grand Ofiicers of the year , and it was not improbable that in the future there might be honours in store for some of the members of Grand Master's Lodge , No . 1 .

Bro . Dr . Balfour Cockburn , P . G . M . Guernsey and Alderney , who was called upon to respond , said the VV . M . had been good enough to remark that honours had fallen upon that lodge , and that it had many distinguished Grand Officers in it . He thought the W . M . was hardly impressive enough on that point , because all the brethren who

were present who had an opportunity of seeing the most excellent working of the I . P . M . in the installation ceremony must feel very proud indeed to think that he was a Grand Officer . Personally , he was very proud indeed of having seen General Gadsden perform the work , because in years gone by and in another clime he and General Gadsden were

associated in lodges in India and Canada . Bro . Major-Gen . F . Gadsden , I . P . M ., in proposing the toast of " The W . M ., " said he was certain it would be renewed with the cordiality and the hen-urs that were due to > t . Briefly , he would propose the toast in obedience to the wish of his commanding officer , but he thought it right that he should give the brethren a short resume of Bro . Griftm ' s Masonic career . They knew they had put the right man

Ti . " ' P , ace ^ cting him to the chair of the lodge . 1 ney had elected a hospitable , a social , and a very genial brother—a brother well beloved by all of them . This brother , he might say , was initiated in the Mope and Charity J-od ge , then No . 523 , now 377 , as far back as 1 S 5 . J , theie-J ? * ne had now been thirty-s x years a Mason . Iiro . L jriifiths served the office of W . M . in St . John's Lodge ,

"" . yo , m isiig , or twenty-six years since he last occupied the clair of a lodge . He joined thc old and honourable •- •rand Master ' s Lodge in iSSo . and had worked his way up ever since , and he also served the office of Grand Steward tlw n eir ^ " - 'J - He mi Bht just conclude by saying tnat Bro . Grifiin held a rather unique position in Masonry connected with the Grand Master ' s Lodge , he being at the Present moment M . E . Z . of the Grand Master's Chapter . J ' Griffin , W . M , in reply , said , Bro . P . M . Gen . Gadsden ana brethren , I thank you very heartily for the kind manner

Craft Masonry.

in which you have been good enough to receive this toast . 1 assure you that I highly esteem the honour that yon have done me in electing me Master of so distinguished a lodge as No . 1 . I also assure you that it will be my ambition to preserve and maintain the dignity , and the prestige , and the good working of this ancient and honourable lodge while I am in the chair . I cannot do thit of myself , but I know 1 am backed by officers who will respond most loyally and

heartily to any call that I may make upon them . You , sir , have been good enough to refer to the unique position which I happen by accident to hold , that of being M . E . Z . of the Grand Master's Chapter , and the W . M . of the Grand Master ' s Lodge at the same time . Well , that is , 1 think , a position which ought to satisfy the ambiti > n of any Mason—at all events , I assure you it entirely satisfies me . The only feeling that I have is when I shall be able to fulfil

the duties of the office to the satisfaction of the brethren of the lodge ; man is but mortal , and one cannot do more than one's best , and I assure you from the very bottom of my heart that I never undertook a duty in my life but I meant entirely to succeed—as I do as W . M . of the Grand Master's Lodge . I cannot sit down without referring to the admirable manner in which the I . P M ., Bro . General Gadsden , installed me in the chair

of K . S . 1 think it must have struck all the brethren present that he imparted a dignity to the ritual which is rarely exceeded—he was perfect and fluent , and he conducted me from the S . W . 's to the Master ' s chair in a manner which any Master might be proud of . 1 am at present an unknown quantity . I sha'l simply do my very best to maintain the prestige and dignity , and the good working of this ancient and distinguished lodge , and 1 hope , brethren , in 12 months

time you will accord me the same cordial reception that you have given me to-night . Bro . Griffin , W . M ., in proposing " The Visitors , " said he thought that hospitality was one of the charms of the Masonic Order , and he hoped the day was far distant when the Grand Master ' s Lodge would meet without having visitors . Bro . Alderman Vaughan Morgan was among the guests that evening , and he hoped that during his year he

should , as in all probability he would , hive the pleasure of welcoming him in the distinguished office of Grand Treasurer . There was also present Bro . J . J . Muirhead , P . M . No . I . Scotland , and it was a very happy circumstance that a P . M . of No . 1 , Scotland , should be present in No . 1 , England . Bro . Alderman Vaughan Morgan , replying , said " Even Bravest Heart , " which was the next song , he thought would

rise with some trepidation after the very kind words that the W . M . had used in proposing this toast personally as regarded himselt . His duty was rather to reply for the visitors than for the humble individual who was asked to represent them . One knew when he was invited to attend Lodge No . 1 everything would be Ai , and they were not disappointed . He was present during the whole of the working of the installation , and he thought Gen . Gadsden

might be proud at the way he led his forces to the battle , and the victory that he won . The guests would be only too pleased to repeat the visit . The W . M . had reminded the brethren that he ( Bro . Vaughan Morgan ) sought to be elected Grand Treasurer in succession to Sir J oseph Dimsdale . If he was invited to the Grand Master's Lodge another time he hoped he should be sitting on the other side of the table . He was very proud to be associated with

the brethren , several of whom he had known many years . He hoped they would never have occasion to be ashamed of him . Bro . J . J . Muirhead , P . M . No . 1 , Scotland , said , for the honour of the Craft , he begged heartily to thank the brethren for the kind reception they had given him , and the W . M . for coupling his name with the toast . He begged to reciprocate his sentimsnts with regard to the visitors . In

Scotland no lodge was more delighted to receive visitors than Lodge Mary ' s Chapel , No . 1 . In the mme of that lodge , he most heartily congratulated the W . M . in attaining the chair . Lodge Mary ' s Chipel was the oldest lodge in Scotland , and it happened to have the oldest Masonic document in the world . He was very delighted with the kind hospitality of the brethren of the Grand Master ' s Lodge . Lodge Mary's Chapel would reciprocate it if any

of the brethren went to Ldinourgh . Sir John Monckton , who was present , and who was a member of LoJ ; e M lry ' s Chapel , would most heartily join in what he said . Bro . Maj .-Gen . Gadsden , in replying tothe toastof "The Past Masters , " said , as the junior P . M . of this old and honourable lodge , he deemed it a great distinction that he had been selected to return thanks for the P . Ms , of the Grand Master's Lodge . There were very many brethren

P . Ms , ot this lodge , who could return thanks very much better than he ; still , in obedience to the W . AL , hecomplisd . He was perfectly certain he echoed the sentiment of ail tne P . Ms , when he said they would , with all thtir energy , put their shoulders to the wheel to support the W . M ., and to enhance , if possible , the honour and prestige of this celebrated lodge . Mention on two or three occasions had been made that evening of tne way in which he had instilled Iiis

successor . Well , he did not take to himself any credit for that . If a Mason intended to be Master of his lodge he ought , in every possible manner , to make hims . 'll well acquainted with all the ritual of the Degrees and the installation ci remony as well . He had on several occasions installed Masters , but not for the last 10 years . He had 1 . 0 : had any work during his year of oflice , and he determined , as an old Mason of \ i years' service , to let the

brethren of the lodge know that there was still some work in him , and he determined , as far as possible , months and months ago—yea , he told the W . M . that it was his full intention to instal him as his successor . Whether he had succeeded or nut it was not for him to say ; but apparently he had succeeded , judging from the eulogy passed upon him in all quarters . He considered as an old Mason of 42 years' standing , that he had only done his

duty as Master , and , according to the rules and regulations of the Cralt . it was thought and proper duty of the retiring VV . M . to instal hij successor , and theiefo .-e he did so , and apparently to the satisfaction of the brethren . All he had now to do was to thank the brethren for the kind manner in which they had received the toast . Bro . Rock , S . W ., replying for "The Ofiicers , " said

mankind , like monkeys , were but imitative animals ; so also were Masons—with this difference , that they knew how to copy the good and eliminate the bad . brom the goo J example set by that phalanx of old Past Masters whom thc W . M . had enumerated , it would be hard indeed if the W . M ' s . year of office was not made a complete success . He might tell them secretly and quietly that the uttiixrs iud

Craft Masonry.

entered into a conspiracy " to make it so , and he trusted when the W . M ' s . time came to have his requiem said , the sentence might go forth " Well done , good and faithful Mason . " The Tyler ' s toast closed the proceed ' ngs .

Masonic Ball At Liverpool .

MASONIC BALL AT LIVERPOOL .

The 46 th annual ball in aid of the funds of thc West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution was held on Tuesday , the 15 th inst ., at the Town Hall , under the banner of the Merchants' Lodge , No . 241 . The West Lancashire Institution now educates , clothes , and in

some instances entirely maintains , upwards of 200 children of deceased and distressed Freemasons , and holds a unique position in the respect that its management does not involve a single official charge . According to the last annual report the number of children who realised the benefits of the Institution during the year was 212 . Of these 17 were on the combined fund

and received entire maintenance , whilst 19 children who had lelt school had grants for clothing and advancement in life . The amount expended was . £ 1580 15 s . id ., in addition to £ 81 5 s ., the proportionate value of purchased tights ol presentation to schools in London . It is interesting to note that since the formation of the Institution , 44 years ago , the number

of children benefited amounts to S 40 , many of these being retained for a very long period , and the total amount expended . £ 29 , 205 iSs . 4 d . The entire cost of conducting the affairs of the Institution , including printing , postages , law , and other charges , has amounted to : 617708 s . —an average cost of , £ 40 4 s . gd . per annum , or about 3 i' per cent . Year by year the work has been

materially assisted by the funds accruing from the annual Masonic festival , which is again this year expected to realise a substantial balance . A large and representative committee , of which the Chairman was Bro . Walter Simpson , P . P . G . W ., and the Vice-Chairman Bro . John Edwards , P . M . 1182 , have had the matter in hand for several months past , and no fewer

than 60 patrons and 300 stewards have given pecuniary assistance in the various arrangements . Chief among the patrons and patronesses were the Lord Alayor ( Mr . W . H . Watts ) and the Lady Mayoress , Bro . the Right Hon . the Earl of Lathom , M . W . Pro G . M ., R . W . Prov . G . M ., and the Countess of Lathom ; Bro . the Hon . Lord Skelmersdale , J . G . W ., and Lady Skelmersdale ;

Bro . the Right Hon . the Earl of Derby , P . G . W ., P . Dep . Prov . G . M ., and the Countess of Derby ; Bro . Col . Le Gendre N . Starkie , P . G . W ., R . W . Prov . G . M . East Lanes . ; Bro . J . D . Murray , P . G . Treas . Eng . ; Bro . Robert Wylie , P . G . D ., Dep . Prov . G . M . ; Bro . S . G . Sinclair , P . G . D . ; and Bro . W . Goodacre , P . G . S . B ., Prov . G . Sec .

The guests , vvho numbered about 700 , and came from all parts of the province , were received by the Lord Mayor and Lad y Mayoress . That the custom which has obtained ior some years past of admitting the general public to the ball is much appreciated was evidenced by the large number of non-Masons who figured among the dancers .

Dispensations having ; been obtained from the Grand Lodges , most of the brethren appeared in full Masonic clothing wearing the jewels and insignia of their rank and office in the Craft . The ensemble was brilliant in the extreme , most of the Allied Degrees , in addition to the Royal Arch chapters and Mark lodges , being represented .

The executive committee was formed as follows Chairman , Bro . Walter Simpson , P . P . G . W . ; Vice * Chairman , Bro . John Edwards , P . M . 1182 ; Treasurer , Bro . W . Kawsthorne , P . M . 1182 ; and the Honorary Secretary was Bro . A . E . Povey , S . W . 241 , to whose untiring energy and zeal the pronounced success of the

gathering is in the fullest measure to be attributed , The veteran Bro . H . M . Molyneux , P . P . G . D . C , again officiated as Master of Ceremonies , and he was ably assisted in his duties by Bros . George A . Harradou , P . P . G . Treas ., and E . R . Latham , P . M . 594 . Bro . R . Tunnicliffe , P . M . 1182 , was the Captain of thu Stewards , the Vice-Captain being Bro . K . G . Bradley ,

P . P . G . D . C . Bro . Thomas Wood , who last year gave so much satisfaction , again provided the supper and refreshments , which were all that could have been desired , and the musical arrangements were in the hands ot

Bro . George Eyton , P . M . 2215 . As a memento of the occasion , the Chairman of Committee ( Bro . Simpson ) very generously presented both patrons and Stewards with specially and appropriately designed jewels .

AN ARRANGEMENT has bcen made , acorJing to a Times correspondent at Boulogne , to aoolish the Folkestone and Boulogne passenger day service from March ist , and to convey the traffic via Djver and Calais . ON FRIDAV evening , tha nth instant , th ; annual ball in aid ot the Masonic Charities , took placs at the Town Hall , Dewsbury , and was a complete success . Ihe decorations

were enti usted to Mr . W . Ballanceof Market-place , and were of a lavish description , the Masters ol Ceremonies were s Bros . T . B . Fox , P . M . ; W . D . ( Juarmby , P . AL ; W . R . Thompson , P . M . ; and Edwin Lee , P . M . ; and the following officiated as Stewards : Bros . M . Newsome , W . M . ; J . Bailey , II . C . Marks , S . Shaw , George Ellis ,

jun ., A . Harrison , and T . L . Chadwick . lirj ' . A , G . Day and H . Hill actei as Hon . Sees . The programme contained 20 dances , and Kubinson ' s band , Irom Cleckheaton again supplied the mu = ic . Mrs . Bailey of Longcauseway , had chargeof the refreshments , an J also supplied the supper . Tne whole ot the oilicers were no ; t courteousin the discharge of their duties .