Craft Masonry.

Masonry was such that he had had a great deal to do with every grand ceremonial in Mason-y , as the brethren would remember , such as th' . installation of the Grand Mister , and the great Jubilee Festival in 1 SS 7 . Consequently he ( Bro . Lennox Browne ) was very proud to be . Sir Albert Wood ' s Deputy . H : could not refrain from siyinghov much his ( Bro . Lennox Browne ' s ) success in Masonry was

due to Essex . When he was male a Grand Officer he was the youngest ; he had not been in Essex two years before he was asked to give his name to a lodge , and he had the honour of installing Bro . Butcher , the W . M ., as W . M . of the Lennox Browne Lodge . He had seen the wav in which Bro . Butcher did his work , and he knew the affection in which he was held by the m emb ' . rs . H e was very pleased

to see him installed as Master of the Lodge of Sincerity . There were several members of the Lodge of Loyalty present . There was a close connection between sincerity and loyalty . He was sure the W . M . would emulrte the Grand Officers , who were endeavouring to emulate those of the past and set an example to the Grand Officers of the future in their unswerving sincerity and loyalty to the Craft

and its rulers . Bro . Norman , I . P . M ., proposed the toast of "The W . M ., " and said that during his year ot office he felt somewhat disappointed that he had not more work to do , but that evening he had had much pride in installing in the chair a Provincial Grand Officer of Essex . In Bro . Butcher they had a Master they could all be proud of . They had

had an opportunity for some years of seeing the able manner in which he did his work in the lodge , and they were sure he would fill the chair of the Lodge of Sincerity wi'h honour and reputation . Bro . Butcher , W . M ., responding , thanked the brethren for electing him . He felt very proud when he saw Essex brethren to the right of him , to the left of him , and in front

of him . With the assistance of the able officers he had , he believed he should be equal to any duties the brethren might likerto placeon them . He would try to do well , and he hoped the brethren would introduce initiates . The officers could do their duties to the satisfaction of the lodge , and they would . Bro . Butcher , W . M ., in proposinrr "The I P . M ., " said

Bro . Norman was an old and distinguished Mason , but no doubt his having been W . M . of the Sincerity Lodge was a distinction he would be proud of , and , as all the Past Masters were disti nguished , he would be proud to have joined their ranks . But even in that position he would not consider himself out of work . The brethren had seen the way in which he performed the installation , and he ( Bro .

Butcher ) had had the honour and pleasure of placing on his breast the Past Master ' s jewel of the lodge . Bro . Norman , I . P . M ., acknowledging the toast , said he was proud of being among the Past Masters , and he should be ready , as they always were , to give assistance to the chair . He felt already at home among the Past Masters , and felt like one of them . Bro . Sir William Abdy , replying to the toast of "The

Visitors , " said Freemasonry taught nothing but what was good and destroyed all political and religious animosities , made men obedient to the laws of the land and submissive to the will of the Great Architect . Moreover it taught hospitality , and without hospitality interwoven with Charity , Masonry would cease to exist . The Charity it gave was different to the ordinary Charity . Charity as it was given

by the world was an answer to a ceaseless request , and very often was given with a cold , unwilling heart ; that was not the case with Masonic Charities , in proof of which he would point to the Institutions , and with respect to the Boys' School and the Girls' School , the children of Masons were brought up to make good citizens , and fitted for business , social , and family life . This Charity was partly the

outcome of the hospitality of Masonic lodges , and therefore he said that hospitality and Charity were interwoven . He saw that carried out in the Sincerity Lodge , with which he was sorry he had not been acquainted before that night . Bro . W . B . Vaile , W . M . 1607 , also responded , and said that , as a member and W . M . of the Lodge of Loyalty , hs had for a considerable period been associated with the

Lodge of Sincerity , of which the former was the daughter . He had also met at the Lodge of Instruction of the Lodge of Sincerity many talented brethren , men from whom he had to acknowledge considerable courtesies and great assistance in learning the ceremonies . He trusted that the W . M . would have a pleasant , profitable , and useful year , and at its end be able to look back upon it with satisfaction for the

remaining years of his life . Bro . J . Newton , P . M ., replied for "The Masonic Institutions , " and advocated the cause of the Benevolent Institution . Bro . Magee , P . M ., replied for "Th ; Past Masters , " Bro . C . Lacey as Treasurer and Bro . C . H . Webb as secretary . The other toasts were briefly givjn , and the pleasanf evening brought to a close .

Confidence Lodge ( No . 193 ) . —There was a large gathering of members and visitors on Monday , the Hthinst ., at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet-street , on the occasion 01 'he annual meeting of this wel ' -known centenary lod ^ e , when Bro . Francis Haines , the Senior Warden of the past year , was-installed as ils ruler for the present one . Bro . Belchamber , I . P . M ., officiated as Installing Master , and he

having regularly inducted Bro . Haines into the chair , that Drottier appointed the following as his assistant officers : Bros . F . S . Plowright , S . W . ; T . Kington , J . W . ; B . D . Kershaw , P . M ., Treas . ; Walter Wood , P . M ., Sec . ; E . £ ennock , S . D . j G . Spice , J . D . ; J . W . Simeons , l . G . ; G . 1 . Nightingale , P . M ., D . C . ; John E . Fells , P . M ., and Sydney W . Fells , Stwds . ; Walter Cutting , A . D . C . ; and Jj" « . Keinhardt , Tyler There was a large number of hlTi s j n < ? ' ' tors Present . After the different addresses "aa ueen delivered n , r »«> n < niir . m . n ,., » r » ;„; , ; , ^ . r

. „ . , conclusion of the binquct , the W . M . proceeded to give the usual toasts . He regarded the Grand Master onl » V ! i L 0 m the whole Craft m 'B ht we " P roud - Not the rt \ Prince of Wales take a personal interest in w . m J . wnenever the opportunity occurred ; he also heart the weltare ot thc 0 rder at a " times at

lui M B ( elc i , amber submitted the toast of " The Worshipof rn „ -f ' , . . toast wn ! cn was ° B reat importance , and truSS ? u eraW < : 'ntercst to the lodge . In Bro . Haines he atld , ?? y hai 5 one wh ° would do much for them . With ventuwH 5 . t . 't thcother ,, ' lst Mlsters of " , oJse . he of ih „ „ ? , tneir present ruler would prove to be one know n P Ct Mastcrs the Confidence Lodge had ever

Craft Masonry.

In reply , the Worshipful Master tendered hearty thanks for the kind reception that had been accorded him . He fully appreciated the high dignity associated with the office they had placed him in , and hoped to satisfy them in what he undertook . He had felt great interest in the work of the lodge since he had joined it , and had worked hard in the offices to which he had been appointed , with one object

in view—that of ultimately rising to the chair of the lodge , for he looked upon the humble representation of King Solomon as the highest ambition of a Freemason . The toast of "The Initiates" was next given , Bro . Haines tendering them a cordial welcome as members of the Confidence Lodge , and hoping they would each , in turn , rise to high dignity within it .

Bro . Wesfeate felt it a great honour to have been initiated that day . Thi ? remarks of the W . M . had aroused in him a desire to fill the chair—it was very certain he was particularly near it at that moment , but he hoped he might get yet nearer , rise , in fact , to regularly occupy it . He should certainly strive to win that distinction by good work and dllierent attention to the duties of the Craft .

The other Initiates likewise responded to the toast . "The Health of the Visitors " was next submitted , the Master offering them a heart y greeting , and assuring them it was at all times the desire of the Confidence Lodge members to entertain their guests in the best possible way . The toast of " The Visitors" was acknowledged by several members of that body , who , however , did not depart

from the usual laudatory utterances under this head . The W . M . was congratulated on his elevation tothe Mastership , was complimented on the ability he had already displayed in the chair , and regarded as particularly fortunate inasmuch as he had risen to the highest position in the lodge within five years of his initiation . The Worshipful Master nowsubmitted the toast of " The Installing Master , Bro . Belchamber . " It was difficult to

imagine how the lodge would have got on without Bro . Belchamber , who had truly been a good friend to the lodge and every member of it . Bro . Belchamber tendered his thanks for the toast , assuring the brethren he had done the very best in his power , and what he believed to be the duty of every Mason If he had given satisfaction it was a great gratification to him , and as he had won the thanks of the lodge it was all he required .

THE WORSHIPFUL MASTER . The W . M . next proposed "The Health ofthe Treasurer , Secretary , and Past Masters of the Lodge , " to which Bro . Wood first responded . He desired to tender thanks both on behalf of the Treasurer ( who , unfortunately , was not present ) and for himself . He was indeed proud to be

reappointed to the office of Secretary , and hoped he might continue togive satisfaction in the duties attached to it . He had striven during his Mastership to advance the interests of Freemasonry in general , and the Lodge of Confidence in particulir , and hoped he might have health and strength to continue doing so for many years yet to

come . Bro . Smithson , in the course of his reply , said a pleasurable feature presented itself in the fact tl . at the Master , Senior and Junior Wardens were all initiated by him during the year he was at the head of the lodge . Bro . S . Webb was also called upon . Up till last year he had been an active member of the lodge , now he enjoyed

the rank of honorary member , thanks to the good feeling evinced by the brethren of the lodge . During the 34 years he had been a subscriber he had seen much of the ups and downs of the lodge , but there was one noticeable feature in connection with it—the attendance appeared to have remained all but stationary—S 4 or thereabouts . As one of the Past Masters he was very well satisfied to think the

lodge had not deteriorated or decayed , and he thought he might say it was progressing . _ The toast of " The Officers " svis ackno . vl edged by the S . W ., Bro . Plowright , who assured th ; lodge he should endeavour to do his best to 11 . 1 thc honoured office then

occupied by Bro . Haines should it be the goodwill of the members to elect him to it next year . For the officers generally he misht say all would endeavour tu cmu ' atc the working of the Past Masters of the lodge in years gone by . Several other of the officers also acknowledged the toast .

The lyler s toast brought thc proceed . ngs lu a close . During the evening a successful programme of music was gone through , under the direction of Uro . A . Weston , who was supported by Miss Emily Davies , Miss Ernestine Handcock , Bro . Frederick Stephens , and Bro . Frank Swinford .

Craft Masonry.

St . Mark ' s Lodge ( No . 857 ) . —The election meeting of this distinguished South London lodge was held at the Surrey Masonic Hall , Camberwell New-road , on the ijth inst ., and was well attended . There were present Bros . NoblettR . Livett , W . M . ; VV . H . Andrews , S . W . ; W . Scott , J . W . ; Edwin Crouch , P . M ., Treas . ; A . Boulton , P . M ., Sec ; C . Barker , S . D . ; VV . S . Kildahl ,

J . D . ; E . G . L . Anderson , D . C . ; H . P . W . Crouch , Stwd . ; Peet , P . M . ; E . C . Crouch , P . M . ; G . Lavington , P . M . ; C . H . White , P . M . ; C . ] . Armstrong , P . M . ; F . H . Abbott , T . M . Richards , E . Mosley , G . R . Barclay , E . C . Phillips , G . B . Newman , Farmer , J . J . Jenkins , R . T . Grisenthwaite , G . Schroeder , T . A . Grisenthwaite , and T . Bowler , Tyler . Visitors : Bros . H . W . Wi bourn .

J . VV . 54 S ; E . R . L-ee , I . P . M . 212 S ; E . E . Williams , S 22 ; J . Mellmgs , 2021 ; J . Coe , P . M . 1339 ; G . C . Tegetmeier , 1929 ; J . Lecquire , J . W . 1669 ; and K . T . West . After the minutes of the previous meeting had been read and confirmed , the W . M . impressively raised Bro . Farmer . The ballot was then taken on behalf of Mr . G . B . Newman , and he was afterwards initiated by Bro . G . Lavington ,

P . M . Bro . W . H . Andrews , S . VV ., was unanimously elected VV . M . ; Bro . Edwin Crouch , P . M ., re-elected Treasurer ; and Bro . T . Bowler again appointed Tyler , a position he has held for the last 15 years . Bro . G . Lavington , P . M ., was elected Treasurer of the fund of benevolence . The resignation of Bro . li . C . Lloyd , P . M ., an old and

esteemed member of the lodge , was accepted with very deep regret . The sum of seven guineas was voted to be placed on Bro . Anderson's list , who was going up as Steward for the Old People . A Past Master ' s jewel was voted with acclimation to Bro . N . R . Livett , W . M ., for his able services .

The lodge was then closed , and the brethren partook of a substantial banquet , which was prepared by Mrs . Venables in excellent style . The W . M . gave the usual loyal and Masonic toasts , which were cordially received .

In proposing "The Health of thc VV . M ., " Bro . Lavington , P . M ., observed that in March last he predicted that Bro . Livett would have a brilliant year of oflice , which had been fulfilled to the very letter . He had been a splendid ruler , and it would be impossible to have a better . Although it seemed hard that he should leave the chair , yet he was to be followed by an excellent worker of the ritual , who would well maintain the great prestige of the lodge .

In response , Bro . Livett , W . M ., said he regretted that his happy year of office was shortly coming to an end , but he hoped that what little he had done for the lodge had given satisfaction to the members . He wis only just realising what the duties of a W . M . were , and if he had remained on for another year he might have been perfect . He quite agreed that his successor , the W . M . elect , would make a spl .-ndid presiding officer .

The W . M . gave thc toast of " Thc Initiate , " and said that he hoped he would . take to heart what he had gone through that night , together with the other Degrees that were to come afterwards , and that what he was taught in Masonry he would endeavour to follow out in his daily life . If he did that it would be impossible tor him to go wrong ,

and he trusted he would aspire to the chair of his mother lodge . Ihe initiate , Bro . G . B . Newman , in reply , stated that he felt it a great honour that he had becn made a Mason ; the ceremony , thc kind words of the W . M ., and his reception that evening would never be effaced from his

memory . In submitting the toast of "Thc W . M . elect , Bro . Andrews , " the W . M . remarked that it was an important one , which was only given once a year . If he spoke too well of him he might think hiraselt too big for the post . He was a very busy man , but if he took anything in hand it was done well , and the members would find nothing

wanting on his part to add to the success of the lodge . Bro . Andrews , W . M . elect , responded . He said that from the kind but flittering words of the VV . M ., they would think that he was to be a paragon , but he did not know why the W . M . should foreshadow that . However , he would do his very best , but his time was so much taken up that he was afraid he had not much leisure for Alasonry . He , however , had the interests of the lodge at heart , and

would do his utmost to keep their banner unsullied , and he Uusted that what he might have to do would give satisfaction to those who had done him the great honour of electing him their W . M . " The Visitors " was next honoured , the W . M . obser . ing that many of those present were aident woikers in the Crait , and he j . ined the names of Bros . li . K . Lee , Doe , and Wybourn with the toast .

Bro . Ii . rt . Lee , in reply , said that all the visitors had thoroughly enjoyid themselves , which could not bs otherwise , as the Icd ^ e was well known ii . r its hospitality , and he wished it every prosperity . Suitable responses were also made by Bio .,. Coe ,

WytKuiu , and Bjrlo . 1 , testifying tu the excellent working of the W . AI . 1 he VV . M . gave "The Past Masters , "andsaidthey , alivays looked lo the Pait Masters for every and any assistance , and in concluding a genial speech he said , miy their numbers and shadows never grow less .

Bro . Lavington , P . M ., replied . He said that the Past Masters were only too pleased to render any service to the lod ^ e . He appreciated the kindness of the W . M . in allowing him to initiate Bro . Newman , who was an old friend of his . B . o . Peet , P . M ., also responded , regretting lhat he had nut been able to attend since the VV . M . was installed , but

ab . ence at sea was the cauie . ' •'Th's Officers" was the next toast , thc W . M . stating that they had done their duty , and he appreciated then great services . In re . ponding , Bio . Scott , J . W ., said if , as the VV . M . had staled , he had not leached his ideal , he had got far enough , as the membeis well knew his great worth . Bio . A . Boulton , P . M ., Sec , also lesponded . He referred to some years ago when he had the honour oi

initiating the W . M ., and he was gratified that he had been through the chair with such glorious success . The pleasant evening terminated with thc Tjlci ' s toast . The vocal entertainment was carried out by bios . G . Schroeder , E . E . Williams , Peet , H . VV . Wjbovrn , Tegetmeier , bcott , and Bolton , but a word of praise is due to Bros . Schroeder , and Tegetmeier for their great efforts , which was much appreciated .