Centenary Festival Of The Lodge Of United Strength, No. 228.

went to South Africa and started a lodge by the same name . The Rose , Shamrock and Thistle had always been used by that lodge , and printed on the summonses , and afterwards this Union vvas further exemplified by an illustration of - -Esops fable of "The bundle of sticks . " Thsy vvere proud to think that the word " United " had never been sullied in any of the records . There had been no difference in the lodge , and it had remained " United" for ioo years . In jg ^ o the No . 399 was altered to 276 , and 30 years after it was again moved to

" 28 its present number . The G . Secretary had referred to the numerous places of meeting the lodge had had since it started . Through the kindness of Bro . Sadler , he traced the fact that during the first seven years the lodge met at two places in Chelsea . For 16 years they met in Soho , and 13 years in Lambeth . In 20 years it met at eight different places , including Covent Garden , Strand , Leicester-square , and Westminster , and then settled down for 14 years in Pimlico . In 1857 , it moved to the old St . John ' s Gate , Clerkenwell , and in 1 S 77 ,

went to its present quarters , the Guildhall Tavern . During the first half century it changed its home 14 times , and but twice in the second 50 years . Next as to the personnel of the lodge . Starting near the old Chelsea Hospital , many connected vvith that hospital became members but whether ofiicers or pensioners he was not able to say . That gave it a military flavour and during the first 23 years there vvere many non-commissioned officers in it . In 1 S 20 , there were a great many members of the legal profession in it . When meeting in Clerkenwell , its

proximity to an artistic and literary club , known as the Urban Club , induced many members of that club to join . These gave a general tone to the lodge , and there were still some in the lodge who retained that tone , and amongst theqi vvas their Worshipful Master . At a later period there vvere a large number of Schoolmasters , and about 20 years ago there vvas a provincial tendency , many coining from Bedfordshire in a strong body . Taking a general view of thc lodge , and he had only been a member 30 years , he could say the lodge was a good London

mixture . In 1 S 76 " the highest development in numbers was reached , the members numbering nearly 100 . The old Gate House in Clerkenwell vvas too small , and for the last three meetings in 1876 they were permitted to hold them in Freemasons' Hall , after vvhich they took up their abode at the Guildhall Tavern . As regarded the original founders , they were obscure and unknown men , not recorded on the roll of fame , but in founding that lodge they built a superstructure perfec ' . in its parts and honourable to the builders . Think

of that band of 13 holding their first meeting in that little tavern in Chelsea , and compare it with that meeting and that galaxy of Grand Officers ! The lodge had been founded on tho principles of brotherly love , relief , and truth , and in thc cause of Charity had performed its share . They must all confess gratitude to those obscure men vvho had started that good work , and he vvould conclude by adapting thc famous epitaph of Sir Christopher V / ren , and ask them if they wanted rronuments as memorials to look around .

Bro . Sir J . MONCKTON , P . G . W ., proposed " The Health of the W . M . " They saw in the chair the father of the lodge , and it vvas a great pleasure to propose his health on this most interesting occasion . How many chairs Bro . Terry had occupied he would not venture to say , but he was perfectly certain their W . M . never had such pleasure as in otxupying the chair of his mother lodge on the celebration of its centenary . To speak of Bro . James Terry in his mother lodge would be lo paint the lily . His Masonic enthusiasm , his / . eal for the Institution he so well worked for , his indomitable energy on all occasions—in all these things hc had no superior anil perhaps not many equals . •»

Bro . J ' . vs . TERRY , P . G . S . B ., tendered his sincere thanks for the far too llattering manner in vvhich the toast had been submitted . He could assure them this was one of his crowning days in Freemasonry . Thirty-eight years ago he was initiated in the lodge , and in three years vvas installed VV . M . Ten years after he was again elected to the chair , and vvhen 25 more ycars had elapsed they had placed him in the chair for the third time . That ' was the highest testimonial , in his opinion , any lodge could confer upon a brother . The welfare of that lodge had always bien dear

to his heart , and he had endeavoured to raise it from the position in vvhich he found it . One most remarkable thing vvas that , although talented men had been initiated in the lodge during the past 100 years , there had not been one brother who , as a member , had ever had the distinction of attaining the rank of a Grand Officer . In the future might that be rectified . He ( thc W . M . ) vvas a Grand Officer , but not as a member of that lodge did hc attain that rank , but in his official position . They had that evening had the advantage of having the Grand

Secretary present to hand over the centenary warrant . Bro . Letchworth ' s time was so much occupied in discharging his Secretarial duties and in other ways that that lodge was extremely honoured at his presence , and , on behalf of the lodge , he tendered the Grand Secretary their sincere thinks . He had much pleasure in giving " The Health of the Grand Secretary , " hoping he might long be spared to continue to hold the esteem , respect , and affection of every member of the Craft . .

Bro . E . LETCHWORTH , G . Sec , in response , said that , liaving been thanked in the lodge , he was not prepared for that additional compliment . He was sensible ol the honour , and thanked' the Worshipful Master for the kind terms used . Bro . P . NAIRNE , P . G . D ., replied for "The Visitors , " and Bro . HICKMAN , P . M ., Treas ., for " The Past Masters . " Other toasts were given before the interesting proceedings were terminated .

... ^ * J- Curtis , Mus . Bac , Org ., vvas assisted in the musical arrangements by Miss Ethel Winn , Madame Rina Robinson , Mr . John Guppy , Mr . Gerald Walunn , and Bro . W . Augustus Smith .

Board Of Benevolence.

BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE .

The monthl y meeting of thc Board of Benevolence was held on Wednesday at Freemasons' Hall . Bro . * - - . James Henry Matthews , President ; D . D . Mercer , Senior Vice-President ; and C . A . Cottebrune , Junior Vice-President , occupied i 1 te . P ective cha * - The Grand Secretary , Bro . E . Letchworth ; Bro . Wm . Lake Assistant

, Grand Sccietary ; Bro . W . Dodd ; Bro . G . S . Recknell ; and me Urand Jyler , Bro . Henry Sadler , thc official representatives of Grand Lodge were also in attendance . The other brethren present were Bros . Henry Garrod wS- u " •?" ' Gcor E Graveley , George B . Chapman , J . Mason , P . G . ' Std . Br . ; w . t-isncr , Robert Case , S . 11 . Goldschmidt , Thomas Jones , W . Kipps , E . W . Nightingale , Richard Eve . W . Rus-ipll A CI *) r . W ft f \ . t ™ I .. 1 . V i- * n : „„„_

, thomas J Railing , Charles Henry Stone , W . Wills , Jas . Bunker , Hy . A . Tobias wTL , ""* ? ' Henry Hyde ' - ! ° hn 0 Mis > J ° P ' Enlman , Ernest H . Trotter w . Baddeley James J . Rumbals , William Smith , W .. M . 1624 , H . Thomson Lyon , F T J ' r 50 r ? e V' Wood ' J ° hn J * White i Arthur Williams , William Thomas , Strong Mw ^ n ^ Ti i '" 'J' ' ** ' R B ' 0 ldfield ' ' ' Stycr ' J amcs "irung , iidwd . KlnHnm T !¦> : „„ ,, _ LI , L nr :, l ! NT-UI / - ' 1 ' , 1 uwciiiviiiiain nuuiu

_ hunk n . i 1 ^ ,,, ; "'" B" -.-. , r , ueorge Lane ey , P B ebron . i ; < i Wor ' . W . M . 7331 John Lancett , S . J . Cross , F . Kebbell , A . LinS , - ™ p \ l < C ? $ S ; , oncs ' J- w - Folkard ' ' R' Col'ick > E ' ' * ° k i ' Ungr ° rd , T . Weeks , and H . Massey . tnebn ? lhr « n fl-,., 1 : , . . . . confirmed

Grand M ^ f . i "" recommendations made at last meeting to the petitioner , nu « lifi / "IS ""' ° u £ ^ ° ' The nbW , ist «>» - » - » ed the names of + 5 Market n ' 't thrOU 2 h lod 2 « in the Lo ** o * - district ( 23 ) , and at Harnpton CoUr ?' p f lifaX , ° Va Scoti ^ ' Sunderland ( three ) , Colchester , Hong : KoW ? tw «\ T ' T \ , Brid P ° ' Norwich , York , South Shields , Bombay , WevmoZ a „ H R i ! i ' Brom P » . Lucknow , Gainsborough , Rayleigh , ymouth , and Barbadoes . Out of this number one petition was withdrawn

Board Of Benevolence.

two petitions vvere deferred , and three were dismissed . The remainder were relieved with a total sum of £ 1125 . This total vvas made up of one sum of £ 75 , which Grand Lodge was recommended to confirm , and three sums of £ 50 referred to the same highest authority . Eig ht petitions were recommended for the Grand Master ' s approval for ^ 40 each , 11 for £ 30 each , and one for £ 25 . Nine petitioners vvere granted £ 20 each , four ^ 10 each , and one £ 5 .

The Recent Festival Of The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

THE RECENT FESTIVAL OF THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

The following additional sums have been received since our report of last week , namely .-Lodge LONDON . £ s . d . 30 Bro . A . E . Remington ... ... ... 10 10 o ( raising his list to ^ 31 ) Committee Dinner Club Girls' School Bro . W . G . Kentish , additional ... ... I I o

( raising his list to £ 75 is . ) Una'tached Bro . A . A . Butcher , additional ... ... 10 10 o ( raising his list to £ 21 ) Unattached Mrs . Trevv , additional ... ... ... 10 o o ( raising her list to £ 114 Ss . ) THE PROVINCES .

GUERNSEY AND ALDERNEY . Province Bro . Pengclley ... ... ... ... 26 5 o ( raising his list and total for the Province to £ ? S 153 . )

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Scientific Lodge , No 88 . Meritorious vvork vvas done at the monthly meeting , on Monday , the 14 th instant , at Cambridge , for not only did the brethren participate in the Three Degrees ( as thjy had also done in February ) , but their hearts were expanded with benevolence sufficiently to vote the handsome sum of 50 guineas from the lodge funds to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . This money is to be paid through the Cambridge Masonic Charity Association , and placed on the W . M . ' s list . The vote gave rise to an

interesting discussion , in the course of which it vvas mentioned that a similar sum had been voted by the sister Iodge in the town ( No . 441 ) , and 100 guineas by the Province . ' so that Cambridgeshire bids fair to be heard of at the Centenary Festival . Bro . George John McKay , J . P ., 129 , P . G . Std . Br . Eng ., who has recently come to reside at Chatteris , Cambs ., was elected as a joining member of the lodge , and subseqsently attended the work . The next business vvas the raising of Bro . James Burrow , and here the W . M . handed the gavel to the senior P . M ., Bro . B . Chennell , who perf or m : d the duty with

his well-known ability . Curiously enough , it wis 20 years ago that very day that Bro . Chennell first did the Third Degree as W . M ., and * ' the right hand had not forgot its cunning . " The W . M ., Bro . John H . Moyes , afcerwards oassed Bro . J . W . Iliffe , and then initiated Mr . George F . Whitmore , doing the work of both Degrees in the smartest possible manner . Anticipations had bien held about Bro . Mjyes that he would equal

his revered father , the late D . P . G . M ., and these hopes were more than realised on thc above date , brethren vvith an experience of a quarter of a century , declaring that they hadnever known the work to have been done better . The charge to the newly-initiated was impressively rendered by Bro . T . Nichols , P . M . The gathering was attended by 52 brethren , and the proceedings throughout vvere of a most interesting and enjoyable character .

Dobie Lodge , No . 889 . The installation meeting of this Iodge was held on the 16 th inst ., at Kings ' on-on-Thames , and brought together a large number of members and visiting brethren , Business was transacted at the Young Men's Club , the large hall of which , was decorated prettily , under the direction of Bro . Wells , J . W ., on the walls being a goodly array of illuminated thanks to Stewards at festivals , representing a considerable sum sent up to the three Institutions by the Dobie Lodge and its members . Six bore the name of

Bro . Long , vvho first went up as Steward nearly a quarter of acentury back . Bro . Scott , VV . M ., installed his successor , Bro . W . H , Gaze , ina perfect manner , and did the whole of the work in admirable style , the addresses being remarkably well given . The new Worshipful Master appointed , and installed the following officers : Bros . G . R . Scott , I . P . M . ; VV . J . Wells , S . W . j George Cowen , M . D ., J . W . ; J . Drewett , P . M ., P . P . A . G . P ., Treasurer ; VV . Drewett , P . M ., P . P . G . Std . Br ., Secretary ;

J . C . Mortimer , S . D . ; C . T . Lewis , J . D . ; W . Salt , l . G . ; J . R . Abbott , Org . j Thos . Welham , D . C ; C . L . Johnson , Stwd . ; and Murrells , Tyler . The funds of the lodge vvere reported to be in a satisfactory state , and a grant of io guineas was made to the lists of the VV . M . and of Bro . Long , who are going as Stewards to the centenary festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys—making 20 guineas in all from the funds . A Past Master ' s jewel was presented to Bro . Scott , and after " Hearty goad wishes" from the visitors , the lodge was closed .

Thc banquet was held at thc Kingston Hotel , and close upon 70 partook of it , Bro . Monday pleasing all with his excellent catering . A toast list of the usual description was gone through , and no one was bored with long speeches . Vvhen the Charity box vvas sent round , Bro . W . Drewett , by permission of theW . M . appealed for five guineas to be put on the list of the Prov . G . M ., for the Boys' School . The response vvas exactly £ s , which vvas made into guineas , thus helping to make

the return from the Province ot Surrey so much more in amount . Excellent music was given , arranged by Bro . Wells , S . W ., in which department Bros . Mortimer , Wells , and Packham assisted vocally . Bro . Lofts delighted all with a flute solo , and Bro . Typke , P . M . 16 / 1 , displayed the wonders of the graphophone . Among the reproductions vvas a speech made at a social gathering of his own employes , when Bro . Typke's health was proposed . The chorus ot * ' For he ' s a jolly good fellow" with independent " hurrahs , " was most effectively given forth .

, . Among the visitors was Bio . C . T . Tyler , Prov . G . Sec , who spoke very highly of the working vvhich he had seen in the Iodge .

Trinity Lodge , No . 1734 . The annuil meeting of this lodge took place at the Gjlden Lion Hotel , Rayleigh , on Wednesday , the < jth inst ., when there was a large attendance and the proceedings were most successful . The principal business was the installation of Bro . VV . IL Judd , vvhich ceremony was very ably performed by his own brother , Bro . C . E , Judd , the outgoing VV . M . The officers were invested as follows : Bros . Percy E . Beard , Prov . G . Stwd ., S . W . ; J . P . Harvey , J . W . ; Rev . C . M . Rouse , P . P . G . Chap . Suffolk , Chap . ; E . C . Sparrow , P . M ., P . P . G . P ., Treas . ; John White , P . M ., Sec .:

W . Fox , S . D . ; J . Findlay , J . D . ; A . Webb , I . G . ; G . R . Dawson , P . M ., P . P . S . G . D ., D . C . ; Sidney Smith , P . M ., Org . ; N . S . Lowe and N . F . Lewis , Stwds . ; and C . T . Witham , Tyler . As Charity representative Bro . W . V . Willson , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B ., was unanimously re-elected . The report of the Auditors , which showed a substantial balance in hand , was received and adopted . At thc dinner vvhich followed , a handsome Past Master's jewel was presented to the I . P . M ., with many felicitations-upon the ability with which he had conducted the ceiemonies during the year , culminating in the installation ot his successor .

Amongst those already present , in addition to the officers already mentioned , was the Prov . Grand Sec . ( Bro . T . J . Railing , P . A . G . D . C . ) J Bros . C . W . Austen , VV . M . 160 ; F . D . Grayson , P . M . 1734 , P . P . J . G . D . ; Jas . Berry , W . M . 1 S 17 ; W . N . Berridg 1 , P . M . and Sec . 1 S 17 , P . P . G . S . B . ; C . F . Floyd , P . M . and S ; c . IOOJ , P . P . A . G . P . ; F . J . Cumine , P . M . tooo , P . P . G . S . B . ; J . J . Cummins , laioj and others .