Craft Masonry.

As to Bro . Lewis Thomas , whom . he was pleased to fee present , he was a host in himself . He had had the honour of sitting beside him for many years , and trusted to have the pleasure of doing so for many years to come . Now , with regard to their D . G . S . B ., it was a wise and gracious act of their esteemed G . M . to appoint him an officer of Grand Lodge , seeing the position he held , and the good work he had done for Masonry in that lodge , and for the

Craft , and its Charities generally . For himself , he did not envy their G . M . his position , especially that portion of it that related to the appointment of Grand Officers . If ever he was Grand Master , and he knew he never should be , he should certainlylike to leave the appointment in other hands , but as he never should be , he could only say that it was a most difficult and onerous duty , of selecting and appointing the Grand Officers . So far as his Treasurership was

concerned , he could say that he held very little money himself , all he had to do was to sign cheques , and in 1 SS 7 he had the pleasure of signing a good many cheques for the poor of London . It was one of the great manifestations of Masonry , to show the world at large that they had Charity for their grand object , and that they had power to use it , not only inside , but outside Masonry . He hoped to see the Order enlarged , so as to become as useful as it was cosmopolitan ,

in the divine cause of Charity . The Grand Secretary said that he was pleased to be present . It was the first time he had visited the lodge , although it was not the first time he had been invited to attend , but he would say that it was the first time his duties had afforded him leisure to be present . It afforded him great pleasure to be present upon that occasion , especially as one of their brethren ( Bro . Ritchie ) had received

the honour of Grand Lodge , upon which he congratulated both that brother and the lodge . He then enlarged upon the difficulty their Grand Master had in choosing his Grand Officers , and enumerated those who had been chosen from the various services , home and imperial , amongst whom he averred that no selection was more popular than that of Bro . Col . Ritchie . He tendered his own and the hearty good wishes of every officer of Grand

Lodge for the welfare' of the lodge , and for a successful and pleasant year of office for the W . M . In response to an eulogistic speech made by Bro . Col . Ritchie , in proposing the toast of his health , Bro . Hansard said it was extremely difficult to respond to the toast of one's own health . It was more difficult when it was proposed in such flattering terms as those used by their esteemed Bro . Ritchie in proposing it ; but more difficult than ever when a

W . M ., placed in a similar position to himself , had been , during a _ portion of that which he might fairly consider the few remaining months of his year of office , seriously engaged in proposing a valedictory speech upon his leaving the chair . It was a great honour to be elected to preside over such a lodge as the Ubique for the second time , an honour that had only once been conferred , and then in the case of their friend , Bro . Col . Ritchie , who was a founder and had

been the mainstay of the lodge . In taking the office he felt how true were the words of that Sacred Volume that they were all taught to revere , where it said " If any man amongst us would desire to rule let him first be as one that serveth , " . and he felt that the only way to rule the lodge was to be its servant , and by studying its interests he trusted that he would secure the same hearty support of the brethren during the forthcoming year of office that he

had received in the past . Bro . Col . Ritchie , in response to an extremely hearty reception to the toast of his health as " Installing Officer , " said he need not tell them how happy , he was to be able to address them upon that happy occasion , not only because some of the happiest moments of his life had been spent in that lodge , but because of the hearty welcome and sincere regard he had always received at the hands of the brethren .

No matter how great an honour he had received in the outside world , it could never be greater than the honour he had received inside that lodge . He had watched its progress , and seen some of the highest join its ranks frcm the highest in the grand old regiment . They all loved the Royal Artillery . Two Adjutant-Generals had joined it , and of that fact they were very proud . Their lodge was a great

power , and meant even to be a greater power among the iodgesof the Metropolis , They meant to show the Masonic world that Charity was not with them a mere breath , but a substantial fact , and he trusted ere long the lodge would hold a prouder position than it now held , and ever maintain its good name for good work and unbounded Charity . Ihe other toasts were "The Past Masters , " "The Visitors , " and " The Officers . "

Some excellent singing and instrumental music , under the direction of Bro . Stretton , enlivened the proceedings , Ihe contributors being Bros . Stretton ( violin solo ) , and Fowler . It was singularly interesting to listen to the " Royal Gunners " sr ng of 1729 , which Handel composed as secular

companion to his Te Dcuin , and which had been sung by Ihe gunners at Dettingen , Fontenoy , Culloden , Menden , and Waterloo , and by General Wolfe the night before Ouebec , and by his representative , Bro . Capt . Grierson , R . A ., on the present occasion . The jewel was manufactured by Bro . George Kenning .

John Carpenter Lodge ( No . 1997 ) . —A meeting of this lodge was held on Friday , the i ith inst ., at rhe Albion , Aldersgate-street , when Bro . John P . VV . Goodwin was installed W . M . for the ensuing 12 months , 'he installation ceremony being rendered in a most admirable manner by the out-going Master , Bro . Lewis Ferguson . Jiro . C . W . C Hulton , P . M ., P . G . D ., was re-invested as Treasurer , and Bro . James Pmder , P . M ., Prov . G . Treas .

Essex , was re-appointed Secretary of the lodge . Besides 'le members a number of distinguished Mas . ons were Present , including Bros . F . A . Philbrick , G . Reg ., U . P . G . M . Essex ; A . Buck , P . M ., P . P . S . G . W ., Essex ; R . P . Tebb , P . M ., P . P . S . G . W . ; T . Davies Sewell , P . M . 'S 27 , P . G . S . ; G . A . Pickering , P . M . 29 , P . G . S . ; R . R . Marshall , l . P . M . 1216 ; VV . D . Schwarz , l . P . M . 1305 ; C . s ' Ue . l . P . M . 2455 . P . M . 1599 ; H . T . Bridges , l . P . M .

957 ; E . W . Allen , P . M . 173 ; J . F . Haden , P . M . 7 C 6 ; F . va , | ey , P . M . i 2 uo , and otiicrs . During the banquet which followed a sma'l orcheitia f'scoursed excellent music , and some capital vocal and instrumental pieces were rendered under the direction of Tk ° ' ^ . Kempton , vicar choral , St . Paul ' s Cathedral . 1 he evening was one of the most successful ever held in the annals of the John Carpenter Lodge , and its members were " *»« 1 y congratulated on the very able manner in which ' the 1 ll » al was performed .

Craft Masonry.

Ordnance Lodge ( No . 2399 ) . —The installation meeting of the above lodge took place on Friday , the nth inst ., at the Freemasons' Hall , Mount Pleasant , Plumstead , and was well attended . The lodge was opened by the W . M ., Bro . J . Billon , and after some preliminary work had been accomplished , Bro . Captain VV . C . Woollett , O . S . C ., S . W ., and W . M . elect , was presented to the W . M . to receive at his hands the benefits of installation , and in

due time Bro . Woollett was installed , proclaimed , and saluted . He appointed and invested his officers as follow Bros . Condr . J . Bilton . I . P . M . ; R . S .-Maj . J . V . Lee , S . W . ; F . Hully , J . W . ; G . VV . Ingle , Treas . ; S . Q .-M .-Sgt . W . R . Johnson , Sec . ; Lt .-Col . A . VV . Bridgman , S . D . ; S . S .-Maj . W . M . Hirst , J . D . ; H . Crowdy , I . G . ; G . Dyer , D . C . ; J . Wheatley , F . H . Widgery , and Capt . G . Penstone , Stwds . ; and C . Stretton , Org . Bro .

Bilton was complimented on all sides for his excellent working of the ceremony , and was rewarded with a Past Master's jewel and a vote of thanks , the same to be inscribed on the minutes of the lodge for which he returned thanks , and then the lodge was closed and the brethren banquetted . Among those present and not above enumerated , were Bros . Capt . G . Spinks , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B . Kent ; C . Coupland P . M . ( Hon . ) , P . P . J . G . W . Kent ; C . lolly , P . M .

( Hon . ) , & c . ; W . Lawson , W . M ., and H . T . Tuffnell , S . W . 700 ; J . Downs , W . M ., and L . Burnell , S . W . 706 ; C . Clapham , W . M ., and D . E . Bryceson , S . W . 913 ; J . Glading , W . M ., J . Delo , S . W ., and Ai Reeve , J . W ., 1472 ; J . Mattey , P . M .. and VV . Anson , J . W . 13 ; W . Sale-Edwards , P . M . ; E . W . Linnett , S . W ., 1536 and others . The usual loyal and Grand Lodge toasts having been honoured , the l . P . M . rose and proposed the toast of "The W . M . " He said it was the first time he had had thp

honour of proposing a toast of such importance as that of the health of the W . M . of any lodge , but as he had had the privilege of knowing and working with their esteemed W . M . in Masonry , and had further the opportunity of installing him that day , he should endeavour to rise to the occasion . Their W . M . had worked well . in every office he held , both as Deacon and Warden , and now that he was in the chair of the lodge he felt sure that it would progress under his rule .

The toast having been drunk heartily , the W . M ., in reply , said one of the greatest difficulties that would beset him , and did so at the present time , was to find words sufficient to thank them adequately for their kind reception of his name coupled with the office he was so proud to hold in that lodge . The kind words of Bro . Bilton wou'd stimulate him in his endeavour to do honour to their choice ,

and he trusted with their assistance to leave the chair as one who had done his duty . At this juncture Bro . Col . C . Vansittart , P . M ., D . S . C , who had that day arrived from Egypt , entered the lodge in company with Bro . Captain Weston , P . M ., P . P . S . G . D . Kent , and was received with rounds of hearty cheers , and took his seat at the head of the table .

Bro . Bilton , in responding to a flattering reception of the toast of " The Installing Officer , " said of course they knew that the ceremony of installation was performed but once a year in any lodge , and while it took a long time to learn , and a deal of trouble to accomplish in a perfect manner , and although a Master , after all this trouble and application , might never again have an opportunity of performing , yet it was a labour of love that no Master would forego if he

could help it . It had been a labour of love to him , and if he had given them satisfaction , that was his reward . The W . M . then proposed the toast of "The Past Masters , " observing that as a young lodge they had no great number of Past Masters , but that want was made up by the quality of those on the left of the chair . Bro . Spinks , in responding ; said they had that night a very agreeable surprise by the advent among them of Bro .

Col . Vansittart , who , after some 12 months' absence in Egypt * had returned as they then saw him , sound and well . There was a Spartan mother who , when her son went out to fiiht the foe , said to him— " Come back with it or on it . " When they sent out their first W . M . they told him to keep his shield pure and undefiled , and bring it back so ; but , alas ! he nevr : r came back either with or without it . Well , some years ago they sent out their second W . M .,

and told him the same , and now that he had returned from the fields of Egypt , they found his shield as pure and unsullied as it was when he left . That their esteemed Past Master Vansittart had the welfare of the lodge at heart was shown by the fact that scarcely two hours ago the ship he came home in entered the Albert Docks , and at that moment he was present receiving their congratulations on

his safe return to his native country . He then congratulated the W . M . upon his attaining the chair , andjthe lodge upon its W . M ., who , he felt sure , would hand down the name of the lodge as pure and unsullied as his predecessors hid . Bros . Bilton , Weston , and Coupland also responded ; and then the W . M . proposed a toast of welcome to Bro . Vansittart , which was drunk amid a storm of cheers .

Bro . Vansittart , in response , said he could not express his feelings at the kind words of the W . M . and the hearty welcome the brethren and visitors had given him . Bro . Spinks had told them that when the Past Masters of that lodge went away they took their shields with them , and were ordered to return with them pure and unsullied . Well , he had brought his back , perhaps a little rusty , but he trusted as pure as when he left with it at their lodge

door . They might be pleased to hear that during his sojourn in Egypt the Grand Master of Egyptian Masonry had made him a Grand Officer of that district . It was an honour he prized much , as there were but six Europeans who had ever yet been so honoured . As he looked round the lodge he saw many of the old faces he knew before he went away , and was glad to be with them once more . The only thing he felt a little sorry for was that now he had returned

Bro . Spinks would have to give up the position of I . P . M ., a position he had held from the consecration of the lodge ; he had not only been their l . P . M ., but their Treasurer , and indeed the leader and prop of the lodge , but now he would have to sit a little lower down . But there was one thing , wherever their esteemed Bro . Spinks might sit , his past services would always be remembered and his name honoured in that lodge . -

I he other toasts were "The Visitors , " responded to by Bros . Lawson , Downs , Clapham , Glading , and others . " The Officers , " " The Press , " and the Tyler ' s toast . Some fine singing and instrumental music by Bros . Horton , Rawlinson , Mason , Tuffnell , Hanson , and Edwards was enjoyed , and Bros ,. Col . Bridgman and C Jolly recited .

Craft Masonry.

Cordwamer Ward Lodge ( No . 2416 ) . — The installation meeting of this lodge was held at the Cannon-street Hotel on Wednesday , the 16 th inst . Bro . J . R . Reep presided , and the election of a joining member , Bro . Toss , having been completed , Bro . Hepburn , I . P . M ., presented Bro . Frederick William Potter , S . W ., as W . M . elect , and Bro . Rep proceeded to instal him in the chair

of K . S ., Bro . Henry Lovegrove acting as D . C , and also giving the three addresses . The officers appointed and invested were as follows : Bros . C . ] . Wilkinson-Pimbury , S . W . ; R . C . Mason , J . W . ; J . R . Reep , l . P . M . ; H . J . Adams , P . G . S . B ., Treas . ; " Henry Lovegrove , Sec ; ] . J . Soper , S . D . ; A . Baillie-Simpson , J . D . ; D . Cowan , I . G . ; Conrad J . Davis , D . C . ; 1 . S . Crowther , H .

Goodman , A . P . Poley , and H . F . Hepburn , Stwds . ; and J . Rawles , Tyler . At an emergency meeting held during the previous week , Messrs . Frederick Stuart , Perry Braby , and Cyrus Braby were initiated , and other business transacted , so that the proceedings at this meeting were shortened . Bro . Alderman and Sheriff 1 . C Dimsdale , Grand

Treasurer , attended , and responded to the toast of " The Grand Officers , " as did Bro . H . J . Adams , P . G . S . B . The dinner was served in the Pillar Hall and was a great success , the pleasure of the brethren being greatly enhanced by the excellent singing of the charming vocalists , Miss Hermione Hamilton , and Miss Alice Andrews , accompanied by Bro . Dr . J . F . Haskins , P . G . Org . Essex . * _

Provincial Meetings.

PROVINCIAL MEETINGS .

CATERHAM . Caterham Lodge ( No . 2095 ) . —This lodge met at the Masonic Hall on Saturday , the 12 th inst ., for the installation of the W . M . and investment of officers for the ensuing year , the Installing Master being Bro . VV . J . Stride . After the ceremony the lodge was closed , and punctually

to the appointed time the brethren sat down to a choice banquet in the banqueting room . The introductory toasts were given with commendable brevity . In giving " The Queen , " the W . M . said , " May it please Almighty God to bless our Queen and Craft . " This toast was well received , as also was that of " The

Most Worshipful the Grand Master , the Prince of Wales . " Referring to the toast , the W . M . said he was sure it would be received with great enthusiasm by all the brethren . Considering the many calls that H . R . H . had upon his time , it was impossible for him to attend many Masonic meetings , but he ( the W . M . ) ventured to think that there was no man in the world who more fully carried out the principles

of a true Freemason than H . R . H ., identifying himself as he did in every possible way with Science and Art and Charities , and if every Mason in the world -were to do what he had done , Masonry would be a most marvellous institution . Masons were iustly proud of him , and they owed him a deep debt of gratitude . Bro . Tomkins , P . M ., next gave "The M . W . the Pro

G . M ., the Earl of Lathom ; the R . W . Deputy G . M ., the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe ; and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past . " He said they all were acquainted with the good work the Grand Officers had done for the Craft , and it afforded him particular pleasure in proposing the toast , because he had to couple with it the name ot an old comrade in arms , the Grand Secretary ,

Bro . Letchworth , the man of all others of the Grand Officers who really did good and solid work for Masonry . He had served with the Grand Secretary in the Victoria Rifles for many years , and he could say without fear of contradiction that Bro . Letchworth was a very distinguished and energetic soldier , and that he only left the ranks to make himself still more useful by taking a commission in

another corps . Bro . E . Letchworth , G . Sec , replying , said he rose at once to acknowledge . the compliment which had been paid to the Grand Olhcers by Bro . Tomkins . It would ill become him to attempt to respond on behalf of those two distinguished noblemen who had the honour of , to a certain extent , governing the Order , but he must say that he knew

that both the Earl of Lathom and the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe worked most zealously to forward the interests of Masonry , and he also knew that he ( Bro . Letchworth ) was a very unworthy representative of the other Grand Officers referred to in the toast . He could not sit down without acknowledging the kind manner Bro . Tomkins had referred to him , and he could assure them that he looked

back with great pleasure to the time when he first came down to Caterham—nine years ago—to attend the consecration of the Caterham Lodge . 1 hat pleasure was revived some little time ago when he again visited them , and he hoped it would not be so very long ere he again paid them a visit . The Worshipful Master shortly after proposed " The

R . W . the Prov . Grand Master of Surrey . " He said Col . Noel Money , C . B , was called upon to succeed a Mason who was extremely popular and genial , and whom it had pleased God to take from them , and he must say that the Provincial Grand Master had lost no time in taking the place of the deceased brother in the hearts and affections of Surrey Masons . Col . Noel Money was not a man who left

his work to be done by the Secretary or other officers , but he took a very active part in following the interests of Masonry in Surrey . Their Prov . Grand Master was a man of modest temperament , and he did not want to make him blush , but he would like to say in his presence that not only was he much loved by his brethren , but that he had their

full confidence and esteem . The present was not the first occasion in which he had honoured the lodge with his presence , and he trusted that their Provincial Grand Master might still continue to visit them and take an interest in the lodge , which he might never be ashamed of as one of the lodges under his rule .

Bro . Col . Noel Money , K . M .,, Prov . G . M ., replied . He confessed to the difficulty in finding words which adequately conveyed his thanks for the kind manner in which the W . M . had proposed his health , and the brethren for the generous reception which they had given it . He could not sit down without thanking the brethren for the support afforded by the lodge in connection with the Old People ' s Festival this year , and the way in which the provincial lodges stepped