The Great City Lodge (No. 1426.)

is again a revival . ( Laughter . ) It was some years ago that the Grand Alaster of Alasons was also a member of the Royal Family , but it is many more years since wc have had as the Grand Alaster , the Prince of Wales , the heir ' to the throne . This year , I am sure , will mark a great epoch in Freemasonry . When we meet together in that lar " -e and noble hall which has been erected for other

purposes , but which will now be sanctified and made honourable by the ceremony of the installation of His Royal Hig hness thc Prince of Wales , I feci that wc are now , If Alasonry tlid require it , though it does not , being p laced before the world in a better light than we have ever been . Our private charities and benevolence can never be much more than they are , but the

knowledge of the beauty of them and the good they do may be increased and better and more widely promulgated than it has been . We know at the present time there is a contest going on between darkness and light -, we know that Popery and the Pope himself arc determined on putting down freedom and goodwill to men . It is the object of us Christians , and of us in this country , and of the Prince

of Wales himself , to insist that light shall prevail , and that everything that is good , and graceful , and honourable , anil beneficial , shall stand upward and be put most forward before all mankind ( Hear , hear ) . Brethren , it is not for mc to enlarge more upon this subject . I only wish to show you that although I have been rather neglectful , I have not been forgetful of the great principles of

Freemasonry . I do now say that I feel very grateful indeed for the honour you have done me to-night in electing me a member of your Great City Lodge , and thus connecting my name , as chief magistrate of this City , with Freemasonry . Brother Parkinson , in his excellent speech , has shown that it is thc duty of every official in this great Corporation of London to unite himself with Freemasonry . He has brought forward sufficient proof to show that this

great city had much sympathy with Freemasonry , and this is a subject which should be deeply engraven on all our hearts . It shows to me that within the short space of two years so large a lodge as this has been collected together , has earned for itself such respect and esteem that a large body of Grand Officers have now met around ycur table . When I look on my right hand , and on my left , and see so many distinguished Freemasons present , I feci that it is an honour indeed to be elected a member of the

Great City Lodge . I hey give to us very great countenance and support , and I hope to show you , by my acts rather than by my words , how great an honour 1 consider it to be a member of a lodge so highly esteemed . ( Cheers ) . Bro . Ex-Sheriff Hutton , G . J . D ., then proposed "The Health of Sheriff Ellis , " and remarked that it was a fact that deserved to be noted , that the Great City Lodge , after

not two years' existence , should be able to entertain such a gathering of thc brethren as were then assembled . Bro . Parkinson had alluded to the fact of municipal institutions going hand in hand with Freemasonry . He ( Bro . Hutton ) knew as a fact that for the first time the position of the municipality of the City of London had been attempted to be dealt with and interfered with , at ,

curiously enough , about thc time that the Great City Lodge was instituted . Singularly enough , too , the Lord Afayor and Sheriffs of the present year were all Alasonsone of them , he was sorry to say , was absent through illness . When they saw men in such responsible positions in this metropolis of the world coming forward as Freemasons , and inculcating the principles of Alasonry , thc

Order commended itself to thc whole world , and they could confidently look forward to the future of Freemasonry . When they looked also to the circumstances under which Ultramontanism was defeated by taking up the gauntlet when it was thrown down , they had also much to congratulate themselves upon , and he thought those points would soon be brought to a very crucial strong test . It

was not for any of those present to say what thc effect might be ; but this they knew—what was going on in Europe—it was a struggle between light and darkness , between intelligence and ignorance . No one knew this better than a Sheriff of London and Aliddlesex , who came in contact with scenes which proved it . Thc office was a very old and important one , although it had been shorn

a good deal of late years . It went back many hundreds of years , and ranked only second to Her Majesty in the country . Bro . Ellis had not been neglectful of his Alasonic duties , and he would no doubt soon become a famous Mason . Bro . Sheriff Ellis , in reply , said he was afraid he should be unable to gather together the various threads which

Bro . Hutton had entangled so as to address the brethren in a suitable reply to so able a speech as he had made , but he should not be wanting in his reply to the spirit in which the brethren had accepted the toast . He hatl been mightily delighted that evening to find that he was still again becoming a member of the institution of his country , which he believed had raised it to the pre-eminence it had

attained . He remembered well that speaking in the Guildhall , one of our statesmen said , that individuals might form communities , but it was its institutions which made a nation . He , Bro . Ellis felt that this was addressed to Englishmen of every class , It was thc institution of our country that had made our country great , and it was only when our country should forget what she owed to our

institutions that the greatness of England shoultl fall . From what he had heard since he had been a Freemason , he felt that Alasonry might rank amongst thc most glorious institutions of this country . He had been honoured among his fellow citizens ; he had , at various times , had reason to be proud ; but he hatl never felt a greater gratification

than he had experienced on that occasion when he had been associated with thc Lord Alayor of London . He believed there was nothing more glorious than for a man to be selected by his fellow citizens for that high and honourable office . Men had rarely , if ever , filled that post that had not risen from the ranks ; but the most glorious point in the position which they occupied , was not that they should

The Great City Lodge (No. 1426.)

only occupy that position , but that from century to century , antl from age to age , the glorious people of England should so maintain their integrity and their sense of the duty that was thrown upon them , as to jilace them in thc same position—that he should honour them while they honoured him . Those were the sentiments which animated every Englishman , anil thc Craft of Freemasonry was only a

concentration of freedom , and liberty , and religion , which every Englishman was proud of . Therefore , on that occasion , he was delighted to be present , and to be honoured by thc brethren as he hatl been that evening . ( Applause ) . Bro . John Savage , P . G . D ., proposed "The Masonic Charities . " Bro . J . A . Rucker , P . G . D ., responded , and referred to the

fact that thc Lord Alayor would take the chair at the Girls ' School festival , antl that Bro . Headon would represent the Great City Lotlge as Steward on that occasion , with a list which he believed would be the largest known . It might be thought that he ( Bro . Rucker ) would be disposed to take advantage of this opportunity in order to call upon the brethren to be liberal towards thc institutions , but when he

looked at the position in which the charities stood , and the manner in which they had been supported by the members of the Craft throughout the lengh and breadth of the land , his duty , he thought , was to thank them for what they had done , rather than to exhort them to do more in thc future . Every man knew his own power , and he ( Bro . Rucker ) was quite satisfied that every man who had been initiated ,

passed , and raised in Freemasonry , would do everything he could to support the institutions . Bro . Farmer replied for "The Initiates . " Bro . John Hervey , G . S ., in proposing " The Visitors , " humorously alluded to the W . M . ' s first speech , in which he said that the speeches would be brief . As far as he could sec , the brethren had not thought fit to carry out the

principle of brevity which was promised , and even the W . M . himself had not observed his own rule . He ( Bro . Hervey ) would however , even at that late hour , set thc example , and as it was known that the visitors wanted no utterance of his to make them more happy than they had been at their reception that night , he shoultl simply propose their health , and hope that this was not the last

time they would assemble around the board of thc Great City Lodge . Bro . Samuel Tomkins , G . T ., replied , and thanked thc brethren for the admirable working antl the hospitality of the lotlge . He hoped that the energy and thoughtfulncss

exhibited would not be diminished in future . ( Hear , hear . ) The toast of " The Officers " was responded to by Bro . Edward Aloody , Secretary , and the Tyler ' s loast brought the evening to a termination about 12 o ' clock , when the brethren separated . Bro . Goodchild was an excellent toastmaster .

Freemasonry In New Zealand.

FREEMASONRY IN NEW ZEALAND .

The annual installation of the ofliccrs of the Waterloo Lodge ( S . C . ) took place in the Alasonic Hall , Boulcott-st ., Tuesday , Dec . 8 . Bro . Gillon , P . AL , presided as installing officer , and the following officers were invested according to ancient form . —Bros . Dr . Johnston , R . W . AI . ; Player , S . AL ; Press , S . W . ; Al'Comisky , J . W . ; Powles , P . AI .,

Treasurer ; Innes , Secretary ; Lindsay , S . D . ; AI'Kirdy , Stevenson , I . G . ; Sealy , Organist ; Burns , Steward ; Buck , Tyler . The Depute Alaster elect , Bro . Downes , was absent through illness . Bro . Lambert , P . AL , acted as Director of Ceremonies . After the installation , upwards of fifty brethren sat down to the usual banquet . The R . W . AI . occupied thc chair , supported by Bros . Gillon , P . M .

Woodward , P . AL Pacific Lodge ; Toxward , P . AL Pacific Lotlge ; and Igglcsden , W . AL elect of the Pacific Lodge ( E . C ) . The vice-chair was occupied by thc retiring R . W . AI ., Bro . George , supported by Bros . Powles , P . AL , and Koch , P . AL A considerable number of visitors were present , as well as members of the Pacific Lotlge . The usual loyal and Alasonic toasts were duly honoured and

several excellent songs sung . The party broke up shortly before midnight , after having spent a very pleasant evening . The annual meeting of the Pacific Lodge , E . G ., took place on 29 th December ( St . John ' s Day ) in the Masonic Hall , Boulcott-strcet , the principal business being the installation of the W . M . and officers for the ensuing year .

I here was a large attendance of brethren and visitors , the work of installation in this instance being shared in by Bros . C . White , P . AI . ; E . Butts , P . AL ; and T . J . Ladd , I . P . AL ; was performed in a satisfactory manner . The brethren below the rank of Past Alasters having withdrawn , a board of Installed Alasters was formed , and Bro . C AL Igglcsden was duly inducted to the chair of K . S . The

brethren having been recalled , the W . M . proceeded to invest and appoint the following officers : — Bros . T . J . Alountain , S . W . ; N . Marchant , J . W . ; Rev . Nicholls , Chaplain ; R . Lambert , P . AL , Treasurer ; J . AL Taylor , Secretary ; G . Sample , S . D . ; F . C Binns , J . D . ; C I lardy , and K . Wilson , Stewards ; S . Brown , I . G . ; E . Buck , Tyler . Immediately after closing thc brethren adjourned

to the banquet , provided b y Bro . Donnccker in his usual recherche' style , after the enjoyment of which the W . AL gave thc first toast " The Queen anil thc Craft . " This was honoured by the brethren singing thc first verse of the National Anthem . " The Health of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , AI . W . G . AI . designate , " was received with enthusiasm , thc brethren singing a stanza of " God Bless the Prince of Wales . " Other loyal and Alasonic toasts

followed , as also some excellent singing by some of the musical brethren , anil a most enjoyable evening was spent . The Pacific lodge is to be congratulated on the selection of so earnest a Alason as Bro . Igglcsden to fill the " curule chair . " Probably there is 110 other town of its size ( about 2000 inhabitants ) in the Southern Hemisphere where Alasonry is so revered and regarded as a " labour of love " as in Greymouth , Westland , N . Z ., thc following lodges , chapters ,

Freemasonry In New Zealand.

& c , being in full work : Greymouth Lodge and Chapter , E . C . ; Grey River St . Andrew Lodge and Chapter , S . C ; Lewis Alark Lodge ; E . C , Royal Ark Alarincrs' Lotlge , a conclave of the Knights of Rome antl Red Cross of Constantine , and a sanctuary of the K . H . S . A petition is now being forwarded to the proper authorities , through Sit * Knt . E . Archer , for thc degrees of Knights Templar and Rose Croix . Surely our brethren may eventually exclaim " Consumatum est !"

Freemasonry In Bermuda.

FREEMASONRY IN BERMUDA .

An emergency meeting of the Loyalty Lodge ( No . 338 ) was held on thc 31 st Dec , in thc Hall of the above lodge , Ireland Island , for the purpose of installing the W . AL elect , Bro . J . Bray , S . W ., investing the ofliccrs for the ensuing year , antl for celebrating the festival of our patron Saint John the Evangelist . Tlie brethren

assembled at the stated time , 6 . 30 p . m ., when the lotlge was opened with solemn prayer in due form by Bro . VV . E . Warder , W . AL , supported by Bros . P . AIs . Thielc anil Tucker ; Bros . J . Bray , S . W . ; W . T . Llewellin , J . W . ; W . Balls , S . D . ; J . Soby , J . D . ; VV . Downing , I . G . ; and T . ¥ . Barnes , Tyler . The lodge was then passed to the second degree , and the ceremony of installation was then

proceeded with , and in a very solemn and impressive manner , Bro . J . Bray , W . AL elect , was inducted into thc oriental chair of K . S . as W . M . of Loyalty Lodge , No . 358 , thc ceremony of installation being conducted by Bro . W . E . Warder , LP . AL , assisted by Bros . P . AIs . Thielc and Tucker . Too much praise could not be accorded those brethren for the very able manner in which it was carried out .

Bro . G . Bray , W . AL , then proceeded to appoint antl invest his officers for thc ensuing year , viz .: Bros . W . E . Warder , LP . AL ; W . T . Llewellin , S . W . ; W . Cann , J . W . ; C . Thiele , P . M ., Treasurer-, T . F . Barnes , Secretary-, R . Pike , S . D . ; E . Alarsh , J . D . ; D . Heath , I . G . ; and A . E . Fiddy , Tyler . Bro . W . M . Bray then , in a very neat and appropriate address to each of his officers , reminded them of the

responsibilities they had this evening taken upon themselves , and desired them to look well to their different stations in the lodge , and finally congratulated the brethren upon their choice of Treasurer in the person of our most worthy and highly-esteemed Bro . P . AI . Thielc , who had held that important office so long and so creditably . The ceremonies of installation and investiture being

completed , the lodge was closed , and the brethren , numbering about 63 , sat down to an excellent repast , prepared by the Stewards , Bros . Bray , Warder , and Pike . The very tasteful manner in which the hall , vas decorated reflected great credit on those brethren , who hatl devoted their time to that purpose , under the directions of thc Stewards , while the table was such as to show into what

able hands that department had fallen , and the brethren showed their appreciation of the provision made by doing ample justice to thc good things provided . The cloth being removed , several loyal and Alasonic toasts were given and responded to , among which were the most prominent : — " The Queen and Craft , " " Navy ami Army , " " M . W . G . M . thc Prince of Wales , and the Grand

Officers , " "W . AL and Officers for 1873 , " " Retiring W . AL and Officers , " " Guests , " " Stewards , " "Visitors , " " Ladies , " and , last but not least , " All Sick and Distressed Alasons throughout the Universe . " "The Queen and Craft" was proposed by the W . AL , and responded to by all thc brethren , singing " God save thc Queen . "

The W . AL , in proposing the toast "The AI . W . G . AI . anil Grand Lodges of the United Kingdom , " did not forget our near neighbours , the Grand Lodge of the City of New York , to which our Bro . R . A . Young , in his very agreeable style , responded in particular on behalf of the Grand Lodge of New York , expressing the pleasure he felt at being present at such a meeting , and above all the pleasure

of being a member of such a well-conducted lodge as Loyalty , and concluded by wishing Bro . W . AL J . Bray and his officers a most happy and prosperous year . On the toast of " Thc Retiring W . AL and Officers " being proposed , Bro . Bray , W . AL , in congratulating Bro . Warder , LP . AL , on the prosperity of the lodge during his year of ofiice , remarked that it was indeed something to be

proud of , to be able to say that he had been the W . AL of Loyalty during one of the most prosperous years in the annals of the lodge , next in numbers to the worthy P . AI Bro . Tucker . Whereupon Bro . P . AI . Warder responded in the most able manner , giving a short but very clear account of the work of the year , concluding with the most hearty wishes

for thc continued prosperity of the lodge . Thc toast of "The W . AL and Officers of 1873 " uein S proposed by Bro . Warder , LP . AL , it was received with thc most hearty applause and drank with true Masonic honours . When Bro . Bray , W . AL , responded and endeavoured to make the brethren understand that it should be his most earnest endeavour and constant study to convince them

that their confidenci had not been misplaced , and , as he had received the warrant from his predecessor , so he would labour hard to hand it to his successor , pure and untarnished as he had that evening received it , and after a few neat but appropriate remarks to his ofliccrs , asked their regular and continued support , for the well-being of the Order generally and the continued prosperity of the

lodge . Bro . Cann , J . W ., then responded on behalf of "The Ofliccrs" in a few but appropriate words , in which he slitmvtl the brethren that as he had then taken one step on the Alasonic ladder he assured them that he woultl work hard to reach thc topmost round , keeping that object in view ,

which every good Alason should strive for . The toast of " Our Guests" was very ably responded to by Bro . Tucker , P . M ., expressing sincere regret at the absence of those esteemed brethren , Bros . Watkins , P . AL , and Darrell , P . AL , who were then suffering—the one from bodily illness , the other from an accident , Their specuy