Ladies' Banquet And Dance Of The Eccleston Lodge, No. 1624.

Bros . Baddeley , Kruse , W . E . Lane , Morris , Nice , Smith , and Thompson afficiated as Stewards , and Bro . C . Longworth was , as usual , an excellent and indefatigable M . C . The company present included Bro . G . Lane , W . M ., and party ; Bro . and Mrs . W . Smith and Miss Mayes ; Bros . W . E . Lane , S . W . ; E . Baddeley , J . W . ; T . Coulthard , P . M ., Treas . ; R . ' Bottle , P . M ., Sec ; W . J . Hellyer , P . M . ; E . Nice ,- A . Bignold , P . M . ; Bro . and Mrs . Scarman ; Bro . and Mrs . C . Longworth ; Bro . and Miss Chilcott ; and others .

Annual Supper Of Tee Prosperity Lodge Of Instruction, No. 65.

ANNUAL SUPPER OF TEE PROSPERITY LODGE OF INSTRUCTION , No . 65 .

The annual supper of the above lodge of instruction—which was unavoidably postponed from November last , owing to the change of its quarters about that time to larger and more convenient rooms at the Whittington Arms , Moor-lane , Fore-street , E . C . —was held on Wednesday , the nth instant , under the able and genial presidency of the W . M . of the mother Iodge , Bro . Sidney E . Spencer , supported by Bros . William Baker , W . M . 192 , and James Brown , W . M . 1446 .

A good number of brethren attended , amongst whom we noticed Bros . D . Harlow , P . M . 65 , Preceptor ; G . T . Kinipple , I . P . M . 65 , the able and popular Secretary ; H . T . Meadows , P . M . 1571 ; J . Smith , P . M . 192 ; Saunion , P . M . 1423 ; C . Butcher , I . P . M . 902 ; Nicholls , W . M . 2593 ; Downs , Portwine , Williamson , Read , Drake , Rix , Ridgway , P . Gray , Milner , Belling , Morris , Farr , Trotman , Lloyd , Robeson , Miller , Taylor , Fergusson , Brough , Haydon , Miles , Page , and Brooks .

The brethren sat down to supper soon after seven , which was served up in excellent style , the catering reflecting the greatest credit on the proprietor of the house , who personally superintended and saw after the comfort of the brethren , viz ., Bro . Stevenson . After the tables were cleared , and the usual loyal toasts given , the remainder of the toasts were interspered by some capital songs rendered by Bros . Kinipple , Downs , Read , Brown , and Noakes , the latter also ably presiding at the piano , and some recitations by Bros . Harlow , Fergusson , and Trotman . With the singing of " Auld lang syne " a most enjoyable evening was brought to a close at an early hour .

Masonic Ball At Newbury.

MASONIC BALL AT NEWBURY .

The members of the Lodge of Hope gave a ball on Wednesday evening , the 18 th instant , in aid of the Masonic Charities , by permission of the Prov . Grand Master , Bro . the Right Hon . Baron Wantage , V . C ., K . C . B ., P . G . W . England , in the Town Hall , and it was again a success . About 100 were present , and the brethren wore the handsome clothing and jewels of the Craft . The decorations

of the hall were similar to those on the previous night for the Craven Hunt ball with the exception that in place of the mazards and hunting crops were substituted appropriate Masonic emblems . The decorations were carried out by Bro . G . Boyer . Dancing commenced shortly after nine o ' clock , and was kept up with spirit until three o ' clock to the strains of the splendid band of the Royal Military College , Sandhurst .

The arrangements were in the hands of a committee consisting of Bros . S . Knight , jun ., I . P . M . ; Lieut .-Col . Ricardo , W . M . ; J . N . Day , P . M . ; J . Stradling , S . D . ; C . Stradling , S . G . ; and the Secretary , Bro . E . Turner , Stwd . The Stewards were Bros . S . Knight , jun ., W . M ., P . A . G . D . C ; Col . G . C . Ricardo , S . W ., W . M . elect ; C . E . Keyser , P . M ., P . G . D . Eng . ; Ravenor , P . M ., P . P . G . D . C ; S . Knight , P . M ., P . P . S . G . D . ; W . H . Belcher , P . M ., P . P . G . Reg . ; H . S .

Hanington , P . M ., P . J . G . D . ; R . Maples , P . M ., P . P . G . Purs . ; E . Hill , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B . ; J . N . Day , P . M ., P . G . Supt . of Works ; J . S . Liddle , Mus . Bac , P . M ., P . P . G . Org . ; IL D ' o . W . Astley , P . G . A . S . ; Geo . J . Cosburn . P . P . A . G . D . C ; W . G . Mount , M . P . ; W . Edmonds , Mayor of Newbury ; E . Gould , ex-Mayor ; E . Parfitt , Stwd . ; F . C Fidler ; J . Stradling , LG . ; G . Gardner Leader , C H . Stradling , A . E . Pike , W . G . Crombie , W . J . Langley , and J . Rolfe , J . W .

Amongst those present were the popular W . M ., Bro . Lieut .-Col . Ricardo and Mrs . Ricardo , Bro . C . E . Keyser and Mrs . Keyser , and Mrs . Spurling . Among the Reading brethren were Bro . W . Bonny and Mrs . Bonny ; Bro . W . J . T . Stapley , Miss Stapley , Bro . E . F . George and Mrs . George ; and others present included Bro . R . Ravenor and Mrs . Ravenor ; Bro . S . Knight , Bro . S . Knight , jun ,, I . P . M ., and Mrs . Knight ; Bro . E . Hill , Mr . Arberry , Miss Arberry , Bro . H . D ' o . W . Astley , Bro . W . G . Crombie , Bro . W . Edmunds ( Mayor ) , Bro ,

E . Gould ( ex-Mayor ) , and Mrs . Gould ; Bro . Nash and Mrs . Nash ; Bro . Pitman , Bro . A . E . Pike , Bro . J . Stradling and Mrs . J . Stradling ; Bro . C H . Stradling and Mrs . C . H . Stradling . The M . Cs . were Bros . C . H . Stradling , C H . Sandbach , and H . S . Hedges . It may here be stated that a substantial balance from last year was handed over to the Masonic Charities . The caterer was Mrs . Stilwell , of the Dolphin Hotel , who gave great satisfaction .

Supreme Grand Of After Of England.

SUPREME GRAND OF AFTER OF ENGLAND .

The following is the business to be transacted on Wednesday , the ist prox .: The minutes of the last Quarterly Convocation to be read for confirmation . THE REPORT OK THE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL PURPOSES . To the Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of England . The Committee of General Purposes beg to report that they have examined

the accounts from the 18 th October , 1898 , to the 17 th January , 1899 , . both inclusive , which they find to be as follows ; jfj To Balance , Grand Chapter £ 1006 33 By Disbursements during the „ „ Unappropnated Quarter £ 459 12 3 Balance 1101

Account ... 202 15 o „ 19 9 „ Subsequent Receipts .. 558 « 4 9 » i > Unappropriated Account ... 2 C 6 1 C £ 1827 13 6 £ 1827 13 6

which balances are in the Bank of England uaw Courts Branch The Committee have likewise to report that they have received the following petitions : ist . From Comps . John Lane as ' / .., Thomas Henry Wills as H ., William Winget as J ., and 14 others , for a chapter to be attached to the Jordan Lodge , No . 1402 , Torquay , to be called " The Jordan Chapter , " and to meet at the Masonic Temple , Tor Hill-road , Torquay , Devon .

2 nd . From Comps . the Right Hon . Lord Sandhurst , G . C . I . E ., as Z ., the Hon . Henry James Parsons as H ., Isaac Mann Shields as J ., and nine others , for a chapter to be attached to the St . George Lodge , No . 549 , Bombay , to be called " The St , George Chapter , " and to meet at the Masonic Hall , Bombay .

Supreme Grand Of After Of England.

3 rd . From Comps . Jesse Dear as Z ., Harry Emerton as H ., James Blane as J ., and 10 others , for a chapter to be attached to the Germiston Lodge , No . ' 2498 , Germiston , to be called " The Germiston Chapter , " and to meet at the Masonic Temple , Germiston , Transvaal . 4 th . From Comps . Arthur Edward Smith as Z ., Ernest Michael Underbill Adnams as H ., George Herbert Garritt as J ., and 13 others , for a chapter to be attached to the Martyn Lodge , No . 19 S 3 , Halesworth , to be called " The St . St . Edmund ' s Chapter , " and to meet at the Town Hall , Halesworth , Suffolk .

5 th . From Comps . James Allan Yallop as Z ., Alexander Davison Scott as H ., George Bradford as J ., and 12 others for a chapter to be attached to the Metropolitan Lodge , No . 2538 , Cape Town , to be called " The Metropolitan Chapter , " and to meet at Cape Town , South Africa , W . D . 6 th . From Comps . George Latimer Woodley as Z ., Harry Adams Steer as H ., Richard Arthur Pritchard as J ., and 10 others for a chapter to be attached to the St . Trillo Lodge , Colwyn Bay , No . 2569 , to be called " The Conovium Chapter , " and to meet at the Masonic Hall , Colwyn Bay , North Wales .

7 th . From Comps . Hugh David Sandeman as Z ., Frederic Ernest Remfryas H ., Capt . Frederic Lindsay Lloyd as J ., and six others for a chapter to be attached to the Sir Francis Drake Lodge , No . 2649 , Plymouth , to be called " The Sir Francis Drake Chapter , " and to meet at Freemasons' Hall , Plymouth , Devon . The foregoing petitions being regular , the Committee recommend that the prayers thereof be respectively granted .

The Committee have likewise received memorials , with extracts of minutes , for permission to remove the following chapters : The Loyalty Chapter , No . 8 97 , from the Masonic Rooms , Hall-street , to the Imperial Buildings , Ormskirk-street , St . Helen ' s . The Panmure Chapter , No . 720 , from the Horns Tavern , Kennington , to the Holborn Viaduct Hotel , London . The Felicity Chapter , No . 58 , from the Grafton Rooms , Beak-street , to the

Prince ' s Restaurant , Piceadilly , London . The Architect Chapter , No . 1375 , from the Town Hall , Withington , to the Public Hall , West Didsbury , Lancashire . The Blagdon Chapter , No . 659 , from the Mechanics' Institute to the New Masonic Hall , Beaconsfield-street , Blyth . The Philanthropic Chapter , No . 304 , from the Masonic Hall , Great

Georgestreet , to the Masonic Hall , Carlton Hill , Leeds . The Alfred Chapter , No . 306 , from the Masonic Hall , Great George-street , to the Masonic Hall , Carlton Hill , Leeds . The Excelsior Chapter , No . 1042 , from the Masonic Hall , Great Georgestreet , to the Masonic Hall , Carlton Hill , Leeds . The Jerusalem Chapter , No . 1 S 5 , from the Freemasons' Tavern , Great

Queen-street , to the Frascati Restaurant , Oxford-street , London . The Committee recommend that the removal of these chapters be sa-ctioned . A memorial , with particulars , has been received from Comps . Henry . Sinclair as Z ., John Moore Smith as H ., Albert Govier as J ., and the members of the Temperance-in-the-East Chapter for a charter of confirmation , the original charter having been lost .

A memorial has also been received from Comps . William Henry Pinney as Z ., Frederick William Moass as H , Richard Southwood as J ., and the members of the Virtue Chapter , No . 494 , Axminster , for a charter of confirmation , the original charter having been lost . The Committee being satisfied of the reasonableness of the requests , recommended that these charters of confirmation be respectively granted . Notice of Motion by Comp . W . Sergeant Lee , P . Z . No . 1201 , & c .:

That Grand Chapter be asked to sanction a gold braid or chain to be attached to the red collars of Past First Grand Principals or Installed First Prinsipals , after the same manner as Grand Lodge has sanctioned the silver braid on Installed Masters' collars , so that such red collar may be worn on visiting a chapter . ( Signed ) GEORGE DAVID HARRIS , President . Freemasons' Hall , W . C , January 18 th , 1899 ,

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Sincerity Lodge , No . 174 , The 131 st anniversary installation meeting of the members of thc above lodge took place at the Guildhall Tavern , Gresham-street , on Wednesday the iSth inst . Considerable gratification was felt when the W . M ., Bro . Jno . Newton , P . G . Purst ., took the chair , as for a considerable time past he has been seriously unwell , and consequently unable to preside over all the meetings during his year of office . Many were the wishes that his former good health would speedily be restored to him . It was not forgotten that at the commencement of last year Bro . Newton assisted the lodee to

overcome what was at one time feared would prove a serious dilemma , for it was solely due to his willingness to occupy the chair a second time that the lodge business was transacted in its usual perfect manner . The brethren were not only anxious that good work should be recognised , but seized the opportunity of publicly acknowledging their indebtedness to him , who for so many years had been to the fore in assisting the officers and giving encouragement to aspirants for Masonic honours . When Bro . Newton asked that the installation ceremony might be performed by Bro . Bayley , I . P . M ., it was felt the W . M . ' s physical condition ought not to be put to such a strain , and his

request was complied with , although considerable regret was expressed at the necessity lor such an alteration . The folloiving were the brethren present : Bros . J . Newton , P . G . Purst ., W . M . ; Bayley , I . P . M . ; Griffiths , S . W . ; Jones , P . M ., acting J . W . ; Lacey , P . M ., Treas . ; Cocks , S . D . ; Bulmer , J . D . ; Keable , LG . ; Seddon , P . M ., Org . ; J . J . Mustart , D . C . ; Dunningham , Stwd . ; Harvey , P . M . j Higgs , P . M . ; Moore , P . M . ; Magee , P . M . ; Norman , P . M . ; Butcher , P . M . ; Jay , P . M . ; Starnes , P . M . ; Alderson , Baillie , Derby , J . W . ; Frost , W . J . Harvey , iggleden , Laundy , Mollard , F . G . Mustart , Lacey , Smith , and Yates . Visitors : Bros . Graham ,

P . P . G . Org . Middx . and burrey ; Gaunt , 165 G ; Harding , 117 S ; Maloney , P . M . 2504 ; Quicke , P . M . and Sec . 1531 ; Morby , P . M . 1583 ; Sterling , 2595 ; Jurant , 977 ; Peters , 2394 ; Childs , 1653 ; Chaffer , 1 C 53 ; Cunnington , VV . M . 1 C 07 j North , J . D . 2272 ; Bunting , W . M . 2316 , Sec . 2500 ; Waters , J . W . 27 ; Cheesewright , P . M . 907 ; E . H . Bedford , J . P . Rogers , P . M . 1550 , 70 , 105 , P . G . S . B . Devon ; H . J . Rogers , 7 S 1 ; Robinson , 860 ; and Patten , 898 . The Iodge having been opened , the Auditors' report was considered and afterwards ordered to be entered on the minutes . Tne W . M . then took the opportunity of

making a few remarks during which he warmly acknowledged the assistance his officers had rendered him during the period he had occupied the chair . The installation ceremony was then most impressively and ably performed by Bro . Uagley , and Bro . G . A . W . Griffiths having been installed in the chair , he appointed the following as his officers : Bros . J . 'Newton , I . P . M . ; W . J . Derby , S . W . ; A . Cocks , J . W . j C . Lacey , P . M ., Treas . ; C . H . Webb , P . M ., Sec . ; J . H . Bulwer , S . D . ; J . J . Mustart , J . D . j J . Iggleden , l . G . ; G . T . H . Seddon , Org . ; F . G . Mustart , D . C . ; J . C . Dunningham , Stwd . ; and S . Ellis , Tyler .

This having concluded the business , the brethren ani visitors sat down t ) a well prepared banquet . Thc toasts of " The Queen and the Craft , '' and " The Most Worshipful Grand Master , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , " having been loyally honoured , The W . M . gave " The Most Worshipful the Pro Grand Master , the Earl Amherst ;

the Right Worshipful the Deputy Grand Master , the Earl of Warwick j and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past . " The brethren responded with true Masonic fire . Bro . Newton , in replying , remarked he alnust felt incapable of using proper words to respond to the toast , but hoped a very long time would elapse before it would be obliterated from thc toast list of any lodge . Since they last met , one was missing from