Craft Masonry.

and dignity such as not only became himself and his lodge , but Freemasonry in general . When Bro . Cove was elected VV . M . he was respected , but when he left that chair that respect was increased tenfold by the grand manner in which he had discharged his duties . On behalf of the lodge , he presented the I . P . M . with a Past Master ' s jewel , which he asked him to accept without scruple or diffidence , well knowing he was justly entitled to it . He hoped Bro . Cove would live long to wear it , and to enjoy the character that Brutus had— " His life was gentle , and the elements so mixed in him , that N ature

might stand up and say to all the world—This was a man . Bro . C . E . Cove , I . P . M ., returned his sincere thanks . It had been a labour of love to instal his successor , for he had Masonry at heart and always tried to make progress in it . He tried always to keep the impressiveness of the ceremony in his mind and thus see the true beauty of it . He should represent the Iodge at the next festival of the Girls' School , and his list now totalled £ 72 . He thanked them for the jewel which had been presented to him in such eulogistic terms by the W . M . It was the

crowning honour of his year of office and he would continue to wear it as long as God o-ave him breath . " For "The Visitors , " Bros . Hawley , P . P . G . R . ; Francis , P . P . G . D . ; Martin , P . M . 1765 ; Dickie , Wills , P . M . ; R . Roberts , and J . Sargeant responded , after which other toasts were honoured . The programme of toasts and music was tastefully bound in a khaki-coloured cover , and tied with red , white and blue ribbons . The artistes who assisted in the music were Miss Florence Ogilvy , and Messrs . W . Ballard and H . and G . Stubbs .

Lodge of Perseverance , No . 1743 . The regular April meeting of this lodge was held on Saturday last at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet-street , E . G ., when there were present Bros . W . B . Cossham , W . M . ; Richd . Perry , S . W . ; John Handley , J . W . ; J . Lovell , P . M ., Treas . ; George J . Tollett , Sec . ; R . F . Perry , S . D . ; J . Dormer , J . D . ; J . Millman , D . C . ; A . L . Hinton , Stwd . ; Frederick Kearney , P . M . ; Henry C . Lonsdale , P . M . ; Harry Watts , P . M . ; T . J . O'Brien , P . M . ; Henry G . Park , P . M . ; H . H _^ M . Hancock , G . W . C . White , W . Tearle , H . Camp , Lewis Septimus Bickley , Corelli Porter , J . E .

Lyons , David Rogers , James Timmins , G . Millard , Thomas Tyrrell , F . Sharp , and W . Tnompson . The visitors were Bros . Joseph Southam , P . M . 1984 ; W . John James , P . M . 221 S ; H . Massey , P . M . and P . Z . G 19 and 1928 ; J . Walton , 1366 ; J . R . Johnson , P . M . 2757 ; and Councillor Judge , 19 S 4 . Bro . Kearney , P . M ., raised Bro . L . S . Bickley to the Third Degree . Bro . Cossham , W . M ., next initiated Mr . Alfred Sach . ; Bro . Richard Perry , S . W ., was unanimously elected W . M . for the ensuing year . Bro . Lovell , P . M ., was again unanimously re-elected

Treasurer , and Bro . W . Lane , Tyler . The Audit Committee was appointed , and a Past Master's jewel was voted to Bro . Cossham . Bro . Kearney , P . M ., then i nformed the brethren of the steps he had taken in promoting a testimonial to Rro . L . A . Leins , P . M ., one of the founders and the father of the lodge . The testimonial had been liberally subscribed to , and the result was a beautifully engraved and illuminated vellum , executed by Bro . C . E . Ferry , P . M ., framed and glazed , and in the following words : " This testimonial was presented by the brethren of the Lodge of Perseverance , No . 1 743 , of

Free and Accepted Masons of England , to Bro . Louis Augustus Leins , P . M ., P . Z ., in recognition of the valuable services he has rendered to the lodge , and especially in acknowledgment of his being the principal founder of the same . Also as a mark of personal esteem and friendship for the fraternal spirit shown by him to the brethren on all occasions ; and they trust that he may long continue to enjoy the honorary

membeiship of the lodge conferred upon him on the ioth February , 1900 . ( Signed ) Frederick Kearney , Charles Daniel , C . E . Ferry . Founders—William Barclay Cossham , W . M . ; Richard Perry , S . W . ; John Handley , J . W . April 21 st , 1900 . " Bro . Kearney , P . M ., said as there was a balance of subscriptions left after the cost of this this testimonial had been defrayed , a case of four handsome silver fruit spoons had been purchased for presentation to Mrs . Leins .

The lodge was then closed , and the brethren afterwards partook of a charming banquet , and as it was the annual ladies'night , Masonic clothing was not worn in the post lodge proceedings . The following telegram from Bro . Leins was received during the evening :

" Bro . Cossham , W . M ., Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet-street , E . C . " Our very best wishes for a happy evening to you all and very many thanks for your elegant gift to your dear old father and his good wife . "LEINS . " The company which sat down to banquet included Bro . W . B . Cossham and Mrs . Cossham ; Bro . A . E . Pridmore , J . P ., CC , and Mrs . Pridmore ; Bro . H . G . Park , I . P . M ., Mrs . Park , and the Misses Park ( 2 ); Bros . F . Kearney ,

P . M . ; W . G . Wall , P . M . ; H . C . Lonsdale , H . Watts , P . M . ; Bro . R . Perry , S . W . and W . M . elect , Mrs . Perry , and Miss Perry ; Bro . John Handley , J . VV ., and Mrs . Handley ; Bros . T . Lovell , P . M ., Treas . ; G . I . Tollett , Sec . ; Bro . J . T . Dormer , P . M ., Stwd ., and Mrs . Dormer ; Bro . J . R . Johnson , P . P . S . G . D . Essex , and Mrs . Johnson ; Bro . W . Pitcher ; Bro . VV . Thompson and Mrs . Thompson ; Bro . J . E . Millman , D . C , and Miss Millman ; Bro . G . Millard and Mrs . Millard ; Bro . J . Billham ; Mrs . Henn ; Bro . L . S . Bickley ; Bro . D . Rogers and Mrs . Rogers ; Miss

Alison Dare ; Corelli Porter ; Bro . S . E . Darby ; Miss Alice May Bickley ; Bro . S . L . Hinton ; Bro . J . Cunnington and Mrs . Cunnington ; Bro . W . Tearle ; Bro . Councillor Judge , 19 S 4 , and Mrs . Judge ; Bro . H . F . Sainsbury ; Miss M . judge . ; Bros . H . Camp ; W . j . James , 19 S 4 , Sec . 221 S ; J . Southam , P . M . 1984 ; T . C Warren ; F . E . Tomkins ; Miss Lilian Tearle ; Bro . R . Ingram ; Bro . H . M .

Hancock and Mrs . Hancock ; Bro . E . Radford ; Bro . W . Walton and Mrs . Walton ; Hro . H . Massey , P . M . and P . Z . 619 and 192 S , and Miss Massey ; Bro . H . Hawkins , M . C , and Mrs . Hawkins ; Bro . | . E . Lyons and Mrs . Lyons ; Bro . F . G . Hannan and Mrs . Hannan ; Bro . G . VV . C . White M . C , and Mrs . White ; Bro . J . Symons and Mrs . Symons ; Bro . S . Hersom ; Bro . R . F . Sharp ; and Bro . Goring and Mrs . Goring .

The toasls after dinner were interspersed with some nice singing by Mr . E . Cinders , Miss Lillian Corner , and Miss May Davy . The musical arrangements were by Dr . T . F . Bucknell . Bro . Cossham , W . M ., after the toast of "The Oueen " had been duly honoured , in proposing " The Prince of Wales , " said there never had been an heir to the English throne so popular as his Royal Highness , and no royal lady holding a similar positio n

Craft Masonry.

regarded so lovingly as the Princess of Wales . The whole company would rejoice with him at the marvellous escape both of them had the other day when travelling to Denmark . They would all join in the enthusiasm with which the Prince of Wales was received on the shores which one day he would have the privilege of governing . Bro . Handley , J . W ., proposed " The Ladies . " It had been his privilege on many previous occasions to propose this toast . He supposed he had been selected for that honour on account of his hoary head . Wellthere were many of them getting hoary

, headed . He had had experience of the ladies , and he rejoiced in the opportunity of once more paying homage to the fair sex . In his younger days he had looked up to them with respect and esteem , but that feeling had now given place to love and veneration , and he felt quite sure that they would that evening , as always , aid in giving pleasure to the company , notwithstanding that the brethren had not " got the blues . " He trusted that Bro . Sharp , the junior bachelor member , whom he called upon to respond , would

do justice to the importance of the toast . All the advice he could give the ladies—and he had advised the ladies in his time—was that they should come among the brethren another year ; if they did , they would get all the hearty reception they had always had in the Perseverance Lodge . The toast was drunk with enthusiasm . Bro . Sharp replied .

Bro . Joseph T . Dormer , P . M ., proposed " The Visitors , " whom the lodge heartily welcomed , whether they came to witness the work done in the lodge , or to sit down at the banquet table . Bro . A . E . Pridmore , J . P ., CC , in reply , said he had been invited to the lodge on more than one occasion , but until now he had not had the pleasure of being present . Even now he felt ashamed that he had only turned up to the banquet . Had he been in the lodge he was sure he would have seen the work done in a manner creditable to the Craft . Before he came he thought he should meet with very few persons he knew .

Bro . Cossham was a member of the Town Council of Watford , where he ( Bro . Pridmore ) resided , and he felt convinced that if Bro . Cossham carried out his duties Masonically as he did the duties of the Watford Council trie Perseverance Lodge had had a very good Master . He not only knew Bro . Cossham , but by the remotest of accidents he could claim the friendship of Bro . Richard Perry , the W . M . elect , for many years . So small was the world . After thanking the lodge for the hospitable reception given to the visitors , who had much enjoyed themselves , he referred to the

dance that was to follow the dinner , and he congratulated the Perseverance Lodge on showing the ladies that Freemasonry was not altogether selfish . Ladies' evenings did something towards husbands being allowed to go out and stay out late at night . ( Laughter . ) The more the . ladies knew about the philanthropic side of Freemasonry the more they would be convinced that Masonry was not selfish or its enjoyment confined to members ot the lodge . He was glad to find several brethren from Watford . He hoped the W . M . elect would have a similar ladies' night ; if he did , any invititian extended to him ( Bro . Pridmore ) would be heartily accepted .

Bro . Kearney . P . M ., proposed "The President , Bro . Cossham , " a friend whom he esteemed most highly , and who was highly esteemed by every brother of the lodge . Bro . Cossham welcomed all the ladies and gentlemen most cordially ; he had done in Masonry all he could do ; he always had had the interest of the Loije of Perseverance at heart ; he was a good Mason , and a most upright and honest man . He ( Bro . Kearney ) felt rather awkward in oroposing the toast of " The President , " when he would not feel awkward in proposing the toast of "TheW . M . " They wsre rather on

a strange line ; they were either Masons or not Masons . A rule was adopted at headquarters forbidding the wearing of Masonic clothing at ladies' banquets , it f jrbade the making of Masonic speeches . However , he could tell the company that Bro . Cossham was a man whom every one would like and respect , and the more they knew him the better they would like him ; he was thoroughly trustworthy and upright in every way , an energetic man who would do all he could to further the interests of Masonry in general and of the Lodge of Perseverance in particular .

Bro . W . B . Cossham , W . M ., in reply , said he was greatly indebted during his year of office to P . M . Kearney , and he gratefully accepted thit assistance . He should look back with feelings of gratitude to his year of office . It had given him great pleasure to preside over this meeting and see around him so many pleasant faces . If he had been the means of adding to the company ' s enjoyment thit repaid his wife and himself . Hc thanked Bro . Pridmore for his kind allusions .

Bro . Perry , S . W . and W . M . elect , replying to the toist of " The Vice-Chairman , " thanked the brethren from the lowest depths of his heart for having elected him W . M . for the closing months of the present century and the opening months of the coming century . What the lodge would bs 100 years hence he could not say , but he hoped when the brethren of the lodge met in the year 2003 th : y would look with pride on his year of office and the years of office of his successors . He could assure Bro . Pridmore that he would not forget to invite him .

This closed the banqueting proceedings , and dincing was indulged in during the remainder of the very agreeable evening .

Selwyn Lodge , No . 1901 . The installation meeting of this well-known and prosperous South London lodge was held at the Bridge House Hotel , on Thursday , the igth inst . Present : Bros . R . Weddall Thomas , VV . M . ; J . S . Pointon , P . M ., S . W . and W . M . elect ; C H . Marrison , J . W . ; Wm . Wills , P . M ., Treas . ; J . M . Wimble , P . M ., Sec ; H . Sercombe , J . D . ; J . Lightfoot , P . M ., D . C ; L . Maybaum , I . G . j I . Frampton and W . H . Lee , Stwds . ; T . Bowler , P . M ., Tyler ; H . Tredray , W . C . Ford , W . H .

Hook , P . M . ; W . Beecroft , P . M . ; A . H . Fraser , P . M . ; F . Pow , P . M . ; R . Woodgate , C L . Hawley , H . H . Bolton , A . Piiest , Ar . Deeley , J . H . Woodward , L . Hart , J . H . Buckingham , II . Hayward , A . Cartwright , J . E . Wiberg , G . Langley , P . M . ( Hon . ); J . H . Stevenson , J . Merrill , J . Nelson , A . J . Elliott , Jos . Dickason , G . F . Cutis , W . Martin , VV . A . Abel , A . C David , E . C L . Hawley , and H . J . Anderson . The visiters were Bros . Jis . Terry , P . G . S . B . Eng ., Sec . R . M . B . I . ; W . E . Frances ,

P . P . G . D . Surrey ; J . R . Oner , P . M . 1259 ; C . L . Plant , P . M . 101 ; F . Flood , P . M , 1929 ; A . Wood , Stwd . 1 S 61 ; C . L . Johnson , J . D . SS 9 ; R . W . Barber , P . M . 19 S ; Chas . Hy . Stone , W . M . 1 G 41 ; W . H . Goymer , 142 S ; A . Marshall , 1539 and 174 ; J . D . Wilkinson , P . M . 879 ; VV . O . Keene , 1599 ; J . R . Rutter , P . M . 1360 ; T . R . Dickason , 1 SO 1 ; H . C . Turner , P . M . 1662 ; I ' . Loader , P . M . and S ; c . 1 ( 122 ; A . E . Halfhide , 1360 ; H . P . White , 1541 ; J . H . Witty , S . D . 1155 ; Goddard Clarke ,

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ROYALMASONICINSTITUTIONFORGIRLS. THE112™ANNIVERSARYFESTIVAL Will be held on WEDNESDAY , the 16 th MAY , 1 9 00 , THERIGHTHON.THEEARLOFDARTMOUTH, R . W . PROV . GRAND MASTER STAFFORDSHIRE , IN THE CHAIR . Breihren willing lo act as Stewards are earnestly solicited to send in their names to lhc Secretary , as early as convenient stewards are much needed , and ( heir services will bc gratefully received . I-, R , W . HEDGES , Secretary , Office—5 , Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C ,