Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

Reports of Masonic Meetings .

7 ^ -5 ' CRAFT .

METROPOLITAN . Mount Lebanon Lodge , No . 73 . —This justlycelebrated old lodge commenced its session meetings on Tuesday , the 17 th inst , at the Bridge House Hotel , Southwark . Bro . Loewenstark , W . M ,, presided , supported by Bros . G . Free , S . W . ; G . J .

Grace , J . V / . ; E . Harris , P . M ., Treas . and acting Sec . ; A . L . Dussek , J . D . ; J . S . Gomme , I . G . ; I . Wilkins , D . C . ; J . H . Butten , W . S . ; F . Walters , P . M . ; T . J . Sabine , P . M . ; B ' . Rose , P . M . ; F . H . Ebsworth , P . M . ; and a large number of members were present . Mr . T . S . Hill was initiated , the

work being well rendered . The following brethren were elected Stewards for 18 72 to represent the lodge : Bros . Loewenstark , forBenevolent Institution ; G . Free , for Boys' School ; and E . Harris , for Girls' School . Notices of motion for altering

by-laws and other important business were given , when the lodge was closed , banquet following . Visitors : Bros . E . Walter , 87 ; Crutchley , 177 ; Dawson , J . AV . 211 ; Richmond , 890 ; W . Batchelor , 1178 ; and M . D . Loewenstark , 1360 .

Whittington Lodge , No . S 62 . —This lodge resumed its meetings for the season on Monday , the 16 th , at Anderton ' s Hotel , the following brethren being in attendance : Bros . S . S . Davis , W . M . ; J . Salsbury , S . AV . ; AV . J . H . Jones , J . AV . ; R . AV

Little , Sec . ; J . Brett , P . G . Purs ., W . S . ; D . J Davis , P . M . ; AV . Hurlstone , P . M . ; J . AVeavcr , P . M . ; B . Seeleg , I . G . ; T . Kingston , D . C . ; H . R . Haley , C . Bergmann , C . Walker , E . Kern , G . C ,

Pritchard , T . A oight , and C . Steiner . Alsitors : Bros . D . Morrin , P . M . ; H . C . Levander , P . M . ; and other brethren . The only ceremony performed was the raising , Bro . Choyce being the recipient of the third degree . The elections for the ensuing year were then held , with the following result :

Bros . Salsbury , AV . M . ; Quilty , P . M ., Treas . ; Gilbert , Tyler ; AVeaver , P . M ., Treas . Benevolent Fund ; Davis , P . M ., and Hurlstone , Trustees Benevolent Fund ; A \ alker , AAHiitehead , and Bergmann , Auditors . A five-guinea jewel was voted to the

retiring Master , Bro . Davis , for his efficient services in that capacity , and after the transaction of some formal business , the lodge was closed . An excellent banquet followed , under the superintendence of Bro . Smith , of thc hotel , and the usual toasts were given and duly honoured .

PROVINCIAL . BOURNEMOUTH . —Lodge of Jiengist , No . 195 . — The winter session of this lodge was inaugurated on Thursday , thc 28 th ult . There being no ceremony to be worked this evening , notice had been given that the AV . M . would deliver an original

lecture , entitled" Fossil Religion ; " and , despite of thc unfavourable weather , there was a large gathering of brethren present . —After the usual routine business had been despatched , thc AV . M . ( Bro . the Rev . P . H . Newnham , P . P . G . C . Dorset , P . G . C . Hants , & c . ) introduced his subject by saying that he

proposed to offer to the brethren some thoughts which , in his opinion , would enable them to give a satisfactory reply to that question which we were so often called upon to face , either as asked in our own minus , or by our non-initiated friends—namely , What is the real use of Freemasonry ? Passing

over , for thetime , the more or less equivocal reasons which were often adduced for our attachment to our Craft , there was assuredly one reason which , if rightly apprehended , would place Freemasonry in a very high position in the opinions of all thinking men . Freemasonrv had preserved to us the

invaluable relics of thc religious systems of the primarval races of mankind ; and , thus , the true study of its symbols was a science , capable of being studied according to a method similar to that preserved in Geology . For , just as in the latter the examination of fragments of bone and shell enabled us to

reconstruct theworld of byegone ages , so , in Freemasonry , the study of thc mass of fragmentary symbols and allegories ( which arc nowhereelse found inanything like mutual connection ) enabled us to trace out the history of the steps by which God has been pleased to elaborate the religious idea in His human

creatures . Thus , Freemasonry was emphatically a cabinet of religious fossils . The lecturer then proceeded to classify thc principal symbols and ceremonies used in thc lodge , tracing them all back to the religious practices of other countries , and to dates which were from one to at least three thousand years anterior to Christ . He showed that the

original worship of thc sun as the source of life , with its early modification of phallic worship , ancl the later scmi-astronimical , semi-moral mysteries , was thc source whence nearly all our Masonic symbols and riles had flowed . Many of these rites and symbols were known to thc wonderful religious body popularly called the " Druids , " who worked ceremonies on which the modern Master ' s degree

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

was founded , probably several centuries before Christ ; and as the Druids were not extinct in England in Canute ' s reign , and the worship of the phallic circles and stones was found on the Continent much later still , it was at least possible , if not probable , that the earliest known compilers of

the Masonic doggrel ( say about A . D . 1400 ) had been more or less influenced or instructed by these sources . However this might . be , there was no mistake but that Freemasonry , studied in this point of view , brought before us the grandest idea of God —inasmuch as it showed Him to us as a Father ,

who , in the darkness of the past , had steadily been educating His children according to one definite plan or system , teaching them finally to recover the lost Word , and to know the one I AM . The lecture , which was extempore , occupied an hour in delivery ; and notwithstanding its length , was

listened to with great interest by the brethren assembled . —After its close , some interesting remarks were made , and questions asked ; and after a vote of thanks to the lecturer , the lodge was closed . LIVERPOOL . —Harmonic Lodge , No . 216 . —The brethren of this old and highly-prosperous lodge ,

which has the distinguished honour of being the most ancient , with two exceptions , in Liverpool , were summoned to attend its duties at the Adelphi Hotel , Liverpool , on Thursday , the 12 th inst ., and the AV . M . 's instructions were responded to by a large body of his subjects . The meeting was

especially interesting from the fact that the attendance of " purpled " visitors was greater than any which has been seen at a private lodge meeting in Liverpool for some time . The officers of the P . G . L . of AVest Lancashire present during the evening were : Bros . G . F . Goggin , P . G . Chaplain ; T . AVylie , P . G . Reg . ;

H . S . Alpass , P . G . Sec . ; J . Hamer , P . P . G . Treas . ; A . C . Mott , P . P . G . S . D . and Sec . to the AV . L . Masonic E . I . ; and J . Pickering , P . G . J . D . Amongst the other visitors were : Bros . A . J . Friedberger , Milwaukie , Aurora Lodge , No . 30 ; S . Forrest , P . M . 241 ; AV . Nash , 823 ; P . B . Gee , SAV . 1264

Richards , J . B . MacKenzie , 349 ; & c . Bro . J . Skeaf , AV . M . ofthe lodge , presided during thc evening , the ether officers of No . 216 present being Bros . J . McKune , P . M . ; AV . Laidlaw , Treas . ; George Rigby Smith , Sec . ; J . Jones , S . AV . ; J . Beesley , J . AV . ; John Turner , S . D . ; AA ' . B . Lennie , I . G . After the

lodge had been opened in due form and with solemn prayer , the minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved . Messrs . AV . Skinner were then inititated into the sublime mysteries of the Order by the AV . M . in a strikingly effective manner , the charge being also given , by the S . AV ., with great

impressiveness . The lodge was then raised to the second degree , when Bros . H . AV . Ardran and AV . Beadle , having proved their efficiency as E . A . 's , were passed to the honourable positions of F . C . ' s . Bro . S . Forrest brought before the brethren the case of a highly-deserving widow and family of a

deceased Freemason , and the sum of £ •, was unanimously voted for her relief . The brethren were afterwards called from labour to an excellent banquet , served in the large dining hall of the hotel , Bro . J . Skeaf , AV . M . presiding . After the removal ofthe cloth , thc AV . M . gave in brief but pointed

terms the toast of " The Queen , " "The Prince and Princess of Wales and the rest ofthe Royal Family , " and the " Marquis of Ripon , M . W . G . M ., and the Right Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon , M . AV . D . G . M ., " both of whom , he said , reflected the highest credit upon the exalted positions they held in the Masonic

as well as legislative body . —In giving the health of " Bro Sir T . G . Fcrmor-Hesketh , Bart ., Af . F ., R . W . P . G . M . of AV . L ., " Bro . Skeaf referred in eulogistic terms to the manner in which Sir Thomas performed the duties of his office , and the courtesy which marked all his dealings with the

brethren ofthe different lodges within thc province . — Bro . the Rev . J . F . Goggin , P . G . C , responded to the toast , remarking that he did so with great diffidence as that was the first opportunity which had been afforded to him of replying to the toast since his appointment to the office of P . G . C . He was

truly delighted to hear the name of their P . G . M . so well received by the brethren of No . 216 . As one brought into daily and almost hourly contact with Sir Thomas , as squire ofhis ( thespeaker ' s ) parish , he could speak of his kindness and generosity with some confidence , and as an instance ofhis liberality

he referred to thc fact that when , a short time ago , £ l 5 ° ° r ^ 200 was wanted for defraying a debt in connection with the parish , Sir Thomas immediately gave him a cheque for thc amount . ( Applause . ) He has no hesitation in stating that within the last twelve months , the P . G . M . had given for charities

and various good objects no less than from . £ 2000 to , £ 3000 . ( Cheers . ) He mentioned this because his charities might otherwise be hidden , and to show that a man could not be a good Mason without being a good husband , good brother , and good friend .

( Applause . )— In proposing the health of " Bro . Lord Skelmersdale , R . AV . D . P . G . M ., " Bro . Skeaf referred to the valuable present of silver consecration vessels which his lordship had recently made to the P . G . L ., and the zeal with which he performed

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his duties . —Bro . Alpass , P . G . Sec , in responding to the toast , spoke of the appropriate and acceptable gift made by the D . P . G . M ., and referred to the progress which had been made within the province . The lodges had increased from thirty to fifty-six , but he hid not think their zeal had increased in

porportion . About a dozen years ago , when there was not half the number of Masons , they managed to get a piece of land ; and now , when they were endeavouring to erect a building on it , they had great difficulty in raising the money , but he hoped the erection of the new hall would speedily be

carried to a successful issue . In the purchase of that land No . 216 played a very leading part , and he trusted the brethren would occupy the same honourable position in connection with the building . " The AVL . Masonic Educational Institution , " proposed by the AA . M ., was acknowledged by Bro . A .

C . Mott , the Sec . ; and " The Newly-initated Brethren" by Bros . Francis and Skinner , " The Visiting Brethren , " also- given by the AV . M ., was acknowledged by Bro . Friedberger , who said he had travelled thousands and thousand of miles and had arrived in Liverpool without knowing any one ; but

no sooner had he proved himself a Mason , than he had been received with great cordiality and true brotherly kindness . He considered Masonry something higher than a mere scheme of benevolence , or it would not have existed so long and prospered so greatly ; and he concluded by passing a glowing

eulogium upon the M . AV . G . M . of England , who had left his mark upon American Masonry during his recent visit . —The toast was also acknowledged by Bros . Pickering , Richards , Gee , S . Forrest , Nash , and MacKenzie . — " To all poor and distressed Masons " was the last toast . During the evening ,

harmony was greatly promoted by the vocal efforts of Bros . J . Busfield ( who sang Felicien David ' s " Over the Rolling Sea" and "Stay with me" in splendid style ) , J . Jones , S . W . ; AA ilIiams , Lennie , Forrest , and MacKenzie . The accompainments were played with the finest taste by the AV . M ., whose geniality went far to made the meeting a pleasant

one . TWICKENHAM . — Villiers' Lodge , No . 1194 . —The installation meeting of this lodge was held at the Grotto Hotel , Twickenham , where the lodge has removed from Isleworth . The following brethren , amongst others , were present : Bros . Dodd , AV . M . ;

Hy . Allman , S . AA ' . ; E . T . Osbaldeston , J . AV . ; R . AV . Little , Sec . ; F . J . Lancaster , S . D . ; T . Smale , J . D . ; AV . Harvey , E . H . Dalby , T . Cubitt , T . L . Green , G . L . Ridge , T . A . AVoodbridge , Thomas Verity , John Verity , C . G . Stawson , AV . S . Plimsaul . Alsitors : Bro . J . Smeed , 946 , Prov . G . A . D . C .

Middlesex , and E . AVorthington , P . M . 857 . The lodge was duly opened by the W . M ., and the minutes read and confirmed . The lodge was then opened in the second degree , and the W . M .-elect , Bro . Allman , was presented for installajion , and the first part of the ceremony performed . Bro . Plimsaul , the

candidate for thc second degree , having arrived , was duly passed . The lodge was then opened injthe third degree , and the ceremony of installation proceeded with , Bro . Allman being duly installed AV . M ., according to ancient custom , by Bro . Dodd , thc out-going Master . The R . AV . Prov . G . Master

was then announced , and a deputation was sent out to escort him into the lodge . Bro . Allman appointed his officers as follows : Bros . E . T . Osbaldeston , S . AV . ; F . J . Lancaster , J . AV . ; AV . Dodd , Sec . ; T . Smale , S . D . ; AA . Harvey , I . G . ; Thomas L . Green , D . C . ; John Gilbert , re-appointed Tyler .

The other offices were left open , as the brethren were not in attendance . Thc address to the AV . M . was given by the Installing Master , that to the AVardens by Bro . Smale , and the last by Bro . Penhlebury . It was proposed by Bro . Cubitt , and seconded by Bro . Lancaster , that a jewel and collar

of the value of £ 6 6 s . be presented to thc I . P . M ., Bro . Dodd . Carried unanimously . It was proposed by the AV . M ., and seconded by Bro . Cubitt , that Bro . Little , P . M ., Prov . G . Sec , be elected an honorary member , he having declined to be reappointed Secretary , in consequence of his time

being so fully occupied . Carried unanimously . The brethren were unanimous in their desire to see Bro . Little as often as possible , as they feel that he is , indeed , the father of the lodge , though not a P . M ., he having declined that honour in favour of

Bro . Clark , the first Master . The lodge was then closed , and the brethen partook of an excellent banquet , provided by the hostess , the widow of the lamented Bro . Bendy , and the usual toasts were given , with all the honours .

ROCK FERRY , CHESHIRE . —Rock Ladge , No 1289 .- On Friday , 13 th inst ., this lodge " held its usual meeting at thc Albert Rooms , Rock Ferry , and was well attended by members and visitors , amongst the latter being Bros . C . F . Matier , S . G . AV .

Aberdeen ; Thomas Piatt , P . P . J . G . D . of Cheshire , P . M . 537 ; Tysilio Johnson , P . M . 1013 ; Lieuts . Miller , R . N ., and Turner , R . M . L . I . of H . M . S . " Resistance ; " Charles Sayer , 477 ; E . L . Grundy , & c . & c Thc officers present were : Bros . Moore ,