Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

© raft Jlasonrg . COVENT GARDEN LODGE ( No . 1614 ) . — The election meeting of the above lodge took place on Tuesday , the 13 th inst ., when there were present : Bros . T . A . Dickson , VV . M . ; B . Solomon , S . W . ; G . Reynolds , J . W ., Treas . ; W . Bourne , P . M ., Sec . ; S . Hewitt , acting S . D . ; A . L . Bullen , acting J . D . j G . Stacey , P . M . Org . ; G . H . Foan , acting KG . ; 1 .

Jacobs . P . M ., Steward ; G . H . Reynolds , I . G . 2191 , Asst . Stwd . ; R . Potter , Tyler ; G . Coleman , P . M . ; S . Jacobs , P . M . ; J . Mayo , J . Brusey , E . Mills , W . Unwin , M . Pagani , VV . Carlisle , W . R . Faulkes , A . Trow , H . Willis , Turner Wilson , J . Woodward , J . Potter , R . Potter , J . Pullen , VV . Belsham , W . W . Cousins , G . Burd , Ernest Nowill , and C . Read . Visitors : Bros . 1

Gottlieb , P . D . D . G . M ., Eastern Archipelago , P . S . G . D ., P . M . 50 S , 11 5 2 , 1555 ; 1910 , 210 S , 2127 , 2191 ; G . Tagg , 1512 ; W . Hancock , 1056 , 2191 ; A . Lefeber , Treas . 1950 ; and F . M . Noakes , 214 S . The lodge was opened in due form and the minutes of the last meeting read and confirmed . Bro . James Brusey was then raised to the sublime degree of M . M ,, and Bro .

Carlisle passed to the second degree in a manner which reflects the highest credit on the W . M ., and proves the great benefit he has received from the Covent Garden Lodge of Instruction at which he is a constant attendant . Bro . Bowers Solomon , S . W . was then elected VV . M ., and Bros . E . Jacobs and R . Potter , Treasurer and Tyler respectively . The following brethren were then appointed

auditors for the ensuing year , viz .: Bros . A . Bullen , J . Woodward , and G . H . Foan . A ballot was then taken for Messrs . Ernest Nowill and C . Read , which , having proved unanimous , they were duly initiated into the mysteries of ancient Freemasonry . All business being ended and the W . M . for the last time having received the " Hearty good wishes " of the Visitors , the

lodge was closed , and ihe brethren adjourned to the banquet which was served in that excellent style for which the Criterion -is so justly famous , under the personal superintendence of Bro . Bertini . After justice had been done to the various items on the menu card , the W . M . rose and proposed the usual loyal and Masonic toasts , which were given and received in the

usual style observed among Masons . In speaking of "The Grand Officers , " he said they fulfilled the duties which devolved upon them to their entire satisfaction , and were always ready and willing to go and assist wherever they were required . He begged to couple with this toast the name of Bro . J . Gottlieb , who , on the invitation of their esteemed Bro . G . Reynolds , with whom he was associated

in another lodge , had done them the honour of being present that evening , and whose stay in England he trusted would be sufficiently extended to enable him to be present at their installation meeting in January next . Bro . Gottlieb in reply , said , the W . M . had been pleased to associate his name with the Grand Officers . He was but a very humble personage to return thanks for so august a

body , but he wassutethatinproposingittheW . M . sfluency of language had flown from earnestness of feeling , and if they had been present he felt sure it would have given them great pleasuie . He felt great reluctance in returning thanks for the Grand Officers of England , but as the W . M . bad bidden , he must obey . On their behalf , therefore , he begged to return them his sincere thanks for the vety

hearty manner in which the toast had been drunk . The toast of "The W . M . " was then proposed by Bro . G . Coleman , P . M ., who said he did so with a great amount of pleasure . He had new nearly completed his allotted time in Ihe chair , ar . d he was suie they would agree with him that he had fulfilled the duties with satisfaction to himself and credit to the lodge . He was most painstaking

m all he did , and if in anything he had failed , it was not from want of trying . That was the last time they would see him in the chair at the banqueting table , and when he quitted it every one would say that he did his very best to promote good feeling amongst all with whom he came in contact—he was one of those bright ornaments that are wanted in a lodge . He asked them to drink his health for

the last time in a bumper . The W . M ., in reply , said he thanked them most sincerely for the very hearty way in which the toast had been received , and Bro . G . Coleman for the very kind manner in which he had spoken of him . He always tried to do his very best , and if he had in any way succeeded to their satisfaction , that was his reward . Bro . G . Coleman had

mentioned thit that was the last time he would preside at their banquet . He took the opportunity of thanking them all most heartily for the very kind support and indulgence they had granted him during his year of office , without which the duties would have been- much more irksome . He could assure them that he felt much more at home than when he first had the honour of occupying that position

, which he assumed with some little diffidence . In conclusion , he begged to assure them lhat he should always be pleased to do all he could for the benefit of the Covent Garden Lodge . In rising to propose " The Health of the Initiates , " the W . M . said he congratulated them on their entrance amongst their honourable Fraternity . He trusted that

they had been impressed with the ceremony they had faken part in , and if they would only diligently persevere in their work they would become in due course fit to fill the office which he had the privilege to occupy . The Initiates , Bros . Nowill and Read , made suitable replies . The W . M ., in proposing the toast of "The W . M .

elect , " wished him every success during his year of office , and assured him that , as his I . P . M ., he would render him every assistance in his power , and trusted that when his year of office was ended he would be able to look back upon it with the same amount of satisfaction as he had .

The W . M . elect , Bro . Bowers Solomon , S . W ., thanked the brethren for the very kind way in whichjthey had received the toast , and assured them that he would do all in his power to render his year of office as successful as his predecessor . In proposing the toast of "The Visitors , " the W . M .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

said it was always a pleasant duty to propose that toast , and he trusted all who occupied that chair would share his feelings . They had a very distinguished one present , Bro . Gottlieb , whom he should call upon to respond in conjunction with Bro . Lefebre . Bro . Gottlieb , in rising to respond to the toast , said if all the visitors had enjoyed themselves as much as he had

they would remember with feelings of pleasure their visit there that evening . In responding to the toast of the visitors , he was , to use the words of the VV . M ., more at home than when responding for the Grand Officers , one of which he had the honour to be , the distinction having been conferred upon him during this jubilee year . He had been in the east for a number of vears , and for over thirty years a

member of the Craft ; he had the proud distinction of having been Master of every lodge in Singapore and Penang , and had since been appointed by the M . W . G . M . ( heir District Grand Master , which was a honour he highly esteemed . He could not express the pleasure it gave him of meeting them all on that occasion , for the hospitality and right good fellowship shown towards him was a further

proof , if any were needed , that if Masonry does nothing else it made them feel for their fellow-man more intensely , and prompted them to extend to him the right hand of fellowship and relieve his wants in time of need . He must repeat that 35 years had seen him boy and man a Mason—he said boy , as he was by dispensation initiated before the specified age . His

father and grandfather were both Masons , and hs might truly say his was a Masonic family ; he had a son whom he called brother , and who attended the same lodge as him , where they worked with harmony , and in all they did their hearts beat in unison . In Singapore they had three lodges , one of which was now extinct , but they had now a new one—called the Victoria Jubilee Lodge—which

has been started since he had been in England . I hey met over there much later in the day than here , on account of the great heat—generally half-past eight or nine sharp ; and they ofttimes felt the clothing even then veiy hot and tiring after the toil and labour of the day . The time he had been in England would not have been lost if he took back with him some recollection of the almostoverwhelming kindness

and hearty welcome he had everywhere received from brother Masons , and trusted that on his return he should find the lodges working honestly and truly , as he had seen them worked in England . Speaking of the great heat , it was no surprise that they met but four times a year , and only had a banquet once a year , that being at the installation meeting . Notwithstanding the adverse conditions under which

their lodges existed , and the thousands of miles they were away , they were able to give a satisfactory account of themselves to the G . Lodge of England , under whose jurisdiction they worked . The VV . M . had said that he felt more at home in the chair now than when he was first installed . He ( Bro . Gottlieb ) came as a stranger , through the very kind invitation of Bro . G . Reynolds , whom he met in the

Anglo-American Lodge , but through the kind and brotherly feeling they had extended to him , he felt as if he had known them for years , and frigid as these climes were , he could fully testify to the warmth of the welcome accorded to him by them all . The tenets of their Order were short and few , but if they acted up to them , as he was sure they did by what he had seen that night , by the way in which the brethren were

greeted by their brethren , they could in truth as well as in name call themselves Masons , to do unto others as they would have them do unto them , to be happy themselves by communicating happiness to others . A Mason ' s life was ever to be regulated by his duty towards his God and his Queen . They all remembered the words , fear God , honour the Queen , and love the brotherhood , which he

trusted they would always have present in their minds . He was greatly pleased to see them all that evening , especially the kind brother who had invited him and the W . M ., who had been most courteous and attentive to him throughout the evening . "The Health of the Past Masters , " having been given , Bro . G . Coleman , in reply , assured them that whatever they

could do for the good of the lodge they were always most pleased to do , and that when they retired from the chair and took the jewel , they did not consider that they had done with the lodge , but were most anxious to assist those who were following in their footsteps . The W . M . next proposed "The Health of the Officers of the Lodge , " which was briefly responded to by Bro .

Bowers Solomon , S . W . Bro . G . Reynolds , J . W ., in reply , said he could assure them that there was no brother present who congratulated their VV . M . elect more than he did , and he should be only too pleased to give him all the support in his power . He was proud of the honour of having brought one of the Grand Officers that evening who had made a speech that they would not soon forget , and he trusted that from what

he had seen that evening he would remember , with feelings of pleasuie , his visit to the Covent Garden Lodge . On behalf of the Officers he begged to thank them for the hearty way in which the toast had been drunk . The Tyler's toast brought the proceedings to a close . The toasts were interspersed with some excellent singing , and the recitations by the VV . M . and Bro . Hancock were much applauded .

YORK . —York Lodge ( No . 236 ) . —A meeting was held on Monday , the 19 th inst ., at the Masonic Hall , Duncombe-place , when there were present Bros . T . G . Hodgson , W . M . ; W . Smith , S . W . ; S . Border , J . W . ; the Dean of York , P . G . C , Chap . ; Jos . Todd , P . M ., Treas . ; E . W . Purnell , Sec ; C . M . Forbes , S . D . ; A . Sample , P . P . G . O ., Org . ; T . Watkinson , acting I , G . ; E . Carter , Stwd . ; W . G . CalvertTyler ; George Garbutt ,

, P . M . ; J . A . Barstow , P . M . ; A . Buckle , B . A ., P . M . ; A . H . H . McGachen , P . M . ; M . Rooke , P . M . ; George Kirby , P . M . ; G . C . Lee , P . M . ; George Balmford , P . M . ; W . Draper , P . M . ; H . Foster , P . M . ; T . J . Russell , Tom Archey , Alf . Proctor , T . S . Brogden , M . Bryson , E . B . Kendall , Thos . Tuke , H . S . Hopton , T . W . Wilson , S . F . Gramshaw , L . Hick , and others . Visitors : Bros . Hon . W . T . Orde-Powlett , P . G . W . and D . P . G . M . ; H . Sumner ,

2 S 1 ; H . Oxley , P . M . 495 ; VV . Reynolds , 250 , P . G . T . ; and W . Dyson , W . M . 1611 . The lodge having been formally opened , the minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed . The report of the Audit Committee was read and adopted . Bro . W . Smith , the W . M . elect , was presented and duly installed into the chair of K . S . by Bro . Jos . Todd , P . M ., P . P . S . G . W ., and the following officers were appointed and invested : Bros . T . G , Hodgson , P . P . S . G . D ., I . P . M .:

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

S . Border , S . W . ; C . M . Forbes , J . W . ; Very Rev . A . P . Purey-Cust , Dean of York , P . G . C . Eng ., P . P . G . C , Chap . ; Jos . Todd , P . M ., P . P . S . G . W ., Treas . ; E . W . Purnell , Sec ; T . S . Brogden , S . D . ; J . B . Simpson , J . D . ; Thos . Watkinson , D . of C ; A . Sample , P . P . G . O ., Org . ; H . S . Hopton , I . G . ; M . Bryson and T . Archey , Stewards ; and W . G . Calvert , Tjler . The addresses were given by the W . M ., the general charge to the W . M . and brethren by

the D . P . G . M ., and to the Wardens by Bro . Rooke , P . M . The lodge was then closed , and subsequently the usual installation banquet was held in the lodge-room , presided over by the W . M ., supported by the whole of his officers and numerous brethren , when the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were duly honoured . The Dean of York and others addressed the brethren , and the evening was spent in that harmony which characterises Masonry .

VENTNOR . —Yarborough Lodge ( No . 551 ) . — The installation meeting of this lodge took place at the Masonic Hall , on Tuesday , the 20 th inst ., there being a goodly number of members and visitors present . The lodge was opened and the minutes of the last meeting and report of the permanent committee read and confirmed . The installation ceremony was then proceeded withand

, Bro . T . H . Clough , having been presented as VV . M . elect , was duly installed in the chair of K . S . by Bro . Alfred Scott , P . M ., P . P . G . D . in his usual masterly and effective manner . After ihe customary proclamation having been made and salutes given , ihe following officers were appointed and invested : Bros . Fredk . P . Ansle , S . W . ; Frank Freeman , J . VV . ; J . J . Webber , P . M ., Treas . ;

ii . A . Jjwane , Sec ; J . J . Williams , S . D . ; John S . Ineson , J . D . ; E . G . H . Wetherick , I . G . ; M . Hibberd , D . of C . ; Rev . J . A . Alloway , P . M ., Chap , and Org . ; F , H . Sheppard and Wm . J . Wetherick , Stwds . ; and Charles Small , Tyler . A brother was proposed as a joining member , and a gentleman for initiation at the next regular meeting in January . The lodge was then closed

and the brethren adjourned to a banquet at the Crab and Lobster Hotel , which was admirably served by Miss Cass . The usual loyal and Grand Lodge toasts having been duly honoured , Bro . F . Topham Jones said he felt very much gratified by the VV . M . placing in his hands the honour of proposing " The Health of the R . W . the P . G . Master of Hants and

the Isle of Wight , the Deputy P . G . M ., and the Provincial Grand Officers , Present and Past . " It was a toast that he knew would be most enthusiastically received , Bro . Beach having presided over the destinies of that province for upwards of eighteen years , and so well had he peformed the duties of his high office that there was not a Mason in Hampshire or the Isle of Wight who would not sav " Mav

the G . A . O . T . U . spare him to rule us long . " It often happened that when persons of position filled such an office as lhat which Bro . Beach had the honour to hold , they were content to put in an appearance on certain state occasions , and at other times cheerfully handed over the performance of the duties to others . That most assuredly could not be said of their Provincial Grand Master . No

more able , no more willing , no more courteous Prov . Grand Master ever existed than their much esteemed Bro . Beach ; they were proud of him , and believed he was equally proud of his province . His reputation was not confined to that province , as for example , he need hardly remind them of the recent Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , over which their Prov . G . M . presided with such

signal success both financially and otherwise . They would admit that no words of his could do justice to such eloquent testimony to his deserved popularity . Bro . Le Feuvre , their Deputy Prov . Grand Master , was known to them all . They all recognised that there was not a more zealous or a more hard-working Mason living , or that more cheerfully executed the duties he was called upon to

perform . With regard to the other P . G . Officers he begged to say with what pride and pleasure they heaid of the honour which had recently been conferred on their esteemed Bro . Scott ; the honour was well-deserved , and the Yarborough Lodge was delighted that such a distinction should be conferred on such an amiable Mason . May Bro . Scott live long to enjoy it . He gave the toast coupled with the

names of Bros . Scott and Linfield . Bro . Scott , in reply , said he found it very difficult to respond in suitable terms to such an eloquent oration as that which they had just heard , especially with regard to his appointment as P . P . G . D ., in commemoration of her Majesty's Jubilee . He could assure the brethren that he was very ptoud of the honour conferred upon him . With

respect to the installation he need scarcely say he was only too pleased and gratified to be allowed the privilege of doing that or any other work in connection with the lodge , and he felt assured that it gave him more pleasure to deliver it than his hearers to listen to it . Bro . Scott then said it was his privilege in the absence of the I . P . M . to propose "The Health of their esteemed

VV . M . " It was a toast that he knew would be heartily received by every member of the lodge present , as they all knew enough of him to be quite certain that at his hands the welfare of the lodge and the happiness of the brethren would be well looked after , and for his own part he considered that it ought to be the proudest rank or title that a Mason could receive by being elected Master of his lodge .

The VV . M . responded in a few but well-chosen words thanking them for the honour conferred upon him , and for the very kind mannerin which they had received anddrank his health . He need hardly assure them that it would be his pride and ambition to carry out the duties of his office in such a manner that at the expiration of his term he might worthily take his place amongst the Past Masters

who had preceded him . Bro . Topham Jones then gave" "The Health of the I . P . M ., " who he regretted had not been with them that day , but he was quite sure that they all sympathised with him for the reason—the sudden death of his brother , the news of which only reached him just before the lodge met . The W . M . then gave the toast of " The Past Masters , " which was responded to by Bros . Webber and Topham

Jones , who , in responding , said he begged to thank them for the very flattering reception of that toast . Although he was well aware , and had often declared , that the well-being of a lodge depended very much upon the Past Masters , yet he felt compelled that evening to bear testimony to the fact that the recent stride forward which the Yarborough Lodge had made was due mainly to the energy which the younger members had infused into the lodge , and gladly gave expression to that conviction and belief .