The Holden Lodge, No. 2946.

The Holden Lodge , No . 2946 .

ry \\\\\ fifth installation meeting ol the above lodge took I place at the Frascali Restaurant , Oxford Street , on Saturday , January 13 th . The W . M ., W . Bro . G . E . F . Pollard , being supported by V . W . Bro . the Bishop of Barking , P . G . C , W . Bro . R . Clay Sudlow , P . A . G . D . C , W . Bro . Arthur Williams , P . G . Sl . B ., W . Bro . Dr . Warwick Jordan , P . M .,

W . Bro . Frank Jordan , P . M . and about seventy brethren . After the reading of the minutes , W . Bro . W . H . Hillman , the Iirst W . M . of the lodge , installed Bro . S . B . Murray into the chair . Bro . Hillman , who is well known as an expert worker , performed the ceremony in a most impressive manner .

The newly installed Master appointed and invested his officers as follows : —Bros . E . J . Morris , S . W ., A . S . Allen , J . W ., W . H . Hillman , P . M ., Treas ., G . E . Jordan , P . M . Sec , H . Leslie Simpson , S . D ., J . A . Jutsum , J . D ., Chas . Spreay , D . CC WithersAsst . D . C , E . L . PooleI . G ., A . E . Robins

, , , and A . R . Turner , Stewards , H . Martin , P . M ., Tyler . Bro . Hillman proposed the two sons of the founder of the lodge for initiation , and regretted that Bro . Holden ' s health prevented him proposing them himself . The proposal was received with acclamation .

lino . s . n . ML'mi AY , w . jr . The W . M ., in presenting a Past Master ' s Jewel to Bro , Pollard , congratulated him upon the great success of his yeat of office . It gave him great pleasure to present it to him and to convey the hearty good wishes of the lodge for his

future . They also congratulated him upon his advancement in his professional career . Bro . Pollard in reply thanked them for the jewel , excusing himself from making a speech , claiming they knew he was not an orator but a worker . He would , however , assure them he would continue to do all he

could for the lodge . At the banquet which followed , the usual loyal toasts were proposed and duly honoured . The W . M . remarking that even during the period of political strife and wordy warfare they could meet without animosity and say :

Breathes there the man , with soul so dead , Who never lo himself h . ilh said , This is my own , my native land . The W . M . in proposing the Grand Master said the Craft was always favoured by the assistance of the highest in the land . They were pleased to know that ( he head of our

Order was also at the head of the military forces . In proposing the Grand Officers he said , they were peculiarly able to appreciate them and the work they did .

They were always happy lo recognise their abilities . He expressed the pleasure of the lodge at the presence of Bros . Sudlow and Williams . Bro . Arthur Williams in reply said every assembly had its figure head and those who did the work , the two not

always combined in the same person . A great responsibility rested on the Grand Officers . In going through life it would be well if one could do so without making enemies , but they should always do that which comes to their hands with zeal , and then they might truly say— " It is well done . "

The I . P . M . in proposing the health of the W . M ., said it was the toast of the evening . Bro . Murray was initiated in the lodge and worked up and proved by his actions he was a true Mason . He asked for their enthusiasm in drinking his health .

The W . M . confessed he rose with gratified feelings to respond . He fully agreed that it should be the ambition of every W . M . to leave the chair even better than he found it . He valued the confidence the brethren had reposed in him . They were a confederation of men associated together commercially and Masonically . It was a solemn occasion to

him . The true Mason was a good man and they ought to show to the world that they were true . He sincerely hoped that they would say of him at the end of his year of office he had deserved their confidence .

The W . M . then sent a telegram to the founder expressing the good wishes of the brethren and regretting his inability to be present . In proposing the Installing Master the W . M . could not adequately express his feelings . They called him their "Old Fogey" and " Grandfather , "—terms of endearment . He was

the W . M . ' s Masonic godfather , and had brought him up at express speed , but he had never dragged him and he thanked him from the bottom of his heart for it . His work for the lodge spoke for itself . Bro . Hillman in reply , thanked the W . M . for the manner

in which he had proposed his health . He wished first to express to the I . P . M . his thanks for his true Masonic spirit in allowing him to perforin the ceremony of that evening to complete the Masonic structure he had begun , in passing the W . M . through the different degrees and finally to instal

him in the chair . He angered for him a year of absolute prosperity , and assured the brethren the lodge was very dear to him , and an agreeable thing to him to look on the Holden Lodge , which had his deepest affection . Ten members of the Honourable Artillery Company present ( including Bro . Hillman ) received the speech with H . A . C . fire .

In proposing the Visitors the W . M . stud , that according to the popular idea they as bankers were grim ogres waiting to fleece all and sundry , but they were in fact turtle doves , and he was one of them . They were willing to lend or give to everyone till they wished , but some of the auditors of the London City and Midland Bank were

present that evening so they restrained themselves . He greeted them all and hoped to see them again . Bro-. K . Blades , P . M ., thanked the W . M . for the cordiality of his reception . He quite agreed that Bro . Murray had proved to be a thorough Mason . He had applied those

brilliant abilities both in business , in Masonry , and in lighting in South Africa . He was sure the members of the H . A . C . present agreed with him . Bro . J . Smart , P . M ., was an annual visitor and hoped to proven hardy one . He was proud of his connection with

the W . M . in another sphere and hoped to continue that connection . Bro . G . C . H . Jennings , P . M ., was shown up as a rankoutsider , not being actually connected with the L . C . & M . Bank , none the less he appreciated the fact oi" being present that evening and only wished he was a member of the lodge .