Empire Lodge, No. 2108.

England from foreign countries . In the House of Commons , from which he had just come , the complaint had been made that the country did not take the trouble to become acquainted with the people to whom they sent their representatives in different parts of the world . Where the

House of Commons had failed the Empire Lodge had stepped in , and he thought that a national duty had been fulfilled by them in what had taken place that evening .

• BRO . VISCOUNT HAVASHI . Bro . Viscount Templetown , P . G . W ., and S . G . W . of Ireland , who responded for " The Grand Lodge of Ireland , " said that he responded for the loyal portion of that country ,

who were not to be surpassed in loyalty by any other people in the world . He could testify to the pleasure he had felt at witnessing the ceremony of the evening . The Grand Lodge of Scotland was represented by Bro . J . D . G . Dalrymple Woodhead , who expressed his deep sense of indebtedness to them for giving them the opportunity of

being present . He was glad to be able to say that the Grand Lodge of Scotland was never in a more prosperous condition than at present ; their charities were more nourishing , their income was better , and they were not ashamed to imitate their sister Grand Lodge of England in all that made for the prosperity of Masonry .

Bro . George Richards , D . G . Alaster of the Transvaal , wished for a Alasonic megaphone in order that his voice might carry further , when he said that the initiation of the Japanese Ambassador into Freemasonry had forged another link in the chain which bound their Empire . He was

reminded that on his recent visit to Johannesburg he had seen there two commercial representatives of Japan , who had asserted that not the least of the blessings attendant on peace was the ability of the Johannesburgers to trade direct with Japan and so secure a rapid return to wealth and prosperity .

It was such healthy egotism which ensured the progress of the Japanese nation . The toast of " The Worshipful Alaster" was proposed by Bro . Franz Deutsch , I . P . AI . In returning thanks , Bro . S . F . Isitt remarked that it was

the first occasion on which he had performed the initiation ceremony , and he was not unnaturally nervous over his work on the occasion , but he should endeavour to carry out to the best of his ability the responsible duties which fell to the Master of so important a lodge .

1 he Worshipful Alaster next proposed " The Health of the Initiates . " That toast had in the past been regarded as the chief one of the evening , much more so was it so on the present occasion . Although in the lodge he could only recognise in his Excellency the Japanese Ambassador a man and a Alason , he might be permitted at the banquet to refer

to their distinguished brother in his political capacity . He would carry their minds back to the time when Japan became the ally of England . Both parties in the State had been desirous of that happy consummation which had been brought about by the united efforts of Liberal and

Conservative governments , and when the alliance had been accomplished it had been equally welcomed by Japan . The delicate negotiations of that time had been in the hands of the initiate of the evening , Bro . Viscount Hayashi . On behalf of the Empire Lodge he desired to say how great a

privilege they felt it to be to have been selected as the lodge in which his Excellency had chosen to be initiated into Freemasonry . In reply , Bro . his Excellency Viscount Hayashi thanked the brethren for the cordial remarks which had been

extended to him , and for the complimentary manner in which his country had been alluded to by the brethren . Their sentiments were cordially reciprocated by the Japanese , and he hoped the events of that evening would not fail to result in even more intimate relations being established between their respective countries .

The proceedings terminated after " The Health of the Visitors" and "The Officers of the Lodge" had been proposed and responded to , the musical arrangements being under the admirable conduct of Bros . Squire and Schoennberger , the Organists of the lodge . ,

Installation Meeting Of The Drury Lane Lodge, No. 2127.

Installation Meeting of the Drury Lane Lodge , No . 2127 .

r PHE installation meeting of this highly popular lodge J ^ was held at the Hotel Cecil on Tuesday , February 10 th , and was , as usual , very largely attended , upwards of 200 members and visitors being present , the company including a numerous array of Grand Officers . The retiring

Worshipful Alaster , Bro . Luigi Lablache , was unfortunately not present in consequence of ill-health , but his duties as Installing Alaster were ably performed by Bro . Harry Nicholls , P . AI ., while Bro . J . H . Barnes , P . AI ., as ably performed the ceremony of initiation of three candidates .

The Worshipful Alaster elect , Bro . A . G . Neville , is the son of the distinguished actor , Bro . Henry Neville , and immediately on his induction into the chair at once gave a taste of his quality and of his inherited elocutionary powers by the perfect manner in which he gave the addresses to his officers

on their investiture and generally conducted the business of the chair . The neophyte who may have the good fortune to be introduced into Freemasonry during Bro . Neville ' s year of office will most certainly hear the beautiful