St. Martin's Lodge, No. 2455.

St . Martin ' s Lodge , No . 2455 .

r F * HE installation meeting of this large and important I lodge , mainly recruited from the district of St . Martin ' s , Trafalgar Square , from which it takes its name , was held at the Grand Hotel , Charing Cross , on Wednesday , March 25 th . The large number of visitors present , including

Grand Officers , betokened the popularity of both the outgoing and incoming Masters . After completing the whole of the work of his year of office , Bro . T . Farthing , the outgoing Master , installed his successor , Bro . H . Bristow Wallen , as Worshipful Master , with the dignity and impressiveness for

which that veteran Mason is famed . The Worshipful Master then appointed and invested his officers as follows : —Bros . Robert James Godson , S . W . ; Tom R . Essex , J . W . ; the Rev . Prebendary Kitto , M . A ., Chaplain ; Edward Browning , 3 . M ., Treasurer ; Charles Farror Partridge , Secretary ; Ernest

Lucas Vinclen , S . D . ; Charles Richard Enever , J . D . ; William Challice , I . G . ; Charles W . Cole , P . M . 2455 , 210 5 , P . G . D . C . Middlesex , D . C . ; Arthur Edward Podmore , A . D . C . ; Herbert Hodge , F . R . C . O ., A . R . C . M ., and Francis G . Sanders , Mus . Bac . Oxon ., F . R . C . O ., A . R . C . M ., Organists ; George Herbert ,

Robert William Rudolph Stokes , Charles Fredk . Kennedy , P . M ., -and Herbert Wm . Saward , Stewards ; and H . Jarvis , Tyler . The work of D . C . was performed in a perfect manner by Bro . C . W . Cole , P . M ., P . G . D . C . Middlesex . After the lodge had been duly closed , the brethren adjourned to a banquet , at which the usual loyal toasts were given and duly honoured .

Bro . E . W . Nightingale , Grand Pursuivant , replying to Ihe toast of "The Grand Officers , " felt it an honour to reply for that august body , which comprised so many noblemen and men of letters and learning , and he esteemed it a compliment to be admitted into their ranks . He congratulated the lodge both upon the work of their Installing Master and

that of their new Worshipful Master . Bro . W . B . Pendicle , P . G . S . B ., also replied , complimenting his old friend , Bro . Farthing , upon the excellent way he had installed his successor . The toast of " The Worshipful Master " was proposed by

the I . P . M ., who reminded the brethren that Bro . Bristow Wallen , whom he had installed that night , was initiated at the second lodge meeting after its consecration , and since that time he had taken the keenest interest in the welfare of Freemasonry , and of their lodge in particular . He had , with

• other of their initiates , devoted time and study to make the rendering of the ceremonies in the St . Martin's Lodge both perfect and impressive , and had regarded Freemasonry from the standpoint of its highest principles . He sincerely congratulated the Worshipful Master on attaining that dignity , and promised that all would assist him in discharging his important duties .

The Worshipful Master , in reply , expressed his appreciation of the generous way in which the toast had been proposed by the I . P . M . and received by the brethren . The proceedings had taken his thoughts back to ten years ago , when he first saw the Masonic light , and when he then set . out for that goal which he had reached that evening . It had

been his pleasure to fill the minor offices of the lodge , and he had only been absent from one meeting during that time . It was a red-letter day for any brother to be installed Master of his mother lodge , and he could assure them he would do his utmost to uphold the traditions of the lodge .

In proposing the toast of " The Installing Master , " the Worshipful Master remarked that the progress made during the year just ended had exceeded their most sanguine ¦ expectations , and Bro . Farthing had during that time endeared himself to them by his uniform kindness and

courtesy . He might be pardoned by applying to their I . P . M . that well known quotation from Meredith , " A man of a more genial heart you might march a day without finding . " Although not enjoying the best of health , his labours and wise counsel had been of the greatest value to the lodge for many years . It now gave him pleasure to pin

upon his breast the special clasp to his Past Master s jewel voted at their last meeting , and he would impress upon Bro . Farthing the fact that the lodge would for many yearsneed his valuable aid . The Installing Master , in reply , thanked the Master and brethren for the heartiness of the toast . He had the

pleasure of acting as I . P . M . for the first year of the lodge ,, and now , after the lapse of time , found himself occupying the same position . He was amply repaid for all his labours if they had tended to promote the good of the lodge and of the Craft , and was glad to be able to retire in favour of suck a Master as Bro . Bristow Wallen .

IIRO . H . HRISTOW WALLEN . The Worshipful Master then announced that he intended serving as Steward for the Royal Masonic Institution for Boysand hoped the brethren individually , as well as the

, lodge , would support him . A common libel , he said , against Freemasonry , was that it consisted of eating and drinking . True Masons knew this to be false . Charity was one of its best characteristics , and the brethren of St . Martin ' s Lodge had done work in that great cause by joining the Benevolent

Association , of which their Senior Warden , Bro . Godson , was-Secretary , through the instrumentality of which . £ 324 had been given to the three Masonic Charities within two years . The toast of "The Visitors" was received with very great heartiness .

Bro . W . F . Bates , in replying , congratulated the Worshipful Master upon being installed in the chair of his mother lodge , and upon the number of propositions which had been made in the lodge that night , testifying to his popularity . His work was a credit to the Preceptors of the

lodge of instruction he attended , and his co . Preceptor , Bro . Welsford , and himself were proud of the fact that nearly all their officers were among the most regular and enthusiastic of their students . Bros . Sidney and Ingram also replied .

The toast of " The Past Masters " was responded to by Bros . Willing , Mason , and Cole , and the combined toast of " The Treasurer , Secretary , and Officers , " was responded to by Bros . Browning , Treasurer ; Partridge , Secretary ; R . J . Godson , S . W . ; and C . R . Enever , J . D . ; all of whom expressed pleasure in serving under a Master they so much

esteemed , and again promised to render him all assistance in their power to make his year of office a successful one . The Tyler's toast brought a successful meeting to a close .