Fubilee Masters' Lodge, No. 2712—Ladies' Night.

Fubilee Masters' Lodge , No . 2712—Ladies' Night .

THAT popular Alasonic institution of modern origin has not hitherto found favour very generally with the more ancient and influential of the London lodges , but the inauguration of such a function by so prominent and representative a lodge as the "Jubilee Masters , " composed as it is

of those brethren who have been chosen as rulers in the Craft , should do much to increase its popularity amongst the London lodges . The assembly which foregathered at the Hotel Cecil on June 15 th was unprecedented in number , and of unusual

interest in its composition . The Lord Mayor was not only present with the Lady Mayoress at the banquet , but , attended by the Sheriffs of London and many Grand Officers , took

[ P . V . fo lit . U . n-tiii . TiicnUtf ' . 1 IUS . THOMAS FRASKR . part previously in the ceremonies of the lodge by occupying tne chair and conferring the degree of Alaster Mason on that distinguished soldier , Sir John French . The spacious lodge room of the Hotel Cecil was insufficient to accommodate the large number of members and visitors who had signified their intention of attending , and the large Victoria Hall was

set apart for the lodge ceremony . At the banquet there could not have been less than 500 ladies and visitors . The chair was occupied by the W . AL , Bro . Thomas Fraser , who was supported by Bros . Sir John French on his right and the Earl of Euston , Prov . G . M . Northsand Hunts . on his left . Amongst others at the

, , cross-table were Bro . the Lord Mayor and the Lady Mayoress , Bro . Alderman and Sheriff Smallman and Airs . Smallman , Bro . Sheriff T . V . Bowater and Airs . Bowater . At the conclusion of the banquet the W . AL proposed the toast of " The King . "

Bro . the Lord Mayor , in proposing the next toast , said : Accustomed its he was to be called upon to undertake all kinds of duties on till possible occasions , he must confess at being taken aback in being suddenly asked to propose the toast of "The Visitors , " but he had no idea of paining himself

or torturing the ladies and brethren around him by making a long speech . The present seemed to be a case calling for the prayer " Stive us from our friends . " The W . AL had already given him the task of educating a noble general—not in the arts of war , but in those of peace ; and now his name

was associated with the toast of the visitors . It was the first occasion , so far as he knew , that the lodge had entertained ladies , and he was pleased to see such a goodly number of sisters had accepted the invitation . No doubt the ladies had come there feeling they would like to be

enlightened as to the work of Freemasonry . First , every Mason had to serve a long apprenticeship , with pickaxe and shovel , carry hods of bricks up ladders , and do a lot of heavy work ,

which was quite unsuitable for the fair sex . However , the brethen desired to embrace them , as it were , in the toast now before them , and on behalf of the members of the jubilee Masters' Lodge he tendered to one and till of the ladies and other visitors the heartiest of welcomes .

Bro . General Sir John French responded , but he said he felt quite inadequate to the task he was called upon to perform , particularly as so many of those for whom he had to answer were members of the fair sex . The visitors tendered to the Jubilee Masters' Lodge their best thanks for the kind reception accorded themmore especiallyas the Lord Mayor

, , had told them , that that was the first time ladies had been entertained . If he might be allowed to speak personally for one moment , he w . mlcl like to say how deeply grateful he was to the lodge for receiving him and permitting him to be advanced to the third degree in Freemasonry in it . The fact

that he had taken his third degree in the Jubilee Alasters ' Lodge under such auspicious circumstances would be something for him to remember all his life . There were many present far more competent to speak of Freemasonry than he , but he could say that in the profession to which he had

the honour to belong they rated the Craft of Freemasonry very highly indeed , and they had many who held the highest opinion of it . He had seen much of its influence , particularly in far-off countries , and he was sure if it was not for the Craft of Freemasonry we should live in a much less desirable

world than was now the case . The Lord Mayor had given away much of their secrets in connection with the pickaxe and shovel , but he could tell them that as Freemasons they were first taught to be charitable , and after that hospitable . Such a reception as he had met that night could hardly be

liUO . OI'NFRAL SIR JOHN * FRENCH . regarded as a good training in humility , and as he considered that brevity and humility ought to be the attributes of the last joined he would conclude by again tendering the heartiest of thanks .

Bro . the Earl of Euston , Prov . G . AL Norths and Hunts submitted the next toast , that of the Worshipful Master . Bro . Thomas Fraser in returning thanks said he could not take the credit given him for the ' success of the meeting , as any praise that was due should be accorded to the Secretary

and Treasurer , Bro . J . D . Langton , P . M ., P . D . G . D . C ., and Bro . W . S . Hooper , P . M ., who had done all the work . The Secretary , in particular , had taken a great deal of pains to make them till happy and comfortable . During the dinner a selection of music was performed by the band of H . AI . Coldstream Guards .