Untitled Article

one of the chief tenets and peculiar characteristics of this Order was good will , yet he felt that on the present occasion the W . M . and Brethren had carried it to a greater extent than he deserved , and the terms in which they had spoken of him proceeded not so much from any merit of his own as from their general good feeling towards him personally , and from that excellent spirit which pervaded every true Mason . He regretted that , owing to unavoidable circumstances , he had not been able to attend the Lodge during the last three months so often as

he wished , for when he accepted office , it was with the belief that he should be in a situation to discharge its duties . During the first nine months he had always been at his post ; but during the last three months circumstances over which he had no control necessitated his removal from Banbury , and prevented his attendance . With feelings of renewed pleasure he came this evening to instal his worthy successor ; and if at any time he could be of the slightest assistance to the Brethren , with whom he had spent many of the happiest hours of his existence , no pains nor trouble should be wanting on his part to discharge the duties which he owed to his mother Lodge ( loud cheers ) .

Bro . Plowman then sang an original song , " The Cherwell and her Crew , " containing some allusions to the progress of the Lodge , and introducing the names of its officers . The W . M . then proposed " The healths of the newly-initiated Brethren , Bros . Faulkner and Lampitt ; " after which Bro . Spiers sang with excellent effect , " The entered Apprentice ' s song . " Bro . Faulkner briefly returned thanks .

The W . M . proposed "The healths of the Past Masters of No . 425 ( Bros . Wyatt and Thompson ) , the Officers and Brethren of that Lodge , and success to it ; " and adverted to the admirable working which had made it so distinguished in the Craft ( cheers ) . Bro . James Wyatt responded to the toast , and expressed his regret that the W . M ., Bro . J . Thorp , was too ill to be present . He assured them that it afforded the Brethren of the Alfred Lodge great pleasure to witness the continued prosperity of Masonry in this part of the county ; and he congratulated them on

having Masters to preside over them , and officers who could not be surpassed for zeal , energy , and ability ( cheers ) . He alluded to the appointment of Captain Bowyer as Prov . G . M ., and said that it would have been impossible for one to have been made more in accordance with the wishes and feelings of the whole province ; and assured that Brother that in Oxford it was hailed with such satisfaction and delight that he might depend upon every assistance and support which it was possible for the Brethren of the Oxford Lodges to give him on every occasion ( loud cheers ) .

The W . M . proposed "The healths of the P . M . s , Officers , and Brethren of the Apollo Lodge , " which , as a working Lodge , was inferior to none in England . He coupled with the toast the name of P . M . Beech , and complimented him on the admirable manner in which he fulfilled the duties of the chair for two years . Bro . Beech responded to the toast , and remarked that he was present at the foundation and consecration of the Cherwell Lodge , when among those who took part in the ceremony was that estimable Brother , the late Prov . G . M ., Bro . Bidley , whose many virtues and truly Masonic character were cherished in affectionate

remembrance throughout the Province , and their esteemed Brother , Bro . Burstall , who was now located in a far distant land , but whose dearest recollections of England were associated with Freemasonry ( cheers ) . Although these were some of the changes which had occurred since that memorable occasion , he rejoiced to find that no change had come over the Lodge , but that it continued in the same uninterrupted career of prosperity , that it still flourished , and it could not fail to

do so under such auspices . He could assure the Brethren of the Cherwell Lodge that they would always meet a hearty welcome in the Apollo Lodge , and that its members would render them every assistance in their power ( cheers ) . It was with sincere pleasure that he and his Brethren of the Apollo Lodge heard of the appointment of Bro . Bowyer as Prov . G . M ., for he was no less esteemed , and no less cordially welcomed in Oxford than he was at Banbury , where he was more immediately connected ( cheers ) . His uniform courtesy of demeanour , his firmness of