Annual Festival Of The Brixton Lodge Of Instruction , No. 1910.

next . He coupled with the toast the names of Bros . Stiles , Burgess , and Norris , whom he asked to respond . Bro . W . M . STILES , on rising to reply , received quite an ovation . He said that he was pleased to be present that evening . As an ancient Preceptor , he had met some of his best friends in lodges of instruction . He hoped their lodge would continue its prosperity , whose

benevolent fund had done great service . He appreciated the kind remarks of Bro . Langley as to his candidature for the office of Grand Treasurer . He had visited many lodges in South London who had all stated that they would go solid for him . He had an uphill fight , but he meant to win if hard work would do it It was the height of his ambition to be elected by

a large majority , which would show that the Blues would insist on an annual election for Grand Treasurer . Bros . BURGESS , MORRIS , and MERCER also replied in suitable terms , the latter observing that Bro . Stiles ' success was not certain unless those who had promised their support made a point of attending the first Wednesday in March to record their votes .

The P RESIDENT gave the toast— "Success to the Brixton Lodge of Instruction , " remarking- that there was no better lodge of instruction in South London , which was conducted on good principles . He urged those who were not already members to join at once and become regular attendants , and he was pleased to couple with the toast the name of Bro . E . A . Francis , their able Preceptor .

Bro . FRANCIS , who was well received , stated in reply that he was gratified to see such a gathering , it showed that the lodge was taking deep root in South London , and would grow to a healthy tree , but it would be no fault of his or of their energetic Secretary , Bro .

Langley , if the lodge fell to the ground . Many of the members were excellent workers , and the mother lodge ought to be proud of the good workmen they sent from that lodge of instruction . He , as their Preceptor , was proud of this , and he hoped the past would be continued in the future .

Bros . C . AXFORD , P . M ., Treas . ; LANGLEY , P . M ., Sec . ; and CASTLE , Asst . Sec , also responded in appropriate terms . The next toast was " The Benevolent Association of the' Brixton Lodge of Instruction " coupled with the name of the Secretary , Bro . H . Hooper , P . M ., who , it was stated had rendered good service . Bro . HOOPER responded . He said that since the

formation of the Association they had paid the large amount of 1800 guineas to the Masonic Charities , being 700 guineas for the Old People , 650 guineas for the Boys , and 450 guineas for the Girls . Bro . FRANCIS , President of the Association , stated that he thought the three Institutions should recognise in some way the efforts of the Secretaries of Benevolent Associations .

The PRESIDENT gave "The Mother Lodge , the Brixton Lodge , " which was responded to in eloquent terms by Bro . J . J . NEWLAND , the W . M . elect , and thus ended a most happy and successful evening . Bros . Ciro , Blenkarn , and Burgess vocally and otherwise entertained the brethren , but great praise is due to the latter , who rendered his four songs with marked effect .

A Masonic Church Service.

A MASONIC CHURCH SERVICE .

The pretty old City church of St . James , Garlickhithe , presented an unusually animated appearance on Thursday evening , the 25 th ult ., on the occasion , a very rare , if not unprecedented one in the City of London , of a

Masonic church service in aid of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , attended by a large number of brethren in full Masonic clothing , for the wearing of which a special dispensation had been granted by the Grand Master .

The service was promoted by the Whittington Lod ge and Chapter , No . 862 , and was conducted by Bro . the Rev . H . D . Macnamara , with whom were Bro , the Rev . D . H . Heywood , and Bro . the Rev . L . H . Smith

, Chaplain Spectacle Makers' Company ; among the worshi ppers being Bros . Col . Davies Sewell , P . G . w i C . H . Oliver , P . G . P ., J . W . Monmouth ; G . Mason , P . S . G . D . Middlesex . ; and James Weaver , P . M .

Thc preaclier was Bro . the Rev . Dr . COOPER -SMITH , r . G . Chap ., Rector of Basingstoke , who took his text Acts chap . 7 , 26 th verse , " Sirs , ye are brethren . " He awelt on the brotherhood of the early Christians , arid painted out that Freemasons and Christians met here

° n common ground . Admission to the Craft was on y tor those who held a belief in God , and the unb eliever was ri 8 idly excluded . Masonry had , it was irue , in . some countries been abused , but it was a misconception to suppose that its principles contained anyming inconsistent with religion , for its essential matures

were belief in God and loyalty to established anHH , lt f reC 0 * ? nised the brotherhood of all humanity , In 11 1 more specially that of their own people . n conclusion , he appealed for support for an Institution IVL L !? ° rtm , y car"ed out this principle , the Royal ividsonic Benevolent Institution , an appeal which , it is 8 •"" tying to state , met with a substantial response . iinahlT / u " add that if an > " brethren who were forwardf ? L P resent on account of the weather desire to bvX f ii - , tributions they wi " be gladly received Jn X the following brethren : Bros . H . Kemp , 7 , Thavies ;> rTvW ' Q I auncef ° ' ' t . " 5 , Little New-street , E . C ; n lyler , 48 , Waterloo-road , S . E ,

Our Protrait Gallery Of Worshipful Masters.

Our protrait Gallery of Worshipful Masters .

BRO . JOHN HUNT , P . M . 139 , W . M . White Rose of York Lodge , No . 2491 , Sheffield . It will be within the recollection of our readers that in November last the Prov . Grand Master of West Yorkshire , Bro . the Right Hon . W . Lawies Jackson , M . P ., consecrated the White Rose of York Lodge at Sheffield in that prosperous province . A full report of

the proceedings on that interesting occasion appeared in the Freemason ol December 9 th , 1893 . To-day we have great pleasure in presenting a portrait of the first Worshipful Master of the new lodge , Bro . John Hunt , who was also , it is almost needless to say , one of its most prominent founders . Bro . Hunt , who is a native

of Sheffield has for more than 30 years been connected with the staple trade of that city , and has by his perseverance , energy , and business capacity gradually risen from a junior post to that of managing director of the Ilallamshire Steel and File Company , Limited , a position which he now fills with eminent ability . The success of the concern with whose interests Bro . Hunt

has identified himself , may be gauged by the circumstance that during the last 20 years , since its incorporation in fact , this flourishing company has paid dividends averaging the very satisfactory sum of 7 . J per cent . Bro . Hunt was initiated in Britannia Lodge , No . 139 , Sheffield , on the 23 rd September , 18 75 , and after serving in all the subordinate offices except that of Inner

Guard , became Master in 1886 . At that time the affairs of the Britannia Lodge were in a highly flourishing condition , its muster roll showing a membership of 118 . During Bro . Hunt ' s year that success was maintained , no less than seven additional names being placed upon its register . In January . 1878 , Bro . Hunt joined the Royal Arch , being exalted in Paradise Chapter on

the 21 st of that month . Here , too , he made his influence felt , for after doing excellent service in that most important office , Scribe E ., his companions recognised his merit , and p laced him in the successive chairs of H ., J ., and Z . Not content with adding eight new members during his occupancy of the supreme chair , Comp . Hunt also introduced music at the ceremonies and thus increased

their success , and largely added to the attendance . In 1890 , Bro . Hunt received the collar of Prov . G . Steward , and the following year the Prov . G . Master , Bro . T . W . Tew , still further marked his approval of Bro . Hunt by conferring upon him the office of Prov . G . Deacon . It will be seen then , that the career of the brother whose portrait we present has

been of an eminently practical and useful character , and the esteem in which he is held among the Craft in Sheffield isshown not only by their selectinghimasW . M . of the new lodge , but also by their providing so liberally for its wants that Bro . Hunt and his officers actually start their undertaking without debt or encumbrance . That Bro . Hunt is fully conscious of his responsibilties

and duties is evidenced by the brief address which he gave to his brethren on their first meeting after consecration . Bro . Hunt is a Life Governor of all the three Masonic Charities , having served the office of Steward twice on behalf of the Girls' School and once each in the interest of the other two Institutions . We prognosticate success to the new lodge under Bro .

John Hunt's fostering care , and we trust he will not consider that his obligations cease or that his duties are completed when his term of office expires ; but that he will continue from year to year to watch over the interests of the White Rose of York Lodge , which has spread its sails to the breeze under circumstances so exceptionally interesting and favourable .

Ladies' Banquet Of The Molesey Lodge, No. 2473.

LADIES' BANQUET OF THE MOLESEY LODGE , No . 2473 .

The founders of the Molesey Lodge , No . 2473 , which was consecrated in June last , have speedily determined that an annual ladies' night shall be one of its distinguished features , and if the succeeding ventures are as

Ladies' Banquet Of The Molesey Lodge, No. 2473.

successful as the entertainment held at the Hotel Windsor , Victoria-street , S . W ., on the 24 th ult ., a large share of popularity will be in store for the lodge in the future . Every arrangement possible for the comfort of the guests had been made , a recherche repast was admirably served , whilst the few post prandial speeches were interspersed with numerous musical and

humorous selections . Bro . J . D . Langton , P . P . G . W . Surrey , the W . M ., was assisted by the following Stewards : Bros . Lane Campbell , W . Dennis , H . ] . Keen , H . H . Leigh , C . Morrell , and Homer Price , and the indefatigable Secretary , Bro . E . L . Berry , was assiduous in his exertions for the pleasure and enjoyment of the company present .

After dessert " The Queen and the Craft" was given , followed by " H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., and the rest of the Royal Family . " In alluding to " The Grand Officers , " the W . M . said they had hoped to entertain a very important member of Grand Lodge that evening—Bro . Philbrick , Q . C ., Grand Reg . —but unfortunately that distinguished

brother was unable to leave his home through an attack of illness . Bro . S . HEWETT , acting I . P . M ., proposed "The Health of the Worshipful Master , " and said that Bro . Langton , by inaugurating a ladies' banquet , had set an example which succeeding Masters would follow . Bro . J . D . LANGTON , P . P . G . W . Surrey , W . M .,

returned thanks for the kindly proposition and reception of the toast . It was a very great pleasure for him to be the first W . M . of that lodge , and , although their lodge was not one year old , they were a very prosperous and very happy body . He never had a more enjoyable time during his Masonic career than in filling the chair and presiding over their meeting that night .

One of their first ideas when they started the lodge was a ladies' meeting in the course of the year , and he thought they might congratulate themselves on the successful gathering that evening . Every brother present had ei . joyed himself most thoroughly , and had had much pleasure in introducing the ladies . The WORSHIPFUL MASTER then proceeded to

propose "The Ladies , " which , he said , was a difficult toast to give as it should be given—for few had words at their command to introduce it in the language it deserved . He was sure the ladies would take it from him that the brethren were delighted to be honoured with their presence . He believed that in some quarters Masonry had been made an excuse for Masons

being out after nine , or even 10 o clock at night—the excuse being that they had been detained at their lodge . That was , no doubt , a truthful excuse in every case , for a brother had no other desire than to hurry home at the first possible moment . He was for some time in America , where in the Western part brethren coming from outlying districts , took two or three days

to get to the lodge . The American brethren thus had an excuse which they could not possibly have in this country . He thought these ladies' gatherings were excellent institutions , one of the first he had the pleasure of attending being at the Emblematic Lodge , presided over by his friend , Bro . Homer Price . The thorough success of that meeting made him feel that in any

lodge it would be his pleasure to help any suggestion of the kind . Their first trial in the Molesey Lodge had been a success . He would ask the brethren to drink the toast of the ladies , and would ask Bro . Berry , their genial Secretary , who had done everything he could for their comfort , to respond . Bro . E . L . BERRY , Sec , in a humorous speech

replied to the toast , concluding with the suggestion for a tiip up the river in the summer . Bro . C . O . BURGESS , S . W ., proposed " The Visitors , " and thanked them heartily for their presence . He was glad to see Bro . George Gardner , a very important brother in Masonry , and should couple his name to reply , together with Bro . Price .

Bro . GEO . GARDNER , P . P . G . S . B . Bucks , returned thanks , and assured the members that all present had enjoyed themselves . He had taken a great deal of interest in Freemasonry , and the lodges he belonged to had always studied the ladies and endeavoured to entertain them . He was glad to see that young lodge doing what it could in that direction , and also that the

W . M . was supported by the whole of his officers . Bro . HOMER PRICE , also responded , and congratulated the lodge on the successful evening . Amongst those who assisted in the musical programme , and materially contributed to the hearty enjoyment of all present were Miss Edith Serpell ( soprano ) , Bros . Herbert Emlyn ( tenor ) , Stuart

Walker ( baritone ) , Fred . W . Stephens ( humorous ) , E . L . Berry , Sec , Bruce Smith ( humorous sketch ) , and W . E . Goodwins ( piano ) , and Mr . F . R . Broadbridge ( prestidigitateur ) . The company present included Bro . and Mrs . J . D Langton ; Bro . and Mrs . S . Hewett ; Bro . C . O . Burgess ; Bro . and Mrs . H . White ; Bro . Homer

Price ; Bro . and Mrs . Dennis ; Bro . and Mrs . J . W . Martell ; Bro . and Mrs . E . Lane Campbell ; Bro . H . H . Leigh ; Bro . and Mrs . Geo . Gardner ; Bro . Dr . A . Nutt ; Bro . and Mrs . j . R . Cleave ; Bros . C . G . Sherwood , H , J . Keen , and A . Cogliati ; Mrs . Russell ; Bro . J . Rowe ; Miss Edwards ; Bro . and Mrs . F . W .

Buxton ; Bro . and Mrs . G . H . Foan ; Bro . and Mrs . C . Morrell ; Bro . E . L . Berry ; Mrs . Keen ; Miss Davies ; Bros . T . Whitford and J . Woodward ; Bro . and Mrs . T . Warren ; Bro . and Mrs . j . H . Mpggridge ; Bro . and Mrs . W . Hoggins ; Bros . W . E . Goodwins , W . W . Lee , and others . * Bro . Dr . Anthony Nutt has recovered from his recent attack of influenza , and has returned to town from Brighton .