Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

was that of " The Past Masters . " His remarks on that toast would necessarily be inadequate , but he would ask the I P . M . to reply . Bro . H . ] . Hitchins , P . M ., returned thanks , and said he felt very proud to belong to such an illustrious band of Past Masters , and hoped to be deserving of the praise given

The Worshipful Master then said the members were most anxious that visitors should see their lodge , aid them in their duties , and grace the lodge by their presence . He wished to couple with the toast of "The Visitors" the name of a brother who had just come across the sea—Bro . Finnemore , and a worthy brother who initiated him , and throug h whose suggestion he became a Mason—Bro . Pull-P n . stwd .

Bro . R . I . Finnemore , P . D . G . M . Natal , said it had afforded him great pleasure to be present to witness the installation ceremony . He thanked them very heartily for the kind way in which the toast had been proposed , and for the hospitable way they had been received . Bro : A . Pullman , P . G . Stwd ., thanked the W . M . for the exeat privilege accorded him in giving him the opportunity

of returning thanks on behalf of the visitors for the magnificent entertainment provided at the hospitable table of that lodge . On behalf of every visitor he could truthfully say they most thoroughly appreciated the excellent work done in the lodge , and the kind welcome accorded them . It was , as the W . M . had . said , quite true , that he had the great pleasure of initiating him , and of knowing him for

many years . He felt perfectly confident he could say— " It is not in mortals to command success , but he'll do more , deserve it . " In giving "The Officers , " the W . M . characterised it as the last toast , but by no means the least . It was unfortunate for them that the exigencies of his public duties prevented Bro . Sir Stafford Northcote , S . W ., remaining to

reply for that toast . He would therefore associate the name of the Secretary , Bro . Carter , whom he would say nothing more about for fear of spoiling him by flattery . He would also include the J . W ., Bro . Stewart Brown , for whom he had almost an equal affection , and who had gained the respect of every member of the lodge . Bro . Dr . Stewart Brown , Prov . j . G . W . Middx ., I . W .,

said he hardly expected to respond first for that toast , but he was told it was his duty , and , therefore , he could only say it had given him very great pleasure to be invested as J . W . The W . M ., by that act of courtesy , had bound him to serve him as he had served his predecessors in former years , to the best of his ability , and as far as any loyalty to that lodge was concerned , he was thoroughly loyal .

Bro . A . R . Carter , P . M ., Sec , thanked the W . M . tor the kind way in which his name had been coupled—undeservedly to a certain extent—but on behalf of himself and the other officers , he assured him that they would support him during the coming year as they had supported : his predecessors . The Tyler ' s toast then closed the proceedings .

Provincial Meetings.

PROVINCIAL MEETINGS .

ALDERLEY . Alan Lodge ( No . 2368 ) . —The regular meeting of this lodge was held on Wednesday , the 3 rd inst ., at the Queen ' s Hotel . There was a specially large number of brethren present , including Bros , the Hon . de Tatton

tgerton , F . b . O . W ., and the first W . M . ; T . W . Markland , W . M ., P . G . S ..,- H . Gordon , Small , P . M ., P . G . D . C . ; John Jones , P . M . ; E . Stephens , P . M . ; Arthur Keymer , «¦ V , Ai LawIev > P-P . A . G . Sec , Treas . ; James A . Walsh , S . D . ; W . R . D . Davies , J . D . ; John Henry , Org . ; R . L . Bourne , I . G . 5 T . S . Beaumont . Percv

Webb , J . W . Beaumont , F . Home , Elliott A . Crompton , Hartley Johnson , W . A . Danby , George H . Fergus , C B . Qewley , J . Laurisch , Philip Why man , J . G . Pope , Oswald 1 . Fielden , and Charles Duckworth , PM . Visitors : Bros . Kichard Stephenson , P . M ., P . P . G . S . ; C . H . Beever , '•M- 1735 ; John T . Mills . W . M . 11 GG : E . Hamnsnn .

1 ) 66 ; W . Money , Henry Pool , P . M . ; Robert Meggett , W . Howard , VV . Sharpies , B . Hopkinson , P . M . ; F . Kidsdale Bowley , W . M . 2216 ; Geo . S . Smith , P . M . ; Ihomas Shorrock , P . M . j and J . Harvey , P . M . the lodge was opened by Bro . T . W . Markland , W . M ., and the minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed , after which a ce ; emonv was oerformed bv Bro .

Alarkland . The lodge was closed after " Hearty good wishes ' by the many visiting brethren had been expressed . At the supper , which subsequently followed , the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given and responded to , and fi . " ? „ Profframme of music had been arranged , in which 'ne following brethren took part : Bros . F . Ridsdale Bowley , W . M . ; Willie Sharpies , G . S . Smith , William Howard , and Thos . Shorrock , P . M .

CHATHAM . Pentangle Lodge ( No . 1174 ) . —The present members of this well-known service lodge gathered together m lairl y good numbers on Monday , the Sth inst ., to witness ™ installation into the chair of Bro . F . W . H . Penfold , we worth y son of the late Bro . Dr . Penfold , who was for so many years the very popular and hiirhlv-esteemed Sorro .

» ry of the lodge , and who had himself initiated his son » me eight years ago , but alas , had not been spared to "own the edifice by also installing him as W . M . This "" ty , however , devolved on Bro . V . Brown , P . M ., and it vas carried out admirably , eliciting marks of high appre" *| ion from all present . Bro . F . W . H . Penfoldaooonted C . Price

lVV L 01 - ^ P . M ., S . W . ; E . B . Stephens , J-W- ; and Rev . Dr . Robins , Chaplain . Amongst the brethren present we noticed Bros . Robinson , . "lour Cockburn , Powell , Warne , and several other Past 'alters ; also Bros . Ray , Winch , Symons , and Duberty . ' > or must we omit to state that the worthy Tyler , Bro . tk . ? ' P . orted tne clothing of Provincial Grand Tyler for " nrst time on this occasion .

DIDSBURY . ivPi r ! Lodge ( No . 2359 ) . —The regular meeting the , cld on the ' 3 inst- > at 'he Didsbury Hotel , when ofit ^ verv la , ' £ attendance , probably on account \ V » . bcln e election night . The lodge was opened by the coiln " 1 th < 3 minutes of the previous meeting read and Dcrfl , . There were two raisings , the ceremony being M , bj Bro . Stretch . Bro .. George Alfred Myers , ' •»& . W ., was unanimously elected as W . M . for the

Provincial Meetings.

ensuing year , and Bro . A . H . Jefferis , P . M ., P . P . J . G . W ., elected 1 reasurer . Twelve guineas was voted to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . It was a most successful meeting . The following were present : Bros . Fred . Stretch , W . M . ; Clare Edgar Towell , G . A . Meyers , P . M ., S . W . ; A . K . Boothroyd , J . M . Veal , Sec ; John Walker , S . D . ; Fred . Thomas , J . D . ; N . F . Clegg , Org . ; J . Sharpies and W .

bharples , Stwds . ; Fred . Morgan , G . Metcalfe , F . B . Ratchford , F . J . Passmore , F . J . Rachford , E . H . Baldwin , John Norris , Harry Shuter , A . R . Brett , E . W . Rowsell , C . Worstencroft , R . I . H . Sayers , W . Barker , H . A . Kay , J . Dearnerley , J . Laurisch , and J . J . Booth . Visitors : Bros . John Craig-Royle , W . M . ; J . Hardwicke-Marsh , W . M , and Ralph Andrews , P . P . G . D .

DONCASTER , St . George ' s Lodge ( No . 242 ) . —The installation day of this lodge was held on Friday , the 5 th inst ., in St . George ' s Rooms , when there were present Bros . F . Webb , W . M . ; J . FitzgeraldI . P . M . E . NewsumS . W . ;

, , , H . B . Bellerby , acting J . W . ; C M . Hartley , Treas . ; F . J . Forth , Sec . ; F . H . Buckland , J . D . ; G . Smith , I . G . ; H . C . White , Org . ; T . Turner and C Goldthorpe , P . M ., Chap ., Stwds . ; F . D . D . Walker , P . M ., P . P . J . G . D . ; C . H . Verity , P . M . ; G . F . Fretwell , P . M .: F . Rand ,

P . M ., P . P . S . G . D . ; G . G . Wilkie , P . M . ; F . Duff , J . Gibson , H . Foster , S . M . Parkinson , H . W . Burnett , W . H . Chambers , C . H . Woodhouse , J . Denison , R . J . Bridge , T . Anelay , H . Gunby , J . F . Hanson , J . Venus , J . McCoIl , P . Jenner , J . Hurst and W . Mason , Tylers , and others . Visitors : Bros . J . Costelli , 250 ; Spegler , 1 S 02 ; A . L . Peace , 2259 ; T . Barlow , 2259 ; J . Constable , 14 S 2 ; G . H . Stock , 124 S ; J . Thomas , 1 S 02 ; C . Pawson , 296 ; J .

E . Holmes , 2263 , P . P . G . D . C ; W . Langbridge , 207 S , P . P . G . S . of W . ; F . Lees , 164 S ; S . Suckley , 296 , P . PI CO . ; C D . Nicholson , 939 ; J . Beck , P . P . G . D . C ; and others . The lodge having been duly opened , Bro . F . D . Walker acted as Installing Master , and according to ancient custom installed Bro . E . Newsum , S . W ., into the chair of K . S .

The working tools being given by Bros . Webb and Forth . The W . M . invested his officers as follows : Bros . Fred . Webb , I . P . M . ; C H . Woodhouse , S . W . ; Tom Anelay , J . W . ; Rev . George Herbert Stock , Chap . ; Charles M . Hartley , Treas . ; F . j . Forth , P . M ., Sec ; F . H . Buckland , S . D . ; Geo . Smith , J . D . ; F . D . Walker , P . M ., P . P . G . D ., D . of C ; Herbert C . White , Org . ; Thos . W . Turner , I . G . ; J . F . Hanson and John Dennison , Stwds . ; Joseph Hirst , Tyler ; and

John Mason , Asst . Tyler . Hearty congratulations having been given the lodge was closed , and the brethren passed into the large ante-room , where a substantial banquet had been prepared , which the brethren having enjoyed the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were duly honoured . During the evening the following brethren enlivened the 5 roceedings with songs , & c , Bros . Forth , Webb , Lees , enner , Venus , Parkinson , and others .

MANCHESTER . Wolseley Lodge ( No . 1993 ) . —On Saturday , 6 th inst ., the St . John's Festival of the above lodge took place at the Freemasons' Hall , Cooper-street , when Bro . J . A . Harrison , M . D ., J . P ., was installed Master for the ensuing year by Bro . Nathaniel Holyoak , W . M . of the lodge . Bro . Harrison then appointed the following brethren

as officers : Bro . W . W . Liddall , S . W . ; Walter Taylor , J . W . ; J . Dean , Chaplain ; W . Collin , S . D . ; W . Sharp , I . D . ; J . Thompson , l . G . j W . Harris , D . C ; and Newey , Hopkinson , and Myers , Stwds . Bro . Harris instructed each of the officers as to their duties .

The banquet afterwards took place , the catering being done by Bro . Phillipps , the Steward of the club , and excellent justice was done to it . The usual loyal toasts were proposed and responded to , and the evening was very enjoyably spent , much being due to the harmony by several invited brethren .

PADIHAM . Red Rose of Lancaster Lodge ( No 1504 ) . —The regular monthly meeting was held at the Starkie Arms Hotel , on Thursday , the 4 th inst ., when more than usual interest was centred in the proceedings in consequence of its having been announced in the summons that a lecture on the ceremony of installation bv Bro . I . H .

Sillitoe , P . G . Std . Br ., would form the principal part of the business . The lodge was opened by , Bro . J . E . Sherburn , W . M ., assisted by his officers , a good number of members , also visitors from Burnley , Nelson , and other towns being present . After the usual routine business had been disposed of , the W . M . invited Bro . Sillitoe to take the chair , andon his

, doing so , he offered some introductory remarks as to his reasons for undertaking the importantdutyof lecturing upon the ceremony of installation , which were , in the first place , to refute the assertions so frequently made by Installing Masters as to the antiquity of the innovations introduced by them ; secondly , to show that the ceremony adopted and taught by the Emulation Lodge of Improvement had been

promoted by , and received the sanction of , H . R . H . the Duke of Sussex , Grand Master , in 1 S 27 ; and , thirdly , to endeavour to trace the origin of the unauthorised portions of the ritual sometimes used in lodges , and to show their inconsistency and irregularity . He then explained with some minuteness the method used during the early part of trie present century , referring occasionally to Sadler ' s notes of

the ceremony , more especially as to the Lodge of Promulgation , and proceeded to quote from the Articles of Union , in order to prove that any ceremony used prior to the Union was superseded ; and after mentioning the omission of the installation ceremony from the working of the Lodge of Reconciliation , he drew particular attention to the special warrant granted by H . R . H . the Duke of

Sussex to certain qualified brethren , forming them into a board for the purpose of promulgating that ceremony . Again quoting from correspondence , and also Bro . Sadler's notes , he proved that many of the brethren named in this special warrant were members , and in some cases founders , of the Emulation Lodge , notably Bro . William White , the

then Grand Secretary . Dro . Sillitoe brought down the work to the present time by referring to and quoting from the remarks made by Bro . Thos . Fenn at the annual festival of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement . After dismissing those below the rank of Installed Masters , he next proceeded to show at considerable length the origin of the

Provincial Meetings.

innovations , more especially that which is sometimes used for opening a Board of Installed Masters , and maintained the opinion so often expressed by him that it was originally used as a bogus , or , as called by Bros . Hughan and R . F . Gould , a constructive ceremony for giving a brother the qualification which during the last century was considered necessary for taking the Royal Arch Degree , and when such qualification of Past Masters was abandoned , this

Past Master's ceremony was thought by some brethren to be too elaborate to be lost sight of , and was therefore imported into the opening of a Board of Installed Masters . In support of his view he quoted from old manuscripts , at one time the property of the late Bro . John Tunnah , of Bolton , also of the late Bro . W . Davis , of Rochdale .

After the admission of the brethren , Bro . Sillitoe explained other matters of minor importance , and at the conclusion of his lecture replied most satisfactorily to several questions which were submitted to him . A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Bro . Sillitoe for his interesting lecture , after which the lodge was closed , and a most agreeable evening followed .

PLUM STEAD . Ordnance Lodge ( No . 2399 ) . —The installation of Bro . Conductor John Bilton , S . W . and W . M . elect , into the chair of the above lodge took place at the Masonic Temple on Friday , the 12 th inst ., in the presence of a goodly array of the brethren of the lodge and visiting brethren . The lodge was opened by Bro . Col . C . E . Vansittart , O . S . C , and the minutes of the previous meeting having

been confirmed , Messrs . Green , Steer , and Cook having been approved of , were duly initiated . Bro . Capt . George Spinks , P . M ., P . M . 1536 , P . P . G . S . B ., then , by special request , assumed the chair as Installing Officer , and in a most eloquent and impressive manner installed Bro . Bilton , who thereupon appointed and invested his officers as follows : Bros . Col . C . E . Vansittart , I . P . M . ; Capt . Woollett , S . W . ; R . S .-Major J . V . Lee , J . W . ; Capt .

Geo . Spinks , P . M ., & c , Ireas . ; S . S .-Major T . A . Robertson , P . M ., & c , Sec ; Rev . J . W . Horsley , Hon . Chap . ; Frank Hully , S . D . ; S . S .-Major A . T . Hehir , J . D . ; S . S .-Major W . M . Hirst , I . G . H . Crowdy , D . C . ; G . Dyer , Major R . F . Noel Clarke , and J . Wheatley , Stwds . ; and C . S .-Major Stretton , Org . Bro . Spinks was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his splendid work as Installing Officer , and Bro . Col . Vansittart was presented

with a handsome and valuable Past Master's jewel , and both brethren having returned thanks , the lodge was closed . Among the other brethren present were Bros . C . Coupland , P . M . ( Hon . ) , P . M . 913 . P . P . J . G . W . ; Capt . W . Weston , P . M . ( Hon . ) , P . M . 17 S 9 , P . P . G . D . ; C Jolly , P . M . ( Hon . ) , P . M . and Sec . 1472 , 21 S 4 ; Captain J . Morton , W . J . Stipon , W . Wood , G . Powstone , C . Wills ,

J . Cox , H . A . Moore , W . Allcock , G . Longstaff , and T . Widgery , of the lodge ; J . Matley , W . M ., H . Tufnell , S . W ., andW . J . Barnes , J . W ., of 13 ; B . C . Curtis , W . M ., J . Glading , S . W ., and J . Delo , J . W . of 1472 ; W . Lawson , S . W ., S . West , F . Tay , and fl . Roberts , of 700 ,-J . Down , S . W . 706 ; W . S . Edwards , W . M ., E . Sinnett , J . W ., T . O'Niel , G . Bull , and F . Anderson , of 153 G ; W . C Taylor , W . M ., C . Clapham , I . W ., and Captain E . Foster , of 913 ; A . F . Taylor , J . W . 1364 ; H . M . Lyons ,

Capt . Murdock , Sec , and W . bhackleton , of 1 7 S 9 ; Lieut . Simpson , P . M . 2193 ; R . Warren , P . M . 1467 , P . P . G . P . Essex ; and others . The banquet being accomplished , The W . M . gave the usual loyal and Grand Lodge toasts , which were received with enthusiasm . Bro . Vansittart then proposed the toast of " The W . M . " He said it now became his duty , and it certainly was his

pleasure , to propose the toast of their esteemed W . M . He had worked in Masonry with Bro . Bilton for a number of years , and from his experience he felt bound to say that they could not have elected a better Mason to the position he now held than Bro . Bilton . He knew Bro . Bilton not only in Masonry but out of it ; not only as a good soldier , but a straightforward , honest man , and , although he naturally felt sorry to vacate the chair , yet . to no one

could he have vacated it to with more pleasure than he had that day done to Bro . Bilton . During his year of office he had made a good many speeches , and had now and then endeavoured to raise a laugh or two at the expense of the Past Masters . Now he could see the folly of his ways , and trusted the W . M . would not remember it , but spare him when he in his place of power tackled the Past Masters . There was nothing like calling mca culpa when in danger ;

and now , having finished his appeal , he would ask them lo drink the W . M . ' s health heartily , and wish him a pleasant and successful year of office . Bro . Bilton , in response , wished he could find words sufficient to thank them as he should like to ; however , he did so from the bottom of his heart . He should endeavour to do his duties to their satisfaction . He asked them to bring him some good men as candidates ; he did not want

anyone ; for if they could not bring him men , he would rather they brought him none at all . He then , in eulogistic terms , proposed the toast of " The Installing Officer . " Bro . Spinks said that after the eulogistic terms employed by their W . M ., he hardly knew how to thank him and them . He was confident he had done nothing that could not have been done by others , but what he had done had been done to the best of his abilities , " and if a man does

his best , why his wife can t grumble . He was one of those who believed that if a thing was worth doing it was worth doing well . At the same time , he should live to see the W . M . of that lodge work up so as to be enabled to install their successors . It was all very well to call upon an old colleague to do the work . He had been Past Master , Treasurer , and Installing Officer , ever since the lodge was founded , and would still say that if he could do anything

to promote the prosperity of the lodge , and the happiness of the brethren , no time or trouble should be spared by him to accomplish both , or either . He believed that three of the founders , men in Woolwich that day , were the l . P . M ., the W . M ., and himself , George Spinks . Bros- Vansittart and Coupland responded for the toast of " The Past Masters of and belonging to the Lodge . "

The toast of " The Visitors " was responded to by several of the distinguished brethren present , and Bro . Capt . Murdock among them delighted everyone present with a really interesting speech on tne old and new Ordnance , of which the following is an excerpt : The Ordnance Store Corps , which Bro . Col . Vansittart , P . M ., had the good fortune to command , was one of the earliest offsprings of the venerable Artillery ( or "Artylers" ) ,