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were acquainted with the great zeal displayed by the late Mr . Hubert Laws when Secretary of the Masonic Charities Committee , and the financial results accruing to the province through his ability and energy . It is the op inion of all who knew the deceased gentleman that there never was a member who did more in his

sp here to promote the happiness , the success , and eventually the chance of prosperity to the youthful orphans ( both boys and girls ) , as well as the comfort of aged Freemasons and the widows of aged Freemasons , connected with the provincial body , than the late Mr . Laws . Though of a somewhat quiet and

retiring disposition , he won for himself the golden opinions of all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance . For this trait in his character , and the great good he accomplished in his time , the memorial is a highly fitting tribute to his memory , and , as we have said , well deserving the support of his brethren . —Newcastle Daily Chronicle . _ .

ANNUAL SUPPER OF THE HYDE PARK LODGE OF INSTRUCTION , No . 1425 .

The annual supper of the above lodge of instruction took place on the 19 th inst ., at the Prince of Wales Hotel , Eastbourne-terrace , Bishop ' s-road , Paddington , W . Bro . G . Read , Preceptor , presided , supported by the following brethren : Bros . Chalfont , Deputy Preceptor , S . W . ; J . R . Allman , P . M ., J . W .

Hutchings , W . M . 1425 ; Coleman , S . W . 1425 ; Barrow , J . W . ; Chappie , S . D . ; James Stephens , P . M . ; M . Rosenberg , H . Dehane , P . M ., Sec . ; Shapcott , Boughton , Hatton , jun ., Smith , Campbell , Windeatt , Hillier , Prichard , Coope , P . M . ; Tilt , P . M . ; Gregory ,

Frommholz , Foan , Battley , Woodman , Milne , Crossingham , Ginder , S . Cochrane , P . M . ; Jackman , Spyer , C . Hunt , P . M . ; Conway , and Mason , Org . After supper Bro . READ gave the toasts of " The Queen and Craft" and " H . R . H . the Prince of Wales ,

M . W . G . M . " In proposing " The Mother Lodge and Officers , " Bro . READ said he was the oldest member of the lodge , and it was a source of great pleasure to him to be its Secretary now , although he was Secretary of the club of instruction at its formation . The welfare of the lodge had always been very dear to him , arid he had done

his utmost to keep it together and to uphold brotherl y love and affection . He was pleased to say the lodge was in a good position , and , under the present W . M . and his officers , was likely to uphold its position . Bro . HUTCHINGS , the W . M ., replying , thanked all for the kind manner the toast had been received , and

the flattering reception they had given to him personall y and his officers , who , he stated , had gained their knowledge in the Hy de Park Lodge of Instruction under the able tuition of Bro . Read , assisted by Bro . Chalfont . Bros . COLEMAN , BARROW , and CHAPPLE severally

responded , and said they would do their utmost to further the interests of the lodge , and alluded in terms of high praise to the Hyde Park Lodge of Instruction . Bro . STEPHENS , the D . C , said he had always taken a lively interest in the lodge . It had been his good fortune to have known Bro . Read for many years , and

expressed his personal thanks to him for many Masonic kindnesses since he saw " the light- " in the lodge . There were lodges and lodges ; some were ruled by the Treasurer , some by the Secretary . The Hyde Park Lodge , under the guiding spirit of Bro . Read , could not be governed in a manner more ri ghteous or

proper . He was known throughout the country i ; nd widely appreciated . His name was always mentioned with kindness and praise for his Masonic services and as one highly deserving of Grand honours , in fact he would be brought forward and supported by a large and influential section of the Craft in 18 93 , and he

had no he doubt would be unanimously elected . Bro . READ then proposed the toast of the evening , "The Continuous Success ofthe Lodge of Instruction . " It was 17 years last March since the lodge was started—a long time to look back upon—during which time he had seen many dear friends and brothers pass away . It

was a household word , so to speak , in the West-end . When he took the post of Secretary he little thought he would be the first Preceptor , and have continued so to this time . He hoped he would be spared a few more years to be among them , although his attendances could not be so regular as formerly on account of his

attending Boards of Benevolence and General Purposes . He knew his deputy , Bro . Chalfont , would be a very good substitute ; and also a brother who should stand very high , Bro . Dehane , their Secretary , whose name he should couple with the toast . He was kind , good hearted , thought nothing too much trouble ; his

statistics at their annual audit were correct , and the labour a man deli ghts in softens all the trouble . Bro . DEHANE , in responding , entered into a comparison of the numbers that attended years ago and at the present time , mentioning that lodges of instruction are so numerous now that the Hyde Park Lodge of

Instruction [ mi ght consider itself fortunate in having such good attendances . Formerly a Fifteen Section evening would be attended by large numbers . Now it is nothing new to hear young Masons able to rehearse a Section or two , or three , and in fact endeavour to

persuade Preceptors their way was antiquated and their own the correct way . The Hyde Park Lodge of Instruction has the largest number of members of any lod ge of instruction in the world , excepting , he believed , the Lodge of Emulation , and , as Secretary , Bro . Dehane was proud that since their last annual supper

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the Lodge of Instruction had become a Vice-President of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , and well on the way towards the same desired end in the other two great Charities . He concluded by thanking them all for their kindness to him , and said he endeavoured to carry out his duties in as even a manner as he could ,

and he thought he had made scarcely an enemy since he had been Secretary . Bro . COCHRANE proposed "The Healths of Bros . Read and Chalfont . " In the course of his remarks he said that he had repeatedly heard brethren in the south of London say Bro . Read , from his numerous good

qualities , was the very man for Grand Treasurer . He alluded to Bro . Chalfont as a hard worker in the Creaton Lodge of Instruction , and knew he would be the same as Deputy Preceptor here . Bro . READ thanked all for their kind expressions . He had the singular good fortune of having had the

power of drawing towards him the affection of many good Masons ever since he had put on the M . M . apron . It was gratifying to him , especially as a single man , that he had been able to relieve the widow and the orphan . If elected as Grand Treasurer he should aceept the office with diffidence , but certainly with

much pleasure , as being a mark of approval from his brethren ; if he was not elected he would not be disappointed , Bro . CHALFONT was somewhat at sea to express his thanks . What he did was a labour of love , and he should continue his best endeavours to promote the welfare ofthe lodge of instruction .

Bro . Cochrane ' s health , in connection with the Board of General Purposes , was warmly received , and duly responded to by him . He pointed out that there was no fairer tribunal in existence than the Board of Genera . 1 Purposes , as every case , brought before it had its very best attention , and its awards were just . He considered it a oreat mark of honour to be one of its

members , and hinted the contest next time would be very stiff , and asked all to join ancl return Bro . Read and himself again . The toast of" The Host , Mr . Alston , " followed , Bro . READ saying all thanked him and his sister forthe very liberal fare they had provided .

Mr . ALSTON , in responding , thanked the brethren on behalf of his sister and himself , and said by next year he should , he hoped , be a Freemason , and more an fait to Masonic meetings , and able to do full justice to the requirements of gentlemen on such occasions as the

present . He was glad he had been able to give them satisfaction on the present occasion , and hoped all had enjoyed themselves . The evening was enlivened by songs and recitations by Bros . Stephens , Allman , Hatton , Coope , and Chalfont .

THE "OLD MASONIANS . " A very pleasant concert—the first of the seasonwas held on Friday , the 23 rd inst ., by the above Association at Anderton ' s Hotel . A good programme had been arranged , and was carried out in a most

satisfactory manner , to the evident enjoyment of all present . To the great regret of the members , Bro . Major George Lambert , P . G . S . B ., wrote stating his inability to preside , and in his absence the chair was taken b y Bro . W . Boyce , who fulfilled the duties in a genial

manner . Miss Edith Bloomfield again favoured the Old Masonians with her presence , and delighted the company with several songs in her usual finished style . Miss Florence Bemister ' s beautiful and powerful voice was heard to great advantage in her two songs— "Never

to know and Sullivan s " Lost Chord . " A pianoforte solo—a "Tarantella" b y Macfarren—was agreeably rendered by Miss Blanche Dunnett . Messrs . F . Isaac , W . J , Packer , A . H . Stephenson , and C . H . Uwins were all greatly applauded in their respective songs . Messrs . E . T . Piatt and Langford

Palmer added much to the enjoyment of the evening by their humorous impersonations . Mr . John Guppy gave a sketch it . la Corney Grain in the drollest manner , creating great laughter . Mr . Gaston Parker exhibited considerable talent as an elocutionist . In every sense the concert was a great success , and

reflected much credit upon all concerned . Mr . W . J . PACKER proposed a vote of thanks to the CHAIRMAN , who suitably replied . In connection with the Association the first Cinderella dance will take place on November 20 th . Tickets and all particulars can be obtained of the Hon . Secretaries at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet-street , E . C .

PRESENTATION TO BRO . REV . T . LLOYD , P . G . CHAPLAIN ESSEX . The Easterford Lodge , No . 2342 , which meets at Kelvedon , albeit it is one of the youngest lodges in the Province of Essex ( having been only consecrated in March last year ) , has been most successful , and the

members feeling that much of this success was due to the energy of Bro . the Rev . Thomas Lloyd , one of the Chaplains of Prov . G . Lodge for the present year , determined to mark in some tangible form the Mastership of their first W . M . Accordingly a subscription

list was started , and the outcome was the presentation to Bro . Lloyd on the 15 th inst . of a handsome Past Master ' s jewel , accompanied by an illuminated address , with the names of the subscribers appended . The address was as follows :

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" To Worshipful Brother the Reverend Thomas Lloyd , I . P . M . 2342 , P . P . G . Chap . Staffs , Prov . G . Chap . Essex . —We , the underwritten , beg your acceptance of the accompanying Past Master ' s jewel as a token of the high esteem and respect in which you are held by us . We desire to place on record the fact that

it was mainly through your instrumentality that the Easterford Lodge , No . 2342 , was established , and that its present flourishing condition is due to the energy and tact with which you have managed its affairs as first Worshipful Master . We trust that it will please the G . A . O . T . U . to spare your life for many years to

come , that you may be able to continue your eminent services to Freemasonry , of which you are so bright an ornament . —Dated at Kelvedon , Essex , this 15 th day of October , A . L . 5891 , A . D . 1891 . " Here follows the list of contributors . The jewel bears the following inscription : "

Presented to W . Bro . Rev . Thomas Lloyd , I . P . M ., Prov . G . Chap . Essex ., P . P . G . Chap . Staffs ., as a mark of esteem by the members of the Easterford Lodge , No . 2342 . 15 th October , 1891 . " In making the presentation the W . M ., Bro . J . H . SALTER , spoke of the great work which Bro . Lloyd

had done in piloting the lodge over the difficulties inseparable from a new venture ; how he had thrown all his great talents and energies into the work , and from very raw material had raised a superstructure , which if not perfect in all its parts , was at least honourable to the builder . The example that their first W . M . had set them in exemplifying fully all the attributes of a

good Freemason would , he felt sure , be an incentive to future Masters , and he trusted that Bro . Lloyd would never have cause to be ashamed of the Easterford Lodge . Having pinned the jewel on the breast of Bro . Lloyd , the W . M . placed round his neck the scarf of a Chaplain , which , he remarked , was an emblem that the religion he represented was not incompatible with the tenets of Freemasonry .

Bro . Rev . THOS . LLOVD , who was much moved , in acknowledging the presentation , said he felt that the brethren had placed too high an estimate on his work in the lodge . In what he had done he had been actuated solely by a desire to do his duty . The jewel was designed and manufactured by Bro . George Kenning .

4 . THE FIFTH CITY MASONIC BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION .

This Association , which is the fifth of a series held in connection with the Sincerity Lodge of Instruction , was successfully started on the 26 th inst ., six months before the termination of its predecessor , with the object of enabling its members to use their shares as Stewards at the forthcoming Jubilee Festival of the

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , and to place donations on other Stewards' lists . Bro . J . Newton was elected President ; Bro . F . Brown , Vice-President ; Bro . G . W . Verry , Treas . ; and Bro . H . M . Hobbs , Sec . The following influential

Committee were also elected -. Bros . H . C . Borradaile , H . E . Diamond , J . S . Fraser , W . Harvey , L . C . Haslip , G . S . Horsnail , H . Jay , C . Lacey , J . R . Large , H . Magee , R . Main , C . W . Mapleton , J . H . Price , H . Pritchard , F . T . Ridpath , S . W . Southwell , T . A . Starnes , and

C . H . Webb . Ninety shares were taken up , and three ballots of ten guineas each were drawn . The next meeting will be held on Monday , the 23 rd prox ., and subsequently on the fourth Monday of each month at the Railway

Tavern , Fenchurch-street , at eight o ' clock , when brethren are cordially invited to attend and join the Association . Members can also be enrolled by sending their names to the Hon . Secretary , Bro . Hugh M . Hobbs , Lloyds , E . C .

? MASONIC LECTURE AT GRAVESEND . There was a numerous attendance of members and visitors at the regular meeting of the Lodge of Freedom , No . 77 , held at the New Falcon Hotel , Gravesend , on Monday , the 19 th inst ., when Bro . James Stevens delivered his now popular lecture on the symbolism of

Speculative Freemasonry . There were present during the evening Bros . Joseph Solomon , W . M . ; Frank Hitchens , I . P . M . ; Rev . Augustus Jackson , M . A ., S . W . ; R . J . Beamish , P . M ., J . W . ; T . R . S . Champion , P . M ., P . P . S . G . D ., Treas . ; John C . Biggs , P . P . G . D . C , Sec . ; T . Nettlingham , S . D . ; W . W .

Hedger , P . M ., J . D . ; W . Gunn , D . C . ; R . C . Fowle , I . G . ; H . Shaw and G . Masters , Stewards ; Martin , Tyler ; T . Deane , P . M ., P . G . Std . Br . ; W . Russell , P . M ., P . G . Treas . ; W . Hills , P . M ., P . P . S . G . D . ; W . Sheen , P . M ., P . P . A . G . D . C . ; Jonas Hill , P . M ., P . G . Purst . ; A . Ronaldson , P . M . ; R . West , R . Friar , W .

H . Loft , G . Berry , J . Simpson , J . Davis , J . L . Busby , L . J . Bone , John Solomon , E . Mason , R . Gates , VV . Parker , and others . Amongst the visitors were Bros . A . Pearson , 215 ( I . C . ); H . Watts , 700 ; Dep . Surgeon-General A . Knight Prescott , P . M . 582 , 706 , 1971 , P . P . S . G . D . Hants ; G . Naylor , P . M . 20 , P . P . A . G . D . C . Kent ; T . P . Wingrove , 28 ; W . Hawker , 483 ; the

Rev . H . H . Walker , 859 ; J . McCaffery , 1 789 ; Orlton Cooper , 211 ; and the Lecturer . After the preliminary business of opening , and the confirmation of previous minutes , the W . M . introduced Bro . Stevens in a few well-chosen sentences . The subject of the lecture was " The Ritual and Ceremonial of Symbolic Freemasonry . " Prefacing his remarks with a concise and lucid account of the