Metropolitan.

ALLIANCE LODGE , No . 1827 . THE Alliance Lodge , which is principally composed of members and officers of the Corporation of the City of London , met on Wednesday , 10 th ult ., at the Guildhall Tavern , for the purpose of installing a Worshipful Master in the place of Bro . William Bruce Clarke , M . A ., M . B ., F . R . C . S ., whose year of office expired that day .

The Lord Mayor was expected to visit the Lodge , but his lordship was unable to attend . Sir John B . Monckton P . M . P . G . W . installed Bro . John William Carlyon-Hughes S . W . as Master for the ensuing year . A handsome Past Master's Jewel was presented to the Immediate Past Master .

Colonel T . Davies Sewell Secretary undertook the offico of Steward at the Centenary Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys in 1898 , and ten guineas was voted out of the Lodgo funds to his list . After the business of the Lodge was concluded , the Brethren partook of a sumptuous banquet . The usual toasts succeeded .

The Worshipful Master proposed tho health of Sir J . B . Monckton Installing Master . It was not for him , he remarked , to paint the lily , and he would only say tbat in coming to instal him Sir John B . Monckton had put himself to groat inconvenience . It was an additional honour to the W . M . in this caso because it was not likely that Sir John would do any future W . M . the same honour .

Sir John B . Monckton , in reply , said he had reached that night his limit of 150 installations , and this was probably his last installation . It was not good that the same Brother should instal year after year , as it kept some young aspiring Masons out . There was plenty of Masonic talent in the Alliance Lodge that could be utilized and fructified , and he would like to see some one else performing the installation ceremony . But it was a great pleasure to him to instal that evening , as the Brother he had

installed had been an absolute colleague of his own—one of the Guildhall gang of hard-worked and poorly-paid officials . However , he was always glad to find that members of the Court attended the Lodge ; it showed that an alliance between man and man emanated from the Guildhall . He was very pleased to see such a large number of Past Masters attending the Lodge ; they were a goodly number , and he thought the Lodge ought to be very proud to show such a goodly tale .

Sir John Monckton then proposed the Worshipful Master , as the Immediate Past Master had been obliged to leave . He was happy to say that Brother Carlyon-Hughes was a good worker in Masonry , and he would be disappointed if , at the end of his year of office , the Brethen did not say they had had as good a Blaster as had ever sat in the chair of the Alliance Lodge .

Bro . Carlyon-Hughes W . M . replied , and said that his year ought to be a happy one , because he could not call to mind a single variance he had ever had with any Brother of the Lodge . Such being the case , it was plain he would be ruling over a united family , governing them with affection and not by coercion . He concluded by proposing the health of the Immediate Past Master , who had unfortunately been compelled to leave , through professional engagements . The Brethren must remember , he remarked , that Brother Bruce Clarke had been an excellent Worshipful Master .

The health of the Past Masters was given . Colonel T . Davies Sewell responded at the direction of the Worshipful Master , and , in the course of his reply , said it was not every Lodge which could said it had money invested in Consols . Standing on the money bags was a roughish test , but it was a test of the Lodge ' s respectablity . The Treasurer's accounts showed a respectable balance , so that the W . M . need not be afraid that during his year there would be any starvation in tho Alliance Lodge .

Brother Beachcroft , L . C . C , returned thanks for the Visitors , and expressed tbo hope that between the Corporation of the City of London and the London County Council there would be a better feeling than there had been . Other toasts were afterwards honoured .

UNITED NORTHERN COUNTIES LODGE , No . 2128 . nnHE annual installation meeting was held on Tuesday , at the Inns of JL Court Hotel , Holborn , W . C , when Bro . Wm . B . Hextall P . P . S . G . W . Derbyshire installed his successor Bro . E . C Rice Oxley as Master of the Lodge . The following Officers for the year were appointed and invested : —

Bros . W . E . Porter , M . D ., S . W ., V . H . Wyatt Wingrave , M . R . C . S ., J . W ., R . Davison P . M . Treasurer , W . H . Builock P . M . Secretary , VV . Nicholson Haydon S . D ., T . Whitmore Chant J . D ., T . Moysey I . G ., George 3 . Wood P . P . G . P . Derbyshire D . C , J . Hornsey Casson P . P . G . O . Derbyshire Organist , C J . Weller , Henry Riley , E . Bullock Stewards , H . Evenden P . M . Tyler .

BLOOMSBURY RIFLES LODGE , No . 2362 . AN emergency meeting was held on the 8 th inst ., at the Head Quarters of the Corps , Chcnies Street , under the presidency of Bro . T . W . Mogford W . M .. who was supported by Bros . Miller S . W . W . M .-elect , Barter J . W ., Gilbert S . D ., Chandler J . D ., Groome I . G ., G . D . Mogford I . P . M ., Grimes P . M ., Sillis P . M ., Knight P . M ., E . Cowtan , H . Cowtan , Grey , Peck , Fowler , Milneiv ' and several others .

The Lodge was opened in the three degrees , and Bros . Milner and Hagon were raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason , the work being performed with tbo usual ability of the W . M ., who afterwards proceeded to close the Lodge in regular form .

Instruction.

o o o INSTRUCTION .

CONFIDENCE LODGE , No . 193 . WEDNESDAY was Officers' night at Mr . Cooper ' s , the Globe Tavern , Fish Street Hill , London Bridge , when the chair was taken by the W . M . of the Mother Lodge Bro . T . Kington , who was supported by E . Pennock S . W ., G . Spice J . W ., E . J . Davey P . M . acting Secretary , J . K . Pitt P . M . Sec . acting Preceptor , I . W . Simeons S . D ., C G . Cooper J . D ., J . C Turner I . G ., J . Wynman , C . Busholl , and others .

The Lodge was opened to the second degree , when Bro . Turner offered himself candidate and wns examined and entrusted . The Lodge was further advanced and thc ceremony of raising was rehearsed . The W . M . resumed the Lodge to the first degree , and the ceremony of initiation was rehearsed , Bro . 0 . G . Cooper acting as candidate . Both ceremonies were rehearsed in a most excollent and faultless manner , Bro . Pitt the acting Preceptor and the Officers showing their ability by rendering the W . M . able assistance . Bro . Pennock was elected W . M ., and after a few more transactions the Lodge was closed .

Instruction.

ROYAL ALFRED LODGE , No . 780 . nnHUBSDAY being Officers' night the meeting at Bro . Purkiss ' s , Star JL and Garter Hotel , Kew Bridge , was presided over by the W . M . of the Mother Lodge Bro . C . Coombs , who was supported by Bros . J . Phillips as S . W ., F . Bidloy J . W ., Ft . H . Williams P . M . Preceptor , H . Cummings P . M . Secretary , H . Worth S . D ., J . Halstead J . D ., C . Humble I . G ., D . Rawlings , J . Wynman , E . Wilcocks , R . Johnson , Sec

The W . M . rehearsed the ceremony of raising , Bro . Rawlings acting as candidate . Tho Lodge was resumed to the first degree and the ceremony of initiation rehearsed , Bro . Cutcliffe" acting as candidate . Bro . H . Cummings P . M . Secretary took the chair in place of the W . M ., who had to leave , and brought the ' proceedings to a conclusion . Bro . E . P . Cutcliffe 1585 was elected a member , and Bro . Phillips chosen to fill the chair at the next meeting .

HYDE PARK LODGE , No . 1425 . AT the Prince of Wales Hotel , Eastbourne Terrace , Bishop ' s Road , on Monday , Bro . J . W . Ferguson P . M . Deputy Preceptor W . M ., S . E . Harris S . W .. W . Smith J . W ., G . Read P . M . G . S . B . Preceptor , S . G . Thorne acting Secretary , J . Bartlett P . M . 2637 S . D ., J . H . Beardon J . D ., G Mogford I . P . M . I . G ., J . Wynman , and H . Chubb .

The W . M ., with tho assistance of the Brethren , worked the first section of the lecture , and then announced bis intention to rehearse the ceremony of passing , for which Bro , Thorne offered himself as candidate . He was examined , entrusted , and the ceremony gone through . The W . M . vacated the chair in favour of Bro . Chubb , who rehearsed the third ceremony , Bro . Ferguson acting as candidate .

The Lodge was resumed to the first degree , and Bro . Harris elected W . M . for next meeting .

WOODROW LODGE , No . 1708 . ON Monday , at 3 p . m ., a meeting was held at Bro . Rudderforth ' s , Stone ' s Restaurant , Panton Street , Haymarket , when Bro . A . Butcher occupied the chair as W . M ., and was most ably assisted by the following Bros . W . West S . W ., C . Wilkinson J . W ., C . Woodrow P . M . Preceptor , I . W . Simeons Secretary , H . Hyem S . D ., G . Spice J . D ., A . W . Musk I . G ., H . Wood , W . Eudderforth P . M ., C . Wetton W . M . 2037 , C . Columb , G . T . Baker , J . Wynman , and several others .

The Lodge was opened in regular form and the ceremony of initiation was rehearsed , Bro . 0 . Wetton acting as candidate . The W . M . advanced the Lodge to the second and third degrees , and resumed to the first . Bro . Woodrow , not being satisfied with the way in which some of the Brethren proved themselves Master Masons , asked the Brethren to go through the three degrees by signs , and when we call to mind the slovenliness

often manifested in this important feature of the work we can but wonder the " signs " are not more frequently introduced as an item of business at our Lodges of Instruction . The W . M . announced his intention of rehearsing the second ceremony , for which Bro . Henry Wood offered himself as a candidate , and after the

usual formalities the ceremony of passing was rehearsed . This being the first occasion on which the W . M . had rehearsed the ceremony , Bro . Woodrow proposed that a vote should be put on the minutes recording the fact , and congratulating him on his ability . This was seconded , unanimously agreed to , and suitably acknowledged .

Bro . W . West was appointed to preside at the next meeting , and Bro Henry Wood J . W . 2012 was elected as a member of the Lodge ,

BROMLEY ST . LEONARD LODGE , ( Vo . 1805 . AT the Bow Bells , Bow Eoad , on the 8 th inst ., Bro . Thornton W . M ., I . Goulston 3 . W ., Boyce J . VV ., Joss S . D ., Soor J . D ., Burdon I . G ., De Casseres P . M . Preceptor , I . Davis acting Sec , i'lynn , Slater , Cuthbertson , Bird , 3 . Gibbs P . M ., & c .

Bro . Cuthbertson answered the questions leading to the second degree , and the W . M , rehearsed the ceremony of passing . The Brethren assisted Bro . Goulston to work the first and second sections of the lecture . The Lodge was closed in thc second degree , when Bro . Thornton vacated the chair in favour of Bro . Bird , who rehearsed the ceremony of investiture of Officers , Bro . Thornton acting as Director of Ceremonies . Bro . Goulston was elected to the chair for Wednesday next , to which date the Lodge was adjourned .

CITADEL LODGE , No . 1897 . THE 118 th meeting was held under the presidency of Bro . Sadler , with Bros . Willsmer S . W ., Lamer J . W ., and a goodly attendance of Brethren . The ceremonies of initiation and passing were rehearsed , Bro . Jeanes acting candidate . Ibis being the night for election of Officers , Bros . Dunstan Preceptor , Bird Treasurer , and Willsmer Secretary were unanimously re-elected , and a hearty vote of thanks passed for their past services , to be recorded on the minutes . Bro . Willsmer was to occupy the chair on the 10 th inst .

TERRIERS LODGE , No . 2184 . ON Wednesday , at the Sir Sydney Smith Tavern , Chester Street , Kennington , Bro . A . Cohen W . M ., C . Wetton S . W ., F . Holden J . W ., A . Darch P . M . Treasurer , W . West S . D ., Almayo J . D ., Waller I . G ., ' Janaway P . M ., Jesse Burton , VV . Dryden , A . G . Seaward , J . Wynman .

The Lodge was opened in the first and second degrees , and resumed to the first , when Bro . Dryden was examined ancl entrusted for the second degree , that ceremony being rehearsed . The same Brother answered the questions leading to the third degree . The W . M . resumed the Lodge to the first degree , and the ceremony of initiation was rehearsed , Bro . Jessie Burton acting as candidate . The excellent working was highly commended by the Brethren .

Bro . Waller was elected a member and suitably responded . Brother Felice Napoli , of the Pimlico Lodge , No . 1772 , and Bro . Frank Lloyd 1658 , were elected members in their absence . Bro . 0 . Wetton was elected W . M . for Wednesday next . Bro . A . G . Seward and W . West were elected as Auditors .