Notices Of Meetings.

standing votes amounting to nearly £ 100 in aid of charity during the past year , including £ 1010 s to the Thnnderer Relief Fund , and £ 50 to the Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons .

Metropolitan Lodge , No . 1507 . —This flourishing Lodge , which has yet been scarcely three years in existence , held it third Summer Festival , at the Castle Hotel , Windsor , on Wednesday , the 18 th inst ., under the presidency of the W . M . Bro . T . Williams , who WAS assisted by the follow ' ne Stewards : —Bros . J . J . Michael . R . T . Kinpham , J . Douglass , J . Willing inn ., W . M . Stiles , C . J . Scales ,

W . Side , G . Colls , H . Stiles , G . Clark , J . S . Raney , R . Tnck , & c . The day being a very fine one , several of the party came down by road . On arriving at Windsor , the majority went to Virginia Water , and then adjourned to the Castle Hotel , where a snmptnons and recherrhe" dinner nnd dessert was provided by the worthy host , Bro . Fleck , whose catering received the well-merited approbation of

the brethren and visitors . Bro . Williams ably occupied the chair ; he was supported by the S . W . of the Lodge , Bro . Kingham , while the J . W . 's choir was filled by Bro . Douglass . Grace having been said , the W . M . proposed the toasts . He spoke of the pleasure they derived from their visit to the royal borough , where tho Qneen was then staying . He referred to the grout of Grand Lodge for two

lifeboats to commemoTate the return of H . R . H . the M . W . G . M . He hoped these boats would be the means of saving many valuable lives . He was sure the mere mention of the name of Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales would cause every heart to beat with gratitude . That noble lady , whose sympathy with all classes had endeared her to us , was beloved by the whole nation . Bro . J . J . Michael

proposed the toast of the W . M . of the Lodge . He would say : Give honour to whom hononrisdue . Honour was due to the W . M ., and all must compliment him for the manner he had performed the duties of the chair . Bro . Williams was a credit to the Lodge , an honour to the Craft , and he bad given satisfaction to them all . We have with us to-day ladies and non-Masons ; he was sure that every lady and

gentlpman present would drink health , long life , and prosperity to their W . M ., his wife . and family . ( Cheers . ) Bro . Williams thanked Bro . Michael and all prpsent for their kind expressions ; he was pleased to hear ihnt his efforts to do all he conld for them in the Lodge had met with the approbation of the brethren . He would call their attention fo the claims of the aged , the girls , and the boys . Though

at a large cost , all were cared for , and they were well supported by the voluntary contributions of the brethren . He shonld always consider his presidency of that day as o preat honour . He was pleased to see so many Indies and brethren present , and he hoped to see even a more numoicns assembly when his successor shonld be in the chair . The W . M . then proposed the toast of the P . M . 's , they were bnt two

yet we have had valuable assistance from them ; they are ready and willing at all tin . es fo do all they can for the interests of the Lodge . Bro . James Willing jnn . returned thanks . The W . M . then proposed the toast of the visitors , whrm they were all pleased to see . They had indeed been honoured by the prespnee of the ladies : he wonld call on Mr . Low to respond . This gentleman said , he was not a Free .

mason , yet he hoped to become a member of the Order shortly . Ho was greatly pleased with the remarks of the chairman in reference to the Charities . The W . M . then proposed the toast of the Officers . The S . W . had been obliged to leave , yet he was pleased to see among them Bro . J . Douglass , the J . W . They were all that conld he desired . As for ( he Stewards , he need not say they had done their duty

m every respect , and he hoped all present would drink the toast heartily . Bro . J . Douglass said he had hoped Bro . Stiles would havo returned thanks . He owed him a debt of gratitude for the able manner in which he had looked after the interests of the Lodge , and he had to thank him for his kind attention . Bro . W . H . Stiles was only too pleased to look after their very modest reqnirpments . The

gathering of to-day had been a great success ; he was pleased at this ; it was not only a pleasure , bnt a duty , to do all they possibly could for the welfare of the brethren . The toast of the Ladies was next given , and responded to by Bro . Stiles . This was followed by the Press , to which Bro . H . M . Levy replied . The W . M . said , before the brethren separated , he had a toast to propose , that he was sure

would meet with their approbation ; that was the health of their worthy host , Bro . Fleck , who bad catered to their great satisfaction ; he hoped it wonld not be for the last time . Every attention had been paid to the brethren and visitors , who all expressed their gratification ; nothing more conld be desired . Bro . Fleck thanked the W . M .

for his kind remarks . No effort shonld be wanting on his part , at any time , so long as he received the praise of those who honoured him . Ho was pleased that his efforts had given satisfaction . Tea and coffee was then served , and the ladies and brethren returned to town , with the hope of meeting at many future gatherings .

Periodical Literature

PERIODICAL LITERATURE

AS regards the present issue of the New Quarterly , we have seen few numbers more to onr taste . The contents are sufficiently varied in character ; the quality of the writing is excellent , and the matter is light and agreeable , without in the slightest degree approaching the frivolous . Mr . John Latonche heads the list of contribntions with a continuation of those pleasant sketches of Portuguese

life , as it presents itself to the eyes of the tourist ; to which he has given the title of " The Tourist in Portugal . " Eaoh sketch is complete in itself , and in the present one Mr . Latonche takes the reader with him on an excursion from Lisbon to Setnbal and Troia . The whole journey out and home occupies only thirty-six honrs , but in that brief period we see , under the writer ' s guidance , as much of the localities and of the habits of the natives as we might do under the

Periodical Literature

guidance of some travellers in a month . And then the genial , chatty style of the narrative makes it all so thoroughly enjoyable . " The Peak in Darien : the Riddle in Death , " by Frances Power Cobbe , contains sundry illustrations of a certain class of death-bed scene . As in each case the vision which the dying person sees is one of happiness , there is nothing painful in the paper , nor are the instances too uume .

rous . Fiction has , as usual , two representatives , and very admirably they play their parts . The first is " The Countess von Labanoff : or , the Three Lovers "; the other " The Case of General Ople and Lady Camper . " Tho materials are very slight in both instances , but up'm theso slight bases both Mr . R . Hengist Horno in tho former story , and Mr . George Meredith in the latter , have succeeded in constructing

two very readable tales . Mr . R . Jefferies contributes a good paper on "The Future of Country Society . " It may be regarded as the plica de resistance of the number . Mr . Jefferies treats his subject at great length , passing under review the tone and feeling which distinguish rural from urban society , and in doing so he carefully notes the

changes that have taken place , while pointing to those which it can . not be doubted are likely to come , or , perhaps wo shonld say , appear to be inevitable . It is a most successful performance , Mr . Jefferies , and we thank you for your very sensible essay . Articles on " The Literary Aspects of Schopenhauer ' s Work , " and " Edgar Allen Poe " complete the table of contents .

Wo have received No . XI . of The Countries of the World , whioh commences the second volnmo of this excellent publication . We are still in the North Pacific region of the United States . The principal illustrations aro those of " A Mining Camp on a North-West American River , " " Mining ' Cement'by tho Hydraulic Process , " " Sacramento Strpet , San Francisco , " and " Stage Coach starting from a Railway Station in Western America . " The narrative gives a fnll and

particular account of life in California and the country round about , and is especially interesting as regards the mode of living in force among the mining population . As we advance into other States and territories , no doubt we shall find much that will prove attractive reading , but we doubt if it will prove moro attractive than the pictures of Californian life with which Dr . Brown has favoured ns in this and the preceding number .

The commencement of a new serial story and a series of " Miniatnre Stories for Midsummer Reading" constitute the novelties in Cassell' 3 Family Magazine . The title of the former is " Stone Steps and Wooden Streets , " and though it were unwise to hazard an opinion thus early , the style in which the opening chapters are written warrants our forming " great expectations " of those that are

to follow . The Midsummer Stories are pleasant reading . Mr . Edward Oxenford contributes one of the best things in the number—an account of" A Voyage on the Thames "—a water trip from Teddington to Oxford . Very pleasantly does he describe the scenes and scenery he passes on lis way np the river . His concluding sentence is worth giving . " Fresh air , fresh scenes , and fresh water are , " he writes ,

'' three great things in life , and all of them are to be met with in abun . dance in a voyage on the Thames . " We may add that Mr . Oxenford can describe as well as appreciate the second of these , and evidently enjoys the other two . Among the other contents , we would call our readers ' attention to " A Family Doctor ' s " directions , re . "Adul . teration of Food , How to Deteot , " to a very sensible paper on the

" Physical Education of Women , " and to the review by Major Hough of Lient .-Col . Jas . Baker ' s Turkey in Europe , under the title of " An Anglo-Turkish Gentleman Farmer . " Mr . Henry Frith writes pleasantly of " A Walk in the Lake District , " and the Rev . M . G . Watkins discourses as learnedly as he does genially about "How to

Catch a Trout . Mr . James Mason contributes an article on " Japanese Fans , " and Mr . G . Mauville Fenn is the author of a paper entitled "Workers by Night . " Mr . Fenn writes well enough to strike out a line of his own .

The Leisure Hour is distinguished by the commencement of a new serial story , with the title of " His Only Enemy . " We refrain from passing any judgment on it as yet , save to the extent of remarking that " His Only Enemy" makes a very good start , and that augurs well of his future career . The papers on " Dr . Schliemann ' s Greek Antiquities" will prove among the most attractive part of the whole

programme . In addition , we have a well-told story , " The Evil Deed Will Ont , " dating back to the days when stealing was a hanging matter , an article describing the various kinds of " Military Courts- ' Martial , " the first of a number of what will doubtless prove an admirable series of sketches of " Yorkshire Abbeys , " some " Curious

Anecdotes connected with Hats , " and the continuation of Miss Isabella Bird ' s " Australia Felix , Impressions of Victoria , " and of the papers on " New Helps for Hospitals . " In this latter instance , the " Dispensaries" come under notice . " London on Wheels , " " A Strango Dorsetshire Squire , " " Farming in Palestine , " and " The Great Smith Family" are well worth reading .

In the Sunday at Home Mrs . Pressor ' s excellent story of "Number Twenty-Nine" is continued ; so are the "Pictures from Jewish Life , " by J . Alexander j the late Rev . R . Demaus ' a papers on " The English Bible , " and " Welsh Peasant Sketches . " These , with the first part of Professor Porter ' s account of " A Recent Journey East of the Jordan , " and " A Cornish Legend , " are the principal features in a very good number . Tho illustrations—and notably the coloured fron . tispiece , entitled " Summer Shade" —are capitally drawn .

HoLLowiY's OIXTMESI . —Sores , wounds , ulcerations , and other diseases affecting the skin , are amendable by this cooling and healing unguent . It has called forth the loudest praise from persons who have suffered for years from bad legs , abscesses , nnd chronic ulcers , after every hope of cure had long passed away . None but thoso who have experienced the soothing effect of this Ointment can form an idea of the comfort it bestows , by restraining inflan . mation and allaying pain . Whenever this Ointment has been once used it has established its own worth , nnd has again been eagerly sought for , as the easiest and safest remedy for all ulcerous complaints . In neuralgia , rheumatism , and gotit , the same application , properly used , gives wonderful relief .