Poetry.

Poetry .

WHY CHIME THE BELLS SO MERBILY ? Words by Mrs . Herbert Hodges . Inscribed , by permission , to the Lady Susan Smith .

Why chime the bells so merrily From j onder grey church tower , And why do sounds of mirth awake The solemn midnight air ?

The Old Year ' s past , and thus they bid Its joys and griefs farewell 5 And welcome in the New Year Morn As though ' twould care dispel .

Why chime the Bells so merrily In midnight ' s lonesome hour ? They strike within my soul a chord Of strange and solemn power ,

Can I , too , bid the past farewell Without a sigh or tear , And welcome in the New Year ' s morn

Without a thought of fear . Ah ! yes , for ^ though past sins arise In hues of scarlet dye ,

A Saviour ' s love hath banished them , E ' en as the year gone by . Then let the Bells chime merrily ,

And bid the New Year come : For each one as it speedeth by Leaves me but nearer home I

Metropolitan Masonic Meetings.

METROPOLITAN MASONIC MEETINGS .

For the Week ending Friday , January , 33 , 1874 .

Tht Editor will be glad to have notice from Secretaries of Lodges and Chapters of any change in place or time of meeting . i , Saturday , January 17 . Lodge 715 , Panmure , City Terminus Hotul , Cannon-st . „ 1329 , Sphinx , Bridge House Hotel , London Bridge . „ 1364 , Earl of Zetland , Old Town Hall , Hackney .

„ 1425 , Hyde Park , Westbourne Hotel , 1 , Cravenroad , W . Manchester Lodge of Instruction ( 179 ) , Yorkshire Grey , 77 , London-street , Fitzroy-square . Lily Lodge of Instruction ( 820 ) , Greyhound Hotel , Richmond , Surrey . Star Lodge ot Instruction ( 1275 ) , Marquis of Granby , New Cross-road , at 7 ; Bro . C . G . Dilley , Preceptor .

Monday , January 19 . Lodge 1 , Grand Master ' s , Freemasons' Tavern , Great Queen-street . „ 21 , Emulation , Albion Tavern , Aldersgate-strcet . „ 58 , Felicity , London Tavern , Bishopsgate-strect . „ 185 , Tranquility , City Terminus Hotel ,

Cannonstreet . „ 710 , Panmure , Balham Hotel , Balham . „ 862 , Whittington , Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet-street . „ 901 , City of London , Guildhall Tavern , Greshamfetreet .

„ 907 , Royal Albert , Freemasons' Hall . „ 1201 , Eclectic , Freemasons' Hall . Chap . j 2 , Prudence , Ship and Turtle , Leadenhall-strcet . Prince Leopold Lodge of Instruction ( 1445 ) , Lori 1 Stanley . Tavern , Sandringham-road , Kingsland , at 7 . Bro . T . Austin , Preceptor .

Strong Man Lodge of Instruction ( 45 ) , Old Jerusalem Tavern , St . John ' s-gate , Clerkenwell , at 8 ; Bro . Beckett , Preceptor . Sincerity Lodge of Instruction ( 174 ) , Railway Tavern , Fencliurch-street Station , at 7 .

Camden Lodge of Instruction ( 704 ) , Adelaide Tavern , Haverstock-hill , at 8 ; Bro . T . A . Adams , Preceptor . Eastern Star Lodge of Instruction ( 95 ) , Royal Hotel , Mileend-road , at 7 . 30 ; Bro . E . Gottheil , Preceptor . British Oak Lodge of Instruction , Bank of Friendship Sla Tavern , Mile-end , at 7 for 8 .

Metropolitan Masonic Meetings.

St . James ' s Union Lodge o £ Instruction Ci 8 o ) , Horse and Groom Tavern , Winsley-street ( opposite the Pantheon ) , Oxford-street , at 8 ; Bro . J . R . Stacey , Preceptor . Wellington Lodge of Instruction , White Swan Tavern , Deptford , at 8 ; Bro . C . G . Dilley , P . M . 1155 , Preceptor . St . John of Wapping Lodge of Instruction ( 1306 ) , Gun

Tavern , High-street , Wapping , at 8 ; Bro . T . Mortlock , Preceptor . West Kent Lodge of Improvement ( 1297 ) , St . Saviour ' s College , Stanstcd-road , Forest-hill , at 7 . 30 ; Bro . H . W . Lindus , Preceptor . Metropolitan Mark Lodge of Instruction , Coach and Horses Hotel , 323 , Strand , at 8 .

Tuesday , January 20 . Board of General Purposes , at 3 . Lodge 73 , Mount Lebanon , Bridge House Hotel , London Bridge . „ 95 , Eastern Star , Ship and Turtle , Leadenhall-st . „ 162 , Cadogan , Freemasons' Hall . „ 16 ; , Honour and Generosity , London Tavern ,

Bishopsgate-street . „ 194 , St . Paul's , City Terminus Hotel , Cannon-st . „ 205 , Israel , City Terminus Hotel , Cannon-street . >> 435 > Salisbury , Freemasons' Hall . „ 704 , Camden , Bull and Gate Tavern , Kentish Town ) i 857 , St . Mark ' s , Duke of Edinburgh Tavern , Brixton .

„ 1441 , Ivy , Windsor Castle , Southwark Bridge-road . Yarborough Lodge of Instruction , Green Dragon , Stepney , at 8 ; Bro . Barnes , P . M ., Preceptor . Domatic Lodge of Instruction , Palmerston Tavern , Grosvenor-park , Camberwell , at 8 . Faith Lodge of instruction , Refreshment Rooms , Victoria-st . ( opposite Westminster Palace Hotel ) , at 8 ; Bro . C . A .

Cottebrune , Preceptor . Prince Fredk . William Lodge of Instruction ( 753 ) , Lord ' s Hotel , Lord ' s Cricket Ground , St . John ' s-wood , at 8 . Bro . F . G . Baker . Preceptor . Dalhousie Lodge of Instruction , King Edward , Triangle , Hackney , at 7 . 30 ; Bro . Crawley , Preceptor . Prosperity Lodge of Instruction , Gladstone Tavern ,

Bishopsgate-st ., Within , at 7 . 30 ; Bro . Bolton , W . M . 1227 ) , Preceptor . St . Marylebone Lodge of Instruction ( 1305 ) , British Stores Tavern , New-street , St . John ' s Wood , at 8 ; Bro . T . A . Adams , Preceptor . Constitutional Lodge of Instruction ( 55 ) , Wheatsheaf Hotel , Hand-court , Holborn , at 7 ; Bro . J . R . Stacey ( P . M . 180 ) , Preceptor .

Wednesday , January 21 . General Communication , Grand Chapter , at 3 . Grand Stewards' Lodge . Lodge of Benevolence , at 6 . ,, 140 , St . George ' s , Trafalgar Hotel , Greenwich . „ 190 , Oak , Freemasons' Hall . „ 619 , Beadon , Greyhound Hotel , Dulwich . „ 700 , Nelson , Masonic Hall , William-street , Woolwich .

,, 9 69 , Maybury , Freemasons' Hall . „ 1044 , Wandsworth , Spread Eagle Hotel , New Wandsworth . „ 1349 , Friars , Cheshire Cheese , Crutched Friars . „ 1382 , Corinthian , George Inn , Cubitt Town , E .

Chap . 10 , Westminster and Keystone , Freemasons' Hall . „ 192 , Lion and Lamb , City Terminus Hotel , Cannon-street . „ 217 , Stability , Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet-street . „ 1269 , Stanhope , Thicket Hotel , Anerley . Pythagorean Lodge of Instruction ( 79 ) , Prince of Orange ,

Greenwich , at 8 ; Bro . J . Robt . Nash , Preceptor . United Strength Lodge of Instruction ( 228 ) , the Grafton Arms , Prince of Wales ' s-road , Kentish-town , at 8 ; Bro . J . N . Frost , Preceptor . Israel Lodge of Instruction , Rising Sun Tavern , Globe-road , at 7 . 30 . New Concord Lodge of Instruction , Rosemary Branch

Tavern , Hoxton , at 8 . Confidence Lodge of Instruction , Railway Tavern , Londonstreet , City , at 7 . 30 . Royal Union Lodge of Instruction , Horse and Groom Tavern , Winsley-street , Oxford-street , at 8 ; Brt > . T . A . Adams , Preceptor . Peckham Lodge of Instruction , Maismore Arms , Park-road ,

Peckham , at 8 ; Bro . David Rose , Preceptor . Temperance in the East Lodge of Instruction , George the Fourth , Catherine-street , Poplar . Stanhope Lodge of Instruction , Thicket Hotel , Anerley , at 7 . 30 p . m . ; Bro . H . W . Lindus , Preceptor .

Fidelity Lodge of Instruction ( 3 ) , Yorkshire Grey , Londonst ., Tottenham Court-road , at 8 j Bro . T . A . Adams , Preceptor . Finsbury Park Lodge of Instruction ( t 2 S 8 ) , Finsbury Park Tavern , Seven Sisters-road , N ., at 8 , ; Bro . P . Dickinson , Acting Preceptor .

Thursday , January 22 . House Committee , Girls' School , at 4 . Lodge 34 , Mount Moriah , Freemasons' Hall . „ uo , Peace and Harmony , London Tavern , Bishopsgate-strect . „ 65 , Prosperity , Guildhall Tavern , Gresham-street . „ CO , Grenadiers , Freemasons' Hall . „ 99 , Shakespeare , Albion Tavern , Aldersgate-st . ,, 766 , William Preston , Cannon-street Hotel .

„ 871 , Royal Oak , White Swan Tavern , High-street , Deptford . „ 1421 , Langthorne , Swan Hotel , Stratford .

Metropolitan Masonic Meetings.

Chap . 5 , St . George ' s , Freemasons' Hall . „ 141 , Faith , Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet-street . „ 177 , Domatic , Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet-street . 11 534 ) Polish National , Freemasons' Hall . „ 834 , Andrew , Royal Sussex Hotel , Hammers mith , Finsbury Lodge of Instruction , Jolly Anglers' Tavern , Bath-street , City-road ; Bro . Stean , Preceptor . United Mariners' Lodge of Instruction , Three Cranes ,

Mile-end-road , at 8 ; Bro . T . J . Barnes , Preceptor . Whittington Lodge of Instruction ( 862 ) , Crown Tavern , Holborn , at 8 ; Bro . Lewis Alexander , P . M . 188 , Preceptor . Doric Chapter of Instruction , Three Cranes Tavern ,

Mileend-road , at 8 ; Comp . T . J . Barnes , Preceptor . Ebury Lodge of Instruction , Bro . Palmer ' s , 12 , Ponsonbyst ., Millbank . Union Club of Instruction , Windsor Castle , Victoria Station , at 8 p . m . ; H . Ash , P . M ., Instructor . Highgate Lodge of Instruction ( 1366 ) , Bull and Gate , Kentish-town , at 8 : Bro . J . N . Frost , Preceptor .

Friday , January 23 . House Committee , Boys' School , at 4 . Lodge 197 , Jerusalem , Freemasons' Hall . Emulation Lodge of Improvement , Freemasons' Hall , at 7 . St . George ' s Lodge of Instruction ( 140 ) , Globs Tavern , Royal-hill , Greenwich . Robert Burns Lodge of Instruction , Union Tavern , Air-st . j

Regent-st ., at 8 . Belgrave Lodge of Instruction , ( 749 ) , Coach and HorseB , Strand , at 8 ; Bro . Pulsford , Preceptor . Stability Lodge of Instruction ( 217 ) , Guildhall Tavern , Gresham-st ., at 6 p . m ; Bro . H . Muggeridge , Preceptor , Panmure Lodge of Instruction ( 720 ) , Balham Hotel , Bal . ham , at 7 . 30 .

Unions Emulation Lodge of Improvement for M . M . ' s , Freemasons' Hall , at 7 . Temperance Lodge of Instruction , Victoria Tavern , Victoria-road , Deptford , at 8 . Burdett Coutts Lodge of Instruction ( 1278 ) , Approach

Tavern , Approach-road , Victoria-park , at 8 ; Bro . Geo . W . Verry , Preceptor . Clapton Lodge of Instruction , White Hart , Clapton , at 7 . 30 ; Bro . James Brett , P . G . P ., & c , Preceptor . Royal Standard Lodge of Instruction ( 1298 ) , the Castle Tavern , Holloway , at 8 ; Bro . W . F . Rogers ,

Preceptor . Pythagorean Chapter of Instruction ( 79 ) , Prince of Orange , Greenwich-road , at 8 j Comp . W . West Smith , Preceptor . Westbourne Lodge of Instruction ( 733 ) , Horse and Groom , Winsley-street , Oxford-street , at 8 . Metropolitan Lodge of Instruction , Portugal Hotel , Fleet .

street , at 7 ; Bro . Stacey , P . M . t 8 o , Preceptor . United Pilgrims Lodge of Instruction , Antelope Tavern , Lorn-road , Brixton , at 7 . St . James ' s Lodge of Instruction , New Tanners' Arms , Grange . road , Bermondsey , at 8 ; Bro . Howes , P . M ., Preceptor . Duke of Edinburgh Lodge of Instruction , Silver Lion

Penny-fields , Poplar , at 7 ; Bro . D . S . Potts , Preceptor . Doric Lodge of Instruction , Three Cranes Tavern , Mile . end-road , at 8 . Burgoyne Lodge of Instruction , Grafton Arms , Prince of Wales ' s-road , N . W ., at 8 ; Bro . P . M . Wuest , Pre . ceptor .

St . Luke ' s Lodge of Instruction ( 144 ) Roso Tavern , Fulham-road , S . W . Chigwell Lodge of Instruction , Bald-faced Stag Hotel , Buckhurst-hlll , at 8 . High Cross Lodge of Instruction ( 754 ) , Coach and Horses Tavern , High Road , Tottenham , at 8 ,

MASONIC MEETINGS IN WEST LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE , For the Week ending Saturday , January 24 , 1874 . Monday , January 19 .

Lodge 721 , Independence , Barr ' s Hotel , Chester , at C . Evetton Lodge of Instruction ( 823 ) , Masonic Temple , Liverpool , at 7 . 30 . Chap . 32 , Jerusalem , Masonic Temple , Liverpool , a ( 5 , „ 995 , Furness , Masonic Temple , Ulvcrstonj ,

Tuesday , January 20 . Lodge 667 , Alliance , Masonic Temple , Liverpool , at 6 . ,, 1276 , Warren , Stanley Arms Hotel , Scacombe , at 6 „ 1225 , Hindpool , Hartington Hotel , Barrow-in-Fur .

ness . Merchants' Lodge of Instruction ( 241 ) , Masonic Temple . Liverpool , at 6 . Downshire Lodge of Instruction ( 594 ) , 90 , Duke-street , Liverpool , at 7 .

Wednesday , January 21 . Lodge 537 , Zetland , Masonic Chambers , 9 , Hamiltonsquare , Birkenhead , at 5 . „ 823 , Evetton , Masonic Temple , Liverpool , at 6 . 1 , 1182 , Duke of Edinburgh , Coffee House , Wavertrcc , . its . „ 1086 , Walton , Masonic Hall , Kirkdale , at 6 ,

11 , . > -r . 5 i Victoria , Cross Keys Hotel , Eccles . > i 1353 , Duke of Lancaster , Athenaum , Lancaster . Chap . 580 , Unity , Wheatsheaf Inn , OrmsVirk , near Liverpool , at 4 . Harmonic Lodge of Instruction ( 216 ) , Mona Hotel , James-street , Liverpool , at 8 .