Untitled Article

Order . Bro . W . H . Absolon , P . M ., passed Bro . Mackenzie to the 2 nd Degree At the conclusion of the business about forty of the Brethren dined together .

GriHON Lodge ( No . 57 . )—At the monthly meeting of this Lodge , at the Bridge House Hotel , on the 17 th April , Bro . England , P . M ., raised Bros . Allen and Knevett , and passed Bro . Neal to their respective Degrees . The Chair was then taken by the W . M ., Bro . Willmott , who intiated Messrs . Roderick and Downes into the Order . Bro . Underwood , of No . 229 , was elected a joining member .

Constitutional Lodge ( No . 63 ) . —This Lodge held its usual meeting on Thursday , the 17 th April , at the Ship and Turtle , Leadenhall-street , when the W . M ., Bro . P . Moss very ably raised a Brother to the Degree of a M . M . ; it also held a Lodge of Emergency on Tuesday , April 1 st , for the purpose of initiating two gentlemen previous to their going to sea .

Lodge of Felicity ( No . 66 ) . —A Lodge of Emergency was held at the London Tavern , on Tuesday , the 16 th of April , for the purpose of initiating into Masonry M . Gustave Aries , a native of Paris . The ceremony was performed by Bro . James Morris , the W . M ., in the most impressive manner and with his

accustomed correctness , * the forcible enunciation of the charge conveyed to the newly-initiated Brother a highly favourable opinion of our Institution , and , at a slight refection , Bro . Aries stated that his ancestors , through four generations , were members of the Order , and some held high rank in the Grand Lodge of France . The Brother is the son of M . Arles-Dufour , who was the secretary to the imperial commission of the Great Exposition in Paris . Bro . Frederick Leaf , of Lodge No . 113 , in proposing the health of the W . M ., was eloquent in

commendation of Bro . Morris ' s attainments , and of his gratification in seeing the ceremonial of the admission of his friend , Bro . Aries , so efficiently discharged . The regular monthly meeting of the Lodge was held on Monday , April 21 , Bro . James Morris , W . M ., in the chair , when Bro . Baumman was raised to the 3 rd Degree , and Bro . Alfred Crosse was passed to the 2 nd . The Brethen then proceeded to the election of W . M ., and Bro . William Kynaston was unanimously elected , and Bro . Staples re-elected to the office of Treasurer . Bro . Graham

submitted a notice of motion at the next general meeting : — " That a testimonial be presented to Bro . Staples , in acknowledgment of his services as Treasurer of the Lodge for twenty-five years . " The Lodge being closed , the Brethren adjourned to a choice banquet , and in the course of the evening , at the expressed wish of the Lodge , the W . M . placed on the table the silver claret-jug and salver , which was presented to him by the Board of Grand Stewards for his efficient discharge of the duties of Secretary at the Grand Festival in 1853 .

St . Mary ' s Lodge ( No . 76 ) . —There was a meeting of this Lodge at the Freemasons' Tavern , on the 24 th April , Bro . Morris Wilson , W . M ., in the Chair . Three Brothers were raised to the 3 rd Degree . At the close of the business the Brethren adjourned to a very elegant dinner . Amongst the visitors were Bros . Jos . Dodd , P . Prov . G . W . for Durham ; Geo . Atty , W . M ., No . 324 ; and J . G . Peacock , No . 876 . Grenadiers' Lodge ( No . 79 ) . —About twenty members of this Lodge met together at the Freemasons' Tavern , on the 27 th of March , when Bro . Johnson , W . M . was in the Chair . Four Brethren were ably passed to the 2 nd Degree . The Brethren afterwards adjourned to dinner , and the evening was much enlivened

by the excellent singing of Bro . W . T . Bellingham , J . G ., who presided at the pianoforte , Bro . Spratt , and others . Lodge op Unity ( No . 82 ) . —On Monday , April 14 , a special meeting of the Brethren of the above Lodge took place at the London Tavern , for the purpose of presenting Bro . A . Lyons Bellinger with a testimonial expressive of the esteem and approbation of the Lodge for the manner in which he had conducted the Lodge during his year as W . M . Bro . John Edmund Cox presented the Jewel , and with it , in his usually quiet , impressive , and gentlemanly style , an appropriate address . Bro . A . L . Bellinger having replied at some length , in appropriate terms , the meeting separated . We take occasion here to remark upon