Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution For Aged Freemasons And Their Widows.

position to all the rest , for they were £ 10 , 000 in debt ; their property was mortgaged to strangers , and they were unable to admit those who were knocking at their doors seeking for admission . They had plenty of room , but not tho funds to admit the boys ' : and lie hoped that at the next festival for the boys' school the subscription would be at least double what it was that evening .

Bro . Patten also briefly advocated the interests of the girls ' school , the festival for which would take place on the 13 th of 3 Iay . " The Ladies " ancl " The Stewards " were afterwards toasted , and the proceedings were brought to a close . The musical arrangements were under tho direction of Bro . George Tedderassisted by Miss Hose HerseeMiss Rebecca

, , Isaacs , Miss Palmer , Bros . Montein Smith , C . Braid , and l ' arquharson . Bro . Henry Parker presided at the pianoforte . Bro . Spencer officiated as toastmaster with his usual ability ; and it was generally admitted that the festival had been a great success .

Metropolitan.

METROPOLITAN .

OLD KING ' S ARMS LODGE ( NO . 28 ) . —Tho installation mooting of this old locigo ( which dates irom 1725 ) was held at tho Freemason ' s Tavern on Monday , tho 27 th inst . Tho locigo was opened by Bro . Dr . O'Connor , tho W . M . ; assisted by his Wardens , Bros . Wright and Farmer ; Past Masters Marsh , Paas , Gurney , etc ., and several members ancl visitors , amongst whom wo noticed Bros . Patten , P . G ., S . B .: R . W . Stewart , P . M . 108 ; H . Muggeridge , P . M . 192 ; R . W . Little , P . M . 975 ; Bagstor ;

Gregory ; Jonos , 108 ; Percival ; etc . Tho installation coromony was ably performed by Bro . J . G . Marsh , P . M . ; tho incoming Master being Bro . G . H . Wright , S . W ., who appointed or invested his officers as follows .- Bros . W . O'Connor , I . P . M . ; E . Farmer , S . W . ; C . Tigno , J . W . ; W . Paas , P . M ., Treas . ; \ V . Jaques , P . M ., Sec . ; G . W . Martin , S . D . ; E . Twenty-man , J . D . ; W . Crawley , Tyler . Tho customary addresses woro thon delivered by tho Installing Masterandtwo gentlemen having boon proposed for

, , initiation , tho lodgo was closed , and tho brethren adjourned to a recherche banquet , served a , la Russe in a most admirable manner under the supervision of Bro . C . Gosdon , tho manager . Tho musical arrangements for tho evening , which had boon entrusted to Bro . G . Tedder , woro entirely successful ; and tho brethren woro highly pleased with tho vocalists , who comprised Miss Rebecca Isaacs , Miss Cox , Bros . Farqnhavson anil Todclov himself . In tho courso of tho proceedingsthe interesting fact

, was elicited that tho locigo was represented , as usual , this year by a Steward for all tho Masonic Charities—viz .: tho W . M . for tho boys ; Bro Farmer , S . W ., tho girls ; and Bro . Jaquos , P . M ., tho esteemed Sec , for tho Royal Benevolent Institution—thus clearly evincing that in this respect , as well as in ovory other , tho ¦ 'Old King ' s Arm ' s" is worthy of its ancient prestige and renown .

MOUNT LEBANON LODGE ( NO . 73 ; . —At tho Bridge House Hotel , Wellington-street , Southwark , on Tuesday 21 st inst ., the installation meeting was held of this prosperous lodge . Bro . F . Walters , P . M ., opened the lodge . Bro . E . N . Levy , P . M ., initiated five gentlemen into Freemasonry . Bro . Dr . Dixon , P . M ., took the chair . Bro . F . Walters , P . M ., presented Bro . T . J . Sabine , S . W . and W . M . elect , for installation , and be was installed W . M . there being no less than twenty Installed Masters

, present as supporters . The W . M . then invested Bros . F . IT Ebsworth , S . W . ; D . Rose , J . W . ; E . Harris , P . M ., Treas . reinvested ; J . Donkin , P . M ., Sec re-invested ; M . A . Loewenstark , S . D . ; G . Free , J . D . . ; R . Ord , I . G . ; G . J . Grace , Dir . of Cors . d I ! . Stevens , W . S . The addresses were then given , and showehow well Bro . Dr . Dixon , P . M ., was able to render this cere , mony . There were present besides those alreadnamedBros

y , H . Moore , P . M . ; G . Morris , P . M . ; and an unusual largo number of the brethren . Tho visitors were more numerous than usual and without attempting to enumerate all we noticed , Bros . E . II . Patten , H . Muggeridge , G . Bolton , W . Smith , C . F ., Batthye . A first class dinner , served a , la russe , followed .

LODGE OI ? TEJIPEIUNCE ( No . 169 ) . —This old lodge met at the White Swan Tavern , High Street , Deptford , on Thursday , 16 th inst . Bro . J . Payne , W . M ., opened the lodge . He raised Bro . Clack to the third degree . Bro . Dr . Downing he passed to the second degree . Bro . G . Bolton , P . M ., took the chair aud installed Bro . J . Searle , P . M ., as the W . M ., in the presence

Metropolitan.

ofadozen Installed Masters . Bro . Searle , AV . M ., appointed ancl invested Bros . Woodland , S . W . ; Pulley , J . W . ; Brown , P . M .. Treas . re-invested ; J . T . Tibbals , P . M ., Sec . ; Williamson , S . D . ; Rosenstock , J . D . ; Holt , P . M ., Tyler re-invested . Then followed the beautiful addresses which were admirably given , ancl when completed called forth the unanimous approbation of all present proving how well and correctly Bro . G . Bolton , P . M .,

is able to do and does this all important ceremony . Bro . J . Payne , I . P . M ., had the customary five guinea jewel given to him . The lodge was closed amongst a large number of visitors were Bros . Walters , P . M . 73 ; Gale , P . M ., 5-1-8 , & c .

JOED AX LODGE ( NO . 201 ) . — The regular meeting of tins lodge was held at the Freemason ' s Tavern , Great Queen Street , on Friday the 17 th inst ., at 3 p . m ., ancl was very numerously attended . The W . M " ., Bro . J . Hammond , opened the lodge in the first degree , and the minutes were read and confirmed . Bros . Cecil Rogers and Stowdeft , 998 , were then examined as to their proficiency , and passed out of the lodge which was then opened in the second degree . W . Bro . Dr . Goldsboro' then

took the chair , in order to pass the above brethren , who were personal friends of his , to the second degree . The ceremony of passing having been performed in W . Bro . Goldsboro ' s usual able manner , the chair was resumed by the W . M ., who opened the lodge in the third degree , and raised Bros . W . Rolls ancl GBainbridge to tho sublime degree . W . Bro . Goldsboro' then presented Bro . J . Shepherd , S . W ., as W . AI . elect , and the W . M-

proceeded with the ceremony of installation , until the formation of the board of installed masters , when the chair was taken by W . Bro . J . R . Sheen , who completed the ceremony , in a most impressive manner . The board of Installed Masters consisted of the following , W . Bros . E . H . Patten , P . G . S . B . ; E . Spooner , J . R . Sheen , H . M . Arliss , R . Watts , J . Robinson , T . W . J .. Goldsboro ' , M . D ., P . Prov . S . G . W ., North Wales and Shropshire ; J . Dver , It . J . Jeffer , W . Hammond , H . Carvill , J . Harris , J . Hammond , P . M . ' s 201 ; F . Smith , P . M ., 998 ; Rev . J . J . Farnham , P . M . 757 , 1 , 062 , and P . D . S . G . W ., Bombay ; andT . Gervise ,,

P . M . 247 . The ceremony of installation being completed , the W . M . proceeded to invest his officers as follows : W . Bro . J . Hammond , J . P . M . ; Bros . G . W . Martin , S . W . ; F . Smith , J . W . ; R . Watts . Treas . ; E . Spooner , Sec ; P . Robinson , I . G . ; M . Wolfsky , J . D . ; IT . M . Arliss , Dir . of Cers . ; J . Robinson , W . S . ; Rev . J . J . Farnham , I . G . W . Bro . Arliss then proposed that a P . M . ' s jewel should he presented to W . Bro . J . Hammond , for his valuable services as W . M . during the past year . This was

seconded by W . Bro . Goldsboro ' , ancl carried unanimously . W . Bro . Sheen thon spoke of the loss recently sustained by Bro . S . May , by the destruction of Her Majesty ' s Theatre , he having lost costumes , which it had taken him many years and cost him some thousand of pounds to apcumulate . He stated that a fund was being formed to present Bro . May with a purse from his Masonic and theatrical friendsancl proposed that £ 5 5 s . be

, voted from the lodge funds for that purpose . W . Bro . Robinson , in seconding this , said that no more generous Mason lived than Bro . May . In time of his prosperity , his heart and his hand had alike been ever open , ancl it was the duty of his brethren , now , to help him in the hour of his need . We are glad to announce that not only was the resolution unanimously carried , but that about £ 30 was afterwards subscribed to the

fund by members ofthe lodge . The lodge was , then closed , and the brethren adjourned to an excellent banquet , after which the usual loyal , Masonic , and complimentary toasts were drunk , and some excellent songs were sung .

WHITTINGTON' LODGE ( No . 8 C 2 ) . —Tho usual monthly mooting of this lodgo was hold at Bedford-row on tho 20 th inst . Bro . T . J . Nix opened tho lodgo , and was supported by Bros . W . F . Smith , P . M ., as S . W .: J . Weaver , J . W . ; J . G . Thompson , P . M ., Treas , ; R . W . Little . P . M ., Sec . ; J . Brett , P . M ., W . S . ; W . Hurlstouo , W . ; F . N . Quilty , P . M . ; J . Salsbury , J . D . ; Airman , Frickenhaus , Stone , Tunics , Jonos , Kingston , Walker , etc . In . tho courso of tho evening Bro . Borgoman was passedancl

, Messrs . A . Williams , G . Payno , and C . A Payno wore duly initiated , both ceremonies being admirably rendered by tho W . M . Tho lodgo having been closed tho brethren proceeded to Anderton ' s Hotel , Floot-stroet ( whoi-o the futuro meetings oi tho lodgo will bo held ) , ancl a most enjoyable evening was spent . Tho lodgo was favoured with tho presence of Bro . H . Tanner , AV . M . ( OSG , Bristol ) , who was the only visitor .

ROTAL OAK LODGE ( NO . 871 ) . —The regular meeting of this lodge was held on Wednesday , 22 nd inst . Bro . W . Andrews , W . M , presided . He passed Bro , Watson to the second degree .