Her Majesty's Theatee And Bro. S. May.

minutes of the last meeting , which were put for confirmation , after which numerous letters were read enclosing donations and offering professional services . A communication was read from Bro . Chatterton relative to a morning performance at Drury Lane Theatre , to take place early in March , and a snb-committee was

formed to take the necessary steps for organising the same . The day performance at St . James ' s Hall , so handsomely proffered by the Christy's Minstrels , is fixed for Monday the 17 th inst ., tickets for which can be procured of any member cf the committee . In addition ' to these fixtures , arrangements are pending with other managers who have expressed themselves desirous of expressing

their deep sympathy with Bro . May in the severe loss which has befallen him . Several resolutions as to matters of detail were passed , after which the meeting was adjourned to Monday , February 3 rd , at 5 o'ClockJ p . m Donations will be received by Bro . Ledger , Treasurer , Era office , Catherine-street , Strand ; Bro . Beard , Hon . Secretary , 10 , BasinghaH-strect , or any member of the committee .

Meetings Of The Learned Societies For.

MEETINGS OF THE LEARNED SOCIETIES FOR .

THE WEEK ENDING ( FEBRUARY 8 TH , 1868 . TUESDAY , 4 th . —Institution of Civil Engineers , at 8 . W EDNESDAY , oth . —Society of Arts , at 8 . Geographical Society , at 8 .

Metropolitan Lodge Meetings, Etc., For The Week Ending February 8th, 1868.

METROPOLITAN LODGE MEETINGS , ETC ., FOR THE WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 8 TH , 1868 .

MOXDAY , February 27 th . —Lodges ' . —Robert Burns , 25 , Faecmasons' Hall . Unity , 69 , London Tavern , Bishopsgate-street . Royal Jubilee , 72 , Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet-street . St . John ' s , 90 , Radley ' s Hotel , Bridgestreet , Blackfriars . St . Luke ' s , 144 , Pier Hotel , Cheynewalk , Chelsea . Joppa , 188 , Albion Tavern , Aldersgatestreet . Unions , 256 , Freemasons' Hall .

TUESDAY , February 4 th . —Colonial Board , at 3 . Lodges : —Old Dundee , 18 , London Tavern , Bishopsgate-street . Temple , 101 , Ship and Turtle , Leadenhall-street . Old Concord , 172 , Freemasons' Hall . La Tolerance , 538 , Freemasons' Hall . St . James ' s , 765 , Leather Market Tavern , New Weston-street , Bermondsey . Chapters : —Temperance , 169 , White Swan Tavern , Deptford . United Pilgrims , 507 , Horns Tavern , Kennington .

WEDNESDAY , February Sth—Grand Chapter , at 8 . Lodges : —Westminster and Keystone , 10 , Freemasons ' Hall . Stability , 217 , George Hotel , Aldermanbury . THURSDAY , February 6 th . —Lodges : —Egyptian , 27 , Anderton ' s Hotol , Fleet-street . Strong Man , 45 , Freemasons' Hall . Good Report , 136 , Radley' Hotel , Bridgestreet , Blackfriars . Ionic , 827 , Ship and Turtle ,

Leadenhall-street . St . Andrew ' s , 231 , Freemasons' Hall . Yarborough , 554 , Green Dragon , Stepney . Victoria Rifles , 822 , Freemasons' Hall . Excelsior , 1 , 155 , Sydney Arms , Lewisham-rcad . Perfect Ashlar , 1 , 178 , Gregorian Arms , Bermondsey-road . Sincerity , 174 , Cheshire Cheese Tavern , Crutched Friars . Chapters : —St . James ' s Chapter , 2 , Freemasons' Hall ; Crystal Palace , 742 , Crystal Palace , Sydenham .

FRIDAY , February 7 th .- —Lodges : —Florence Nightingale , 706 , Masonic Hall , William-street , AVoohvich . Hornsey . Lodge , 890 , Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet-street , Prince , of Wales ' , 259 , Willis ' s-rooms , St . James's , British Chapter , 8 , Freemasons' Hall . SATURDAY' , February 8 th--Lodges : —London , 108 , Freemasons' Hall . Phoanix , 173 , Freemasons' Hall .

Poetry.

Poetry .

CHRISTMAS PLEASURES . By T . I . SWAIN . Christmas pleasures , —bright and happy Aro the joyous hours one spends Iu tho midst of svroefc surroundings ,

In tho midst of homo and friends . Festive season—gladly welcome , Time of feasting and good choor , Every one looks forward to thoo Lighting up tho closing year . Christmas pleasures—pure and holy Aro the joys kind actions bring ,

If wo spend our Christmas rightly , Pleasing mom ' ries to it cling . Can wo find a pleasure- greater Than to mitigate distress ? Occupation that our Saviour In his mercy eloigns to bless . Christmas pleasures—may bonovolouco

Ever guide our hearts aright , May we each successive season In true charity delight . May our joys seem still more precious From tho consciousness wo feel , That—as Masons should—wo ' vo striven Other ' s sufferings to heal .

LODGE SONG . Am— " Home Again . " Met again , met again , in this lov'd retreat , And oh ! it fills our souls with joy

, Our brothers here to greet . Here friendship beams from ev ' ry eye , And smiles on ev ' ry face , There ' s naught on earth can break the tie That binds us to this place . Trusting hearts , trusting hearts here each other greet ,

And oh 1 besides our happy home , There ' s not a place so sweet . The price of wealth , the pride of birth , AVe keep ln ' thin out- door . Receive the humblest son on earth , If true—we ask no more . Friendship sweetfriendshisweetlingers round the place

, p , And on each heart ' tis grav ' cl in lines That time cannot efface . AVe meet in Peace , we work in Love , And part upon the Scmare ; And unto Him wiio rules above Lift up out voice in prayer .

To Correspondents.

TO CORRESPONDENTS .

* * * All communications to be addressed to 19 , Salisbury-street , Strand , London , W . C . EBKATA . —In our review last week of the British , Irish and Colonial Masonic Calendar , it should have been stated that the book was published "for the proprietors , at 20 , Buchananstreet , Glasgow , " instead of " Glasgow , W . Porteous . " J- W . —Your communication has been received , and shall be answered in our next .