United Grand Lodge Of Free And Accepted Masons Of England.

would be cordially accepted by the Grand Officers , in whose name he spoke , and lie said that they would to the utmost of their ability , do all they could to promote the prosperity of the Craft ; and deserve the dignity which the Grand Master had that day conferred upon them . Bro . Dodson , 3 I . P .. J . G . W ., also returned thanks , and said he hoped the Grand Officers would prove worthy of the confidence

which the Grand Alaster had placed in them . He thanked the ¦ brethren sincerely for the welcome he had received that evening on his accession to office , to which by the favour of the Grand Master he had that evening- been appointed . The reception they had given him that evening would bo to him eneouragomeiit , and ' . an incentive to discharge the duties of his position , and when he quitted it , he trusted it would be found that he had done no discredit to it , and lie should be as kindly received as

he hiul been that evening . The Grand Alaster then gave " The Provincial Grand Alasters , coupling with tho toast the name of Bro . Hall , Prov . Grand Alaster for Cambridgeshire . " Bro . Hall said he felt it to be a high honour on that occasion to respond to the toast , and on behalf of the Provincial Grand Masters to return thanks for the toast which had been proposed . He had great feelings of regard to the Grand Alaster , for he was

the first Provincial Grand Alaster who received his appointment at his lordship ' s hands . He expressed his gratification at the progress that Freemasonry had made , and although it had been denounced at St . Peters , or where it -vas ignored , a lodge had recently been opened in Austria , and he hoped that they would soon have a Grand Alaster of Hungary , and that Freemasonry would at no distant day include every other country in the world . The Grand Master gave " The Alasonic Charities " which was

acknowledged in very suitable terms by Bro . Patten , who impressed upon the brethren the hope that they would well support the festival for the Girls' School which takes place on the 12 th of Alay , and on which occasion Lord Lei gh , Prov . Grand Alaster for Warwickshire would preside . The Grand Master then gave "The Grand Stewards of the year , " and in doing so alluded to the success which had attended their exertions . He coupled with the toast the name of Bro . J . Ebenezer Saunders , their President . "

Bro . J . E . Saunders returned thanks for the kind notice the Grand Alaster had taken of their desire to pvovida tliem with the creature comforts , and if what they had done had given the brethren satisfaction , they wore amply repaid . The Grand Master , in giving the last toast , "The Ladies , " said he thanked them for the honour they had conferred upon them in being present on that occasion , and he hoped the brethren would show their gratitude to them by drinking the

toast he was about to propose . It ivas a great pleasure on such occasions to be honoured b y the presence of the ladies , and although some brethren might think it of little consequence , yet , as an old man , he spoke with some authority when he said that the presence of ladies was of the greatest importance to the success of their meetings , for no brother would venture to act with indecorum when their eves were turned upon him . He gave them " The ladies who have honoured us with their

presence , " a toast which was enthusiastically responded to . Bro . W . H . Kingston ! , No . 46 , returned thanks , and that brought this part of the proceedings to a close . The ladies and the general company thou proceeded to the Grand Hall , where the unfinished part of the programme of music was gone through ; and at which also the Grand Alaster , anA Grand Officers . it-tender ) . Some excellent songs were sung and received corresponding

marks of approbation The musical arrangements were under the direction of Bro . James Coward , Grand Org ., who presided at the grand pianoforte , assisted by Bro . W . I ? . Taylor , P . Prov . G . Org ., of Bristol . The vocalists were—Aladame Bodda Pync , Madame Patey , Aliss Banks , Bros . Barnby , Carter , Edward Murray and Lawler . We ought not to omit to mention that the brethren were greatly indebted to Bro . Saunders and Bro . Jolm Monckton , the

President and Secretary of the Board of Grand Stewards for the anxiety they displayed to render every Brother comfortable , and to render the occasion one of real pleasure , and we believe they eminently succeeded . Bro . Spencer discharged tho duties of toast master , with his usual ability . The new Grand Warden , Bro . Earl Percy , and Bro . J . II . Dodson , M . P ., belong respectively to the Churchill Lodge , Oxford , and the Royal Clarence , Brighton .

Metropolitan.

METROPOLITAN .

FITZROY LODGE ( NO . 5 G 9 ) . —A meeting of this lodge was held on the 23 rd ult , at- the Honourable Artillery Company ' s Rooms , Finsbury . At five o ' clock , Bro . AV . Adams , the AV . AI ., assisted by his officers , opened the lodge . The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed , and the usual formalities having been gone through in due form , the lodgo was closed , and the brethren adjourned to the mess banquet , which we may here observe was the best we have ever seen , and reflects great

credit upon the caterer . Amongst the numerous visitors we observed Bro . Dr . Simpson , the guest of Bro . Bird . NELSOX LODOE ( No . 700 ) . —The usual monthly meeting of this lodge was held at the Alasonic Hall , Woolwich , on the 21 st inst ., members present : Bros . W . Dunham , W . AI . ; E . Bowels , S . W . ; W . De May , J . W . ; W . J . Graham , S . D . j C . S . Norman , J . D , ; C . Hobsoii , I . G . ; R . Lacy , P . AI . Treas . ; J . Henderson ,

P . AI . Sec . The lodge having been opened in due form , and the minutes of the last meeting read and confirmed , Bro . Austin was interrogated as to his proficiency iu this degree , and having given proofs of the same , retired . The lodge was then opened in the second degree , and Bro . Austin passed to the degree of F . C . A lecture was then given by Bro . Henderson on the tracing board No . 2 . It is pleasant to find the brethren of this lodge number amongst them , P . AI . ' s who are able to work the

tracing boards , and give the usud lectures to its younger members . In so doing , this lodge bids fair to rival the old 13 lodge , the courteous W . M . of which , when time will permit , intersperses the working of his lodge by giving one of the lectures . It is therefore very pleasing to find the Nelson Lodge following the example of its Mother Lodge No . 13 . Tho visitors present were : J . T . Russell , 13 , Davis , 13 T . Hosgood , 13 , J . W . AVorsop , 913 , Penfold , 913 , Watts 913 , Murphy , 382 , G . W .

Berry , 554 , J . Ailerd , 913 , W . Priestly , 1 , 070 . The lodge was then closed iu due form , with solemn prayer , and the brethren adjourned to the " Red Lion , " and an evening was spent in happy and fraternal uniou . GROSVEUOR LODGE ( NO . 1 , 257 ) . —Consecration . —The M . W . the G . M . having been petitioned to grant a warrant for a lodgo to be named The Grosvenor Lodge , the most noble lord was pleased to gvar . t the same , and -appointed as his deputy , Bro . J .

Terry , P . AI . 22 S , 1196 , and P . Z . 975 . Bro . J . Terry having appointed Saturday , April 24 th , at 4 p . m ., for the consecvatioa and installation of W . M . at the private rooms , Metropolitan Railway , Pimlico , the brethren assembled in the ante-room , and a procession was then formed , iu the following order : Bros . T Moginie , Gee , AVard , Loewenthal , Bethell , Swallow , Parker Coulton , Frost , P . M . 221 , Davis , 228 , T . Foxhall , AV . M . 740 , Idenheim , S . W . 987 , Thirkell , S 7 , Dawson , AV . M . 144 , Hern ,

212 , Jekyll , 87 , Cockerell , P . M . 957 , Ferguson , S . D . 177 , Rice , P . AI . 19 . Dodd , J . W . 1 , 194 , Massey , W . AI . 610 , Hosgood , P . M . 192 , AIackucll , P . Prov . G . Purst . Hants , Ough , Assist . G . Purst ., Farnfield , P . Assist . G . Sec , and Bro . . 1 . Terry the representative of the Al . W . G . M . who was received with the usual honours on entering the lodge . Bro . Terry then took the chair and appointed pro . tern . Bro . AV . Farnfield , P . Assist . G . Sec . ( S . AV . ) J . Alason , P . G . S . B . ( J . W . ) The lodge was then opened in the

first degree , and the warrant read , aud tho officers named therein , who were approved of by the brethren . An oration on tiie nature and principles of the institution was then abl y delivered , by Bro- J . Terry , after which an anthem " Behold how good and joyful a thing- it is brethren to dwell together in unity . It is like the precious ointment upon the head , that ran down up the beard , even unto Aarons beard , and went down to the skirts of his clothing . It is like the dew of Hermonwhich fell upon

, the hill of Zion , for there the Lord promised his blessing and life for evermore . " The first portion of the dedication prayer was then given with the Sanetus " Glory be to thee O Lord . " The invocation having been given , Bro . C . Hosgood , P . AI . 192 , followed by two other P . AI . ' s carried the elements of consecration . After which an anthem " Glory be to God on high , peace on earth , good will towards men . " The second portion of the dedication prayer was followed by the anthem ' Glory to God

in the highest , let all the brethren cry aloud praise ye the Lord , for his merciful kindness is ever great towards us , and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever , blessed be the name of the Lord , for this time forth for evermore . " The lodge was then dedicated and constituted by the presiding officer . The Hallelujah chorus was then given , and a board of installed masters having been formed , Bro . J . Terry then installed Bros . C . Cottebrune , W . M . ; E ,