Metropolitan.

Tie in favour of his admission . A ballot was also taken for Mr , T . Paul , which was declared to be in favour of bis admission . MTr . T . Hayes , who bad been balloted for at a previous meeting , ¦ which was declared to be in favour of his admission , being pre'Sent , was ably initiated into ancient Freemasonry . Next , Mr . F . Mew presented himself , and was also initiated into the mysteries ¦ and privileges of ancient freemasonry . The entire ceremony was given to each candidate separatel . Bro . A . D .

Loeweny stark , P . M . of two loelges , having asked tbe presiding AA' . M . whether he would kindly allow him to initiate tbe next candidate , Mr . T . Paul , who was a friend of his , permission was at once given him to occupy the chair , which ho did in an efficient -manner by ably and impressively initiating Mr . T . Paul into tlie sublime mysteries of tbe Oreler . Bro . F . Walters then resumed the chair , and , after the usual preliminaries were gone through In a superior mannerraised Bro . AI . Hornsey to the third

, degree . It was duly announced that a brother , a P . M . of this lodge , who had some eleven years previously been a member , . bad , at the last meeting of the Loelge of Benevolence been relieved to the extent of £ 50 . A poor member of this lodge had £ 3 voted to him . One gentleman was proposed for initiation afc the next loelge meeting , on September ISfcli . Business 'being ended , the lodge was closed .

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

BERKS AND BUCKS . PKOVIKCIAL GSAIS ' D LODGE . The brethren having been invited to attend a Provincial Grand Lodge at the Masonic Hall , Reading , on Thursday , the 23 rd ult ., they mustered in force at noon , when the R . W . A . Prov . G-. M . Bro . Mclntyre proceeded to open the Prov . Grand Lodge in due formwhich being donethe beautiful Masonic Anthem

, , was sung by the brethren of the choirs of St . George ' s Chapel , Windsor and Westminster Abbey , accompanied by Bro . Strickland , Prov . G . Organist designate , on the harmonium , after which the business on the agenda paper Was taken seriatim . It was . proposed by Bro . AV . Biggs , P . M ., 1 , 101 , and P . Prov . G . M . of Wilts , " That the Prov . G . Chaplain be requested to write a letter of condolence to the widow of the late lamented Bro

. Hole , Prov . S . G . AV . of the Province . " The Masonic life and character of the deceased brother was eloquently illustrated , . and the proposition was carried by acclamation . The investment of Prov G . officers for the ensuing year was then proceeded with . The following brethren were appointed : — Bros . Palmer , WM ., 771 , Prov . S . G . AV . ; A . G . Williams , P . M ., 414 , Prov . J . G . AV . ; Gibbons , 209 , Prov . S . G . D . ;

D'Almaino , 945 , Prov . J . G . D . ; Holder , P . M ., 771 , Prov . G . See . ; Shrimptoii , W . M ., 94 S , Prov . G . D . C . ; Ellis , 1 , 101 , A . Prov . G . D . C . ; Gotto , 948 , Prov . G . Supt . of AVorks ; Wyly , 840 , Prov . -S . R . ; Strickland , 414 , Prov . G . Org . ; J . Smith , 414 , Prov . G . Purst . The Prov . Grand Stewards were all ofthe Reading Loelges , viz ., Bros . Bradley , Hounslow , and Hurley , 414 ; Chancellor , Lyddonand Weihtmnn 1101 .

, g , , After the transaction of the business connected with tbe province , the brethren marched in procession to St . Mary's Church , anel here an excellent sermon ( which will be found in another part of our impression ) was preached by tbe Prov . Grand Chaplain .

THE BANQUET "took place ( by permission -of the Mayor ) in the Town Hall , ¦ which was gaily decorated with Masonic banners and mottoes , ¦ such as ' Faith , " " Hope , " " Charity , " & c . At the north end of the room were arranged a large and choice ansortment of -plants and flowers , which were kindly lent by Messrs . Sutton , Mr . WillesSbinfieldMr . AV . S . Darteranil others On tbe

, , , . tables afc intervals , were placed largo aud handsome bouquets , . and the hall , when the company were assembled in their gorgeous dresses , presented a most pleasing coup d'ail . After dinner , for the first time iu the provinces , ladies were-admitted by ticket to the balcony , and they were supplied by Bros . Chancellor and Lyddon with fruits , wines , & c , and everything was done that would conduce to their comfort . Tho chair was taken

by the R . W . Bro . Mclntyre , Acting Prov . G . M . The dinner was supplied by Mrs . George , of the Queen's Hotel , and she gave , -as usual , complete satisfaction . About one hundred sat down , "" ifon Nobis Doniine , " having been sung by Bros . J . S .

Tolley , P . Prov . G . Org . ; F . Marriott , of St . George ' s Chapel Windsor ; and H . Whitehouse , of the Chapel Royal , accompanied by Bro . Strickland , to whom was confided the musical arrangements . The CDAIEMAN proposed " The Queen and tbe Craft , and the Prince anel Princess of AA'ales , anel the rest of the Royal Family , " which were duly honoured . Song—Bro . Whitehouse . " Speed on my bark . "

The Cir . AlMr . A 3 . " said they had drunk the health of tbe sovereign of these realms , and her successor , supposing tbe time should come when she should depart from this life , and be should be in existence , anel he woulel now ask them to drink " The Health of tbe Sovereign of the Masonic Order , the Most AVorshipful Grand Master , the Earl of Zetland . " He was confident the mention of that name would make tbe blood thril boldly to the heart of every Masonbecause for twenty-three

, years had the Earl of Zetland presided over the destinies of the Craft , being each year re-elected by the unanimous suffrages of the Masons of England , anel previous to that time he showed himself fit to govern , by bis connection with the Duke of Sussex , and they might be assured of this , that no Grand Master , from fche earliest times until the present , ever strove so hard , or succeeded so well , in gaining and retaining the affections of the brethren . It was the Earl of Zetland's peculiar

characteristic of being able to draw forth latent talent , and when it hael been drawn forth , to give it its clue reward in the councils of Masonry . Everyone who attended the Grand Lodge of England knew that the youngest Mason had as good a chance , and even a better chance of making his sentiments known than bis older brethren , because tbe Earl of Zetland was always desirous that new blood should be infused into the Order ; thus , those who at first miht think they had something new to

g propose , when they became better acquainted with the- principles of Freemasonry , they found that they were what in reality they desired . He looked upon the AVorshipful Master almost as the embodiment of Masonry , and its principles and virtues ; and he endeared himself to every one by his kindness and affability . He woulel give them " The Health of the Most Worshipful Grand Master , the Earl of Zetland . " Ballad— " Shy He Bawn , " by Bro . Marriott , which was repeated

at the request of the company . The CnAiKAtAjr said the next toast was one that brought them nearer home , because it enabled them to call upon some of the brethren who were present to respond to it . Of late years the Grand Master had been assisted in bis duties by a nobleman , who by his transcendant talent , and at the same time by bis assiduous attention to the duties that devolved upon him , and he was well known and respected by the members who

attended the Grand Loelge , anel more especially by those who had seen him acting as the Grand Master for the province ofthe AVest Eieling of Yorkshire , —had won the respect of all the Masons . He hael always been capable of discharging the duties of his office , and most earnestly and faithfully bad he acquitted himself . He had shown himself an able president in the absence of the Grand Master , and had been most willing at all times to render assistance when it was necessary , and was a strenuous supporter

of the Charities of the Craft . He had endeared himself to all those who hael come in contact with him , and had given abundant assistance to the poorer brethren . He had never failed , when requested , to aid their noble institutions . At an anniversary festival which woulel take place in the ensuing year —which was dear to them all , because the younger members of the female sex were interested—Earl de Grey and Ripon had promised to take the chairand be had no elonbtthat fact

, , , would ensure abundant success to tbe funds of the institution . The other officer's of tlie Grand Loelge were well known to all the members present , more especially as he saw the Grand Loelge represented by two veterans in the Craft . He saw Bro . Spiers , their P . G . Sword Bearer , a brother as well known in the provinces as he was esteemed in the Grand Lodge , and who was a P . M ., and on all occasions came forward to render them all the assistance in his power . The other brother to

whom be bad alluded was of the same rank in the Grand Lodge of England , and who had devoted his time and energies in promoting the welfare of the girls' school . He went from loelge to lodge , and province , to province , urging them to support that excellent institution , and by his own untiring zeal he showed that he had the interest of the Craft at heart , and more particularly the institution with which he was connected . He would not say more than to remark that those two brethren were a sample of the other officers of the Grand Lodge , and if they were