The Masonic Mirror.

THE MASONIC MIRROR .

MASONIC MEM . At the meeting of the Lodge of Benevolence on AA ednesday , December 23 rd , 11 petitioners were relieved with £ 113 10 . ? ., and 4 petitions deferred . The grant of £ 50 to Bro . John Snow , referred hack to the Board hy the Grand Lodge for further consideration , was confirmed .

Metropolitan.

METROPOLITAN .

PrTHAGOBEAN LODGE ( No . 19 ) . —This old-established lodge held its last meeting of the year , on Monday , December 28 th , at the Globe Tavern , Eoyal Hill , Greenwich ( Bro . Moore ' s ) . Bros . AV . B . Orchard , AV . M . ; J . Hosier , S . AV . ; AVard , J . AV . ; AV . E . Penny , P . M ., Sec . pro tern . ; H . A . Collington , P . M . ; Alnten , S . D ., and many others conducted the ceremonies of the evening , which consisted of two initiations , two passings , and two raisings . Bro . AV . B . OrchardAV . M . in his usual

-, , agree able manner , passed two brethren to the degree of Fellow Craft Masons . Bro . AV . C . Penny , P . M ., in a correct and impressive manner initiated two gentlemen into the Order . Bvo . II . A . Collington rendered the cei-emong of raising two brethren in his usual faultless manner . The lodge then closed . The brethren adjourned to a superior banquet . Amongst a large body of visitorswe noticed Bros . F . AA altersAVM 73 TMoore

, . .. ; . , 73 ; G . Morris , 73 ; B . Boneey , 99 ( S . C . ); Pools , 110 ; Noak , 110 ; G . Chapman , J . D . 147 ; J . Howes , P . M . 705 ; and many others . DOMATIC LODGE ( No . 177 ) . —The anniversary meeting of this lodge was held on Monday , December llth , at the Masonic Hall , Fetter-lane . Bro . H . AVilson , AV . M . presided , supported by his officers , Bros . Henry Thompson , S . AV . ; Osborne , J . W . ; Meekham , S . D . ; Simpson , J . D . ; Fredk . Smith , I . G . ; anil

P . M . ' s Carpenter , Adams , Kursen , Brett , Marshall , Smith , Elmes , & e ., and a very numerous body of visitors , amongst whom were four members from Birmingham . The lodge having been duly opened , and the minutes of the previous lodge read and confirmed , the AV . M ,, in a very able manner , raised five brethren to the sublime degree of M . M . The lodge was then resumed to the second degree , when two brethren were passed to the degree of a F . C . The AV . M . then vacated the chair , which was taken by Bro . Brett , P . M ., and Bro . Henry

Thompson , the W . M . elect , was duly presented to receive at his hands the benefit of installation , which was accordingly done in accordance with ancient custom , and Bro . Thompson was installed into the chair of Iv . S . as \ A . M . of the Domatic Lodge for the ensuing year , Having received the salutes and congratulations of the brethren , the W . M appointed and invested the following brethren as his oflicers : —Bros . Osborne , S . AV . ; MeekhamJ . AV . ; SimpsonS . D . SmithJDPrior

, , ; , .. ; , I . G . ; J . Smith , Treas . ; Elmes , Sec . ; and H . Potter , Steward and Dir . of Cers . Bro . Brett , P . M ., then delivered the usual addresses in a manner which elicited general approbation . The M . M . was then called upon immediately to commence his duties , their being one candidate , Mr . J . J . Wilson , for initiation , who was accordingly introduced , and admitted to the rights and privileges of Freemasonry . It was proposed ,

seconded , and carried unanimously , that the sum of £ 5 bo voted from the funds of the lodge , and placed in the hands of Bro . Jos . Smith , who had consented to serve the office of Steward and represent the lodge at tlie ensuing festival for the benefit of Aged Freemasons and their AVidows . Two or three candidates being proposed for initiation , the lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned for refreshment . Nearly seventy sat down to wellserved b

a - banquet y Bro . Ireland , and to all it gave great satisfaction . On the removal of thc-cloth , the AV . M . rose to give the first toast , which was that of "The Queen , " remarking that , at all times , Masons were not only distinguished for their loyalty to their Sovereign , but for their obedience to the constitution of Masonry under which they served . That day was a most important one , for within a few hours of the time lie was then speaking , it would complete the second year of the widowhood of their Sovereign ,

an event which they as Masons , in common with the whol country , deeply deplored . He hoped that she would again mix . with the world , and , as the daughter of a Mason , that the time was not far distant when they should be able to say that she was the mother of a . Mason . He gave them " The Queen and the Craft , " a toast which was cordially responded to . —The W . M ., in giving the next toast , " The Health of the Rt . Hon . the Earl of Zetland , M . AA ' . G . M of Masons , " said he was a nobleman ;

whom , he believed , had the good of the Craft at heart , and was ' every ready to promote its interests . The AV . M . next gave "The Rt . Hon . Earl do Grey and Ripon , M . W . D . G . M . o £ Masons , " and said that every one who had had an opportunity of witnessing bow that nobleman discharged the duties at the last Grand Lodge , must have been delighted at the able and impartial manner in which the business of Freemasonry had been curried on under his auspices . He coupled with the toast the

name of Bro . Smith , P . G . P ., and the rest of the Grand Officers , —Bro . Smith returned thanks on behalf of the Grand Officers . —The AA . M . next gave " The Health of the A isitors , " for ivhieh Bro . Emmens , P . M . No . 171 , and a brother from Birmingham , returned thanks . —The W . M . said the next toast he had to propose was a most pleasing one to him , and was rather an exceptional one , as it was given but once a year , and that was "

The-Health of their immediate P . M ., Bro . Wilson . " To propose this toast was to him a most easy task , for every one knew tlie good qualities of Bro . AVilson . He was able in the discharge of his duties , punctual in his attendance , courteous to his officers , and kind to all who had the honour of his acquaintance . The brethren of tho lodge at their last meeting had not been unmindful of his services , and had unanimously agreed to present him with a P . M . ' s jewel of the value of five guineas , as a small

mark of their esteem ; and , in affixing that jewel to his breast , lie ( W . M . ) trusted that he would long be spared to wear it , not only as a token of the esteem in which he was held by the brethren of the Domatic Lodge , but as an incentive to others to follow his bright example . —Bro . Wilson said although the duty which the W . M . had taken upon himself might appear to him to be an easy one , he could assure the brethren that it was not so to him adequately to return thanks them for the honour they had conferred upon him . He was happy to find that he

had given them satisfaction , and that the lodge was in so prosperous a condition . He felt that he did not deserve all the compliments which had been passed upon him by the W . M ., but he had done , his best to carry out the duties of the lodge ,, and the recollection of their kindness would ever be a great satisfaction to him—of the esteem in which he was held by the brethren of the Domatic Lodge . —Bro . Wilson , P . M ., said he had now a very important toast to propose , which was that of

" The Health of the W . M ., Bro . Thompson , " and he felt assured that it was one that the brethren would cordially respond to , as he was well known to them , not only in that lodge , but also in various lodges of instruction where their ceremonies were elucidated and explained . He had no doubt that their W . M . would carry out the duties of his office in a manner which would be a credit to himself and honour to the lodge over which he had been called upon to preside . —The W . M ., in acknowledging 'the

compliment , said he felt extremely obliged to their immediate P . M ., Bro . Wilson , for the kind manner in which he had spoken of him , and he could assure the brethren that no efforts on his part should be wanting to maintain the high position to which the Domatic Lodge had attained , for to be called upon to proside upon over a lodge whose numbers exceeded one hundred was in itself an honour , to say nothing of the unanimous vote by which he had been elected as their W . M . He did not hope

to excel their immediate P . M ., iu the way in which he had discharged the duties of AV . M . during his year of office , and if he could only equal him he should be well satisfied . He trusted that the Domatic Loclge would continue to prosper , and with the aid of the brethren and his brother officers , he hoped at the expiration of his tenure of office to leave the lodge to his successor in the same proud position as he found it . He thanked them most cordially for the honour they hud conferred upon

him . —The AV . M . said the next toast he had to propose was " Success to their Masonic Charities , " and in doing so he had to mention that Bro . Smith , the Treasurer of the lodge , had on . the occasion of the Festival , on behalf of Aged Freemasons , and their Widows , in January next , consented to represent the loclge as its steward , and he trusted the brethren would support him on that occasion . He coupled with tlie toast the name of Bro . Smith . —Bro . Smith responded to the toast . —The W . M . said the next toast to propose for their acceptance was that of