Metropolitan.

the lodge ; he had not accepted that office without being perfectly conversant with its important duties . He was never more happy than he was in Masonry , ancl the prosperity of the St . George ' s Lodge was one of his greatest wishes . He should endeavour to uphold the dignity of the Lodge hy performing those duties they had entrusted to him ably and conscientiously , with credit to imself , and he hoped with satisfaction to all ; so that , when his year of office had expired , he might retire with their good wishes ,

without eA'er causing them to regret the choice they had made on the present occasion . —The AA' . JI . said the next toast he should ask them to drink , AA'as "The Health ofthe Past Masters of the Lodge . " They were its principal support ; but where all had done well , it was difficult to particularize any . He should , however , take this opportunity of congratulating Bro . Edington on the success which had attended him during his year of office . The energy , zeal , and ability with which he had managed the concerns of the

lodge , reflected the highest credit upon him . Bro . Robinson had likeiA'ise done good sendee in the loelge , ancl was this evening appointed Secretary ; of Bro . Ryder , their worthy and respected Treasurer , too much coulcl not be saicl to his praise ; to Bro . Hogg also the lodge were deeply indebted , anel last , though not least , was Bro . AA' . 0 . Leigh , the oldest member , ancl might be called the father of the lodge , as he had been Aiaster upon eleven different occasions , commencing as early as 1815 , ancl it AA-as entirely through

his exertions the lodge AA'as still in existence . He hoped he might he spared for many years yet , to take his seat with the P . JI . s of the lodge . —Bro . EDINGTON thanked the brethren and said , they should still endeavour to promote the interests of this lodge , ancl be happy to render any assistance that at any time might be required . The next toast AA-as " The Health of the Officers of the Lodge , " the AA' . M . impressing upon them the importance of regular attendance ancl good working ; which was

responded to hy Bro . Smyth . The Tyler's toast having been given , the brethren departed at an early hour , the evening having been spent in an agreeable manner . LODOE or ISRAEL ( NO . 217 ) . —The members of this lodge met on January , Sth inst ., at the London Coffee-house , for the purpose of installing the new AA ' orshipful Aiaster , & c . Bro . Wei-theimer was passed to the second degree . Mr . A . J . Phasey , and Mr . Solomon Myer de A ries were next regularly initiated into Freemasonry . Bro . Henry A . Isaacs , P . AL , having kindly consented to perform the ceremony of installation , Bro . Henry Solomon , the

AA ' . M . elect , was duly presented , and installed . This beautiful ceremony was performed in such an impressive manner as to elicit the applause of all present . The AA' . M ., Henry Solomon , then appointed his officers as follOAA-s : —Bro . Henry Morris , S . AA' . ; Bro . Engel , J . AV . ; H . J . Lyon , S . D . ; J . AL Harris , J . D . ; H . B . Barnard , I . G . Bro . Joseph M . Isaacs , P . AL , was re-elected Treasurer ; Bro . Theodore E . Ladd , P . AL , Secretary , and Bro . Isaac Isaacs , the Tyler . Bro . Ladd , in the name of the members of the Lodge , presented the

retiring Master , Bro . Hyman A . Abrahams , with a handsome Past Master ' s jewel , ivhich honour he gratefully and feelingly acknoAvledged . Bros . Abrani Hoffman and Henry Cohen were raised to the third degree . The brethren then retired to a sumptuous banquet . The lodge being called to labour , Bro . Henry A . Isaacs was reelected President of the Benevolent Fund ; ancl in a very able speech , in which he enlarged upon the rise and progress of that fund , he appealed to the brethren to support itAA'hich AA'as responded to in a

, very liberal manner , no less a sum than £ 3215-. ' . 6 d . being collected . Bros . Freeman ancl Ladd , Past Masters , ivere elected Vice-Presidents of the BeneA-olent Fund , and the following brethren members ofthe Committee , A'iz ., Henry Morris , Engel , Joseph Raphael , John Jefli-ee , Samuel Joseph , and Hyman A . Abrahams , P . AI , ; Bro . Joseph At . Isaacs w-as elected Treasurer ; Bro . Benjamin Hai-fc , Trustee , the other Trustees being re-elected . A letter AVUS receiveci

from Bro . AV . Biggs , P . M ., AVIIO AA-as elected an honorary member , acknowledging tlie honour . TUSCAN LODGE ( NO . 11 ) . —The installation meeting of this lodge took place on Tuesday , the 22 nd ult ., at the Freemasons ' 'Tavern . The business before the lodge on that occasion was the admission into Freemasonry of two gentlemen , the installation of AA ' . M ., and the presentation of a handsome P . M . 's jew-el to Bro . Freemanthe immediate P . AI . The principal ollieers for tlie

en-, suing year are Bros . AA ' . J . Meymott , AA ' . M . ; II . Cazenove , S . AV . ; and AI . Cnttley , J . AA . The lodge having been closed , the brethren adjourned to an elegant banquet , ivhich reflected the greatest credit on Bros . Elkington and Shrewsbury . After the cloth had been cleared , Bros . Geo . Pen-en , Nappi , ancl Hermann , under the direction of Bro . Ganz , sang grace , and aftei-Avavels contributed by their abilities to the leasures of the evening . —The AA ' ifBro

p ..., . Meymott , in a terse but glowing speech , proposed "The Health of the Queen and th . e Craft , " which was received Avith that enthusiasm it ever meets in a lodge of Englishmen . —The W . AI . proceeded to give the toast of " The M . AA' . G . M ., the Earl of Zetland , " and paying those deserved compliments to his Lordship , incidentally

said , to those w-ho were attendants at Grand Lodge , the earnestness of the M . AA ' . G . M . in the cause of Freemasonry was well knoivn ; and those who had not yefc attained that honour must take the fact for granted . The toast AA'as received with every demonstration of respect . —The AA' . M . ' s next toast was that of " The D . G . M ., the Earl of Dalhousie , and the Present and Past Grancl Officers . " They were happy that evening in having two Past Grand Officers among them , Bro . Herbert Lloyd , AA'I IO ivas always

at his post , and Bro . Slight , who favoured them with his company as a visitor . —Bro . HERBERT LLOYD returned the sincere thanksof the Grand Officers for the toast . He had hopes that the Prince of Wales might be made a Mason next year , and that theymight look to him as their future M . W . G . M . For himself he had not been at Grand Lodge of late , for he did not like attending where there were such differences of opinion , but he believed that the Grand Officers ivere actuated by one spirit—to do

all they could for the benefit of Freemasonry—yet he felt they AA'ere in want of young and neiv blood amongst them ; and if the Prince of AA ' ales did honour the Craft by becoming a member , he was sure it would do great good to Freemasonry , and become the fashion to follow- his example . —Bro . Freeman , immediate P . AL , had to apologise for his hoarseness . It would , he saicl , be superfluous in him to say anything for the AA . M ., as he Avas sure the next year would be a credit to the lodge . —Bro . Meymott had , for a long

time , its interests at heart ; anel , in proposing "The Health of the AA ' . M ., " he ivould add , may long life , strength , and happiness be his lot . ( Cheers . )—The AV . AL rose and said , if he was able to make as : good a speech as the song whieh had just been sung by Bro . Hermann ,. ifc would nofc be a higher compliment to his brethren than they all deserved , for they hael receiveci his health in the wannest manner . AA'hat the P . M . had said of him they must take all upon trust , for he w-as , as yet , an untried man by them ; . but they might rest

assured it would be his study to do liis duty to his OAVII satisfaction ,, ancl he Avas by no means a lenient critic when his ow-n acts were to be examined . He hoped thafc he had given satisfaction in his appointment of officers , and looked forward with considerable pleasure to be , by virtue of the badge he wore , their Grand Steward of the year , as Ai'ell as hoping to represent the lodge as a steivard at the Girls' and BeneA'olent Fund Festivals , on which occasions lie desired that the lists he should hand in ivould be AA'orthy of the lodge ancl himself . To return to the toast , for itseulogistic terms let him say it was an incentive to do his duty , and

deserve the thanks of the brethren , which they seemed so Avilling to accord him . —The AV . M . then had the pleasure of bringing before them a toast they had ahvays receiveci with the highest honour—that of their P . M . and Treas ., Bro . Stephenson , ivho for fifteen years had alivays done his duty kindly , zealously , and efficiently . —Bro . STEPHENSON , the Treas ., returned thanks for the honour done him . He was accustomed to receive the toast in that lodge in strong terms . He had been for a quarter of a century

among them , and he felt sure that the applause they were kind enough to greet him ivith came from the heart . His hope was yet to live many years , and spend them all among them . ( Cheers ) . The AA ' . AI . claimed their attention for the next toast , as it was an important one , no less than that of " The P . Ms , of the Lodge . " They had a goodly array of them , and there was not one amongst them but what did his work ivith ability , zeal , and kindness . The AV . M . went through the ivhole number , individualising each , and

concluded with a warm commendation of his predecessor , the immediate P . M . —Bro . FREEMAN did not expect , so early in his career as a I'M ., to have to speak for all , but he might add , on behalf of those v . 'ith whom the toast was associated , that whatever good things the AAr . M . hael said in their praise , they deserved it . P . M . Freeman then gave an interesting reminiscence of his initiate days ,, and concluded by repeating his obligation for the handsome jewel they had presented him withand stating his intention ever to

, cherish ifc as a memorial of their kindness to himself . —The AV . M . said the Tuscan Lodge ivas not second to any in its performance of the duty of hospitality . They w'ere ahvays happy to see visitors ,, and they strenuously endeavoured to do the best to welcome them . It gave the lodge great pleasure to have Bro . Slight , a P . G . D . amongst them ; and with the utmost cordiality they drank "The Health of the A'isitors , " coupling the toast Avith Bro . Slight's name . —Bro . SLIGHT saicl ifc afforded the visitors great gratification to be

present . None Avere insensible to the entertainment they had seen placed before them . In the chair presided a very excellent friend , brother , and gentleman ; and the ivay in which the lodge ceremonies had been performed ivas truly admirable . The visitors had experienced a . most agreeable evening , both in lodge and at the banquet ; and in their " behalf he begged to thank the brethren of the lodge for its hospitality . —The AV . AL said the next ivas nofc a . mere formal toast , but Avas one nlw-ays Avell responded to by Freemasons w-ho w'ere proud of their initiates . He hoped they ivould not take their tone from Avhat they had seen that evening , and think it mount eating and drinking OHIA' , for it ivas a vast deal more useful