Metropolitan.

the general aspect of society is ameliorated and improved by Freemasonry , and that to be a good Mason you must be ready honestly and conscientiously to help , to the best of your ability , the brethren who may need your assistance . You will also find , with regard to the mystic rites of the Order , that , whatever the world may say respecting them , there is not a secret in Masonay with which the sternest and strictest moralist can find fault . You will find everything in connection with

it pure , everything beautiful , everything laudable ; you will find Freemasonry to be a mystic bond of brotherly union , not confined to England , or to any station ; not confined to this class or that creed , to this profession , or that calling . In Masonry we have no option ; we must accept men as brothers if they are worthy , irrespective of station . But when they come to us they find that wo teach virtue and practise it .

For myself , I consider Masonry to be a mission given us by God to instruct the unlearned . You will find , brother , those that were ignorant are made wise- You will further find that all that is dearest in this life is made dearer to you , and that by adhering to Masonic principles you will be fitted for the life which is to come . Yon will also find that the greatest Masonic secret is to render every one the greatest amount of

benevolence you can , and to extend to all your fellowcreatures succour in the time of advertisity . Had I a hundred tongues I could not sufficiently dilate on the beauties of glorious Freemasonry ; but before I conclude my few observations , suffice it to tell you that our great Masonic principles is glory to God . When you first saw the Masonic light your eyes looked the sacred volumeand that volume should guide

upon , you in all your actions . That volume will guide you if you obey the dictates of Freemasonry , and you will , while performing your duties and associating with the brethren , find that the end and aim of all Masons is the worship of that august Being who is better than good Masons , more mysterious than the unity of Masonry , and more bountiful than its benevolence . Bro . Sutherland , in thanking the brethren , said he

had been so struck by the benevolence that the lodge had shown that evening in the cases of distress brought before it that he could go home and look on his family , and feel that , if they had no- friends yesterday , when he was not a Mason ,

to-morrow they would have thousands . After other usual toasts , The W . M ., in highly eulogistic terms , presented a magnificent P . M . jewel , accompanied by a massive silver tea service , to Bro . Charles Coote , I . P . M ., as a token of the lodge ' s esteem and appreciation of his energetic and valuable services during the past year . Bro . C . Coote , in acknowledging the testimonial presented to him , said : I assure you I am not prepared with a set speechandtherefore , you must take the few words I

, , am about to utter with all their imperfections . It must he a proud moment for me when I am presented with a token of your satisfaction with my performance of the W . Master ' s duties . If the number of words were the depth of one ' s feelings , I am afraid I should keep you here so long thanking you that you would almost regret that you had subscribed for a testimonial to me . "I cannot express my gratitude to you , "

is a conventional term , but I know no other phrase which will convey my meaning . I am grateful for your kindness to me ever since I belonged to the lodge , both before and during the time I have been in office . I hope my exertions on behalf of the lodge have done good ; but whether or not , they have emanated from my heart , and they have been my best . If they have tended to the benefit of the lod I am satisfied . It

ge , is an excellent custom which is observed , in putting the P . M . jewel nearest the heart , and I shall wear it with the liveliest and best recollections , and with thankfulness that I have belonged to the Lodge of Israel . This beautiful tea service as a present produces great satisfaction , because being for use by a wife it will destroy that repugnance which wives feel to Freemasonry . The reason they don't like it is they don't know what it is

, but if they receive any of the fruits of it , depend upon it they will like it . Men ' s hearts are very good , but women ' s hearts are better ; and , though Mrs . Coote has often wanted me to tell her what Freemasonry is , I think when I say , in answer to her inquiries , what this present is for , that it is mado because the brethren think I have done some good to the lodge in my year of office in furtherance of charitshe will be quite satisfied

y , that Masonry is a very good thing . The remainder of the toasts were then given , and the lodge was formally closed . The harmony prevailing amongst the brethren was promoted by some excellent singing on the part of Bros . Joseph Isaacs and Turner .

PROVINCIAL . BERKS AND BUCKS . WINDSOE . — ' Etonian , Lodge ( No . 209 ) . —This old-established lodge held its annual banquet at the New Inn , on the 22 nd ult ., when the installation of Bro . J . H . Tilly , jun ., W . M ., and appointment of the following officers for the ensuing year took

placo , namely : —Bros . A . Wheeler , S . W . ; Revout , J . W . ; TV W . Shepherd , S . D . ; A . Goodehild , J . D . ; J . Cross , I . G . ; Jos . Pullin , P . M ., Treas . ; R . H . Gibbons , P . M ., Sec . ; and G . Case-The lodge was crowded to excess in consequence of the unusually large assemblage of the brethren , as well as visitors from the Castle and Provincial Lodges , including the G . M . othe province of Somerset , Captain Adair ( who , with his

accustomed ability , addressed the brethren ) . Bro . Captain Farrar , Prov . J . G . W . of the province , was also present , and delighted the brethren with an excellent exposition on the beauties and advantages of Masonry . Bro . Devereux , P . M ., Prov . G . Sec , was also present , and was much gratified at the whole of the proceedings ; and Bro . Powell , P . M ., displayed his usual ability in the manner in which he performed the ceremony of installation-All agreed in one admiration of the harmony and ability in which the business of the lodge was conducted by the respective officers . The proceedings were followed by an excellent banquet ..

CHESHIRE . CEEWE . LODGE or THE FOUK CABDIJTAL VIRTUES ( No . 979 ) This lodge met on Tuesday , the 15 th ult , at five o ' clock-Present , Bros . G . Lord , W . M . ; W . J . Bullock , I . P . M . ; Wilmot EardleyS . W . ; Rev- A . O'NielProv . G- Chap . W . Lancashire

, , , J . W . pro tern- ; and a numerous attendance of brethren , members of the lodge , and visiting brethren . The W . M . initiated his friend , Mr . Walter Knox , traffic superintendent of northern division of the L . and N-W- Railway , who has recently received the highest railway appointment in Bombay , whither he will sail next month . Bro . Lord also passed Bro . Milles to the F . C . degree . Bro . Bullock gave the second degree to Bros .

Fletcherand Kean , and raised Bro . Banks to tho sublime degree of a M . M ., in so admirable a manner as to excite the admiration of all present . The officers never were so perfect and harmonious in working any- degree before ; Bro . Gibson , played the musical arrangements of this degree , composed by the officiating Master , which , coupled with the vocal assistance of a full lodge , all increased the proper effect on the candidate , and he aftewards

acknowledged that the impressions and lessons of that evening would never be effaced from his memory , and that he shouldnover forget Bro . Bullock ' s admirable working . The lodge was then closed down to the first degree , and some routine business transacted . The auditors reported that the books were admirably kept , and that the funds represented a good balance on the right side . A petition was signed on behalf of widow Douglass , to the Fund of Benevolence , the one having failed for want of marriage certificate , but now this had been obtained from Australia , by Bro . Rev . A . O'Neil .

The W- Master said : Brethren , I have now a duty to perform , which gives me sincere pleasure . It has been considered both by myself , the officers , and brethren , that our worthy and Worshipful Past Master , Bro . Bullock , is most richly deserving , of some acknowledgment at our hands , for his very valuable services in this lodge , as its founder , instructor , and , for two years , the W . M . In fact we could have done nothing without himand now as Past Master we equally require his assistance

, and great abilities , for without his aid I could not fulfil the great duties of this chair . Time compels me to be brief , but you will all , I know , take " the will for the deed . " I therefore , Bro . Bullock , beg your acceptance of , on behalf of myself , brother officers , and brethren , this P . M . ' s jewel as a mark of our sincere esteem and regard . May you long live to wear this jewel , and be blest with health and strength to devote those

abilities with which God has enriched you , for the good of that cause , which I know you love so well , viz ., Freemasonry . Bro . Lord then read the inscription , " Presented as a Masonic memento of esteem by members of No . 979 to its founder , Bro W . John Bullock , on the completion of his second year of Mastership . —Crewe , Jan . 1 S 67 . " The jewel was of the finest coloured gold , supplied by Bro . Kennedy , Loveday-street , Birmingham , and reflected on him great credit . When it was fastened on the P . M . ' s breast the brethren expressed their approval with enthusiastic applause , which only subsided when