Metropolitan.

Bro . Eardley , the S . Warden , rose and said : Brethren , I cannot allow this opportunity to pass without expressing my entire and hearty concurrence in every sentiment advanced by our W . M ., Bro . Lord . Personally , as a brother , I feel especially gratified at this presentation , because it will showtc the brethren of our neighbouring lodges that we , the members of No . 979 , know how to value and appreciate a brother who has rendered such valuable servicee to us as Masonsand brought the lodge

, to its present nourishing position , and also that it will disperse the idea that we regard him with any other feelings than those -of pure Masonic love and esteem . When we know that Bro . Bullock is the father and the founder of this lodge , that we have to thank him , and him only , for our appearance here as Masons this evening , —that we are all , as it were , his pupils in Masonry and owe nearly all our Masonic knowledge to him . Surely you

must all feel with myself , highly gratified that we have this opportunity of showing our Masonic gratitude . Having myself taken a somewhat active part in this presentation it must , I am sure , be highly pleasing to Bro . Bullock , when I assure him that not one member raised the smallest scruple when applied to for a subscription , but one and all not only declared their willingness to contribute , but a ] so expressed their pleasure that

-such a testimonial was taken in hand . I will not detain you with further remarks , but must again express the great pleasure I feel at this presentation of our regard and esteem . Bro . Bullock said : W . Master , Bro . Wardens , and Brethren , —The position which I now occupy is to me both novel and "unexpected . Novel , because before I have never been the recipient of a public testimonial ; and unexpected , because I

"know it is not customary in Cheshire lodges to make similar presentations to their Past Masters , and also because I did not expect to receive any further reward for my humble services for the last three years and a half in this lodge , than that greatest reward of knowing and believing that I have done my duty -conscientiously , to the best of my ability , to the Craft in general -and this lodge and its members in particular ; but , let me assure

you , that it has only been " a labonr of love . " Brethren , it is little over three years ago when , at our lodge ' s first meeting , I experienced that great pleasure of initiating my first candidate into Freemasonry , and that in the person of your present W . M .,

and giving his hand the first Masonic grip . Words therefore totally fail mo now to give expression to my great joy and gratitude in receiving from that same hand of Bro . George Lord's , through your great kindness and generosity , this chaste , elegant , and very valuable Past Master ' s gold jewel , which I am sure will be always a highly prized heir-loom in my family . Brethren , my memory will lose its powers ere I shall forget your kind feelings which prompted this very pleasing Masonic

memento of your esteem . The pulsations of rny heart will have ceased when my gratitude will not recur to the donors . Though time and space may separate us , though fresh faces may surround me , yet whenever I shall append this beautiful jewel to my bseast , my thoughts will travel through an electric cable in company nith many pleasant associations , to you , brethren , who so kindly assisted me in founding the Lodge of tho Four Cradinal Virtuesand in bringing it to its present hihl

, gy successful and prosperous position . The good fruits it has alrendy reaped will alone amply repay us if the son of its first W . M . be elected next April ( which is very probable ) to the Masonic Boys' School , it will bo through the establishment of this lodge ; but who can calculate its future blessings , or the good that will be caused through already introducing more than twenty good men and true into our beloved Craft . Many of our members have left the town ; our first J . W ., Bro . Walter

Scott is now in tho Mauritius , and the initiate of this evening , Bro . Walter Knox , will soon carry with him . and we hope put it into practice , our " three grand principles and four cardinal virtues" in his new and highly important sphere of action in Bombay . I can promise him that he will receive such a fraternal welcome in India which only a brother Mason can obtain in a land of strangers . Brethren , you need no assurances from my lips to know that my heart is always warm in the cause of

Freemasonry , and that " I love the good old Craft which hath for ages stood , " and this your present kind and pleasing approval of my past independent line of action , shall cause me to treble my steps in tho directions pointed out by those finger posts of Freemasonry , the square , level , plumb , skirret , and other emblems of our Order , and especially the volume of the sacred law . One way of proving my sincerity shall be in my increased exertions to secure the election of our late dear old 1 'vo . Mould ' s little orphan hoy , to the Royal Masonic Boy's School , London ,

next April . Brethren , the Lodge of the Four Cardinal Virtues has sprung like that ancient bird , the Phoenix , from the ashes of its predecessor , but with a far greater lustre and brilliancy . I have little or no hesitancy in asserting that it will prove itself a star of the first magnitude in the Cheshire constellation of Freemasonry ; as regards a correct and duly impressive working of our beautiful ceremonies ; the promotion of brotherly' love and good feeling ; and in giving its annual support to the great

Masonic charities . Long may it prove itself worthy of that name , which I am proud to say , I had tho honour of giving it . It has been wisely said , " There are tongues in trees , books in the running brooks , sermons in stones , and good in everything . " If this axiom he true to the general world , what ought it to be to us Masons , who possess such a lovely " system of morality , veiled in allegoryand so profuselillustrated by symbols . "

, y What a text will this your jewel ever be to me . May the purity of its gold ever toach me purity of life and actions ; may its elegance of design teach me the beauty of holiness ; may its perfect square ever remind me of square and noble conduct to my fellow men ; and may Euclid's 47 th proposition , inscribed thereon , and which 1 ms been the foundation of so many great mathematical problems ever point out for my

guidance and instruction , that great foundation of our Order , the volume of the sacred law , which supports that emblematical ladder whose three greatest staves are Faith , Hope , and Charity , and may one and all of us remember in our daily social intercourse with the world , that the greatest of these is Charity . Brethren , before I sit down let me , as yonr only Past Master , remind you that the real and true Masonic lodge is not to be found within stone walls , but in the happy and purified bosoms

of its members . Its altar is that of the heart , its incense sanctified affections , its shrine the regenerated soul . Once more , brethren , accept my best thanks , which a life of gratitude cannot even repay , but let me hope that when I shall have been " summoned from this sublunary abode " to that Grand Lodge above , one of my two boys will be then found eligible and worthy to wear this , your presentation jewel , which was the first public recognition of his father ' s humble services , in that noble cause of Freemasonry . Long may our Craft continue to spread its blessings far and wide , and the Lodge of the Four

Cardinal Virtues increase in prosperity , fulfilling its missions to the relief of distress , giving comfort and consolation to the widow ; an education and home to the orphan , and in promoting brotherly love and good fellowship , aye , even until that great giorious day arrive , when the lodges of the world will be all merged into one number , under one Grand Master , even the Great Architect and Grand Geometrician of the Universe , even the Most High God . —A breathless silence pervaded the lodge

during the delivery of this speech , which was most warmly applauded , the elocutionary powers of the speaker in no small degree producing such an effect . Bro . Newton , who received his G . L . certificate last lodge although initiated twenty years ago , was proposed as a joining member by the W . M ., and seconded by the I . P . M . Another proposition was received for a candidate for initiation , when the great labours of tho evening were brought to a close in love

, peace , and harmony , and solemn prayer . The brethren then retired to an excellent supper provided in Bro . Halsey ' s best style , and which was heartily enjoyed after four hour ' s labour . The toasts given were tho usual ones , including " The Initiate , " "Tho other Candidates , " "The Visitors , " "The Worshipful Master , " "The Immediate Past Master , " "The Wardens and Officers , " " Bro- Halscy ; " and " Bro . Davics , " who is leavin g

Crowe for Enston . Some capital speeches and songs were given , and the brethren retired with the unanimous opinion that this was tho pleasantest and most enjoyable evening yet experienced in this young but flourishing lodge . Co > "SEc ' ] UTibx or THE ASHTON LODGE ( NO . 1 , 140 ) CHEADEE . On Wednesday , the 23 rd ult ., Bro . the Eight Hon . Lord de Tabley , Prov . G . M ., ably assisted by Bro . Henry T . Baldwin , Prov . G . Sword Bearer , acting as 3 ) . Prov . G . M ., consecrated

the Ashton Lodge ( No . 1 , 140 ) at the George and Dragon Hotel . After the consecration Bro . H , T . Baldwin presented Bro . Peter Paterson to tho Prov . G . Master as unanimously recommended by the brethren to bo the first Worshipful Master , and forthwith proceeded with the time honoured ceremony of installation , at the conclusion of which Bro . Peter Paterson was inducted to the W . M . ' s chair by Bro . Lord de Tabley , Prov . G . Master , and saluted by all the brethren iii the three degrees . Bro . Paterson then invested his officers as follows : —Bros . W . Ashton , S . W . ; E . L . Grundy , J . W . ; S . W . Wilkinson , S . D . ; S