Metropolitan.

he begged to assure the brethren that for his OAVU and Bro . Joseph Smith's shave in the toast given , they both endeavoured to do their duty with zeal and to the best of their abilities . For the D . Grand JIaster , Lord Panmure , and on behalf of the Grand Ofiicers , past and present , he expressed his thanks for the kindness with which the toast had been proposed and received . Bro . JOSEPH SMITH , P . JL , had great pleasure iu rising on this occasion to propose " The health of the AV . M . " Ho had been placed in fche chair by the unanimous vote of

the Lodge , and he ( Bro . Smith ) was sure that he ivould not have arrived at that distinction if he had not been deemed worthy . ( Hear , hear . ) The JY . JL , he A \ -as happy to say , was a particular friend of his , had ardently joined him in forming that Lodge , and he might say that Avithout Bro . Osborne and himself the Lodge would never have been in existence . For his own part he Ai-as glad to see their AA \ JI . rewarded iiith the highest honour the Lodge could confer ; it had been one of his ( Bro . Smith ' s ) wishes to see him occupy the chair for

ivhich he had ii-orked , and he hoped I hat the Lodge would never confer its honours upon any one that did not work to obtain them . Their W . M ., it AA-as true , ivas but a young JIason , but he was zealous and attentive to his duties , and at the end of his year of office was sure to retire from the position of AV . M . with applause , because he was both willing and able to accomplish all he undertook . He felt great pleasure , therefore , in proposing the health of that excellent JIason and worthy brother , their neiv AA' . JI , Bro . OSBORNE AA ' . JI ,, begged to be alloived

, fco return his thanks to Bro . Smith and the visitors and brethren present , for tho kindness with which his health had been proposed and received . It was a great pleasure to have been spoken of as he had , and he should make it his study to try and maintain their good opinion , and ivhen his year of office bad expired , be hoped still to merit their kindness and approbation as much as they had been pleased to evince that evening . Bvo . HAVERS , P . S . G . D ., next rose , and said - . —It was with some diffidence that he had como amongst thembecause he

, scarcely kneiv the position he ought to take , and he considered the presentation be AA-as to make might have eome nitli more grace from the AV . JI . of the Lodge . ( No , no !) That was the same feeling that actuated him ou another occasion—that of a presentation to the leader ofthe Craft—but as they ivere all well aware there Avere always considerable

difficulties in kiioivmg one ' s exact duty , and as this world ivas made up of such difficulties , he must accept his portion in that instance , and offer a few reasons for his readiness to be present and hand their offering to Bro . Joseph Smith . A \ ith reference to their particular Lodge , Bro . Smith was its most active member , inasmuch as he was its founder , first Master , aud Treasurer ; three situations , the duties of each separately being no light matter , requiring a clear bead , and business habits , to maintain . Under Bro . Smith ' s guidance he Avas happy to find the Lodge

well furnished and free from debt , tho hitter no small merit in any Lodge , bufc particularly so ivhen it was but recently established . There was also another source of congratulation , that during the period ol ! Bro . Smith ' s office , being the first year of the Lodge ' s Avork , there had been no lack of zeal or fraternal fooling . ( Hear hear ) . Taking another point connected with their immediate P . M . —his work ou the various boards connected with tho Craft—he might almost say that no board was perfect without him—the Board of Benevolence in particular—for Bro . Smith

was a good man as a JIason , the guardian , and warm friend of thenpoorer brethren , just Avithout parsimony , generous Avithout extravagance , and might bo contemplated as a guide , for integrity of purpose , by the Craft at large-. To their newl y admitted brethren he AA-ould say thafc fche Craft had been existing for many hundreds of year , and was generally acknowledged to be of remote antiquity iu every injai'tcr oi ! the globe . Under the Grand Lodge of England they had about eleven hundred Lodges , more than all tho other similar jurisdictions in tho world ; and the yearly income of the English Grand Lodge and the charities connected ivith the Order amounted to no less a sum than sixteen thousand

pounds . This was a largo amount , but it would bo proved to them what they had most likely beard before , that the great object of Freemasonry was charity . After this digression he would return to the matter in baud . They all knoAV that of late there had been troublous times iu JIasonry—when one side naturall y incensed , had allowed party spirit to degenerate into factious opposition to cA-erything—when on the other baud there ivere not wanting those who , blinding themselves to [ Kissing events , could see nothing ivrong in ii'hat was done by authority .

These times were now happily—he trusted for over—passed , and ho referred to them only as showing Bro . Smith ' s share in those matters . Bro . Joseph Smith was too honest and independent to join cither side as a partisan . He steered a ' middle course , and although ho ( Bro . Havers ) could now say God be thanked they had saved the bark of Freemasonry , ivhich was threatened to lie wrecked ou the quicksands of party spirit , lie could not but believe some portion ol ! thoir success was to be attributed to the honesty of Bro . Joseph Smith , and other independent

brethren who supported without favour or affection that ivhich they believed to bo right , come from what quarter ifc mi ght . ( Hear , hear ) . As every man has his allotted task in this life , so Bro . Smith ' s has been to prove , by his honest manly independence ( which , though often expressed bluntly and fearlessly , w-as not the less sincere ) , his regard for the fundamental principles of the institution . As President oi the Board of General Purposes , he knew the value of Bro . Smith in bringing to the consideration of every subject that came before him his plain , upri ght , practical common sense to bear on the question . It now became his pleasing duty to present Bro . Joseph Smith , in the name of the

members of that Lodge , a Past Master ' s jewel and chain , which might be looked upon a * a double honour both to the givers and receiver , and he hoped that for very many years to come Bro . Joseph Smith might be spared to wear it as * the badge of his honesty , integrity of purpose , and the esteem in which he was held ns the founder and first JIaster of the Royal Alfred Lodge . ( Hear , hear ) . Bro . JOSEPH S MITH Avantcd Avords to express to Bro . Havers and the members of the Royal Alfred Lodge the sense oi ! the honour conferred upon him , and hoped by

his actions to shew that he was deserving of it . Bro . Havers had , ho considered , bestoived a great honour on him and the Lodge , and if any inducement ivas wanting to pursue the same course that had met with the approbation of their distinguished visitor and the brethren ofthe Royal Alfred Lodge , this mark ol ! their esteem would confirm him hi his career , but he hoped to try and do his duty to the last hour of his existence , irrespective of the handsome compliments Bro . Havers hail heaped upon himas well as the valuable token they had presented him

, with . Bro . Havers had done justice to his independence ; ifc had always been his study to act independently , and he hoped it always ivould be . He scarcely knew how to thank either Bro . Havers or his Royal Alfred brethren , but would tell them that their gift , and the hands through which it had come , would be cherished by him to the latest hour of his life , Avhen ho hoped to leave it aud the memory of that day as a token for his children and his children ' s children to look upon with pleasure , as evincing the respect in which his JIasonic brethren had held his

services . ( Hear , hear ) . The AVorshipful JIaster then gave "The health of the Visitors . " Bro . AAliiteman , in answering for himself and his brother visitors said if they , through him , said they ivere pleased afc their reception by the Royal Alfred Lodge , they could not express half what they felt . He AA-as delig hted with the Avorking and liberal hospitality , aud iu his oivn name and that of those standing with him , returned their cordial thanks . Bvo . Parkes was called upon to speak , and begged to endorse Bro . AVhiteman ' s remarks . The AA oi-ship ful JIaster next

proposed "The healths of tho Initiates , " and thanked each of them for the honour they had done the Royal Alfred Lodgo in giving it the preference , by which they had been admitted into the Order . Bro . the Rev . Edward AVaxle said that he was proud to address them for the first time , although , if he had heard rightly , it was suggested as

improper that they should rise to drink the healths of Entered Apprentices , so , like good little boys , he presumed , " they ought to be seen and not heard ; " still , howei-er much modesty might become him in his present state of pupilage , he could not altogether remain silent . Having been admitted " a member ef the noble Craft and mystery , ho was very much pleased with his introduction into JIasonry . it had been his desire , for sonic years , to bo numbered amongst the initiated , but local circumstances bad prevented him . ' He had brothers who iveve in the

Craft and had felt strongly moved to join the brotherhood but uei-er obtained the opportunity until that day . His desire Avould bo to Avork out as far as be could the excellent principles and tenets of the Order , and he should not , say more on that subject because there was a feeling ivhich he ivas unable to express that must recur to every one EIS h .-iA-ing experienced it on their admission . As far as doing an honour to the Lodge by choosing it for their entrance into JIasonry , he felt sure he spoke the sentiments of the other brethren on his right

when ho assured them that the honour was in favour of them , the novices of that day , but ho hoped he might say that they each considered the honour of the Lodge entrusted to their keeping and nothing should tarnish it . In his OAVU name and on behalf of the tivo brethren beside him , ho returned thanks for admitting them as Jlasons and drinking their healths . The AA ' onsiuveui . MASTKU proposed " The healths of the five P . Ms ., members of the Lodge , " viz ., Bro . Joseph Smith , the immediate P . JI . ; Bros . AV . Watson , Raekstraw , H . Potter , and their excellent Secretary , Bro . Buss , and called upon Bro . AA ' atson to roplv . Bro . AA ' ATSON , on behalf of himself

and his brother P . Ms ., said it was but fifteen months EJUICC the Lodgo was constituted , and 'it hail become both prosperous and nourishing The P . Ms , were willing ? to do all that thoy might bo called upon to do . And in their name he begged to return thanks for the toast . [ At this period Bros . Havers , and . Stephen Barton Wilson left , the brethren ail standing aud giving them a hearty cheer . ] The AV . M ' . then proposed "The Ollicers , " to ivhich Bro . Fry , S . AA- ' ., replied , stating , that Avith such examples before them as their late and present AV . JI ., they could

only hope to emulate them by treading in their steps . Tbe AV . M . also gave tho health of the tavern-keeper , Bro . lt .-ickstr .-w , AVIIO returned thanks in his usual good natured style . Tho Tyler ' s toast brought the evening to an early and . pleasant conclusion . Some excellent songs were sung by Bro . . ' Donald King , who ii-as in capital voice , and greatly delighted every ono present . Bros . Piatt , Jlatthew Cooke , and Rackstraw- , lent their vocal abilities to increase tho pleasure ofthe brethren . [ The testimonial presented to Bro . Smith ivas a very heavy and elegant

ivatch chain , to ivhich ivas appended a very neat oval Past JIasters jewel , manufactured by Bro . Piatt , bearing the following inscription on its back . AVitliiu an oval ol ! blue enamel , on ivhich ivas inscribed "Past Grand Pursuivant , " the inscription ran , " A Token of Esteem , presented by tlie . Royal Alfred Lodge , No . 10 S 2 , to Bro . Joseph Smith , first AV . M . 1 S 5 D-0 U . " Ten guineas were voted from the Lodgo funds at a former meeting to defray part of its expense , and fifteen more were subscribed by the individual members ; every member of the Lodge having contributed towards the augmented value of it . ] CEESOENT LODGE ( NO , 1090 ) , —An emergency meeting of this Lodge