Masonic Mems.

MASONIC MEMS .

THEMASONICMIRROR. * J * All communications to he addressed to 19 , Salisbury-street , Strand , London , AA . C .

GBAXD LODGE as SCOIIAXD . —The quarterly communication of the Grand Lodge of Scotland takes place an Monday , the 4 th inst . The meeting is being looked forward to with considerable interest by our brethren across tho 'In'ocd , more especially owing to the two special events to be decided then , namely , the appointment of a successor to the retiring M . W .

Grand Master ; Bro . the Earl of Dalhousie , K . T ., having been nominated for this office at the last mooting of the Grand Committee ; and' the appointment of a Provincial Grand Master for Glasgow , as a successor to the late Sir Archibald Alison , Bart . The two candidates for the vacant office being Bros . Capt . Spiers , M . P ., Snmor Grand Warden ( England ) ,

and Sheriff Strathern , of Glasgow . The report of the proceedings will appear in our next . PHOVIJTCIAI . GEAJS- LODGE OP GIASGOTV . —The quarterly communication of Provincial Grand Lodge ivas held on Thursday last , the 31 st ult . The report of the proceedings cannot reach us until after the time of going to press ; it will be given in our next .

Metropolitan.

METROPOLITAN .

LODGE OP PEUDENI BEEI-HREX ( NO . 145 ) . —The first meeting of the season was held on tbe 22 nd nit ., at the Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen-street , when the AV . M ., Bro . AVilliam Brooksby Crabb , opened the lodge ancl initiated Messrs . Goldsmith , Allender , Hodges , and AVood . Tho P . JI . ' s present were Bros . AVilliam Carter , Join . Boyd , and JR . A . Brown . The visitors present were Bras . Pyne , of the Polish JNational Lodge ; Bardo ; Robinson , 21 . ; Barton , Pythagorean Lodge ; Mills and Honey , of Lodge Prosperity ; and Charles Sloman , of Robert Bui-iis , No . 25 .

LODGE or ISI . AI . T _ ( NO . 205 ) . —This lodge resumed its meetings on AVednesday , the 23 rd ult ., at Uadlcv ' s Hotel , Jft . iv JBridge-street , The A \ . M ., Bro . Littanr , began business by initiating Mr . John William Pearman . Bro . Cromer was then passed , and Bro . JR . . 1 . K " euvo raised . These three ceremonies over , tho AOL then addressed the lodge as follows : —Brethren , —It has pleased the Almighty Disposer of Events , in whoso ' hands are the issues of life and deathto release from this mortal

, state our late Secretary , Bro . Dr . Ladd . By this stern summons of the King- of Kings to our Into brother our lodire has sustained a very heavy loss . Although at all times ive are bound to bend with humility and resignation before the chastening baud of the Almighty , yet the thought that henceforth our Bro . Ladd is blotted from the " Book of Life" for ever , must needs cloud tho minds of us all with sadness , and we cannot but deeply deplore that of the best and

one men kindest of Masons should have paid the debt of nature at such a very early age . Brethren , JI should not do justice to bis mem-iry ' were I not to express ' my high estimation for bis Masonic virtues , and our unfeigned regret for having lost him . Brethren , he was one with whom we often took counsel , and who was endeared to us all by the deep interest which be invariably manifested for the ) od" -e . Tho records of lod hem

our ge - sufficiently testimony to his zeal . Brethren , when occupying the inferior o ' ltlces 1 : 0 iva ' s distinguished by the greatest eiiieieiiey in all his Masonic duties . As WM . he won golden opinions ' from us all , for in tiie chair lie was preeminently distinguished by the refinement of his manner , urbanity , and elevation of character . He ivas really a scientific Masonwho had made Masonry his stud His skill in the

, y . arcana of the Boyal Arch was so went that it attracted the attention of our JU . AV . G . M ., who made him a Grand Oiliccv . As Secretary , you will agree with me ho possessed tho requisite qualities of energy and capacity : in fact , I consider Mm to have been the nc-plus ultra of Secretaries . Brethren , I think I sha 1

Metropolitan.

best honour his memory Avhen I say that , being dead , he is as deeply regretted as in life he was highly respected . Brethren , as far as Iranian thought can foresee , the flight of his soul has been directed upwards . Brethren , ivhen I come to consider that about three years ago I had the honour to propose , and subsequently to remit a testimonial to our late brother , and thatnow 1 have to perform such a different duty—ivhen I consider that

only last March he stood there , in his post as Secretary , bringing to bear his strong understanding and sound judgment on everything submitted to him—when I consider that he was full of life then , aud that all at once he has been snatched from us , then I say it behoves us , insignificant atoms as we are , to bow down in the dark , and adore in trembling our divine Creator , for wiio can tell whether all of us will assemble alive at our next meeting-. AYho knows but what he may be the next

victim ? Brethren , his sudden death reminds us of the uncertainty , shortness , and mutability of this life ; and , sooner or later , the same destiny awaits us all . Lot us , therefore , very often fix our eyes on the things in heaven , ivhere sorrow and bereavement are said to be unknown ; and let us hope that , although the strong arm of death has snapped asunder the tie that bound our brother to this lodge here below , we all of us shall meet him again in the Grand Lodge there above . The AV . M . having finished his oration , which was listened to with the profoundest silence , Bro . Coote , the I . P . M ., proposed , and Bro . Lazarus , P . M .. seconded , that a letter of condolence should

be written to the widow of the late Bro . Ladd . After the reading of a petition to the Board of Beiiei-olenee from a widow of a highly-respected deceased S . AV . of the lodge , which ivas signed by all the members present , tiie brethren were called off to thebanquet , which was graced by the presence of Bros . Ralph , of the Joppa Lodge : Brahaui , of the Montefiore ; Littaur , of the Gresliam ; and Griffith , former member of the Lodge of Israel . Tho AV . M ., in appropriate terms , proposed , immediately after

the three first obligatory toasts , a toast to the memory of theiu late Bro . Ladd , which was drunk in silence . In giving the health of the initiate , the AV . M . addressed the candidate as folloivs -. —Bro Pearman , —Having strictly investigated that you were solely prompted by the love of virtue , and a sincere desire to improve your mind by knowledge , you have been allowed to rally round the holy standard of Freemasonry . If now- you ask mo what Preemasonry is , then I ivill tell you its glorious

institution admits all ieli" -ious . leuis without trying to alter their character n lthou _ lu i u vti lg or slandering any particular creed—foi il' i opposed to toleration is not Masonry . In oui hoi \ e leniple there is room for the followers of the C'nuc ' i i i lei the followers of the Synagogue , for those tint n i ' I adoi itions in a pagoda or mosque—for all licun . ne the swio God , the great , tho iiicoinnrelieusibl t en 1 C 4 ic ! utect of the "Universe , Brother , tho Ma omc \ o i od connected by the strongest ties of affinity , and eu n iicic ctuitcdby the same principles , Wo invidioiH distiucf 111 L IS raioii ' us—merit alone is

respected , and iionoiu c _ iui iiliuo honours are due . In Preemasonry then , b u t it noi last , neither strong nor weak-, neither hi li oi i v -ii ill brethren , all equal . Brother , if you i lsh lui 1 it Iieemasonry teaches , I ivill tell yon . It toacln . i i AK . 11 to speak Avell , and to act well . Our pursuits u ' i 1 ng nor frivolous , for the most learned , thi . m id Ii most religious principles are developed in cm mi \ u will find the fundamental

doctrines of ire misoi > ' God , lnve one another , and live in peace md tl ill mmltind . . If yon ask me ivhat the effects if lie u n I will tell you . Preemasonry improve ill i . 1 id con cerates ail its followers tD priests of peine ind n ill it makes of us better men . If ' our Ordu _ \ i I it would have collapsed long ago—but what aic tin . f Ai 1 lie the mightiest empires lie buried in the du t oi ri . ni I \ _ find 1 reomasonry immutable

and iinperisliabl 1 Hi mtly as the sun at its meridian , altliou ., 1 n i c oiu the remotest antiquity . It almost appea i » I 1 m m ) _ . tliercd strength as it rolled on through coi n ji 1 I . Uier , I consider by your having become i II u A I Hue io ul ? . \\ academy of ivise men , for there is not n n cindiutly majestic subject for study than Mason < 1 con idci it to be the science of

^ all sciences . The to is <^ 1 ne \ I ltois' was then given and responded to by loll u he J ppa Lodge , in very efficient terms , and the lodge i . m 11 A eljsed . The banquet , pro . vided by Bro . Hai t a A the lug e = t praise , and it was followed by a very cleg i i U pkntiliil dessert .