Metropolitan.

NEAV COXCOED LODGE ( SO . S 13 ) . —The first meeting of the season ivas held ou Friday , the 19 th ult ., at Bro . Gabbs , Rosemary Branch , Iloxton . Tho lodge was opened by the AV . JI ., Bvo . AV . Nightingale , assisted by Bros . Wilson , & . W ., and Hart , J . AV . Bro . AA ebster ivas passed to the second degree . A letter was read from Bro . Farnfield , asking this lodgo to send a steward to the Aged Freemasons' Festival , to be held on the 29 th January . Bro . AVilson , S . AV ., in announcing that he had

consented to act as steward , hoped that this lodgo ivould subscribe to his list , and thus enable him to carry in an amount of which he might be proud . The lodge having been closed the brethren sat down to a banquet , to wliich . they did ample justice . In replying to the toast of " Tho P . M . " Bro . Emmens made some trite observations on the admission of candidates for initiation , stating in the course of his remarks that it was not necessary for the support of a lodgo that there should bo many initiates . A lodgo was always able to exist without having a long list of newly-made Masons .

ROYAL OAK LODGE ( NO . 871 ) , —Bro . AV . Andrews , "W . M ., opened -his prosperous lodge at its regular meeting , on AA ednesday , the 23 rd ult ., at the Royal Oak Tavern , High-street , Deptford , there being present during the time the lodge ivas opened : —Bros . J . Hawker , S . W . ; AV . Joifery , J . AV . ; H . A . Collington , P . M ., Treas ..- P . Walters , P . M ., Sec . ; J . Truelovc , S . D . ; H . Whittle , J . D . ; S . G . Cook , as I . G . ; P . AValters , P . M ., Dir . of Cers . ; R . E . TurnerG . T . LimnT . IlillmanG . P .

, , , Honey , G . AVhiffen , AV . Dabriel , G . Ellis , T . C . King , W Billington , R . Deal , and many others . The visitors were Bros . E . Harris , P . M . and Treas . ; the collector for the Boys' School ; H . Bndsor , 73 ; C . Nash , I . G . 79 ; JN . AViugllokl , P . M . 169 aud 147 , W . M . 1 , 155 ; G . E . Gale , AV . M . 548 , and somo others . Tho minutes of the lodge meeting were read and unanimously confirmed . Bro . J . Whiffen , I . G . 147 , was unanimously elected a

joining member . The work done was passing Bro . R . E . Turner to the second degree . Then Bros . I . Killncr and T . C . King ivere introduced and raised separately to the third degree . Bro . H . A . Collington , P . M . and Treas ., at the request of the W . M . took the chair and gave the traditional history and the working tools of the third degree . Bro . AV . Andrew's , W . M ., resumed the chair . Five guineas , previously voted from the charity fund of this lodgo , were paid into the Boys' School . The indefatigable collector being present , Bro . fi . Harris , to secure the AV . M . of this lodge , for tho time being , a life

governor of that noble institution . Tbe order received bycircular from the Grand Lodge ivas fully carried out here . An American presented himself to visit this lodge . A P . M . and P . Z . tried him , found , and reported that he did not possess the slightest proof of identity and recommended bis non-admission ; which was agreed to and carried out . It was with pain that it was ascertained that this same person had been admitted as a visitor to ono lodge . He stated ho had

been visiting lodges in Great Qnoon-strcofc . It seems incredible that ho has escaped the searching investigation that is required before any stranger ought to be admitted mtoi ? a Masonic assembly . When ivill proper care bo exercised in the admission of strangers by some lodges . This fact only tends to shoiv tho wisdom of the Grand Lodge in issuing its recent circular and with sonic lodges the necessity of reminding them

of their duties in reference to visiting brethren . The Secretary gave some important notices of motion which ivere ordered by the AV . M . to be inserted on the next lodge summonses that were issued . Tho lodge was duly closed . The admirable manner in . which all the work was done by the presiding officers proved how fortuanate this young lodge is in the selection of efficient members as Installed Masters . The usual good banquet followed . Tho regular routine followed . After a few hours spent agreeably the brethren withdrew to yield themselves to the influence of " Tired Nature's sweet restorer , balmy sleep . "

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORELAND . CABMSIE . — Union Zodge ( So . 310 ) . — , A lodge of emergencv was held on Tuesday evening , the 22 nd ult . Bro . G . G . Hayivard occupied the chair , and ' there were present Bros . J . Slack , S . W . ; T . Cockburn , J . AV . pro Urn . ; AV . Johnston , S . D . ; ( 1 . Somerville , J . D . ; G . Murchie , Sec . ; W . Court , Treas . ; J . Gibson , I , G . ; J . Iredale , P . D . Prov . G . M . ; P . W . Haywanl , P .

Provincial.

Prov . S . G . AV . ; T . Blacklock , P . M . ; AV . Pratchitt , J . Atkinson , A . A \ oodhouse ( S . AV . 412 ) , Prov . G . Sec ; John Barns , Tyler . Bro . Richard A . Brooke , P . M . St . Pauls ( No . 374 ) , Montreal , Canada , ivho is at present staying in Glasgow , was the only visitor . Tho lodgo was duly opened by the W . JI . in the second degree , when Bro . W . Thompson was raised to the sublime degree of JIaster Mason by Bro . P . W . Ilayivard , Bro . Iredale iving the lecture . Tho ceremony was creditably doneand the

g , lodge was then closed down . The brethren then assembled in the refreshment room . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts-Avere given . Bro . Iredale proposed " The Health of Bro . Brooke , ' * and said that it showed there were some good brethren in the country Avhen Bro . Brooke had that day travelled from Glasgow for the sole purpose of visiting this lodge , and ivhen he left here ho was going back to Glasgow by the 10 p . m . train , and a &

there ivas not much time to spare , lie ( Bro . Iredale ) hoped that the brethren would drink—in a bumper—the health of Bro , Brooke , which was done , the brethren afterwards chanting "In the Grand Lodge above . " Bro . Brooke returned thanks and said that ho was not aware that he would have such a very flattering reception when he came to this excellently-workect border lodge of England . He added that the workings of this ( 310 ) ivere far different to the workings of the Scotch lodges ,

but ho hoped the day would arrive when the lodges under the Scotch , Irish , and English Constitutions ivould be the same in their mode of working in every detail— " a consummation devoutly to be wished . " He then thanked the brethren for their fraternal kindness to him . Bro . Iredale during the evening gave a lecture on the six days of creation , also sang Bro . RBurns' "Farewell to the Mother Kilwinning "; after wliich various toasts were duly given and responded to . The Tyler ' stoast brought the meeting to a close . The evening ivas enlivened by Bros . J . Iredale , W . Johnston , and AA . Court .

DURHAM . PBOvn . ci . u _ - GEASD LODGE . The annual Provincial Grand Lodge having boon fixed totake place this year at AVest Hartlepool , a very large number of the members of the Craft , from all parts of the county ,, joined by a numerous body of tbe local members of the Fraternity , assembled to assist at its proceedings , and to do

honour to the occasion , on Tuesday , the 22 nd ult . The day's proceedings commenced with a meeting of the Committee of the Fund of Benevolence , which was held at half-past eleven o'clock at the Royal Hotel , when , after the auditing of accounts and other matters of routine wore completed , liberal grants were made to several local and provincial applicants . The usual liberal donations were voted to the three great Masonic Charities , and an increased sum to the Institution for the AVidows of Freemasons ivas also recommended to bo made by the Provincial Grand Lodge .

The Provincial Grand Lodge was opened at half-past one , m the Athcnamm , by the R . AV . the Prov . G . M ., Bro . John Fawcett , of Durham . The attendance of the brethren from the sixteen lodges in the province was exceedingly numerous , and included the following Past Provincial Grand Officers : —Bro . Sir Hedlvorth Williamson , Dart ., M . P ., P . G . S . AV . of England ; C . J . Banister , P . G . S . B . ; John Crossby , Joseph Dodds , and J . Settle , P . Prov . S . G . W . ' s ; Dr . MooreP . Prov . J . G . AV . ; Dr . Banning

, and A . C Knowles , P . Prov . S . G . D . ' s ; Dr . Stokoe , P . Prov . S . G . W . ; E . JO . Davis , P . Prov . J . G . W . ; AVilliam Brignal , P . Prov . G . Reg . ; AVm . Best . P . Prov . S . G . D . ; Rev . J . Milner-P . Prov . G . Chap . ; Rev . G . Btilman , P . Prov . G . Chap . ; Dr . S . iville , Prov . S . G . AV . ; AV . H . Crookes , Prov . G . Sec ; B . Levy , Prov . G . Dir . of Cers . ; Dr . Kirk , P . Prov . S . G . D . ; and about 202 of the brethren of tbe province .

The Freemasons' Hall ivas visited during tho morning by many of the brethren , who expressed their warm approbation of tiie beautiful tessellated pavement and other improvements , the gift of the present popular JIaster of the Harbour of Refuge Lodge , Bro . AV . C- Ward-Jackson . Provincial Grand Lodgo was opened in duo form and ivith solemn prayer by the Prov . G . JI ., JBro . John Fawcett , J . P ., ivho expressed his deep regret at the unavoidable absenceowing to illnessof Bro . the

, , Rev- John Cundill , who has for several years acted as Prov . G . Treas ., to wliich oflice . he was now i-o-appointed . He also announced , with much sorrow , the resignation of the D . Prov , G . JI ., Bro . Henry Fenwick , ivho , through his continued ill health , had been obliged to relinquish the duties of his office .