Metropolitan.

shown how it is possible to pursue his official duties and also to discharge his duties to the Craft . You see we are surrounded by the Grand Officers of tho Grand Lodgo of England , and they are a fair specimen of them , and of men who have won their spurs by their devotion to the interests of the Craft . All of them havo served on tho Board of General Purposes . A brother who is regular in attendance there , and endeavours to carry out the principles of Freemasonryearns bis distinction when the

, Grand Master raises him to the dais , and makes him one of the Grand Officers . It would be invidious in mo were I to make any distinctions , but I will give in connection with this toast "The Health of Bro . Llewellyn Evans . President of tho Board of General Purposes . " The Grand Officers wore always doing their duty , whether it was by attending the Board of General Purposestheir charitiesor lodges of instructionto put young

, , , members in the right road to distinction , and enable them to become good Masons . Tho toast was woll received . Bro . LHJWELLTN EVANS , President of tho Board of General Purposes , thanked their worthy president for the toast , and tho kind manner in which the health of the Grand Officers had been

responded to . He said , in common with thorn all , that he deeply regretted tho absence of the brother who should have been thoir president , and he expressed his regret also at the cause that prevented him from beinp ; amongst them . Still , they found his place most ably filled by their present chairman , who was one of the most able and active officers of the Grand Lodge . With respect to the Deputy Grand Master , after what their president had statedit would ill become him to say anything in his praise ,

, as they all had a knowledge how well ho discharged his duties and none better than those he discharged towards the Craft . Unless it was by means of lodges of instruction , and the knowledge obtained in that lodge , and in that of another lodge to which he had the honour to belong , the duties of lodges could not be efficiently performed , and it would become but a move convivial meeting . Long might the Lodgo of Stability

continue , and he felt certain that when the officers of the Grand Lodge of England should be called upon , as they found one brother had been called upon to preside that evening , they would always be ready to discharge any duty or to promote the interests of the Stability Lodge of Instruction . Ho thanked them for the honour they had done the Grand Officers in drinking their healths , and , in conclusion , wished them every prosperity .

The CHAIRMAN said : Brethren , if you wero to look at the programme placed before you you would see that tho toast No . 4 refers to Bro . Muggeridge and the lodgo of instruction of which this is the anniversary , hut lam not going now to propose that toast . A blank has been created in our proceedings by tho absence of a distinguished brother , eminent in the Craft , who was expected to preside on this occasion . He is not here , but we who are here I am sure will drink to his better health in a

bumper toast . I saw Bro . Havers yesterday , and he said he looked forward to a very happy meeting in the celebration of this jubilee of the Stability Lodgo of Instruction , to which he is so much attached . I fear that the hard work he has gone through in his own profession , and the still harder work he has done for you and tiie Craft , has told heavily upon him , for I know that he has sat up late at night , and got up early in tho morningto examine plans of the new hall ; and few knew how

, much they -were indebted to the indefatigable exertions of Bro . Havers . We therefore should but ill discharge our duties as Masons if we did not take this opportunity of recognising the services Bro . Havers rendered to the Craft , and expressing our regret at Ills absence from that meeting , but our still greater regret that ill health was tho cause of it . Let it not go forth that the lodge is ungrateful to Bro . Havers for the

services he lias rendered to the lodgo , for I know in your inmost hearts you would bo delighted to see him present in health and strength , and that you deeply regret his absence . I propose the toast out of order , for I think that a brother so distinguished should receive this especial mark of our favour . I give you tho toast of " Better Health to our Bro . Havers . " The toast was cordially responded to .

The CHAIEMAN said ' : Brother Wardens and brethren , —I now come to what may be deservedly considered as the toast of tho evening , which naturally divides itself into two parts . One part of the toast is given entirely to talk , and the other to what is more substantial , and refers to the gift which Bro . Muggeridge will receive at your hands . I will first allude to the first part of the toast , which refers to the Stability Lodge

of Instruction , and you are all well aware that everything depends upon the working of our ceremonies , for if they are not well worked those who come amongst us for the first time look upon our Order as a mere mockery and delusion ; but if we have an able instructor , who has zeal and a desire to teach his students to carry out our principles in the rendering of our beautiful ceremonies , they must make a deep impression on tho minds of all who are presentand it is a great thing if we have

, not only those who can teach , but who who , more than teaching , desire to impart instruction to students . This lodge has now attained its jubilee , or its fiftieth year , but instead of showing the weakness of age , has increased in strength . The ability and knowledge of Bro . Muggeridge has been equalled by few and excelled by none . Wo have known many great men of vast ability who have given great attention to a subject , and possess

a great amount of knowledge themselves , but had not the power to impart it to others . Hero we have a preceptor who has great knowledge , but his Creator has gifted him with the power of imparting it . We are especially privileged in having our principles properly inculcated , but Bro . Muggeridge has tho ability of teaching so that the lesson should not become a borebut the greatest pleasure we can experience . I propose

, to drink " Prosperity to the Stability Lodge of Instruction , and its able and distinguished Preceptor , Bro . Muggeridge . " And by your confidence I have a greater pleasure to perform , and it shows thathis students are not ungrateful to the greatmaster who has taught them the mysteries of the Craft . One thing that he has taught them is brotherly love , and as students they have given substantial proof how they estimated the kindness received at

his hands . On the 7 th of November , 1839 , Bro . Muggeridge was initiated into Freemasonry , and ho lost no time in studying that mystery into which he had been introduced . As I have said , he lost no time , for on the following day he joined a lodge of instruction ; therefore , I hope when our young friends are admitted into Freemasonry , they will go to some lodge of instruction—to the Lodge of Stability , the Lodge of Emulation ,

or somo other lodge where Masonry is properly taught , and then Masonry will not be looked upon as a sham . Bro . Muggeridge proved an apt scholar ; and when the preceptor was absent in 1 S 51 , the same year as the Exhibition of the industry

of all nations was held , then Bro . Muggeridge w as made preceptor of this lodgo of instruction . For sixteen years has the mantle fallen upon Bro . Muggeridge , and you know how well and ably has ho sustained it . Bro . Muggeridge , by the kindly feeling of the brethren , many of whom are now present , I am enabled to offer to you a valuable present as a substantial testimony of their kindness , and an acknowledgment of the kindness and ability with which you have discharged the

duties of preceptor of this lodgo . This casket , which is honourable to you , is a mark of the esteem of the brethren , which is made more substantial for what is contained in it . It is not tho current coin of tho realm , but it has its equivalent , for it represents 150 portraits of our sovereign lady the Queen . I am sure that those 150 portraits , however , but feebly represent tho feelings of tho members of this lodge for the zeal , kindness , and urbanity you have displayed in leading every one of your

students to become a good member of the Craft . I am sure that you will value this casket , not for its intrinsic worth , but for the kindly regard which they havo displayed in a manner not hurtful to your feelings , but as a substantial testimony of their esteem . This casket contains the following inscription : — "This snufi ' -box , containing £ 150 , was presented to Brother Henry Muggeridge , P . M . of Lodges 192 and 715 , and P . Z . of Chapters 13 and 22 by his Masonic brethrenon the fiftieth

, , anniversary of the Stability Lodge of Instruction , in testimony of the services rendered by him in Freemasonry in maintaining the efficiency of the Lodge of Instruction for above twenty-five years , and also as a token of esteem and fraternal regard . A . E . 5 SG 7 , April 26 th , A . D . 1867 . " Brethren , this would never have been done unless it had been taken up by some influential members of the Craft . A committee was formed , which

embraced Bros . Clabon ( President of the Board of General Purposes ) , Goldsboro ' , Cox , and other members , and they all acted as the committee originating this matter ; and I have no doubt that you will consider that they have done their duty well , and we owe those brethren a deep debt of gratitude and esteem . I give you " Prosperity to the Stability Lodge of Instruction and the health of Bro . Muggeridge , its preceptor for sixteen years , and a member of it from tho day when lie was admitted a member of Freemasonry . " The toast was most enthusiastically responded to .