The Masonic Mirror.

THE MASONIC MIRROR .

MASONIC MEM . The Right Hon . Earl Howe , (? . C . H ., Pro v . G . M . for Leicestershire has appointed the annual meeting of the Prov . Grand Lodge to be held at Leicester , on Tuesday , the Sth of October , in the Freemasons' Hall .

Metropolitan.

METROPOLITAN .

LODGE or PBOSPEEITY ( SO . 78 ) . —The first meeting of the season was held on Wednesday , September 25 th , at the AVhite Hart Tavern , Bishopsgate-strect . Bro . 0 . F . Valentine , AA' . M ., Messrs . J . G . Spilling , Charles Bishop , and Einile Eckhard were initiated . Bros . E . L . Mather , J . L . Mather , and Bishop were passed to the second degree , and Bro . Brainier was raised to the degree of M . M .

Sr . JOHN ' LODGE , HAMPSTEAD ( No . 196 ) . —Installation of W . M . —There was a large muster of the brethren present at the St . John ' s Lodge ( So . 196 ) , held at tho Hollyhush Tavern , Hampstead . on the 1 st instant , it being the day of installation . The officers present were—Bros . George Hart , AV . M . ; Pritchard , S . AV . ; Douglas , J . AV . ; Aldrieh , P . M . and Treas . ; Thomas A . Adams , G . Purst . P . M ., and several others . The visitors were—Bros . Farnfield , Asst . G . Sec . ; Donald Nicollex-Sheriff 109 984 BengalAV

, ; ; Haynes , , ; . Johnson ; II . and W . Paxon , both P . M . 's of 196 ; Buss , P . M . and Sec . 29 ; Muggeridge , P . M . 227 ; and Matthew Cooke , S . D . 29 , Sec . 23 , & c . The business for the meeting consisted of the usual opening of the lodge ; various communications from several brethren were read ; the report of the Audit Committee submitted ; two raisings ; initiation of Mr . G . H . Martins ; and installation of the new W . M . BroGeoPritchardlate SWbBroThomas A

, . . , .., y . . Adams , which was performed with his usual skill and ability . The W . M . was then pleased to appoint , and delegated Bro . Adams to invest , the following brethren as his officers for the ensuing year , viz ., Bros . Douglas , S . W . ; Rippon , J . W . ; AVare , S . D . ; Houghton , J . D . ; Ashby , I . G . Bro . Cornick was re-invested Treas . by deputy , Bro . Aldrieh representing him ,- Bro . Aldrieh , re-invested Sec , when Bro . Adams said it WHS with great pleasure he returned him the collar and

jewel he had so long worn to the satisfaction of the lodge ; and it was needless to tell him , who was so zealous a Mason , that the lodge kindly appreciated his exertions , and hoped he might live many years to hear the same sentiments repeated ; Bro . Adlard was re-invested Dir . of Cers ., and Bro . Bradley reinvested as Tyler . The business of the lodge being concluded , the brethren adjourned to the banquet , when , the cloth having been removed , the W . M ., Bro . Pritchard , gave "The Queen and the

Craft , " remarking that it would be simply ridiculous in his attempting to say anything in praise of a Sovereign so well beloved . "The Health of the M . W . G . M ., the Earl of Zetland , " followed , and was succeeded b y that of the Earl de Grey and Ripon , the Present and Past G . Officers , and coupled with the names of Bro . Farnfield , Asst . G . Sec , and Bro . Thomas A . Adams , G . Purst . — Bro . FAIINPIELD , Asst . G . Sec , could assure them that the D . G . M ., Earl de Grey and Ripontook great interest in thing

, very every connected with Masonry . If they would look over the reports in THE FBEEMASONS MAGAZINE they would see he was no idle ruler of his province of AVest Yorkshire . The other Grand Officers did all they could to the best of their ability to support the causeuf Masonry , and should they ever he found to be required , he was certain they would willingly stand to do the same services again . For Bro . Adams and himself , they were obliged in having their

names coupled with the toast for which it was his pleasing duty to return thanks . —The AV . M . said , since last they met they had lost Bro . Collins , who should have been that day nominated as J . AV . of the lodge , and he called upon them to drink to his memory in solemn silence . —The AV . M . said , no doubt their newly initiated brother thought them a strange set of fellows , but as he proceeded he hoped that idea would wear offi and that the impression which had been

made on his mind that day would never he regretted . —Bro . MAETINS said he was yet too young to understand what he had gone through , but hoped in due time to become more proficient . —The W . M . was pleased to welcome the visiting brethren , and would propose their health , asking Bro . Donald Nicoll to reply . —Bro . DONALD SICOLI ,, having been kindly called upon , felt it his duty to obey , although he saw others around him far beyond himself in Masonic seniority . After many years ' absence from the Craft he had some diffidence in addressing them ,

but ho had much pleasure in expressing his great interest m Masonry . It must have been very interesting to his relative , by his sidi , for the first time to visit a lodge in England , lie having been made a brother afc a lodge in the Himalayas whilst serving his country with credit , though the honours for such services were but scantily dealt out . To him such a meeting must have been attractive , and in his name , with that of the other visitorsas well as himselfhe

re-, , turned thanks for their hospitality and kindness . —Bro . GEOBGE HAET , P . M ., rose to propose " The Health of the new AV . M ., " who had the good will of every member of the lodge , and who , with their support , was sure , to do well . —Bro . PBITCHAED , AV . M ., thanked them most heartily . He had served every office in the lodge , and had hitherto given satisfaction , a course which he should still endeavour to continue , and study from the P . M . ' s how best to

ensure the prosperity and comfort of the lodge . —Bro . THOMAS A . ADAMS had been called upon at a moment ' s notice to present a testimonial to Bro . Joseph R . Smith , P . M . of that lodge . It was only five years since his young brother was initiated , and during that brief period he had done more than many Masons of double that standing . Bro . Joseph R . Smith had served as Steward to all the Charities , and passed the chair in So . 196 . Bro . Aldrieh introduced him into Masonry , and taught him the three degrees , and

he ( Bro . Adams ) had instructed him in the fifteen sections which the year before last he worked to the credit of himself and the lodge . He considered that he was well deserving , and the lodge had done honour to itself in awarding him the testimonial now before him . ( Turning to Bro . Smith , he continued ) , Bro . Smith , I feel great pleasure in handing over to you this very handsome silver tea and coffee service . I hope that it may long remain as a testimonial in your familthat they and enjoy long lifeand

y , you may , heaven bless you and yours . ( Cheers . )—Bro . JOSEPH R . SMITH did not know how to return thanks . If he could do thafc as well as Bro . George sung , he should be content ; but as he could neither do tbe one nor the other to satisfy himself , they must take such a poor acknowledgment as he was then making . He felt thafc their gift betokened respect , hut was not deserved . He had served the stewardships of the Charities , hut he took no credit for doing

so , as he could afford it . Still , as they had chosen to mark his services by such a gift , he was grateful , and wished he had more fluent words to express his thanks . [ The testimonial was here passed round tbe table , and bore the following

inscription : — " 11 ns tea and coffee service was presented to Bro . Joseph R . Smith , hy the members of the St . John's Lodge ( No . 196 ) , in testimony of his valuable services of AVorshipful Master , in 1860 , and of their personal regard . October 1 st , 1861 . " ]—The AV . M . next gave the P . M . ' s of the St . John ' s Lodges to wliich Bro . Thomas A . Adams replied . —The next toast ivas that ofthe Secretary and Treasurer , the AV . M . remarking that Bro . Bro . Aldrieh , as Secretaryheld no sinecure . The majority of the members could

, form no conception of his duties . AVhenever the AV . M . saw him he had always something for the good of Masons or Masonry to bring before him : some poor brother , or cause , to he advocated , or some neglected object , who no one seemed to care for , to he brought forward . The lodge could not do away with such a Secretary without doing away with itself . —Bro . AuDBicn , Secretary , said he was reminded of his dutto thank them forthe honourthey had done him

y in drinking his health , with all sincerity and honesty . AVhy he had been more particularly pointed out he did not know , because , whoever undertook a duty , he held should strictly perform it . The iiiidic hoard had expressed its satisfaction with his integrity . His principle had been never to turn to the right or to the left , but pursue an even and strai ghtforward course . Very few knew the duties that devolved on a Secretary , hut whoever held such an

office ought to discharge them zealously , for without it there was no happiness or comfort in the lodge . —Bro . ADLAED then proposed "Success to the Charities , " coupled with the name of Bro . Farnfield . — Bro . FAENPIEED would endeavour to give a slight history of the Charities ; but there was one great inconvenience which resulted in having to speak at such a late hour . The Charities had all been fortunateparticularlthe

very , y Annuity , the youngest of them all . It had an invested capital of £ 20 , 000 , and would , after next May , number 121 annuitants , at a cost of £ 2700 a year . It might well be said to have now become so firmly established that ifc took the lead . The Girls' School had always been considered the pet Charity , but the Boys' had not , hitherto had that advantage , which was of the greatest benefit , for hy giving them a good education , they might fairly assume they would

eventually become good citizens , and , in many instances , worthy brethren . That institution had to encounter many difficulties , because they had now 70 boys to clothe and feed , where there had . before been only 20 , and every one must be aware of the difference such an expense entailed . He had been assured that No . 196 would send two Stewards to the Festivals ; one of whom would serve for the Annuity , and he hoped the brethren would supportthem liberally .