Metropolitan.

METROPOLITAN .

THE MASONIC MIMOE

.PVTIIAGOSEAI * LODGE ( No . 79 . )—At a meeting held on Monday , January 25 th , at the Globe Tavern , Royal Hill , Greenwich , Kent ( Bro . Moore's ) , Bro . W . R . Orchard , WM ., assisted by the officers and brethren , opened the lodge . Bro . H . A . ColUngtcm , P . M ., raised two brethren , to the sublime degree of a Master Mason in his usual efficient manner . Bro . W . R . Orchard , WM ., passed one brother to the Fellow Craft degree

an a creditable manner . Bro . J . Hasler was unanimously elected W . M . for the ensuing year ; Bro . W . C . Penny was unanimously elected Treasurer ; Bro . Beckett , re-elected Tyler . It was unanimously resolved that a Past Master ' s Jewel be given from the funds of the lodge to Bro . W . R . Orchard , W . M ., for the efficient manner he had carried out the duties of W . M . After business the brethren adjourned to banquet . Visitors : — P . WaltersP . M . 73 ; A . H . Tattershall , S . D . 140 ; Soak , J . D .

, 140 , & c . ROYAL OAK LODGE ( SO . 871 ) . —At a regular meeting of this lodge held on Wednesday , January 27 th , at the Royal Oak Tavern , High-street , Deptford , ( Bro . J . Steven's ) , Bro . ^ George Wilton , assisted by Bros . 0 . Stahr , S . W . ; H . A . Col-Jinston , P . M ., as J . W . ; j . Stevens , P . M . ; J . W . Weir , P . M . ; P . Walters , P . M ., Sec . ; J . H . Pembroke , S . D . ; G . S . Hodgson ,

J . G . ; J . S . Blomeley , W . S . ; J . W . Hinderwell , J . Hawker , A . J . Saatz , J . Rosenstock , W . Jeffrey , C . A . Beesley , J . II . Nottebohra , A . R . Parkinson , J . Hammond , and many others , opened the lodge . Amongst the visitors were noticed Bros . A . H . Tattershall , 13 , S . D . 140 ; J . Patte , J . D . 147 ; A . D . Loewenstark , P . M . 548 , P . M . 733 , & c . The only ceremony was raising Bro . Robert Phipps to tbe Master Masons's degree , which the W . M . did in a creditable stleiving the whole of the degree

y , g , including the lecture on the Tracing Board . Bro . G . Stahr , S . W ., was unanimously elected W . M ., Bro . J . Stevens , sen ., ¦ was unanimously re-elected Treasurer for the fourth time , and Bro . S . Garrett , P . M ., re-elected Tyler . The brethren then adjourned to a superior banquet , replete with every comfort .

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

BERKSHIRE . READIXG . —Lodge of Union ( No . 414 ) . —On Tuesday , the 26 th ult ., the installation of the worthy brother elected to fill the office of the W . M . of this highly respectable and flourishing lodge took place at the Masonic Hall , when a goodly number of brethren assembled to witness the ceremony , which was most ably performed by Bro . Moxey , P . M . The W . M ., Bro . A . G . AVilliams , being anxious to give eclat to the meeting , engaged

the services of Bros . Dyson , Marriott , and Bi-idgewater , of the Royal Chapel of St . George , Windsor , who performed during the ceremonies some very appropriate and effective music , specially adapted by Bro . Dyson for the various degrees , the opening and closing of the lodge , as well as the installation , and which has gained so much favour not only in the provinces hut at several of the London lodges , the words and music being most appropriate for the beautiful ceremonies of the Orderancl

, which was performed in an artistic and able manner . Bro . Venables , Prov . G-. Org . for Berks and Bucks , who is well known in this province as well as in many of the London lodges and chapters , presided most ably at the organ . The fitness and appropriateness of tho music , as well as the performance , was the theme of general admiration . A sumptuous banquet was provided by Bro . Pontin , of the George Hotel , which received

ample justice at the hands of the brethren . A most pleasant evening was spent in unity and harmony , a number of songs and glees—Masonic , sentimental , and national—being performed hy the professional brethren . Bro . Dyson introduced a most appropriate addition to the song " God Bless the Prince of Wales , " referring to the new-born Prince at Windsor . Bro . " Venables presided at the pianoforte .

DORSETSHIRE . WiMBOlK *!! . —Lodge of St . Cuthberga ( So . G 2-2 ) . —The brethren of this young but thriving lodge met on Monday evening , the 1 st instant , when the brethren unanimously voted

that the requisite sum should be presented to the Boys School in the name of Bro . Rowe , P . M ., thereby constituting him a life governor of the institution , as a testimonial of their sense of his zeal and services for several years past . Two new candidates were also proposed for initiaMPI .-

GLOUCESTBRSHIRE . STOW -O- T-THE-WOED . —Prince of Wales' Lodge ( So . 951 , late 1253 ) . —The brethren of this lodge met at their lodge-room at the Unicorn Hotel , on Monday , January 25 th , for the purpose of celebrating the festival of St . John the Evangelist , and installing their W . M . for the ensuing year . The R . W . Prov . G . M ., Bro . the Right Hon . Lord Sherborne , honoured the lodge with his presenceaudin the absence of the retiring

, , W . M ., Bro . Sir J . M . Steele-Graves , Part ., P . Prov . G . Reg . for Gloucestershire , took the chair , ancl opened the lodge at three o'clock . After the usual preliminaries had been gone through , his lordship vacated the chair in favour of Bro . jtfajor Machen , P . M . 284 , and P . Prov . G . Standard Bearer for Warwickshire , who installed Bro . Rev . W . E . Hadow , P . M . 282 , and P . Prov . G . Chap , for Devon , into the chair as AV . M .

for the year 1864 . The new "WM . then appointed the following brethren as his officers , ancl they were according invested with the jewels of their respective offices : —Bros . R . J . Brookes , S . W . and Treas . ; H . L . Grove , J . W . and Sec ; Bev . Otto Ball , Chap . ; J . W . Neale , S . W . ; J . Tipping , J . D . ; C . J . Smith , Dir . of Cers . ; W . Thornbury , Org . ; J . Bullock , I . G . ; J . Gallop , Tyler . The W . M . then commenced his year of office

by raising Bro . Rev . R . Bamford to the sublime degree of Master Mason . Bros , the Right Hon . Lord Northwick , P . M . 357 and C . J . Smith , 22 , were ballotted for as joining members , and unanimously elected . The lodge was then closed in perfect harmony , and the brethren adjourned to the banquet , which was served up in Bro . Gardiner ' s usual style , and , after honouring in due form the usual patriotic and Masonic toasts , separated about half-past eight , having spent a very pleasant afternoon together .

NORFOLK . KING ' S JJTSTS . —Philanthropic Lodge ( No . 107 ) . —At tho regular meeting of this lodge , held on the 1 st inst ., Bro . Richard Whitewell , W . M ., presiding , it was unanimously resolved , on the motion of Bro . Geo . Webster , S . W ., to appropriate the sum of £ 31 , part of the lodge funds , in aid of the Masonic Charities—viz ., £ 10 10 s . to the Boys' School ; £ 10 V ) s . to the Girls' School ; and £ 10 to the Benevolent Institution . It

is a matter of congratulation that the funds are in a state sufficiently prosperous to admit of the grant , and that the brethren have made so judicious a use of the available surplus . Bro . T . M . Wilkin , P . M ., was elected W . M . for tbe ensuing year , ancl will he installed at the next meeting to be held on the 7 th proximo . WILTSHIRE . DEVIZES . —Lodge of Fidelity ( No . 663 ) . — -A meeting of this

lodge took place at the Town Hall on Tuesday , the 2 nd instant , and was attended hy a large number of brethren , including visitors from Wells , Trowbridge , & c . The business of the day commenced with the installation of Bro . D . A . Gibbs as W . M ., the ceremony being performed hy Bro . W . Biggs , the i-etii-ing Master ; when Bro . Gibbs was pleased to appoint the following brethren to their respective offices : —Bros . John Long , S . W . ; M'Hugh , J . W . ; Wifctey , Prov . S . G . W ., Sec ; Burt , P . Prov .

S . G . W ., Treas . ; Rev . T . Ravenshaw , Chap . ; O'Reilly , S . D . ; Ford , J . D . A vote of thanks to the Mayor and Corporation was carried by acclamation in acknowledgment of their kindness in allowing the use of the hall for their meetings . Three brethren were proposed as joining members , ancl one gentleman for initiation at the next lodge night , which is fixed for Thursday , the 18 th . At the conclusion of the business the brethren adjourned to the old lodge room , at the Elm Tree Inn , where a splendid

dinner awaited them , Bro . S . W . Taylor having very handsomely contributed a bountiful supply of venison and game , and the Muster champagne . Amongst the company present were Bros . John Kelway , Prov . J . G . W . Somerset and W . M . 446 ; R . D . M . Lawson , Prov . G . Dir . of Cers . Wilts and W . M . 632 ; J . Bristow , 446 ; Rev . J . K . Booker , 1 , 202 ; Rev . T . Ravenshaw , P . Prov . G . Chap . Oxon , anil Chaplain of the lodge ; S . Wittey , Prov . S . G . W . of the province ; Burt , P . Prov . S . G . W . ; W . Biggs , P . Prov . G . W . ; H . Calf , Prov . S . G . D . ; George Waylen , Edward