Metropolitan.

evinced by those present , my only regret is that I should have most undesignedly anticipated our Bro . Wilson , whose observations would doubtless have been much more acceptable than any which I can offer . However that may be , I anticipate an unanimous assent to tbe motion I am about to propose—viz ., "That a vote of thanks be recorded to Bro . Henry Geo . Warren for the exceedingly able manner in which he has acquitted himself of the duty to which

lie has had the honour of being nominated by the M . W . Grand Master . " Bro . Binckes alluded at length to the difficulties attending tbe delivery of the lecture ivhich hacl just been listened to , in the form ancl manner as rendered by Bro . Warren , upon whose diligence ancl zeal it reflected the highest credit , and to whom he was sure they all felt very much indebted . He then continued—With regard to the Grancl Stewards' Lodge , I woulcl observe that it occupies a very distinguished , and in many respects peculiar ,

position . It stands prominently on our roll , without a number , at jfche head of all the lodges , while from the nature of its constitution it cannot initiate , pass , or raise Masons . Its members are -conspicuous by a distinctive clothing—their nomination is possessed by few lodges only-, the honour being a coveted one—and the parti--cnlar duties ofthe Grand Stewards are to supervise the arrangements of our great Annual Festival , and provide for the wants and comforts of the brethren at that convivial celebration . Far faram I

, very , from undervaluing their duties , but I believe I am not fur wrong in stating that , formerly , the members of this distinguished lodge charged themselves with another responsibility , that , viz ., of cherishing and preserving in tbeir integrity the ritualistic forms and ceremonies of our Order . I believe also that I am not far wrongin stating that a few years since this lodge was not exactly in the position its best friends could wish , and had somewhat fallen from

its high estate ; ancl that I am perfectly right in stating that lately this lodge has recovered itself , and is now once more occupy- ' ing the proud position it formerly filled . Certainly the proceedings of this evening give evidence that it is so , and I trust that whilst the Grancl Stewards' never lose sight of their duties in connection with the celebration to which 1 have referred , the members of the Grand Stewards' Lodge will also be careful to ^ irove th emselves to be good stewards of the mysteries of our Order , and of the rites and ceremonies in connection therewith .

Bro . STEPHEN" BAETON WILSON , P . G . D ., said , — Worshipful Master and brethren , it bad been my intention to have addressed to the lodge a few observations on what we have heard so ably rendered by our Bro . Warren ; but after what has been said by Bro . Biiick . es , I have no alternative but simply to second the vote of thanks he has proposed , and this I do with very great pleasure . The motion was put and carried with acclamation . Bro . WAKREN returned thanks for the handsome manifestation of

the approval with which his efforts hacl been received , ancl in doing so assured the brethren , that if he had afforded any gratification to those whom he saw before him , he was more than repaid for any exertions he might have used . As he had stated at the early part of the evening , the very nature of the lecture precluded it from ever becoming generally popular ; and ho felt that he bad that evening given tbem tbe least interesting portion of itbecause it contained so much of ceremony with ivhich

, they were all acquainted ; but tbe remaining portion of the lecture , which he hoped to be enabled to deliver on another evening , being richer in illustration , be felt assured ivould give them greater satisfaction . Hud his appointment been for twelve months , he woulcl have endeavoured to have delivered the whole three lectures ; but as the letter of tbe Grancl Secretary , informing him of his

appointment by the M . W . G . Master to deliver the lecture , stated distinctly for "this occasion only , " he felt that he could at present do no more than promise them to complete the first lecture , which , be believed , could not bo considered as exceeding the words under which be held bis appointment . Indeed , be woulcl have endeavoured to bave given them tbe whole of the lecture that evening , but for the advice of Bro . Henderson , ancl the fear that he . should , by so doing , only weary his audience . Should he ever be

honoured with a re-appoi : itmont , he would do his best to place before them the second ami third lectures—the latter of which had ¦ certainly not been delivered during the last dozen years , and which , he believed , presented greater differences from our present ¦ system than either of the others , and would afterwards take an opportunity of placing before tbem a comparison of the different systems of working . He begged again to thank them for the very numerous attendance that eveningand the kindness with which

, his efforts had been received . It having been resolved , on the motion of the W . M ., Bro . Hinxman , M . L ., seconded by Bro . Hewlett , P . M ., that a vote of thanks should be presented to the Board of General Purposes for the use of tbe Temple , the lodgo was closed in due form . Bro . Matthew Cooke presided at the organ , and played a voluntary prior to the opening ancl at the close of the lodge .

ALBION LODGE ( NO . 9 ) . —Tbe last meeting of this lodge for the season was held on Tuesday evening , April 2 , at the Freemasons ' Tavern ; Bro . Young , W . M ., presided . After the lodge had been opened in the third degree , Bro . Buller was raised to the sublime degree of M . M . Two brethren were afterwards passed to the second degree . Tbe summer festival was then brought before the lodge , ancl it was agreed that it should be held at Bro . R oekstraw's , the Star and Garter , at Kew-bridge , early in June next . Tiie brethren then retired for refreshment , and the evening was spent

in a very agreeable ancl harmonious manner . LODS-E Ol ? PEACE AND HAKJIOKY (" SO . 72 ) . —At a regular meeting , held on Thursday , March 28 , at the London Tavern , Bishopsgate-street , Bro . Isidore Levinson , W . M ., Mr . William Rawley was initiated , and another gentleman , approved of on the ballot , was unable to attend . After the disposal of the routine business , the brethren gathered around the W . M . at the banquet . On the removal of tbe cloththe WMafter paying due honour to

, .., "The Healths of Her Majesty and tbe M . W . the Grand Master , " said , tbe next toast , ' ' The D . G . M ., and the rest of the Grand Officers , " including , as one of that honoured body , a worthy member of tbe lodge—their invaluable Treasurer , Bro . J . N . Tomkins , whose long and useful service would ever be remembered . The toast was gracefully acknowledged by Bro . Tomkins . — "The Past Masters" was responded to bBro . Gilsonthe seniorwho referred to his

twentyy , , five years' membership of the lodge , and the happiness he had in attending to its duties . —Bro . Kennedy said that , as the immediate P . M ., it was his duty to propose " The Health of the worthy and excellent Brother who presided over tbe Lodge . " He bad gone through many offices , had presided with high credit over another lodge , had been there rewarded ancl honoured . Tbe efficient manner in which Bro . Levinson discharged the duties of the

chair deserved every meed of praise . —The W . M . said he could not but feel pleased with Bro . Kennedy ' s kind observations . He must ever be sensible that he owed a double debt of gratitude to the lodge—first , for selecting him as its representative as a Graud Steward , and lastly , by electing him as its Master . He promised that , at tbe ensuing Festival , every attention should be given , and trusted that , at the close of his year of office-, he should leave the chair with

credit to himself , and honour to the lodge . —The WM . then gave a cordial reception to the brother who had received the light of Masonry that evening ; to which Bro . Rawley briefly responded . — The WM . then proposed " The Visitors , " and the welcome was acknowledged . — "The Healths of the Secretary , Bro . William Yovmg , " "The Treasurer , " "'" ha Wardens , " and other officers having been severally proposed and acknowledged , the venerable and respected Tyler , Bro . Rice , gave the final toast to " The Poor and Distressed , " ancl the pleasing meeting was brought

to a close . ROYAL JUBILEE LODGE ( No . " 85 ) . —The monthly meeting of this lodge was held on Monday evening , April 1 st , at Anderton's Hotel , Fleet Street . Bro . Lascelles , W . M ., presided ; Bro . James , S . W . ; Bro . Bowler , J . W . There were several visitors , amongst them Bro . Farmer , Asst . G . Purst . ; Bros . Price and H . Thompson ( No . 206 ) . The lodge having been duly opened , Bro . Tucker was , in due form , raised to tbe sublime degree of II . M ., that ceremony

being performed in a most able and impressive manner . The lodge was then closed , ancl the brethren adjourned for refreshment . The cloth having been drawn , the W . M . gave the usual formal toasts , coupling the health of the Grand Officers with the name of Bro . Farmer , who returned thanks , and remarked that be was very sorry that they were shortly about to lose the services of the Earl Dalhousie , their present D . G . M ., as he understood , at the next electionthe G . M . would appoint some other brother to fill his

, place . The cause of his retirement was the state of his health , which did not permit him to attend to the duties of the Grand Lodge . He believed that it was tbe intention of the G . M . to appoint their Bro . Earl De Grey , aud be trusted that he would be better able to attend to tbe duties of the office ; and be had no doubt that the other appointments which would then be made would be satisfactory to the brethren . —The W . M . said it was with

peculiar pleasure be proposed to tbem tbe next toast , which was that of "The Visitors . "—Bro . Farmer said he would merely return thanks on his own behalf , leaving bis brother visitors to speak for themselves , ancl could bear his testimony to the excellent working of the AV . M ., which was only equalled by the hospitality at all times shown towards the visitors . —Bro . Thompson also returned thanks , expressing the pleasure he had experienced in witnessing the working of the lod and bore his testimony to the

indefatigge , able exertions of the WM ., who was a frequent attendant at lodges of instruction to qualify himself for the performance of his duties , and believed that the lodge had good reason to be satisfied by having such a brother to preside over tbem . —Bro . Clout , P . M ., proposed "Tbe Health of the W . M . " —Tbe WM . returned thanks for the honour conferred upon him , and said , as regarded the work-