Metropolitan.

vented my attending in the early part of the evening . I do not know whether the word ivas exactly the one which I ought to havo used . Our Bro . Havers , who has been obliged to leave you ou the present occasion , has stated to you the reason that made him so late . That also was the reason that prevented my attending sooner , for I was in attendance on Bro . Havers at the inauguration of the new building , otherwise I should certainlhave been present at the commencement of

y the proceedings of this lodge . I feel extremely happy whenever I attend lodges , and Lodges of Instruction , and I am never more happy than when I attend the anniversary of this Lodge of Instruction . I do so , because I know the feelings of Bro . Muggeridge . He sees I do attend here , and I am always received with that kindness which every Mason ought to feel himself proud of . I havo for many years been the President

of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement . They have thought proper to place mo in that responsible situation , and from , perhaps , some little degree of zeal which I have exhibited for the interests of the Craft , they have thought proper to continue their approbation of my conduct , and what they have done seems to have been responded to by every Mason that I am in the habit of meetingand by none more stronglthan the

, y brethren of this particular lodge . I , therefore , with great pleasure rise to respond to the toast of " The Emulation Lodge of Improvement , and as long , brethren , as health and strength are continued , I will continue to make the exertions I have made for the benefit of the Craft in general . ( Cheers . )

Bro . jEjnsnxGS , —The next toast is the very consolidation of all the virtues of Masonry , and it is a happy feature in connection with this Lodge of Instruction that , although their means were small , they should take care every year to contribute so largely and so liberally as they do to tho Masonic Charities . I admit that , so far as I am concerned with the state of the Masonic Charities , I find it to he a problem that I find great difficulty in solvinghow is it that the Masonic Charities have

, progressed in the most enormous degree that they have done within tho last few years . A \ e used to think it a very great thing if we could calculate on £ 300 or £ 600 as the result of a meeting . If a single brother gives £ 500 now it is all very well , it is moderate enough ; but it is nothing unless you can find your £ 500 multi plied by six or eight . The Charities are inordinate in their demands , and they are most sensible fellows in

getting what they do . One feeling pervades every brother , and that feeling is that our Masonic Charities should flourish . We have the representatives of ono of our Charities here to-night , and I am happy to see him here , Bro . Patten . AVithout making any species of distinction among them by selecting one as the object of my toast , I name them all . I have only named tho "Masonic Charities" to ensure the co-operation of everybod

y present in wishing success to them , and every one will confess it is his bounden duty to make his acknowledgment of the way in which they are supported . The totst was drunk , and Bro . F . AA aIlworth sang " Poor Jaclc . "

Bro . PATTT . X , —I beg to return tha brethren my thanks for the very kind manner in which they have drunk my health in conncction with the toast of " the Charities . " I will not , in reply , address you brethren , at any length . I may remind you that the Girls' Festival will take place on AA cdnesday , the 10 th May , and our Chairman of this evening , who , since the commencement of our proceedings , has kindly consented to preside on this occasiod . In Masonry and out of Masonry I am quite sure that

I need not say anything on his behalf to induce you to support him on that occasion . With respect to our noblo charities one fact is perfectly certain , they are never satisfied ; for I sincerely believe that were the amount subscribed to them double what it is they would all want a little more . If von will come round

mo and support my charity , however , I promise you I will he satisfied , t earnestly ask yon to eome and to do for mine what you have so generously done for the other charities . I believe Bro . Binckes is here , and I shall leave it to him to thank you for what you have just done , and what you do once a year for Ins charity . ( Applause ) . Br . BINCKES , — Brethren I am excessively pleased and very much delighted at finding that at a gathering such as this

the Masonic Charities have not been forgotten . When I say this , I do not mean to imply that they ever are forgotten where Masons are asscmcled ; and in the presence of Bro . Jennings thera need have been no fear that tho claims of those excellent institutions would bo forgotten . Under ordinary circumstances I should not have ventured or dared to intrude any

remark of mine after those ivhieh have fallen from Our excellent Secretary when thanking you on the part of the Girls' School , if that charity only had been alluded to ; but I feel that both his and mine are embraced in the toast . It does so happen , from circumstances over which I neither have any control nor wish to have any control , thafi I stand here to-night most peculiarly and particularly situated . AA e have this year a second Festival to take place , and that

too under circumstances of exigency that I believe no one has any conception of , except those connected with our Institution . So , Bro . Patten will not be angry with me if I am guilty ot saying a few words , because I now represent a section of the Charities embraced by the toast , the Boys' School . I stand in the same position now as his predecessor did twelve years ago , when the Girls' School was placed in tho same circumstances as the Boys' School is in this of grace 1865 . You

year will remember that tho Girls' School , situated in St . George ' sroad , at that time inaugurated their new building—in 1852—under the presidency of our esteemed Grand JIaster . It was a , splendidly grand affair , and there was a great gathering of the brethren there ; it was a most successful meeting , and the first JIasonie Festival in which I had taken part . In this year , 1865 , the Boys' School is exactly in that same position . We having

struggled through a series of difficulties , have at last achieved , I believe , a proud position ; and on the Sth of July , the day fixed by our Grand JIaster , wo shall inaugurate our splendid new building , fitted to accommodate from 150 to 200 boys , by a second , and I hope more successful festival than ever has been hold yet in connection with any of our charitable institutions . But for this year I should be thoroughly content if I had said a word merely to express my gratitude , and a word to

express my hope for future years that what was done in the last month , when tho amount of £ 4 , 600 was subscribed by the munificent contributions of the brethren in different part of the country , might be done again . But we are in this crisis that though wo have received these magnificent contributions we have spent ail our funds in providing for our new building , and are now from £ 10 , 000 to £ 12 , 000 in debt , that sum being required to defray the cost of the completion of tho erection . It is for you to judge whether we have done

right , but I ask you to suspend your judgment until you hare seen what we have done , and what we havo provided for the sons of those brethren in distress ; and , mind , what we have done , not only for those brethren who are in distress now hut for those who may require your aid in future years—and I submit that there is not one among you who will be surprised by the mention of the amount required to complete that buildingif he will onl down and view for himselfwho

, y go , will not say that that building is a credit to the Craft . ( Hear , hear . ) The Grand JIaster says ( I had his instructions yesterday ) that , in answer to our request , he will convene a Special Grand Lodge , to be held on tho Sth of July , for the inanguration of that building at Wood Green ; and I hope to see him on that occasion surrounded by a large number of brethren . I hope to see gathered round us a board of Stewards

not less than five hundred in number , whose contribution of one guinea each will provide the incidental expenses for defraying the cost of that opening . Every steward so giving his name will receive a vote—that is to say , two votes—at the election in October next , and will save the Charity being called upon for the expenses of this opening . The committee and the officers of that Institution confidently rely upon you ,

brethren—do not let me stagger you or appal you by what I am going to say—that by the united efforts and exertions that shall bo used hy our zealous and earnest friends in the metropolis and provinces , something like £ 10 , 000 may be realised on that occasion , at once to defray the debt remaining to complete that building , and so free the Institution from the pressure that is now weighing upon it . I know I

may bo met by you saying , "It may be all very well to mention such a sum as this . £ 10 , 000 ; but who is to contribute to such an expenditure as this ? " Let me only ask you to bear with me while I state to you that there are at piesent less than 3 , 000 subscribing members on the register of Grand Lodge who have subscribed to the Boys' School something less than £ 5 , 000 ; and I think it is no more than reasonable to expect thai out of

tho other 22 , 000 who havo never given ono single sixpence , the sum of £ 10 , 000 may be raised . AVe are either about to achieve a great- work deserving of your support , or ive are doing something that does not deserve support ; you shall be the judges yourselves . AVe have anticipated the demands of future ages .