Grand Lodge.

Bro . EVANS replied , aud said , that as the register was a false one , the sooner they made the alteration the better . The notice was then put and carried with but two dissentents . TONTINE COMMITTEE . A report from the Freemasons' Tontine Committee appointed under the provisions of the Deed of Trust of the 2 nd August , 1776 , notifying that all the nominees specified in the said Deed ,

and on whose lives the said Tontine was granted , are now extinct , the last survivor , Mrs . Ann Ellis , having died on the 26 th August , 1862 , was then presented . This report was referred to the Committee on the Grand Lodge Property . Grand Iodge was then closed in ample form , and with solemn prayer , shortly before 11 o'clock .

Metropolitan.

METROPOLITAN .

JOHDAN LODGE ( No . 237 ) . —The first meeting of this lodge , after the recess , took place on Friday evening , the 21 st ult ., at the Freemasons' Tavern . There was a full muster of the brethren of the lodge , as well as of visitors . Among the latter we noticed Bros . Paas , P . M . 663 ; Harris , P . M . 223 ; Stevens , J . D . 9 ; Redgrave , P . M , 110 ; Sinclair , 257 , & c . The AV . M ., Bro . Charles Swan , assisted by his principal officers , Bros . B . J . Jeffery , S . AV ., and AV . Hammond , J . AV ., and the assistant

officers , all of whom were punctually at their posts , opened the lodge in clue form . The minutes of the last meeting having been read ancl unanimously confirmed , Mr . James Reay , proposed by Bro . Gate , and seconded by Bro . Finglass , was balloted for as a candidate for initiation , which having heen unanimously declared in his favour , he was admitted into the Order in the solemn and impressive manner in which the ceremony is uniformly given in this lodge . The lodge having then been

opened in the Second Degree , Bro . C . F . Adams , having been found duly qualified , was passed to the degree of a Fellow Craft . The lodge having heen closed in the Second Degree , ancl after some minor business had been transacted—Bro . Hart , of the Vitruvian , was proposed as a joining member , and a gentleman as a candidate for initiation . The most interesting proceeding of the evening took place . The W . M . said it now became his pleasing dutyin accordance with a resolution passed at the last

, meeting , the minutes of which had that evening been unanimously confirmed , to present to Bro . Edward Henry Patten , P . M ., and father of the lodge , the testimonial in view before the members , and which , handsome as it was acknowledged to be , elegant in form , chaste in execution , and appropriate in

sentiment , ivould but very imperfectly represent the worth of the brother for whom it was designed , ancl still less adequately convey the extent of esteem entertained for him by the members of the lodge . Bro . Patten had heen nearly forty years a member of the Jordan Lodge , and , as an indication of the amount of energy and zeal which characterised all his under - takings , the fact must be mentioned that , for the first 30 years after his initiation , Bro . Patten was not once absent from the

lodge , ancl that since that time he had not been absent more than three times ; and further , that in the whole course of his Masonic career he had never once had to give the sign on entering the lodge . A ery few Masons of far shorter standing could have so much said of » them in point of punctual attendance to duties '; hut it was not simply this trait in his character ivhich endeared Bro . Patten to the brethren not only of this ( his own ) lodge , but to the Craft generally . It was rather those qualities

ivhich the brethren had endeavoured to pourtray upon that parchment , and ivhich had called forth the testimonial itself . It was unnecessary for him to reiterate those sentiments , patent as they were to every member present , but he must , for the want of appropriate terms to express his feelings , borrow from the concluding portion of the document , and thus hope , in the name of all the brethren , that Bro . Patten might long be spared to aid the deliberations of the lodbhis counsel and

exge y perience , ancl that they might thus long have the privilege of uniting in the expression of their sincere and affectionate regard for him . The W . M . then presented the testimonial , ivhich consisted of the resolution of the brethren beautifully engraved and illuminated in an elegant gilt frame . The following is the inscription in full .- — " Jordan Lodge ( No . 237 ) . Charles Swan ,

AV . M . At a meeting of the above Iodge , held at Freemasons ' Tavern , Great Queen-street , on Friday , tho 16 th May , 1862 , the following resolutions were unanimously agreed to , and a , copy thereof ordered to be inscribed on vellum , and presented to Bro . Patten : —Resolved , That the best thanks of this lodge aro justly clue , and are hereby given to Bro . Edward Henry Patten , P . G . S . B ., Secretary to the Royal Freemasons' Girls' School , P . M ., and father of the lodge , for his unremitting exertions in

promoting its welfare during the thirty-eight years he has heen a member thereof ; having for twenty-eight years of that time held the office of Secretary . Tbe brethren desire to offer their testimony to the uniform kindness ancl courtesy , as well as to the energy ancl ability , evinced by Bro . Patten in maintaining the true interests of the Craft , and more especially in his constant support of the Masonic charities , of ivhich he has ever been a warm advocate , as well as a liberal contributor . With

feelings of unfeigned respect and esteem , ancl iu the earnest wish that Bro . Patten may be spared for many years to aid the deliberations of the lodge by his counsels and experience , the brethren unite in the expression of their sincere and affectionate regard . ( Signed ) EDWARD SPOONER , P . M ., Secretary . " - — Bro . PATTEN , in acknowledging the honour ? paid him by the presentation of the testimonial , said that , all through the long course of his connection with the Jordan Lodgehe had a vivid

, appreciation of the kind sympathy and fraternal regard of the brethren ; but this general manifestation of their esteem quite overcame him , and caused him to look within , that he might still know himself , and not be elated beyond such knowledge by this fresh expression of appreciation of not gratuitous services rendered , but only duties required from him to the members of this ( his own ) lodge in particular , and to the Craft in general . He would treasure this testimonial of the AV . M . and brethren

with no common feelings of grateful esteem . It would indicate to his family ancl friends , by whom it would be highly valued , how great an amount of satisfaction might be reaped even here by a strict endeavour to act iu the line of Masonic duty . He hoped , too , that this example of fraternal regard would be an incentive for the younger brethren present to emulate what the AV . M . had graciously designated virtues in him , but ivhich were only the fruits of a strict adherence to Masoulc rule , and a

strenuous endeavour to act up to the spirit of the Masonic obligation . He had long been dignified and honoured with the title of " father of the lodge ; " but even in this pleasing honour there was something of an admixture of sadness . He looked around at each successive meeting , ancl witnessed the absence of some familiar face , of some kind helping hand in the great work they had in view , till the reality now rushed upon his mind that not one of those who were initiated in the lodge during the

first twenty-one years of his membership was any longer among them . The second oldest member was the brother ( Bro . Spooner ) who now holds the office ivhich he ( Bio . Patten ) had the honour of filling for so many years . As the mutation of time progressed , he would doubtless fill the position carrying with it so much honour and privilege , of father of the lodge . Bro . Patten then thanked the brethren in terras of the most unfeigned regard and fraternal attachmenturging upon themas much by his

, , earnest emotion as hy his natural eloquence , the great duty of Masonic charity as called forth by the four institutions of the Order , claiming an extra sympathy for that with which he is now especially identified . —Bro . SHEEN , P . M ., gave notice of a motion which had for its object the alteration of certain of the Bye-Laws of the lodge , and the result of which would enable the hrethren to hold a still more honourable position in the lists of donations to the charities . The principal alteration

would be to expunge from the code of rules that which now made the third Friday in May one of the regular evenings of meeting . Other changes were merely tho result of this , and of a verbal character rather than affecting the general principles laid down for the guidance of the lodge . As this was merely a notice of motion to be discussed at tho next ordinary meeting , it was only necessary to advertise the brethren of the object of the alterations , in order that they might be prepared to decide

the question when brought forward next month . —All Masonic work being ended , the lodge was closed in due form , and the brethren adjourned to the banquet . The P . M . ' s present were Bros . Patten , Spooner , Sheen , Arliss , AA atts , Goldsboro' , and Dyer . The cloth having been drawn , the accustomed loyal and Masonic toasts were drunk , the first of which , that became more than usually interesting , being that of " The Visitors . " The formal response for himself and brother visitors was made hy Bro . Sinclair ( Lodge 257 ); one , however , who held position im-