The Masonic Mirror.

THE MASONIC MIRROR .

MASONIC MEM . A new work is announced under the title of " The Ignorant Learned ; or , Researches after 'the Long Lost' Mysteries of Freemasonry ; also the Eleusinian Mysteries , as they relate to Eoyal Arch Masonry . " By Henry Melville , R . A . C . Our readers will recollect that a short time since we published a paper on Chronology , by Bro . Melville .

Metropolitan.

METROPOLITAN .

EASIER . , ' STAR LODGE ( NO . 95 , late Ho . 112 ) . —The opening meeting of tho session was held at the Ship ancl Turtle Tavern , Leadenhall-street , on Tuesday , the 20 th of October—Bro . Edward W . Davis , W . M . There was a good attendance of members ; W . W . Davis , Grey , Allison , Corner , and Marriot , P . M . ' s . Among the visitors were Bros . Emmens , Maney , Hess , A . "Watson , Dalton , and Drew . The lodge having "been opened , a ballot was taken for the following three gentlemen , proposed

for initiation—Mr . Peter Becker Caarten , Mr . Charles Masters , and Mr . Francois Lemair , which was in their favour . The first two being in attendance , they were admitted and received into Freemasonry . Bro . C . Maney , P . M . of the Old Concord Lodge , was proposed by the W . M . as a joining member . The W . M . read the application of tho Secretary of the Eoyal Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and their Widows , for a Steward from the Eastern Star Lodgeand as no other member

, had responded to the call , he ( the W . M . ) said that he would liimself serve . All duties being ended , tho lodge was closed , and nearly thirty brethren gathered around the W . M . at the festive board . On the removal of the cloth , due honour was paid to the accustomed loyal ancl Masonic toasts . To the health of tho initiates , Bro . Caarten responded in a manner which created a considerable amount of amusement . The worthy brother had , as he said , been reading a little book , whereby to

gam some knowledge of Masonry , and , as the result of his reading , related in a very easy and off-hand way a summary of its history , beginning with the creation of the world , until reaching the reign of William the Third , who was a Dutchman , like himself , and who had most royally entertained the brethren at Hampton Court , and that at that time the Order was most flourishing ; that in after time Sir Christopher Wren took up the conduct of Freemasonry , and put a stop to the banquets ,

and consequently the Order decayed . He could not but express the pleasure ho felt that on his entrance into the institution the excellent practice of his countryman , King William , was restored ; aud he really thought the banquet was almost sufficient to have raised that excellent lover of good living from the shades . Certainly , it appeared to him that the Eastern Star Lodge determined to follow the good example of his countryman , King William , and not that of Sir Christopher Wren .

To the toast of the visitors Bro . Emmens responded , and briefly expressed the pleasure ho always felt in visiting the Eastern Star Lodge , and witnessing the excellent working , especially referring to Bro . Davis-, who had been for a second time elected to the chair , whose zeal in support of the Order and his lodge was above all praise . The Past Masters , Secretary , and other officers were honoured by notice , and , after a most joyous meeting , in which good humour and melody were mingled , the brethren separated .

ROYAL OAK LODGE ( So . 871 ) . —This prosperous lodge held its usual monthly meeting on Wednesday , October 28 , at the Eoyal Oak Tavern , High-street , Deptford ( Bro . , T . Stevens's ) . The lodge was opened by Bro . George Wilton , W . M ., assisted by Bros . J . W . Weir , P . M . ; C . Stahr , S . W . ; H . A . Collington , P . M ., J . W . ; J . Stevens , Treas . ; F . Walters , Sec ; J . H . Pembroke , S . D . ; R . Mills , J . D . ; G . S . Hodgson , I . G . j and J . S . BlomeleyW . S . Ballots were separately taken for Messrs . J .

, W . Hinderwell , W . Colmer , and II . Phipps , all of which were declared to be unanimous in favour of their admission . Mr . J . W . Hinderwell being in attendance , was regularly initiated , and Mr . llobert Phipps being also in attendance was likewise regularly initiated into the secrets and mysteries of ancient Free-

Metropolitan.

masonry . Each candidate was introduced separately , ancl the W . M ., in an earnest , impressive manner conferred the degree in his usual first-rate style . Bro . J . Stevens , sen ., respectfully tendered his resignation as Treasurer of the lodge , which was accepted , and the election for a new Treasurer was ordered to take place on the next lodge meeting . Bro . F . Walters proposed that a letter of condolence and sympathy be sent to Bro .

Dr . Dixon , P . M . of this lodge , to express tho grief felt on hearing that he had only a few days previously lost his wife , through a sudden illness of a few days' duration . This was carried unanimously . Bro . F . Walters , Sec , gave notice of a motion that the sum of five guineas be given by the lodge in aid of thc Boys' School . The candidate for raising being too ill to attend , and no other business being before the lodge , it was duly closed . The brethren then sat down to a very superior banquet . "Visitors . Bros . G . Chapman , J . D . 147 ; H . Jermyn , 176 ; T . Smith , 548 ; C . Gabrielson , 391 ( S . C ) , & c .

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

DEVONSHIRE . COUSECRATIO - * oi ? ST . ATJBY . * LODGE , DEVONPORT . On Wednesday , the 28 th nit ., the consecration of the St . Aubyn Lodge was duly consecrated in their new lodgerooms , in Moon-street , Morice Town . The lodge itself is beautiful in all its proportions , admirably arranged in respect to its ante-rooms aud approachesand its furniture and

para-, phernalia are appropriate and elegant to a degree that is rarely to be seen in provincial lodges . Nearly all the furniture has been given by different members of the lodge , and as the articles have been executed with the best of taste ancl regardless of cost , the expenditure must have been very considerable . There was a very large gathering of the brethren from the lodges of the Three Towns , and from other distant lodges in the

provinces of Devon and Cornwall . They assembled at the Eoyal Military Hospital , where a Grand Lodgo was opened by the R . AV . the D . Prov . G . M ., the Rev . John Huyshe , G . Chap ., assisted by Wm . Denis Moore , Prov . G . Sec , and the other Provincial Grand Officers . Here a procession was formed by the Prov . G . Dir . of Cers ., Bro . Clase , composed of a long file of tbe brethren , some 200 in number , fully clothed and wearing their jewels . Several of the lodges had their banners with

them , and the procession when completed was headed by a . band , and proceeded through the grounds of the Hospital towards the venerable old parish church of Stoke , presenting a very picturesque and pleasing appearance . Outside the walls there was a large assemblage of persons who had come to witness the proceedings . The party wended their way to the church , which was very soon filled . The services were those for the afternoon ,

and a large portion of them were choral . The first prayer was read by Bro . the Eev . E . Bowden , of Stoke Gabriel ; the first lesson by Bro . the Eev . W . Kennedy ; the second lesson by Bro . the Rev . W . J . St . Aubyn ; the second prayer by Bro . Kennedy ; the sermon was preached by the Eev . W . F . Crocker , Prov . G . Chap . As there is always a collection on those occasions , the Devonport Hospital was selected as an appropriate charitto receive the aid of the brethren .

y The Rev . CHAPLAIN took for his text the 20 th verse of the Sth chapter of Matthew : " By their fruits ye shall know them . " The rev . gentleman , at the outset of his discourse , said they had assembled there that day to consecrate a new lodge for the purposes of Freemasonry , and they had come to church first because they , as Freemasons , wanted the blessing of the great Architect of the "Universe upon their espacial work of that day ,

and because they believed that His house was the place of all places where that blessing was to be sought for and obtained . The Order of Freemasonry was a very ancient one , having been in existence centuries antecedent to Christianity ; therefore , for a considerable period of time Freemasonry could not possibly have been Christian , and , consequently , if Freemasonry was to retain its ancient landmarksother than Christians miht at

, g the present day be initiated into its mysteries ; in fact all might who were of good report and professed their belief in God . But it by no means followed from this that Freemasonry had any tendency to make men Deists ; indeed , the very reverse of this was the ease , for non-Christian Masons who acted out in their daily lives the principles of Freemasonry were the very men who , on the faithful preaching to them of the Gospel , would