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communication was ordered to be returned to the Grand Lodge of North Carolina on the subject , which will be given in our next impression . THE BTJIXDISG C OMMITTEE . A long report was also presented from the Building Committee ,

which led to a very long and somewhat animated discussion as to how far the committee were justified in charging the tenants of the Tavern an increased rental from the llth of November last , it being contended that the advance was only to take place from the completion of the building , and the bricklayers were still employed upon it . It was

urged by Bro . Yall . ince , solicitor to the Company , that they had been improperly subjected to great loss in consequence of the building not being completed at the time specified , and that another injury was about being indicted upon tho shaveholders by the taking away from them the right of using tho distinctive and well-known name of "Freemasons' Tavern , "

ivhich was proposed to be done under the Oth article of the lease to Bro . Shrewsbury . This would have tho effect of depriving poor orphans and widows of the benefit of their money which had been invested iu this establishment .

These remarks were replied to hy Bro . Havers , who afterwards proposed a series of resolutions . On one of tlicm a division took place which resulted adverse to the recommendations of the committee , as it fixed the annual subscription from the brethren belonging to the London district for the use of the coffee-room and library at one guinea per unnum .

A long and uninteresting detail of an appeal from the WMof the Harmonic Lodge ( No . 35 G ) , St . Thomas ' s , West Indies , against the decision of the District Grand Master , iinished the business of t he evening at a late hour . We shall give a full report of the business of Grand Lodgo in our next .

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METROPOLITAN .

EOYAL OAK LODGE ( NO . 871 ) . —The usual meeting of this prosperous lodgo was held on Wednesday , the 27 th ult ., at the Itoyal Oak Tavern , High-street , Deptford . Bro . Wm . Andrews , W . M ., presided , and there were present during the evening Bros . J . Hawker , S . W . ; W . Jetl'ery , J . W . ; II . ' A . Collington , P . M .. Treas . ; 1 \ WaltersP . M . \) ir . of Cers . ; J . 'i ' rnclove

, , , S . D . ; T . Killner , as J . D . ; J . W . T . Barrett , I . G . ; S . C . Conk , J . Ragg , G . Ellis , F . II . Carter , H . K . Turner , W . Dalziel , S . 0 . Lewin , G . S . Ditton , T . C . King , G . F . Honey , and vary many others . Amongst a largo number of visitors wo noticed Bros . It . D . Duckets , 15 I . C . ' ; J . Mott , 117 ; G . Hill , 157 ; J . Payne , W . M . 160 ; W . Marriott , J . W . IG'J ; G . K . G-. de , W . M . 518 and many others . The minutes of tiie last meeting were

, read and unanimously confirmed . Ballots were taken for Messrs . C . Tilbrook and 11 . A . Watson , and in each instance was declared to be unanimous in favour of their admission . Mr . A . Watson being in attendance , was ably initiated into Freemasonry . Bro . _ i . K . Turner gave great proof ' s of his proficiency as a Fellow Graff , and was most impressively raised to the third degree . Messrs . Tuson and Heed were proposed

for initiation at the next lodge meeting . The important notice of motion by the Secretary for providing a fund for contributing towards tho support of the Masonic Charities was lost by two votes , it being arranged in another way to give support to the Charities . Bro . William Dalziel was accepted and returned as a Steward to represent this lodge at the forthcoming festival , to be , held on tlie 21 ) tb of next January , to

support the lloyal Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and their Widows . As arranged last year , Bro . John Hawker , S . W ., kindly consented to represent this lodge at the Boys ' School in March , 1 SG 8 , as the Steward , and his name was duly forwarded . A petition was duly signed on behalf of a widow

Metropolitan.

of a brother once belonging to a neighbouring lodge , whicli proved the good feeling which exists amongst all the members of the various lodges held in Deptford , all being ever ready to aid and assist each other . The lodge was duly closed . A banquet followed , served up in the host ' s best style , for which , he is so justly celebrated . The usual loyal toasts were given and recived , and some recitations , songs , and merriment brought the last meeting of the year to a happy close .

SouiiiEitx STAB LODGE ( NO . 1 , 158 ) . —The usual meeting of this nourishing lodge was lield on Tuesday evening , the 26 th ult ., at the Montpellier Tavern , Walworth , and was well attended . Bro . Henry Thompson , W . M ., uresided , supported by Bros . Pulsford , SAW ; Margerison , J . W * . ; K . Clarke , S . D- ; Bartlett , I . G . ; Charles E . Thompson , Sec ; and Henry Potter , I ' . M . The lodge was opened in duo form aud with solemn prayer . The minutes of the last regular lodge and the lodge of

emergency were read and confirmed . The first business of the evening was to pass Bros . Hart , Herbert , Kill ' s , aud Swe « t to the second degree , after ivhich it was announced that Bros . Russell , Giliett , Davenport , and O'Conner were candidates for the sublime degree , and , having satisfactorily answered the Questions as to their Masonic progress , tliey withdrew , and the lodge was opened in the third degree . On their readmission

they were all raised to the sublime degree of M . M ., the W . M . perlorming that important ceremony in his usual impressive manner , and the way in which this part of the ritual was gone through evidently made a deep impression upon those who were then admitted to the mysteries and privileges of the third degree . The lodge was then resumed to the first degree , when tlie following gentlemenwho were candidates for admission into

, the noble Order , were severally initiated into tbe iirst stage of ancient , free , and accepted Masonry , viz ., Messrs . Samuel Shepherd , George Farmer , and George Walklate , and they paid great attention to the ceremony as it was rendered by the W . M . The interests of the widow of a deceased brother , who is a candidate for the benelits of the Boyul Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and their widowshaving been

in-, troduced io the lodge by the W . M ,, a satisfactory arrangement was made with a view to the future operations . Some propositions for the next meeting having been made , the lodge was closed in due form and with solemn prayer . The brethren then adjourned for refreshment , which was well sewed by Bro . AU . itt , tho host , and was done ample justice to . On the withdrawal of the cloth , the W . M . gave "The Queen and the

Craft , " which was received with tlie customary honours anil the National Anthem . The W . M . said the next toast he had to propose , after having drank the health of tho Sovereign of the countrv , was that of the Sovereign of Freemasonry , the Bight ' lion . Bro . the Karl of Zetland , M . W . Grand Master of Masons , lie was most undoubtedly a very popular Sovereign , and lie might say , in these reforming times , that ho was a very democratic Sovereignfor he was subjected to an annual

, election , and was elected by all but universal suffrage . Notwithstanding all this , he was truly respected and esteemed ; and , when it was remembered that he had been annually elected for tweiily-l ' our times , it showed the respect in whicli he was held throughout the Craft , or he would not have been so often elected to preside over them in the elevated position of Grand Master . Hethereforecalled upon the brethren to do till the

, , honours that were so justly due , and drink the health of the Bight Hon . Bro . the Karl " of Zetland M . W . Grand Master of Masons . The toast was most enthusiastically responded to . The W . M . said the next toast he had to propose was "The Health of Bro . the Karl de Grey and Ripon , Deputy Grand Muster , and the rest of- the Grand Olhcers . " To those who had the privilege of attending the Grand Lodge , and had seen

the way in which Bro . the Karl de Grey and Ripon had discharged the duties in the absence of the Grand Master , any eulogium of him would be quite out of place , but to those who had not had that honour , lie could say that ho always discharged them with great ability and kindness , and if tho time should arrive when the Grand Master was unable to perform his dutiesor desirous of surrendering his oilice to some one

, else , he thought there would be a general feeling throughout the Craft that the mantle of office should fall upon him , anil which was now so worthily worn by their present Grand Master . Tbis toast was also warmly received and responded to . Bro . Mackney here obliged the brethren with a choice song , accompanying himself on the pianoforte . The W . M . said the next toast he had to propose was ahvays a most pleasing