Metropolitan.

carry them out as efficiently as he was able , so as to merit the eulogiums which Bro . Figg had been pleased to pass upon him ; and he hoped the time would come when they should not be falsified . He thanked the brethren sincerely for the honour conferred upon him . The W . M . said the next toast was one that always gave pleasure and satisfaction to the W . M . of the Fitzroy Lodge , which was , " The health of the Visitors . " They were that night honoured by several distinguished visitors , some of

whom were well known to them ; and as to the rest , he hoped they would oonsider that all that was desirable ' was com"bined in their persons . —Bro . HUNT , of the Lodge of Confidence , No . 22 S , returned thanks on behalf of the visitors . —The W . M ., in proposing the next toast , said he was greatly indebted to brethren from a distance , who were always ready to render him the greatest assistance in the absence of some of the officers of the lodgeas he could at all times fall back on the Past

, Masters . They were always present and ready to perform any duties that might be required of them . Having enlarged on the abilities of Bros . Figg , Matthews , Eglese , and Newton , he proposed the health of the Past Masters of the Lodge . — -Bro . FIGG , in reply , said he had but just become a Past Master , but having been placed in that position , and in such company , he doubted not that he should derive lustre from their great ability . Bros . Eglese and Matthews were the founders of the

lodge , and both there and elsewhere were ready at all times to promote the interests of the lodge . As to the jewel which they liad that night placed on his breast , he ^ should ever wear it with pleasure , and he thanked them sincerely for it . —Bro . PETER MATTHEWS , in returning thanks , said , not only as the founder of the lodge and Treasurer , but in his position as P . M ., he felt it to "be his duty to be irresent at the opening of the lodge . Now that washisnatal dayand he had friends at home with whom he desired

, to be present , but important as the day was , when once he had put his hand to the plough he ought not to look back , and he felt bound to be present in the lodge to perform his duties . Although he had friends at home to greet him , he was present that night , and he felt proud of the compliment they had been pleased to pay him . —The W . M . said the next toast was one of

considerable importance to the craft , It being " The Masonic Charities , " and they must go far to show the world that Masonry was something more than a name . Those noble institutions were situate at Wandsworth , Tottenham , and Croydon , and ' reference to them might silence the sneer which sometimes arose on the faces of those who knew nothing of Freemasonry . The Fitzroy Lodge had been well represented by Bro . Newton P . M ., at the Festival for the Aged Masons , and at

the Boys' School Festival the lodge would be represented by Bro . Eglese . He had thus early brought the subject before the lodge , as he was anxious that they should support him , for too much could not be said in support of these institutions , as the money was devoted to a noble purpose . He gave "The Health of Bro . Eglese , " coupling with it " The Masonic Charities . "Bro . EGLESE , P . M ., thanked the brethren for the very cordial ' manner in which the toast had been responded to , and said he

had taken upon himself the proud position of Steward on the occasion of the Festival for the Boys' School . It was a duty which devolved on every mason once or twice in his life to serve the office of Steward , and he would not do his duty unless he carried out that which was the object of masonry . It was all very pleasant for them to meet together at their social board , "but they were bound to support their charities . He hoped the "brethren would support him on that occasionand it would give

, him great pleasure to see a goodly number present at the banquet , but if the brethren objected to that , the charity would be as well served if they paid their money in subscriptions . Still he should he ' glad to see as many present as would do him the ' favour to go , so that the Fitzroy Lodge might be well represented . The forthcoming festival would be an extraordinary one , for Bro . Binckes had exerted himself to a great extent , and

as there were 101 stewards they might expect a great gathering , and it would give him great pleasure to attend . There were scarcely any institutions under the sun more worthy than the masonic institutions , and he thanked tiie brethren who had already given him their names ; they had given them in a good cause , and they would be repaid tenfold . Some other toasts were given and responded to , and the brethren separated at a comparatively early hour .

ROYAL OAK LODGE ( No . 1173 . )—This select and . prosperous lodge held its usual monthly meeting at the Royal Oak Tavern , High-street , Deptford . Kent , on Wednesday , Feb .

26 th . Bro . Collington , P . M . 164 ( a member of the lod ge ) durin " the temporary and unavoidable absence of Dr . Dixon , W . M ? assisted by the officers Scott , Stahr , Walters , AVeir , opened the ' lodge in due form . A ballot was taken for a gentleman as a candidate for the mysteries and privileges of ancient Freemasonry , which was declared to be unanimous in favour of his admission . Bro . Dr . Dixon then took the chair , and in his usual able manner initiated P . Kavanagh , M . D ., as an Entered

Apprentice Freemason . This being the installation night , Bro . William Scott , S . W . —the W . M . elect—was duly installed W . M . by Bro . Dr . Dixon in his accustomed superior style . There was . i very large board of Installed Masters , more than what we have hitherto seen at installations in this town , which we consider a proof of the high estimation in which the new W . M . is held ; likewise the great popularity this new lodge has acquired since its formation . The W . M . appointed the following brethren as

his officers , viz ., —Bros . G . Wilton , S . W . ; C . Stahr , J . W . ; J . Stevens , re-elected Treas . ; F . Walters , re-appointed Sec . ; J . W . Weir , P . M ., S . D . ; J . H . Pembroke , J . D . ; R . Mills , I . G . We were glad to see to justice at last done in this town to our worthy veteran , Bro . J . W . Weir , P . M . 25 , I . C ., who was on this night admitted to the installation , he now hauing his P . M . certificate from the Grand Lodge of Ireland , proving he sat as WMfor two whole in StAndrew ' s Lod ( No 25 )

.. years . ge . , Tin ' s now settles the question , and must of necessity close the opposition his just claim has met with for more than five years . He has manfully fought his claim inch by inch , and been put to a great trouble and inconvenience in doing so , but he has met with every success , which must of necessity in some degree sweeten his labours . There was one brother admitted as a joining member , after the ballot was

declared to be unanimous in favour of his admission . The brethren then sat down to a sumptuous banquet prepared in Bro . Stevens' superior style . After the banquet a well-served dessert was placed on the festive board , and the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given and received . The health of the new initiate was given in a plain , short , forcible speech ( short speeches being the order of the day ) by the W . M ., and Bro . Dr . Kavanagh returned thanks in a neat and appropriate speech . The " Health of the Visitors" being given , the W . M . coupled

the names of Bros . Penny , P . M . 72 and 93 , and Bolton , P . M . 172 and 198 . —Bro . Penny responded in appropriate language . The next business was presenting the first P . M . ' s Jewel to Dr Dixon , P . M ., which Bro . Walters , Sec , did in an efficient manner , and recurred to a few incidents of note which had occurred when the lodge was first formed and opened . —Bro . Dr . Dixon P . M ., in returning thanks , dwelt particularly on the fact of the jewel being given to him by the subscription of every member

of the lodge , and not from the lodge funds ( as is frequently the case in some lodges ) , which lie considered enhanced its value . Several other toasts followed , after which the brethren separated , well pleased with their evening's entertainment . Visitors : Bros . H . Potter , P . M . 11 ; H . R . Palmer , 57 ; E . M . Hubbuek , S . W . 66 , S . D . 164 ; W . C . Penny , P . M . 72 and 93 ; R . Slade , W . M . 87 ; W . R . Orchard , S . W . 93 ; J . Hasler , J . W . 93 ; T . J . RvderP . M . 164 ; E . T . HoggP . M . 164 ; S . RobinsonP . M .

, , , 164 ; G . N . Mourilyan , W . M . 164 ; C . J . Badger , I . G . 164 ; W . J . Mackenzie , 164 ; G . Bolton , P . M . 172 , P . M . 193 , and 1044 ; F . Durrant , P . M . 172 ; J . Lightfoot , J . D . 172 ; J . T . Tibbals , P . M ., Sec . 19 S ; R . W . Cummins , 19 S ; J . Clark , 275 ; R . Smith 1131 ; E . Perry , 8 S . C ., & e . An emergency meeting was held on Monday , March 3 rd . The W . M ., Bro . W . Scott , assisted by his officers : Wilton , Stahr , Walters , Weir , Pembroke , and Mills , opened the lodge . The business of the evening was to

raise Bro . Baatz to the sublime degree of a Master Mason ( previous to his going to Prussia ) . We have never seen any new W . M . perform this ceremony ( for the first time since his installation , which took place on Wednesday , 26 th Feb . ) so impressively , correctly , and beautifully as on this occasion . The history and Tracing board were fully given . The brethren have every reason to be justly proud of their unanimous selection of the W . M ., for he is so thoroughly efficient in every ceremony , and

never neglects giving the tracing boards of each degree , that they may sincerely hope his year of office will be a most prosperous one . Every officer of the lodge was well up to the work . The business of the lodge being ended , the brethren sat down to refreshment . The time being late , from the fact of two lodges meeting on that evening in the same room , the No . 11 Mark Lodge at seven , and No . 1173 at nine , caused the W . M . only to drink the health of the newly-raised Bro . Baatz , and wished him a prosperous journey . Bro . Baatz in suitable terms acknow-