Metropolitan.

led" -ed the honour . Visitors : Bros . R . Slade , W . M . S 7 ; E . N . Levy , S . D . S 7 ; R , White , 87 ; T . Robertson , 2 S 3 , S . D . 745 ; A . D . Lowensfcark , P . M . SOS , 1035 ; C . L . Smyth , J . W . 164 , & c .

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

GLOUCESTERSHIRE . CHELTENHAM . —Foundation Lodge ( No . 97 . )—This lodge held its usual monthly meeting at the Masonic Hall , on the 26 th ultimo ., when the newly elected W . M ., Bro . A . W . Gabb , passed in an able manner Bro . Edwin Williams to the degree of a Fellow Craft Freemason . There was a good attendance of the brethren . After lodge the brethren adjourned to the banquet and the evening was passsed in the greatest harmony and brotherl y love .

HAMPSHIRE . BASINGSTOKE . — -Oakley Lodge ( No . 995 ) . —A lodge of emergency was held at the Masonic Hall , on Thursday last , the 27 th ult ., for the purpose of installing as W . M ., for the ensuing year . Bro . R . S . Hulbert , the W . Bro . W . D . Beach , M . F ., officiating as Installing Master , and performing that interesting ceremony with his well known skill , ability , and kindness . After the Installation the W . M . chose and invested his officers ,

Bros . J . W . Lamb , S . W . ; G . Riggins , J . W ., & c . Several visitors from distant places kindly favoured the lodge with their company , among whom were W . Bros . J . R . Stebbing , P . M . ; E . Bannister , P . M . ; Capt . Mainwaring , Rev . G . Hawkins , and many from Aldershot . After the labours of the lodge the brethren sat down to a sumptuous banquet , provided by Mrs . Klitz , the hostess . The usual Masonic and patriotic toasts were proposed by the W . M . and most enthusiasticallresponded to

, y by the brethren . Several eloquent speeches were made in the course of the evening , and listened to with the greatest pleasure and attention . After the banquet the customary colloction was made for all poor and distressed Masons , proving that Masons in the midst of their enjoyments are ever mindful of that Christian and Masonic virtue , charity . POBTSEA . —JSoyal Sussex Lodge ( No . 428 ) . —On . Wednesday ,

Feb . 26 th , the Right Worshipful Prov . Grand Master of Hants and his Grand Officers , accepted a special invitation from the Worshipful Master and brethren of the Royal Sussex Lodge , including a strong muster from the different lodges in the locality . The distinguished members of the ; Craft present , including Admiral Sir Lucius Curtis , Bart ., C . P ., R . W . Prov . G . Master of Hampshire , were Bros . H . Harfield , P . M . 152 , Prov . G . S . W . ; H . Ford , P . M . 319 , Prov . G . J . W . ; Major Hocking ,

W . M . 319 ; Prov . G . S . D . ; W . A . Kent , 152 , Prov . G . J . D . ; J . Weeks , J . W . 1106 , Prov . G . Steward ; E . Emery , P . M . 428 , Prov . G . Dir . of Cers . ; J . Gall , W . M . 1106 , Prov . G . Steward ; MarkE . Frost , P . M . and Sec . 717 , Prov . G . Dir . of Works ; J . R . Stebbing , P . M . 152 , P . Prov . G . S . W . and See . ; Henry M . Emanuel , P . M . 428 , P . Prov . G . S . W ., and Dir . of Cers . 42 S ; S . D . Forbes , P . M . 59 , 387 , 717 , P . Prov . G . S . B . ; J . Ogburn , P . M . 428 P . Prov . G . J . W . ; J . SladeW . M . 428 PProvG

, , , . . . Reg . ; J . Barnes , P . M . 42 S , P . Prov . G . Reg . ; H . Sothcote , P . M . 428 , P . Prov . G . Dir . Cers . ; J . Stapleford , P . M . 428 , P . Prov . G . S . B . ; T . Webb , P . M . 452 ; W . Tushy , P . M . 428 ; W . A . Wolfe , P . M . and Hon . Sec . 428 ; E . Wells , P . M . 717 ; Lieut . Murray , W . M . of the Gosport Lodge . 'The lodge being duly opened , Bro . Emery , the W . M ., proceeded to raise Bro . Everett to the sublime degree of a M . M ., which ceremony was performed

in a very effective and impressive manner , deserving the highest enconiums , in fact Bro . Emery still improves as he goes . By this time the R . W . Prov . Grand Master arrived , and was formally introduced into the lodge by Bro . Henry M . Emanuel , Dir . of Cers ., the officers and brethren saluting the gallant Admiral according to ancient custom , taking his seat to the right of the W . M . The lodge being now in the first degree , Mr . John

Gillham was initiated into the mysteries and privileges of ancient Freemasonry . The business being now over , the brethren retired from labour to refreshment , and about forty brethren sat down to an excellent banquet , provided by Bro . Wilkins . Upon the removal of the cloth the W . M ., Bro . Emery , gave tha usual loyal and masonic toasts , and proceeded by stating , with great pleasure , the lodge was honoured this evening by the presence of the R . W . Prov . & ., Master of Hants , and his Prov . officers . It was an epoch in his life which , as a mason , he should

ever remember ,- —the last time those distinguished and honourable brethren accepted an invite from the Royal Sussex Lodge was when Bro . H . M . Emanuel was ihe W . M ., in 1853 , on the same evening that the present W . M . was initiated;—the brethren would allow him to propose the health of Admiral Sir Lucius Curtis , Bart ., the R . W . Prov . G . Master of Hampshire , which was drnnk with great enthusiasm . Upon rising to respond , the worthy baronet said he was no public speaker , and not used to

public speaking , but on the present occasion he could not do better than say he felt proud of being among them all to-night , and should have been earlier had not magisterial affairs interfered ; at all events , he always had the Royal Sussex at heart , and the brethren must have great confidence in their Master in electing him for another year ef office ; such an occurrence had not taken place in this lodge for twenty years . He thanked them all for their kind attentionand in drinking his healthand

, , should he always too happy at any other time of attending their meetings . — "The present and past Provincial Grand Officers " was responded to , and a very eloquent speech from Bro . J . R . Stebbing followed . Every one in the province knows that this worthy brother has done more for the cause of masonry than any man . His attention to the wants of the craft , as an ameliator , a brother of charity , and a good mason , is unequalled . He held office as Prov . G . Sec . for some years , and to him it was

but a labour of love , as a staunch supporter of the masonic charities who has stood forward and pleaded more for " all poor and distressed masons" than Bro . Stebbing ? Charity , he said , was the pinnacle of all true excellence in freemasonry , and without such the Craft would be a sham and a delusion . As masons they never forgot their aged men , women , and children . Not one among them could tell the vagaries of fortune , and how soon they miht be glad to be reciients of such bounty . Bro . Emery

g p , then W . M ., was a steward and a life governor to the Boys' School , and he must compliment the Royal Sussex for having so good a brother among them . He further added , it was necessary for those who could assist such noble institutions to use every means in their power ; he then begged to propose "The health of the Worshipful Master of the Royal Sussex Lodge . " —Bro . EMEBY rose , and said his heart and soul was with the craft , and if the G . A . O . T . U . should spare him he hoped to continue to work with

the same harmony and good-will as ever . He thanked the brethren , and said this would be a red-letter day in his life , and hoped , with the aid of his officers , to carrj out this year as prosperous as the last ; he again thanked them . — " The visitors " was the next toast , and Bro . H . FOED replied that he had not intended to respond to any toast that evening , and hoped to be quiet and give loose to all the conviviality of the occasion . The W . M . of the Sussex Lodge had invited him on many occasions ,

and he should he always glad to promote his views at any time . He then stated that it had often been said of him that he generally told the same story over and over again at all masonic meetings ; admitted—he could never say too much of a good thing . He eulogized freemasonry , and would always do it , and also do his utmost to expose false masons . He hoped often to attend the lodge and see its excellent working . He always felt happy to be among men who were Masons , and such as

were deserving the name they professed consider what their positions were with regards Freemasonry . It was a thing not to bo jeered at—a true and accepted Mason would never disgrace the principles he possesses . He was proud to say that he was a Free and Accepted Mason . Kings had descended from their thrones and mixed with Masons ; in fact there was no society whose precepts were so noble and charitable . What greater virtue was there than raising a brother from distress , and

what greater pleasure than seeing his success . The Royal Sussex Lodge'Jie always revered , and thought for its unity , hospitality , and charity among all the lodges in the province he would give the preference to No . 428 . —Bro . H . M . EMANUEL gave " The Masonic Charities , " and said it was with pleasure he proposed the last toast , as last year he had been present and saw the working and management of the Boys' and Girls' Schools ; he said it was one of the most pleasing recollections of his life j

he could not but admire the regularity , attention , and cleanliness of everything around him—it made his heart feel and say this is the true spirit of Divine Masonry . To see the little bantlings luxuriating in the shade of charity endowed upon the grand principles of brotherly love , relief , and truth , —he should never forget it . Bro . Dorrington that evening had become a Life Governor , and Bro . Barnes was going to do so in the following month . He could not conclude without again extolling the W . M . for what was due to him as a brother and a Mason , and