Metropolitan.

147 , See ., Dir . of Cers ., S 71 ; T . Hayes , 73 ; Bartlett , 147 ; T . C . Hicks , 273 . The minutes of the last meeting were read and ¦ unanimously confirmed . The ballot for tho candidate for initiation was declared to be unanimous in favour of his admission . Bro . T . Hayes , 73 , Mount Lebanon Lodge , being a candidate for raising , was duly interrogated , trusted , and withdrew . He was readmitted and raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason . The entire ceremony was given , including the

traditional history and the tracing board . The candidate for initiation being present was duly initiated into the mysteries ¦ and the privileges of Ancient Freemasonry . Both the raising and initiation were beautifully rendered by the presiding officer , ¦ and proved the right man was in the right place . The bye laws were then read out aloud . A ballot was taken for the W . M . for the ensuing year , and declared to be in favour of the present W . M . who was reelected by a majority of ono vote .

, The ballot proved unanimous in re-electing the Treasurer . Bro . G- Aldridge . Bro . W . Y . Laing , P . M ., was unanimously reelected Tyler . The Audit Committee was elected . The business being ended , the lodge was duly closed according to ancient custom . Then followed the usual cold collation . ROYAL OAK LODGE ( NO . 871 ) . —Installation Meeting . —This young , though highly prosperous lodge , held its regular meeting

on Wednesday , the 27 th ult ., at the Royal Oak Tavern , Highstreet , Deptford ( Bro . G . Ellis's ) . In the unavoidable absence of 3 ro . H . A . Collington , W . M . —caused by illness of a near relative—and by the unanimous wish of the lodge , Bro . Frederick "Walters , P . M . 73 , Mount Lebanon Lodge , and Secretary of this lodge , took the chair , and presided over the meeting during the evening . At four o'clock p . m . the lodge was duly opened , and

there were present then and during the evening : —Bros . W . -Andrews , S . W ., ancl W . M . elect ; J . Truelove , as J . W . ; J . Hawker , S . D . ; W . Jeffery , J . D . ; W . Dalziel , as I . G . ; W . J . Honey , H . Whittle . G . F . Honey , J . C . Craddock , G . S . Ditton , G . L . Tilbrook , J . W . Sampson , S . O . Lewin , A . G . jodosen , T . C . King , H . J . Wright , J . Dernoccoiir , H . Firmin , D . Masson , G . Ellis , S . G . Cook , and many others . The visitors were numerous , and amongst them were : —Bros . T . G . Dickie , Prov . G . Purst . ; Dr . Dixon , P . M ., P . Z . 73 , P . M . 871 ; A . P . Steadman , 73 ; W . C . Fames , 73 ; R . Boncey , J . W . 79 ; Brain , 79 ; J . W . Halsey ,

P . M . 134 ; W . Noak , W . M . 140 ; G . Bolton , P . M . 147 , P . M ., P . Z . 169 , 742 ; J . Lightfoot , P . M ., Treas . 147 ; J . Bavin , P . M ., See . 147 ; N . Wingfield , 147 , P . M . 169 ; J . Patte , S . W . 147 ; J . Eoper , 147 , * J . Whiffen , I . G . 147 ; J . Porter , 147 ; C . J . Dillev , 147 ; G . Brown , P . M ., Treas . 169 ; E . Sillifant , P . M . 217 ; E . J . B . Bumstead , P . M . 548 ; R . Bentley , P . M . 548 ; J . Porter , 548 ; J . W . Avery , P . M . 619 ; King , 619 , and many others whose names we were unable to ascertain . The

minutes of the previous lodge were read and unanimously ¦ confirmed . A ballot was taken for Mr . Randal Deal , and declared to be in favour of his admission . Bro . S . A . Lewin being a candidate for raising , was interrogated , trusted , and withdrew . Ou his readmission he was regularly raised to the sublime degree of a M . M . Bro . Gjodosen went through the preliminary preparation , and was duly passed to the honourable

degree of a F . C . Freemason . Mr . R . Deal presented himself as a candidate properly prepared for initiation , and was , according to ancient and immemorial custom , initiated into the secrets , mysteries , and privileges of ancient Freemasonry . Time progressed , and showed it was six o ' clock , the hour appointed for the all-important ceremony of the evening , viz ., the installation . All the other candidates who had not attended punctually to

the time specified on their summonses " and circulars which had been sent to them , had their degrees they were entitled to deferred until the next lodge meeting in April . Punctually at six o ' clock the ceremony of installation was commenced , previous to which Bro . F . Walters , P . M ., Sec , appointed Bros . G . Bolton , P . M . 147 , as S . W . ; J . Bavin , P . M . 147 , as J . W . T . G . Dickie , Prov . G . Purst ., presented Bro . W . Andrews , S . W ., and W . M .

elect , to the Installing Master , Bro . F . Walters , to receive at his hands the benefit of installation . The various qualifications of a candidate for the Master ' s chair were repeated , and Bro . J . Hawker , S . D ., acted as Sec . pro tern ., and read the rules and regulations , which were agreed to by the W . M . elect . A hoard of Installed Masters , numbering fifteen , were duly formedand Bro . WAndrews dulinstalled as the AVM

, . was y .. for the ensuing year . The board was then closed . The brethren were admitted , and the newly-installed W . M . duly proclaimed and saluted in the three degrees . The Warrant Book of Constitutions and the b y-laws were presented to him . The Installing Master , hy his directions , invested his officers , except the Sec ,

Metropolitan.

whom he invested himself , assuring him that no lodge could possibly have a better Secretary than he was and had been to this lodge . The following brethren were invested and appointed as officers , viz . -. —Bros . , T . Hawker , S . W . ; W . Jeffery , J . W . ; F . Walters , P . M ., Sec , Dir . of Cers . ; J . Truelove , S . D . ; H . Whittle , I . D . ; J . T . W . Barrett , I . G . ; S . Garrett , P . M ., Tyler , re-invested . The beautiful addresses were then delivered , andwhen finishedwere followed by a heartburst of applause .

, , y Bro . F . Walters , P . M ., Sec , was highly complimented hy several P . M . ' s for the efficient , impressive , and able manner he had rendered all the ceremonies during the evening . It was proposed , seconded , and carried unanimously , that a vote of thanks be given and entered on the lodge minute-book to Bro . Walters , P . M ., Sec , for the able , talented , and efficient manner in which he had performed the ceremony of installation ; also for the very

many effectual services he had rendered to the lodge as the Secretary . Bro . F . Walters , P . M ., Sec , returned his thanks for this mark of respect in a suitable speech . The report of the Audit Committee was then read , and it showed there was a balance in the Treasurer ' s hands of more pounds than what there were members names on the lodge-books , without a single liability , which proved how well their preceding W . M . had managed their funds , for when he took the chair , in 1 S 65 , the

lodge was indebted to their Treasurer , but now had a very large surplus in hand , and more than scarcely any other lodge possesses . The lodge was duly closed at seven o ' clock . Banquet was commenced a . fe eight , Every delicacy of the season was on the festive hoard . The host , Bro . G . EUis , was indefatigable in his exertions to make every one comfortable . The wines were all good , and of the finest brands . When the cloth was cleared a lendid dessert was served The toasts followed" The

sp up . , Queen and the Craft , " " The Right Hon . the Earl of Zetland , Most Worshipful Grand Master , " " The Earl de Grey _ and Ripon , ancl the rest of the Grand Officers , " responded to in an able speech-by Bro . T . G . Dickie , Prov . G . Purst . "The health of the W . M . " was proposed by Bro . Dr . Dixon , P . M ., in a fluent speech . The W . M . appropriately responded . "The P . M . 's" were then given , Dr . Dixon responding . The

newlyinitiated Bro . Deal also responded . The visitors Bros . J . W . Halsey , P . M . 134 , N . Wine-field . P . M . 189 , and J . Patte . S . W . 147 , severally responded . " "The Treasurer , " "The Secretary " ( Bro . F . Walters responded ) , " The Officers of the Lodge" ( who responded ) , and others followed in due course . The brethren separated highly delighted with this pleasant meeting , and the generous treatment they received at the festive hoard , where forty-two sat clown .

INSTRUCTION . ROYAL ATIIELSTA - LODCIE OF INSTRUCTION ( N O . 19 ) . —The members of this Lodge of Instruction , in conjunction with the " Camden" and tho " Fidelity" Lodges of ' instruction , have formed three committees to receive subscriptions towards presenting a testimonial to their much esteemed and respected Bro . Thomas Alexander Adams , P . G . Purst ., in acknowledgement of his great exertions in diffusing Masonic instructions to

young Masons . The committees , therefore , sincerely hope that the brethren will use their best exertions to render the intended testimonial worthy of the distinguished brother , and creditable to the Craft .

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORELAND CARLISLE . — Union Lodge ( No . 310 . )—This old prosperous and nourishing lodge held its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday 26 th ult ., at tiie Freemasons' hall . The W . M ., Bro . G . G . Hayward , P . Prov . G . Steward , occupied the chair of K . S ., ably supported by Bros . F . W . Hayward , P . M . Dir . of Cers ., P . Prov . S . G . W . ; J . ' Slack , S . W . ; W . Court , Treas ., as J . W . ; W . Johnston , S . D . ; G . Somerville , J . D . ; M . Fisher , acting Sec ; J .

Gibson , I . G . ; A . Woodhouse , Steward , S . W ., 412 ; J . Barnes , acting Tyler . The following brethren were also present , viz .: — S . Coekburn , G . Turnbull , J . Dee , Capt . Owen Jones , B . H . Cooke , J . T . Milborne . The lodge was duly opened according to ancient custom , the minutes read and confirmed ; the lodge was then passed to the second degree , when Bro . R . Lambert a candidate for the High Order , having passed his time of probation and proved himself deserving of that honour was entrusted , and admitted to a lodge of the third degree , and raised to that