Metropolitan.

for twenty years , and the longer he knew him the better he liked him . It was from Bro . Hancock he obtained his first insight into surgery . He had studied under him at Charing Cross Hospital , and almost regarded him as a father ; and he was indeed proud to see him there that day . There was neKt Bro . Warren , who had devoted much of his time and literary abilities to the promotion of the interests of the Craft . And , next to him , was Bro . Binckesthe Secretary of the Boys' Schoolwho had done

, , , and was doing , much to increase the funds and add to the usefulness of the School ; and with the toast he would couple the names ofthe three brethren he had mentioned . —Bro . HANCOCK , P . G . D ., was indeed proud of being present that clay , to see his old friend and pupil take so distinguished and honourable a position in their lodge . It was true that he had known Bro . Hogg for twenty first as a most industrioustalentedand

years , , , attentive student , then us the solid , hard-working , medical man , who found leisure to devote his attention to literary pursuits with great success , and ever as a sincere and straightforward friend . He was sure Bro . Hogg would make them an excellent Master , and reflect honour upon the lodge as he did every society with which he was connected . In the name of himself and brother visitors he returned them his sincere

thanks for the compliments paid to them . —Bro . BINCKES having been called upon , also replied , and again thanked the lodge for the- support which it had at all times accorded to the Boys * School , expressing his full conviction that as they obtained upwards of £ 3000 at the last Festival they would obtain more than £ 4-000 at the next . —The W . M . then gave " The Health of the initiate , Bro . Jowett , " to which that brother modestly and appropriately replied . —Bro . WATERS , P . M ., proposed

" The Health of the W . M ., " and at some length expatiated on his excellent qualities , both as a man and a Mason , and although the brethren had had no opportunity of seeing his working , he could assure them , from what he had seen at his examination , that he was perfect in the ritual of Preemasonry , and they might rest perfectly satisfied that they had got the right man , and that he was in the best situation in which they could put him . The toast was -very cordially received . —The

W . M . said be never felt his own deficiency more in his life in any duty that he was called upon to perform than now . He could not adequately return thanks to the brethren for the way in which the proposition of his health had been received by the lodge . He felt fully sensible of his own deficiencies in not heing able properly to return thanks on the present occasion for the unanimous way in which he had been elected as W . M . of that distinguished lod and he could not hope

ge , to discharge the duties with the same ability which had marked Bro . Waters's working during his year of office . He would , however , endeavour to emulate him to the best of his ability while presiding over the Old Concord Lodge , for he had been a most excellent W . M ., and if he followed in his steps he

thought he could not go very far wrong . Whatever deficiencies he might have he could assure them that there was no one whose heart was warmer than his own towards Freemasonry in general , and to the Old Concord Lodge in particular . He had the welfare of every individual brother at heart , and the only way he could show how sensible he was of their kindness was by a strict attention to the duties of the lodge . Whatever deficiencies they might observe he could assure them they were

not of the heart but arose from an inability to cany out all he could wish . He thanked the brethren for the kind way in which they had responded to the toast , and drank long life and happiness to them all . —The W . M . said the next toast he had to propose was one whichgave him great pleasure , and that was the health of Bro . Laughlin , anifhoped that he might be spared for many years to perform the duties of their chaplain ( cheers ) . —Bro . the Rev . J . W . LAUBaxDrP . M . and Chaplainthanked the W . M . and

, , , the brethren cordially for tbe kind manner in which they had drank his health . During the time lie had held the office of their chaplain he had always been treated in the lodge with the greatest possible respect , and he was always delighted to throw as much light as he could on the principles of Freemasonry before those brethren who chose to come amongst them as to the ren dering of their rites and ceremonies . He had endeavoured to make himself acquainted with the antiquities of their order

which were contained in books which were free to them as they were to him , and which while giving them a great deal of information did not contain any of the secrets of Freemasonry . He alluded to the work of Bro . How , and also to the works of Bro . Dr . Oliver , which fully answered all the puerile objections which were made by the outer world against their order ,

but it must be a guarantee to brethren of the excellence of Freemasonry when they saw ministers of religion and those holding the highest position in the scientific world , giving their allegiance to their Order , some of them being placed in the leading offices of the Craft . In that age of investigation it would jjbe impossible to get a literary man to accept office in their lodge , unless Freemasonry was worthy of acceptance , and he was able to satisfactorilexplain the great princiles of their

y p Order . It was a most beautiful thing to see the outgoing Master terminate his year of office by installing his successor ; but when they saw the admirable manner in which it was done by their Past Master , Bro . Waters , he felt sure they must all have been highly delighted . It would not he propex in him then , to expatiate on the beauties of Freemasonry , but lie could say that he should never have spent so much time in it had he not

believed that its principles were sound , and he could say thafche had never yet heard one objection to induce him to detach himself from their Order . A little learning was a most dangerous thing ; and he bad always found , if an objection was raised , that those who spoke the most against Freemasonry were those who knew the least about it . ( Cheers . ) He thanked them cordially for ihe respect they had always shown him , and

more particularly for their kindness on the present occasion . — The W . M . said the next toast he had to propose was " The P . M . ' s of the Lodge , " and he would associate with the toast the health of Bro . Waters . They had heard from their brother chaplain how much pleassd they were with tbe manner in which he had done the duties of the installation , which merited the approbation of the brethrenand he was lad to see him take

, g his place amongst the pillars of the lodge . He entertained the highest opinion of the P . M . ' s of the lodge , and he was sure that the brethren would drink their healths in bumpers . —Bro . WATEBS , in returning thanks , strongly advised those who aspired to office in the loclge , to make themselves acquainted with the " ritual of Freemasonry , and apply to the P . M . ' s of the lodge , who had the power to give them instruction . Unless they

could pass a satisfactory examination , they could never aspire , or if they did aspire they could never hope to obtain the position of W . M ., which was the highest object of their ambition . It was a most agreeable thing to sit at their banquet table , but

he trusted they had higher objects , and by ascending another round of the ladder of Freemasonry become better _ men , improving their morals , and inculcating those divine principles of doing unto others as they would wish they should do unto them . — Bro . KENNEDY , P . M . and Treas ., thanked the brethren for having elected him for the ninth time , and was happy to say that their funds were in a very promising condition , and he hoped that when their W . M . retired he would leave them in as

good a state as they were left in by his predecessor . —Bro . GUSTOS , P . M . and Treasurer of the Benevolent Fund , also acknowledged the toast , and said that they had now nearly £ 400 in hand ready to meet any case of distress which might require their attention . —The W . M . said the next toast was one not usually given , but one which he was glad to do honour to on the present occasion . It was thai of "The Press , " or the fourth estate of the kingdom , for

without a free press , or they should not have those advantages they have enjoyed . For those blessings they were indebted to the press , and while there was no country in tbe world where so much freedom was given to the press as in England , there was no country where that freedom was so little abused . ( Hear , hear . ) They were honoured that night by the presence of Bro . Warren , the Editor of THE FBEEHASONS' MAGAZINE , to whom they were indebted for the stand he had made in Grand Lodge

, and what lie had written for the good of the Craft . For the privileges they enjoyed they were greatly indebted to Bro . Warren , and he could assure him they felt highly honoured in having him present amongst them upon that occasion , and he hoped for many years he would continue to use his pen for the benefit of Freemasonry , as he bad done on former occasions . Bro . Thompson , another member of the press , and connected with this Magazine was also present , and they gave a cordial welcome to him .

( Cheers . )—Bro . HENEY G . WAEBEIT acknowledged the compliment . He thanked the W . M ., with whom he had had the honour of being acquainted for ten or twelve years , for the manner " m which he had proposed the toast , and the brethren for responding to it . He had endeavoured to do his best to render * the FBEEMASONS' MAGAZISE useful to the Craft , and hoped , under some new arrangements in contemplation , it mig ht become so . He also acknowledged the valuable aid he had received from Bro . Thompson who was well-known and