Metropolitan.

and in acknowledgment of the uiiAvearied attention to his duties , and valuable services rendered to the lodge , 1 S 63 . " — Bro . Buss , on rising , Avas greeted with enthusiasm . He said that ho felt placed in a very difficult position , as it ivas impossible for him to express his sense of the honour conferred upon him , and of the kindly feeling ever evinced towards him by the lodge . If , in the performance of his duties as Secretary , he had happily combined the suaviter in modo with theforliler

in . re , it was more than sufficient reward to obtain the meed of praise from tho brethren ; but he really felt quite overwhelmed at receiving such a magnificent token of their esteem . He had certainly endeavoured upon all occasions to advocate the claims of tiie JIasonie Charities , and the lodge had always warmly supported him . It was the glory and the boast of the Order that such Institutions existed to alleviate the distress

of the widow and crphan , and to afford a shelter to poverty and old age . None could tell , however joyous and prosperous IIOAV , how soon the bitter blasts of adversity might siveep across his path ; and it ought , therefore , to be the pleasure , as it ivas certainly the duty of every Freemason , to assist in the noble work of charity . Bro . Buss again expressed his thanks to the brethren for their beautiful presentand could only echo the

, hope of Bro . Todd , that he might long bo spared to enjoy the goodfellowship of the Egyptian Lodge . On resuming his seat , the worthy brother was again Avai-mly applauded . The visitors on this interesting occasion were : —Bros . W . Farnlield , Assist . G . Sec ; J . Smith , P . G . Purst . ; W . . 1 . C . Moutrie , W . M . No . 11 ; C . T . Sutton , P . M . No . 780 ; R . W . Little , S . A \ . No . 975 ; . 1 . Draper , W . M . 213 ; and T . Evans , 243 . The Tyler's toast

"brought the proceedings of the evening to an end , and the brethren separated in love , peace , and harmony . OLD COSCOED LODGE ( No . 172 , late 201 ) . —On Tuesday last the members of this lodge , with visiting brethren numbering between GO and 70 , assembled at the Freemasons' Tavern for the first time after their vacationBro . Hoggthe W . AI .

pre-, , , siding , assisted by his Wardens , Officers , and P . M . ' s . The lodge being duly opened , the business of the evening consisted in initiating Mr . Clementson into the mysteries of the Order . The other business of the lodge being only of a formal nature , the lodge ivas closed , aud tho brethren adjourned to the

banqueting room . Bro . Hogg presided ; and , on tho removal of the cloth , the usual JIasonie toasts were given and duly responded to , after Avhich the health of the initiate ivas given Avith all due honours , when he returned thanks , and especially referred to the very impressive and masterly manner in which the W . M . had addressed him ; and he felt assured that , with such kind admonitions he had received , he should , ho doubted not , render himself worthof the CraftThe healths of the visitorsP . M . 's

y . , , "W . M ., Officers , & c , were also given and duly acknowledged . The W . JI . then drew especial attention to the calamitous visitation which had befallen a brother who had delighted them on several occasions by his exquisitely humorous songs—he alluded to a brother named Ilollingsworth , who , ho lamented to say , had become suddenly blind ; and his being only a young man , with a ivife and children to supportrendered the case the more

, saddening ; that he ( the W . M . ) had prescribed for him , and had also the assistance of several eminent physicians , but he was sorry to say there appeared little or no hope of his recovery . The W . JI . urged that this ivas indeed a deplorable prospect , and "bespoke the deepest sympathy and commiseration of the "brethren present ; and though he was aware the rules of the lodge did not permit the funds to be applied to this case , he

Avas certain his appeal would not bo passed over at the banquet table . Bro . Waters , P . M ., most cordially and earnestly supported this appeal , and ivas sure none could have heard the W . JI . Avithout feeling the deepest emotion . It is pleasing to add that a subscription was immediately entered into , and no less a sum than ( ive guineas Avas collected , which ivas gratefully and appropriately acknowledged by the W . JI . The brethren

shortly after adjourned , having spent the evening in perfect harmony and good fellowship . FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE LODGE ( No . 706 . late 1008 ) . —The first meeting of this lodge after the recess took place ' at the Masonic Hall , William-street , Woolwich , on the 2 nd instant . There were present Bros . Dr . Litle , W . M . ; Major Field , S . W . ; HareJ . W . ; P . LairdTreas . ; BodySec ; J . 1 ! . Thompson

, , , , P . JI . ; and some ten or twelve other brethren . Bro . F . Walters , P . JI ., wns the only visitor present . There ivere two initiations . After the business AVUS over , the brethren adjourned to Bro . De Grey ' s , the Freemasons' Tavern , Avhere the evening ivas spent in tbe most agreeable manner .

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

DEVONSHIRE . PlTJiorni . —Lodge Harmony ( No . 156 ) . —This lodge AAMS summoned to meet at the Swan Hotel , for the dispatch of business , at 6 o ' clock . The brethren Availed until nearly S o ' clock p . m ., when there being no officer present but Bro . Gard , S . D ., they were compelled to retire , having other engagements . Lodge Meridian ( No . 893 ) . —The brethren of this lodge attended at their roomsMillbrokein pursuance of their

, , summons , at 7 o'clock oh Jlondav , the 15 th xilb . Present : —• Bros . E . Worth , W . JI . ; O'Neil , S . W . ; Stevens , J . W . ; Blackney , as S . D . ; Avery , as J . D . ; Bird , Treas . Lodge St . Aubyn , as I . G . Visitors : —Bros . Kent , S . W . ; Quance , and Heath , —all of Lodge St . Aubyn ( No . 951 ) . The lodge was opened and passed by the W . 11 ., and Bro . Bickford having given pi-oofs of his proficiency , was raised to the sublime degree of a M . M . The W . JI . read a

letter received by him from Bro . Harris , S . D ., informing him that , in consequence of the distance at which he ( Bro . Harris ) lived from the lodge , it A-.-as impossible for him to attend to the duties of his office , and begging to resign his collar to the W . JI . The W . JI . then invested liro . Blackney with the collar of S . D ., and Bro . Roach as J . D . The lodge ivas closed in peace and harmony at 9 . 30 . The brethren then adjourned to the

refreshment board . A ftcr the usual toasts , Bro . E . Worth , W . JI ., in proposing the health of the visiting brethren , said it gave him great satisfaction to be enabled to reciprocate the kindness Avhich he invariably received whenever he could , conveniently , visit the lodges of Devonport , Stonehouse , and Plymouth . The distance of Lodge Meridian , unfortunately , ivas frequently a bar to many of their brethren visiting them ; and he took it as

a pei-sonal . eompliment to himself , as well as an honour to the lodge , to have visitors come from such a distance . Bro . Kont , S . W ., in reply , said it gave him great pleasure to he enabled to attend them on that occasion . \\ lienever time had permitted

him he had attended Lodge Meridian , and had been alwaysreceived heartily and Avith true fraternal feelings . He ( Bro . Kent , S . W . ) was always sorry to leave them , and rejoiced when an opportunity offered of assisting them again . ( Hear , hear . ) Ho thanked them for the kindness Avith which himself and the remaining brother of 954 had been receii'cd there that night , and trusted that the brethren of Lodge Meridian would give the members of Lodge St . Aubyn the opportunity of

reciprocating the kindly and fraternal feelings displayed on that evening by the members of Lodge Meridian . Bro . Stevens , J . W ., proposed the health of the W . JI . in eulogistic terms , and , in the course of his remarks , adverted to his late visit to the now lodge roams of Lodge St . Aubyn . He advised those of his brethren AVIIO had not as yet had an oportunity of visiting that lodge , to do so on the next regular meeting , which , he

believed , Avould ho on Tuesday , the 13 th Oct . For his part he could only say he Avas delighted Avith the place . The manner of Avorking ho thought admirable , and ho would Avish , if it Avere possible , to emulate the excellence of the Wardens of Lodge St . Aubyn . The ability and intelligence ot Bro . S . Chappie AA'as patent to the JIasonie Avorld , and he ( Bro . S . Chappie ) , in conjunction Avith his Wardens ( Bros . Kent and S ) ivorked

pry , the lodge in a manner that reflected the highest credit to them . In fact , the ivorking of St . Aubyn Lodge was perfection . The AV . M ., in replying , after thanking the brethren for drinkinghis health so cordially , said , in addition to the qualities of St . Aubyn Lodge as a ivorking lodge , they were highly noticed for their hospitality and truly Masonic feelings . The W . JI . then adverted to the fact of the consecration of Lodge St .

Aubyn taking place on the 28 th October , and hoped to have the company of as many of the brethren as could make it convenient to attend . The brethren spent a very happy and harmonious evening , regretting that time compelled them to separate at so early an hour .

LANCASHIRE ( WEST ) . BROVIXCIAT , GBASD LODGE . The annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge ivas hold on Tuesday last in the JIasonie Temple , 22 , Hope-street , Liverpool , AA'hich was presided over by Bro . Sir Thomas George Hesketh , Bart ., M . P ., l'J . G . W ., the D . Prov . G . JI . of the province .

The representatives of 29 ont of 32 lodges Avere present , aud they ivere accompanied by numerous P . JI . ' s and other members of the various lodges , AVIIO , under the presidency of the W . M . of Lodge No . 32 ( Liverpool ) , assisted by the W . JI . of Lodge No .