Metropolitan.

summer in the United States ,, and who forwarded him a book , and had given him such information as convinced him that the ceremonies were very loosely worked in America , in fact that many of oiir beautiful ceremonies were travestied to a degree which made them ludicrous . To adopt an expression made use of by the W . M ., he must say that they were certainly Americanised , and they would see the necessity of having some authority to which they could loolc for the accuracy of their ceremonies , Avhen he told

them that their American cousins pnfessed to impart no less than five or six degrees in Craft Masonry unknown to the Grand Lodge of England , from Avhich they originally derived their instruction and authority . Useful and important as were die various Lodges oi Instruction in England , he must repeat that ic was most important that they should have some authority to which they could readily refer to correct those little inaccuracies and innovations in their ceremonieswhich almost insensibly crept in . In past times the

, Grand Steward's Lodge stood alone as a Lodge of Instruction , now there were other and most valuable Lodges of Instruction ; still were the Grand Steward ' s Lodge to devote themselves to that object , and hold their public nights a little oftener than they had hitherto done , they would afford a great advantage to the Craft . He remembered that lodge in the days of its prosperity , and had listened with leasure to its instruction . It had sincelike other lod

p , ges passed through its days of depression and trial , and he was glad to see it again asserting its right to the proud position it held in the Craft . It had been his fortune in Grand Lodge some years since to defend the privileges of the Grand Stewards when attacked , and should the time ever come again , he had no doubt that they

would find defenders besides himself , able and willing to preserve to them the peaceable enjoyment of the privileges which had been accorded to them for their past services by Grand Lodge . Again thanking the AA . M . for his interesting lecture and the brethren of the Grand Stewards Lodge for the very agreeable evening they had afforded them and trusting that they would reap the full fruits of their well directed exertions , ho would conclude by proposing his resolution .

Bro . J . LI . EVAKS , P . G . S . B ., President of the Colonial Board seconded the motion which was carried by acclamation . The W . M . briefly acknowled the complimentary manner in which the resolution had been proposed by so distinguished a Mason as the President of the Board of General Purposes , and the kindness with which it had been responded to by the brethren . He thanked them on behalf of tho Grand Stewards Lodge for the very numerous attendance with which they had honoured the lodge that

evening and assured them that it would be the utmost endeavour of the members of the lodge to render their public nights as attractive as possible by tho correctness of their working and close adhesion to the laws of the order . Their next public night would be on AVednesday , Dec . 19 th , when tho Grand Stewards would be proud to see as many brethren present as could make it convenient to attend . The lodge Avas then closed in due form shortly after ten o ' clock .

[ We have received a note from Bro . Elisha Cooke protesting against the observations both of the AV . M . of the lodge and Bro . Havers as tending to give a partial and one-sided view of Preemasonry in the United States . —ED . " ]

INSTRUCTION . THE ALBION LODGE ( NO . 9 ) . —This lodge held its usual weekl y meeting at seven o'clock on Sunday , the < lth inst ., at Bro . Hartley ' s , Western Masonic Hall , 10 , Old Bond-street , and was well attended , Bro . Cobham , of the Lodge of Faith , W . M . ; Bro . Simpson , of 21 . 1 , S . W . ; Bro . Barnshaw , W . M ., elect of the Zetland , 752 , J . AV . ; supported by Bro . AVoodstock , P . M ., 1051 and several other P . M . 's and brethren . The ceremony of initiation ( Bro . Ardin , 752 , as

candidate ) , and the seven sections of the first lecture were abl y Avorked by Bro . Cobham , the presiding AV . M . Bro . Bone , of 211 , was elected a member of this lodge . Bro . Simpson was elected W . M , for the ensuing Sunday . The Secretary announced that on the last Sunday in November the three ceremonies with their lectures , in the fifteen sections would be worked . Bro . Woodstock , P . M ., of the Belgrave , 1051 , was unanimously elected to preside on that occasion . There being no other business to transactthe

, lodge was closed in ancient form . This lodge meets every Sunday evening at seven o ' clock , and being attended by several eminent brethren , offers to those who are engaged on the other days of the week excellent opportunities of acquiring sound Masonic knowledge .

ST . THOAIAS ' S LODGE , No . 1 GG . —This lodge met at the Freemasons Tavern , on Saturday last , when the following officers were at their posts : Bros . E . C . Cockcraft , W . M . ; Hewitt , S . W . ; Ugenon , . LAV .: Gilbert , S . D . ; G . States and Luce , P . M . ' s AVilliam Watson , P . G . Steward , visitor . The business transacted

Avas as follows : —Lodge opened , minutes of last lodge , and lodge of emergency' , both read and confirmed . Opened in the 2 nd degree , Bro . AVoodford passed to that degree , by the AV . M ., in a manner that reflected the highest credit on his masonic zeal and knowledge . The lodge was closed down and after solemn prayer the brethren dispersed .

LION AM ) LAMB LODGE ( No 227 ) . —This lodge which is one of the many , that through altered circumstances of the proprietors of Hotels , has had to make many removals , and is now ou a . journey of discovery , as to where to fix its tent . It met on Thursday Nov . 1 at the London Coffee House , the October meeting having been held at the Three Tuns in the Borough . Bro . Lewis Balfour AV . M . presided , and after passing Bro . Backerac . k to the second degree , resigned the chair to Bro . Marsh , who initiated Mr . Arthur

Langlois , whom he had introduced . A motion of Bro . Breitling seconded by Bro . II . Muggeridge , to present the widow of Bro . Mc . Carthy with two guineas , was carried unanimously . It is net decided where the future location of the lodge is to be fixed .

Ev / riutATES LODGE ( No . 257 ) . —At the regular meeting of the lodge held on Thuesday , Nov . 6 th , at the AVhite Hart Tavern , Bishopsgate-street , Bro . J . de Solla , AV . M ., presided , when besides thc officers there were present P . M . ' s Bros . Shaen , Schwabe , Coventry , Galck , and others . Bro . Benas was raised to the third degree in a most able manner by the AV . M . Proposals for new members were offered , and it was announced that Bro . Hatton would represent the lodge at . the next festival of the Boys' School .

There being no further business , the lodge was closed and adjourned to December , when the election of AV . M . will take place . Twenty of the brethren afterwards partook of supper , and in the course of the evening the W . M . proposed as a toast " Prosperity to the Benevolent Fund , " and in response Bro . Schwabe , as one of the trustees , made a most gratifying report of the gradual increase , of that fund , which he informed the brethren was safely invested in the Savings Bank . Bros . Davis , How , and A alentine were visitors .

FITZEOT LODGE ( NO . 830 . )—This military lodge held its lust meeting of the season on Friday October 26 th at the head quarters of thc Royal Artillery Company , Finsbury . Bro . Capt . Rough , P . M . presided in the absence of the AV . M ., and passed Bro . Fletcher Norton to the second degree . After the disposal of the routine business of the lodge the Brethren adjourned to the banquet . Between thirty and forty were present , and among the numerous visitors , were Bro . Sharp , P . G . St and P . M . AA ; Bro . G . Ewglawl ,

P . M . 3 S , and P . Prov . G . S . AV . Surrev ; Bro . Bentham P . M . 593 ,. P . Prov . G . Surrey ; Bro . S . Myers , P . M . 1117 ; Bro . II . Sowilon , P . M . 57 ; Bro . . 1 . How , Prov . G . D . C , Herts ; Bros . Pain , Brulon , and Gorman , 11 ; Bro . Beningfield , 72 ; Bro . AV . E . Cole , 1115 , and Bro . C . Horsley , 38 . Dinner ended and the bounty ofT . G . A . O . T . U . gratefully acknowledgd , the brethren adjourned to another room wliere the dessert was laid , after due honour had been paid to the . usual loyal Masonic toastsBro . EleseP . M . rose and after

, g , , alluding to the course taken by their actual Master in sending his resignation ere he had completed his year of office—which was . regretted by every member of the lodge—said even for such emergencies the Fitzroy was prepared . It was their pride that there weie . among the P . M ' s . those , Avho Avere ready for any duties to Avhich they might be summoned , and he especially referred to the estimable brother , who filled the chair on that occasion , whose able conduct in lodge , and courtesy at the banquet ,

diffused a halo of happiness on all around . Bro . Captain Rough said the pleasure he felt in again presiding over the lodge , and thus being commended , was somewhat alloyed by tho resignation of Bro . Long ; at the same time it was his earnest desire as P . M . to sustain the good order and reputation of the lodge . The AA . M . then said he had next to give what the " Fitzroy " always considered thetoast of the evening , "The Visitors ; " they were numerous andbecoul ( lnotattempttoparticulariseornameonemore than another

, some they were well acquainted with , others then paid their first visit , but to each and all they offered a hearty welcome . To this Bro . England made a brief reply / acknowledging their kind reception . The W . M . next proposed the health of the Past Masters , and especially referred to the active services of those present , Bro . Eglese , the Secretary , Bro . Matthews , the Treasurer , and Bro . Newton , the Director of Ceremonies , and he could fearlessly assert Past

that for zeal and ability in these several offices , three such Masters were not to be found in the craft . Bro . Kg lese in reply , said there was such a unity of good feeling among the members ,, that any duty was pleasing . Bro . Matthews said his duties were ever easy and agreeable , for he found the members always so ready to pay their subscriptions into the treasury , that he never had to ask for money , and he was happy to say they had always means to afford a good welcome to their friends . The Officers , and some other toasts wero ' . 'rank , and the evening brought to a close .