Metropolitan.

ensuing . Bro . Handford was then unanimously re-elected as the Treasurer of the lodge , and Bro . Crawley , Tyler . Bro . Palmer , P . M ., said he had a most pleasing duty to perform , which was to pay a compliment to their W . M . on his retiring from the chair , and as it had been well deserved , he should move that the sum of five guineas be voted from the funds towards the purchase of a P . M ' s . jewel , to be presented to the W . M ., Bro . Thompsonon his retirement from the mastershiof the

, p lodge . Bro . Handford , P . M ., seconded the motion , which was put and carried unanimously . Some other matters having been disposed of , it was announced that five gentlemen were candidates for initiation at the next lodge meeting . The lodge was then closed , and the brethren adjourned to . the chief saloon , where a splendid banquet was provided for them , in Bro . Strange ' s usual stle . After the cloth was drawn

y , the W . M . gave "The Queen and the Craft , " which was duly honoured , followed by the National Anthem . The health of the M . W . G . M . and the D . G . M . were next given , and received with all due honours . The W . M . said the next toast was the health of the newly-initiated brother of that evening . He was greatly pleased , on the last evening he should occupy the chairto have the opportunitof introducing and

, y initiating as a member of the lodge , his friend , Bro . Steigerwald . The brethren need not accept from him all he could say of him , having known him for a length of time , but he brought with him a stronger recommendation , for a number of their own members were most anxious to see Bro . Steigerwald a member of their lodge . In asking the brethren to drink his health , he had only to express a hope that he might prove as good a master

of the lodge at some future day , as he had proved an initiate that evening . The toast was well received . —Bro . STEIGEKWALD briefly acknowledged the compliment , and said he would do all in his power to render himself worthy of the good opinion tbey they had formed of him . —The W . M . said the next toast he had to propose was the health of the visitors of the evening , and although they were not so numerous as they had been on a

former occasion , yet . they had a great deal of talent amongst them . The W . M . then referred to each personally , and concluded by calling upon the brethren to greet them in a manner worthy of the Crystal Palace Lodge . —Bro . BAILEY

returned thanks on behalf of the visitors . —Bro . PALMER , P . M ., said he rose with much pleasure to propose a toast in which they all felt deeply interested , which was the health of the W . M . The time was near at hand when his term of office would expire , but the manner in which he had performed his duties , demanded from them a hearty welcome to the toast he had proposed . He thought the W . M . elect would be well fitted for the chairbut they should not fail to appreciate the

, way in which the W . M . in the chair had carried on the duties of the lodge . As he had done his utmost in his exertions to advance the welfare of the lodge and the prestige it maintained in the Craft , he called upon them to be upstanding , and drink the health of their W . M . The W . M . thanked the brethren for the very kind way in which they had responded to the toast , and said that during his year of office he had done his best to

promote the prosperity of the lodge , and he hoped that his successor would be able to secure for it more advantages than he had . In conclusion , he begged to give "The Health of Bro . Oliver , W . M . elect . "—Bro OLIVEE said as time was short , he would not detain them long , but he thanked the W . M . for the kindly way in which he had spoken of him , and he would endeavour so to discharge his duties in the chair , that the lustre

of the lodge should not fall through during his year of office . As far as the working was concerned , he would endeavour to keep up that character which the Crystal palace Lodge had always maintained . —The W . M . next gave "The P . M . ' s of the lodge , Bros . Palmer and Handford , " coupling with the toast the health of other P . M . ' s present . —Bro . P ALIKE , in responding for himself and Bro . Handford , thanked the brethren for the

very kind way in which the toast that had emanated from the chair had been received , and he could assure them that it would be to himself and Bro . Handford a sincere pleasure to assist any brother who had the ambition to occupy the proud position of their W . M ., and any amount of knowledge he possessed he should be glad to impart to others who might require itHe wished long life to the WMin the chairand

. .. , the manner in which they had received the toast of his health , showed how they appreciated the working of the lodge during his year of office . He thanked the brethren sincerely for the honour conferred upon the P . M . ' s . Bros . Stewart and Bates also briefly responded to the toast , and this brought the

proceedings of a very happy evening to a close . The regular Masonic business was most agreeably diversified by a variety of songs , the Organist of the lodge presiding at the piano-forte .

INSTRUCTION . TEiirEEAircE LODGE ( NO . 198 ) . —The anniversary festival of this excellent lodge of instruction , was held at Bro . Bolton's , Victoria Tavern , Victoria-road , Deptford , on Friday , the 27 th March . The chair was taken by Bro . Nowlan , W . M ., supported by Bro . Brown , S . W . of the mother lodge , and supported by about twenty-two other brethren , amongst whom were several P . M . s of the parent and other lodges . Bro . ArnoldP . M . of the

, Lodge of Faith , in his usual excellent manner , worked a lecture on the tracing board , and with the assistance of the brethren , some of the sections of the first degree . The brethren then sat down to a banquet that reflected the highest credit on Bro . Bolton . On the removal of the cloth , the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were proceeded with and responded to most heartily . Bro . Arnold in proposing the health of the W . M . Bro . Nowlan ,

, congratulated him for his zeal and assiduity in promoting the interest of the lodge of instruction . Bro . Nowlan briefly replied , and stated he should call on the brethren to fill a bumper to the next toast , that being the health of Bro . Bolton , P . M ., not only for the manner he had catered for them that evening , but for his genuine Masonic qualities , which he was quite sure every brother present could bear witness to . Bro . Bolton

returned thanks for the compliment , and assured the brethren that nothing gave him greater pleasure than to impart that Masonic knowledge which he had received from others . The next toast the W . M . wished to propose was , prosperity to the lodges in the neighbourhood , which was heartily responed to . Bros . Arnold and Green having briefly replied , the W . M . begged to propose the health of one to whom the lodge of instruction was greatly

indebted , itbeing that of the worthy and distinguished Bro . Hollins , P . M . ( Cheers . ) Bro . Hollins having briefly replied , the next toast the W . M . had to propose , was the health of their highly esteemed Treasurer , Bro . Simmons , P . M ., of whom the lodge was justly proud . Bro . Simmons in acknowledging the toast saidthat so far from any thanks being due to him , his were due to the brethren , for the kindness with which they at all times received him . He was happy to bo amongst them , and from the day of his initiation had endeavoured to the best of his ability

to promote the interests of the Craft , so far as his means would allow . The S . W ., Bro . Brown , and one or two other toasts followed , and were briefly and appropriately responded to , and the proceedings were brought to a happy close . The harmony of the evening was much enhanced by the singing of Bro . Kingfield and several other "brethren . PEECT LODGE ( NO . 234 ) . —The Fifteen Sections were beautifully worked in this lodgeheld at Bro . Ireland'sthe Falcon ,

, , Fetter-lane , on Saturday 4 th inst . At 7 o'clock Bro . Bradley took the chair as W . M ., supported hy Bros . T . Foulger , S . W . ; Nudge , J . W . ; Gilchrist , S . D . and Sec ; Smith , J . D . ; Aldridge , I . G . ; and Bradley , Tyler . The questions were all put by the W , M ., in a manner which evinced a thorough knowledge of his duties . The sections were respectively worked by the following brethren . The lecture in the first degree : —1 st section , Parker ;

2 nd , Nudge ; 3 rd , Carl ; 4 th , Foulger ; 5 th , Thomas ; 6 th , H . Thompson ; 7 th , Sharp . In the second degree : —1 st section , T . Foulger ; 2 nd , II . Thompson ; 3 rd , Sharp ; 4 th , Thomas ; 5 th , Thomas . In . the third degree : —1 st section , Gilchrist ; 2 nd , Foulger ; 3 rd , S . B . Wilson . The whole of the answers were given in a correct and prompt manner , such as seldom comes to our lot to witness . The lectures concluded , Bros . Mather ,

of 78 and 1115 ; Gaball , of 169 and 536 ; and Hugget , were proposed as members of the lodge of Instruction and unanimously elected . The W . M . announced the fact to the newly elected brethren , assuring them that if they had a desire to gain Masonic information and qualify themselves for their duties , they could not do better than attend this lodge , where , he believed , pure and correct Masonry was taught . Bro . Mather replied , thanking the brethren for electing him , and promising

a regular attendance . Bro . Gaball also thanked the W . M . and brethren for the honour they had done him in electing him a member . He was desirous of receiving all the instruction he could obtain , and he felt certain that in a lodge where the working was conducted in the manner he had witnessed that evening , he should gain all that he could desire . He should make a point of attending their meetings as often as business would permit . Business over , the brethren separated at an early hour .