Metropolitan.

collars of office . The loclge was then closed , and the brethren reassembled in the banquet-room . —The dinner concluded , and thanks offered to the G . A . 0 . T . IT . by the Rev . Brother in the chair , the AV . AI . gave the usual toasts of " The Queen and the Craft ;" also "The M . AV . Grand Master . " In the next toast , that of " The Earl of Dalhousie and the rest of the Grand Officers , Past and Present , " was included tivo brethren ivho honoured the loclge AA'ith their company , Bros . Biggs and Rule . —In responding , Bro . BiGSS

referred to his being so regularly called on in the Yarborough to acknowledge this compliment to the Grand Officers , ancl Bro . RULE mentioned that this was the first visit he had paid to the lodge since its consecration twelve years ago , and noticed that daring the period that bad elapsed from its small beginning it had grown to a most extensive body . —Bro . VASEY then rose and saicl , as he ivas for a brief space in possession ofthe symbol of authority , he should , as the brethren might expect , use its power to call up a spirit of

congratulation at seeing Bro . Shaboe in the chair of the Yarborough ; he had been some time a member , hacl gone through several offices , and thoroughly perfected himself , for the duties of his important office , and hacl made up his mind to govern the loclge with that spirit of equality which would , he AA'as sure , give satisfaction to all . —The AV . AI ., after thanking tbe brethren for the warm reception of the toast , acknowledged it had long been the desire of his heart to fill the post to AA'hich he had

that clay been elevated . He referred to his having five years ago filled tbe S . AA . ' s chair for an especial purpose ; but , not to deprive those who by time had earlier claims to the chair , he had taken lower offices , and had at last arrived at the summit of his ambition . He felt great pleasure in having the presence of the

Rev . Bros . Laughlin ancl Griee , and so numerous an attendance of brethren to greet his installation . —The W . M ., in proposing " The Past Masters of the Loclge , " referred to their great services . Bro . Vasey , had that clay completed his year of office , and they hacl all seen how admirably he had performed his duties . Bro . AVinne also , AVIIO , beside his efficiency as a P . AI ., so ivell discharged the important trust of Treasurer , was entitled to their gratitude . Bro . Kindred , also , always ready to fill any office where a brother mi ght be absentin fact

unavoidably — , every P . M . of the lodge , although no more were then present , had in his time clone good suit ancl service to the lodge . —Bro . A ASEY , in responding , saicl he had been greatly aided in his year of office by Ms predecessors , and particularly referred to Bros . Kindred and AVinne . —The AV . M . said it was next his duty and pleasure to propose " The A isitors , " and again expressed his gratification at the presence of Bros . Laughlin and Griee , the latter having journeyed tivo hundred miles for the occasionhe also noticed

; Bros . Maney and How , whom they all knew . —Bro . LAUGHM : * , * , who was called on to reply , said he was delighted to see his friend and brother labourer in the ministry elevated to the chair , a position ivhich was tbe laudable ambition of ei'ery good Mason , as it was the reward of labour . He considered it no trifling matter to be elevated to the high distinction of governing a body belonging to so glorious an institution . —The AA . Af . proposed a special acknowledgment of tbe services of the

, Treasurer , and an enthusiastic reception having been given to the toast , Bro . AVinne briefly replied . —The AVAL then proposed " The Officers , " being certain , from their antecedents , he should ( D . V . ) have to thank them twelve months hence for good service . To this Bro . _ AVaight , S . AV ., responded , and the Tyler's toast concluded a pleasing meeting .

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

BERKS AND BUCKS . JSEWBVRY . —Loyal Berkshire Lodge of Hope ( No . 839 ) . —This loclge met on Friday , fche 4-fch inst ., when Bros . Douglas Vernon and Thomas Parr having passed a satisfactory examination , received promotion to the degree of F . C . Capt . Arthur Mainwaring was , on a ballot , unanimously approved as a candidate for initiation ; and , being present , was introduced to the mystery of the degree of E . A . Bro . G . Phippsof the Royal Cumberland 48 visited the

, ( No . ) , loclge . On the retiring AV . AI . ( Bro . Cave ) , leaving the chair , Bro . E . S . Cossens , P . M ., 1097 , installed Bro . Thomas Deller , the AV . AI . elect , in the chair ot K . S . in ancient form , and in the most effective manner . The new AVAL was proclaimed and saluted in the accustomed manner , and the Installing Alaster delivered the usual addresses to the AV . AI ., the Wardens , and the brethren . -The AA . M . appointed Bro . AV . AV . King as the S . AV . ; Bro . I' \ Hall r '

G . , , LAA . ; Bro . E . S . Cossens , Sec . and Almoner ; and invested Bro . AV . H . Cave as the P . AI . of the loclge . The Masonic toasts ivere given and responded to Masonically . On the health of Bro . E . S . Cossens being given , ivith an unanimous cx Pj -ession of thanks for the admirable manner in ivhich he had installed the AV . M ., he took occasion to make an original address tjr & ko brethren , reminding them that it was not merely the wearhvOJ & t-JJaclge with which they had been invested , that truly denoti « i ? Sh « B , J

to os Freemasons , but the faithful , impartial , and sincere performance of those three great duties ivhich devolved upon each of tbem —tlieir duty to the loclge , their duty to their AV . AI ., but , above all , their duty to the G . A . 0 . T . U . He gave a general explanation of those several duties , and created sensations of no ordinary character —communicating light ancl information to the brethren of the lodge , greatly to increase their knowledge of what became their duty * , in the hope that the brethren might be benefitted thereby , ancl that they might henceforth practise , out of the loclge , those excellent precepts which were taught within it . The brethren , after enjoying a most pleasant evening , retired at an early hour .

DEA ONSHIRB . DEVONPORT . —Lodge of Fidelity ( No . 2 S 0 ) . —For twenty years past the number of lodges in the three towns of Devonport , Stonehouse , and Plymouth , has been seven ; but in Devonport , during the last sei * en years , only one lodge has existed . Several ivorthy brethren , who had the prosperity of fche Craffc at heart , having long considered that this AA'as a state of things ivhich ought not to be permitted , resolved to petitionthe P . G . ALEarl FortescueK . G . on the subject

, , , , . They placed before him the most conclusive evidence , that one loclge ivas insufficient for the Masonic Avants of such an important military and naval station , andprayed that he would permit the removal to this town of Lodge " Fidelity " ( No . 2 S 0 ) . This lodge ivas formerly held at Tiverton , in this province , and was at one period the most flourishing loclge in ifc ; but for sometime , the number of members has been very small , ancl it was considered that a more genial soil might probably infuse new life into the old tree . Our noble Prov .

G . M ., whose desire and exertions to promote the true interests of Masonry have made him beloved by all the members of the Craft ,, granted tbe boon sought to be obtained , and the loclge was accordingly removed to Cumberland Ope , Devonport , in November last , ancl placed iu charge of the petitioners , several of whom are honourably known as enthusiastic workers on the edifice of Freemasonry , and are also distinguished members ofthe Grand Lodge of this province .-On Thursday 27 th Decemberbeing St . John ' s claythe brethren

, , , proceeded to install their Master , and that responsible honour wasduly conferred on Bro . John May Alackay , merchant of this town , in the presence of the members of the loclge , and of many visiting brethren and Grand Officers of the province . The beautiful and solemn service which the occasion demanded , was rendered more than usually effective by its being performed by Bro . P . M . J . J . Clase , P . Prov . G . D . C , whose impressii'e style , so well known to the brethren of this localitylent an additional charm to the

, ceremony ,. A ' ery rarely has any lodge possessed such various and great advantages as have fallen to the lot of the brethren to whom the ivorking of this lodge is HOAV entrusted , and it is hoped that the excellence of its work , ancl the well-known qualities of its members may ere long entitle ifc to rank , second-to none in tbe province for efficiency and success .

DORSETSHIRE . \ VEniovTn . —Atl Souls' Lodge ( No . 109)— . The brethren assembled in the Masonic Hall , Weymouth , on Thursday , December 27 th , I 860 , at high 12 , being St . John's Day . The loclge was opened by Bro . J . Style , AV . AI ., assisted by a full board of P . M . s , AA'hen the minutes of the last loclge were read and confirmed . The lodge was then opened in tbe second degree , and Bro . John Bosivorth , Esq ., the S . W ., who had been duly elected as AV . M . for

the ensuing year , AA'as presented for installation by Bro . J . Maunders , S . M . The ancient charges having been read by the Secretary , ancl responded to by the W . M . elect , the loclge was opened in the third degree , when Bro . J . Jacob , P . AI ., proceeded with the ceremony of installation in a very impressii'e manner . After the . ceremony , AA'hich was completed in due form , the AV . AI . invested bis officers , for the ensuing year , as follows : —Bro . G . R .. Crickwai-, S . AA . ; Bro . G . Frampton , * . T . AV . ; Bro . AA " . Smith , Sec . ;

Bro . R . Besant , S . D . ; Bro . J . Lunelle , J . D . ; Bro . R . Talbot , I . G . ; Bro . J . Robertson , P . M ., and Bro . J . Style , P . M ., Stewards . Bro . J . Lowe was re-elected as Tyler . A vote of thanks ivas unanimously passed by the brethren to Bro . Jacob , P . AI ., for the very able manner in ivhich he performed the ceremony ; also to Bro . J . Maunders , P . M ., for his kind assistance at the same . At the conclusion of the business , the loclge was duly closed . The brethren reassembled at 6 p . m . at the banquet , at the Crown Hotel . After the removal of the cloth , the usual loyal and Alasonie toasts ivere given and duly honoured , with several others , which were heartily responded to .

HAMPSHIRE . SournAiirroy . —Boyal Gloucester Lodge ( No . 152 ) . —A large xsiing of the brethren of this loclge ivas held in Freemasons ' SJNm tbe 27 th nit . The lodge was opened at the hour of tivelve , cl \ 8 flp . Abraham installed Bro . G . AI . Passenger as Alaster for tho \ z \