The Masonic Mirror.

THE MASONIC MIRROR .

MASOXIC MEMS . The E . AA . Bro . Havers , P . G . AV ., has consented to preside at the Festival of the Girls' School on the 10 th of May next . The list of Stewards for the Festival of the Eoyal Benevolent Institution for Aged Masons and their AVidoivs , on the 25 th of January next , is noiv rapidly filling . The chair will

lie taken by the ll . W . Bro . the Earl de Grey and Ripon , D . G . M ., and Prov . G . M . for AVest Yorkshire , from ivhich large support is anticipated .

Metropolitan.

METROPOLITAN .

ALBIOS LODGE ( SO . 9 ) . —The brethren of this very flourish , ing and much esteemed lodge congregated for the second meeting of their session on Tuesday , November 1 st , when in consequence of the deeply to be regretted absence of their AA . M ., Bro . Consedine , who still remains afilicted with an illness which has prevented the fulfilment of his duties for a considerable length of time , Bro . Valentine , P . M ., presided as W . M . pro tern . and passed to the second degree Bros . Hammond

, , Stanley , and Young , in a style of efficiency seldom equalled , never sm-pasoed . The AV . M . 's chair at the banquet , ivhich immediately succeeded the business of the lodge , and was catered for in the usual efficient style of the Freemasons' Tavern , was filled by Bro . Lee , supported by Bros . Abbott , Moreing , Perryman , Friend ( Steward of the next festival ) , Valentine , AVood , KackstraivAVarrand BurtonP . M . 's . The visitors were Bros .

, , , Herbert AVilliams ( Superintendent of the Royal IIiiuiane Society's Receiving House ) and Charles Sloman . There was some excellent vocalisation ( sentimental and comic ) from Bros . Buckland , Pallent , Stevens , II . Williams , C . Sloman , & -c , and the evening was pleasantly spent in social conviviality .

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

LANCASHIRE ( EAST ) . DEDICATION OT ' IKE MANCIIESTEB MASOXIC HAH . This ceremony took place on Thursday , JMOV . 3 rd , at noon . The building is in Cooper-street , and extends to Back Mosleystreet . It consists of a ground floor and three storeys , and is practicallyas regards the interiordivided into a centre and

, , two ivings . The easterly wing , that nearest Booth-street , is occupied by offices which have been let . The end of the building- nearest Bond-street is devoted to the purposes of a restaurant . The kitchen is at the top of the building , thus avoiding all annoyance from smells , and the dishes are conveyed to the first floor , where is the bsnqiietting-room , and to the ground floorwhere a public dining-room has been openedb

, , y means of a hoist . The centre of the building is devoted exclusively to Masonic purposes . A capacious stone staircase , the wall on one side of ivhich is faced by Oakdcn's coloured tiles , there being on the other side a handsome railing , gives access to the lodge-room , the principal apartment in the building . It is on the second storey , extends along tho whole width of the building , and is . half the depth between the two streets . Its

dimensions are 59 ft . by 30 ft ., and 2 Gft . in height . The room is vaulted , and supports two sunlights . By day the room is lighted by five double windows on the Back Mosley-street side . Beneath these windows are perforated panels filled with elegant tracery in iron , behind which are the hot-water pipes for warming the room . At each end of the room pilasters in the corners support figures representing the four quarters of the

globe . Two circular columns at each end are surmounted by figures of the four cardinal virtues—temperance , prudence , fortitude , and justice . At the sides are eight elegant gas brackets of a novel construction ; and on the" walls , in neat frames , are hung tho warrants of the lodges and chapters issued by the Grand Lodge of England . In tho centre of the room is a floor cloth ivhich occupied the late Bro . Pitt , the dancing-master , many yeai-3 in the painting of it , and was exhibited as a curiosity at the Exhibition of 1 S 51 . Opening from

the lodge-room is a fire-proof room for keeping the records of the lodges . Adjoining it are cloak-rooms , and other conveniences ; and between it aud the front of the building , in thesecond and third storeys , are the library and a billiard-room for the use of the members of the Masonic Club . The library is . at present used as a smoke-room . Beneath the lodge-room , and of the same size except in respect to height , is the clubroom or banquetting-roo ' . n . On its wall are hung portraits of

the Duke of Sussex , Bro . S . Blair , and Bro . A . II . Koyds . Onthe ground-floor is another large room , beneath the banquettiugroom , and which is the dining-room already alluded to in connection with the public restaurant . A passage from Back Mosley-street to the J ' ront of the building makes this roonv somewhat smaller than the two above it . Between the diningroom and the front is a very commodious public smoke-room . AAlth respect to the exteriorjudgments of it as a work or

, architectural art , and as a Masonic hall , will be widely different .. The facade is composite in the fullest sense of the term . The ground floor is of Yorkshire stone , and the upper storeys are laced with Bath stone , which by contrast looks not unlikestucco . The columns ate vowiul ami llat , of red ami grey granite , and stone . The capitals include the Doric , Ionic , and Corinthianand for some of the decorations the Italian stle

, y has been laid under contribution . Some of the windows are arched , and others are square . Thus while there are separateportions that will please the upholders of the various styles , as a whole the facade will satisfy no one . At the same time Masonry will doubtless see in it all the more symbolism . There are four stone statues of the cardinal virtues in the second

storey , the Masonic coat of arms in the pediment , and some symbolic figures surmount the apex . The architect was Bro . A \ . Mangnall , Mr . John Bramall was the builder , and Messrs . Heaps and Harrison have furnished the interior appointments . The building has cost upwards of £ 12 , 000 , and is the property of a limited liability company , of ivhich Bro . AV " . R , Callender , jun ., is chairman , and Bro . Bradley the secretary . The ceremony of dedication took place at noon . The Craft

Lodge having been opened by the "Prov . G . Chap ., the Ilev . J . L . Figgins , the Prov . G . M . with his officers entered and opened the Provincial Grand Lodge at one o'clock . The petition of consecration was presented to the Prov . G . M . by Bro . AA . It . Callender , jun ., who acted as I ) . Prov . G . M . The plans of the new building were also presented , and the Prov . G . M . signified that they had been properly carried out . A

procession wa 3 formed , and walked round the lodge . The corn was presented by Bro . G . R . AA'illiams , the wine by Bro . Dr . Peatson , the oil by Bro . J . L . Hine , and the salt by Bro . J . AA . Petty , each offering being accompanied by a suitable address . Prayer was offered by the Prov . G . Chap ., who , at the conclusion of the ceremony , delivered an oration on the principles of Freemasonry . Bio . Aspinull , Prov . G . Org .,

conducted the choral service . The ceremony ivas conducted by Bro . T . G . Gibbons , Prov . G . Dir . of Cers ., and his assistant , Bro . A . Shellard . After tho ceremony , the applications of poor and distressed Freemasons' widows were considered , and sums of money adequate to their necessities were granted . To aid the Masonic Charities in London , it was determined to hold a bazaar in the Hall in the course of a few months . The business ivas then concluded .

THE BANQUET w-as held in the evening in the banquettmg-room , Bro . AV . R . Callender , jun ., P . Prov . S . G . W ., in the chair . After the introductory toasts , the W . M . proposed " Prosperity to the Masonic Hall , " and in doing so pointed out some of the distinguishing characteristics of Freemasonry . He said that the fundamental principal of membership was the necessity to be a free man born of a free woman . That included freedom of

mind , as well as of body . They desired to be freed from superstition , vice , and every evil habit , and to attain to that perfection of virtue in which the passions of the body and the powers of the mind are both subservient to the will of the Great Architect of the Universe . ( Applause . ) They Avenfc one step further . 'They t . tught every new initiate to remember the poorand to relieve the wants of others with a

, generous and discriminating hand . ( Hear , hear . ) Implicit trust in God was their best safeguard in all days of danger ; and besides that , Masonry inculcated that mutual help and support on ivhich all depended in the dark and uncertain path of human life . ( Applause . ) Their tools taught them how to occupy their time ; and they were also instructed to obey the voice of conscience , to value tho benefits of education , to be obedient to