The Masonic Mirror.

THE MASONIC MIRROR .

METROPOLITAN . ROYAL AiiSrciiD LODGE ( No . 780 . )—At tlie meeting of this loclge on the 22 nd of July , at the Star ancl Garter , Kew Bridge , the following was omitted in our report : — -The W . M ., in proposing the health of Bro . Buss , the Secretary , stated that he

had a pleasing duty to perform in presenting that brother with a testimonial , towards the purchase of which the loclge , and also the brethren individually , had subscribed , to mark the sense of their esteem and regard for Bro . Buss as the Secretary of this lodge from its formation , and to whose good services the lodge was deeply indebted . Bro . Smith , P . M . and Treas ., also bore testimony of the valuable services of Bro . Buss as Secretary of the lodge . The testimonial consisted of a silver tea service ,

the teapot bearing the following inscription : — " Presented by the brethren of the Eoyal Alfred Loclge ( No . 780 ) to Brother Henry Gnstavus Buss , P . M ., as a token of their esteem , ancl appreciation of his services as Secretary from the formation of the lodge . July , 1864 " Bro . Buss expressed his thanks to the brethren for this mark of their confidence , ancl assured them that the welfare of the loclge had always been his study ancl delight , and trusted he should long continue amongst them and deserve the same kindly expression which the brethren had at all times accorded him . |

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

CORNWALL . PROVINCIAL GEAND LODGE . The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Loclge of Cornwall was held on Tuesday , the 9 th inst ., at Falmouth , the Provincial Grand Master , , Bro . Augustus Smith , M . P . for Truro , presiding . There was a very full attendance of the brethren from the different lodges of the province , and also a

very large number of visiting brethren from Plymouth , Devonport , ancl Stonehouse . The preparations made by the brethren were great . A large arch , made with evergreens , was erected at the entrance of the Polytechnic Hall , where the banquet was held . Another arch was erected at the Royal Hotel , where the Grand Loclge was held . At the entrance to Falmouth Church a Gothic design of laurels with Masonic emblems was erected , and at its head , enclosed with evergreens , were the following lines : —

" Hence , 'midst the ruin of three thousand years , Unhurt , unchanged , Freemasonry appears ; Her towers and monuments may fade away , Her truth and social life shall ne ' er decay . " The bells of the parish church rang out merry peals during the day . The lodge was opened with the usual ceremonyafter which

, the Provincial Grand Secretary read the proceedings of the previous meetings of the Grand Loclge during the past year , which were confirmed . He next read the financial statement , from which it appeared that the lodge is at present in a very prosperous ancl satisfactory condition . Tlie brethren mustered at the Assembly-rooms , Eoyal Hotel , and at ten o'clock a trumpet announced the officers in their stationsand at

half-, past ten the trumpet sounded Tylers in their positions , and the Provincial Grand Loclge closed . Soon after this the Prov . G . Dir of Cers ., bis assistant , ancl tlie Prov . G . Purst . marshalled the procession to the church , whither the brethren ancl officers proceeded , the bands playing the Freemasons' March . The following is the order of

THE PHOOESSIOS- . Two Tylers with drawn Swords . Band of the 3 id D . C . R . V . Two Provincial Grand Stewards with Wands . Visiting Brethren two and two . Brethren , not Members of any Lodge in the Province , two & two Rough Ashlar borne by an E . A .

Provincial.

"Working Tools of the 1 st Degree , borne by an E . A . Tracing Board of the 1 st Degree , borne by two E . A . 's . Working Tools of the 2 nd Degree , borne by a F . C . Tracing Board of the 2 nd Degree , borne by two F . C . ' s . Brethren of Lodges in the Province , two and two , in the following order : Junior Brethren first , and each Loclge following their Banners . The Fowey LodgeNo . 977 .

, St . Ann ' s , Looe , No . 970 . The Three Grand Principles , Pcnryn , No . 967 . Meridian , Millbrook , No . 893 . St . Matthew , Lostwithiel , No . 856 . "" Dnnheveil , Launceston , No . 789 . Boscawen , Chacewater , No . 699 . Druid ' s Love and . Liberality , Redruth , No . 589 . Loyal Victoria , Callington , No . 557 .

St . Martin ' s , Liskeard , No . 510 . Peace and Harmony , St . Austell , No . 49 G . Columbian , Hayle , No . 450 . > > Phccnix Honour ancl Prudence , Truro , No . 331 . Eg One and All , Bodmin , No . 330 . £ - " g True and Faithful , Helston , No . 318 . § * 3 Fortitude , Truro , No . 131 . " * Mount Sinai No 121

, Penzance , . . __ g g Love and Honour , Falmouth , No . 75 . r O Working Tools of the 3 rd Degree , borne by a M . M . ' a < g Tracing Board of the 3 rd Degree , borne by two M . M . 's . g * s . Perfect Ashlar , borne a M . M . g . -8 P . G . Inner Guard , with a drawn Sword . ° . g Band . g , 3 P-G- Officers , not belonging to the Province . 0 Pursuivant

55 * P . G . . S r ^ P . G . Organist . g Past P . G . Superintendent of Works . g P . G . Superintendent of Works . 5 * Past P . G . Sword Bearers . Past P . G . Deacons . P . G-. Deacons , with AVardens' Columns . Past P . G . Secretaries . P . C-. Secretary , with Book of Constitutions on a Cushion .

Past P . G . Registrars . P . G . Registrar . Past P . G . Treasurers . P . G . Treasurer . Bible , Square , and Compasses on a Cushion , borne by a P . M . P . G Steward , with Wand . P . G . Chap . P . G . Steward , with Wand . Past P . G . Wardens . The Corinthian Light , borne by the VV . M . or P . M . of a Lodge . P . J . G . Wardens . The Doric Light , borne by the W . M . or P . M . of a Lodge . P . S . G . AVarden .

The Ionic Light , borne by a W . M . or P . M . of a Lodge . P . G . Steward . The D . P . G . Master . P . G . Steward . The Standard of the P . G . Master . P . G . Sword Bearer , with the Sword of State . The R . AV . P . G . Master . Two P . G . Stewards , with Wands . P . G . Tyler . Divine service commenced afc twelve , the prayers being

intoned ancl tbe lesson ' s read by the Rev . Bro . Wright , of Hayle , ancl the Rev . Bro . Clarke , curate of the parish church of Falmouth ( Charles the Martyr ) . The rector of the parish , Bro . the Rev . J . AV . Coope , preached .

THE SEMIOST . The rev . brother took for his text the llth verse of the 76 th Psalm— "Vow ancl pay unto the Lord your God . " After concluding his exordium , in which he remarked that , knowing the brotherly feeling which dwelt among them , he would venture to deliver a discourse to them , he for a short time adverted to the system of making vows . Some were led to ask why the Freemasons assumed the position that they

did , and why they laid claim to a greater degree of excellence than other men ; and in answer to that he could only say that it was on account of the vow taken . In Scripture they had many evidences of men entering ' into vows . Jacob made a vow unto the Lord , and he immediately set up a pillar as a testimony of his being under that vow . David hacl also made a vow that he would find out a fit place for the erection of a temple to the Lord . In the New Testament they also found that vows were commonly made among the elders of the