The Masonic Mirror.

THE MASONIC MIRROR .

MASONIC MUM . THE number of certificates for new Masons issued during the past year was no less than 4 , 282 ; considerably in excess of the previous year , notwithstanding the secession of the Canadian Lodges . That number however does not represent all tho Masons made under tbe English Constitution , as in Australia , Nova Scotia , India , and other colonies

where there are Prov . G . Ms ., the certificates are now issued to the Pros-.

THE quarterly court of the governors of this school was held at the office on Thursday last , Bro . Udall in the chair . The minutes of the last meeting , including the motion for increasing the . number of children in the school from seventy to eighty , ancl of the various committee meetings , having been read , the following children ivere approved as candidates : — Emily Mary Campbell , Jemima Thomason Laws , Mary Ann Emma Williams , Edith drivers , Arabella

Builen Commins , Susannah Maria Lacon , Alice Ann Dutton , Sarah Rachel Palot , Rebecca Long , Mary Amelia Margaret Lansdowne , Jane Trail-ley , and Margaret Wilde . There are therefore twelve approved candidates aucl thirteen vacancies . A resolution was carried tbatlOs . be presented to each child on leaving the school , and £ 1 at the end of twelvemonths ; upon which Bro . Warren gave notice that at the next meeting he should move to nonconfimi the

minute , in order to substitute one to the effect that 10 s . he presented to each child on leaving the school ; 2 s . Gd . at the end of the first year ; Ss . the second ; 7 s . ( id . the third ; 10 s . the fourth ; 12 s . ( Id . the fifth ; 15 s . the sixth ; aucl .- £ 1 the seventh , with the view of the committee being enabled to keep a proper superintendence over them after leavin " the school . The Treasurer ' s account having been received , the proceedings closed with a vote of thank 1 ! to the chairman .

METROPOLITAN . STRONG MAN LODGE ( No . 5 ? . ) . —The monthly meeting of this Lodge was held on Thursday evening , January Sth , at the Masonic Hall , Fetterlane ; Bro . Luudy , AV . M .. presided , supported by Bros . Dickie , S . AY . ; Ditehman , JAY . ; Hales , S . O . ; Dyer , J . D . ; and Phelps , I . G . The first business of the evening was the initiation of Mr . John Pulling into

the mysteries of antient Freemasonry . Afterwards Bros . Hamilton and Hind were respectively passed to the second degree . The AY . M . then in a most impressive manner raised Bros . Booser , Punt , and Stephens to the sublime degree of Master Mason . The Lodge having been closed , and the brethren adjourned for refreshment , which was served up in Bro . Ireland ' s excellent style , and the proceedings of the evening were concluded in a most harmonious manner . OLD Coxconn LODGE ( N O . 201 ) . —The installation meeting of this

flourishing Lodge was held on Thursday evening , January fith , at the Freemasons' Tavern , Bros . C , Maney , AA ' . M ' . ; Swainston , S . AY .. and AY . M . elect ; Eev . J . Laughlin , J . AV . ; AYaters , S . D . ; Hogg , J . D . The Lodge was very numerously attended , and amongst-the visitors present were Bros . Farnfield . Asst . G . Sec ; States , P . M . No . It ! 8 ; Watson , P . M No . " 23 ; AY . F . Blackburn , P . M . No . 1 ( 19 ; H . Potter , P . M . No . 30 ; AY . Blackburn , P . At . No . 12 , and See . No . 1 , 044 : Andrew . P . M . No . 7 o 2 Arliss , P . M . No . 237 : CollardP . M . Nos . 1 ( J 8 and 200 ; MooreS AY

, , So . 200 : Handfoi-d , S . AV . No . 1 , 044 ; H . T . Thompson . S . D . No . 1 . 044-Oliver , J . D . No . 1 , 044 ; Amos , Org . No . 1 , 044 ; Donald King , ' P . M ! No . 12 ; and a large number of other visiting brethren . The Lod ge having been opened , and the minutes of the last Lodge read , the AY . M ., Bro . Maney , passed Bros . Avery ancl Masterman to the second degree . He afterwards severall y initiated the following gentlemen into the mysteries of antient Freemasonry : —Messrs . Adolphus Sallust . Arthur Osmond , AlfrecM'Visb y , Henry ' Roberts , and AYilliam Milnes . The

ceremony of this degree ivas performed by the Worshi pful Master in a most able and impressive manner . At the conclusion of this part of the business , Bro . Maney resigned the chair to Bro . Emmens , P . M . and See ., who proceeded in due form to install Bro . Swainston , the AY . M . elect , into that honourable position , in a maimer which elicited the highest encomiums from some of the most able members of the Craft j present both as members and visitors . The customary salutes having I been given , the Worshipful Alaster invested his officers as follows : —Bros . ' Rev . J . Lauglilin , tS . AY . and Chaplain : Waters . J . AV .: Kenned v . P . M , ; j

Emmens , P . M . and See . ; Hogg , S . D . ; Davis , J . D . ; Corben . I . G-.: Nicholson , P . M ., Dir . of Cers . ; and Bros . Green aud Dixoon , Stewards . The first business of the new AVorshipful Master iu the chair , was , to bringbefore the Lodge an application , made by a worthy P . M . of the Lodge , for their recommendation of a petition to be presented to the Board of Benevolence on his behalf . The application was warmly supported hy Bro . Booth , P . M ., ancl the petition was signed by a large proportion of

the members present . The AVorshipful Master said he had now a most pleasing duty to perform , whieh was to present their Bro . Maney with a P . M's . jewel , as a token of their approbation of his conduct during the time he hail occupied the chair in that Lodge . The AA'orshipful Maste ithen affixed the jewel to his breast , which bore the following inscription : "Presented to Bro . C . Maney , P . M ., by the Old Concord " Lodge , as a mark of their esteem for his able services while presiding as Master . 2 nd January , 1 S ( 30 . " Bro . MANEY said he thanked the brethren most

sincerely for that distinguished mark of their favour , which he should wear through life with the greatest pleasure , in having presided as AA ' orshipful Alaster of that numerous and highly influential Lodge . The duties of his position had certainly been onerous , but he had endeavoured to go through them to the best of his ability , and if in doing so he had given satisfaction , he was more than amply repaid . In conclusion , he thanked the Past Alasters and brethren for the great kindness they had always shown towards him . The Lodge having been closed , the brethren adjourned to the large hall for refreshment , and about one hundred and ! twenty brethren sat down to a most excellent dinner .

Afterwards the AA'orshipful Master gave '" The Queen , " and "The Earf of Zetland , M . W . G . M ., " which were duly honoured . The AVorshipful Alaster then gave "The health of Lord Panmure , M . AY . D . G . M ., " coupling with it tbe name of Bro . Farnfield . Bro . FAP . NFIF . LD . Asst . G . Sec , acknowledged the compliment , assuring them that no one was more desirous to see carried out properly the business of Freemasonry than Lord Panmure , for he took the greatest interest in the good working of the Craft . It was not always convenient for his lordship to attend the Grand Lodge

, but an arrangement existed between the Grand Alaster and Lord Panmure that one or other should always be present . The health of their newly initiated brethren having been given and acknowledged , the AVorshipful Master gave '' The A'isitors , " for which Bro . AVATSON , P . M . No . 23 . returned thanks , and bore testimony not only to the excellent working of the Lodge , but to the hospitality shown towards them . Bro . MAXEY , P . M ., said he was sure every member of the Old Concord Lodge must be pleased with the manner in whieh their AV . M . had performed the duties

of the Lodge , and therefore it gave him great satisfaction to propose his health as Master of the Lodge , which he hoped they would drink with all the enthusiasm he knew they could give it , and in a manner which it reall y deserved . The AA ' . AI . said ho could not adecpiatoly express his feelings for the kind way in which their Bro . Maney bad been pleased to speak of him , but it ivas indeed a high honour to be AY . M . of the Old Concord Lodge , which was a position he had always desired to attain . As a young member of the Lodge , it was his wish at all times to exercise a sound discretion , and if he did not do so he should be anxious to obtain the tuition and instruction of their able P . M . He was

determined to make the Book of Constitutions and the by-laws his study , hoping that at the end of his year of office that he should not only do credit to the Lodge , hut to those who had proposed him in Freemasonry . The AA'orshipful Master next gave ' * The health of Bro . Laughlin , S . AV . and Chaplain . " Bro . the . liev . J . LAI .-CHIJ . TX , in responding , said , that it was to him indeed a very grand evening , not for the higher stage which he bad that night obtained in Freemasonry , for he should always be identified with the Old Concord Lodge , but because they were now

assembled in the Freemasons' Hall , ancl wero met in a larger room than they had ever met in before . The AA'orshipful Alaster had always treated him well , and on such an occasion were he to do so . it would be but as a "twice told tale" to say how grateful he was for the mention of his name in connection with that Lodge , a connection which he trusted would never be severed , for he hoped to belong to that . Lodge as long as the G . A . O . T . U should be pleased to spare him . He must say a few words to those brethren who had that night joined

them ; and he congratulated them upon having witnessed the eeremony of the installation of their AVorshipful Alaster . A similar cpreUKniy ivas gone through in their institutions , even to the raising to the chair of tho Grand Master , showing them that a mau mi ght be raised from one chair to another , but to do that , he must be a true man . and of course a true Mason . He felt great delight at the manner in which their W . AI . had been installed into the chair . It had been to him a great delight to be present to listen to itaucl hear their Bro . Hinmens

, , who so well performed his duties to the Lodge , with the many oilier onerous duties he had to perform elsewhere , had been able to go through the installation in the impressive manner in which thoy hail seen it that evening , ivas to him ( Bro . Laughlin ) as great a mystery as some of the mysteries of Freemasonry . He trusted the great precepts which they had heard inculcated therein would be impressed upon the minds of their newly initiated brethren , and on which their hopes ami their destiny , whether iu time or eternity , must be fixed—those

excellent precepts which they bad heard wuld make them good men , good Alasons . and worthy to be received by the Great Architect of tin ' . Universe in the Grand Lodge above , which was that of their own and the living God . Their God was the same—Iheru was no distinction —ami although there was no sectarianism amongst thwn , th .-y welcomed but those who treated religion with lvveivinv , and acknowledge-d