The Masonic Mirror.

the same God ; but their institution was open to all worthy men , and worthy men alone . To his newly initiated brethren he would say , that they hacl taken a good step in joining their ancient and honourable Order ; and'he believed that they would prove the truth of the old saying , that to be good Alasons they must be good men . It was with great diffidence that be had taken upon himself the office which he hacl the honour to hold that evening ; and although he had many onerous dutieshaving sometimes to speak for forty minutes together , yet no

, one should ever be enabled to say that he . was raised to tbe chair unless he was able to perform its duties ; and , with the assistance of the Past Masters , he hoped to be able to do so . He should consider himself as a recreant to his Masonic vows if in aspiring to the chair at the end of the year he did not do his best to fit himself for the duties of the chair . Ife was most delighted to see Bro . Swausfcon in that chair , and he begged to return him thanks for the kind manner in which he had received him . It would ill become him as a minister of religion to say that

which he did not believe , but he could truly say that the more he saw of Freemasonry , the more true ancl deep rooted did he believe it to be ; and like the opinions expressed by the Times of the " Essays of Lord Macaulay "—the more they read them the more they admired them . To his newly initiated brethren , who hacl that night taken their first step , he would say that the more they went- on , the more they would be delighted in asking the G . A . O . T . U . to carry out his precepts , and thus put their seal to tho bond which they hacl entered into that night—to

conform to them , and thus glorify their God ancl Saviour . Tbe AA ' . M . next gave , " The P . AIs . of the Lodge , " and with it the names of Bros . Booth , Emmens , Nicholson , Jackson , and Maney ; for whieh Bro . Maney returned thanks . Bro . Kennedy , Treas ., in acknowledging the toast of his health , congratulated the brethren on the highly flourishing condition of the Loelge , ancl also as to the state of the benevolent fund , which he hoped before long to see amount to at least £ 1 , 000 , ancl when it did it would be an assurance that no member , ofthe Lodge who required it would

ever want assistance . He hoped that at the end of the year the Lodge would be as prosperous as the past one , ancl as its Treasurer , he should give them the same satisfaction . Bro . E . IMEXS , P . M ., in returning thanks , said he had been associated with the Lodge for nearly a quarter of a century , and that night hacl been marked by a peculiar circumstance , for the very brother who installed him into the chair was then

present , Bro . larnfield , who , twenty-two years ago installed him into the chair , had seen him ( Bro . Emmens ) install their present AA ' orshipful Alaster . As long as he lived he hoped to be attached to the Old Concord Lodge , for as a child was fondly attached to his mother , so was he to his mother Lodge . As long , too , as he had health aud strength to perform the duties , he hoped to be Secretary of the Old Concord Lodge , and would endeavour to perform those duties to the best of his ability . He thanked the AA'orshipful Alaster for the kind manner in which he

had proposed his health , and the brethren for the way iu which they had responded to it , trusting they might have a prosperous aud happy year , and that they might all enjoy health , strength , and happiness , was the sincere wish of his heart . The AA'orshipful Alaster afterwards gave " The Officers of the Lodge , " for which they severally returned thanks . Bro . FAUXPIICLD returned thanks for having his name associated with their Masonic charities , urging upon the brethren the necessity of supporting Bro . Maney , who had consented to act as Steward for that

Lodge at the approaching festival for Aged Freemasons and their AA'idows . This brought the proceedings of the evening to a close , which had been most agreeably diversified by the vocal and instrumental abilities of Bros . Donald King , Eclney , AA'oollams , and Amos . An emergency meeting of this Lodge was held on Alouday evening , when Bro . Swainston , AA' . AI ., presided , supported by the whole of his officers , and Bros . Emmens ancl Maney . The Lodge having been duly opened , the AV . M . proceeded in a very impressive manner to raise Bros . A . Bryant , A . D . Maddick , Levisolm , Chaplin . AA' . Filmer , and AV .

taylor , to thejmblime degree of M . M . This was the first regular business performed by the AA ' . AI ., which was gone through in a way which gave the hi ghest degree of satisfaction to the brethren assembled . The AA ' . M . then passed Bros . Leighton , AA ' . Filmer , ancl Bro . Sntales , of the Crystal Palace Lodgo , to the second degree , in an equally elficieutmaiiner . There being no further business , the Lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned at an early hour . DOMATIC LODGE ( NO . 200 ) . —The monthly meeting of this Lodge was held

on . Monday evening , Jan . flth , at Bro . Ireland ' s , Alasonic Hall , Fetter-lane . Bro . Haydon , AV . M ., presided , supported by Bros . Moore , S . W . ; Uussen , J . AV . ; Wilson , S . D . ; Forge , J . D .: and H . Thompson , I . G . I'he Lod ge having been opened in due form , a ballot was taken for Bro . ¦ II . Potter , P . M ., No . 9 . who was unanimously admitted as a joining member of this Lodge . ' The AA ' . AI . then proceeded to pass Bro . Harding to the second degree , ancl afterwards , iu a most careful and impressive wanner , raised Bro . Taylor to the sublime degree of M . M . Some other

business having been disposed of , the Lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned-for refreshment . The AV . Af . presided , supported by Bros , taker , Brett , Smith , Garrod , and Carpenter ! and the following visitors : — •' . res . Thomas , P . AI ' ., No . 745 ; Stuart , AA' . AI ., No . 165 ; Mason , P . M ., No . 1 ( JS ; Griffin , No . 523 : and liovd , No . 100 . The repast having i *«« u disposed of , the W . A 1 . gave the usual toasts , Bro . Thomas . P . M ., No . ' *'" , returning thanks on behalf of the visitors . Bro . BAKER , P . AI ' ., said V '' i ' a most interesting toast , to propose , which was the health of their » ,-U . They must all have been delighted at the manner in which he ^ barged the duties of the L"ik'c . and also at the ability with which

he presided at their festive board . Bro . Haydon returned thanks for the honour conferred upon him . The AA ' . M . next gave " The P . AIs . of the Lodge , " for which Bro . Carpenter returned thanks in his usual characteristic maimer . " The Officers of the Lodge" was afterwards responded to by Bro . Moore , S . AV . " The health of their worthy host , Bro . Ireland , " was next given , for which Bro . Ireland responded , and said it was most gratifying to him to receive that renewed mark of their

favour , and he trusted to g ive them the same amount of satisfaction he hacl hitherto done as caterer for the Domatic Lodge . Bro . Smith , P . AI ., gave '' The health of Bro . Mason , P . M ., ancl member of the Colonial Board . " Bro . MASON' acknowledged the compliment , and said he believed that the Colonial Board had proved most useful in carrying out . the principles of Freemasonry . Kvery one who had been acquainted with the working of the Secretary ' s oflice some time ago , knew the defects which then existed , for letters which were received from their

colonies remained for months and months unanswered . It was essential that all communications in the interests of Freemasonry should be property attended to , and when those communications came from brethren at the antipodes to the Grand Lodgo requiring' an answer , they ought to be at once promptly attended to . Since the establishment of the Colonial Board , all letters had been acknowledged within a month . Their Brother Smith had given fearless expression to his opinion iu Grancl Lodgeand was not like someready to ' come forward and put an

, , extinguisher on any proposition , on the ground that the proposer was a party man . Now he believed in these days it would be quite impossible for anyone to be altogether excluded from some party ; but he contended that in Grand Lodge there ought to be no part } - in the general sense of the term . They ought to have but one object in view , ancl that was the good of society in general , and of Freemasonry in particular . The AA' . AI . next gave "The Masonic Charities , " and Bro . Baker , P . AI ., who will act as steward at the festival for Aged Masons , urged the

brethren to give him all the support in their power , and thanked them for that which he hacl already so liberally received . Some excellent songs were sung by Bros . AVeston , AVorkman , Silvester , ancl Henry Potter , and the brethren separated at ten o ' clock .

LODGE OP JOPPA ( No . 223 ) . —The interest taken in this old established Lodge was evinced by the large assemblage that met at the Albion Tavern , Aldersgate-street , on Monday , January 2 nd . The AA ' . M . commenced the proceedings by raising , in a most impressive manner , Bros . Phillips and Freman to the sublime degree of M . M ., when Messrs . Barnard , AA'oolf , and Harris , were severally introduced and initiated into the mysteries of the Craft ; the AA ' . AI . then vacated the chair , and Bro . Selig having been requested to take it for the purpose of installing the

newly elected AA ' . AI ., Bro . D . Marks , be did so in a most feeling and imposing manner , his address making a deep impression on the brethren present . After this interesting part of the proceedings , the new officers were appointed , Bro . B . Druker being made S . AA ' . ; Bro . E . P . Albert , J . AV . ; S . A' . Abraham , S . D . ; P . Solomon , J . D . ; B . Alexander , I . G . ; and S . Marks , Steward . The [ veteran Bros . De Solla , D . Moses , and Selig , again accepted , to the satisfaction of all , the appointments they have held for so many yearsof ChaplainTreasurer and Secretary .

, , A most handsome jewel was presented to the retiring AY . AI ' ., Bro . Harris , aud after a most suitable reply had been given by him , the company adjourned to the dinner , supplied in the usual excellent manner of the Messrs . Staples . The ordinary toasts were given and responded to enthusiastically , and the hilarity was kept up by the excellent musical arrangements of Bro . P . E . A ' an Noorden , who , beside conducting , sang one of John Parry ' s favourite songs , " Matrimony , " in a most masterly style . AA ' e have had occasion to' speak before of his talented sisters

, and can only endorse the good opinions we then expressed . Miss Van Noorden sang , ivith much feeling and expression , two German pieces , which showed her capabilities as an artiste to be far above the ordinary music we have been used to ou such occasions . She was encored in both pieces , as was her sister , Miss Louisa Van Noorden , who sang the rondo finale to the " Bohemian Girl , " and by express desire , "Ah che Assorte . " The power ancl execution of this lady is such , that she can give the most difficult passages with the greatest easeand her

, voice is of such flexibility , that her rendering of them gives general satisfaction . Herr Greber showed his power over the violin , and the Messrs . Davis gave their assistance in several vocal pieces ; the applause with which they met proved how much their efforts were appreciated . The brethren dispersed at a late hour , after having passed a most ; delightful evening , and being honoured with the largest number of visitors that were ever present at the Lodge at ono time .

Lm- > - -.-in L . ui !! LODGE ( NO . 227 ) . —A meeting of this excellent Lodge was held at the Bridge House Hotel , on Thursday , the Sth instant , whuu the AY . AI ., Uro . Goodcbild , raised Bro . Seeker and passed Bros . Harwoo . l , AVright , Ti'ingham , and Grant to their respective degrees . Bro . Breitling , P . M . and P . G . Purst ., then proceeded to install liro . Balfour as AV . M . for the ensuing year in a most able and impressive manner . The new AV . M . was pleased to appoint Bros . Starborough , S . AA " .: Henry Thomson , J . AV . ; Alex . Thomson , Sec . ; RobinsonS . D . ; HollandJ . AV . ;

, , and Perry , I . G . Bro . Sotheron was invested as Treasurer . The new AV .. A 1 . then very admirably initiated a German gentleman into the Order , Bro . Jfuggeriilge moved , and Bro . Kwau seconded , that the initiation fee be raised from live to six guineas , and the jibiing foe from one to thrfcu guineas , which , alter some conversation , in which Bros . Jjreilling , P . G . Purst . l-. ul . . . P . G . Purst , : uid others took part , was earned unanimous ] v .