Metropolitan.

ionrned for refreshment . The cloth having been drawn , th '\ V . N . gave The Queen and the Craft , the Grand Master , and the Deputy Grand Master ; all being duly honoured . "The Health of Bro . Fisher , " initiated at the last lodge , was then < riven by the W . M ., who , in doing so , dwelt on the bond of benevolence , charity , and universal good will which bound Preemasons together , who met a friend and brother in every part of the world to which they might go , and he felt assured

that the more Bro . Fisher knew of Freemasonry the more he would be desirous of knowing . He would feel it to be his duty to know more and more , for its precepts would enable him to become a bettor man , a better brother , a better father , and a better subject of the Queen , whom they all adored . Bro . fisher returned thanks for the manner in which his health had been proposed , and trusted he should be spared to be amongst them for many years . The W . M . next gave " The Health of

their visiting brethren , " for which Bro . Horsley , W . M . of No . 32 , returned thanks in a few appropriate words . Bro . Waters , P . M ., in proposing "The Health of the W . M ., " expatiated at length on his excellent qualities as a Mason . In him they had a bright star of Freemasonry , and he felt assured that the longer they knew him the more they would esteem him . The W . M . in acknowledging the compliment , said there were

times when everyone felt his inability to utter the feelings of the heart , and that was his case then , as he eould not adequately acknowledge the overwhelming compliments of their Bro . Waters . He felt that he could not do too much for the Old Concord Lodge , and ho had been told that their working was perfect , but he wished that there was a reconciliation in the different systems , so that they might have one universal ritual . He thanked them sincerely and cordially for the confidence placed in him , and he would do his best for the welfare of the lodge , so that at the close of his year of office he might be

deserving of that kindness they had shown towards him . He concluded by proposing "The Health of the P . M . 's of the lodge , " and said he had reason to be proud of them , for they were always at his elbow and ready to do any duty that might be required of them . Bro . Waters returned thanks . The W . M . next gave " The Officers of the lodge , " coupling with the toast the name of Bro . Davis . Bro . Davis , S . W ., in responding to the toast , thanked the W . M . for the way in which he had

spoken of the officers , and although he was already a P . M . in another lodge , it was his great ambition to fill the chair in his mother lodge . He would do his best to work up , so that the efficiency of the Old Concord Lodge might be fully maintained . The W . M . next gave "The New Concord Lodge , " and said it was highly gratifying to them to find it a thriving tree in that part of London in which it had taken root . With the toast he would associate the name of Bro . John Emmens

, P . M . and Secretary , and first Master of the New Concord Lodge . The toast was drunk with great cordiality . Bro . Emmens in responding for the kind manner in which his health had been drunk , said it would be gratifying to know that the W . M . elect of the New Concord Lodge had passed the ordeal of an examination in the three degrees , as regarded taking the office of W . M ., for in the New Concord Lodge no brother was

appointed for mere seniority , but merit and ability were required to fit him for the Master ' s chair . Bro . Osmond would be installed in the chair that day fortnight , and on that occasion they would have five initiations . The lodge had prospered and would continue to do so , and although they did not take three guineas from the initiation fee they had established a fund of benevolence , which , he believed , in a few years would amount to hundreds of pouuds . He again expressed his deep desire of the honour conferred upon him . Some other toasts were given unci the proceedings terminated .

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

DUEHAM . DURHAM .- —Marquis of Granly Lodge ( No . 146 ) . —The brethren of this lodge assembled at their hall on Tuesday evening , the 3 rd inst ., to hold their usual monthly meeting , ¦ fbe lodge was opened in due form by the W . M . ; and the Minutes of the last lodge meeting having been read and contained , the W . M . proceeded to initiate Mr . E . E . Robson , architect , the usual charge being delivered in a solemn and impres-Slve manner . Bros . Holdsworth and Meggison were examined as to their proficiency in Masonry , and the lodge having been

Provincial.

opened in the second degree they were passed to the degree of F . C ., the charge being delivered by a visitor present , Bro . II . A . Hammerbom , St . Helen's Lodge ( No . 775 ) , in his usual efficient style . The lodge having been closed down to the first degree a gentlemen was proposed as a candidate for initiation . The remainder of the business contained in the summons was then disposed of . Amongst other matters the propriety of inserting a sunlight for the better ventilation and lihting of the

g lodge room was taken into consideration , and unanimously agreed to , and the lodge was ultimately closed in due form . HEETFOBDSHIEE . WATFORD . — Watford Lodge ( No . 5 S 0 ) . —At the regular monthly meeting of this lodge , held on Friday , the Cth inst ., in the- Freemason ' s Hall , Watford , there were present the V . W .

Bro . George Francis , D . Prov . G . M . ; Bro . Capt . C . M . Layton , W . M . ; Bros . H . H . B . Heme , Thomas Bogers , Miles Humbert , Finch , and other P . M . 's and members . Bro . A . J . Copeland , was passed to the second degree , and Bro . Hill raised to the third degree . The brethren afterwards proceeded to the annual election of officers , wdien Bro . T . A . Brett , S . W ., was elected to the chair , and Bro . Thomas Rogers re-elected Treas . Bro . T . F . Halsay , of No . 10 , was unanimously elected a joining member .

The Secretary submitted a design for the memento proposed to be placed over the grave of the late esteemed Bro . Thomas Abel Ward , in the cemetery , by the subscription of the members of the Watford Lodge .

Scotland.

SCOTLAND .

ROYAL ARCH . GENERAL GRAND CHAPTER EOR SCOTLAND AND THE COLONIES . The Quarterly Convocation of the above Grand Chapter was held in St . Mark's Hall , Glasgow , on the 4 th inst ., for the election of office-bearers . In consequence of the great services rendered to the cause of Royal Arch Masonry , the companions unanimously appointed a committee to wait upon Bro . Dr .

Walker Arnott to solicit the honour of his permitting them to elect him as their First Grand Principal . The deputation appointed were Comps . Donald Campbell , Dr . Pritchard , and Gordon Smith , who , having solicited Dr . Arnott ' s permission to preside over them , the following letter was put into their hands , with full permission to read it to the meeting , and print or otherwise dispose of it , as they deemed best : — " To the Members of the Deputation from the General Grand

Chapter for Scotland and the Colonies . " G ENTLEMEN , —Soon after I began to take an active part in Eoyal Arch matters I saw that the constitution of the Supreme Eoyal Arch Chapter , from its having adopted the system of proxies , in uniformity with the Grand Lodge of Scotland , would ere long lead to great discontent , if not actual disruption ; and this could only be averted by allowing each chapter full power of self-governmentso long as it had some sort of a ritual

, , paid the requisite dues , and did not openly disobey the provisions of its charter and laws ; or , as this would not produce uniformity , by instituting local courts ( or Provincial Grand Chapters ) , which , in addition to their own office-bearers , should be composed of the three actual Principals of each chapter in the province , and to which the government of all these chapters should be transferred , the Supreme Chapter taking up all

appeals only , _ when a positive injury had been sustained by a chapter or individuals , or where there had been a decision in flagrant opposition to some clear law , but not when the law was so expressed as to permit a diversity of opinion . To enable this system to work well , there required to be at least three chapters in each province ; but if more , their decision would be more respected . "In this spirit the laws of 1845 were framed , and , during the

long period during which I held the offices of Depute Grand Principal and Grand First Principal , I believe no ease which had been investigated and decided upon by a majority of a Prov . Grand Chapter was ever taken up , or at least reversed , by the Supreme Chapter . By these principles I have been actuated and , since I became Prov . G . Superintendent of the West of Scotland , I have , in consequence , been the means of creating more unanimity and greater prosperity in Eoyal Arch matters there than there was ever before known ; but I did not do so to induce the chapters , when they formed a strong body , to