Metropolitan.

Spriggs ( a former member of the lodge ) as a . joining member . The ballot being unanimous in his favour , he was declared elected . The ballot box then went round for the admission of two gentlemen for initiation , well and worthily recommendedviz ., " Mr . George W . North and Mr . W . Addis . The result was , as in the former case , unanimous . Upon that the candidates were introduced , and received the benefits of the first step in

Freemasonry . Bro . Butler having shown proficiency in the first degree was rewarded by being received as a F . C . Bro . Hamilton , proving himself an expert Craftsman , was raised to the superlative degree of a Master Mason . The ceremonies were admirably performed . Lodge being closed , the brethren retired to an excellent dinner . Several speeches and songs were interspersed among the toasts . Bros . Absolon and JudkiusPMmade admirable responses to the toasts with which

, .., they were connected , aud want of space only prevents our inserting them . liro . Spriggs sang the good old song , " The monks of old , " liro . Varley "Good St . Anthony , " and Bro . Hamilton a patriotic song , each receiving- thanks and wellmerited applause . Anions the visitors were Bros . J . Smith , P . G . F ., and Dallas , W . M . ( No . 192 ) . —It may be interesting ^ to our Masonic readers to know something about Mount Moriah , from which Lodge 3-1 takes its names . Mount Moriah stands

just without Jerusalem , and is now crowned with the mosque of Omar , whse entrance lias long been forbidden to the Christian , ancl kept sacred to the followers of Mahommed . It stands where the rude altar of Abraham rose nearly 4 , 000 years ago . The proud city has risen and fallen ; beside it the generations of men come and gone , ancl whole dynasties of kings disappeared one after , another ; yet there it stands , as it stood in the wilderness , when it was trodden only by the wild beasts of the forest . Years after the Temple of King Solomon threw its sunbeams upon it , and the children of Israel paid their vows there . But it is still more memorable to masons on account of

H . A . ' s tomb . LODGE OF JOPPA ( Xo . 1 SS ) . —This numerous and influential lodge held the usual monthly meeting at tbe Albion Tavern , Alclersgate-street , on Monday , the 2 nd inst ., the W . M ., Bro . Dippenheim , presiding , well supported by his officers and a large number of brethren . Lodge being opened in due form , ancl the minutes of previous meeting confirmed , a ballot was taken for the initiation of the following gentlemen , who ivere

candidates for the honour of Freemasonry—viz ., Messrs . W . H . Hebb , Jose Piodella , and J . C Thwaites . All being declared eligible for tbe privileges sought , they were admitted and impressively inducted to tbe Order . The only other business of importance was the raising of Bro . Lowensteiu to the sublime degree of M . M . The ceremonies were given in a manner to elicit warm encomiums from all present . Bro . Dippenheim , the W . M . is following in the wake of those who have preceded him

, , and he is evidently showing at this early stage of his Mastership that the Lodge of Joppa will lose none of its prestige at his hands . Lodge being closed , the brethren adjourned to tbe banquet , well served by Bro . Jennings , the worthy manager . The W . M ., after grace , gave the " Queen aud Craft , " making ome elegant allusions to that illustrious lady , commenting upon her virtues as a Queen , wife , and mother . The National

Anthem was then sung iu beautiful style . The usual Masonic toasts followed , that of "Success to the Benevolent Fund of Joppa Lodge " being responded to by Bro . B . W . Aron , P . M . and V . P ., who made an eloquent appeal on behalf of the i ' wnd , showing the brethren by reference to the past what good had resulted from that association with their lodge , several brethren over whom a black cloud had suddenly fallen were saved probably from severe affliction . It behoved every brother to

subscribe—however small the sum—to this fund ; it was laying up against the evil day : ifc was a slight sacrifice of prasent indulgence in case of future misfortunes . Bro . Eskell , the I . P . M ., returned thanks for the P . M . ' s . The visitors were Bros . B . H . Bircbell , P . G . S . B . for Herefordshire ; Simpson , P . M . ISO ; D . G . Berri , 27 ; J . Lowensteiu . Eagle Lodge , Frankfort ; and Stack , W . M . Sol . It would be injustice to conclude this notice without adverting to the musical arrangementswhich

, were under the direction of the highly talented organist of the lodge , Bro . P . E . Van Noorden , assisted by Madame Partington , who sang charmingly ; Bro . Sydney , a member of the Joppa Lodge ; and Master F . Solomon , who , though only fourteen years of age , perfectly astonished the brethren by his artistic singing . He possesses a liquid soprano voice , and well merited the ovation he received . We understand he is a grandson of Bro . Solomon , of Covent Garden , an old member of the Joppa

Metropolitan.

Lodge , and sou of Bro . Charles Solomon , a well-known musician , and a member of this lodge . SOUTHERN STAR LODGE ( IXc 1 , 15 S ) . —An emergency meeting of this flourishing lodge was held on Tuesday , tho 25 th ult ., at the Montpelier Tavern , Walworth , and the success which has attended it is somewhat extraordinary , for although it has

been only nine months in existence , twenty-eight members have been initiated in it since its institution . Bro . Henry Thompson , W . M ., presided ; Bros . Pulford , S . W . ; Margerison , J . W' . ; . C . E . Thompson , Sec , and the other officers were present , besides several visitors . The lodge having been opened in due form , ancl with solemn prayer , the first business was to initiate Mr . J . Limeburn , Mr . John Harris , Mr . Alfred William Wright-Mr . Henry James Towersand Hh : Charles Pageinto the

, , mysteries ancl privileges of ancient Freemasonry , that important rite being very carefully performed by the W . M . The next business was to pass Bros . Tonerzey , Higgins , aud Wise to the second degree . The lodge was then opened in the second degree , when Bros . Herbert , Shepherd , Waiklate , Farmer , and Butcher were raised to the sublime degree of M . M ., the W . M . rendering that important ceremony in his nsunl impressive manner , and also giving the too often neglected traditional

history . At the conclusion of the ceremony tlie different recipients expressed the great delight they had experienced in obtainingthis superior degree in Freemasonry , and several visitors congratulated the W . M . on the very efficient manner in which be had gone through the ceremony of tbe sublime degree . The lodge was then closed , and tbe brethren adjourned to a splendid , banquet , provided by Bro . Allatt , which gave great satisfaction . After the cloth was drawn , the usual formal toasts were given ,

and thafc of their newly-initiated brethren was responded to seriatim , all of them expressing the delight they felt in being admitted to the ancient and honorable Order of Freemasons . The health of the W . M . was also proposed , and in responding to it he congratulated the members on the success at which the lodge had advanced , for although their first meeting was held at the latter end of May , and they were supposed to meet only on alternate monthsyet ir . that short time they had made

, great progress , for with that evening he had initiated the tiventy-eighth candidate into Freemasonry , which spoke volumes for the esteem in which the Southern Star Lodge was . held , and the 'desire that was manifested to become members of it . Some other toasts were given , and the evening was passed in the true spirit of Freemasonry .

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

DEVONSHIRE . TOTNES ( Pleiades Xodye , No . 710 ) . —The regular monthly meeting was held at the Masonic Rooms , on Thursday , March 5 th . At a quarter past six the lodge-was opened by Bro . John Heath , W . M ., assisted by Bros . John Marks , acting as S . W ; Wm . Oldrey , J . W . ; Dr . Hopkins acting as I . P . M . ; R . H . WatsonPMancl SecPridhamS . D .. W . CumingJ . D . ;

, .. ; , ; , Wherry acting as I . G . The minutes of th 3 previous meeting were read and confirmed . The ballot for a joining member was deferred for want of information respecting him , ami as illness prevented his presence . Of the candidates for the 2 nd and 3 rd degrees only one presented himself , namely , Brc . . 1-Simmons , wiio , after examination , was entrusted and dismissed for preparation . The lodge having been opened in the 2 nd

degree , the candidate was readmitted and passed to the rank ot F . C . by the W . M ., at whose request Bro . Dr . Hopkins gave him the charge and the lecture explanatory ot the tracing board . The lodge was closed in the 2 nd degree . The acting I . P . M . introduced a resolution , of which due notice bad been given , in order to define in tbe by-laws tbe manner of taking the ballot at the annual election of the W . M ., and thus to prevent a

difference of opinion such as arose on the last occasion : it was seconded , with a view to raise a discussion on the subject , by the J . W ., ancl supported by Bro . the Rev . J . Powning-, Chaplain ; it was opposed by the W . M ., J . W ., and Sec , elderly on the ground that it was not desirable to alter by-laws which had on tbe whole worked well . On being put to the vote , the motion was lost . No other business offering , the lodge was closed at half-past eight .