Royal Benevolent Institution For Aged Masons And Their Widows.

ROYAL BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION FOR AGED MASONS AND THEIR WIDOWS .

THE MASONIC MIRROR

.At the meeting of the committee of the Royal Benevolent Institution on Wednesday , the death was announced of Mrs . Whiting , one of the residents of the Asylum , having an annuity of £ 25 . Of the ten men and four widows elected on the funds iu May last , two men ( Bros . Fredericks and Norris ) and one widow ( Mrs . Berry ) have decided on going into the Asylum .

The Essex Standard , i & noticing the recent election , remarks - — " The first on the widow ' s list was Elizabeth Piper , aged 76 , Rochford , who had been unsuccessful in seven previous elections , but who now received 4316 votes , chiefly through the publicity given to her case by the FBEEMASOXS' MAGAZINE Another applicant from this county was Mrs . Marson , aged 67 ,

widow of Mr . Wm . Marson , late Governor of the County Gaol at Colchester ; and there is every reason to hope that the Essex Brethren will give her their active support at the next election . "

Metropolitan.

METROPOLITAN .

Loxnox LODGE ( No . 125 ) . —The last meeting of the season was held at the Freemasons' Tavern , on Saturday last , the chair being worthily occupied by Bro . S . B . Wilson , P . M ., P . G . D ., supported by Bro . Phillipe , P . M ., P . G . D ., and a fair sprinkling of the brethren ; when Bro . Thorne , who is about to proceed to New Zealand , was ably raised to the third , degree . At the close of the business , the brethren adjourned to the Star and Garter , Richmond , where a very elegant dinner was servedBro .

, Raynham Stewart , P . M ., presiding . The visitors comprised both Masons ancl non-Masons , and of course toasts of a purely Masonic nature wero tabooed for the occasion . Amongst the Masonic visitors were Bros . J . Savage , P . G . D ., and H . G . Warren , and a move agreeable evening has rarely been spent . The brethren and their friends retired to town at an early hour . ROYAL OAK LODGE ( NO . 1173 ) . —This select lodge held its

usual monthly meeting on Wednesday , May 28 th , at Bro . Stevens's , Royal Oak Tavern , High-street , Deptford , Kent . In the unavoidable absence of the W . M ., Bro . W . Scott , caused by professional duties , the immediate P . M . Dr . Dixon , assisted by Bros . Milton , S . AV . ; Stake , J . W . ; Weir , S . D . ; Pembroke , J . D . ; Walters , I . G ., opened the lodge . There were no candidates for any of the ceremonies . The business of the evening was the proposed alteration of some of tbe bye-laws .

After a short animated discussion everything was arranged quite satisfactorily . The utmost toleration and urbanity prevailed during the arguments , and the W . M / s unbiassed conduct greatly added to the harmony of the meeting . After the business was over the brethren sat down to an excellent cold collation . There were not many visitors .

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

DURHAM . HAiiTiErooi . —Marlour of Refuge Lodge ( No . 10 G 6 ) . —The brethren of this lodgo met on Tuesday last , for the installation of the W . M . elect for the ensuing year , Bro . Geo . Kirk , M . D . Lodge was opened with solemn prayer , by Bro . Jas . Groves , W . M . of No . 774 , who acted as W . M . in the absence of Bro . . T . Swteliit ' e . The ordinary business of the evening consisted in the initiation of Mr . Richard Bringham Harpleywho being

, accepted as a fit and proper person to be made a Mason , was received into tbe brotherhood of the Antient Craft , and instructed in the first degree , or that of E . A . The extraordinary and most interesting part of the rites and ceremonies performed , was the Installation , which was conducted by Bro . Jas . Groves , as

Provincial.

Installing Master , assisted by Past Master B . Murray , S . Armstrong , and Willingale . There were present some 20 or 30 brethren , including visitors from No . 774 , and at the commencement of the ceremony , Bros . Pearson , S . W . ; G . Kirk , J . W . ; H . Bank , S . D . ; F . English , I . G ., assisted in their several offices , Bro . B . Murray , P . M ., taking Bro . Kirk's place afterwards in the J . W . ' s chair . Lodge being first raised to the third degree , Bro . Kirk was installed in the chair ot King Solomonin antient

, form , obligated and charged by the Installing Master , and at the conclusion of the ceremony saluted by tbe brethren in open lodge assembled , as W . M . of 1066 . The addresses given to the Master , Wardens , and brethren were delivered most impressively , and could not fail to be received in the spirit with which tbey were enunciated . The W . M . then proceeded to invest b the brethren officers

personally or y proxy following as for the ensuing year : —J . Su ' tcliffe—the late W . M ., whose great exertions to raise the lodge over which he ruled to a rank second to none in the Province of Durham , have been crowned with the most unequivocal success—as I . P . M . ; Kitching S . W . ; Rank , J . W . ; Dickinson , Treas .: W . Brunton , Sec . ; C . Price .

S . D . ; Bird , J . D . ; Rutherford , I . G ., and Muers , Tyler . The business of the evening being concluded and lodge being closed , the brethren retired for refreshment , a banquet being served in the great room of the Royal Hotel , to which some thirty sat down . After enjoying a thoroughly substantial and by no means to be despised repast , the cloth removed and the door tyled , the various loyal ancl Masonic toasts were given and responded to * with true Masonic ardour . The Queen and the Craft , the

M . W . G . M ., the R . W . D . G . M ., the R . W . Prov . G . M . for Durham ,. & c , were drank with all due honour . The W . M . then proposed "The Health of tbe Visiting Brethren of No . 774 , " which Bro-J . Groves acknowledged , and in return proposed " Bro . J . Sutclift ' e , the retiring W . M ., " whose conduct in the chair he warmly eulogised . The health of the newly-installed W . M . was also given with musical honours , and the evening closed in harmony . We should not omit to state that previous to lodge

being closed , Bro . Stephenson gave notice of motion to the effect that at the next regular lodge he should move that a Past Master's Jewel be presented to Bro . John Sutclift ' e , P . M ., for his great and valuable services ae W . M . during the x'ast two years .

KENT . PLUSISTEAB . —Pattison Lodge No . ( 1215 ) . —The first regular meeting of this newly consecrated Lodge was held on Thursday evening , June Sth , the W . M . Bro . Graydon presided . Mr . Wm . Tongue , and Mr . Charles Copeland , having been duly proposed , and approved of , were regularly initiated by the W . M . and officers , in a very able manner ; the charge especially being delivered most eloquently and impressively hy the W . M . Prom

the Treasurer ' s account it appeared that the R . W ., Bro . Pattison , Past Grand Warden having become a member of the Lodge , had presented £ 40 towards the preliminary expenses , which places the Lodge in a good position in pecuniary matters , leaving a balance in the hands of the Treasurer , all the expenses of establishment having been defrayed . Such a beginning conjoined with the energy , and abilities , of the officers and brethren ,, cannot fail to ensure to the new Lodge a lasting career of prosperity and success , and bids fair to place it before long , second to none in the province of Kent .

LANCASHIRE ( EAST ) . VnoTixciAi , GBAXD LODGE . —OPEXIXG- A MASOXIC HALL . The splendid new Masonic Hall at Todmorden was dedicated ' and opened on Thursday , June Sth , with distinguished eclat . Concurrent with the opening of the handsome structure was the annual meeting of tho Prov . Grand Lodge of East Lancashire . Apart from the opening of the new hallthe civenmstanee of

, the Prov . Grand Lodge meeting being held in Todmorden was sufficient to invest the proceedings with deep interest . There was a most excellent attendance of the brethren , and the number of visitors was great . Freemasons' lodges have long existed in this district , There are two in Todmorden , while in the neighbouring places of Littleborough , Rossendale , Hebden-hridge , & c ., thmuster in strengthThe public irit of the Todmorden

ey . sp Freemasons has been of such an energetic character as to lead to the formation of a company for the erection of a Masonic Hall . A very handsome and creditable structure it is . Some months ago we bad the pleasure of recording the laying of the foundation stone with full Masonic ceremony ; this week we