The Masonic Mirror.

THE MASONIC MIRROR .

METROPOLITAN .

TWICKENHAM . —Slrawlerry Sill Lodge ( Jv o . 946 ) . —A regular meeting of this lodge was held at Bro . Bendy ' s , the Grotto Tavern , Twickenham , on the 11 th instant . Amongst tho members present were Bros . John Gurton , AV . M . ; Stedwell , S . AV . ; Collard , J . 1 T . ; Piatt , Sec ; Archer , S . D . ; Faithful , J . D . ; Watson , P . M . ; Bendy , Foresight , Eapkin , Court , Escott , and others . The visitors included Bros . Dickie , Assist . G . Purst . ; CotterellMatthew CookeCodnerIsenhieland several more

, , , , whose names wo could not learn . The business consisted in initiating Mr . Hickin , passing Bros . Brown , Eapkin , and Escott , and raising Bros . Bendy and Foresight , all of which were performed hy Bro . John Gurton in his usual perfect ancl agreeable manner . Bro . Gurton then vacated the chair , in order that Bro . William Piatt , Sec , P . M . of the St . Luke's Lodge , the well-known Masonic jewellermiht have the pleasure of

, g initiating his eldest son , Mr . William Piatt , which he did very ably ancl with much feeling . —Bro . Gurton , the W . M ., having resumed the chair , Bro . STEDWELL , the S . W ., rose , and said lie had there a box of tho working tools , and . prayed the lodge to accept them from him , as he had the good of Freemasomsy strongly at heart , and the welfare of that lodge in particular . If they accepted them , he could only say that he hoped they

would he in use for many years to come , and that he might long enjoy his membership to see them so profitably applied . —Bro . JOHX GURTON , W . M ., was sure the lodge would very thankfully receive Bro . Stedwell's handsome present ; and , on his own behalf , he hoped they would do hiin the honour to accept , at bis hands , the set of ten collars ancl jewels for the officers of tbe lodge . —Bro . ARCHER , S . D ., had also a small token of his good wishes to present—the square and compassesfor the W . M . 's

, pedestal , ancl hoped tho lodge would do him tho favour to accept them . —Bro . W . WATSOS said it was highly gratifying to find brethren coming forward in that liberal manner , ancl offering such beautiful silver gifts towards the furnishing of the lodge . He thought the members could do no less than record on the minutes votes of thanks to Bro . John Gurton , W . M ., for the gift of the set of collars and jewels ; to Bro . Stedwell , S . W .,

for his present of the working tools ; and to Bro . John Archer , S . D ., for his gift of the square and compasses . —Upon each of these propositions being separately proposed , they were carried by acclamation . —The business of tho lodge having been disposed of , the brethren , in number some twenty-six or seven , sat clown to a most excellent banquet , such as would have done honour to many more veteran caterers . —The W . M . proposed , in apposite termsthe usual loyal and Masonic toasts ; and on

, coming to that of the D . G . M ., he said the Earl de Grey and llipon was universally acknowledged to be one of the best qualified brethren that ever filled that office . His duties to the Craft were carefully and assiduously performed , and his services to the State were such as to win the esteem ancl respect of all parties . Their lodge , lie . was happy to say , had been honoured by the presence of several Grand Officers on previous occasions ,

and he would therefore , on that night , couple with the toast the name of Bro . Dickie , Assist . G . Purst . —Bro . DICKIE responded , ancl said the Grand Officers all tried to do their duty , and he was glad that Bro . Gurton , the W . M ., had the opportunity of associating with them . —Bro . IV . WATSON had great pleasure in rising to propose " The Health of the W . M . " It would be " gilding refined gold" to praise Bro . John Gurton ; they all

knew him , and what an experienced brother he was , as well as distinguished alike for his position in the Craft and his liberality of heart . He had that evening given them one of the best and most useful presents , to show how much he was attached to the lodge . It was not the first time Bro . Gurton had been a W . M ., for he had occupied that post in a distinguished lodge for two years in succession , and from which they would gather that it

was not only the position he held , but a real regard for the Strawberry Hill Lodge that prompted him to act so generously . Por himself , lie ( Bro . Watson ) hoped Bro . ' Gurton mi ght live to initiate his youngest child—born on the day of consecrationin the Strawberry Hill Lodge ; ancl he called on the brethren to drink his good health , and wish that God might preserve him for very many years to come . —Bro . Jonw GUBTOX , W . M ., was very much obliged for the kind manner in which his health

The Masonic Mirror.

had been proposed ancl received . The little he had done for the lodge would be amply repaid if his year of ofiice terminates so happily as the lodge had hitherto made it for him , and he saw no reason to think otherwise , for lie intended to do his best while in the chair to secure their respect and goodwill . —The W . M . said tbey all knew the great pleasure it was throughout the Craft to receive initiates into the Order . He was glad the two brethren they had that day made had chosen their lodge ;

and he could tell them , in the name of the lodge , that they were happy to receive them , and he hoped to see them work , aspire , ancl fill the position he occupied . —Bro . WILLIAM PLATT , jun ., was very much obliged for the honour they had clone him in initiating him in that lodge . He was a resident in Twickenham , ancl had several friends in the lodge , so he had chosen it for his mother lodge . His father , too , a Mason of long

standing , was the Secretary ; and , putting all these things together , he did not see how he could have gone elsewhere . He felt very pleased in being amongst them , and hoped to be a good member . —Bro . HICKDT hardly knew what to say . He was very glad he had been initiated , felt a perfect freedom in their society , ancl hoped to enjoy it in many meetings . — -The W . M . was sure it afforded the lodge very great pleasure to see so

many visitors , and he hoped that the way it carried out the duty of hospitality was not one of the least of its merits . He then briefly paid a compliment to each brother , and called upon Bro . Codner to reply . —Bro . CoDATat having replied , there was a hearty call for Bro . COTTEELL , who , in a happy manner , said he had never seen things done in a better style . The work was capita ] , ancl the banquet excellent . He claimed to be a judge of good working , and he also professed to know when he was well

treated , both of which lie had experienced in the Strawberry Hill Lodge . He expressed a hope that it might long continue as prosperous in good working , good living , and good fellowship as it then was , and that he might be present on that auspicious clay , when the W . M . should add another new tie between it and himself , in admitting his infant son as a brother . —Bro . JOHN Qvaros , W . M ., was greatly aided by having excellent officers . Their duties were performed with zeal and abilityami they were—a

, rare thing with Freemasons—always to their time . Bro . Stedwell , S . W ., though young in the Craft , was an indefatigable worker . He made great progress , and was ever ready and willing either to receive or impart instruction . Bro . Collard , J . AV .-, did not require instruction , but nothing gave him greater pleasure than to convey it to others . Bro . John Archer , S . D ., always was at bis post , and he invariably went through his work 7

well . Bro . Faithful , J . Vi ., was a promising brother , ancl he , the AV . M ., hoped to see him Master of the lodge in his turn . Bro . Wm . Piatt , the Secretary , was very careful in all he undertook , and an acquisition to the lodge . They all worked with an unanimity of feeling , it was very pleasant to see , ancl were a capital body of officers . —After the toast , Bro . STEDWELL , S . AV ., felt he should not do the officers justice to reply for all ,

therefore , for himself—he always endeavoured to do his best , ancl as long as thoy had a punctual AA . M . in the chair , so long ho was sure , they would have ymnctwal officers . — -Bro . Coi . iiA . TtD , J . AV ., knew all were willing to do the best for the lodge , and he knew of no better plan to ensure success . —Bro . PLATT , Sec , said whatever services ho could render were clone so with cheerfulness . Some other toasts followed , after which the brethren dispersed , having marked another red-letter day in their memories , iu connection with the Strawberry Hill Lodge .

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

DURHAM . HARTLEPOOL —St . Helen's Lodge ( So . 111 ) . —A regular lodge was holden in tho Masonic Hail , Hartlepool , on the 5 th November , 18 ( 13 , when the following brethren wero present : — Bros . B . It , Huntley , AVM . ; , Tas . Groves , P . M ., Prov " G . Sword Bearer , Secretary ; A . Nathan , S . W . ; J . Linclhardt , J . D ., K . A . M . ; S . Armstrong , P . M ., Treasurer ; Inglis , S . D . ; 0 . Kramer , J . D . ;

J . Swiwright , Acting I . G . ; Emra Holmes , & c Lodge being opened in ancient form and with solemn prayer iu the first degree , ancl this being tho annual meeting for the elect-ion of W . M ., Treasurer , and Tyler , the by-lawswere read over by the Secretary , in accordance with the rules of the lodge , before balloting for the officers in question . The petition of a shipwrecked brother , a member of the lodge , to the worshipful Lodge of Benevolence , was read , approved , and certified by a