The Masonic Mirror.

THE MASONIC MIRROR .

MASONIC MEMS , The first meeting of the Stewards for the Festival of the Eoyal Benevolent Institution for Aged Masons and their Widows was held on Friday , the 6 th inst ., when Bro . Roxburgh , G . Reg ., was elected Chairman ; Jos . Smith , P . G . Purst ., Treasurer ; and W . Farnfteld , Asst . G . Sec , Secretary . As the chair will be taken

by the Earl cle Grey and Ripon , D . G . M . and Prov . G . M . West Yorkshire , we may expect a very good muster of the brethren . Lord Leigh , Prov . G . M . for Warwickshire , has consented to take the chair at the Festival ofthe Boys' School , in March next . There are already upwards of 70 stewards , of whom 21 come from Warwickshire .

The M . W . G . M . the Earl of Zetland has consented to take the chair at the Annual Festival of the Girls' School , in May next . AVe learn , from a communication in the Democrat , Louisville , Kentucky , U . S ., of November 1 , that the residence of Bro . Rob . Morris , LL . D ., at La Grange , Kentucky , known as " The Three Cedars , " was entirely consumed by fire on the morning of that day .

His costly Masonic collection of books and relics was saved , though much injured . This collection was valued at nearly six thousand dollars . A correspondent writes us that he has received a letter from Bro . Morris , in which he states that " he has decided upon visiting Britain in May or June next . The civil war has caused the discontinuance of the Masonic University at Kentucky ; indeed ,

most literary institutions have experienced the same thing . He expects to be able to resume the l r oice early in January , in the form of a Magazine . "

Metropolitan.

METROPOLITAN .

OLD COKCOED LODGE ( NO . 201 ) . —The usual meeting of this lodge was held on Tuesday , December 4 th , at the Freemason's Tavern . Bro . J . W . Laughlin , W . M ., presided . The principal business of the lodge was the election of a WM . for the year ensuing , and the ballot having fallen upon Bro . Waters , he was declared -duly elected , and returned thanks for the honour conferred upon him . It was also agreed that a jewel should be presented to Bro .

Laughlin as a mark of esteem . The brethren then adjourned for refreshment . On the removal of the cloth , the loyal and Masonic toasts were given and cordially responded to . The W . M . said the next toast was one which always gave great pleasure to him to propose , and that was " The Health of the Visitors . " They were most happy to receive them and gave them a cordial welcome . The toast was responded to bBro . Samuelof the Harmonic Lod No 263

y , ge . ; Bro . Shaboe , of S 12 ; and Dr . O'Connor , of No . 202 . —Bro . SWADTSTOX , P . M ., said that was the last time the W . M . would entrust him with his gavel , and the brethren would anticipate the manner in which he would apply it , which was to propose the health of their Bro . Laughlin , W . M . In the manner in ivhich be had filled the office of W . M . of the Old Concord Lodge , -during the yearhe had shown the rising members of the lod

, ge how they should perforin their duties , He had great pleasure in proposing his health , and he hoped the brethren would receive it in a manner that their W . M . would never forget their cordiality and good will . —The W . M . said he felt sure that whether as W . M . or P . M ., he would never forget the enthusiasm which which they had received the toast of bis health that night . During the last year lie had not had many opportunities of showing his zeal for

the good of Freemasonry in general , or of that lodge in particular . Every meeting at ivhich he had presided they had been pleased to drink his health , and it had been most enthusiastically received , and he could sincerely say that if at any time he had done anything to incur their displeasure he was very sorry for it , but he believed he had enjoyed uninterrupted happiness , and that virtue brought its own reward . He was about to lay aside his sceptre of office , and he did not regret doing so , as he was most willing to conform to all tiie laws for tho regulation of the Craft

and its welfare in general . As for Bro . Waters , the Worshipful Master elect , under his mastership he trusted the lodge might continue to prosper and be a pattern lodge in the Craft . As he was about to give up his office of W . M ., and take his position of P . M ., there was one office which he hoped he should continue to hold , and that was the proud position of being Chaplain ofthe lodge . He admitted that he held sectarian views — sectarian in regard to the good of mankind—but within the walls

of the lodge , or in the banquet room , he had endeavoured never to offend the conscience of any one , but welcomed on the broad arena of Freemasonry all ivho were believers iu the Great God and Architect of the Universe , who revealed in various ways his blessings to mankind . He believed that , during the time he had presided as Master of tbe lodge he hacl never once used the word Christian , and as he knew , they had Hebrew brethren amongst themit was gratifying to him to know that in passing through

, that transitory world that they could all meet on one broad platform , and that he could welcome them all as brethren irrespective of any religious dogmas whatever . —The AV . M . said the next toast he had to propose was that of " The W . M . elect , Bro . AA aters , " who had been for many years amongst them , and no one knew him but highly respected hiin , as it was his desire to carry out the leading principles of the Craft , brotherly love , relief , and

truth . It was not a pleasant thing to indulge in eulogy of a man to his face , and he would offer no fulsome praise in speaking of him , but say only what he thought . They had a guarantee from a board of installed masters that he would perform the duties and carry out the principles of Freemasonry as master of the lodge . He trusted that he would have a comfortable and successful year of officeand that when he left the chair he

, would receive the same expression of kindness towards him as he had done . —Bro . WATERS returned thanks for the kind and handsome manner in whicli the brethren had received his health , and hoped at the end of twelve months , when he should leave the chair , he should receive honours equal to those accorded to their Bro . Laughlin . —The AA . M . next proposed the health of the P . M . 's of

the lodge , and complimented them on their zeal in Freemasonry , and the willingness they always manifested to assist the WM . in the performance of his duties . —Bros . SWAIKSTOX and MAJJET severally returned thanks . —The AA . M ., in giving " The Officers of the Lodge , " said the ivorking of their officers , both principal and assistant , was all but perfect , and was so admitted by every one who visited the lodge . —Pro . HOGG , J . AV ., acknowledged the compliment , and the gratification the officers experienced in gaining the

good opinion of the members . They would continue to do their duty in the hope cf attaining to and deserving those honours which had fallen to the worthiest master who had ever filled the chair . — The health of Bro . Kennedy , P . M . and Treas . of the lodge was next given and responded to . —The W . M . said the next toast was one that embraced two objects , it ivas " The Health of Bro . Emmens , P . M . and Secretary , and Success to the New Concord Lodge . " —Bro . E . irsiEXSP . M . could assure the brethren that as long as he had

, , health and strength lie would never relax in those duties which had given them satisfaction . At thepresent time he might be considered as father of the lodge , and for upwards of 20 years , during which he had held the office of Secretary , he had never been absent from bis duty , except iu cases of illness . Some other toasts ivere given , and the brethren separated at an early hour . EGYPTIAN LODGE , ( NO . 29 ) . —This flourishing lodge held its usual meeting at the George and Blue Boar , Holborn , on the Sth

instant . The business before the lodge was the raising of the Bros . J . H . and J . 11 . Tims , which was very excellently performed by Bro . Buss , P . M . and Sec , in the unavoidable absence of the AV . M . This being election night Bro . Charles Payne , Grand Tyler , the S . W . ofthe lodge , was unanimously elected AV . M . for the ensuing year . Bro . B . P . Todd , P . M ., was re-elected Treasurer for the fourteenth time , and the veteran Bro . Rice , Tyler . The visitors on the occasion were Bros . Joseph Smith , P . G Purst . ; Samuel Hill ,

P . M . 955 , and Bvo . © rattan , of 1033 . After the lodge had voted £ 10 towards Bro . Todd ' s list , ivho serves on its behalf at the Festival of the Benevolent fund , in January , and signed the petition of a former Bro . to the Board of Benevolence , the lodge was closed and the brethren adjourned to the banquet . The cloth having been removed the W . M . gave the usual loyal and Masoni c toasts , which were received with that characteristic heartiness common to the members of No . 29 . He then proceeded to give

" The Health ofthe D . G . M ., the Earl de Grey and Ripon , and the present and past Grand Officers , " coupling the toast with the name of Joseph Smith , P . G . Purst ., remarking that Bro . Smith was a well known and active Mason on the Committees and Boards under Grand Lodge . He was ever anxious that every fund should be dealt ivith as a sacred trust , on the one hand being careful not to see them squandered , and on the other not dispensed with a niggard hand . His justice was appreciated , for he had been nominated ^ year after year , for the last ten years on the Committee of th e