Masonic Mems.

MASONIC MEMS .

THE MASONIC MIRROR . # * AU communications to be addressed to 19 , Salisbury-street , Strand , London , AA ' . C .

AT Philadelphia it is proposed to build a new Masonic Hall at a cost of £ 200 , 000 . It is to be of granite , 250 ft . by 150 ft ., ¦ and with a tower 300 ft . high . AVe shall watch its progress with Interest . ON the 25 th ult ., a grand banquet was given by the Freemasons of Alexandriaunder the presidency of AA BroReade

, . . , 'D . G . AA . Egypt , H . B . M . Consul at Cairo , at Abbat ' s Hotel , and . 'His Highness the R . AV . Bro . Prince Halim Pasha of Egypt , ¦ the lately appointed D . G . M . of Egypt , under the constitution of England .

COXSTANTHTOPLE . —The ball of the Arete Lodge at Naoum's Theatre , on Friday evening , the 24 th ult ., was a great success . The theatre was filled in nearly every part , and the whole of the arrangements were , if possible , more perfect than those of last year . The proceeds are said to have amounted to above £ 1 , 200 , which is to be applied with cosmopolitan generosity to the relief of the poor—not necessaril y those of Pera ; so says "the Levant Herald .

A / E are given to understand that Bro . Sir T . Hesketh , Dart . the Bight Worshipful Provincial Grand Master for ATest Lancashire , has signified his intention to hold a Provincial Grand Lodge at Ulverstone , on AVednesday in Easter Week , for the purpose of installing Bro . the Bight Hon . Lord Skelmersdale as D . Prov . G . M . This unexpected honour is likely to be

enthusiastically acknowledged by the brethren in this town and district , who , fully alive to the importance of the ceremony and occasion , are about to make extraordinary efforts to eonduct the proceedings with credit to the Craft in general , and their own lodge in particular . AVo feel sure from all we have heard that the Provincial Grand Lodge officers will meet with a hearty reception . Several nobleman are to be invited to take part in the festivities .

CoysiANiiNOMB . —Tiie annual Masonic ball is announced in aid of local charities , to be held at the Palais de Crista ! , Pera , on Thursday , February 13 th . Tickets , including supper , £ 1 . 'The committee consists of Bros . H . Newbold , W . B . Hopper , IT . Krasnopolski , AV . P . Camelik , P . Rhahine , R . T . Buck , A . de Castro , R . A . Carleton , and Aznavour , jun ; and tickets can

also be had from Bros . C . Green , 373 , Grand Rue , Pera ; AV . AViesenthal , 37 , Valide' ban ; H . Arnold , 3 , Rue Haramam ; H . Ottoni , Grand Rue , Pera . [ We are really glad to find there is ¦ si much show of real life in Freemasonry in Turkey—ED . F . Mi ] AVE have received a communication from Bro . Robert Morris , LL . D ., dated New York , January 31 st ., wherein he informs us that his intention was to sail next day for his Oriental tour . Bro . R . Morris ' s address until 15 th June next , will be—Care of American Consulate , Beyrout , Syria .

Metropolitan.

METROPOLITAN .

EGYPTIAN LODGE { SO . 27 ) . —The installation meeting of this old and prosperous lodge was held at Anderton's Hotel , Fleet-street , on Thursday , the 6 th inst . ' The lodge was duly opened by Bro . J . Coutts , AV . M ., assisted by his Wardens , Bros . J . May and AV . H . Libbis , and a large muster of brethren . After the usual preliminaries the W . M . initiated Mr . J . II .

Metropolitan.

Coultman into the mysteries of the first degree , in a manner which elicited much commendation from the numerous visitors present . Bro . Coutts having been unanimously re-elected AA . M . was then presented to Bro . J . Savage , P . S . G . Deacon , by whom the ceremony of installation was performed—a portion , however , being omitted in consequence of Bro . Coutt ' s re-election . On the reaclmission of the brethrenthe customary salutes wero

, given , and the AA . M . appointed or invested the officers for the ensuing year as follows : —Bros . J . Tomlinson , I . P . M . ; W . H . Libbis , S ' . AV . ; J . B . Poole , J . AV . ; B . P . Todd , P . M ., Treas . ; H . G . ; Buss , P . M . ( for the twentieth time ) Sec . ; F . May , S . D . ; J . Cole , J . D . ; T . Sheppard , I . G . ; Rov . H . Ducat , Chap . ; C . B . Payne , P . AI ., W . S . ; and T . Brewer , Dir . of Cers . Bro . Savage thenin his own inimitable styledelivered the addresses to the

, , Master , AA avdens , and brethren . Bro . Buss , Sec , proposed that the sum of 25 guineas be voted from the lodge funds to the Masonic Institution for Boys , in order to confer the rank of V . P . upon the AV . M . for the time being ; a similar sum having been previously granted . Bro Todd , Treas ., seconded the motion , which was carried unanimously . A sum of two guineas was also contributed towards the relief of Bro . Johnson

( a former member ) who had met with an accident . Several gentlemen were then proposed for initiation , and the lodge was closed . The brethren then adjourned to the banqueting room , where a capital repast awaited them . After the cloth was cleared , the AA ' . M ., in graceful terms , proposed the loyal and Masonic toasts , Bro . J . Smith , P . G . Purst ., responding for the Gra-. id officers . The healths of the initiate , and also of three

initiates at a previous meeting , were then given , followed by the E . A . song by Bro . Buss . Each of the now-made brethren returned thanks . Bro . Savage , P . G . D . proposed "The Health of the Worshipful Master , " which was received with great applause , and in the course of his remarks alluded to the able as well as the kindly manner in which Bro . Coutts had presided over the lod for the past yearand he ( Bro . Savage )

conge , gratulated the lodgo upon having re-elected so efficient a Master . Bro . Coutts replied in a telling speech , and concluded by proposing " The Visitors , " observing that the old Egyptians or the Mummies , as some were pleased to call them , always rejoiced to see a glorious array of visitors at their festive board , and on

the present occasion their guests were not only numerous , but distinguished in the Craft . Bro . Ough , Assist . G . Purst ., acknowledged the hearty reception of this toast . Tho W . M . then , in forcible language , introduced to the brethren the toast of " The Masonic Charities , " at the same time reminding them that he represented the lodge as a Steward for the forthcoming festival of the Boys' School on the 11 th March , when he trusted to receive as le a measure of support as had been extended

amp to him on a former occasion , when he acted as Steward for the Girls' School . An enthusiastic response was accorded to this toast , aud Bro . Binckes , Sec . of the Boys' School , rose to return thanks . After a brief allusion to the complimentary terms in which his name had been associated with the toast , Bro . Binckes proceeded to review rapidly , but lucidly , the several positions of the great Masonic charitiesand urged the brethren

, to make a united effort to place the Boys' School in a state of . prosperity equal to the other institutions . He contended that in educating the sons of their less fortunate brethren , they were training up future generations of Freemasons who would themselves , if circumstances permitted it , take the places of those he saw around him that evening , as strenuous supporters of the Charities BroBinckes concluded his most eloquent appeal

. . amidst the hearty plaudits of all present . The Past-Master ' s health was then proposed in an appropriate manner by the AV . M ., and Bro . Buss , Senior P . M . and Secretary , expressed on behalf of the P . M . 's , their grateful acknowledgments of the kindness ever evinced towards them by the members of the Egyptian Lodge . " The Officers , " were then toasted . Bro . Libbis , S . AV ., responding for the compliment . We must not omit

a wore ! of praise for the admirable arrangements made by Bro . Payne , P . M ., the Wine Steward , for the comfort of the visitors and brethren generally , there being an abundant supply of wine without the least indication of waste . Bros . Tedder , Clement , D . Jacobs ( P . M . ) , and Gardner delighted the brethren with their vocal abilities , and our facetious friend , Bro . Levy , was equallsuccessful in his delineations of various theatrical

y characters . The following brethren were present as visitors , Bros . J . Smith , P . G . Purst , ; AV . Ough , Assist . G . Purst . ; F . Binckes , AV . M . 1 , 185 , P . G . Steward and Sec . Boys' School ; E . Chirk , AV . M . 1 , 19-1 ; H . Carv , AV . M . 7 S 0 ; G . M . Snow , W . M . 829 , Prov . S . G . W . Kent ; AA . Watson , AV . M ., G . S . L . ; J . Pearsoa