The Masonic Mirror.

THE MASONIC MIRROR .

MASONIC MEMS . The sixteenth Grand Masonic ball will be held at the Town Hall , Liverpool , on Tuesday , the 10 th of January , 1865 , in aid of the funds of the West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution , to which the public will be admitted . The oldest Masonic chair in Ireland was presented to

Lodge-No . 3 by Bro . Thomas Aldworth Cocker , P . M . No . 3 ( I . C . ) , and was occupied by Viscount Doneraile ( Hayes St . Leger ) , at Doneraile House , when the Hon . Mrs . Aldworth ( then the Hon . Miss St . Leger ) received the first and second degrees . The chair originally belonged to the Hon . Viscount ; Kingston , aud was used at Mitehelstown Castle by him as Grand Master of the

Masonic body in Ireland . The Viscount presented it to Lodge No . 25 , held at Doneraile , whence it was given to Lodge No . 25 , removed to Cork . Bro . XV . A . Hackett , P . M . No . 3 , proposed a vote of thanks to Bro . T . A . Cocker , which , was seconded by Bro . IV . P . Kothwell , S . D ., and entered in the minutes of the lodge by Bro . E . IV . YVigmore , See . This highly interesting

Masonic relic is finel y carved in the Corinthian style , and has been completely renovated after a lapse of 150 years since the date of its manufacture . It may be remarked that , during the very troublous times from 1703 to 1826 , the chair and Masonic paraphernalia were locked up for periods of four and ten years respectively , as Masonic bodies were by , the provisions of the " Limited Acts , " prevented from assembling .

Metropolitan.

METROPOLITAN .

WELLINGTON LODGE ( NO . 5-1-S ) . —This lodge holds its usual meeting on Tuesday , December 13 th , at the Wickliam Armj Tavern , lh-ockley-lane , Deptford . The lodge was opened by Bro . XL Bagshaw , W . M ., who presided over the meeting . He was supported by Bros . Simmons , P . M . ; K . Bentley , P . M . ; P .. Welsford , P . M . and Treas . ; Wakefield S . W . ; Bumstead ; J . Wand , See . ; Gale , S . D . ; . Jones , J . D . ; Carver , Skinner , GreenwoodWest

, , Burgess , and others . Amongst the visitors were Bros . F . Walters , P . M . 73 , 147 , See . 871 ; W . Pridmore , 705 ; W . B . Pridmore , 70 S . A ballot was taken for Mr . Draper , which was declared to be unanimous in favour of Jn ' s admission , and , he being in attendance , was introduced and initiated into ancient Freemasonry . Bro . Burgess having proved his proficiencywas passed to the degree of Fellow Craft Freemason

, ^ a . The W . M . rendered both ceremonies in an admirable manner . The next business was the election of W . M . Treasurer and Tyler for the ensuing year . In all three cases it was unanimous , viz ., Bro . Wakefield , S . W ., for W . M . ; E . Welsford , P . M ., re-elected treasurer ; and S . Garnettre-elected Tyler . After business the brethren partook of refreshment .

INSTRUCTION . NEW C ' ONCOKD LODOE ( No . 813 ) . —Tlio fourth anniversary meeting and festival of this lodge was held on Thursday evening , the Sfch inst ., at the Rosemary Branch Tavern , Hoxton , and it was very numerously attended . Bro . Emmens , P . M ., presided , Bro . Swinnock , P . M . of the parent lodge , officiating as S . W ., and Bro . Bellevby , of the Lodge of Prosperity , as

J . W . The business of the evening consisted of the working of the sections in the first degree , followed by the ceremony of installation . The lodge was opened soon after six o ' clock , and the working 1 of the sections commenced , the questions being put by Bro . Henry Thompson , W . M . of the Denmark Lodge , and the answers were given by Bros . Swinnock , Bellerby , and Goddard . The manner in which the business was got through excited expressions of warm approval . Bro . Emmens then performed the ceremony of installation in his usual excellent manner , and tbe impressive manner in which the various addresses were delivered commanded the heartiest marks of

Metropolitan.

approval . Some new members having been admitted , Bro . Emmens said he bad now to bring before tbe lodge the services of Bro . Spratt , their worthy honorary Secretary , who had for four years performed that duty , and it was considered that he was entitled to some recognition of his services . He bad been most punctual in his attendance , and whether there were few or many present , be was always there at his post at the appointed time . The brethren thought he was entitled to

some substantial mark of their esteem ; and having received some opinion from Bro . Spratt as to the form in which it would he the most agreeably conveyed to him , he had now the pleasure of presenting , in the name of the brethren of the new Concord Lodge of Instruction , tbe chain and appendage thereto ( the latter bore a complimentary inscription ) , which , he trusted , he might long wear , and be to him a continual remembrance of the esteem in which he "'as held by the brethren of the New

Concord Lodge . He then handed to him the testimonial , remarking that be should not then call upon him for any lengthened observations , as they should afterwards meet him at the social board . Bro . Spratt thanked the brethren for the honour they had conferred upon him . On the motion of Bro . Emmens , the sum of five guineas was agreed to be given from the funds of tbe Lodge of Instruction towards tbe Asylum for the Widows of Decayed Freemasons . Last year a similar sum

was given to the Fund for Aged Freemasons . The lodge was the closed , and the brethren adjourned for refreshment , Bro . Emmens presiding . After the Masonic toasts had been given , tbe president said the toast be had then to give was what might be called the toast of the evening , for it was the health of Bro . Spratt , their lion . Secretary , to whom they had presented a testimonial in tbe lodge , and be said be justly deserved it as a mark of their esteem . Ho , therefore , had great pleasure in

proposing tbe health of Bro . Spratt , and long life and prosperity to him . The toast was very cordially received . Bro . Spratt , in reply , thanked Bro . Emmons for the kind manner in which he had proposed his health , and the brethren for having so cordially responded to it , and most grateful was he for their liberal kindness . It showed the noble feelings by which they bad been actuated in presenting' him with such a testimonial , and the goodwill he had received from the members would

never be erased from his memory . He had heard with great pleasure mention of tbe way in which lie had endeavoured for four years to discharge his duties as Secretary ; and when be looked around and saw so many who assisted at the working uf the lodge , that gave liim almost as much pleasure as receiving their testimonial . Their Bro . Emmens was nearly always amongst them ; and if bo was not there , be was doing good somewhere else , and he did all he could to assist them by every

means in his power . Then there was their Bro . Thompson , W . M . of the Domatio Lodge , who came amongst them ; but , as be had a long way to come , they did not see him as often as they could wish ; and there were others who all felt a deep interest in the welfare of the lodge . The attendance at their lodge was most edifying to themselves , and the small payment they made of pence multiplied into shillings , and those shillings again multiplied into pounds , which they were

enabled to devote to the support of their excellent Charities . He hoped the members would come as often as they could , so as to continue those pence and shillings to those excellent objects ; and before be sat down be again thanked them for the splendid testimonial they had given him , which be should wear with pleasure , and that evening would be a delightful recollection for the rest of his life . ( Applause . ) "The Masonic Charities" and some other toasts were given , and tbe evening was spout in tbe most complete harmony .

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SIR GARDNER WILKINSON has recently presented his valuable collection of Egyptian and other antiquities to Harrow School , where he was himself educated in early life . The various contents of this collection make it especially useful . Thus , the Greek and Roman vases are interesting for their merits as works of art , and as displaying the character of tbe different styles of fictile manufacture among the ancients ; while the specimens of lassbronzeami other objects offer numerous

g , , illustrations for the study of classical authors . The Egyptian antiquities have especial interest , as having been collected in the country by the author of the standard work upon the manners and customs of the ancient Egyptians ; and the whole collection is explained and illustrated by a M . S . catalogue .