Metropolitan.

METROPOLITAN .

THE MASONIC MIRROR .

PHOSNIX LODGE ( NO . 173 ) . —The March meeting of this popular lodge was held at Freemasons' Tavern on Saturday last , the 11 th inst ., when a large number of brethren were present , including several distinguished visitors . The ceremonies of initiation , passing , and raising , were successively performed by Bro . W . H . Hubbard , the W . M ., in his usual

impressive and perfect manner . These solemnities being concluded , a letter from the Secretary of the Girls' School , requesting tbe lodge to nominate a Steward to serve at the forthcoming Festival , was put in and read , when Bro . S . Ooppock , Dir . of Cers ., generously came forward , and volunteered to act

in that capacity . The W . M ., in accepting the oiler on behalf of the lodge , observed that the brethren might congratulate themselves upon being so well represented , and the Institution and the Craft feel proud of so respected and influential a supporter . Tbe lodge being closed , the brethren adjourned to banquet . The dessert having been placed on table , and the customary formal toasts disposed of , Bro . G S . States , I . P . M . and Treas ., rose , and addressing the brethren , said , that the

W . M . having entrusted bim with the use of his gavil , the use to which he intended to apply it would be at once anticipated , namely to propose the health of their highly esteemed and much-respected W . M " . The Phoenix Lodge must , and did , feel proud in having one of the most able and accomplished Masters in the Craft to preside over it , and it was with feelings of regret lie had to announce that this was the last time it would be his duty to propose the health of Bro . Hubbard in the

capacity of Master , this being their last banquet meeting . In addition to the necessarily arduous duties attached to the Master ' s chair , Bro . Hubbard had charged himself with those of Secretary , and the excellent manner in which he had discharged those duties was potent to all . —The W . M ., in responding to the toast , spoke as follows : —Past Masters , officers , and brethren , —I scarcely know bow to express my thanks for the kind manner in which this toast lias been introducedand for

, the fraternal and cordial manner in which it has been received ; but believe me , brethren , I do thank you most sincerely and gratefully . Brethren , although the greater part of a year lias rolled away since I had the honour of rising in this place to address you for the first time in the capacity of Master , it seems but as yesterday ; and the rejoicings and congratulations

of that brilliant evening—perhaps the most brilliant eveningwithin the memory of the Phoenix Lodge , almost ring in my ears still . Brief , however , as this period lias been , or lias appeared to be , it has not been an idle one , and in the midst of active professional employment , I have done my best to redeem the promise I gave on that , to me , ever memorable occasion , to spare neither time nor pains in promoting the interests , and maintaining the dignity , of the lodge . As reference has been

made to my discharge of the Secretarial duties , it may , perhaps , be as well if I explain why I undertook those duties . When our esteemed and gifted friend , Bro . H . G-. Warren , felt necessitated to relinquish the office be had filled . —so worthily filledfor so many years , I scarcely knew what course to pursue in that emergency , hut after some consideration I concluded that the interests of the lodge would be best served if I undertook them myselfleaving my successor in this chair to make his

, own appointment . In conclusion , brethren , I can only express my gratification that my services , such as they have been , have proved acceptable to yon ; and although I shall soon cease to be your Master , I hope still to he with you ; and so long as the Phoenix Lodge requires and continues to appreciate my services , so long will those services he at its disposal . ( Cheers . ) Tbe health of the newl-initiated brethrenthe visitorsPast

y , , Masters , and officers followed in due course , accompanied by appropriate remarks from the W . M ., and were severally responded to , Bro . H . R . Green speaking for the Initiates , Bros . Pox and Lnxton for the Visitors , and Pro . States for the Past Masters . The proceedings were greatly enlivened by the exertions of the musical members of the lodge—Bros . Coward , Distin

, Weeks , Walker , and Carter .

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

BERKSHIRE . READING . —Lodge of Union ( No . 414 ) . —The regular monthly meeting of this large and very flourishing lodge was held at the Masonic Hall , Greyfriars-road , on Tuesday evening , the 14 th inst ., at six o ' clock , when there were nresent Bros . W . H . Hole , W . M . ; P . Bulley , Moxhay , Gill , Clacy , Botley , and Williams , P . M . ' s ; Sellar , S . W . ; Iv ' ey , J . W . ; Smith , S . D . ; 11 . B .

Body , Dir . of Cers . ; Blowers , I . G . ; J . Leaver , Sec . ; and Bros . Cooper , Druco , Beale , Hurley , Rogers , Randall , Lyddon , Simmonds , Dahse , Stracham , and several others . After the confirmation of the minutes of tbe last meeting , and the ballot had been taken for three brethren as joining members , Bros . Randall , Rogers , Simmonds , and Dahse were raised to the third degree by Bro . W . H . Hole , W . M ., in his usual impressive manner . Bro . R . B . Body , Dir . of Cers ., then preseuted the lodge with a very elegantly-bound Bible , and after other business the lodge was closed shortly after ten o ' clock .

CHESHIRE . EDT / CATIOK'ATJ MASOSIC IusTirn-TiON ' . Probably the 250 or 300 people who were present in the Craven Room , on Tuesday , listening to Mr . Robert Anderson's reading from the poets , never spent an evening in a more rational and entertaining manner . So choice were the selections , and so well were they given by the talented reader , that

it seemed as if the drama had been localised for the nonce , or that some great master of the arts of rhetoric was present , giving point to Barbara , pathos to Longfellow and Tennyson , and exquisite touches of humour to the comic pieces , with which Mr . Anderson regaled his hearers . It was a luxury to listen , and those who enjoyed it will not soon forget the evening they spent with Mr . Anderson among the Muses . The occasion was in connection with the great body of Freemasonsfor the

pur-, pose of raising funds for the Cheshire Educational Institute which has lately been founded . Accordingly some of the leading brothers of the Order in this locality were present , including Bros . XV . Hind , 32 , Lancashire ( in the chair ); E . G . Willoughby , P . M . 537 , P . Prov . S . G . W . Cheshire ; John Parry Piatt , P . M . 537 , and P . Prov . J . G . D . Cheshire ; Thomas Piatt , P . M . 537 , and P . J . G . D . Cheshire ; Henry Bulley , P . M . 537 , and P . Prov . J . G . D . Cheshire ; William Bulley , P . M . 537 , and P . Prov . J . G . D .

Cheshire ; Joseph Brattan , P . M . 477 , P . G . Supt . of Works Cheshire ; Clarke Sampling , Treas . 537 , Cheshire ; Joseph New , P . M . 477 , Cheshire ; William Hardisty , W . M . 537 , Cheshire . The chairman made a few observations on tbe worthy character of the institute , and the good it was calculated to do , after which Mr . Anderson came forward , and was received with great applause . The programme consisted of Barnaul's burlesque on tbe "Merchant of Venice ; " "Enoch Arden , " by Tennyson ;

" Bullum u . Boatum , " by Stevens ; "Falcon of Sire Federigo , " by Longfellow ; " Daniel v . Dishclout , " by Stevens , & c . In all of these he elicited frequent applause . At the close he was accorded a hearty vote of thanks on the motion of the chairman , seconded by Bro . Willoughby , both of whom spoke very highly of the entertainment and of Mr . Anderson ' s elocutionary talents . A vote of thanks to the chairman , moved by Bro . Brattan , closed the proceedings .

CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORELAND . KENDAL . —Union Lodge ( No . 129 ) . —The regular monthly meeting of this ancient and flourishing lodge was held on the second Friday in March at the Town Hall . Bro . E . Busher , Prov . G . Sec , W . M . was supported by Bros . John Whitwell , S . W . ; Titus Wilson , J . W . ; Joseph Bintley , S . D . ; Samuel Gawith , J . D . ; A . K . Wood , I . G ., and a full attendance of

brethren , among whom were Bros . Home , P . M ., Prov . S . G . W . ; Johnston , I . P . M ., Prov . J . G . D . ; John Bowes , P . M ., & c . The lodge was opened in solemn form according to ancient custom , when Bro . Mann , Sec , read the minutes of the previous meeting which were declared correctly recorded . Mr . Robert Butterwith having been duly elected at a previous meeting , and now being in attendance , was duly and impressively initiated into the mysteries and privileges of ancient Freemasonry , by Bro . Busher ,

W . M . ; the working tools and charge being given respectively by Bros . Bowes and Home . Bros . W . Cartmel , Geo . Cartmel , and Jonathan Otley Atkinson being candidates for promotion , and having given proof of proficiency in tbe first degree , wore